April 2023 DIY: Friends are like seashells

Every year when Stampin’ Up! announces the Last Chance list, there is at least one thing on that list that breaks my heart. This year, it’s Friends Are Like Seashells. I know there are wonderful things in the 23-24 Annual Catalog (cuz I’ve seen it!!) but I’m still sad. It will be bittersweet to see this calendar all month:

Small calendar with sea shells
  • Stamps: Friends Are Like Seashells
  • Color Palette: Shimmery White, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay – ALL RETIRING!!
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Seashells dies, Seashells 3D Embossing Folder, White 3/4″ Frayed Ribbon, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I have mixed feelings about the retiring of our Pearl Basic Jewels. I don’t use them a lot any more, but I do love these tiniest peals. I’ll miss them but since they’re all I really love in the pearl assortment, it’s ok that they’re on the Last Chance list.

I used a cotton swab to apply the ink to these images. They’re mostly trimmed from the 3D embossing folder, and even the daubers were too big to have the control I needed for this project. Moving the ink around on Shimmery White paper is easy as it is very forgiving. You might want to pick up a few packages as Shimmery White is on the Last Chance list too.

I disassembled the Frayed Ribbon to get those yarn-like fibers. Ribbon isn’t sacred – I cut it apart and tease out the pieces to get the size and texture I want.

The stamps, dies, embossing folder, ink, pearls and ribbon are ALL on the Last Chance list! Shop early, shop often. Note carefully: the discounts are effective beginning April 4, but all items on this list are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Here are the updated Last Chance lists. If your list doesn’t say “updated March 31” you need to replace it with this linked list:

ANNUAL CATALOG LAST CHANCE

JANUARY – APRIL MINI LAST CHANCE

It’s the first of the month, so be sure to visit Cheryl and Crystal to see the DIY calendars for April. We really enjoy creating these little desk top treasures, and hope you do to. You can check our PINTEREST board for more inspiration!

Banner with Paper Pumpkin logo and mosaic-style flowers

Be sure to subscribe by April 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The April kit is called ALL THE LITTLE THINGS. It’s a card kit featuring iridescent foil accents – don’t miss it! Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you.

There are some gorgeous new crafting options about to join the family! I can’t wait to get my hands on them! If you’d like to be first on your block to have them, ask me about the best paper crafting deal around – becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. Join on April 4th and you can choose these fresh new colors in your introductory kit. Or go ahead and take the plunge and JOIN NOW and place your first order in technicolor!

Friends Are Like Seashells: June 2021 DIY

When I realized I had yet to create a seashells calendar I had a moment of disbelief: how had I neglected that? Never fear, the situation is remedied. And June is a lovely month to think of seashells and sandy shores and all things beachy:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Friends Are Like Seashells DIY Calendar June 2021
Friends A
  • Stamps: Friends Are Like Seashells
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Soft Succulent, Crumb Cake
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Seashells dies, Blending Brushes, Stampin Dimensionals, Wink of Stella, Silver and Clear Epoxy Essentials, Water Painter

I was inspired by a very talented Aussie demonstrator named Narelle Farrugia. She’s on the Artisan Design Team for Stampin’ Up!, and when you see her work it’s clear why she earned that opportunity. Check out her work – I’m sure she’ll inspire you!

I used Petal Pink and the Blending Brushes to create a soft, tropical background, and used the Brushes on some of those die cut images as well to soften them. Color is a never-ending experiment for me, which is one of the reasons I love stamping so much. I don’t have to draw – and I’ve never been happy with the results when I do – so stamping allows me to focus on the parts that I like. These die cut images are layered with dimensionals and multi-purpose glue to create a little dimension on this tiny canvas.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Friends Are Like Seashells DIY Calendar June 2021

I’m looking forward to seeing these seashells each day in my crafting space. I’m in the midst of a re-organization, and that’s messy work. These soothing colors and reminders of the beach will help me keep my focus.

Maui Stamper Last Chance 2021 January-June

There are FABULOUS savings beginning today on the products featured in the January – June 2021 mini catalog. Do not hesitate – these deals will fly off the webpage! Shop HERE.

If you’d like your own printable 2021 calendar pdf, please contact me with your email. It’s $5 and you can print as many as you’d like! I know there are early-birds out there, but the 2022 pdf won’t be ready until the fall. I promise to let you know as soon as it is.

Stop by to see what Cheryl and Crystal have done for June – every month we have a teeny DIY calendar blog tour! And if you’d like to do add the Seashell stamps, dies, and embossing folder to your crafty stash, shop HERE.

….annnnd a little dose of Vitamin Sea from a sweaty but very happy Maui Stamper!! Mr. Maui Stamper and I have a tandem bike and take it out most Sundays for a spin. This past Sunday was especially gorgeous, even by Maui standards!

