Sep 7, 2016 | Big Shot, cards, Stampin' Up!
Sympathy cards are often needed, but tend to be a card that can be difficult to create when you need one – because you likely don’t feel like crafting at that time! It’s great to be able to copy something or have some cards on hand at that time – less thinking involved. This card is based on one that I received a while back as part of a demonstrator swap, and I apologize because I don’t have the original creator’s name anymore. I took the design and adjusted it to what I had on hand.
Swapping is a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator sport I think!! It happens at Stampin’ Up! events or often when demonstrators get together. There are organized swaps where you sign up and do an assigned number of cards, or non-organized – you just show up to the event with a number of cards or cardfronts and trade with others for whatever they’ve brought. It’s a good way to get creative ideas, like in this case. I’m getting a little low on swap samples, so I’m looking forward to the next Stampin’ Up! event, which is happening early November in Ottawa ON (amongst other locations). A number of demonstrators in my group will be attending, and since we tend to be scattered all over the province (and country), it will be a good chance to meet up in person! (If you want to join us, contact me for more information).
Anyway, I digress – back to the card! The textured background is the Seaside Embossing Folder, one of the new ones in the Annual Catalogue. It’s a wider folder so the lines can be either vertical or horizontal. The flower from Flower Shop (wood or clear mount) is embossed in white on vellum, punched out with the coordinating Pansy Punch, and Blushing Bride is daubed on the back of the vellum to add a subtle colour. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (available in wood or clear mount), one of my most used sets. The flower is adhered onto the cardfront with a glue dot hidden behind the centre of the flower, which also holds the gold metallic thread loops in place.
If you need to build up your card stash, consider either attending one of my classes in Burlington, or get a group of friends together and host one at your place – I will come to you! (well, within driving distance of Burlington ON….unless I happen to be travelling and visiting in your neck of the woods – you never know! LOL). I’ve updated the YamStamps Events page and events until the end of the year are posted. Keep checking, though, because you never know if more classes will be added!
Sep 2, 2016 | Announcements, specials, Stampin' Up!
During the first few weeks of September, Stampin’ Up! Canada has Special Offers on selected merchandise! You can grab these while supplies last. This is the current list – items will change as of September 8th. If you’d like to place an order, you can click on the image or HERE to shop in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store, or contact me if you need assistance or have questions. Don’t forget to leave a comment on THIS POST for your chance to win a MISTI! (Winner to be drawn Monday, September 5th).
Sep 1, 2016 | Announcements, Christmas, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
The Holiday Catalogue is now active! If you’d like a copy and are in Canada, please complete this form (only a few hoops to jump through haha) and I will follow up with you to see about getting a copy in the mail to you. Now that the Canada Post situation seems to have stabilized (fingers crossed) I’m sending mail with abandon! Here’s a link to the online version of the catalogue and here’s a link to see the items in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store. While you’re there…you may also want to check out the Special Offers available for this week! Happy Shopping!
Aug 30, 2016 | Announcements, cards, contest
I love clean and simple cards, even though their “WOW” factor is sometimes more subtle than over the top cards. The only thing is – there’s nowhere to hide…LOL so if you mess up somewhere along the way, it can be hard to work with it! Thankfully this card is made easier by a bunch of factors. The first – the stamp set, Stampin’ Up!’s Penned and Painted – can be a bit forgiving, because it’s “artistic”, so if the lines aren’t perfectly lined up, you can get away with it. There’s actually 8 different stamps used to produce this multilayer, multicolour image. The second – the MISTI. You may have heard of this tool. It’s not sold by Stampin’ Up!, but it’s a handy tool for stamping with clear mount or photopolymer stamps, especially if you’re mass producing. You can see the introductory video here. I got to meet Iliana, the creator of the MISTI, while I was at my friend Lydia’s retreat in Texas last month. At the end of the retreat, I won a MISTI to “Pay Forward”. SO – I have a MISTI, signed by Iliana, to share with some lucky person!!
HOW TO WIN:
- Be located in Canada. I know that up until recently, the MISTI wasn’t available from Canadian vendors (it is now), so I would like to help spread the MISTI love here in the north. Plus I can’t bear the thought of shipping outside Canada….
