Silly Rabbit….

Can you stand another box card?

Maui Stamper Spring Extravaganza Bunny CardCheryl and I got together last week to work on samples for our Step Into Spring class – today is the early bird deadline for all you Maui Crafters!  We wanted to have an Easter Bunny option and she came up with this Silly Rabbit.

Maui Stamper Spring Extravaganza Bunny CardIt’s amazing what you can do with a few punches!

Our class is Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2014 at the Kahului Masonic Lodge.  Cost is $20 if you register today, $23 if you register tomorrow.  All supplies are provided including your very own full box of Glue Dots – and you are going to love using Glue Dots when you put together a Card in a Box!  The class projects will feature the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper.

We’re also making an embellished Tag a Bag box perfectly sized for chocolate eggs or other treats, and a charming single-treat holder made with the Scallop Tag Topper punch:

Maui Stamper Spring Extravaganza Bunny CardHere’s the “publicity shot” of all 3 original samples:

Maui Stamper Step into Spring Projects I hope you’ll join us!

RemARKably Egg-stra Creative!

Maui Stamper RemARKable March Pinworthy Blog tourWelcome to the RemARKable Pinworthy Blog tour for March!  I’m glad you’ve joined us and I’m sure you’ll be inspired.  Let’s dive right in:

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Card in a BoxLately I’ve been hooked on the Card-in-a-Box concept.  The possibilities are endless, and this particular process really suits my “More is More” mentality – it seems like you can add bits and pieces forever!  The colors in the Eastern Elegance Designer Series paper really inspired me.

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Card in a Box

  • Stamps:  Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Petal Parade, Best of Butterflies and Delightful Dozen
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry
  • Accessories:  Eastern Elegance DSP, Pansy and Petite Petals punches, Corner Rounder punch, Little Leaves Sizzlet and the Big Shot, Rhinestone jewels, Simply Scored tool, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Window Sheets

There are lots of ways to assemble this card, but here’s a tip:  You need a BRAND NEW, full box of Glue Dots.  I use a bamboo BBQ skewer to lift them off the roll and place them on my project.  (I use those skewers for tons of things – rolling paper into curls, reaching elusive spots, dabbing Tombo, placing glue dots and jewels – the list is endless.  And when it gets all sticky with Tombo the Wonder Adhesive I just pitch it.)

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Card in a BoxThe card folds flat for mailing, too, although with all that extra card stock embellishment, you’re going to need a little extra postage.  It’s worth it 🙂

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Card in a BoxI was on a roll with these colors, so I carried the theme over to a Tag-a-Bag Box.  There’s no way this was going in an envelope, so I had more room to play.Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Tag a Bag Box

  • Stamps:  None
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate, Coastal Cabana
  • Accessories:  Big Shot, Spiral Flower Originals Die and Lattice TIEF, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Tag-a-bag Box, Paper lace doily, Eastern Elegance DSP

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Tag a Bag BoxThe doily is cut in half and smooshed (yes, that is the authentic, technical, paper-crafting term for it).  I used Sticky Strip to hold it in place under the belly band since it would be sliding back and forth as the box opened and closed.  When something Absolutely, Positively has to stick, you need Sticky Strip.Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Tag a Bag Box

A Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on the Spiral Flower Originals die helps to soften the card stock so it will roll more easily.  The Lattice TIEF does an especially good job of this, although I still smoosh the card stock before I roll the flowers.  Maui Stamper Spiral Flower Original Die Assembly

I also use those odd crafty tweezers that pinch when you let go (instead of having to be squeezed) when I roll up my roses.  They make it easy to hold onto the center of the flower while you’re rolling.Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Tag a Bag Box

These colors make a gorgeous Easter color scheme, and I was delighted to find plastic eggs in Coastal Cabana!  Maybe you’ll choose a different DSP, but I hope you’ll have some fun playing with new ideas for Easter this year.

Maui Stamper RemARKably EggStra Blog Tour Card in a Box

Time to move on and see what Audra has in store.  Thanks for stopping by!

