Coordinating stamps and dies means this gingko branch card is quick and easy to create!
I love coordinating products because they make my crafting so much easier – this gingko branch card is a perfect example of that. I’m even happier because Stampin’ Up! now calls the stamp sets and coordinating dies by the same name so it’s easy for me to remember which ones go together!
Gingko Branch Card
The Gingko Branch stamp set is one of Stampin’ Up!’s Distinktive stamp sets – meaning that the stamps have a texture that automatically provides depth and texture without any extra effort on my part – so you know it’s going to be a favourite for me! I simply inked this stamp with Old Olive ink, then when I applied the stamp to the paper, the shading and texture automatically occurred because of the way the stamp surface is constructed. (BONUS – if you don’t stamp it perfectly, no one will know because it’s not meant to be a uniform image!). There is the coordinating Gingko Branch Dies, and you can get the stamps and dies together in a discounted Gingko Branch Bundle during the January-April Mini Catalogue sales period (until 30 April 2023/while supplies last).
If you checked out the Sunday Swaps Page on New Years Day, you’ll have seen the swap card that I created for the Demonstrator Only Sale-a-Bration swap with the Beautifully Happy stamp set. Since it had multiple layers, I was thrifty and cut out the centre of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper with a Stitched Rectangle Die. The DSP layer was covered up by my main stamped image. I then took all those smaller Stitched Rectangle die cuts and used them to create multiples of this card!! It made a perfect backdrop to the die cut gingko leaves. I added an Old Olive Cardstock layer that I dry embossed with the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder (still one of my favourites and a go-to in my craft room). Honestly, the thing that took the longest was taking off all the liner bits from the Stampin’ Dimensionals that I used on the back of the die cut!
If you’re in Canada, if you purchase the Gingko Branch bundle, you’ll be able to select a Sale-a-Bration item for free from the “free with $60CAD purchase” level! You could select the Dainty Flowers DSP that I used on this card as well – then you’ve got almost everything to just copy this design – now that’s quick and easy crafting! Sale-a-Bration runs until 28 February, but a reminder that Sale-a-Bration freebie products are also only available while supplies last – while there’s a good supply of all the products, you never know what’s going to be the runaway hit and sell out before the end of the official sales period!
You can shop in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store 24/7 and have your items delivered directly to you in Canada, or you can contact me if you need assistance placing an order, want to pay by etransfer or have any questions. Let’s Sale-a-Brate!
So I was “procraftinating” the other day…you know, when you’re supposed to be doing something and craft instead…and came up with this super fun Totoro punch art card! OK technically it’s not punch art, it’s die cut art…but you get the idea. Basically use die cuts to piece together a totally different look!
Totoro Punch Art Card
Technically, I think I should have the belly circle lower on the card front, but it’s stuck in place now LOL!
image from Studio Ghibli site (with permission as per site settings)
So the above is a photo for reference…obviously my version is simplified! I used circle die cuts (from Layering Circles Dies and Warm Welcome Dies)for the eyes, and the nose is the end cast off piece from the label in the Waves Dies; the marks on the belly are created using the accent from the Alphabet A La Mode Dies!
This Totoro punch art card was a lot of fun to create – and I made a short video of the process which I uploaded to pretty much all my social media platforms – TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook….because everyone has their “go to” platforms where they watch their content! I’ve embedded the YouTube version below.
Eventually I did get some other work done….but I am really good at procraftinating…..how about you? If you want to keep in the loop about other tools to help you procraftinate, or craft on purpose, even, be sure to be signed up for the YamStamps Newsletters (click on the link or use the box on the YamStamps site) – they are sent out each Tuesday at 1pm Eastern – so no more procraftinating for me – I’m off to write a newsletter!
The January-April Mini Catalogue and Sale-a-Bration Catalogue both start today!
Just when you thought you were done celebrating – here’s another reason to be happy – it’s new catalogue time!
The January-April Mini Catalogue is live – you can click here to check out the online version of the catalogue. If you made a purchase with me in the last few months, you should have received your copy already. If you are missing a copy or would like to get one and don’t currently have a Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrator, I’m happy to help – just message me!
It’s also the start of Sale-a-Bration! Stampin’ Up! is returning to a once a year Sale-a-Bration event, so starting today and running until the end of February, when you have $60CAD product in a single order (before shipping/taxes, after any coupons/discounts), you’ll be able to select a free product from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue! There are also some items that are available at the $120CAD level. There’s no limit to how many Sale-a-Bration rewards you can earn. Click here to see the online catalogue.
One of the best deals during Sale-a-Bration is the Demonstrator Starter Kit– you’ll have THREE options for your kit 1) Select $225 worth of product, receive a special edition Boho Blue (new upcoming In Colo(u)r!) Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine and pay just $175. 2) Select $225 worth of product, receive a White (‘regular colour’) Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine and pay just $175. 3) If you don’t need a(nother) Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, you can select $225 worth of product and pay just $135.
The Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine retails for $86CAD, so if you select a Starter Kit option that includes it – you’re paying less than half price for the device! During Sale-a-Bration all the kits contain $60 more product than usual! It’s a fantastic way to kick off your own home based business.
Wishing you all the best for 2023 – let’s Celebrate You this year!
Happy New Year! I hope that it brings good things for all of us. I also hope that you had time to enjoy the holiday season! I was fortunate enough to have some time off from my “other” job after Christmas so I was able to relax a bit, and also was able to see extended family – some of whom I hadn’t seen in person for a few years!!!
As I write this though, I’m trying to gear myself up to get going again – but it’s hard since every day has felt like a Sunday for the past week!! It’s not a bad thing, but it’s definitely disorienting, and I have trouble knowing the day/date on a regular basis anyway…
I had the luxury of time to be able to do things like…clean up my office (long overdue, and how many pens do I actually have??!!!) though it’s already starting to get a little messy again. I did also do a bit of craft room clean up, but honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming sometimes so I do a bit, and then make some cards and make a mess again….LOL. However I did get some things done there – like these “Celebrate You” Cards!
These are some cards that I bulk produced over the break – for members of my Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator group known as the “Eh” Team! I did a bit of “catch up” over my break and sent out my “Eh” Team Rewards inside these cards. (If you want to find out more about joining my group of demonstrators, you can check out the information at yamstamps.com/join or message me). I definitely wanted to send a “celebrate you” message to them at the start of the year!
Celebrate You!
This celebrate you sentiment is great – and it’s made by combining partial sentiments in the stamp set Sentimental Park that’s in the January-April Mini Catalogue. I used Coastal Cabana and Fresh Freesia ink (pulled from the Designer Series Paper colours). This card’s colour scheme just makes me happy – I’m a blues/greens kind of girl, so this is my colour palette! The patterned paper is the Dandy Designs Designer Series Paper that is available as a Sale-a-Bration freebie – you can select it for free with a $120 CAD product order. Both the Mini Catalogue and Sale-a-Bration are in effect as of THURSDAY, 5 JANUARY 2023. I put it in caps because I want to highlight that it’s not yet available. Just a few more days! (I’ll come back and update this post with links once the catalogues are live).
I love clean and simple designs, and this is definitely in that category, but I think because of the busy paper and details on the stamped sentiment, it distracts you from the fact that the design is quite straightforward. Not that there’s anything wrong with straightforward designs! They are my go-to! I like having a pattern that I know works, and then I can just change it up with whatever I have on hand for whatever occasion! I like my crafting to be easy and effective.
Something’s Coming…
If having a blueprint for your crafting is something that sounds helpful for you, you’ll want to check back on Wednesday – or better yet, be on my mailing list, because I’ll be sharing details for a new program I’m offering – designed to make your crafting easier and more fun. No More Crafting Brain Strain!!
In the meantime, I’m off to see if I can find a clear tabletop area in my craft room to come up with a few more cards that I will need in the next little while…
Check out this fun fold card tutorial video – easy and impressive – great for Hanukkah or any special occasion!
If you are on my mailing list – first of all, THANK YOU, and second of all, you may remember that you get access to a free exclusive tutorial when you signed up. Every once in a while I change out the freebie, so I figured I could share previous tutorials with everyone. I love this particular project, and a friend recently pointed out that it could be a Hanukkah card! So it seemed appropriate to make a previous project public and share this fun fold card tutorial video at this time of year.
Hope you enjoy it! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. If you’d like to check out the latest new subscriber tutorial,sign up for my emails! You can use the box at the top of the YamStamps site, or click here. (If you’re already a subscriber – thanks and watch for the link to the current project in an upcoming email). If you’re interested in other fun fold card tutorial videos, you may want to consider grabbing one of my Online Classes – there’s a few fancy/fun fold card classes – you can see the list at YamStampsMore.com.
I know this is a busy time of year, so thank you for stopping by my corner of the cyberworld. I hope that you are able to spend some time with family and friends, and have a few days to catch your breath before we head into 2023!!
There are some items that will “carry over” – some items will be available to order until the beginning of May, but won’t appear in any catalogue. There are some items that will return in a future publication.
You can grab retired product at a discount – including some of those limited time coordinating dies like the Birthday Piggies! Check out the Clearance items here. Again, these items are available while supplies last.
As always, if you would like assistance placing your order or want to pay by etransfer, you can contact me with your list! If you are local to Burlington ON and have a smaller order, you can also take advantage of any group orders I have going in – I’ll add your order to ones I have from other people. It saves you a bit on the shipping costs, but you do run the risk of items selling out before we hit the threshold for the 11% shipping rate, so depends on how much of a gambler you are! If you have any questions, just let me know.
In the meantime, happy December! Stay warm! I’m off to a few Santa Claus parades this weekend, so you know I’ll be bundling up and looking for my hot chocolate afterwards!
