Inspire.Create.Share.2014: Christmas in July

Posted on July 24, 2014 by mauistamper

I signed up for a Christmas Card swap at convention before I realized that there were no Christmas stamps in the 2014-2015 catalog. I had to get creative:

Stamps: Tape It, Hello Love (Hostess), And Many More, Hardwood
Color Palette: Whisper White, Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede
Accessories: Gold Bakers Twine, Red Glimmer paper, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Watercolor Wonder Washi tape, Banner punch, Stampin’ Sponges

I adore the fat little birds from the Hello Love Hostess set. I thought this one looked sort of Partridge-y. You know, in the Pear Tree. Use your imagination.

I had to mask off the end of that last Tape It strip, the one on the bottom – it was too long. I just used a sticky note and then drew a little line across the edge to finish it off.

Honestly, lately I don’t seem capable of making anything without Stampin’ Sponges and Dimensionals.

I’ve shared this tip before but it’s worth repeating: When you’re working with the Gold or Silver Bakers Twine, tie a pair of little knots around the spot where you’re going to cut the twine. It takes an extra moment or two but it saves the frustration of chasing those gold wrappings – they’re stiffer than the twine and they unravel instantaneously.

Inspire.Create.Share.2014 – One Last Swap

Posted on July 22, 2014 by mauistamper

This is the last swap I made for Inspire.Create.Share, our 2014 Convention:

Stamps: Life’s Adventures (Hostess), And Many More
Color Palette: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Fringe Scissors, Glimmer paper, Stampin’ Write markers, Zig Zag TIEF, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Typeset DSP, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack

I used markers to get the look I wanted for the stamped image. I hand-colored the stamp before making my impression, then went back and added the awning and the door.

This is a matchbook style card. Cut your card stock to 4 1/4″ x 11″ and score at 3/4″ and 6″. Your finished card will be 4 1/4″ by 5 1/4″ but trust me, no one is going to notice the difference 🙂

I love the shape of this little heart from the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch pack! Much more contemporary than the traditional heart.

I’m also a little bit obsessed with the new Typeset DSP. I was in serious mourning when First Editions Newsprint wasn’t continued into this catalog, but I’m relieved and delighted with this new edition! Maps. Print. Design Elements. There are loads of options, and it’s really lightweight so it is going to crumple up just beautifully.

Now to go look through all of the swaps I received in return for mine! I feel like Uncle Scrooge on his pile of money. Bwa ha ha ha!!!

Would you help me win a contest?

Posted on July 19, 2014 by mauistamper

There just hasn’t been enough time in the day to post to the Maui Stamper about convention – I’ve done most of my updates through Facebook. One thing I’d like to share is the Master Class Cheryl and I took from the amazing Shannon West using the new Watercolor Winter Simply Created card kit.

My friends, this is NOT your grandmother’s card kit!

There are a number of samples that you can follow to create your own card, but we were given some techniques to try and encouraged to create something on our own. This was my project, and I had a great time with it! There’s a contest through Sunday and the prize is a Stampin’ Up! shopping spree, and I really hope you’ll help me win! You can vote for my card by liking it on the Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit board! (Try saying that out loud!) Click HERE to see the board and vote for my card.

This is a beautiful, versatile kit and I will have more to share when we get closer to the release date for the Holiday catalog – mark your calendars for August 28th! I’ve got my advance copy and I am really excited about the quality, variety and breadth of the offerings. Let’s just say we need an “I want it all” button in our ordering system!

If you’re on Maui, mark this Saturday July 26th on your calendar – I’m holding an Open House to share my Convention swaps and sell my retired product. You don’t want to miss it!

And thanks so much for your vote.

Inspire.Create.Share.2014: In Color Card Swap

Posted on July 18, 2014 by mauistamper

Today at Convention 2014 I’m swapping this Blackberry Bliss card:

Stamps: Lots of Thanks, Hardwood
Color Palette: Blackberry Bliss, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Spiral Flower Originals Die, Flower Frenzy Bigs L Die and the Big Shot, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, Fancy Fan TIEF, Two-Way Glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin’ Sponges, Gold Bakers Twine, Gold Sequin Trim, Glue Dots, Hot Glue Gun, Silicone craft sheet

Loads of thanks to the GLORIOUS Crystal Kondo who shared her new stamps with me 🙂 I get by with a little help from my friends.

Did you know that our Glue Dots are the EXACT same size as the Sequins in the Gold Sequin Trim? That is serious happy news.

My secret for these roses is the Silicone Craft Sheet, #127853. It’s only $5.95 and I think it’s the best kept secret in the catalog. If you’re making these flowers you NEED this mat! You can blop all the hot glue you want onto the back of your flower and then smush it down onto the Craft Sheet and do your shaping before the glue goes solid – and then pick that puppy right up! No sticking!! My other secret is that I always run the spirals through a TIEF before I roll them. I put them through in pairs just because it’s faster that way. The all-over pattern helps break down the fibers and you don’t need to scrunch up the paper before you roll the flower.

If you live on Maui and you’re interested in this card, leave a comment below. I’m thinking about a class but I’m checking the interest levels first.

Inspire.Create.Share.2014: Collage Tags

Posted on July 16, 2014 by mauistamper

Shhh…don’t tell…this is a Convention Swap sneak peek:

Stamps: An Open Heart, Project Life Point and Click, Project Life Day to Day, Postage Due, World Map, Gorgeous Grunge
Color Palette: Naturals Ivory, Mossy Meadow, Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Encore Gold
Accessories: Circles Framelits, Aqua Painter, Linen Thread, 3/4″ and 1/2″ circle punches, 1/4″ hand held punch, 7/8″ Cotton ribbon, 3/8″ Stitched Satin ribbon, Thick Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Although there are a lot of different elements to this tag, none of them are difficult to execute. I did fussy-cut the bird (LOVE THE BIRD) but World Cup soccer came to the rescue there. (I’m grateful it happened when it did as it was my entertainment while I was sick for 5 days, but I’m glad it’s over. Sheesh. That was a lot of Futbol.)

I’m really excited to see the tags the other swappers have to share! Convention is always such a great source of inspiration.

If you live – or will be visiting – Maui, I’m offering a Collage Tag class on Sunday, August 2nd from 1 to 3pm. We’ll make this tag and two others – let me know if you’d like to join us!