Sep 25, 2018 | cards, rubber stamping, Stampin' Up!
If you’ve been following the YamStamps Blog, Facebook Page or Instagram – first of all, thank you, and next of all – you’ll know there’s nothing I like better (well, not too much) than an easy card design! I used this card design recently and liked it so much, I did a variation of it as well (keep reading to see both).
One of the things that makes this an easy card design is the use of Designer Series Paper. Using a patterned paper makes a card design interesting, without having to fuss much. In this case, I used two strips from the Share What You Love Specialty Designer Series Paper. I happen to have a fair bit of this paper around, in part because I love it and in part because it’s the paper used for the Scrapbook in a Box Class! In this case, you could use scraps of it to stretch your investment even further. Using two patterns from the same package of paper means they will coordinate in colours too. I used two designs that featured a fair bit of Tranquil Tide and Mint Macaron. I used images from the Petal Palette stamp set, which is available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount. I cut the oval of Tranquil Tide out of the back layer of cardstock – one of my favourite frugal crafting tricks! If you wanted to step up this design a bit more, you could always use an embossing folder to add texture to the Very Vanilla cardstock in the background.
So when you like a design, and as a bonus, it’s an easy card design, the only appropriate thing to do is make a variation!! In this case, I used the Nature’s Poem Designer Series Paper, and just one main colour – Rich Razzleberry. The images are from the Perennial Birthday stamp set – available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount. As you can see, the possibilities are endless – just change out the Designer Series Paper used, pick out the coordinating colour and add a sentiment of your choice!
I continue to work on getting the cards out and IN THE MAIL! So when I come upon an easy card design, I will use it as much as possible – but because you can change out elements, it means that it’s not always “the same card”. A bunch of cards just hit the mail (fingers crossed they arrive at their destinations soon…amid rumours of pending Canada Post strike action…) so I’m feeling almost accomplished! If you are looking for ways to build your card stash – I can help!! There are spots in the Monthly Card Class – October’s date is Wednesday, October 3 at 1pm or 7pm. You can contact me to register, or register online through the YamStamps Events page. If you’re not local to Burlington, consider one of my online classes – ideas and inspiration with lifetime access! Check out the list at YamStampsMore. As always if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sep 23, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
Happy Sunday – and happy Autumn! Sharing this easel style card that I received in a demonstrator swap for the Annual Catalogue. Easel Cards are impressive – and also impressively easy! This card features the Stampin’ Up! set Peaceful Place – available in clear mount or wood mount. The colours used for this card bring an autumn feel.
This card is cut to 4.25″ x 11″ and then folded in half. The front of an easel card is scored in the centre, and the top layer is attached on the bottom portion only. This way, the card can be mailed flat in a regular envelope, but propped up once opened. In this card, Jackie used the Leaves Trinkets as accents and to act as the anchor to hold the bottom of the front of the card in place.
If you’re interested in other fancy fold or movement-type cards, you might want to join the Clever Cards Online Class. This class features 5 different card styles that are interactive and definitely a step up from the regular half sheet folded card. While the particular examples use certain dies or stamps, you could easily substitute other stamps and either other punches/dies or just a paper cutter! You can find out more about this online class at http://yamstampsmore.com/clever-cards-class-info/ If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Like all my online classes, you’ll have lifetime access to the class materials. I hope to see you in class soon!
Sep 21, 2018 | Announcements, Christmas, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!, Subscribe
Are you looking for some holiday craft inspiration? I have a solution for you! Sign up for the YamStamps Email List today! Being a subscriber means that you’ll get a weekly email full of crafting inspriation – different project ideas with full supply list and instructions, tips and tricks and information on Stampin’ Up! Canada specials. But at this time of year – there’s MORE!
Starting in October, subscribers also receive the Exclusive Twelve Weeks of Christmas emails. This is a special annual “THANK YOU” for being a subscriber. Each week, for twelve weeks, you’ll receive an email with holiday craft inspiration -projects like cards, gifts, wrapping and tags. Like the “regular” YamStamps emails, these will have a photo, supply list and complete instructions to create that week’s project. Also like the “regular” YamStamps emails, these projects will NOT appear elsewhere in the YamStamps world – you won’t see them on the YamStamps Facebook Page, Instagram feed or here on the blog. What are you waiting for? Double the inspiration starting in October! Click on the image to get signed up! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sep 19, 2018 | cards, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
Stampin’ Up!’s Holiday Catalogue has some great sets and bundles. The Winter Woods stamp set is a lovely one that could be used for holiday or non-holiday cards. It’s available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount stamps, and is also available in a discounted bundle with the coordinating In the Woods framelits (red rubber clear mount bundle / red rubber wood mount bundle). This vellum card shows off the elegance of the images. I love using vellum on cards – it instantly makes it seem more artistic! You do have to be sure to allow a bit of time for it to dry, and there are some sneaky tips for adhering it, but it’s worth it!
I used some of the new colours on this one – Grey (or Gray if you must LOL) Granite and Merry Merlot. I realize that the picture lighting makes the cardstock look a little ombré-ish…but it’s not. The layer under the vellum is Very Vanilla cardstock. The tree image was stamped a number of times in Grey Granite, and once on the vellum. The sentiment is stamped in Merry Merlot. I love these new colours – and they’re part of the Neutrals Colour Group. Once the vellum was completely dry, I used two Mini Glue dots to adhere the vellum over the Very Vanilla cardstock, then used two Pearl Basic Jewels to mask the adhesive. I made a number of these as my contribution for a demonstrator card swap, and actually let the vellum dry overnight to be absolutely sure there would be no smudging or bleeding. I had vellum spread out all over my craft room!
