Sleeper Stamps

Posted on August 7, 2014 by mauistamper

Do you know we have sleepers – Christmas sleepers – still available?

Stamps: Christmas Collectible, Holiday Invitation (2014 Holiday catalog)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss, Rose Red
Accessories: Flower Frenzy Bigz L die, Ornament punch (retired), Park Lane Designer Series paper, 1/2″ circle punch, Rhinestone jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals

There are a number of carryover holiday stamp sets from our previous catalog that are available until the new Holiday catalog debuts on August 28th. Christmas Collectible (131775 clear, 131772 wood) is a classic holiday set. I love how easily you can add color – just stamp twice, trim or punch out, and layer!

That gorgeous “BE MERRY” will be available with the new Holiday Catalog – once Christmas Collectible retires. And can I just confess that I don’t remember the last time I used Rose Red? I think it works really well with Blackberry Bliss…but then I haven’t found a color that doesn’t.

These little ornaments also make quick and easy gift enclosures. I think Lost Lagoon and Crushed Curry offer a refreshing change for a holiday color scheme.

If you don’t want to layer, you can add a little color with your Stampin’ Write markers – it just takes a second!

Stop by the Online Store and enter Christmas Collectible in the search feature under Shop Now. But hurry…you’ve just got a couple of weeks left.

Inspire.Create.Share.2014: Christmas in July

Posted on July 24, 2014 by mauistamper

I signed up for a Christmas Card swap at convention before I realized that there were no Christmas stamps in the 2014-2015 catalog. I had to get creative:

Stamps: Tape It, Hello Love (Hostess), And Many More, Hardwood
Color Palette: Whisper White, Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede
Accessories: Gold Bakers Twine, Red Glimmer paper, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Watercolor Wonder Washi tape, Banner punch, Stampin’ Sponges

I adore the fat little birds from the Hello Love Hostess set. I thought this one looked sort of Partridge-y. You know, in the Pear Tree. Use your imagination.

I had to mask off the end of that last Tape It strip, the one on the bottom – it was too long. I just used a sticky note and then drew a little line across the edge to finish it off.

Honestly, lately I don’t seem capable of making anything without Stampin’ Sponges and Dimensionals.

I’ve shared this tip before but it’s worth repeating: When you’re working with the Gold or Silver Bakers Twine, tie a pair of little knots around the spot where you’re going to cut the twine. It takes an extra moment or two but it saves the frustration of chasing those gold wrappings – they’re stiffer than the twine and they unravel instantaneously.

Inspire.Create.Share.2014 – One Last Swap

Posted on July 22, 2014 by mauistamper

This is the last swap I made for Inspire.Create.Share, our 2014 Convention:

Stamps: Life’s Adventures (Hostess), And Many More
Color Palette: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Fringe Scissors, Glimmer paper, Stampin’ Write markers, Zig Zag TIEF, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Typeset DSP, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack

I used markers to get the look I wanted for the stamped image. I hand-colored the stamp before making my impression, then went back and added the awning and the door.

This is a matchbook style card. Cut your card stock to 4 1/4″ x 11″ and score at 3/4″ and 6″. Your finished card will be 4 1/4″ by 5 1/4″ but trust me, no one is going to notice the difference 🙂

I love the shape of this little heart from the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch pack! Much more contemporary than the traditional heart.

I’m also a little bit obsessed with the new Typeset DSP. I was in serious mourning when First Editions Newsprint wasn’t continued into this catalog, but I’m relieved and delighted with this new edition! Maps. Print. Design Elements. There are loads of options, and it’s really lightweight so it is going to crumple up just beautifully.

Now to go look through all of the swaps I received in return for mine! I feel like Uncle Scrooge on his pile of money. Bwa ha ha ha!!!

Would you help me win a contest?

Posted on July 19, 2014 by mauistamper

There just hasn’t been enough time in the day to post to the Maui Stamper about convention – I’ve done most of my updates through Facebook. One thing I’d like to share is the Master Class Cheryl and I took from the amazing Shannon West using the new Watercolor Winter Simply Created card kit.

My friends, this is NOT your grandmother’s card kit!

There are a number of samples that you can follow to create your own card, but we were given some techniques to try and encouraged to create something on our own. This was my project, and I had a great time with it! There’s a contest through Sunday and the prize is a Stampin’ Up! shopping spree, and I really hope you’ll help me win! You can vote for my card by liking it on the Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit board! (Try saying that out loud!) Click HERE to see the board and vote for my card.

This is a beautiful, versatile kit and I will have more to share when we get closer to the release date for the Holiday catalog – mark your calendars for August 28th! I’ve got my advance copy and I am really excited about the quality, variety and breadth of the offerings. Let’s just say we need an “I want it all” button in our ordering system!

If you’re on Maui, mark this Saturday July 26th on your calendar – I’m holding an Open House to share my Convention swaps and sell my retired product. You don’t want to miss it!

And thanks so much for your vote.

Just a little bit nuts…

Posted on July 7, 2014 by mauistamper

Yeah, I’m a little bit nuts right now…but in a good way.

Stamps: Nuts About You, Lots of Thanks
Color Palette: Melon Mambo, Hello Honey, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, the BIg Shot and Word Bubble Framelits

I love this simple layout – I almost left off the ribbon, and I’m still second-guessing that decision.

