Dec 9, 2018 | 3D samples, Business Opportunity, Stampin' Up!
Time to get the Sunday Swap Share going again, I think! Today I’m sharing a 3D item that was gifted to me by a fellow demonstrator, Gloria Kremer, at the On Stage Event in Orlando. I met Gloria a few events ago, and we’ve managed to catch up with each other at events since then! She made these lovely charms with shrink plastic and beads!
The sentiment is from Stampin’ Up!’s Beautiful You Stamp set – available in clear mount or wood mount. It looks like she punched the shrink plastic with the Pretty Label Punch. Thanks again, Gloria!
Stampin’ Up!’s next big On Stage event is going to be held in Auckland, New Zealand! As always, when the main event is on a different continent (right now it rotates between Europe, North America and the South Pacific Region), there’s smaller events held on the other two continents, with a combination of live presentations and video feed from the main event. In Canada, the two sites will be Quebec City and Vancouver – so covering both coasts! These events are demonstrator-only events – focused on inspiring and informing us creatively and in our businesses….but there’s also a lot of fun and friendship! That’s my favourite part of attending Stampin’ Up! events – seeing so many of my friends that I’ve made over the 16 years I”ve been a demonstrator (I started when I was 10…hahaha), and meeting new friends every time. If you’d like to join my group of demonstrators, known as the “Eh” Team, you can contact me for more information – or check out this page – the shortcut is yamstamps.com/join ! I’m also holding an Information Evening on a semi-regular basis. The next one is January 10th – you can RSVP for this free event! Normally you can get $165 worth of product for just $135 in your starter kit, but January 3 – March 31 during Sale-a-Bration, you can get $225 worth of product for just $135, or for $175 you’ll also get the Demonstrator only Craft & Carry Tote bag! (Can’t wait? Sign up now, get the starter kit and order the tote! Available right now for demonstrators to order – until January 2nd!). I’d love to have you join our group!
Dec 7, 2018 | birthday, cards, specials, Stampin' Up!
So…if you haven’t figured it out, I really like clean and simple designs. Here’s another one! A clean and simple birthday card. This is a two step stamp set, meaning that there are two (or more) stamps that combine to make a complete image. By using Stampin’ Up!’s stamp positioning tool Stamparatus, this is made even more easy!
This card uses the Varied Vases stamp set, which has a coordinating Vases Builder Punch – and you can get them together in a discounted bundle. Since it’s a photopolymer set, it can be used with clear blocks or the Stamparatus. For a class situation (like the Monthly Card Class or Stampers Club), it’s great to use the Stamparatus. I just set it up, and align the stamps, and it will be perfect each time. In this case, the stem and flower outline is one stamp, and the flower colour is another. Since the sentiment and flowers are the same colour, I put those stamps together on one side of the plate, and put the outline on the other side. Not seen – the inside sentiment, which was on the other plate. Subscribe to the YamStamps Facebook Page and you’ll get a notification of when I go live next – I’ll show how quickly this clean and simple birthday card comes together!
Stampin’ Up! challenged us to share some #simplestamping ideas – and this qualifies as that! Though…I may have cheated slightly by adding a layer. I think Stampin’ Up! wants to define Simple Stamping as a notecard, ink and stamps only….so maybe I pushed those boundaries a bit haha! I used a scrap of Very Vanilla to stamp the vase and punch it out, and then simply adhered it in place on the front of the card. So maybe it’s just a clean and simple birthday card because of that?! Ah well. I still like it.
The Stamparatus is great if you’re doing multiples of the same card since you’re guaranteed to get the same placement each time. Perhaps I should be using it to help me crank out some more Christmas cards to send?! I may convert them into Holiday/New Year cards…since between me still fiddling with them and Canada Post dealing with a backlog of mail to sort through…
Stampin’ Up! is offering some discounts on selected product as part of the Year End Closeout! Check out the Year End Closeout in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store. (or download the list here) You’ll see which items are retiring from the Holiday Catalogue, and which items are being offered at a discount – while supplies last. You can shop 24/7 in the online store, or you can contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order. Happy Shopping!
Nov 28, 2018 | Big Shot, cards, Christmas, Limited Time, specials, Stampin' Up!
I have a thing for snowflakes, if you couldn’t tell. Mostly the paper ones, not so much the ones that have to be shovelled…so this Silver Snowflake Card is right up my alley. It was made during my November Christmas Card Class – which also used the Festive Farmhouse Elements. Thankfully, I’d purchased the class supplies before they became unorderable – but you can recreate this card using a stamped sentiment or die cutting words/letters.
