Just a few more Sweet Sayings cards…

Posted on January 24, 2014 by mauistamper

I may or may not have become addicted to these pre-printed card bases:

I shared a few of these on Monday but they kept on calling me…so I made a few more!

The sentiment for this card is from Hip Notes, certainly one of my absolute favorites from the Occasions Catalog. If you look at that twine, you’ll realize it’s a little heavier than our Baker’s Twine. It’s a Sale-a-bration choice and includes 3 colors – Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party and Summer Starfruit. It also includes die-cut cork embellishments, so stay tuned for those! And look twice – the dots on that TIEF are a new, exclusive pattern called Decorative Dots – another SAB Freebie!

Change up the sentiment and you could have a Valentine, but I needed thank you notes! The heart image is from Language of Love in the Occasions catalog, and though it’s hard to read it features a whole bunch of translations of the word love.

The Sweet Sayings card and envelope kits are available through Monday, January 27 although supplies are limited. You can order HERE #134609 $5.95 for 12 cards and coordinating envelopes (4 each Real Red, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana).

Tomorrow morning (Saturday, January 25) I’m having a 2-5-10 class (2 hours, 5 cards, $10). You’re welcome to join on a space available basis. I’ve featured a couple of our projects this month:

Hope to see you!

Simple and Sweet

Posted on January 20, 2014 by mauistamper

The Sweet Sayings Cards and Envelopes are Grrrrrrrrrreat!!(I think my demographic may be showing…does anyone else remember Tony the Tiger?)

Stamp sets: Too Kind and Wetlands
Color Palette: Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana and Real Red
Accessories: Sweet Sayings card and envelope set

And now for something completely different…

Change the font (this is from Oh, Hello) and create my own DSP with the Dictionary background set and it’s a Manly Card – even with those cute squiggles and tiny hearts at the bottom.

Yet another look – very girly – with a sentiment from Four You and the fabulous little blooms from Petite Petals. It’s hard to see in the photo, but the Coastal Cabana panel is embossed with Perfect Polka dots and carried through with the pierced line on the Whisper White oval (love those piercing guides!!)

Click Maui Stamper Whole Lot To Love 2014 to view the PDF with all the details on these Sweet Sayings Note Card sets. They’re only available until January 27 – or until supplies run out.

Love These Fresh Prints!

Posted on January 16, 2014 by mauistamper

My Crystal Ball says there’s going to be a lot of Coastal Cabana, Real Red and Crumb Cake in my future:

It’s not often that I find a Designer Series paper pack that I love so thoroughly, but Fresh Prints is that pack. The colors are – wait for it – so FRESH! (Had to be said. I’m not sorry.) The designs are really easy to use, and there’s a good balance of white-based patterns versus color based patterns, so they mix well.

And do you love that brad? I love the candy dots, but I was looking for something else. This little bitty button-brad is a Vintage Trinket and I think it has a low enough profile to slide past the USPS Fat Envelope Fighters. (I know, they have a job to do – but I’m still gonna try!)

Stamps: Hip Notes, Dictionary
Color Palette: Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Real Red and Soft Sky (card base)
DSP: Fresh Prints pack
Accessories: Big Shot and Circles Framelits, Vintage Trinkets, Banner punch (Sale-a-bration)

When I first saw the little banner punch in the 2014 Sale-a-bration catalog, I though “meh”. I mean, I can cut a banner. It’s easy! Whoa man, not as easy as punching…and there’s a stamp set that coordinates with this punch too. Start planning your SAB orders, my friends, because you will find yourself with a big case of the “Gimmees” when January 28 rolls around. Need a catalog? Just let me know!

Big Wish Three Ways

Posted on January 14, 2014 by mauistamper

Sometimes an idea for a card just pops into my head and says “Let’s go!”

Stamps: Big Wish (Occasions 2014 Catalog)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Raspberry Ripple, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Raspberry Ripple Stitched Ribbon, Big Shot, Polka Dots TIEF, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

I confess, I used markers for these images. The card in my head insisted. That big funky “B” wasn’t taking kindly to the markers though, so I used the FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pad) with a sponge dauber. You get great ink coverage with daubers on rubber!

This ALMOST became a 3×3 note card, but I have plenty of those right now and I know I’m gonna need birthday cards.

I liked the idea so much I made a second card – oh, am I going to miss Gumball Green when it exits to make room for a new set of In Colors! It’s paired with Primrose Pink and Soft Suede.

You guessed it – one more card (yes, it’s a full card, I’m just showing you the best part). Gumball Green with Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit. I’m going to miss that stitched ribbon too – maybe Stampin’ Up! will bring it out in a new set of colors, but right now it’s only available in the 2012-2014 In Colors. I have a sneaking suspicion it will disappear, so I’m stocking up.

Do you have a favorite combination? I do, and I’ll bet you can guess which one it is – but I’m not telling. At least not now.

