Retiring List Contest!

It’s that time of year again….

Stampin’ Up! will be releasing the Retiring List on Wednesday 23 March 2022. What do YOU think will be included on the list this year? Take your best guess and WIN!

Email me with your list of TEN stamp sets from the 2021-2022 Annual Catalogue that you believe will be on the retiring list (excluding Host stamp sets). Emails must be received by 10pm Eastern on Tuesday 22 March 2022 (that would be 22:00 because I liked the symmetry of it all!). Open to Canadian residents only.

The person with the most correct guesses will receive a $25 gift certificate for products or classes through YamStamps.com. In the case of a tie, the earlier submission will be declared the winning entry. (I’m pretty sure non-winning entries will receive some sort of compensation as well, though….just saying).

Good luck!

Celebrating Circles

Happy Pi Day! We are celebrating circles around here….and here’s a card to share. Appropriately, it uses circles as the main image!
celebrating circles
Celebrating Circles – Card for Pi Day

I love this sentiment, from the Here Together stamp set. It’s available for a limited time – until 2 May 2022. You can see all the items in the All Together Collection here in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store. I wanted to keep the card fairly clean and simple, so I just used the Bokeh effect background and a single circle die cut with the sentiment on it. I used Misty Moonlight cardstock and used Misty Moonlight ink for the sentiment, with Blushing Bride for the heart. Check out this link to see all the products that I used on this card. You can add all the products to your shopping cart with a single click – pretty neat, eh? That’s truly the “easy” button! You can adjust quantities and remove or add other items after you do the “add all to cart” click. I need to use this feature more often in these posts, I think!

I’m partial to blue tones, and Misty Moonlight is one of my current favourites. It is also one of the 2020-2022 In Colours, so it will be retiring at the end of April – and I am really going to miss it! If you like it too, you’ll want to be sure to stock up on your supplies of it sooner rather than later. As with all retiring product, it will be “while supplies last” or until 2 May 2022 (the end of the sales period for the current Annual Catalogue) – whichever comes FIRST. In Colours usually sell out before the end of the catalogue period, so please don’t hesitate!

I am working on getting more videos onto my various social media channels, so I did a video celebrating circles and Pi Day by showing the Bokeh Technique used on this card. I posted the full video on the YamStamps YouTube channel.

Celebrating Circles – Bokeh Effect Tutorial Video for Pi Day 2022

You may have seen that I also did an Instagram Reel on this card. I could get addicted to doing reels – short videos with music, what’s not to like? Take a look at my Celebrating Circles Reel and let me know what you think – do you prefer the full length video or a mini length sped up version – or both?

Happy Pi Day!

Blended Ink Thank You Card

I’m calling this the blended ink thank you card – because I can’t think of another way to describe it! It’s a super easy technique that gave this wonderful look. I have always loved monochromatic projects – I think there’s something elegant about focusing on one tone. Plus it’s easy….haha! This card features Stampin’ Up!’s Amazing Silhouettes Bundle.

Blended Ink Thank You Card
Blended Ink Thank You Card

I chose the colour for the ink on the background from the tones in the Rainbow Glimmer Paper. Remember this card? I used the same technique here. Added a Foam Adhesive Sheet to the back of a scrap of Rainbow Glimmer Paper and then ran it through my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. I think I may have actually used the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (on sale this month!) for this one because this Amazing Thanks die is compatible (aka it fits!). For the background, I simply used a Blending Brush to add Coastal Cabana ink around the edges, leaving a space that was more white, but then I also lightly stamped with an image from the Amazing Silhouettes stamp set in the same ink tone – so it gives a faint image and texture to the blending. Some Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels added a finishing touch to my blended ink thank you card, and I thought they matched the sparkle from the Glimmer Paper.

I might make more of these – since I need to send thank you cards to those who have supported my Celebrating Sunflowers Fundraiser for the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal so far! Just a reminder that if you purchase the Celebrate Sunflowers Stamp Set, Sunflowers Dies or Discounted Bundle (which is only available this month), I’ll donate my income to the Red Cross fund noted. I chose the stamp set and dies because the sunflower is the national flower for Ukraine, and I chose the Canadian Red Cross’s Appeal because the Canadian government pledged to match all donations before 18 March up to $10 million (already met!). My personal fundraiser is going until 2 May 2022, which is the end of the sales period for the 2021-2022 Annual Catalogue.

