Sep 16, 2018 | cards, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
Today’s Sunday Swap Card Share is a best wishes card, created by Helen Hansen-Henderson. Though it’s a simple layout (love those), the details make it even more interesting. The card uses the First Frost stamp set, which is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount, or with the Frosted Bouquet Framelits in a discounted wood mount bundle or clear mount bundle. I love the window cut out of the cardstock textured with the Corrugated Embossing Folder that reveals the images from the stamp set, and the layers of die cut images over the stamped image. These items are in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue which is now in effect. This set has a few sentiments in it – not just for the Christmas season, and the images could be used year round as well.
I hope you have a great Sunday, and a great run day if you’re participating in one of the Terry Fox Runs being held around Canada. I know that they were up really early getting things set up for the runners along the waterfront here in Burlington, and it was humid early on, so hopefully everyone takes it easy and stays well hydrated!
I’m finishing up final prep – it’s a busy week here – Stampers Club on Monday, and then Christmas Card Classes on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening. I split the times this week because the evening of the third Wednesday of the month is my demonstrator group meeting. This month will be more of a “hybrid” type meeting as some people will be here in Burlington in person, and some will be joining us online. Maybe I should be asking for best wishes for my prep this week?! LOL Upcoming events are listed on the YamStamps Events Page, so you can check out what’s happening locally, but I also have some online class options as well. Please contact me if you have any questions or want to register for an upcoming event.
Sep 11, 2018 | Information, Stampin' Up!, Tutorial
Tuesday Tool Tip (while it’s still – barely – Tuesday LOL). What’s the Difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers?
Colouring is still such a popular past time and stress reliever! Stampin’ Up! products are great for colouring – you can stamp images of your choice and then colour them in – for bonus points you can even use them on a project instead of hoarding them….but one question that has popped up in my classes lately – what’s the difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers? Here’s a quick rundown:
Stampin’ Blends
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Blends Markers
- Rectangular shape marker
- Double ended – bullet tip and brush tip
- Alcohol Based Colouring Tool – best used with images stamped in Memento Ink
- Currently Available in 27 Stampin’ Up! Colours, Light & Dark Complimentary Shades of Each Colour (see all currently available colours here)
- Ivory, Bronze single shades and Colour Lifter available
- Purchase Individually or in Coordinating Shade Duos
Stampin’ Blends tend not to show “streaks” or colouring lines – as with most alcohol based markers, they blend well to give a more “solid” colour image. The coordinating light and dark shades make it easy to blend and create shadows and highlights for more professional looking results. You can layer the colour to increase the intensity and add more shadows as well. There may be a bit of “bleed” or spreading of colour with these tools, so best to leave a tiny margin by the image line until you know how much your colour will spread. The intense colour will also tend to bleed through the cardstock. The Colour Lifter tends to “push” the colour out of the way, so may help create highlight areas or disguise small areas of spread. These colouring tools are great for colouring, but not suitable for use directly on rubber stamp or photopolymer stamp surfaces. Alcohol based markers are often used by manga / comic book type illustrators.
Stampin’ Write Markers
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Write Markers
Stampin’ Write Markers are a great way to get your hands on all the base Stampin’ Up colours for your crafting needs. They are dye based inks, so can be used to colour images on cardstock, or you can use them to apply colour directly to the surface of your stamps before stamping. Great for quick colouring, or colouring in traditional colouring books – there may be bleed if a lot of colour is laid down, but not to the extent of the Stampin’ Blends. I also love using the brush end of these markers for brush lettering. Don’t overwork the surface when you’re using these to colour as you may end up with the paper “pilling”.
Both types of these colouring tools can have a place in your crafting room! There are advantages to each of them. If you’re just dabbling in adding colour to your stamped images, you may want to start with the Stampin’ Blends, since you can start with just one or two colours and shades – for example, if you like floral images, pick a green and a red or pink to start. If you want to get your hands on many coordinating colours quickly, perhaps start with the Stampin’ Write markers since you can get a colour family (or even better – the new colours assortment) to build your collection quickly. Once you’ve been able to “play” with the tools, you’ll know how they fit into your crafting style and won’t be wondering “What’s the Difference?” any longer!
