Category Archives: All Occassion

Love What You Do Fun Fold

Posted on by
4

Someone sent me a card using this layout for my birthday (Thanks, Louella!), and even though I’d seen images of this Fun Fold, holding it in my hand was a completely different experience. When I figured out how easy it was to put together, I was SOLD!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do

This is a half sheet of card stock, like any card, but it’s cut on the diagonal. I have a couple of trimmers, and none of them are large enough to cut the entire length, but if I cut through the center I was able to use my Paper Snips to complete the cut.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Love What You Do

Score your full 8 1/2″ X 11″ sheet of card stock both horizontally and vertically before you cut it. Cut your DSP to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and then cut it on the diagonal as well. NOTE: If your DSP is directional, pay attention to how you cut it – for example, if you want your stripes to be horizontal, align them correctly before you cut.

You can make heaps of these in no time at all, and they’re a great way to use up your DSP. Round up all of those die cuts you have floating around because you cut an extra and didn’t know what to do with it, and you’ll have a stack of cards in a flash. Then SEND THEM!! As always, if you’re ready to shop, click HERE.

A new look at Daisy Delight

Posted on by
2

Rumor has it there’s a new Daisy set (with a coordinating mid-sized punch) in the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. I don’t have it yet, but seeing some of the images from our April Demonstrator Event sent me to the craft room to play.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Daisy Delight and the Daisy Punch

I’m starting to get a little neurotic about plant parts. I decided I didn’t like the stems that came with the Daisy stamp, so I cut my own out of Basic Black card stock with my Paper Snips and adhered them with the Fine Tip Glue Pen. I’m starting to feel kind of renegade about stems and leaves (do you remember my orchid leaves?)

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Daisy Delight and the Daisy Punch

I embossed the daisy images on the Vellum so the lines wouldn’t run when I colored them. In retrospect, I could have stamped them with Stazon ink and colored them on the REVERSE side and gotten a very similar look. I call that Delayed Intelligence. When you’re coloring with Stampin’ Blends, you need to use Memento Ink to avoid smearing, but Stazon will dry much faster on Vellum and since it’s translucent, you can color from behind.

The Fine Tip Glue Pen dries clear behind Vellum so it’s the perfect adhesive, but it also leaves a lovely clear lacquer effect if you’re patient and allow it to dry.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Daisy Delight and the Daisy Punch

I’m leaving this one without a sentiment for now. I like to have a few cards ready-to-personalize for last minute card needs. What would you choose for this one?

If you’d like to purchase any of these products, please shop HERE.

Saying Farewell to Flowering Desert

Posted on by
5

I’m late to the Flowering Desert party, and I’m sorry that’s the case. It’s such a versatile set, the images are charming, and it’s really easy to use. There’s not a whole lot of desert here on Maui – that’s my story and I’m standing by it.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Flowering Desert
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Flowering Desert

Crystal and I had a crafty mini-retreat recently and we really dove into this. We used as many colors as we possibly could, but I got a little carried away with my paper snips.

We CASEd Tami Hewlett, beginning with her gorgeous background. Her technique is to drop little puddles of color onto a silicone craft sheet and smoosh Shimmery White or Watercolor paper onto the sheet. We LOVED the effect with Shimmery White! Please stop by her blog and give her the love she deserves for this great concept.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Flowering Desert

This is a really playful set! The fussy cutting isn’t all that fussy, and if you tend to make extras “just in case” as I do, you’ll have enough for another card.

But HURRY. This sweet set is guaranteed to be available only through May 24, 2019. Shop HERE.

Still Bloom By Bloomin’

Posted on by
Reply

The Happiness Blooms DSP has really inspired me. The images remind me of Marimekko, a Finnish design house that I’ve loved all my adult life. The colors are bright and the designs are cheerful, with options suitable for both men and women. It’s perfect for a suit of cards.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Bloom By Bloom

 

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Bloom By Bloom

This card is included in my Happiness Blooms suite card class on Tuesday evening, February 5th. You’re welcome to join us – message me and I’ll fill you in on the details. But hurry, because the craft table is filling up!

If you’d prefer to shop on your own, shop HERE.

Apron of Love in Lovely Lipstick: CI43

Posted on by
1

I hinted in my Guest Designer post (oh, it’s luscious to say that!) that I’d made other versions for the Colour INKspiration #34 challenge. The challenge is to use the 2018-2020 In Colors – 1, 2, 3, 4, or all of them – combined with neutral colours.

I’ve seen some gorgeous cards done with multiples of the In Colour palette, and I must acknowledge that it was a lack of inspiration on my part to find them difficult to use together. The 2018-2020 colours are bold, and I’m typically not a bold-combo crafter. That said, I created a card using Lovely Lipstick that’s kind of fun:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Apron of Love CI43

I have a couple of tips for you. The first one is regards to the Buffalo Check stamp. I’ve always bought my background stamps as wood mount, and that’s what I did with this one. I’ll be honest: you can get a great impression with the wood mount stamp, but it takes some effort. My technique is to lay the stamp on the wood side, rubber up, and thoroughly ink it with an ink pad. Inspect the inked stamp for even application. Carefully place your card stock panel onto the inked rubber, and cover with a piece of scrap paper. (This step keeps you from getting ink on your brayer.) Use a rubber brayer over the surface of the paper-covered-stamp to thoroughly transfer the ink to the paper. You can use your fingers, but the brayer is more accurate.

