Happy New (Catalogue) Year!

Happy New (Catalogue) Year! Stampin’ Up!’s 2019-2020 Annual Catalogue is now live! You’ll be able to place orders starting today at 2pm Eastern (3:30 NFLD, 3pm Atlantic, 1 pm Central Standard, 12 noon Central Daylight/Mountain, 11am Pacific…I think I covered them all?!)

You can download a digital copy of the catalogue below by clicking on the download button right now, though:

Once you’re ready to place an order, remember the shortcut yamstamps.com/shop ! Type that into you web browser and it will take you directly to the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada Store.

happy new catalogue year

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order, or bring your order along with you when you come to my New Catalogue Open House & Retired Product Sale on Saturday June 22!

In the meantime – Happy New Catalogue Year!

Fight Summer Boredom

OK I know, it’s not even officially summer yet…but I’m just thinking of you… If you want to keep your summer crafting interesting, or want to fight summer boredom (either your own or *ahem* people who live under the same roof who might be done school for the year)…consider grabbing a Paper Pumpkin subscription!

fight summer boredom

Paper Pumpkin is a monthly crafting subscription kit from Stampin’ Up! It’s a great way to fight summer boredom…or boredom at any time of year – plus it’s perfectly portable so you can grab and go! Craft while sitting at sports practice (well, not your own, obviously), at the cottage, on an overcast camping day…

Each month, subscribers receive a box with supplies, stamps and ink to complete that month’s unique projects – cards, home decor, packaging…it’s always a bit of a surprise! June’s kit will be beach themed and will also have a card carrying case that you can use to gift the cards to someone…or keep for yourself after you’ve given away all the cards!

PLUS – place that order NOW for maximum savings! There’s a price increase happening on June 1st. Ways to maximize your crafting savings right now? Purchase a prepaid multimonth subscription, or be sure to order your single month kit before the end of May to get the June kit at the “old” prices!

Check out my Paper Pumpkin FAQ page here, or contact me for more information. Just doing my part to help you fight summer boredom!

Expectations vs Reality

I am having a moment….(well, this is not a new thing really). I like to think that I’m organized, and I know that in certain situations I actually am….but that is not always the case!

My life:

expectations vs reality - planning

Anyone else relate? And as a side note, the stock photos for “messy planner” are laughably NOT messy. (That being said, these ARE stock photos that I found…).

All this to say – HEY I updated the YamStamps Events page and corrected the date for the New Catalogue Open House & Retired Product Sale – oops! It is Saturday June 22nd from 9 am til 11 am. Hopefully you can make it! Please RSVP for directions and to reserve a copy of the catalogue!

We are into the final week for the current Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue before we say goodbye and move on to the 2019-2020 Annual Catalogue be sure to place your final order well before June 3rd at yamstamps.com/shop to ensure availability of product (and avoid the last minute log jam on the site!). The new catalogue items will be available to order June 4th around 2pm Eastern. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Waterfront Card

It’s fun to create your own scenic waterfront card with the components in this stamp set! (Appropriately enough, it’s called Waterfront…). This set is NOT on the retiring list and will be available in the next catalogue, although the special You Can Make it Waterfront Cards Supplies bundle IS retiring. The special bundle includes the Waterfront stamp set, Nature’s Twine, the Blackberry Bliss and Mint Macaron full sized ink pads, small Whisper White Memories & More Cards and Envelopes, plus a Clear Block D. This is not a discounted bundle, but more of a convenience bundle – meaning that one number gets you all those items rather than typing in each individual item.

We made a scene during class last month…but it was socially acceptable – here’s the waterfront scene card…. (haha….)

waterfront card

I love how forgiving the watercolour look stamps can be! Some of the variation in the colour is from the stamps themselves, but some of it is from simply restamping the image without reinking the stamp – called a second generation image. First generation = inking then stamping, second generation = stamping again without reinking…and so on…and so on… The image is die cut with one of the Layering Ovals, and some Nature’s Twine gives a bit of texture. The splatters on the Sahara Sand Cardstock are from the Waterfront set as well!

You could easily use this waterfront card as a Father’s Day Card! I always try to have at least one card that is a bit more masculine or “gender neutral” – because my tendency is to like images like flowers or butterflies…which may not suit all card giving occasions! We will definitely have one more masculine themed card in the June Monthly Card Class and Stampers Club Class, so if you need to build up your card stash, please register to attend! Remember that the June Card Class is going to be on the SECOND Wednesday of June due to a scheduling conflict (mine…more about that at another time…), so maybe that works into your schedule better? Stampers Club is still the third Monday of the month though! You can be sure that we will be using some of the new stamps and products that are featured in the 2019-2020 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue!

Speaking of the new catalogues, I am hearing word that they are starting to arrive in mailboxes, so I’ll be following up with people soon! Don’t forget that you can also get a copy from me if you are coming to my New Catalogue Open House and Retired Product Sale on Saturday, June 22 starting at 9 am! You can RSVP to ensure there’s a copy set aside for you – and get directions if you need them!

