I am challenging myself to use the term “PATH OF TOTALITY” as many times as possible while I can. Also because every time I see it, I am saying it in my head in a loud booming announcer voice with an echo.
Burlington Ontario was in the path of totality for the solar eclipse that happened on Monday so I was outside around 230pm to watch the event, along with my family and many others from our neighbourhood. I live across from a park so we decided to go to the park and sit on the hill to watch it….though we could have easily just sat on our porch! It was overcast early in the day, so we were worried we wouldn’t be able to see much, but luckily, the skies cleared enough so that we could see the sun! It was still pretty cloudy, and when we were close to the total eclipse, we had a couple of “false starts” because a cloud would pass over the sliver of sun. (“Is that the full eclipse or is that a cloud? I’m worried about taking off my glasses to check!”).
Here’s a fantastic photo that my son took (and gave me permission to share). I didn’t know that what he captured is called a diamond ring…but it makes sense.
Since I am a paper crafter, I had to be crafty with the solar eclipse theme! I am happy that this card turned out the way I had envisioned (because trust me, that is not always the case)….so here’s a version of the solar eclipse that you can watch whenever you want, without the need for special vision protection! I first posted this on TikTok and Instagram – and just uploaded this to YouTube so that I could share it here as well.
I used Stampin’ Up!’s retiring Give It a Whirl Dies to create this solar eclipse card – so if you’d like to make a card like this one, you may want to grab them before they’re gone at the end of the month – BONUS – they’re on sale for half price!!
I used a window sheet as the spinning portion, and used my Basic Black Stampin’ Blends on both sides of the acetate to get really good coverage. I imagine you could also use a Staz-On Jet Black Ink Pad or even Sharpie Markers – basically anything that is alcohol based colour.
Also, if you make a version of this card, please make sure that you say “PATH OF TOTALITY” every time you spin the card (at least in your head, if not out loud).
An eye catching element for this celebrate you card!
A “celebrate you card” is a perfect one to have in your card stash – because it can cover so many occasions – or non-occasions! This one has an eye catching design element that is easy – and an efficient way to use your patterned papers!
It’s apparently spring here (*cough*)….so I thought this was a good floral-spring themed celebrate you card to share! The patterned paper is from the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper which has four times the sheets that are in the typical DSP packages. I die cut the paper with one of the Patchwork Pieces Dies, and then used half of the die cut on this card – meaning I can use the other half on another card! The sentiment is from the Sentimental Park Stamp Set and the label and flowers from the coordinating Sentimental Park Dies.
This is the time of year when we start getting ready to say goodbye to products from the 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue. Happily, the Sentimental Park stamp set and dies will be around for another year….but the Patchwork Pieces Dies and Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper will be retiring at the end of the month, so are available only while supplies last/end of April – whichever comes first. Starting 9 April (next Tuesday), the Last Chance Sale starts – and the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper will be half price! So you may want to take your chances and wait until 9 April to get all that paper for less…. HOWEVER…
This fancy folding technique isn’t too difficult and can be used with any of your patterned paper for any occasion!
I used some of the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper for this card. This fancy folding is perfect for Stampin’ Up!’s two sided patterned papers because you get a peek at the pattern on the other side too! The Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper is going to be retiring at the end of April. It’s one of the best deals in the catalogue especially if you like to have a “set” of cards or scrapbook pages with the same patterns, because this package has 48 sheets – 4 each of 12 different double sided patterns – that’s FOUR times as many sheets as a regular package of Designer Series Paper!
I added a sentiment from the Dainty Delight stamp set (also retiring at the end of April) in Misty Moonlight, and die cut the labels with the Everyday Details Dies (which will continue to be available as an Online Exclusive Product – available to order, but not appearing in the printed catalogue).
I shared a sped up video that I actually took during our last Online Card Club session, as we made this card during March’s club. Key Measurements: Designer Series Paper is 5″ x 11″, scored in a pattern – 1/2″ then 1″, starting at 1-1/2″ – so 1-1/2″, 2″, 3″, 3-1/2″, 4-1/2″, 5″, 6″, 6-1/2″, 7-1/2″, 8″, 9″, 9-1/2″. In portrait orientation, marked at 2-1/2″ at the top & bottom. Fold the centre score lines (they will be on either side of the wide section), and cut from the closer score line to the mark to create a point at each end, then accordian fold! It’s a fun backdrop for your sentiment or image. You can find the video on the YamStamps Instagram Account or YamStamps Tik Tok Account.
If you’re interested in joining my Online Card Club, you can message me for more details on the 6 month program. At this point time time, I’ll only be allowing new members to join in the next couple of months, as the way it runs will be changing in the future. Open to Canadian residents only due to Stampin’ Up! regulations.
Now that the tech glitches I was having with the YamStamps.com site are sorted, I should be able to post more regularly again!
Stampin’ Up! has released the retiring lists for April 2024!
