Tag Archives: Stamparatus

MARCH 2023 DIY: Love Cats

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I love these cats – and this one might be my favorite! (Who am I kidding? They’re ALL my favorites.) Getting those blended colors is a cinch with the Stamparatus. My March calendar will bring a smile to my face all month long.

  • Stamps: Love Cats, Plentiful Plants
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Sweet Sorbet
  • Accessories: Stamparatus, Stampin’ Write markers, Stampin’ Blends, Dauber

I set up this Lazy Bones Jones on the Stamparatus and used a dauber to color him in with Crushed Curry. I repeated the process with Cajun Craze on his back, ears, tail and paws, then used an Early Espresso marker to fill in the curved line. The last pass with the Stamparatus was to use a Sweet Sorbet Stampin’ Write marker for the heart. I filled it in with a Stampin’ Blend – since I used the same color as the marker, a little smearing wouldn’t show.

The Plentiful Plants weren’t part of my original plan, but this guy looked like he was hanging out in a jungle. I stamped off the Old Olive so the color wouldn’t overwhelm my primary image.

I’m terribly fond of orange cats (don’t tell Bella & Gracie). We had an amazing tabby named Pookie who was more dog than cat, and I still miss him. There was a pretty epic post about him back in 2010.

He’s been gone for a long time now, but I still find myself stamping the Love Cats as orange cats. And now you can too! If you don’t have a Stamparatus, or the Love Cats stamps, or the colors you need to stamp a Pookie, you can find them HERE.

And now it’s time to visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they’re up to for March!

Our new line of Online Exclusive products debuts today. These products will be available only in the Online Store, not in a catalog, and feature new products as well as a few returning favorites. See the full range and order today!

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

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!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Shop HERE for your favorites.

The World Needs More of You

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I guess you’re either a cat person or you’re not – and I am a cat person. When I saw Clever Cats in the mini catalog (available TODAY!) I put it at the top of my list. The set has a Halloween theme, but I had other plans:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box
  • Stamps: Clever Cats, Free as a Bird
  • Color Palette: Basic Black, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
  • Accessories: Stamparatus, Stampin’ Blends, Pattern Party DSP (Host), Stampin Dimensionals, shreddies
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box

This captures cats so well – in the box, no matter what. The shreddies were a bit of a wild inspiration as I looked at the image of the cat and the box, and as luck would have it, I had the right color on hand. Some things are meant to be.

The Stamparatus is an enormous help in getting a clear, even impression from this bold image. I used a number of colors, but Memento Black was clearly the winner in my mind. It took a 3 impressions for me to be satisfied with Memento Black, but only 2 with Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink. But regardless of the number, the Stamparatus creates a perfect image – and re-image – every time!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Clever Cats Cat-in-a-box

I put a 1/4″ strip of DSP across the bottom of the panel on the inside of the card, and I added a sentiment from the now-retired Ridiculously Awesome stamp set. I created this card with the colours of Colour INKspiration #104 in mind.

The Mini Catalog is now live in the Online Store, and Clever Cats can be yours with a couple of clicks. We’re celebrating Sale-a-bration V.2 in August and September, so you’ll choose free gifts with your $50 or $100 purchase. Shop HERE.

Ornamental Envelopes make great cards!

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A stamp and die set named Ornamental Envelopes may not evoke cards, but think twice, my dear Crafty Friends! You’ll want this combo all year long for the details that make a handmade card stand out from the rest.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornamental Envelope Handmade Christmas Card
  • Stamps: Ornamental Envelopes, A Merry Hello (host)
  • Color Palette: Whisper White, Shaded Spruce, Real Red
  • Accessories: Envelopes dies, Stampin Cut & Emboss, Stamparatus, Tis the Season Designer Series paper, Stampin Dimensionals, Red Rhinestone Jewels
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornamental Envelope Handmade Christmas Card

I’ve CASEd this project from the classic style of Mary Fish. I’ve made very few changes, although I chose to simplify the DSP strip and layer it on top of the card front rather than recess it. I’m stamping this with a group, so simple made sense! The Stamparatus really helps when you want to be sure that group of ornaments is hanging perfectly straight off the top of your card.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornamental Envelope Handmade Christmas Card

