Category Archives: Stampin' Up!

Summer Smooches

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Crystal and I are planning another day of classes – if you’re going to be on Maui on April 28, you are welcome to join us!  We’ve been inspired by the Summer Smooches suite of products being previewed this month (through April 30!) and have totally fallen in love with the bright and cheery colors and images.

We’ll start the day making a set of 3 x 3 note cards with custom Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper envelopes, all tucked into a Fancy Favor box:

Summer Smooches 3 x 3 cards

There’s also a couple of standard sized cards and one of the Petite Purses made from our new Big Shot die:

Summer Smooches cards and Petite Purse

This class will include the Bright Blossoms stamp set – class plus stamps will be $25 for clear and $29 for wood mount stamps.

You can bring those stamps along for the next class – a flip scrapbook all ready for your photos and journaling:

Summer Smooches Flip scrapbook

Don’t you love these colors?  Here’s a peek at the inside:

Summer Smooches Flip Scrapbook

It’s hard to see all the pages, but trust me, there’s plenty of room!

The Flip Scrapbook class will be $25 and will include a full roll of Sticky Strip – you’ll use about a third of it on this project.

I hope you’ll join us!

Happily Mauied

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Mr Maui Stamper and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary last week.  It’s hard for me to believe that many years have gone by!  Math has never been a strong point for me, and clearly there’s some sort of mistake here.  I’m barely 30 years old myself – right???

Making a card with Designer Series Paper called Mocha Morning was clearly the perfect choice for a couple of coffee lovers:

Mocha Morning Anniversary

The geometric layout and neutral color scheme give this card it’s strong masculine theme despite a curly-cue or two.  And since this was a hand-delivered card, I got out a big Neutrals Designer Button for the front.  I know you can attach buttons with glue dots, but I much prefer stitching them on.  It doesn’t take all that long to make a couple of holes with the Pokey Doodle (Thank you, Heather Summers!) and thread a little Linen Thread through the holes and make a knot.  I like knowing that button isn’t going to fall off.

There was a little part of his present that I didn’t have on hand to put in his package (yes, there might be one or two disadvantages to living 2500 miles out in the Pacific Ocean!!)  I made a coordinating 3×3 notecard to tell him about it:

Morning Mocha 3x3

Who takes these photos anyway?  Operator error.  I would never take such a crooked photo.

By the way, if you’re one of those Plan Ahead sorts of people, scoot yourself on over to the Clearance Rack.  Lots of beautiful accessories and gorgeous holiday products at GREAT prices!  Clearance Rack merchandise is only available through the Online Store because supplies are so limited, so if you love it, buy it!  You won’t regret it 🙂

An Egg-ceptional Gift Card

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A few times a year, I am asked to prepare a gift certificate for a dear friend by her dear mother-in-law. This time, I thought it was time to do something a little different:

Easter Gift Certificate

There’s an Easter Egg card inside a tiny Scallop Envelope basket inside that small cello bag.  It’s not particularly elaborate, but it was fun to do and something a little out of the ordinary.  Here’s what’s inside:

Easter GC first page

I used the oval from the Big Shot Scalloped oval to make four egg shapes, and put them together with a brad left over from one of the SAB bundles.  This one has a butterfly with vellum wings for the front cover.

Easter GC page two

The second egg has a small tag with the details on the gift.  I told you she was a dear mother-in-law!!

 

Easter GC page three

I cut an oval out of DSP and hand-trimmed the middle out – I used that on page two above.  The top and bottom pieces went on the third page with a space in the middle for the names of the generous givers.

Easter GC last page

The last page is simply decorated for Easter.

It was fun to do something unexpected – that’s the beauty of hand-made crafts, right?

 

Choosing colors

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The way I look at it, sympathy cards pose a unique challenge.  I want them to convey hope, warmth and comfort, while still acknowledging the fact that a family is grieving.  The challenge for me is in choosing the colors; I want them to lift the spirit but still be soothing.

Just Believe With Sympathy

  • Just Believe and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Concord Crush Classic ink pad
  • Whisper White, Pear Pizazz, So Saffron and Concord Crush card stock
  • Stampin’ Sponge
  • Pearl Jewels
  • Modern Label Punch
  • Crop-a-dile
  • Pear Pizazz Seam Binding

I made 10 of these for a ministry group at my church.  When they need cards, I’ll come up with 2 or 3 designs and make 10 of each – it’s much more enjoyable for me than 20 or 30 of the same design.  10 is my magic number when it comes to production – more than that and I start wondering why on earth I said I would do this!

