It’s a RemARKable New Year

Posted on January 14, 2016 by mauistamper

Welcome to the 2016 RemARKable Blog Tour, where we showcase the versatility and creative options of Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Botanical Blooms photopolymer, Happy Birthday Everyone (Host)
Color Palette: Mint Macaron, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Botanical Builder framelits, Pearl jewels, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine

I had a serious problem getting that edge going the right direction across the bottom of the card. It should be simple, but I’m famous for making simple things complicated. To avoid the problem in the future, I marked my framelit:

Just to be perfectly clear, the arrows should point towards the bottom edge of the card!

It’s addicting one you begin to play with all of the floral pieces – I ended up with a lot of extras, and I tucked them into one of our clear envelopes to store with the framelits.

I also used the same concept to update the cover on the Kraft Grid Journal, currently available on the Clearance Rack at $1.98 for a package of 2. They’re perfect for tucking into a bag or desk drawer, or to keep in the car for those random (BRILLIANT) ideas that always pop into my head when I’m driving.

I used Versamark for the cover of the Kraft Journal, and added stamped details in Crumb Cake. A couple of stamps and a little sponging created texture on the blooms, and a little more Baker’s Twine finished off the look.

The Botanical Blooms bundle includes stamps, framelits and Designer Series paper with a great tropical flair – I know it will be a big hit here in Hawaii! It’s also a natural during Sale-a-bration, as it’s perfectly priced to qualify for a free SAB stamp set or paper pack.

Click below to see what Heather Mathieson has created this month – or scroll to the bottom of the page to take your own customized trip through the tour. Enjoy!

Journals for a new year

Posted on January 11, 2016 by mauistamper

A new journal helps me believe that anything is possible in a new year:

It’s a leap year – 366 days in which to celebrate and be grateful. This journal is to remind me to be grateful, as well as to help me be motivated to set and keep goals and memories. I used a retired This ‘n That journal and covered the front with Perfectly Artistic Sale-a-bration Designer Series paper (DSP). The letters are some self-adhesive chipboard I had stashed in the craft room, and the numbers are stamped and die cut with the Number of Years bundle from the Occasions catalog.

It’s simple to fit the paper over the spiral binding. Mark the spacing for the holes, use a punch (this is 3/8″ from my Crop-a-dile) to punch the holes, then use your snips to make a little slit between the edge and the hole. Once it’s adhered to the cover (I used Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive) you won’t see the slits.

I also made a new cover for my To Do list journal. I’ve always been a list-maker, and for the past few years I’ve used the Circa system from Levenger to organize my lists. I like that I can add pages, move pages around, and punch and add my own pages to the journals. And I especially like crossing things off my list!

I chose not to stamp these images, but to focus on the colors and textures that I could get using card stock cut with Thinlits. I began with a few pieces and just kept cutting and adding until there were too many, and then I took a few away. It’s a fun type of trial and error, but the real fun comes when you try to adhere them down just exactly where you put them in the first place. It helps to take a photo.

I use a lot of digital lists, calendars and reminders, but there’s still something very satisfying about paper and pen. How about you? Tell me about your lists. And then maybe you’ll make a new journal too.

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2016 by mauistamper

One of my favorite traditions of every New Year is a new calendar:

You may have noticed that I have a bit of a thing for birds. We have both North and South American cardinals in Hawaii, so I am especially fond of the cardinal from Joyful Season.

You have until January 4th to order these stamps for $17.85 (#139770). After that, when you decide you really SHOULD have gotten them, you’ll start looking on all the usual (extortion-priced) websites and beating yourself up for procrastinating. Shoot, you can knock off that Don’t Procrastinate New Year’s Resolution today! (You’re welcome!)

I have one or two DIY Easel calendar kits left if you’d like to make one. Details are HERE.

My BFFs Cheryl and Crystal are joining me again this year with a mini-blog-tour on the first of every month. Check out their calendar inspirations too!

And from me to you, with deepest affection, Happy New Year!

Last Weekly Deals of 2015!

Posted on December 29, 2015 by mauistamper

Here you are – the last DEALS of 2015! These savings are available December 29, 2015 through January 4, 2016.

Click HERE to shop – and don’t miss the last of the Year End Sale! I’m telling you, next December you’re going to be so glad you picked up an extra Oh What Fun bundle on sale!

