Colour INKspiration 54

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Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour Inkspiration Guest Designer

It’s such an honour to be chosen to join the Colour Inkspiration Challenge tour. I enjoy these challenges immensely, and love to see what the many talented and creative crafters imagine for each colour challenge. This round features one of my absolute favorite combinations!

ColourINKspiration Challenge #54

I LOVE crafting in black and white! There’s something about it that really satisfies me, and when I learned that was the combination for this challenge I was delighted! I created a lot of different cards for this challenge, and I’ll be sure to share some of them over the fortnight. I’ve chosen just one for today:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! ColourINKspiration Challenge #54 Climbing Orchid
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! ColourINKspiration Challenge #54 Climbing Orchid

A few construction tips:

  • Because I used the Rectangle Stitched Framelits as a mat, I had to commit to that shape for my focal point. I assembled my orchids and arranged them on the card stock until I was satisfied before adhering them to the base.
  • The orchid layers are assembled with Stampin’ Dimensionals, and are also adhered to the base with them as well.
  • In my humble opinion, the leaves in the stamp set are Just Wrong. (I have orchids growing in my garden – nuff said.) I ended up free-hand drawing the stem and leaves with the Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Write Marker. By outlining first and filling in the shape with careful linear strokes I was able to create an interesting high/low colour texture.
  • The sentiment is inked in Stazon to avoid smearing on the vellum.
  • The vellum layer is adhered to the card front with a very thin line from the Fine Tip Glue Pen on either end. It dried and left no trace.
  • Start with your black and white elements. The pop will reveal itself.
ColourINKspiration Challenge #54

Are you ready to play? Just dive right in! Seriously, you just can’t go wrong with this combination! When you’re ready, share your project HERE and be sure to tag it #CI54.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour Inkspiration Tour NEXT

If you’d like a little more inspiration before you start, continue on the tour. You’re headed to Kelly Kent, and she’s created a very charming card. I think you’ll love it!

Saying Farewell: All That You Are

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The 2018-2019 and Occasions Retiring Products Lists have been released, and it’s a bittersweet thing. There are some stamps I’m quite happy to see move on, and others that break my heart just a teeny tiny bit. All That You Are kind of breaks my heart.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

This is a simple technique with very satisfying results. The image is inked with Versamark ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. To get the best results, I highly recommend using the Embossing Buddy to prepare your paper. Using the Stamparatus to ink your card stock enables you to ensure even, thorough coverage with the Versamark ink, resulting in a high quality embossed image.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

It’s easier than you might expect to see the embossed image. Coloring an embossed image is especially enjoyable because there is a tactile response – you feel the lines, helping you stay within them (if that’s how you roll!)

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

I used both light and dark Stampin’ Write markers in each color,. Sometimes I’m literally adding just a dot of color, other times a line or a full blending effort. I’m one of those people who find coloring to be very therapeutic, so it’s a pleasure for me.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

If you’re as fond of All That You Are as I am, shop HERE before it’s retired for good. While you’re shopping, there are a few additional products you might want to think about:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! All That You Are Occasions 2019

Stay crafty, my friends. Shop HERE.

SO MUCH NEWS. But first, the Cling Wrap Technique

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This technique has been making the rounds again as the Press’n’Seal Floating Frame card, and if I had Press’n’Seal I would have used it…but my entire kitchen is Furnished By Costco, so it’s the Kirkland Cling Wrap technique today, my friends!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique

This is a really enjoyable technique, but it takes time and patience to color all of the elements you need to create the floating frame. It’s a great project for when you’re at home recovering from the flu (ahem). One of the complaints I read when crafters used Press ‘n Seal was that it stuck too well to the card stock, causing the surface to tear. Trust me, that’s not a problem with the Kirkland wrap!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique

