Another gorgeous bag

Posted on November 6, 2010 by mauistamper

I wish I could claim credit for this:

I guess I can take credit for making one of my own and serving as an inspiration. This is Kellie’s Candy Cane fabrics Scallop Square bag and I love it. She let me borrow it for display purposes only and was VERY careful to tell me that she wanted it back. Smart girl.

Angie Kennedy Juda has a great tutorial video on making this bag if you’d like to have one of your own.

My bag has the added benefit of being constructed with the help of Captain Stupid Head himself, who is sleeping right next to my computer monitor at this very moment. It’s one of his favorite spots and he is happy unless I have technical issues that cause me to shout and/or pound the desktop.

Up on the rooftop

Posted on November 1, 2010 by mauistamper

At convention this summer one of the bonus goodies I brought home was a full package of the Deck the Halls Designer Series paper. I’ve hoarded it a bit, waiting for just the right project. Then a few weeks ago I broke down and ordered a Decor Elements Design a House to play with:

Decor Elements Design a House
Jolly Old St Nick stamp set
Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper
Vellum; Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Always Artichoke card stock
Real Red and Basic Black Classic ink pad
Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray and Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write Markers
Modern Label and assorted Circle punches
XL Two Step Bird punch; Scallop trim punch
Big Shot and Lattice Textured Embossing Folder
Silver Glass Glitter
LOADS of Tombo, the wonder adhesive; Sticky Strip; and a few mini glue dots

Do you like it? I’m really excited because I broke out the glitter – and it’s not like Dazzling Diamonds at all! It’s VERY easy to clean up and so far I haven’t heard any complaints from Mr. Maui Stamper, also known as He Who Does NOT Like Glitter, Not One Little Bit. The Glass Glitter stays put with Tombo.

Here’s a side view:

This was fun, but I’ll repeat what I heard from others – don’t rush the Design-a-House. I took my time tracing the templates onto my Designer Series papers and adhering them to the walls, and I used a LOT of Tombo because I didn’t want any air bubbles. I used the flat applicator side on the Tombo bottle and covered the wall before I put the paper on, and I was pleased with the results. I did go a little over-the-top with the windows, because instead of cutting them out, I cut an “X” through the DSP and folded it back in around the opening to create a finished edge.

The chimney is Chocolate Chip cardstock that went through the Big Shot with the Lattice embossing folder. The scallop trim under the eaves was cut as one long strip, but it wouldn’t sit flat when I attached it underneath the roof, so I trimmed and mitred the peaks. The wreath on the front door is a circle – I think the 1 inch – with another circle – I think it was 1/2 inch – punched out of the center. I layered the Tombo on and covered it with Glass Glitter and just let it dry.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a collection of these over the years to showcase Stampin’ Up! Christmas papers?

Decorating Jack

Posted on October 28, 2010 by mauistamper

I have fond memories of carving Jack-O-Lanterns with my three kids. We always selected “interesting” pumpkins and carefully drew faces with markers on them before we began the cutting to be sure we liked our choices. The children were never terribly enthusiastic about sticking their hands inside and scooping out the gooey stuff, but my oldest daughter would always ask to set the seeds aside for roasting.

Now that there’s only a very busy 16 year old man-child in the house, carving pumpkins doesn’t generate the interest it did in the past. It helps to understand that the carving had to be done on Halloween afternoon, because here on Maui a pumpkin that’s been cut more than 24 hours gets fuzzy very quickly. My favorite Halloweens have been the ones that fell the night before trash pick-up, because I could dump all that soggy mess into the trash late on the 31st and it would be gone before the local insect population came to visit.

This year, when I saw the Decor Elements demonstrated on pumpkins at convention, I knew my problems had been solved:

I wish I had a snazzy camera and lens that would show you Jack’s whole face in one shot, but for now you get to see his Trick side and his Treat side in two parts:

This Jack is already sitting on my front porch – that in and of itself is an amazing thing. Decor Elements, you rock.