Hopefully this has helped a bit – but if you have any lingering questions, feel free to contact me! You can also check out the recording of the Facebook Live I did a little while ago on the YamStamps Page, showing how Memento and Staz On inks react with both of these types of markers as well as an Aquapainter. If you “like” the YamStamps Page, you’ll get notifications of whenever I go live with a video in future! See you in cyberspace…
Sep 9, 2018 | Business Opportunity, cards, Stampin' Up!
This week’s Sunday Swap share is a celebration of the fact that it’s technically still summer….even though by this point in the month it feels like we are into the next season. However, well will highlight this Tropical Thank You Card and remind ourselves that it is not yet September 23rd…
Kay Smith created this lovely, tropical thank you card! It was created with the Tropical Thinlits dies and coordinating stamp set – Tropical Chic. The set is available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount, and is also available as part of a discounted bundle (wood mount or clear mount) with the thinlits. On this card, you can see some of the Tropical Escape Designer Series Paper peeking out through the die cut window. Love the coordination of the images and colours. Stampin’ Up! really does a great job of presenting coordinating products in suites so that it’s easy for the crafter to pick up on the colour theme or image theme for their projects. Perfect for a lazy crafter like me. I don’t want to work too hard to come up with something that looks great!
As a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I’m often asked where I get my card ideas. I often get inspiration from the products themselves, but I also get inspiration from other demonstrators! I love participating in card swaps with other demonstrators – we each design one card and make multiples of that card – and in return for participating in the swap, we get a variety of cards back (including our own). It’s great to see how others interpret sets and images, and a great way to expand my sample collection – especially when I don’t actually own that particular stamp set or framelit. Shocking, I know, but I don’t actually own everything in the catalogue!! If you enjoy card making or scrapbooking, consider joining my group of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators – we’re known as the “Eh” Team! You can “support your own crafting habit”, and make a little money as well doing something you love. Please come to my Information Evening on Wednesday, September 12th at 7pm in north Burlington. All that’s required is an RSVP! No cost, no pressure. Come and hear about how being a demonstrator can add a little creativity and income to your life! Maybe you’ll get a tropical thank you card for attending! (or maybe a non-tropical one…since I don’t actually own this set….yet). Hope to see you soon!
Sep 7, 2018 | Paper Pumpkin, Stampin' Up!
If you love Halloween, it will be scary if you miss out on this kit! The September Paper Pumpkin kit is a Halloween themed one!
Usually the contents of the Paper Pumpkin kits are a surprise (until you open yours…), but Stampin’ Up! have let us know a little bit about the upcoming September box. It will be Halloween treat packaging! The colours that will coordinate with this kit are Mango Melody, Gorgeous Grape, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black. That’s all we know… If you want to grab one of these fun kits, you’ll need to subscribe by September 10th (that’s MONDAY). You can click on the image (or here) to start a month-by-month subscription, or you can prepay for a subscription (just remember to go to the official sign up page afterwards to enter your subscription code!).
Paper Pumpkin is the monthly craft kit that you subscribe to – each month that you’re a subscriber, you’ll receive a box containing that month’s crafting project – with instructions and supplies. Your first kit will also contain a clear block to use with the photopolymer stamps that come in each box. These kits are great to take on trips, share with family or send to friends and family (have a crafty university student who might need a little pick me up or break from studying?). One of the nice things about these kits is that you can also skip a month – so if Halloween crafting really isn’t your thing, you can pause your active subscription for this month. You can see more frequently asked questions – and the answers here.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Don’t forget – if you want to grab the Halloween themed kit, subscribe by Monday!!
