I had forgotten how much I love our watercolor pencils until I put them to use with these beautiful tropical images. The coloring does not need to be precise, which makes it so relaxing. I used the blender pen to smooth the colors together.
I stamped the images in Memento Black ink, more out of habit than necessity. I colored the leaves with Garden Green and added Granny Apple Green accents, then colored the flowers with Daffodil Delight and added Crushed Curry accents. When the coloring was done, I gave each flower a soft brush with the Blender Pen. It smooths and brightens the color, but it leaves a more translucent look than the Stampin’ Blends.
Petal Arrangements has three unique plumeria designs and 3 unique protea designs. They’re red rubber stamps, which means that they’re not going to last forever. As supplies of red rubber dwindle, our red rubber stamps will retire. Needless to say, if you like this one, get it now! You’ll find it in the Online Store.
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Happy Hibiscus is a “forevah” stamp set in my crafty toolbox – I may have to buy a second bundle just in case I ever lose a piece! (Not that I lose things, oh, no!)
Stamps: Happy Hibiscus, Layers of Beauty, Everyday Greetings, Greetings of the Season
Color Palette: Basic White, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Garden Green, Real Red
Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Happy Hibiscus dies and Hybrid Embossing Folder, Watercolor Pencils, White Bakers Twine, Transparent Adhesive Back Dots, Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals
To get the red center, I used watercolor pencils. They allowed me to shade and layer the color the way I saw it in my mind’s eye. I also used the pencils on the background image from Layers of Beauty to keep them soft and, well, you know, in the background.
Happy Hibiscus is an Online Exclusive– search for it by name in the Online store and add it to your crafty toolbox!!
Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $5 – let me know that’s what you want and I’ll send you an invoice. Please tell me you’re a real being in the message box – I’m getting increasing amounts of spam. Everything is done digitally, so you’ll have it quickly.
You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use.
Be sure to check out the Online Exclusives available ONLY in the Online Store! Many of my favorite bundles are there, but you’ll never see them in a paper catalog.
The December Paper Pumpkin Kit is Notes from the Heart. It contains everything you need to make 9 beautiful cards featuring hand sketched designs. Subscribe HERE by December 10th.
Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.
Close To My Heart (CTMH) products have always had limited availability, but now they’re 30% off while supplies last.
Are you a scrapbooker? Stampin’ Up! has released a new, digital-only scrapbooking brochure. It’s designed to coordinate with the September – December mini. Shop HERE.
The 24-25 Annual Catalog is filled with inspiration. New stamps, dies, tools, and gorgeous new In Colors are waiting for you!! Shop HERE.
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If you’re not on sunny Maui, you might need a bit of Sunshine and Rainbows today. How about a whimsical VW bus driving through your February DIY Calendar?
Stamps: Driving By (Sale-a-bration 2022v1), Paradise Palms
Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody, Gray Granite, Pear Pizazz, Old Olive, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Sunshine and Rainbows Designer Series paper (Sale-a-bration 2022v1), Big Boss, Palms dies, Basic Borders dies, Stampin Dimensionals, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write markers, Watercolor pencils
I used the paper piecing technique with the bus. I stamped it once on one of the striped patterns from the Sunshine and Rainbow DSP, and then again on a piece of Basic White. I used Blends to color the top, wheels, bumpers and windows of the bus. Then I removed the top, wheels, bumpers and windows of the bus from the DSP version and adhered it to the Basic White version.
I made a road using the curve from the Basic Borders dies and the White Watercolor Pencil. I measured another piece of the Sunshine and Rainbows DSP to fit behind the bus and the road and used multipurpose glue to adhere all of those layers – except the bus, the bus had to be on Dimensionals.
If we ever stop carrying Stampin’ Dimensionals I will be unable to function.
The palms – oh my gosh, Stampin’ Up! has heard me mutter – those palms were inked with Stampin’ Write markers and cut out with the dies. It took me a hot minute to figure out how I wanted to line everything up, but lah-dee-dah, I am pretty pleased with the results! What do you think?
You can make your own Easel calendars with my handy-dandy print-yer-own pdf. It’s just $5 and I create one every year. Message me if you’re interested. There’s also a Pinterest board where you can find years of inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, pop over and see what Cheryl and Crystal have done for February. And when you’re done, do yourself a favor and take yourself shopping (the Paradise Palms bundle is a great place to start) and then add that VW Bus to your order for free. You’ll thank yourself over and over! (Be sure to get the English version of Driving By, unless of course you happen to speak French.)
Everybody loves FREE!! Choose FREE goodies from January 4 to February 28, 2022!! Shop HERE.
Before you place that order, consider the Very Best Deal – joining Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator! If you join by February 28, 2022, there’s a super opportunity. Choose 2 FREE stamp sets PLUS:
$125 additional product of your choice for $99
Free shipping on your kit
20% savings on your own purchases
6 months to try us out without risk – continue with just a $300 quarterly minimum
Earn Sale-a-bration and host rewards on RETAIL price not your discounted price
An incredible community of crafters
Early access AND sneak peeks (you know you want to know!)
