Varied Vases in Mint and Heather

Posted on June 10, 2018 by mauistamper

I’ve already made dozens of cards with Varied Vases, but this is one of my favorites:

Stamps: Varied Vases
Color palette: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Mint Macaron, Highland Heather
Accesories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Basketweave Dynamic TIEF, Vases Builder Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Watercolor Pencils, Basic Gray ribbon from SAB (retired).

I used a sticky note to create a mask for the stems. It was a bit of fussy cutting, but I couldn’t NOT do it. The beautiful stems in this versatile set lend themselves to tropical arrangement, and I’ve had so much fun arranging these flowers.

Fussy cutting isn’t my favorite thing, but when it’s worth it, it’s worth it. The only difference in this second stepped-up version is the fussy cut stems, but I love the added dimension. Sharp eyes will spot tiny dots of Daffodil Delight in the blossoms.

One more version, this time with the current Silver Metallic Edge ribbon. I also used a Blender Pen to hand color the stems so that I could vary the tones. You’ll want to do the coloring before you cut this one out, as the cuttings is VERY fussy.

Inspired? Find everything you need HERE. When you place your order, be sure to enter Host Code 32K6EETG for a special new catalog gift. Hint: it’s all about color!

This Little Piggy is a ColourInkspiration

Posted on April 28, 2018 by mauistamper

This Little Piggy was sitting in the middle of my craft desk when I happened to see the latest Colour Inkspiration palette image:

This is such a gorgeous, clean combination – with a glimmer – and I had an idea pretty quickly. I ended up using a retired DSP to get the effect I wanted, but everything else is current:

Stamps: This Little Piggy, Sunshine Sayings
Color Palette: Night of Navy, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Gold Foil
Accessories: Big Shot, Layering Squares Framelits, Pink Pirouette Stampin’ Blends (currently unavailable), Vellum card stock, Gold thread, Tree Builder Punch, Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Snips, retired DSP

I fussy cut the Piggies for two reasons:

I could group them so closely and still show depth (thank you, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I wanted to layer them on that fabulous Night of Navy (retired) DSP

I’m really working at learning to shade with the Stampin’ Blends. It takes practice, and a little light and color theory can only help as well! I’m happy with the overall look, but I’m still developing my technique when it comes to the details. It’s so therapeutic to color.

I stamped the envelope with a blossom from Petal Passion, and added a few of the same image on a Whisper White panel on the inside of my card. Even when I use I pale tone like Pink Pirouette for my card base, I like to add a white panel inside. I creates a crisp look and helps to define the card.

I hope you’ll take a look at the Colour Inkspiration page and enjoy all of the beautiful projects shared in response to CI32! And if you’d like to do a little shopping, click HERE.

The Retiring List – what’s a crafter to do?

Posted on April 11, 2017 by mauistamper

I’ve had a little time to look through the list of products retiring from 2016-2017, and I have a few things to share with you. Products are selling out VERY QUICKLY, so don’t delay. Here are a few things I consider noteworthy:

Bundles are retiring – in some cases, stamps will continue. Many have already sold out.
Many suites, especially in the Occasions catalog are retiring. Stock up on DSP and embellishments for things you already have
Project Life products are retiring, many at a discount. The cards packs are GREAT for card making!!
Gorgeous Grunge – Clear and Wood – is retiring. Don’t miss that one.
Botanical Blooms (discounted!) and the Pineapple Clear and Wood stamp are retiring – if you do tropical cards, snap these up!
The Owl Builder punch is retiring. So.Much.Punch.Art.
Christmas Greetings Thinlits are retiring – one of my absolute favorites.
Stars Framelits are retiring. These are a holiday staple.
The Adhesive Remover is retiring, and I consider it a crafting essential.

Did I mention things are selling out quickly?? If you want the

Retiring Products page, start HERE.

Retiring Stamps page, start HERE.

Retiring Bundles page, start HERE.

Retiring Everything Else, start HERE.

But start NOW!!

Warning: Retired Product Ahead

Posted on October 10, 2016 by mauistamper

I don’t usually share projects made with retired product, but I was so pleased with this set that I’ve made an exception.