Adding Texture with Embossing Folders

Posted on October 26, 2010 by mauistamper

I was a little late jumping on the Big Shot Textured Impressions Embossing Folders bandwagon. My “gonna be hot” intuition isn’t especially well-tuned and I actually get it wrong quite often. I’ll see something – of course, it’s going to be something that I absolutely love – and I’ll be convinced that the rest of the world (read here “My Customers”) will be crazy about it. Case in point: there was a hostess set a couple of years ago with a gorgeous rooster. The less said about that stamp set, the better.

So where was I? Ah yes…Embossing Folders. I wasn’t quite sure if I would use them. (Sorry, did you just snort your morning coffee all over your monitor? Yeah, me too.) I should hasten to add that once I got my hands on those folders I quickly realized the error of my ways. But last fall when the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder came out in the Holiday Mini I didn’t buy it. I did borrow it from my upline, and I ran a bunch of quarter sheets through my Big Shot in holiday colors. Let’s define “a bunch” as WAY more than I needed, ok? So when I saw a project this fall that would use multiple quarter sheets, you can bet I paid attention:

Jolly Old St Nick and Peaceful Season stamp sets
Real Red and Whisper White card stock
Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive and Always Artichoke Classic ink pads
Real Red Stampin’ Write marker; Stampin’ Sponges
Blushing Bride ink refill and an Aquapainter; Gold ink
Real Red satin ribbon; Linen thread; Deck the Halls Buttons
Stampin’ Dimensionals and Sticky Strip

There’s a great tutorial for this project at Splitcoaststampers and it was very easy to follow. I want to point out that when I say Kleenex box, that is what I mean: this is the genuine article, not Brand X. The tutorial dimensions are for a Kleenex brand box, so if you use another brand be sure to check your dimensions. And pay attention when the instructions tell you to sponge the edges of the box and across the embossing – it matters.

Here’s the top:

Just imagine how dull this would be without all of that Textured Impressions Embossing. What WAS I thinking??

Getting ready for Trick or Treat

Posted on October 25, 2010 by mauistamper

I’ve got a little more Halloween fun to share, but it isn’t actually mine. I’m really more about the chocolate than the decorations when it comes to Halloween, but fortunately Kellie has been busy with her Wicked Cool stamps and paper!!

Who would have thought that PURPLE (ok, ok, Rich Razzleberry, but it’s purple already!) would work so well as a Halloween color? Go figure!

Wanna see what’s inside?

Kellie stamped her images on tissue paper, put them in place on the tea lights, then used her heat tool to melt the wax over the tissue. Wicked cool, wouldn’t you say? And please notice that she stamped those psycho little bats along the side of the box too – that girl thinks of everything!

For the finishing touch, how about a card that says it all:

If this doesn’t say Wicked Witch of the West to you, well then I don’t know what would! I’m not going to attempt a product list because I would surely make a mess of it, but Kellie did point out something very clever. She doesn’t have the biggest scallop circle, so she punched two XL Fancy Flowers and offset them behind the witches feet. Absolutely brilliant!

Thanks, Kellie, for the inspiration.

Tags for your packages

Posted on October 17, 2010 by mauistamper

I was on a roll with these tags…if I’d had more time I would have kept on going. They’re generously sized for tags so you can put a mushy note on them to make your teenaged son roll his eyes. Since I gave all of these away for the Water for People auction, I’ll have to make some more for my family to use later on. (Famous last words. I am so last minute it’s embarassing.)

Sweet Season and Snow Swirled stamp sets, Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke classic ink pads, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke card stock, Scallop Circle, 1 1/4 inch and 1 3/8 inch circle punches, and retired Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon.

These tags have are stamped with “To” and “From” on the back and they are perfect to hang from the lid of a jar or around a package of home made goodies for the holidays.

