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

Posted on July 1, 2016 by mauistamper

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

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

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

Posted on June 10, 2016 by mauistamper

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

Posted on June 1, 2016 by mauistamper

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

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

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

Posted on May 1, 2016 by mauistamper

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

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

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

Posted on April 1, 2016 by mauistamper

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

Stamps: Birthday Blossoms
Color Palette: Crushed Curry, So Saffron, Lost Lagoon
Accessories: Aquapainter

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.

Happy Girls Day!

Posted on March 3, 2016 by mauistamper

In Hawaii, we celebrate Hinamatsuri, or Girls Day. How adorable are these little “paper dolls” made with the Curvy Keepsake box?

I didn’t make these – this is in the hands of the lovely creator, Yvette. Yesterday I walked into my tax appointment and she was sitting at her desk with a big smile. You need to know how much I dread doing taxes – I tell the CPA “I make things, I don’t count things.” Knowing that Yvette is there always makes it a little easier. And when she reached behind her to show me the tray of these little gems, it made things a lot easier.

I don’t have all the details, but she did say that she cut two Curvy Keepsake pieces in black and then just the front piece in white and glued it on. She also said she had a teeny craft-meltdown making the faces, but Loretta came to her rescue (that’s what friends are for!) And finally, the “chopsticks” in her “hair” are white sticks for lollipops rolled in the ink pad – she wore gloves!

Twenty-something little kindergarteners are going to receive an adorable Girls Day gift! Thanks for sharing, Yvette!

A March Lamb

Posted on March 1, 2016 by mauistamper

I’m on an adorable animal kick for my calendar this spring!

Stamps: Easter Lamb
Color Palette: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Cucumber Crush
Accessories: Wink of Stella Clear glitter brush, Stampin’ Write markers

I used markers to color directly on the stamp and the new Wink of Stella clear glitter brush to add a little sparkle to the fleece. Easter comes in March this year, so there has to be a little glitter!

This is the last month for Sale-a-bration – you have until the 31st to get your FREEBIES. Shop HERE.

Hop on over to see what Crystal and Cheryl have created for their March calendars.

It’s “Bearly” February

Posted on February 1, 2016 by mauistamper

We’re kinda short on bears here on Maui…but I found one for February’s calendar:

Stamps: Bear Hugs
Color Palette: Blushing Bride, Soft Suede
Accessories: Paper Snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I love that face! And I chose to fussy-cut the hat and the heart – I wanted them to be really tight to the edge.

Bear Hugs is available as wood mount or clear mount. It’s also available in a bundle with coordinating framelits. Shop HERE!

Visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they have done for their February calendars.

Sweet Treats and the Sweet Stack Kit

Posted on January 17, 2016 by mauistamper

In the spring, my family launches into Birthday Season. Mr. Maui Stamper is a December birthday, but the rest of us celebrate from March through May.

The Sweet Stack Kit (#138812, $21) includes this stand plus 20 cake-slice-shaped boxes to create two tiers of packages.

These have been decorated with the Sweet Stack Photopolymer stamps (#138948, $17) and are perfectly sized for small gifts, candy and treats, or even a gift card.

I added a bit of trim to the bottom of the skewer that holds up the banner. I used hot glue to fix them permanently in place, and there were tell-tale glue bumps that I needed to cover up!

As with most Stampin’ Up! kits, these go together quickly and easily, and the only thing you’ll need to supply with the kit are the companion stamps, ink and adhesive. Even the little “candle” assemblies are provided!

I did develop one little trick. I stretched the Bakers Twine across my cutting mat and taped it down, then arranged all of the little self-adhesive pennants along the twine before I pressed them into place. I’m notorious for making things all catty-wompus, and this helped keep the spacing even.

The cardboard stand is very sturdy and will serve me well all through birthday season – assuming I can keep the frosting off of it!

Shop HERE – the kit and the stamps get you 2/3 of the way to a FREE Sale-a-bration choice!

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!