Aug 18, 2017 | cards, Christmas, Stampin' Up!
Yes…I know…snowflakes and August don’t necessarily come to mind together…but I have a reason for this card! It’s been a little quiet in the YamStamps online world, you may have noticed. I was busy behind the scenes creating winter wedding ideas and getting ready for yesterday’s Christmas Card Class! So while it’s been humid and warm outside, (and occasionally inside since our air conditioner was needing repair, but that’s another story)….I was trying to find winter inspiration.
I was asked to prepare some winter wedding ideas for a Stampin’ Up! presentation to Wedding Bells magazine. Most of the ideas I shared were using products from the upcoming Holiday catalogue (which is arriving in various mailboxes across the country as I write this….), but this is one that uses Annual Catalogue supplies – so you can make it right away! Snowflakes and winter are synonymous – at least where I live…so I used that as a basic jumping off point for most of my ideas. This card is Pool Party, as is the background hatching image – which is from You’ve Got This (avaialble in clear mount or wood mount). The large snowflake is from Flurry of Wishes, and is heat embossed in Silver. The silver metallic-edged ribbon adds an elegant touch, and is flat enough not to bulk up the card too much when mailing. For the wedding idea, the insert was the wedding invitation, with additional ribbon on the corners (I put the insert ribbon on the opposite corners to even out the bulk). For a holiday card, you can just stamp an appropriate greeting!
If you’d like to see more of what was shared, I will share other pictures on the blog here, but check out Instagram in the meantime. The YamStamps instagram feed has a couple of shots (including a behind the scenes shot of how I create chaos in my wake LOL), and the Wedding Bells Instagram feed has a picture – but check out their Instagram story while you can (you have a few hours left before it disappears) to see embossing & die cutting featuring Holiday catalogue items!
This weekend, I’m planning on enjoying the warm weather and will NOT think about snowflakes! At some point I’ll have to be finishing planning for the September Christmas card class – which will feature cards using the new metallic washi tape from the Holiday catalogue (you can get a glimpse of it on Instagram). If you’re interested in attending, please register ASAP! Basic+ Fee is $30 and includes the washi tape set. Basic Fee of $20 does not include additional product – just the necessary class supplies. Check the YamStamps Events Page for other upcoming class dates! Hope to see you soon!
Aug 11, 2017 | Paper Pumpkin, specials
Stampin’ Up! is running a limited time crafting subscription kit sale! Paper Pumpkin is 50% off for new subscribers until September 10th with the code HALFOFF0917 . Paper Pumpkin is delivered directly to your door, and is a complete mini crafting kit to create that month’s project. In the past, kits have featured cards, 3D items such as a frame or mini wreath, tags and cute packaging ideas. Each kit contains stamps, paper products, accessories, ink spots or colouring tools and usually glue dots or some adhesive. All you need to supply is a few moments of your time! (oh, and since your first kit is coming in September, with the children going back to school you may have a chance at a couple of minutes to yourself?!)
I love these kits for traveling, and know that some subscribers have used them with younger family members. It’s a fun way to craft together, and not worry about protecting your crafting supplies, since it’s an all in one. I created an info page here.
So if you’ve haven’t tried Paper Pumpkin yet, now is a great time – this crafting subscription kit is on sale! Click here to start.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Aug 7, 2017 | Stampin' Up!, Tutorial, TV/Video/Web/Tech
A quick video on setting up the Love Today Planner Kit (with an actual appearance from me….at a funny angle….because I couldn’t be bothered to change the location of my tripod so I just kind of turned the camera and leaned into the frame…and because it’s a holiday Monday and that’s about the most effort I could make today….hahaha!)
The video shows you the completed set up for a month – I suggest you 1) Unpackage your pages 2) Sort like with like pages: Labeled Month pages, blank Month pages, Weekly Sheets, Weekly Sheets with Lined Backing 3) Assemble like in the video! 
EDITED TO ADD – sorry, I know when I said quick, I didn’t mention that I was speaking quickly as well!! If you like, you can visit the video on the YamStamps YouTube Channel and turn on the captions….
Hope that helps, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Aug 3, 2017 | cards, Stampin' Up!