I’m very fond of the Just Believe stamp set, but I have a feeling it may be on the retired list this year.  It was a convention set in 2010.   Stampin’ Up! gives us heaps of free stamps at Convention, and they’re always brand new.  I’ve heard that the Powers That Be are planning on cleaning house a little bit and giving us a fresh start with a lot of new product, so I’m trying to put myself in the right frame of mind to say good-bye to some old favorites.  Cross your fingers that Teeny Tiny Wishes makes the cut and remains to stamp another year – that set is my absolute sentiment anchor!!!

The most difficult thing to let go of will be Pear Pizazz.  It’s a 2010-2012 In Color, and since it’s 2012 now that means Pear Pizazz (plus Blush Blossom, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait and Concord Crush) will be retiring to make room for a new group of colors.  Embrace change!!

So what do you think?  Are these colors hopeful or hopelessly bright?

Musings on square cards

Aside

Recently I had a little time and I browsed through a papercrafting forum I used to visit often, but haven’t visited in a long time.  Ah, so much inspiration!  There are so many talented artists, and it’s at once inspiring and discouraging to see their work.  It’s inspiring, because it gives me ideas; it’s discouraging, because there isn’t enough time in the day to play with all of those ideas.

Today’s card is simple and has a hint of Japanese Spring in the colors:

Image

  • Pocket Silhouette and French Script stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Lucky Limeade and Regal Rose card stock
  • Lucky Limeade, Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Write markers
  • Pink Pirouette Classic ink pad
  • Bitty Punch Pack
  • 1 3/4 inch circle punch
  • Corner rounder punch
  • Pearl Jewels
  • Stampin’ Sponge

I punched a circle from a sticky note and used it as a stamping template.  I also used a Stampin’ Sponge and whirled some Pink Pirouette ink around the circle to give it definition and softness (there’s a contradiction for you – but you know what I mean!)

I need to play around with this a little more to find a way to create this card as a larger card – it’s a 3 x 3 notecard here.   The USPS doesn’t seem to like square cards, but they’re a completely different type of canvas – and they make a hand-crafted envelope almost mandatory!   That’s a job for the new Diagonal Scoring Plate 🙂

I hope there are trees in Heaven

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I love using the image of the tree from Thoughts and Prayers for a sympathy card.  It’s a full, graceful tree that hints of a life well-lived, of abundance and generosity and beauty.

It also seems like a little piece of heaven.  Haven’t been there myself, but it seems to me that heaven must have a feeling like  being in the woods…and like walking on a white sandy beach…and like climbing tall, majestic mountains…all of those beautiful, powerful places that bring the presence of God alive in a very tangible way.  I hope this card conveys that feeling of  God’s presence to my friend.

Thoughts and Prayers Limeade

  • Thoughts and Prayers and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Lucky Limeade and River Rock card stock
  • Lucky Limeade Prints Pack Designer Series Paper
  • Lucky Limeade and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write markers
  • Lucky Limeade Classic ink pad
  • Piercing tool and Mat
  • 1/8 inch Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon (SAB)

I made holes on either side of the tree trunk with the piercing tool and used a big upholstery needle to thread the Organdy Ribbon through.  It’s soft and easy to work with, and I much prefer tying my ribbons onto cards instead of attaching them with Glue Dots.  Don’t get me wrong – I love those Glue Dots – but I don’t want to take the chance that the ribbon will fall off.  I’m picky that way.

 

Looking ahead to Easter

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I took this layout straight off Pinterest:

Mixed Bunch Blushing Bride for Easter

  • Mixed Bunch and Delightful Dozen stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Blushing Bride card stock
  • Whisper White and Blushing Bride Classic ink pads
  • Pear Pizazz seam binding
  • Blossom punch
  • 3/4 circle punch
  • Big Shot
  • Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve been doing a lot of these raised panels lately – I’m SEEING a lot of them too!  I like the look, and I like the possibilities…you can selectively emboss, easily wrap ribbon around the panel, raise the panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals…I’ll bet you can think of other techniques!  Leave me a comment if you have an idea – I’m always looking for new tricks 🙂

Blushing Bride is such a grown-up pink, and I’m going to miss it when it bows out of our Stampin’ Up! color palette with the end of the catalog on May 31.  I do my best to embrace change, but to be very honest, I have a hard time letting go of things.  Take a peek in any closet in my house (well, except Mr. Maui Stamper’s closet) and I’m sure you’ll agree – I’m not a minimalist!  I’m trying to be more clutter-free, but it’s a lifestyle that is going to take some time to embrace.  My Gramsie on my mom’s side kept EVERYTHING – old vegetable drawers from the refrigerator that stopped working (after all, they were useful for storing things), back issues of the Wall Street Journal (we found issues from the 60’s when we moved her from her big 3 bedroom home in the early 90’s) – so I’m just carrying on a family tradition.

