2023 DIY Easel Calendar Year in Review

Posted on December 31, 2023 by mauistamper

It’s the last day of December, and it’s my tradition to review my DIY Easel Calendar month-by-month. Are you ready? Let’s start with JANUARY:

I was thrilled to see a new set of Gnomes (Friendly Gnomes!) in the January-April 23 mini catalog. Such great images, and they coordinate with the Gnomes dies. See the details on January 1, 2023.

This is a Sale-a-bration calendar, and a stamp set that surprised me with how much I loved it. I embossed this image EVERYWHERE! Check out Beautifully Happy on February 1, 2023.

In March, I celebrated with Love Cats from the January-April Mini Catalog. The Stamparatus – sadly, no longer available – made this image easy to customize. Check out the original post on March 1, 2023.

The Last Chance list for the 22-23 Annual Catalog was released in late March and I was so sad to see Friends Are Like Seashells on that list. I chose it for the April calendar as a fond farewell.

In May I chose the ocean wave from the brand new 23-24 Annual Catalog Circle Sayings set. See the original post on May 1, 2023.

a small June 2023 calendar with a cartoon turtle

I love this friendly little turtle! Playing in the Rain was a January-April Mini bundle that carried forward to the Annual Catalog as standalone stamps and dies. Lots of fun coloring with Stampin’ Blends for this month! Read the details from June 1, 2023.

A Handmade desktop calendar for July 2023 with a field of yellow flowers

I markered the flower from Inked & Tiled for July. The curvy dotted swirls from Lighting the Way were the perfect accent – light and whimsical. You can see the details on July 1, 2023.

A Handmade calendar page for August with 3 birds colored blue, yellow and green.

I adore this little birdie family! The set is called Bird’s Eye view and you can see the details on August 1, 2023.

A Handmade calendar page for September. It features 3 stenciled flowers in yellows and reds with green leaves.

The Abundant Beauty masks are fun, easy, and pack a punch! Find out more on the September 1, 2023 post.

A small square calendar for October 2023 with 4 pumpkins and a small bird.

One of my favorite September-December mini catalog products is the Pick of the Patch bundle. You can see the original post on October 1, 2023.

A handmade calendar page for November with the phrase "Beyond Grateful" and blue and gold foliage

I used my favorite mini catalog holiday image for November with non-traditional colors. Learn more in the November 1, 2023 post.

A handmade calendar page for December featuring a red truck and palm trees

Every year it comes sooner! Whoosh, it’s December! You can see this post from the beginning of this month HERE.

That’s 2023! I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Comment on this post and share which month is your favorite. You can pick more than one – clearly, I can’t decide, so I won’t ask you to! I create my calendars month by month so that I can use the newest product. However, in review you’ll notice that many of these products are now retired.

If you feel inspired, you can create your own calendar for 2024. Here’s how to purchase the 2024 DIY Template. It’s just $5 and you may use it to make as many calendars as you like. It includes a page of covers, 12 monthly calendar blocks (4 to a page), and a set of cutting instructions. The blocks are designed to be cut to 3 1/2″ square. Please be patient if you order in the next couple of days – it’s a busy time.

Contact me to make your payment – I use Square to invoice, and you don’t need an account to use it.

Thanks for following the Maui Stamper and sharing in my crafting journey. Tomorrow starts a New Year, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you. Aloha 🌺

QUEEN BEE

Posted on March 27, 2023 by mauistamper

Last weekend my Stampin’ buddy brought over the Queen Bee suite. We decided to see how it would work on a new layout I’ve been using. To keep things interesting, we made it in both landscape and portrait. I think both cards are winners!

Stamps: Queen Bee, Dainty Delight
Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Queen Bee dies, Basics 3D Embossing Folder, Vellum Card Stock, StazOn Ink, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Write markers, Dainty Flowers DSP (SAB 2023, retired)

I LOVE the embossing folders in the new Basic 3D assortment! You won’t find them in any catalog – they’re part of our new Online Exclusive collection. You can see them in the Online Store. They’re currently out of stock, and are scheduled to be available the week of May 1.

Please forgive the retired DSP – it was already cut and sitting on my desk as we started to design!

I added a floral image inside the card and colored it quickly with Stampin’ Write markers. I am an enormous fan of Stampin’ Blends, but for something this small I find it more satisfying to break out the traditional markers.

Black card with bees and sentiment "Thanks for lighting the way"

Here’s version 2. The primary differences are the layout (landscape now), the alternate embossing folder from the bundle, and the card base (black instead of blackberry!) The inside has a similar image, but if you have sharp eyes you’ll see it’s not exactly the same.

