Thanks: Plentiful Plants

Posted on January 26, 2022 by mauistamper

I needed a few thank you cards and found this great layout using our Designer Series paper. I have (ahem) “some” DSP that needs to be used, and I love the pop of color with Basic White:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Plentiful Plants Poinsettia Dies You Touched My Heart

Stamps: Plentiful Plants
Color Palette: Basic White, Shaded Spruce
Accessories: Shimmer White paper, Retired DSP (and sorry, NO IDEA, it was one of the bits), Big Boss, Stitched Rectangle dies, Poinsettia dies, Messages die, Tasteful Textile embossing folder, White Crinkle seam binding, Stampin Dimensionals

You might have noticed there aren’t any stamped plants. The sentiment is from Plentiful Plants, but all that white-on-white “greenery” is from the Poinsettia dies. I’ve been trying to use up all the bits that are floating around on my craft desk, and it’s a challenge. Apparently in order to use up the bits, I need to create a few more to coordinate with them. Net result? MORE BITS.

How are you using up your bits? Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who keeps them. I’m trying to edit, use, and share them to clear my brain and my space, but it’s going slowly I’m afraid.

Everybody loves FREE!! Choose FREE goodies from January 4 to February 28, 2022!! Shop HERE.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sale-a-bration FREE STAMPS January-February-2022

Everybody loves FREE!! Choose FREE goodies from January 4 to February 28, 2022!! Shop HERE.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sale-a-bration Join FREE STAMPS

Before you place that order, consider the Very Best Deal – joining Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator! If you join by February 28, 2022, there’s a super opportunity. Choose 2 FREE stamp sets PLUS:

$125 additional product of your choice for $99
Free shipping on your kit
20% savings on your own purchases
6 months to try us out without risk – continue with just a $300 quarterly minimum
Earn Sale-a-bration and host rewards on RETAIL price not your discounted price
An incredible community of crafters
Early access AND sneak peeks (you know you want to know!)

Join by February 28th for those two free stamp sets! Message me if you have questions or want to chat.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Paper Pumpkin February 2022 Safari Celebration kit

Be sure to subscribe by February 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱if you decide it’s not for you. The February kit will make 9 playful cards with envelopes that you can tailor to your card-sending needs. Don’t wait!

Amazing Thanks – One of Two

Posted on January 23, 2022 by mauistamper

Have you seen the Amazing Thanks dies? You’re going to need them. 😁 Today I’m showing the first of two cards, one with the positive image and one with the negative image. Who doesn’t need to say thanks?

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Amazing Thanks Hand Penned DSP

Stamps: None!
Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Cinnamon Cider, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Highland Heather, Mint Macaron, Misty Moonlight, Pale Papaya, Pool Party (all from the DSP)
Accessories: Big Boss, Hand-Penned Designer Series paper, Amazing Thanks dies, White Crinkle Seam Binding ribbon, Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin Dimensionals

Cut the reverse, tone-on-tone DSP side 1/4″ smaller on two sides from the negative panel. (I am absolutely smitten with our DSP, with this DSP in particular, AND with the way each page has a patterned side and a tone-on-tone side – maximum flexibility!)

Adhere them, then add a Garden Green panel that’s 1/4″ larger on two sides from the negative panel. Pop that up on dimensionals with a bit of ribbon underneath and stick some sparkle in the corner and you’re set! (My negative die cut panel is 1.75 x 4″, the DSP is 1.5 x 3.75″, and the Garden Green panel is 2 x 4.25″)

I’ll be back next week with a great way to use that positive THANKS die cut! Visit the Online Store for your own set of dies!

Everybody loves FREE!! Choose FREE goodies from January 4 to February 28, 2022!! Shop HERE.

Before you place that order, consider the Very Best Deal – joining Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator! If you join by February 28, 2022, there’s a super opportunity. Choose 2 FREE stamp sets PLUS:

$125 additional product of your choice for $99
Free shipping on your kit
20% savings on your own purchases
6 months to try us out without risk – continue with just a $300 quarterly minimum
Earn Sale-a-bration and host rewards on RETAIL price not your discounted price
An incredible community of crafters
Early access AND sneak peeks (you know you want to know!)

