Chalk this one up: It’s RemARKable!

Welcome to the July Stamp of the Month tour and the awesome, trendy stamp set Chalk Talk – and the coordinating framelits!  I used elements of this set to create some fun labels for my stamp room.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkI have a handful of re-purposed candle jars that I use for keeping odds and ends.  They’re frosted, so sometimes it’s hard to see what I’ve stashed inside.  These Chalk Talk images were perfect for making my own Designer labels!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkThe new In Color Stretchy ribbon makes beautiful curves!  I really like the combination of Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar…matter of fact, I’ve yet to come up with a combination of ANYTHING and Baked Brown Sugar that I don’t like!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkThree chubby jars, happy together on my shelf!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkThese labels are for my UG-LEE file cabinet.  I have been researching how to renovate old office cabinets, but I haven’t found a method I feel confident to attempt.  I’ll take your suggestions!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkIt really is ugly…I want to refinish it with paint and give it a shabby chic look.  But I’ve got my labels all ready!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Chalk TalkFor the record, that is NOT Retired DSP – I used genuine Old Book pages for those rosettes 🙂  And the old book I used was literally falling apart at the seams, so I don’t feel badly about re-purposing the pages.  The Bigz XL Rosette die makes short work of all the scoring and folding.

Next stop is the Trinity Design Studio – I know Robin has a treat in store for  you!  And if you want to navigate the tour to the beat of a different drummer, the participants are listed below.

Maui Stamper Stamp of the Month Blog Tour

Nancy Amato  http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger   http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley  http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson   http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Danielle Denhardt   http://www.purrfectlycreative.com
Tamra Davis  http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler   http://www.conniestamps.com
Crystal Kondo   http://www..card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh    http://thestampinhut.typepad.com
Anne Matasci   http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com         YOU ARE HERE!
Robin Merriman   http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Audra Monk   http://www.thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler  http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds  http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Vicki Soni  http://www.paperinkle.com
Jeannette Swain   http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com/
Janet Wakeland   http://www.remarkablycreated.com

RemARKable Brides and Babies

Welcome to the June edition of the RemARKable 25th Anniversary “Best of” Blog Tour!  I hope you’ve enjoyed the first half of this series – I know that we, your RemARKable team, have enjoyed bringing it to you.

This first image just shouted “EMBOSS ME” when I saw this set for the first time:

Maui Stamper 25th Anniversary Best of Brides and Babies This is a simple favor idea, but I cut the top using the Window Frames framelit – just put a narrow strip into the framelit and stop halfway through and back it out.  I love how this image looks in our gorgeous pewter embossing powder.

Maui Stamper 25th Anniversary Best of Brides and Babies The smallest Rhinestone jewels add the perfect sparkle to complement the embossing powder.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesA year later and we’re celebrating an anniversary!! (oh my, does the time fly!!)  Two little love-birds fit perfectly on the front of a gift enclosure for our favorite couple.  The birdies are colored with a blender pen and the soft tones of Pirouette Pink, Pool Party and Pear Pizazz.  I folded the Pirouette Pink 3/8″ taffeta ribbon in half and creased it with my fingernail to narrow it down.  (I suppose I could have ironed it…NOT!!)

We’re not going to set a timetable for our lovebirds, but like the rhyme…First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesHave you had the chance to play with the new In Color stretchy ribbon?  It’s a whole new world in ribbon!!  The stretch gives it an affinity to curves, and once there was a bit of sticky strip on the back of the oval it was simple to attach the ribbon to create a frilly border.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of Blog Tour Brides and BabiesI’m a big fan of Crisp Canteloupe!

Now it’s off to the Trinity Design Studio to see what Robin has created for you!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of  RemARKable Blog Tour

If you get lost or just prefer to skip around, here’s the whole tour:

Nancy Amato  http://www.stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger  http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley  http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson  http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis  http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute  http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn Embrey  http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Kathy Hamrick  http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh  http://www.thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman  http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler  http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds  http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland  http://wp.me/pHIQD-4P4

RemARKably Mad Mosaics

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month tourWelcome to the first Stamp of the Month tour for the Brand New Deliciously JUICY 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog!!  Are you as excited as I am about this fabulous assortment of paper crafting goodness??  I hope so!

