Tag Archives: Aquapainter

Creating with Petal Palette and a little Brusho

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Brusho intimidated me for a while. Everyone else seemed to be an expert, but I was afraid to begin. I’m happy to report that my fears were unfounded: even a Brusho Novice can get really interesting results:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Brusho Petal Palette

  • Stamps: Petal Palette
  • Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Petals and More Thinlits dies, Brusho, Watercolor Paper, Aquapainter, Layering Oval Framelits, Twine (retired from Holiday 2017), Rhinestone Jewels, Fine Tip Glue Pen

Did you know that the Fine Tip Glue pen works like a gloss coat? I should have let the ink dry a bit longer, but the resulting muddied colors made the roses look more vintage. (That’s my story and I’m standing by it.)

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Brusho Petal Palette

The Green Brusho can separate out into component colors including yellow and purple. This result was completely unexpected, but inspired the color palette that I ended up using. Honestly? I haven’t used either Elegant Eggplant or Always Artichoke in a very long time – years, perhaps!  I was really pleased with the outcome, which goes to show that stretching out of your comfort zone (or the zone of the familiar) is a good thing.

When was the last time you stretched outside your creative routine?

 

 

Hello Climbing Orchids

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Lately I’ve found myself needing cards with more generic greetings: hello, thinking of you, that sort of thing. This big HELLO stamp from the Hello Friend set is a design element on its own, but I had a stack of orchids waiting to be used, and the combination was very satisfying:

Maui Stamper Climbing Orchid Stampin' Up!

Maui Stamper Climbing Orchid Stampin' Up!

I used the Aquapainter to add a little So Saffron ink to the orchid image, and then used it without any ink to blur and drag color to the stamped areas. Once that was dry, I added a little Wink for sparkle.

The Gold Thread technique that seems to work best for me is to put a Stampin’ Dimensional or Glue Dot on the card front where an image or layer will be applied, and then wind the thread through that adhesive until the arrangement is pleasing. An extra Dimensional or Glue Dot adjacent to the “holder” helps keep everything just where it belongs.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! July 2017 Bonus Days

If you earned Bonus Days vouchers in July, be sure you spend them in August! Shop HERE.

 

CASEing the Piggy

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July 1 brings Bonus Days back to Stampin’ Up!  Spend $50 in July and earn a $5 reward to spend as you choose in August – with no limit. What’s on your list?

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! July 2017 Bonus Days

If I didn’t have it already, I’ll tell you what would be on my list:  This Little Piggy.
Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

This piggy makes me happy! Today’s card is a CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) of the talented Rachel Tessman. I loved her design, and made just a couple of small changes to her creation.

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

Coloring the Piggy was a learning experience for me – and in a good way. I was certain I wanted to use Whisper White card stock, but I haven’t had good experience using the Aquapainter with either ink or the Coloring Pencils on large images on Whisper White card stock. I was looking for another option and thought I’d try sponging. This first pig got a little sunburned, but the second one has a lovely, pale complexion:

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

I used Powder Pink to sponge, and the Blushing Bride Stampin’ Write marker to add shadows.

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

This is the first card I made using the Aquapainter and ink. You can’t see the distortion of the paper, but it’s there. I also wasn’t successful in getting even coverage:

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

A Post It note creates the perfect mask for sponging, because it sticks in place and the paper is thin. I stamped the Piggy and trimmed him out of the center:

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

I suppose I could have been really tricky and used the insides for the Soft Sky sponging, but it wouldn’t have had any “stick”. I stamped the Piggy again and cut out around the image so I could sponge in the sky:

Maui Stamper This Little Piggy Stampin' Up!

Has your wishlist grown? If it’s near $100, consider joining the Maui Stamper team. There’s no obligation, and in July, Stampin’ Up! is making the deal even sweeter. Your $99 (no additional tax or shipping) always includes your choice of $125 in Stampin’ Up! product. In July, it will include an additional $52 in essential tools – snail, snips, bone folder, grid paper, and two D blocks – PLUS the not-yet-released Carols of Christmas stamps from the Holiday 2017 catalog. Check it out!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! July 2017 Christmas in July Join My Team

Have cape, will solve problems

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I wish a cape was all it took to solve a problem. I don’t want to dive too deeply into the problems of the world, but it seems to me that we could use a few more good guys and gals wearing capes:

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

I use an Aquapainter to blend our Colored Pencils. You can use a regular brush with water, but the Aquapainter is sitting on my craft desk 10 inches from my hand.  It’s so easy.

Maui Stamper Everyday Hero

This set has especially good sentiments for adding to the inside of the card. It would be a great Father’s Day card, but this one actually went to a friend who accomplished something pretty special.

Today is the last day to shop the Retired List for 2016-2017 and you know what that means: the new 2017-2018 catalog begins tomorrow!  Today is also the last day to get your free Very Vanilla note cards or Thick Very Vanilla card stock with your Eastern Palace bundle!

I just sent in my last order for the old catalog, and my list for the new catalog is ready to roll as soon as the system goes live (Stampin’ Up! promises by noon Mountain time).  Are you ready??  Shop HERE.

 

Pink October Round Two

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I’m back in the pink!  A couple of weeks ago I pulled out the Touches of Texture set and put it to the Pink Test.

Maui Stamper Touches of Texture

Maui Stamper Touches of Texture

Crumb Cake is my go-to neutral with soft tones like pinks and pale blues.  For this card, I pulled in a lot of pink tones – Pirouette, Blushing Bride, and the 2016-2018 In Color Flirty Flamingo.  The variety of pinks work well when you’re layering as much as I’ve done.