Join by February 28th for those two free stamp sets! Message me if you have questions or want to chat.

Beauty of the Earth Designer Series Paper

Posted on November 10, 2021 by mauistamper

We don’t see many traditional fall colors on Maui, but nevertheless I’ve fallen in love with Beauty of the Earth Designer Series paper. It conveys a feeling of autumn without having a strong regional sense, and the colors are so warm and inviting.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Beauty of the Earth DSP Forever Flourishing Dies handmade card

Stamps: Forever Fern, Art Gallery
Color Palette: Basic White, Garden Green, Merry Merlot, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Copper Foil sheets, Big Boss, Forever Flourishing dies, Scalloped Contour dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, Blending Brush, Linen Thread, Stampin Dimensionals

Beauty of the Earth is a stunning pack of autumn colored Designer Series papers. While it’s designed to coordinate with the Beauty of Friendship bundle, I’ve found it works wonderfully with many different stamps and dies. I had a hunch that the Copper Foil sheets would really shine (lol) as a focal point with this design.

I did a second version with a different paper from the same Designer Series paper assortment. I kept it simpler with fewer layers and a little spritz created by flicking my markers. I love the dash of Night of Navy in this paper – it’s not 100% realism, but sometimes I need a break from reality.

In the News You Can Use department, our seasonal sale is coming up! Mark your calendar and order early, as I predict these essentials will fly out the door. Save on

Card stock 10%
Stampin’ Up! ink (exclusive of bundles) 15%
Dies – yes, dies – 20%

When you order your ink pads, be sure to add the coordinating ink refill to your order. It’s just a few extra dollars, and trust me, you’ll be so glad to have it on hand! Plan your orders in the Online Store so you’re ready to go on November 16th.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Start With Savings Demonstrator Promotion November 2021

How would you spend $75? Through November 30, you can sign up to save on every order you place – and join a community of friendship, inspiration and fantastic support. Your $75 turns into $125 of Stampin’ Up! product that YOU choose – free of shipping – and is your ticket to the Maui Stampers and the inside world of Stampin’ Up! Contact me with your questions or join now!

Don’t forget the gorgeous Eden’s Garden Suite, available now as a sneak peek from the January – June 2022 Mini Catalog.

Hand-Penned Petals and a DIY background

Posted on May 31, 2021 by mauistamper

I did my best to create a simple card, using one stamp set and just the Big Boss and some dies. It’s not an absolute beginner card, but it’s an easy one to re-create. I’d love it if you gave it a go:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Hand-Penned Petals hand-stamped card DIY

Stamps: Hand-Penned Petals
Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Pear Pizazz, BumbleBee
Accessories: Big Boss, Stitched Rectangle dies, Penned Flowers dies, Stampin Dimensionals

My technique was VERY simple. I stamped the focal point with Memento Black ink on a piece of Basic White and stamped the flowers and petals each twice without re-inking (that’s what creates that lighter color layer particularly visible on the flowers). Then I inked the focal point in Pear Pizazz and lightly stamped it off on a scrap, then stamped it onto my Basic White Stitched Rectangle (that technique is called stamping off). I repeated that process until my background was sufficiently filled, stamped the sentiment right on top of it with Memento Black, and positioned the focal point with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Sooo…about the inside. It’s a special double panel inside. It didn’t start out that way, but when I opened the card to add the panel, I placed it on my craft table upside down, so the panel was on the wrong side. I tried to lift it, but oh no, I did a good job of pressing my Stampin’ Seal in place and it wasn’t going ANYWHERE. So I made this a double panel card.

Tell me you’ve never done that.

The Hand-Penned bundle is a great beginner set. The images can be hand colored, or stamped with our Two Step Stampin’ process to be quick and easy. Shop for it HERE.

The Gorgeous Lilypad Suite

Posted on February 8, 2020 by mauistamper

I’ve been playing with coloring techniques using an embossed image from Lovely Lilypad. I went back to the Aqua painter and found more success this time by remembering to wet the entire image before I start. Those of you with any training likely do this automatically!