Join by February 28th for those two free stamp sets! Message me if you have questions or want to chat.
Be sure to subscribe by February 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱if you decide it’s not for you. The February kit will make 9 playful cards with envelopes that you can tailor to your card-sending needs. Don’t wait!
Happy New Year! January First is the original fresh start, new leaf turned over, time to renew…you’ve heard them all. It’s also 2 days before Sale-a-bration 2020, and I think it’s safe to say that The Gang’s All Meer will be a huge favorite.
Stamps: The Gang’s All Meer (SAB 2020)
Color Palette: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Seaside Spray, Flirty Flamingo, Early Espresso, Granny Apple Green, Garden Green
I used our Watercolor Pencils to color the image and softened the lines with the Blender Pen. I took the liberty of adding hair-bows to a couple of the ‘cats and even added a little color on lips and eyes.
I was able to add those fine details because I found a LIFE CHANGING pencil sharpener. Really. This tool has a little dial on the front, and you can have it make your pencil super-dee-duper sharp or wider and softer for coloring. Life changing, I tell you!
It comes in turquoise or pink or black (ho hum) and you can even get a two-pack. I got mine on Amazon.
The 2020 DIY Calendar PDF is still available and it’s just $5. Please click Contact the Maui Stamper above and message me your email (we’re all a lot less likely to be spammed if I do it this way).
Crystal and Cheryl are sharing their calendars again this year – stop by to see how they’re kicking off 2020.
And of course, if you need supplies, check out the Online Store. The Holiday Catalog will be finished, kaput, complete at close of business Mountain TIme on January 2nd.
If you haven’t checked your calendar recently, this Friday is the last day of Sale-a-bration 2019. You have 3 days to bring Lasting Lily into your craft room – don’t miss out!
It took me a while to fall in love with Lasting Lily. The images caught my eye from the beginning, but I struggled to get the image right. It wasn’t until I learned to use a spoon to create a “dry spot” on my ink pad that I was satisfied with the image. It’s worth the effort!
I used the Daffodil Delight Watercolor pencil to add detail to the stamen on the lily – it was very easy to get just a hint of color. I also used the Calypso Coral pencil to define some of the edges and lines in the flower.
Prior to the arrival of the Stamparatus, I always bought my background stamps on wood blocks. I liked being able to reach up and grab them just as they were. Now I’m choosing clear mount stamps, and the Crackle Paint stamp is one of our new cling stamps. If you haven’t given them a try, you are going to LOVE them! Matter of fact, sometimes I don’t even take them out of the case. If I just need to ink a little part of the background stamp, I ink it up right in the case, place my card stock on the inked portion of the stamp, lift it up and then give the stamp a swipe with the Shammy and move on!
If you’re ready to place one last order before Friday, head on over to the Online Store. You won’t regret it!
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!
I love birds. I love to hear them at the beginning and the end of the day, rustling in the trees and calling out to each other. I love to watch them on my walks and in my gardens, searching for tasty bits and strutting across the lawn. Shouldn’t be a huge surprise to learn that the Feathery Friends Host set was at the top of my list for the 2017-2018 Annual catalog.
I had a fabulous time with the Watercolor Pencils and the Aqua Painter. Coloring is really relaxing for me.
I used the Pokey Doodle to make holes to thread the Bakers Twine. I REALLY don’t like it when bows fall off. Sometimes I’m lazy and use a Glue Dot, but threading the twine through the holes guarantees that bow will Stay Put.
You know, there just aren’t that many things that are guaranteed any more, and I like knowing my bow is going to stay on the card.
If you’ve never tried Paper Pumpkin, you can try it at 50% savings this month! Subscribe HERE by Monday, September 10th and use the code HALFOFF0917.
Tasty Truck is my second favorite Sale-a-bration 2017 gift with purchase (right behind Hey Chick!). I think my favorite part is playing with all of the color combinations, and our gorgeous Watercolor Pencils make the coloring so easy:
This is an easy image to fussy cut as it is nearly all straight lines. Don’t be intimidated by the fussy cut!
Since this was a congratulations card, I chose to leave the counter blank. When I’m ready to send it, I may add in some balloons or a banner. I like to leave options when I’m creating a card without a specific intention.
Stamps: Tasty Truck Sale-a-bration 2017
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Basic Grey, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender pens, Urban Underground DSP, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Wink of Stella Clear, Big Shot, Layering Circles Framelits
The Blender pens are my hands-down, go-to choice for working with the watercolor pencils. If you’re using watercolor paper, then an Aquapainter is a great tool. But Very Vanilla and Whisper White card stock are susceptible to pilling if they get worked with too much water, and the Blender pen flows the color so smoothly that I don’t have to rework the same area.
When I came up with the concept for this card, I had one thing in mind. Putting it together, I inadvertently did something else. See if you can figure it out!
See the Sale-a-bration 2017 offering HERE. To qualify for the gift with purchase, shop HERE.
The Maui Stamper 