September Patterns

These calendars are petite, and even detailed hand-coloring doesn’t take long:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar September 2016

  • Stamps:  Lighthearted Leaves (Holiday 2015, retired)
  • Color Palette:  Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Raspberry
  • Accessories:  Leaflets Framelits (Holiday 2015, retired), Stampin’ Write markers

When you look at these three colors, they make a pretty bold statement.  But their color values are very similar, and I think that’s what makes them work so well together.  Color is a very personal decision, but I love this look.

I considered cutting out one leaf and popping it up on dimensionals, but when I added it to the calendar it didn’t do what I expected it would.  Sometimes less really is more.

Check out the calendars that Cheryl and Crystal have designed for September.

Maui Stamper 2016 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog

The Holiday Catalog is LIVE today – check it out HERE!  And be SURE to stop by tomorrow for my first ever Maui Stamper Holiday Catalog Favorite Things!!!

The Early Bird gets (to make) the Tags!

We’ve been hard at work creating projects we think you’re really going to enjoy.  Presenting the 2016 Maui Stamper Holiday Card and Tag classes!!

Maui Stamper 2016 Holiday Card and Tag Classes

Early Bird registration is through September 1st and includes 4 BONUS Merriest Wishes tags.  RSVP and pay for both classes and make TWO sets of tags!

Holiday Cards will be Saturday, September 10th from 1 to 4pm in Wailuku.  Cost is $18 for 6 cards, 4 Stampin’ Up! envelopes and 2 custom envelopes PLUS a bonus Tombo to help you put them all together.

Holiday Tags is offered Wednesday, September 7th from 7 to 10pm in Wailuku.  Cost is $12 for 6 cards and a fresh bottle of Tombo – the Wonder Adhesive!!

Pay for the Tin of Tags kit ($22, we pay shipping & tax) with your Early Bird registration and we’ll have a station set up so that you can stamp all the pieces.

You’ll love using all of these gorgeous tags and cards, but they would make FABULOUS gifts as well.  If you’re tired of giving the same old gifts to co-workers and friends, consider a handmade paper gift!

Register TODAY! Space is limited.

 

August on the Farm

I’m smitten with these little farm critters:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar August 2016

  • Stamps:  Barnyard Babies
  • Color Palette:  Mint Macaron, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede
  • Accessories:  Paper snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar August 2016

It’s therapeutic to watercolor these three friends, and I didn’t mind fussy-cutting that little bitty billy goat.  The longer I enjoy this craft, the more I don’t mind doing the little things that help me feel satisfied with my end result.

Now mosey on over, y’all, and see what Crystal and Cheryl have done with their calendars for August.

Dory

My friend and fellow demonstrator created the cutest little Dory you’ve ever seen:

Maui Stamper Dory Playful Pals Stampin' Up!

Desiree told me she was determined to make a Dory with the Playful Pals stamps and Pyramid Pals thinlits, and I think she did a fantastic job!  From her color choices (Dapper Denim and Daffodil Delight) to the details in Dory’s eyes on on her fins, Desiree really nailed it!

Maui Stamper Dory Playful Pals Stampin' Up!

She added the hand-drawn lines on the fins and tail, and used Stampin’ Write markers for the eyes.

Maui Stamper Dory Playful Pals Stampin' Up!

She used the Seaside TIEF to add the wavy lines to the tail and fins as well – you can just barely see them in the photo.

Maui Stamper Dory Playful Pals Stampin' Up!

Desiree made an entire school of Dorys for our hostess club this month.  What could be better?  Shop HERE for your own.  Purchasing the stamps and thinlits will qualify you for a $5 coupon to spend in August!

Maui Stamper Bonus Days Unlimited $5 Coupon

 

Bee Happy. Bee Grateful. Bee You.