- Be subscribed to the YamStamps newsletter. You can sign up through the box at the top right on the YamStamps blog, or click here.
- (Last one) Leave a comment below, and let me know what you’d like to learn more about in the rubber stamping/paper crafting world. (please be patient, your comment will not appear right away).
I will randomly draw one name on Monday, September 5th (Labour Day) and the winner will be notified/identified in the YamStamps Email Newsletter that comes out on Tuesday, September 6th at 1pm Eastern.
This is Jaydyn (aka My Sweet Petunia!) and Iliana while we were in Texas. Jaydyn was my good luck charm 😉 I think – she helped draw names for the prizes and I won a couple!! (good thing she’s not drawing the names in this contest?! LOL).
Oh, and if you’re wondering, the card above is one of my “thank you” cards that I’m in the midst of catching up on!!! I let the threatened postal action affect my production….so now I’m behind, and I’m also realizing that even if there is job action, it apparently won’t be a full on strike, but a slow down, so I’m going full speed ahead to get them out!
Don’t forget – leave a comment below and subscribe to the newsletter – and Good Luck!
Aug 24, 2016 | cards, Stampin' Up!
I love the fun retro feel of Stampin’ Up!’s Marquee Messages set. Paired here with one of the 2016-2018 In Colours, Dapper Denim, it makes for a great card – I like this especially for a teenager because it’s not too cutesy and not too serious. There’s a bit of colouring (love the brush tip end of the Stampin’ Write markers for that) and a bit of *gasp* fussy cutting – but it’s straight lines so it’s not too complicated, really! A bit of bling with the Gold Glitz Dazzling Details and it’s done. Just be sure to allow for drying time for the Dazzling Details, especially if you get a bit heavy handed at times…like me…LOL.
OK I’m totally getting back on track with my blogging….this month so far I’ve taken some time to be with friends and family, and I spent the past two weeks with the TV on a LOT, watching the Olympics, so now it’s back to the “real world”, and getting my son ready to go back to the “real world” as well (aka BACK TO SCHOOL!). I’m going to have a give away in the next while as well, so I’m getting myself all organized for that as well! In the meantime, later today is the August Christmas Card Class! I should dig out my Christmas music and play it while we create our cards with the “This Christmas” Designer Series Paper, don’t you think?! Ho ho ho four months until Christmas Eve!!
Aug 10, 2016 | cards, specials, Stampin' Up!
This card uses the Thoughtful Branches bundle – which has the Thoughtful Branches photopolymer stamp set and the Beautiful Branches thinlits dies. YamStamps Newsletter Subscribers will have seen some different samples with this bundle in the August newsletter. (If you’re not already subscribed, if you subscribe now, you’ll get a copy of the latest newsletter plus a free video tutorial!). I love the coordination of the stamp set and dies, because I often don’t have the time or patience to fussy cut detailed images. For this card, I did cut the hills by hand (*gasp*). The sentiment is on a framelit from the Tags & Labels framelits die set. I usually find it easiest (and safest?) to put the sentiment on a tag or label and add it to the card front to be sure that it is exactly where I want it (and straight as well!). You also have the flexibility to leave the tag off until you know what sentiment you need for that particular card – making your card stash (and dollar) stretch even further.
Don’t forget that if you purchase the bundle through me, you’ll get a free set of instructions to create 5 different projects! If you want to make it even easier on yourself, purchase a complete kit for $95 and you’ll get precut supplies to create those projects – you supply the ink and adhesive and you’re ready to go. Contact me for more information! Grab the bundle before it goes away – and you know you’ll want something to do once the Olympics are over!!!
Aug 4, 2016 | Christmas, Events, Stampin' Up!
****DUE TO A TECHNICAL GLITCH THIS REMINDER DIDN’T GET POSTED SO I WILL EXTEND REGULAR PRICED REGISTRATION BY 24 HOURS!****
Yes, it’s that time again….
