Springtime Foils Narrow Note Cards

Posted on March 17, 2018 by mauistamper

The Springtime Foils DSP available through March 31 as a free Sale-a-bration choice is one of my favorite SAB offerings EVER. Seriously. This paper is absolutely beautiful on its own, and can be dressed up left, sideways and upside down as well. I may or may not have splurged on some extra supplies just to stock up on this paper.

Last month’s Host Club got to play with this paper as a simple background for some charming note cards:

Stamps: Beautiful Bouquet
Color Palette: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Peach Parfait, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Narrow Note Cards, Ombre Lemon Lime Twist ribbon, Bermuda Bay shimmer ribbon (SAB 2018), Big Shot, Bouquet Bunch Framelits, Layering Circles Framelits, Tutti Frutti Adhesive Backed Sequins, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Rhinestone gems, retired ribbon

The Beautiful Bouquet bundle has the perfect assortment of flowers, leaves and sentiments to satisfy any card occasion, but it’s the subtle patterns and glimmer in that Springtime Foils DSP that really sets the card apart. You’ve seen plenty of great techniques with these papers, but don’t forget that they have great impact just as they are.

Truth: I thought the Tutti Frutti Adhesive Backed Sequins were kind of a dumb idea and a waste of money. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. These little sparklers pack a big punch and are super easy to add to any project. I am seriously in love and regret ever doubting their marvelousness.

I chose Crumb Cake for the mat in this suite of cards to tie them together and to allow the bright colors to pop. This is the sort of card I would keep in my desk at work for that moment when you want to dash off a quick note of appreciation and leave it in someone’s bag to discover on the way home

This final design features the sparkly ribbon in the Shimmer Ribbon pack (SAB 2018). It’s sparklier than you can see in the photo, and when we’d finished crafting for the evening it took a while to figure out where all the glimmer on the table had originated. Mr. Maui Stamper is NOT a fan of glitter, so I had to get out a microfiber cloth and apply some elbow grease to make sure all traces were eradicated. It’s a small price to pay to live with that wonderful man.

What’s a cute note card set without a custom box? The last part of the ensemble is a package made with the Lots to Love Framelit dies. I used a Pool Party Stampin’ Blend to add color to the leaves on the Springtime Foil paper, and stamped and punched a pair of Daisies (Daisy Delight stamps and the Daisy punch – and there’s a bundle!) for the embellishment on the top. The center of that embellishment is supposed to be a Clear Faceted Gem, but for the life of me I cannot find them in the chaos of my craft space. I know they’re there. I’ve used some of them, recently even. It drives me crazy when this happens. CRAZY!!

Yesterday Stampin’ Up! announced additional products to the 2018 Sale-a-bration lineup. These products are items from the Annual Catalog that you can choose with you $50 or $100 product order. If you choose one of those Annual Catalog items, be sure to use the unique Sale-a-bration reward code and not the product code in the catalog.

There are some great values, and one in particular is worth noting: the Color Me Happy project kit is valued at $25 and you get it for free with a $50 order! There is a coordinating Color Me Happy stamp set that will get you started with your Sale-a-bration order, or you can use stamps from your existing collection. The cards are delightful, the envelopes are luxurious, and you have to look far and wide find another deal like this. But don’t take my word for it: shop for yourself.

Blending the Birdies

Posted on March 10, 2018 by mauistamper

Do you think it’s a coincidence that there are HEAPS of great images in the current Stampin’ Up! line that are absolutely perfect for coloring with Stampin’ Blends?

I don’t think it’s a coincidence either. But either way, I’m pretty happy about it.

Stamps: Flying Home
Color Palette: Whisper White, Pear Pizazz, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Blushing Bride, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Accessores: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Lemon Lime Twist Striped Ribbon, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I choose to color these images pretty quickly, without a lot of finesse in the shading. I wanted to see what my results would be, and in my humble opinion, it worked out just fine.

It also gives me great delight when I discover that I can “fudge” the color coordination. Lemon Lime Twist, Pear Pizazz and Old Olive are unique and distinct colors, but that Lemon Lime Twist ribbon works perfectly with Pear and Olive. It’s the happy co-existence of different types of fruit, don’t you think?

This Little Piggy Loves You

Posted on February 12, 2018 by mauistamper

Last week I sat down with a friend to make some Valentines. It was such a pleasant evening together, and it underscored why I love to craft. It’s a great solitary activity, but it’s just as enjoyable to share it with someone else. You get caught up on one another’s lives, you share some ideas, and you take home something useful! Perfect.