Beautiful Friendship: April 2021 DIY

My heart stopped for just a moment when I saw that Beautiful Friendship would retire with the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog. I’ve made so many cards with this set (look HERE and HERE for examples) and I’ll miss these soft, color-saturated images and the sentiments that go with them. Today I’ll give you one last look at this Beautiful Stamp Set:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Beautiful Friendship DIY Easel Calendar April 2021
  • Stamps: Beautiful Friendship (retiring), Friends Are Like Seashells (dots)
  • Color Palette: Rococo Rose (retiring), Pear Pizazz, So Saffron, Seaside Spray (retiring)
  • Accessories: Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Wink of Stella, Pearls

I love the tiniest pearls on our sheet o’ pearls. They are almost lost on most projects, but these calendars are perfectly sized for them. The Wink of Stella looks a little bold in this photo, but it’s really pretty subtle.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Beautiful Friendship DIY Easel Calendar April 2021

You can see everything available in the Last Chance Product Sale HERE. These products are absolutely while supplies last, so if you love it, nab it – or you’ll have to let it go.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Beautiful Friendship DIY Easel Calendar April 2021

I invite you to stop by and see what Crystal and Cheryl have designed for their April calendars. If you’d like to make your own, I sell a pdf for just $5 – Contact Me with your email address and I’ll send you an invoice. (They print out perfectly – it’s my rat-fink-printer that doesn’t play well.)

Sand and Sea Suite: Unconstructed

When you combine the Seashells Embossing Folder from the Sand and Sea suite with the all-in-one die, you get a stunning panel that works all by itself. But when you cut apart all the elements, the combinations are endless:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells
  • Stamps: Friends Are Like Seashells, Itty Bitty Greetings
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Petal Pink
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut and Emboss (Big Boss), Seashell Embossing Folder, Subtle Embossing Folder, Seaside Seashells dies, Ornate Frames dies, Shimmery White paper, Linen Thread, Opal Rounds, Stampin Dimensionals, Blending Brush, Paper Snips

You really need Paper Snips for this task, because they are super sharp and their pointy little tips get right into the littlest spots! The other indispensable tool I used is the Blending Brush, which layers color consistently and smoothly. I KNOW they’re not available to order right now 😟 but they are due in the warehouse the week of April 5!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card

Did you notice the Opal Rounds in the January-June Mini Catalog? I completely missed them until just a few weeks ago, but I’m doing my best to make up for that now! They’re perfect with the Shimmery White card stock (or any other project you might be working on.) And I think it is a universal truth that there is no substitute for Linen Thread.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card

The Friends Are Like Seashells stamps include the images on the Embossing Folder, but also include a great assortment of other images that really round out the suite. I used a little bit of ocean flora on the inside of my card – because it’s there, just waiting for some ink!


156205 Friends Are Like Seashells Bundle

The Retiring List for the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog comes out today (March 24) at 1pm MST. Every year, there’s a lot of excitement swirling around what will stay and what will go, and I confess that I get a little nervous when I think about some of my favorites! This year the calendar is a little different, so pay close attention: The 2020-2021 Annual Catalog is available (while supplies last once the list has been published) until May 3, 2020. The new 2021-2022 Annual Catalog will debut on May 4th!

The January-June Mini Catalog remains current until June 30 (again, there’s that pesky “while supplies last” clause). If you’re making a plan, be sure to make note of those two dates!

And if you’re ready to shop, please visit the Online Store.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sand and Sea Suite Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card

She Sells Sea Shells…

Well, actually she stamps them. And in this case, she embosses and die cuts them and then just sponges them, and it is so darn easy!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card
  • Stamps: Friends Are Like Seashells, You Are Amazing
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Mint Macaron, So Saffron
  • Accessories: Shimmery White paper, Big Boss (Stampin Cut and Emboss Machine), Seashells 3D embossing folder, Seaside Shells dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, White Crinkle Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Sponges

You don’t need to be super precise with the sponges, as you can see. I chose sponges over the fabulous Blending Brushes because I felt more in control, but either one will work. I layered the ink, especially using Petal Pink, to get variations in the depth of color. The Shimmery White paper takes the ink easily and really adds to the effect in person.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Friends Are Like Seashells handmade card

These soft tones create a very feminine and rather ornate looking card with a minimum of effort – The Boss does most of the work! The hardest part for me is getting the ribbon bunched up right. I do not understand crafters on videos who just wad it up in their hands and smack it down. My solution is to put a bit of Stampin’ Seal on the back of the panel and stick the ribbon down in that, adjusting each loop as I go. Must be the Recovering Perfectionist in me.

Sadly, the Seashells 3D folder is not orderable right now. More are expected the week of March 8th. The stamps and dies – in a convenient bundle – are in stock, and you get see them HERE.