Painted Poppy Fields

Posted on February 25, 2020 by mauistamper

As I mentioned in Two Poppies Four Ways, I think this image of stemmed poppies is the most versatile in the entire suite.

Stamps: Painted Poppies, Peaceful Moments
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Lovely Lipstick
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly dies, Die Cutting machine, Lovely Lipstick 1/8″ grosgrain ribbon, Glitter Enamel dots , Stampin’ Dimensionals, Lovely Lipstick Stampin’ Blends

This is a fast card – even the coloring with the Blends goes quickly. The main panel is applied to the black mat, and that assembly is lifted with Stampin’ Dimensionals to create more focus. The ribbon looks red in the photo, but trust me, it’s as Lovely a Lipstick as they come!

You can see I didn’t worry too much about coloring inside the lines. That’s actually one of my goals this year – not to be so fussy. 9 times out of 10 it doesn’t matter! My goal is to get the cards made and in the mailbox, and that’s where this one is headed.

If you need some quick cards and you’re need a little somethin’ to pull it all together, shop HERE.

Two Poppies Four Ways

Posted on February 23, 2020 by mauistamper

Our two Poppy bundles are clearly meant to work together, and spent a happy afternoon last week putting them through their paces. I was pleased with the results, and especially impressed with how well all the pieces in both sets of stamps and dies work together:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Peaceful Moments

Stamps: Peaceful Moments, Painted Poppies
Color Palette: Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Poppy Moments dies, Everyday Label punch, Champagne Rhinestones, Golden Honey Specialty DSP (SAB 2020), Stampin’ Blends, Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue , Die Cutting Machine

It’s almost a tragedy to use the reverse side of the Golden Honey Specialty DSP. The stripes are really the “B” side, and the “A” side is all buzzing bees and golden swirls and general delightfulness. But the bees are too large and distracting for this application, and the stripes are just right, so the sacrifice Must Be Made. Fortunately, I have stashed away a couple of packages of this paper and I don’t feel too badly about this decision.

Once the card was designed, it was a short leap to move to other colorways. This is Coastal Cabana and Pool Party, and uses Glitter Enamel Dots instead of the Champagne Rhinestones. Those Enamel Dots are sadly overlooked in my opinion – they have just the right amount of sparkle, they come with multiple sizes on the sheet, and are packaged in very trendy colors!

One of the things Stampin’ Up! does VERY well is color – especially tonal colors. This is Rococco Rose and Blushing Bride. If you are VERY observant, you’ve noticed the change in the label – this isn’t the punch, but the label from the Painted Labels dies in the Painted Poppies Bundle. The two Poppy bundles combined are a complete crafting suite, with images, sentiments, shaped dies and labels included.

This last combination is Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather. I played with the color roles in this one, reversing the background color from the large flower to the smaller one, and I like the effect. It’s hard to see with the black card stock, but there is a layer to the leaf as well – these dies are really thoughtfully made!

I used our Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes for these cards, so they’re a little more petite at 3 1/2″ x 5″. They are accepted as First Class USPS mail, too. The back flap of the envelope was the ideal size for two rows of those fabulous tall-stemmed poppies – I think that image may be the most versatile one of the entire suite.

What’s your favorite combination? There are many more options in the Stampin’ Up! color palette, and it would be fun to make a Poppy Rainbow. Hmm…

Ready to shop? All of the products are available HERE with the regrettable exception of the Champagne Rhinestones. They have been so popular that they have exceed the backorder allocation and are currently unavailable to order. Current expected availability is late March, so in the meantime, we will have to be creative with Glitter Enamel Dots!

