A new year, a new calendar

Posted on January 1, 2014 by mauistamper

There’s something refreshing about turning the calendar page, and the most exciting turn of all is from December to January. Good morning, 2014!

How better to start the year than with one of my favorite Stampin’ Up! color combinations – Pool Party and Island Indigo? We’ve actually had a bit of rain here on the dry side of the island, and it’s always a sign of blessing and a cause for celebration. These beautiful drops from the My Friend stamp set are just right to start the year, especially with some sparkle. I’m big on dreams and goals, and appreciate a little reminder to keep it positive sitting on my desktop.

This year my first-of-the-month Calendar post will be a Triple Treat – Crystal and Cheryl are posting calendars too! Take a look at their projects for a little more inspiration. If you’d like to create your own calendar, I have DIY calendar kits available. They’re $8 with the easel, $5 without (plus shipping) and you can find more details HERE.

I’ve been doing a lot of reflection as January first has approached, looking ahead to a new year. In my quest for inspiration I came across the Vivid and Brave website – and a list of journaling prompts for 2014. What a find!!! One of the prompts is Clearing the Clutter – and as a self-confessed pack-rat, I had already identified this as one of my highest priorities for 2014. However, the one that really started me thinking was What word or phrase will you eliminate from your vocabulary this year? So many directions to take that…my mind is spinning with the possibilities.

Thank you for reading The Maui Stamper – it humbles me to think that you’re taking time out of your day to see what I’m up to. Whatever your plans for 2014 might be, I wish you comfort and contentment.

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.

DIY Easel Calendars

Posted on December 22, 2013 by mauistamper

Did you enjoy my calendars this year? The first of every month, I’ve shared my design for a small calendar page that sits on an easel in my kitchen. I’ve offered this as a class locally, and I’ve had a couple of requests for the pages. I’ve decided to offer a DIY calendar kit – here’s what you’ll get:

12 printed pages with the month and days, pre-cut
12 colored card stock mats (colors listed below)
a wooden easel, just the right size
a clear box for gift packaging

The kit includes mats in Soft Suede, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Pistachio Pudding, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wisteria, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight. You choose the images and ink you’d like for your calendar. You’re welcome to use mine as a starting place, and I’ll continue to post a new calendar page every month through 2014. As a matter of fact, I’ve joined with two friends who have done similar projects, so on the first of every month we’ll have a Calendar Mini-Tour!

The box is a perfect fit when the calendar is assembled. (It looks even better once you’ve stamped the pages!!)

Cost for your calendar is $8 with the easel, $5 without. Shipping is by flat rate box at $5.80 if you include the easel, first class mail ($.66) without. I can put multiple calendars in the flat rate box. Payment is by paypal – complete the form and I’ll respond with an invoice. Leave a comment or send an email if you have questions.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Want to see the 2013 Calendar? Here are quick links:

I’ll ship them out lickety split!! And in case you’re wondering, flat rate boxes from Hawaii generally reach most places in the US in 3 business days. I’ve got kids spread across the country, and I’m a Flat-Rate-Expert!!

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

An old favorite and some new Clearance Rack goodies

Posted on December 10, 2013 by mauistamper

This project is an old favorite of mine, and it’s always popular at craft fairs:

This simple design folds out to reveal space for photos, journaling, and (or) gift cards for the perfect quick gift.

When you slide off the belly band, it flips open to reveal three panels. (Please IGNORE the Designer Series Paper – it’s retired – we’re dealing in concepts here!) The stamps are from the Hostess Set Warmth and Wonder from the Holiday catalog.

Open the side panels and reveal more photos, gift cards, or personal messages. Fun to give and fun to receive!!

Be sure you stop by the Online Store to see the new Clearance Rack goodies – they won’t last!

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

One more craft fair…

Posted on December 6, 2013 by mauistamper

Crystal and I will be at the Nisei Sons and Daughters Craft Fair on Sunday – lots of gifties!

This is the (sadly) retired Fancy Favor box, but with your Simply Scored you could create one like it in a jiffy! Since we now have both the Curly Label and Petite Curly Label punches, Santa’s belt buckle is a snap. And if you haven’t picked up Tags 4 You from the Holiday catalog, take another look – it’s a perfect match with the Label Bracket punch.

The Burlap ribbon – very trendy this season! – offsets the color of the Tag a Box perfectly. A little Lion Coffee and some Ghiradelli make this gift most welcome.These tags are for that perfect ~~bottle of wine~~ gift for that very special friend 🙂 And yes, the Bigz Two Tags die is retired also. I guess if you want these you’ll just have to come down to the gym at Maui High this Sunday (December 8, 2013) from 9am until 2pm.

See you there!

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!