A Car(d) in a Box

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My buddy Isaac turns 3 today.  His mama and dad had a party for him yesterday, and since his mama is also my stampin’ buddy, I wanted a card that would surprise and delight:

Maui Stamper Rev Up The Fun Card in a BoxIsaac reminds me so much of my son at that age…he’s all about things with wheels.  His card needed wheels, and to be a real race car, of course it had to be Red.  Not just any red, but Real Red.  (If Stampin’ Up! made Ferrari Red, that is what I would have used.)

  • Stamps:  Rev Up the Fun and Memorable Moments (the 3)
  • Color Palette:  Real (Ferrari) Red, Basic Black, Whisper White and Gumball Green
  • Accessories:  Circle punches, Fringe Scissors, Simply Scored, Window Sheets, Bird Punch

I’ve done a few of these cards, though this is the first one I’ve shared.  The trick for me is balancing the height of all the elements.  I used thin strips of window sheet to float the motorcycles so you could see them behind the race car.

Maui Stamper Rev Up The Fun Card in a BoxThe candles are really fun…I use the top leaf from the bird punch branch to make the flame, layer flame colors with Stampin’ Write markers, and then use Tombo (the wonder adhesive) to secure them to the back of the candle.

Maui Stamper Rev Up The Fun Card in a BoxI added a little grass just to break up the dizzying effect of the Modern Medley DSP and the tire tracks.  Plus the fringe scissors are just plain fun to play with!

A card like this needs a custom envelope:

Maui Stamper Rev Up The Fun Card in a BoxReady in a flash with the envelope punch board!  I used a retired set of Sizzlets to cut the letters for his name, since that Real (Ferrari) Red Polka Dot Parade DSP is so bold!  You can tell it’s hand made, because despite my scientific effort his name is off-center.

Cheryl and I are planning a class on these cards for March 30.  If you live on Maui or will be here for a visit, let me know if you’re interested!  Details are coming soon.

Happy Birthday to one Super Guy!

Maui Stamper Rev Up The Fun Card in a Box

 

Hello, March!

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It’s unsettling to realize that my perception of time passing continues to accelerate.  I’m pretty sure that’s a sign of getting older – although as my dad says, it’s good to be on the right side of the grass 🙂   All the same, I’m finding it hard to accept that today is the first of March.

The good news is that the first of the month means a new DIY Easel Calendar page!

Maui Stamper Easel Calendar March 2014 Petal ParadeI had a little fun this month with the Petal Parade stamp set and the Sweet Sorbet accessory pack, both featured in the 2014 Sale-a-bration brochure.  If you’re brand new to Stampin’ Up!, you might not know that Sale-a-bration is our annual goodie-fest – for every $50 in product you purchase, you choose a free exclusive product.

Maui Stamper Easel Calendar March 2014 Petal ParadeThe color palette for this month’s easel calendar includes Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe. The Sweet Sorbet cork embellishments are die cut and self-adhesive, and there’s a little Rhinestone Jewel added to the cork flower for a little sparkle.

Maui Stamper Easel Calendar March 2014 Petal ParadeThose little corky bits are really addictive, and they’re super-easy to use.  Peel and stick – that’s it.   I need to put in another SAB order and stock up before it all ends on March 31.

Cheryl and Crystal are also featuring DIY calendars the first of every month, and we’ve created a mini-tour for your inspiration.  Take a look at their pages, and then let us know how you like our projects.

Coffee and the ColourQ

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Recently I’ve been cruising through a variety of challenge blogs.  I’m not consistently participating in any particular challenge, but it seems that a good one really gets the creative process going.  What makes a good challenge?  Well, my simple definition is that when I look at it I’m inspired!  Ha!

Here’s my version of this week’s ColourQ challenge:

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendA while ago, I ordered the Soho Subway DSP on a whim.  When I opened the package I was disappointed – the papers looked pretty unattractive to an island girl.  But recently I pulled them out again and took a second look, and I’ve totally changed my mind.  (Memo:  keep your eyes peeled mid-March after Son of Stamper’s birthday.  I think you’ll really enjoy his card!)

