Flowering Fields

Posted on January 28, 2016 by mauistamper

This is turning into my favorite stamp set from the 2016 Sale-a-bration catalog:

Stamps: Flowering Fields (SAB 2016), Timeless Textures (clear and wood mount), And Many More (clear and wood mount)
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Pear Pizazz, Crushed Curry, So Saffron, Soft Suede
Accessories: Linen Thread, Stampin’ Trimmer, Stampin’ Write Markers, White Gel pen

I stamped all the Timeless Textures backgrounds first. Most of them were stamped off (inked, then lightly stamped on scrap paper, then stamped onto the project). I added the Flowering Fields images with Soft Suede and then hand colored them. I’m really getting into hand coloring.

If you look at the image in the top left corner, you’ll see the White Gel pen highlights. I find so many uses for that pen, and I’ve learned to keep a brand new one as backup. Maybe it’s the warm Maui weather, but I find they dry out before they are used up. I used to do all kinds of crazy things to make them last longer, but I finally gave up. They’re $4. I’m worth it.

Beautiful Ride

Posted on January 24, 2016 by mauistamper

Did you ever count VW Beetles on road trips? Scour the highway so you could be the first to spot one and earn the dubious right to slug your fellow passenger? Wish you could be lucky enough to ever own one?

Some cars seem to evoke more powerful memories than others. As a kid, I used to count them, but it was my kids who played the “Punch Buggy” game until either someone was in tears or I was hollering or both.

Stamps: Beautiful Ride
Color Palette: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate
Accessories: Watercolor paper, Aqua painter, Mini-brads, Black Bakers Twine, Botanical Gardens DSP, Stampin’ Dimensionals

You can see I have mad water coloring skills – ha! It’s fun and I’ve learned to Let It Be (cue the Beatles. See what I did there?).

I’ve added links to Stampin’ Up! products right in the card “recipe”. Let me know what you think! Of course, you can always just shop HERE. And while you’re at it, cruise through the Sale-a-bration options…because everybody loves FREE.

It’s a RemARKable New Year

Posted on January 14, 2016 by mauistamper

Welcome to the 2016 RemARKable Blog Tour, where we showcase the versatility and creative options of Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Botanical Blooms photopolymer, Happy Birthday Everyone (Host)
Color Palette: Mint Macaron, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Botanical Builder framelits, Pearl jewels, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine

I had a serious problem getting that edge going the right direction across the bottom of the card. It should be simple, but I’m famous for making simple things complicated. To avoid the problem in the future, I marked my framelit:

Just to be perfectly clear, the arrows should point towards the bottom edge of the card!

It’s addicting one you begin to play with all of the floral pieces – I ended up with a lot of extras, and I tucked them into one of our clear envelopes to store with the framelits.

I also used the same concept to update the cover on the Kraft Grid Journal, currently available on the Clearance Rack at $1.98 for a package of 2. They’re perfect for tucking into a bag or desk drawer, or to keep in the car for those random (BRILLIANT) ideas that always pop into my head when I’m driving.

I used Versamark for the cover of the Kraft Journal, and added stamped details in Crumb Cake. A couple of stamps and a little sponging created texture on the blooms, and a little more Baker’s Twine finished off the look.

The Botanical Blooms bundle includes stamps, framelits and Designer Series paper with a great tropical flair – I know it will be a big hit here in Hawaii! It’s also a natural during Sale-a-bration, as it’s perfectly priced to qualify for a free SAB stamp set or paper pack.

Click below to see what Heather Mathieson has created this month – or scroll to the bottom of the page to take your own customized trip through the tour. Enjoy!

Update on the Woodlands TIEF

Posted on November 19, 2015 by mauistamper

The Woodlands TIEF (Textured Impressions Embossing Folder) has been a huge hit from the holiday catalog – there are projects all over the blogosphere and Pinterest like this:

The news from Stampin’ Up! this morning is that this great product is currently on back-order. It was also announced earlier this week that the Woodlands TIEF will retire at the end of the Holiday catalog or when supplies are exhausted.

Here’s the back-order status as of yesterday, November 18th:

There are 7,088 on back-order
2,304 are expected on November 30
9,792 are expected on December 7

Can you do the math? Even with new math (front end estimating nearly pushed me over the ledge) I can see that this product may sell out. Stampin’ Up! has not made a statement about how many additional units may or may not be ordered.

If you think you might EVER want to own the Woodlands TIEF, I strongly suggest you go HERE and place your order now – product 139673 for $8.50.

Stampin' Up! Woodlands TIEF 139673 $8.50

You’re welcome.