The June Stamp of the Month is Mosaic Madness.  It’s especially juicy because of all the coordinating products that carry the Mosaic theme:  the Mosaic punch, the Mosaic TIEF, and the Quatrefoil Fancy DSP.

(If you are not a regular reader at the Maui Stamper, I apologize.  You should know that I am a very lazy girl and I get tired of typing things like TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER (TIEF), DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (DSP) and FIRM FOAM INK PAD (FFIP).  Please make a note of these abbreviations.)

I’ve done a number of projects using the products from the suite, but for our blog tour I wanted to try using the images in new ways.  First up – le card:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessIf SOMEONE used her SAMJ (oh, all right, Stamp-a-ma-jig) that “beautiful” would have been straight.  Instead, it is beautifully hand made 🙂

The Mosaic punch fits perfectly along the scallop border from the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die!   There are 7 of them, with the top and bottom trimmed to fit the card.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessGot a little pierce-happy but it was worth it…and the little holes made a perfect place to run some Linen thread through to balance the opposite side.

If you need a box to go with that sassy card, I’ve got just the thing:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessI was feeling a little continental…don’t know if this is more Scandinavian or Swiss, but when I started playing with the long stamps from Mosaic Madness I started seeing ribbon and it didn’t take much to put together a belly band. (Hint: if you are adding paper layers to a belly band, I recommend you score the plain belly band first, then add the trim on top for a smoother fit.)

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessThe Mosaic punch can be a medallion, a flower, a tag…you name it!  Just punch out a bunch of them and start playing.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour Mosiac MadnessFor the next stop of the tour, you’ll be heading over to see what madness Robin has created!  Enjoy!!

Maui Stamper Stamp of the Month Blog Tour

Got lost?  Here’s the entire tour:

Nancy Amato http://www.stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler http://www.conniestamps.com
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://www.thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever  http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler   http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds  http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Jeannette Swain http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com
Janet Wakeland http://www.remarkablycreated.com

The Best of RemARKable Butterflies

Maui Stamper RemARKable Best of ButterfliesI hope you’re enjoying these two RemARKable blog tours every month.  We’ve just lined up our next few sets for the Stamp of the Month Tour on the second Sunday every month (and NO, I am NOT going to spill the beans – come back and see what they are!).  The third Sunday of the month is reserved for the 25th Anniversary “Best of” releases throughout 2013.  We are working a month behind so that we have plenty of time to create, so this month we are featuring the April set, Best of Butterflies.

I’ve made 3 different projects for you.  In addition to the 25th Anniversary Best of Butterflies stamp set, I’m featuring 3 Big Shot dies that are on the Retiring Products list.  That means that these 3 dies are currently being sold on an “as available” basis – when the last one is sold, it’s gone!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog TourFirst up is the Bigz XL Fancy Favor Box #115965.  (I KNOW.)  But we have to trust that Stampin’ Up! has bigger and better things planned for us 🙂  This box has been a FAVORite of mine for many projects.  You can easily create a top using another Fancy Favor or (and this is gorgeous) one of our Paper Doilies.   It’s a perfect size for favors (duh!) and small gifts, and punching a circle in the front allows you to peek at the goodies inside.  (Crystal said I should put something shiny inside:  what could be shinier than Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans??)

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog TourThe butterfly I chose for this project coordinates with the Elegant Butterfly punch.  A little TIEF on the box, a couple of circles and leaves, and this project is ready to go!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog TourThe Two Tags Bigz die is another favorite I am sorry to see leave our lineup.  I’ve used both of these shapes for countless projects.  This one is popular at craft shows – two of the fold-over tags adhered with a smidge of Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) to create a gift card holder.  This butterfly was embossed with Irridescent Ice and hand-cut.

Again, a couple of flowers, some leaves and a little bling and you are in business!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog TourFinally, the sweet Petite Pocket Bigz die – which I am sorry to tell you is No Longer Available – makes a perfect little dress-up for a  girly gift of lip shine.  I used Pretty in Pink ink on Pink Pirouette card stock to get extra definition of this third butterfly, which I am grateful not to have cut out 🙂

Don’t miss out on that gorgeous 1 1/4 inch Two Tone Ribbon either – that is not carrying over to the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog.  I’m stocking up!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog TourI did create a little tag with the smallest Soda Pop top and drizzled a little Crystal Effects on top for extra shine.