The talented Ms. Fish embellished her envelope (how could we not?) but I had another idea. It was a little over-the-top, and I wouldn’t do it for a huge stack of envelopes, but I love how it turned out:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornamental Envelope Handmade Christmas Card

I am quite pleased with myself to have found a Santa postage stamp – this is last year’s edition (or who knows, it could be 2013.) The front of the envelope is stamped, but it’s the flap that is the pièce de résistance:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Ornamental Envelope Handmade Christmas Card

I created an envelope liner with the envelope die using a piece of the Tis the Season DSP and then I cut the envelope with this embellishing die. I ran that die through the Stamp Cut & Emboss again using Red Foil and picked out the little red circles and adhered them in the pukas (Hawaiian word for holes) using Tombo Multi Purpose Glue.

You NEED the Envelope dies, and if you’re going to order them, you really ought to take advantage of the savings you’ll get when you purchase the whole bundle. The bundle is only available until January 4, 2021, so get it while it’s hot!! Visit the Online Store and check that little to-do off your list.

You’re welcome! 💕

A Congratulations Easel Card

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I’ve gotten VERY creative with projects for my clubs the past couple of months, as we’re crafting together via zoom. It’s not quite the same as being together in one place, but it’s much better than not being together at all! Since I can only provide paper and my club members have to go through their stashes to find stamps, ink, and any extras they want, I’ve been working to come up with designs that are flexible. Last month we created an easel card for a graduate:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Congratulations Easel Technique
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Congratulations Easel Technique

This card is more about the concept than the execution. The card base is 4.25″ x 11″ and is scored at 5.5″ and 2.5″. I cut a Whisper White panel to 2.5″ x 4.25″ (the same size as the bottom half of the card front) so that I could be sure and get a perfect Buffalo Check grid. The Stamparatus is an indispensable resource.

The little label from the Ornate Labels dies is the “bumper” for the folded top of the card. It’s mounted on two mini-dimensionals, which are just high enough to hold the easel, but still soft enough to mail with regular first class postage. I’ve used a piece of rogue washi across the card below that bumper, and I can’t begin to tell you anything about it other than the fact that I’ve had it along time!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Congratulations Easel Technique

On the inside of the card, I created an optional gift card pocket. If your graduate was naughty, well then, leave the pocket off – this is only for graduates who have earned a little reward! The pocket is 4 5/8″ x 2 5/8″ and is scored on 3 sides at 1/2″. Use a circle punch to create a little extra space to slide the card in and out. It looks like it’s upside down, but when you hold the card upright it’s right side up.

There are so many ways to stamp and embellish this card! But if you need a quick and simple version, this will do. And if you need supplies, please visit the Online Store.

Happy New Year from Mt. Fuji

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Nah, I’m not on the road again – we just got home!

But I’m imagining myself in Japan, riding the Shinkansen and gazing out the windows at Mt. Fuji. We made that trip in 2012 (oh, can it be that long ago??) and the UNESCO World Heritage site was unfortunately hidden in the clouds. However, today the clouds are high in the sky and Fuji-san is clearly visible:

Without getting too personal here, let’s just say that my eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be (ahem). I was having a little trouble aligning the images, despite the fact that they’re photopolymer and theoretically I should have no problem.

(Distraction: theories aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.)

After a couple of unsatisfactory attempts at aligning the outline of the mountain, the interior, and the glorious rising moon, it occurred to me that the solution was within an arm’s reach. I got out my Stamparatus and the problem was solved nearly instantaneously.

This stamp set was originally designed for the Stampin’ Up! Japanese market, but was released to the US market just until January 31, 2020. It’s product #146391 and it’s $25. If you’d like to see a graphic that documents all of the images and their significance, click HERE.

Are you ready to ride the Shinkansen? Or just take a paper-and-ink trip?

Aloha with the Stamparatus

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I was staring at my shelf of stamps the other day, looking for ideas to make another (yes, another!) wreath card. I’m not sure if this worked quite the way that I imagined it, but it was fun and it makes me laugh.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Waterfront and Make A Difference
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Waterfront and Make A Difference

I’m not sure if it looks like a wreath of palm trees or a really, really, REALLY bad hair day! Honestly, I don’t really care. I had such a great time with the Stamparatus that the results don’t change a thing.

