OK so I know it’s technically not even summer yet…but here’s my “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” entry – or “why it’s been a little more quiet than usual in the YamStamps world”.
I have almost recovered now I think – I haven’t been overseas in a few years and I don’t remember the jetlag being this bad last time – but this was a busy trip and we came back to a full moon so maybe that’s part of it…?!
Burlington Teen Tour Band performing at Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer France as part of the DDay 75 Ceremonies
I am privileged to be one of the photographers for the Burlington Teen Tour Band and the band recently returned from a trip to England and France. While in France, the band performed as representatives of Canadian youth during DDay 75 Commemoration events, including the above performance at the Juno Beach Centre.
photo of photographer courtesy of D VanClieaf!
This trip was a busy one! We started with an overnight flight to London, and a couple of days sightseeing before taking an overnight ferry to Normandy. While in Normandy (sleeping in a community gym for 4 nights!) the band practised and performed a number of times, including a fun performance in front of local school children, one of the highlights for me (and many of the band members!).
Before the trip, members (also chaperones and staff) received a dog tag – part of a fundraiser for the Juno Beach Centre. Each set of dog tags had a personalized one for the band member, and then the dog tag with information for a soldier buried at the Canadian Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer. Band members were to research their soldier – you can find their research (still being uploaded) here on the Burlington Teen Tour Band site. We made a couple of visits to the cemetery – and it was one of the significant events for the band. Each member sought out “their” soldier and was able to pay tribute at the gravesite – with Canadian flags and mementos. Some members wrote letters, others carried messages from family members. These moments made this tour so much more significant for all of us.
Burlington Teen Tour Band at Beny sur Mer Canadian Cemetery
We capped off the trip with a day of sightseeing in Paris before heading home again. You can check out the tour photos here and the tour vlogs here.
This was not my first trip to Normandy – I actually participated in the DDay 40 band trip as a band member (stop doing the math in your head…). There were 4 of us who returned – 2 of us as chaperone/photographers and 2 as staff members. That’s not counting the number of second generation (well, technically there were also third generation) band members whose parents had been on that tour, and the staff members who had been on the 2nd tour 15 years ago (some as band members). I think that’s one of the things that I love about the Burlington Teen Tour Band – it’s such a positive experience and well run organization that generations will return to be involved in it.
Anyway – I returned home to the patience of the Monthly Class attendees who dealt with my jet lag (note to self – arriving home on a Monday evening from a country that is 6 hours ahead of your home time zone and having class on Wednesday may not be the best scheduling choice). I think I have recovered…kind of…and will be ready(ish) for the New Catalogue Open House and Retiring Product Sale this Saturday, June 22nd, running from 9am til 11am. Please RSVP and let me know if you need directions. I also apologize if you tried to contact me while I was away – connectivity was limited (you should have seen those kids with 5 days of no wifi…LOL).
I have this Stampin’ Up! set on order so can’t wait for it to arrive! It’s called Capture the Good. I think I’ll be able to come up with some ideas for using it…LOL.
OK back to the regularly scheduled programming – but hope you enjoyed the “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” entry (especially since I think that’s probably it for my vacation plans for the next few months!!). Otherwise you can check out some of my cheesy tourist selfies in the YamStamps Instagram “travel” highlights!
Happy Father’s Day! Are you still wondering what to make for Father’s Day? May I suggest a handmade card?!
In honour of Father’s Day and Sunday Swap Share, I’m posting this card created by Paige Stirling Fox, using Stampin’ Up!’s A Good Man cling stamp set> I love all the little details and touches she added to this card! This is one of those stamp sets that you can use as an outline image only, or add colour with Stampin’ Blends or Aqua Painters and Watercolour Pencils (did you see that the Assortment 2 set (previously a limited time offering) is back for good in this year’s catalogue?).
If you aren’t searching for “What to Make for Father’s Day” because you’ve already got your gift (here’s hoping since Father’s Day is today…) – here’s a cute packaging idea featuring the Best Catch stamp set.
