One of the things I love about being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is the chance to get a head start on crafting with new products. Demonstrators were able to preorder from the August-December Mini Catalogue last month, so I’ve been able to create some projects to have ready to go this month. Here’s a pink and grey banners card with some new product – slightly different shade of pink than this pink & grey card that I made a little while back.
Stampin’ Up! has a number of punches that are designed to work with varying widths of cardstock. In all honesty, I can’t count on remembering what those widths are when I’m in the midst of creating something – so I’ve gotten into the habit of labelling those punches like in the photo below.
The Banners Pick a Punch will work on 0.5, 0.75 and 1 inch widths, so I labelled the top of the punch with those measurements. Makes my crafting quicker and easier! (Plus it makes me look organized…which is not always the case in reality haha). For the pink and grey banners card, I used a 0.5″ wide strip of Petal Pink Cardstock and 1″ wide strips of Designer Series Paper.
Have you checked out the new Stampin’ Up! site and store lately? The shortcut to shop online with me in Canada is still yamstamps.com/shop – and exciting – the new store supports online shopping if you’re living in Quebec!! If you’re a returning customer, you’ll have to enter your password the first time you go shopping, since your browser will not recognize the site since it’s been overhauled. If you can’t remember your password, you can always hit the password reset button (and then be sure to check your spam folder just in case – so you don’t miss the email!). If you have any questions or need assistance placing an order, you can always contact me.
Much like last week’s papercrafting representation of my weekend – here’s this week’s version of how I spent my Saturday.
f you recognize this logo, you’ll probably have spent a few hours like me binge watching the second season of the Umbrella Academy on Netflix. In all honesty, I watched the first season initially because I was looking for local landmarks since it was filmed next door in Hamilton, Ontario (well, also Toronto). I did recognize a number of locations that they used for filming, which is fun. I got hooked on the storyline (though I did close my eyes for some of the gorier portions, something I learned to do a long time ago LOL). After spending a number of hours burning through the episodes, I was feeling a bit guilty for neglecting some other tasks (just a bit, though – it is a holiday weekend, after all), so I whipped up this super fast card to share on the blog. Really easy with Stampin’ Up!’s Umbrella Builder Punch and Layering Circles Dies, and since the logo is black and white themed, the colour choices were also really easy LOL.
Just a heads up – you may want to spend a moment or two this weekend to check that you actually know your Stampin’ Up! site password if you shop online. On Tuesday, Stampin’ Up! is rolling out a new website/platform, so your browser will likely not recognize the site as one you’ve visited before, and won’t automatically fill in your username/password (if you use your browser settings for that). So make sure you know your password because you will probably have to enter it yourself (at least the first time! Fingers crossed for a smooth transition. The August-December Mini Catalogue will also be live on Tuesday, so lots of excitement happening that day!
If you are a fan or know a fan of the Umbrella Academy, leave me a comment and I’ll randomly pick someone and send this card to them! (This way I can also test if comments are working on my site…) When I send out thank you cards in my business, I use post-it notes for my notes inside the card – that way, the recipient can remove the post-it and mail it to someone else!
My favourite kind of paper crafting is easy but impressive, so when I say this is an ornate thanks card, it’s because it uses the Ornate Thanks stamp set…and theOrnate Layers dies!
The layout for this card is fairly straightforward – three pieces of the Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper [DSP] onto a backing piece of Early Espresso cardstock. The centre piece of DSP is the flip side of the other pattern (the papers have double sided designs) – so no thinking involved LOL. The ornate frame is die cut from Early Espresso Cardstock and the sentiment from Ornate Thanks is stamped onto the Very Vanilla label in Early Espresso and Terracotta Tile. I selected the ink and backing cardstock colours by checking out what colours were featured in the DSP so they would match. Stampin’ Up! does a really nice job of having coordinating colour products that make my paper crafting a little easier.
When you order these dies, I would also recommend investing in the Brush Tip for the Take Your Pick tool as it makes it easier to get all the little bits out of the detailed die cuts, so you’ll be able to make your own Ornate Thanks Card even more quickly. After you run the die through your die cutting machine, place the die and or the die cut (sometimes the detailed ones need a bit of coaxing to release) on the foam mat that comes with the Brush Tip, and then run the Brush Tip over to release the die cut and bits.
If you are looking for other crafting ideas and inspiration, the YamStamps Newsletter goes out every Tuesday with information, and tutorials that aren’t featured anywhere else in the YamStamps world. You can sign up for the newsletter here to keep in touch. The multi-project monthly newsletter will be out on August 4th showcasing some August-December Mini Catalogue products so be sure to get on the list before then! In the meantime, happy crafting!
Sometimes you need a celebration card, but it’s something outside of the more common occasions to celebrate, like birthdays or weddings. This sentiment is great for any reason to celebrate! It’s from the Pattern Play stamp set. I used the discounted Pattern Play Bundle that includes the stamp set and the Playful Alphabet Dies to further customize my card.
I made this card to send to some members of my demonstrator group, known as the “Eh” Team, so I used the dies and the Foam Adhesive Sheets to customize the card by adding the EH! I cut the 2020-2022 In Colour Designer Series Paper [DSP] to fit my card front, and then stuck the remaining scraps of the DSP onto a Foam Adhesive Sheet. I was able to cut through the DSP and sheet using the dies, and then positioned them onto the front of the card.