Here’s the inspiration posted on the ColourQ blog:

ColourQ Challenge #230I knew instantly that the card base would be Crumb Cake (aka Kraft) and the Basic Black would be an accent colour.  (What the heck, let’s spell it with the u today, shall we?)  I went looking for DSP with either Summer Starfruit or Cool Caribbean – well, the Cool Caribbean is long gone – I was looking for Pool Party.  When I found that Summer Starfruit tone-on-tone paper I knew I’d hit the jackpot.

The Perfect Blend stamp set should have been on my very first order for this catalog, but for some odd reason it wasn’t.  It’s not that I don’t like coffee – I am a total junkie, and also perhaps a teeny tiny bit of a coffee snob.  I guess that was the problem:  I don’t like drinking my coffee out of to-go cups.  I like glass, ceramic, pottery…but not plastic, styrofoam, or cardboard.

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendApparently I’ve managed to get my nose out of the air on that count and it’s a good thing, because this stamp set was a blast to play with.  I stamped the image 3 times for each cup – once on Whisper White, once on Pool Party and once on Crumb Cake.  Yes, I fussy cut them, and it was worth it.  Please note the words “you” and “me” from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set.  Again, I was inspired and those words came to mind immediately when I visualized this card, but Fabulous Phrases only had a “you” stamp.  I got really crafty though (see what I did there??) and used the end of “welcome” and my Black Stampin’ Write marker.  Brilliant, if I do say so myself!

Maui Stamper ColourQ #230 Perfect BlendYou could make this card with the Perfect Blend stamp set, any DSP, and a Neutrals card stock assortment – plus a couple of colorful scraps.   I’ll bet you know someone that needs this card.

More Monster Love

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Are you in love with a little monster?

Maui Stamper Monster ManiacsI’m awfully fond of quite a few li’l monsters myself!

  • Stamps:  Monster Maniacs, World Map, Just Sayin’
  • Color Palette:  Crushed Curry, Night of Navy, Garden Green
  • Accessories:  Regals Candy Dots, Big Shot and Word Bubbles Framelits

Maui Stamper Monster ManiacsThese are such fun to color.  I’m still a kid, I guess…I love the coloring part!

Sale-a-bration is in full swing – when you’re ready to place an order, think in $50 chunks to take advantage of all the gorgeous free product available 🙂

Maui Stamper 2014 Sale-a-brationShop HERE!

 

Weekly Deals February 25 to March 3, 2014

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Last week it was the silver metallic encore pad – this week we have gold!Maui Stamper Stampin Up Weekly Deals February 25 to March 3 2014This week I’ve also got a graphic for you sharing the new MDS downloads:

Maui Stamper My Digital Studio new MDS Downloads February 25 2014

Order Online!

Small Sweets

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Creating packaging for small treats is so gratifying…but it creates such temptation for me!  I have a tough time resisting the “one for you, one for me” routine.  The key is to make a bunch all at once, because for some illogical reason, once they are packaged up my will power seems much stronger.

Maui Stamper Tag Topper Rose Chocolate TreatWe made these in Hostess Club this month.  Everyone thought “The Rose” would be difficult, and I think everyone was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s really very easy.  This is two layers of Core’dinations paper run through the Lattice TIEF – the embossing folder helps to soften the paper.  I used the scallop tag topper punch on both ends of a 6″ long piece of paper to create the little packet for the chocolate.  (Yes.  You knew that what was in there, didn’t you?)

The rhinestone in the center is from a long-retired kit, but you could get the same effect with a large rhinestone and a pink Sharpie® marker.  The “leaf” is two petals of the pansy punch, and the hot glue gun makes sure it all stays just where it belongs.