The wooden elements had a grey/silver colour on one side, and we added some Clear Wink of Stella Glitter to it (though I think it’s a little hard to see in this photo) to give it extra bling. The central snowflake is cut from a Silver Foil Sheet using one of the snowflakes from the Snowfall Thinlits Dies. The border is from the Snow Is Glistening set stamped in Smoky Slate and the Stamparatus using the “hinge technique”. We stamped the image once, then moved the Stamparatus plate a couple of hinges over and restamped to create a continuous line of snowflakes along the edge of the cardstock. So easy!
A reminder that we are in the last few hours of the last online sale from Stampin’ Up! – selected tools and ink pads are 10% off until 1150pm Mountain Time today. We are also in the last few days of the Snowflake Showcase items (some of which are featured on today’s Silver Snowflake card). Those products will not be available after November 30th…so please don’t hesitate and miss out!! You can shop online in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store, or you can contact me if you need assistance placing an order or have any questions. Stampin’ Up! will ship to Quebec though the online shopping portal will NOT work – but you can contact me and I can enter the order for you and have it shipped directly to you. Happy shopping!
Nov 20, 2018 | Announcements, cards, Christmas, Information, Limited Time, specials, Stampin' Up!
I don’t think I shared this card here! I made this one a while back – here’s some Christmas Card Inspiration. It takes a little more time than my usual quick cards, but I think it’s worth it in the end! True to my usual style, though, it looks like it’s more work than it actually is….
I used a lot of different framelits on this card…the Detailed Baubles Thinlits Dies, the Layering Circle Framelits Dies, and the Merry Christmas Thinlits Dies. The background is textured with the Tufted Embossing Folder (so elegant!). The lacy bauble portion is from the first set of dies, cut from Gold Glimmer Paper. The layering circle cut the background (from a Gold Foil Sheet) and the label is from the last set of dies. The sentiment on the label is from the Beautiful Baubles stamp set, and you can get it in a discounted bundle with the coordinating Detailed Baubles Thinlits.The jewels were an extra level of bling I added…they’re from the now unavailable Santa’s Workshop Enamel Elements. You could easily substitute any other bling you like – red rhinestone basic jewels, rhinestone basic jewels or metallic pearls are just some of your options! The other secret to making this easier – use the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets. I placed some on the back of the Gold Glimmer Paper and then ran that through the Big Shot with the Detailed Bauble framelit. Run the Big Shot Die Brush over it, then peeled off the liner and stuck it onto the Gold Foil Circle!
Unfortunately, a number of Holiday Catalogue Items are now unavailable to order – they’ve been overwhelmingly popular! Currently unavailable to order: Santa’s Workshop Enamel Elements, Festive Farmhouse Elements, Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper; Framelits: Alpine Sports, Santa’s Signpost; Santa’s Workshop Memories & More Card Pack – and anything that uses that card pack (like the kit). A few items are running low, but the good news is that Stampin’ Up! has let us know that they are going to be carried over: these items include the framelits In the Woods, Detailed Deer and Merry Christmas. The Swirls and Curls Embossing Folder will also be available to order after the Holiday Catalogue Sales Period. You’ll notice that there are NO stamp sets included in this list – mostly accessories/tools – since these are items that are not directly manufactured at Stampin’ Up!’s facilities in Utah. Their stamps are produced in Utah, so they have more direct control over production numbers.
Coming soon – Online Extravaganza. Download the flyer here. Three consecutive 48 hour sales featuring different selected items from the Annual Catalogue. November 23-24 is Paper & Embellishments, November 25-26 is Stamps & Kits, November 27-28 is Tools & Ink. Each sale runs until 1150pm Mountain time and then the next set of products will be available at special pricing. Please note that there are a set number of selected products available at the Online Extravaganza price, and once that allottment is gone, the product will not be available to order until after the sales period. Excluded from this sale – Paper Pumpkin Kits, bundles (which are already discounted anyway), the Big Shot and the Stamparatus. There are a few other items that are not included in the sales pricing, but you’ll be able to tell once you’re shopping online during the sale! If you need assistance placing your order, you are always welcome to contact me for assistance or to place the order for you. Please note, though, that I can’t guarantee availability, so if you’re really anxious to get your hands on some sale product, your best option is always to place the order yourself online at the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store. Shortcut is yamstamps.com/shop .
Last but not least – there’s still some space in the Festive Farmhouse Elements Christmas Card Class happening on Wednesday, November 28 at 1pm or 7pm. Yes, you read that correctly. I do have a supply of the sold out wooden elements that each class attendee will receive with their $30 class fee. Contact me ASAP to reserve a spot, and one of the sold out packages of elements! You can check out upcoming events on the YamStamps Events Page. Hope to see you in class or club soon!
