Cobwebs in my hat

Posted on October 1, 2011 by mauistamper

My little ghosts and goblins are mostly grown up. At 17, my son (the “baby”) isn’t very interested in costumes or carving pumpkins, and I’ve had to re-think Halloween. I’m not such a fan that I’ll go all-out Martha style, but I’m enjoying putting together something for the entry to my home. Here’s a simple start:

House of Haunts stamp set
Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
Pumpkin Pie textured card stock
Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pad
Blender pen and Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker
Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Sponge Daubers
Big Shot and Petal Cone L and Scallop Circle Bigz dies
Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing folder
Decorative Label and XL Oval punches
Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots
Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

The hat is really simple – a petal cone assembled and inverted on a scallop circle. I used a sponge dauber to highlight the Spider Web with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (an absolute MUST HAVE product).

If you purchase a demonstrator kit during the month of October, you’ll receive a Big Shot from Stampin’ Up! absolutely free! Already have the Big Shot? You can choose $100 worth of Stampin’ Up! product (think of all the dies you could get!) and pay nothing – not even tax or shipping! Check out the details at my Online Store.

Using the right adhesive makes a huge difference. Stampin’ Up! sells loads of different products and there is always one that is right for the job. I use Sticky Strip whenever I assemble 3-D items to be sure they keep their shape, and I like to use Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach layers to cardstock that has gone through one of our Texutred Impressions Embossing folders. Do you want to know the biggest secret for making this project stick together? Assemble the Petal Cone die, being sure to Sticky Strip the flaps closed on the top of the cone. Then use Mini Glue dots to attach the cone to the Scallop Circle.

If you do the math, you may be surprised to find that our adhesives are really cost effective. Stampin’ Dimensionals are a penny apiece (ok, they’re 1 1/3 cents each if you want to be really technical) and Mini Glue dots are just under 2 cents each. Once I sat down and figured that out I quit being so stingy with them – I use Mini Glue dots for everything now. They’re REALLY sticky (just get one stuck to your fingernail and you’ll see what I mean!)

Why don’t you treat yourself to a fresh box of Mini Glue dots? You deserve it.

Sunset sail

Posted on September 29, 2011 by mauistamper

I’m sorry that this single sailboat stamp retired. I love the image, and it lends itself to a lot of fun techniques. There must be a few of you who bought it and are still looking for ways to use it, right?

A Note of Thanks, Wonderfully Worn, Woodgrain (ret) and Sail Away (ret) stamp sets
Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Pear Pizazz and Not Quite Navy card stock
Pear Pizazz, Soft Suede and Not Quite Navy Classic ink pads
Not Quite Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral, More Mustard and So Saffron Classic ink pads (sunset)
Stampin’ Sponges
Big Shot and 3 inch circle Originals die

The sunset is just Stampin’ Sponges tapped on the Classic ink pad and dragged across the cardstock circle. I stamped the sailboat image first, created my background, and then stamped the sailboat again on a scrap of Whisper White and cut out the sails. It was easier to piece them than to try to mask them and keep them in place with all of that dragging!

Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder

Posted on September 28, 2011 by mauistamper

Have you used our colored embossing powder?

Gently Falling and Warmest of Wishes (Hostess) stamp set
Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red and Pumpkin Pie card stock
More Mustard Textured card stock
More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Riding Hoot Red and Rich Razzleberry Classic ink pads
Versamark ink pad
More Mustard polka dot scallop ribbon
Cherry Cobbler Embossing powder
Embossing Buddy and Heat Tool
Aquapainter
Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Aquapainter got dragged across the leaves to blur the lines and add just a hint of color. And if you saw the Versamark pad I use to do my embossing you would be horrified – it’s almost a charcoal grey color, it’s so dirty. I only use it for colored embossing – I have a pretty, clean, “virgin” Versamark pad for Versamarkin’. Don’t you?

A special card for a special couple

Posted on September 26, 2011 by mauistamper

We have some dear friends who were married this month, and they needed a special card:

Sweetly Said and Creative Elements stamp sets
Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Pear Pizazz, Shimmer White and Whisper White card stock
Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush Classic ink pads
Blossom Builder and XL 2 Step Bird punches
Big Shot and Fun Flowers L die
Stampin’ Sponges
Vanilla Smooch Spritz
Champagne Mist Shimmer paint mixed with rubbing alcohol in a spray mist bottle
A retired brad (oops, my bad)
Mini Glue dots and Tombo the wonder adhesive

I love making these flowers (I know – surprise, surprise). But they really add something special to a project! They’re a leeeetle bit tricky to get into an envelope, but I’ve even mailed them using a larger padded envelope (#116911, #2.95 for 3). This was a hand-delivered card, so I put it in a Medium envelope and gently closed the flap.

I really love that Creative Elements stamp set too. It always seems to supply the right image when I’m looking for something…you know, that kind of looking when you don’t know WHAT you’re looking for but you know you’ll recognize it when you find it? That kind of looking.