Happy first day of spring! So of course, around here it’s cold and snowy/rainy….because last week it was in the double digits for temperature… Anyway – here are the Retiring Lists for April 2024 – separate lists for the Annual Catalogue and the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue. There is a “last chance” sale happening IN APRIL for the Mini Catalogue- starting on the 9th. Strategy: mark your list with the items you want to grab before they retire…. if they are going on sale – shop on 9 April. If they aren’t, shop now in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store – https://yamstamps.com/shop is the shortcut! All items are available while supplies last! Also: PDF versions tend to have super small print…
New Online Class Coming – Tri-Fold Triple Threat! Pre-Launch Sale on Now!
My next online class launches this Thursday, 14 March at 7pm Eastern and the Pre-Launch Sale is on now!
Tri-Fold Triple Threatfeatures four projects (plus a bonus tutorial) that focus on cards that have three sections and are 1) Impressive to Receive 2) Quick and Easy to Make and 3) Don’t Require Fancy Tools! (That’s a paper crafting Triple Threat in my books!). You will require a Paper Trimmer and Scoring Tool, which I consider to be a basic Paper Crafting Tool.
Pre-recorded and edited step by step videos mean that you can get crafting faster. Lifetime access means you can watch/pause/rewatch as needed, as many times as you’d like. Pre-launch pricing means that you will save $10CAD and pay just $20CAD for lifetime access if you register before 7pm Eastern on Thursday 14 March. After the class launches, you’ll still be able to register for class, but you’ll pay full price of $30CAD for lifetime access. This class is available internationally, since there is no physical product included. If you are located outside of Canada, you will be charged in CAD and your card company will convert the cost for you.
This class is hosted on my Online Classes site, so you don’t need to have a Facebook Account to access it. You’ll be taken to the registration page after you complete your payment. I’ll send out a reminder and link once the class opens on Thursday, so you’ll be first to access it!
If you follow YamStamps on Facebook, you’ll know that I love sharing “Days” on the page – like today, which is Mario Day! MAR-1-0 – get it? Someone very clever (presuming someone at Nintendo) came up with that one! It inspired me to create a quick and easy Mario themed card!
I cut the Azure Afternoon Cardstock to resemble overalls, added a Poppy Parade inner card and used the cut outs from a number 8 from the Alphabet A La Mode Dies for the overall buttons. I found a free font on the web that resembled the Mario lettering and used that to create a sentiment that I stuck on the inside of the card – and it’s a SUPER card for a Nintendo lover!
I thought the overalls theme would be the easiest to use for a card – and going with this, you could also easily make a matching Luigi card by using a green inner card rather than a red one!
Did you play a lot of Mario games in the past – or are you still playing them? I played more when my son was younger since we would play together….and I do remember playing Super Mario Universe on my own after he’d gone to bed because I really wanted to beat certain levels. (I can be a little goal oriented that way I guess!!). We also played Mario Kart and Mario Party with a group, which was fun (though our family can get a little competitive at times!!). Must be a genetic thing.
Check out the quick Mario Day card video I did of the card making process – I shared it pretty much everywhere….YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook….and now here on YamStamps.com as well! I like being able to create quick videos and then find some appropriate and fun music to use with them….though a bunch of my TikToks are now quiet (they even removed MY voice in some of the voice overs) because they’ve stopped allowing Universal Music for Tik Toks (and apparently I used a bunch of their songs). I might get around to picking new music for them at some point (or maybe the music will be allowed again at some point in the future??). Anyway, for now, at least, the Mario Day video has sound!!
Save this so you can remember to make a Mario themed card for the game lover in your life!
Check out this Super Simple Fancy Fold Card! (Does it still count as a fancy fold when it’s this easy?)
You may know that I love quick and easy crafting. This super simple fancy fold card is definitely in that category – to the point where I almost wondered if I could call it a fancy fold?! I decided that I could, since anything other than a standard “cut the cardstock and fold it in half” seems fancy to me.
It’s a simple extra fold with a “closure” card.
I love that we can still order the Winter Meadow Designer Series Paper – because it’s definitely still winter here. (Now we even have snow and sub-zero temperatures to boot, not like that freaky warm weather last week!!). This was one of my favourite papers from the September-December Mini Catalogue, so I’m happy that it’s still available! I featured it on this card, using two sides of the same piece which makes it even easier to create!!
It’s a standard sized card to start – so cut to 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, but there’s an extra score line at 1″ – so scored at 1″, then 5-1/4″. The 1″ score line is folded, and then stuck in place, leaving a shorter front portion of the card that meets up. Add a die cut shape and sentiment to the flap (making sure to ONLY stick it to the flap) and then you have a closure piece! Tada! A super simple fancy fold card! The sentiment is from Timeless Arrangements, and my go to dies for sentiments for card fronts are the Stylish Shapes Dies – so I used the squares for this card. I used Blueberry Bushel ink, Blueberry Bushel cardstock for the backing square, and Very Vanilla Cardstock for the base.
