New Big Shot goodies

Posted on February 10, 2012 by mauistamper

Every time there’s new Big Shot stuff, I have a little conversation with myself. (And yes, I do talk to myself – mutter is more like it – ask Cheryl if you don’t believe me.) We go back and forth, my selves and I, on why we need more stuff for the Big Shot. It’s just another shape…or texture…or container…and that’s just it. It’s why I signed up to be a demonstrator. I love getting all the cool new toys.

The Occasions Mini catalog introduced us to the world of Edgelits that cut beautiful, unique shapes on the edges of cardstock and coordinated Embossing Folders to put on the finishing touches. It’s enough to make a crafter light-headed.

Loving Thoughts and Bordering on Romance Stamp sets
Whisper White Card Stock
Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
Soft Suede and Poppy Parade Classic Ink pad
Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze and Peach Parfait Stampin’ Write markers
Big Shot
Adorning Accents Edgelits dies
Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Cutting and embossing these edges goes really quickly. The Edgelit dies are lightweight and easy to position – I’ve heard some crafters say they use a little dotto to hold them in place, but I haven’t found the need to do that…and I’m kind of picky.

I usually like to color in open images with my Aquapainter and some Classic ink, but I looked at this card and thought the saturated colors in the DSP needed equally saturated colors on the card front. Our paper is so easy to work with – it’s smooth and the markers just glide across. I try to cover the area with a single stroke ( no back-and-forth) to avoid distressing the paper or creating too many lines in my color. The more I do it, the better I get – if I do say so myself!

Simple, with a dash of sparkle

Posted on February 8, 2012 by mauistamper

Valentine’s Day is on the way, and I need to get cards in the mail. It’s an occupational hazard of living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – so many of the people I love live across the water. I’ve been hard at work:

Loving Thoughts Stamp Set
Whisper White and Real Red card stock
Real Red Prints Pack Designer Series Paper
Red Glimmer Paper
Triple Heart Punch
Bitty Heart Punch
5/8 inch Real Red satin ribbon
Stampin’ Dimensional

This is easy as can be and a quick switch into other colors as well! It was inspired by a series of cards done by Lisa at I’m in Haven – go check them out as she did some gorgeous cards using this punch. I haven’t decided if I like this oriented with the little hearts in the center – I think I may make another card with them tuned the other way. It’s an organizational thing 🙂

You could easily leave off that sparkly, blingy heart – but why?

Hooray for Getting Things Done!!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by mauistamper

Oh, I do love a good, productive day!

I’m an organizer. I make lists, block out time for important tasks, and when they are done I love to check them off. I’ve heard the comments – call it what you want, I don’t care – it makes me happy. Lately, however, MY important tasks have taken a back seat to OTHERS’ important tasks. It’s not that those other tasks were unimportant – but they kept crowding out the things I wanted to do. I’ve been out-of-sorts as I’ve seen things like “Complete the FAFSA” and “Prepare the minutes for the Pastoral Council meeting for distribution” get checked off, while things like “Make Valentines” and “Unpack new Stampin’ Up! goodies” remain on my list. (If you don’t know what the FAFSA is, be grateful – and if we receive some financial aid for my son when he attends university next year, I’ll be grateful.)

This morning I was able to slay enough dragons (yes!! it’s the Year of the Dragon!) on my list that I could justify an afternoon in my studio. I did a little straightening up (just enough so I could find my mojo) then cracked open a few ink pads. There were so many cards waiting to get put to paper!!

Branch Out (retired) and Pennant Parade stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Early Espresso and Pool Party card stock
Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
Early Espresso Classic ink pad
Triple Heart punch
Calypso Coral Bakers Twine
Rhinestone Jewels
Simply Scored

I know I shouldn’t keep using Branch Out. It’s a retired stamp set. Oh, but it makes me so happy!! There are other trees in the IBC – you could substitute Season of Friendship – but this one is my all time favorite. The card base is Very Vanilla, but it has a pinkish cast in my photo. I gave up on that dragon.

If you haven’t placed a Sale-a-bration order yet, maybe it’s time to scoot yourself over to my Online Store and place a $50 order so that you can have your own package of Everyday Enchantment (#126154). I’m ashamed to admit how many packages I have stashed away! I love every single pattern, I love the colors, and I love the way it all works together. Isn’t that how it is with Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper??