Photopolymer stamps are flexible and sticky, allowing you to shape them in a curve in order to closely fit something like this banner.  I place the die cut piece on my desktop, then cover it with a clear block.  I shape the photopolymer stamp on the block looking through to the die cut.  One caveat: If your die cut isn’t symmetrical, this won’t work as you’re going to flip the block over.

If you haven’t had your screening, make that appointment a priority.  The earlier Breast Cancer is detected, the greater the odds of complete remission.  Take care of yourself 💕

 

August on the Farm

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I’m smitten with these little farm critters:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar August 2016

  • Stamps:  Barnyard Babies
  • Color Palette:  Mint Macaron, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede
  • Accessories:  Paper snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar August 2016

It’s therapeutic to watercolor these three friends, and I didn’t mind fussy-cutting that little bitty billy goat.  The longer I enjoy this craft, the more I don’t mind doing the little things that help me feel satisfied with my end result.

Now mosey on over, y’all, and see what Crystal and Cheryl have done with their calendars for August.

I’m gonna miss this sweet little bird

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I have a bit of a thing for birds.  It’s taken me a while to learn the ones that frequent my back yard, but I’ve made good if not perfect progress.  I love to hear them when I wake up in the morning.

Maui Stamper An Open Heart Thanks

I watercolored this fellow using my Aquapainter and watercolor paper.  He doesn’t look like any bird I’ve seen, he just makes me happy the way he is.

Maui Stamper An Open Heart Thanks

The Greetings Thinlit has sold out but last time I checked the rest of these beautiful supplies were available.  You can shop HERE.

Thinking of you, Little Koala

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This sweet face is on the list of stamps to retire on May 31st.  I’ll be keeping Kind Koala in my permanent collection:

Maui Stamper Thinking of You Koala

  • Stamps:  Kind Koala (retiring 5/31/16)
  • Color Palette:  Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Blushing Bride, Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories:  Neutrals Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack, Watercolor paper, Aquapainter, White Perfect Accents, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sharpie, Wink of Stella

For the most satisfying results, you really need to use Watercolor paper with the Aquapainter to color a larger image like the Koala.  Watercolor paper allows you to move the color around, to add and even subtract color.  I find I can get acceptable results on Whisper White if I’m working with small images, but if you work the color too much the finish of the paper will start to get rough.  The Watercolor paper is much more forgiving.

Maui Stamper Thinking of You Koala

I used a yellow Sharpie to color the White Perfect Accent.  It did the job, but the more I look at it the more I think it needs to be a different color.  Or perhaps it just needs to be another COLOUR.  That may be my problem right there.

Bring this sweet little face into your life right HERE.

 

April Aloha

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This image looks a lot like the plumerias that grow in my backyard.  It wasn’t intentional, but the serendipity makes me smile:

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar April 2016

To be authentic, I should have added heaps of blossoms at the bottom of the calendar.  Plumeria are as famous for their beautiful litter as they are for their ease of stringing into lei.

Take a moment to see what Cheryl and Crystal have done with their calendars for April.  And if you’d like to shop, visit my Online Store.

This is not your Mother’s blog post

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Buckle your seatbelts, my friends.  If you consider yourself easily shocked, you might want to visit another blog today.  There’s a story here…

Maui Stamper Honeycomb Happiness Hell-o

I designed this card for my Hostess Club, because I really didn’t think the one I WANTED to make was appropriate.  For the record, here are the supplies:

  • Stamps:  Honeycomb Hello
  • Color Palette:  So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Whisper White
  • Accessories:  Botanical Builder Framelits, Botanical Gardens DSP, 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Rhinestone Jewels, Iced Rhinestone Embellishments, Aquapainter

Maui Stamper Honeycomb Happiness Hell-o

You have to be a little careful with this chick, because there’s attitude in that face.  And this is where the story begins.

I’m gonna let my BFF tell it – actually, she practically demanded that I let her write this post.

This card is not for the faint of heart.  Or for the Fragile Friends.

So… a bit of background.  Imagine.  Late night in a stampin’ garage dodging insects.  (And by late night, I mean, 9:00…cause my normal bedtime is 7:30… so we are talking LATE).  And a couple of stampers, who shall remain nameless to protect their identities, were perusing the new Occasions Catalog.  And at this time of night, delirium has set in.  Severe case of the funnies has set in.  We get to Honeycomb Hello.  Love the bird, the stamps, but decide how USEFUL an OH HELL sentiment could be.  And how we are apparently missing this sentiment from our stampin’ arsenal.  Well, don’t you love the markering stamp technique??  Allows you to put ink where you want and not where you don’t.  So…you can make whatever sentiment you like.

Maui Stamper Honeycomb Happiness Hell-o

 

This is the perfect card for your bestest bff of all time.  Cause they are the ones you call when you have the phrase… “Well, you’ll never guess what I did today….” or when you forgot something significant, or when you are needing comfort… but in ALL those situations, OH HELL works!!  And cause she is your bestest BFF, she totally gets it.  And jumps right into the madness and sits with you (brings the wine and chocolate) until life is normal again.  And she is also the one, when opening this card will understand that it is the perfect card at the perfect time.  It’s a PERFECT I’m sorry card.  Or Birthday…  or well… ANYTHING.  This is the best BESTEST BFF CARD.

 

Maui Stamper Honeycomb Happiness Hell-o

Don’t you just love those little honeycomb embellishments!?!  They are the perfect accent to add to this little chick.  

Now, I LOVE kind and pretty and delightful cards that uplift and make people’s day.  But even though we live in paradise, life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. A good OH HELL and a glaring chick will make your BFF smile.  Every time.  I promise.  Cause it’s the reminder that she gets it.  And, really, she doesn’t even need to say anything for you to understand that that fact.

Seriously?  Couldn’t have said it better myself.