If I were to do it again, I’d buy the clear mount stamp and use the Stamparatus.  It’s a much quicker, easier process!

To get those apron strings and fabulous kitchen utensils to release from the Apron Builder Framelits, you need the Precision Base Plate.  I know, I know, your craft budget is limited. But this is a paper-saving, time-saving, hunk-a-hunk-a paper-crafting love, and you will thank yourself again and again for this small investment. I bought one when they first came out, and have used is constantly ever since, and it’s still working like a champ.

However, our Standard Cutting Pads need to be replaced more often. They’re acrylic, and the dies really chew them up. Do yourself a favor and get new ones with your next order. I know you can put them in the oven and run them through your dishwasher and send them to the dry cleaners (not really!) to give them another life. But get the new ones. You deserve it.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Apron of Love CI43

Don’t overlook the Make a Difference stamp set. It has both block and italic letters, and it’s photopolymer, so you can see just where you’re placing them. You know you’ve got something special you want to say!

If you’re still with me, well, thanks for reading along. And be sure to check out the Colour INKspiration Facebook page. You won’t meet a nicer, more supportive group of creative people! You’re welcome to join the group and contribute, and I recommend it!

Need stamps? Shop HERE.

Colour INKspiration 43: In Colours!

Posted on by
12

Maui Stamper ColourINKspiration Banner

Welcome to Colour INKspiration Challenge #43! I’m honoured to have been chosen to join the talented Colour INKspiration Crew as a Guest Designer for this celebration of the Stampin’ Up! 2018-2020 In Colour Collection.

The guidelines are to choose 1, 2, 3, 4, or all In Colours plus any Basics for your design.

Maui Stamper Colour INKspiration 43

This In Colour Collection is BOLD! Individually, the colours are beautiful, intense hues, and together, they are dominant. As I contemplated my options for this challenge, I considered – and discarded – a lot of combinations. I don’t often use really strong colour palettes, and the first card I created for this challenge was well outside of my comfort zone. I’ll share that one later in the challenge, because I came up with the one I’m sharing today that sits squarely in the center of what I love:

Maui Stamper Colour INKspiration 43 Wishing You Well Pineapple Punch

I’ve been shopping for new accent pillows, and variations on yellow and gray are everywhere. As I thought about the challenge, I decided to focus on the neutral tones and let that punchy Pineapple be the accent.

Maui Stamper Colour INKspiration 43 Wishing You Well Pineapple Punch

I added a bit of Stella to the leaves to echo the silver edge of the ribbon, and I used a Stampin’ Write marker to add a bit more Pineapple Punch to the simple bunch of stems. I didn’t try to add the Pineapple Punch directly to the stamp, but layered it on top of the Smoky Slate – faster, and combined with the underlying Slate, stronger.

I also discovered a trick with the bow from the Wishing You Well set. Some colors are prone to blotchiness with this image, and I had that problem with Pineapple Punch. I was determined to make it work, and after a bit of exploration, found that applying the ink with a Sponge Dauber evened the colour out and avoided the problem. Give it a try!

Maui Stamper Colour INKspiration 43 Next Blog

The talented, creative, delightful Lou Kitzelman is your next stop on the blog tour. Enjoy!

 

 

Introducing Project Life by Stampin’ Up!

Posted on by
Reply

I am SO excited to share this with you!

Maui Stamper Project Life by Stampin' Up!If you’re anything like me, you have (embarrassing) collections of mementos and photos from school days, family events, and trips tucked away in closets, drawers and cupboards.  I come across them from time to time and mutter “I really need to…” and then shove them back where they were!  THIS IS OUR SOLUTION.

Stampin’ Up! has collaborated with Becky Higgins, a rock star in the memory-keeping universe, to create a line of exclusive products that helps busy people (and who do you know that isn’t?) document life with photos and journaling quickly, simply and with fabulous results.

Maui Stamper Becky Higgins Project Life

Becky says “It’s called Project LIFE because it’s about YOUR LIFE.  Whatever your life is.  Whatever your stage of life.  Whatever your family circumstances.  Whatever your lifestyle.  Project Life is designed to help anyone and everyone get their pictures into a book.

It means spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

You can now order an introductory selection of exclusive Stampin’ Up! Project Life products.  This is a teaser – more will be coming soon in the new annual catalog.  Presenting:

Maui Stamper Project Life April 2014Maui Stamper Project Life April 2014I’ve just received my order – yes, I hit the “I Want It All” button – and I am delighted!  Everything coordinates beautifully, of course.  The paper quality it excellent and I am really happy with the designs – these are images I will absolutely use.  It’s nicely packaged as well; the photopolymer stamps are now in our own dvd-style cases, and the Card Collection comes in a gorgeous, sturdy divided box with plenty of room for the journaling pens and accessory pack.