The paper in this flower has been mashed into a completely new substance. It almost feels like raw silk when I’m done mashing it. Once I get it like that, I mist it with the Champagne Spray until it’s pretty damp, then shape it and set it aside to dry. When it’s dry, it stiffens up a bit and holds its shape. I don’t know how that works, I just know it happens.

My Paper Garden

Posted on September 25, 2011 by mauistamper

Look what’s growing in my garden:

Easy, too – Spice Cake Designer Series paper, buttons, ribbon, twine – and of course my Simply Scored!

Here are a few tricks:

Score the paper every 1/4 inch. I’ve tried scoring every half inch on one side, then flipping it over to score in the middle of each half inch on the other side (that creates every 1/4 inch alternating mountain and valley), but in my opininon it’s not worth the trouble.
Cardstock is harder to fan fold than Designer Series paper, so practice with the DSP – just be sure not to press so hard that you tear instead of score
Your paper doesn’t have to be tall – maybe 1 or 1 1/2 inches – but longer is better. If it’s too short, when you try to fold the fan around to make a circle the top edge has to stretch too much and it will “lampshade” on you. Mine are two pieces (8 1/2 inches) each stuck together with Sticky Strip.
To get a secure fan, I use my piercing tool and mat after I have scored to pierce a hole in the center of EACH panel at the bottom edge of the strip. Then I use a big needle threaded with Linen Thread and stitch through the holes. I leave the holes on either end for the last step: when all the other holes are threaded, I attach the two ends of the paper strip with Sticky Strip and thread the Linen Thread through that last hole. Then I can cinch up the fan and tie it off.

I know, I know, it sounds complicated. The first one feels complicated. After that, they are mindless. Trust me. I have a basket with pieces of these fan-fold flowers in varying states of completion, and when I have a couple of minutes I’ll work on them. They are a perfect finishing touch!

Un-marked cards

Posted on September 22, 2011 by mauistamper

Are you sick of Spice Cake yet?

How could you be? Honestly…

This is a very simple card that will go into my stash of “un-marked cards”. It’s nice to have a few cards without any sentiment for that moment when you realize you need a special card and NOW. I’m sure I’m the only disorganized person out there. I think Stampin’ Up! made a “Happy Belated Birthday” stamp just for me.

Did you want to see the whole thing? There really isn’t much more to it:

Pear Pizazz, Pool Party and Early Espresso card stock
Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Simply Scored
In Color Designer Printed Brads
Big Shot and Floral Fusion Sizzlet

It really IS very simple!

Grateful for Spice Cake

Posted on September 21, 2011 by mauistamper

I need more Spice Cake Designer Series paper already – my package is just about used up:

Fabulous Phrases and Gently Falling stamp sets
Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Pool Party and Early Espresso card stock
Spice Cake Designer Series paper
More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso Classic ink pads
Big Shot and a retired Sizzlet – you could use Floral Fusion
In Color Designer Printed brads
Stampin’ Sponges
Stamp-a-ma-jig

This paper and these colors are my absolute fall favorites! I’ve never been a big fan of More Mustard but I am now reformed, and even though Cajun Craze doesn’t appear (officially anyway) in the paper, I think it’s a great addition. I’ve been really inspired by these colors and I love the patterns in the paper.

Here is the truth about the banner: it took me multiple attempts to get those words lined up JUST the way I wanted them. The first couple of attempts I made without the Stamp-a-ma-jig, and clearly I was operating under some sort of fantasy there. Once I pulled out the SAMJ my words lined up just the way I wanted them. Duh.

Gratitude is an attribute I am constantly seeking. It seems that no matter how well things are going, I can find something to complain about (and yes, it often involves people who have the nerve to be driving at the same time I want to be driving on MY ROAD – and this would refer to any road on which I am currently traveling.) The sentiment to “Celebrate Gratitude” could be my theme song.

Time for a little bit of singing.

The 2-4-6-8 box: An old friend made easier with Simply Scored

Posted on September 19, 2011 by mauistamper

Simply Scored makes short work of that old stand-by, the 2-4-6-8 box:

Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Pool Party, Pear Pizazz, More Mustard and Early Espresso card stock
Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Spice Cake Designer Buttons
Pear Pizazz Classic ink pad
Simply Scored
Medium Jewelry tag punch
Hemp twine
Dazzling Diamonds

Those are some humangajangous buttons!! I’m going to set up my neglected sewing machine and have some fun with buttons and fabric – it’s been a long time since I’ve done any real sewing. (We’ll see how far that goes!)

Like my crazy haircut fringe? I’m not sure what posessed me to do that but it was fun. I just scored a strip of cardstock so that each side would be 1/8 inch shorter than the corresponding Pool Party side. Then I snipped that goofy fringe and used SNAIL to stick it to the inside of the box.

