Today is the first day that the August- December 2020 Mini Catalogue is live! Or as I call it “The Catalogue Previously Known as the Holiday Catalogue”. Whatever you call it, you can order from it starting today!
You may also notice that the Stampin’ Up! site (and my YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada Store) look slightly different. The site’s been updated – so first things first – you’ll have to manually enter your username and password at least on your first visit. Your browser will think it’s a different site so won’t automatically plug in your password if that’s how you usually access it. If not – you can always use the password reset link (and then check your email spam folder in case it gets sent there).
Since the store got changed over, a lot of the links to products are not working as they used to – so I’m in the process of going through and fixing them up as I can – you can imagine what kind of a job that is LOL!! Thank you for your patience in the meantime!
Enjoy the catalogue, and don’t forget to spend those Bonus Days coupon codes – you have until August 31st to do so! As always, please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing an order.
Much like last week’s papercrafting representation of my weekend – here’s this week’s version of how I spent my Saturday.
f you recognize this logo, you’ll probably have spent a few hours like me binge watching the second season of the Umbrella Academy on Netflix. In all honesty, I watched the first season initially because I was looking for local landmarks since it was filmed next door in Hamilton, Ontario (well, also Toronto). I did recognize a number of locations that they used for filming, which is fun. I got hooked on the storyline (though I did close my eyes for some of the gorier portions, something I learned to do a long time ago LOL). After spending a number of hours burning through the episodes, I was feeling a bit guilty for neglecting some other tasks (just a bit, though – it is a holiday weekend, after all), so I whipped up this super fast card to share on the blog. Really easy with Stampin’ Up!’s Umbrella Builder Punch and Layering Circles Dies, and since the logo is black and white themed, the colour choices were also really easy LOL.
Just a heads up – you may want to spend a moment or two this weekend to check that you actually know your Stampin’ Up! site password if you shop online. On Tuesday, Stampin’ Up! is rolling out a new website/platform, so your browser will likely not recognize the site as one you’ve visited before, and won’t automatically fill in your username/password (if you use your browser settings for that). So make sure you know your password because you will probably have to enter it yourself (at least the first time! Fingers crossed for a smooth transition. The August-December Mini Catalogue will also be live on Tuesday, so lots of excitement happening that day!
If you are a fan or know a fan of the Umbrella Academy, leave me a comment and I’ll randomly pick someone and send this card to them! (This way I can also test if comments are working on my site…) When I send out thank you cards in my business, I use post-it notes for my notes inside the card – that way, the recipient can remove the post-it and mail it to someone else!
My favourite kind of paper crafting is easy but impressive, so when I say this is an ornate thanks card, it’s because it uses the Ornate Thanks stamp set…and theOrnate Layers dies!
The layout for this card is fairly straightforward – three pieces of the Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper [DSP] onto a backing piece of Early Espresso cardstock. The centre piece of DSP is the flip side of the other pattern (the papers have double sided designs) – so no thinking involved LOL. The ornate frame is die cut from Early Espresso Cardstock and the sentiment from Ornate Thanks is stamped onto the Very Vanilla label in Early Espresso and Terracotta Tile. I selected the ink and backing cardstock colours by checking out what colours were featured in the DSP so they would match. Stampin’ Up! does a really nice job of having coordinating colour products that make my paper crafting a little easier.
When you order these dies, I would also recommend investing in the Brush Tip for the Take Your Pick tool as it makes it easier to get all the little bits out of the detailed die cuts, so you’ll be able to make your own Ornate Thanks Card even more quickly. After you run the die through your die cutting machine, place the die and or the die cut (sometimes the detailed ones need a bit of coaxing to release) on the foam mat that comes with the Brush Tip, and then run the Brush Tip over to release the die cut and bits.
If you are looking for other crafting ideas and inspiration, the YamStamps Newsletter goes out every Tuesday with information, and tutorials that aren’t featured anywhere else in the YamStamps world. You can sign up for the newsletter here to keep in touch. The multi-project monthly newsletter will be out on August 4th showcasing some August-December Mini Catalogue products so be sure to get on the list before then! In the meantime, happy crafting!
