Bunches of flowers

Posted on October 16, 2009 by mauistamper

These floral outline stamps make a quick and easy card. It’s easy to layer them by using a simple mask: stamp the image on a re-positionable note and cut the image out. When you’ve stamped your first image, cover it with the mask and stamp an overlapping image. I keep my masks in the plastic box the stamp sets come with, because a little bit of Dotto will refresh the “stickiness” of the mask for many more uses. You can use scrap paper and dotto with the same results, but make sure the paper you use for the mask is lighter than cardstock weight or you’ll have gaps around the edges of your mask.

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Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and a retired sentiment
Dusty Durango, Pumpkin Pie and Apricot Appeal Classic Ink pads
Very Vanilla, Dusty Durango and Apricot Appeal (sorry, it looks kinda yellow) card stock
Pumpkin Pie narrow grosgrain ribbon and Scallop Edge punch

The Stampin’ Up! color families make it so easy to design a monochromatic card. It’s one of the things that sold me on Stampin’ Up! right from the start. It would be simple to change this color scheme into pinks, reds, golds, lavenders, even blues and greens if your flower favorites run avant garde.

A Medallion Tri-fold

Posted on October 15, 2009 by mauistamper

It’s rare that I see a completed card in my head before I start it but that was the case with this card. Some of the details came along as I worked, but I saw that Medallion on the front of the tri-fold and knew it would work.

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Medallion, Wonderful Favorites, and All Holidays stamp sets
Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze Classic Ink pads (ret’d); Champagne Mist shimmer paint
Kiwi Kiss textured card stock, Baja Breeze and River Rock card stock, andDesigner Series Papers, all sadly retired
Vanilla Hodge Podge Hardware; Circle Ice Rhinestone brads; Flower Fusion II (retired)
White gel pen; ticket corner punch; Circle Scissors Plus

I free-hand cut around the Medallion, then adhered it to the Baja Breeze Designer Series paper and cut a border. I know, I know, it’s kind of ridiculous, but it had to be done. I stamped the center again in Baja Breeze and cut it with the Circle Scissors Plus, then stamped it one more time in Kiwi Kiss, sponged it with Champagne Mist (my go-to product of the moment!) and punched that with the scallop circle. The rest of the embellishments are fairly simple because I wanted the Medallion to really pop.

I really miss these colors. I think last year’s In Color collection was the absolute best and if I had to choose colors to bring back, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss would be at the top of the list. I’ll eventually get over it. Eventually.

Sunshine and clouds

Posted on October 14, 2009 by mauistamper

This morning we set two goals: ride the cog wheel train up Mt. Washington and hike the Appalachia trail. Ever since I read Bill Bryson’s Walk in the Woods I’ve wanted to set foot on the Appalachia Trail. We did hike for just under an hour, enjoying the fall color, scent of the trees and peaceful woods – as well as the occasional snow flurry.

Next stop was the cog wheel train station. There were 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground at the station but we bought our tickets anyway. As we ascended the mountain it got greyer and windier and when we reached the summit, we were in another country. Officially it was 12 degrees but with windchill it was -9.

Once we got back to the highway it was a simple decision to turn into the Mt. Washington hotel for Kahlua and coffee.

I have a way with the weather

Posted on October 13, 2009 by mauistamper

You can’t really see it, but it’s snowing in this post-breakfast photo of the front garden of the Buttonwood Inn, Mt. Surprise, NH. While we were eating breakfast, the rain got fatter and flakier. Soon there was no doubt that it was snow.

In 2007 when Sara and I visited Boston over Spring Break to look at colleges, there was an unpredictable 9 inches of snow overnight the day after we arrived.

Sara told me she figured out where the abominable snowman had been hiding for 17 years when she saw my reaction to the snow. Shoot, I had tennis shoes and a light jacket. This time I’m better prepared and more cheerful. Besides, it was a dusting and it didn’t stick. We had sunshine this afternoon.