There’s a special baby about to join our family, and he was celebrated on Saturday in California. I wasn’t able to be there, but I wanted to send something just for him.

The animals from Zoo Babies are some of my favorites from Stampin’ Up!, and I’ve marked that retired stamp set as a keeper. I especially love the patterned ears on this Ellie.

I inked up this giraffe with Crushed Curry and added Soft Suede details with a Stampin’ Write marker before stamping the image.

If you’re fortunate enough to have Zoo Babies in your stash, enjoy. If it’s not there, don’t sweat it. There are heaps of great options – check out Barnyard Babies to start!

New babies mean gifts, and gifts mean Thank You notes! Speaking of Thank You notes, I got a handmade card from a special friend in Arizona:

I made a pledge for Jayden’s Fun Run, and this arrived last weekend. How fabulous is that?

Save 15% for Four Short Days!

Posted on October 19, 2015 by mauistamper

Those stamps you love…wait no longer!!

Shop HERE!

But hurry – October 19th to 23rd only.

Weekly Deals August 11 – 17

Posted on August 11, 2015 by mauistamper

Here are the deals this week:

I don’t want to be the one to break it to you, but that big holiday with all the gift wrap and tags is coming sooner than we think – and that Scalloped Tag Topper punch will be indispensible! The new 2014-2016 In Color Washi tape is another must have.

Shop HERE.

Red, White and July!

Posted on July 1, 2015 by mauistamper

Every year I tell myself I will choose something BESIDES red, white, and blue for my July calendar…and…well, see for yourself:

Stamps: Flower Patch
Color Palette: Real Red, Pacific Point, Soft Sky and Whisper White
Accessories: Flower Fair Framelits, Rhinestone Jewels

When you team up Flower Patch with the Flower Fair Framelits, wonderful things happen in a blink of an eye!

Speaking of Wonderful Things, today the Watercolor Wishes kit becomes available (p. 80 in the annual catalog). I’m offering a class featuring this kit – let me know if you are interested!

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit and 12 Piece Photopolymer Stamp Set #140406 $35 Inclusive

Crystal and Cheryl are sharing their July DIY calendars too – check them out!

Let’s Get Going Places – RemARKably!

Posted on June 11, 2015 by mauistamper

Welcome to the latest edition of the RemARKable Blog tour. We’re certainly going places this month and we hope you’ll come along! This is a long post with a lot of photos – if you want to move along, click on the graphic below to see what the talented Heather Mathiesen has done:

Mr. Maui Stamper and I love to travel. Sometimes we’re asked why we would ever want to leave our beautiful island. As much as we love our home, we also love seeing new places. More importantly, our three wonderful, independent, confident children are flung across 12 time zones in the world. We love them, so we travel!

I’ve learned to take an envelope with me every trip to collect the receipts, ephemera, and mementos that accumulate when you travel. At first it was a plain #10 envelope, then a 6×8 envelope, and finally, I’ve graduated to a travel wallet.

With a little tinkering, I found a size that worked well and was quick to put together, and now I make one for each trip. It gives me something pretty and new to use, and allows me to quickly locate the correct envelope for any given trip should I need to find a receipt or memento.

You’ll need:

a 12″ square piece of card stock
a 2 3/4″ x 9″ piece of DSP
a 2 3/4″ x 9″ piece of either card stock or DSP
The Simply Scored tool
a button or brad
a length of twine (about 14″)
a 1/8″ hole punch
adhesive – I use Tear and Tape and Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive)
Corner rounder punch

Let’s get started!

Place the card stock on the Simply Scored tool and score at 4″, 4 1/2″, 5″ and 9 1/4″.

Turn the card stock a quarter turn so that you are scoring perpendicularly to the first set of score marks. Score at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 10 1/2″ and 11 1/4″.

If you don’t have the Simply Scored tool, you can measure and score the old fashioned way.

Fold gussets across the middle and on either side as indicated by the score marks. Your envelope will have a gusset along the bottom and on the sides.