Time to flutter over to the Trinity Design Studio and see what Robin has created for you!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Butterflies RemARKable Blog Tour

It’s RemARKable By the Tide

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideWelcome 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.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideNot 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.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideA 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.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideI 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.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideThere.  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.

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideI 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:

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the TideThe 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!

Maui Stamper RemARKable Blog Tour By the Tide

Best of RemARKable Flowers

Stampin' Up! RemARKable Blog Tour 25 Years with Stampin' Up! April

Welcome to another RemARKable Blog Tour!  If this is your first stop, welcome – and get comfy!  We are exploring the collections being released every month to celebrate 25 years of Stampin’ Up! goodness, and this month we are playing with Best of Flowers.  This set contains some of my favorite images from the archives, and it was a sweet trip down memory lane to ink this one up:

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryI’m indulging my classical style in this card.  This image, originally sold as Upsy Daisy, was almost twice this size when it was initially released.  This “mini me” version is perfect!  It’s stamped in Pretty in Pink (soon to be retired) and Pink Pirouette (which I like better anyway, but don’t tell).  Hey There Friend is the exclusive My Paper Pumpkin image that every new Paper Pumpkin subscriber receives, so you can have one too!  I ran the panel through the Delicate Designs TIEF  and then used the scrumptious 1 1/4 inch Two Tone Ribbon to unite the elements.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryLet me channel my inner Rachel Ray – can you say YUM-O!! with me?  That ribbon is scrumptious, and I love how the grosgrain lines echo the stems on the flowers, but contrast with the eyelet-like scallops below.

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryI began this card with the masked flower garland stamped in Regal Rose (another color about to start drawing Social Security), and yes, I cut it by hand.  (Late at night, no less.  I had one of those “Fountain of Creative Juices” nights and could have pulled an all-nighter except for the fact that I had to be someplace at 6:30 am the next morning!  Let’s just say that turned into a looong day.)  Once I cut the garland I had some trouble putting it onto a card.  I got the Crumb Cake and the Pink Pirouette going, but it was missing something. However, literally out of nowhere I got a BRILLIANT (in my opinion) idea:

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryCan you see what I did??  I took a doily and shabbied it up with some Crumb Cake Ink and a Stampin’ Sponge.  Then I cut halfway through (as though I were cutting a slice of pie) and cut a circle out of the middle.  After straightening it out, I hit it with a little Champagne Mist Shimmer spray and scrunched it up!  It was damp so it scrunched well, and when it dried it held onto its shape.  I WAS STOKED!!

All righty then!  Back to our regularly scheduled blog tour…The Best of Flowers set, like all the Best of sets, iis available through March 2014.  Each set comes with a sticker, and when you have collected 6 stickers, you can send them in for a free stamp set ($14.95 or less) of your choosing.  Win-win!

Enough Maui Stamper Silliness…time to see what Robin has done!  Click on the link below, or check the RemARKable Best of Blog Tour line-up listed below!  and Stamp On!!

Stampin' Up! Maui Stamper Best of Flowers 25th AnniversaryNancy Amato  http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Linda Bartolucci   http://www.inkstampandscrap.com/
Ingrid Blackburn  http://TheCreativeGrove.com
Melissa Bolinger  http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley  http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis  http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler  http://www.conniestamps.com
Sherri Eddleblute   http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn Embrey   http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com/
Becky Evans  http://www.alwayshappystampin.com
Kathy Hamrick  http://www.countryroads.typepad.com/
Crystal Kondo  http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh  http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever   http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci  http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman  http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler   http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds   http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale   http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland http://wp.me/pHIQD-4P4

a RemARKably SECRET Garden Tour

Stampin' Up! RemARKable Blog Tour April

Welcome to another edition of our RemARKable Stamp of the Month tour – this month we’re featuring Secret Garden and the coordinating Secret Garden Framelits.  RemARKables are a very creative group and I am certain you’re finding loads of great ideas.  Let’s see if I can’t share one or two more.