While these are crazy and new Pandemic times that we are living through, there are some positives to be found. I’ve actually enjoyed spending lots of family time over the last few months, with members of the family under the same roof for a while. One thing that my university aged son and I have done recently is played Pokemon Go. He loved Pokemon when he was younger and we spent a lot of time getting Pokemon cards and watching the show and movies. A few years ago when Pokemon Go came out, we played it on our phones, and recently have renewed our interest in playing the game for fun. I thought I’d pull out this older Pokemon Punch Art piece that I did a number of years ago.
All you need are a number of circle dies (like Stampin’ Up!’s Layering Circles Dies) or punches, Whisper White, Basic Black and Real Red Cardstock and you’re good to go! Cut 3 large circles (same size) of each of the colours for the body of the ball, cutting the white one just less than half way and the black one just more. Cut 3 progressively smaller circles in black and white and adhere everything together – it’s a Pokeball!
This project is from four years ago – but it’s amazing how this Pokemon craze lives on and is constantly being rediscovered by kids (of all ages) all the time.
For me this weekend, I’m getting August-December Mini Catalogues into envelopes for mailing [fill out this form if you don’t have a Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator and need a copy!], working on some designs for the Holidays (yes, it’s true) and running outside every once in a while with my son to catch Pokemon during the Pokemon Go Fest. So if you’re passing through my neighbourhood and see me out and about staring at my phone instead of enjoying the scenery, you’ll know why.
Don’t forget that until August 3rd you’ll earn a $6 coupon code when you place an order for $60 (before shipping/taxes). You’ll be able to use the coupon August 4-31 – so you can grab some new products from the August-December Mini Catalogue! In the meantime, when you need a break from the sun – why not create some Pokemon Punch Art? Great gift tags or fun cards for the Pokemon fan in your life. Happy crafting!
Sometimes you need a celebration card, but it’s something outside of the more common occasions to celebrate, like birthdays or weddings. This sentiment is great for any reason to celebrate! It’s from the Pattern Play stamp set. I used the discounted Pattern Play Bundle that includes the stamp set and the Playful Alphabet Dies to further customize my card.
I made this card to send to some members of my demonstrator group, known as the “Eh” Team, so I used the dies and the Foam Adhesive Sheets to customize the card by adding the EH! I cut the 2020-2022 In Colour Designer Series Paper [DSP] to fit my card front, and then stuck the remaining scraps of the DSP onto a Foam Adhesive Sheet. I was able to cut through the DSP and sheet using the dies, and then positioned them onto the front of the card.
Part of the joy of making handmade cards is the fact that you can make a card that suits your specific occasion and can customize it for the recipient. These cards are to celebrate my team members’ achievements – like making their quarterly sales quotas, adding members to their own demonstrator teams or having a certain level of sales in a month. By using coordinating products and colours it makes it even easier – and that’s my kind of crafting!! I stamped the “sparkle” stamp in Bumblebee ink onto the Bumblebee cardstock, and die cut some scalloped circles from the Layering Circles Dies in VeryVanilla and Misty Moonlight. I could have used the Stamparatus to stamp the sentiment, but because the Pattern Play stamp is photopolymer, I just used a clear block because I can actually see through the stamp (and block) to where I am stamping.
My healthcare job has been increasingly busy over the past couple of weeks, and I’ve been able to take a few days off this week. During my staycation I’ve been able to relax a bit with family, and catch up on some crafting and mail sending! I’m getting the August-December Mini Catalogue ready for mailing as well – if you’re in Canada and don’t have a demonstrator that you already deal with, please fill in this form to request a copy! In the meantime, stay healthy and keep crafting 🙂 I’m back to finishing my celebration cards and mailing them out!
Sharing this starry fun fold card….though I’m never truly sure what is a fun fold and what is just a neat design?? Technically this card doesn’t have extra folds, though it does have extra cuts?! I shared a quick red white and blue (and gold) version on the YamStampsInstagram and Facebook accounts yesterday in honour of the Fourth of July, but here’s a more neutral toned version for other special events.
By cutting out a portion of the front of the card, and then using the die cut star to reattach it and hold it in place, it makes an otherwise straightforward layout a little more interesting! I cut the Whisper White Cardstock to 4.25″ x 11″, then cut the front flap at 2″ and cut another 2″ strip from the portion I cut off. Add a bit of decorative paper – in this case the 2020-2022 In Colour Designer Series Paper in Just Jade, and then added a Stitched Star die cut in Gold Foil.