It is a little bit nuts – there’s been a lot of travel in my summer, and I have one more trip planned. I’ll spend a couple of days with my family on the West Coast and then it’s on to Salt Lake City for Convention 2014!! Getting sick in the middle of all that hasn’t helped, and of course there’s a lot to do before I leave. I’m excited about both parts of this trip and I’ll either get everything done – or I won’t! Either way I’ll be on that plane.

I keep telling Mr. Maui Stamper that we need our own jet, but he says they’re expensive.

Be sure you stop by on Thursday for the RemARKable Pinworthy Blog tour! We’re featuring Summer Fun!

A Day to Celebrate

Posted on July 4, 2014 by mauistamper

Happy Independence Day! Today I’m sharing my version of the Work of Art Flag:

Stamps: Work of Art, Lots of Thanks
Color Palette: Real Red, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Encore Silver
Accessories: Itty Bitty Accents Star punch, Silver 1/8″ taffeta

I “bent” the sentiment a little bit to give it a curve – that’s one of the benefits of our clear mount stamps. And who could resist some sparkling stars?

Enjoy your day – and if you have the chance, thank a soldier or a sailor today.

A new look…and more Blackberry Bliss

Posted on June 28, 2014 by mauistamper

Well…how do you like it? I’ve been contemplating a blog update for quite a while, but when I saw what Cheryl did with hers I decided it was time to get busy. Both Cheryl and Crystal served as graphic arts consultants (My Digital Studio, of course!!) and I couldn’t have done it without them. Let me know what you think!

Brace yourselves, you’re going to be seeing a lot of Blackberry Bliss! I love the color, and so I signed up to represent it for an In Color swap at Convention 2014 (coming soon!). I’ll share the card I’m swapping next month – here’s one of the trials:

Stamps: An Open Heart
Color Palette: Blackberry Bliss, Baked Brown Sugar, Naturals Ivory
Accessories: Gold Bakers Twine, 2013-2015 In Color Sequins, 2 1/2″ Circle Punch, Pokey Doodle, Essentials Paper Piercing pack, Piercing Mat, Neutrals Candy Dots, Petite Petals punch

I love these new sequins! I think Stampin’ Up! should make them in ALL the color families!! (Let’s all email them and tell them so, OK?) And while I’m asking, I’d like some little gold brads too. Love the silver ones, Stampin’ Up!, but need the gold ones.

I really love the gorgeous images in An Open Heart, but it was the sentiments that sealed the deal for me. When someone is hurting, it’s really not about the words. I consider my cards to be paper hugs, something to send when I can’t be there.

Happy to be here!!!

Blendabilities: Part II

Posted on June 19, 2014 by mauistamper

I’m experimenting more with Blendabilities, the awesome new alcohol markers soon to be available to customers (and available NOW to demonstrators!) I wanted to explore how they function purely as coloring tools. I put them to the test with one of my favorite line art stamp sets:

Stamps: For the Birds, Work of Art
Color Palette: Daffodil Delight, Costal Cabana, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Coastal Cabana Thick Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, and Blendabilities in Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Rich Razzleberry and Cherry Cobbler.

Just as I did with my flower from a few days ago, I stamped my image a few times and then played with the Blendabilities. I love to color! I just wanted to see what would happen with different colors and approaches.

The short answer is that these markers are a coloring delight. I didn’t attempt to shade “within the lines” but used a single color for each defined space. I did use the light, middle and dark tones of the markers to create contrast, in this case between wing and body. No streaking, beautiful, even coverage, and gorgeous color. I’m hooked.

Making Manly Cards

Posted on June 16, 2014 by mauistamper

There are a lot of wonderful men in my life, and I like to send cards to them. But oh, do I struggle to come up with Manly Ideas! This one is very loosely based on page 109 of the new catalog:

Stamps: Just Sayin’, Hip Notes and Dictionary
Color Palette: Real Red, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Word Bubble Framelits, Mini Silver Brads, Corner Rounder punch

This is for my dad for Father’s Day: a no-nonsense kind of card for a no-nonsense man. He doesn’t say a lot, but he ends every phone call with “Love ya, kid” and I know he means it. I’m looking forward to seeing him and my Mom for a few days before convention. That’s coming soon!

Blackberry Silhouette

Posted on June 14, 2014 by mauistamper

I’m pretty sure Blackberry Bliss is going to be my favorite 2014-2016 In Color, although when I first saw the colors I would have bet on Lost Lagoon (blue, you know.) I’m working on ideas for an In Color swap at convention, and this was my first take:

Stamps: Summer Silhouette, Petite Pairs
Color Palette: Baked Brown Sugar, Blackberry Bliss and Naturals White
Accessories: Gold Bakers Twine, Dazzling Details, Honeycomb TIEF, Stampin’ Dimensionals

You know, I should have used this design with Very Vanilla – it would have been good enough to eat!

The Gold Bakers Twine has a stinky little habit: the metallic threads untwist rapidly from the twine when it’s cut. I’ve solved the problem for the most part by tying a pair of quick overhand knots and cutting between them. It takes just a moment and it saves a lot of frustration.

Do you add a little extra on the inside? It’s one of the things that sets a hand-made card apart:

You’re likely to see more Blackberry Bliss before we get to convention. I have more ideas to work out. It’s just a month away!!!

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Category Archives: cards

Sleeper Stamps

Just a little bit nuts…

A Day to Celebrate

A new look…and more Blackberry Bliss

Blendabilities: Part II

Making Manly Cards

Blackberry Silhouette

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: