May 28, 2017 | cards, Stampin' Up!
I have to admit that initally, I wasn’t so overwhelmed with the colour in this card – Emerald Envy….but as I used it on this design, it REALLY grew on me! I love the bold tone, and it’s perfect for this easy and effective card design to celebrate any occasion! You may have overlooked this combination of products in the catalogue…I know I did initially! It combines the Celebrations Duo Textured Impressions FolderS (yes, you get two of them – one says Celebrate, the other says Happy)…and the Happy Celebrations stamp set. You emboss the word – well, I guess it technically debosses, because the word is indented – and then stamp over it with the sploosh image (for lack of a more technical term) to have the word really stand out.
The thing I love about the more graphic background type stamps is that they are very forgiving. If you don’t get a perfect image, or if you happen to smudge it with your finger….it kind of fits in still. It does help to stamp on top of a Silicone Craft Sheet or Stampin’ Pierce Mat when you are using Photopolymer stamps – that extra cushion helps with the images. Since the stamps are a little more flat than the traditional red rubber stamps (no extra padding behind the image), you do have to watch when you ink them up as well. Too aggressively inking your stamp will often wind up with you having ink on the block and then in unwanted spots on your card (or your hand). Ask me how I know these things…. Let’s return to the Easy and Effective Card Design to Celebrate though, shall we?! hahahaha.
Thanks to my helper (thanks Mom!), I produced a whole whack of these easy and effective card designs over the past little while – and now am in the process of delivering them all… Since I was doing an epic production, I ended up doing just a single layer version of this card (see the stack in the image above). I like simple designs anyway, and this simplifies the design a bit further. Sometimes it’s more important to be able to just get things done rather than fussing with them forever and then never getting the card sent. I figure that the recipients of the single layer cards can always trim down the front of the card to 5″ x 3.75″, adhere it onto a 5.25″ x 4″ piece of Emerald Envy, and then adhere it onto a half sheet card (8.5″ x 5.5″, folded at 4.25″) for that extra layer look if they wish, right?! When I send thank you cards or follow up cards to customers, I usually have a sticky note inside that reads “please reuse this card” so that the recipient can “pay it forward” so to speak – or they can keep it as a prototype to copy for their own creations. “Sharing is caring” as my son often says to me (though usually that’s when I have some food or something that he wants….).
This Saturday is my Annual New Catalogue Open House & Retired Product Sale from 9am til noon. Please RSVP if you are able to join us in Burlington ON – I’ll send you directions, and will set aside a copy of the new catalogue for you. If you are intending to shop the retired products, it’s first come, first served, and cash sales. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
May 25, 2017 | cards, Stampin' Up!
This is the “similar but different” easy die cut card to share! It also uses the Eastern Palace Suite, with a couple of add ons. You can see that they layout is essentially the same…. This version is done with Dapper Denim, with a strip from the Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper inspiring the colour choice. The die cut flower is from a Gold Foil sheet, and a new product – a Gold Faceted Gem is in the centre. The gems are NOT in the bundle….but I couldn’t resist using one on this card. You’ll be able to grab these in June (unless you’re a demonstrator, as these are part of the catalogue preorder merchandise offering so you can order them now…).
I did this card as part of a “swap” – we are given instructions on number of layers, any accessories to use etc, and then we can create something based on what stamp set we choose or are assigned. We each make multiples of the same card, send them to the “host” and then anxiously await the mail…..to receive a whole bunch of different creations back! In this case, I made 20 of these cards, and will receive 20 different cards (well, including one of these) in exchange. It’s a great way to get different ideas and to be inspired. I know that one of the things that can intimidate people about becoming a demonstrator is the (misguided) belief that you have to create everything yourself or be over the top artistic. NO! We get ideas and inspiration from others as well as coming up with designs ourselves – if we choose to do so. I personally like to spend a bit of time being creative in my stamp room, but I do find that I like similar designs, so often use the same base design, but change colours and images as I see fit. Long live the Easy Die Cut Card! I will see how many more times I can come up with variations on this theme! hahaha.
If you are attending my New Catalogue Open House and Retired Product Sale on June 3rd, I’ll be sure to have my swaps up on a display board for you to admire! Please RSVP to ensure that I will have a catalogue set aside for you, and will have enough light refreshments on hand. If I have time, maybe I’ll come up with some more Easy Die Cut Cards to share on a display board of their own….but then again, maybe I’ll be too busy laying out all my retired product and baking cherry pound cake. You’ll have to swing by to know for sure!
May 19, 2017 | cards, specials, Stampin' Up!
During the month of May, you can order Eastern Palace Suite products in a bundle before they are released in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue! I used the products to create this easy die cut card. I love how detailed and intricate it is….and how easy it was to create! The circular die cut shape is one die, and the flower and petal cut outs are two nesting dies that you can run through the Big Shot at one time. The little petal flourishes around the border of the die cut are created using stamps – but because they coordinate with the backing cardstock, a lot of people think it’s a part of the die cut detail! Thank you, Stampin’ Up! coordinating inks and cardstock!