What do you think? Portrait or landscape?

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.

We’re in the last month for the January-April Mini Catalog and Queen Bee is just one of the awesome suites available through May 1. The retiring list will be out this week, so beat the rush and get your Queen Bee bundle at a savings before it’s gone. Shop HERE.

LAST CHANCE LIST & COLOR NEWS!

Posted on March 4, 2023 by mauistamper

Wooo! I’ve just seen the new Stampin’ Up! Color/Colour palette and we are in for some GOOD TIMES!! I’m not going to editorialize right now so I can get this out to you. Here’s a little teaser:

These new and returning colors are going to have a huge impact! I love all the new soft shades and the great assortment of neutrals coming in the 23-24 Annual Catalog.

That said, with so many new colors, we have to make room. Say farewell to Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Mint Macaron, Mango Melody, Bermuda Bay, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Pacific Point, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, and Merry Merlot. If any of those colors tug at your heart strings, SHOP NOW!! They won’t stick around!

Here are the retiring lists – click on the title to see the files:

LAST CHANCE PRODUCTS for the ANNUAL CATALOG

LAST CHANCE PRODUCTS for the January – April MINI CATALOG

These are the lists updated March 31 and are the most current lists.

The January-April Mini Catalog is available for one more month, so while you shop color, check your favorites here as well! Happy shopping.

The MINI POCKET ENVELOPE and the EASTER BUNNY

Posted on March 4, 2023 by mauistamper

The Easter bunny used to bring eggs when my kids were younger – real eggs we colored ourselves, and the plastic ones filled with chocolate and money. That doesn’t happen any more. Must be the price of eggs. Fortunately, this little mini pocket is just the right size for a gift card so that you can send a friend to the grocery store for a dozen.

Stamps: Easter Bunny, Thanks a Bunch (SAB 23, no longer available)
Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Soft Succulent, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Bunny Punch, Big Boss, Mini Pocket Envelope dies, Tailored Tag dies, Something Fancy dies, Country Gingham Designer Series paper, White Watercolor pencil, Stampin’ Dimensional, Tear n Tape (TNT), retired ribbon

Well, we really do love our punches! This bunny punch isn’t available until mid-May – too late for Easter 2023 – but if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one before they went out of stock, this project is for you!

A little bit of White Watercolor Pencil adds softness and definition to the bunny’s ears, belly and tail – obviously the softest parts of the bunny! A dab of Petal Pink in on the tip of the nose is just enough color – anything darker is too much (ask me how I know.)

This Mini Pocket die is big enough for a gift card, but it also holds a Tailored Tag quite nicely. I recently indulged in a SECOND set of dies. I make a lot of these, and I decided to cut my die-cutting time in half by cutting two at once. That was an excellent investment.

The mini pocket envelope is an all-season essential – shop for it at the Online Store.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

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. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves – like the bunny punch. Message me if you’d like to know when it’s back in stock. I’ve got a list and I’m checking it twice!

MARCH 2023 DIY: Love Cats

Posted on March 1, 2023 by mauistamper

I love these cats – and this one might be my favorite! (Who am I kidding? They’re ALL my favorites.) Getting those blended colors is a cinch with the Stamparatus. My March calendar will bring a smile to my face all month long.

Stamps: Love Cats, Plentiful Plants
Color Palette: Basic White, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Sweet Sorbet
Accessories: Stamparatus, Stampin’ Write markers, Stampin’ Blends, Dauber

I set up this Lazy Bones Jones on the Stamparatus and used a dauber to color him in with Crushed Curry. I repeated the process with Cajun Craze on his back, ears, tail and paws, then used an Early Espresso marker to fill in the curved line. The last pass with the Stamparatus was to use a Sweet Sorbet Stampin’ Write marker for the heart. I filled it in with a Stampin’ Blend – since I used the same color as the marker, a little smearing wouldn’t show.

The Plentiful Plants weren’t part of my original plan, but this guy looked like he was hanging out in a jungle. I stamped off the Old Olive so the color wouldn’t overwhelm my primary image.

I’m terribly fond of orange cats (don’t tell Bella & Gracie). We had an amazing tabby named Pookie who was more dog than cat, and I still miss him. There was a pretty epic post about him back in 2010.

He’s been gone for a long time now, but I still find myself stamping the Love Cats as orange cats. And now you can too! If you don’t have a Stamparatus, or the Love Cats stamps, or the colors you need to stamp a Pookie, you can find them HERE.

