If you’re not on sunny Maui, you might need a bit of Sunshine and Rainbows today. How about a whimsical VW bus driving through your February DIY Calendar?
Stamps: Driving By (Sale-a-bration 2022v1), Paradise Palms
Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody, Gray Granite, Pear Pizazz, Old Olive, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Sunshine and Rainbows Designer Series paper (Sale-a-bration 2022v1), Big Boss, Palms dies, Basic Borders dies, Stampin Dimensionals, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write markers, Watercolor pencils
I used the paper piecing technique with the bus. I stamped it once on one of the striped patterns from the Sunshine and Rainbow DSP, and then again on a piece of Basic White. I used Blends to color the top, wheels, bumpers and windows of the bus. Then I removed the top, wheels, bumpers and windows of the bus from the DSP version and adhered it to the Basic White version.
I made a road using the curve from the Basic Borders dies and the White Watercolor Pencil. I measured another piece of the Sunshine and Rainbows DSP to fit behind the bus and the road and used multipurpose glue to adhere all of those layers – except the bus, the bus had to be on Dimensionals.
If we ever stop carrying Stampin’ Dimensionals I will be unable to function.
The palms – oh my gosh, Stampin’ Up! has heard me mutter – those palms were inked with Stampin’ Write markers and cut out with the dies. It took me a hot minute to figure out how I wanted to line everything up, but lah-dee-dah, I am pretty pleased with the results! What do you think?
You can make your own Easel calendars with my handy-dandy print-yer-own pdf. It’s just $5 and I create one every year. Message me if you’re interested. There’s also a Pinterest board where you can find years of inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, pop over and see what Cheryl and Crystal have done for February. And when you’re done, do yourself a favor and take yourself shopping (the Paradise Palms bundle is a great place to start) and then add that VW Bus to your order for free. You’ll thank yourself over and over! (Be sure to get the English version of Driving By, unless of course you happen to speak French.)
Everybody loves FREE!! Choose FREE goodies from January 4 to February 28, 2022!! Shop HERE.
Before you place that order, consider the Very Best Deal – joining Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator! If you join by February 28, 2022, there’s a super opportunity. Choose 2 FREE stamp sets PLUS:
$125 additional product of your choice for $99
Free shipping on your kit
20% savings on your own purchases
6 months to try us out without risk – continue with just a $300 quarterly minimum
Earn Sale-a-bration and host rewards on RETAIL price not your discounted price
An incredible community of crafters
Early access AND sneak peeks (you know you want to know!)
Join by February 28th for those two free stamp sets! Message me if you have questions or want to chat.
Be sure to subscribe by February 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱if you decide it’s not for you. The February kit will make 9 playful cards with envelopes that you can tailor to your card-sending needs. Don’t wait!
It’s a drizzly afternoon to end the year, and I’m just finishing my January 2022 DIY Easel Calendar: how could I not choose Rainbow of Happiness to start 2022? It so seldom rains on the dry south side of Maui that we always consider rain a blessing.
Stamps: Rainbow of Happiness, Island Vibes (SAB 2022.1)
Color Palette: Basic White, Soft Seafoam, Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay, Midnight Muse
Accessories: Baby Boss, Brilliant Rainbow dies, Stampin’ Write marker, Tombo Multipurpose Glue, my DIY Easel Calendar PDF
I’ve given up trying to print these at home. My little printer has generated so much frustration that I’ve decided to leave this job to the pros and have it printed at a local shop. Why be frustrated when there’s an alternative? I’m looking for ways to make my way a little easier.
We don’t have a stamp that says aloha. Every once in a while there will be one in the catalog, but it never seems to stay for long. Besides, I wanted to curve it, and I wanted to have an entire phrase. Don’t be afraid of hand-writing, my crafty friends! It’s the ultimate personalization.
I’m not sure how I got so lucky as to have a host of Maui style images in the collection this season, but I’m thrilled. You’ll see both of these stamp sets again – and Island Vibes is a Sale-a-bration choice, so you’ll get to add it to your crafty space for free! The January – June mini catalog and the first 2022 Sale-a-bration catalog will be available in the Online Store on January 4th.
As always, Crystal and Cheryl have January calendars to share today as well. If you’d like to create your own Easel calendar, the 2022 calendar pdf is available for $5. Contact me for an invoice and I’ll get the pdf out to you right away.
