One Last #Elfie

Posted on December 30, 2019 by mauistamper

I may have finally crossed the line into Crafty Craziness. I was inspired by a card in a private demonstrator group, which was fine, but then I decided to make multiples. You’ll see:

Stamps: #Elfie
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Balmy Blue, Ivory (Stampin Blend)
Accessories: Retired DSP, On Film Framelit (Retired), Paper Snips, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Stampin’ Blends, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive)

There’s a LOT of coloring and an absolutely RIDICULOUS amount of fussy cutting in this card. I don’t think I would make this many again (I made more than 10, less than 20).

But it sure is cute! I’m smitten with these elves, and I know their time is almost up. Stampin’ Up! has had versions of elves for the last 3 or 4 holiday catalogs, and they never carry over so I’m not expecting to see #Elfie after Thursday.

That said, if you want an #Elfie of your own, you’d better skedaddle on over to the Online Store and order one ASAP. You’ve got until close of business Mountain Time on January 2, 2020.

Tags are the new cookies

Posted on December 19, 2019 by mauistamper

Hear me out now, before you start shouting at me! I love cookies as much as the next girl but this time of year they seem to be lurking around every corner, and it gets dangerous. One of my host clubs exchanged tags every year instead, and it’s such fun!

Stamps: #Elfie
Color Palette, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Daffodil Delight, soft Suede, Ivory Seaside Spray, Rococco Rose
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Snowfall Puff Paint, Heat Tool, Wink of Stella

The puff paint is amazing! It’s a quick way to add some fun texture. Be sure to let it puff up all the way, and then I find it’s more durable if you let it sit for half an hour or so before touching or stacking it. I make it the last step and then set the tags aside to “cure”. Watch this video for more: https://s.tamp.in/yo-AGL

A dozen of these went together really quickly – but you need to enjoy coloring. I didn’t do any shadowing because it’s such a small image.

To create a little blush in #Elfie’s cheeks, I dabbed a dot of Rococco Rose Blends and then blurred it with the color lifter. Do this BEFORE you add the skin tone (I used ivory) or you’ll see a funny circle.

Make a tag, swap a tag! There’s still time!

December 2019 DIY

Posted on December 1, 2019 by mauistamper

I’m smitten with #Elfie! He’s just the guy I want hangin’ out on my craft desk this month!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up DIY Easel Calendar December 2019 #Elfie

Stamps: #Elfie, Signs of Santa (retired, I’m sorry!)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Daffodil Delight, Ivory, Gold
Accessories: Paper Snips, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Blends, Snowfall Accents Puff Paint, Heat Tool

I went a little over-the-top with the Snowfall Accents Puff Paint. Well, actually, I went over-the-top with the Paper Snips, too. In the stamped image, #Elfie is leaning against the bottom of the signpost, but that makes the image too tall for a little calendar! I REALLY wanted to use this image, so out came the snips and I disassembled the whole business.

When I figured out how to settle him into a snowbank with the post popping out I was pretty pleased with myself. But…it looked a little empty. Maybe it was just lop-sided, but it needed something. That’s when I dug into my retired stash for the set from last year. It’s just the packages, and I could have probably hand-drawn them…HA. Imagine how successful that would have been!

This turned out just the way I imagined it, which is quite a feat. If you’re imagining your own set of DIY Easel Calendars for 2020, there’s still time to purchase the PDF! It’s just $5 and you can print your own set of months to play with all year long. Click Contact the Maui Stamper above and give me your email, and I’ll send you an invoice.

Be sure and stop by to see what Cheryl and Crystal have crafted for your inspiration this month! Happy December!

September 2019: This Little Piggy Can Fly

Posted on September 1, 2019 by mauistamper

If a pig can fly, she can certainly be purple – Purple Posy, that is! My September 2019 DIY Easel Calendar will keep me smiling all month.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up This Little Piggy DIY Easel Calendar 2020

All of the piggies in This Little Piggy are charming, but I think this one is my favorite. Since this set was released last year, it’s languished a bit as I’ve focused on new things. It was time to change that!

Stamps: This Little Piggy , #Elfie *
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Purple Posy, Smoky Slate, Silver*
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Wink of Stella

Wink of Stella is one of those non-negotiable, indispensable products on my craft table. It’s controlled sparkle, and if you know anything about Mr. Maui Stamper, you’ll know he believes that sparkle needs to be under control.

*There are a couple of sneak peeks in my September calendar. The Holiday catalog will be available to everyone on September 4, but demonstrators have had a month to play. There are new metallic inks – Silver, Gold and Copper – and of course plenty of new stamps!