Because I Care | The Maui Stamper

All that cat business is lots of fun, but there are cards to be made and seen! Yesterday’s post about my goofball cat got picked up by Freshly Pressed, the front page of WordPress.com. Captain Stupidhead is now a mini-celebrity and while I’m not making any promises, you may see a little more him from time to time. As my daughter Sara said, “The internet has spoken. And it says that it loooooooves Pookie.”

Pookie did NOT help with this card, and that’s a good thing. My stamping desk isn’t very big and it’s usually covered with ink pads. No place for a cat. However, it’s a great place for some colors that I loved and hoarded when they retired. Wild Wasabi was an In Color selection in 2007 and Riding Hood Red was from 2008. I kept a little folder with a few odd sheets of Wasabi, but I must confess that I have a substantial stash of Riding Hood Red. It’s a deep, rich red that worked with so many colors and I am thrilled to have it back in the Stampin’ Up! Color Family:

Awash with Flowers, Woodgrain and Because I Care (Hostess Level I) stamp sets
Wild Wasabi, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede and Whisper White card stock
Wild Wasabi, Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede classic ink pads
Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker and the Blender pen
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing folder
Corner Rounder, Oval and Scallop Oval punches
Linen thread and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used my Lazy Stampin’ Girl technique on the Two-Step Stampin’ part of the flower. I inked the solid (flower petal) image with Riding Hood Red, then used a blender pen to remove the RHR ink from the little pod thingy at the base of the flower. (OK, tell me, what would you YOU call it?? Sheesh.) The Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker adds that little change of color that makes a big difference – at least to me.

I’m lovin’ this new catalog and the return of some of my favorite colors, and I hope you are too.

There’s a part of me that would really love to be a gardener. The textures and colors of a well designed and maintained garden are so pleasing and soothing, and I especially enjoy seeing the colorful profusion of late spring through summer flowers. It’s that well-maintained part that causes me problems. My back and knees scream if I spend too long in the flower beds or behind a shovel.

Fortunately, stamped gardens don’t give me those kinds of problems (I have yet to require a shovel in my craft room, although I can’t say it will never happen.) The beauty of stamped gardens is that they flourish in any kind of soil or climate. Hydrangeas don’t thrive here at sea level on the dry side of the island, but they seem to be very happy upstairs on my desk:

Because I Care (hostess) stamp set; Cornelli lace wheel
Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum and Whisper White card stock
Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, and Perfect Plum Classic ink pads
Scallop Trim border punch; hand-held rectangle punch (retired)
Bashful Blue 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon

Now, I know you’re thinking that I cheated and used the retired Pale Plum Classic ink pad but you would be mistaken, my friends! That pale hydrangea was stamped off a second time after I inked up the first image and stamped it. I did the same with the Marina Mist and Certainly Celery flowers, and I could have gone on forever.

I did cheat a little with the rectangle punch and the Bashful Blue ribbon. That punch is an old favorite and I just can’t get rid of it – I like the rectangular shape for feeding ribbon. The ribbon…well, what’s a girl to do while she’s waiting for brand new 2010-2011 Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog goodies to arrive? A girl’s gotta craft with whatever she can find. I am in a world of hurt looking for accessories that work with all of my new colors. Soon…soon.