This soft pink cherry blossoms card will hopefully distract you from the weather outside – because it’s been pretty dreary and grey lately in my neighbourhood! It could be used for a wedding, anniversary, engagement or Valentine’s Day, or swap out the sentiment and make it a birthday card or “just because” card.
Forever Blossoms Card
This card features the Forever Blossoms stamp set from the Jan-June Mini Catalogue (click on the link to see all the catalogue items in the online Stampin’ Up! Canada YamStamps store). The embossing folder used on the Petal Pink Cardstock layer is the Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder. I stamped the cherry blossoms image onto a piece of Vellum Cardstock, and then adhered it onto a layer of Very Vanilla Cardstock so the image showed up a bit more. I added some Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the flowers for some “bling” but also to hide the glue dots that I used to hold the vellum in place! There’s also some SNAIL adhesive on the vellum, hiding behind the sentiment.
I have to admit – this is the first time that I purchased an entire suite bundle from a catalogue. When I saw the Parisian Blossoms Suite I knew I had to have everything in it….
Parisian Blossoms Suite Bundle
I mean, seriously. What is NOT to love about this suite?! The cherry blossoms card only uses a tiny portion of the product in it. I am talking myself into cutting up the Designer Series Paper rather than just hoarding it too! This is one of the suite of products that has me looking to get into scrapbooking a bit more. I am keeping my goals really low and low key, like a layout a month. Seriously. Since I haven’t done much personal memory keeping at all of late, I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself! If you’re a YamStamps Newsletter subscriber, you’ll have seen my layout in last week’s big monthly projects newsletter. I can only go up from there….LOL.
If you are looking to get some “me” time or “friends” time into your schedule, why not join a cardmaking class? The Monthly Card Classes are (generally) the first Wednesday of each month here in Burlington ON. Grab a friend and come to class, or come on your own and meet some new friends who like to try something crafty too! Afternoon session is 1pm, evening session is 7pm. You can see upcoming dates on the YamStamps Events Page. If that day or those times don’t work for you – contact me about a private card class! My place or yours!
I love the monochromatic look – using just one colour on a project. It’s an easy way to make an impression, and depending on the colour you choose, it can be a dramatic one! Here’s a Monochromatic Christmas Card that we did during the October Christmas Card Class.
For this holiday card, I chose to use a metallic tone – in this case, silver. I used the Delicata Metallic Shimmery Silver Ink. Unfortunately, in the meantime, the Delicata ink pads have sold out! If you want to recreate this card/look – you could choose a grey tone – like Smoky Slate, or heat emboss using Silver Embossing Powder. I shared a card on the YamStamps Facebook Page using Copper Embossing Powder as a way to get a coppery metallic look.
The ornament is stamped and punched out with the Christmas Gleaming Bundle, and I added an extra hole punch to string some of the Silver Metallic Thread. The ornament is hung from the rectangular frame from the Heirloom Frames Dies and 3D Embossing Folders. When you use the frames, I found it more effective to cut first, then emboss – otherwise you tend to flatten the embossing if you do it the other way around. I did “cheat” after and trim a bit at the edges of my cardstock. A bit of subtle bling (is there such a thing?) from the Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels. Oh – I guess that technically makes it not a monochromatic card, since I used the light blue ones?! Oops. Well, I’m still calling it a Monochromatic Christmas Card in any case.
My LAST Christmas Card Classes (I can’t believe it) will be this upcoming Wednesday at 1pm or 7pm. Cost is $30 and includes a bottle of Shimmery Crystal Effects. I have had some late openings in the classes, so if you’d like to attend, please contact me ASAP to save a spot. Regular card classes continue on the first Wednesday of each month, and the December class will have one holiday card in the set. You can check out upcoming events on the YamStamps Events Page.
Also upcoming – I will have a Black Friday – Cyber Monday special on an older online class of mine. The Holiday Punch Art Online Class came out a few years ago, but I’ll be offering it at a special price! Check back on Friday for the link – and be on the YamStamps Mailing List to get notification in your inbox!
This glittery star card was one of my personal favourites from last month’s Christmas Card Class! While we set it up as a holiday card, I’m sure you could use this accent on a celebratory card for any occasion. (Oh, and surprise, it’s navy and silver….but there’s copper accents and the card is grey….so I’m kind of getting away from that recurring theme? Maybe? I’m trying, really I am!). Though now that I write that, I realize what the colour scheme was for the first of the YamStamps Twelve Weeks of Christmas project emails yesterday…. (Get on my newsletter list so you don’t miss any more of the subscriber exclusive projects!).
This is a square card, because I really wanted the large star to take up a lot of space on the cardfront. The background is the Brightly Gleaming Specialty Designer Series Paper so I took my colour scheme from that. The large copper foil star is from the Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements – you get 10 of them in the package (if I counted correctly). While I was playing around with the elements, I discovered that the star is the same size as one of the Stitched Stars Dies! So the Silver Glimmer Paper was cut with the star and then the Copper Foil Star was stuck onto it. Once it was secure, we just had to trim the ends of the silver star – because the die has pointy star ends and the foil element is rounded.
I try not to stray too much outside a bundle if possible, but I couldn’t resist using the Shine Bright stamp set sentiment – because I thought it was perfect! If you’re keeping track – the Stitched Stars Dies come in a discounted bundle with the So Many Stars stamp set, while the Shine Bright stamp set comes in a discounted bundle with the Stitched Brightly Dies. It’s heat embossed with Copper Embossing Powder and cut out with a Stitched Rectangle Die. Even though it’s an extra step to die cut a sentiment, it often means I don’t have to re-do a card because at the last moment I stamped the sentiment crookedly! Just stamp the sentiment on a scrap piece of cardstock, then die cut (and of course, position the die so the sentiment is squared and centred within the cut out portion!).
