A cold is NOT good for Mojo

Posted on by
1

I went and saw the good Doctor today for help with my various and sundry symptoms…since it’s a cold there’s not much he can do, but he did give me a couple of magic potions.  It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this lethargic!

blogtour-stampmonth-Dec

The RemARKable Blog Tour is rolling around again this weekend – check in on Sunday for loads of inspiration using the Affection Collection stamp set! The RemARKable stampers are an amazingly talented lot.
Maui Stamper Affection CollectionSince I’ve been under the weather and without my mojo, I’m sharing a couple of projects  from my tag class:

Maui Stamper Merry and Bright Bottle Tag

Very simple almost one layer tag using the ornaments image from Merry and Type.  I stamped in Midnight Muse, stamped separately a second time in Marina Mist and cut out that second image to pop up on a dimensional.  Yes, CUT OUT – sorry, no framelit for this one!  I am getting spoiled.

Each ornament has a few strokes of Champagne Mist Shimmer paint, and the Marina Mist popped up ornament has an inset cut (again!!) from the Silver Glimmer paper.  The tab on the top is designed to go over the neck of a bottle – very easy!

Maui Stamper Sensational Seasons Gingerbread Man tag

This is my favorite “Go To” tag from the Two Tags Bigz die – just a scallop circle and a gingerbread man – a few pearls – and you’re done!

These tags are part of my tag class next week – let me know if you would like to join us!

THE Ornament – made easy!

Posted on by
Reply

Did you admire the ornament on the front of the Holiday catalog?  I certainly did – but my efforts at duplicating it were less than stellar.  I got distracted before I made enough pieces, and it needed more glitter than I could justify in the Glitter Free Zone (GFZ) imposed by Mr. Maui Stamper.

Ornamental_Elegance_Banner(1)However, there’s help!  Stampin’ Up! has packaged a kit to make 10 beautiful ornaments – enough for a tree-full, or perhaps an office full of gift bags – for $14.95.  All you need to add is adhesive (and if you don’t live in a GFZ) Dazzling Diamonds or Glass Glitter.  Skip on over to the Online store because these are in limited supply!

  • Ornamental Elegance kit #132832  $14.95
  • Anywhere Glue sticks #104045  $3.95
  • Dazzling Diamonds #102023  $4.50
  • Glass Glitter Champagne #120997 $3.95
  • Glass Glitter Silver #120995 $3.95
  • Coordinating Stamp Set Keepsake Ornaments wood #128048 $34.95
  • Coordinating Stamp Set Keepsake Ornaments clear #128051 $25.95

{EDIT:  You only need the Ornamental Elegance kit and some adhesive to create the ornament – the rest of the products are suggestions if you want to take the “More is More” road!)

If you are using Glitter I recommend Tombo the Wonder Adhesive #110755 $3.95

I was on the North Shore Oahu for the weekend for an event with Mr Maui Stamper and his co-workers.  It was a GORGEOUS location but I was allergic to something in bloom and by yesterday I knew I was going to pay the price.  Got up this morning with an outrageous cold and have spent the better part of the day in bed doing nothing.  Captain Stupidhead is pleased that I have finally seen the light.

Quick tags

Posted on by
2

This time of year I have a lot of fun making tags.  I always need a bunch of them, they can be just about any shape and size, and they generally go together pretty quickly.  Here are a couple of the tags we’ll be making in class next week:

GiftcardTagMaui Stamper Watercolor Winter tagBoth of these tags used the Two Tags Bigz die.  Want to join us making tags?  Contact me to register for class Sunday December 9 or Monday December 10.

It’s all in the packaging…

Posted on by
2

Don’t you love getting a gift?  And if you’re anything like me, don’t you love getting a gift – in a cute package??

But cute packages take time, and planning, and lots of other things that are in short supply this time of year.  Fortunately, Stampin’ Up! has a solution:

These two collections are perfect to have on hand for that Sure-to-Delight package!  Order these at the Online Store.  I’m stocking up myself because 2012 has been the Year of the Airplane in the Maui Stamper Household, and there just isn’t enough time to do all the things on my list!

Our latest flight was to beautiful Sedona, where we spent time with my family.  My parents have invited us to join them at their timeshare for years, but this was the first time it was practical.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend that went by too quickly, but I’m so glad we went.  In addition to lots of great time with the family – and great food too – we had beautiful weather that was perfect for exploring.  The sky was amazingly clear and blue, and the sun was brilliant.  We watched a lot of planes fly high overhead, leaving beautiful trails in the sky:

The moon wasn’t quite full, but it was visible in the late afternoon sky; the red rocks, the scrubby vegetation, and that brilliant blue sky created such a stunning contrast:

We stopped for a late afternoon visit at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, pressed tightly into the cliffs:

The chapel interior is extremely simple but has a powerful grace:

And didn’t I do a fabulous job of color-coordination?  We hiked the Courthouse Butte Loop the afternoon before we flew home:

I’ll be back to Stampin’ next time.