Finding the hidden colors in Feels Like Frost

Posted on September 28, 2019 by mauistamper

I spent a lot of time playing with color palettes to go with the various Feels Like Frost papers. I wanted to bring out the unexpected and non-traditional colors, and I feel like I accomplished that with this birthday card:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Feels Like Frost Happiest Birthday Wishes

Stamps: Honestly, I don’t know. I can’t find it anywhere. Help??
Color Palette: Shimmery White, Rococco Rose, Night of Navy, Soft Suede (unexpected, wouldn’t you say??)
Accessories: Feels Like Frost DSP, Stitched Rectangles dies, Dotted Swiss White Tulle Ribbon, Christmas Layers dies, Metallic Sequins (retired), Rococco Rose Ink refill, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I tried using Stampin’ Blends to color the Dotted Tulle Ribbon, but the color came out much darker than I wanted even with the light toned marker. I decided to try dying it with the ink refill. It worked – the second time! The first time I thought I should rinse it out and the color immediately left the ribbon. I made another batch (a bunch of ink in a little water, it’s really about how dark you want it) and once I’d reached the color I wanted I let it dry on top of a paper towel. I’m going out on a limb here to say I don’t think it’s colorfast!!!!

I’m pleased with the end result. I think if you swapped the Night of Navy and the Rococco Rose all around, you’ d have a great masculine card. Hmmm…

If you’re ready, you can shop HERE.

Feels Like Frost Birthday

Posted on September 21, 2019 by mauistamper

I challenged myself to create as many cards as I could in an afternoon using the Feels Like Frost Designer Series Paper stack. Buckle your seat belts! It was a lot of fun, and it was really easy. I think selecting the sentiments was the biggest challenge! Here’s the first one I’d like to share:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Feels Like Frost DSP with Christmas Layers Die

Stamps: Past Paper Pumpkin (sorry, no idea which one)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Pretty Peacock, Rococco Rose, Smoky Slate
Accessories: Feels Like Frost DSP, Christmas Layers Dies, Lakeside dies, Scripty 3D embossing folder, 1/2″ Scalloped Linen Ribbon , Shimmery White card stock , Metallic Pearls

The various elements from the Christmas Layers dies are fabulous for all kinds of paper crafting projects. They’re timeless and multi-seasonal and a great addition to your crafty stash (‘cuz we all have a stash of one size or another, right??)

I love this paper and I’m confident you will too. Shop HERE.

Tropical Chic Birthday Wreath

Posted on August 18, 2019 by mauistamper

It seems everyone has made wreath cards and it’s time for me to get with the program already! This is such an easy technique that I’m chagrinned to have taken so long. A simple template – and the amazing Stamparatus – make this a very simple project:

Stamps: Tropical Chic, Piece of Cake
Color Palette: Whisper White, Pear Pizazz, Petal Pink
Accessories: Stamparatus, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Share What You Love DSP (retired), Old Olive Bakers Twine (retired)

I chose to make this a 5″ x 5″ square card in order to use the hibiscus stamp from Tropical Chic. In order to add the palm leaves, I created a double mask. You can see by looking that if you mask only one flower, you won’t get the desired results. I created a mask with 2 flowers stamped on the Stamparatus to set the leaves behind the wreath.

This card could just as easily be a wedding card, a graduation card (think a lei – although we don’t make them from hibiscus because the real thing doesn’t last) or any assortment of other happy occasion cards. It would be fun in bold tropical prints too, but I chose Petal Pink to coordinate with one of my favorite suites of paper of all time, now sadly retired. I hope you have some in your stash!

Need to shop for supplies? Visit my SHOP for everything you need. Don’t forget to use your Bonus Days Bucks!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Bonus Days July 2019

Stampin’ Up! Host Rewards: Soft Spring

Posted on August 5, 2019 by mauistamper

Host sets are a bit of a mystery to me. They’re a great value, but they don’t get the exposure or interest they should. They’re available at a discounted price, but the twist is that you have to use Host Rewards to purchase them. Today I’m featuring Soft Spring:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Soft Spring Host Rewards

Stamps: Soft Spring (Host), Birch
Color Palette: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bridge, Metallic Gold
Accessories: Word Wishes dies, Stitched Nested Labels dies, Gold Foil sheets, Stamping Sponge, Aqua Painter, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Wink of Stella

I used the Stamping Sponge to add a little texture and soften the Crumb-Cake-on-White look of the Birch background. I cut the word THANKS out twice, once in Blushing Bride and once in Gold Foil, and offset layered them for added dimension. This is a perfectly flat, no-questions-asked MAIL WORTHY card!

Those Stitched Nested Label dies (also sold as part of the Free as a Bird bundle) are going to be a constant crafting companion! And there’s a bonus in the set: a single long die to make a line of stitching anywhere you’d like it.

