Tag Archives: Botanical Blooms

Family First

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I’ve neglected the Maui Stamper all month, and sorry, but I’m not sorry. Our family celebrated a wedding last weekend and the past few weeks have been abundant with love and joy. The last of the family is headed back to the mainland today, and I am trying my best to re-enter my version of the real world.

Let’s go back to the beginning – at least the Maui Stamper beginning! Here’s the Save-the-Date I collaboratively created for my daughter Sara and her fiancé Ben:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Ben and Sara Save the Date

I’m not going to tell you how many of these I made, but I will tell you that my die cutting machine and my dies may never be the same and my fingers were WORN OUT. But it was worth it – I loved how they turned out, and so did Sara and Ben.

Next project was an invitation:

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Ben and Sara Invitation
  • Stamps: Climbing Orchid (retired), Beauty Abounds, Wonderful Romance (retired)
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral
  • Accessories: Orchid Builder framelits (retired), Die cutting machine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

In both cases I printed the text onto Whisper White card stock, formatting with Microsoft Publisher. There was an additional card included with the invitation with a few more details, and it was cut to to the size of the interior panel. The Save-the-Date measures 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ and the Invitation is 5″ x 7″. We ordered yellow envelopes that coordinated well, since Stampin’ Up! doesn’t sell that size.

I sent Sara and Ben a sample of EVERY color of Stampin’ Up! card stock, as well as some samples of embellishments and embossing folders. Most of our design work was done via text and photo, with a couple of FaceTime sessions as we narrowed things down. It was such an enjoyable process, and an honor for me to make the invitations.

Fast forward to last weekend:

The ceremony was at Olowalu Plantation House, and despite some iffy weather earlier in January, the day was spectacularly gorgeous. Everything went smoothly, and the whales provided a nice touch as they spouted, breached, and showed their tales all afternoon. The flowers were amazing, done by Dellables and of exceptional quality. Look at the bride’s bouquet three days AFTER the ceremony:

There are advantages to being Mother of the Bride at a destination wedding – Mr. Maui Stamper and I brought home a lot of beautiful flowers!

Speaking of The Mister, he’s a craftsman in his own right. He created an extraordinary marker for the event: a redwood sign with the home town and distance of every wedding guest on arrows:

That’s the beautiful Maid of Honor, our oldest daughter Carol, with her wonderful partner, Shanti. There are more home towns and distances on the other side of the sign, and as an engineer, Mr. Maui Stamper made sure that each arrow pointed correctly towards its destination (within 22°). He also made quite precise measurements, and used the appropriate unit of measurement for the country. This sign was a big attraction!

A late addition to the décor was a set of table numbers and escort cards to help the guests find their seats. There wasn’t a set seating chart, but guests were grouped at their tables so that family and friends would be able to sit together.

I can’t say enough about White Orchid Weddings and my dear friend, Jackie Ishikawa. I’ve known her since our kids were in grade school together, and when it came time to find a wedding coordinator there was no question about who to ask. Jackie did a fabulous job of guiding Sara and Ben through the process, and made sure that on the day of the celebration we were all guests at the party!

The bride and groom kicked off the festivities and the celebration was one to remember. My family is spread across the globe, and having an occasion like this to gather made my heart sing.

Botanical Blooms is retiring and there’s nothing I can do about it

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Every year when the retiring products list is published, I hold my breath and scan it for favorites.  This year, there was a BIG sigh when I saw Botanical Blooms right there in black and white.  It’s a go-to floral set for me, and has an unmistakeable tropical vibe. This is one retiring set that will go into my personal archive.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

I created this extended card when I learned that a dear friend was going to be a mom for the first time.  When I created the card, the baby’s gender hadn’t been revealed, so I mixed up the colors to be gender neutral.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

This image makes the card look waaaaay longer than it is – it will fit in a standard medium envelope.  Note that all the stamping is on the inside white panel – the actual embellishments are simply die cut, not stamped.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blooms

I’ve created a lot of cards using this basic technique.  I cut a large stack of assorted shapes and start layering and placing them on my card. There’s a lot of texture with the shapes and layers, but the card itself is still flat enough to mail.