Part of the joy of making handmade cards is the fact that you can make a card that suits your specific occasion and can customize it for the recipient. These cards are to celebrate my team members’ achievements – like making their quarterly sales quotas, adding members to their own demonstrator teams or having a certain level of sales in a month. By using coordinating products and colours it makes it even easier – and that’s my kind of crafting!! I stamped the “sparkle” stamp in Bumblebee ink onto the Bumblebee cardstock, and die cut some scalloped circles from the Layering Circles Dies in VeryVanilla and Misty Moonlight. I could have used the Stamparatus to stamp the sentiment, but because the Pattern Play stamp is photopolymer, I just used a clear block because I can actually see through the stamp (and block) to where I am stamping.
My healthcare job has been increasingly busy over the past couple of weeks, and I’ve been able to take a few days off this week. During my staycation I’ve been able to relax a bit with family, and catch up on some crafting and mail sending! I’m getting the August-December Mini Catalogue ready for mailing as well – if you’re in Canada and don’t have a demonstrator that you already deal with, please fill in this form to request a copy! In the meantime, stay healthy and keep crafting 🙂 I’m back to finishing my celebration cards and mailing them out!
Sharing this starry fun fold card….though I’m never truly sure what is a fun fold and what is just a neat design?? Technically this card doesn’t have extra folds, though it does have extra cuts?! I shared a quick red white and blue (and gold) version on the YamStampsInstagram and Facebook accounts yesterday in honour of the Fourth of July, but here’s a more neutral toned version for other special events.
By cutting out a portion of the front of the card, and then using the die cut star to reattach it and hold it in place, it makes an otherwise straightforward layout a little more interesting! I cut the Whisper White Cardstock to 4.25″ x 11″, then cut the front flap at 2″ and cut another 2″ strip from the portion I cut off. Add a bit of decorative paper – in this case the 2020-2022 In Colour Designer Series Paper in Just Jade, and then added a Stitched Star die cut in Gold Foil.
If you’d like to make a version of this card, I’m offering a Card Class to Go – and this is one of the designs. Due to COVID19 precautions, I’m still not scheduling any in person Monthly Card Classes – so this is what I’m trying. For the regular class fee of $20, you’ll get precut supplies to create 4 different cards. You supply the adhesive (if you need some, you can purchase from me when you register for class and I’ll send it with your supplies). As well, if it’s in the design of the card, I’ll include punch outs or die cuts that you can add a sentiment or image to with your own stamps and inks (or handwriting). This is due to Stampin’ Up! regulations – I can’t include pre-stamped images or sentiments in a class kit. You can pick up your kit if you’re local to Burlington Ontario, or I can mail it anywhere within Canada. You’ll get the supplies plus a sheet with photos of the completed projects and step by step instructions.
CARD CLASS TO GO
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR CLASS FEE: – precut supplies to create four different cards including card bases, all design elements and envelopes – Instruction sheet with colour photo and step by step instructions for each project – regular postage within Canada/porch pickup in Burlington ON – customer service – I’m available to answer your questions or provide extra guidance if needed!
YOU SUPPLY: – adhesive(s) of your choice (some options available for purchase at time of class registration) – any stamps/inks of your choice to customize your cards as you wish
Interested? I have a limited number of kits available – you can email me to purchase one! Payment by etransfer preferred, but CC options available.
Contact me if you have any questions – or if you’re ready to get the supplies to make your own starry fun fold card!
The Arrange a Wreath Bundle was high on my wish list and was part of my first order from the new Stampin’ Up! Catalogue when it went live. I’ve created this wreath card with it and there’s a trick that I did with these die cuts that made me clap my hands when it worked. (Seriously. Am I the only one who does that?!)
I really wanted to get started with this bundle because I loved the concept of it and how it could be used over the year. The Wreath Builder Dies coordinate with the images in the Arrange A Wreath stamp set, and the stamp set features sentiments that cover a variety of occasions. I wanted to show that this bundle can be used outside of some of those occasions, and I think I managed that with this card.
I die cut the two different wreaths – the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and the sprays in Highland Heather. If you’ve visited the YamStamps blog before, you’ll know that I like this colour combination! To make a more unified wreath element, I snipped the spray wreath in one spot, and then wove it around the green leafy wreath. I secured the ends in behind with a bit of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. After I finished patting myself on the back…LOL, I embossed the front of a Very Vanilla card with the Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder, and then used Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the wreath in place on the cardfront. I then used the brush end of a Highland Heather Stampin’ Write Marker to ink the “thanks” from the “give thanks” stamp and stamped it onto a strip of Very Vanilla, converting it from a Thanksgiving sentiment to something more suited for thiswreath card.
This cardfront reminds me of something I’d see in a modern design magazine of a big open concept kitchen or loft space. Pretty sure that this is as close as I will get to that set up!!!
While you can purchase the stamp set and dies separately, I’d recommend buying them together in the bundle – for one, it’s discounted 10%! As well – there’s nothing like the coordination of a stamp set and tool to make your crafting more quick and easy. If you’d like this bundle for a discount of 100%….you should consider purchasing a demonstrator starter kit and becoming part of my “Eh” Team! Until the end of June, when you purchase a starter kit, you’ll get a stamp/tool bundle of your choice for free! The starter kit contains all the business supplies you will need, plus $165 worth of product of your choice – so it’s completely customized to your crafting needs/wants! You can find out more about joining my group of demonstrators here or you can contact me. Oh – and another bonus? Demonstrators get early access to the new Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine that you can use with your Wreath bundle!! This machine will be available in September for customers, but demonstrators will be able to order it a month early.
I’m off to see what else I can create that is non-specific holiday-ish with this bundle! Happy Monday and thanks for stopping by.