I snooped through Pinterest for ideas and saw a lot of cards that included round or oval shapes with the Secret Garden flowers.  I thought about making a round card, but ultimately came up with an oval card that I am very pleased with.  Tell me what you think!

Maui Stamper Secret Garden Baby Girl cardThis is the largest oval framelit, cut from So Saffron and embossed with the Lattice TIEF.  It’s layered over a card cut from Whisper White – Stampin’ Up! Whisper White is just a little lighter weight, and you can cut two layers with a framelit.  The various flowers from the Secret Garden stamp set are inked in either Perfect Plum or So Saffron and stamped on either Whisper White or Perfect Plum card stock.  A little ribbon, a few pearls, and a banner finish it off!  The message on the banner is from the new Cuddles and Kisses stamp set – great fonts and great messages!

I cut a LOT of flowers to play with, and when I was finished with the card there were still a LOT of flowers left over!  After a few false starts, I came up with a fun gift to go with this card:

Maui Stamper Secret Garden FrameThis frame has moved around my studio a half dozen times begging to be embellished.  It took a major expedition to find the dog-gone thing once I realized I needed it.  Isn’t that how it goes?  Of course, I’m not showing you what my studio looks like, because you would see the problem immediately.

Maui Stamper Secret Garden FrameThe framelits do such a quick, clean job of cutting things out.  Fussy cutting looks great, but it’s a bother to do!  This takes the trouble out of the process.

Time to take a peek over the fence at Robin’s Secret Garden!  She always has gorgeous projects to share – I know you’ll love it!

blogtour-stampmonth-next

Link not working?  Try this:  Robin Merriman

Nancy Amato  http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Linda Bartolucci   http://www.inkstampandscrap.com/
Ingrid Blackburn  http://www.createwithingrid.wordpress.com
Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson  http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler http://www.conniestamps.com
Becky Evans http://www.alwayshappystampin.com
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever   http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci   http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman  http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler   http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds   http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Jeannette Swain  http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com/
Janet Wakeland   http://wp.me/pHIQD-4P4

RemARKable Blog Tour: Best of Love 25th Anniversary

Another Sunday, another tour!  I’m going to show my age, but I remember going for Sunday family drives years ago when gas was cheap.  It’s hard to imagine doing that now, both with the cost of gas and our busy busy lifestyles, but back then we thought it was a real treat!  Today you’re in luck:  you don’t need to fill the tank to go on a blog tour!

Speaking of treats, Stampin’ Up! is setting the bar high with the “Best of” Anniversary stamp sets.  February’s set, Best of Love, has a great assortment of sentiments and a romantic detailed heart image perfect for wedding, anniversary, Valentines and I Love You cards.

MauiStampers Anniversary Best of Love RemARKable Blog Tour

  • Best of Love 25th Anniversary stamp set
  • Whisper White, Real Red and Basic Black card stock
  • Black Staz-On ink
  • Versamark ink
  • Pewter Embossing Powder
  • Embossing Buddy
  • Stampin’ Up! Heat Tool
  • Red Glimmer Paper
  • Owl Punch (heart)
  • Real Red 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

This card is 3 x 6 1/2 inches, and although Stampin’ Up! no longer carries the envelopes to fit this size card, it’s a simple matter to make one with a Simply Scored tool.

Do you have the Pewter embossing powder?  If you don’t, maybe this will change your mind:

BestOfLove1a

This second card popped into my head just as I was putting the stamp set away.  The concept is simple, but it took me a few times to get things lined up correctly (mostly because I was too lazy to do a bunch of math to get it exact!)

Maui Stamper Best of Love

  • Best of Love 25th Anniversary Stamp set
  • Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Midnight Muse card stock
  • Crumb Cake and Midnight Muse FFIP
  • Midnight Muse stitched 3/8 inch ribbon
  • metallic brads

Truthfully, I did this about 6 times until I was satisfied, and if I’d broken down and done a little math it probably would have taken less time.  However, I am a Stubborn Stamper.  I did it Myyyyyyyyy Waaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy.  (Thank you, Frank).

Enough of that!!  Time to move on to the next blog on the tour – let’s see what Robin has done!

Maui Stamper Best of Love Anniversary Blog Tour

RemARKable Stampers Stamp of the Month: Ciao, Baby!