  • Stamps:  Botanical Blooms 
  • Color Palette:  Crumb Cake, Shimmer White, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Marina Mist
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Botanical Builder Framelits, Falling in Love DSP (retired and sold out), Pearl jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue dots

There’s still time to add either the stamps, the framelits, or both to your craft room!  Shop HERE.

 

 

The Retiring List – what’s a crafter to do?

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2017 Retiring Header

I’ve had a little time to look through the list of products retiring from 2016-2017, and I have a few things to share with you. Products are selling out VERY QUICKLY, so don’t delay.  Here are a few things I consider noteworthy:

  • Bundles are retiring – in some cases, stamps will continue. Many have already sold out.
  • Many suites, especially in the Occasions catalog are retiring. Stock up on DSP and embellishments for things you already have
  • Project Life products are retiring, many at a discount. The cards packs are GREAT for card making!!
  • Gorgeous Grunge – Clear and Wood –  is retiring.  Don’t miss that one.
  • Botanical Blooms (discounted!) and the Pineapple Clear and Wood stamp  are retiring – if you do tropical cards, snap these up!
  • The Owl Builder punch is retiring. So.Much.Punch.Art.
  • Christmas Greetings Thinlits  are retiring – one of my absolute favorites.
  • Stars Framelits are retiring.  These are a holiday staple.
  • The Adhesive Remover is retiring, and I consider it a crafting essential.

Did I mention things are selling out quickly??  If you want the

Retiring Products page, start HERE.

Retiring Stamps page, start HERE.

Retiring Bundles page, start HERE.

Retiring Everything Else, start HERE.

But start NOW!!

 

Hopping in Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

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I’m thrilled to be a part of the FIRST Annual Ultimate Pink Blog Hop – a collaboration of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators around the world to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Let’s turn the blogosphere – and Pinterest – PINK!!

Maui Stamper First Annual Ultimate Pink Blog Hop

Pink isn’t one of my go-to colors, so it’s a bit of a stretch for me to go All Pink.  I decided to play it safe and CASE myself, and I chose one of my all-time favorites to start:

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Ultimate Pink Blog Hop 2016

I love the Botanical Blooms stamps and coordinating Botanical Builder Framelits.  One of my favorite things to do is to crank out a heap of floral pieces (there are 14 to choose from!) and keep moving them around until I’m happy.

This one made me happy!

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Ultimate Pink Blog Hop 2016

I’ve used Whisper White, Shimmer White, Smoky Slate, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, and Rose Red, with a smidge of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper to add sparkle without sending Mr. Maui Stamper out on the “I HATE GLITTER” warpath.  A few Rhinestone Jewels add a little more sparkle, and this card is ready for anything!

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Ultimate Pink Blog Hop 2016

Dress it up or dress it down – I’ll stamp a sentiment on the inside when I choose the occasion.  I keep a stash of blank cards for those moments when I realize I’m a day late and a dollar short (tell the truth, now…doesn’t that happen to all of us once in a while?)

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Ultimate Pink Blog Hop 2016

Love You Lots is on the other end of the crafting spectrum – cute as a bug, I’d say!  This is a quick and simple card with a color palette of Whisper White, Basic Grey, Blushing Bride and a Wink Of Stella.  Do you Wink?  It’s another way of adding sparkle without a tragic Glitter outbreak, making Certain Members of my household very unhappy.

Maui Stamper Love You Lots Ultimate Pink Blog Hop 2016

A little Smoky Slate Stitched ribbon ties it all together {wink again!}

I hope you’ve enjoyed my venture into the World of Pink.  Keep in mind that our focus isn’t so much on the color, but on what it represents:  Breast Cancer Awareness.  Take care of your body.  Do your monthly self-exam.  Support your sisters who are fighting.  Contribute to an organization that funds research into learning more about this insidious disease.