It’s your VERY Last Chance to shop the July-December mini catalog! Save up to 50%, but hurry! And news flash: BOTH the Deer Builder and the Penguin Builder punches are in stock!
The gorgeous Eden’s Garden suite includes stamps, dies, exclusive papers and embellishments available as a sneak peek of the January – June 2022 mini catalog. The dies and stamps will carry over, but the papers and embellishments are available only during this promotion. Get yours today and enjoy the holiday crafting options!
Happy New Year, my dear crafty friends. Here’s a blessing for you for 2022 from Sylvia Boorstein:
“May I feel contented and safe. May I feel protected and pleased. May my physical body support me with strength. May my life unfold smoothly with ease.”
Whether or not 2021 was the year you thought it would be, it’s coming to a close tonight. Today I’m reflecting on the 12 calendar pages that I created in 2021, and hope they stir some fond memories for you, crafting or otherwise. Click on each month’s link to get the full details on how each page is created.
If you would like to make your own DIY Easel calendar, I sell the pdf for just $5 and you are welcome to print it to use as you please. Contact me and I’ll invoice you. If you’d prefer one already made, message my dear friend Crystal on Instagram – she sells them, and may have a few left for 2022.
Let’s get started with January 2021:
January 2021 had a joyful beginning with the sassy donkey from the Sale-a-bration set, Darling Donkeys. I got a lot of miles out of this set, and it’s one that has joined my Retired Stamp Shelves (RSS). Let’s just say Darling Donkeys has good company. It felt so good to say goodbye to 2020, and kicking up our heels with abandon was the perfect way to celebrate.
February 2021 was an homage to the butterfly and to the beauty of nature. I used another Sale-a-bration set, A Touch of Ink. I was cheered by the combination of the Monarch Butterfly and the bright yellow flowers all month long.
You’ll notice as you go through the months that I have done a lot of coloring with Stampin’ Blends – the more I use them, the more I love them. The results are stunning even if you’re not quite sure what you’re doing, and the act of coloring is extremely therapeutic.
In March 2021, I inked up Pretty Perennials. I’m still a bit sad that Stampin’ Up! retired this beauty, but never fear – it’s on the RSS with the Donkey and a few other sets that stole my heart in 2021.
I like to give these calendar pages a fair amount of dimension, whether it’s lifting an element on Stampin’ Dimensionals or using embellishment. Because the calendars are small (the white portion is 3 1/2″ square) it’s easy to add a lot of detail without making them an all day project. It’s a fun challenge to work on this scale.
April 2021 features another favorite that retired to the RSS – Beautiful Friendship. That’s not to say that Stampin’ Up! is lacking in floral stamp sets, because heaven knows, we have an ABUNDANCE. But I do have my favorites, and this is one of them.
I really try to alternate my floral months with non-floral months, but as you can see, in 2021 I was not very successful. I’m a gardener as well as a crafter (one could argue they are both crafts) and my two happy places tend to blur into one big garden-filled crafty space. Good intentions are just that, good intentions, and they may or may not be carried out as planned.
Flowers aside, I confess that the May 2021 DIY is one of my favorites. The colors, the layering, and the images all make something inside of me want to dance with joy. That’s the purpose of these little pages!
Strawberries grow beautifully on Maui on the slopes of Haleakala, and they are as sweet a berry as you have ever popped into your mouth. This calendar was a delight all through the month of May – almost as delightful as eating strawberries.
I consider the Friends are Like Seashells bundle my personal gift from Stampin’ Up! My June 2021 calendar is all about the seashore, and it’s another that brings me tremendous joy. I grew up on the Pacific Ocean, although the California coastal waters are just a tich colder than the ocean at our beloved Keawakapu.
As a child, I remember fighting with my dad, arguing that it wasn’t time to come home, while my teeth chattered and my nail beds were purple from the cold. I’m (theoretically) a grown up now, and I don’t spend much time in cold water any more, but I am still passionate about the sand and the sea and the place where the two meet.
For many years, I tried to create a red-white-and-blue calendar to celebrate July and the American Independence Day. A few years ago, I decided to let go of that. I wish I had known sooner how it would feel like my own Independence Day! Lesson here: let go of silly, self-imposed rules.
July is mid-summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means an abundant garden. I want flowers in July. The July 2021 DIY is a riot of color, just as July should be!
