Farewell to First Frost

Posted on May 29, 2020 by mauistamper

This time of year I get a little verklempt over some of the retiring stamps. Others, not so much – but I’ll be sorry to see First Frost leave the catalog. I discovered a little embossed bit in my “pieces” a couple of days ago, and brought the set out for one last inking.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up First Frost in Gray

Stamps: First Frost, Beautiful Bouquet
Color Palette: Whisper White, Memento Black, Basic Gray
Accessories: Vellum card stock, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Frosted Bouquet dies, die cutting machine, Stitched So Sweetly dies, Pearl jewels, Stampin Dimensionals. The DSP and ribbon are LONG retired.

I cut small pieces from the Stampin’ Dimensionals sheet to adhere the embossed vellum stem. The White Embossing Powder perfectly masked the dimensionals, and I was able to cut them in narrow strips by using the extra bit of foam that’s left behind when all the dimensionals are used.

Funny, when I stamped the first images (Memento Black ink on Whisper White) I liked them so well I almost didn’t use the vellum bit that was my inspiration in the first place. Instead, I created this second version using Basic Gray and Very Vanilla card stock. It’s almost the same, although I used the Metallic Pearls and a retired sympathy sentiment (Teeny Tiny Wishes.)

I’m having trouble deciding which one I prefer! But I’ll tell you this: if you’re on the fence about adding First Frost (or Beautiful Bouquet and its great sentiments) to your craft stash, you’ll need to visit the Online Store right away as these two sets will be retired at close of business on June 2, 2020. Don’t dilly dally.

It’s RemARKably Halloween!

Posted on September 18, 2016 by mauistamper

Welcome to the September version of the RemARKable Blog Tour. This month I’m featuring the Cookie Cutter Halloween stamps paired with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch. It’s cute, it’s fun to color, and it’s quick!

I didn’t have Halloween paper at my fingertips, so I pulled out this starry paper from the Presents and Pinecones Holiday Catalog DSP and used it with the Mini-Treat-Bag thinlits.

The little scarecrow is my favorite to color – I chose watercolors (Ink Refills and the Aquapainter) to achieve a vintage look. The tag is the same for each of my projects – a Cookie Cutter Halloween punch, a 1 3/4″ Pumpkin Pie card stock circle, a black card stock tag embossed with the Woodland TIEF, and a vellum “washi” cut from the Mini-Treat-Bag thinlits set and stamped with Happy Halloween from Teeny Tiny Wishes, one of my crafting workhorses!

This little vampire isn’t very scary, and he’s easy to color with Stampin’ Write markers (Rich Razzleberry and Pear Pizazz). He tops a treat bag made with the Gift Bag Punch Board.

The little mummy is my all around favorite. I added the little heart (it’s one of the builder items on the punch) and colored a little Razzleberry face in there – how easy is that? There’s a little mummy brigade behind the tag punched directly onto the Kraft Tag a Bag gift bag.

The Gold Binder clips are perfect for attaching tags and closing up bags! And that ribbon is the Peekaboo Peach taffeta – it blends very well with Pumpkin Pie!

Last in the lineup is the Skelly, accompanied by a Row of Ravens (Nevermore!) across the Petite Cafe Gift Bag.

Our new Kraft Rope trim is soft and easy to tie, and it coordinates with everything. That’s my kind of accessory.

Here’s the lineup! You can hand out treats, deliver home-baked goodies, or even fill them up with worms and dirt and give them to all of the naughty boys and girls.

Well, we wouldn’t really do that now, would we?

Next stop on the tour is Heather Mathieson, and she is definitely not going to be naughty – I know she has wonderful projects to share with you! Enjoy the tour.

Anne Matasci YOU ARE HERE!

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch #140396 $18

Maui Stamper Cookie Cutter Halloween Stampin Up

Cookie Cutter Halloween stamps Wood #142242 $23 Clear #142255 $17

A Bicycle Built for Two

Posted on March 31, 2016 by mauistamper

Growing up, my parents had a Schwinn Tandem. The Pedal Pushers stamp set from Sale-a-bration brought back very fond memories of that bike:

Stamps: Pedal Pusher, Teeny Tiny WIshes, Gorgeous Grunge
Color Palette: Whisper White, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Botanical Gardens Designer Washi, Big Shot, Arrows TIEF, Stampin’ Write markers, Corner Rounder punch

Coloring this tandem with Stampin’ Write markers goes quickly, and I wouldn’t hesitate to make a stack of these – it wouldn’t take long. The color splashes are a nod to the 60’s and 70’s. It’s a bit of an inside joke, a throwback to the time when this bike would have been in our garage.

Don’t tell my dad you’ve seen this card. I’m saving it for his birthday. #ImBringingBirthdaysBack.