# 139602 – THIRTY TAGS – for just $14.70!

I made quite a few of these gift tag holders, and I used a couple of variations. They were quick, easy, and I loved the presentation. (Have you noticed how often I highlight projects that are quick and easy?)

This was another variation – kind of a “same song, second verse” edition.

Inside there was a little bit of Designer Series paper (a great way to use up those odd scraps) and a pocket for the gift card. Some of the cards I purchased came with a small envelope, and it fit nicely inside the pocket too.

Change the paper and make gift card holders for birthdays, Valentines, Easter…or just because. Enjoy the options!

Weekly Deals and Last Minute Goodies

Posted on December 22, 2015 by mauistamper

It wouldn’t be Tuesday without Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up!

There are still lots of great deals on the Year-End Sale page as well – I just ordered a few more Oh What Fun tag kits (#139602, on sale for $14.70). I have used them on absolutely everything this season and they take simple wrapping to WOW in a flash!

I also have some cute packaging to share, done by the oh-so-talented Robbie. She is the Gift Queen every year for our Stampin’ Holiday Party, and this year was no exception. She used the Mini Treat Bag thinlits to make these:

The antlers!!! I love them – they’re from the Tree Builder Punch and they are perfect with the googlie eyes (any excuse to use googlie eyes is a valid excuse in my book.)

Is there an elegant someone on your list? This combination is very classy – the beautiful Winter Wonderland paper is retiring and is on sale (#139588, $10.40)

Last but certainly not least, Robbie made bags with the gorgeous red foil and used glimmer paper for accents. The Black Glimmer paper is on sale (#139605 for $3.50) and it’s retiring too.

Don’t miss these great last-minute deals – shop online HERE!

A RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Tour

Posted on December 10, 2015 by mauistamper

Time for a RemARKable Blog Tour – and this one is perfectly timed. It’s not quite the last minute, but it’s close enough.

I’m a big fan of using things that I have on hand when I’m looking for a last-minute solution, and last month I assembled the Oh What Fun tags kit (#139602, on sale for $14.70 for 30 tags) just for this purpose. I also try to keep our packaging solutions on hand – this is the Petite Café Gift Bag (#135826, $6 for 10 bags). Finally, this time of year I stock up on fun ribbon, and nothing says FUN like the Real Red PomPom Trim (#139617, on sale for $4.20 for 5 yards). I added a little 1/8″ Striped Ribbon to finish off the package (#139615, on sale for $6.40 for 5 yards each red and green stripe ribbon).

Here’s the same treatment using the Mini Muslin Bags (#132180, $10 for 8 bags). You’ll notice that other than the gift tags, there is no stamping involved. Make up the tags and you are ready to assemble your gifts and go!

My final project uses the Gift Box Punch Board (#135863, $20). I’ve used some retired heavy-weight printed kraft card stock, but it works just as well with the plain Heavy Kraft Cardstock in the Annual Catalog (#133674, $6 for 12 sheets of 12×12 cardstock) or with our regular cardstock. Our DSP will work in a pinch, but I find it makes a rather fragile box so I prefer the heavier paper.

Do you see a theme here? Fun Ribbon = Fast Packages!

There are 2 of these little hazelnut-chocolate delights inside each box. I used the 1.75 x 1.75 x 2.5 box and didn’t cut the angles (with the reverse punch) in the top. Instead, I used a glue dot to secure each set of flaps and let the ribbon finish the job. Because the box was tall, the chocolates are stacked. They didn’t want to play nicely at first, but I found a solution:

That little piece of scrap is 1 1/2″ wide and 4″ long, scored 1 1/4″ from each end. It slides easily into the box and keeps the chocolates nicely stacked. And just for your reference, I made 10 of these boxes in 40 minutes – starting with cutting the card stock and finishing with tying the bows. Not bad!

Don’t have these exact items on hand? Time to go dig into that stash you’ve been hoarding – that’s how I found that retired cardstock! Depending on where you live, an order put in tonight might well arrive in time for last-minute gifts – check out the Year-End Sale and you’ll be on your way to D.O.N.E!

As always, I hope you’ve been inspired. Heather‘s next on the tour – click below to see her wonderful projects. The full tour is at the end of the post in case you get lost in the woods.

