Happy Spring! The weather is definitely getting more mild, and today was filled with wind and rain, but also a bit of sun. Here’s a tulip card to celebrate spring – though I do know that tulips are one of the later blooming flowers, from my limited gardening experience. I gardened more when I was living in British Columbia because, well, it’s milder weather, so more enjoyable to be outside lots, and I had more time on my hands then….LOL.
This card features the Timeless Tulips Bundle which contains the Tulip Builder Punch and the Timeless Tulips stamp set. To make the positioning of the stems and flowers easy, I stamped & punched the tulip heads first, and then laid them out on the cardstock to figure out the placement. Once I was happy with it, I stamped the stems (working fairly quickly so I wouldn’t forget where I wanted them haha!!) and then added the leaves before adhering the punched tulips in place. It was a happy accident that the stems ended up converging in one area – that was not what I was going for, actually, but I’ll take it.
A design element I’ve been embracing a bit more is letting elements hang off the edge of the cardstock (but not the card, because then it won’t fit in an envelope if I ever get around to mailing it). It makes fitting everything on the cardfront a little easier. I left this card without a sentiment on the front because I liked the white space effect. Is it called vanilla space for this one since it’s Very Vanilla Cardstock? (oh dear – Can you tell I’ve been social distancing effectively?!!!)
I have done a couple of Facebook Lives this week on the YamStamps Facebook Page, because I have appreciated and been inspired by watching live videos from creative people that I follow on various platforms – it truly is a stress reliever! I will see how many I can continue to do – I had the luxury of being at home this week, since my travel plans were cancelled. I’m due to return to work next week so I imagine I won’t have quite as much time to myself as I’ve had this week! I did treat it like a vacation, and I am amazed at how little I can productively do in a 24 hour period…..LOL. Future me is not impressed with how little present me got done on those nagging jobs around the house….apparently my powers of procrastination are strong!!
I hope that you are keeping well, and doing things to keep your stress levels down. I need to work on a few new card designs so here’s hoping I find some creative inspiration and motivation somewhere….in the meantime, enjoy this tulip card until we get to see the real deal? Happy Spring and Hang In There!!
Love these meerkats – because we all need a reason to smile these days! I thought it was appropriate to make a stand alone pop up card for this card/sentiment…
Get it….stand up friend….stand up card? (The social distancing is obviously getting to me a bit more than I thought). Anyway….this card features the Sale-a-Bration Level 1 reward stamp set The Gang’s All Meer and the suuuper cute Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper from the Jan-June Mini Catalogue. This is one of those papers that it’s hard to pick a favourite side – since these papers are double sided. While the patterns are really functional for all sorts of cards, you are inevitably hiding a cute design on the other side (in this case I think we hid some koalas….).
I am planning on doing a facebook live for this card tomorrow (Thursday), I’ll do it on the YamStamps Facebook Page, so please “like” and “follow” the page to get notified when I go live. (Please note how close I am to a nice round number of “likes”, not that numbers are all I care about and all that it’s about, but come on). At this point I’m thinking late morning, depends on how my day is going. You know, jobs to avoid doing, dust bunnies to step around…I am actually amazed at how little I can truly get accomplished in one day, even when I’m not leaving the house – though I justify it by saying that I am on vacation (which I am)….but still. I’ll probably get a huge burst of initiative and inspiration on Sunday! LOL.
Anyway, I’ll show the construction of this card, and then I will post an instruction file in the Paper Crafting with YamStamps Facebook Group, (if you’re not a member, click on the link and request to join). Just a heads up if you want to craft along with me – You’ll need 4.5″ x 11″ piece of cardstock, plus a 3″ x 4.5″ and 2.75″ x 4.25″ (those last two measurements are off the top of my head right now, hoping I got it correct…I guess we’ll find out tomorrow). I hope that you can join me for a break in your day and make this stand alone pop up card with me live! See you then!
How are you holding up? Since my travel plans were cancelled, I’m hanging out at home. I did manage to get out for a run with some friends on the weekend, and because I don’t run as fast as they do, I maintained social distancing for most of it LOL.
I am thankful for the number of artists who are sharing their talents online – today alone I watched Live streams from the Arkells and Jann Arden. I loved this break from the constant news feed. I managed to do a Facebook Live on the YamStamps Facebook Page as my contribution to a short distraction from the stressors of the day, and I’ve got in my plan to do some more crafting too. I also have income tax prep on my agenda, but that is a stressor in my world so I can only do so much of it before I need to take a break!!
Two Tone Background Card Take 2 – from the YamStamps Facebook Live March 16th
I am cancelling in person classes for the time being – with apologies to those who were planning on attending the Last Chance Sale-a-Bration class. We’ll make arrangements for in person classes once everything has settled down again. ALSO – if you were planning on visiting me at Scrapfest in Kitchener, please note that the event has been POSTPONED and we will let you know when we hear about a new date for the event.
