Inspired by this Sunday Swap share, I took elements of the design and created this quick and simple positivity card. I’m not sure there’s actually a category called simple positivity cards, but there should be….so I’m starting it!
Remember to grab your Sale-a-Bration rewards soon! Sale-a-Bration ends on March 31, but supplies are not guaranteed (we’ve already seen a number of items sell out) – so don’t hesitate! You can always contact me if you need assistance placing an order.
I am getting prepared for the upcoming Kitchener Scrapfest – April 12 & 13. I’m going to have a vendor booth there, so I hope that you will be able to stop by and say hello! I’ll have a free make and take, displays and some product for sale – retired Stampin’ Up! product plus some brand new in package adhesive supplies. One thing that I really like about Stampin’ Up! is that as a demonstrator, I place orders for customers rather than having to carry full stock of all the products (can you imagine the cost!). This can be a bit of a drawback when I have a vendor booth, but I usually have enough retired product and adhesive products that I can sell, and of course, I can take orders as well.
You are going to want to check back in to the YamStamps blog next week, as I’ll be sharing a fun project that I had to delay posting about….because I want the recipient to be surprised! Plus it’s my birthday week, so I will want to celebrate….and you may benefit as well (hint hint LOL).
In the meantime, I hope that you will come up with a simple positivity card, like this one, and send it out to someone! If you do – please share it with us! You can post it in the Paper Crafting with YamStamps Facebook Group! I slacked off on the creative challenge in the group this month…but I will be posting a new creative challenge for April for sure. I’ve had the YamStamps Facebook Page for a while, but just started a group as well, so that hopefully there can be more conversation and sharing. Please click on the group link and request to join us – see you there!
Spring has sprung! Thank goodness – and fingers crossed that the weather stays spring-like. This is a card we did this month in class – a spring thank you card!
This card features the Abstract Impressions discounted bundle – which includes the Abstract Impressions Photopolymer Stamp Set (the clear stamps) and the Springtime Impressions Thinlits Dies. While we wait to see what will be carried over into the next Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue (coming out in June 2019), one thing that usually happens is that current bundles are discontinued. The individual products may appear in the next catalogue, but the discounted bundle option is no longer available. So – if you like these products, you may want to consider grabbing this bundle soon!
For this card, we played with the Big Shot Embossing Mat – which allows you to emboss with the metal dies, rather than cut. This means you can use these tools in more ways and get more value! (Maybe I should have saved this card for a Frugal Friday feature?!). For this card, the corner flower die was used to emboss the Lemon Lime Twist Cardstock. I love the texture it gives without drawing too much attention away from the die cut butterfly. These colours and images were just perfect for a spring thank you card, in my opinion!
Happy Sunday Swap Share! Today’s card features the Sale-a-Bration set, So Hoppy Together. These fun frogs are great for so many different types of cards – so let’s hop to it and check it out!
This fun card of encouragement was created by Alison Solven. This is an example of two step stamping – the frog is on one stamp, and the crown was added separately. The background is embossed with the Dot to Dot Embossing Folder, which has a kind of reptilian feel when used in this context, don’t you agree? She’s also used the Stitched Shapes Framelits (the circles) to die cut her image and the Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper.
So why did I entitle this entry “Hop To It“? It’s a reminder that Sale-a-Bration is coming to a close! If you want to grab this stamp set, you’ll need to make a $60 product order before the end of March and select this as your Sale-a-Bration Level 1 Reward item. As well, it’s a reminder that all products are either to a certain date OR while supplies last. As we’ve seen over the last little while, there are a number of products that have been so popular that the demand has outstripped the supply. Stamp sets are usually a safer bet, because Stampin’ Up! produces them in house so there’s a bit more (a BIT more) ability to compensate for unanticipated or unusual spikes in demand.
For the Sale-a-Bration Coordination products, we are down to just one set of framelits remaining – the Four Seasons framelits. All other framelits are now out of stock and unavailable. You can tell we have gotten used to using framelits and don’t want to fussy cut if we don’t have to! The More Than Words stamp set and the Story Label Punch are still available at the time of the writing of this post…(like how I covered myself there?! LOL)
So – please make sure you hop to it if you’re planning on getting in on the Sale-a-Bration! This also goes if you’d like to get a Demonstrator Starter Kit. We won’t sell out of the kits themselves (since you pick the product that you want in it) – BUT – historically, there’s a spike on the website during the last day and especially the last hours of Sale-a-Bration, making it difficult to get through the process efficiently! SO – ask me any questions you have, and sign up NOW! You can see more information and a sign up link here. (or the shortcut to remember is yamstamps.com/join). I’d love to have you become part of my group of demonstrators, the “Eh” Team!
I have been working on getting happy mail out into the world! I just finished a few customer thank you cards, and I’ve got my cards for my “Eh” Team (that’s the name of my Stampin’ Up! demonstrator group) rewards mailings all packaged up as well. If you know me, that’s a big feat, because often as much as I like to make cards (and I do make a fair number…LOL)…actually getting them into an envelope and then into a post box can be another thing entirely…..
