Autumn leaves

Posted on November 15, 2009 by mauistamper

Another of the projects that I’ve wanted to tackle forever has made it to completion. There’s a beautiful wreath on page 92 of the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog made with the Leaves #2 Originals die (113459, $15.95). I had my own color scheme in mind, and over the past couple of weeks I’ve cut out leaves and figured out what to use for a form. I finally took a big breath and starting attaching the leaves to the base. I often get stuck at that commitment point – my idea seems so clear in my head, and I get all the components ready to go, but putting the project together makes my fingers go all shaky.

Yesterday the wreath came into being and I am very pleased with the results.

Leaves_Wreath

Big Shot, Sizzix Leaves #2 Originals Die, and Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates
So Saffron, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, and Soft Suede cardstock
Thoroughly Modern, Old Olive Patterns, and a retired Designer Series Paper
12″ Wire wreath form, cheesecloth, hot glue and gun, and purchased Gold 1 1/2″ wire edge ribbon

Here are the basic construction steps:

Wrap cheesecloth around the wire frame and secure with loose basting stitches
Cut 24 sheets of leaves (4 leaves per sheet)
Attach leaves to outside edge of wreath, one at a time, using hot glue and overlapping
Repeat process for inside edge of wreath
Fill in the center of the wreath, balancing for shape and color
Attach ribbon and bow; hang wreath and admire!

Here’s what the wreath form looked like before the leaves went on:

Wreath_bones

Wreath_first_l;ayer

I hope you’re inspired – it was much easier than I thought it would be. It’s a great way to use up those odd sheets of Designer Series papers, too, as each page yields 4 sheets of leaves. Now pull out that Big Shot and get crankin’!!

Pretty Pheasants All in a Row

Posted on November 12, 2009 by mauistamper

This Autumn Days stamp set has proved itself much more versatile than I anticipated. The leaves, the grasses, and especially the pheasants have surprised me in the best possible way.

We do have pheasants on Maui…not down here at sea level where I live, but on Haleakala, in the area of the island we call “Upcountry”. Maui has so many micro climates – wet side, dry side, sand at sea level, red dirt at upper elevations, lava flows and forest – if you don’t like what you see, keep going because in a few miles it will change. I always like what I see.

I colored these fellows with markers and then masked them so they could step through the weeds together.

Pheasants_in_a_row

Autumn Days and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Very Vanilla cardstock
Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie and Summer Sun Stampin’ Write Markers
Chocolate Chip and More Mustard Class ink pads; Basic Black Stampin’ Write Journaler
Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon; mini glue dots; Stampin’ Sponges; Scotch Post-it notes (for mask)

They’re all relaxed-like, cruising through the weeds, because they know they’re safe for now – it’s Big Cousin Tom Turkey who needs to be lookin’ out in November.

Beautiful leaves

Posted on November 10, 2009 by mauistamper

Last month Ray and I were in New Hampshire and Boston to see the fall color and visit our daughter at Tufts University. We got a little bit of everything in just over a week…gorgeous blue sky, cloudy sky, snow…brilliant leaves…great food…and of course, time with our favorite university student. (I can say this now that her sister is graduated and her brother is still in high school.) In Hawaii, leaves don’t change color much, so the sight of a tree like this really took our breath away.

Portsmouth-leaves

I’ve wanted to work with these colors since I got home, and this morning I had my opportunity. I love the reds and oranges in the photo, and the way they contrast with the brilliant blue sky. Within 24 hours, by the way, we were looking at grey skies and snow, so that blue sky is a fond memory! No blues in my card though…I had a different idea.

Autumn Days Leaf Wreath

Autumn Days, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Naturals Ivory cardstock
More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Pumpkin pie Classic Ink pad; Versamark ink pad
Dusty Durango Stampin’ Write marker and Aquapainter
Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, Vintage brads, piercing tool and mat pack, double rectangle punch, 3/4″ square punch and corner rounder punch
Tissue paper and Dotto

I wanted my wreath to have a nice circular shape, so I traced a circle very lightly with a pencil onto my cardstock before I started. I think if I were to do it again, I would try to avoid getting ink on the stems of the leaves – they’re not a big deal, but I would be happier if they weren’t visible. I just played with the leaves in the circle until I liked the pattern and fullness. Of course, then I got the brilliant idea that the image needed the Woodgrain background. I’m crazy, but I’m not crazy enough to cut out all those leaves for masking. That’s nuts. Seriously.

Instead, I placed a piece of tissue paper over the image, drew an arrow to indicate the top, and traced around the inside and outside perimeters of the wreath. I did a rough cut around the edges and used a little Dotto to hold that mask in place. When I stamped the Woodgrain, it looked a little stark so I blurred it with my Aquapainter.

The little banner isn’t pegged down completely flat – it has a little lift to it in real life. Those lovely, symetrical corners were created with the corner of the square punch – you didn’t think I could get them like that on my own, did you? And just in case you don’t know the piercing tool and mat trick, that’s the way to get perfect placement for your brads anywhere on your project.

This is a 5 x 5 inch card, a size I almost never work with. I think I’ll have to change that.

How can I stamp thee?

Posted on October 7, 2009 by mauistamper

Let me count the ways!

I think Branch Out is one of the most versatile stamp sets Stampin’ Up! has produced. I have used it for all four seasons, multiple holidays, and a variety of “just because” occasions. It’s not currently in the catalog, but it’s on the dormant list (113200, $22.95) and you can order it. Matter of fact, I wish you would – I would be thrilled if Stampin’ Up! would choose to take it off the dormant list and return it to the Idea Book and Catalog next July.

I saw a beautiful card – and I confess I cannot remember the location – where the crafter used another tree set with the In Colors to create a vibrant autumn card. I’ve made a few changes but I’m pleased with the results.

Autumn_Branch_Out_crop

Branch Out Stamp Set
Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry , Crushed Curry and Rose Red Classic ink pads
Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, RIch Razzleberry, and Apricot Appeal cardstock; Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper
Big Shot and Stampin’ Up! Perfect Details Texture plate
Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon
Stamp-a-ma-jig

This is as close to Autumn Colors as we’ll see here on Maui. It’s nowhere near the same as seeing the colors change in real life, but it makes me think of Autumn all the same.