I’ve always enjoyed word play.  The pun is a very creative, if sometimes groan-inducing form of word play, but in this case I was looking for something more whimsical.  This bee image captured my imagination right away, and I went off in search of the right words to create the story that was developing in my head:

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

  • Stamps:  Pun Intended (Host), Remarkable You, Work of Art, Oh What Fun, Tin of Cards
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Crushed Curry
  • Accessories:  Vellum card stock, Wink of Stella Clear, Honeycomb TIEF (retired), Crushed Curry ribbon (retired), Perfectly Artistic DSP (SAB/retired), Timeless Elegance DSP (retired), Stampin’ Write markers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

Pun Intended is a Host Rewards stamp set – you can only purchase it with Host dollars received when you host a qualifying event or order.  The bee is the Queen (Bee) of the set – I’ve featured it once already in THIS post.   I used the retired Honeycomb TIEF there, too. (I’m really disappointed that Stampin’ Up! chose to retire that TIEF before introducing this image.)  I guess being a bit of a hoarder has some advantages {wink}.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

You can see my vellum wings looking straight on.  I stamped the image on vellum with Basic Black and set it aside overnight to dry completely.  I cut out the wings including the zig zag portion of the body that runs between them and used that section to adhere the wings to the stamped image.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

I used Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) to attach the layers and was very pleased with the result.  The body on the panel as well as the body portion on the vellum are both colored with Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write markers, and I think that helps disguise the adhesive.  The wings are super-sparkled with two coats of Clear Wink of Stella.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

The DSP behind the images is the retired Timeless Elegance, one of the most beautiful and easy-to-use sets of papers that Stampin’ Up! has ever produced.  It’s wrapped around a piece of cardboard, and finished on the back with a coordinating DSP (also retired from Sale-a-bration 2016):

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

As a custom piece, there just wasn’t a frame available that would fit, so I created a clean finish for the back and sandwiched the ribbon securely between the layers.

Maui Stamper Bee Happy Bee Grateful Bee You

Bee Happy.  Bee Grateful.  Bee You.

A July Calendar that’s NOT Red-White-and-Blue

I finally did it! I broke out of the Fourth of July, Red-White-and-Blue bonds!

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

  • Stamps:  Watercolor Wings, Botanical Blooms (2016 Occasions)
  • Color Palette:  Pear Pizazz, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe (still retired)
  • Accessories:  Butterflies Thinlits, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

It’s addicting to play with the Watercolor Wings layers – there are so many options.  I really do have to apologize for using Crisp Cantaloupe two months in a row.  It was sitting on my desktop and I’m quite sure it was taunting me.  I think that’s how I was able to break the Red-White-and-Blue-bonds!!

Time to check out the fireworks that Cheryl and Crystal have to share this month.

$5 Today for a Paper Pumpkin – Fun, Easy and a Steal

Maui Stamper Paper Pumpkin $5 Deal

Just over 7 hours left to get this deal – sign up by 7:50pm Hawaii Standard time!   First time subscribers get the June kit – stamps, ink, and all the paper and accessories – for just $5!  No tax, no shipping, just pure paper crafting fun.

Use the code ONEDAYDEAL at paperpumpkin.com.

Dragonflies for June

There are dragonflies in my backyard, and I love to watch them hover and swoop over the water – they inspired the June calendar:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar June 2016

  • Stamps:  Awesomely Artistic
  • Color Palette:  Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired)

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar June 2016

I ought to apologize for using Crisp Cantaloupe, but I just can’t do that.  I bought it, I kept it, and I love it – it wasn’t my decision to retire it!!  If you’ve got it, rock it.

Visit Crystal and Cheryl to see their June calendars!

May Flowers

The soft tones in this month’s calendar welcome May to my kitchen counter:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar May 2016

  • Stamps:  You’re Sublime (available wood and clear mount)
  • Color Palette:  Lost Lagoon, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizazz, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder, Smoky Slate
  • Accessories:  Blender pen, Stampin’ Write marker

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar May 2016

I gave my blender pens another chance and loved the soft tones I was able to achieve.  The images are smaller – just right to practice.  And I’m in love with this curious little wheelbarrow!

Take a look at the calendars that Cheryl and Crystal have created this month.

April Aloha

This image looks a lot like the plumerias that grow in my backyard.  It wasn’t intentional, but the serendipity makes me smile:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

To be authentic, I should have added heaps of blossoms at the bottom of the calendar.  Plumeria are as famous for their beautiful litter as they are for their ease of stringing into lei.

Take a moment to see what Cheryl and Crystal have done with their calendars for April.  And if you’d like to shop, visit my Online Store.