Stampin’ Up! Retiring Product News! While the full retiring list won’t be released for a few days yet, we do know of a few items that will be retiring – notably the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine and the Stampin’ Trimmer!
What to know:
Stampin’ Up! will still continue to offer dies and embossing folders, and moving forward these items will be made by a different supplier, so you will notice some difference in them. Exciting – the dies will have an inner edge or lip so that they will line up right against the stamped image – making them easier to align perfectly, rather than having to judge the amount of space you’re leaving around the stamped image. In the meantime, carry over dies and embossing folders may be the “old style” when ordered, until current stock is depleted.
Stampin’ Up!’s Trimmer and all associated tools will be retiring – which means the replacement blades and mats. There is currently a 3 item limit on replacement blades, but after April 15th, it will move up to a 6 item limit. This means that you can stock up on the blades and they should last you a long time still.
While neither of these items will be in the 2019-2020 Annual Catalogue, Stampin’ Up! is moving forward with coming up with new offerings in these categories (and will let us know when they’re ready to be released!).
I know that this Stampin’ Up! Retiring Product News may be a bit of a surprise – I personally LOVE my Big Shot – but I know that Stampin’ Up! is working toward offering their own product that will fill the paper crafter’s needs, and I’m looking forward to see what they will be offering.
In the meantime, as always – if you have any questions, you can either leave a comment below or message me. If you need to grab these items (or associated accessories) – please visit yamstamps.com/shop (or click on the images above to see them in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada Store).
In my Monthly Card Classes and Stampers Club, I always try to include a variety of cards in the class. Usually there will be one appropriate for the month – for example in February there was a “love” card that could be used as a Valentine, and this month there’s an Easter card. I also try to do one that is more “gender neutral”. Often when I do a hosted event the host will ask for a certain type of card, and I do my best to accomodate! It’s a way for me to stretch my creative muscle a bit, otherwise I tend to fall into a bit of a creative rut. These demonstrator card swaps are another great way to stretch my creativity – usually there are guidelines for materials, number of layers, accessories etc, and I actually find it can be easier for me to come up with something when I’m given these “rules”.
The Stampers Club meets on the third Monday of each month (in general, depending on stat holidays!) and each member signs up for six consecutive months. Once the six months are up, the member can either continue on for another six, or take a break. We have some members that join for certain seasons, based on work or travel, and some that enjoy a more consistent creative outlet. Check the YamStamps Events page for upcoming dates and information, or you can always contact me. Can’t make those dates? Get a group together and contact me to set up a private class date! No excuses – set aside some me time and get crafty!!
This sparkly sunset card wasn’t intended to look like a sunset…but it ended up that way and I’m okay with it!
The beautiful sunset effect was created using Brusho Crystal Colour and water. I admit I’ve been a bit hesitant to play a lot with these because I thought they were a bit on the messy side and required a bit of commitment! However – now that I’ve played with them, I think I’ll pull them out a bit more!
The image is from Petal Palette – one of my favourite stamps in that set – I think I’ve used that more than any of the others. It’s currently available in red rubber wood mount and red rubber clear mount. Don’t forget if you really want some of these wood mount stamp sets, you’ll want to order them in the next month or two – because as of June 2019 all Stampin’ Up! stamps will either be red rubber clear mount or photopolymer.
You can “kind of” see the sparkle here I think? It’s subtle, but it’s there. Shimmery White Cardstock is great and will stand up to getting a soaker.
I was a little enthusiastic with soaking my cardstock so I actually was able to tip it and get the wet colour to run towards the side, which resulted in the streak effect. Definitely a bit of a happy accident.
A couple of things to know with Brusho – a little goes a LONG way, and some of the darker colours are quite strong and can overwhelm your piece. I worked on a few layers of older grid paper (“reuse recycle!”), and used my heat tool to speed up the process because I’m a little impatient. You don’t need to open up the Brusho containers – just pierce the lid with a pushpin, and then you can leave the pushpin in place to seal the hole when not in use.
I’ll try to do a Facebook Live over on the YamStamps Facebook Page showing this sparkly sunset card construction in the next few days so you can see the Brushos in action. Please like and follow the page, you should get notification when I’m going live! If you miss it live, there’s always the replay which will remain available indefinitely.