We had a small get together of my demonstrator group tonight, and I had this as a “make and take” for the local people who were able to attend in person. Next month we will attempt to do a make and take in person and online….wish me luck with the prep for that! (If you want to see it in person and laugh at me yourself, you’ll have to join my demonstrator team first!). In the meantime, holiday cards abound around here – this afternoon was the September Christmas Card Class featuring the fun Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes – and tomorrow is the evening version – I had to move the dates and times around slightly to accomodate some travel! Next month, the Christmas Card Class is back on the fourth Wednesday – and you won’t want to miss it! It is going to focus on the GORGEOUS Joyous Noel Designer Series Paper. Check out the YamStamps Events Page for all the upcoming classes! Hope you can join me soon – either in person or online!
Sep 16, 2018 | cards, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
Today’s Sunday Swap Card Share is a best wishes card, created by Helen Hansen-Henderson. Though it’s a simple layout (love those), the details make it even more interesting. The card uses the First Frost stamp set, which is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount, or with the Frosted Bouquet Framelits in a discounted wood mount bundle or clear mount bundle. I love the window cut out of the cardstock textured with the Corrugated Embossing Folder that reveals the images from the stamp set, and the layers of die cut images over the stamped image. These items are in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue which is now in effect. This set has a few sentiments in it – not just for the Christmas season, and the images could be used year round as well.
I hope you have a great Sunday, and a great run day if you’re participating in one of the Terry Fox Runs being held around Canada. I know that they were up really early getting things set up for the runners along the waterfront here in Burlington, and it was humid early on, so hopefully everyone takes it easy and stays well hydrated!
I’m finishing up final prep – it’s a busy week here – Stampers Club on Monday, and then Christmas Card Classes on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening. I split the times this week because the evening of the third Wednesday of the month is my demonstrator group meeting. This month will be more of a “hybrid” type meeting as some people will be here in Burlington in person, and some will be joining us online. Maybe I should be asking for best wishes for my prep this week?! LOL Upcoming events are listed on the YamStamps Events Page, so you can check out what’s happening locally, but I also have some online class options as well. Please contact me if you have any questions or want to register for an upcoming event.
Sep 11, 2018 | Information, Stampin' Up!, Tutorial
Tuesday Tool Tip (while it’s still – barely – Tuesday LOL). What’s the Difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers?
Colouring is still such a popular past time and stress reliever! Stampin’ Up! products are great for colouring – you can stamp images of your choice and then colour them in – for bonus points you can even use them on a project instead of hoarding them….but one question that has popped up in my classes lately – what’s the difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers? Here’s a quick rundown:
Stampin’ Blends
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Blends Markers
- Rectangular shape marker
- Double ended – bullet tip and brush tip
- Alcohol Based Colouring Tool – best used with images stamped in Memento Ink
- Currently Available in 27 Stampin’ Up! Colours, Light & Dark Complimentary Shades of Each Colour (see all currently available colours here)
- Ivory, Bronze single shades and Colour Lifter available
- Purchase Individually or in Coordinating Shade Duos
Stampin’ Blends tend not to show “streaks” or colouring lines – as with most alcohol based markers, they blend well to give a more “solid” colour image. The coordinating light and dark shades make it easy to blend and create shadows and highlights for more professional looking results. You can layer the colour to increase the intensity and add more shadows as well. There may be a bit of “bleed” or spreading of colour with these tools, so best to leave a tiny margin by the image line until you know how much your colour will spread. The intense colour will also tend to bleed through the cardstock. The Colour Lifter tends to “push” the colour out of the way, so may help create highlight areas or disguise small areas of spread. These colouring tools are great for colouring, but not suitable for use directly on rubber stamp or photopolymer stamp surfaces. Alcohol based markers are often used by manga / comic book type illustrators.
Stampin’ Write Markers
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Write Markers
Stampin’ Write Markers are a great way to get your hands on all the base Stampin’ Up colours for your crafting needs. They are dye based inks, so can be used to colour images on cardstock, or you can use them to apply colour directly to the surface of your stamps before stamping. Great for quick colouring, or colouring in traditional colouring books – there may be bleed if a lot of colour is laid down, but not to the extent of the Stampin’ Blends. I also love using the brush end of these markers for brush lettering. Don’t overwork the surface when you’re using these to colour as you may end up with the paper “pilling”.
Both types of these colouring tools can have a place in your crafting room! There are advantages to each of them. If you’re just dabbling in adding colour to your stamped images, you may want to start with the Stampin’ Blends, since you can start with just one or two colours and shades – for example, if you like floral images, pick a green and a red or pink to start. If you want to get your hands on many coordinating colours quickly, perhaps start with the Stampin’ Write markers since you can get a colour family (or even better – the new colours assortment) to build your collection quickly. Once you’ve been able to “play” with the tools, you’ll know how they fit into your crafting style and won’t be wondering “What’s the Difference?” any longer!
Hopefully this has helped a bit – but if you have any lingering questions, feel free to contact me! You can also check out the recording of the Facebook Live I did a little while ago on the YamStamps Page, showing how Memento and Staz On inks react with both of these types of markers as well as an Aquapainter. If you “like” the YamStamps Page, you’ll get notifications of whenever I go live with a video in future! See you in cyberspace…