In the meantime, I’m dealing with the busy-ness that seems to be May…but at least the weather seems to be getting nicer?! (Hopefully I didn’t just jinx it….LOL). The days are flying by, but I’m trying to make sure I get a little bit of creative time when I can fit it in – how about you?! Here’s to preserving a bit of creative time for ourselves!

Embossed Dragonfly Card

This is another set that is retiring at the end of this Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue period – Dragonfly Dreams. I used it to create this embossed dragonfly card – you may have seen the Facebook Live that I did in the Paper Crafting with YamStamps Facebook Group. It’s a quick and easy (I know, you’re surprised…LOL) card and the heat embossing always makes a project more impressive!

embossed dragonfly card

To make the embossed dragonfly card a little more interesting, the background for the dragonflies is a strip of the Nature’s Poem Designer Series Paper. I thought that this design was subtle but added some texture without drawing away from the dragonflies too much. To be a little frugal, there are strips of Gold Foil Sheet on either side of the image (rather than adhering the Designer Series Paper on top of the foil and hiding it all!).

The coordinating Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits are also retiring, so you’ll want to grab these items while they are still available. All retiring product is available until June 3, or WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. I put that last part in bold to make sure you see it! I don’t want you to be disappointed – so you can shop online (if you’re in Canada) at the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Canada Online Store (shortcut is yamstamps.com/shop) or you can email me to get assistance or have me place your order for you.

Links to the Retiring Lists:

Annual Catalogue retiring list

Occasions Catalogue retiring list

I will definitely miss this stamp set – it’s been one of my favourites – so we definitely had to use it for May classes. In the meantime, I’m now starting prep for my June classes – so NEW CATALOGUE product playtime! (if you want a sneak peek of some of the products, check out my “unboxing” video of my new catalogue product preorder in the Facebook Group). In the meantime, though, I’ll continue to share fun projects featuring currently available or soon to be retired product – so you don’t miss out on grabbing them while you can!

Lovely as a Tree is “Leaf”ing

OK I’m a little tired, so that’s my excuse for the corny title, but it’s true – Lovely as a Tree is Retiring! This stamp set has been part of the Stampin’ Up! Catalogue for slightly longer than I’ve been a demonstrator – but it’s retiring June 3rd. (Don’t worry, I’m NOT retiring though!).

For Swap Sunday I thought I’d pull out this card that I made for a card swap from a few years ago featuring this classic stamp set.

lovely as a tree

I stamped this onto Shimmery White cardstock and then used my Aquapainter to add a wash to the sky to create a winter sunset sky. Still one of my favourite techniques because it’s so easy and still impressive.

If you want to get the Lovely as a Tree stamp set before it’s gone forever, you can visit the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Online store (by clicking on the link), or remembering the shortcut address yamstamps.com/shop . Lovely as a Tree is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount.

The other reason I pulled out this card to share is that I originally made it when I was going to attend a Business Conference that was run by Stampin’ Up! Canada (and a group of leading demonstrators that were helping organize it). This past weekend I attended another training session put on by Stampin’ Up! Canada (and a group of different leading demonstrators that were helping organize it!). It was a great chance to get together with other demonstrators and get some great business ideas and inspiration. A few members of my demonstrator group were also able to attend so it was great being able to catch up with them at lunch beforehand. Oh, and technically at dinner afterward as well LOL.

Canada Dale Inspires

(love this quote that Dale Hampshire, Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator Development Manager, shared with us at the event).

I recently celebrated 16 years as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and looking forward to many more years of running my creative business! Part of my business is helping others start and run their own businesses. If you’d like to find out more about becoming part of my group of demonstrators and having your own business, you can check out the FAQs here, or contact me for more information. I also have scheduled Information Evenings, so you can attend in person and find out more – the next one is actually booked for this Wednesday, May 8th. Please RSVP if you’d like to join us (and for directions).

Otherwise – happy May! Hope it’s looking more spring-like where you are these days – it was gorgeous in Burlington today for a change!

Everything’s Coming Up Rosy…

Sorry, couldn’t resist….and if you’re singing the song in your head right now, you are my people. We theatre geeks must stick together. (or is it theatre nerds? I can never keep track).

ANYWAY. Stampin’ Up! has a special limited time product suite available until the end of May, OR WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. I put that part in capitals because the way things have been selling of late, who knows if this suite will make it to May 31?!

Coming up in the new catalogue, Stampin’ Up! will have product medleys – with a single code and all in price – to make it easier for those of us who “gotta have it all”…or for those of us who like having things handed to us. (I would be in both of those categories…). So the Everything is Rosy Medley is a preview of how this will work!

