Let’s Get Going Places – RemARKably!

Welcome to the latest edition of the RemARKable Blog tour.  We’re certainly going places this month and we hope you’ll come along!  This is a long post with a lot of photos – if you want to move along, click on the graphic below to see what the talented Heather Mathiesen has done:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Mr. Maui Stamper and I love to travel.  Sometimes we’re asked why we would ever want to leave our beautiful island.  As much as we love our home, we also love seeing new places.  More importantly, our three wonderful, independent, confident children are flung across 12 time zones in the world.  We love them, so we travel!

I’ve learned to take an envelope with me every trip to collect the receipts, ephemera, and mementos that accumulate when you travel.  At first it was a plain #10 envelope, then a 6×8 envelope, and finally, I’ve graduated to a travel wallet.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015With a little tinkering, I found a size that worked well and was quick to put together, and now I make one for each trip.  It gives me something pretty and new to use, and allows me to quickly locate the correct envelope for any given trip should I need to find a receipt or memento.

You’ll need:

  • a 12″ square piece of card stock
  • a 2 3/4″ x 9″ piece of DSP
  • a 2 3/4″ x 9″ piece of either card stock or DSP
  • The Simply Scored tool
  • a button or brad
  • a length of twine (about 14″)
  • a 1/8″ hole punch
  • adhesive – I use Tear and Tape and Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive)
  • Corner rounder punch

Let’s get started!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Place the card stock on the Simply Scored tool and score at 4″, 4 1/2″, 5″ and 9 1/4″.

Turn the card stock a quarter turn so that you are scoring perpendicularly to the first set of score marks.  Score at 3/4″, 1 1/2″, 10 1/2″ and 11 1/4″.

If you don’t have the Simply Scored tool, you can measure and score the old fashioned way.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Fold gussets across the middle and on either side as indicated by the score marks.  Your envelope will have a gusset along the bottom and on the sides.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Trim off the sides as shown.  The narrow panel at the bottom of the photo will be your flap and will be 9 inches wide.  The second panel will be adhered to the third (top) panel to create the envelope.  Clear as mud?

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Adhere your DSP to the 9 inch wide flap.  I use Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) so that I can get as close as possible to the edge.  (I use a bone folder to smooth out any bubbles and assure a smooth fit.) This is the fabulous new Timeless Elegance DSP, and I think it is gorgeous with Basic Grey card stock.  Use the Corner Rounder punch to (wait for it) ROUND THE CORNERS.  Lol.  I know.  I crack myself up.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Fold in the gusset that will be at the bottom of the envelope, and then fold in the sides.  Apply our new Tear and Tape to the flap as shown.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Snip a bit into the flap, because there’s some magic to be done.  That little snip will create a space for the flap to leap over the gusset.  When you adhere the sides this way, you won’t have a gap at the bottom for little things to slide through.  Practice once or twice before you remove the tape from the adhesive to get the feel of it.  It’s not hard!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Once the sides are together, trim the ends that stick out at the top to a pleasing angle.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Almost done!  Punch a 1/8″ hole in the center of the top flap and thread through your twine.  Tape into place – I use the Tear and Tape because I can.  (This beautiful Basic Grey and Vanilla twine is from the Gratitude for Days Simply Created kit on the Clearance Rack.  It’s a steal at $8.79!)

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Loop the twine around the brad before you open the prongs to be sure there is enough clearance.  Secure the brad.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Apply Tear and Tape around the bumpy parts where the brad and the twine appear on the bottom.  (We’re going to cover those up!)  Apply Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) to that second piece of card stock (2 3/4′ x 9″) and cover that mess!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015Yeah, I’m fussy like that.  Your travel wallet is ready for your next trip – where are you going?  I’m Salt Lake City bound next month for Inspire.Create.Share 2015!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Going Places 2015

The tour continues with Heather Mathieson, if you’ve been hardy enough to make it this far!  The rest of the team is listed below – enjoy the creative projects!

 

 

Nancy Amato – http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-going.html
Melissa Bolinger –  http://creativeblessingsbymissy.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-blog-tour-going-places.html
Tamra  Davis http://www.theCardLadies.com/remarkable-blog-tour-going-places/
Anne Matasci – http://wp.me/pCcBw-1RL    YOU’RE  HERE!!!
Heather Mathieson – http://wp.me/p2wIuv-2f
Audra Monk – http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com/2015/06/going-places-remarkable-blog-hop.html
Maria Pane – http://stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com/2015/06/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-moving-on.html
Michele Reynolds – http://inspirationink.typepad.com/inspiration-ink/2015/06/going-places-blog-tour.html
Pam Staples – http://wp.me/p3p2VA-12t
Janet Wakeland – http://wp.me/pHIQD-7ij

 

Sweet Birds for the First of June

June’s Easel calendar is one last look at the retiring set For the Birds:

Maui Stamper June 2015 Easel CalendarIf you saw the RemARKable Blog tour in May, you’ll remember that I featured this stamp set.  It’s ideal for coloring with colored pencils.

Sweet Birds for the First of JuneSuch happy little birds!  If it wasn’t for Captain Stupidhead, I would have a bird bath in my yard.  Come to think of it, he’s gotten so old that he doesn’t even look when they are on the lawn 6 feet in front of him.  Maybe I’ll go bird-bath shopping…

Please take a look at what Crystal and Cheryl have done for the Merry Month of June.  And happy crafting!