Nov 16, 2018 | birthday, cards, Stampin' Up!
Simple Stamping (#simplestamping)
While at Stampin’ Up!’s On Stage event last week, one of the things they talked about was #SimpleStamping. The idea was about getting back to the basics, and they showcased a lot of clean and simple cards. Essentially…..like most of my cards!! LOL. Truly, while I appreciate some intricate and over the top designs, if it’s not easy to make, I don’t want to deal with it…but I still want it to look good.
So with that in mind, I present a recent class card that truly is simple stamping. One colour ink, and a couple of accent colours of cardstock. That’s it. It uses the Big Wishes stamp set which is available in wood mount or red rubber clear mount. The ink is Bermuda Bay and the other accent colour cardstock in the background is Lemon Lime Twist.
To add more interest and depth to this simple stamping card, the splatters from Artisan Textures (available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount) were stamped in Bermuda Bay in a combination of first, second and third generation images. (First generation = ink the stamp, then stamp on the cardstock; second generation = second stamping onto cardstock without re-inking…etc). The one caution I will give if using a combination of these images is that you need to be aware that if your first generation stamping goes off the edge of your cardstock, you will NOT want to do a second generation image at that time – because the ink will not have been removed from the rubber of the stamp evenly, so you’ll likely end up with an image with a definite demarcation between a lighter and darker image. Ask me how I know… Perhaps that’s a good topic for a future Monday Mistakes Facebook Live on the YamStamps Page?!
If you’re looking to add to your card stash or your card making supplies stash, consider joining my Monthly Stampers Club! We meet in north Burlington on the third Monday of each month, and new members can start at any time! Commitment is a 6 month period, and during that period, at each club class you’ll make 4 different cards and place a $33 order. Once during your 6 month cycle, you’ll also receive a minimum of $20 free product! Contact me to join or if you have any questions. The next club date is this Monday, November 19th, and we meet at 1pm or 7pm. Simple Stamping in this case is being able to have some regular crafting time set aside!
Nov 14, 2018 | Business Opportunity, cards, event, Stampin' Up!
Why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator…
Reason 1 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: An excuse to travel! I spent last week in Orlando, Florida at Stampin’ Up!’s On Stage Event. I know, you’re feeling sorry for me already. And OK, not the whole week was actually the event. I spent a couple of days preparing for the event by visiting with fellow demonstrators, visiting the parks of Florida (that would be theme parks…), and taking a bit of down time. (if you follow the YamStamps Instagram or Facebook Page you may have seen proof of that). I have noticed lately that my travel tends to be woven in and around Stampin’ Up! or training opportunities, so it’s a nice way to mix business and pleasure. Also, I need to work on my selfie skills….LOL. Visited Universal (the Harry Potter areas!), The Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas with fellow Canadians (front to back: Gaile, me, Mary Louise, Jasmine, Carrie, Laurie and Debbie – crowded on Main Street but easy to get onto the rides), and Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney if you’ve been there in the past) with my American friends Debbi and Rebecca .
Reason 2 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: Sharing Creativity: One of the things that tends to occur when demonstrators get together – SWAPS. Demonstrators will create multiples of a paper crafting project and then trade with other demonstrators. It’s a great way to get ideas and inspiration (no, we don’t think our designs up on our own all the time!). Sometimes these are organized events – where a specific number and theme are mandated. Other times, “general swaps” occur – demonstrators literally walk around trading their creations. It’s a great way to meet people as well! Here’s a lovely swap that was gifted to me by Mary Louise – even though I didn’t have anything to swap with her (and I cut her off in the photo too LOL)! So I’ll share the wealth here.
She used Winter Woods Bundle (available in a red rubber clear mount stamp bundle or red rubber wood mount stamp bundle) to create this beautiful card. The paler areas on the evergreen tree are actually areas she’s added some Frost White Shimmer Paint (sorry, my photo is not really doing it justice!).
Reason 3 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: friends – old and new! Another thing that happens at Stampin’ Up! Events? Getting together with demonstrator friends! My group of demonstrators is called the “Eh” Team, and there were five of us in total this time that were able to make the big journey south. Amazing that we were able to find each other in a sea of 7000 demonstrators! So here we are as a group (from left to right in the photo: Karen, Arlene, Pamela, Mary and myself). Karen and I also were able to attend Centre Stage, which is an event for demonstrators at a certain level of leadership in their business. We were treated to passes to Epcot (it was the Food & Wine Festival as well!), and a dessert reception.(I still haven’t figured out how to take the selfie and look at the right spot on the phone…). Last photo is a reunion of the 2017-2018 Events Council – we are from all over North America and the last time we all saw each other was a year ago so it was great to meet up again, albeit briefly. Not pictured – SO many other friends that I got to see and hug. It truly was so heartwarming to be able to see so many friends that I often only “see” online.