I also have a few Occasions Mini Catalog Ribbon Shares left – for $15 (plus shipping) you’ll get 1 yard each of the new pleated ribbons in Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizazz, plus 5 yards of each of the new Bakers Twines: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Wisteria Wonder. I’ve even included a yard each of the Sale-a-bration skinny organza ribbon in Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade. Contact me if you’re interested.

Thanks for stopping by! Writing this post was the last thing on today’s MUST DO list – now it’s back to the studio for some play-time.

Just a quick post

Posted on February 2, 2012 by mauistamper

It’s been crazy mad busy around the Stamper household and it doesn’t promise to get much better! I would hate to be bored, though, so I can’t complain about all the good stuff going on. There are so many fantastic new goodies to play with in my studio and I just can’t seem to find enough time to play with them all!

This is one more card I made for my secret sister swap at Leadership in San Antonio:

It’s very simple and VERY bright – not sure what posessed me to put Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade together but I did it! Those tiny little embossed hearts are from the new Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing folders, and they are as easy to use as they are cute. That Designer Series paper is Everyday Enchantment from the Sale-a-bration catalog, and I haven’t found one design that I couldn’t find a good use for in that assortment — I’ve ordered a package or two for myself!

And now one more photo from Leadership – I mentioned in my post from San Antonio that my upline Janet Wakeland hosted an event in her hotel room and we gathered for a group photo:

There is a bed underneath all of those women, and we were certain that it was going to collapse underneath us. Never mind that it was about 97 degrees in that hotel room!! Didn’t matter, we were havin’ too much fun to care. But I’ll confess to being grateful that the photo was done and we could all get just a little bit more personal space!

The Maui Stamper’s Computer: DOA or CPR?

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mauistamper

Yes, it’s bad news in the PC department. The wunderkinds at Q and A Computers are resuscitating my machine as we speak, but they hint of trouble in the monitor as well. The good news is that most if not all of my files are safe, but improvising while they do their good work is a challenge!!

Life has been VERY busy in the Maui Stamper household, and though I’ll spare you most of the details I do have a little more to share about Stampin’ Up! leadership conference in San Antonio. It was a lovely work/play balance and a fabulous trip overall. First some eye-candy:

I participated in a Secret Sisters swap with Janet Wakeland’s Dreambuilders group and this is the bag I gave to Linda Hunt. I’ll share her gifts to me another time but I have to tell you I had a BLAST with this swap! Here’s the gift box I made for her:

I am CRAZY IN LOVE with the new Sale-a-bration DSP and I hope you are too! Free PLUS gorgeous – it doesn’t get better than that, friends!!

Linda got a couple of cards too – here’s one:

Our new Framelits and Edgelits are injecting tons of new creative inspiration into my projects – my busy stampin’ fingers can’t keep up with all the ideas running through my brain!

If you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator – or if you are interested in being one – check out the requirements to attend Leadership. (Senior Supervisor is the minimum title level). I’m telling you – this is the cream of the crop. As a company, Stampin’ Up! goes over the top to reward and acknowledge their demonstrators and Leadership was no exception. The demos who are there are at the top of their game – some of the loveliest, kindest, smartest women – and a few men – you will ever meet in your life! That in and of itself made the long trip worthwhile.

However, Stampin’ Up! also provides outstanding resources and training. I spent such valuable time with SU staff developing my business plan, learning about technological resources (that I will use when my pc is reborn!) and seeing and trying new techniques.

I also attended a number of classes that were professionally as well as personally VERY fruitful. One of my favorites was taught by Ellen Richardson, a dynamic (and gorgeous) woman who led a discussion group around a book called Change Anything by Kerry Patterson et al. This book is clearly written and offers a step-by-step approach to creating change in your business and your life. It doesn’t promise any easy answers, but as we discussed the fundamentals of the approach offered, I realized a number of individual steps and tasks I could implement to bring about changes I wanted to see in my life. And yes, I’ve begun that work! As I said, Leadership conference really benefited me in my business and personally.

That’s enough soap-box for today! I’ll be back soon with more photos – thanks to Brett, Ben and the Q&A team!

Checking in from San Antonio

Posted on January 19, 2012 by mauistamper

I’m attending my first Stampin’ Up! leadership conference in San Antonio, Texas. My trip started out with a quick visit with one of the most fun people I know. I met Karen within a week or so of moving to Maui almost 22 years ago with a 3 year old in tow and a baby due in 8 weeks. She took one look at me and said “You’re gonna need some help!” and a friendship was born.

