Tag Archives: Painted Poppies

Backstage 2022 New Orleans: Count on Me

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One of the genuine delights of any gathering of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators is swapping. I’ve been in New Orleans this week for Backstage, our annual gathering of leaders. You KNOW there was some fabulous swapping going on! Here’s a card I brought:

#mauistamper #stampinup #countonme #diy #handmadecard #stampinblends #paintedpoppies #sunprints
  • Stamps: Count on Me, Painted Poppies
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Deckle Rectangle dies, Stampin’ Blends, Sun Prints DSP, Linen Thread, Stampin’ Dimensionals

This card actually began as a Stampin’ Blends practice project. I wanted to work on shading, and that bear was my subject. I really liked the way it turned out, but it sat on my craft desk for a long time waiting for the right moment. When I started thinking about swaps, this card came together almost by itself.

Backstage has allowed the demonstrator leaders to finally able to meet one another in person. Covid has limited our opportunities to gather, and I’m sure many of you will agree that virtual gatherings only go so far. Since Stampin’ Up! is a multi-national organization, I’ve had the chance to meet fellow demonstrators from Europe and the South Pacific as well as the U.S and Canada this week. To say it’s been amazing would be an understatement.

I had such a good time with the bear, I decided to try the kangaroo as well. My eldest daughter is an Aussie, so the ‘roo is practically a member of the family.

In terms of coloring, this is actually a relatively simple project – just the critter and the poppies. There’s enough shading to keep it interesting, but not so much that you can’t do a few for some of your best new friends in the world.

Ready to color your own bears and ‘roos? Count on Me is a bit of a catalog sleeper – give it a chance. Shop HERE.

Maui Stamper 2023 DIY Easel Calendar template $5

The 2023 DIY Template is now available! 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.

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

MauiStamper Stampin' Up! Spooky Treats Paper Pumpkin DIY Craft Kit

Be sure to subscribe by September 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The September kit is perfect to get ready for Trick or Treat. It makes 18 treat boxes for your favorite little ghosties and goblins.

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!

Sale-a-bration 22v2 is up and running! Whether your tastes are whimsical, romantic, or outdoorsy, everyone will find stamps to enjoy for free! But wait – there’s more! Designer series paper and dies that coordinate with our stamps are options when you spend $50 usd. On August 2nd an fresh set of products was added to the rewards offerings. Time to go shopping! See the choices HERE.

Our Mini Catalog is packed with new designs and products to inspire and delight. There’s something for everyone, and one of my favorite Do Not Miss This products is our Embossing Additions Tool Kit with all the tools you’ll need for perfect results. Shop the Mini Catalog and then choose your Sale-a-bration reward!

Stampin’ Up! always has a bonus joining offer during Sale-a-bration, and this one is really special! You’ll receive a gorgeous planner, 3 coordinating notebooks, and an exclusive stamp set to help organize your projects, your priorities, and your plans! You don’t need to make a business out of this to enjoy your new planner.

Becoming a demonstrator is ALWAYS a great value – the kit itself includes $125 of product (you choose every bit of it) for $99. It also includes catalogs and other business supplies should you choose to share what you love doing. But the icing on the cake is the discount that every demonstrator earns on every single order. There’s no long-term commitment – let’s chat and see if this makes sense for you! Contact me to learn more. Ready to sign up? JOIN HERE.

August 2022 DIY: Count on Me

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Our stamps coordinate perfectly within in a set, but I get a tingle when I find new ways to combine stamps between sets. This is a perfect example: Count on Me + Painted Poppies!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 2022 DIY Easel Calendar Painted-Poppies Count-on-Me
  • Count on Me, Painted Poppies
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade
  • Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Paper Snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals

They’re poppies. I had to use Poppy Parade!

This is a simple project, if you don’t count fussy cutting the bear. Nearly all of my calendars are simple by nature, and I that’s why I love making them. AND I have news: The 2023 template is ready!

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! 2022 DIY Easel Calendar Painted-Poppies Count-on-Me

There’s something really sweet about this bear looking over its shoulder. This calendar will make me happy all month long.

Want more calendar happiness? Take a moment to see what Cheryl and Crystal have created for August.

Maui Stamper 2023 DIY Easel Calendar template $5

Some of you have been patiently waiting – the 2023 DIY Template is now available! 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.

Contact me to make your payment – I use Square to invoice, and it doesn’t require an account to use.

Be sure to subscribe by August 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The August kit is awash with sunflowers, and includes bonus shimmy gold honeycomb embellishments for your crafting delight. 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!

