Apr 15, 2015 | Retired List
Stampin’ Up!’s Retired List will be released April 21st – so it’s time for the YamStamps Annual Retired List Contest!
The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from me that can be used for a shopping spree or a class fee. If you get all 10 correct, you’ll get a $30 gift certificate!!
HOW TO WIN:
1) Send me a list of 10 stamp sets that you believe will be on the Retired List by Sunday, April 19th at midnight. DO NOT include hostess sets or seasonal catalogue items (e.g. Occasions catalogue sets).
2) If you have the highest number of correct guesses, you WIN! Get all 10 correct and you’ll win a $30 gift certificate to spend in May! In the event of a tie, a random draw will take place.
3) Everyone who enters will receive a $5 gift certificate to spend in May.
FINE PRINT: contest and offer/prizes are offered through me, only, and can only be redeemed through me. I reserve the right to shut down the contest entries early if the list is somehow leaked. Contest open to Canadians only due to Stampin’ Up! sales regulations.
Apr 14, 2015 | specials, Stampin' Up!
This week’s Stampin’ Up! Canada Weekly Deals really have the whole range covered – stamps, dies and adhesives, plus a little bling! I really love a LOT of things on this week’s list…it’s very hard for me to pick a favourite. I do love the Mother’s Love photopolymer stamp set, but do I admit that I have yet to create a Mother’s Day card with it?? LOL. I’ve used it a lot for customer thank you cards, so you may have received one of these in the mail lately, or should watch your mailbox for one if you’ve made a purchase in the last while. Click on the picture or on this link to see all the deals for the week. By the way, thank you to all who took advantage of my offer during the free shipping special – you should have received an email with your tutorial link yesterday. If you didn’t – please let me know. In the meantime, happy shopping!
Apr 13, 2015 | cards, Manic Monday
If memory serves me, I believe that this card was inspired by my friend Lydia, who did something very similar but different LOL. (and did it first so I could copy her). It uses the Butterfly Basics set, and what I particularly love about this is that it could be seen as a more masculine card, and there’s nary a butterfly in sight!! Crumb Cake cardstock and ink provide a monochromatic background for the Mossy Meadow leaves. Quick and easy. Stamp the leaves once, then re-stamp without reinking the stamp for paler background images. When you’re done, use a Crumb Cake envelope for total coordination!
Today was particularly manic around our household this morning as it was a band weekend. Burlington Teen Tour Band, that is. My son is now part of this fantastic organization that I myself was part of when I was a teen (so that was a little while ago…). 
This weekend the band did two performances at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, so Saturday was a rehearsal day. I am lucky to be one of the photographers for the group so spent time taking photos and videos, so needless to say, we were all a bit tired and had a rougher start to our Monday than usual. Here’s hoping that it gets a bit easier as the week goes on?! (one can hope, can’t one?). Anyway, hope your Monday isn’t TOO manic and see you here tomorrow at the YamStamps blog for the latest batch of Weekly Deals! I’m off to finish up the tutorial for everyone who purchased during the free shipping fun last week as promised.
Apr 9, 2015 | organizing, scrapbooking
I was recently asked to prepare and submit some projects, for which I was inspired to do a scrapbook page featuring mothers. I went through my hard drive and photos, and found a photo of my mother and I (oh my goodness, look at my cheeks?!), and also a photo of my son and I (also the cute cheeks. and the diverted gaze because he’s watching something on TV, I’m pretty sure). I loved the symmetry in these shots and decided to use them on a page, which you’ll get to see in May (sorry, conditions of the project!!). It did strike me, though, that if I am surprised by the photos I find on my computer (and how hard I have to look to find what I want), that means there are many of my loved ones who have no idea that these images even exist. I read that due to digital photos, the current generation is the most photographed generation but likely to have no actual photographs in 10 years. This is fairly true for my son. I used to shoot on film, so had photos to share and frame, but these days, not so much… SO. This needs to change! GOAL: Photos printed, stories and names written down, and memories shared! I am going to be using the Project Life by Stampin’ Up! pocket pages and dedicating one hour a week to getting the photos out and the stories down. I figure that one hour is a do-able thing, and it is important. Will you join in my crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me…? (first one in gets to wave the big red flag…sorry, too many Les Mis references?)
If you want to give it a go, I can use the support!! LOL. I’m having a Photo Organizing and Memory Keeping Class one week today, on Thursday, April 16th. There’s no charge for this brief event, but you do need to register via RSVP. I’ll share my results to date at that class, and you can see how easy this system can be.
Apr 7, 2015 | specials, Stampin' Up!
Here are Stampin’ Up! Canada’s Weekly Deals starting today. Don’t forget that until Friday, you also get FREE STANDARD SHIPPING on all orders so extra savings! My faves this week – I love the Stars Framelits, and I also love Silver Ink and how easy it makes it to add a metallic touch to your projects. I also think I need to stock up on some Daffodil Delight ribbon – I seem to have a lot of white ribbon, but there’s a time where a bit of colour is definitely needed.