RemARKable PINworthy Blog Tour 2014

(If the link doesn’t work for you, cut and paste this link into a browser window:  http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com/2014/03/eggstra-creative-ideas-for-easter.html)

Soft and sweet for Mother’s Day

A talented fellow stamper from the RemARKables Stampin’ Up! team (her name is Kim Fields – I don’t think she has a blog) made a beautiful monochromatic card that inspired this:

Maui Stamper Elegant Butterfly Mother's Day

  • Bordering on Romance, Delightful Dozen and Best of Butterflies stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Certainly Celery (so long!) and Pretty in Pink (farewell!) card stock
  • Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue (auf wiedersehen!) FFIP
  • Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue Stampin’ Write markers
  • Elegant Butterfly punch
  • Stampin’ Dimensional

Easy as can be, and the little bit of coloring with the Stampin’ Write markers is amazingly therapeutic.

Honestly, I’m not really going to miss these colors too terribly, but I’ve enjoyed them a great deal.  Stock up while you still can.

A RemARKably Curious Day

Welcome to the Collage Curios RemARKable Stamp of the Month tour!   Whether you’re just beginning the tour here with the Maui Stamper or have been halfway across the USA with our many talented paper artists, I hope you’ll enjoy yourself today.  Those of you in New England deserve a blog tour after strugging through all the weather that has come your way this weekend!

The Collage Curios set is made up of primarily small images, and my first inclination would be to go small – 3×3 cards, milk carton favor boxes, or even jewelry crossed my mind.  The more I thought about it, the more I felt challenged to make a card that would still spotlight those small images but somehow find a balance.  Tell me what you think:

Maui Stamper Collage Curios RemARKable Blog TourDO YOU GET IT?  There’s a little joke here…

  • Collage Curios and Delightful Dozen stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Primrose Petals card stock
  • Crumb Cake and Primrose Petals FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
  • Dazzling Details
  • 1 inch circle and 7/8 inch scallop circle punches
  • Big Shot, Delicate Designs TIEF and Delicate Doilies Sizzlet
  • Primrose Petals 3/8 inch stitched satin ribbon
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals and Sponge

I love that little bee…my Valentine…

Maui Stamper Collage Curios RemARKable Blog TourI couldn’t stop at just one card!

Maui Stamper Collage Curios RemARKable Blog Tour

  • Collage Curios and Petite Pairs stamp sets
  • Calypso Coral and Chocolate Chip FFIP
  • Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake card stock
  • Chocolate Chip and Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Linen Thread
  • 1 inch circle punch
  • New distressing tool!
  • Color Spritzer
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Stampin’ Sponge
  • Dazzling Details
  • Rhinestone Jewels

You know, I kept going with that “More is More” kinda thing here.  The little hot air balloons just naturally floated across the page, but then the Color Spritzer wanted in, and the Crumb Cake card base wanted a little bit of spongin’ texture, and before I knew it there were jewels and Dazzling Details and we were off to the races!  Kinda fun, though…

Maui Stamper Collage Curios RemARKable Blog Tour

Now float on over to Robin Merriman’s Trinity Design Studios and see what she has come up with….she’s a talented stamper and I’m sure you’ll love wht she has done!  Don’t forget to leave a little blog love (comments) as you do – all of these hard-working bloggers will thank you!

RemARKable Stamp of the Month February

Pool Party Valentines

My first run through the Spring catalog was not exactly inspiring.  I’m not sure what I was looking for or expecting, but whatever it was I didn’t see it.  All my other demo friends were excited as can be and I was just kinda meh.

But of course I placed a pre-order and hoped for the best.  The box arrived and I opened it and something happened.  The things in the box were so much better than their pictures!!  I take it all back!!!  I am an Official Spring Catalog Fan.  And as such, I have been busy creating:

Maui Stamper More Amore Valentine

  • Delightful Dozen stamp set (annual catalog)
  • Pool Party card stock
  • Primrose Pink Core’dinations card stock (Spring catalog)
  • More Amore DSP (Spring catalog)
  • Primrose Pink FFIP
  • Finishing Touches Edgelit
  • Hearts Collection Framelits
  • Needlepoint Border TIEF (Spring catalog)
  • Big Shot (well, duh!)
  • Stampin’ Sanding System

Those little peek-a-boo hearts are easy to achieve – just place a couple of Heart Framelits on your card front and run it through the Big Shot.  Cut a piece of DSP – I used More Amore from the Spring Catalog – to 4 x 5 1/4 inches – just a hair smaller than your card front.  Adhere it to the inside of the card and the DSP shows through the openings.  Even better, you’ve got the reverse of the DSP as relief on the inside of the card.

