Jan 13, 2019 | Big Shot, cards, Occasions, Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up!
This week’s Sunday Swap Share is this calming thank you card. It was created by Dana Hancock, using the Level One Sale-a-Bration stamp set, By the Bay. You could choose this for free when you place a $60 Stampin’ Up! product order until March 31st.
For this thank you card, Dana also used some of the Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack, plus the Balmy Blue ribbon from the Sale-a-Bration Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack, which of course, coordinates with the Balmy Blue Cardstock. When you have a line art image like this one, it may feel like you need to add colour to the whole thing – but you can spotlight just one area of the image, as is done here – a bit of blue and brown added to the building only. You can recreate this by adding colour with either an Aquapainter or Blender pen, and picking up some colour from either a reinker or the inside cover of an ink pad. If you look closely, you’ll also see the detail added by using the Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies, one of my new favourite products in the Occasions Catalogue.
When you book a private card class through me, you can request the themes of the four cards we will create – so if you are in need of a thank you card, birthday cards, or thinking of you cards, be sure to contact me to book a date! Sale-a-Bration runs until March 31st, so if you want to take advantage of the freebies, you’ll want to get a date in before then. Hope to speak to you soon!
Jan 10, 2019 | Big Shot, cards, Occasions, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
One of my issues with Valentine’s Day Cards is that they tend to be all flowery, frilly and over the top, and that’s not really my style. Most of my class attendees are females, and most of them are giving these cards to males, so I thought I’d come up with a more Masculine Valentine’s Day Card design to use in my January classes. More gender neutral or suitable for someone who appreciates more streamlined designs without too much fuss. Sorry. Likely a bad description for a good card, so perhaps I should just go ahead and share it?!
So this masculine Valentine’s Day Card uses the Stamparatus – which makes the ombré pattern sooooooo easy. I wanted the darkest heart at the bottom of the card, so I actually stamped the cardfront upside down – that is, I positioned the heart upside down so that when I did the hinge technique, the hearts faded out so the palest heart was at the top. The hinge technique is where you stamp the image, and then move the Stamparatus plate down one (or more) hinge spots, and restamp the image. You can see how this works in this YamStamps Facebook Live I did in November.
I used the Occasions Catalogue Meant to Be Bundle for this card. The bundle includes the Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies, and the Meant to Be stamp set, which is one of the new CLING stamp sets from Stampin’ Up! These red rubber stamps have a new and improved sticker system which means your stamps will really cling to your clear blocks or Stamparatus. Some of the images and framelits are the traditional more flowery type of images, and scallop border edges, but for a Masculine Valentine’s Day Card, I stuck to the more linear look image, the stitched edge heart, and the deeper colour of Merry Merlot.
We made this card at the Monthly Card Class, and I’ll bring it out again for Stamper’s Club, because I like it so much! If you’d like to make this masculine Valentine’s Day card, you can join the Stamper’s Club, or host a card making party with friends before Valentine’s Day (we could do all valentines, or a mix of occasions)! This is a GREAT time to host a card class – because it’s Sale-a-Bration! If you place a $60 product order, you can select a Sale-a-Bration item for free – and hosts can earn more free product with qualifying total party sales. Contact me to book a date! You can host your friends and family class at your place or mine – whichever is easier. Please contact me as soon as possible so you have the best choice of available dates. Looking forward to hearing from you!!
Jan 6, 2019 | Big Shot, cards, Occasions, Stampin' Up!
The new Occasions Catalogue has some great new items! Today’s Sunday Swap Share is this die cut butterfly card that I created for a recent demonstrator card swap. I apparently have a thing for butterflies…so check out the YamStamps Instagram feed to see another Butterfly Card that I did for a different demonstrator card swap, using Occasions Catalogue product plus Sale-a-Bration product that you can select as your freebie with a $60 product order.
The butterflies are made up of two layers of die cuts, and they’re each one piece (all the butterflies are attached to each other). They really are the centre showpiece for this die cut butterfly card. I used the Beauty Abounds Bundle from the Occasions Catalogue. The Beauty Abounds Stamp Set is one of the new “Cling” stamp sets. It’s red rubber, with a new, improved super sticky label that will really cling to your clear block or Stamparatus. It’s available in a discounted bundle with the Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies. For this card, I used one of my favourite colours, Blueberry Bushel, for the back layer of butterflies, and used Basic Black for the top layer. The background uses Lemon Lime Twist to give it a bit of “pop”, and some Rhinestone Basic Jewels for a bit of bling.