Well, except I don’t subscribe to the Wall Street Journal.

Hello there, Everyday Enchantment!

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Such soothing colors for this card!

Elementary Elegance Pool Party

The images from the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series paper coordinate so perfectly with all of the Sale-a-bration stamp sets – this one is Elementary Elegance.  I punched out the sentiment on with the Curly Label and brushed the edges with a dauber dunked in Lucky Limeade ink and one-two-three I was done!

This card is kinda begging for more bling, and I am going to revisit it after Spring Break.  I don’t think EVERY card has to be ready to pop in the mail.  I have a little hint for you too – when you make a panel with two different pieces of DSP, cut a narrow strip of cardstock – I used Very Vanilla but anything would work – just 1/4 inch shorter than the width you are joining, and maybe 3/4 inch wide.  Cover it with SNAIL and you have a platform to join and stabilize your DSP  – you can butt the edges together and there is no waste!

Just 3 more weeks of Sale-a-bration!

Layers, layers, layers

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I do hope you’re not tired of this little typewriter yet…

 

You're My Type in Marina Mist

Did you notice that the First Edition Designer Series paper is all about the news?  And did you see my little bit of black “typewriter ribbon”???  I KNOW.

Keeping a card interesting when there is just a single image can be challenging.  I usually do one of two things – lots and lots of layers, or no layers whatsoever.  In this case, it’s lots of layers (brilliant, huh? – I’m a rocket surgeon in my spare time!)  I did have to fight the temptation to add buttons and brads and all of that.  I’m still on my “gotta be able to mail it” kick.  Don’t know how much longer that’s gonna last, because my fingers are gettin’ twitchy for some big bling.

I’m trying to keep a minimalist attitude these days.  Spring break is coming, and we’ve got a trip planned.  Mr. Maui Stamper has decided that we should carry on luggage – for a 9 day trip.  You know, travel light.   I feel like the Little Engine that Could – I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  I think I have the clothing thing down – black is a wonderful color, and with temperatures in the 50’s, it will be layers, layers, layers!  I have the shoe thing down – I’m a comfort-before-beauty kind of girl when it comes to shoes.  The problem is that dog-gone quart ziploc bag.  All of my girl-stuff is NOT going to fit, and I NEED my shampoo, and conditioner, and lotions and magical potions!  I may have to leave the “Hair-be-tame” potion behind, which means I will have hair like nobody’s business – GINORMOUS.   There may or may not be a photographic record of this trip, at least as far as my presence is concerned.  Stay tuned.

 

 

Leap Day Savings!!

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It only happens once every four years, so let’s celebrate Leap Day with some juicy Stampin’ Up! savings!!

 

WHO:           YOU!

WHAT:          Savings of 5, 10, 15 or 20%

WHEN:          Leap Day – February 29, 2012

WHERE:         Anne’s 24/7 Online Store   

WHY:            Stampin’ and Savin’ – what else do you need!??!

 

THE DETAILS:

Your order placed through MY online store through the end of Stampin’ Up! business on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 (11:50pm MST = 8:50pm HST) is eligible for a discount!

 

  • Merchandise orders totaling up to $50.00 = 5% savings
  • Merchandise orders totaling $50.01 to $100.00 = 10% savings
  • Merchandise orders totaling $100.01 to $150.00 = 15% savings
  • Merchandise orders totaling $150.01 and over = 20% savings

 

Sale-a-bration 2012

You will also earn Sale-a-bration benefits with qualifying orders $50 and over, and orders totaling $150 (merchandise) and over will earn generous Hostess Benefits!  All orders will receive a hand-stamped gift from me as well.

Your discount will not be reflected on your order, but will be paid to you on March 1 by check.

 This offer is only for Online Orders placed by close of Stampin’ Up! business on February 29, 2012, and only redeemable through Anne Matasci, Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.  Discount is on total merchandise cost only.

Check out the Clearance Rack!  Look over your wish list!  Check the Occasions Mini catalog and the Idea Book and Catalog!  2010-2012 In Colors (Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Poppy Parade and Peach Parfait) will be retired on May 31, 2012 – do you need to stock up at a discount??

Questions?  Contact me today – but don’t wait – Cinderella’s Stampin’ Up! order turns back into a Pumpkin Pie at 8:50pm HST (11:50pm MST)  on Wednesday, February 29, 2012!!