Shoppin’ in your jammies

Posted on by
Reply

The sales, crowds and parking lots driving you mad?  When you make your list and check it twice, I hope you’ll remember the small businesses in your area.  Yes, some of us have an online presence, but we are small business owners just the same!  Attention to detail and personal service are what set us apart.  Experience the difference a relationship can make!

If you’re looking for something fun and simple for a holiday gift, I have an idea for you.  I sold a bunch of these last weekend at our craft fair. Some of the Designer Series papers that are pictured are retired, but the concept is the same:

Pull off the belly band and you can see this isn’t much more than some card stock, some Designer Series paper and some stamps:

You probably have most of these items in your stash right now…or you can pop on over to the Online Store and in a couple of minutes you’ll have them winging their way to your craft room.

Maui Stamper Photo Memories flip album open all the wayHere’s the final expansion!  Perfect for a few photos and thoughts for someone special who isn’t able to join you for Christmas, and easily adaptable to other events with a quick switch of color scheme and images.  Think new baby, wedding, graduation, retirement – and it would be easy enough to tuck a gift card or two into these pages for a special birthday gift!  These go together very easily – you could have a handful done this evening.

Grateful.

Posted on by
Reply

It’s a life task to be grateful for all that I have, and all that I do not have – sometimes the not having is the greater blessing.  Gratitude IS an attitude.  It requires constant awareness, an acute sense of perspective, and humility.

Today I am grateful for many things, great and small, but especially for my family.  Many of us are together today in the visual feast that is Sedona, and it is a gift to be here.  I am missing my beautiful first-born daughter and her fiance who are a half-world away, and I am grateful for skype and viber and all of the amazing devices that bring them closer to us.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

Did you shop yet?

Posted on by
2

Oh, I hope you got some sweet deals yesterday!  There are still lots of great bargains – check it out!


I had a great time at the craft fair – thanks to everyone who came, said hello, and especially to those of you who shopped!  Believe me – if I can make it, you can make it – and I can show you how!

Here’s one of my projects:

I was inspired by Pinterest (the Black Hole of the Internet, I am constantly getting lost here).  I used My Digital Studio to design the message, then printed the sheet and cut each one out with framelits and embellished!  The whisks are filled with individually packaged cookies and slipped into our Gusseted bags (found iin the Holiday Catalog) – they’re a perfect fit!  I did a set in reds and greens, too:

Fun and oh-so-easy!

Stampin’ Up! Online Extravaganza

Posted on by
Reply

RUN DON’T WALK!!!  (Okay, just click on the image, you don’t even have to move.)

It’s that good!  Specials today only include:

  • Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine #113439  $79.96  (regularly $99.95)
  • Big Shot Doctor’s Bag #113474    $55.96  (regularly $69.95)
  • Simply Scored Diagonal Plate  #125586  $9.56  (regularly $11.95)

MAUI PEEPS!!  THIS SALE IS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME!!  It starts 3 hours before midnight (that’s gonna be 9pm HST Sunday) and it ENDS 3 HOURS BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY!!  DON’T MISS OUT!!

There are loads more specials – check the Online Store!

Summer Silhouettes, just for you!

Posted on by
Reply

One more craft fair peek:

These little tins are filled with 5 beautiful cards (if I do say so myself) and are perfect for gift-giving.  I’ll be selling them tomorrow – please do stop by and say hello!

  • Maui Stampers Craft Fair
  • Sunday, November 18, 2012
  • Maui Masonic Lodge, 190 West Kamehameha, Kahului
  • 9 am until 2 pm

And don’t forget the Online Extravaganza starting on Monday!  Great deals – check them out.  Hawaii, you get to see it 3 hours earlier because it will post MST, but that means the One Day Specials will end 3 hours earlier too (9pm HST).  Don’t miss the Monday Specials!

 

Craftin’ for the Maui Stampers

Posted on by
1

SO BUSY this week – and SO EXCITED – because the Maui Stampers are holding our FIRST EVER CRAFT FAIR!!  (Enough caps for ya?  Yeah, I’m shouting!!)

Just a few of the things I’ve been working on – stop by and say hello!  We’ll have all kinds goodies for you including food and drink.  Bring a friend, or come and make a friend!

  • Sunday, November 18, 2012
  • Maui Masonic Lodge, 190 West Kamehameha Street, Kahului
  • 9 am until 2 pm

And as if that wasn’t enough, Stampin’ Up! is literally BOMBARDING us (sorry, I’m shouting again) with new goodies and promotions.  They’re all fabulous but mark your calendars NOW for the Online Extravaganza!  Big Shot on sale Monday the 19th only!!  Clear blocks on sale Wednesday the 28th only!!  My Digital Studio on sale HALF OFF the ENTIRE TIME!!!  (I am really sorry, I just can’t help myself!!)  Loads more – mark your calendars – check it out Monday morning (or Sunday night – Maui Standard Time!)

And if you want to give yourself a fabulous Christmas gift, contact me to find out how you can save even more – and get a free set of Classic Firm Foam Ink pads – by joining the Maui Stampers team of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators.  The best $99 you might ever spend.