Monday, February 28, 2011

Lovin' Kauai!


Aloha!
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
I picked up this cool business card at a little organic market we frequented on our vacation. I had to incorporate it into a card. I added a palm from Hero Arts (K5401) - stamped on water color paper with Chalk Inks, sprayed with a Perfect Pearl mist, and distressed with Distress Inks. Popped with dimensionals. I added raffia, a button and twine from my stash.

Getting back to my craftin' routine, but can't get Kauai off my mind.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Aloha!

We just returned from the most wonderful vacation on our favorite Hawaiian island, Kauai. They call it the "Garden Island" for a reason! It is so beautiful that it is difficult to describe or to capture in photos. So, we normally just enjoy it! What a lovely time we had. There were some showers and a huge thunderstorm, but generally we had very nice weather. We stayed near Po'ipu Beach on the sunny south side of the island.

Almost every morning was started on the lanai with coffee, local banana bread and local papaya (my favorite!). What better way to start the day?

We went on a sunset cruise where we saw lots of whales and a huge pod of dolphins entertained us. Captain Glenn did a remarkable job with his 65-foot power cat boat. The beautiful Napali coast, which is only accessible by water, was glorious in the sunset. We also learned much about the island's history.

We also attended the Kauai girls rodeo, which we have seen before. These girls and their horses are most amazing! Such great skills and spirit. And where else can one watch a rodeo and look beyond to the ocean where the whales are spouting?

And, of course, there is always a hula show somewhere on the island. This one is right near our place and is done by some adorable high-school age girls. Quite a performance! Those gals can MOVE! Beautiful costumes, too.

Gary hiked in one of Kauai's many national botanical gardens, but the flowers at our place were as beautiful as any could be. We did some sight-seeing (but we have seen it all before!), lots of relaxing, walking, swimming, sunning, reading, watching amazing sunsets, a little shopping, we saw a local comedy show, drank some fancy drinks with umbrellas, and we ate lots of local fruit and yummy fish. It isn't so expensive if one eats like the natives.

Now we are washing the red dirt from our shoes, settling back into our respective routines, and saving for our next trip!


Many of you know that I do water aerobics. I will leave you with a picture of the pool where I did them while I watched the beach, boats, surfers, whales, and so many beautiful vistas. I bet I did more exercise there than I even realize! 

I promise to get back to sharing my cards as soon as I get the sand out of my scissors!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Aloha!

Dear Blogger Buddies:

I am signing off from my blog for a couple of weeks. Why? Well, here is a little clue. No crafting supplies, no computer, no worries!

I'll miss you all, but not TOO much! Stay out of trouble and keep crafting.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Puffy Heart


Puffy Heart
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
For this little sweetie, I die cut a chipboard (cereal box) heart with my Cuttlebug. I added a layer of batting from my old sewing days. Then I wrapped it all carefully, clipping all the curves, with beautiful Washi paper.

The background is a new Hero Arts stamp called Envelope Pattern - love it. The sentiment stamp is also Hero Arts. The edge is punched with an ek success punch and the black trim and ribbon is from my stash.

Sending you all hugs!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hearts Again!


Catalog-Inspired
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
This card uses the Hero Arts stamp "Hugs and Kisses" (CG158) for the focal point. I stamped it three times on three different papers, cut out the heart and two circles and distressed all the pieces. The strip was cut from dotted paper and distressed. I am really liking the combo of kraft paper and pink!

Finally, to create the background, I placed three different Valentine sentiment stamps (CG161 and CG155) on an acrylic block and inked them up with a couple different colors and stamped them in different directions.

Gel and glitter pens, Stickles and rhinestones complete the look. This is an over-size card to sent along lots and lots of love!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

More Hearts!


Inside Out!
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
Shhh! This is the card that I made for my dear hubby (do you think it is too girlie?) Chances are he will not look here, so I am pretty sure that I am safe sharing it here. I used my new Hero Arts Fabric Design stamp again and made this for the "card insides" challenge. I trimmed the front of the card so that the inside actually becomes part of the design of the card front.

Supplies: HA A4964, CG155, CG161, Hero Hues Pearls, CG245, Copics, Stickles, DCWV Shimmer matstack, ek sucess punch, MS glitter pens, Perfect Pearls.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Year of the Rabbit


Year of the Rabbit
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
Every year I make a New Year's card for my Chinese-American friend. This year I decided not to use my extensive collection of Asian stamps and focus on the rabbit (Hero Arts A5015).

I made the lanterns with the "burnished velvet" technique, using outline stickers, super fine glitter and Copic pens.

The year of the rabbit is MY year, so I wanted to make something extra cute. Happy New Year!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

More Hearts!


Catalog-Inspired
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
Isn't this too much fun? This card uses lots of Distress Inks, some gel and glitter pens, Stickles and rhinestones. The focal piece is from a favorite Hero Art cling stamp, CG158, called Hugs and Kisses. I stamped it three times to create the multi-colored image. I am loving the combo of pink and kraft. What do you think?

The background is done with sentiments from two different Hero Arts stamp sets, CG161 and CG155, which I mounted together and stamped many times in a random fashion.

I will see you next week with even more hearts! Have a love-ly weekend!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

I [Heart] Hearts!


Masked Marauder?
Originally uploaded by mkmermaid (Maureen)
Yep, those of you who know me in real life know that hearts are one of my favorite things. I use them when I sign cards, I wear them (and not on my sleeve!), I decorate with them.....I can never get enough of hearts. So, when Valentine's Day comes along, I am in my heartfelt glory!

For this card, I inked up my brand new Hero Arts Fabric Design stamp with Spun Sugar Distress Ink and misted it with Perfect Pearls (holding it about 4 feet away, as per Jennifer McGuire's loving instructions) and had such fun. I cut the chipboard (cereal box) heart with my Cuttlebug and drenched it with glitter.

You know you will see more hearts here before the month is over!

Supplies: HA CG161, CG245, A4964; Cuttlebug die, MS coarse glitter, DCWV Shimmer matpack, Fiskars punch and ribbon, button, lace and tag from my stash.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Surprise Hippo-Ray!

This silly card was made for a couple of Hero Arts challenges. One was to decorate the inside of the card and the other was to use the masking technique. I even used their Friday inspiration for the colors I used on this card!

For the "window" and the scalloped circle I used Nestibilities Dies in my Cuttlebug. The Hero Arts stamps are CG211, F5306 and CG157.

To view a Hero Arts video on masking, click here. For my masking, I stamped the Hippo on a piece of typing paper and cut it out. Then I stamped him on the inside of the card. Next, I applied the cutout version ("the mask") on top of him using removable adhesive. I then stamped the cupcake stamp (which actually has a heart on top) over the image, placing it carefully. I removed the mask and colored it all with Copic pens.

It sounds a little confusing, but really isn't. You just have to think in layers!

The sentiments were generated on my computer and the ribbon, button and baker's twine are from my extensive stash.

I love the way it looks like the Hippo is standing on a grassy knoll until you open the card and see the cupcake surprise.

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