Stamping just for fun

Sometimes the list of projects I “have” to do gets out of control and I rebel.  (I KNOW.  You’re shocked.)  Last night I decided to make some simple tags just because:

Maui Stamper Handmade Christmas Gift tagsThese aren’t to show off any special technique or demonstrate my skill as a colorist (snort) or win a Pinterest popularity award.  They were a project I did to relax during a busy time of year, doing something I really enjoy.  (Although there might be a preview of a new punch coming in the Occasions catalog here – take a second look at the top of the tags.)

Maui Stamper Handmade Christmas Gift tagsI pulled out anything that had Christmas images or messages and punched out a handful of tags and just stamped.  It reminded me of when I started stamping, of how thrilled I would be to make something myself.

Maui Stamper Handmade Christmas Gift tags

This one took a little bit longer because I punched out the sentiment.  Honestly, I wasn’t going for anything here except my own pleasure in the process.  There might have been a teeny tiny bit of rebellion still going on, since I pulled out my (retired) Color Spritzer tool to add a little texture to this tag.  Last time I looked, it was still on the Clearance Rack.

When was the last time you made something Just Because?  I know you don’t have time.  I didn’t either – until I did it, and realized how much I needed to spend that time on myself.

Before I go, I want to share one of my many nativity scenes:

Maui Stamper Coconut Creche NativityMr. Maui Stamper brought this home to me just before we moved to Maui nearly 24 years ago.  I was pregnant, Christmas was coming, and he had a business trip to Maui – without me.  The figures are wood, but the base is coconut husk.  The infant is big in proportion to Joseph and Mary (poor Mary!), and don’t miss the dove at the feet of the angel.  The little sheep are so round they almost look like pigs, and of course there has to be a coconut palm!   This little Nativity has a special place in my heart.  I hope you enjoy it, too.

RemARKable Best of Greetings

Aloha and welcome to another RemARKable “Best of” blog tour!  This month’s Best of Greetings set is a keeper!  My hope is to show you how truly versatile a set like this can be especially when combined with other stamps you already own.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsAh, the sympathy card…the one we want to get right, the one we want to speak louder than words.  I like the classic, elegant font of this greeting.  I’ve paired it with a little DSP from the Quatrefancy Specialty assortment and used the image from the elegant Simply Sketched Hostess set as an accent.  How many images do you have that would work here?

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsAnd yes, I did cut it out by hand.  With such a simple, uncomplicated card that extra step didn’t take too much extra time.

Using the same color scheme and same greeting, I created an entirely different look:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsBy masking a rectangle in the center of your panel, you can create a clean, simple image that keeps the focus on your message.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June Greetings Fortunately, we don’t always need a sympathy card.  Bright colors and sincere messages let our friends know we love them!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsYep – same layout as the first card, but a completely different feeling when you change out the colors!  These warm bright shades say “Love you girlfriend!”  And if you’re wondering when we started offering Baker’s twine in that shade, take another look at the fabulous Tag a Bag Accessory kit!  PLENTY of twine for your projects and some leftovers too.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsAnd last but not least, those same colors make a very quick and cheery card to tell someone they’ve made a difference in your life.  (Shout out to fellow RemARKable Beata Fiebelkorn for the inspiration!)  I embossed the greeting to make it really pop, but it would be quicker and ALMOST as wonderful without the embossing 🙂

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary Best of June GreetingsWhat you can’t do without are the new Candy Dots in the center of the flowers.  These are brads without the bulk, the poking, or the manicure-destroying prong-wrassling!!  You know what I’m talking about. Love these!

That’s it for Best of Greetings Maui Stamper Style…I’m sure you’re as eager as I am to see what Robin is sharing with you!  You know what to do!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of  RemARKable Blog Tour

Nancy Amato   http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger   http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley   http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson    http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis   http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute    http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn Embrey   http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Kathy Hamrick   http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo  http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh   http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci    http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com      YOU ARE HERE!!!
Robin Merriman   http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane   http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler     http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds    http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale    http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland    http://www.remarkablycreated.com

Best of RemARKable Flowers

Stampin' Up! RemARKable Blog Tour 25 Years with Stampin' Up! April

Welcome to another RemARKable Blog Tour!  If this is your first stop, welcome – and get comfy!  We are exploring the collections being released every month to celebrate 25 years of Stampin’ Up! goodness, and this month we are playing with Best of Flowers.  This set contains some of my favorite images from the archives, and it was a sweet trip down memory lane to ink this one up:

