Starting to think about Christmas

Posted on October 20, 2009 by mauistamper

I generally object to any kind of Christmas marketing before about the middle of November, but when it comes to crafting I have to make an exception. Cards, tags and decorations take time and planning. Leave it too late and they just don’t get done. I go through a lot of paper, ink and accessories in the process of choosing our annual family card, and I need time to let the ideas and examples simmer before I make my final selection.

This won’t make the cut – literally – with those hand-cut pines. Sure are cute, though!

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Patterned Pines and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Handsome Hunter and Real Red Classic Stamp pad; Champagne Mist Shimmer paint
Kraft, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White and Glossy White cardstock; Riding Hood Red Designer Series Paper (retired)
Kraft Taffeta ribbon
Modern Label punch, Stampin’ Sponges, Sponge Daubers
Metallic eyelets and Crop-a-dile

This concept actually began as the embellishment on the top of a box for A-2 cards. The tutorial is HERE and don’t miss it – the first box is two pieces, base and lid. Scroll down to the bottom and look for the dimensions for the pizza box. That’s what I made.

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Cute, isn’t it? And easy as can be. But please don’t ask me about that evergreen garland. It’s a retired wheel. Use Soft Holly (112968) instead. It’s better. Really.

And no Christmas Carols in the stores until after Thanksgiving, OK??

The message comes later

Posted on October 19, 2009 by mauistamper

Nope, this isn’t some weird puzzle. It’s how I make my cards most of the time.

I usually make a card for the creative satisfaction and don’t add the sentiment until I’m ready to send the card. That way it’s easier for me to choose the right card for the right person. Once in a while I make a card that insists on a particular message – red and green cards with pine trees are a good example – but that’s the exception. When it’s time to send the card, I pull out the message I want, ink it up, and add it to the front…or in the case of this card, I’ll put it on a word window and attach that to the striped paper.

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Flight of the Butterfly stamp set
Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Bashful Blue Classic ink pads
Whisper White and Certainly Celery (the carde base) cardstock and Sale-a-bration 2009 Designer Series Paper
Sale-a-bration Certainly Celery Poly-twill ribbon
Stamp-a-ma-jig

This card looks a little empty and off balance now, but when there’s a message nestled into those stripes, it’ll be just right.

Et tu, Boson?

Posted on October 18, 2009 by mauistamper

We’ve had a great visit with Sara in Boston despite the cold. We sent her back to the dorm to study for a while and settled into the Morrison House bed and breakfast for a little rest after a full week. Before too long, the rain turned to fat flakes. Looks like they’re just getting fatter, too. I’m starting to take it personally.

Maui, here I come.

Big Shot Daisies

Posted on October 18, 2009 by mauistamper

It took me a while to break down and buy these daisies. I already had some Big Shot flowers. Why did I need more?

I kept seeing samples. Creative people doing beautiful things. Cards. Scrapbook pages. Package toppers. It went on and on until I couldn’t stand it any more. Shoot, it only cost $19.95 (114520), and I could use my demo discount, so what was the big deal?

I’m so glad I bought this Bigz Die. These graduated flowers are such fun. It took me a while to figure out that they need an itsy bitsy curve in the petals to look their best. You can do it with the side of a pencil or even your finger – just give a little roll to the edge of the petal and suddenly you have dimension! Don’t whine, it’s not that much effort, and it looks great…

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No stamps!! No Ink!
So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Kraft cardstock; Sale-a-bration 2009 Designer Series Paper
Big Shot, Daisies #2 Bigz die, and Stampin’ Up! backgrounds 1
Piercing tool and mat pack; retired colored buttons (substitute Fresh Favorites)

You could easily add a message on an oval punch – this card was for a custom order without sentiments.

Why you should invest in Ink Refills Part II

Posted on October 17, 2009 by mauistamper

Ink refills plus an Aquapainter equals simple watercoloring. A drop or two in the lid of your stamp pad and you are good to go. Mix in some Shimmer paint and you won’t be able to stop yourself! I’m no Monet, but this is really fun.

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Sweet Stems stamp set
Mellow Moss Classic Stamp pad; Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, and Barely Banana re-inkers
Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla and Pink Pirouette (retired) cardstock
Scallop Square, Scallop edge and handheld rectangle (retired) punches
Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon
Aquapainter and Champagne Mist Shimmer paint

I didn’t think I’d use these stamps much. Crystal (middle name Give) gave them to me when she realized she had a duplicate set. Turns out they’re just the thing for a sweet little card. She gave me the layout, too. I played with it a little – added the scallop on the edge and a little Shimmer to the pink – but it’s her design. She’s good, no?

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!