If you like this stamp set, today is the last day to place an order and get one for free. Shop HERE.

Blushing Flowering Fields

Posted on February 22, 2016 by mauistamper

I think I am officially obsessed with the Flowering Fields stamp set available through Sale-a-bration. I’ve done a number of variations on the same theme – the most recent one is in Blushing Bride:

Stamps: Flowering Fields, Timeless Texture, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Pear Pizazz
Accessories: Linen Thread, Stampin’ Write Markers, Uniball White Gel Pen, Wink of Stella

I love coloring in these images with my Stampin’ Write markers. Sometimes I use the fat, brush end, and sometimes it’s the pointy writing end, but either way it’s something I find relaxing.

I mix and match the backgrounds from Timeless Treasures – it’s one of those sets I know I’ll reach for again and again. And speaking of reaching for something, my Wink of Stella brush is always on my craft table these days. I’m thinking of getting one for my bathroom too – don’t you think a little {wink} would be just the thing for those too-early-Monday-mornings?

Here’s how I start…the backgrounds are stamped off and I do 3 of each one. My tiles are 1 3/8″ x 1 1/8″ and I have to stamp twice, but I’ve found it easy to line up the images by eye.

Once I have a set of images I like, I move them around until I find a sequence that pleases me. The rest is just Fast Fuse (and a bow with the Linen Thread, but I’ve done hundreds if not thousands of those and it’s No.Big.Deal.)

Here’s the original. Keep your eye out – there are more to come!

Etch-a-Bird, Etch-a-Herd

Posted on February 19, 2015 by mauistamper

I’ve seen it, you’ve seen it, we’ve all seen it – but I still had to make it:This card is so much fun to make! It’s all over Pinterest, and I’ve seen the design credited to so many different people that I can’t trace it back to one person – and I’ve tried. If this was your concept before the rest of the universe claimed it, YOU ROCK!

I chose the Host set Hello Love for this version, as my Hostess Club requested Valentines this month.

The sentiment on the inside is from the January My Paper Pumpkin subscription kit. Purchase a 3 month subscription during Sale-a-bration and save! Current Paper Pumpkin subscribers can purchase any of the available past kits or past kit refills (first comes with stamps, second does not).

This is the version that started the stampede. From the Herd was my first choice stamp set from the Occasions 2015 catalog and it is perfect for this card. We all had a pretty good laugh over the faces on these critters. I had to resist the urge to color in a face – any face. It wouldn’t be true to the concept. But i wanted to do it.

I mean, what’s not to love?

If you want to make this card just as you see it, you’ll need From the Herd and Teeny Tiny Wishes (for Happy Valentines’ Day). You’ll need Real Red, Sahara Sand, Shimmer White, Whisper White and Vellum cardstock. This card also uses the Big Shot and the Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, a 1″ circle punch, and the Project Life Corner Rounder. The only ink you’ll use will be Memento Black.

Look through your stash and pull out your line art stamps. I’ll bet you have one that’s just perfect for this card!

Blendabilities, blendabilities, wherefore art thou, blendabilities?

Posted on June 9, 2014 by mauistamper

One of the most exciting products in the new Stampin’ Up! catalog is only available to demonstrators at this time. The Blendabilities product line has been delayed for release to customers for production reasons, and should be available in late June or early July – stay tuned! In the meantime, I’ve been dutifully playing with mine so that you will have the opportunity to enjoy them vicariously 🙂

Color Palette: Rich Razzleberry, Hello Honey, Basic Black and Very Vanilla
Stamps: Fabulous Florets (retired), Dictionary and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories: Decorative Dots TIEF, Crushed Curry 3/4″ Chevron Ribbon, Large and XL oval punches, Neutrals Decorative Buttons, Rhinestone Jewels, Blendabilities in Rich Razzleberry and Daffodil Delight, and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I stamped the same image multiple times and colored it with each color family of Blendabilities markers. I’m sorry it’s a retired image, but my options were limited and I liked this flower because it only had a few petals 🙂

I learned that I prefer to work with dark first and move into the lighter colors. I also learned that I favor an overall darker tone than most people. And unsurprisingly, I learned that I don’t really understand lighting and shadows.

I also learned that I LOVE to color with Blendabilities!! No streaking, no uneven color, just rich, beautiful, saturated tones. The process of going back and forth over your image does create some bleed through on the back of the image, and I recommend that you plan on layering your image to disguise that.

If you’re really anxious to try these out, you can take advantage of the June Sign-and-Save promotion: for $50 you can become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and select Blendabilities in your initial order. It’s a no risk, no obligation decision and right now it’s the only way to get your hands on these markers. Let me know how I can help you get started!

