RemARKable Memory Keeping

Posted on May 8, 2014 by mauistamper

Welcome to the May edition of the RemARKable blog tour!

It’s National Scrapbooking month and that’s our topic for the tour. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’ve only completed one scrapbook – ever – and it was intended to be Volume I of 2 to document a two-part family vacation. While I love photos – and have boxes, bags and stacks of them – I struggle with putting them together.

Our collaboration with Project Life inspired me, and I decided to drag out a photo collage frame that’s been gathering dust and pair it with some of the Project Life by Stampin’ Up! products to see what would happen:

To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement! I love the journaling cards, I love the embellishments, I love the colors, and I love the stamps! (I know, that’s a lotta lovin’). This went together REALLY quickly.

The card on the right is straight out of the box, matted and stuck into the opening. The red word bubble and the little red heart are from the Point and Click photopolymer stamp set.

Stamps, stickers, cards…it went together in about a half an hour. SERIOUSLY.

I took all the words and mashed them up for a simple embellishment – and then I had an inspiration. I took all the pieces OUT of the frames…

I know it’s hard to see, but these are the Project Life 12×12 photo pages. I did the happy dance when I realized I had finally found a solution for my bags, boxes and stacks!

I had to play with one more set of photos – these are pretty special to me:

It’s been almost a year and a half since our oldest daughter was married. These photos will slip out of the frame and right into Project Life pages – you have no idea how this delights me!

The wedding invitations were hand-stamped – SURPRISE! – and I had a few extra inserts left over.

I also had a bit of lace and some tulle from my daughter’s dress that will tuck into the pages. A few stamped images (and oh, will I miss Loving Thoughts) and this was done.

What I love about the Project Life concept is that it’s so flexible. It can be anything you need it to be! The objective is to record the memories in a way that can be shared – or re-visited – to keep the emotion of the moment alive.

Enjoy the rest of the tour – Audra Monk is next, but the rest of the tour is at the bottom of the post in case you want to go your own way! Thanks for stopping by.

Nancy Amato
Missy Bolinger
Tamra Davis
Sherri Eddleblute
Anne Matasci     YOU ARE HERE
Audra Monk
Maria Pane
Andi Potler
Michele Reynolds
Pam Staples

Convention Swap: Over the Top Tags

Posted on August 14, 2013 by mauistamper

I forgot to share my last organized Convention Swap project!

Postage Due and Loving Thoughts stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, and Sahara Sand card stock
Vellum card stock
Silver Glimmer paper
Calypso Coral and Sahara Sand FFIP
Big Shot
Dress Up and Window Frame Framelits
Fancy Fan TIEF
Bitty Punch pack, Word Window and 1 inch circle punches
Pearl and Rhinestone Jewels
Stampin’ Sponges
Calypso Coral Bakers Twine

This tag measures 3 1/2 x 6 inches. The two base layers were shaped using the Window Frame framelits – just cut your card stock to the width of the framelit, place the framelit at the top of the panel and run into your Big Shot just far enough to cut the top, then back it out.

Love that glimmer paper – I haven’t used it much lately, but Sparkle Season is coming!!

This swap produced absolutely gorgeous samples – thank you, ladies in Group 1- and a special thanks to my swap angel, Lynn Marshall, who stepped in to actually swap my tags when I developed a time conflict.

Convention Swaps: Vintage Card

Posted on July 27, 2013 by mauistamper

I really love swapping at Convention each year. I participate in organized swaps for the challenge and quality of swaps received, and I participate in general floor swapping because it’s such fun and it’s a great way to meet new people.

Today’s card is a swap I made for the Very Vintage Swap run by Barbara Welch. I received GORGEOUS swaps in return – everyone did an outstanding job. Hope they liked my card!

Apothecary Art, Loving Thoughts and Affection Collection stamp sets
Naturals Ivory, Pool Party and Crumb Cake card stock
Crumb Cake FFIP
Pool Party Stampin’ Write Marker
Uniball Signo White Gel Pen
Big Shot
Apothecary Accents and Labels Collection Framelits
Beautifully Baroque TIEF
Finishing Touches Edgelits
Tea Lace paper doilies
Pool Party Seam Binding
Linen Thread
Very Vintage Designer Buttons (how could I not?)
Vanilla Smooch Spritz
7/8″ scallop circle punch
silver brads
Stampin’ Sponges
Stampin’ Dimensionals

This card was a labor of love, and I enjoyed every minute of it. One thing I’ve learned over time is that swaps with small group sizes (this one was only 12) are more enjoyable to create and seem to produce better results. It’s just no fun to make 120 of the same card, at least in my opinion!

I’ll be featuring this card in class on Saturday, August 24th if you’d like to make one for yourself. All products are Stampin’ Up!, of course 🙂

It’s RemARKable By the Tide

Posted on May 11, 2013 by mauistamper

Welcome to another Stamp of the Month RemARKable Blog Tour! If you’re starting the tour here at the Maui Stamper, our featured set this month is By the Tide. We hope you’ll enjoy the creative expressions of this talented group of stampers.