Reason 4 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: Last (for now) but not least – new product! We get so many goodies at Stampin’ Up! events and one of the fun ways to receive something is Prize Patrol. I hit the jackpot! I won a huge sentiment set that I can’t wait to use in upcoming classes. All the prizes were from the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues, which will be in effect as of January 3, 2019.
We also got a look at the Craft & Carry Tote which is a demonstrator only item. Current demonstrators are able to order this bag until the end of the year only. Not a demonstrator (yet)? Not a problem! You can select this as part of your starter kit right now! Valued at $68, you can select it right now as part of your $165 worth of product for $135 – OR you could select other product in your starter kit and then purchase the bag (before January 2) once you have your demonstrator number! Your other option is to pick one up with your starter kit during Sale-a-Bration in January. There are two starter kit options – the “regular” kit for $135, and the tote kit for $175. During Sale-a-Bration you’ll also get $60 more product of your choice in your kit. Check out my FAQs about joining my team here (or if you like to type, www.yamstamps.com/join).
The next big On Stage event is happening in April in Auckland, New Zealand. While I would LOVE to be able to attend that one…I think I’m going to have to stay a bit closer to home. In Canada, the two local event locations (we get a local event when the main event happens either in the South Pacific or Europe), will be Quebec City and Vancouver. If you would like more information, please contact me, or consider attending my next Information Evening (Thursday December 6, or check the Events Page to see upcoming dates) to find out more about being a demonstrator with my group and find your own reasons why you love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!
Nov 5, 2018 | cards, Christmas, online class, Seasonal Catalogue, specials, Stampin' Up!
I’m sharing this easy die cut snowflake card with you today that features the Snowfall Thinlits Dies that are available during November. I love how simple it is to create something so intricate! The most work is rolling it through the Big Shot, I think!
The larger snowflake is die cut from a Silver Foil sheet, and the smaller snowflake is die cut from Sparkle Glimmer Paper. I love how the new Glimmer Papers really hold their glimmer well – no shedding of glitter or glimmer! The snowflakes are mounted onto a piece of Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series Paper and backed by a piece of Tranquil Tide Cardstock.
I do really like this die cut snowflake card so will be pulling it out for a few classes this month, I think! We did this card in Carolanne’s Private Card Class this past weekend. She got a large group of family and friends together to craft – so much fun! (Thanks for asking me to do this one, Carolanne!).
That Joyous Noel Paper has been very popular – so popular that it’s now unavailable to order! Any backorders already in the system will be honoured, but no more orders can be placed for this item – as there’s no way that the product would arrive before the holidays. Sad but true. Two embellishments have also oversold their projected numbers – Farmhouse Elements and Santa’s Workshop Enamel Accents. Funny how all THREE of these items have been featured in my monthly Christmas Card Classes! So – if you are wanting to join the November 28th Christmas Card Class that uses the Farmhouse Elements, be sure to register with me asap so I can set aside a set of the elements for you. (Don’t worry, I have enough for class registrants).
I do have some good news though, if you were hoping to enroll in the Joyous Noel Online Christmas Card Class. I’ve added a cardstock/paper supplies option to this class! For $30 I will mail you the precut cardstock/Designer Series Paper you’ll need for the cards from the class. You’ll still need to supply your own stamps, ink and adhesives, but if you really want to reproduce the exact cards, you still have that opportunity. Supplies are limited, though, so if you want to choose this option, please don’t wait too long. The Online Class only option (the “regular” option) is still available as well. You could easily substitute other Designer Series Papers for the ones we used – use the card designs as a template and use your own cardstocks and papers. You can get more information on the Joyous Noel Online Card Class here (the live video portions will be done in our group next week). You can get information on all the currently available YamStampsMore Online Classes here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Hope to see you in class – either in person or online, soon!
Nov 1, 2018 | cards, Christmas, Limited Time, specials, Stampin' Up!
Happy November! Hope you don’t have too much of a sugar hangover today. We may have the aftereffects of too much sugar around our household for the next while….too much candy bought, not enough trick or treaters….the dreary weather didn’t help that either, I’m sure. I think that when my son was young enough to go out trick or treating, it rained every single Halloween. At least that’s what it felt like!!