And now it’s time to visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they’re up to for March!

Our new line of Online Exclusive products debuts today. These products will be available only in the Online Store, not in a catalog, and feature new products as well as a few returning favorites. See the full range and order today!

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. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Shop HERE for your favorites.

A BEAUTIFULLY HAPPY NOTE CARD

Posted on February 24, 2023 by mauistamper

The Beautifully Happy Sale-a-bration stamp set didn’t catch my eye right away, but I saw someone else’s sample and…well, I’m pretty confident you know the end of that story. Before long it was at my doorstep! I paired it with our note cards and a little heat embossing:

Stamps: Beautifully Happy
Color Palette: Basic White, Pear Pizazz, Polished Pink
Accessories: Big Boss, Deckled Rectangle dies, Heat Tool, Embossing Tool Kit, White Embossing Powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I can’t remember the last time I made a card without Stampin’ Dimensionals. Huh.

Use a blender pen to wipe the ink off that white embossing powder so it won’t smear. And I used a lot of “dits” around this image, so I chose to stamp them off so that they would be more subtle. You can also stamp off the filler images that add the color inside the line drawings. It gives your project a softer look, especially when you’re using a bold color.

Sale-a-bration is nearly over. Beautifully Happy is one of the great options you can choose for FREE with a qualifying purchase. But don’t wait – February is almost over, and there is only one Sale-a-bration promotion in 2023. Shop and choose soon! See the choices HERE.

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. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Even better, when you place a qualifying order you will choose FREE Sale-a-bration products. Sale-a-bration ends February 28th and as always, those products are while supplies last.

The FASTEST CARDS YOU’LL EVER MAKE

Posted on February 21, 2023 by mauistamper

When a new pack of DSP comes out with borders that face each other across the top and bottom, I do a happy dance. Those papers are the foundations of the fastest cards I make!

Stamps: Dainty Delight (sentiment)
Color Palette: Basic White (inside panel) and either Starry Sky, Orchid Oasis or Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Paper, ink, and a stamp! Well, and Stampin’ Dimensionals and of course the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper from Sale-a-bration.

This paper is perfect for quick cards. I’ll cut 6 front panels that measure 4″ x 5 1/4″ from one sheet. Most often, I just measure 5 1/4″ from the bottom of the sheet, then rotate it 180° and repeat. Cut those 12″ strips into 3 panels, each 4″ wide and you have 6!

I made all of these up as Thank You notes, but here’s my little secret: I put them in my card box without a sentiment. It just takes a moment to cut a panel and a mat and stamp a sentiment. I’ll have just the card I need in 2 minutes flat.

The Dainty Flowers DSP is my favorite Sale-a-bration reward, and this paper is a big part of the reason why. If you don’t have this paper, try Awash in Beauty from the Annual Catalog – it has the same style of paper. Do yourself a favor and build a little card stash.

Dainty Flowers is sadly no longer available in North America but there are lots of other choices! Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase. See the choices HERE.

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. Don’t miss this kit!

EDEN’S GARDEN in MONOCHROME

Posted on February 18, 2023 by mauistamper

Eden’s Garden hasn’t seen much ink recently, but I needed a sympathy card and this starry Sky monochromatic design was just the thing:

Stamps: Eden’s Garden, Something Fancy
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Starry Sky
Accessories: Masking Paper, Dainty Flowers DSP – SAB 23, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I was inspired by Christie’s Stampin Spot and kept close to her design. This is a card I’ll make again to have on hand – it’s a design that lends itself to a variety of uses.

I also made a Crumb Cake version. I’m happy with it, but definitely prefer Starry Sky. The extra touch of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series paper really sets it off.

Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase during Sale-a-bration 2023. Everyone’s favorite Stampin’ Up! promotion ends February 28th. See the choices HERE.

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. Don’t miss this kit!

COUNTRY FLORAL with COLOR and CONTOUR

Posted on February 14, 2023 by mauistamper

Happy Valentines Day, my crafty friends! I have one more Valentine for you using the Country Floral Lane Designer Series Paper. This time I’ve paired it with the Color and Contour stamp set. It’s an older set so you might have it – you could whip this card up this afternoon for last minute giving! (Well. Assuming you have nothing else that is demanding of your time. Quite the assumption.)