Sep 5, 2018 | cards, Christmas, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
Happy New Catalogue Day! The Stampin’ Up! Canada Holiday Catalogue is now “live” and up for ordering. Demonstrators have had access to the catalogue since last month, including an opportunity to preorder merchandise, so it’s been fun playing with new products, but hard to wait to share! Today I’m sharing a wintery card with you to celebrate. Oh and I’m not going to say ANYTHING about the humidity level, because I jinxed it last time I talked about it. Thank goodness the air conditioning is working in here, that’s all I can say….
This card was created using the new Beautiful Blizzard bundle. The Beautiful Blizzard stamp set comes in either red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount stamps, and coordinates with the Blizzard Thinlits Die. Purchase the wood mount bundle or clear mount bundle and save 10% off the individula prices of the stamp set and die. The Blizzard thinlit die is a single die, so I used it on the background Night of Navy cardstock. I ran it through with Whisper White cardstock as well to get the snowflakes that accent the Layering Oval with the sentiment. This is one of my favourite items in the new holiday catalogue! Hint: with some of the dies that have more details or more cuts, I often like to run the die through in one direction, then turn it 90 degrees and run it through again. This way, if my plastic cutting sheets have any bowing or areas that might not contact as well, I figure it makes up for that. The other thing to get a good cut – use the Precision Base Plate.
There are so many fun holiday products – and it’s not just Christmas stuff – there’s also Hallowe’en and autumn choices, and seasonal vs “holiday” items too. If you still need a copy of the new catalogue and don’t have a demonstrator that you’re already working with, you can contact me about getting a copy. If you are looking to make holiday cards, September’s Christmas Card Class will be using the Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes as the featured product. Your class fee of $30 will include all the supplies required to create 4 different holiday cards, and each one will use the accents as decoration. You’ll use some of your package on the cards in class, and take the rest home for your own creative projects! Please contact me to reserve your spot – ASAP as I need to order the product ahead of time to ensure it will arrive in time for class. Class Dates: Wednesday, September 19 at 1pm or Thursday, September 20 at 7pm. See the YamStamps Events Page for other dates and classes! In the meantime – happy shopping!
Sep 2, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
This week’s Sunday Swap share is a beautiful card of encouragement for a friend. It’s great to be able to send cards of celebration, but it’s also important to send words of support and encouragement, too. This lovely card was created by Cynthia Millan.
It uses one of my new favourite embossing folders – Tufted. I love the elegant background it creates! The Botanical Tags Thinlits die cut makes a lovely focal element – and I like the way she’s coloured in the birds to bring out the accent colour. The sentiment is from a set that I had overlooked previously – but now is on my wish list – Beautiful Promenade, which is actually available in a discounted bundle with the Beautiful Layers Thinlits as well. The set is full of great sayings that could be used on cards of encouragement for a friend or loved one. Perhaps I’ll use one of my Bonus Days Coupon Codes to purchase that bundle this month!
If you are looking to send a mesage of encouragement for a friend, or to commemorate an occasion, you’ll want to build up your stash of cards! There’s still space in the evening monthly card class for September – so contact me ASAP to grab a seat! This Wednesday at 7pm. The afternoon class filled quickly this month – looks like people are getting back into routine and back to school! I hope that you have a great last long weekend of summer…and that your back to school / routine preparation goes smoothly. Don’t forget those first day of school photos!! I’m going to have to get my son to take a selfie since he’ll be away at university….what do you think my chance of success will be?! Wish me luck!!
Sep 1, 2018 | specials, Stampin' Up!
Annnnnndddddd…..it’s September. It definitely feels like a change in the weather and season has come upon us in southern Ontario! I’m happy for a break in humidity, but not sure that I’m happy that summer seems to be over (and I know, technically it’s not, but you know what I mean…). My love of back to school supply shopping helps me cope though…and the fact that Stampin’ Up! is helping ease the transition by offering a special offer or two!
