Category Archives: Christmas

Stitched Triangle Trees Two Ways

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Our series of Stitched Dies – Stitched Triangles, Rectangles, Ovals, Circles, Labels – provide a quick and easy “step up” to any project. The Tree Angle stamps in the August – December mini catalog got me thinking, but in the end it was Tis the Season Designer Series Paper that made these cards come to life.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tis the Seasons Stitched Triangle Tree handmade card
  • Stamps: Tree Angle, Poinsettia Petals, Birch
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Mint Macaron
  • Accessories: Stitched Triangle dies, Stampin’ Cut & Emboss, Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, All the Trimmings Embellishments, Rhinestone gems, Wink of Stella, Crinkle White Seam binding, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I love that little Bumblebee star at the top of the tree! That star was the reason I purchased the All the Trimmings Embellishments. I’m sure I’ll find a use for the Poppy Parade and Whisper White dots, but ooo that star!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tis the Seasons Stitched Triangle Tree handmade card

It’s hard to see the texture from the Tasteful Textile EF, but it makes such a difference. It’s my current favorite EF because it has presence and it’s subtle (but not as subtle as the Subtle folder, ha!). There are other ways to accomplish texture, though:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tis the Seasons Stitched Triangle Tree handmade card

I used the Birch background stamp, and one of my new techniques is to paint directly onto the stamp with Wink of Stella. Stella has enough shimmer that you can see it even without lighting.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tis the Seasons Stitched Triangle Tree handmade card

You knew this was coming, right? I could keep going, as there are so many fun patterns in the Tis the Season paper stack – did I mention it’s 6×6? So much easier to store, and mentally so much easier to chop up. I’m making a very intentional effort to actually USE all of my DSP. (I know, what a concept.) Shop for everything you need at my Online Store.

Are you a bear lover? Don’t miss out on this charming Paper Pumpkin kit to be shipped in December. Popular kits have sold out, and this one is a candidate – subscribe today to be sure this little red package shows up in your mailbox!

Poinsettia Place: The Slimline Card

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I’m a little late to the party on Slimline cards, but I’m happy with my first effort. Poinsettia Place was the first thing on my list for the August-December mini catalog, even though back in July my heart just wasn’t into Christmas crafting! News flash: it’s November and it’s time to get cracking.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Poinsettia Place Slimline card handmade with custom envelope
  • Stamps: Poinsettia Place
  • Color Palette: Garden Green, Old Olive, Real Red, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Gold foil
  • Accessories: Poinsettia dies, Stamp Cut & Emboss, Poinsettia Place DSP, Gold Foil, Forever Greenery Trim Combo pack (Gold thread), Metallic Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Fluid 100 watercolor paper, Water Painters, Detailed Trio Punch, Red Rhinestone gems, Wink of Stella. (Phew! Did I miss anything?)
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Poinsettia Place Slimline card handmade with custom envelope

When I first started using the Gold trim, I struggled to keep it from unraveling. (TIP: put a little glue from the Fine Tip Glue pen on the cut end to stop it from fraying.) My OCD self has experienced enlightenment now, and I encourage it to unravel – I love all those little threads!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Poinsettia Place Slimline card handmade with custom envelope

This card measures 3 3/4″ x 8 3/4″ folded, or 7 1/2″ x 8 3/4″ unfolded. The envelope is very simple to create with the Simply Scored tool. I began with a piece of 8 1/2″ x 11″ card stock and with the long end across the top of my Simply Scored I marked 1 1/2″ and 10 1/2″. I turned the card stock a quarter turn so that the short end was across the top of the Simply Scored and marked 2″ and 6″. Cut away the rectangles at the four corners, fold along the score lines, and assemble the envelope with Stampin’ Seal+. I trimmed the top edges of the envelope before I adhered it so there would be a small reveal, and I cut a piece of Designer Series paper 3 3/8″ wide and 3″ long to line the top of the envelope. The Detailed Trio punch rounds the corners perfectly!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Poinsettia Place Slimline card handmade with custom envelope

I used a few drops of ink refill in Real Red, Garden Green and Old Olive to watercolor the poinsettia and the leaves with our fabulous new Water Pens. These images are really forgiving, which made the watercoloring really enjoyable. I don’t have any formal art training, so it’s always an adventure to see how things turn out.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Poinsettia Place Suite

Ready to add this gorgeous suite to your collection? These are timeless, classic images that you’ll reach for again and again. Shop HERE.