If you’d like to make a version of this card, I’m offering a Card Class to Go – and this is one of the designs. Due to COVID19 precautions, I’m still not scheduling any in person Monthly Card Classes – so this is what I’m trying. For the regular class fee of $20, you’ll get precut supplies to create 4 different cards. You supply the adhesive (if you need some, you can purchase from me when you register for class and I’ll send it with your supplies). As well, if it’s in the design of the card, I’ll include punch outs or die cuts that you can add a sentiment or image to with your own stamps and inks (or handwriting). This is due to Stampin’ Up! regulations – I can’t include pre-stamped images or sentiments in a class kit. You can pick up your kit if you’re local to Burlington Ontario, or I can mail it anywhere within Canada. You’ll get the supplies plus a sheet with photos of the completed projects and step by step instructions.
CARD CLASS TO GO
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR CLASS FEE: – precut supplies to create four different cards including card bases, all design elements and envelopes – Instruction sheet with colour photo and step by step instructions for each project – regular postage within Canada/porch pickup in Burlington ON – customer service – I’m available to answer your questions or provide extra guidance if needed!
YOU SUPPLY: – adhesive(s) of your choice (some options available for purchase at time of class registration) – any stamps/inks of your choice to customize your cards as you wish
Interested? I have a limited number of kits available – you can email me to purchase one! Payment by etransfer preferred, but CC options available.
Contact me if you have any questions – or if you’re ready to get the supplies to make your own starry fun fold card!
Wishing you a very happy Canada Day! We will be celebrating a bit differently than usual this year – no big gatherings or big fireworks shows, but 2020 is a year for doing things differently, isn’t it?!
Revisiting this fun card that I did a few years ago, using the now retired Seasonal Layers Dies. I think of it as a stylized flag card!
In addition to celebrating Canada Day, it’s the start of Stampin’ Up!’s Bonus Days! From July 1 until August 3, for each $60 in product you order (in a single order) before shipping/taxes, you’ll earn a $6 coupon code from Stampin’ Up! that you can spend August 4 – 31! So – $60 product = $6 coupon code, $120 product = 2 x $6 coupon codes etc etc etc. Like Sale-a-Bration, this is non-cumulative, so you can’t do a $30 order early in the month, and then another $30 order later and get a coupon. It has to be in one order. Codes will automatically be generated and emailed by Stampin’ Up.
So for my fellow Canadians, Happy Canada Day, and for my non-Canadian friends, Happy Wednesday!
The Arrange a Wreath Bundle was high on my wish list and was part of my first order from the new Stampin’ Up! Catalogue when it went live. I’ve created this wreath card with it and there’s a trick that I did with these die cuts that made me clap my hands when it worked. (Seriously. Am I the only one who does that?!)
I really wanted to get started with this bundle because I loved the concept of it and how it could be used over the year. The Wreath Builder Dies coordinate with the images in the Arrange A Wreath stamp set, and the stamp set features sentiments that cover a variety of occasions. I wanted to show that this bundle can be used outside of some of those occasions, and I think I managed that with this card.
I die cut the two different wreaths – the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and the sprays in Highland Heather. If you’ve visited the YamStamps blog before, you’ll know that I like this colour combination! To make a more unified wreath element, I snipped the spray wreath in one spot, and then wove it around the green leafy wreath. I secured the ends in behind with a bit of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. After I finished patting myself on the back…LOL, I embossed the front of a Very Vanilla card with the Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder, and then used Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the wreath in place on the cardfront. I then used the brush end of a Highland Heather Stampin’ Write Marker to ink the “thanks” from the “give thanks” stamp and stamped it onto a strip of Very Vanilla, converting it from a Thanksgiving sentiment to something more suited for thiswreath card.
This cardfront reminds me of something I’d see in a modern design magazine of a big open concept kitchen or loft space. Pretty sure that this is as close as I will get to that set up!!!
While you can purchase the stamp set and dies separately, I’d recommend buying them together in the bundle – for one, it’s discounted 10%! As well – there’s nothing like the coordination of a stamp set and tool to make your crafting more quick and easy. If you’d like this bundle for a discount of 100%….you should consider purchasing a demonstrator starter kit and becoming part of my “Eh” Team! Until the end of June, when you purchase a starter kit, you’ll get a stamp/tool bundle of your choice for free! The starter kit contains all the business supplies you will need, plus $165 worth of product of your choice – so it’s completely customized to your crafting needs/wants! You can find out more about joining my group of demonstrators here or you can contact me. Oh – and another bonus? Demonstrators get early access to the new Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine that you can use with your Wreath bundle!! This machine will be available in September for customers, but demonstrators will be able to order it a month early.