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryI’m indulging my classical style in this card.  This image, originally sold as Upsy Daisy, was almost twice this size when it was initially released.  This “mini me” version is perfect!  It’s stamped in Pretty in Pink (soon to be retired) and Pink Pirouette (which I like better anyway, but don’t tell).  Hey There Friend is the exclusive My Paper Pumpkin image that every new Paper Pumpkin subscriber receives, so you can have one too!  I ran the panel through the Delicate Designs TIEF  and then used the scrumptious 1 1/4 inch Two Tone Ribbon to unite the elements.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryLet me channel my inner Rachel Ray – can you say YUM-O!! with me?  That ribbon is scrumptious, and I love how the grosgrain lines echo the stems on the flowers, but contrast with the eyelet-like scallops below.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryI began this card with the masked flower garland stamped in Regal Rose (another color about to start drawing Social Security), and yes, I cut it by hand.  (Late at night, no less.  I had one of those “Fountain of Creative Juices” nights and could have pulled an all-nighter except for the fact that I had to be someplace at 6:30 am the next morning!  Let’s just say that turned into a looong day.)  Once I cut the garland I had some trouble putting it onto a card.  I got the Crumb Cake and the Pink Pirouette going, but it was missing something. However, literally out of nowhere I got a BRILLIANT (in my opinion) idea:

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryCan you see what I did??  I took a doily and shabbied it up with some Crumb Cake Ink and a Stampin’ Sponge.  Then I cut halfway through (as though I were cutting a slice of pie) and cut a circle out of the middle.  After straightening it out, I hit it with a little Champagne Mist Shimmer spray and scrunched it up!  It was damp so it scrunched well, and when it dried it held onto its shape.  I WAS STOKED!!

All righty then!  Back to our regularly scheduled blog tour…The Best of Flowers set, like all the Best of sets, iis available through March 2014.  Each set comes with a sticker, and when you have collected 6 stickers, you can send them in for a free stamp set ($14.95 or less) of your choosing.  Win-win!

Enough Maui Stamper Silliness…time to see what Robin has done!  Click on the link below, or check the RemARKable Best of Blog Tour line-up listed below!  and Stamp On!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryNancy Amato  http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Linda Bartolucci   http://www.inkstampandscrap.com/
Ingrid Blackburn  http://TheCreativeGrove.com
Melissa Bolinger  http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley  http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis  http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler  http://www.conniestamps.com
Sherri Eddleblute   http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn Embrey   http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Becky Evans  http://www.alwayshappystampin.com
Kathy Hamrick  http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo  http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh  http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever   http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman  http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler   http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds   http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale   http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland http://wp.me/pHIQD-4P4

FREE SHIPPING ALL WEEKEND!

What a deal!  Free shipping all weekend – that’s an extra 10% in your pocket!

Stampin' Up! 2013 Free Shipping

Place an order this weekend and for every $25 you spend I’ll add your name to a drawing for the Hostess Benefits on the order!  You MUST use Hostess Code T7NDFYJY when you place the order online – or you can call or email me to place your order for you.

Be sure you stock up on the retiring colors:

  • Regal Rose
  • Pretty In Pink
  • Bashful Blue
  • Certainly Celery
  • Baja Breeze
  • Riding Hood Red
  • Bravo Burgundy
  • Not Quite Navy
  • More Mustard
  • River Rock

In my experience, if you have the ink pads for any of these colors be CERTAIN to order ink refills, and don’t wait until the last minute to do so!  Stock up on paper, and if you’ve got a little spending money left over, pick up a ribbon, some buttons or some brads.  Stampin’ Up! has also announced that all Watercolor Wonder Crayons will be retired, so give those a look-see too.

We have lots of promotions, too:

  • Best of 25 Years (Jan – April: Birthdays, Love, Flowers and Butterflies)
  • Sent with Love bundle (20% discount PLUS free shipping!)
  • Dude, You’re Welcome Kit for men (and women too!)
  • MDS 2 $19.95
  • Photopolymer stamps  Designer Typeset
  • 10 different single stamps $5.95 to $7.95
  • Spring Surprise bundle (15% discount PLUS free shipping)
  • This ‘n That Journal and bundle (15% discount PLUS free shipping)

There will be a FREE This ‘n That Girls Night Out in May for anyone who purchases the journal in April!

Finally, I have a very limited number of Sycamore Street Clothespin Wreath kits available for $25.  Check my OnlineStore for photos.

WHEW!!