Stamps: Color and Contour, Country Bouquet, Friendly Gnomes
Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Sweet Sorbet, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue
Accessories: Big Boss, Scalloped Contour dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Country Floral Lane Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Blends, White Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

You might have seen versions 1 and 2 of this card a few days ago in THIS post. The change in DSP makes a big difference – there’s a lot of (Balmy) Blue in this version and it just FEELS different. Gotta love our DSP.

I keep a stash of pre-cut Basic White panels measuring 4″ x 5 1/4″ next to my primary work space. All of my cards have an interior white panel, even if they’re a lighter color. I like the crisp look of that white panel on the interior, and I think it’s a beautiful finishing touch. It makes any interior stamping stand out as well.

To borrow a concept, I did a Love It Chop It move on this entire pack of DSP. I don’t always love EVERY design in a package, but I sure loved Floral Bouquet! It’s a great balance of large and small, monochromatic and colorful designs with very appealing colors. You might just need to get yourself a package to see.

There’s still time! You can make someone’s day a little brighter doing something you love! Give a Valentine or two to someone who won’t be expecting one. ❤️ And Happy Valentines Day from the Maui Stamper 😘

Sale-a-bration 2023 is a great time to stock up on basics – or add something new and special to your craft stash. Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase. See the choices HERE.

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. Don’t miss this kit!

ADORABLE OWLS in GINGHAM

Posted on February 10, 2023 by mauistamper

Gingham!! It’s timeless, it comes in limitless colors, and it’s a versatile design pattern. Today I’ve paired our Country Gingham 6×6 inch Designer Series paper (you need this!!) with some gingham ribbon and our Adorable Owls. I’ve love how it looks – what do you think??

Fun fact: the Gingham pattern was invented in the 1600’s with roots in Asia, possibly Malasia. After over 400 years of enduring popularity, I’d say it’s a pretty solid tradition!

Stamps: Adorable Owls (SAB 23), Rays of Light
Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry, Balmy Blue
Accessories: Big Boss, Stylish Shapes dies, Versamark Ink, Stampin’ Blends, Paper Snips, Black & White Gingham ribbon, Fine Sparkle Gems (retired, sorry!) Stampin’ Dimensionals

These are square cards measuring 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″. You can create an envelope to fit them precisely, but you’ll need to pay extra postage in the US for a non-machinable card. Or you can just grab our medium envelope and mail them in that – they don’t need to fill the whole thing!

Each of these owls has been fussy cut with Paper Snips. I know that’s a deal breaker for some crafters, but it’s not for me. Do what you love and be happy about it. If you don’t like to fussy cut, die cut that circle from Basic White card stock and add some stamping around the edge. Don’t stress, this is FUN.

The “Hoot hoot” owl has a sassy “come hither” backwards glance that cracks me up. And don’t let the prospect of coloring all these owls hold you back. They’re simple, and you can leave lots of white space as I did to simplify the task. Remember, we’re having FUN. (Says the Drill Sergeant Stamper.) The background stamp for this card is Spiral Dye, stamped again in Versamark. That’s one of my favorite ways to add texture – Versamark ink!

This owl was almost a tragedy. I colored the eyes with the Sweet Sorbet Stampin’ Blend marker, since that’s the color of the Gingham DSP. I IMMEDIATELY regretted my choice, as they had that creepy demon-in-the-night sort of look! I toned them down with a couple of the Natural Blends (sorry, don’t remember which ones as I was in a panic!!)

Do you see what I mean? Kinda spooky. But now you know, and you won’t make this mistake. (You’re welcome.)

There’s another mistake you don’t want to make: you don’t want to miss Sale-a-bration 2023! These owls are available as a free selection with a qualifying order, but only until February 28th. They’re not the only option, but I think they’re one of the best! And if you’ve already added them to your stampin’ ensemble, there are 10 new options available as SAB rewards. Whoooo’s ready to SHOP?

Be sure to subscribe by February 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The February kit has a sunny theme and includes everything you need to make 9 cards and envelopes. These cards are sure to brighten the day and for the first time ever, there are coordinating dies available as an add-on!

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. Don’t miss this kit!

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: January April 23 Mini

2023 DIY Easel Calendar Year in Review

QUEEN BEE

LAST CHANCE LIST & COLOR NEWS!

The MINI POCKET ENVELOPE and the EASTER BUNNY

MARCH 2023 DIY: Love Cats

A BEAUTIFULLY HAPPY NOTE CARD

The FASTEST CARDS YOU’LL EVER MAKE

EDEN’S GARDEN in MONOCHROME

COUNTRY FLORAL with COLOR and CONTOUR

ADORABLE OWLS in GINGHAM

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