Maui Stamper Tag Topper Rose Chocolate TreatThe little banner is an Itty Bitty banner.  I hand-cut it instead of using the framelit so that I could leave the left edge a little longer in order to tuck in into the rose.

If you need a bunch of these and don’t have time to roll up the roses, here’s Plan B:

Maui Stamper Glimmer and Hearts Chocolate TreatsThis is stamp, stamp, punch, punch, tie and go!  Same Scallop Tag Topper punch, but this time I used Language of Love punched with the full heart and gold glimmer punched with the 1 3/4 Inch circle.  A little lace and seam binding to tie it closed, a pearl for good luck, and you can whip out a heap of these in no time.  I made a bunch for Valentines, but you could create cute shower or wedding favors too.

Maui Stamper Glimmer and Hearts Chocolate TreatsMaui Stamper Glimmer and Hearts Chocolate TreatsThere might be one left over.  I’m thinking that by now there can’t be any calories left in it.

A little Mojo Geometry

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This week’s sketch at Mojo Monday had me seeing all sorts of shapes:

Maui Stamper Mojo Monday #333 Just Sayin'

  • Stamps:  Just Sayin’ and Language of Love
  • Color Palette:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay
  • Accessories:  Full Heart Punch, Word  Bubbles Framelits, Kaleidoscope DSP, Crushed Curry Chevron Ribvon, Textured TIEF

The sketch had two large circles, and I was soon thinking about polka dots.  The polka dots morphed into the triangle, and as you’ve surely heard before, that was the end of that 🙂

Maui Stamper Mojo Monday #333 Just Sayin'I’ve used two hearts like that a lot lately and I’m not tired of it – are you?  I particularly like the contrast between the Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry.  It’s kind of a peanut butter and jelly deal.

Maui Stamper Mojo Monday #333 Just Sayin'When I realized there were two different sides of paper in my package with a triangle motif I almost shouted out loud!  That wasn’t planned but it was a happy surprise for me.

Want to see where this started?

Mojo333SketchI took some liberties with the layout but you can clearly see the inspiration.  The circles wanted to be more towards one edge and once I moved them they seemed quite content.  (Do you talk to inanimate objects?  Please say you do.)

 

Weekly Deals February 18 to 24, 2014

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Here are the deals for this week – do you have a Corner Rounder?  Really??Maui Stamper Weekly Deals February 18-24 2014If you live on Maui and just need one, let me know – I put in an order every week and am happy to add yours in to save on shipping.

Order ONLINE!

Li’l Pink Monster

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How do you say “Love You” in Monster?

Maui Stamper Monster Maniacs Love YouApparently the same way as you would in English – or perhaps this little monster is bilingual.

  • Stamps:  MonsterManiacs and World Map
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Crushed Curry and Strawberry Slush

MonsterManiacs is a very special stamp set, a winning entry in the In With You contest sponsored by Stampin’ Up!  It’s available as a clear mount set for only $14.95 and it’s become one of my favorites.

Maui Stamper Monster Maniacs #134972I sent a few Valentine packages this year – to my own kids and a few others that have a very special place in my heart.  You know the kind….kids that for one reason or another just touch you.  These kids have worked hard to get where they are, and they’re a long way from home.  I just wanted to send them all a little love from home.

 

Truly Smitten with Tags

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You might have noticed that I make a lot of tags…

Maui Stamper Valentine Collage Tag

Why tags?  They’re small and forgiving.  You can make a Clean and Simple tag and it looks great, or you can pile on the images and embellishments and…it looks great!  Why not tags?

I used 7 or 8 stamp sets on this…it was all about the collage.  The tag is Whisper White, although if I were to do it again (and I will!) I would have used one of the Naturals or Very Vanilla.  The inks are all neutrals, primarily Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  That one heart is Real Red card stock stamped with Early Espresso…and I think I should have sponged it.  There’s lots of sponging on the tag.

Maui Stamper Valentine Collage TagHonestly?  I can’t wait to make another…how about you?