Stamps: Lovely Lilypad (SAB 2020), Itty Bitty Greetings
Color Palette: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Pretty Peacock
Accessories: Lily Pad dies (SAB 2020), Lily Impressions DSP (SAB 2020), Stitched Shapes dies, Ornate Frames dies, Coastal Weave embossing folder, die cutting machine, Stampin’ Spritzer, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Aqua Painter, Rhinestone Jewels, retired ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals

The Lily Impressions DSP is bold, and creates a great background pop on this otherwise neutral card. The card base is from DEEP in the archives, something I discovered recently during a mad “what the HECK is in here anyway?” clean up. It’s 6 1/2″ wide by 3 1/4″ tall, and was sold with matching envelopes. Speaking of…

I get busy and forget to do this, but I love the sense of anticipation that comes with a stamped envelope! I’m also completely smitten with the new Coastal Weave embossing folder – the additional textures are gorgeous! I spritzed it with a few drops of Coastal Cabana ink mixed with rubbing alcohol in a Stampin’ Spritzer.

I liked the first one so well, I made a second in an alternate color palette. The lily is colored with Purple Posy (the ink has been retired for quality issues, but there are Stampin’ Blends available) and the accent color is Highland Heather. I used the Stitched Nested Labels for the ground shape.

Which do you prefer – I can’t choose! But I’ll tell you this – these cards are headed out in the mail quite soon, so if you placed an order in the last month, watch your mailbox. Two of you will get a Lovely Lilypad!

If you’d like to create your own, shop HERE.

Vibrant Vases: Colour INKspiration #60

Posted on August 12, 2019 by mauistamper

I am just under the wire for the Colour INKspiration #60 challenge! It often catches me because the deadlines are in Australian Eastern Standard Time Zone, and that means it’s a day ahead because of the International Dateline. I should know better – my daughter lives north of Sydney – but even when I do the math correctly I’m often under the wire. But here’s my contribution:

Stamps: Vibrant Vases, Crackle Paint, Beautiful Bouquet
Colour Palette: CI#60 Petal Pink, Terracotta Tile, Pretty Peacock, Blueberry Bushel; also Gold and Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin’ Write markers, Aqua painter, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stitched Rectangle dies, Metallic Pearls, Gold thread (retired)

This is the inspiration image for CI#60. I’ll tell you, these colours are a bit of a challenge to put together! Terracotta Tile and Petal Pink are made for one another, but those other two, well, it was a stretch. This project sat on my craft desk for a few days in pieces.

When I got the idea for the classic Blue-And-White for the vases, things started to come together. I used both Stampin’ Write markers and the Aqua Painter to get shading on the blooms, and used the Aqua Painter for the vases. I intended for it to have that slightly uneven, outside-the-lines look that old china pottery has.

If you’ve never tried a Colour Inkspiration challenge, I highly recommend it! You’ll love the projects that have been submitted for CI#60.

And if you’d like to do a little shopping, click HERE.

Stampin’ Up! Host Rewards: Soft Spring

Posted on August 5, 2019 by mauistamper

Host sets are a bit of a mystery to me. They’re a great value, but they don’t get the exposure or interest they should. They’re available at a discounted price, but the twist is that you have to use Host Rewards to purchase them. Today I’m featuring Soft Spring:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Soft Spring Host Rewards

Stamps: Soft Spring (Host), Birch
Color Palette: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bridge, Metallic Gold
Accessories: Word Wishes dies, Stitched Nested Labels dies, Gold Foil sheets, Stamping Sponge, Aqua Painter, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Wink of Stella

I used the Stamping Sponge to add a little texture and soften the Crumb-Cake-on-White look of the Birch background. I cut the word THANKS out twice, once in Blushing Bride and once in Gold Foil, and offset layered them for added dimension. This is a perfectly flat, no-questions-asked MAIL WORTHY card!

Those Stitched Nested Label dies (also sold as part of the Free as a Bird bundle) are going to be a constant crafting companion! And there’s a bonus in the set: a single long die to make a line of stitching anywhere you’d like it.

I originally created this as an entry for Colour Inkspiration #58, but decided to submit THIS CARD instead. I think I made the right choice! That’s the fun of color challenges: you can repeat them over and over again with such different results.

