Owl Love You Forever

Posted on July 11, 2010 by mauistamper

Is it me, or has this whole stamping business gone to the birds?

Woodgrain, Cheep Talk and Whimsical Words (retired 2010 SAB) stamp sets
Whisper White, Crumb Cake (Kraft), Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Shimmer White card stock
A scrap of retired Riding Hood Red Designer Series Prints Pattern paper
Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip Classic ink pads
Two-Step Owl XL punch; Curly Label punch
Big Shot; Scallop Circles #2 die; Movers & Shapers Curly Label XL Bigz die
Crop-a-dile and Kraft taffeta ribbon (retired)

This Two-Step Owl punch is hilarious and addictive. I sat in my craft room the other night with a basket full of scraps and started punching out bits and pieces. This is something you could play with for a very long time, mixing and matching colors and crossing and uncrossing the eyes. Oh, yeah – you better believe I played with those eyes! (Note to self: tweezers are required for those itty bitty eye-bubs that go in the middle.) And it wasn’t until I got everything all put together that I realized you could use the bottom of the heart for a little beak.

The mat on the Curly Label punch is the piece that is cut out when you use the Movers & Shapers XL die with the Curly Label insert. It works the same way with all the other magnetic inserts – isn’t that tricky? I made the hole for the taffeta ribbon with the Crop-a-dile since my favorite double rectangle punch is now retired. I am TRYING to be a good demo and use only current supplies, but I’m tellin’ you, it’s not easy! Take that kraft ribbon as an example. Stampin’ Up! is an awesome company and I’m thrilled with the Color Renovation and all the cool new goodies we’ve seen added to the catalog, but what was wrong with leaving us a little bit of Kraft Taffeta ribbon? They could even re-name it Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon – that would be OK. There’s a little stash in the ribbon drawer, so you may see it from time to time.

You’ll be seeing more of these owls, too.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program…

Posted on July 7, 2010 by mauistamper

All that cat business is lots of fun, but there are cards to be made and seen! Yesterday’s post about my goofball cat got picked up by Freshly Pressed, the front page of WordPress.com. Captain Stupidhead is now a mini-celebrity and while I’m not making any promises, you may see a little more him from time to time. As my daughter Sara said, “The internet has spoken. And it says that it loooooooves Pookie.”

Pookie did NOT help with this card, and that’s a good thing. My stamping desk isn’t very big and it’s usually covered with ink pads. No place for a cat. However, it’s a great place for some colors that I loved and hoarded when they retired. Wild Wasabi was an In Color selection in 2007 and Riding Hood Red was from 2008. I kept a little folder with a few odd sheets of Wasabi, but I must confess that I have a substantial stash of Riding Hood Red. It’s a deep, rich red that worked with so many colors and I am thrilled to have it back in the Stampin’ Up! Color Family:

Awash with Flowers, Woodgrain and Because I Care (Hostess Level I) stamp sets
Wild Wasabi, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede and Whisper White card stock
Wild Wasabi, Riding Hood Red and Soft Suede classic ink pads
Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker and the Blender pen
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing folder
Corner Rounder, Oval and Scallop Oval punches
Linen thread and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used my Lazy Stampin’ Girl technique on the Two-Step Stampin’ part of the flower. I inked the solid (flower petal) image with Riding Hood Red, then used a blender pen to remove the RHR ink from the little pod thingy at the base of the flower. (OK, tell me, what would you YOU call it?? Sheesh.) The Soft Suede Stampin’ Write marker adds that little change of color that makes a big difference – at least to me.

I’m lovin’ this new catalog and the return of some of my favorite colors, and I hope you are too.

Hello Forest Babies

Posted on March 16, 2010 by mauistamper

There’s a new baby I’m looking forward to meeting. His Auntie, Grandma and Grandpa are here from the Mainland, so I’ll wait my turn – but while I am waiting, I made him a card.

Forest Friends, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
Naturals White, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red and Soft Suede card stock
Brocade Blue, Ruby Red and Soft Suede Classic ink pads
Versamark ink and Whisper White Craft ink pad
Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Stampin’ Sponges, piercing tool and mat
Jumbo grommet, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon and Scallop trim border punch

There was a lot of masking involved in lining up these images. It’s not hard at all – and it doesn’t take much time. Stamp your image on a re-positionable note and trim it out. I just stamp again after I’ve stamped my first image – you only need the outline. When I’ve used the mask I stick in inside the storage container for the stamp set so I don’t have to cut another one the next time.