Category Archives: cards

Have cape, will solve problems

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I wish a cape was all it took to solve a problem. I don’t want to dive too deeply into the problems of the world, but it seems to me that we could use a few more good guys and gals wearing capes:

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

I use an Aquapainter to blend our Colored Pencils. You can use a regular brush with water, but the Aquapainter is sitting on my craft desk 10 inches from my hand.  It’s so easy.

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

This set has especially good sentiments for adding to the inside of the card. It would be a great Father’s Day card, but this one actually went to a friend who accomplished something pretty special.

Today is the last day to shop the Retired List for 2016-2017 and you know what that means: the new 2017-2018 catalog begins tomorrow!  Today is also the last day to get your free Very Vanilla note cards or Thick Very Vanilla card stock with your Eastern Palace bundle!

I just sent in my last order for the old catalog, and my list for the new catalog is ready to roll as soon as the system goes live (Stampin’ Up! promises by noon Mountain time).  Are you ready??  Shop HERE.

 

A late Mother’s Day post: edited

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I knew I had CASED this card but didn’t realize how closely my card resembled the original. I want to give credit to Charlett Mallett for the design and color scheme for this card!

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A belated Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, moms, grandmas, nanas, aunties, and any woman who has nurtured a child (teachers, this means all of you!). Loving and guiding a child through life’s ups and downs is one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of my life.

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

I’m very proud of my three children, as well as the many young people I’ve loved through family, school, scouting, church, neighborhoods and even Facebook. I absolutely believe the adage that it takes a village to raise a child, and in today’s world of increased mobility, the village has become global in nature as well. I turned to circular images for this card to reflect the continuous nature of mothering.

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

There’s a 1 1/4″ Very Vanilla circle punch behind the Swirly Scribble die cut, as the center of the doily is very lacy and I found it distracting.

Many of these products are retiring, and stamps are guaranteed availability only through May 22.  After that date, they’ll be sold on a while supplies last basis. Don’t miss your favorites!  Shop HERE.

 

 

Spring flowers, mainland style

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I love tropical flowers – a lot! – but in the spring, I miss the spring flowers I grew up with.  You know the ones: daffodils, tulips, iris, paper whites…you might be able to grow them in some parts of the island where it gets cold at night, but the heat of the day forces them open way too fast. The markets often have bouquets in the spring, but I suspect they’re flown in, and by the time I get them home they’re already looking like they need a couple of hours in the fridge.

Fortunately, I can enjoy paper flowers all year round without having to pick up the wilted petals:

Maui Stamper Basket Bunch Daffodil

Maui Stamper Basket Bunch Daffodil

The flowers were fun to color – I used Stampin’ Write markers this time – and I was quite pleased to actually capture some of the Wink in this photo!

Maui Stamper Basket Bunch Daffodil

Basket Bunch, Gorgeous Grunge and the Festive TIEF are all retiring – shop HERE to get yours before they’re gone!

On the Gonna Miss List: Gorgeous Grunge

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I remember the catalog when Gorgeous Grunge was released. I was at the Stampin’ Up! convention in Salt Lake City and if I’m not mistaken, the talented Pam Morgan introduced this stamp set and told us how much we were going to use it. At first glance, I wasn’t sure, but by the end of her presentation I was convinced.

Maui Stamper Gorgeous Grunge and Number of Years

  • Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Number of Years
  • Color Palette:  Wild Wasabi, Sweet Sugarplum, Whisper White, Crushed Curry
  • Accessories:  Stampin’ Write Markers, Thick White Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Brights DSP pack (sold out)

I can’t begin to list the cards I’ve made using one of the images from Gorgeous Grunge. It adds a little bit of texture, fills a gap in a design, or creates a background as I’ve done here.

Maui Stamper Gorgeous Grunge and Number of Years

This particular stamp is very forgiving with regard to placement – really, they all are – and that makes it easy to create texture or a design element without beating your head against the desk. (Not that I do that often, but it’s possible.)

Maui Stamper Gorgeous Grunge and Number of Years

Gorgeous Grunge is available until May 31, 2017, or while supplies last. It’s going to stay in my stamp collection for sure.  Get yours HERE.

Dragonfly Dreams and new Maui Stampers

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It’s been a busy time for the Maui Stampers team, and I put another welcome card in the mail:

Maui Stamper Welcome to the team Dragonfly Dreams

  • Stamps:  Dragonfly Dreams
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Mint Macaron, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Detailed Dragonfly thinlits, Layering Circles framelits, Inside the Lines DSP (Sale-a-bration 2017), Vellum, Wink of Stella clear, Aquapainter

Maui Stamper Welcome to the team Dragonfly Dreams

I LOVE VELLUM WINGS!! And I almost always give them a Wink of Stella.  It’s irresistable.

(BTW, that DSP circle behind the band? It’s retired paper.  I think it’s from Holiday 2016.)

Maui Stamper Welcome to the team Dragonfly Dreams

There’s a peak of washi inside, too!

Grab the bundle and save 10% – shop HERE.