I also did a set of tags with non-traditional Christmas colors. Since I crossed over to the retired product side anyway, I decided I might as well break out the Bermuda Bay. You know, I love being a demonstrator, and I am thrilled with our new Color Renovation, but it is really difficult for me to let go of certain things. Riding Hood Red ribbon is definitely in that category. So are Bermuda Bay and Soft Sky. Sigh.

Tags for Christmas stamp set, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry Classic ink pad, Wisper White and Rich Razzleberry card stock, Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Write marker, 1 3/4 inch circle and 2 3/8 inch scallop circle punches, Vanilla Shinmmer Smooch Spritz, and retired Bermuda Bay ribbon.

Don’t they look cute all lined up? There’s something about seeing them together that makes me want to smile. Yeah, I know. Dork.

Kellie’s Halloween Treats

Posted on October 9, 2010 by mauistamper

Kellie was here this week and shared these fabulous Halloween treat holders. She told me that she made over 30 of them with her mom and her daughter for her daughter to share at school, and they had a great time together. Her mom commented that the 9 year old recipients might not appreciate all the time and effort that went into the making, but her daughter responded “But I’m having a GREAT time!!” Doesn’t that make your heart melt?

Wicked Cool Stamp set
Basic Black Classic ink pad; Whisper White Craft ink pad
Basic Black, Whisper White and Pumpkin Pie card stock
Wicked Fun Specialty paper
Circle and Scallop Circle punches
XL Two Step Owl punch
Big Shot and Candy Wrapper Bigz die

I don’t have the exact list of supplies from Kellie, so I’m improvising here. My photo barely picks up the cob webs running along the side of the black cardstock but they are the perfect touch.

Do you recognize the ghost? Kellie saw it on Stampers’ Showcase, the Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator creative sharing site. It’s the XL Two Step owl, standing on his head with his feet cut off. Doesn’t that crack you up? I guess I’m easily entertained, but it gives me the giggles.

So what’s keeping you from making a few treat holders – and some memories – with your family??

Using up the “bits”

Posted on October 5, 2010 by mauistamper

Sometimes I stamp something that doesn’t fit the project I’m working on, but I like the way it looks. Those “bits” as I like to refer to them usually end up on the bulletin board above my stamp desk for me to ponder. If they’re “little bits” they have a jar on my desk, but when things get into that jar they sometimes never leave – they’re too small to remember. This was a bit on the bulletin board that kept calling me:

Circle Circus and Thanks So Much stamp sets
Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock
Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pads
Real Red 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
Large oval punch; XL Decorative Label punch

This is a simple concept that could be re-interpreted in many different ways, but I thought the colors were very Autumnal, and I’ve said before that changing the colors of my paper is as close to Autumn as I get here in the islands. You could even take a full sheet (8 1/2 x 11 inches) of Very Vanilla cardstock and do your random stamping all over that, then cut it into card pieces. Sometimes it’s all about efficiency!

Letterpress for Christmas

Posted on September 29, 2010 by mauistamper

Even though it’s still September, it’s time to have a little Christmas Speak Peek. After all, there are some pretty fabulous Christmas goodies in that Holiday Mini Catalog – wouldn’t you agree?? There are so many choices but there was no question in my mind regarding where to start for Christmas. Have you seen the Letterpress plates??

Big Shot and Joyful Season Letterpress Plate
Watercolor paper; Real Red and Old Olive cardstock
Real Red and Old Olive Craft Ink Spots
Frost White Shimmer Paint and the Aquapainter
Paper Piercing Tool, Template and Mat
Scallop Trim Border punch
Real Red 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

Can I get an Ooooo and an Aaahhh?? The heart-breaker here is that my photography doesn’t begin to do this technique justice. The images aren’t just inked into the paper, they are truly pressed. If you flip the paper over you can clearly see the reverse image, and that deep impression gives this card a very luxe look when you hold it in your hand. The Frost White Shimmer paint was applied directly onto the image full strength with the Aquapainter for a little extra bling on the stockings – you can just see it at the tops of the two outside stockings, but it’s also on the stripes of the middle one. (Dang. I am going to have to spend good stamp money on a camera. Double Dang.)

