Happy Birthday Down Under

Posted on April 5, 2011 by mauistamper

Today is Carol’s birthday, except of course it’s tomorrow when I’m writing this, but it’s yesterday in Australia. Thank goodness for Google or I would be entirely lost – I rely on my time widgets to keep me organized. I’m going to break one of my rules and show you her card. I don’t think she’s gotten it yet, because I sent it a little late and the Australian Postal Gorillas will likely decide to throw it on the ground and STOMP on it for a few extra days, and oh yeah because I forgot to calculate an extra day because it’s tomorrow there…ok, I’ll stop.

Now, I need to warn you that this card is made with a lot of retired Stampin’ Up! product. If it drives you crazy to see retired things that you can’t get, then go look at another post:

So Happy for You (SAB) and the wheel that coordinated with Carte Postal
Pink Pirouette, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock – Current!
Pink Pirouette and Rose Red Classic ink pads – Current!
Eyelet border punch – Current!
Rose Red seam binding – Current!
Pearl jewels – Current!
Those cute little felt flowers, who knows what they were called, but I bought this batch on the Clearance Rack

The ruffled ribbon is made by laying down a length of Sticky Strip and folding the ribbon into little pleats and sticking it down as you fold.

As difficult as it is to be so far from my daughter, I know she is exactly where she belongs, and she is very happy. I talk with her face to face as often as we can manage thanks to Skype. What more could a mother ask? Happy birthday, sweetie.

Look on the bright side

Posted on March 5, 2011 by mauistamper

When I first opened the 2011 Sale-a-bration catalog, I wasn’t quite sure how I might use the Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper. I like bright colors, but I don’t generally put a whole bunch of them together – I use them as accents with more neutral colors. Here’s my compromise:

So Happy for You (SAB) stamp set
Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo Classic ink pads
Natural Ivory, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight card stock
Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper and Ribbon and Button pack (SAB)
Scallop Trim Border, Blossom Petals, 1 inch circle and Boho Blossoms punches
Linen Thread, Bone Folder and Tombo the Wonder Adhesive

The 1 inch circle is underneath all of those Daffodil Delight petals creating a platform so that theoretically I could avoid having my fingers covered with Tombo the Wonder Adhesive. A great theory but in practice, it needs work. Maybe if I paid more attention to what I was doing I wouldn’t make such a mess, but like Popeye , I Yam What I Yam.

The petals are given a little bend with a bone folder to round them so they stand up a little. You don’t have to bend each one perfectly, because once you break down the fibers in the paper you can re-shape the petals when the flower is assembled. And yes, I do sew the button through all the layers because I hate buttons that fall off, but if you prefer Glue Dots then suit yourself! And you know who I’m talking to here…

Enjoy your weekend! Saturday means Builder Dan gets a weekend too, so things will be quiet today. One of the guys told me there was a rumor that Monday would be move-in day for the Family Room – which they have renamed the Media and Entertainment room. I’m crossing my fingers.

Another peek at Sale-a-bration

Posted on January 22, 2011 by mauistamper

We had a Maui Stampers team meeting on Tuesday night:

This was taken before the Stampin’ Frenzy started. I think we made 8 projects that night! We did conduct a wee bit ‘o business, but for us, the important business is the stamping. I’m not going to list all the details, but here are a couple of Sale-a-bration projects to inspire you:

Robbie brought us this Punch Bunch (SAB) Valentine to put together. Look closely and you’ll see the texture from the Sizzix Texturz Plates on the Bashful Blue panel. I’d forgotten about them, and I’m going to have to pull mine out again. And how about that Glimmer paper?!? Can’t begin to tell you why I don’t have it yet – I mean, I’m a demonstrator, for heaven’s sake! That problem will be fixed pronto.

This card is a CASE of a So Happy For You (SAB) card that I will gladly credit…just as soon as I can find it! It was a larger card but the focal point was the same – I scaled it down to a 3 x 3 card and changed the colors. The little stars are stamped once on the Whisper White card stock, then stamped again on a scrap and cut out, then sprayed with a bit of Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol. (No Dazzling Diamonds in my house. Gotta keep Mr. Maui Stamper a Happy Camper.) They’re attached with Mini Glue Dots because Stampin’ Dimensionals are just too big! So Happy For You has loads of cute little images to mix and match, and a charming font to express all sorts of wishes.

A first look at Sale-a-bration

Posted on January 19, 2011 by mauistamper

Lisa’s on the Mainland (crazy girl – it’s snowing there!) and she let me play with some of her Sale-a-bration sets:

Sweet Summer and So Happy for You stamp sets (SAB)
Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist, Regal Rose and Whisper White card stock
Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist and Regal Rose Classic ink pads
Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Write marker; Aquapainter
Scallop Trim border punch
Paper piercing tool and Mat
Brights Designer Buttons; Linen Thread (yay!)

First, let me say that I have promised myself never-never-ever to run out of Linen Thread again!

Now, I have to confess that when I saw Sweet Summer I thought it was cute but I didn’t think I’d be all wonky-crazy about it. Think again! I love these flowers, and not to be big-headed or anything but I think they love me too. That long “wheel-y” looking panel was just randomly stamped, but I think it’s very effective. And yes, I may be starting to sound like Jan Tink and “Yes I Love Myself (YILM)”, except that I will never be so audacious as to compare myself to Jan Tink.

Sale-a-bration starts January 25th and my calendar is filling up. Do you have your event scheduled yet?