Big Wish is full of trendy images – cake pops, macaroons, and of course, that funky font. Have some fun with it!

#133095 (Clear) $20.95
#133092 (Wood) $28.95

Thank yous after the gifts

Posted on December 29, 2013 by mauistamper

I was so busy making Christmas crafts this month that I completely forgot about thank you notes. Yesterday I sat down to write a few and realized I didn’t have any cards made! (Well, there were a couple – but they were boring.)

One of my orders this month included some Crumb Cake Note Card envelopes, sized for 3 1/2″ x 5″ note cards. Oh, Crumb Cake, you are such a versatile neutral! (Don’t tell on me, but I still call it Kraft. It’s the Stubborn Girl inside.)

Too Kind and Four You stamp sets
Naturals White, Primrose Petals and Crumb Cake card stock
Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals and Crumb Cake FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
Two Way Glue Pen
Dazzling Diamonds (don’t tell Mr. Maui Stamper!!)

That “grass” is just the stem image turned upside down and stamped all katty-wompus.

These flowers NEEDED the sparkle that you can only get from Dazzling Diamonds. So much Christmas sparkle is floating around our house that I’m pretty sure he won’t notice this extra bit. Christmas cards, ornaments, packages – all kinds of contraband covered in glitter has been sneaking into our house!

How about turning 180 degrees? Crumb Cake goes from flowers to grunge!

Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid and Hip Notes (sneak peek!) stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake card stock
Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso FFIP
Linen Thread
Epic Day This n That Washi tape
Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi tape (another sneak peek!)
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Stampin’ Sponges

Flags are still hot, washi is very hot, and washi flags are easy as can be. Stampin’ Up! washi tape is sold in coordinating packages of 3, saving you money and time.

Speaking of saving yourself time and money, don’t forget to order your DIY calendar kit for 2014. $8 with easel, $5 without.

Complete details are HERE.

Stamping just for fun

Posted on December 19, 2013 by mauistamper

Sometimes the list of projects I “have” to do gets out of control and I rebel. (I KNOW. You’re shocked.) Last night I decided to make some simple tags just because:

These aren’t to show off any special technique or demonstrate my skill as a colorist (snort) or win a Pinterest popularity award. They were a project I did to relax during a busy time of year, doing something I really enjoy. (Although there might be a preview of a new punch coming in the Occasions catalog here – take a second look at the top of the tags.)

I pulled out anything that had Christmas images or messages and punched out a handful of tags and just stamped. It reminded me of when I started stamping, of how thrilled I would be to make something myself.

This one took a little bit longer because I punched out the sentiment. Honestly, I wasn’t going for anything here except my own pleasure in the process. There might have been a teeny tiny bit of rebellion still going on, since I pulled out my (retired) Color Spritzer tool to add a little texture to this tag. Last time I looked, it was still on the Clearance Rack.

When was the last time you made something Just Because? I know you don’t have time. I didn’t either – until I did it, and realized how much I needed to spend that time on myself.

Before I go, I want to share one of my many nativity scenes:

Mr. Maui Stamper brought this home to me just before we moved to Maui nearly 24 years ago. I was pregnant, Christmas was coming, and he had a business trip to Maui – without me. The figures are wood, but the base is coconut husk. The infant is big in proportion to Joseph and Mary (poor Mary!), and don’t miss the dove at the feet of the angel. The little sheep are so round they almost look like pigs, and of course there has to be a coconut palm! This little Nativity has a special place in my heart. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Posted on December 14, 2013 by mauistamper

Welcome to the RemARKable Best of Snow blog tour. There is no snow on Maui today, but I’m gonna play along anyway. How could I resist these Hedgies?

We don’t have hedgehogs either. They would be considered an invasive species, which seems like an awfully mean thing to say about something so cute. It’s a serious problem, but this pair is no threat at all to our islands – so stamp away and enjoy their adorable roundness!

There’s a teeny sneak peek here – we have silver (and gold!) baker’s twine coming in the Occasions catalog! Here it adds a little more dimension.

The hedgies are back as a tag – and I would be spoiling the surprise to say more, but this tag is going to be perfect for a certain gift I’m giving this year. The tag itself is another sneak peek…

I added a little Frost White shimmer paint to the card (it was on the Clearance Rack at the time, but so goes the Clearance Rack! It’s gone.) I left it off the tag and added a little Pool Party accent around the snow. I like both looks but I think I prefer this one.

I also played with the snowflake image and found it fit nicely into the Festive Flurry Framelits.

I put them on some silver ribbon and have had them all over my house – on the banister, across the buffet, and finally on the tree – I think this is where they’ll stay.

Get on your sled and head on over to Robin‘s – I’m pretty sure she’s got plenty of snow at her house!