When a card is really a hug

Posted on April 30, 2014 by mauistamper

Sometimes a friend is hurting and it’s not possible to deliver a hug in person. What is it about the touch of another person that brings such comfort? I called a friend today and she said “I was just thinking of you. I need an Anne hug.” It was a reminder to me that a small gesture can have the great impact – and I may never know that it did.

There’s a woman in our church – and she’s a saint, she really is – who has taken on the unseen task of sending cards to people in our community who are hurting. It’s a big job, and I’m happy to help by keeping her supplied with cards. Sometimes I have trouble coming up with a design that is generic enough to suit whatever need arises, but still has that hand-made touch. They also have to be 100% easy to mail:

Stamps: Simply Soft (Retired 13-14 Hostess) and Trust God stamp sets
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Pool Party and Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Etcetera DSP, 3″ Circle Bigz, 3 1/2″ Circle Bigz, Big Shot, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aqua Painter

Simply Soft is one of those retired stamp sets that I can’t bring myself to sell. I used it for my daughter’s engagement party invitations. I am so fond of those Dandelion-like flowers – or maybe they’re Alliums, or perhaps Agapanthus. It doesn’t matter. I like them.

I have to admit that I’m a little anti-OCD when it comes to this sort of two-step stamping. I kind of LIKE that it’s not lined up perfectly. On the other hand, I would have really liked to put a little ribbon on this card…but it needs to be flat.

This copycat uses Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral. The Polka Dots TIEF (it survives another year!!!!!) adds a little texture, and the Sweet Sorbet DSP from Sale-a-bration adds a bit more with its tone-on-tone colors. The flowers from Too Kind (another survivor!) are a lighter version of the Dandelion/Agapanthus/Allium flower, and the contrasting mat distracted my eye, so I let the Very Vanilla circle to stand on its own. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes….BIG SIGH OF RELIEF…my right-hand-stamp will also be around for at least another year.

Here’s a little more “rock the boat” two step stamping. Now you’re seeing my rebellious side.

The Etcetera DSP, the 3″ Bigz and the 3 1/2″ Bigz are all retiring. If you have circles framelits, you really don’t need the Bigz – unless you make multiples. I’ve gotten my money’s worth many times over cutting 6 or more circles at one time with these dies.

If you’re anything like me, you have a small stash of cards that have been collecting dust for a while. Each one of those cards has the potential to make someone’s day…you just need to write a line or two, sign your name, and attach a stamp. Shoots, you don’t even have to lick the stamp any more. Go send a card. You’ll be glad you did.

Stampin’ with the Maui Stampers!

Posted on August 12, 2013 by mauistamper

Maui Stampers is my blog, and it’s also my Stampin’ Up! group name!

Crystal and I came back from convention loaded with ideas, inspiration and most of all, SWAPS! We wanted to share as much as we could, as quickly as we could, with the Maui Stampers who were unable to make the trip to Salt Lake. We put together a wild and crazy Stamp-a-palooza. I’ve shared a few of the projects but there are just too many to keep posting one at a time, and they’re all pretty simple since we were in production mode. Here are the rest, in no particular order:

I’m just giving quickie info on these – this one is Zoo Babies in Gumball Green, Calypso Coral and Coastal Cabana, with a bit of Epic Day Washi Tape along the back.

This is Toil and Trouble with Teeny Tiny Wishes – it’s hard to see, but the black card base is embossed with the Stripes Embossing folder. That Vintage Button is filled with Black Glitter from the Holiday catalog and I am telling you, that stuff is GLITTERY!!! Mr. Maui Stamper woulda had a fit if I’d brought this out at home, but we were Some Where Else. Thank goodness.

I am IN LOVE with You’re My Hero! It’s not just for kids, either – I have some things to share in another week or so that I think you’re gonna love.

Simply Sketched is a hostess set, and I think it’s a bit of a sleeper. The images are beautiful line art and the sentiments are things you need. I chose Pear Pizazz and Baked Brown Sugar for this sympathy card.

Gorgeous Grunge is another catalog sleeper – and it is SO MUCH FUN!! Just slap on that ink, baby!! There’s a little Witches Brew Washi on this card – Washi is translucent so you can get extra dimension by layering it over a stamped image. The greeting is Label Love – don’t miss the savings on that bundle! And yes, I hand-cut the sentiment to layer it. It’s not that hard 🙂

This last card uses Too Kind, one of the first sets I purchased from the new catalog. I’ve used it for so many things – those big, free form flowers are so versatile and easy to stamp. I do NOT use the Stamp-a-ma-jig on them, much as I love it – these are just Bash and Stamp images! Love that new Tags 4 You set in the Holiday catalog – you’ll see more of that, too. Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe are the perfect tone-on-tone combo.

And just for fun, here we are:

Stampers and guests! These are brave women – it was a little bit touch-and-go as Ms. Hurricane Flossie tried to rain on our parade. But neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Or stamping.