Everything is Rosy Product Medley

As you can see, if you choose item 150059, you’ll get everything in this medley – exclusive products!
* Everything Is Rosy Photopolymer Stamp Set—18 stamps; suggested blocks: a, b, c
* Everything Is Rosy Dies—10 dies; largest die 2-7/8″ x 1″ (7.3 x 2.5 cm)
* 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper Stack—48 sheets; 8 each of 6 double-sided designs
* 6″ x 6″ rose gold foil paper—8 sheets
* Printed die cuts—2 sheets
* Rose gold die cuts—4 sheets; 2 each of 2 designs
* Rose gold adhesive backed mirror embellishments—60 embellishments; 1/4″ (6.4 mm)
* Melon Mambo 1/4″ (6.4 mm) Ruched Ribbon—10 yards (9.1 m)
* Night of Navy/Rose Gold 3/8″ (1 cm) Metallic –Edge Ribbon—10 yards (9.1 m)
* Rose Gold Shimmer Paint—1/2 oz. (15 ml)

Love the rose gold!

Don’t forget – only until May 31 or while supplies last. While you’re ordering this medley, don’t forget to add in any retired product (especially any In Colour 2017 – 2019 items) too! The shortcut to my online store is yamstamps.com/shop or you can contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order!

In the meantime – Happy May and I’m off to finish prep for the Monthly Card Classes happening later today!

Piece of Cake Handmade Card

Piece of Cake Handmade Card! It refers to the stamp set as well as the process to make the card! The Piece of Cake stamp set (and coordinating Cake Builder punch) are NOT retiring – BUT the discounted bundle will not be available beyond June 3 – so why not get them together for a deal while you can?!

piece of cake handmade card

This was a recent class card – and we used the Stamparatus to make sure the images lined up perfectly – so this Piece of Cake Handmade Card really was a piece of cake to create! The images were stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, and then simply coloured with Stampin’ Blends. We only used one shade of each of the inks but you can still get a bit of shading and depth by colouring over a section again to enhance and deepen the tone. (main colours: (dark) Balmy Blue, (dark) Highland Heather and (light) Smoky Slate for the cake stand). I love the way that these alcohol based markers don’t leave “streaks” where you’ve coloured and gives a very solid look to the image.

Cardstock is Gorgeous Grape, combined with a few little strips of the How Sweet It Is Designer Series Paper. That paper was part of the Designer Series Paper share that I did for the Occasions Catalogue – and I will be offering a share for the Annual Catalogue as wellso stay tuned for details! Paper shares are a great way to get a sampling of everything – you have enough to use on a few projects, and you can also decide if you want to get full packages of your favourites. Sometimes you need to see the paper and designs in person to get the full effect!

In the meantime, please remember that retiring products are available while supplies last / until June 3 – so please don’t hesitate if you really want to get something that’s marked as retiring – especially if it’s anything but a stamp set!! Stampin’ Up! has a bit more immediate ability to react to demand with stamp sets since they make them in house so those rarely will sell out before the end of the catalogue period (but again, no guarantees!). Any questions, concerns, or assistance needed placing an order – as always – please contact me!

Final note – Wednesday is May 1st – yay, May! It’s also MONTHLY CARD CLASS DAY – the first Wednesday of the month – a bit of a shock when the first day of the month and the first Wednesday are the same day! Please contact me ASAP if you want to attend at 1pm or 7pm!! Space is limited. Check the YamStamps Events page to see all upcoming dates – including the special date for the June Monthly Card Class! Hope to see you in a class soon!

Cherry Blossom Card

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Spring! I hope that you are able to enjoy this long weekend however you are celebrating. Today I’m sharing this cherry blossom card, created with the Colo(u)rful Seasons stamp set. If you stopped by my booth at the Kitchener Scrapfest, you may have made this tag as your make and take – and I’ve turned it into a card!

YamStamps Cherry Blossom Card

First of all, I did offset the tag on the Pool Party Cardstock background, so it’s a little different than the sample we shared at the YamStamps Scrapfest Booth. Other than that, I still used the Stamparatus to stamp the branch, blossoms and sentiment in place on the tag. I stamped the other flowers randomly across the cardfront, and then wanted to step it up a bit, so I added Rhinestone Basic Jewels to most of the visible full flowers. I think that the white space helps give that “breathe” type feeling to the design.

Happily, this stamp set is NOT retiring – so it will still be available when the new catalogue is in effect on June 4th. You’ll be able to create another version of a cherry blossom card, or a falling leaves card, snowflake card, or a beach card…because this set has all the seasons covered!

Do you want a copy of the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue? If you’ve placed an order with me in the past year, I will automatically put you on my list to receive a new catalogue. Otherwise, if you don’t already have a Stampin’ Up! Canada demonstrator, please fill out this questionnaire or go to yamstamps.com/2019catalogue and I’ll get in touch with you!

OK I am off to make a lemon meringue pie for Easter Dinner dessert – wish me luck, it’s been a while since I did meringue pie, and I don’t have one of those fancy, cheffy-type mini blow torch thingies. In the tradition of the Great British Bake Off, though, I will definitely aim for “no soggy bottom” on my pie.

Enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

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