Sale-a-bration 22v2 is up and running! Whether your tastes are whimsical, romantic, or outdoorsy, everyone will find stamps to enjoy for free! But wait – there’s more! Designer series paper and dies that coordinate with our stamps are options when you spend $50 usd. Time to go shopping! See the choices HERE.

Our Mini Catalog is packed with new designs and products to inspire and delight. There’s something for everyone, and one of my favorite Do-Not-Miss-This products is our Embossing Additions Tool Kit with all the tools you’ll need for perfect results. Shop the Mini Catalog and then choose your Sale-a-bration reward!

Stampin’ Up! always has a bonus joining offer during Sale-a-bration, and this one is really special! You’ll receive a gorgeous planner, 3 coordinating notebooks, and an exclusive stamp set to help organize your projects, your priorities, and your plans! You don’t need to make a business out of this to enjoy your new planner.

Becoming a demonstrator is ALWAYS a great value – the kit itself includes $125 of product (you choose every bit of it) for $99. It also includes catalogs and other business supplies should you choose to share what you love doing. But the icing on the cake is the discount that every demonstrator earns on every single order. There’s no long-term commitment – let’s chat and see if this makes sense for you! Contact me to learn more. Ready to sign up? JOIN HERE.

Pretty Perennial Petals

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The four-petal flower in Pretty Perennials makes me think of dogwood, a flower I loved when I lived in Northern California. There are others that are only four petals, but that shape isn’t typical for a flower. I wanted to explore this simple stamped image:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennial Petals
  • Stamps: Pretty Perennials, Painted Poppies
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Pear Pizazz, Pale Papaya, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Perennial Petals dies, Painted Blooms dies, Sunflowers dies, Vellum card stock, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Champagne Rhinestones, Crinkled White Ribbon

I like to stamp and die cut multiple colors of the same image as a source of inspiration. I think it’s pretty funny that these three tones are so complimentary and so edible – and so is Pear Pizazz! It’s practically fruit salad.

When you look at these flowers on the card, they have a lovely, flowing color. Look a little closer and you’ll see they’re screened, and that’s what softens the intensity of the color and allows it to have so much depth.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennial Petals

This version uses Daffodil Delight, Gorgeous Grape, and Highland Heathy, with a little Soft Sea Foam as an accent. I really like yellow and purple together, and this combination really pops.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennial Petals

The white centers are from the last mini catalog in the All the Trimmings suite. I gave them a little swipe of Wink of Stella for some sparkle. I love that we offer more flat style embellishments so that they don’t get held up in the USPS letter sorting equipment!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennial Petals

This is a bright and happy card for someone who loves color! That’s our new In Colors Fresh Freesia and Polished Pink with Melon Mambo. I used the Greenery Embossing folders on the main panel – they fit perfectly in the Baby Boss! And while they’re not as flat as other embellishments, I do love the class of our Matte Black Dots.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Pretty Perennial Petals

I’ve fussy cut enough of these “happy” sentiments that I’m starting to get pretty fast with the task, but it’s still a bit of a labor of love. Good thing I love the way it looks when it’s done, don’t you think?

Does the four petal flower deserve a place in your craft room? Which color combination do you like the best? I’ve got a stack of a dozen or so more petals, and I hope to turn them all into HAPPY mail this weekend. If you’re ready for a little happy of your own, please shop at my Online Store.

Painted Poppies Split Card

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I playing with the Split Card technique again. Sometimes I like my results, and sometimes I don’t. Therein lies the beauty of paper-craft: paper, in general, is cheap. Don’t like it? Throw it away! The Split Cards I made with Painted Poppies were keepers:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies Split Card technique

Working with Stampin’ Blends allows you to get deep, intense images while still allowing you highlights and shadows. The bold colors of this card pop right off the page! I stamped the flowers with Poppy Parade ink, then used my Poppy Parade Blends to color them in. I did the same with the leaves in Mossy Meadow. Since I used the same color to stamp the image as to color it in, I didn’t have to worry if the outline ran a little.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies Split Card technique

This card front was a split card project so I had another side to color. I chose to go the opposite direction and use colored pencils. They are much more nuanced, and allowed me to create a much softer look:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies Split Card technique

The color palette is the same, but I used our Watercolor Pencils and a Blender pen to create this more subdued look. The sentiment is from Beautiful Friendship, and the trim is our new Braided Red Linen. I also slipped in a few splooshes (that is the technical term, btw) from the Forever Fern stamp set.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies Split Card technique

You can fluff and stretch and unravel that red trim to get a BUNCH of different looks. The natural linen is still my favorite, but this is going to be a great addition to my embellishment stash.