If you have ideas for some videos I could do for you in the next while, please send me an email or leave a comment on any of the YamStamps social media sites! In the meantime, stay healthy!
Here’s a great card design for those large background images – this two tone floral background card was inspired by a card I received in a swap from Betsy Rouw-Rundle. (Check the YamStamps Facebook Page on Sunday to see her card in my Swap Share Sunday Post!)
If you’re doing this and want a “cushion” when creating the two tone background, you could use cardstock larger than the stamped image, and then trim it down to size and proceed from there. This will also work if you use a wood mount background stamp, to ensure you can align the pattern easily.
Frugal Friday Tip Reminder – cut the scallop circle die cut from the middle of the Night of Navy backing cardstock. I just thought of this now – you could also cut the Whisper White circle from the stamped cardstock and then align it on the cardfront with the existing pattern! Maybe I will go back and re-do this – or do me a favour, if you do this, post it on the YamStamps Facebook Page!
Be sure to “like” and “follow” the YamStamps Facebook Page so that you can be notified when I do live videos. You’ll be able to watch from the comfort of your own home. I’ll also be releasing my next online class ASAP so watch for notifications. With so many events and travel plans being cancelled, I should have a bit more time on my hands to get some videos done… In the meantime, you can admire this two tone floral background card while you wash your hands for 20 seconds. Stay healthy, everyone!
Why is it that “springing forward” means I often will not have a spring in my step for the first few days?! Anyway – here’s a die cut poppy card to brighten your day, and here’s hoping you’re not as discombobulated as me today.
This card was less fussy to produce than you might think….really. The poppy background flower and detail die from the Poppy Moments Dies were both cut from Poppy Parade cardstock (because why think so hard when it’s given to you like that?!). To make the detail die cut stand out just a little bit, I sponged Poppy Parade ink onto it – it’s amazing how it just gives a little bit more depth to the cardstock colour and makes it distinctive but not distracting. I did the same for the leaves in Old Olive. To keep everything cohesive, I stamped the sentiment from So Sentimental onto one of the die cut leaves in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. The Tufted 3D Embossing Folder adds a bit more interest to the background, again without being too distracting.
To add the detail die cut on top of the background, I typically either use dots of the Multipurpose Liquid Glue in strategic spots (usually where the die cut is larger, because I’m messy…) or pick up some of the glue with a bit of a Stamping Sponge and dab it on the back of the die cut. I also work on top of one of the silicone craft sheets so 1) my die cut doesn’t get stuck down before I even get it onto the piece and 2) I don’t have a super sticky work surface afterward so everything else gets stuck down too.
Time is running out on Sale-a-Bration – it will end on March 31st, but remember that the freebies are also “while supplies last”. Three rewards are already gone forever – Golden Honey Designer Series Paper, Metallic Baker’s Twine & Sequins Combo, and the Kerchief Card Kit (see photos on the YamStamps Facebook Page in this post). Be sure to grab the rewards you want before they’re gone! Contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing an order. Otherwise, you can shop online in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store – shortcut yamstamps.com/shop.
I’m off to do work on an online class that I’m hoping to launch in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! I might also need to take a nap as well. What time is it? Enjoy the die cut poppy card in the meantime while I figure out which way is up.
Starting today, there are more ways to Sale-a-Brate! Stampin’ Up! has released a new set of options for your Sale-a-Bration Rewards. This second release of products will be available to select with a qualifying order until March 31 or while supplies last.
This fun card was made using the second release stamp set Rise and Shine. It’s a Level 2 Reward so a $120 product order will qualify you to choose this for free! (and yes, there’s a “tea” stamp as well, so you can customize it!). Check out another fun sample in today’s YamStamps Newsletter (going out at 1pm Eastern) – it’s the big monthly projects newsletter with 4 different project tutorials! Click here to sign up if you’re not already subscribed.
If you’re looking for more ways to Sale-a-Brate, please note that there’s a few date changes on the YamStamps Events calendar this month due to March Break, so check out the YamStamps Events Page to keep up with those! Contact me if you’d like to join us at Monthly Card Class or Stampers Club this month or next. We’d love to have you join us!
Hey! Happy to say that I will have a booth at Kitchener Scrapfest 2020! Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. If you’ll be attending the crop or will be coming to browse the vendor booths, I hope that you will stop in and say hello. There will be a free make and take and a door prize draw, plus you can shop my retired products table. I’ll have adhesives on hand if you need to stock up for your time at the crop as well. If you are going to be attending, you can also place an order with me ahead of time and pick it up at the booth! Please place your order by March 31 to be sure that it will arrive in time. (BONUS: This means you can get a Sale-a-Bration reward with each $60 product order too!)