She picked me up from the airport and we talked non-stop until she dropped me off at the Convention Center 24 hours later. I haven’t seen her in probably 8 years but it was as though we’d left off yesterday. Friends like that are precious gifts indeed.

When she dropped me off I hit the ground running: first order of business was my convention bag and Make and Takes. For the uninitiated, M&T is a Stampin’ Up! event tradition – projects and products for the demonstrators to make (and take home!) I never seem to finish all of mine – too busy gabbing – but I did manage to finish one:

Sorry -not such a great photo from my phone! I also snapped a shot of our special gift from Shelli – a fabric folio that could be used for anything from a junior legal pad to a Kindle – along with a fancy favor box full of white, milk and dark chocolate bark:

Our leadership tote bags are made from the same fabrics and we have gotten compliments as we have walked all over San Antonio – something tells me we’re going to see more of these cute fabrics 🙂

Last night was the Manager’s Reception – a fabulous performance by Chinese acrobats and a FREE NEW STAMP SET!! Can’t show you a picture but just as soon as I get home I’ll get some ink to that new rubber and show you what I’ve made! Those are the rules…

I did get a photo at Managers with Becky Evans, the #2 Rising Star last year and someone I look forward to seeing whenever I can. She rescued me from meltdown at convention last year – long story, but trust me, she was a true friend:

This morning Kay and I were up early – first timers at leadership got a set of Polka Dot brads for finding other first timers and checking in together. Our morning session was full of announcements including a DIAGONAL SCORE BOARD for the Simply Scored tool! I wasn’t sure what I would need that for, but Pam Morgan quickly answered that question with a whole bunch of projects. There was yet another NEW FREE STAMP SET – same rules, sorry my friends – and then an SAB give-away of One Big Sale-a-bration MDS plus loads of bling – good thing I filled with suitcase with stuff to give away here, because I’m gonna need that space to get all my goodies home!

After lunch – and at leadership, it’s sit-down – I went to my first session. Carrie Cudney talked about Why Women Buy – and I learned plenty but we laughed plenty too. The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to brief but really useful presentations from everything from Express Workshops to using Google Analytics! Very very cool.

Now, if you’ve stayed with me this far I have a reward: one of the things I love about a Stampin’ Up! event is seeing all the samples, and I’ve got a few of my favorites to share:

Look! Little spools of Bakers Twine! So cute!

The color is off but you get the idea – a heart made from the Twitterpated buttons from the Occasions Mini.

I really love these little buttons, and that stitching is the perfect touch – but that new diagonal plate for Simply Scored would make those diagonal lines in a heartbeat!

Little flags made with our new Hatpin Embellishments from – yes – the Occasions Mini!

I loved the Vintage look of this Fancy Favor box…

This is brilliant – the Fancy Favor box turned into a gabled box-top!

Kay and I finished the evening at a RemARKable gathering – our upline Janet Wakeland invited 20 or 30 of her nearest and dearest demo friends to her room for pizza and swaps. I’m surprised the management of the hotel (and I won’t name names but it’s a very nice hotel) didn’t throw us all out on our ears. We were loud – and we were all sure the bed would crash down 2 or 3 floors when ALL of us piled on for a group photo. Don’t have one of those to show you, but here I am with Jan:

Leadership has been a great experience and there’s one more day ahead. I’ll just close by saying if you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, this is something well worth striving for.

Sprinkled with hearts

Posted on January 18, 2012 by mauistamper

I like these little sprinkling hearts:

This is a super simple, quickie card for just about any occasion but it would be a snap if you needed a bunch of Valentines. It’s a new Sale-a-bration set called Sprinkled Expressions and it’s available on January 24. If you’re new to Sale-a-bration – or SAB – it’s the promotion we all wait for each year – even the demonstrators! Spend $50, get free product. That’s it.

I have a funny feeling Valentines Day is going to sneak up on me this year. Matter of fact, I have a feeling I’m going to be running behind schedule a LOT. I think I’d better start doing some long range planning.

On the road again

Posted on January 17, 2012 by mauistamper

When I booked these two trips they didn’t seem that close together, but things change from ground level! Wouldn’t miss either of them – loved being together with my family in Australia, and now I’m headed to San Antonio to Stampin’ Up! leadership! I’m hoping to be able to share with you while I’m there, but I have a couple of things set up for you even if I can’t get online. I’m a little short for time so these will be mostly pictures – I’ll catch you up on the details later.