In August 2021, my calendar got a little silly. I looked at those penguins and saw them in Technicolor. These are not your ordinary penguins! This stamp set has a strong dose of whimsey, and these out-of-the-ordinary birds are surely whimsical.
My personal style doesn’t usually lean towards this kind of lightheartedness. When I hear the muse of whimsey speak, I’m generally compelled to listen. (Note to self: any time, any muse, LISTEN.)
When September 2021 rolled around, the muse went off to amuse herself and my crafty little heart turned back to flowers. I have gotten many, many miles from this gorgeous Hand-Penned Petals bundle, and I’m definitely not finished.
The color combinations are endless, and these images can be a simple focal point for your layout or something much more elaborated and layered. They’re versatile and captivating, and if you haven’t yet added Hand-Penned Petals to your craft stash, well then, GET GOING, SHALL WE????? (oops. sorry not sorry. I’m passionate about this bundle.)
October 2021 DIY decided it needed to be a jack-o-lantern, and that was that. I think the muse was back in town, if you want the truth. And when the muse speaks, One Must Obey.
And so October became a Halloween calendar. As it turned out, I wasn’t at home for Halloween and it was a little serendipity that I had this cheerful image to keep me in the spirit (without indulging in all the candy. Good heavens.)
I am still quite pleased with the way November 2021 turned out. This project was decidedly outside of my comfort zone, and there was a fair amount of improvising before I got to the finished result. The warm autumnal colors, the blending of one tone into the next, and the heartfelt message set me up for a splendid month.
You see, I knew that my middle daughter and her husband would be home to Maui for Thanksgiving because one of her high school besties was being married on the island the weekend before the holiday. However, I couldn’t have imagined at the beginning of the month that all 3 of my children would be home with their beloved partners so that our family could be together for the first time since January 2020.
My mama heart was so full to have everyone together. If you have adult children, I suspect you will understand how challenging it can be to coordinate schedules. Add to that a distance spanning 9 time zones and ever-changing Covid protocols in 2 countries and you’ll have an idea why this was such a miracle. As you can see, Celebrate Together became a reality instead of an improbable dream.
That brings us to December 2021 and Peaceful Deer. It’s a fitting way to close the year. It’s just me and Mr. Maui Stamper this month, and so much has happened in 2021 that we are grateful to enjoy a little peace and quiet.
If you’re now inspired to create a 2022 DIY Easel Calendar, let’s do it! The pdf is just $5 and if you contact me I’ll send you an invoice as quickly as I’m able. Trust me, you’ll love creating your own! If you need inspiration from prior years, it’s all in the archives. Choose “Calendars” from the “Category” drop down.
The calendar is the one commitment I’ve consistently kept to the Maui Stamper. I haven’t blogged nearly as much this year as in years past, but it was something I could choose to cut in order to maintain some balance. I’ve been very busy creating, but I haven’t taken the time to take the photos, prep them for the blog, and create and publish the post.
Perhaps 2022 will be different: I hope so. In fact, I know it will be different, but what I don’t know is how it will be different. That’s the tricky bit about growth and change, isn’t it? You know it’s coming, but you don’t know what it’s going to look like. Let’s all hope it’s going to be very, very good.
Ah, December, let me be a Peaceful Deer this holiday season! Let my crafting be inspired, my celebrations be joyful, and my scale be compassionate. Wouldn’t that be a perfect month?
Stamps: Peaceful Deer, Penguin Place
Color Palette: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Just Jade, Pool Party, So Saffron
I’m working on my Stampin’ Blends technique – what do you think about this deer? I really need to take a proper class, focusing on technique and shading. It’s on my to do list, but I currently have 3 lifetime’s worth of things To Do!
I went slightly non-traditional in my color choices. I considered adding a red nose, or a red bow, but ultimately decided to skip the red and go for the softer, cooler tones. It’s in keeping with my December philosophy (inspired, joyful, compassionate) and I’m hopeful that I can live it out.
As always, Crystal and Cheryl have December calendars to share today as well. If you’d like to create your own Easel calendar, the 2022 calendar pdf is available for $5. Contact me for an invoice and I’ll get the pdf out to you right away.
It’s your Last Chance to shop the July-December mini catalog! Save up to 50%, but hurry! And news flash: BOTH the Deer Builder and the Penguin Builder punches are in stock!