Today I’m sharing this inlaid die cut card…with a twist. Literally. I think I’ve shared other examples of inlaid die cuts – where you die cut a word or shape, and then inlay the same die cut in a contrasting colour. This time, I die cut the Designer Series Paper and gave it a quarter turn (or maybe it was a half turn….) before adhering it into place. I love how it gives a little more interest to the background but doesn’t totally draw your eye away from the cute taco image!
True confession – I didn’t think I actually “needed” the Witty-cisms stamp set from the Jan-June Mini Catalogue that’s featured in this card, but it’s been one of my favourites! I think part of what I like is that the images aren’t super huge, so they’re quick and fun to colour. This image was coloured with Stampin’ Blends and I always feel artistic when I colour with the alcohol markers. I love how there’s no streaks or lines, and the shading blends in so well. I have used other alcohol markers in the past as well (still have a few in my craft room) but what I love about the Stampin’ Blends is the easy coordination. There’s a light and dark version of the same colour, and it’s matched with the Stampin’ Up! colour families. If I recall correctly, it’s light and dark Mango Melody on the taco shell (which coordinates with the backing cardstock) and Light Granny Apple Green for the lettuce portion, which coordinates with the Granny Apple Green Cardstock around the image. The Designer Series Paper is the ever so cute Birthday Bonanza.
So I die cut a Layering Circle out of the Designer Series Paper, and adhered the piece with the hole onto the cardstock. I adhered the die cut circle back into that hole, but turned it so the pattern did not line up. I think this technique works best with a stripe or more plain directional image. Easy Peasy!
Come to a card class or join Stampers Club if you want to pick up other fun crafting tips and techniques just like this Inlaid Die Cut Card! See the upcoming dates on the YamStamps Events Page, and contact me to reserve a spot or to ask questions.
PS I am totally realizing now that I should have saved this card for a Tuesday post. *sigh* (well, maybe I’ll share it to the YamStamps Facebook Page on Tuesday!)
This Birthday Cake Card is today’s clean and simple card. Quick and easy to help someone celebrate!
This card is made even easier by lining everything up with the Stamparatus. If you’ve been following this YamStamps Blog for a while or have attended a class with me, you’ll realize that the larger oval is cut from the centre of the backing Night of Navy Cardstock. I used the Country Club Designer Series Paper for the background – using the argyle side rather than the obvious golf side. The main image on this card is actually three different stamps – the cake stand and outline of candles were stamped in Smoky Slate, and the cake was stamped in Early Espresso. I lined everything up on the Stamparatus so that it was easy to reproduce.
If you’re making multiples – and die cutting the stamped image, the easy technique is to line your stamps up on your Stamparatus. Place your cardstock in the corner of the Stamparatus, and stamp it. Remove the cardstock from the Stamparatus, then die cut with a Layering Oval die. Place the piece of cardstock (the one with the hole in it) back into the corner of the Stamparatus, and use that as your template/guide. For the next images, die cut the oval first, then place it in the hole in the cardstock in the Stamparatus so that your images will be in the right spot. Clear as mud? Check out this video I have on the YamStamps Facebook Page to see this technique in action. Oh – and don’t be like me in the video – place the magnet over a corner of the die cut shape so it doesn’t move…LOL.
Quick and Easy, Clean and Simple – this birthday cake card will be sure to please the recipient, and you’ll be able to whip one up at the last minute and still have time and energy to enjoy the celebration!
I am calling this a Die Cut Double Time Stamping Card….only because I don’t know how else to describe it. Many years ago I did a triple time card – you can see that old post here which is where you layer pieces of card stock and stamp on them at the same time to make a continuous pattern. (You can see a super old video tutorial I did here).
This is a variation on that technique – and it’s even easier!
This card uses the Positive Thoughts stamp set – I love this sentiment. It’s perfect for so many card-sending occasions (including non-occasions!). On this card it’s combined with the Stitched Nested Labels Dies. The sentiment and images are stamped first, then the centre area cut out with the smaller Stitched Nested Label Die first, then again with the larger nested label. The Mossy Meadow cardstock is cut with the same larger nested label die – this way, when the card is assembled, the additional row of stitching around the edge of the stamped cardstock shows around centre portion.
I’m planning on doing a Facebook Live showing the construction of this card, so be sure to “like” and “follow all notifications” for the YamStamps Facebook Page to be notified when I go live.
I love the effect of this technique, so call it a Die Cut Double Time Stamping Card, or call it what you will, it’s a great way to add interest quickly and easily to your handmade creations!
