Last Chance for Painted Lavender & Something Fancy Stamps

Welcome to my April Last Dance/Last Chance series! Today’s a double-dipper: both Painted Lavender and Something Fancy are retiring. There are deep discounts on the Painted Lavender dies and stamps!

  • Stamps: Painted Lavender, Something Fancy
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petunia Pop, Bubble Bath, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder, Hexagon Punch, Petunia Pop Bordered Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve CASEd this from a card I swapped with the AH-MAZING Fiona Carson at OnStage 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. If you need an energy boost, check her out. She is a dynamo!

The images from Painted Lavender are stamped first, then embossed with the Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder for texture on texture 💕 I used Petunia Pop on the larger flowers, but I stamped them off before adding them to the card panel. And I added a touch of Daffodil Delight to the center of those flowers with the Blender Pen. Blender Pens are indispensable -you can add a little or a lot of color by controlling how much ink you add to the brush.

Don’t take your time shopping, as these stamps are gone for good when they sell out. Shop LAST CHANCE before it’s too late.

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Last Chance: Leaf Collection Stamp Set is $10

Welcome to my April Last Dance/Last Chance series! Today’s dance partner is Leaf Collection, a versatile, tropical image . News flash: it’s deep discounted to just $10.

  • Stamps: Leaf Collection, With You in Mind
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green,Garden Green
  • Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Daffodil Delight 1/8 trim (also Last Chance), daubers, Stampin’ Trimmer, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I inked the stamp with daubers, then gave it a light misting to keep everything flowing. You need to work quickly as the ink will start to pool on the larger leaves. My strategy is to do the small ones first, then the larger ones.

Once the image is stamped, cut it diagonally. Use a bit of washi tape to hold the cut pieces together, turn it a quarter turn, and cut it diagonally again. Adhere the 4 pieces with a slight gap between them for an abstract tiled look.

See a couple of alternative designs from last May and June.

Shop Leaf Collection and all of the other Last Chance products today. Supplies are limited, and when they’re gone, they’re GONE.

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LAST CHANCE APRIL 2025!!

I’m always conflicted over the Last Chance List. There are things I am so sad to see leave our lineup. (There are a few I can legitimately wish Good Riddance!) But I know this makes room for new products, and who doesn’t love new?

There’s a lot here – I’ll share my thoughts about just a few.

Seaside Wishes. I hoped we would have it one more year. This goes into my FOREVAH stash, especially with that hybrid embossing folder. Don’t wait, this one is already on low inventory.

BOHO BLUE. 😱😱😱 I mean, it’s an In Color, I knew it, but still…

This is my absolute favorite light blue. It’s that perfect tone, perfect intensity, perfect color. I can only hope it will be back someday in a Color Refresh. But not this year.

The Greetings of the Season dies are perfect year round dies. The stamps are holiday stamps, but these dies are work-horses for every day. They even come with the puka (hole) for your Linen Thread. And they’re on sale.

If Stampin’ Up! ever retires Linen Thread I will tear out my hair.

What’s breaking your heart on the Last Chance list? Do you have it? Will you order it?

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: APRIL 2025

Welcome to our April DIY Calendar Blog hop. Sharon, Cheryl, Malia and I hope you’ll be inspired. Our designs are designed for the DIY Easel Calendar, but you’re so crafty, we know you can do more with them. Let us know how you use our ideas!

  • Stamps: Impressions Abloom, Elements of Text
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Boho Blue, Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Impressions Abloom dies, Gold Open Weave Trim, Low-Profile dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Impressions Abloom will be available on May 5th in the Online Store. It’s part of the May 2025 Online Exclusives release, but don’t be overly concerned about that. The best way to see ALL the new things is to log onto the Online Store and click on “What’s New” – don’t worry if it’s in a catalog or an Online Exclusive, it will all be there!

I used Elements of Text (currently available) to create a muted background. The leaves are stamped on top of the text, but the flowers are each die cut and adhered to the calendar. You could mask them if you’re not a fan of die cutting, but I like the additional dimension they have when they’re an added layer.

I’ve also added a bit of the Gold Open Weave Trim and some Low-Profile dots for extra shine. I absolutely love that trim, especially for wrapping packages! It’s ideal for a card as it’s very lightweight and adds no bulk.

If you’d like the 2025 template, please contact me. Be sure to tell me that you’d like the template and that you’re a real person – you’d be amazed how much junk is out there. The template is $5 (no April Fools, just five bucks!) You can print copies for yourself. I take it to my local printer and have them print on Basic White card stock.

Thanks for stopping by! Click below to visit the other blogs on the hop.

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Onstage 2025 in Brisbane

The past month has been absolutely glorious. Mr. MauiStamper and I have been traveling in the South Pacific – first to the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, and then Australia – with our firstborn and her partner. Last weekend, I took the train to Brisbane to attend OnStage 2025, the Stampin’ Up! Annual Crafting/Friendship/See-New-Stuff event. I can’t begin to put it all into one post.

Let’s start with Friendship. I’ve been chatting online with Lou Kitzelman (on the right) since 2018, and we got to meet in person at OnStage. She introduced me to Peta Stephens (on the left) on Thursday when I arrived. We had a FANTASTIC time together. These are my type of women: warm, friendly, kind, and slightly snarky. I didn’t have to worry about a thing: they made me an honorary Australian and I honestly feel as though we’ve been friends since forever. It was such a joy and privilege to spend OnStage with them.

One of the perks of going to an event like OnStage is seeing things in advance. Stampin’ Up! didn’t waste any time in handing out the 2025-2026 Annual Catalog, and even halted the presentations for 10 minutes or so to give us all a chance to take it in. Trust me, there is something for everyone in this edition, and it’s going to be a wonderful year as we explore every bit of it!

