Pretty Perennials and True Love

Posted on April 19, 2021 by mauistamper

There is such fabulous inspiration in the January-June mini catalog! Pretty Perennials was the first stamp set that caught my eye, and I’m an absolute pushover for black-and-white, so pairing those stamps with the True Love Designer Series paper was inevitable.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennials True Love DSP Scripty birthday card

Stamps: Pretty Perennials
Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Big Boss, Perennial Petals dies, Stitched Shapes dies (retiring May 3), Scripty Embossing Folder (retiring May 3), Matte Black Dots, Stampin Dimensionals, Paper Snips

I based this card very closely on one I saw somewhere in the interwebs, but despite spending a good thirty minutes searching, I cannot find my source. If you created and shared something that looks a lot like this, please message me and I’ll gladly update the post to give you credit! (Pandemic Brain. That’s my story and I’m standing by it.)

The Stitched Shapes dies are still available in the Online store, although they are on the Retiring Products list. I recently heard them described as indispensable to a craft room the way salt and pepper are to a kitchen, and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. If you don’t have these dies in your craft stash, I highly recommend you add them to your collection ASAP. I bought a second set for myself.

The Pretty Perennial flowers are whimsical and fresh. Stampin’ Up! has loads of realistic flowers, and flowers that are great for coloring, but these are gloriously happy What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get flowers. They stamp quickly and can be made a little more fancy with the addition of a few die cuts, but WUSIWUG with these babies.

I’ll be honest: fussy cutting the word happy is the very definition of FUSSY cutting. I love the effect, and I really love this font, but it takes some time to cut it out. Do it while you’re waiting for someone, or watching TV, or doing anything possible to avoid finishing your taxes. It works well in all of those circumstances. Or design your card around happy stamped directly onto the card! It’s your project, do it the way you want to do it. And if you don’t like the way it turned out, remember that it’s pennies worth of paper and just THROW IT OUT. Don’t hang onto it hoping to change it like you did your first boyfriend. We know how that went. Throw it out.

Oops. Guess I took a wild turn there, didn’t I?

Turn yourself to shopping and pick up Pretty Perennials. You don’t have to change them – they’re perfect, just as they are. Shop HERE. (nb: It says they’re low inventory as of right now. Don’t wait.)

Snailed It: Magical Mushrooms

Posted on April 16, 2021 by mauistamper

The Stampin’ Up! January – June mini catalog is filled with delights, and these sweet mushrooms are Exhibit A. They remind me of the Alice in Wonderland sort of mushroom, and I find coloring them to be endlessly appealing. Because they’re magical, they lend themselves to whimsical colors.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Snailed It Magical Mushrooms birthday card

Stamps: Snailed It, A Wish for Everything
Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, So Saffron, Mango Melody, Mint Macaron, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Boss, Snail dies, Subtle Embossing Folder (retiring May 3), Stitched So Sweetly dies, Polka Dotted Tulle Ribbon (retiring May 3), Blending Brush, Stampin Dimensionals

The Subtle Embossing folder is such a go-to texture on my craft desk that I’ve actually ordered a second one in the dire event that something happens to mine. It creates a dobby, fabric-like impression on our card stock that doesn’t distract from anything else: it’s SUBTLE.

Speaking of subtle, be still my heart but I do love our Blending Brushes! No more blobs or streaks, just lovely subtle washes of color. You can build color, you can blend colors, you can spend all day playing with your Blending Brushes! (Not that I would do that, of course.)

I have a my own technique for adding the ribbon to the back of a focal point. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos where crafters just seem to wave their fingers in the air and viola! they have a beautiful, casual ribbon bundle for their project. When I wave my fingers in the air, well, it’s just messy, let’s leave it at that.

My technique is to put some Stampin’ Seal on the back of the panel and then place the ribbon, layer by layer, on that adhesive. I flip it back and forth to see how it looks, and if I’m not happy with it, it’s simple to pull it off the adhesive and reposition it. Once I have the look I want, I add a small piece of tape (the ordinary desktop kind) to secure everything in place.

