Varied Vases in Mint and Heather

Posted on June 10, 2018 by mauistamper

I’ve already made dozens of cards with Varied Vases, but this is one of my favorites:

Stamps: Varied Vases
Color palette: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Mint Macaron, Highland Heather
Accesories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Basketweave Dynamic TIEF, Vases Builder Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Watercolor Pencils, Basic Gray ribbon from SAB (retired).

I used a sticky note to create a mask for the stems. It was a bit of fussy cutting, but I couldn’t NOT do it. The beautiful stems in this versatile set lend themselves to tropical arrangement, and I’ve had so much fun arranging these flowers.

Fussy cutting isn’t my favorite thing, but when it’s worth it, it’s worth it. The only difference in this second stepped-up version is the fussy cut stems, but I love the added dimension. Sharp eyes will spot tiny dots of Daffodil Delight in the blossoms.

One more version, this time with the current Silver Metallic Edge ribbon. I also used a Blender Pen to hand color the stems so that I could vary the tones. You’ll want to do the coloring before you cut this one out, as the cuttings is VERY fussy.

Inspired? Find everything you need HERE. When you place your order, be sure to enter Host Code 32K6EETG for a special new catalog gift. Hint: it’s all about color!

A Gorgeous Birthday In Color

Posted on May 24, 2018 by mauistamper

Crystal and I have decided that May is as busy with December but without the presents or the cookies. RIGHT???? How can we be a week away from the end of the month? That means we’re a week away from the end of the current Annual Catalog and the debut of the 2018-2019 catalog! It was high time I cracked open the 2018-2020 In Color Collection:

Stamps: Beautiful Bouquet, Happy Birthday Gorgeous
Color Palette: Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, and Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories: Big Shot, Bouquet Bunch Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Pearl Jewels

The Beautiful Bouquet stamps and Bouquet Bunch framelits are available as a discounted bundle for one more week – don’t miss that great deal! This is a really versatile set.

I don’t usually share my progression, but I enjoyed the way this card evolved, and I thought I’d share the process with you. The first image is the first card, and some of those die cuts are covering up things I didn’t like. The result left me feeling I could do better, so I gave it another shot:

I like the left offset on this one, but the scalloped mat disappears into the stamped images. I also decided that the little green thingamajigs were better than the leaves for this design. It was back to the drawing board one more time:

This version was the winner in my mind! I skipped the tiny Lipstick flowers in favor of the green deely-bobbers. Changing the scalloped oval mat to Lemon Lime Twist helped pop the sentiment out of the floral arrangement. The differences are minor, but I’m convinced it’s the little things that count.

If you’d like to save on this bundle, get yourself to the online store and order today!

The view from my beach

Posted on May 14, 2018 by mauistamper

My family has a spot at the beach near our home. When I say we have a spot, I mean there’s a place along the beach where we always sit. I laugh when I see my kids’ Instagram posts, because I know exactly where they were sitting when they took their photos.

We live near Keawakapu Beach, known as Sidewalks to the surfers. It’s a relatively long stretch, at least in Maui terms, because many of our beaches are really just coves. There are two entrances to the beach, and our spot is midway between them.

Often on holiday weekends, the space around the entrances is crowded with families and umbrellas and coolers and beach chairs. We just smile and walk down the beach to our spot, where there always seems to be room. Yesterday, Mr. Maui Stamper and I spent a few glorious hours there, watching an enormous pair of turtles feeding quite close to the shore.

You can see Kaho’olawe from our beach, so we really do look across at another island, although it is very small.

Stamps: Waterfront, Picture Perfect Birthday
Color Palette: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky/Crumb Cake or Wild Wasabi/Sahara Sand
Accessories: Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Linen Thread, Wink of Stella

I was playing around with retiring colors, so I made a second version with a Soft Sky mat. Not sure which one I like best – what do you think?

And just in case you want to compare, here’s my spot:

Flying Home for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 5, 2018 by mauistamper

I’m not going home for Mother’s Day – it’s a long trip, and there are conflicts I can’t re-arrange. But my heart will be there, and I have a selection of cards that will go to the wonderful women who have mothered me throughout my life. This is one of my favorites:

Stamps: Flying Home, Thoughtful Banners
Color Palette: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizazz, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Basic Black
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write markers, Stitched Shapes framelits, Big Shot, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Linen Thread

4 packages of Linen Thread is the acceptable minimum to have in my embellishment drawer – I get nervous if there are fewer than that. It’s my absolute favorite, go-to, never-fail choice to add that little something to a project. It doesn’t add bulk and can be mailed without any concern. I don’t even want to think about it ever retiring.

I love coloring these bird houses. Every time I do it, I choose different elements and different color combinations. I use a combination of Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write markers as the tip of the marker is much finer and allows me to work inside those narrow lines.

Flying Home is retiring – shop HERE to get it before it’s gone.

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?

One more Avant Garden Welcome

Posted on March 16, 2017 by mauistamper

Sometimes I’m astonished by the difference a color palette can make. Sure, I’ve rearranged the images a bit, but this card is quite similar to the two previous versions found HERE and HERE.

This is a brighter, warmer color scheme, and as much as I love my Pool Party combos, this card in Calypso Coral and Blushing Bride really makes me happy. The circular design of the flowers around the Stitched Shape sentiment circle was really simple to do. Blushing Bride is such a soft tone that I didn’t even mask the flowers: I just stamped away!

Stamps: Avant Garden (Sale-a-bration 2017), retired demonstrator exclusive stamp set (sentiment)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Metallic Ribbon (Sale-a-bration 2017), Sequins from the 2016 Holiday catalog, Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue dots

There are just a couple more weeks left to earn free Sale-a-bration products. When it’s over, it’s really over – these stamp sets and exclusive accessories DO NOT go on the Clearance Rack! Shop now.

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: Stitched Shapes Framelits

Varied Vases in Mint and Heather

A Gorgeous Birthday In Color

The view from my beach

Flying Home for Mother’s Day

Blending the Birdies

This Little Piggy Loves You

One more Avant Garden Welcome

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