October 2020 DIY: Stitched Triangles (and a DSP sale!)

Posted on October 1, 2020 by mauistamper

I visited two Maui State Parks and a National Park last week, and big trees were on my mind when I started thinking about my October DIY Easel calendar. Stampin’ Up! has Designer Series paper on SALE this month, and the Stitched Triangles dies gave me a way to tie it all together:

Maui Stamper Stampin Up October 2020 DIY Easel Calendar Stitched Triangles

Stamps: None
Color Palette: Whisper White, Basic Black, Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Just Jade, Pretty Peacock, Shaded Spruce, Soft Sea Foam, Seaside Spray
Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss, Stitched Triangle dies, Forever Greenery Designer Series paper, Stampin’ Sponge

I used a Stampin’ Sponge and Seaside Spray and Soft Sea Foam ink pads to create a light color wash on the calendar page. I cut a bunch of tiny triangles (our new Stamp Cut & Emboss machine is a dream!) and started arranging them on the sponged page..and arranging them…and arranging them.

Eventually I settled on this arrangement, but honestly, any of them would have worked!

Visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they’ve done for October.

The Forever Greenery DSP is my absolute favorite this year, and it’s one of many on sale in October! Check the list HERE, and shop HERE to see the gorgeous designs included in the sale.

Finally, here are a few pictures from our adventures last week:

Maui Stamper Pīpīwai Trail Kīpahulu District Haleakalā National Park — Waimoku Falls at the top of the Pīpīwai Trail in Haleakalā National Park (Kīpahulu District)

Maui Stamper Wai'ānapanapa State Park — The Black Sand Beach at Wai’ānapanapa State Park

Maui Stamper Redwood Trail Polipoli State Park — The Maui Stamper – with Mr. Maui Stamper – on the Redwood Trail at Polipoli State Park

Hope you enjoy! We certainly did – one of the small pleasures of the pandemic has been how calm the island has been. Tourism is our lifeblood, but we have enjoyed this little silver lining in the Covid Cloud.

If you’d like to make your own DIY Easel calendar, click on Contact the Maui Stamper above and send me your email. The pdf is just $5 and you can make as many as you’d like!

Available Today: Forever Greenery Suite

Posted on June 3, 2020 by mauistamper

Welcome to the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog! I gasped when I first saw this suite, and it’s been on top of my craft desk since the moment it arrived in my studio. The colors and images are restful and versatile, just the thing for a respite from the summer heat.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Forever Greenery Suite

Stamps: Forever Fern, Peaceful Moments
Color Palette: Soft Sea Foam, Pretty Peacock, Shaded Spruce
Accessories: Forever Flourishing dies, Stitched Nested Labels dies, Forever Greenery DSP, Forever Greenery Trim combo pack, Gold Hoop Embellishments, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Sponge

This suite has it all: stamps, dies, designer series paper, a trim collection, embossing folders (which I didn’t use here) and those gold hoops. WHO KNEW??? Every single sheet of that DSP is hoard-worthy, and I have challenged myself to use it all up!!

The natural trim is so soft – it’s like the kind of gauze they made bandages from back in the day, soft and easy to shape. The gold trim has more heft than previous trims and ties beautifully as well.

I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (aka Tombo) to adhere that hoop. It’s actually flat on the side that faces the paper, making it easier to get a secure attachment. I love those little details.

Trust me, my crafty friends, this is going to sell and sell quickly! The 20-21 Annual Catalog will be available for orders some time around 8am HST today.

This Suite has everything you could wish for, but if your budget doesn’t have the space to do that, order what you can and be happy! Hurry to the Online Store to get yours today.

Just Breathe

Posted on September 6, 2017 by mauistamper

Sometimes we all need a reminder to breathe.

Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Color Palette: Whisper White, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizazz, Old Olive, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Seasons Layers Thinlits, Glitter Enamel Dots, Glossy Card Stock, Stampin’ Sponges

Sponging the color on the Glossy card stock is unexpectedly therapeutic. It’s a slow, building process (at least the way I didi it). Kind of like breathing.

2018 Easel Calendar kits and refills are available! Details HERE.

There are two ways to purchase the kit. You can purchase it complete with an easel, and it will come packaged in a clear box ready for gift giving, with or without your creative designs.

DIY Easel Calendar Kit is $9.00
DIY Calendar refill is $6.00

Shipping is by USPS and will be sent First Class or Priority Mail. I ship the best possible method at the best possible price and will calculate based on what you order. Typically, a single Calendar refill can be sent in a First Class envelope with postage of $.91. Easel Calendar Kits are shipped Priority Mail Small Flat Rate with postage of $7.15. I can ship multiple kits in one box.

Many crafters have asked for the template over the years. I do not sell the template. I didn’t create it and I don’t own it, and the crafter who does own it does not want to sell it as a template.

To order, leave a comment or email me directly at AnneMatasci (at) gmail (dot) com. I’ll need your order, your delivery address and your email address. I will send an invoice via Square, and you can choose your payment method. Your calendars will not ship until the fourth week of September. At this time, I do not ship outside of the United States.

CASEing the Piggy

Posted on July 2, 2017 by mauistamper

July 1 brings Bonus Days back to Stampin’ Up! Spend $50 in July and earn a $5 reward to spend as you choose in August – with no limit. What’s on your list?

If I didn’t have it already, I’ll tell you what would be on my list: This Little Piggy.

This piggy makes me happy! Today’s card is a CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) of the talented Rachel Tessman. I loved her design, and made just a couple of small changes to her creation.

Coloring the Piggy was a learning experience for me – and in a good way. I was certain I wanted to use Whisper White card stock, but I haven’t had good experience using the Aquapainter with either ink or the Coloring Pencils on large images on Whisper White card stock. I was looking for another option and thought I’d try sponging. This first pig got a little sunburned, but the second one has a lovely, pale complexion:

I used Powder Pink to sponge, and the Blushing Bride Stampin’ Write marker to add shadows.

Stamps: This Little Piggy
Color Palette: Whisper White, Powder Pink, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Basic Grey
Accessories: Daisy Punch, Fox Builder Punch, 3/4″ circle punch, Stampin’ Sponges, Stampin’ Write Markers, Aquapainter, Paper Snips, Post It note, retired Washi Tape

This is the first card I made using the Aquapainter and ink. You can’t see the distortion of the paper, but it’s there. I also wasn’t successful in getting even coverage:

A Post It note creates the perfect mask for sponging, because it sticks in place and the paper is thin. I stamped the Piggy and trimmed him out of the center:

I suppose I could have been really tricky and used the insides for the Soft Sky sponging, but it wouldn’t have had any “stick”. I stamped the Piggy again and cut out around the image so I could sponge in the sky:

Has your wishlist grown? If it’s near $100, consider joining the Maui Stamper team. There’s no obligation, and in July, Stampin’ Up! is making the deal even sweeter. Your $99 (no additional tax or shipping) always includes your choice of $125 in Stampin’ Up! product. In July, it will include an additional $52 in essential tools – snail, snips, bone folder, grid paper, and two D blocks – PLUS the not-yet-released Carols of Christmas stamps from the Holiday 2017 catalog. Check it out!