One of the perks of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is getting first looks and first access to upcoming catalogues and products! If you’re interested in having your own Stampin’ Up! business, now is a GREAT time to join. During Sale-a-Bration (that is…now until March 31st), you can get an additional $60 in free product! For $175, you can get $225 worth of product of your choice, PLUS the exclusive Craft & Carry Tote. This is the ONLY way to get this craft tote bag at this time. If, by some crazy chance, you don’t feel you need another bag….(I’m not sure how that feels…LOL), you can get the Starter Kit without the Tote for just $135. You get all that Stampin’ Up! product and all the basic business supplies to get your business off the ground running. Plus you’ll get my support when you sign up as part of my “Eh” Team of stampers. If you’d like more information or need help selecting your Starter Kit products, you can contact me, and RSVP to attend the no charge Information Evening, this Thursday, January 10th at 7pm. If you prefer to read about it… you can check out this FAQ page…or if you prefer to just take action, you can join my team here.
A reminder that January’s Monthly Card Class is THIS Wednesday, January 9th at 1pm or 7pm. If you want to get your year off to a creative start, please contact me to reserve your spot! Spaces are limited. Cost is $20 and includes all supplies required. Hope to see you soon!
Dec 31, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
Just a quick note to say “Thank You” for reading the YamStamps blog! This is the time of year when we tend to look back on the past year and make plans for the upcoming year. For me, this past year has been full of family, friends, travel and creativity – for which I am grateful! It’s also been a year of change, loss and development, for which I am also grateful, because I know that growth can come out of the challenges (though I may not be very happy about those challenges when they come about).
In review, one of the most popular projects that I shared here was this Springtime Foils Sale-a-Bration card. I’m looking forward to sharing more card ideas and Sale-a-Bration projects with you in the upcoming months! January 3rd is the date when the Occasions Catalogue is active and Sale-a-Bration starts! My goal is to be more regular in posting to all platforms, and I’m looking forward to posting some creative challenges in the Paper Crafting with YamStamps Facebook Group in the new year – and hope you’ll participate with me!
Here’s a virtual thank you card and hug from me! Using the Hand Delivered Host Only stamp set, and Stampin’ Up! Whisper White Notecards. It’s #simplestamping with a “step up” – a bit of colour from Watercolour Pencils – but no water added! I did use a Blender Pen to make a mix of Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso for a skin tone colour on the legs/fingers. I just scribbled onto some scrap cardstock and blended/picked up the colour with the Blender Pen! The hint is to not scribble too much when applying the colour to the image so that the paper won’t pill.
In short – thank you for your support! I hope that 2019 brings happiness and creativity into your world. Wishing you all the best – and “see” you again soon!!
Dec 28, 2018 | cards, Occasions, Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up!
I hope that you had a good Christmas! I have been enjoying spending time with family over the past week and a bit. My son is home from university, and my brother is visiting from out west (British Columbia). Unfortunately this means the blog has been a little neglected, between prepping for the holiday, working and family time. I’m not going to complain, though. It’s been fun spending time together – visiting, playing video games (guess which people participate a little bit more than others in that activity), and just enjoying each other’s company. Sleep is a big priority for the student, though, and I had to laugh as I read a number of Facebook posts from friends with similarly aged offspring on Christmas morning – all of us waiting for the kids to wake up, and remember howing a decade ago it was a little different!!
So today I’m sharing a sneak peek from the Occasions Catalogue, which will be in effect as of January 3rd, which is also when Sale-a-Bration starts! I’ve used Stampin’ Up!’s mailing services to send out a whole bunch of these catalogues by mail….but with the backlog at Canada Post, I’m getting a little anxious that they won’t be in your mailboxes by January 3rd! Have no fear, though – I will definitely post links to the catalogues here and on the YamStamps Facebook page, and will see if I can figure out how to include it in the Instagram Account as well.
This card uses the new Host Stamp set, Just Because, and a bit of therapeutic colouring. I love using the Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Based markers – they’re great for shading and no streak lines! Plus they come in light and dark shades of a colour, so there’s no thinking in terms of blending and shading (which of course is great for me….haha!)
OK now that I look at this card, there’s a number of “sneak peeks” on it…so look away if you want to be totally surprised when the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues go live! Oops! Anyway, for those of you still reading, the stamp set is the Host set, and then the Black and White plaid paper is the Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper option that you can select for free with a $60 product order (on/after January 3). The Stitched Rectangle Framelits are something that Demonstrators at the November On Stage Event were most excited to get their hands on! and then a bit of bling with the Faceted Dots. The image was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and coloured with Crumb Cake and Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends markers. For a refresher on which Stampin’ Up! ink to use when….see this post on Facebook.