Brightly Gleaming Coffee Carrier

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The ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS Brightly Gleaming Designer Series paper was so popular last year that it’s making a “Hana Hou” (one more time!) appearance this year. Those metallic accents work beautifully with the kraft composition of our charming Mini Coffee Carrier.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Brightly Gleaming Mini Coffee Carrier gift packaging
  • Stamps: Christmas Gleaming
  • Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade, Pretty Peacock, Night of Navy
  • Accessories: Mini Coffee Carrier, Scalloped Tag Topper punch, Brightly Gleaming Designer Series paper, Copper Foil, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write markers, Paper Snips, Old Olive/Pretty Peacock reversible ribbon, Star Designer Elements, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Brightly Gleaming Mini Coffee Carrier gift packaging

This tag makes me happy.

I love the play of colors, the gleam of the copper, the tonality of the Stampin’ Blends and the slightly-off-tradition combination of Poppy Parade and Pretty Peacock.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Brightly Gleaming Mini Coffee Carrier gift packaging

I choose to cut the DSP into four panels rather than try to wrap it around in one piece. It’s really hard to get it even when you wrap it! My pieces are all 2 1/4″ high: the long side is 5 5/8″ and the short side is 2 5/8″. The fit is tight, which is what I wanted.

Our printed gusseted cello bags are a perfect fit to hold candies or other small treats, and of course our coordinating Mini Coffee Cups are a perfect fit. A bottle of hand soap or moisturizer fits well, and a 3″ candle is a perfect fit too. At $5 for a package of 8 carriers, this is an economical way to beautifully package small holiday gifts!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020 Designer Series paper sale

Don’t miss our DSP sale this month! Buy as few or as many packages you want at great savings. There are 15 papers included in this promotion, including 5 holiday assortments and some beautiful neutrals as well. See all the details and stock up HERE.

One Last #Elfie

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I may have finally crossed the line into Crafty Craziness. I was inspired by a card in a private demonstrator group, which was fine, but then I decided to make multiples. You’ll see:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up #Elfie Hand Cut
Maui Stamper Stampin Up #Elfie Hand Cut

There’s a LOT of coloring and an absolutely RIDICULOUS amount of fussy cutting in this card. I don’t think I would make this many again (I made more than 10, less than 20).

Maui Stamper Stampin Up #Elfie Hand Cut

But it sure is cute! I’m smitten with these elves, and I know their time is almost up. Stampin’ Up! has had versions of elves for the last 3 or 4 holiday catalogs, and they never carry over so I’m not expecting to see #Elfie after Thursday.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up #Elfie Hand Cut

That said, if you want an #Elfie of your own, you’d better skedaddle on over to the Online Store and order one ASAP. You’ve got until close of business Mountain Time on January 2, 2020.

Tags are the new cookies

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Hear me out now, before you start shouting at me! I love cookies as much as the next girl but this time of year they seem to be lurking around every corner, and it gets dangerous. One of my host clubs exchanged tags every year instead, and it’s such fun!

  • Stamps: #Elfie
  • Color Palette, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Daffodil Delight, soft Suede, Ivory Seaside Spray, Rococco Rose
  • Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Snowfall Puff Paint, Heat Tool, Wink of Stella

The puff paint is amazing! It’s a quick way to add some fun texture. Be sure to let it puff up all the way, and then I find it’s more durable if you let it sit for half an hour or so before touching or stacking it. I make it the last step and then set the tags aside to “cure”. Watch this video for more: https://s.tamp.in/yo-AGL

A dozen of these went together really quickly – but you need to enjoy coloring. I didn’t do any shadowing because it’s such a small image.

To create a little blush in #Elfie’s cheeks, I dabbed a dot of Rococco Rose Blends and then blurred it with the color lifter. Do this BEFORE you add the skin tone (I used ivory) or you’ll see a funny circle.

Make a tag, swap a tag! There’s still time!

2019 Holiday is LIVE!

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It’s always exciting when a new catalog goes live, but this Holiday catalog is really something special! There are great new products, fantastic kits, and truly something for every crafter.