So tell me, what do you think? Do you like the bold, intense poppies, or do you prefer the gentler version? I want to try this again using watercolor paper and our new Water Painters. The possibilities are endless! It’s amazing I ever get anything done.

Need supplies for your next project? Shop HERE.

All the New In Colors

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My first full-catalog order arrived this afternoon and I WAS READY:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

This card was designed, cut and ready for my 2020-2022 In Color inks and blends! It doesn’t often happen that way, but I was inspired by these gorgeous colors. I love the statement it makes when you feature a single color with black and white accents. (Note to self: Magenta Madness is VERY pink!)

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

Oh, Magenta Madness is glorious! I love this sentiment from the Peaceful Moments stamp set, because it sets the stage for just about any message – thank you, thinking of you, happy birthday, you name it. I’ll add an additional sentiment on the inside of these cards when it’s time to send them.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

Stampin’ Up! hasn’t produced a Bumble Bee Stampin’ Blend, so I used Daffodil Delight with a little Mango Melody. You could easily use Stampin’ Write markers to color this image.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

Any of the designs available with this DSP would work well for this technique, but I chose the dots because they echoed the repetition of the poppy blooms on the stems.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

I wasn’t sure how Cinnamon Cider would work for this card, but I’m very happy with it! It reminds me of a vine that is quite common (actually it’s invasive) here in Hawaii called wood rose. The flower is yellow, but the seed pod looks like a soft wooden flower.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up 2020-2022 In Color Collection Painted Poppies

I don’t want to play favorites, but I *think* Just Jade is going to be my go-to In Color for this new suite of colors. It’s not as bright as Bermuda Bay and I can’t wait to explore new color combinations.

That’s today’s In Color Suite – what do you think? If you’re ready to shop, consider two specials going on for the month of June. A workshop or single order that reaches the $250 level gets an extra $25 of Host Rewards. I’m hosting events on Zoom with great success, and if you’re interested I would be delighted to talk about how we could make that work for you.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up June 2020 Bonus Host Dollars

If your shopping list is over $99, it’s a great time to sign up as a demonstrator. Your $99 kit includes your choice of $125 of Stampin’ Up! product, a selection of business supplies, and through June 30, you’ll add another stamp/die or stamp/punch bundle at no additional cost. There’s no obligation beyond purchasing the kit, but every order you place once you’ve signed up is discounted a minimum of 20%.

Maui Stamper Stampin' Up! Recruits Get a Free Bundle 06-2020

There are so many choices! It’s a good problem to have, don’t you think?

A Chunky Lamb for April

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Happy First of April!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up DIY Easel Calendar April 2020
Maui Stamper Stampin Up DIY Easel Calendar April 2020

I’m smitten with this little sheep, with her posture and her fluffiness. I can’t decide if she’s doing a seated wide angle yoga pose (Upavista Konasana) or if she’s a cheerleader doing the splits, but I know this: she’s pretty flexible!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up DIY Easel Calendar April 2020

Crystal and Cheryl have calendars to share as well on this April morning. Please stop by and say hello! And if you need a little Wink of Stella or your own Chunky Lamb, please shop HERE. There’s also a brand new early release suite from the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog called Ornate Garden – be sure you check it out! That big bold THANK YOU is going to be amazing.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornate Garden

Sparkly Ladybugs for March

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Little Ladybugs is a charming collection of images suitable for young and old alike. I think that makes it perfect for my March DIY Easel calendar!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Ladybug March 2020 DIY Easel Calendar
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Ladybug March 2020 DIY Easel Calendar

I used my Snips to fussy cut all the Ladybugs (Officially Lady Bird Beetle, from the family Coccinellidae. (There are dies, I just didn’t have them at hand!) If you are using anything other than Stampin’ Up! paper snips, do yourself a ginormous favor and spend the $10. You won’t believe how they will Change Your Life.

I’ve seen a lot of them colored with red wings, but I just couldn’t do it. This girl clearly has her hands full with those four roly-polys, and she needs a little sparkle to get through the day. I certainly would.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Ladybug March 2020 DIY Easel Calendar

I’ ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (and again, and again). That field of poppies image from Peaceful Poppies might just be the best image in the entire January – June spring catalog.