Any of these new year’s resolutions on your list? 1) Be more creative/crafty 2) Get some ME time 3) Learn something new 4) Spend time with friends (new or old!) 5) Keep in touch with friends and family ?? I can help!! You can cover a lot of these by coming to a class with me! YamStamps Monthly Card Classes, or the YamStamps Stampers Club are great ways to get out and meet new people, learn new skills and be creative. You’ll walk away with 4 cards that you can send to friends or family to let them know you’re thinking of them. Monthly Card Classes occur on the first Wednesday of each month – EXCEPT THIS JANUARY. We’re all still on holiday schedule, so January’s card class is Wednesday, January 9th, at 1pm or 7pm. Stampers Club occurs the 3rd Monday of each month – so January 21 at 1pm or 630/7pm. (evening class attendees can start from 630pm onwards, I’m edging the time up a bit!). Check the YamStamps Events Page for details or other classes – or consider hosting your own class – at my place or yours! Contact me for details and to book a date (Sale-a-Bration is a GREAT time to host a class – more freebies for everyone who orders product!). Oh – and one of my 2019 Resolutions is to be better at scheduling and organizing blog posts!!
In the meantime, I’m off to the grocery store again. Funny how having two extra guys around the house means we go through food a little faster than usual….
Dec 18, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
I think I say this every year….and still it doesn’t change…it’s ONE WEEK until Christmas?! So not ready. I know that I do the 12 Weeks of Christmas mailings, and really I should be more aware…but it seems that I get so wrapped up in the busy-ness of the season that I all of a sudden come up for air and realize the date. (How about you?!). I think in part it’s also because my son isn’t yet home from school – he’s finishing up exams at university, and won’t be home until the end of this week….and then it’s the weekend…and then it’s Christmas!!
By the way, YamStamps Mailing LIst subscribers will receive the last (*sniff*) 12 Weeks of Christmas email tomorrow, so watch for that around 1pm Eastern. The emails are my version of a Thank You Card for being a subscriber.
This is a real life thank you card that we did in Stampers Club a little while ago. We moved up the December Stampers Club date so that people didn’t feel too pushed with the timing of the club class and the holidays. One of my friends mentioned that some of the nicest cards to receive are thank you cards – because it’s not expected (in most cases). Using Designer Series Papers, you can add a dimension to your cards quicklly and easily! In this case, it’s the Specialy Designer Series Paper, Share What You Love. The sentiment is from the Petal Palette stamp set (available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount), and the accents are die cut with the Petals & More Thinlits Dies.
I figure I will create cards with a spring theme since that’s probably when they’ll get mailed/delivered – between me and Canada Post!! I am, however, crossing my fingers that the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration Catalogues will make their way safely to a mailbox near you by the time they are in effect! The current Holiday Catalogue (and the Year End Clearance Sale) runs to January 2nd, and then the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues are open for business as of January 3rd (I think at noon Mountain Time, in order to give the system time to get switched over). Do not fear, though, because I will be sure to post links to the online versions at least…and if you are able to attend a class in person, you can grab a copy from me at that! Please note that the January Card Class date is Wednesday, January 9th at 1pm or 7pm. So that’s the SECOND Wednesday of the month, not the first. I figured that I wouldn’t be ready for a class on January 2nd…plus this way we can focus on some of the new product that will be available!!
One last note for now – I will be offering a paper share for the Occasions Catalogue! Each person will receive a 6″ x 12″ piece of each of the patterns of Designer Series Paper, or a complete 6″ x 6″ sheet of each pattern in a Designer Series Paper stack, plus a 6″ x 12″ piece of each of the patterns of the Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper that will be available. Please note that this Paper Share does NOT include the Specialty Designer Series Papers. Cost per person is $30 CAD, plus postage/shipping. (I will be in touch with each participant to confirm method of delivery). I will post images in the new year (in case you want to be surprised when you open your catalogue). You can contact me to reserve a spot or if you have any questions about the Paper Share. Please note that due to Stampin’ Up! regulations, only Canadians may participate in this Paper Share.
In the meantime, I’m off to do a bit more last minute holiday prep, and off to my choir Christmas party tonight – snacking together is something we do almost as well as singing together!! THANK YOU for stopping by the YamStamps blog!