On the road….River House

Posted on October 12, 2009 by mauistamper

Ray and I are on the road, taking in some fall color and visiting our daughter. We stayed in Portsmouth, NH Sunday night. It’s a charming New England town with lots of history, restaurants and shops. We walked around town in the chilly night air looking in windows of shops and restaurants alike. After a long flight and hit-or-miss food, we were ready for a real meal.
We found just what we were looking for at the River House in Portsmouth. Friendly, cozy and a beautiful view of the river. Our food was awesome…Ray had the special, a fillet topped with lobster served with a salmon cake, and I had a steamed lobster. If you object to eating something with a face don’t look!

Love these little boxes

Posted on October 12, 2009 by mauistamper

I love containers of all sorts. Fortunately for me, the company by that name does not have a store on Maui. If they did, it would be a very dangerous thing for my wallet. Knowing that, it’s clear how quickly the Stampin’ Up! Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die (115967, $42.95) would catch my eye the first time I browsed through the new Idea Book and Catalog back in July. The envelope is just right for a tiny 2″ x 2″ gift card, and the little box is sized to hold the cards and envelopes. It’s also just the right size for a favor box.

Tower o' Bitty Boxes

I’m not even going to begin trying to tell you what all these papers are. Not one of them is current. I’ve been diligently trying to use up my hoard of retired Designer Series Papers and this seemed the perfect way to do it. The Big Shot is pretty cool that way – it takes odd bits and scraps and grinds them up and gives you cute little playthings in return.

These boxes are for the members of my Hostess Club. There’s a little something that fits perfectly inside to give them sustenance, and then they get to embellish the box and bring it to the next club for Show and Tell. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Saint Damien de Veuster of Molokai

Posted on October 11, 2009 by mauistamper

Today Hawaii – and the rest of the world – celebrates the canonizaton of Saint Damien de Veuster. His life as a priest who came to serve the Hansen’s Disease community exiled on the Kalaupapa peninsula is a testament of love, compassion and service that is inspirational and humbling.

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Branch Out, Thoughts and Prayers, and En Francais stamp sets
Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip and Real Red Classic Stamp pads
Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Kraft cardstock
Stamp-a-ma-jig, Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon, Double rectangle punch

When you need a little color…

Posted on October 10, 2009 by mauistamper

This year’s In Color collection is a lot of things, but honey, it’s not subtle. These are colors that pop. They stand up and shout! My color preferences tend to be more muted or rich tones but this bunch just vibrates with intensity. It’s taken a little getting used to for me.

I made this card at a shoebox swap at a demonstrator meeting. If there’s anything I like more than stamping, it’s stamping with friends. We’re usually kinda noisy, and sometimes we get distracted and have to hurry up to finish, but we always have a great time.

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Hello Again stamp set
Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo Classic ink pads; Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write markers
Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo cardstock
Crushed Curry polka dot ribbon
Gold brads and 1/16″ handheld circle punch

You can’t help but feel cheery when you’ve got colors like this in your face. They insist that you smile.

Four calling birds

Posted on October 9, 2009 by mauistamper

I’m not much of a morning person. If there was no outside influence on my schedule, I would be up late into the night and sleep well into the morning. Life, however, has determined that I need to be up with the birds most mornings, and thank goodness for those birds.

If I’m awake early enough, the first bird to sing in my neighborhood is a cardinal. It’s usually a male perched in the top of a tree – often the tall coconut in my neighbor’s yard – calling out to the rising sun. His brilliant red color makes him easy to pick out, and his distinctive song is enough to banish the fog from my brain. Soon the doves add their cooing, the mynahs start to scold, and the francolins…well, if you’re not awake by the time the francolins start in, they’ll do the job.

This little quartet doesn’t sing out loud, but I think there’s music here all the same.

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All Holidays stamps and Cornelli Lace wheel
Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, and Very Vanilla cardstock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper
Rose Red Classic ink
Big Shot and Merry Details Sizzlet
Scallop Square punch

This little fellow is found as both an exclusive Stampin’ Up! Sizzlet (Merry Details, 116823, $5.50) and a stamp (Berry Christmas, 116509, $22.95). I think he performs well outside the holiday arena, don’t you?