Sweet Treats and the Sweet Stack Kit

Posted on January 17, 2016 by mauistamper

In the spring, my family launches into Birthday Season. Mr. Maui Stamper is a December birthday, but the rest of us celebrate from March through May.

The Sweet Stack Kit (#138812, $21) includes this stand plus 20 cake-slice-shaped boxes to create two tiers of packages.

These have been decorated with the Sweet Stack Photopolymer stamps (#138948, $17) and are perfectly sized for small gifts, candy and treats, or even a gift card.

I added a bit of trim to the bottom of the skewer that holds up the banner. I used hot glue to fix them permanently in place, and there were tell-tale glue bumps that I needed to cover up!

As with most Stampin’ Up! kits, these go together quickly and easily, and the only thing you’ll need to supply with the kit are the companion stamps, ink and adhesive. Even the little “candle” assemblies are provided!

I did develop one little trick. I stretched the Bakers Twine across my cutting mat and taped it down, then arranged all of the little self-adhesive pennants along the twine before I pressed them into place. I’m notorious for making things all catty-wompus, and this helped keep the spacing even.

The cardboard stand is very sturdy and will serve me well all through birthday season – assuming I can keep the frosting off of it!

Shop HERE – the kit and the stamps get you 2/3 of the way to a FREE Sale-a-bration choice!

It’s a RemARKable New Year

Posted on January 14, 2016 by mauistamper

Welcome to the 2016 RemARKable Blog Tour, where we showcase the versatility and creative options of Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Botanical Blooms photopolymer, Happy Birthday Everyone (Host)
Color Palette: Mint Macaron, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Botanical Builder framelits, Pearl jewels, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine

I had a serious problem getting that edge going the right direction across the bottom of the card. It should be simple, but I’m famous for making simple things complicated. To avoid the problem in the future, I marked my framelit:

Just to be perfectly clear, the arrows should point towards the bottom edge of the card!

It’s addicting one you begin to play with all of the floral pieces – I ended up with a lot of extras, and I tucked them into one of our clear envelopes to store with the framelits.

I also used the same concept to update the cover on the Kraft Grid Journal, currently available on the Clearance Rack at $1.98 for a package of 2. They’re perfect for tucking into a bag or desk drawer, or to keep in the car for those random (BRILLIANT) ideas that always pop into my head when I’m driving.

I used Versamark for the cover of the Kraft Journal, and added stamped details in Crumb Cake. A couple of stamps and a little sponging created texture on the blooms, and a little more Baker’s Twine finished off the look.

The Botanical Blooms bundle includes stamps, framelits and Designer Series paper with a great tropical flair – I know it will be a big hit here in Hawaii! It’s also a natural during Sale-a-bration, as it’s perfectly priced to qualify for a free SAB stamp set or paper pack.

Click below to see what Heather Mathieson has created this month – or scroll to the bottom of the page to take your own customized trip through the tour. Enjoy!

Weekly Deals January 12 to 18, 2016

Posted on January 12, 2016 by mauistamper

Great DEALS this week!

Weekly Deals Header

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals January 12-18, 2016

Shop HERE for these great deals – and don’t forget that when your order totals $50 you’ll add an exclusive FREE Sale-a-bration product to your cart. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love free – do you?

Journals for a new year

Posted on January 11, 2016 by mauistamper

A new journal helps me believe that anything is possible in a new year:

It’s a leap year – 366 days in which to celebrate and be grateful. This journal is to remind me to be grateful, as well as to help me be motivated to set and keep goals and memories. I used a retired This ‘n That journal and covered the front with Perfectly Artistic Sale-a-bration Designer Series paper (DSP). The letters are some self-adhesive chipboard I had stashed in the craft room, and the numbers are stamped and die cut with the Number of Years bundle from the Occasions catalog.

It’s simple to fit the paper over the spiral binding. Mark the spacing for the holes, use a punch (this is 3/8″ from my Crop-a-dile) to punch the holes, then use your snips to make a little slit between the edge and the hole. Once it’s adhered to the cover (I used Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive) you won’t see the slits.

I also made a new cover for my To Do list journal. I’ve always been a list-maker, and for the past few years I’ve used the Circa system from Levenger to organize my lists. I like that I can add pages, move pages around, and punch and add my own pages to the journals. And I especially like crossing things off my list!

I chose not to stamp these images, but to focus on the colors and textures that I could get using card stock cut with Thinlits. I began with a few pieces and just kept cutting and adding until there were too many, and then I took a few away. It’s a fun type of trial and error, but the real fun comes when you try to adhere them down just exactly where you put them in the first place. It helps to take a photo.

I use a lot of digital lists, calendars and reminders, but there’s still something very satisfying about paper and pen. How about you? Tell me about your lists. And then maybe you’ll make a new journal too.

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2016 by mauistamper

One of my favorite traditions of every New Year is a new calendar:

You may have noticed that I have a bit of a thing for birds. We have both North and South American cardinals in Hawaii, so I am especially fond of the cardinal from Joyful Season.