In the meantime, I’m trying to get ready to go to the Kitchener Scrapfest! I’m happy to have a vendor booth there once again this year. Friday April 12 and Saturday April 13 – please stop by to say hi, do a bit of shopping and do a free make and take…and fill out a door prize draw form! Hope to see you there!
This is not an April Fool’s Trick! Stampin’ Up! has released their storage solutions and you can get them starting today! Storage by Stampin’ Up! is perfectly sized for your Stampin’ Up! ink pads, refils and markers!
This modular system is totally customizable – and can expand as your collection expands! You can select which trays and which toppers you get, and then combine them in a way that suits your crafting area!
Check out this flyer to see all the options – and a handy way to calculate how many of each type of storage block you’ll need! (or check out the quick reference image below)
As another cheat sheet helper:
There are 4 colour families, each with 10 ink pads/refills/Stampin’ Write Markers, there are 2 In Colour Families, each with 5 ink pads/refills/Stampin’ Write Markers. By my count there are currently 30 pairs of Stampin’ Blends Markers available (so 60 markers) plus 3 single Blends (colour lifter, Ivory, Bronze) but this number could be slightly off….obviously you’re best to count how many YOU have and order accordingly?!
I can’t wait to get my storage system set up – because I’m sure that will mean I will be totally organized in the next year, right?! *cough*
If you have any questions or need assistance ordering your Storage by Stampin’ Up, please feel free to contact me!
OK I had to save this post because the card recipient wasn’t at band practice last week….and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise! So here it is now – my EASY handmade Harry Potter Greeting Card. So easy, muggles can make it!
I have to admit, I squealed a bit when this card came together like it did! And true confession….not sure if I would do the scar next time…but I know it’s integral to Harry Potter…maybe I’ll just learn to draw it a bit better. (There’s a REASON, well, many, that I am a stamper and not a painter/illustrator etc).
This handmade Harry Potter greeting card is actually VERY easy to recreate, just a swish and a flick and you’re done…
The glasses are created using circle punches – in this case, the 2″ Circle Punch and the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. Punch the smaller inner circle FIRST, then centre and punch the outer circle. If you wanted, you could also easily do this with coordinating sizes of Layering Circles Framelits and the Big Shot. I just used two scraps of Basic Black cardstock for the arms of the glasses.
For the hair, I had a strip of Early Espresso cardstock that I snipped in jagged points with my Paper Snips. For the scarf, I had a strip of Merry Merlot and I added pieces of Crushed Curry to recreate the Griffyndor colours.
Or…you could give this information to another card maker and then say “Accio, handmade Harry Potter Greeting Card“?!
If you are looking to get into cardmaking, or know someone that is starting out, I’m finalizing details for my Beginners Card Making Class – it’s a 101 class on creating your own greeting cards – from choosing cardstock to cutting and layering, and all the “basic” information you need to build a foundation upon for more intricate cards. I’ll be opening preregistration soon and looking to launch in April. Like my most recent card classes, class registrants will receive an invitation to a private group which will house class information and host the live videos. Stay tuned for more information!
In the meantime, I leave you with this thought….even wizards like to stamp…
Questions? Send me an owl…or just email me. (or leave a comment below!). Don’t forget that my birthday week celebrations are ongoing until Saturday at midnight!
If you are in Canada: place an order with me through to midnight eastern time on Saturday, March 30th, and I’ll send you a pdf download with 10 different paper crafting projects!
Place an order of $50 or more, and I will cover the shipping charges ($9.95 or 10% after $99.50 product order).
To qualify – either contact me with your order and your payment method (I can accept Mastercard/Visa or etransfer), or place the order yourself online in the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Canada online store (click on the link or type in yamstamps.com/shop). Please use the host code 2DDGZPHG
Due to Stampin’ Up! Regulations, I can only sell product to those in Canada. However, if you are located outside of Canada, purchase access to the Scrapbook in a Box Online Class before March 31st at midnight eastern, and receive the tutorial bundle download as well!
This offer is valid only through me, and only until midnight eastern time on March 31, 2019.