The Clearance Rack has been updated – snap up Designer Series Papers, ribbons, embellishments, punches and more at great prices – while supplies last. Or if you prefer, snap up the Snailed It bundle and go color some mushrooms of your own. I promise it will be magical.

An afternoon with Forever Fern

Posted on April 12, 2021 by mauistamper

I’m a keeper. I keep stuff – bits and bobs, odds and ends – because I just know I’ll need it. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But I’ve had an assortment of die cut Forever Fern pieces in multiple shades of greens in my collection for months, and Today Was Their Day.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Forever Fern Monochromatic card

Stamps: Forever Fern, Itty Bitty Greetings (retiring May 3)
Color Palette: Basic White, Garden Green
Accessories: Big Boss, Forever Flourishing Dies, Layering Squares dies, Stampin Dimensionals

This card layout is a CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) of a card I spotted in the new 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard – demonstrators get an advanced copy of the catalog, and this one is going to rock your world!

The retiring Layering Squares dies aren’t absolutely essential, since it’s pretty easy to cut a square. That said, how easy is it to cut 4 squares EXACTLY the same size?? I’ll be keeping this set of dies for certain.

I made a BUNCH of these in a relatively short period of time because I had all of these bits!! Each card turned out a little differently because I was having such a good time orienting the branches. Tell me what you think:

Big Boss, Forever Flourishing Dies, Layering Squares dies

This one is in Old Olive. I think this one was the first one I did.

Next I used the retiring Pretty Peacock In Color from 2019-2021. I’m really going to miss this shade, as it’s one of my favorites, not just for crafting but in Real Life.

This is Pear Pizazz. I had some fun with these branches as I worked them into a bit of a wreath arrangement. I thought about putting something in the center, but I wanted these cards to lean a bit masculine.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Forever Fern Monochromatic birthday card

With this Shaded Spruce version I did the opposite – I worked from the center outward. I’m still a little undecided about this one!

This is Soft Seafoam, one of my favorite greens. It’s really a versatile tone and definitely lends a more feminine touch to this card layout.

Forever Fern has a great variety of botanical images, but as my friend Heather pointed out, none of them actually appears to be a fern. Go figure.

If you suddenly need the Layering Squares dies, or anything else for that matter, pop on over to the Online Store lickety split! And thanks for stopping by today.

2020-2021 Annual Catalog RETIRING LIST

Posted on March 24, 2021 by mauistamper

It’s the moment we find out who will stay and who will go – and it always makes me nervous! The list has been published and there are plenty of great deals, but don’t hesitate! When these products are gone, they are GONE.

Great deals – be sure to notice that some bundles are NOT retiring, just being split. That means the individual items will be available in the new catalog but the bundle price will not.

You’ll also see Tear n Tape on this list but DO NOT FEAR!!! It will return, slightly repackaged – just this item number is retiring.

My tech skills have their limitations, but I can give you a link! Click HERE to see a pdf – or just head over to the Online Store to see images and details!

Sand and Sea Suite: Unconstructed

Posted on March 24, 2021 by mauistamper

When you combine the Seashells Embossing Folder from the Sand and Sea suite with the all-in-one die, you get a stunning panel that works all by itself. But when you cut apart all the elements, the combinations are endless:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells

Stamps: Friends Are Like Seashells, Itty Bitty Greetings
Color Palette: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Petal Pink
Accessories: Stamp Cut and Emboss (Big Boss), Seashell Embossing Folder, Subtle Embossing Folder, Seaside Seashells dies, Ornate Frames dies, Shimmery White paper, Linen Thread, Opal Rounds, Stampin Dimensionals, Blending Brush, Paper Snips

You really need Paper Snips for this task, because they are super sharp and their pointy little tips get right into the littlest spots! The other indispensable tool I used is the Blending Brush, which layers color consistently and smoothly. I KNOW they’re not available to order right now 😟 but they are due in the warehouse the week of April 5!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card

Did you notice the Opal Rounds in the January-June Mini Catalog? I completely missed them until just a few weeks ago, but I’m doing my best to make up for that now! They’re perfect with the Shimmery White card stock (or any other project you might be working on.) And I think it is a universal truth that there is no substitute for Linen Thread.