Who do you want to thank? This blended ink thank you card is a quick and easy way to send a note of appreciation to someone. If you need supplies, you can go to the shortcut yamstamps.com/shop to shop in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store, or message me for assistance placing an order.

Happy International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day! I love this sentiment from the In the Moment Stamp Set…

I have been so fortunate to have met so many wonderful women as part of my Stampin’ Up! journey! From customers, to team members (current and past), fellow demonstrators from all over the world, to the Event Council members, and Stampin’ Up! staff – seriously some pretty awesome ladies. Stampin’ Up! was founded by sisters, and continues to have females in key roles within the company itself.

I’m happy that we’ve been able to continue to meet up virtually, and look forward to when we can comfortably and safely meet up in person again!!

Happy International Women’s Day!

A Little Goes a Long Way

I didn’t use this card design in my Paper Strips Online Class – but it definitely fits the class outline! A little goes a long way – just a few small pieces of Designer Series Paper to create this pattern. It’s a take on the card that I shared here on the YamStamps blog back in January.

a little goes a long way
Paper Strips Card – a little goes a long way!

I “stepped up” this card design by embossing the backing cardstock. I like how the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder ties in with the flowery theme of the Hand Penned Designer Series Paper. I used Highland Heather cardstock for the background (I chose that colour because it’s used in the patterned paper), but I kind of cheated and used Fresh Freesia Ribbon…in part because that’s what I had on hand! I figured it was fairly close…

In this “a little goes a long way” card, the strips are 3/4″ wide. I used 3 consecutive strips so that my pattern on the rectangles would carry across. With the wonderful two sided designs, I just flipped the squares over so that the coordinating pattern shows! Love easy crafting!

Give this easy design a try with whatever patterned paper you have on hand. It’s a great way to make a bunch of impressive cards quickly and easily! Change up the patterned paper for a totally different look.

If you like getting card design ideas like this, be sure to be signed up for the YamStamps Newsletter. Each week brings some new paper crafting ideas, full card tutorials, information and inspiration to your inbox!

More Fancy Folds!

Are you tired of your card designs seeming to be variations on the same theme? Then check out my latest online class – More Fancy Folds! Launching Thursday 10 March 2022.

More Fancy Folds Online Class

Currently in prelaunch/Early Bird pricing – pay only $20 for lifetime access! The class features step by step videos (edited, so they aren’t 6000 hours long), plus a list of the supplies that I used for the samples in the video. As always, because I am a lazy crafty (trademark pending LOL), I look for designs that are impressive but actually easy to reproduce, so that’s what you get in this class!

Basic Supplies for the class:
Minimum: Cardstock, Paper Trimmer/Scorer (or ruler and scissors, and capped pen/scoring stylus/bone folder), adhesive
Recommended: Above plus decorative paper; bone folder (or ruler)
Recommended for further Personalization: Above plus stamps/ink of choice and punches or dies.

You can see more about the class and sign up at early bird pricing here, or message me if you have any questions! Hope you’ll join us for this fun one!

Savings in Bloom!

Happy March! Coming in like a lamb or lion, one thing I can guarantee is that March will be full of savings! Stampin’ Up! is offering 20% off the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine and further discounts on selected compatible stamps/dies bundles. You can download the flyer here. The Savings in Bloom promotion runs the entire month of March.

There are three bundles making a return. The individual stamps and dies have been available in the current Annual Catalogue, but for the month of March, they’re available again in a discounted bundle! They are Art Gallery, Garden Wishes and CELEBRATE SUNFLOWERS. Sorry for yelling about the last one. That’s just because I wanted to highlight it, since I’m donating my income from sales of Celebrate Sunflowers stamp set, dies – and now the bundle – to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. (including the direct link if you prefer).

The Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine is a super cute, lightweight and portable addition to your crafting tool shed. Much like the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, it features folding “wings” so it doesn’t take up much space when not in use. It’s easy to manage and doesn’t require too much muscle force, and the numbered cutting platforms mean less brain work too! (If I forget, the “sandwich” is written on the main platform). I have both in my crafting room, and I often pull out the Mini if I’m just cutting a small shape from a scrap.

