Free Virtual Card Making Event!

World Card Making Day is Saturday, 7 September – join this Free Virtual Event!

World Card Making Day is this Saturday, 7 October. You know that I love sharing information about National “Days” on the YamStamps Facebook Page….but this is a GREAT one to talk about in advance and EVERYWHERE!

Stampin’ Up! is actually having a free virtual card making event! It’s an online event, and will walk you through cards made with three different bundles. MY OFFER TO YOU: purchase one of these bundles and I will send you the pre-cut paper supplies for the card! Even if you can’t make the event “live” (I can’t, I’m actually travelling that day!), you can watch the recording until the end of the month. I’ll post a link to the event once it’s available – or if you want to be sure not to miss out, you can register here.

The bundles that are used:

Circle Sayings Bundle (161355), [French: Cercle Amical Bundle 161356]

Heartfelt Hexagon Bundle (162889) [French: Hexagone Chaleureux 162890]

Earthen Textures Bundle (161514) [French: Faiences Texturees Bundle 161515]

Click here to download the flyer with the measurements for the supplies. Remember, if you purchase one of the bundles from me during October, I’ll send you the supplies! If you’ve already purchased one of the bundles from me and are planning on attending the Virtual Event, let me know and I’ll also send you the supplies.

I think I’ll do a virtual craft along with the recording – if you’re interested, message me and I’ll let you know the details!

Starting in One Week!

Believe it or not – The Twelve Weeks of Christmas starts next week!

My annual “THANK YOU” to my email list subscribers – the Twelve Weeks of Christmas starts NEXT WEEK! Starting Wednesday, 4 October at 1pm Eastern we kick it off!

The Twelve Weeks of Christmas emails are additional exclusive free weekly project tutorials featuring cards, gifts, tags and packaging ideas to help your holiday prep! These projects will not be shared anywhere else in the YamStamps world – only via email to subscribers, so be sure to be on my list before next Wednesday at 1pm so you get all the projects!

If you’re not yet subscribed – you can sign up using the box at the top of the YamStamps website, or click here to enter your information. You’ll also get access to an exclusive video tutorial for my new subscribers.

If you’re an existing subscriber – first of all, THANK YOU, and next – you don’t have to do a thing! Just sit tight and the tutorials will start showing up next week to your inbox.

Who’s excited??

Excited Will Ferrell GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Rose Gold Fun Fold Card

An easy rose gold fun fold card for you!

You know that I love crafting that looks impressive but isn’t over the top difficult – that’s this rose gold fun fold card! And it’s shiny, so that’s a plus.

rose gold fun fold card

I know that right now, you may be saying “but Linda, where’s the fun fold?”

Here!

rose gold fun fold card

OK so maybe “fun fold” isn’t quite as accurate as “fun cut”?? This rose gold fun fold card starts off as a simple side fold card, and then I cut a section off the cardfront. The trick is to use one piece of Designer Series Paper (in this case, the Online Exclusive Naturally Gilded Specialty Designer Series Paper) and cut to size. Then adhere it in place so it looks like one piece of paper, except the top part is on the “inside” of the card and the front is on the “outside” of the card.

The sentiment, from Timeless Arrangements, (along with the floral sprays) was stamped in Petal Pink, then die cut on a circle from the Stylish Shapes dies, before being adhered to a larger die cut circle of Rose Gold Specialty Paper. I made the cardbase from Pretty Pink cardstock to bring out all the pink tones in the papers. For this card, there’s Basic White cardstock on the “inside”, but since the paper is fairly pale, you could get away without that layer if you wanted.

It’s easy to whip up a card like this rose gold fun fold card – this design is a great way to make a “regular” layout more special without having to sweat over the construction.

If you’re looking for more ideas on customizing different card designs, consider subscribing to the YamStamps Sketch System! This monthly subscription introduces you to a card design sketch, and then the following weeks gives you different samples using that sketch. No more staring at your crafting supplies and coming up with a design from scratch! You don’t have to use it for all your cardmaking, but it’s a great tool to have ‘in your back pocket’ for those times when you need a little kickstart. Check out the information page or message me if you have any questions! Rememberpaper crafting doesn’t have to be difficult to be impressive!

Window Card Class

My next online class is a Window Card Class! Pre-launch Sale on Now!

Window Cards are fun to make and impressive…and you know me, I will find a way to make it as easily as possible AND make sure it fits into a regular medium Stampin’ Up! envelope. After I put effort into making the card, I don’t want to have to make a custom-made envelope as well, so if I can avoid that, I will!

Introducing the Window Card Online Class (super boring name, super interesting class)….and check out these cute prototypes! If you register now during pre-launch, you’ll save $10CAD off regular class pricing, and you’ll be ready to jump in once the class officially launches Thursday 21 September at 7pm Eastern.

window card online class

I’ve made an effort to show three different methods you could use to create a window in your card….even though I realized (after the fact) that 3 of the cards feature circular windows…. What can I say? I ALWAYS find circles to be the most forgiving shapes – no worrying about alignment!!

We create a vellum window card, a pivot/pop up window card, a shadow box window card and a peekaboo window card. Check the samples out in action in this video! (Click here to watch on the YamStamps YouTube channel if you can’t see it below).

I hope that you’ll be able to join in this fun Window Card Class. All the videos are pre-recorded and edited, so you can watch and re-watch as it suits you once the class opens on Thursday. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions. Otherwise, you can visit https://go.yamstampsmore.com/window to get more information and register for class!

Vellum Window Card

This vellum window card has been inspiration for my next online class!

I created this vellum window card for a card swap featuring products from the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue….and it provided a focus point for my next online class! The upcoming Window Card Class will feature a number of designs with windows or window effects. It’s a fun way to add interest to your cards.

vellum window card

I love the new Wishes All Around Discounted Bundle – it has a stamp set and coordinating/complimenting dies. I used it for my swap and thought that a window effect rather than just a layer on the front of the card would make it more interesting and fun.

I used the new Snowflake Sky 3D Embossing Folder to add some texture to the Starry Sky Cardstock – I love how it ties in with the whole snowflake theme of the card. To make my life a little easier, I applied an Adhesive Sheet to some Basic White Cardstock before I die cut the circle of snowflakes. That way, I just peeled off the liner and applied it to the cardfront! OK truth be told, for my prototype I didn’t do that, and I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere the snowflake circle in place. I realized that having to do that repeatedly (I had to make this card in bulk) would probably not end as well as it started…

vellum window card

The card open…

vellum window card

and closed. I had to add the bling to the snowflakes with the Rhinestone Basic Jewels – I think it just makes the card even more special. (They are my go-to when I need to add a little something to my cards).

You can see how well the sentiment shows through the window when the card is closed. In the online class, I’ll walk you through the steps of making a card like this one and my tips for easy construction. I’ll be sharing more details about the Window Card Class tomorrow, so come back to the YamStamps site to learn more and take advantage of Early Bird pricing!

Accordion Fold Card

This is a fun Accordion Fold Card to make and share!

In our Online Card Club meetings I like to try to include a fancy fold type card in the mix – this accordion fold card was a recent one we did. It’s fun and easy to make and to share!

The outside…looks like a “regular card”.

accordion fold card

The strip of patterned paper down the side is from the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper – and what I loved about this particular pattern, especially for club, is that the other side is a floral print. That way, club members could choose which print they wanted to showcase!

The inside of this card, though….

accordion fold card

FUN, right?! The accordion fold part is actually a second piece of cardstock. If you make it the same colour as the outside cardstock, I feel like it’s masked a bit and so looks more impressive at first glance. The cardstock is cut to 5-1/4″ x 10″, and then scored in 1″ increments from 2″ to 8″ (so 7 score lines). I die cut squares from the Stylish Shapes Dies and stamped with the Good Feelings stamp set. The HIP HIP is on one stamp, so I just carefully inked up only the first “hip” so I could stamp one per square.

You could swap out the words for images if you’d rather, or do a combination of images and words. This accordion fold card is totally customizable!

The only caution about this accordion fold card (other than how you’ll get hooked on making more of them)…is that it is a bit bulkier than your “standard” card, so you may need to watch postage. I’m sure if you sit a heavy object on it for a while it will flatten it down a bit more.

The Online Card Club meets once a month, and members join for a 6 month period. Each member places a minimum order at each meeting, and once during their membership period will receive a minimum of $20 Stampin’ Rewards to spend on product of their choice! If you’re interested in joining us, please contact me. New members are welcome to join up to 1 week before the next club session (typically the third Monday of the month). Next club session is Monday, 18 September, 1pm EDT. Open to Canadian residents only due to Stampin’ Up! regulations.

6 September is a GOOD Day!

The September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue is LIVE! Plus two other notable offerings!

It’s an exciting day today! There are a number of things now available in the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! World.

The Stampin’ Up! Canada September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue is LIVE!

While only Demonstrators were able to order from it last month, now everyone can order from it! Shortcut to shop is https://yamstamps.com/shop

Here’s the link to the online version.

Link to see the Mini Catalogue products in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! store

New Online Exclusive Papers Available!

These are amazing seasonal papers available while supplies last. See all the Online Exclusive Products at https://yamstamps.com/OLEX

Make a Difference!

When you purchase A Walk in the Forest Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Up! will be making a donation of $4 to Salvation Army Canada for each package sold. It’s a great way to give and receive, don’t you think?!

(I can hear the sleigh bells jingle….)

So – enough excitement for the day?! Hope that it’s a great one, and for those of you who are in the back to school routine – good luck!!

Peek at New Product!

Here’s a little peek at some of the new product that will be available Wednesday!

The September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue will be in effect as of Wednesday, 6 September – here’s a peek at new product that you’ll find in it!

Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators get advance ordering privileges for new catalogue product – one of the very fun perks of being a Demonstrator. It’s so we can prepare samples and classes ahead of time, theoretically, but really, half the time we are just ooohing and aaahing over the product. (Or maybe that’s just me?! ha!). One of the other things I enjoy about being a Demonstrator is being part of Demonstrator only card swaps – where we make multiples of a single design and share with others who have done the same thing – so we end up with a variety of cards in terms of designs and products used. It’s a great way to kick start my own creativity plus get samples of products that I might not (yet) own!

This was my swap card. I shared it as part of the Sunday Swap Share that I showcase on the YamStamps Facebook Page and the Sunday Swap Share Page here on the YamStamps site….but I thought I’d re-post it here on the main page as well.

peek at new product - swap card

I love the colours used in the Snowflake Magic Specialty Designer Series Paper. I always love things that are shiny or sparkly….and blues/greens are some of my favourite tones, so this paper was part of my first preorder from the catalogue. I combined it with the Magical Meadow stamps and coordinating dies (available in a discounted bundle) and stamped the sentiment in Pretty Peacock, which partners so well with Lost Lagoon. A little bit of bling from the Faceted Gems Trio pack completes the card. All of these links will work properly after 6 September, so you can come back then to follow the trail down the rabbit hole… (plus I’ll post a link to the actual catalogue as well, so there’s that).

Here’s a speedy video of my mass production process (less the part where I cut out the vellum circles because apparently I sometimes get the start/stop process messed up and just record me getting ready to record….not the actual part that I wanted to show!!). It’s from the YamStamps TikTok (speaking of rabbit holes…)

When I mass produce, I tend to do all (or most) of the same task at the same time before moving on to the next. Less switching of tasks means less brain work for me….and when you get into a rhythm it’s easier – plus it’s the only time I can usually craft and watch/listen to something at the same time without getting too distracted!

Did you enjoy this peek at new product?! I’ll be sure to post more – especially after the catalogue is live on Wednesday, so be sure to come back to the YamStamps blog to check it out!