As you can see, when I ran everything through the Big Shot it cut the pieces quite nicely, but things moved around quite a bit once I removed the cutting plates. I had to be patient when I adhered the pieces to the frame, but by using the corner shapes as anchors everything else fell into place nicely. It’s quite similar to assembling a puzzle! You’ll want to be VERY VERY generous with the Stampin’ Dimensionals on this one – be prepared to find a lot of those little paper hexagons floating around your craft room!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Big Shot

Speaking of the Big Shot, you may have heard the announcement that Stampin’ Up! is terminating its relationship with Sizzex at the end of the 2018-2019 Annual Catalog period, effective June 3, 2019. This change will streamline design and production, and allow Stampin’ Up! to work directly with a manufacturer. This in turn will provide a more nimble response to inspiration, supply and demand. While Stampin’ Up! will still sell dies and embossing folders that are compatible with the Big Shot, we will no longer market the machine itself or any accessories (cutting pads, specialized platforms, etc). A new die cutting machine is in development, but it is not ready for the 2019-2020 catalog. If you need any accessories, I encourage you to shop soon, as supplies of retiring products are not guaranteed.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Stampin' Trimmer

Similarly, Stampin’ Up! is also discontinuing the Stampin’ Trimmer. While this product has been extremely popular, recent concerns with blade quality have caused Stampin’ Up! to seek an alternate supplier. Again, a new Trimmer is in development but will not be available in time for the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. If you would like to stock up on cutting blades, I urge you to act quickly as these accessories will also retire at the end of the catalog. As we all know too well, supplies of retiring items are not guaranteed! There is currently a limit of 3 packages of cutting blades per order, but that limit will be raised to 6 when the Retiring Products List is released on April 15, 2019.

2019-2021 InColor What Do You Think

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations – you get a bonus question! Lyssa Zwolaneck, a generous demo friend, created a fun graphic now that demonstrators have seen the NAMES of the 2019-2020 In Colors but not the shades!! What do YOU think???

Cling Wrap Part Two: Wonderful Romance

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One of the serendipities of the Cling Wrap Frame technique is that it’s a “two-fer”: when you cut the frame, you get an extra piece that functions as a beautiful focal point on a second card. Today I’m sharing that card!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique Wonderful Romance

The Stitched Rectangle shape was the middle of the frame from THIS post, and I was pleased with the balance of color and shape. It really didn’t need much embellishment, but I decided to emphasize it a bit by adding a narrow black mat.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Wonderful Romance Cling Wrap Technique Wonderful Romance

The sentiment was stamped on a little strip of paper and trimmed to fit. I kept it small and simple to offset the detailed design and images from the focal panel.

Are you ready to try this for yourself? It’s not hard and the results are so satisfying.

And there’s more good news! The Bunny Builder Punch and the Best Bunny Bundle are back in stock, just in time for your Easter crafting. Shop HERE!

Tropical Chic Colour INKspiration 52

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The Colour INKspiration team always selects fabulous inspiration images for their color challenges, and #CI52 made me think Manly Cards. It was timely inspiration, as I needed a Manly Card for a good friend who happens to be a man!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour INKspiration 52 Tropical Chic
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! CI52

I didn’t add the Soft Sea Foam, but focused on the other 3 colours. I was pretty pleased with myself to discover how nicely the Wood Textures Designer Series paper stack worked in this project!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour INKspiration 52 Tropical Chic

Those little Tropical Elements are a really nice addition to a card, and they’re not especially bulky. If you add an extra sheet of card stock to the front of the card when you put it in the mail, most Post Offices will send it through!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Colour INKspiration 52 Tropical Chic

In this case, I chickened out. As I prepared the card to mail, I added DSP to the envelope flap (I just traced the shape and adhered it with Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive). Then I pulled off the embellishment and added the flower on a dimensional. Melon Mambo isn’t part of the challenge, though, so I’m sharing both versions!

Visit the Colour INKspiration facebook page for more projects using this great colour palette. They’re such a lovely bunch of crafters!