Wednesday, August 24th (a mere 4 months to go til Christmas Eve) at 1pm or 7pm here in Burlington ON – join me to make some Christmas Cards! Your $30 class fee will include a full package of the Stampin’ Up! Canada Specialty Designer Series Paper “This Christmas” (which every time I say the name, I sing the song in my head…). We will use some of the paper in class to create your 4 different cards, and you’ll take the rest home with you for your own projects! Registration deadline is Monday August 8th TUESDAY AUGUST 9th in order to allow time for the supplies to arrive before class. If space allows and you want to register after August 8th 9th class fee will be $55 to include the expedited shipping charge.
Contact me to register or click below to register and pay online. See you in class!
Aug 2, 2016 | specials, Stampin' Up!
Hope you had a good long weekend (for those of us who were lucky enough to have one!). We enjoyed good weather and spent a lot of time outside – but here’s a good reason to stay inside for a short while – Stampin’ Up! has a limited time bundle called Thoughtful Branches! This set features images and coordinated framelits with sentiments that cover a variety of occasions and is available as of today, August 2. The Thoughtful Branches bundle (144328) is $66.50 CAD (plus shipping/tax), or you can purchase the Thoughtful Branches photopolymer stamp set (item 143539 $33) and the Beautiful Branches thinlits dies (item 143538 $41) separately. The set is also available in French if you prefer. One of my favourite things about this set is the script font on many of the sentiments. While I try, my hand lettering is never so gorgeous, so I love that there’s a quick and easy way to get that look.
As an extra special feature, if you purchase this bundle through me, you will receive an exclusive set of instructions for 5 projects featuring this bundle for free! You’ll be able to use it to recreate the projects at home, or use them as inspiration for your own takes on the ideas. To make it even easier, I’m offering a class project bundle – for $95 CAD (shipping and taxes included), you will receive the Thoughtful Branches bundle, plus a hardcopy of the instructions and precut cardstock for each card project! You will need to supply the Big Shot, adhesive of your choice and the inks. (Helpful – Precision Base Plate and Die Brush). Please contact me if you’re interested in the class project bundle or if you need additional information.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, otherwise click on the image or links to see the items in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store. Happy Shopping!
PS a reminder that the YamStamps Monthly Paper Crafting Newsletter is released today at 1pm Eastern – but only to subscribers! Get more information and subscribe here.
Jul 30, 2016 | Announcements, specials, Stampin' Up!
Last chance to earn free dollars to spend in August! Ending July 31st – earn a $6 coupon code for each $60 in product you order (at one time)! Your best bet is to place your order online through the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Canada Online Store. You’ll receive your coupon code in an email – save it, then spend it in August! There’s a fun product special coming up next month, too!
Don’t forget that if you want to get access to exclusive crafting projects (not shared here or any social media sites) plus find out about all the special offerings from me and/or Stampin’ Up! Canada, subscribe to my newsletter! The August version will be released on Tuesday, August 2nd – and you can use the sign up box on the site or click here to get a bit more information.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Happy Shopping!
Jul 24, 2016 | cards, Stampin' Up!
Hello! I’m still here…thanks for your patience! It was a whirlwind of travel for me in the last while, but that’s often what summer is like, I suppose?! I spent some time in the Austin, Texas area (because it’s just not hot & humid enough in Southern Ontario for me….*sarcastic laugh*). I was officially there to participate in my friend Lydia’s “Ublue Unwind” Crafting Retreat, but really, I was there to visit with old friends, make new friends and eat. I did however manage to learn a thing or two while I was there, outside of “why is it so hard to get a PokemonGo account in the first few days of release”. The card above is proof! A fun technique that creates an interesting card and is not over the top difficult to reproduce. We used “inchies” at the retreat, but I used Whisper White Thick Cardstock cut into 1″ squares here at home, because that’s what I had. The sponged colours are Crushed Curry and Flirty Flamingo, the images on the squares and splatters are from Timeless Textures (available in clear mount or wood mount)and the cardbase is Tip Top Taupe. The words are from the Thoughtful Banners set and some Bitty Butterflies add extra interest.
If you’re interested in learning new techniques and building up your card stash, consider attending August’s Monthly Card Class. Held August 3 at 1pm or 7pm, cost is $20 and includes all supplies to make four different cards (this will be one of them…). Registration and payment due by August 1 – contact me to reserve your spot!