ANYWAY. If you were at the Joyous Noel Christmas Card Class, you got a sneak peek at this suite – and for everyone – here it is! Stampin’ Up! is offering the Snowflake Showcase Suite for November – ONLY! So grab it while you can. While it features snowflakes, there are definitely some other elements in there, including some more floral-looking shapes that mean you can use it for more than just the winter season.
Isn’t it beautiful? This suite offers two stamp sets (one winter, one not), coordinating framelits, snowflake embellishments and white flocked/velvet paper. So much fun. You can see the products in the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Canada online store here, or download the flyer here. Please let me know if you need assistance placing your order. (note that online ordering is not available in Quebec at this time, but you can contact me with your order and I will have it shipped directly to you).
Also – the Joyous Noel Online Christmas Card Class is now available for purchase! You’ll get lifetime access to the materials through access to the exclusive group. All four cards feature the Joyous Noel Designer Series paper – but as with many of my classes, you could easily substitute a different decorative paper or stamps to get a whole new look with the same card designs. You can get access to the class here. I’ll be doing live videos for the projects this weekend, so you can watch live (or watch later when the time suits you). Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
In the meantime, I’m counting down to Stampin’ Up!’s Demonstrator Only Event, On Stage – celebrating 30 years of Stampin’ Up! Can’t wait – and I’ll be posting on the YamStamps Facebook Page and YamStamps Instagram too. If all goes well, I hope to be able to do a Facebook Live from Epcot on Wednesday – so stay tuned!
Oct 29, 2018 | Big Shot, cards, Manic Monday, Stampin' Up!
Sharing a simple handmade sympathy card idea with you. Sympathy cards are often ones we need to have on hand but not ones that we are often inspired to create. This card could be used for any number of purposes by just changing the featured sentiment and/or colour scheme, perfect for a “Manic Monday” project – a project you can create even if you don’t have a lot of time.
I always think that a single colour scheme is very elegant (and very easy). This card features Tranquil Tide (a 2017-2019 In Colour) and Very Vanilla. The splatters are from the Swirly Bird Set, and the die cut is from the coordinating Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies. The splatters are stamped in first, second and third generation images to give a variation and depth. A first generation image is where the stamp is inked and then stamped onto the cardstock. Second generation = the next image stamped by the stamp WITHOUT reinking in between. It’s often best to ink the stamp and then stamp onto scrap paper and THEN onto your project if you want a second generation image. I’ve often found that when I am stamping images off the edge of the cardstock and re-stamp right away that my second generation image can be uneven because the ink didn’t get used up evenly on the rubber surface. For this simple sympathy card, the swirl was die cut from Tranquil Tide cardstock and then fed over the sentiment strip. Bonus points if you can figure out what motivated this design choice….
If you guessed (or inspected closely) that it was because I got an ink smudge on my sentiment strip, you are correct!! Somehow, I managed to smudge a spot on the sentiment, and I found that the die cut swirl could be positioned to distract/cover up that little error. In the end, I think it’s much more interesting than if I had used it behind the sentiment strip (which is where I originally thought I would place it…). Simple Fix for a Mistake on a Simple Handmade Sympathy Card! The sentiment is from the Better Together set, which is available in wood mount or red rubber clear mount. That set has a number of different sentiments so you could change out the sentiment and colours on this card design for an easy variation.
Are you a YamStamps Mailing List subscriber? A special exclusive for subscribers is the Annual Twelve Weeks of Christmas. This week brings Week FIVE (can you believe it?!), and the last week of card ideas. We move on next week to gift ideas. Like the “regular” YamStamps emails, each project has a picture, supply list (with links for easy reference), and complete instructions. You can jump in and get the remainder of the project ideas by subscribing now! You can subscribe in the sign up box on the YamStamps site itself, or click here to be on the list. You’ll also get access to a subscribers only free video tutorial. See you in your inbox soon!
Oct 22, 2018 | specials, Stampin' Up!, Uncategorized
Stampin’ Up! is celebrating 30 years by having a FLASH SALE – twenty four hours only, Tuesday, October 23rd. Sale starts at 1201AM Mountain Time (so convert accordingly – e.g. Eastern time equivalent is 201 AM). Selected stamp sets will be offered at 15% off!
Here’s the list in alphabetical order – the ones with a STAR * beside the DISCOUNT PRICE are the ones that are also currently available in a BUNDLE with either framelits or a punch. In these situations, the BUNDLE is still the best price if you are going to be purchasing both the stamps and the accessory. If you have any questions or need assistance placing your order, please contact me. Feel free to do so today – because I can keep track and then enter the orders tomorrow as need be. Otherwise, you can always shop 24/7 in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store!
Happy Birthday, Stampin’ Up! Happy Shopping!
