Bright and Beautiful

Posted on November 17, 2014 by mauistamper

Love this Bright and Beautiful set of stars:

Stamps: Bright and Beautiful
Color Palette: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Silver
Accessories: Big Shot and Star framelits, Silver 1/8″ taffeta ribbon, Silver Glimmer paper, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Envelope Punch Board, 1/8″ hand held circle punch

The inspiration for this card came from Sandy MacIver. I had initially hoped to make the card with the top point of the star a continuous piece of paper front to back (rather than punching a hole to secure the front to the back) but I learned that the point is too narrow to make that work. I don’t like to add bows with glue dots, so I needed to figure out a way to make this one go through the card stock and still “tie pretty”.

This is the back of the card. I put the Silver Taffeta Ribbon through a hole punched at the top of the stars and tied it once in front, then wrapped it around the back and tied it once again (when I say tied, I mean like the first step in tying a shoelace – what’s that called? an overhand knot?) Those two “overhand knots” stabilize the ribbon so that when you bring it back around to the front the bow is straight, not catty-wompus. (Which IS a word, despite spell check trying to tell me it is not.)

I stamped a single word inside and added a few small stars to the envelope. The envelope itself was made with the Envelope Punch board to fit a 5×5 card. This card looks a lot more time-consuming than it is – give it a try and tell me what you think.

Stop by the Maui Masonic Lodge this Saturday, November 22 for the Maui Stamper and Friends Craft Fair! Paper crafts, jewelry, baked goods, embroidered linens, loads of gift items – we’d love to see you! 9am til 2pm

Give thanks – RemARKably

Posted on November 13, 2014 by mauistamper

I hope you’re enjoying this month’s RemARKable Pinworthy Blog tour. I have a SUPER-EASY project that you can put together as quick gifts for your loved ones for this holiday season. The star of this project is the Gratitude for Days Simply Created Kit:

I’ve added a few products to this project but it is primarily the Gratitude for Days Kit. I couldn’t resist the new Note Tag punch to make the sentiment from the Perfect Pennants stamp set:

I am grateful for many, many things – but my husband (Number One) and my children – including my dear son-in-law – are my greatest treasures. I created this mini-album to keep a few photos from a recent family trip.

I chose a few special photos and put one in each pocket with one of the journaling cards that comes with the kit:

My kids live all over the world, and a photo of the three of them – even in big puffy coats – is a treasure!

I love how the pockets allow you a little peek at the photo inside!

The cards can be used however you like – in this case, since the photos are from a trip together, I’ll use them to record thoughts and emotions about our time together.

The Gratitude for Days kit has beautiful colors that are easy to coordinate. I used stamps from Remember This (PLxSU), Holiday Cheer (PLxSU) and Hip Notes.

I treasure these memories, and the photos are a tangible reminder of the time we spent together. What would you like to remember? You could make 10 of these with one Gratitude for Days Simply Sent kit!

Enjoy the rest of the Give Thanks tour. I’m thankful for each one of you, too!

Super Star Birthday

Posted on November 11, 2014 by mauistamper

When it’s your birthday, you deserve the star treatment!

Stamps: You’re My Hero (retired)
Color Palette: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Star Framelits, Gold Sequin Trim, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Back to Black DSP

Quick and easy! Here are this week’s DEALS:

Don’t forget to stop by on Thursday for the RemARKable Pinworthy Blog tour – our theme this month is Give Thanks!

CongratYOUlations!

Posted on November 10, 2014 by mauistamper

Everyone needs to hear they’ve done well at least once in a while!

Stamps: Bravo
Color Palette: Basic Gray, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: 2 1/2″ circle punch, Black Chevron Ribbon, Handheld stapler, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

I know, I know, it’s a STAPLE. I wasn’t such a big fan until we got our own little stapler. It is what it is. I think I’m more in love with the stapler itself than with the staples.

Need it? Get it HERE.

Typeset Thanks

Posted on November 6, 2014 by mauistamper

We made cards specifically for men a while back:

Stamps: Hip Notes, What’s Your Type
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Old Olive
Accessories: Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper

Making Manly Cards requires a complete shift in my brain. I focus more on images and color, and less on embellishment. This card uses a very simple layout and relies on the contrast between the graphic circles and the detail in the map-themed DSP.

Here are the WEEKLY DEALS for this week:

You know you’re gonna need some silver glitter very, very soon. Shop HERE.

Remembering to be Thankful

Posted on November 1, 2014 by mauistamper

I work at having an “attitude of gratitude” all year long, and in November I give myself a little extra reminder:

Stamps: Thankful For (retired), Wetlands, Gorgeous Grunge
Color Palette: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar

Can I just say that if you are one of the 4 people left who don’t own Gorgeous Grunge that you need to fix that problem? It is absolutely indispensable.

I used my Stampin’ Write markers to create the variegated color on the stems. They aren’t weeds…just in case you were wondering.

Take a look and see what Cheryl and Crystal have done with their calendars this month. Please leave us a comment – we all love to hear what you think about our projects!

Holiday Home by Moonlight

Posted on October 29, 2014 by mauistamper

And visions of reindeer danced in their heads:

Stamps: Holiday Home, Good Greetings
Color Palette: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Soft Sky, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Homemade Holiday Framelits, 2″ circle punch, White Craft Ink, Stampin’ Sponges, Hearts and Stars Decorative Mask, Blendabilities

The Hearts and Stars Decorative Mask is an under-appreciated accessory – it takes just moments to sponge details exactly where you want them – in this case a starry sky behind a big full moon and a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too!

I created the windows by stamping the house on Whisper White card stock and cutting them out – they’re rectangles, it’s easy – and adhering them to the house with a smidge of Tombo. And yes, smidge is a real measurement.

Want to win free Project Life by Stampin’ Up! Collections? Register HERE:

The GRAND PRIZE is the entire Stampin’ Up! by Project Life collection – one of every Project Life product Stampin’ Up! offers! There are also 100 Project Life card and accessory set prizes – enter today!

Tuesday DEALS!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by mauistamper

Shop HERE!

A Holiday Homes CASE

Posted on October 15, 2014 by mauistamper

Saw this card and loved it so much I made my own copy:

Stamps: Holiday Home
Color Palette: Memento Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, So Saffron
Accessories: Owl Punch (heart), Homemade Holiday Framelits, Big Shot

I made very few changes to the original as Michelle did a beautiful job. One of the things I did change was to add a tiny bit of So Saffron in the lights and at the windows. I like the feeling of being at home that it creates.

Shop HERE for your order Holiday Homes bundle and save 15%!

RemARKable Winter Holidays

Posted on October 9, 2014 by mauistamper

Welcome to the October RemARKable Pinworth Blog Tour. Our theme this month is Winter Holidays – and as the holidays draw closer, I’m thinking about non-traditional colors:

I’m pretty sure that Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay are non-traditional colors!! This nutcracker from the Santa Stache stamp set is perfectly suited for coloring with Blendabilities.

I’m not an expert by any means, but I’ve spent a while playing with facial tones, working with lines and shadows. My faces come out differently each time, but in a good way.

Experimenting with Blendabilities color collections has allowed me to find new combinations. The Night of Navy collection works very well with Pacific Point card stock.

I wouldn’t normally mix Rich Razzleberry with Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy, but somehow when you’re coloring uniforms, the rules get a little blurry.

Stampin’ Up! Blendabilities come in set with a light, medium and dark shade so that you can play with light and shadow. I just wanted to color, so for the most part I stayed with a single tone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my “outside the box” holiday journey, and I hope you’ll continue on the RemARKable tour to see what everyone else has created. Thanks for stopping by!