The Friends Are Like Seashells stamps include the images on the Embossing Folder, but also include a great assortment of other images that really round out the suite. I used a little bit of ocean flora on the inside of my card – because it’s there, just waiting for some ink!

**156205 Friends Are Like Seashells Bundle**

The Retiring List for the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog comes out today (March 24) at 1pm MST. Every year, there’s a lot of excitement swirling around what will stay and what will go, and I confess that I get a little nervous when I think about some of my favorites! This year the calendar is a little different, so pay close attention: The 2020-2021 Annual Catalog is available (while supplies last once the list has been published) until May 3, 2020. The new 2021-2022 Annual Catalog will debut on May 4th!

The January-June Mini Catalog remains current until June 30 (again, there’s that pesky “while supplies last” clause). If you’re making a plan, be sure to make note of those two dates!

And if you’re ready to shop, please visit the Online Store.

Back to that Darling Donkey

Posted on January 23, 2021 by mauistamper

Stampin’ Up! has set me up! What is with snails and donkeys? I didn’t anticipate falling for such off-my-radar critters, but here I am. After I finished the January DIY calendar, I was on a Donkey Bender – but I didn’t really want to cut him out. I mean, I’ll fussy cut with the best of them, but enough is enough.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Darling Donkey Oh So Ombre DSP

Stamps: Darling Donkeys
Color Palette: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Gray Granite, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink
Accessories: Stampin Cut and Emboss (BIG BOSS), Layering Ovals dies, Ornate Frames dies, Stampin Blends, Blending Brushes, Stampin Dimensionals, Oh So Ombré Designer Series Paper (SAB 2021.1)

I’ve based this card on a design by Mary Knabe of Stampin’ Peace. I loved her concept and color palette, and reinterpreted them for this card. One of the delights of this design is that by using an opening on the front of the card, the image can be expanded when you open it:

The Blending Brushes are VERY easy to use, and in this case I didn’t even bother to mask off the donkey before I created that Daffodil Delight aura. (You know donkeys have auras, right??) I also added an additional message in the corner that isn’t visible from the front of the card. (I am quite proud of myself, as I normally struggle to use images AND sentiments from the same set, and on this one I have used 3 of the 4 sentiments!)

But wait, there’s more!

You could call this technique a card within a card. The card base is 11″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 5 1/2″. The white card inside is 10″ x 3 3/4″, scored at 5″, so it fits well within the first card. The bottom panel is completed adhered to the card base, much as a layer would be. That leaves a front for artwork to peep through the window, and an interior page for your message – or more artwork!

As you can see, I accidentally inked up this kick-up-your-heels donkey in Bermuda Bay instead of Memento Black, and had to be extra careful to avoid pulling in the Bermuda Bay ink when I colored with my Blends.

I prepared quite a few of these for a virtual stamping event, and I wanted to be sure I had the ovals in the center every time. To simplify that task, I made templates to use with the BIG BOSS:

There’s a little math involved, so bear with me. I began by measuring the height and width of each die, then subtracting that number from the height and width of the card panel. For example, the plain oval is 2 1/4″ wide, and the card front is 4 1/4″ wide, so the difference is 2 inches. I divided that number by 2 and measured in that amount from each edge, drawing a line at 1 inch. That gives me the left-to-right guideline for placing my die.

I went through the same process with the height of each die, creating two panels that had a rectangle in the center of each one. I centered the appropriate die in each panel (note that I wrote which panel was which on the template, I am famous for mixing up things like this!) When I ran the centered die through my BIG BOSS I created a template that I could use repeatedly without having to mark each piece of paper.