The gorgeous Eden’s Garden suite includes stamps, dies, exclusive papers and embellishments available as a sneak peek of the January – June 2022 mini catalog. The dies and stamps will carry over, but the papers and embellishments are available only during this promotion. Get yours today and enjoy the holiday crafting options!
For my November DIY Easel calendar, I used a Blending Brush technique to create a background, then featured a sentiment from Create with Friends. What do you think?
Stamps: Create with Friends
Color Palette: Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Pale Papaya, Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coral, Merry Merlot
Accessories: Blending Brushes
I began by masking across the top of the calendar portion. I found the center of the space above the masked line where I wanted to create my sunburst and used it as a pivot point.
I used a fresh piece of card stock as a mask and began by placing it diagonally through that pivot point, using the upper corners and the edge of my mask for alignment. I loaded up my blending brushes with Flirty Flamingo and starting blending! Once I was satisfied with the color intensity, I moved my card stock mask to the center of the calendar (again using that pivot point) and loaded another Blending Brush with Daffodil Delight. I have a few sets of brushes so that I can dedicate some to color like Daffodil Delight that don’t like to share.
Once I had the vertical and diagonal lines established, I moved my straight card stock mask around rather randomly, filling in the color as I liked. I enjoyed NOT measuring or calculating or planning ahead: most often I work that way, but I really enjoyed this spontaneous process. Maybe another time I’ll plot it out. Or not.
The final step was to add the sentiment in Merry Merlot to coordinate with the card stock mat I chose for November.
I confess I was a little nervous as I removed the mask across the bottom, but it must have been my lucky day and it came off perfectly. This is an easy technique that is adaptable to a variety of uses, and I’d love to hear what you think of it.
If you’d like to create your own calendar, the 2022 DIY Calendar PDF is available for sale. Click on Contact the Maui Stamper and send me your email and I’ll invoice you. It’s just $5, and you’re welcome to create for your own use as well as for sale. Please note this is a PDF – you’ll receive a file and print your own copies.
Be sure you stop by to see what Cheryl and Crystal have created for November.
I’ve embraced a Halloween theme for October this year. I don’t always, but this goofy jack-o-lantern from Clever Cat stole my heart. How can you resist him with that Sorting Hat on top?
Accessories: Big Boss, Forever Flourishing dies, Paper Snips, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I fussy cut the cat and jack-o-lantern, and then cut apart a couple of leaf images from the Forever Flourishing dies to create some fall foliage (or what I imagine would be fall foliage, that’s not really a thing here on Maui.) Forever Flourishing is such a versatile set of dies!
Stampin’ Blends are my favorite coloring medium, hands down. I’m still learning different techniques for color grading and shadowing, but that doesn’t stop me from playing with them every chance I get. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s handmade!
Be sure you stop by to see what Cheryl and Crystal have created for October.
If you’d like to create your own calendar, the 2022 DIY Calendar PDF is available for sale. Click on Contact the Maui Stamper and send me your email and I’ll invoice you. It’s just $5, and you’re welcome to create for your own use as well as for sale. Please note this is a PDF – you’ll receive a file and print your own copies.
Ready to try your hand at these nifty little calendars?
It’s still just $5, and you can still make all the copies you want for gifting, personal use, or even craft sales. If a fellow crafter asks you for a copy, I’d be very grateful if you’d direct then to me for the PDF.
I recommend you print your calendars on Basic White card stock (regular, not thick). My printer has issues, so I send my file to a local print shop and use their high-end copy machines to get the best possible results. It’s worth the trouble to me!
If you need inspiration, use the blog search function and type in DIY. I’ve been making these since 2013 (gasp) so be prepared for some browsing.
I just need your email – click on Contact Me and I’ll invoice you. Once you’ve paid, your PDF, a page of 2022 covers (for gifting) and the cutting instructions will be flying to your inbox via the wonders of the internet!
If you’re in need of Basic White card stock or stamping supplies for your own DIY masterpiece, shop HERE.
Don’t put any money on this yet, but I think Hand Penned Petals may be my favorite set from the 21-22 Annual Catalog. I love the images, and what’s more, they are REALLY fun to color with Stampin’ Blends.
Stamps: Hand Penned Petals
Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Shaded Spruce, Black
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Big Boss, Penned Flowers dies, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Multi-Purpose Glue, Paper Snips, Blending Brushes
Because this image doesn’t quite fill the space, I was looking for something subtle to add behind it. I tried various leaves and backgrounds, but even when I used a very light hand it felt like too much. The moment I realized this was a perfect job for Blending Brushes, I knew I’d found what I needed.
