A Glorious Birthday Card in a Box

Posted on May 3, 2014 by mauistamper

I love that word – Glorious. It’s one of Crystal‘s favorites 🙂 And it’s very appropriate for this card:

Yes, it’s full of Sale-a-bration product that you can no longer get…and I’m sorry. But for those of you who have leftover Sweet Sorbet paper, you need some ideas, right?

I had a fabulous time with this one – there’s a lot crammed into a little space. I used the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die (so sad this is retiring!!) to help stabilize the folds. In my excitement I scored them a leetle bit too hard and they were thinking about breaking, so that Calypso Coral scallop actually folds and adheres inside the wall of the box to give it strength.

Lots of flowers – Petal Parade from SAB but also Petite Petals and the little scallop from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack (also retiring). That gorgeous Happy Birthday is from the retiring stamp set You’re Amazing – and is only available now in wood.

Some of the flowers and cut and layered for extra dimension, and you can just see the window sheet strip that allows that Petite Petal to fly.

There’s a cupcake with a single candle right in the middle!

I even made a coordinating envelope. Hope you enjoy!

Birthdays are wonderful things…

Posted on April 4, 2014 by mauistamper

I celebrated my birthday last month. It wasn’t one of those birthdays that end in zero, but like my dad always says, it’s good to be on this side of the grass. I had a fabulous day, including lots of card-love from my family and friends. I thought I’d share a few:

This girl certainly knows me well! Cheryl chose a coffee theme and made a card-in-a-box, since we’ve both become somewhat obsessed with them.

My friend Becky sent this sweet card featuring the oh-so-on-trend Filmstrip Framelits. Becky and I met at convention years ago when I burst into tears sitting next to her at a presentation (very long story). Suffice it to say that she wrapped me up in a hug and a very special friendship was born!My friend and fellow stamper Sharyl used the Sweet Sorbet DSP and a found seashell to create this beachy birthday card. I love the rhinestones on the slippers! (We do NOT call them flip flops, thongs, go-aheads, or zoris. They are slippahs. Rubbah slippahs.)

Crystal sent this gorgeous water-colored card. It is so very much her style – I would have guessed it was hers if I had seen it almost anywhere!

This last card isn’t hand-made, but it is so ME: OK, so I’m not 80 yet, and I don’t carry a white handbag, but I DO wear Birkenstocks. Every day. Like, 24/7. Wendy is my Maui Fashion Consultant, and this is what she wrote:

I think I can make that promise. ‘Cause those shoes aren’t Birks.

Bring on the candles

Posted on March 29, 2014 by mauistamper

My son turned 20 earlier this month. His birthday coincided with the start of a fabulous spring break trip sponsored by the university, so he has only seen his card recently. I’m pretty sure he’s not a regular reader, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise in the rare event he checked in.

I got a little carried away…yes, there are 20 candles.

I hope you like my candle flames! They’re cut from the end of the stem from the Bird Builder punch. The candles themselves were hand-cut and are primarily Soho Subway DSP with a little Early Espresso and Island Indigo thrown in for contrast.

The cakes are floating on sheets of Window Strips. They’re hand cut, too. This was for my son, after all!

I made little packages and put them on the side of the card with dimensionals. Honestly, I go through a LOT of dimensionals. I quit worrying about it a long time ago – about the time I figured out they cost just over a penny apiece. Seriously.

The other side has balloons:

The “strings” are held in place with Glue Dots. If you decide to make one of these cards (and I hope you do) trust me in this, you need Glue Dots. Just open up a fresh box and knock yourself out. I use a pokey doodle to pull them off the roll, but a bamboo bbq skewer works really well too.

Since my handsome son is away at school, I had to mail this card, and it required a custom envelope. I used to dread making custom envelopes, but not any more. The Envelope Punch Board is my BFF.

I didn’t use any bulky embellishments (such as buttons) so I just needed a little extra postage for the weight of all the extra card stock. I made the envelope on the roomy side since the card is thicker than usual.

Stamps: Make a Cake, You’re My Hero, Perfect Pennants
Color Palette: Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Oval Framelits, Window Sheets, Bird Builder, Small Oval, Corner Rounder, and 1/2 inch circle punches, Early Espresso 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon, Island Indigo Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Step into Spring

Posted on March 7, 2014 by mauistamper

If you’re a blog subscriber in a cold and snowy place, I’m sorry. What passes for winter here on the Valley Isle was nowhere in sight yesterday, and although the calendar says there are a couple more weeks til it’s official, I’m proclaiming Spring! To celebrate, I’m teaming up with my BFF Cheryl to present a spring paper crafting class:

Sunday, March 30, 2014 1 to 4:30pm
Maui Lodge, 190 W. Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului
Cost: $20 paid by March 15; $23 if paid after that date
Includes: Everything you need to make all 3 projects including your very own full box of Glue Dots! Chocolate egg is included; shreddies and plastic eggs are not 🙂 DSP is Watercolor Wonder from the Occasions catalog but patterns will vary.

We’re really excited about these projects – and we think you will be too! Seating is limited and your payment holds your spot at the craft table, so don’t waste time if you would like to join us.

The card-in-a-box has become my new favorite – there are so many possibilities. Every card comes out differently, even when the same elements are used. We’re offering this floral option as well as a bunny version:

Pretty fabulous, wouldn’t you say? And how about this Tag-a-Bag-Box with the Spiral Flower?

Your box will be fully embellished, but we will leave it up to you to fill it.

Our last project – a real quickie – features the new Scallop Tag Topper punch from the Occasions catalog. It makes so much more than tags!

This is guaranteed to be a great afternoon, and I hope you’ll join us!

A Car(d) in a Box

Posted on March 3, 2014 by mauistamper

My buddy Isaac turns 3 today. His mama and dad had a party for him yesterday, and since his mama is also my stampin’ buddy, I wanted a card that would surprise and delight:

Isaac reminds me so much of my son at that age…he’s all about things with wheels. His card needed wheels, and to be a real race car, of course it had to be Red. Not just any red, but Real Red. (If Stampin’ Up! made Ferrari Red, that is what I would have used.)

Stamps: Rev Up the Fun and Memorable Moments (the 3)
Color Palette: Real (Ferrari) Red, Basic Black, Whisper White and Gumball Green
Accessories: Circle punches, Fringe Scissors, Simply Scored, Window Sheets, Bird Punch

I’ve done a few of these cards, though this is the first one I’ve shared. The trick for me is balancing the height of all the elements. I used thin strips of window sheet to float the motorcycles so you could see them behind the race car.

The candles are really fun…I use the top leaf from the bird punch branch to make the flame, layer flame colors with Stampin’ Write markers, and then use Tombo (the wonder adhesive) to secure them to the back of the candle.

I added a little grass just to break up the dizzying effect of the Modern Medley DSP and the tire tracks. Plus the fringe scissors are just plain fun to play with!

A card like this needs a custom envelope:

Ready in a flash with the envelope punch board! I used a retired set of Sizzlets to cut the letters for his name, since that Real (Ferrari) Red Polka Dot Parade DSP is so bold! You can tell it’s hand made, because despite my scientific effort his name is off-center.

Cheryl and I are planning a class on these cards for March 30. If you live on Maui or will be here for a visit, let me know if you’re interested! Details are coming soon.

Happy Birthday to one Super Guy!