Stamps: This LIttle Piggy, Heart Happiness
Color Palette: Whisper White, Memento Black, Pear Pizazz, Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party
Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Scattered Sequins Dynamic TIEF, Calypso Coral 1/8″ Sheer Ribbon, Stampin’ Blends, Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used the scattered heart image from Heart Happiness with Pink Pirouette ink on the inside of the card. I’ll just write over those soft hearts when I send this Valentine.

Do you have the Stitched Shape Framelits? I find myself reaching for them over and over again. There are graduated sizes of circles, ovals and squares, and the stitching lines that frame the inside of each shape create such a clean, finished look.

I’m gaining some confidence with Stampin’ Blends. I don’t have to THINK quite so hard when I approach a new image. I’m just letting it happen. I made a few of these, and each pig is different.

They’re in the mail already – have you sent your Valentines yet?

When you need a Tag: Day Seven

Posted on December 21, 2017 by mauistamper

These are my favorites. (Well, maybe they’re tied with the tag I’ll share tomorrow.) I love these Cookie Cutter Christmas Characters! They are absolutely perfect for tags, and I am happy as can be that they are back for 2017. Stampin’ Blends make coloring these a complete delight.

Stamps: Cookie Cutter Christmas, Seasonal Chums (To/From)
Color Palette: Crumb Cake, Memento Black, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate, Blushing Bride, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Angled Tag Topper Punch, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Stampin’ Blends, Washi Basics Pack 3, Candy Cane Washi, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’ve always used Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay to color this snowsuit wearing cutie. I probably ought to unleash some other colors, but I like these so well! It’s my Cookie Cutter Cutie and I’ll color as I want to.

There’s a special kind of genius in the Stampin’ Up! Home Office. The people that design the artwork for our stamps are flat out amazing. I mean, who looks at a gingerbread cookie figure and says “hey, if we turn it upside down, it’s a reindeer”????? Pure genius.

Tomorrow’s the last tag – stop by and let me know what your favorite has been!

When you need a Tag: Day Three

Posted on December 17, 2017 by mauistamper

Beachy Little Christmas is a natural for those of us living in the tropics. The images are charming and the string of lights on the palm tree is a very familiar sight in the islands. Some neighborhoods are well known for their elaborate lights and displays, and it’s a treat to be driving home after a long day and find yourself surrounded on either side of the road with sparkling lights, stars, figures, and those crazy inflatable characters!

Stamps: Beachy Little Christmas
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso
Accessories: Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils

This is another super-portable project that’s small enough to tuck into your bag. I chose the watercolor pencils because the design is very small and detailed, and the pencils are quite forgiving with small spaces. I didn’t add the watercolor with an Aquapainter, but you certainly could if you prefer that look.

This one is even quicker and easier with just the palm tree! I used Stampin’ Blends on this one and it was REALLY fast!

You don’t need to live in the tropics to have palm trees on your Christmas tags, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

When you need a Tag: Day One

Posted on December 15, 2017 by mauistamper

Most years, I host a Christmas tag crafting class, and the samples and leftover pieces ensure that I have plenty of tags for my gift-giving. The class didn’t happen this year (for a lot of reasons, some of them actually good reasons!) and I realized I was going to be in trouble without some quick action.

I ended up featuring tags at my Host event this month, and it made for some very happy Hosts and solved my problem as well. Over the next week I’ll share my projects: some are quite simple, and others take a little more time, but it’s my hope they’ll inspire you to create a few tags of your own.

I’m starting by sharing the tags I made with the Seasonal Chums bundle. In all honesty, this was a whimsical, what-the-heck kind of purchase, but I’ve used it much more than I anticipated and have been really happy with the results. Our Stampin’ Blends are perfect for coloring these images.

Stamps: Seasonal Chums
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Memento Ink pad, Big Shot, Seasonal Tags Framelits, Tags and Labels Framelits (retired), Candy Cane Washi (retired), White Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Sponge

I’m sorry if the retired framelits and washi throw you for a loop, but crafting is about being creative and I’m sure you’ll find an alternative. That Candy Cane washi was on the Clearance Rack for-evah, but now that the holidays are here it’s finally sold out. I stocked up because I loved the crisp red-and-white designs, and I’ve got a bit of a stash that I need to use up.

Snowman Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

These are not as time consuming as you might think. They’re small and the coloring is minimal – especially the snowman, who doesn’t require any blending. This is a perfect Holiday-movie-watching project, or a carry-along-to-the-kid’s-hockey-practice project, or even an airplane project!

There will be more posts with more tags over the next week – I hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: Stampin’ Blends

Springtime Foils Narrow Note Cards

Blending the Birdies

This Little Piggy Loves You

When you need a Tag: Day Three

When you need a Tag: Day One

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