And by all means, continue on the tour!  There are 70 stops – I hope you’ve got a big cup of coffee!

Join us as we Craft Pink for one day:

PINK MONDAY: October 3, 2016

Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators Worldwide United in Creativity

1. Janet Wakeland
2. Nancy Gauthier
3. Jason Loucks
4. Jennifer Blomquist
5. Wendy Cranford
6. Karen Zaring Browning
7. Patty Chenail
8. isabelle lefebvre
9. Leanne Johnson
10. Dena Albee
11. Lori Mueller
12. Chris Kolly
13. Rachel Yurkanin
14. Raquelle Clifton
15. Shel Anderson
16. Candy Ford
17. Chris Slogar
18. Maria Pane
19. Holly Pedersen
20. Jen Guarino
21. Jeannette Gauthier-Carterie Plus
22. Susan Timchack
23. Melissa Thomas
24. France Labrecque РCr̩ation Encre et Papier
25. Noa’s Créas
26. Fiona Stanton
27. Kelly Kent
28. Gail Davidson
29. Amanda Sevall
30. Kimberly Van Diepen
31. Janneke de Jong
32. Nichole Loe
33. Megan Herst
34. Melissa Stout
35. Kristin Kortonick
36. Lisa Pretto
37. Ilse van Vliet
38. Kylie Bertucci
39. Mary Dredge
40. Karen Titus
41. Claire Daly
42. Constanze Wirtz
43. Linda Bartolucci
44. Lea Denton
45. Candice Fields
46. Dawn Thomas
47. Sherri Price
48. Maria Willis
49. Tammy Bristol
50. Cindy Mitchell-Clark
51. Linda Cullen
52. Carol Hickman
53. Teresa Howe
54. M.E. Stites
55. Lisa Tedder
56. Monika Davis
57. Laura Pizzirusso
58. Nancy Ferb
59. Tracie Evans Langley
60. Brenda Copper
61. Amanda Rogers
62. Michelle Zanotti
63. Janette Zmich
64. Connie Deibler
65. Judith Oveson
66. Melody Tess Rollins
67. Anne Matasci
68. Alisa Tilsner
69. Crystal Kondo
70. Jennifer Downey



Maui Stamper World Card Making Day Specials October 1-5 2016

 

Maui Stamper Designer Series Paper Sale October 2016 Stampin Up

 

A July Calendar that’s NOT Red-White-and-Blue

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I finally did it! I broke out of the Fourth of July, Red-White-and-Blue bonds!

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

  • Stamps:  Watercolor Wings, Botanical Blooms (2016 Occasions)
  • Color Palette:  Pear Pizazz, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe (still retired)
  • Accessories:  Butterflies Thinlits, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Maui Stamper DIY Easel Calendar July 2016

It’s addicting to play with the Watercolor Wings layers – there are so many options.  I really do have to apologize for using Crisp Cantaloupe two months in a row.  It was sitting on my desktop and I’m quite sure it was taunting me.  I think that’s how I was able to break the Red-White-and-Blue-bonds!!

Time to check out the fireworks that Cheryl and Crystal have to share this month.

A Muted Garden

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I find the combination of these shades of blues and taupes to be very soothing:

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Timeless Elegance

  • Stamps:  Botanical Blooms
  • Color palette:  Very Vanilla, Tip Top Taupe, Soft Suede, Pool Party, and Island Indigo
  • Accessories: Botanical Blooms framelits, Big Shot, Designer Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Timeless Elegance DSP

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Timeless Elegance

How can you go wrong with these beautiful shapes? I cut out a stack and started playing.

Maui Stamper Botanical Blossoms Timeless Elegance

There’s no greeting for now. I’ll add one when I’m ready to send this card. I like to have a stash on hand that I can personalize with just the right greeting.