2020 DIY Calendar is READY

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2020 DIY Calendar Template

I’m delighted to announce – for all you get-it-done-early crafters – that the 2020 DIY Calendar template is ready for purchase! I’ve had a number of requests to advance the availability of the template, and I’m quite pleased to be able to oblige. The cost is still just $5. Are you ready to get crafty?

And just a note…I depend on your integrity with this purchase. It’s easy enough to share the file with a friend, so what’s the harm done? Well, the harm is that I’m a small business, and those shared files add up. I truly appreciate you sharing my contact information with your friends and fellow crafters, and I’m grateful for your support.

DIY Calendar April First, and that’s no Fool

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It’s no April Fool! The first of each month I share a DIY Easel calendar for your pleasure and inspiration and today is April 1! (I checked!!)

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! DIY Easel Calendar April 2019 Vibrant Vases
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! DIY Easel Calendar April 2019 Vibrant Vases

I’m not sure what possessed me to get all Stella, but it was fun! I started with the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Write marker, because I wanted to add a little color to the vases. It just took off from there.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Stampin' Storage Solutions 2019

Today there is a brand new product line that I think you will LOVE! We have a modular storage solution for ink pads, markers, Stampin’ Blends, Ink Refills, and whatever odds and ends you can imagine. Visit the Online Store for details!

Be sure to check out what Cheryl and Crystal have created for April!

One Final 2019 Sale-a-bration post

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Pootles (if you don’t know her, you should!) recently shared this charming little tent box, and I was immediately inspired to try it with the Botanical Butterfly DSP available for just a few more hours during the final moments of Sale-a-bration 2019.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Gift Bag Tent Box Botanical Butterfly DSP SAB 2019
Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Gift Bag Tent Box Botanical Butterfly DSP SAB 2019

These little bags go together in a heartbeat and would make great Easter, graduation, or birthday favors. Don’t waste your time as you’ve only got until 7:50 pm HST or 11:50 pm MT to make one last Sale-a-bration purchase!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Gift Bag Tent Box Botanical Butterfly DSP SAB 2019

Sale-a-bration: Lasting Lily

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If you haven’t checked your calendar recently, this Friday is the last day of Sale-a-bration 2019. You have 3 days to bring Lasting Lily into your craft room – don’t miss out!

It took me a while to fall in love with Lasting Lily. The images caught my eye from the beginning, but I struggled to get the image right. It wasn’t until I learned to use a spoon to create a “dry spot” on my ink pad that I was satisfied with the image. It’s worth the effort!

I used the Daffodil Delight Watercolor pencil to add detail to the stamen on the lily – it was very easy to get just a hint of color. I also used the Calypso Coral pencil to define some of the edges and lines in the flower.

Prior to the arrival of the Stamparatus, I always bought my background stamps on wood blocks. I liked being able to reach up and grab them just as they were. Now I’m choosing clear mount stamps, and the Crackle Paint stamp is one of our new cling stamps. If you haven’t given them a try, you are going to LOVE them! Matter of fact, sometimes I don’t even take them out of the case. If I just need to ink a little part of the background stamp, I ink it up right in the case, place my card stock on the inked portion of the stamp, lift it up and then give the stamp a swipe with the Shammy and move on!

If you’re ready to place one last order before Friday, head on over to the Online Store. You won’t regret it!

Availability of Coordinating Dies

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There’s discouraging news from Stampin’ Up! this morning:

The Doily Builder dies have run out and are not being carried forward in the 2019-2020 Annual catalog. They are discontinued effective immediately.

The following dies are in low inventory status. When the supply is exhausted, they will also be discontinued as they are not continuing into 2019-2020:

In addition, the Hop Around and Call Me Cupcake coordinating dies (marketed as limited supply for SAB) have sold out. Stampin’ Up! has expressed concern about this situation, and understands it is a frustrating and disappointing experience for everyone. They’re working on a solution, but in the meantime, if these dies (or their associated bundles) are on your shopping list, place your order as soon as possible in my Online Store.

I’m heading into my craft room. Nothing cures the blues faster than a little time with paper and ink!!