Trim off the sides as shown. The narrow panel at the bottom of the photo will be your flap and will be 9 inches wide. The second panel will be adhered to the third (top) panel to create the envelope. Clear as mud?

Adhere your DSP to the 9 inch wide flap. I use Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) so that I can get as close as possible to the edge. (I use a bone folder to smooth out any bubbles and assure a smooth fit.) This is the fabulous new Timeless Elegance DSP, and I think it is gorgeous with Basic Grey card stock. Use the Corner Rounder punch to (wait for it) ROUND THE CORNERS. Lol. I know. I crack myself up.

Fold in the gusset that will be at the bottom of the envelope, and then fold in the sides. Apply our new Tear and Tape to the flap as shown.

Snip a bit into the flap, because there’s some magic to be done. That little snip will create a space for the flap to leap over the gusset. When you adhere the sides this way, you won’t have a gap at the bottom for little things to slide through. Practice once or twice before you remove the tape from the adhesive to get the feel of it. It’s not hard!

Once the sides are together, trim the ends that stick out at the top to a pleasing angle.

Almost done! Punch a 1/8″ hole in the center of the top flap and thread through your twine. Tape into place – I use the Tear and Tape because I can. (This beautiful Basic Grey and Vanilla twine is from the Gratitude for Days Simply Created kit on the Clearance Rack. It’s a steal at $8.79!)

Loop the twine around the brad before you open the prongs to be sure there is enough clearance. Secure the brad.

Apply Tear and Tape around the bumpy parts where the brad and the twine appear on the bottom. (We’re going to cover those up!) Apply Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) to that second piece of card stock (2 3/4′ x 9″) and cover that mess!

Yeah, I’m fussy like that. Your travel wallet is ready for your next trip – where are you going? I’m Salt Lake City bound next month for Inspire.Create.Share 2015!

The tour continues with Heather Mathieson, if you’ve been hardy enough to make it this far! The rest of the team is listed below – enjoy the creative projects!

Nancy Amato – http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-going.html
Melissa Bolinger – http://creativeblessingsbymissy.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-blog-tour-going-places.html
Tamra Davis http://www.theCardLadies.com/remarkable-blog-tour-going-places/
Anne Matasci – http://wp.me/pCcBw-1RL YOU’RE HERE!!!
Heather Mathieson – http://wp.me/p2wIuv-2f
Audra Monk – http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com/2015/06/going-places-remarkable-blog-hop.html
Maria Pane – http://stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-moving-on.html
Michele Reynolds – http://inspirationink.typepad.com/inspiration-ink/2015/06/going-places-blog-tour.html
Pam Staples – http://wp.me/p3p2VA-12t
Janet Wakeland – http://wp.me/pHIQD-7ij

Sweet Birds for the First of June

Posted on June 1, 2015 by mauistamper

June’s Easel calendar is one last look at the retiring set For the Birds:

If you saw the RemARKable Blog tour in May, you’ll remember that I featured this stamp set. It’s ideal for coloring with colored pencils.

Such happy little birds! If it wasn’t for Captain Stupidhead, I would have a bird bath in my yard. Come to think of it, he’s gotten so old that he doesn’t even look when they are on the lawn 6 feet in front of him. Maybe I’ll go bird-bath shopping…

Please take a look at what Crystal and Cheryl have done for the Merry Month of June. And happy crafting!

Love my birdies!

Posted on May 11, 2015 by mauistamper

Tomorrow is the RemARKable Blog Tour. I’m featuring For the Birds, and I have a little sneak peek for you today:

Stamps: For the Birds, Dictionary (both retiring)
Color Palette: Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Colored Pencils (non-SU), All is Calm Washi (Clearance Rack), Stampin’ Dimensionals

This image is intentionally a little stark – I think it adds to the feeling of missing someone. That washi tape was serendipitous, as in my mind it looks quite USPS-y. (That’s a word because I wrote it out and that makes it so.)

Don’t be afraid of coloring pencils – they’re very easy to use and the colors are very forgiving. Plus there’s always an eraser. Really, I should use pencil more often.