RemARKably Mad Mosaics

Posted on June 8, 2013 by mauistamper

Welcome to the first Stamp of the Month tour for the Brand New Deliciously JUICY 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog!! Are you as excited as I am about this fabulous assortment of paper crafting goodness?? I hope so!

The June Stamp of the Month is Mosaic Madness. It’s especially juicy because of all the coordinating products that carry the Mosaic theme: the Mosaic punch, the Mosaic TIEF, and the Quatrefoil Fancy DSP.

(If you are not a regular reader at the Maui Stamper, I apologize. You should know that I am a very lazy girl and I get tired of typing things like TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER (TIEF), DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (DSP) and FIRM FOAM INK PAD (FFIP). Please make a note of these abbreviations.)

I’ve done a number of projects using the products from the suite, but for our blog tour I wanted to try using the images in new ways. First up – le card:

If SOMEONE used her SAMJ (oh, all right, Stamp-a-ma-jig) that “beautiful” would have been straight. Instead, it is beautifully hand made 🙂

The Mosaic punch fits perfectly along the scallop border from the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die! There are 7 of them, with the top and bottom trimmed to fit the card.

Got a little pierce-happy but it was worth it…and the little holes made a perfect place to run some Linen thread through to balance the opposite side.

If you need a box to go with that sassy card, I’ve got just the thing:

I was feeling a little continental…don’t know if this is more Scandinavian or Swiss, but when I started playing with the long stamps from Mosaic Madness I started seeing ribbon and it didn’t take much to put together a belly band. (Hint: if you are adding paper layers to a belly band, I recommend you score the plain belly band first, then add the trim on top for a smoother fit.)

The Mosaic punch can be a medallion, a flower, a tag…you name it! Just punch out a bunch of them and start playing.

For the next stop of the tour, you’ll be heading over to see what madness Robin has created! Enjoy!!

Got lost? Here’s the entire tour:

Nancy Amato http://www.stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler http://www.conniestamps.com
Crystal Kondo http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://www.thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Debbie Lever http://www.debbiescreativespot.blogspot.com
Anne Matasci http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Jeannette Swain http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com
Janet Wakeland http://www.remarkablycreated.com

RemARKable Stampers Affection Collection Blog Tour

Posted on December 8, 2012 by mauistamper

Hello there friends! Thanks for taking time from your busy day to share a little Affection with us. Welcome to the Valley Isle, where the weather outside is…delightful!

I’m taking you forward today to springtime holidays. Affection Collection is well suited to Valentines Day, but I chose to focus on how well it works for bridal showers and weddings, and specifically how it works for small cards. These are 3″ squares, and I used my favorite color combo – Marina Mist and Lucky Limeade:

This image is easy to align with the ever-faithful Stamp-a-ma-jig. Punch the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with the Modern Label punch, add a couple of pearls, and tie on some Lucky Limeade Bakers twine for a finishing touch.

For a little love note, how about a heart on wings?

We’ve gotten awfully spoiled with Framelits, but the truth is I actually pulled out my snips and cut this winged heart out BY HAND. Yes. Believe it. And didn’t I do a lovely job?

There’s some Vanilla Smooch Spritz , Crystal Effects, and yes, even Dazzling Diamonds to add some sparkle. I had the ceiling fan running (yes, it’s that warm) when I took the Dazzling Diamonds out of the secure vault and opened the jar — oopsie, that was exciting! Off with the fan and then a very careful drizzling of those Diamonds to keep the peace. Mr. Maui Stamper does not like glitter, and those Dazzling Diamonds have a mind of their own.

I think this is my favorite of these three little gift cards. The little flags are hand cut (but hint, hint, not for long!! The Spring Catalog is coming soon!) and attached with dimensionals. That little bit of Marina Mist 1/8″ taffeta is threaded through tiny 1/16″ holes and knotted, and I promise you it was much easier than it sounds. A little bit of bling finishes off this love note:

Affection Collection in wood #127946 $29.95
Affection Collection in clear #127949 $21.95
Whisper White Mini Square Envelopes #107309 $7.50

This is a Holiday Catalog stamp set that will NOT carry forward, so you have until January 2, 2013 to make it yours.

Click on the RemARKable Badge below to see what the ever talented Robin Merriman has in store for you.

The Maui Stamper

papercrafts, my stories, and the occasional insight

Tag Archives: teeny tiny wishes

Farewell to First Frost

A Bicycle Built for Two

Blushing Flowering Fields

Etch-a-Bird, Etch-a-Herd

Blendabilities, blendabilities, wherefore art thou, blendabilities?

When a card is really a hug

Stampin’ with the Maui Stampers!

RemARKably Mad Mosaics

RemARKable Stampers Affection Collection Blog Tour

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