If the Dad in your life likes to fish, this is a great packaging idea to hold a bit of fishing gear or a gift card to an outdoor store?
Of course, another idea for “What to Make for Father’s Day”is food…. In our household growing up (and it seems in a lot of households?) the tradition is actually for dad to barbeque something for dinner! So maybe make some dessert to go with the bbq? Stampin’ Up!’s cellophane bags are food safe and ready to load with some baked goodies or your dad’s favourite candies.
Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s and mentoring men out there. Here in Burlington it also means the Sound of Music Festival – free concerts and yesterday’s parade are highlights! I’m hanging out with my favourite band as usual – the Burlington Teen Tour Band – and it’s also the reason it was a little on the quiet side in the YamStamps world – I’ll post more about that in the days to come now that I think I’m almost recovered from jetlag…. Kudos to the people that dealt with my occasional yawning during the Monthly Card Class last week, and apologies in advance to tomorrow’s Stamper’s Club people!! In any case, we’re back at it – hope to see you at an event soon – like the New Catalogue Open House & Retired Product Sale June 22?! Contact me for more details/directions and to reserve a copy of the catalogue!
This card features a stamp set that you’ll be able to purchase with Stampin’ Rewards in the new catalogue as of June 4th – hence the Make This Year Rewarding title of the post!
The images are from the set Soft Spring, a stamp set that can only be purchased using Stampin’ Rewards dollars. Stampin’ Rewards are percentage back dollars that you can spend on Stampin’ Up! merchandise when you host a workshop or have an individual order that is $200 CAD or more. The “hello” is from another new stamp set, To A Wild Rose, which is part of the general catalogue product, so can be selected as part of a regular order, or could also be purchased with Stampin’ Rewards.
If you’re interested in how to make this year rewarding, there’s a few ways to earn Stampin’ Rewards!
Host a private card making class with friends and family. Contact me to book a date and to check out the options – there’s a 4 card class or a 2 card class, depending on your timeframe and comfort with paper crafting! You can earn rewards based on the total value of product ordered at your class.
If you’re local to Burlington ON, join the Stampers Club! Club members have their own class on the third Monday of each month, either in the afternoon or evening. Rather than pay a class fee, each member places a $33 minimum order at the class, and once during their 6 month commitment, they receive Stampin’ Rewards to spend as well! Contact me to start at any time.
Become an “Eh” Team member. Sign up to be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and earn your own rewards! Demonstrators get the opportunity to preorder new product – which is how I was able to get the Soft Spring set ahead of time! Get more information here
Of course, making this year rewarding isn’t just about Stampin’ Rewards – attending a Monthly Card Making Class is a rewarding way to expand your crafting skills and card stash! Better yet, you can decide month to month if you’re able to attend – simply register at least 2 days in advance. Monthly Card Class is typically the first Wednesday of the month – HOWEVER, June’s Card Class is the SECOND Wednesday of the month due to my scheduling issues…(more on that later). So mark Wednesday, June 12th in your calendar! RSVP for the 1pm or 7pm class. Don’t forget to check the YamStamps Events page for upcoming dates.
Back to the card – what do you think of the layout? I tend to be very symmetrical at times with my designs, so when I was positioning the Stitched Rectangles on the cardfront, I thought I’d try putting them offcentre as a different design. Though now that I look at this picture….I’d probably drop the main image rectangle down a little bit…you know, to make that right upper corner more symmetrical with the other layer! LOL. The Stamparatus made this card a breeze – and can you pick out the new In Colour on the card? The dragonflies are stamped in Pretty Peacock! I think it’s my favourite new colour…so far…
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:
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!
Sales prices start today at 2pm Eastern and continue until June 3 or while supplies last. Your best bet is to place your order at yamstamps.com/shop so that you don’t miss out!
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!
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!
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:
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 thefinal 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/shopto 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!
We made a scene during class last month…but it was socially acceptable – here’s the waterfront scene card…. (haha….)
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
(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!