The 2-4-6-8 box is a simple concept and easy to adapt. The basic concept is to score a piece of cardstock across the 8 1/2 inch dimension at 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches. That gives you 4 panels each 2 inches wide and a little tab that’s 1/2 inch wide. Turn your paper 90 degrees and score 1 to 2 inches from the bottom, snip and fold up the bottom, and you’ve got a simple open-top box. If you turn your cardstock to the 11 inch direction, you can easily adapt the box to a rectangle. For example, score at 2, 5, 7 and 10 and trim the last inch to a half inch and you’ve got a 2 inch by 3 inch box. Clear as mud? Try it, you’ll see how easy it is. Or Google 2-4-8 box as there are loads of tutorials out there. I’m not into re-inventing the wheel by documenting a technique someone else has already covered!

Needless to say, the Simply Scored tool makes this project super simple. I’m finding myself reaching for it more and more, and I can’t imagine how I lived without it. It’s like the Big Shot that way – once you’ve used it, you can’t imagine using anything else!

Imagining fall color

Posted on September 18, 2011 by mauistamper

Fall color in Hawaii…wellll, let’s just say it looks a lot like summer color, spring color, even winter color. I’ve said it before – we do have seasons. There’s mango season, whale season…we used to have tourist season but it seems that runs 365 days a year! There’s a lot to see as our islands have so many micro-climates. If you were to drive around any of the islands, you would see a great deal of change – rainforest, lava flow, broad agricultural fields, and of course beautiful sandy beaches. Here on Maui, it doesn’t take that long to drive anywhere to see this variety (although I’ve been known – often – to complain about a 35 or 40 minute drive. Call me spoiled.)

However, I’ve lived other places in my life, and I’ve certainly experienced seasons. Each fall, when Stampin’ Up! introduces beautiful autumn-based stamp sets, I take a little trip down memory lane. This year’s Spice Cake Designer Series Paper and fabrics are beautiful and brought back a lot of really fond memories. This suite is just my kind of design, and I couldn’t resist the stamps, paper and fabric.

For club this week, I chose the leaf image from Gently Falling that most closely resembled leaves we see here. It looks like the jatropha in my yard or the wili wili trees that line so many roadsides. We had to stretch our imaginations a little, but no one seemed to mind:

Gently Falling and Pretty Postage stamp sets
Whisper White, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Pool Party card stock
Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and More Mustard Classic ink pads
Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Early Espresso 1/8″ taffeta ribbon
2 1/2 inch circle, Postage stamp, and 1 inch square stamps
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Dazzling Details

It’s a simple card with a simple layout. The unexpected brightness of Pool Party in the Spice Cake suite is reminds me of a clear sky on a perfect fall afternoon. It makes you happy to be outside and grateful for the sunshine. Little things…I try to be grateful for little things.

Speaking of little things…let me show you a little bit of sparkly detail:

Thank you, Stampin’ Up!, for Dazzling Details!!! Yet another form of sparkle on the Approved List for Mr. Maui Stamper. I love bling, but it’s not allowed to run free in my house. I’m okay with a little compromise – I get my sparkle, he gets sparkle-free laundry.

The orange cat hair I can’t do anything about.

Re-use, reduce, recycle

Posted on September 16, 2011 by mauistamper

We make a real effort to recycle in the Maui Stamper household. I spotted a great way to re-purpose a couple of Stampin’ Supplies, and the best part was that this little trick solved an annoying problem for me.

I’m not a fan of the way our Linen Thread and Baker’s Twine are packaged. You know, the ones wrapped around the card and stapled into a cello bag. This nifty solution appeared on a number of blogs:

Yep – those are little embellishment containers. I can’t bear to throw them away because they just seem so useful! They’re just right for dispensing twine and thread. Do you see the eyelet on the side? The Crop-a-dile punched a hold in the side of the container with no problem, and I set the eyelet there just because. I confess to still having a couple of containers full of eyelets even though we don’t offer them in our catalog any more. (Boo.)

Here’s the container for the Linen Thread:

I had to dress it up a little bit, and the little tags with the name of the thread are for those late-night stampin’ sessions when things get a little giddy.

Aha! Double recycling! I used an empty ribbon spool (this one is from the new In Color ruffled ribbon) to hold my thread so it wouldn’t snarl. I cut the cardboard ring from the ribbon spool down to fit inside the container – unfortunately, there isn’t a circle punch that fits right, so I used the 1 3/4″ circle and then trimmed it down. I put some pretty DSP on top with a little Tombo to dress it up, and when I punched the circle out of the middle of the DSP I saved it and stuck my needle through it. I always keep a fat needle with my Linen Thread and my Baker’s twine, and having it inside the container means I’m less likely to stick myself with the needle while rummaging in my drawer.

I’ll bet you have a couple of these little embellishment containers sitting around. If you don’t, you have two choices: hurry up and use a whole mess of buttons or brads or spinner arrows or whatever so you empty out a container, or order a set of 6 of them for $3.95 (#103649). You can still recycle the ribbon spool 🙂

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Cobwebs in my hat

Sunset sail

Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder

A special card for a special couple

My Paper Garden

Un-marked cards

Grateful for Spice Cake

The 2-4-6-8 box: An old friend made easier with Simply Scored

Imagining fall color

Re-use, reduce, recycle

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