Crazy for Cupcakes

Posted on October 7, 2010 by mauistamper

Is it any wonder that cupcakes are so trendy? They’re just the right size to fit in the palm of your hand and can generally be eaten in just a few bites. We were in Santa Clara a short time ago celebrating a very special family birthday, and my fabulous Sister-in-Law introduced me to Kara’s Cupcakes at Santana Row. It’s a good thing I live 2500 miles away – I’m a Weight Watchers® leader, for goodness sake! I can’t recommend the Coconut cupcakes. Or the Chocolate Velvet cupcakes. And whatever you do, avoid the Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Ganache cupcakes at all costs. I warned you.

Phew. OK. Let’s get to the card:

Crazy for Cupcakes, On a Pedestal and All Holidays stamp sets
Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, and Whisper White card stock
Play Date Designer Series Paper
Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi Classic ink pads
Wild Wasabi and So Saffron Stampin’ Write markers
So Saffron 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon (retired)
Scallop Edge punch
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder

Clearly I have cupcakes on the brain. Sara, can you get home this weekend to bake a batch? (I know, I know, I just need to send you the ticket. Sigh.) I pieced the cupcake paper to match the layer behind the focal point. It’s really simple with this set – just stamp the cupcake on your DSP and trim out the part of the image that you want.

This looks good and contains no calories. I should be happy. Yes, I should.

My morning cuppa

Posted on September 10, 2010 by mauistamper

If you know me, you know I love coffee. I’m a teeny tiny bit of a coffee snob – can’t drink just anything. If the coffee is weak I’ll pass. I brew what I refer to as “Manly Coffee”, and if it’s too strong for you, there’s the hot water!

I need that first cup to make any sense in the morning, especially if I have to be up early. I love the smell, I love the taste, and I admit it, I love the oomph from my morning cuppa. My daughters used to give me a bad time about my coffee addiciton, but college life silenced that. The oldest tried to deny she was addicted – I think her exact words were “I’m not addicted, I’m just dependent” – but I’m under no such illusions. I need my coffee.

Morning Cup stamp set
Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, and (OF COURSE) Early Espresso card stock
Early Espresso Classic ink pad
Blender pens and Stampin’ Pastels
Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dot Impressions folder

I made a serendipitous discovery: Many of our retired Stampin’ Pastel colors can pass for some of our new Color Renovation colors. The pastel chalk colors are soft and you can layer them to the depth of color that you want.

Simple Circles

Posted on September 3, 2010 by mauistamper

I brought home a lot of great samples from convention. They’ve been a source of inspiration for classes and workshops, and this card is a double dipper. There were two different cards that used the “circle-as-flower” technique, and I adapted it even further:

Circle Circus and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stock
Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
XL Two Step Bird and Modern Label punches; 1 3/4, 1 1/4 and 3/4 inch circle punches

This is about as easy as it gets. Stamp 3 circles, punch 3 circles, add 3 little scraps for stems and 3 little leaves (do you recognize the wing and a leaf from the XL Two Step Bird punch?) Sahara Sand is such a neutral color that it takes what could be a very femine card and makes it relatively neutral. If you wanted it to be masculine, you’d need to pull out your Shades-of-Blue stamp pads but that wouldn’t be so difficult, would it?

The things we do for love

Posted on January 24, 2010 by mauistamper

My dear friend and partner-in-crime has made an offer on a wonderful home almost 50 minutes away. Here on Maui, that’s the kind of trip that requires an overnight bag. She lives less than 5 minutes away right now, so this move is something of a shock to us both. I went out to see the “estate” with her last week – it’s 2 acres – and we were both inspired with all sorts of fabulous decorating ideas. There could never be enough money to satisfy our imaginations, but we did agree on a color concept.

Vintage Vogue Clear Mount Stamp set
Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay and Naturals Ivory Card stock
Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads; Pretty in Pink Stampin’ Write marker
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder
Pretty in Pink 1/2″ Epoxy Sending Love brads
Crop-a-dile

I’m trying REALLY hard to be supportive, so I designed this card based on her colors. She’ll have to select a carpet before she makes a final decision between a Soft Suede kind of accent or a Close to Cocoa kind of accent. (You know you’re a serious Stampin’ Up! stamper when you use those alliterative color names to describe colors you see out in the Real World.)

There’s lots of wall space in this new house and Decor Elements will help fill it up without the cost of artwork, framing, and holes pounded in freshly painted walls. I’ll have to pack my bags and leave a freezer full of meals so I can take my trusty Decor Elements Applicator out to Haiku. Change is good. Right??