Tag Archives: Wetlands

Watercolor wash

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I’m not a classically trained artist – SURPRISE – but I pay attention to trends and try to pick up simple techniques.  One thing I’ve learned is that watercolor paper makes a big difference when you are, well, watercoloring.  A couple of weeks ago I played with watercolor wash:

Maui Stamper Flowering Fields Watercolor Wash

  • Stamps:  Flowering Fields, Tin of Cards
  • Color Palette:  Whisper White, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories:  Aquapainter, Stampin’ Write markers

I started with the watercolor paper and played with the wash.  If you look closely at the card above, you’ll see that I held it upright before the water had soaked in, and it created a little river of yellow through the blue.  Color theory:  yellow + blue = green.

Maui Stamper Flowering Fields Watercolor Wash

When I trimmed the panels down to make cards, the color was too close to the edge.  That just means I’ll have to make more in order to try again.

Maui Stamper Flowering Fields Watercolor Wash

The sentiment on this card is from the Wetlands stamp set, and I used my Uniball White Gel pen to add some accents to those flowers.  These are simple cards – you could make a batch in one afternoon.  I like to make them without sentiments and set them aside until I need them.  I can customize with the sentiment and font that matches my purpose.

Experiment a little!  It’s just paper {wink}.

Sandy Warm Wishes

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No snow-women here…nope, we have sand-women:

Maui Stamper Warm WishesWarm Wishes was featured in last year’s Holiday catalog and although it’s retired I couldn’t help but share this idea.  You could get pretty creative with some Stampin’ Sponges and come close to this – but Warm Wishes was faster.

Only two more sleeps til Christmas!

 

Remembering to be Thankful

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I work at having an “attitude of gratitude” all year long, and in November I give myself a little extra reminder:

Maui Stamper November 2014 DIY Easel Calendar

  • Stamps:  Thankful For (retired), Wetlands, Gorgeous Grunge
  • Color Palette:  Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar

Maui Stamper November 2014 DIY Easel CalendarCan I just say that if you are one of the 4 people left who don’t own Gorgeous Grunge that you need to fix that problem?  It is absolutely indispensable.

I used my Stampin’ Write markers to create the variegated color on the stems.  They aren’t weeds…just in case you were wondering.

Take a look and see what Cheryl and Crystal have done with their calendars this month.  Please leave us a comment – we all love to hear what you think about our projects!

Shorebirds

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I’m going to be very happy every morning in May to walk into my kitchen and see this month’s little Easel Calendar:

Maui Stamper 2014 Easel Calendar May ShorebirdsI love this Wetlands stamp set, especially these little shorebirds.  I used my Aquapainter to add a little Basic Gray around the waterline.  I sponged a little crumb cake below and Pool Party above that line to create a sense of the sand and the sea.  The sun is the circle that was in the middle of one the Daydream Medallians stamps – I have a DVD case for all the funny bits that I think would make interesting stamps.

Take just another minute to pop on over and see what Crystal and Cheryl have done for their calendars this month.  We hope you’re inspired!

Simple and Sweet

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The Sweet Sayings Cards and Envelopes are Grrrrrrrrrreat!!Maui Stamper Sweet Sayings Handmade Cards(I think my demographic may be showing…does anyone else remember Tony the Tiger?)

  • Stamp sets:  Too Kind and Wetlands
  • Color Palette:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana and Real Red
  • Accessories:  Sweet Sayings card and envelope set

And now for something completely different…

Maui Stamper Sweet Sayings Handmade CardsChange the font (this is from Oh, Hello) and create my own DSP with the Dictionary background set and it’s a Manly Card – even with those cute squiggles and tiny hearts at the bottom.

Maui Stamper Sweet Sayings Handmade CardsYet another look – very girly – with a sentiment from Four You and the fabulous little blooms from Petite Petals.  It’s hard to see in the photo, but the Coastal Cabana panel is embossed with Perfect Polka dots and carried through with the pierced line on the Whisper White oval (love those piercing guides!!)

Click Maui Stamper Whole Lot To Love 2014 to view the PDF with all the details on these Sweet Sayings Note Card sets.  They’re only available until January 27 – or until supplies run out.

 

Shorebirds

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I’m not an official “birder”, but I am certainly a bird lover.

Maui Stamper Wetlands Birds handmade cardThe Wetlands stamp set jumped off the page at me the first time I looked through the 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! annual catalog, but I was amazingly disciplined and waited to buy it.  Last week, the wait was over!

Maui Stamper Wetlands Birds handmade card

  • Wetlands stamp set
  • Naturals White, Island Indigo and Crumb Cake card stock
  • Basic Grey, Island Indigo, Pool Party and Crumb Cake FFIP
  • Pearls
  • Island Indigo Baker’s Twine
  • The Big Shot and the Oval Framelits
  • Stampin’ Sponges

I cut an oval mask using the Framelits collection and sponged ocean and sand colors onto Naturals White card stock.  I mean, it’s a scene from NATURE, doesn’t it seem NATURAL to use Naturals White??  My real intention was to take advantage of the texture of the card stock, both the physical texture and the little color “dits” (that’s what I call ’em, ok?) in the paper.

There’s a LOT going on in the Stampin’ Up! world right now – an extra $25 in hostess benefits, special one-week discounts in the Online Store, new stamps, and of course the opportunity to become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for only $25!  Check out the deals!

Maui Stamper $25 Stampin' Up! Joining Offer Oct 7 to 21 2013