Using up the “bits”

Posted on October 5, 2010 by mauistamper

Sometimes I stamp something that doesn’t fit the project I’m working on, but I like the way it looks. Those “bits” as I like to refer to them usually end up on the bulletin board above my stamp desk for me to ponder. If they’re “little bits” they have a jar on my desk, but when things get into that jar they sometimes never leave – they’re too small to remember. This was a bit on the bulletin board that kept calling me:

Circle Circus and Thanks So Much stamp sets
Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock
Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pads
Real Red 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
Large oval punch; XL Decorative Label punch

This is a simple concept that could be re-interpreted in many different ways, but I thought the colors were very Autumnal, and I’ve said before that changing the colors of my paper is as close to Autumn as I get here in the islands. You could even take a full sheet (8 1/2 x 11 inches) of Very Vanilla cardstock and do your random stamping all over that, then cut it into card pieces. Sometimes it’s all about efficiency!

Simple Circles

Posted on September 3, 2010 by mauistamper

I brought home a lot of great samples from convention. They’ve been a source of inspiration for classes and workshops, and this card is a double dipper. There were two different cards that used the “circle-as-flower” technique, and I adapted it even further:

Circle Circus and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stock
Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
XL Two Step Bird and Modern Label punches; 1 3/4, 1 1/4 and 3/4 inch circle punches

This is about as easy as it gets. Stamp 3 circles, punch 3 circles, add 3 little scraps for stems and 3 little leaves (do you recognize the wing and a leaf from the XL Two Step Bird punch?) Sahara Sand is such a neutral color that it takes what could be a very femine card and makes it relatively neutral. If you wanted it to be masculine, you’d need to pull out your Shades-of-Blue stamp pads but that wouldn’t be so difficult, would it?

Bubbly Circles Under the Sea

Posted on August 14, 2010 by mauistamper

I am fascinated with color. I love to explore the moods of individual colors and color combinations, to mix and match different tones and hues of the same colors. You know where this is going, don’t you? Yep – blues and greens.

Circle Circus and Word Play stamp sets
Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi and Rich Razzleberry card stock
Baja Breeze and Wild Wasabi Classic ink pads
Whisper White Craft ink pad and White Embossing powder
Big Shot and Elegant Lines Embossing Folder
Scallop Border and XL Decorative Label punches
Brights Designer Buttons and white crochet thread

Don’t you love the Razzleberry with Baja and Wasabi?

The bubbly circle cracks me up. No particular reason, it just makes me laugh. Maybe I watched the Little Mermaid with my daughters too many times, but I keep thinking of all those undersea creatures talking underwater. It seemed to me at the time that they needed little bubbles floating up when they talked, but that could just be the effects of being a SAHM with three active kids.

I love our Linen Thread, but I couldn’t bring myself to use it with all the crisp white on this card.

Back to the Circle Circus

Posted on August 13, 2010 by mauistamper

When is a circle more than a circle? When it collaborates with others to form a topiary:

Circle Circus and Elements of Style stamp sets; Vintage Vogue wheel
Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Certainly Celery card stock
Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Certainly Celery Classic ink pads
Modern Label punch, XL Decorative Label punch (Holiday Mini), various circle punches
Big Shot, Top Note die and Lattice Impressions folder
Hemp twine, Antique Brads, Stampin’ Sponges and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I had the brilliant idea to twist two strands of Hemp Twine together to make the trunk of the topiary, but my execution was flawed – there’s not enough space between the “topes” and you can hardly see it. This card is finished, but I’ll be back to the drawing board to try that one again.

The new XL Decorative Label punch makes a pretty terra cotta planter, doesn’t it? I cut it in half and sponged it with Cajun Craze and Old Olive. I was trying to get a moss-stained look but I think it would be more effective on a lighter color of cardstock – next time I’ll try Peach Parfait. Oh, and please don’t judge Daffodil Delight – that’s operator error with the camera. It’s a lovely buttery shade, not that bright yo yo color!

Circling around the Mojo

Posted on August 10, 2010 by mauistamper

It’s been ages since I’ve played a challenge. I’ve had a lot of specific projects on my inspiration board and there wasn’t room for anything else. Last night I finally had a chance to browse through some of my favorite blogs – talk about a pleasure! – and when I got to Mojo Monday I decided I’d done enough looking and headed up for some ink-to-the-paper stamping!

There’s a lot going on here, so bear with me:

Circle Circus and Fabulous Phrases stamp sets
Cornelli Lace Jumbo Stampin’ Around Wheel
Whisper White, Real Red and Basic Black card stock
Real Red and Basic Black Classic ink pads
Real Red 1/8″ taffeta and 5/8″ satin ribbon; Basic Black 5/8″ satin ribbon
1 3/4″ Circle, Modern Label and Scallop Edge Border punches
Big Shot and the Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folders
a small hand-held circle punch and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’m sure I forgot to list something!

I’ll tell you the truth: that greeting is adhered with Dotto repositionable adhesive. I’m not certain I like it, but time will tell. The stamped Real Red image from Circle Circus is hand cut (gasp! I know…) because I wanted it to fit Just So on the black circle. It had to be done. I used tiny black circles of cardstock for the faux brads on the sentiment because the real thing overwhelmed the project. There are a lot of discarded bits and pieces on my craft table left over from this project, but it was satisfying to finish.

I didn’t buy Circle Circus when it was released as a preview set a year or two ago. Because it was a sneak peak, there were Circle Circus cards everywhere and I grew weary of it. I finally gave in and bought it with this year’s new catalog because I saw something really creative and had a brilliant inspiration to make that idea better. (It’s coming, it’s just not done yet – Mojo Monday got in the way.) I’m glad it’s on my shelf now. You’ll see it again soon.