By the way, the dimensions for this card are 3 1/4 by 6 1/2 inches as you see it, and yes we do have envelopes for that size (#107286, $7.50 for 20, page 171 in the IBC). This is a Christmas card that will truly turn heads!

And now for something a little different:

Northern Hearts Level I Hostess Set (Holiday Mini)
Big Shot and Northern Trim Letterpress Plate
Watercolor Paper; Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise Classic ink pads
Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise Craft ink spots
Scallop Border Trim and Ornament punches
1 and 1 1/4 inch circle punches
Basic rhinestone jewels and Linen Thread

I’ll be mailing Christmas gifts to my oldest daughter in Australia this year. It’s gonna be tough – this is the first time one of my keiki will not be home on Christmas morning. In case you haven’t checked, postage overseas is kind of expensive, so our gifts to her will be of the “Good Things Come In Small Packages” sort. This flat little box will ship very nicely, and I have a pretty good idea of what I’m putting inside. Can’t say, of course – she does check the blog, although I suspect both she and her sister check in just to see if I’ve said anything about them 🙂

I love all the bling on this package. Those Basic Rhinestone Jewels and Pearls are such fun to use, and I swear that for every two I pull off the sheet, one grows back in their place. These aren’t exactly your traditional Christmas colors, but I was inspired to go really bright with this project. Hmmm…since this will be an Aussie package, I guess they are non-traditional Christmas Colours.

Tags for your memories

Posted on September 28, 2010 by mauistamper

Welcome to Day Four of the RemARKable Holiday Madness Blog tour! I hope you’re enjoying all the fabulous creations that the RemARKables have posted for you, and I want to encourage you to leave a COMMENT. It’s quite easy, and really quite fun. Those of us who labor to bring you such fabulous and fascinating content LOVE-LOVE-LOVE to get your comments!

Do you like today’s projects? I’ve had this idea in mind for a while but as is often the case, it had to simmer away on the back burner for a bit. I’ve used the Paisley Prints stamp set as well as the Big Shot and the Originals Leaves #2 die to create the leaves, and I started by just stamping and cutting a heap of them. The tags are cut from Crumb Cake card stock and embellished with the leaves, Always Artichoke 1/2″ Seam Binding and the Big Designer Deck the Halls Buttons from the Holiday Mini catalog. One tag is stamped with a “thanks” sentiment from the Thank You Kindly stamp set and the other is rolled with the Bright Blessings Jumbo Stampin’ Around Wheel. The buttons are sewn on with our Linen Thread, one of my favorite “little touches”.

I used the same leaves and embellishments to create some autumn napkin rings. It was fun to mix and match the different leaves – they’re attached to a 1″ punched circle of cardstock with Tombo-the-wonder-adhesive.

I had a long string of wooden beads that I was given years ago when I was a scout leader, and they have been waiting for just the right project to come along. I strung them on heavy elastic cord and knotted it, then used Linen Thread to tie the leaves onto the beads. It was simple and fun and I’m thinking I’ll make a few more leaves and add them to what I have leftover to make a banner of sorts that I can hang in my dining room.

I know that somebody out there is wondering what colors I used for the ink and the card stock. There are lots of colors! I used Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, More Mustard and of course Whisper White card stock. I stamped with Classic ink pads in Peach Parfait, Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke and Old Olive. In other words, I worked with whatever was in arm’s reach! It’s liberating to be random – I’m usually so focused on matching and detail, and I enjoyed stretching myself outside of my comfort zone with this.

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Category Archives: 3-D

Another gorgeous bag

Up on the rooftop

Decorating Jack

Adding Texture with Embossing Folders

Getting ready for Trick or Treat

Tags for your packages

Kellie’s Halloween Treats

Using up the “bits”

Letterpress for Christmas

Tags for your memories

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