I did a bit of fussy cutting and layered the flowers and leaves. It’s absolutely not necessary as this image stands on its own very well, but I was in a moooood.
Please take a moment to visit Cheryl and Crystal and see their September 2021 DIY Easel calendars!
And, yes, I’m happy to announce that today I have the 2022 DIY Calendar PDF available for sale. Click on Contact the Maui Stamper and send me your email and I’ll invoice you. It’s just $5, and you’re welcome to create for your own use as well as for sale, but please don’t share the PDF. Share the link to this post and encourage your friends to support a small business instead. You’ll feel so much better if you do.
Today begins Month #2 of SALE-a-bration 2021 #2! Your qualifying order earns exclusive merchandise free of charge, including Beautifully Penned 12×12 Designer Series Paper. It coordinates perfectly with the Hand Penned stamps.That’s what you expect from Stampin’ Up!, right?
In just a couple of days, Penguin Place – and a host of other new designs – will be available in the Online Store. I gave these little aquatic artists a tropical look. Who said penguins have to wear black?
Stamps: Penguin Place
Color Palette: Basic White, Bermuda Bay, Polished Pink, Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
I tried a number of penguin accessories, but in the end, I liked the fishing pole best. I used my paper snips to cut the thinnest strip possible from Crumb Cake card stock. I put a few tiny drops of Tombo on the back and gently placed a single strand teased from gold thread into place. I laid that into the penguin hand/paw/wing and then used a glue dot to position a fish I created with Polished Pink Stampin’ Blends.
I’m pretty pleased with that fish, because the entire reason I fell in love with rubber stamps is that I do not like the way I draw.
Choosing the direction of the gaze of each penguin ended up being a LOT of fun – I can see more stories to tell playing with that concept!
Please stop by and see what Crystal and Cheryl have to share for August! If you’re ready to shop, I’d be delighted to serve you as your demonstrator – shop HERE.
I’ve had a few enquiries about the 2022 calendar pdf. Never fear, it’s in the works and will be released in September.
TWO MORE DAYS TO SAVE ON DESIGNER SERIES PAPER!! DON’T MISS OUT – SEE IT HERE.
Flowers of Friendship is a brand new stamp-and-punch bundle in the 2021-2022 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog and it caught my eye the moment I turned the page. This wasn’t my vision at that moment, but as I thought about my July calendar I imagined these bright colors:
Stamps: Flowers of Friendship, Forever Fern
Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Highland Heather, Polished Pink
Accessories: Flowers and Leaves punch, Playing with Patterns Resin Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Water Painter, Ink refill
I chose to watercolor these flowers. I would have gotten different results had I thought to stamp and punch them from watercolor paper, but that’s not what happened today. You see, I’ve embarked on a massive project: I am giving my craft room the full KonMari. As a result, crafting has taken a bit of a back seat, and crafting supplies are no longer where they used to be.
I removed EVERYTHING from the craft room and heaped it in the hallway and the bedroom across the hall. Once everything was out I cleaned (massive clouds of cat hair, UGH.) There was also an astonishing amount of adhesive stuck to everything: countertops, floors, cabinets, you name it. Apparently when I get tired I throw glue dots at the wall! Slowly but surely I have been returning things with intention. I haven’t exactly used the “spark joy” technique, but I am being very discriminating about what goes back, and I’m thinking carefully about where things go. I’ve been at this for nearly 2 weeks and I’m not done.
The good news is that today I’ve made something, and that means that at least some things are where they belong! It’s quite satisfying to work in an orderly space – the chaos has been very discouraging.
And oh, did I love working with these summery colors! This flower reminds me of clematis, although I’ve never seen a vine with all of these colors. The July calendar will be a joy to see all month long.
If you’re as smitten with Flowers of Friendship as I am, head over to the Online Store. You can purchase select DSP on sale this month while you’re there! And please take a look at the July calendars that Cheryl and Crystal have created this month – I know you’ll be delighted by their talent.
I’ve had a couple of requests for the 2022 DIY template. It will be available late this summer or in the early fall. I’ll be sure to let you know here, and if you’ve purchased in the past, you’ll get an email to notify you it’s ready for sale.
The Maui Stamper 