First of all, it’s time to spend those Bonus Day Coupon Codes! That’s pretty special….each time you placed a merchandise order for $60 in August, you would have received a coupon code via email from Stampin’ Up! – and now you can use those codes! You can shop online in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store – shortcut is yamstamps.com/shop – and once you’ve selected your merchandise, click on MANAGE COUPON CODES and then copy and paste your codes (one per line) and click APPLY before you check out. OR – you can email me or call me with your merchandise order and coupon codes, and I will enter your order and codes for you. As always – you can contact me if you have any questions, or need a hand navigating the shopping site.
Stampin’ Up! is offering a sweet host special for September! You may have seen a sneak peek of this paper in this card I shared about a week ago… Host a party, make cards with your friends, and after all the orders are tallied, if there are total merchandise sales of $300 or more, you’ll receive a package of the Dashing Away Designer Series Paper for free! You can choose if you share with your friends or not…the package has 12 sheets total – four sheets of each of 3 different double sided designs (so 6 different designs in total). Some of the patterns definitely scream CHRISTMAS, but there are patterns that are more year round/not quite so blatently holiday-ish. You can see them in the graphic above. Contact me to book a date for a cardmaking party with your friends! Since this special is only good for September, you’ll want to book as soon as possible – or you can try a catalogue party on your own time – share the catalogue with friends, I can share some samples and ideas with your friends via a private facebook group, and you can collect orders to submit!
Lastly a reminder that the registration deadline for September’s Christmas Card Class is approaching! Register by Wednesday for this holiday class – your class fee of $30 includes a package of Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes that we will use on your cards – with plenty of leftovers for you to take home and use on other projects! Registration available after Wednesday, but may be subject to an express shipping fee (in order for your product to arrive in time for class!). Class dates: Wednesday, September 19 at 1pm, or Thursday, September 19 at 7pm. Please note the “split dates” for this month – as I’ve got a demonstrator group meeting on the Wednesday evening and a business mastermind session at the end of the month – both great combinations of work, inspiration and FUN! Looking forward to seeing you in class soon!
Aug 27, 2018 | Business Opportunity, Stampin' Up!
For me, September is a time of new beginnings – just like January! I have always loved the “back to school” and “back to routine” routine…and of course, shopping for back to school supplies. Other than shopping for Stampin’ Up! craft supplies, I think going to an office supply store (in person or online, I’m not picky), is my second favourite shopping option! (please tell me I’m not alone…..). Anyway, around here this upcoming September is feeling a little extra big as my one and only son is heading to university away from home. I know that he’s ready for it and will adapt, but I can confess that I’m a bit of a worrier (which parent isn’t, really?). So with that in mind, I’m prepared to provide support from a distance, and distract myself with things around here! If you are looking for something new to keep yourself occupied, or provide a little extra income, may I suggest the Stampin’ Up! side hustle?! It’s not a new dance….but it could be as fun… and we can keep each other distracted for a while hahaha!
(probably as close as one could get to a Stampin’ Up! side hustle image? Made with the stamp set Beautiful You)
Side hustle is the term for an extra job or occupation – you don’t have to quit everything and embark on a new path, you just add a little something to your current situation. Stampin’ Up! has been my side hustle since before they invented the term! I started just after my maternity leave and continued when I moved across country and started a new job. In the past few years, I’ve chosen to decrease my hours at that job to part time to step back from some of the stresses and pressures in order to try maintain my life balance and happiness. I’m happy that I had this Stampin’ Up! side hustle to support that move.
If you think this might be a good time for your to consider something new, I have a page dedicated to FAQs about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, so you can read that to see if your questions are answered there. I also invite you to come to my next Information Evening, scheduled for Wednesday, September 12th at 7pm here in Burlington (click here to RSVP and get directions). If you don’t live closeby, or can’t make that date, there are options! Contact me and you can join the online version that evening, or we can set a time to chat (in person, online, via emails, whatever your preference). I hope you’ll consider starting a side hustle with my group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators!