Just place the template squarely on top of your card or panel, drop the die into the pre-cut opening, and crank ‘er through! When you have a bunch of cutting to do, this is a real time saver.

Have some fun with your own Darling Donkeys, or any other spotlight image for that matter! Darling Donkeys and the Oh So Ombré are only available in January and February 2021 as Sale-a-bration selections. Don’t miss out! Shop HERE.

Painted Poppies Split Card

Posted on August 20, 2020 by mauistamper

I playing with the Split Card technique again. Sometimes I like my results, and sometimes I don’t. Therein lies the beauty of paper-craft: paper, in general, is cheap. Don’t like it? Throw it away! The Split Cards I made with Painted Poppies were keepers:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies Split Card technique

Stamps: Painted Poppies, Peaceful Moments
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Stampin’ Cut and Emboss (available September 1), Mossy Meadow ribbon, Ornate Frame dies, Red Rhinestones, Stampin’ Dimensionals , Stampin’ Blends

Working with Stampin’ Blends allows you to get deep, intense images while still allowing you highlights and shadows. The bold colors of this card pop right off the page! I stamped the flowers with Poppy Parade ink, then used my Poppy Parade Blends to color them in. I did the same with the leaves in Mossy Meadow. Since I used the same color to stamp the image as to color it in, I didn’t have to worry if the outline ran a little.

This card front was a split card project so I had another side to color. I chose to go the opposite direction and use colored pencils. They are much more nuanced, and allowed me to create a much softer look:

The color palette is the same, but I used our Watercolor Pencils and a Blender pen to create this more subdued look. The sentiment is from Beautiful Friendship, and the trim is our new Braided Red Linen. I also slipped in a few splooshes (that is the technical term, btw) from the Forever Fern stamp set.

You can fluff and stretch and unravel that red trim to get a BUNCH of different looks. The natural linen is still my favorite, but this is going to be a great addition to my embellishment stash.

So tell me, what do you think? Do you like the bold, intense poppies, or do you prefer the gentler version? I want to try this again using watercolor paper and our new Water Painters. The possibilities are endless! It’s amazing I ever get anything done.

Need supplies for your next project? Shop HERE.

Celebrating Sunflowers – Anything but Yellow!

Posted on July 15, 2020 by mauistamper

On Sunday I shared a sunflower card in Just Jade and apparently I’m not the only one who wants to see alternative color palettes! I experimented with a few additional combinations, but had to stop when I ran out of White Crinkled Seam Binding (that stuff is AH-MAZING.) Here are some of my favorites:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Celebrate Sunflowers Anything but Yellow

I got a little carried away with the Stampin’ Sponges here! This is Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather ink, and mats in Purple Posy and Highland Heather.

I used pearls to embellish the card, and have poked out some of the circles in the center of the flower. It’s completely random, because they tend to fall out as I remove the die cut from the die, and my objective is to just even up the look.

Although this version is similar to the original Just Jade card, it’s Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue and Seaside Spray. The Balmy Blue ink has a bit of a turquoise hue, which you can see under the petals.

Oh, my goodness, you NEED that White Crinkled Seam Binding! It is so soft and molds so beautifully, but it also rather magically holds its shape. I’ve embellished again with the 20-22 In Color Enamel dots.

BOOM!

Magenta Madness here, and wow, talk about madness! There isn’t a set of tonal inks that work well for this, so I just softened my sponging as I went outward on the card. Here’s a look before I put it together:

Because I didn’t have the range of colors, I was actually even more careful when I sponged, and I like the results. I kept the deepest tone underneath the opening in the center of the flower, allowed it to lighten in the area where the petals open out, and then barely tapped the rest of the card.

This is the base before I add the detailed die cut. Note there are 4 mini dimensionals placed where they won’t obscure any of my carefully selected open spots on the flower (lol). The various stems are all adhered with Tombo Multipurpose glue – even the vellum. Because there’s so much detail, you don’t notice any adhesive.