These products are available in two options – the Eastern Palace Starter Bundle and the Eastern Palace Premier Bundle. To recreate this card, you’ll need the Premier Bundle, which contains the Eastern Medallions Framelits Dies. I chose to use Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay cardstocks & inks – which are similar to the new In Colours included in the kits – Fresh Fig and Tranquil Tide – only because of the numbers I had to prep (and didn’t have enough cardstock at the time to cover all I needed for classes!). So – 2 passes of the Big Shot with 3 dies, a bit of stamping and you have an easy die cut card!
I did a fancier variation of this design for a swap I participated in, so will share that version a little later as well. Just FYI – if you’re interested in the bundles, you can order them as part of your Starter Kit…plus still have room for a little more product! The Eastern Palace Flyer is here. If you want to create your own easy die cut card, just be aware that the bundles are available during May, but are NOT featured in the new catalogue – there is a bundle of the stamps and dies, and then all the individual products….so to make the easy die cut card….easier….consider grabbing a bundle! You can check out the Eastern Palace products in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store here. As always – please contact me if you have any questions.
May 17, 2017 | cards
This clean and simple floral card features the Stampin’ Up! Bunch of Blossoms stamp set and the Stitched Shape Framelits. I love this design – for me, it creates extra interest that is not too distracting. By having the design flow over both layers, and elevating one of them, it makes the card a little more eye catching – and it’s so easy to do! By the way – this stamp set has a coordinating punch, and the discounted bundle is being discontinued – however the individual items will still be available in the next catalogue. If you’d like the coordinated bundle (really, why wouldn’t you?!), be sure to grab it at a discount before May 31st!
I stamped the left flower first – I placed my die cut on my cardfront (I just held it in place), then stamped the base flower image so it overlapped both layers. It’s a two step image – so I stamped the larger/fuller flower shape first. I then removed the die cut and stamped the second layer of the flower on the cardfront. Even though you might get a bit of a gap in the first image where the layers meet, when you stamp the second image it fills everything in. I stamped the other images on the die cut next (it doesn’t have to be held in place on the front of the card), including multiple small flowers. By stamping first generation (ink the stamp, then stamp on the paper) and second generation flowers (after you stamp the image, stamp another one without reinking the stamp first), it adds a bit more dimension as well. I stamped the stem image twice, connecting it so it looks like one plant. You can either hold the die cut in place when you stamp the stems or just stamp them on the card front and then stamp them separately onto the portion of the die cut where they’d line up. In the end, it’s a simple way to make a clean and simple floral card a little less….simple!
I made this card on Whisper White Thick Cardstock. It’s my favourite cardstock for a clean and simple floral card – or any clean and simple design. When you don’t have to worry about a lot of layers or embellishments weighing down your card, your card can have a little more body all by itself by using a heftier cardstock. You can get a sneak peek at the new Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock if you order the Eastern Palace Premier Bundle this month. I’ll be sharing a project using some of the Eastern Palace products later this week. Attendees at the May Monthly Card Class and May Stampers Club got to play with some of the product already – and picked up the flyer (download it here). You can see the Eastern Palace special May bundles in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Otherwise, happy shopping!
May 11, 2017 | Announcements, Paper Pumpkin, specials
Much like “YamStamps” has nothing to do with yams….Paper Pumpkin isn’t really about pumpkins either! Stampin’ Up!’s Monthly Paper Crafting Subscription Kit, Paper Pumpkin, comes to your door each month with all the supplies needed for that month’s craft. In the picture above is the April kit, which came with an extra gift of mini watercolour pencils! I personally love my Paper Pumpkin kit for quick and easy crafting on the go. I have taken a kit with me when I’ve gone away – easy to just tuck the box into my bag and I’ve got everything I need in case I have some down time to craft, or need a little creative “me” time. I know of people who have ordered them to make with their grandchildren, or have their own subscription and send another to their long distance family members, so they can still “craft together”.
If you sign up for a new month by month subscription before June 10th, you’ll get your own paper crafting subscription kit for 25% off the first three months! So June, July and August at a discount! Celebrate the summer season with a bit of crafting! This is a GREAT time to get a subscription started for the kids – with school ending, they’ll have something “crafty” to look forward to in the mailbox each month this summer, and you’ll be able to have a bit of quiet time either crafting WITH them or…..having a bit of quiet time while THEY craft?!
The fine print – only new subscribers are eligible for this special, and only month by month subscriptions are eligible. You can find out more information about Paper Pumpkin, the monthly paper crafting subscription kit HERE. If you’re ready to jump in and get started, you can click on the image above or HERE to go to the sign up page! One last thing I love about these kits – if I’m not feeling really creatively inspired, I can just copy the examples in the kit, or if I’m feeling a little more creative, I’ll come up with my own variations. Cards, packaging ideas, and giftables have been in previous kits. Once you’re a subscriber as well, you have the option to purchase previous month’s kits as availability allows! If you have any questions that aren’t answered on my info page about Paper Pumpkin, you can contact me.