RemARKable Holidays

Posted on November 12, 2015 by mauistamper

Welcome to the November RemARKable Blog tour. We’re featuring Holiday Bundles this month, and I know the other artists on the tour will have great inspiration for you.

For my part, I have two simple cards that could be produced in quantity – and since it’s nearly mid-November, simple is a plus! First up is the Jingle All the Way Bundle:

Stamps: Jingle All the Way
Color Palette: Whisper White, Night of Navy
Accessories: 2 1/2″ Circle Punch, Watercolor paper, Night of Navy Ink Refill, White Craft Ink, Big Shot, Sleigh Ride Edgelit dies, Delicate Ornament Thinlit dies, Softly Falling TIEF, Precision Base Plate, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper, Silver Cord, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The ornament concept isn’t my original idea – it’s all over Pinterest – but this combination is mine. Using the watercolor paper with the ink refill allows more depth and variety in the Night of Navy background.

My second bundled project features the Peaceful Pines bundle:

Stamps: Peaceful Pines
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Lost Lagoon, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Pines Framelits, Lucky Stars TIEF, Home for Christmas DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Stampin’ Dimensionals

If you take a look at page 16 of the Holiday Catalog, you’ll see the inspiration for this card. Since my first card used a watercolor technique, I chose to use Designer Series Paper (DSP) for this one.

I hope you’re inspired – and I’m sure there is more inspiration coming your way. The tour links are featured at the end of the blog, but if you click on the image below you’ll be off to see Heather Mathieson! Thanks for your visit.

Nancy Amato
Melissa Bolinger
Arden Dougan
Tracie Langley
Anne Matasci YOU ARE HERE!
Heather Mathieson
Audra Monk
Maria Pane
Michele Reynolds
Pam Staples
Janet Wakeland

One last Crafting on Maui Project set

Posted on October 26, 2015 by mauistamper

One last set of projects for our Kit-Tastic Christmas event on November 14th:

$12 for four cards with envelopes – make one set or make multiples!

Saturday, November 14th, 9am until 2pm at Kihei Charter High School. Project sets include these four cards, a set of four gift cards holders, the Oh What Fun tags, and the To You and Yours Shaker cards. Make one project, make them all – whatever works for you.

But sign up NOW. Registration is due NOVEMBER 1st.

Simple Fancy Folds with a Big POW!

Posted on October 24, 2015 by mauistamper

Sometimes you see a card that just stops you in your tracks – this was one of those:

The amazing and oh-so-talented Dawn Olchefske shared this design for a double gate fold card – with her impeccable instructions. I chose the same paper but I’d just done a design with Among the Branches and wanted to try something different.

Stamps: Howl-O-Ween
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Tangelo Twist
Accessories: Simply Scored, Big Shot and Boo to You Framelits, Black Glimmer paper (oh yes!), 2 1/2″ circle punch, Googlie Eyes (not SU)

Googlie eyes are a must. That is all.

A Cozy Christmas (not a Maui Christmas)

Posted on October 17, 2015 by mauistamper

We don’t have scenes like this on Maui at all, but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them:

At convention, one of the presenters showed us how you could make little pin-point dots on a piece of card stock with our new Fine Tip Glue Pen and add Dazzling Diamonds (don’t tell) for this snowfall effect.

I took it a step further and added snow on the roof, the trees, and the windowsill.

I tried the same card again using Basic Black and some of our retired Silver Encore card stock, but I still felt that the sponging for the sky needed to be deep blue – this is Isand Indigo and Night Of Navy.

The second time around I liked my drifting snow much more.

I’m ambivalent – do you have a preference? One thing I’m sure of: the Hearth and Home Window frame Thinlits are a big hit!

Sparkle and Shine for Christmas

Posted on October 12, 2015 by mauistamper

Forgive me if I bypass Halloween and Thanksgiving for a bit…I’ll be back, but the Holiday catalog has such beautiful Christmas things:

Stamps: None!!
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Mossy Meadow, GOLD
Accessories: Big Shot, Precision Base Plate, Christmas Greetings Thinlits, Very Vanilla 1 1/4″ Subtle Stripes Vanilla Ribbon, Home for Christmas Enamel Dots, Home for Christmas DSP, Banner Triple Punch, Glimmer Paper, 2 1/2″ Circle Punch

Yes I fussy-cut the poinsettia. It’s very forgiving.

Let me tell you about cutting out these words with the Christmas Greetings Thinlits and the Precision Base plate. The words pop right out of the Thinlit. There are no funny bumps from the holes meant to help you poke them out. The skinny bits don’t get twisted and pulled out of shape. You need this. I certainly do!