Oh, this is going to be amazing.

Order HERE!

 

 

 

 

Coffee and the ColourQ

Posted on by
4

Recently I’ve been cruising through a variety of challenge blogs.  I’m not consistently participating in any particular challenge, but it seems that a good one really gets the creative process going.  What makes a good challenge?  Well, my simple definition is that when I look at it I’m inspired!  Ha!

Here’s my version of this week’s ColourQ challenge:

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendA while ago, I ordered the Soho Subway DSP on a whim.  When I opened the package I was disappointed – the papers looked pretty unattractive to an island girl.  But recently I pulled them out again and took a second look, and I’ve totally changed my mind.  (Memo:  keep your eyes peeled mid-March after Son of Stamper’s birthday.  I think you’ll really enjoy his card!)

Here’s the inspiration posted on the ColourQ blog:

ColourQ Challenge #230I knew instantly that the card base would be Crumb Cake (aka Kraft) and the Basic Black would be an accent colour.  (What the heck, let’s spell it with the u today, shall we?)  I went looking for DSP with either Summer Starfruit or Cool Caribbean – well, the Cool Caribbean is long gone – I was looking for Pool Party.  When I found that Summer Starfruit tone-on-tone paper I knew I’d hit the jackpot.

The Perfect Blend stamp set should have been on my very first order for this catalog, but for some odd reason it wasn’t.  It’s not that I don’t like coffee – I am a total junkie, and also perhaps a teeny tiny bit of a coffee snob.  I guess that was the problem:  I don’t like drinking my coffee out of to-go cups.  I like glass, ceramic, pottery…but not plastic, styrofoam, or cardboard.

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendApparently I’ve managed to get my nose out of the air on that count and it’s a good thing, because this stamp set was a blast to play with.  I stamped the image 3 times for each cup – once on Whisper White, once on Pool Party and once on Crumb Cake.  Yes, I fussy cut them, and it was worth it.  Please note the words “you” and “me” from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set.  Again, I was inspired and those words came to mind immediately when I visualized this card, but Fabulous Phrases only had a “you” stamp.  I got really crafty though (see what I did there??) and used the end of “welcome” and my Black Stampin’ Write marker.  Brilliant, if I do say so myself!

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendYou could make this card with the Perfect Blend stamp set, any DSP, and a Neutrals card stock assortment – plus a couple of colorful scraps.   I’ll bet you know someone that needs this card.

Takin’ a break from holidays

Posted on by
Reply

Feels as though I’ve been crafting in orange-and-black, red-and-green for DAYS.  I needed a change of palette!

Maui Stamper Lovely As A Tree Mojo311

  • Lovely as a Tree, Woodgrain and Express Yourself (hostess) stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Soft Sky, Gumball Green, Baked Brown Sugar and Marina Mist card stock
  • Baked Brown Sugar, So Saffron, Soft Sky and Marina Mist FFIP
  • Baked Brown Sugar and Gumball Green Stampin’ Write markers
  • 2 1/2 inch circle punch
  • Sponge Daubers
  • Soft Sky Seam Binding
  • Distressing tool

Love that distressing tool.  I call it the shredder.  Most of the FFIP were just a source of ink for the daubers, and I markered the trees.

Maui Stamper Lovely As A Tree Mojo311I used this week’s Mojo Monday sketch – Mojo311 – as the basis for this card.  Tomorrow it will be back to designing for classes, clubs and events – but tonight it was nice to take a little break.

A Pocket Sketch Challenge

Posted on by
7

Maui Stamper CCMC267 Pocket CardIt’s been a long time since I’ve played with a sketch challenge.  I was wasting time online doing research the other day and ran across Create With Connie and Mary.  Seems as though I’m always pinning cards from their challenges, so I decided to jump in.  Here’s the sketch:

Create with Connie and Mary CCMC267 sketchPretty simple, wouldn’t you say?  And my concept came together quickly – UNTIL – I got to that embellishment on the top.  (There’s always an “until”, isn’t there?)  Lots of fussing and fiddling, but I finally made a decision.

Maui Stamper Sketch Challenge CCMC267Honestly, I think there are 5 or 6 stamp sets here.  I can tell you that the DSP is Epic Day This ‘n That, the card stock is Crumb Cake, Soft Sky and Pear Pizazz, and the ribbon is Naturals Trim and Burlap.  I cut the top of the pocket and the top of the insert with the Adorning Accents edgelit, and I double cut one of the Chalk Talk framelits to create the shape behind the postage stamp.  I hauled out my sewing machine to stitch the pocket together.

Maui Stamper Sketch Challenge CCMC267Here’s the card outside of the pocket.  Yes, I see that the sentiment is crooked,  I have decided that is my trademark.  However, please also note the glorious arc of the trim at the top.  Clear mount stamps rock my stamping universe!!