Aloha!  You’re on Maui – at least for a little bit.  If this is your first stop on the RemARKable Stampers Stamp of the Month Club tour for March, then welcome – and I hope you’ll enjoy all the fabulous projects today.

Ciao Baby is a bit of a sleeper – small images designed to be used with either the Petite Curly Lable Sale-a-bration punch or the 7/8 inch Scallop Circle punch.  I thought they would be a great unifying item for a set of notecards.  First up is a card using the Madison Avenue Sale-a-bration set:

MauiStamper RemARKable Tour Ciao Baby

Each card is made using the Note Cards and Envelopes (#107311, 20 cards and envelopes, $5.95).  The Ciao Baby images are stamped and punched with the Petite Curly Label punch, then popped up on a Stampin’ Dimensional.   I kept a uniform color scheme but changed up the stamp set for each card.  The second card features Morning Cup:

SOTM2MarA little bit of ink brushed across the Needlepoint TIEF embossing helps the design to stand out.   Morning cup is perfect for coloring with Stampin’ Write markers!

Oh, Whale seemed like a perfect fit for the next sentiment:

SOTM3Mar

I originally cut the whale out with the framelit, but decided it wasn’t necessary and ended up just stamping it directly on the front panel.  Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate clear mount stamps?  Those little waves were simple to line up!

SOTM4Mar

The last card in my set is a little Owly love note using the Aviary set.  Call me crazy, but I just can’t bring myself to put the birds inside the cage.  I like to see them outside and free!!SOTM4aMar

The little heart is just hand-colored, just because I wanted to.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this stop on the tour – time to head off to Robin‘s studio!

blogtour-stampmonth-next

Link not working?  Visit www.TrinityDesignStudio.com

25 Years with Stampin’ Up: Best of Birthdays

What a fabulous start to the 25 Years of Stampin’ Up! celebration!  This Best of Birthdays set ($14.95!!)  is a great selection of birthday images and I immediately saw the potential for favors:

Maui Stamper Best of Birthdays Anniversary Blog TourOf course, this is a Stampin’ Up! birthday, so the favors have to be Stampin’ Up! favors!  And the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (DSP) is such a great bundle of designs and colors that I knew it would be a perfect choice for birthday fun.

Maui Stamper Best of Birthdays Anniversary Blog TourHow about a rosette for your birthday cake – or your cupcakes – or your centerpieces – or your flowers?  This rosette was a snap with the Designer Rosette Bigz XL die.  I cut the DSP about 1 1/2 inches wide and used two 12 inch strips.  A little Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) attached the ends into a circle, and some hot glue on our Silicon Craft sheet secured the rosette quickly and easily.

The images are embossed in White and Tangerine Tango for an extra pop, and those curly ribbons are from the Sale-a-bration Sycamore Street ribbon and button bundle.  I’ve tried curling our ribbon before with limited luck, but I had an idea this time:  I wrapped the ribbon around a skewer and taped it down (and by the way, I consider a fistful of skewers an essential tool on my craft desk).  Then I spritzed it with a little hair spray – yep! – and gave it a shot with my heat tool.  I let it cool down and success!!  I had curls 🙂

Maui Stamper Best of Birthdays Anniversary Blog TourI love the Petite Pocket die for favors.  It’s a fun size and shape for anything from pencils and crayons to Pixie Stix or even Stampin’ Spritzers!  This image is also embossed to make it easier to color with markers – I’m a messy, outside-the-lines artist.  A few quick accents and these little pockets are done – with our beautiful, two-sided DSP this is an easy project to mass produce.

Maui Stamper Best of Birthdays Anniversary Blog TourAnd here’s my current favorite favor – the Petal Cone die!  It just takes one die cut folded over on itself to make this cute ice cream cone shape, and then a pair of fun DSP scalloped half-circles (also on the die) to dress up that cone.  Our super-soft seam binding is supple enough to thread through the buttonholes, so that button is tied right onto the favor.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this stop on the tour!  There’s much much more to come – skedalddle on over to see what Robin Merriman at http://www.TrinityDesignStudio.com has created or click on the link below to send you over.  And check back next month for the Best of Love 25th Anniversary Blog tour!

Maui Stamper Best of Birthdays Anniversary Blog Tour