Faux Shutter / Fractured Card

This faux shutter / fractured card design is easy to create!

Right now, the faux shutter / fractured card design seems to be everywhere – or at least variations of it. It’s a super fun and easy way to create an interesting pattern – so here’s another take on it. If you’d like the full written instructions, subscribe to the YamStamps Newsletter (click on the link or use the box at the top of the YamStamps Site) – the tutorial for this design is included in the multiproject September version which is being sent out on Tuesday, 5 September (and a copy goes to all new September subscribers as well!).

For this version of the card, I embossed the Basic White Cardstock with the Fern 3D Embossing Folder. I think random pattern folders like the Fern EF are great for this card design because each section ends up looking different.

The centre square is cut from the Stylish Shapes Dies, and then the strips are added around the outside of the square, trimming them flush with the edges of the embossed cardstock.

faux shutter fractured card

The sentiment is from Timeless Arrangements, and stamped in Boho Blue ink to match the cardstock. Soft Sea Foam complements the colour scheme I think….and I am partial to blues and greens anyway!

I wanted to share this faux shutter / fractured card before we all get totally distracted by the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue, which goes live on Wednesday 6 September. So many things coming up this week – a long weekend (YAY) followed for many by Back to Work / Back to School (probably not as big of a yay), and then the Mini Catalogue Launch (YAY), then Thursday (meh) and Friday (YAY).

I hope that your upcoming week is full of more Yays than not! Good luck with all the “back – to’s” coming up. Be sure to check back here at the YamStamps blog on Wednesday for links to the digital version of the Mini Catalogue and more information on specials that are happening – if you like patterned paper, you’ll love the special releases that are available as of Wednesday as well!

Landscape or Portrait?

Landscape or portrait? What’s your preference?

Do you tend to create cards in one orientation? Landscape or Portrait? I find I tend to favour portrait cards – those that are taller than they are wide – so for me, it’s good to create a landscape card every once in a while. There are definitely some images or die cut shapes that force a certain orientation for your finished card based on their size….but that’s not very often, really.

This is a card that we recently created in Club – I created the landscape/top fold card ahead of time as the sample prototype….but during our Club session, I created the portrait/side fold card. Can you spot the other difference?

I left a small gap between the papers for the landscape card, and decided not to leave any space for the portrait one. You could choose either option for either orientation – there’s enough room in any case! (I think I prefer the one without the gaps….)

The other thing that I love about this card is that you can get four similar cards from your cuts. I cut four sheets of the Hello Irresistible Designer Series Paper the same way and then just mixed and matched the pieces…though I think I managed to get two sets that were exactly the same for my sample cards!! I find I typically make the sample card, and then I cut and prep for all the club members plus another set for me to make “live” with them….so it just figures I’d get the same set LOL. That being said, it’s not like I’ll be giving the same card to the same person…so I think it’s safe. Plus – landscape or portrait – think they’d realize it’s the same paper layout? (I actually had to look twice myself).

The sentiment is from the Good Feelings stamp set. This is a fantastic set of large greetings that are perfect for card sending occasions – thanks, encouragement, support, celebration…. It’s a good one to have in your crafting room stash. Stamping onto a tag die cut with the Tailor Made Tags is an easy way to add a sentiment to your cardfront, and I love that the stitching effect is echoed in the Stylish Shapes Die Cut circles behind the tag.

So next time you are sitting down to make a card, consider flipping it on its side! It’s something I share in the YamStamps Sketch System Subscription – showing a variety of ways to change up a single card design to get a bunch of different looks. Every four weeks we start again with a new sketch and different samples! You can start your subscription at any time. It’s a great way to just jump in and get crafting, rather than trying to figure out a design layout every time. Check it out at https://go.yamstampsmore.com/sketchsystem. I think it’s a great way to supplement your crafting – you can still be original with your ideas, but you don’t have to do that every single time! Paper Crafting Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult to Be Impressive!!

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