I originally created this as an entry for Colour Inkspiration #58, but decided to submit THIS CARD instead. I think I made the right choice! That’s the fun of color challenges: you can repeat them over and over again with such different results.

If this post has resulted in the desire/need to shop, click HERE.

Saying Farewell: All That You Are

Posted on April 21, 2019 by mauistamper

The 2018-2019 and Occasions Retiring Products Lists have been released, and it’s a bittersweet thing. There are some stamps I’m quite happy to see move on, and others that break my heart just a teeny tiny bit. All That You Are kind of breaks my heart.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

Stamps: All That You Are, Piece of Cake
Color Palette: Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Stamparatus, Gingham Gala DSP, Versamark Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals

This is a simple technique with very satisfying results. The image is inked with Versamark ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. To get the best results, I highly recommend using the Embossing Buddy to prepare your paper. Using the Stamparatus to ink your card stock enables you to ensure even, thorough coverage with the Versamark ink, resulting in a high quality embossed image.

It’s easier than you might expect to see the embossed image. Coloring an embossed image is especially enjoyable because there is a tactile response – you feel the lines, helping you stay within them (if that’s how you roll!)

I used both light and dark Stampin’ Write markers in each color,. Sometimes I’m literally adding just a dot of color, other times a line or a full blending effort. I’m one of those people who find coloring to be very therapeutic, so it’s a pleasure for me.

If you’re as fond of All That You Are as I am, shop HERE before it’s retired for good. While you’re shopping, there are a few additional products you might want to think about:

The Paper Piercing Tool – aka Pokie Doodle – is being retired now that we have the fabulous all-in-one Take Your Pick tool. I’ll be stocking up on a few Pokie Doodles to have handy.
There’s a bundle of two Stampin’ Write markers in Coastal Cabana and Lovely Lipstick. I like to stock up on singles when I have the chance.
Stampin’ Trimmer cutting blades are currently unavailable, but you can add your email address to be notified when they come back in stock. The trimmer is retiring.
All of our Designer Series papers are retiring. I’ve stocked up on Wood Textures, Gingham Gala, Tropical Escape and Share What You Love.
All 2017-2019 In Color Products – Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst, Tranquil Tide, Powder Pink and Fresh Fig – are retiring. Don’t forget the ink refills!

Stay crafty, my friends. Shop HERE.

SO MUCH NEWS. But first, the Cling Wrap Technique

Posted on April 10, 2019 by mauistamper

This technique has been making the rounds again as the Press’n’Seal Floating Frame card, and if I had Press’n’Seal I would have used it…but my entire kitchen is Furnished By Costco, so it’s the Kirkland Cling Wrap technique today, my friends!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique

Stamps: Wonderful Romance, Picture Perfect Birthday
Color Palette: Whisper White, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Basic Black, Soft Sea Foam
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Big Shot, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Wonderful Romance Framelits (no longer available, sorry!) and HEAPS of Stampin’ Dimensionals!!!

This is a really enjoyable technique, but it takes time and patience to color all of the elements you need to create the floating frame. It’s a great project for when you’re at home recovering from the flu (ahem). One of the complaints I read when crafters used Press ‘n Seal was that it stuck too well to the card stock, causing the surface to tear. Trust me, that’s not a problem with the Kirkland wrap!

As you can see, when I ran everything through the Big Shot it cut the pieces quite nicely, but things moved around quite a bit once I removed the cutting plates. I had to be patient when I adhered the pieces to the frame, but by using the corner shapes as anchors everything else fell into place nicely. It’s quite similar to assembling a puzzle! You’ll want to be VERY VERY generous with the Stampin’ Dimensionals on this one – be prepared to find a lot of those little paper hexagons floating around your craft room!