Not sure what it was that inspired me to start embossing but I nearly burned down the studio with my heat gun, I embossed so many images! This seashell was embossed with Irridescent Ice embossing powder on Very Vanilla cardstock and was then sponged with Island Indigo. The sparkle is hard to see in the photo, but it’s there in real life.

A Baja Breeze card base (say au revoir to Baja Breeze!), a little 1/8 inch Very Vanilla ribbon and some stamped – and stamped-off – coral branches are all it took to finish this card off. The sentiment is from Loving Thoughts, with those beautiful script capital letters.

I tried over and over to capture this card, but my little camera was having nothing of it. Trust me when I say that the embossed coral image – again in Irridescent Ice – is sparkley and elegant and would be perfect to attach to a wedding gift.

There. Can you see it now? At least you get the idea, right? And Best Wishes is from Petite Pairs, a very useful little set to have on your stamp shelf.

I got a little bit giddy with this last card. I used clear embossing powder for the coral image (have you guessed which image I like the very best in this set?). I stamped some sea horses and cut one of them out, and then I started playing with my ink pads and some Stampin’ Sponges. The results surprised me – this is Lucky Limeade and Baja Breeze ink:

The yellow and green tones were much stronger than I expected, but I liked the finished card all the same. I think they call that serendipity 🙂

Time to sail on over to the Trinity Design Studio and see what Robin is up to. I’m sure she has a briny treat in store for you. Thanks for making the tour with us today!

Memories and messages from the guests

Posted on February 13, 2013 by mauistamper

My daughter’s wedding was a very personal event. She and Clarence had many choices to make, but each of them had a very personal touch. They were looking for a different sort of guest book – not the traditional “sign your name” variety. Since everything had to go back to Australia (boo!) after the wedding, we didn’t think one of those big photo mats would work. I came up with the idea to encourage each guest to write a little “love note” to the bride and groom, and of course they couldn’t write those notes on scratch paper:

Once again the fabulous Needlepoint Border TIEF added just the right touch!

I used stamps from the Summer Silhouette, Loving Thoughts, and Everything Eleanor stamp sets to embellish the cards. One was at each place setting along with a sign designed by Crystal:

These signs were printed 3×5 inches on Very Vanilla card stock and were put on small table tents, two per table. The guests drew, told stories, gave advice, and created a wonderful reminder for the bride and groom. I didn’t get a photo before they left, but when all the cards were gathered together I created a front and back cover and made a book to hold all these wonderful messages.

Checking in from South Bend…

Posted on August 17, 2012 by mauistamper

I can’t begin to tell you all of the things that have taken place in the past month. Let’s just say there have been amazing peaks and terrifying valleys and I am grateful that we are all where we are today. Mr Maui Stamper and I are in the midst of fledging the last little stamper – well, he wouldn’t care for that title – let’s call him Son of Stamper 🙂 He is moved into his new home in the dorms at Notre Dame and tomorrow we begin Freshman Orientation, which is targeted to the parents as much as to the newly admitted students. Our oldest daughter graduated from ND in 2009 so this familiar territory. Notre Dame is a very special place and we have already had so many affirmations that our son is right where he belongs. Thank you to all of you who have kept my family in your prayers.

Through the recent ups and downs I did manage to do a little bit of stamping – when I was able to get back to stamping that’s when I knew life was regaining a semblance of normalcy. A couple of weeks ago I had a special day of stamping for the Maui Stamper All Stars, the teammates that promoted this past year. One of our projects was inspired by Sara Douglass’ convention demonstration:

LOVE those new Flourish Designer frames from the Holiday Mini catalog! They are absolutely beautiful and they have just enough give that you can curve them to fit around the shape of the Mason jar. (Hint: if you’re going to do that, shape them BEFORE you attach them to the jar – much easier – ask me how I know!)

I cut a scallop circle from our Twitterpated fabric for the top, attached ribbon to the rim with sticky strip, and sewed a button through Cherry Cobbler scalloped dotted ribbon to embellish the top.

I think Summer Silhouettes is my favorite new stamp set this year. Just remember you heard it from me first!

I made some bookmarks to put inside. I wanted something a little unexpected. At convention, Sara put a vintage photo inside. I really liked that concept, but since we were doing this as a group project I wanted it to be fun and stress free for my team – no searching for that perfect photo!!

It’s late and we’ve had a very full day. I think we’ve made 4 trips to a certain popular “You want it, we’ve got it” type of store as well as half a dozen other stops. If Son of Stamper doesn’t have it now, he doesn’t need it. We were blessed with a beautiful day on this beautiful campus – I think you’ll agree:

Go Irish!

Everyone needs a Reason to Smile…

Posted on July 6, 2012 by mauistamper

And who wouldn’t smile about a beautiful stamp set for only $5??

During the month of July you can own A Reason to Smile for only $5 (wood or clear) with a Stampin’ Up! purchase of $50. This exclusive stamp set is ONLY available this month so don’t delay your order!