You have until January 4th to order these stamps for $17.85 (#139770). After that, when you decide you really SHOULD have gotten them, you’ll start looking on all the usual (extortion-priced) websites and beating yourself up for procrastinating. Shoot, you can knock off that Don’t Procrastinate New Year’s Resolution today! (You’re welcome!)

I have one or two DIY Easel calendar kits left if you’d like to make one. Details are HERE.

My BFFs Cheryl and Crystal are joining me again this year with a mini-blog-tour on the first of every month. Check out their calendar inspirations too!

And from me to you, with deepest affection, Happy New Year!

Last Weekly Deals of 2015!

Posted on December 29, 2015 by mauistamper

Here you are – the last DEALS of 2015! These savings are available December 29, 2015 through January 4, 2016.

Click HERE to shop – and don’t miss the last of the Year End Sale! I’m telling you, next December you’re going to be so glad you picked up an extra Oh What Fun bundle on sale!

# 139602 – THIRTY TAGS – for just $14.70!

I made quite a few of these gift tag holders, and I used a couple of variations. They were quick, easy, and I loved the presentation. (Have you noticed how often I highlight projects that are quick and easy?)

This was another variation – kind of a “same song, second verse” edition.

Inside there was a little bit of Designer Series paper (a great way to use up those odd scraps) and a pocket for the gift card. Some of the cards I purchased came with a small envelope, and it fit nicely inside the pocket too.

Change the paper and make gift card holders for birthdays, Valentines, Easter…or just because. Enjoy the options!

Weekly Deals and Last Minute Goodies

Posted on December 22, 2015 by mauistamper

It wouldn’t be Tuesday without Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up!

There are still lots of great deals on the Year-End Sale page as well – I just ordered a few more Oh What Fun tag kits (#139602, on sale for $14.70). I have used them on absolutely everything this season and they take simple wrapping to WOW in a flash!

I also have some cute packaging to share, done by the oh-so-talented Robbie. She is the Gift Queen every year for our Stampin’ Holiday Party, and this year was no exception. She used the Mini Treat Bag thinlits to make these:

The antlers!!! I love them – they’re from the Tree Builder Punch and they are perfect with the googlie eyes (any excuse to use googlie eyes is a valid excuse in my book.)

Is there an elegant someone on your list? This combination is very classy – the beautiful Winter Wonderland paper is retiring and is on sale (#139588, $10.40)

Last but certainly not least, Robbie made bags with the gorgeous red foil and used glimmer paper for accents. The Black Glimmer paper is on sale (#139605 for $3.50) and it’s retiring too.

Don’t miss these great last-minute deals – shop online HERE!

A RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Tour

Posted on December 10, 2015 by mauistamper

Time for a RemARKable Blog Tour – and this one is perfectly timed. It’s not quite the last minute, but it’s close enough.

I’m a big fan of using things that I have on hand when I’m looking for a last-minute solution, and last month I assembled the Oh What Fun tags kit (#139602, on sale for $14.70 for 30 tags) just for this purpose. I also try to keep our packaging solutions on hand – this is the Petite Café Gift Bag (#135826, $6 for 10 bags). Finally, this time of year I stock up on fun ribbon, and nothing says FUN like the Real Red PomPom Trim (#139617, on sale for $4.20 for 5 yards). I added a little 1/8″ Striped Ribbon to finish off the package (#139615, on sale for $6.40 for 5 yards each red and green stripe ribbon).

Here’s the same treatment using the Mini Muslin Bags (#132180, $10 for 8 bags). You’ll notice that other than the gift tags, there is no stamping involved. Make up the tags and you are ready to assemble your gifts and go!

My final project uses the Gift Box Punch Board (#135863, $20). I’ve used some retired heavy-weight printed kraft card stock, but it works just as well with the plain Heavy Kraft Cardstock in the Annual Catalog (#133674, $6 for 12 sheets of 12×12 cardstock) or with our regular cardstock. Our DSP will work in a pinch, but I find it makes a rather fragile box so I prefer the heavier paper.

Do you see a theme here? Fun Ribbon = Fast Packages!

There are 2 of these little hazelnut-chocolate delights inside each box. I used the 1.75 x 1.75 x 2.5 box and didn’t cut the angles (with the reverse punch) in the top. Instead, I used a glue dot to secure each set of flaps and let the ribbon finish the job. Because the box was tall, the chocolates are stacked. They didn’t want to play nicely at first, but I found a solution:

That little piece of scrap is 1 1/2″ wide and 4″ long, scored 1 1/4″ from each end. It slides easily into the box and keeps the chocolates nicely stacked. And just for your reference, I made 10 of these boxes in 40 minutes – starting with cutting the card stock and finishing with tying the bows. Not bad!

Don’t have these exact items on hand? Time to go dig into that stash you’ve been hoarding – that’s how I found that retired cardstock! Depending on where you live, an order put in tonight might well arrive in time for last-minute gifts – check out the Year-End Sale and you’ll be on your way to D.O.N.E!

As always, I hope you’ve been inspired. Heather‘s next on the tour – click below to see her wonderful projects. The full tour is at the end of the post in case you get lost in the woods.