We previewed the 2025-2027 Stampin’ Up! In Colors and oh, my goodness, are we in for a treat! They’re all glorious, but you’re going to see a lot of Cloud Cover (that first light blue/grey tone) and Secret Sea (the third color, a deep, dark, almost-black-blue).

We saw lots of new products, too, and I’ll be sharing some here and some on Facebook. We’re not home yet, but we’ll there soon. Give me a little time to unpack and check out my garden and I’ll be back here soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the Sydney Harbor approach from aboard the return ferry from Manly Beach:

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DOUBLE POINT CARD: HAPPY HIBISCUS

When I started the Winterly Treetop Double Point card, I made two sets of the DSP. The second set sat around until I decided to try it with the Happy Hibiscus.

  • Stamps: Happy Hibiscus
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Blueberry Bushel, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lolly
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Happy Hibiscus dies and Hybrid Embossing Folder, Spotlight on Nature dies, Adhesive-Backed Shiny Sequins, Stampin’ Blends, Natural Tones Linen Thread, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I chose a different die from Spotlight on Nature. I doubled up the gorgeous Natural Tones Linen thread for a simple bow, and added a few shiny sequins for sparkle. And I really, really love the Happy Hibiscus Hybrid Embossing Folder. 💛

I left the interior of this one black too. When it’s time to add the sentiment, I’ll pencil a couple of marks with the interior panel in place so my sentiment falls behind the focal point.

What do you think? Does this one work? It’s a lot of white, but seriously, have you ever seen a blue hibiscus? I’ve seen lavender, but not blue.

Either way, you can shop for supplies in the Online Store.

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SUMMER SPLASH SLICE & SLIDE

I definitely have my favorite colors and color combinations, and lately I’ve been trying to stretch myself a bit. Combining Summer Splash and Gorgeous Grape is absolutely a stretch, but I think it works! Please say you agree 😉

  • Stamps: With You in Mind
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Summer Splash, Gorgeous Grape
  • Accessories: 24-26 In Color DSP, 24-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Gorgeous Grape is NOT a color I reach for. It has to be very intentional, and in this case, I really didn’t think these two would work. I was actually kind of pleased at how well they came together!

If you haven’t explored With You in Mind, I recommend it. The sentiments are big and bold with a modern font, and I love the script/block font combination. The small leaf is from the same stamp set, making this a great choice for on-the-go crafting.

The Slice & Slide format creates an interesting shape when you open your card, and leaves a little space for a clever reveal at the bottom as well.

The Paper Family packs are a great option for this layout as you have 4 different patterns and a variety of colors to work with. Let me know if you’ve taken the Slice & Slide plunge!

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DOUBLE POINT CARD: WINTERLY TREETOPS

I came across the Winterly Meadow Designer Series Paper in my craft room the other day and started to play. The card design is called Double Point, and it’s apparently been around for a while – but it’s new to me! It’s a perfect way to use our beautiful paper.

  • Stamps: Winterly Treetops, Elements of Text
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Wild Wheat, Blueberry Bushel, Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Winterly Treetop dies, Spotlight on Nature dies, Stampin’ Blends, Iridescent 1/2″ trim, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I colored this birdie with Blends to make sure there was a perfect match with the DSP. I might have gotten a little silly with the Iridescent trim – I sliced it up into little strips. Can you use your imagination? Does it look just a little bit like a nest? Humor me.

The interior panel slides right out. I’ll add a sentiment in the center when I decide to send the card. I often leave off a sentiment if it’s easy to add at the last minute to give myself options.

I’m wondering if it’s worthwhile to make a tutorial for this card. I’m away from my craft desk for a few more days, but if you’re interested, leave a comment. In the meantime, you can shop for supplies in the Online Store.

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DELIGHTFUL WISHES SLICE & SLIDE

Can I tell you a secret? (Don’t be shocked.) I absolutely adore this Slice & Slide layout. It’s easy. It’s a GREAT way to use our DSP. And it looks so much harder than it is.

  • Stamps: Delightful Wishes
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Boho Blue, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade
  • Accessories: Timeless Plaid DSP, 23-25 In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals

There’s more information in my January 27th post on this technique. You’ll notice this card has no die cuts, no coloring, and no fussy cutting. You just slice off a portion of the card base, slide it up the side, add DSP and a sentiment panel, and then step back and admire your clever work. Really.

Timeless Plaid DSP is part of a suite, but I’ve stocked up on a couple of extra packages because it’s so versatile. There are definitely great Manly combinations in the pack, but there are plenty of options for a neutral or feminine card. It’s a good thing to have on hand.

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: MARCH 2025

Welcome back to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. This month, I’m using a bundle that Stampin’ Up! included in the spring Scrapbooking Brochure, but I think it’s perfect for cards and calendars.

  • Stamps: Everyday You and Me
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Fresh Freesia
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Gold Open Weave Trim, Glue Dots

Have you seen Everyday You & Me? There are trendy stamps and dies and some absolutely gorgeous Designer Series Paper, but it’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. Here’s my tip: when you visit the Online Store, look for the button that says “What’s New” and choose “Shop All”. You’ll see new catalog products, new Online Exclusives, new scrapbooking products, and new kits all in one place.

That would also include this gorgeous gold Open Weave Trim. We had silver a while back, and I used it a lot. It’s gorgeous on packages, but you can smoosh it behind a focal point or unweave it a bit for an unstructured accent.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon, Cheryl and Malia have created in March. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $5 – let me know that’s what you want and I’ll send you an invoice. Please tell me you’re a real being in the message box – I’m getting increasing amounts of spam. Everything is done digitally, so you’ll have it quickly.

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use.

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