Don’t know who Eleanor is, but I like her!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by mauistamper

I’ll tell you about Eleanor in a moment.

Yesterday morning while on my favorite walk, I spotted a new family. It was a mother Francolin with her flock of babies, and judging by their size they are fresh out of the shell. She was only 7 or 8 feet from the walkway that runs between the edge of the resort and the landscaping that keeps unsuspecting tourists from plunging down the rough lava rock to the coastline below, and she was making those “tsk tsk” noises that all mothers make when their assorted offspring start wandering off.

By my count there are five, including one who doesn’t want to stay with the group. (This isn’t the best photo I’ve ever taken as I had only my phone camera with me.) I was a little surprised to see mom on her own with the brood, as Francolins generally travel in pairs or even trios. However, once I resumed walking and got on the other side of the low vegetation you see here, I spotted dad watching vigilantly – and he spotted me. He immediately gave the warning and the whole family tucked quickly into the landscaping. I’ll be watching for them all week.

Now…on to Eleanor. She came home from San Antonio with me. She’s due to be released with the new catalog on June 1, but leadership attendees were given the chance to get to know her a little bit early. Since she hasn’t been formally introduced I’m not allowed to show you a picture of her, but I am free to share projects I make using Everything Eleanor:

SOMEONE (not me!) has been pinning a LOT of vintage projects on Pinterest lately, and you can see the results. This is the Petite Pocket Bigz XL die, and as of this exact moment it is not in my Big Shot Stable – but I’m going to fix that.

I think I like the Crumb Cake version better, although I’m still not sure about that torn Soft Suede cardstock behind the flower image. Eleanor is easy to please though – she doesn’t mind it either way.

The new catalog is coming a month early this year – don’t be caught by surprise. Let me know if you’d like a copy.

The LIST is out!

Posted on April 14, 2012 by mauistamper

This is a BIG list! The retiring stamps for 2012 list has me groaning a bit, but at the same time I know what this means – lots of NEW STAMPS coming SOON!! Loads of holiday stamps on this list as well as some favorites – Medallion will be a hard one to let go – but I don’t think I’m alone in saying the Loads of Love truck is long overdue! Take a look at the list and tell me what you think!

2012_RetiredStamps

Don’t wait – order your favorites now as the last day to order is May 31st.

Summer Smooches

Posted on April 13, 2012 by mauistamper

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:

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

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:

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

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

Posted on April 11, 2012 by mauistamper

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:

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:

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

Posted on April 9, 2012 by mauistamper

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:

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:

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.

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

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.

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

Posted on April 7, 2012 by mauistamper

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 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:

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 🙂

One last night in Tokyo

Posted on March 18, 2012 by mauistamper

We’ve been in Japan for just over a week. My husband and son fly home tonight, but I’m leaving tomorrow due to the quirks of the mileage tickets program.

Japan is perhaps less foreign to someone who has lived in Hawaii for a while, but it is still a very foreign country. My ear has yet to gain familiarity with the language – it was just a couple of days ago when I picked up what someone was saying, and the speaker was a boy of about 3 years of age counting to three. It’s amazing how much of an obstacle this language barrier has created. In European countries I could improvise with a few words and gestures, but here I find it much more difficult. Still, we have encountered such hospitality and kindness as we have blundered our way through!! People on the street have gone out of their way to make sure we found our bus or train or destination.

The other medium of communication that has been universal has been food. We have eaten fabulous meals in both Tokyo and Kyoto – yakiniku we prepared over the hibachi at our table, udon so good we returned a second time, incredibly fresh sushi prepared before our eyes, and tonight we had tempura again cooked right in front of us!! We love to eat, and the chefs loved to see us enjoy our food – no words required! And desserts – oh my!! Good thing we walked miles every day – literally – I’ve worn my pedometer – we walked 6-8 miles every day. The Japanese love their sweets and we’ve had coffee and pastry every afternoon. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the freshly prepared mochi and the custard filled cream puffs (Sakura filling!!) are at the top of my list.

I’ll be home soon – watch for some Asian inspiration coming from my studio soon!

I hope there are trees in Heaven

Posted on March 14, 2012 by mauistamper

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 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.

Kyoto

Posted on March 14, 2012 by mauistamper

We’ve been in Kyoto since Sunday and have loved this beautiful old city despite the fact we’ve nearly frozen to death. It was supposed to be in the 50’s but we woke up the first morning to SNOW. It didn’t stick but there were flurries for 2 or 3 days. We were wearing all the clothes we brought – I had on a cami, a tee, a turtleneck, two sweaters, a jacket, scarf, two pairs of socks, jeans and gloves – and I was still freezing. My daughter Sara called me the abominable snow woman 5 years ago when we encountered 9 inches of snow in Boston, and this was just as bad. Still, we’ve seen a lot and consumed a lot of coffee and hot noodles!

Literally every corner, alley, and hillside has a shrine, temple or small altar. Some are huge and grand, others tiny and unassuming. We visited the Golden Pavilion covered in gold leaf, and stopped at a little trail side shrine with a tiny old an and woman dressed in hand-crocheted outfits.

The markets are bustling, from big and very fashionable department stores to little food stalls or souvenir shops selling good luck charms. The charms cover everything from general good luck to success on an exam or an easy delivery in childbirth. The food is amazing. Living in Hawaii we see a lot of food with Japanese origins, but in Kyoto they are famous for picked vegetables I’ve never seen. There are all manner of candies, cakes and pastries as well as huge displays of preserved fish, but the thing that took me by surprise was the little octopus roasted and served on a skewer. I passed.

This city is very clean, orderly and compact. People park their cars in impossible places. Front doors open immediately onto the sidewalk – but there are two or three small planters outside the step. We are staying in a small house in a residential area with tatami mats on the floors and the steepest stairs you’ve ever seen in a house!

The language is very foreign to me – I’ve learned please, thank you, good day and little else. My son has studied Japanese for nearly four years and he is doing an amazing job of getting us food, bus directions, and coffee. My ear just doesn’t hear anything familiar and it makes me feel alternately stupid and alone in this bustling city.

We leave for Tokyo tomorrow, taking the bullet train back to our entry point. I’m sorry to leave Kyoto but curious to experience Tokyo.