Nancy Amato http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger     http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley    http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson      http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis     http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute     http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Kathy Hamrick http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo      http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh    http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci         http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com      YOU ARE HERE!!!
Robin Merriman   http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler    http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds    http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale          http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland       http://www.remarkablycreated.com

RemARKable Monsters

Posted on December 7, 2013 by mauistamper

This month’s RemARKable Blog Tour features a pair of stamp sets that don’t get nearly enough attention. These Design Challenge winners aren’t in any catalog so we are giving you a good look today. I’ve featured Spread the Joy a couple of times, so today it’s…

MONSTER MANIACS!

I paired this guy with the greeting from Yippee Skippee – isn’t the look on his face perfect?? These images are really fun to color, and I think it’s because they’re so fabulously whimsical. I mean, where’s the body? And look at those Mickey Mouse hands with only 3 fingers!!

MonsterManiacs is available as clear mounts stamps for $14.95 #134972

Don’t look now, but this is the same card sketch turned on one side and in a different color palette. I crack up every time I look at those crossed eyes! (This image would make an AWESOME preggo card – that middle eyeball gives new meaning to “Mommy is growing a new baby in her tummy”)

I made a tall card for the last one – and yep, the sketch should look familiar. That black ribbon made its first appearance a year ago in the Holiday Mini Catalog, but you can get your hands on it for a few more weeks in the Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory kit.

This card measures 3 1/2 x 7 inches, so you know it needed a custom envelope. If you get dizzy easily, you might want to skip this next photo:

Talk about waking up the postal carrier!! Gotta love that Envelope Punch Board 🙂

Head on over to see what Audra has in store for you. If you want to 4-wheel-drive your own tour, the links are below. Enjoy the monsters!

Nancy Amato http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com

Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191

Tamra Davis http://www.theCardLadies.com

Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com

Deb Lehigh http://thestampinhut.typepad.com

Anne Matasci http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com YOU ARE HERE

Audra Monk http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com

Maria Pane http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com

Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Andi Potler http://www.absolutekreations.com

Michele Reynolds http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com

Pam Staples http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com

Janet Wakeland http://www.remarkablycreated.com

Gorgeous Grosgrain Ribbon

Posted on December 4, 2013 by mauistamper

I don’t usually use wide ribbon on cards, but our Cherry Cobbler grosgrain is so luscious that I had to make an exception:

Festive Flurry and More Merry Messages stamp sets
Crumb Cake, Gumball Green and Whisper White card stock
Season of Style DSP
Cherry Cobbler FFIP
Tea Lace doily
Festive Flurry Framelits and the Big Shot
Cherry Cobbler grosgrain ribbon
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Rhinestone jewels

That ribbon is very soft and yet holds its shape really well. I think you could even sneak that soft knot through the Postal Services 1/4″ rule!

Speaking of, yesterday I did my part to keep the USPS afloat: I mailed my daughter and her husband their Christmas package. I am the Woman Who Packs Every Inch – let no corner be un-stuffed. I kept it under the 20 pound limit for international boxes, but I swear the price has gone up – shipping the large flat rate box to Australia was (gulp) $77.95. Of course they’re worth it – but I have yet another reason I wish they would move to the US! However, that’s not my decision and the most important thing is that they’re happy. (Really!) I hope their package makes them happy.

I hope today’s card makes you happy, too!

A RemARKable Christmas

Posted on November 16, 2013 by mauistamper

Welcome to the RemARKable 25th Anniversary Best of Blog Tour – hard to believe we’re near the end of these great sets!

The soft color palette in this card provides contrast with the traditional manger scene. It was simple and quite enjoyable to color the vignette with Stampin’ Write markers – I actually did quite a few of these for a craft fair later this month.

I’ve learned to give myself permission to be a little messy with my coloring. That’s a big step for this perfectionist!

All the images in this set are perfectly sized for 3 x 3 gift enclosure cards, but I think this manger works especially well:

Almost the same, and just as easy to do!

Here’s another very traditional holiday image, this time in very traditional colors.

Again, this is a card you could produce very easily as the coloring is simple and then it’s just punch, punch, snip, snip, stamp, tie a knot and send!

I recommend you use the fine point of the Stampin’ Write markers to color the Holly leaves and berries first, then fill in Santa’s cap. I used an Aquapainter with a little Blushing Bride ink for Santa’s face.

Best of December #134384 $14.95

Don’t forget that when you have ordered 6 of these stamp sets, you can send in the little “25” images to receive a free set valued at no more than $14.95.

It’s time to see what Andi Potler has created at http://www.absolutekreations.com! We hope you’ve enjoyed these projects as much as we have!

Here’s the entire lineup for your blog-hopping pleasure!

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Category Archives: cards

Just a few more Sweet Sayings cards…

Simple and Sweet

Love These Fresh Prints!

Big Wish Three Ways

Thank yous after the gifts

Stamping just for fun

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

RemARKable Monsters

Gorgeous Grosgrain Ribbon

A RemARKable Christmas

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