If you’d like your own 2020 template, click on “Contact the Maui Stamper” and I’ll send you an invoice. For $5, you can print all the calendar pages you’d like! And for those of you EARLY BIRDS who are looking for 2021, hold on! We’ll get there, I promise, and you’ll be the first to know.

Stop by to see what Cheryl and Crystal are doing for March. If you’re ready to do a little shopping to start the month of right, head over to the Online Store.

Poppies 101

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I’m pretty obsessed with these poppies right now:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies

It’s difficult to see the texture from the embossing folder because, well, it’s SUBTLE, but in person it really makes a difference. I think the Subtle EF is my favorite of our entire line because it works on any type of card. It gives you the ability to have textured card stock in any color at your fingertips, and I often reach for it to lift a simpler card up a step.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies

At first, I had a little trouble with the filler stamp for the poppy. I lean towards OCD (my daughter says she’s a recovering perfectionist, and that describes me too). The filler doesn’t “match” and the texture is uneven. I ended up stamping it twice over the Memento Black outline, rotating the filler stamp a quarter turn for the second impression. That gave me a little more coverage and depth, and I was happy with the result.

If you haven’t ordered the Painted Poppies bundle yet, you need to know that the Painted Labels dies are currently on backorder. The Peaceful Moments bundle is in Low Inventory status, meaning it is approaching backorder. Once the backorders reach a pre-determined level, Stampin’ Up! will make the product unavailable until the backorders are received in the warehouse. It helps manage costs and expectations, but if you like this set, save yourself some disappointment and get in line HERE.

Painted Poppy Fields

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As I mentioned in Two Poppies Four Ways, I think this image of stemmed poppies is the most versatile in the entire suite.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies

This is a fast card – even the coloring with the Blends goes quickly. The main panel is applied to the black mat, and that assembly is lifted with Stampin’ Dimensionals to create more focus. The ribbon looks red in the photo, but trust me, it’s as Lovely a Lipstick as they come!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Painted Poppies

You can see I didn’t worry too much about coloring inside the lines. That’s actually one of my goals this year – not to be so fussy. 9 times out of 10 it doesn’t matter! My goal is to get the cards made and in the mailbox, and that’s where this one is headed.

If you need some quick cards and you’re need a little somethin’ to pull it all together, shop HERE.

Two Poppies Four Ways

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Our two Poppy bundles are clearly meant to work together, and spent a happy afternoon last week putting them through their paces. I was pleased with the results, and especially impressed with how well all the pieces in both sets of stamps and dies work together:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Peaceful Moments

It’s almost a tragedy to use the reverse side of the Golden Honey Specialty DSP. The stripes are really the “B” side, and the “A” side is all buzzing bees and golden swirls and general delightfulness. But the bees are too large and distracting for this application, and the stripes are just right, so the sacrifice Must Be Made. Fortunately, I have stashed away a couple of packages of this paper and I don’t feel too badly about this decision.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Peaceful Moments

Once the card was designed, it was a short leap to move to other colorways. This is Coastal Cabana and Pool Party, and uses Glitter Enamel Dots instead of the Champagne Rhinestones. Those Enamel Dots are sadly overlooked in my opinion – they have just the right amount of sparkle, they come with multiple sizes on the sheet, and are packaged in very trendy colors!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Peaceful Moments

One of the things Stampin’ Up! does VERY well is color – especially tonal colors. This is Rococco Rose and Blushing Bride. If you are VERY observant, you’ve noticed the change in the label – this isn’t the punch, but the label from the Painted Labels dies in the Painted Poppies Bundle. The two Poppy bundles combined are a complete crafting suite, with images, sentiments, shaped dies and labels included.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Peaceful Moments

This last combination is Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather. I played with the color roles in this one, reversing the background color from the large flower to the smaller one, and I like the effect. It’s hard to see with the black card stock, but there is a layer to the leaf as well – these dies are really thoughtfully made!

I used our Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes for these cards, so they’re a little more petite at 3 1/2″ x 5″. They are accepted as First Class USPS mail, too. The back flap of the envelope was the ideal size for two rows of those fabulous tall-stemmed poppies – I think that image may be the most versatile one of the entire suite.

What’s your favorite combination? There are many more options in the Stampin’ Up! color palette, and it would be fun to make a Poppy Rainbow. Hmm…

Ready to shop? All of the products are available HERE with the regrettable exception of the Champagne Rhinestones. They have been so popular that they have exceed the backorder allocation and are currently unavailable to order. Current expected availability is late March, so in the meantime, we will have to be creative with Glitter Enamel Dots!