This is the card I made for February rewards mailings…
The stamped image is from a Demonstrator Exclusive Stamp set called Stamping Your Way to the Top which has a number of sentiments that can be mixed and matched and that are great for use in my stamping business. If you want to get your hands on this set, why not become a member of my demonstrator group?! Sale-a-Bration is a great time to get a starter kit – you’ll get more product included and the opportunity to purchase a demonstrator exclusive tote bag! My FAQ page is here, or you can always contact me if you have specific questions or concerns….or RSVP for the next Information Night – April 4th. (see other events and upcoming dates on the YamStamps Events Page)
Oh – and I was serious about Happy Mail – I’ve even got it on my postal mark!!
If Instagram is cooperating at the time you read this, you may be able to check out the YamStamps Instagram feed – I uploaded a picture of this card, but also shared a quick tip video in my Instagram Story. It’s a fun way to hit the highlights of a video!
Given the way that Facebook and Instagram were so wonky today, it might be worthwhile to spread joy with actual cards that are sent through the postal system – who’s with me? Send Happy Mail! Need cards to send? Come to class or club! Class is usually the first Wednesday of each month, and Stampers Club is the third Monday – join in at any time! BRAND NEW – INTRODUCTION TO CARD MAKING CLASS – if you’ve never made cards or stamped before, join this new intro class! See the details for these recurring events on the YamStamps Events Page – I updated it earlier today – so don’t miss out! Hope to see you soon!
I love this effect! For this card, we tapped the Balmy Blue ink pad onto the inner surface of the Country Floral Dynamic Embossing Folder. (A Sale-a-Bration Level 1 reward – you can select it for free with a $60CAD product order!). Tap onto the side with the Stampin’ Up! logo. Once there’s an even coating of ink, place your cardstock inside and run it through the Big Shot – don’t forget the special sandwich for these extra thick folders – Regular Platform, folder with cardstock inside, top Plastic Cutting Plate only.
Clean up for this inked embossing folder technique is also super easy – I just run the folder under the tap and pat dry with a paper towel. Stampin’ Up!’s inks are dye based so they’re water soluble.
The sentiment is from Flourishing Phrases (available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount), and it’s punched out with the new Story Label punch which is available for purchase during March as part of the Sale-a-Bration Coordination product suite. We used a sponge dauber to add a bit of Balmy Blue ink around the edges of the label. I am using up some of the Organdy Ribbon I had from my earlier Sale-a-Bration order – because if you blinked….it’s gone again! I think everybody who had been waiting on it jumped in to order and it’s unavailable once again in North America (this time gone for good).
However – there are LOTS of new regular catalogue items available to select for free as well as the original offerings (other than the ribbons, obviously…). You can go to the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store and check out the Sale-a-Bration options currently available. Remember that we are now into the “March 31 or while supplies last” phase of Sale-a-Bration. I shared a strategy for planning out your Sale-a-Bration redemptions on the YamStamps Facebook page a while back. Stampin’ Up! manufactures their own stamps in the US, so they are better able to quickly deal with varying levels of demand for stamp sets, but the accessories and tools tend to be sourced from outside the US and so are often affected by shipping times.
In the meantime, we will continue to Sale-a-Brate until the end of March! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or need assistance placing your order. Comments are working again, too, so feel free to leave a comment for me!
Just a quick note to let you know that the Sale-a-Bration Level 1 Reward, the Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack is available again – while supplies last/until March 31st (whichever comes first). You can select this item 149623 for free with a $60 product order! Go to yamstamps.com/shop or message me for assistance placing your order!
Stampin’ Up!’s Designer Series Papers are great for scrapbooking – but they’re also great for cards! Check out this easy patterned paper card design – by Rose Marie Coleman, today’s Sunday Swap Share.
This card uses the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper (Level 1 Sale-a-Bration reward – free with $60CAD product order) for the main visual elements. I love how rounding only a couple of the corners of the paper give it a different effect. There’s a corner rounder on the Detailed Trio Punch, or you can use Stampin’ Up!’s Envelope Punch Board to round corners – it’s built in to the board!
Corner Rounder Punch portion is at the top of the board, above the “button”
The card sentiment is from the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set, which is available for purchase. The Butterfly Duet punch unfortunately is still unorderable at this time (which also means that the Butterfly Gala Bundle is also unorderable), so we will continue to wait patiently until they let us know it’s available again! You’ll notice that you won’t need it for this card anyway!
The accents on this card are the Gingham Gala Adhesive Back Sequins, which are getting low in inventory, so I’d suggest if you need to get them, you order them soon!!
This easy patterned paper card design is clean and simple, and you could easily change out the Desginer Series Paper and sentiment and have a whole different look! These are the kinds of cards that make my crafting so much easier, especially when I need an impressive card in a hurry!
If you need to build up your stash of patterned paper, I’ve put out a LAST CALL for my Occasions Catalogue Designer Series Paper Share. If you’d like to purchase a share, which includes a 6″ x 12″ of each of the sheets from each 12″ x 12″ package, and full 6″ x 6″ sheets from the two 6″ x 6″ packages in the catalogue (NOT including the Specialty Papers), please contact me by March 10th, or click below to order and pay via PayPal. The shares also include the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper as well!!