And it was pointed out to me that I missed an embellishment opportunity – a little rhinestone bling in the centre of the star?! Ah well – for the next time I make this card – or YOU could make it!
Are you a member of the Paper Crafting with YamStamps Facebook Group? I did a last minute Facebook Live on Wednesday, showing how you can heat emboss with Stampin’ Up! inks. Click on join and follow so that you can be notified of future Lives – because I’m on a mission to do a few more live videos on a regular basis! If you make a version of a glittery star card, please post it in the group – I have a participation challenge going on right now! Thanks for stopping by.
This week’s Sunday Swap Share has an autumn feel to it – though it’s using product from the Holiday Catalogue, which often seems like the Christmas and Halloween Catalogue…LOL. Created by Sophie Ouellet, this wildlife card features Stampin’ Up!’s Nature’s Beauty Stamp Set and seems appropriate for the first official Sunday of fall!
One other thing to note – a portion of each sale of this stamp set goes towards supporting mental health in the country in which it is sold. Stampin’ Up! has designated the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as the Canadian beneficiary. I know that crafting is a great stress reliever for me, and helps my mental health – and it’s great to know that this stamp set goes towards helping support mental health in Canada!
The Petal Pink Vellum is from the Perennial Essence Vellum Cardstock package and coordinates with the Petal Pink Organdy Striped Ribbon. I would never have thought to use Petal Pink and Blackberry Bliss on an autumn card – part of the reason I love participating in swaps! I don’t have to think up every single design on my own, and can borrow from ideas and inspiration from others. While I do enjoy coming up with my own designs, there are times when I need a little creative boost.
Did you know that if you purchase a starter kit through me, you become part of my group of demonstrators known as the “Eh” Team? You aren’t out there on your own – you have my support and training, plus Stampin’ Up!’s trainings, plus our team in total – when you want it or need it. I’m having an Information Night on Thursday, October 9th at 7pm. It’s a short, free event for you to have your questions answered. If you’re not local to Burlington, ON, or can’t make it that evening, you can contact me for other options. Check out my Demonstrator Information Page by clicking the link, or typing in the shortcut yamstamps.com/join. As always, you can contact me if you have any questions or need any information – about becoming a demonstrator with my team, crafting supplies, or paper crafting techniques! Thanks to Sophie for this great wildlife card, thanks to Stampin’ Up! for a great fundraiser, and thanks to you for stopping by the YamStamps blog.
Sometimes you want to send a card for “no reason” or to let a friend know you’re thinking about them. Here’s a card to say hello that will serve those purposes!
I might have a bit of an issue with this Basket Weave 3D Embossing Folder – in that I LOVE using it for my cards. It’s one of those things that I will have to force myself away from when designing class cards (because class attendees might like to try out different products – go figure). However, you will notice that it’s another blue card….LOL. I can only do so much outside my typical comfort zone, people!!
This card features the To a Wild Rose Bundle which includes the To a Wild Rose stamp set and Wild Rose Dies, at a discount vs buying the products individually. LAZY CRAFTER ALERT / #craftinghack I lifted the colour palette for this card from the ribbon. The Seaside Spray Scalloped Linen Ribbon is so pretty that I wanted to highlight it. I used Crumb Cake as the brown tone for the card. I placed the plain linen side out on the front of the card and then used the other side when tying the knot. Some class attendees opted to use the blue edged side showing for both portions though! My lazy crafter way of doing the knot – one length of ribbon goes on the card (tape the ends in behind with SNAIL or adhesive tape), and then use another slightly shorter piece of ribbon and tie it around the first. By doing it this way, you can move the knot around to where you’d like it on the card front without undoing the entire ribbon piece!
If you are in need of a card to say hello to a friend, or just want to get out and try some techniques and products, come to a class! The Monthly Card Class is held the first Wednesday of each month (generally…) in north Burlington ON, and there’s an afternoon and an evening session. Your class fee includes all the supplies required for the 4 cards we create during class – including adhesive and envelopes. You can check out the upcoming dates on the YamStamps Events Page or message me to register or get more information. Hope to see you in class soon!
This week’s Sunday Swap Share is a fancy fold bird card from Sophie Ouellet. She took a “Z” fold card and oriented it so it’s a tall card rather than a wide card. Check out the work she put into this one!
This card uses the Free as a Bird bundle – which includes the Free as a Bird stamp set and the Stitched Nested Labels Dies. (and seriously? I just realized that the dies are called “nested” labels and they’re bundled with the Free as a Bird stamp set. Suddenly this pairing makes a bit more sense to me).
The Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper peeking through the window (which is cut out by one of the Nested Label Dies) obviously served as Sophie’s point of reference when she coloured in her images in the foreground of the card. She’s also added an accent of the Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim.
Here’s another angle of this fancy fold bird card.
She’s even included an image on the very inside of the card! Can you imagine – she made TWENTY of these for our demonstrator swap. I love seeing the creativity of other demonstrators and use their cards as inspiration for my own projects for class and for personal use!
That being said….I am also going to try to share the wealth a little more going forward – so if you leave a comment on my blog posts, or on the YamStamps Facebook Page, or on the YamStamps Instagram….you may find yourself getting a message from me asking for your mailing address so that I can send you a card from my stash!
I’m off to finish off last minute prep for the first of the Christmas Card Classes! I’m accepting registrations for the September Christmas Card Class, so message me to get started on those holiday cards and check out the YamStamps Events Page for upcoming dates!
Thanks again to Sophie for this lovely fancy fold bird card.