Nancy Amato
Melissa Bolinger
Tamra Davis
Arden Dougan
Tracie Langley
Anne Matasci – you are HERE
Heather Mathieson
Audra Monk
Maria Pane
Michele Reynolds
Pam Staples
Janet Wakeland

It’s time for a December Calendar……

Posted on December 1, 2015 by mauistamper

…and I’ve turned to For The Birds one last time:

After this year I’ll have to find a new favorite – I was so sorry to see For the Birds retire.

I used the treetop from Lovely as a Tree and positioned a sticky note to create a mask, allowing me to vary the height of my trees.

A little smudge of Smokey Slate with the Aqua Painter gives my skater a little color to stand out from the snowy Whisper White background.

And a heartfelt Happy December to you all.

Visit Cheryl and Crystal to see how they’ve finished out their 2015 calendars!

Give Thanks: November Calendar

Posted on November 1, 2015 by mauistamper

I love the look of coloring directly on the rubber:

That’s one of the best things about these little calendars – they’re small enough that I don’t mind putting in the extra effort to do something special like coloring on the stamps.

Stamps are from For All Things and colors are Blackberry Bliss, Real Red, Tangerine Tango and Crushed Curry. And you could do this in a heartbeat.

Check out more November calendars by visiting Cheryl and Crystal.

And if you want to, there’s still time to get your own 2016 DIY Easel Calendar Kit!

You may choose your kit either with easel or without. Prices include shipping for one kit; please contact me for shipping costs of multiple kits.

2016 Calendar Kit with wood easel: $13.95 ($8 for kit, $5.95 for priority mail box)
2016 Calendar Kit (no easel, no box): $5.71 ($5 for kit, $.71 for first class mail)

Email me at AnneMatasci (at) gmail (dot) com with your choice of kits, email address and shipping address. I’ll send you an invoice via SQUARE and when we’re all Squared up (ha ha ha, I crack myself up) I’ll ship your kit! Details HERE

In just 2 days…Trick or Treat!

Posted on October 29, 2015 by mauistamper

There aren’t a lot of trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood so I can afford to have some fun:

If you follow the Maui Stamper, you’ll remember I made these HERE.

These are very similar, using the Pillow Box Framelits, the Howl-o-ween stamps, the Boo to You Thinlits and the Woodlands TIEF – but I used retired DSP for the back and some retired ribbon as well.

I really did use up all of my Happy Haunting DSP!

The fun thing is that with the window on the front (it’s one of the options with the framelit set) you can see the reverse side of the DSP when the treats are gone. As if the local 6-year-olds will care, but it makes me happy to know it’s there.

Witchy Li’l Punkins

Posted on October 22, 2015 by mauistamper

I am shamelessly CASEing these punkins:

They were apparently a big hit a Founders Circle, Stampin’ Up!’s recognition event for the top 100 demonstrators. Janet Wakeland shared them privately with her RemARKable Stampers team , and Patty Bennett shared them on her blog with a little more detail.

I made a punkin-patch worth of these for my hostess club – I know they’ll be after the chocolate inside!

I used a variety of different stamps to embellish the sides – Chalk Lines, Sweet Stack, Awesomely Artistic, and Dotty Angles. It’s a simple idea: assemble the Curvy Keepsake Box, cut a slit down the center of the Spider Web doily and slip it over the handles. I punched a 2 1/2″ circle of Black Glimmer paper and used a craft knife to cut a slit in the center of that (Patty’s example uses the Word Window punch). I slipped the circle over the handles right on top of the doily.

Finally, I punched two trees from Black Glimmer paper and adhered them to one another with Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive). I made a Builder Bow Punch bow with Happy Haunting DSP (told you I used it up!) and used Glue dots to put the bow on the “tree” and the tree on the handle. Patty’s version is a little different – the hat lifts on and off – but I wanted my to stay put.

There’s still time – just a few cranks of that Big Shot and you’ll be halfway there!

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Category Archives: 3-D

It’s a RemARKable New Year

Journals for a new year

Happy New Year!

Last Weekly Deals of 2015!

Weekly Deals and Last Minute Goodies

A RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Tour

It’s time for a December Calendar……

Give Thanks: November Calendar

In just 2 days…Trick or Treat!

Witchy Li’l Punkins

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