Decking the Halls

Posted on November 5, 2009 by mauistamper

I am all about simple-plus cute…so how about these ornaments?

Ornament_Tree

Yes, I know the tree is leaning. It’s not – really – but I leaned when I took the picture, trying to get everything to fit in. I ought to take another, but I have a thousand and one reasons not to. And every single reason is just a lazy excuse, so there!

These little paper gems use 6 ornament punches, scored down the middle and attached to each other with Tombo Multipurpose adhesive. Before I stuck the last two edges together I put a loop of Elastic Cord down the middle (gold or silver, Holiday Mini Catalog p. 27 $4.95). When everything was dry I threaded a few beads on the bottom and tied a knot. Personally, I kind of like the tails, but to each her own.

These go together in no time and are a very portable craft. I don’t recommend trying to thread the beads when you’re out and about unless you have more patience and a steadier hand than I do. I tend to mutter a lot when I add the beads, and appearing to talk to yourself without a cell phone or ear-bud in sight will attract some pretty odd looks.

More Sweet Centers

Posted on October 26, 2009 by mauistamper

I’ve seen loads of these on blogs and forum galleries and decided to try it myself. I’m here to tell you this is about as easy as it comes, and if I hadn’t needed a heap 0′ Sweet Treat cups for my Hostess Club, I would have made a rainbow of these flowers. Well, a Halloween Rainbow…Yellow and Orange…Toe-bod-butt colors.

You see, in my family, we don’t call these Candy Corn. We call them Toe-bod-butts. Please excuse our French, but that’s what we’ve always called them. The yellow part is the toe, the orange part is the body, and the white part, well, it’s the butt. That’s just what it is. Of course, when we start scouring the grocery aisle for them around August we have to remember to ask for Candy Corn. You get funny looks at Safeway when you ask for Toe-bod-butts. Go figure.

Sweet_Centers_Flower_Pick

Sweet Centers Stamp Set
Very Vanilla cardstock
Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, and Old Olive Classic Ink pads
Two 2 1/2″ circles of cardstock (for the back to cover the bag of the Treat Cup)
Tombo adhesive, Sticky Strip, Linen Thread, Old Olive 5/8″ grosgrain and Old Olive 1 1/4″ grosgrain stripe ribbon, Circle Scissors Plus, bamboo skewer

Gotta order me some more Sweet Treat cups!

Super Simple Halloween Treats

Posted on October 23, 2009 by mauistamper

This is a quick and easy treatment for some simple Halloween goodies…the stamped image is 3″ square, the mat is 3 1/4″ square, and the packaging is 3 1/2″ wide x 8 1/2″ long. Punch holes in the center of everything and double punch some Only Orange cardstock to create a ring and you’re almost done. It doesn’t show in the photo, but I used the absolutely magical Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to give it all some sparkle – a couple of drops in a small spray bottle with some rubbing alcohol and you are ready to sparkle…and it doesn’t come off the project!

Sweet_Centers_Halloween_Treats

Sweet Centers Stamp Set
Only Orange, Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Ink
1 3/4″ and 1 3/8″ circle punches
White Gel pen, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Crop-a-dile, Sticky Strip and small cello bag
Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive 1/4″ grosgrain; non-SU 1/8″ black grosgrain

These would be easy to make in quantity! Trick or treat!

Love these little boxes

Posted on October 12, 2009 by mauistamper

I love containers of all sorts. Fortunately for me, the company by that name does not have a store on Maui. If they did, it would be a very dangerous thing for my wallet. Knowing that, it’s clear how quickly the Stampin’ Up! Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die (115967, $42.95) would catch my eye the first time I browsed through the new Idea Book and Catalog back in July. The envelope is just right for a tiny 2″ x 2″ gift card, and the little box is sized to hold the cards and envelopes. It’s also just the right size for a favor box.

Tower o' Bitty Boxes

I’m not even going to begin trying to tell you what all these papers are. Not one of them is current. I’ve been diligently trying to use up my hoard of retired Designer Series Papers and this seemed the perfect way to do it. The Big Shot is pretty cool that way – it takes odd bits and scraps and grinds them up and gives you cute little playthings in return.

These boxes are for the members of my Hostess Club. There’s a little something that fits perfectly inside to give them sustenance, and then they get to embellish the box and bring it to the next club for Show and Tell. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Spooky Expressions

Posted on October 4, 2009 by mauistamper

I’ve always decorated for holidays. It started when the kids were small and would bring home seasonal projects from school. I’d put their projects up, then little by little add to them as the month wore on. I’ve actually saved some of my favorite projects through the years. Now that they’re nearly all grown, I have to make my own projects!

I almost missed these goofy pumpkin faces in the Decor Elements catalog. Three great faces for $4.95 – you can hardly beat that, can you? It was a 5 minute project to put a face on my candle jar – and that included washing and drying the glass first!

Spooky_Expressions_candle_crop

Spooky Expressions (117568) $4.95
Decor Elements Applicator (114285) $1.95

Kinda reminds me of the Koolaid Pitcher. You remember that, don’t you?

This would be so easy to do on so many things…a window, a bowl, a notebook….shoot, even a pumpkin! Trick or treat!

A cute little box

Posted on September 22, 2009 by mauistamper

Are you tired of seeing cards yet? This is a simple project that makes a cute small gift. The box is made from two Scallop Envelopes – exclusive Stampin’ Up! dies – and a couple of small rectangles to fill in the sides. If you don’t have a Big Shot, you could…well, I just don’t see how you could make something this cute without a Big Shot!

Just for You tote 003_wmk_crop

The cards are 3 x 3 and very simple – stamp, mat and attach. The box is quick too – attach the envelopes to each other across the bottom, add a couple of sides and voila! Stamp a sentiment for the front, wrap the ribbon around and attach with a little sticky strip, glue or sew the button on and you’re done. The envelopes are Stampin’ Up! mini square envelopes.

Choo Choo, Teeny Tiny Wishes and Branch Out stamp sets and Right on Track wheel
Real Red, So Saffron, and Brocade Blue Classic ink and Close to Cocoa ink cartridge
Real Red, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, and Basic Black Stampin’ Write Markers
Whisper White, Real Red, So Saffron and Brocade Blue cardstock
Big Shot and Scallop Envelope die
Oval and Scallop oval punches
Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon, Playground Designer Buttons