Happy Happy Birthday

A friend celebrated a special birthday recently:

Maui Stamper Starburst Technique Happy Birthday

  • Stamps:  Amazing Birthday
  • Color Palette:  Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories:  Park Lane DSP, Mellow Moss ribbon, Stampin’ Trimmer, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The technique is a very simple one, but there are nearly endless options.  I cut rectangles of DSP at 4″ x 1 1/2″ and then used my paper trimmer to cut them diagonally from corner to corner, creating a series of triangles.  At that point, it’s just a matter of assembling them in a pleasing pattern.

Maui Stamper Starburst Technique Happy Birthday

I kept the sentiment and embellishment simple, as this is a Manly Card.  The stamp from Amazing Birthday was inked in 3 colors and then cut into pieces with paper snips to create texture and color for the sentiment.

Maui Stamper Starburst Technique Happy BirthdayJust a couple of days until the new catalog goes live!  June 2nd is the first day to order, and it’s going to be a busy day. Order early in the day – the system is supposed to open at 2am Mountain time, which is 10pm on June 1st Hawaii time.  You can place your order HERE.

Weekly Deals

Here are the Weekly Deals for the last week of May:

Weekly Deals Maui Stamper May 26-June 1, 2015The Painted Blooms Designer Series paper has been a huge favorite with so many crafters – don’t miss it!  Shop HERE.

 

Weekly Deals

Here are this week’s DEALS:

  
Such beautiful colors and patterns! Snap ’em up HERE

 

 

Banner Blessings

It’s hard to keep track of all the great stamp sets we have!

Maui Stamper Banner Blessings ThanksThis is Banner Blessings, a photopolymer set that was released in November.  You won’t find it in a catalog, but it does appear in the Online Store under Stamps > Photopolymer.

Maui Stamper Banner Blessings #136720It’s product #136720, and the price is $15.95.  Sometimes you have to do a little looking around to find these gems!

It’s RemARKably hard to say GOODBYE

Welcome to the May 2015 RemARKable Blog tour, where we explore all things GOODBYE.  I’ve chosen to focus on the Stampin’ Up! 2014-2015 catalog retiring list, and I’ve based my projects around one of my favorite all-around stamp sets, For the Birds:

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015This is a (sort of) Clean and Simple card.  There’s just one image, and there are no sentiments, but there are multiple layers.  It’s a very quick card to assemble and employs one of my favorite card-making tricks:  have plenty of cards on hand with NO SENTIMENT.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015I could add Miss You, Sorry, Love You, Thinking of You, even Happy Birthday – or Happy New Baby in a real pinch!  (It’s a nest – get it?)

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015If you’re lucky enough to have Blendbilities, For the Birds is a great choice because of the detail and variety, but today I chose to use colored pencils.  If you’ve ever had a kid in grade school, you more than likely have colored pencils in your house.  Even if there are no kids, colored pencils are inexpensive and working with them is easy and generally trouble free.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015With this much magnification, you can see the shading, but the general effect is much more subtle.  If you see a few fuzzy bits in that top left corner, your birdie-eye has spotted bits of the white jute ribbon cut apart and tucked behind the image.

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015For the Birds Clear #126407  $24.95  Wood #132001 $32.95

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015I must confess that when I spotted this DSP from the Back to Black (retiring) collection I did a little happy dance around my studio.  FEATHERS.  Need I say more?

Maui Stamper For The Birds RemARKable Blog Tour May 2015Look closely and you’ll realize that I am no rock-star-pencil-colorist.  But I do find it relaxing and enjoyable to play with shading and color, and this stamp set is a great all-around addition to your stamping birdhouse!

Enjoy the tour – I love the unique manner with which everyone interprets the theme – and I’ll see you here next month.  Head over to see what Heather Mathiesen has created!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Goodbyes

 

Weekly Deals

Here are the deals for this week.  I got home this morning from a wonderful time with family so they are a couple of days late.  You’ve got until Monday night!

Maui Stamper Weekly Deals May 12 2015Shop HERE.

 

 

 

 

Love my birdies!

Tomorrow is the RemARKable Blog Tour.  I’m featuring For the Birds, and I have a little sneak peek for you today:

Maui Stamper For the Birds

  • Stamps:  For the Birds, Dictionary (both retiring)
  • Color Palette:  Night of Navy, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black
  • Accessories:  Colored Pencils (non-SU), All is Calm Washi (Clearance Rack), Stampin’ Dimensionals

This image is intentionally a little stark – I think it adds to the feeling of missing someone.  That washi tape was serendipitous, as in my mind it looks quite USPS-y.  (That’s a word because I wrote it out and that makes it so.)

Maui Stamper For the BirdsDon’t be afraid of coloring pencils – they’re very easy to use and the colors are very forgiving.  Plus there’s always an eraser.  Really, I should use pencil more often.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow afternoon for the RemARKable tour!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour Goodbyes

So Happy Together, Reprise

There are weddings coming up!

Maui Stamper A Dozen Thoughts Happy Together

  • Stamps:  A Dozen Thoughts, I Like You (Host)
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Blush Blossom, Rose Red
  • Accessories:  Something Borrowed DSP, White Jute ribbon, Deco Labels framelits, Big Shot, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pearls

The Something Borrowed DSP is a bit of a sleeper.  The designs are subtle and understated, and there are 6 designs, with 4 sheets of each design combination – still a total of 12 pages.  Don’t miss it – it’s beautiful and very versatile.

Maui Stamper A Dozen Thoughts Happy TogetherThe flowers are colored with Stampin’ Write markers.  They are well suited for this sort of small, detailed coloring, and it goes quickly.  Take another look at this host set, I Like You.  Personally, I think the name is dumb and does the set an injustice, but I’m not in charge (and yes, we are all very happy about that.)  There are just a few more days to earn this set as a free Host Benefit.  Shop HERE.