For details on the supplies, see the post from Sunday.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Bonus Days Promotion July 2020

Shop in July and earn Bonus Bucks to spend in August!

Celebrate Sunflowers in Just Jade

Posted on July 12, 2020 by mauistamper

Every time I search Celebrate Sunflower images I get a sea of yellow and gold. I’ll be honest: I’ve discarded multiple versions trying to find other color options, but I think I’ve found one that’s a keeper.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Celebrate Sunflowers in Just Jade

Stamps: Peaceful Moments, Forever Fern
Color Palette: Whisper White, Just Jade, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party
Accessories: Sunflowers dies, In Color Enamel dots, Stampin’ Sponges, White Crinkle Seam Binding, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Vellum card stock

I’ve LITERALLY just finished this card, and have taken photos in order to share this today. I’ve been crafting a lot but sharing, well, not so much. I am so pleased with this one I didn’t want to wait another minute!

I wanted more texture but with a soft focus, and sponging gave me the result I wanted. I almost kept the little leafy bits to white and vellum, but at the last minute decided to add a couple of stems in Just Jade at the very back of the leaf stack.

After determining where I would place the white sunflower die cut, I started sponging dark-to-light from the center out. I sponged across the bottom and nearly but not completely to the top, and used Pool Party ink to add a few speckles from the Forever Fern set.

If you NEED the Celebrate Sunflower bundle, don’t forget that you’ll earn Bonus Bucks – a $5 coupon to spend in August for every $50 you spend in July. Shop at the Maui Stamper Online Store.

I’m off to try this in other colors. I promise I’ll be better at sharing!

One Layout Three Ways

Posted on April 24, 2020 by mauistamper

Earlier this month I sent my club members the card stock and ribbon for this layout, and we crafted our own versions via Zoom. Who knew that I had chosen to create my samples with 3 stamp sets from the 2020 Last Chance List? Not sure if I was prescient or just lucky. I’m guessing lucky.

The process worked far better than I anticipated (OK, I had no expectations!). We shared images while we worked, asked for and got great advice, and had a good opportunity to catch up. It wasn’t quite the same as getting together (one group is notorious for fabulous food!) but it was a good substitute under the circumstances. We’ve already planned our next Zoom!

Stamps: Little Elephant, Ride with Me
Color Palette: Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Elephant Builder punch, White Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon, Golden Honey DSP (SAB 2020 Retired), Black rhinestone jewels (retired, use a black Sharpie) Stampin’ Dimensionals, Black-and-White-Wired-Ribbon-that-is-Old-As-the-Hills-and-Retired (lol)

The Elephant Builder punch is what really MAKES this card, and it’s currently on sale in the Online Store. It’s the ear. I love the ear!

Stamps: Piece of Cake
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape
Accessories: Cake Builder Punch, Gingham Gala Sequins, Stampin’ Blends, Golden Honey DSP (SAB 2020 Retired), Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack (2019 SAB Retired)

A note on Stampin’ Blends: You’ve seen them on the Last Chance list – I know I did, and I may or may not have said a Very Bad Word when I saw them! They’re NOT RETIRING. They will be repackaged and sold in pairs, one light, one dark, instead of as single markers. No need to panic.

Both Piece of Cake and the Cake Builder punch are retiring, and the punch is on sale for $10.80. Take a look at this set, because there are a lot of great sentiments as well as really fun images! The self-adhesive Gingham Sequins are on their way out as well.

I stamped the cake layers multiple times on Whisper White and Highland Heather card stock using Memento Ink. I cut the layers apart (the stamp has them stacked together, one large, one small) so that I could alternate the White layer with the Heather layer.

Stamps: Painted Harvest
Color Palette: Basic Black, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Paper Snips, Same ol’ retired DSP and Ribbon. Sorry!

Three cards, three pops of color, three retiring stamp sets, and one layout – I think it’s pretty fun, don’t you? Grab some DSP and have some fun with this concept. And shop the Last Chance products HERE. Don’t delay – many have already sold out.