The little shell is one of those Maui-Style kind of add-ons. It’s actually from a shell lei: if you live here, you end up with heaps of them. I’ve taken a few apart to craft with since the shells all have small holes.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Waterfront and Make A Difference

A-L-O-H-A! A little Aloha in our day

Spread a little Aloha in our world…

Mini Curvy Spooktacular Keepsakes

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The Curvy Keepsake die in its first form (slightly larger than this one) was one of my favorites, but I confess that it was expensive to fill a big batch of them with treats (I like expensive chocolate, lol.) This Mini Curvy Keepsake die is perfectly sized for exactly ONE Ferrero Rocher. Did I say it was perfect?

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Spooktacular Mini Curvy Keepsakes
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Spooktacular Mini Curvy Keepsakes

We have Googly Eyes!! And not just white ones, but green ones and orange ones and purple ones!!! Be still my heart.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Spooktacular Mini Curvy Keepsakes

This guy is really fun, too. But trust me, really, when I say you NEED the Stamparatus for him. Solid images, especially solid black images, almost require being stamped more than once. Now I don’t know about you, but my eyes aren’t sharp enough and my hands aren’t steady enough to pull this off. But I can do it with the Stamparatus!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Spooktacular Mini Curvy Keepsakes

I think it’s hilarious that the mummy is giving the side-eye to the left and Vampy is doing it to the right. What a pair.

If you’re ready to invite these two spooky guys into your home (say it like the old wild and crazy guys skit from SNL), shop HERE.

Another Little Elephant

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Little Elephant is one of my favorite animal stamp sets. It’s whimsical, but it’s not cartoonish. Does that make sense? I created a baby card using this same template in yellows and greys, and wanted to try it in pink. I chose Rococco Rose, and I haven’t decided if it’s too dark for a baby. What do you think?

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Elephant
Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Elephant

Once you make a template for the Stamparatus, the wreath cards are super simple! I have a few more to share with you, and I have a feeling that won’t be the end of them, either. Every time I look at a new stamp set now, I imagine it as a wreath!

The Envelope Punch board is on the Clearance Rack, too – just the thing to make a coordinating envelope for a square card. Shop HERE.

Little Elephant Goes Round and Round

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I’m on a Stamparatus Wreath Carousel and I can’t get off!!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Elephant Stamparatus Wreath

You know how it is…you’re staring at your craft supplies waiting for inspiration…and WHAM!! It happened to me recently with this Little Elephant. Maybe someone else has already done this, but it’s new to me!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Little Elephant Stamparatus Wreath

The sentiment is from Little Elephant too, and I thought it was just right – especially with that little bird. The 1 1/4″ circle punch is now retired, but there are plenty of dies available that will give you this look. Confession: I was lazy and the punches were convenient!

The tiniest pearls make perfect eyes without the comic effect that a googly eye would give. I may go back with a Sharpie and add a little black accent to the pearls, as it gives them more dimension.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up August 2019 Demo Promotion

Just one more day to take advantage of the great value in this month’s demonstrator kit promotion! There’s an extra $30 in product added to the $125 that you normally select in your kit, and the $99 cost includes tax and shipping. There’s no obligation – take a look HERE and if it’s right for you, don’t hesitate!

Tropical Chic Birthday Wreath

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It seems everyone has made wreath cards and it’s time for me to get with the program already! This is such an easy technique that I’m chagrinned to have taken so long. A simple template – and the amazing Stamparatus – make this a very simple project:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tropical Chic Square Wreath with the Stamparatus

I chose to make this a 5″ x 5″ square card in order to use the hibiscus stamp from Tropical Chic. In order to add the palm leaves, I created a double mask. You can see by looking that if you mask only one flower, you won’t get the desired results. I created a mask with 2 flowers stamped on the Stamparatus to set the leaves behind the wreath.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Tropical Chic Wreath card with Stamparatus

This card could just as easily be a wedding card, a graduation card (think a lei – although we don’t make them from hibiscus because the real thing doesn’t last) or any assortment of other happy occasion cards. It would be fun in bold tropical prints too, but I chose Petal Pink to coordinate with one of my favorite suites of paper of all time, now sadly retired. I hope you have some in your stash!

Need to shop for supplies? Visit my SHOP for everything you need. Don’t forget to use your Bonus Days Bucks!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Bonus Days July 2019