Exploring In Colors

Posted on November 9, 2010 by mauistamper

A couple of weeks ago a friend asked me to do a Thank You card for her workshop. She wanted it to be something simple and reproducible. She was looking for inspiration for gifts, and thought if she could take the same card and produce it in a few different colors she could make sets.

No problem, I said. That’s an easy one, I said.

Famous last words.

Maybe the muse was on vacation. (I live on MAUI, for goodness sakes. Where would my muse want to GO already?) Maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself. Shoot, maybe it was the hormones – they’re responsible for everything else that goes wrong in my life!! It took much longer than it should have, but I came up with something that made us both happy:

Vintage Vogue and A Note of Thanks stamp sets
Very Vintage Jumbo Stampin’ Around Wheel
Whisper White, Poppy Parade and Early Espresso card stock
Early Espresso and Poppy Parade Classic ink pads
XL Decorative Label and Bitty Circle punches
Crop-a-dile; Stampin’ Sponge; Early Espresso 3/8″ taffeta ribbon

My goal for this card was to come up with a design that could be made in the 2010-2011 In Colors. I think that’s what made it challenging for me. I wanted to highlight the great value in the Card Stock and Classic Pad In Color kit – 5 Classic ink pads plus a 20 sheet assortment of the 2010 In Color papers for $29.95 (item 120952). If you haven’t done the math yet, I’ll do it for you; that’s getting the paper assortment (valued at $6.95) for free. It’s even in the catalog on page 165, but it doesn’t jump out at you so I like to point it out at workshops…or even in blog posts.

Good-Bye (Kiwi) Kiss

Posted on May 22, 2010 by mauistamper

One thing that crafters in all mediums have in common is a stash. We hoard special goodies we bought at that out-of-the-way shop we found while traveling, expensive goodies we splurged on in some high-end store, or perhaps most precious, RETIRED goodies. These are things we can’t get anymore.

I have goodies in all three catagories, but I’m finally relenting and using up some of my retired and retiring paper. Stampin’ Up! has announced a Color Renovation effective July 1 (You haven’t heard? Have you been off the planet?) and there just isn’t room for ALL of the old and ALL of the new. One of my stashes is Kiwi Kiss – paper, ink, and ribbon – and I’m going to use it up. (gasp!)

Vintage Vogue and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Very Vintage Wheel
Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White and Summer Sun card stock
Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede and Summer Sun Classic ink pads; Whisper White Craft ink pad
1 1/4 inch, 1 3/8 inch square punches; Round tab punch; 1/8 inch circle punch (non-SU)
Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon; White gel pen
Big Shot and Lattice Impressions Folder

This is a Colour Q Challenge and when I saw it included Kiwi Kiss my first thought was to substitute Old Olive and continue hoarding my precious stash. When I put the colors (oops! Colours!) together I realized the brighter tone of the Kiwi Kiss made a big difference and I decided to be brave. What’s the point of hoarding something if you never intend to use it?

I’m feeling very brave…maybe it’s time to go take a look into my closet. Maybe…

All spritzed up and nowhere to go

Posted on May 4, 2010 by mauistamper

Someone may have to pry the Smooch Spritz out of my hands…I think I’ve become dangerous. A definite case of “More is More”, and I’m not convinced it’s a good thing:

Vintage Vogue and Medallion Stamp sets; Very Vintage Wheel
Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo and Close to Cocoa card stock
Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo and Close to Cocoa Classic ink pads; Whisper White Craft ink pad
Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write marker, Vanilla Smooch Spritz
Scallop Trim Border punch, Rhinestone brad, Whisper White taffeta ribbon
1/4″ circle punch and a teeny scrap of DSP – I think from SAB but don’t quote me

A couple of days ago I went on a rant about challenges that wouldn’t cooperate. This card uses the survivors from that challenge – a lot of pieces went into the round file (trash) in my craft room. I have to admit, my concept was good but it just wouldn’t tolerate being forced into a sketch that I disliked. You can see I’m still playing with the same colors I used yesterday for the Inkspiration Challenge – it’s getting pretty girly around here. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go Rasta for a change!

Vintage Style

Posted on February 3, 2010 by mauistamper

I’ve always liked old things, whether they qualify as genuine antiques or not. My grandmother had a house full of vintage furniture and glassware, and I inherited her appreciation for old things. I have some of her furniture in my home now, and it makes me feel connected with her.

Her Victorian love seat is in my living room, and after Christmas as I was putting away decorations, I remembered how we were never allowed to sit on it. She had three straw hats that she would place across the seat to keep us from sitting – I’m not sure if that was just for the summer when my sister and I would visit, or if she kept them there year round – but I’m sure that she was convinced they looked chic sitting there. Of course, we weren’t fooled, but the memory makes me smile either way.

These hearts have nothing to do with those hats, but the kraft card base and the softer shades of red and pink give this card a look of comfortable age:

I {Heart} Hearts, Bella Toile and Always stamp sets
Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink Classic ink pads
Kraft, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa and Naturals Ivory card stock
Stampin’ Sponges, Heart to Heart and Scallop Trim punches and Kraft Taffeta ribbon

I think my grandmother would have liked this card.