Aloha, all! In a few of my latest articles, I've mentioned my "stamp collection" or my "stamp cache." Today I thought I'd digress from talking about my cards to talking about my stamps. Scanning My Stamp Sets Doesn't Take Long As you might observe from looking at the picture of my Stampin' Up! Stamp Collection, it doesn't take much time at all to look through my stamps to figure out what I … [Read more...] about My Stamp Cache & Volcano Stories
Big Island
Festive & Bright – For Halloween?
Aloha, all! When I see a stamp set in a Stampin' Up! holiday season catalog and its name is, "Festive & Bright," I think "Christmas." But the stamp set in the current Stampin' Up! July - December Mini Catalog with that name also has some dynamite Halloween stamps. The stamp that I'm featuring in today's post is one of those - the Festive & Bright Stamp Set. And I almost forgot I owned it. … [Read more...] about Festive & Bright – For Halloween?
A Fun New Pinwheel Tower Card
Aloha, all! When I was playing around with Pinwheel Tower Cards a few weeks ago, I found dozens of great samples. In a few posts last week, I showed off my version of two of the cards that fit nicely into Invitation or A2-sized envelopes. But then I stumbled onto a design by Rick Adkins. It had not four but SIX sides to it! I could hardly wait to try it out. So today we'll go over what I learned … [Read more...] about A Fun New Pinwheel Tower Card
Hey Birthday Chick!
Aloha, all! Last month I had two special birthday cards to make. Today I'd like to share the card that I made for my now 13-year old grandson. I think that teenage boys are just the hardest group of people in the world for whom to figure out a card design. But this young man lives in a household that has had many chickens over the years. I'll share one of the stories I remember from many years … [Read more...] about Hey Birthday Chick!
A Spooky Tower Card!
Aloha, all! And welcome to another fun - but spooky! - edition of Island Hopping. I've been chatting about my Island Hopping friend, Cheryl Hamilton, in my last few articles. This time, we're sharing projects for one of my favorite times for card-giving, Halloween! First I'm hoping you'll enjoy my story of making this fun fold card. Then I'll send you on over to Cheryl's blog to see what she has … [Read more...] about A Spooky Tower Card!
Cork Paper is Perfect for Fall Leaves!
Aloha, all! OK, I've mentioned several times about how wonderful it was to have been at the Island Style Stampers Annual Retreat in Maui earlier this month. But did you know that I almost couldn't go? Nothing so drastic as Covid. But it's definitely related to the economic issues facing everyone these days. While I could get an airline reservation to hop on over to Maui, I couldn't get a rental … [Read more...] about Cork Paper is Perfect for Fall Leaves!
Cork Paper? You Bet – and Just in Time for Fall!
Aloha, all! In my last article, I mentioned that I'd traveled to the island of Maui to attend a stamping retreat. The retreat lasted two FULL days and we were knee deep in crafting projects the whole time. One of my favorite sessions was the one in which we used a brand new Stampin' Up! product, Cork 12" x 12" Specialty Paper. The frame under the flowers in this card is made from that paper. And … [Read more...] about Cork Paper? You Bet – and Just in Time for Fall!
It’s Time for Halloween Cards!
Aloha, all! Where has September gone???? Well, to begin, I spent several days on the island of Maui crafting with my friend, Cheryl Hamilton's, demonstrator team. I can't even begin to tell you what fun that was. But once I got back, I spent most of the next two weeks getting ready for a trip my husband and I are taking beginning this coming weekend. We'll be in Florida and North Carolina for … [Read more...] about It’s Time for Halloween Cards!
Happy September!
Aloha, all! I know that, technically, in the northern hemisphere, the only thing that changed as of today was the month of the year. But, for as long as I can remember, I have always thought of September as the beginning of Autumn. Or, as it seems to be more generally spoken of, Fall. I think that the main reason was that the day after Labor Day was always the first day of school in my life. And … [Read more...] about Happy September!
A “Suite” Blackberry Sampler
Aloha, all! A week ago today, I had the absolute pleasure of winging my way to my neighbor island of Maui to join my sister Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Cheryl Hamilton, for a weekend of crafting. More about last Saturday's activities in a later post. Today I'm going to focus on what the two of us did on Sunday. We shared the Blackberry Beauty Suite of products from the current Stampin' Up! Mini … [Read more...] about A “Suite” Blackberry Sampler
A Sale-a-bration Surprise!
Aloha, all! If you are anything like me, when I opened the new Sale-a-bration brochure and saw the Penguin Playmates paper set, my first reaction was, "I'm not ready for Christmas yet - it's not even winter!" Sure, penguins are fun all year long. But this paper has polar bears and Christmas trees and snowmen and wool scarves and hats! It's still summer, guys!!! But then I looked at … [Read more...] about A Sale-a-bration Surprise!