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.

Packaging for little things

Posted on December 7, 2016 by mauistamper

This time of year, I need heaps of little gifts. I like to express appreciation to my postal carrier, the FedEx and UPS delivery folks, and all the people who make my life easier throughout the year. This little treat holder works well and is compact enough to tuck in my (biggish) handbag:

Stamps: Cookie Cutter Christmas, Tin of Tags
Color Palette: Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Accessories: Cookie Cutter Builder punch, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Silver Thread, Real Red Glimmer paper, Rhinestone Jewels, Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker, Tear ‘n Tape, Ghiradelli Chocolates (NOT AN ACCESSORY. AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT FOR LIFE.)

A note on Stitched Shapes Framelits: Stampin’ Up! has announced that this hot new product will be available again in January. If you missed the availability in November, I urge you to mark your calendars and place an order as soon as they become available. I’ll keep you posted.

One of the tricks I’ve found for getting a clear impression when using a solid photopolymer stamp is to clean the stamp on the Stampin’ Scrub BEFORE inking it. I spritz the Scrub with some Stampin’ Mist and give the stamp a good scrub, and it seems to condition the surface and give me better results. This isn’t scientific, it’s just what I do!

On the back of the easel is a little pocket for a note, a little cash, or a gift card. The Easel fits nicely in our 3″ gusset bags, and with a bit of ribbon and a tag on the top it dresses up beautifully for a more elegant presentation.

If you’re planning on making a DIY Calendar this year, I’m all out of Easel Kits at the moment. There are half a dozen or so Calendar refills available, and I don’t envision printing any more. The point is that if you’d like a Calendar Refill, you need to let me know sooner than later.

The Refill is $6 plus postage. One calendar fits in a regular envelope and will ship First Class for $.68. More than that – I’ll have to quote you. Send your request to AnneMatasci@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you with an invoice.

Year-End closeouts are going quickly. To clarify the offering, there are three categories:

Holiday catalog product that will no longer be available after January 3, 2017
Holiday and Annual catalog product that Stampin’ Up! has in excess and has offered at a discount through January 3.
Clearance Rack products which are in limited supply. Some may be offered beyond January 3 at the discretion of Stampin’ Up!

Shop HERE!

A Tag So Nice I Stamped It Thrice

Posted on November 23, 2016 by mauistamper

OK, so the post title is corny…but this little tag is quick and easy!

The Stitched Shapes Framelits are back-ordered until November 28th, but they’re worth the wait – just look at how they dress this up!

You know you need those Holly Leaves and Berries from the Holly Berry Builder Punch, on sale during Online Extravaganza!

These sentiments all come from Candy Cane Christmas, and if you give food gifts during the holidays, you’ll find these indispensable.

Shop HERE. Online Extravaganza is in full swing! Use Host code BDVJER7D if your order is under $150.

DIY Easel calendar kits are available for 2017!

The DIY Easel Calendar kit is $9.00, and I also make a DIY Calendar Refill available for $6.00. The calendar images are 3 1/2″ square, and the mats are 3 3/4″ square.

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 $.68. Easel Calendar Kits are shipped Priority Mail Small Flat Rate with postage of $6.80. I can ship multiple kits in one box.

Mats are Dapper Denim, Marina Mist, Emerald Envy, Cucumber Crush, Mint Macaron, Sweet Sugarplum, Real Red, Watermelon Wonder, Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach, Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon and Daffodil Delight.

To order, leave a comment or email me directly at AnneMatasci@gmail.com. I’ll need your order and your email address, and will send an invoice via Square. At this time, I’m not shipping these outside of the United States.

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: Stitched Shapes Framelits

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

A Tag So Nice I Stamped It Thrice

DIY Easel calendar kits are available for 2017!

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DIY Easel calendar kits are available for 2017!

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