The DSP also covers up the line where that strip of Embossed and trimmed Core’dinations is attached to the front of the card on the inside edge.  I trimmed off 3/8 inch from the front of the card to make space for that trimmed piece.

We made these last week at Hostess Club.  There’s a sweet little favor that matches, so tune in later this week to see it.  There’s also a very special event coming soon in my family, and I’ll have some fun things to share from that too.  I can’t wait to show you!!

 

 

Looking ahead to Easter

I took this layout straight off Pinterest:

Mixed Bunch Blushing Bride for Easter

  • Mixed Bunch and Delightful Dozen stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Blushing Bride card stock
  • Whisper White and Blushing Bride Classic ink pads
  • Pear Pizazz seam binding
  • Blossom punch
  • 3/4 circle punch
  • Big Shot
  • Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve been doing a lot of these raised panels lately – I’m SEEING a lot of them too!  I like the look, and I like the possibilities…you can selectively emboss, easily wrap ribbon around the panel, raise the panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals…I’ll bet you can think of other techniques!  Leave me a comment if you have an idea – I’m always looking for new tricks 🙂

Blushing Bride is such a grown-up pink, and I’m going to miss it when it bows out of our Stampin’ Up! color palette with the end of the catalog on May 31.  I do my best to embrace change, but to be very honest, I have a hard time letting go of things.  Take a peek in any closet in my house (well, except Mr. Maui Stamper’s closet) and I’m sure you’ll agree – I’m not a minimalist!  I’m trying to be more clutter-free, but it’s a lifestyle that is going to take some time to embrace.  My Gramsie on my mom’s side kept EVERYTHING – old vegetable drawers from the refrigerator that stopped working (after all, they were useful for storing things), back issues of the Wall Street Journal (we found issues from the 60’s when we moved her from her big 3 bedroom home in the early 90’s) – so I’m just carrying on a family tradition.

Well, except I don’t subscribe to the Wall Street Journal.

Just a little bit of country

I’m not a big fan of country – music, decor or otherwise – but a little bit never hurt anyone:

Country Pines and Poinettias

  • Pines and Poinsettias and Delightful Dozen stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Garden Green and Real Red card stock
  • Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series paper
  • Real Red Classic ink pad
  • Early Espresso, Garden Green and Real Red Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Big Shot and Perfect Pennants Bigz L die
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Dazzling Details

This card reminds me of my mother-in-law.  She loved things with a country feeling – her house was full of bunnies wearing glasses, big dried flower arrangements, and figurines of little girls carrying baskets.  I can just see her smile as she would show me her latest little girl, pointing out a charming detail and telling me something about the artist.

She REALLY loved Christmas, and her home was decorated from top to bottom.  She had two big trees, and a vignette in her kitchen window that lit and moved.  My father-in-law would put an enormous tree of lights on the roof of their house, and people would stop by just to say thanks for the lights.   And the food – I can’t begin to tell you about the food!  Oh, I miss the two of them.  I was richly blessed with wonderful in-laws.

And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?  To me, December means sharing our blessings and spending time with those we love…even if it’s just in our memories.   Let’s all make time for the important things!

 

 

Button, button…

How about another piece of Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper?

  • My Friend and Delightful Dozen stamp sets
  • Whisper White, So Saffron, Poppy Parade and Marina Mist card stock
  • Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper
  • Poppy Parade and Marina Mist Classic Ink pads
  • Marina Mist 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • 1 1/4, 1 3/8 and 1 3/4 inch circle punches; 2 3/8 inch scallop circle punch; 1 3/8 inch square punch
  • Big Shot, Sweet Buttons Embosslit and Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions folder
  • Crystal Effects
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Do you like my “Button”?  If you’ve got the Big Shot and the Sweet Buttons Embosslit, you can create a faux button in multiple sizes and just about any color you desire.

This may come as an enormous shock, but I am not very good at planning ahead.  I have the BEST of intentions, but when it comes down to it I am generally scrambling like a mad woman at the last minute.  Time is just so slippery!  As a result, I neeed flexible resources, and this Button Embosslit suits my needs perfectly.

This is a pretty bright and bold card for my usual style.  I like to step outside of my comfort zone from time to time, and I think this card should cover me for quite a while!  Not sure I’ll be jumping into these colors again anytime real soon, but it’s fun to stretch.