Aug 26, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
It’s time for another Sunday Swap Card Share! This time – Baby Shower Wishes! Lisa Hardie created this pretty card featuring the Wonderful Moments photopolymer set from Stampin’ Up! The background papers are from the Twinkle Twinkle Designer Series Paper – I love the soft effect echoed in the coordinating images stamped onto the card as well. The Stitched Shaped Framelits are one of my favourite ways to cut out an image or sentiment, and the doily softens the edges a bit more.
Can’t find that particular doily in the catalogue? It’s one of the Colo(u)red Doilies from the Annual Catalogue! The reverse side is white – so if you have a project like this Baby Shower Wishes card and don’t have enough of a certain colour, or want to use a different colour scheme than dictated by the doilies themselves, you have options!
If you follow the YamStamps Instagram feed you’ll have seen the castoffs of my mass card production a few days ago – because I was completing my contribution to the latest demonstrator card swap – featuring products from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s great work, and to sharing the inspiration and ideas with you – either through the internet or in a class! I did have to work hard to focus on the projects, since we are right in the middle of the chaos that is getting ready to send my son to his first year of university. Lots of changes on the near horizon, and I’m so glad that I have my Stampin’ Up! friends to see me through the next while! Nothing like a little crafty distraction to get through the empty nest feeling….and nothing like a little “side hustle” career to help make ends meet while helping with post secondary education costs!! If you’re interested in finding out more about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, please join me at my Information Evening – you can join in person or online – just RSVP and I’ll give you directions to connect. Wednesday, September 12th – 7pm – Burlington ON or online. You can also get some answers to FAQs on my info page here. Hope to chat with you soon!
Aug 23, 2018 | cards, Christmas, specials, Stampin' Up!
The Blended Seasons stamp set and Stitched Seasons framelits are only available in August from Stampin’ Up! – have you grabbed these special products yet? The specially priced bundle (with your choice of wood mount or clear mount stamps) will see you through a number of seasons! Paired with the Watercolour Pencils (assortment 2), another special item for August, you can create so many great cards! Here’s a recent class card featuring these products – plus a sneak peek at an upcoming special product (can you spot it?)
I love the stitched look on these Stitched Seasons framelits – and the fun thing is that there’s stitching on both sides of the cut edge. While this card only uses the positive portion of the die cut, the remainder of the cardstock also had a stitched look finished edge around the cut out negative portion, which could be used on another project, or could be a design feature in a project (I’ll share an example of this in the next YamStamps newsletter on Tuesday). The Blended Seasons set (which is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount) was stamped in StazOn ink and coloured with the Watercolour Pencils Assortment 2. I added the colour directly to the image with the pencils, then blended the shading and colouring with a Blender Pen. This is a way to get a watercolour look while still maintaining a lot of control over the colour movement (which I know some crafters prefer…). This card is all on Shimmery White cardstock, which stands up to a bit of work with water or blender pens, and has a beautiful subtle shine (so subtle, I bet you can’t really see it in the photo….but trust me it’s there!)
As for the sneak peek on this Blended Seasons card….it’s the patterned paper! The Dashing Away Designer Series Paper is a set of 12 sheets of 12″ x 12″ double sided patterned paper, with 6 different designs in total. Some patterns are definitely screaming “Christmas!!” while others, like the one above, could be used for any time of year. This exclusive paper will be available for FREE with qualified orders in September. Hosts of classes or parties with sales of $350 or more will get a package of this paper for free. If you’re keen to get your hands on some of this Designer Series Paper, please contact me ASAP to book a date for a class. You can have an in person class with your friends, or do a catalogue or online party instead – again, contact me for details and to set it up.
Registration is also open for the September Monthly Card Class, happening September 5th at 1pm or 7pm. Contact me to register, or click on the link on the YamStamps Events Page. As per tradition around this time of year, we’ll be having at least one Christmas/Holiday card included in the four cards we create in each monthly card class. If you want all holiday cards, come to the September Christmas Card Class – this time the class will be featuring some fun accents from the Holiday Catalogue! We’re splitting the date this month – Wednesday, September 19th at 1pm or Thursday, September 20th at 7pm. Hope to see you in a class very soon.