I love that this video features all of the markets Stampin’ Up! is in, although truthfully, I’m just not quite ready for Christmas music! Planning, yes – the music, well, check with me in another 6 weeks. But let me show you some of my favorites – you can click on your favorites for the details:

Spooktacular Bash Suite #153485
Gather Together Bundle #153036
Peaceful Boughs Bundle #153033
Tiny Keepsakes Bundle #152390
Toile Tidings Suite #153329
Come to Gather Suite #153484
Joy of Giving Tag Kit #150700
Still Scenes Bundle #153023

Oh, I could go on and on!! Click each image to go straight to the details! And make a note of the Joy of Giving Tag Kit, because I’ll be offering events locally to get together and assemble these gorgeous tags!

Do you have room for a little more excitement? Buy 3, Get 1 Free is back! A select group of Designer Series Papers are part of this great deal – and they’re gorgeous, easy-to-use designs you’ll reach for over and over again:

Shop HERE to get started with your papers – and make note that the Pressed Petals Specialty DSP is included in this offer!

Happy shopping – and happy crafting!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Holiday 2019

I believe

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This little fellow is a case of a case of a case, but he’s so charming that I can’t resist sharing him with you on this Christmas morning:

Petal Cone Santa

I believe in Santa. I believe in his goodness and generosity, his sense of fairness and kindness. I believe there have been men – and women – whose lives defined his tradition, and I believe that there are men and women all over the world who continue his work every day.

However you celebrate in December, I wish you goodness and generosity, fairness and forgiveness. And if it pleases you, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Where HAS that Maui Stamper been?

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Oh, but it’s been a busy couple of weeks.  It’s a long and complicated story, but the condensed version is that at the end of September we flew to Northern California to celebrate a very special 85th surprise birthday party for my husband’s aunt .  We came home for a few days and then turned around and flew back to the Bay Area for a week split between SanFrancisco and the Northern Sonoma Coast.  It was a wonderful time – the birthday party was really a family reunion of sorts, and best of all, I had all of my kids together.  My middle daughter was able to fly in from Boston – thank you, United Mileage Plus – and my oldest daughter and her boyfriend came in from Perth.  YES!!  It was a whirlwind of huggin’, kissin’ and eatin’ for 3 crazy days, but it was worth everything it took to share that time together.  Even my mom and dad were able to drive up from Santa Barbara to be with us.   Needless to say, Ray’s aunt was VERY surprised.  Our second California week was all about fun and relaxation, sight-seeing in San Francisco, reading books and hiking on the Sonoma Coast, and of course eating and drinking lots of good food.  Our Aussies have become excellent cooks and I was delighted to turn over the hot mitt and let them be in charge.

Mr and Mrs Maui Stamper

Such fun and adventure has a price, of course, and I came home to mountains of laundry and mail in addition to the regular routine.  I think I’m through the worst of it and hope things will feel normal again soon, although you might be hard-pressed to define normal in my world.

One of my immediate projects this week was to make some tags for a silent auction to raise money for Water for People.  This organization works on many levels to bring safe, clean water to under-developed communities throughout the world.  My tags were packaged in sets of 5 and I gave myself permission to pull out a few retired products to put them togethre.  To my immense delight, some of those retired products are now available on the Clearance Rack at FABULOUS prices, so if you haven’t taken a look, wait no longer – for example, that gorgeous striped Riding Hood Red ribbon is now $1.99!!  The Clearance Rack blitz will end on October 18, and supplies are limited.

Now, how about some tags:

Peaceful Season tags

Peaceful Season stamp set, Old Olive and Riding Hood Red ink, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake cardstock, Smooch Spritz, Champagne Mist Shimmer paint, Riding Hood Red grosgrain, Linen thread, and a retired button.

Peaceful Season tags

 

This post is getting long, so I’ll share one more set of tags today and leave the rest for tomorrow.  Shoot, you all know the truth – I’m not all that organized yet and I need to get hustling!

Do Not Open Til Christmas tag

Cute, eh?  This polka dotted ribbon is also $1.99.  I bought a bunch to use on Christmas packages – at that price, you can’t beat it!  Here’s the set of tags:

More Do Not Open tags

Tags til Christmas and Snow Swirled stamp sets, Real Red and Garden Green Classic ink pads, Whisper White card stock, Ornament Punch, Gold Brad, and Real Red polka dot ribbon.

Hurry on over to that Online Store and be sure you select me as your demonstrator – orders through demonstrators get preferred pricing and shipping!