These extra savings on bundles and the Mini Machine are in effect 1-31 March 2022 – shortcut to shop is yamstamps.com/shop or message me for assistance placing your order! Happy Savings!

Sunflowers for Ukraine

Did you know that the national flower for Ukraine is the sunflower? Some crafty friends on Facebook are using the hashtag #cardsforUkraine to share images of cards made with blue and yellow or sunflowers as a way to put some light into the darkness, using creativity to cope.

For me, I’m also going to donate my income from sales of the Celebrate Sunflowers stamp sets (English or French) and the Sunflowers Dies. The charity I’ve chosen is the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. I chose this charity because the Canadian Government announced that they will match funds up to $10million! They will match up until 18 March, but I will continue my donations until the end of the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue period – 3 May 2022.

Please note this offer is the sole responsibility of myself – Linda Yamamoto, Independent Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator.

In the meantime, if you create something with blue and yellow or sunflowers, consider sharing it on social media with the hashtag #cardsforUkraine.

You Are Amazing Card

We can all use a little encouragement sometimes, right? This “You Are Amazing” Card will surely give a boost to the recipient.

you are amazing card
You Are Amazing Card

I pulled out my favourite Sale-a-Bration item for this one while I still can – the Sunshine & Rainbows Designer Series Paper. I’m also partial to blues and greens, so loved the colours in this particular sheet of paper. I used two layers of Designer Series Paper, and then die cut the words (from the Amazing Thanks Dies) from a sheet of Rainbow Glimmer Paper. I put a piece of Foam Adhesive Sheet on the back of the Glimmer Paper before I ran it through my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine so that the letters would stand out. Plus, the foam sheets have adhesive on both sides, so it was super easy to mount the words on the backing silhouettes before placing them on the cardfront.

Have you been checking out the Sunday Swap Shares on the YamStamps Facebook Page? I also share details of what products were used (or what I -think- was used based on examining the cards LOL) on the YamStamps Sunday Swap Page. Since there’s one more Sunday in February, I may be able to squeeze out one more post that includes the Sunshine & Rainbows Paper…ha!

This was a pretty easy card to create – I think that the most difficulty I had was positioning my dies to be sure that I could catch the rainbow gradient on the words. I love how it coordinates with the sheets of the Designer Series Paper!

If you would like to grab some free Sale-a-Bration products (or a couple of free stamp sets in your Demonstrator Starter Kit), you’ll have until 28 February to do so. Shortcut to shopping is yamstamps.com/shop. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions!

Simple Scenic Thank You Card

This simple scenic thank you card is a quick and easy way to show your appreciation!

simple scenic thank you card
simple scenic thank you card

The main panel is from the New Horizons Designer Series Paper package. It’s a collection of 6″ x 6″ patterned papers that are watercoloured and many of them have scenery and landscape images. Some are a bit more obvious than others, and any of the papers could be used either as a main image or as a background for your projects. This sheet has a more landscape scenery feel to it. The “thanks” sentiment is from the Amazing Thanks dies. I love how these dies have coordinating detailed layers for the main words so they really look polished on a project, without too much fuss.

If you’ve been following the YamStamps blog for a while, you’ll know that I like to economize where I can – so I cut the background layer for the “thanks” die cut from the backing cardstock for the Designer Series Paper. The other great thing about die cutting from the backing layer is that I don’t end up with a lot of funny sized/little pieces left over. Or maybe I should say a lot more – because I already have a collection of bits and pieces.

So that leads me to say…

paper strips class
Paper Strips Online Class

If you have a lot of scrap pieces of cardstock or Designer Series Paper, consider purchasing access to my Paper Strips Online Class! This class features a number of ways to use up small pieces of paper – or, if you are a teeny bit of a paper hoarder (*cough* aka most paper crafters), it’s a way to use just a portion of your precious stash (leaving a lot of it to be carefully returned to the treasure trove!). Stretch your stash!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me – though if you could avoid doing so early tomorrow morning, I’d appreciate it, as I’m planning on watching live coverage of the Women’s Hockey Olympic Gold Medal game tonight. (These are times I miss living on the west coast, since the game starts around 11pm Eastern time…). Go Canada!!!

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