If this post has resulted in the desire/need to shop, click HERE.

The Woodland is Rooted in Nature

Posted on July 31, 2019 by mauistamper

It’s been a delightful summer in my craft room, and I’m ready to get the show back on the road and share some of it with you. Would you like to see what I’ve been doing?

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Woodland is Rooted in Nature

I seldom use Very Vanilla card bases, and when I look at this one I wonder why! I especially like the way it works with the braided linen, which is just an abundance of linen thread – and you know I love linen thread!!

Stamps: Rooted in Nature, Artisan Textures, A Wish for Everything
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce, Soft Suede
Accessories: Natures Roots Dies, Stitched Shapes Dies, Woodland Embossing Folder, Vellum, Braided Linen Trim, Stampin’ Write Markers, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Sponge Daubers, Bone Folder.

I have a few great tips for you when you’re working with vellum:

The Fine Tip Glue Pen is VELLUM MAGIC. Use it to adhere vellum to any project and it doesn’t show through!!!
When I run it through my die cut machine I layer a piece of waxed paper between the paper and the die (and yes, I have a Big Shot, which Stampin’ Up! no longer sells – but something BIGGER is coming!) It helps to release the vellum from the die, especially the Stitched Shapes, which have a tendency to hang onto the die cut.
I use my trusty Bone Folder when I’m removing a vellum die cut from the die, since it’s thin and helps to avoid creases in the vellum.

I used sponge daubers to ink the foliage in Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce. Once they were inky, I colored the trunk with the Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker. If you try to color the trunk first, it’s easy to accidentally cover the ink with the daubers. Coloring it second allows you to push off any GAG or SS ink (yup. That’s what I call it. GAG. Love that color.)

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Bonus Days July 2019

Today is the FINAL BONUS DAY!! Skedaddle on over to my Online Store to earn your savings – a $5 voucher for every $50 in merchandise you choose! You’ll be glad you did.

Thanks a latte: Coffee Café

Posted on May 11, 2019 by mauistamper

We bought a new espresso machine this year. The previous one was a champ and cranked out multi-shot beverages every single day for 7 years. When the cost of repairs became unrealistic, we had to get a replacement. There was someone who walked us through the whole process, and I knew just how to say thanks:

Stamps: Hardwood, Coffee Café
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso (OF COURSE), Grapefruit Grove, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Big Shot, Coffee Cups Framelits, Share What You Love DSP, Very Vanilla Lace Trim, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Coffee Café is retiring, but it’s an indispensable stamp set that will have a permanent place on my craft desk. It’s perfect for cards, of course, but also makes a great gift-card enclosure.

The Share What You Love DSP is really beautiful, and I think I’ve caught a glimpse of the gorgeous shimmer that is on one side of each paper. It’s those little details that make a card pop!

All of these beautiful products – with the exception of the colors – are retiring on June 3rd. Stamps are only guaranteed availability through May 24, so if you’re thinking a latte about this set, maybe you should Shop HERE.

And if you are in the market for a new espresso machine, call Jenn at Seattle Coffee Gear in Bellevue, Washington. She’s amazing.

Cling Wrap Part Two: Wonderful Romance

Posted on April 9, 2019 by mauistamper

One of the serendipities of the Cling Wrap Frame technique is that it’s a “two-fer”: when you cut the frame, you get an extra piece that functions as a beautiful focal point on a second card. Today I’m sharing that card!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique Wonderful Romance

Stamps: Wonderful Romance, Itty Bitty Greetings
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green, Soft Sea Foam
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Big Shot, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Wonderful Romance Framelits (no longer available, sorry!) LOTS and LOTS of Stampin’ Dimensionals!

The Stitched Rectangle shape was the middle of the frame from THIS post, and I was pleased with the balance of color and shape. It really didn’t need much embellishment, but I decided to emphasize it a bit by adding a narrow black mat.

The sentiment was stamped on a little strip of paper and trimmed to fit. I kept it small and simple to offset the detailed design and images from the focal panel.

Are you ready to try this for yourself? It’s not hard and the results are so satisfying.