Botanical Blooms is retiring and there’s nothing I can do about it

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Every year when the retiring products list is published, I hold my breath and scan it for favorites.  This year, there was a BIG sigh when I saw Botanical Blooms right there in black and white.  It’s a go-to floral set for me, and has an unmistakeable tropical vibe. This is one retiring set that will go into my personal archive.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

I created this extended card when I learned that a dear friend was going to be a mom for the first time.  When I created the card, the baby’s gender hadn’t been revealed, so I mixed up the colors to be gender neutral.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

This image makes the card look waaaaay longer than it is – it will fit in a standard medium envelope.  Note that all the stamping is on the inside white panel – the actual embellishments are simply die cut, not stamped.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

I’ve created a lot of cards using this basic technique.  I cut a large stack of assorted shapes and start layering and placing them on my card. There’s a lot of texture with the shapes and layers, but the card itself is still flat enough to mail.

  • Stamps:  Botanical Blooms 
  • Color Palette:  Crumb Cake, Shimmer White, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Marina Mist
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Botanical Builder Framelits, Falling in Love DSP (retired and sold out), Pearl jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue dots

There’s still time to add either the stamps, the framelits, or both to your craft room!  Shop HERE.

 

 

There’s a new baby boy in the family!

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My cousin’s daughter – our Goddaughter – had a baby boy earlier this year.  I sent a selection of some of my all-time favorite children’s books, including of course Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.  The big monster from Yummy in My Tummy was the logical choice to welcome Nolan to the family:

Maui Stamper Yummy In My Tummy

  • Stamps:  Yummy in My Tummy, Any Occasion (SAB 2017)
  •  Color Palette:  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Lucky Stars TIEF,  Paper Snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Retired Washi tape

Maui Stamper Yummy In My Tummy

I had to fussy cut him. HAD TO. I don’t mind when it’s for a single card. 

He looks just like Max in his wolf suit. 

Farewell, Sale-a-bration 2017!!

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Today’s your last chance for Sale-abration 2017! Orders close at 11:50pm mountain time.

Maui Stamper Delicate Details and Avant Garden

It’s your last chance for Delicate Details, Avant Garden, and a host of other great products!

Maui Stamper Delicate Details and Avant Garden

If you’re placing an order today, stock up on the Retiring 2015-2017 In Colors!  As soon as the list is announced, there’s always a huge rush to buy paper, ink, ribbon and ink refills.  Don’t miss out on Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder, Delightful Dijon, Cucumber Crush or TIP TOP TAUPE (say it 5 times as quickly as you can!!!)

Maui Stamper 15-17 In Color Collection

 

Butterflies for encouragement

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A friend is recovering from one of those “health episodes” that make us all stop and think. I take care of so many people in my life – do I need to do more for me? What would happen if…?  We’re all so glad she is home and recovering, and of course I hoped I could send a little encouragement her way.

Maui Stamper Beautiful Butterfly Just for You

  • Stamps:  Watercolor Wings, You’ve Got This
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Bold Butterfly Framelits, Butterflies Thinlits, Wink of Stella Clear, Vellum card stock, Silver thread, Metallics Sequins Assortment, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Glue Dots

I’m officially obsessed with cutting out the detailed butterfly wings in vellum.  (News Flash: I am obsessed with Way.Too.Many.Things)  The Fine Tip Glue pen works quite well to adhere just the body to the base, leaving the wings to move.

Maui Stamper Beautiful Butterfly Just for You

I twisted a piece of Silver thread to make it stay in a V shape and put it between the vellum and the base with an extra dab of the Fine Tip Glue pen.  It’s a little touch, but then again, it’s all about the little touches, now, isn’t it?

Take good care of yourselves, my friends.  You are important.  You are loved.

More gorgeous succulents

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If you liked the card from the last RemARKable Blog tour, I think you’ll enjoy what I did with some of the leftover die cuts.  This is a CASE from Krista Driessen – with variations!

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

This is quite similar to her card. Using watercolor paper for this technique really helps! I used the Gold Wink of Stella pen to splatter the main panel for this card, and my watercolor wash wasn’t completely dry. As a result, the wash has taken on a gold tone, and some of the splatters ran a bit. I considered it a lovely serendipity.

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

I just kept playing with the watercolor wash, as well as the colors and placement of the succulents. I wasn’t happy with the way the sentiment embossed with my Very Vanilla embossing powder – I think it’s too old – so I tried another option.

Maui Stamper Oh So SucculentThis one got out of control!  Not my favorite, but it’s a much bolder look.  I decided to skip the wash altogether:

Maui Stamper Oh So Succulent

I’m not sure if I prefer this one, or the first one. The supplies are the same:

  • Stamps: Oh So Succulent
  • Color Palette:  Ecru (watercolor paper), Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Basic Black, Pear Pizazz, Always Artichoke, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Succulent Framelits, Aquapainter, Wink of Stella Gold, Diamond Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue dots, White Perfect Elements, Aquapainter

Have some fun! Mix and match elements of a card design – start with your own design, or CASE another paper artist.  You never know what you’ll discover.