We made this super simple fancy fold card during Monthly Card Club, and my prototype was actually in Basic White Cardstock, which worked, but the more I looked at it, I felt like the Vanilla cardstock was a better match – a little “softer” look. What do you think?? Here’s the Basic White version:
The white version is definitely brighter, and I do think either one works…but went with the Vanilla version for club. I tend to use white a lot for my cards, so it’s good to force myself to remember that there’s other options for cardbases!!
If you’re interested in joining Monthly Card Club, it’s open to anyone in Canada! We meet virtually by Zoom the third Monday of each month. Participants place a minimum order, and once during their 6 month membership will receive the Stampin’ Rewards generated by club members’ orders. New members can start their 6 month membership at any time! Please contact me if you’re interested in joining us starting in March.
Let’s Sale-a-Brate Valentine’s Day with this clean and simple card!
I love easy crafting, and I also love clean and simple cards, so I am ready to Sale-a-Brate Valentine’s Day with this card that ticks all of those boxes!
The Sale-a-Brating part comes from the background – Most Adored Designer Series Paper – which is one of the Level 1 choices. You can select it as your free product with a $60CAD product order. IT’S SHINY!! I love shiny things 🙂 I also love the gradient on it – more hearts at one end than the other.
I used the Bee Builder punch to quickly punch out some hearts – the large one is Cherry Cobbler Cardstock, and the smaller one is from a different sheet of the Most Adored DSP.
A sweet and simple way to sale-a-brate Valentine’s Day!
In any case, you have a couple of weeks left to Sale-a-Brate! The Bee Builder punch is from the January-April Mini Catalogue, so is available until the end of April/while supplies last, but the Most Adored Designer Series Paper is only around until the end of February (when Sale-a-Bration ends) or while supplies last!! Shortcut to shopping in Canada is YamStamps.com/shop or you can message me if you’d like to pay by etransfer or would like assistance placing your order.
Pre-Launch sale for Dynamic Designs Online Class happening NOW!
My next online class is Dynamic Designs and I think I say this about every class, but I love these cards! They spin, slide, arch and wobble – and because it’s MY class, you know that they won’t be over the top in difficulty!! Pre-launch sale is on until 15 February at 7pm Eastern (when the class launches) – you can save $10 off the regular price if you register before then!
Fun, right? I walk you through the construction (trust me, I made MANY prototypes while working some of them out) and once you know how to make them (and how easy they actually are), you’ll be able to use whatever you have in your craft room to create your own versions! The videos are pre-recorded, and edited for clarity and brevity. Since it is an online class and there’s no physical product involved, this class is available internationally! You’ll pay in Canadian dollars (your bank or credit card company will convert to your local currency). If you live in Canada and would like to pay by etransfer, you can contact me for more details on how to do so.
Use the Perennial Lavender Suite to create a lovely Thinking of You Card.
I always try to have a stash of “thinking of you” cards because they cover so many reasons you might send someone a card. I created this one for a recent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator only card swap featuring products from the January-April Mini Catalogue. I chose to use elements from the Perennial Lavender Suite as well as the Thoughtful Moments Hybrid Embossing Folder.
Since the background of the floral print is beige, I chose to use Crumb Cake Cardstock for the cardbase to tie things together, plus I chose to use Very Vanilla Cardstock as I felt like Basic White Cardstock might be too stark a contrast. I stamped the leaves along the side in Shaded Spruce Ink (I think….I can’t quite remember and I didn’t write it down….oops)
I die cut circles with the Stylish Shapes dies from the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper. The horizontal strip is also from the same DSP package – since the designs are two sided, there’s twice as many options to choose from! When you use a card design like this one, your DSP stretches a long way.
The “thinking of you” sentiment is from the Thoughtful Moments hybrid embossing folder – when you purchase it, you receive both a 3D embossing folder plus a coordinating die set. I inked up the portion that included the “Thinking of You” sentiment, “locked” the die in place (it fits around all the embossed/debossed areas) and then closed it on some Very Vanilla Cardstock before running it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine.
I like how adding just a bit of ink to the embossing folder makes the words stand out a little bit more – plus using Highland Heather Ink ties it into the colour scheme of the card. I finished off the card with a bit of bling with the Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.
Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio – includes glass mat, grey cleaning cloth and white silicone mat
Being a Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator means I get to dedicate time to paper crafting and learning new skills….and call it “work”! Or as some of the Demonstrators in my group call it – a “jobby” (job / hobby)! If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator with my group, known as the “Eh” Team, you can click here to read more, or contact me if you have questions. We’d love to have you join us – and during Sale-a-Bration, you can get more in your Demonstrator Starter kit – your choice of the Stampin’ Glass Mat studio, or an additional $41CAD worth of product of your choice. Sale-a-Bration runs until 29 February this year, and there’s ALWAYS a rush at the last minute – so don’t wait until the system gets bogged down with all the Last Minute Lucys – the sooner the better!