I’m off to see what else I can create that is non-specific holiday-ish with this bundle! Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by.
Well, imagine my surprise when I realized I hadn’t posted here in a while – oops! So I’m back, with a bonus. One set, two looks. I have been busy behind the scenes, updating my new subscriber video, hanging out in the new catalogue launch event group, and like you, continuing to negotiate our changing situation day to day. Sometimes it’s all I can do to make it through the day and then zone out watching Netflix (currently finishing the Great Canadian Baking Show, which I’ve enjoyed, though admittedly not quite as much as its big brother, the Great British Bake Off, and not as much without Dan Levy).
Anyway – refocus! OK, so the set/bundle I used was Blossoms in Bloom. I love the coordinating Blossoms in Bloom stamp set and Many Layered Blossoms dies, and love that the dies can actually be used on their own as well. The first card was one that I used for a demonstrator swap where Stampin’ Up! demonstrators each create multiples of a card, then we get back one of each participants’ cards. It’s a great way to see other ideas and stamp sets that you may not (yet) own. I try to share a different swap card I’ve received each Sunday on the YamStamps Facebook PageSunday Swap Share.
For this card, I focused on the thin, detailed die cut and kept the colours monochromatic otherwise. The image of the blossoms is stamped in Highland Heather onto Purple Posy Cardstock. The detailed die was cut out of a Copper Foil Sheet. When you place an Adhesive Sheet on the back of your cardstock/foil before die cutting, all you have to do after running it through your die cutting machine is peel off the liner for the adhesive and place your die cut wherever you want!
For the second version of the card, I focused on the stamped images in the set and a more colourful approach.
For the large flowers, I used Balmy Blue ink, then used Highland Heather for the very small flowers and Petal Pink for the medium sized flowers. I essentially just stamped the large flowers first, then filled in any gaps. The sentiment and leaves were stamped in Pear Pizzazz, but I used second generation images for the leaves so they were a softer colour that didn’t distract from the flowers. (Second generation image = ink up the stamp, stamp off once on scrap paper, then stamp onto your cardstock). Some of my favourite card making hacks are on this card – second generation images, stamping off the edge of cardstock, leaving one corner blank for the sentiment, and mounting the image off centre on the cardfront. I use these tricks for myself otherwise I can end up with the same design all the time! It’s fine if you’re sending off the cards to different people, but it becomes obvious when you’re posting them in one place LOL. My other lazy crafting card hack? All the colours used came from the same Stampin’ Up! colour family – Subtles.
Hope you enjoyed this One Set, Two Looks approach! I’m off to finish up prep for Stampers Club tomorrow. We continue to meet virtually, and it’s great to see everyone during our Zoom crafting sessions. We likely will not be meeting in person for a while longer, and will keep an on local mandates to help guide our decisions. In the meantime, you can always check out the YamStamps blog here, plus the YamStamps accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. Oh – and subscribe to my newsletter to get access to the new subscriber tutorial video. See you online!
It’s here! The 2020-2021 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue is live today! There’s some specials to help the celebration as well!
WAYS TO CELEBRATE: 1) Shop: From June 3 – 30, a single order (customer or party) with $300 product sales or more will earn an extra $30 Stampin’ Rewards to spend on product of your choice. Contact me to see about hosting an online party or catalogue party, or if you need assistance placing an order.
2) Join: Purchase a Demonstrator Starter Kit from June 3 – 30 and receive a free stamp & tool bundle of your choice. For $135 CAD, you’ll receive $165 worth of product of your choice, PLUS the additional bundle. You’ll find the stamp/punch bundles starting on page 168, and the stamp/die bundles starting on page 173. You can find more information about joining my group of demonstrators here. Contact me if you have questions or want to set up a time to chat!
You can download the pdf version here: Canadian English or Canadian French. Remember the shortcut for shopping in Canada is YamStamps.com/shop. You’ll be able to access the new catalogue products in the shop around 3pm Eastern.