Speaking of the Big Shot, you may have heard the announcement that Stampin’ Up! is terminating its relationship with Sizzex at the end of the 2018-2019 Annual Catalog period, effective June 3, 2019. This change will streamline design and production, and allow Stampin’ Up! to work directly with a manufacturer. This in turn will provide a more nimble response to inspiration, supply and demand. While Stampin’ Up! will still sell dies and embossing folders that are compatible with the Big Shot, we will no longer market the machine itself or any accessories (cutting pads, specialized platforms, etc). A new die cutting machine is in development, but it is not ready for the 2019-2020 catalog. If you need any accessories, I encourage you to shop soon, as supplies of retiring products are not guaranteed.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Stampin' Trimmer

Similarly, Stampin’ Up! is also discontinuing the Stampin’ Trimmer. While this product has been extremely popular, recent concerns with blade quality have caused Stampin’ Up! to seek an alternate supplier. Again, a new Trimmer is in development but will not be available in time for the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. If you would like to stock up on cutting blades, I urge you to act quickly as these accessories will also retire at the end of the catalog. As we all know too well, supplies of retiring items are not guaranteed! There is currently a limit of 3 packages of cutting blades per order, but that limit will be raised to 6 when the Retiring Products List is released on April 15, 2019.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations – you get a bonus question! Lyssa Zwolaneck, a generous demo friend, created a fun graphic now that demonstrators have seen the NAMES of the 2019-2020 In Colors but not the shades!! What do YOU think???

Tropical Chic Colour INKspiration 52

Posted on April 5, 2019 by mauistamper

The Colour INKspiration team always selects fabulous inspiration images for their color challenges, and #CI52 made me think Manly Cards. It was timely inspiration, as I needed a Manly Card for a good friend who happens to be a man!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour INKspiration 52 Tropical Chic

Stamps: Tropical Chic, Best Birds
Color Palette: Whisper White, Granny Apple Green, Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Tropical Thinlit Dies, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Tropical Escape DSP, Wood Textures DSP, Tropical Elements, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Linen Thread

I didn’t add the Soft Sea Foam, but focused on the other 3 colours. I was pretty pleased with myself to discover how nicely the Wood Textures Designer Series paper stack worked in this project!

Those little Tropical Elements are a really nice addition to a card, and they’re not especially bulky. If you add an extra sheet of card stock to the front of the card when you put it in the mail, most Post Offices will send it through!

In this case, I chickened out. As I prepared the card to mail, I added DSP to the envelope flap (I just traced the shape and adhered it with Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive). Then I pulled off the embellishment and added the flower on a dimensional. Melon Mambo isn’t part of the challenge, though, so I’m sharing both versions!

Visit the Colour INKspiration facebook page for more projects using this great colour palette. They’re such a lovely bunch of crafters!

(Gift) Wrapping up Holiday 2018

Posted on December 31, 2018 by mauistamper

<OH MY. This was scheduled to publish a week ago…but things happen. Enjoy!>

Ah, it’s been a glorious few weeks! At this stage of my life, the holidays are all about relationships. I’ve celebrated with my beloved family and dear friends and my precious church community as well, and my heart is full. There are things that I didn’t finish this year, but when all is said and done, I reflect on 2018 with deep gratitude.

But let’s have one last Holiday post, shall we? You can file this under “tags to make now so I’ll be WAAAYYY ahead of schedule in 2919. LOL.

Crystal came up with this tag – I think it was a CASE – and I absolutely love it. It has a stepped up clean and simple aesthetic and is perfect for any gift recipient. The Candy Cane Season stamps and punch (available as a bundle) are retiring on January 2, so if you love this one, don’t delay.

Same shape, entirely different feeling! Mrs.Claus looks pretty gleeful about this whole gift-giving deal, and this tag would be perfect for sweet treats or a gift to that person who always peeks (you know who you are – I have a few of those people in my extended family!) She’s part of Signs of Santa.

This is also Crystal’s design. The tag is vellum and it is oh-so-elegant. The Pretty Label is re-purposed as an ornament, punched out of shimmer white with extra detail from the Quilt Top TIEF. A few Soft Seafoam sprigs and an Old Olive tiny bow complete the look.

I was invited to exchange with a group that has been at it for years, and it was a delightful experience! They all bring tags under wraps and then the tags are distributed so that everyone in attendance can guess the crafter. As the New Kid on the Block, I was clueless, so I assigned the tags based on the order we were seated around the table and got a score of 4 out of 12 correct!! Not bad for desperation, I’d say.