Would you like to see what I did with this set?

Reason to Smile and Loving Thoughts stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Regal Rose and Soft Suede card stock
First Edition Designer Series Paper
Soft Suede and Regal Rose FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
Aquapainter and Regal Rose Classic Ink Refill
Piercing Tool and Template
Rhinestone Jewels
Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
Sponge Daubers
Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon (retired)

These daisies are dancing-in-the-breeze kind of daisies – they have a lot of movement. This set is a Two-Step set and comes with an image to fill the flower, but I wanted more control over the color contrast in the petals so I used the aquapainter.

Hmmm. I think it needs a splash or two from the Color Spritzer.

Remember the details:

Reason to Smile wood (#131274)
Reason to Smile clear mount (#131275)
Either one only $5 when you order any $50 in Stampin’ Up! products
Available through July 31st! One per customer

Shop HERE!

Happily Mauied

Posted on April 11, 2012 by mauistamper

Mr Maui Stamper and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary last week. It’s hard for me to believe that many years have gone by! Math has never been a strong point for me, and clearly there’s some sort of mistake here. I’m barely 30 years old myself – right???

Making a card with Designer Series Paper called Mocha Morning was clearly the perfect choice for a couple of coffee lovers:

The geometric layout and neutral color scheme give this card it’s strong masculine theme despite a curly-cue or two. And since this was a hand-delivered card, I got out a big Neutrals Designer Button for the front. I know you can attach buttons with glue dots, but I much prefer stitching them on. It doesn’t take all that long to make a couple of holes with the Pokey Doodle (Thank you, Heather Summers!) and thread a little Linen Thread through the holes and make a knot. I like knowing that button isn’t going to fall off.

There was a little part of his present that I didn’t have on hand to put in his package (yes, there might be one or two disadvantages to living 2500 miles out in the Pacific Ocean!!) I made a coordinating 3×3 notecard to tell him about it:

Who takes these photos anyway? Operator error. I would never take such a crooked photo.

By the way, if you’re one of those Plan Ahead sorts of people, scoot yourself on over to the Clearance Rack. Lots of beautiful accessories and gorgeous holiday products at GREAT prices! Clearance Rack merchandise is only available through the Online Store because supplies are so limited, so if you love it, buy it! You won’t regret it 🙂

New Big Shot goodies

Posted on February 10, 2012 by mauistamper

Every time there’s new Big Shot stuff, I have a little conversation with myself. (And yes, I do talk to myself – mutter is more like it – ask Cheryl if you don’t believe me.) We go back and forth, my selves and I, on why we need more stuff for the Big Shot. It’s just another shape…or texture…or container…and that’s just it. It’s why I signed up to be a demonstrator. I love getting all the cool new toys.

The Occasions Mini catalog introduced us to the world of Edgelits that cut beautiful, unique shapes on the edges of cardstock and coordinated Embossing Folders to put on the finishing touches. It’s enough to make a crafter light-headed.

Loving Thoughts and Bordering on Romance Stamp sets
Whisper White Card Stock
Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
Soft Suede and Poppy Parade Classic Ink pad
Poppy Parade, Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze and Peach Parfait Stampin’ Write markers
Big Shot
Adorning Accents Edgelits dies
Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Cutting and embossing these edges goes really quickly. The Edgelit dies are lightweight and easy to position – I’ve heard some crafters say they use a little dotto to hold them in place, but I haven’t found the need to do that…and I’m kind of picky.

I usually like to color in open images with my Aquapainter and some Classic ink, but I looked at this card and thought the saturated colors in the DSP needed equally saturated colors on the card front. Our paper is so easy to work with – it’s smooth and the markers just glide across. I try to cover the area with a single stroke ( no back-and-forth) to avoid distressing the paper or creating too many lines in my color. The more I do it, the better I get – if I do say so myself!

Simple, with a dash of sparkle

Posted on February 8, 2012 by mauistamper

Valentine’s Day is on the way, and I need to get cards in the mail. It’s an occupational hazard of living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – so many of the people I love live across the water. I’ve been hard at work:

Loving Thoughts Stamp Set
Whisper White and Real Red card stock
Real Red Prints Pack Designer Series Paper
Red Glimmer Paper
Triple Heart Punch
Bitty Heart Punch
5/8 inch Real Red satin ribbon
Stampin’ Dimensional

This is easy as can be and a quick switch into other colors as well! It was inspired by a series of cards done by Lisa at I’m in Haven – go check them out as she did some gorgeous cards using this punch. I haven’t decided if I like this oriented with the little hearts in the center – I think I may make another card with them tuned the other way. It’s an organizational thing 🙂

You could easily leave off that sparkly, blingy heart – but why?

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: Loving Thoughts

RemARKable Memory Keeping

Convention Swap: Over the Top Tags

Convention Swaps: Vintage Card

It’s RemARKable By the Tide

Memories and messages from the guests

Checking in from South Bend…

Everyone needs a Reason to Smile…

Happily Mauied

New Big Shot goodies

Simple, with a dash of sparkle

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