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message or – leave me a comment below – BECAUSE COMMENTS ARE WORKING AGAIN! YAY!!!
Sale-a-Bration Coordination products are here! Limited Time Only– you can purchase these items during March, and they coordinate with Sale-a-Bration items!
You can download the flyer here. All these framelits will make your crafting even easier…and I love the extra sentiments and the punch!
This card features the Painted Seasons Bundle (a Level 2 Sale-a-Bration reward), the Part of My Story Stamp Set (a Level 1 Sale-a-Bration reward) and the Four Seasons Framelits (Sale-a-Bration Coordination product available for purchase during March).
PLUS – Stampin’ Up! has announced that there’s MORE to Sale-a-Brate! From now until the end of March, or while designated supplies last, you can get these additional items as a Sale-a-Bration reward! Please note the special codes that must be used in order to redeem with a qualifying order (shown in brackets after item description).You can download the third release Sale-a-Bration information here.
1. Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper – now available outside of the second release Level 2 Bundle as a Level 1 item! (149574) 2. Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper (pg. 189 Annual Catalogue) (152840) 3. Mini Pizza Boxes (pg. 193 AC) (152836) 4. Pearlized Doilies – TWO packs (pg. 192 AC) (152837) 5. Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper (pg. 190 AC) (152839) 6. Rich Razzleberry ¼” Velvet Ribbon – TWO spools (pg. 201 AC) (152838) 7. Scattered Sequins Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (pg. 223 AC) (152833) 8. Share What You Love Embellishment Kit (pg. 198 AC) (152832)
Remember that all Sale-a-Bration items will be while supplies last…..so please don’t wait until March 31st to place an order! (Same goes for ordering a starter kit – only because the system will be guaranteed to be bogged down with the last minute rush!) If you have any questions or need assistance placing an order, please feel free to contact me!
On this Manic Monday I thought I’d highlight a few crafting tips that I shared in the recent Live session I did on the YamStamps Facebook Page. The shortened video version is below, but thought I’d highlight a few things if you like to read vs watch…
full video below….
Distinktive Stamps are more photorealistic and have multiple depths on the same stamp. Crafting Tips for good distinktive images: To get a clear image of all the different depths, it helps if your ink pad is not too juicy – you can rub the surface of the ink pad with the back of a spoon or your bone folder to push excess ink into the pad vs having it on the surface to get better definition in your stamped image. The stamp set used in the video is Forever Lovely; another distinktive stamp set example is Baby Bear.
Crafting Tips with the Small Grid Paper: Positioning multiple step stamps and coordinating framelits. In the video, I use the Stamparatus to stamp the images – because once they’re in the right place on the plates, you don’t have to think about it again! My tip – stamp onto the Small Grid Paper so you can see where your image will end up. Position your card stock and mark where the corners of the cardstock are on the grid paper so you know where to place it for future reference.
You can also position the framelit over the stamped image and mark where the side edges of the framelit are on the grid paper so you have it for reference. You can use the grid paper when stamping with the stamparatus, then remove it and place it onto your Big Shot plastic cutting plate as a reference for placement of the framelit – just be sure to remove it before you cut!!
That way, your reference sheet will be intact and ready for future use.
Last tip you might have picked up in the video – put your Big Shot Die Brush and foam pad into a small shallow box to catch all the bits (and store everything together! I used an old cardboard box (it actually held my carvable stamp set, remember that one?), but you could also use one of the full wide stamp cases.
How do you prefer to get your crafting tips & tricks? Video? Written format? Let me know so I can be sure to have you covered for future tutorials – leave me a comment below or message me!
Swap Share Sunday is here again – how did that happen so quickly? It’s a Sweet Celebration Card today, created by Dana Hancock. So many things happening today – Oscars, National Cupcake Day….and the end of Reading Week so that means a road trip to take my son back to school. A busy day, with crazy windy weather too! Glad you could stop in to check out the card.
I did mention that it’s National Cupcake Day, which is another occasion for a sweet celebration card! I shared a couple of different Cupcake cards on the YamStamps Facebook Page and Instagram feed – did you see them? The one card featured some products that will be coming out on March 1st. Stampin’ Up! is introducing a few products that you will be able to purchase in March that coordinate with Sale-a-Bration products! There are 4 different sets of framelits – coordinating with the Hello Cupcake, So Hoppy Together, Lovely Lily and the second release Painted Season sets. There’s also a punch, and a new sentiment set that goes with images from the various sets but could also stand alone or be used with different images. I’ll be sharing more details on March 1st, when these items are available to order, so please come back to the YamStamps blog to find out more!
In the meantime, I’m off to check out the Oscars fashions and cross my fingers that the power doesn’t go out with the wind! I’ll be coming up with some designs for the March Monthly Card Class coming up on Wednesday March 6 – will you be joining us? Check out the YamStamps Events Page for all the upcoming events, and RSVP to make sure you’ve got a seat in class!