When you are adding things to your online shopping cart this week via YamStamps, please don’t forget to use the Hostess Code EE37UBSF (if your order is under $200) to receive a free tutorial from me (sent after Friday). If your order is over $200 and you shop through my online store (or via email to me), you will qualify for Stampin’ Rewards – please do not use the hostess code, and you will still qualify for the free tutorial. Happy Shopping!
Apr 6, 2015 | Announcements, specials, Stampin' Up!, Tutorial
Today until Friday, pay nothing for standard shipping on any Stampin’ Up! order. (Expedited shipping excluded from this offer). Grab an item from the Weekly Deals that are expiring today (if you don’t have the Magnetic Platform for your Big Shot, you *need* to get this now!), then come back tomorrow and grab some of the new Weekly Deals! BONUS: If your order is under $200, use the hostess code EE37UBSF to receive a bonus tutorial from me (will be emailed to you at the end of the week). If your order is over $200, do not use the code – you will automically qualify for the bonus tutorial plus receive Stampin’ Rewards. If you are new to online ordering with YamStamps / Stampin’ Up! Canada, check out this video walking you through creating an online account and entering a hostess code. Please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order. Happy Shopping!
Apr 5, 2015 | Announcements, specials, Stampin' Up!
Happy Easter! I hope that you are able to spend some time with family and friends on this day. I’m looking forward to a relaxing day with family. Re-sharing this fun punch art bunny that can decorate chocolates – in this case, a Peppermint Patty. So even if you don’t have any stamps in your stash that scream “Easter”, you can come up with something!
Starting tomorrow, you can work off those chocolates by flipping through your Stampin’ Up! Catalogue and marking things off your wish list – because you’ll get FREE SHIPPING until the end of the week! April 6-10 ONLY – pay nothing for shipping. (You’ll save even more because you won’t have to pay taxes on the shipping & handling costs – because any % of $0 is $0!). Please note this offer excludes expedited shipping. SO – get ready, get set, SHOP! Please contact me if you have any questions, or need help placing your order.
Apr 2, 2015 | Retired List, Stampin' Up!
I know, I know, it’s still a while off, but you know that with the coming of the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue (June 1st), room must be made for the new product! While we won’t know everything that will be retiring until April 21st, one thing we DO know – the 2013-2015 In Colours are going to retire. So if you love all those colours that have names that make me kind of hungry – Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush and one that doesn’t – Coastal Cabana – you might want to consider adding them to your orders this month. We do know that they are going away, and we do know that usually it’s “while supplies last”. 
So check out the items, make your list and place your order! If you need assistance, please feel free to contact me. Happy Shopping!
Mar 31, 2015 | specials, Stampin' Up!
It’s the last day for Stampin’ Up! Canada’s Sale-a-Bration – the last day to get extra product for free with each $60 merchandise order or by purchasing the starter kit and joining my group of demonstrators – but they have a treat in store for us to make the transition easier. This week’s deals are full of great items – my fave this week – the Magnetic Platform for the Big Shot. This is a “must have” in my books! It makes die cutting with framelits so much easier! If you already have it, then why not grab a few more framelits to go with it? Lots to choose from in the catalogue, and a bunch on special this week as well.
Click on the image to see the items in the YamStamps online Stampin’ Up! Canada store or contact me if you need assistance. If you order before midnight, you’ll qualify for the last day of Sale-a-Bration benefits. Please don’t leave it to the last minute, though, because you can imagine how the system might get slowed down by the rush of last minute shoppers!
Mar 30, 2015 | cards, Occasions, Stampin' Up!
This is a fun card to whip up for Easter. Using Stampin’ Up!’s Cheerful Critters set and Teeny Tiny Wishes, which is the most useful stamp set on the face of the planet… The Cheerful Critters is a photopolymer set, which means it’s see through (well, more or less, mine has been used and loved and is slightly stained LOL). I found it easiest to eyeball where the critter’s sign would land, and then stamp the greeting first. I was then able to position the critter accurately since I could see through to where my greeting was. This was a quick colouring job with my Stampin’ Write markers on Shimmery White cardstock. (See? There is life after Blendabilities!!). I also used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder to coordinate with the bunny’s shirt and added a touch of ribbon to complete it. This square card is 4.25″ x 4.25″ completed so still fits in Stampin’ Up!’s medium envelopes.
One of my commitments this year is to send more “Happy Mail” – cards in the mail. If you’d like to add to your stash of cards to give and send, don’t forget the Monthly Card Classes – there’s one on April 1st (no fooling!) but you must register at least 2 days in advance (that would be TODAY, Monday, for April’s class) Hope to see you soon!!
Stampin’ Up!’s Retired List will be released April 21st – so it’s time for the YamStamps Annual Retired List Contest!