I’ve shared this navy & copper card in a couple of classes lately – I love this combination. I laughed when I uploaded this just now….do you remember this navy & gold card? Obviously I like this look…and honestly didn’t remember that I had created one quite similar in the recent past…ah well. Still like it. This card pairs Night of Navy with Copper Foil sheets and copper embossing powder.
The image is from the Stampin’ Up! Canada set, Artistically Asian, which is available in clear mount or wood mount. Both options feature the red rubber with foam padding, but different adhesive backings. The clear mount stamps are used with the clear blocks, and stored separately. It’s a good option if you have limited space, since the cases are thinner (like a DVD case). There’s a little more flexibility because you can cut a stamp apart (for example, cut the sentiment off the image), and then have the option to use the pieces separately or together, depending on how you place them on your clear block. You need to purchase the clear blocks separately. Don’t confuse these stamps with photopolymer stamps, which are the clear stamps without any padding. Stampin’ Up! also offers a certain number of stamp sets in photopolymer, which is often a favourite due to the thin storage case and the ability to actually see through the stamps to your crafting surface (well, depending on how much ink you have on your stamp….haha). Wood mount stamps are red rubber with foam padding, and the price includes wood blocks to which you adhere your stamps. These are the “traditional” stamps that many know. The case is more the thickness of a VHS case (if you remember those….am I dating myself?!). These are good options if you just want to grab and get crafting (no searching for the right block to stick it onto), or craft without much of a set plan or with friends. Since I run classes, I often find myself having to ensure I have enough of the right sized blocks – my classes are set up in card stations, with each card having all the supplies out & ready, and people rotating to them when there’s an opening. I have this stamp set in wood mount, so when we made this navy & copper card in class, I didn’t have to worry about how many clear blocks I needed to have handy.
While I love using the metal foil sheets as a mat layer for images, it does make me sad to cover up so much of the beautiful cardstock! In this navy & copper card, you only see a bit of the copper sheet. You know me, though, I love my thrifty trick of die cutting from the mat layer, so I figured out how to work that into this card. In class, we die cut a dragonfly from the foil to use on a different card, and then used the remainder as the mat layer for this card. Frugal crafting for the win!
One tip for heat embossing with the Copper Embossing Powder. I found that the copper powder, especially when brand new, tends to leave a reddish sheen on the cardstock after coating the image and sliding off the excess powder. It is helpful to use the Embossing Buddy before stamping – that light powdery dusting tends to reduce the remnants of embossing powder. I also found using a soft microfiber type cloth after heat setting the powder can help to redust the embossing “dust” that may coat the cardstock.
I am looking forward to trying out some of the Holiday Catalogue stamp sets with the Copper Embossing Powder….just waiting for my shipment to arrive! Demonstrators are able to order from the Holiday Catalogue NOW so it’s been fun seeing what everyone’s picking. If you are keen to get your hands on holiday product, if you order the starter kit during August, you can actually select Holiday Catalogue product in your starter kit! Contact me for more details, or get more information about joining my group of demonstrators here. In the meantime, I will sit on my porch and wait for the UPS truck to bring my holiday goodies…..
Aug 1, 2017 | cards, Christmas, Seasonal Catalogue, specials, Stampin' Up!
Last month, you could get the Carols of Christmas set (clear or wood) for free as part of a bonus kit of product with your starter kit. Now available for purchase, you can also get it as part of the Carols of Christmas Bundle with a great set of dies called Card Front Builders. Bundle is available with clear or wood options. There’s also a clear mount french version of the set, available as part of a bundle as well. The cardfront builders framelits will be useful year round – not just for holiday cards!
I think you can count on seeing this bundle being used for one of the cards in this month’s Christmas card class, which happens on Thursday, August 17th at 7pm. The featured product for the August class is ribbon – specificially the gold and silver edged ribbons. If you register for the Basic+ option, you’ll receive 1/2 roll of each of these ribbons at class. See the YamStamps Events page for other upcoming classes and more information.
The YamStamps August Paper Crafting Project Newsletter goes out later today to subscribers, and features a couple of projects using the Daisy Delight Bundle. The Daisy Punch has been SO popular that it’s ended up on backorder a couple of times already – but it’s available for purchase today – so grab it while you can! Don’t forget to use your coupon code from July’s Bonus Days to get $6 off! Please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order.