Love this new mini! This is the Bordering on Romance stamp set and it’s part of the Twitterpated Suite – there’s Designer Series paper and lots of other feminine things to coordinate.

I’m really excited about this trip as it’s my first Leadership conference; last year was Nashville and I couldn’t justify flying that far for 3 days! I’m also going to see some good friends who live there – one is the first friend I made on Maui, and she is a LOT of fun! We have lots of memories to share. The second is my daughter’s bridesmaid and her family, and I’m looking forward to spending time with them and eating lots of good food. Good times!

A fresh start for a new year

Posted on January 14, 2012 by mauistamper

I love fresh beginnings, and a new year is one of the freshest of them all. Making plans, setting new goals, dreaming new dreams – all of these things fill me with optimism and energy. Our new Occasions Mini catalog is full of exciting new images and products that have my mojo doing the happy dance! One of my favorite new stamp sets is Just My Type:

Just My Type stamp set
Basic Black Craft Ink
Calypso Coral Classic Ink
Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral and Basic Black card stock
First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper
Big Shot and Framelits Labels
Black 1/8 inch taffeta Ribbon
Where did that BRAD come from???

Ah, the priveledges of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator…hat brad is one of the new Sale-a-bration offerings that will be available the 24th of January – and there’s much, much more! You’ll notice I stamped the typewriter in craft ink – that’s because I wanted a good, solid, bold black image. Black Staz-on would work the same way.

My grandfather used a typewriter much like this one – in fact, I have it. It’s in a travel case, and he used to take it with him on the train from Redwood City to San Francisco every morning and afternoon….the original laptop, if you will. I have fond memories of sitting at the station in the afternoon with my grandmother, waiting for Gramps to arrive on the train. He’d installed a special bell on the driver’s side of the car, and she could press a button with her foot and it would ring – ding, dong! – and he could find her in the crowded parking lot.

You may know that my family spent Christmas and New Year’s in Perth, Australia. Our oldest daughter and her fiance live there, and so it was a little bit of tourism, a little bit of family celebration, and a whole lot of eating! We spent a few days in Margaret River between Christmas and New Year’s where the wildlife was abundant. Margaret River is best known for wineries, breweries, cheese, olive oil and chocolate manufacture – I think that’s the 5 basic food groups, isn’t it? We were able to get quite close to kangaroos and a variety of birds:

These roos knew I was there but they didn’t much care. They were often in the field just behind our little cottage, and we’d see them relaxing in the shade under the trees during the heat of the day. We even saw a couple of different pairs “boxing” – I guess it’s a guy-roo thing. One morning I was the first one up and went into the kitchen to make coffee. There was a mama and a joey less than 8 feet from the kitchen window – she looked me in the eye for nearly two minutes before hopping leisurely away.

Another afternoon I went for a walk through the preserve where our cottage was and encountered this mama:

I’ve gotta tell you, if I had to carry my kids around like this I would be a big fan of early independence. She was about 8 feet from me, but she stayed a long time. She must have felt my empathy.

The birds were amazing, and in the mornings I took my coffee on the covered lanai (I know, they probably don’t call it a lanai in Australia but that’s what it was.) There was a little container of bird seed in our cottage at Bussels Bushland Cottages so that we could encourage visitors. There were a couple of Port Lincoln Ringneck parrots that were regulars, and they were not at all shy:

Finally, what trip to Australia would be complete without the Kookaburra? We heard them most often early and late in the day. Carol’s fiance said they are territorial, and you could certainly believe that from the discussions they had regarding the trees. Occupy Eucalyptus, if you ask me!

2012 – the last three months

Posted on December 30, 2011 by mauistamper

October features my all-time favorite stamp set. When this set went on the list to be retired, I told everyone I knew they should buy it or be sorry. Now, I don’t want to say I told you so, because maybe you weren’t around then and you didn’t get the news. I will say this: I can make any kind of card at all using Branch Out:

November was easy – I pulled out Gently Falling, the beautiful two-step leaf stamp set:

Gently Falling is from the Holiday Mini and you know what that means – you have until January 3rd and that’s not long! Clear stamps are # 123804 and wood are #123802.

The last month of the year – December – echoed my Snow Globe card for 2011: