It was an Extravaganza!

Our annual holiday crafting kickoff is always such a good time.  You would think I could remember to take some photos during the day – but no…

Maui Stamper Tag a Bag Gift Card This week I’ll share the projects we made.  I’m not giving step-by-step instructions, but you’re all so clever you’ll figure it out 🙂

This clever bag a la gift card holder was inspired by Cathy Parlitsis.  The big, beautiful bow from the Sizzix Bigz Bow die seemed like a natural on the front!  The bag is folded to create a pocket on the front as well as one at the top for a little note card.

Maui Stamper Tag a Bag Gift Card I fiddled around with different ways of making the gift card accessible from the pocket, but ultimately found that a simple solution worked the best.  This is just a piece of card stock folded with enough offset to create a little tab at the top.  There’s a piece of washi across the front and a little message at the top – you could do more, but why?   This was handled a lot during our classes, so I used a glue dot to secure the gift card to the “lifter”, but it really isn’t necessary.

I’m looking forward to playing with this idea a little more – the variations are endless.  I guess that’s what we all love so much about stamping, isn’t it?  If you’d like to learn more, I hope you’ll join the Maui Stampers team.  For just $25 you’ll get a business pack to get you rolling plus $26.95 in Stampin’ Up! product.  There’s no risk and oh-so-much to gain – learn more HERE

Maui Stamper $25 Stampin' Up! Joining Offer Oct 7 to 21 2013

 

Didja see this week’s DEALS?  Hummm baby…this is becoming addictive 🙂

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! DealsShop today in the Online Store!

It’s RemARKably Ornamental!

Welcome to the Maui Stamper edition of the RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour!

Maui Stamper Ornament Banner Christmas Decor RemARKable Stamp of the Month TourWe are featuring two sets – Harvest of Thanks and the Christmas Ornament stamp and punch set.  Here on Maui, while we are VERY VERY thankful, we don’t use a lot of the traditional harvest-associated images.  Now, if Stampin’ Up! came up with a stamp set showing how sugar cane is harvested, or the line of pickers than go through a pineapple field, well, THAT would be a Harvest stamp set I could use!!  But I digress…I am skipping ahead to Christmas.

Maui Stamper Ornament Banner Christmas Decor RemARKable Stamp of the Month TourI wanted to play with these little ornaments.  We’ve had ornament sets and punches in the past, and I wanted to do something different.  It occurred to me that they were shaped a bit like a lightbulb, and that made a big lightbulb go off in my head!  (I’ll bet you wish you’d been there to see it!)

Maui Stamper Ornament Banner Christmas Decor RemARKable Stamp of the Month TourI stamped and punched a small heap of ornaments, used the pokey doodle (Hey, Heather Summers calls it that and I can too) to put little holes at the top, and strung them on Linen Thread (please, PLEASE, Stampin’ Up! – don’t EVER retire Linen Thread.)

Maui Stamper Ornament Banner Christmas Decor RemARKable Stamp of the Month TourThere’s a giant EASY BUTTON on this project – it would be fun and pretty stress-free to do with little kids, a class full of bored 4th graders, or just about anyone who wanted an alternative to stringing popcorn.  You could  step it up in so many ways…but not today.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Christmas Ornament DecorI wouldn’t turn really little kids loose on this one…but it’s another fun one!  Stamp and punch 6 ornaments, score them down the middle and adhere them back to back.  Before you stick the last two sides together (I use Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive) slip a little beading wire twisted with a loop on top into the fold.  Slip a bead on the other end and then slide the ends into your paper tassle.

The paper tassel is just a strip of paper (mine was 2 1/2″ by 6″) cut almost to the top at 1/8″ or 1/16″ increments.  It is VERY easy to do with our paper trimmer – it slides through that DSP like buttah – but you need to go slowly as you begin each cut.  Put some SNAIL across the top, roll it up, and cover it with a little bit of ribbon and you have a tassel!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Christmas Ornament DecorThe possibilities are endless!

That’s all for me today – but for more (practically endless!) possibilities, continue on through the RemARKable tour.  Robin is next and I’m sure you’ll love her crafty genius!

Next Blog in the RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog TourNancy 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
Connie Deibler         http://www.conniestamps.com
Danielle Denhardt    http://www.purrfectlycreative.com
Sherri Eddleblute      http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com
Crystal Kondo           http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh               http://thestampinhut.typepad.com
Anne Matasci            http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman        http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Audra Monk              http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com
Maria Pane               http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler                http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds     http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Vicki Soni                  http://www.paperinkle.com
Pam Staples             http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com
Jeri St. John             https://jerrisgemtastics.blogspot.com
Jeannette Swain       http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com
Janet Wakeland        http://www.remarkablycreated.com

 

Shorebirds

I’m not an official “birder”, but I am certainly a bird lover.

Maui Stamper Wetlands Birds handmade cardThe Wetlands stamp set jumped off the page at me the first time I looked through the 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! annual catalog, but I was amazingly disciplined and waited to buy it.  Last week, the wait was over!

Maui Stamper Wetlands Birds handmade card

  • Wetlands stamp set
  • Naturals White, Island Indigo and Crumb Cake card stock
  • Basic Grey, Island Indigo, Pool Party and Crumb Cake FFIP
  • Pearls
  • Island Indigo Baker’s Twine
  • The Big Shot and the Oval Framelits
  • Stampin’ Sponges

I cut an oval mask using the Framelits collection and sponged ocean and sand colors onto Naturals White card stock.  I mean, it’s a scene from NATURE, doesn’t it seem NATURAL to use Naturals White??  My real intention was to take advantage of the texture of the card stock, both the physical texture and the little color “dits” (that’s what I call ’em, ok?) in the paper.

There’s a LOT going on in the Stampin’ Up! world right now – an extra $25 in hostess benefits, special one-week discounts in the Online Store, new stamps, and of course the opportunity to become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for only $25!  Check out the deals!

Maui Stamper $25 Stampin' Up! Joining Offer Oct 7 to 21 2013

 

Do you ever wonder “What if…?”

Don’t let this be one of those “What if I had only…” situations.  Join the Stampin’ Up! family – for just $25.

Maui Stamper $25 Stampin' Up! Joining Offer Oct 7 to 21 2013There has never been a $25 joining offer, and this one is being offered for just two weeks.  From October 7 to 21, it’s just $25 –  no shipping – for this special, 25th anniversary opportunity.

“What if…” is how my husband and I ended up in Hawaii 23 1/2 years ago.  We were living in Northern California when he was offered a two year assignment on Maui.  I was pregnant, home with a toddler, and the challenges seemed enormous.  But we asked ourselves “What if we don’t do this?  Won’t we spend the rest of our lives wondering what it would have been like to live on Maui for two years?”  (The 23 1/2 part is another story for another day.)

Don’t let the Stampin’ Up! opportunity be that thing you wonder about for the rest of your life.  Give it a try – there is absolutely no obligation.  Sign up for $25, keep your product (special kit value $26.95) and see what it’s all about.  If you decide it’s not for you, you can drop with no consequences at all.  I’ll still love you 🙂  But if you get a peek at the demonstrator website and fall in love, or if you can’t resist that 20% minimum discount, then maybe you’ll stay.  Whether or not it’s for 23-plus years is really up to you.  Visit my Online Store for more details – click on “Join the Fun” at the far right hand side of the Tangerine Tango banner across the top.  And of course, contact me if you have questions.

If you’ve read this far you certainly deserve a card!

Maui Stamper Forever and Always This N ThatThis COULD be a wedding card, although it was not.  It was for friends who participated in a marriage enrichment weekend and we wanted them to know we were thinking of them.

Maui Stamper Forever and Always This N ThatHard to see, but the Crumb Cake layer is attached to a Whisper White card base.  I also made a pair of notebooks to coordinate with the card:

Maui Stamper This n That NotebooksJust think…you could stock up on all the goodies you want at 20% off…preview the Occasions catalog and Sale-a-bration promotion before they are released…and become part of a company that truly puts service first!  Don’t wonder “What if…”  – for $25, say “Why not?”  You’ll be glad you did.

 

Washi Sale TODAY ONLY

Image

Send your fingers flying to http://www.AnneMatasci.StampinUp.net and stock up TODAY ONLY (October 3, 2013) on these fabulous washi bundles.  Our prices are good – today they are fantastic!

RED HOT NEWS! Got $25??

$25 is all it takes to become a bona fide, genuine Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator!!

Maui Stamper Anne Matasci Join Stampin Up! $25This is a VERY special, VERY limited offer, available only October 7 (Monday) to October 21, 2013.  It’s a very special kit, too – you will receive your choice of  $26.95 in Stampin’ Up! product plus the business builder kit:

  • A box of annual catalogs
  • A package of the current seasonal catalog
  • Getting Started DVD
  • Starter Kit Business Brick
  • Customer postcards

Why would you want to become a demonstrator? Start with a 20% discount on everything you buy – for yourself or to sell to someone else.  Add in additional discounts and bonuses depending on your sales, and  don’t forget early access to new products.  Stampin’ Up! provides training on business as well as creative topics on a regular basis, and the Demonstrator website is a wealth of information.  Oh…did I mention convention?

I am  tremendously impressed with the quality of this company.  Stampin’ Up! does its best to provide top quality service not just to customers, but to demonstrators and corporate staff as well.  The quality of our products is exceptional, and the support is outstanding as well.

Contact me now for details on getting a running start on October 7th.  You’ll thank yourself again and again!

Ooo! Boo!

So Scary!!

(NOT)

Maui Stamper 2013 Calendar October

  • Googly Ghouls (retired)
  • Whisper White and Pumpkin Pie card stock
  • Black Staz-on ink
  • Pumpkin Pie FFIP
  • Blender Pen
  • Self-stick Googlie eyes (retired)

I’m sorry about the retired stamps and the Googlie eyes – these monthly calendar cards were done as a class in January of this year, and this stamp set was current back then!  Those Googlie Eyes were one of the best ideas the Home Office had, and these goofy characters are my favorite Halloween images ever.  So sad they’re both retired.

Today is the last day for Early Bird sign-ups for ACCE – Anne and Crystal’s Christmas Extravaganza!  Save $5 PER CLASS by signing up today for one, two or three fantastic classes!

Cards class:  4 standard cards, 4 gift enclosures,  $10  BYO adhesive

Maui Stamper 2013 Anne and Crystal's Christmas Extravaganza

Packages Class:  2 Boxes, 2 gift card/money cards, and a box-in-a-bag, $20  BYO adhesive

Maui Stamper Anne and Crystal's Christmas Extravaganza October 12, 2013Multi-media class:  A canvas creation that will take your mad crafting skills in brand new directions!  $25 includes ALL supplies

Maui Stamper Anne and Crystal's Christmas Extravaganza October 12This is a VERY simplified version of what you can do.  We are REALLY hoping you’ll join us for this one – it’s going to be amazing!!!

 

New to card-making?

Introducing the Everyday Occasions Card Making Kit!

Maui Stamper Everyday Occasions Card Kit 2013This kit comes with everything you except scissors and adhesive!  It includes:

* Card stock and envelopes for 20 cards of a variety of sizes
* Twine, buttons & clips
* Pre-cut paper embellishments
* Mini ink pads (Stampin’ Spots)
* Seven-piece Occasions Stamp Set & clear slim stamp block
* Full color “Tips & Tricks” brochure to guide you while making the cards
* A delightful, giftable storage box

Maui Stamper Everyday Occasions CardsThis kit is perfect for beginners – or to have on hand for Card Emergencies (ever have one of those??)   To order, contact me directly or go to my Online Store, click “Shop” and enter 134797 in the search box.  Click on the picture, click add to bag, and you’re almost done!  If you’re a new crafter, you may want to add some adhesive – I recommend SNAIL (#104332, $6.95) or Tombo the Wonder Adhesive (#110755, $3.95).  Don’t have a pair of nice sharp paper snips?  Ours are the best – #103579 for $9.95.  You can keep on shopping, or just head to the checkout where you’ll log into your existing account or create a new one in a heartbeat.  You’ll be on your way in no time!

ACCE: Anne and Crystal’s Christmas Extravaganza

Crystal and I have been putting on a Christmas stamp camp for a few years.  This year it’s October 12 – coming soon!

By now, you’ve figured out that I am fundamentally lazy – and I like to abbreviate.  We began calling our stamp camp the Christmas Extravaganza, then added in our names, and now refer to it as ACCE – “ace” if you want to say it out loud.

Maui Stamper Anne and Crystal's Christmas Extravaganza October 12, 2013One of our classes is a packages class – two boxes, a bag-in-a-box, and two gift card/money card presentations.  This class is $20 and will run from 11:30am til 2pm.  There’s also a cards class in the morning and a multi-media class in the afternoon.  If you’ll be on Maui the 12th I hope you’ll join us!

Early Bird deadline is October 1st – every class goes up $5 if you register after that day.  Don’t wait!

 

QUICK! A new Halloween set!!

Stampin’ Up! just shared this yesterday!

Maui Stamper Halloween stamps spider webIf you haven’t tried our photopolymer stamps you’ll be delighted with the clarity of the images and the perfect alignment you get with completely clear stamps!  Order “Bite Me” through the Online Store – #134622 just $13.95!