Sep 1, 2018 | specials, Stampin' Up!
Annnnnndddddd…..it’s September. It definitely feels like a change in the weather and season has come upon us in southern Ontario! I’m happy for a break in humidity, but not sure that I’m happy that summer seems to be over (and I know, technically it’s not, but you know what I mean…). My love of back to school supply shopping helps me cope though…and the fact that Stampin’ Up! is helping ease the transition by offering a special offer or two!
First of all, it’s time to spend those Bonus Day Coupon Codes! That’s pretty special….each time you placed a merchandise order for $60 in August, you would have received a coupon code via email from Stampin’ Up! – and now you can use those codes! You can shop online in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store – shortcut is yamstamps.com/shop – and once you’ve selected your merchandise, click on MANAGE COUPON CODES and then copy and paste your codes (one per line) and click APPLY before you check out. OR – you can email me or call me with your merchandise order and coupon codes, and I will enter your order and codes for you. As always – you can contact me if you have any questions, or need a hand navigating the shopping site.
Stampin’ Up! is offering a sweet host special for September! You may have seen a sneak peek of this paper in this card I shared about a week ago… Host a party, make cards with your friends, and after all the orders are tallied, if there are total merchandise sales of $300 or more, you’ll receive a package of the Dashing Away Designer Series Paper for free! You can choose if you share with your friends or not…the package has 12 sheets total – four sheets of each of 3 different double sided designs (so 6 different designs in total). Some of the patterns definitely scream CHRISTMAS, but there are patterns that are more year round/not quite so blatently holiday-ish. You can see them in the graphic above. Contact me to book a date for a cardmaking party with your friends! Since this special is only good for September, you’ll want to book as soon as possible – or you can try a catalogue party on your own time – share the catalogue with friends, I can share some samples and ideas with your friends via a private facebook group, and you can collect orders to submit!
Lastly a reminder that the registration deadline for September’s Christmas Card Class is approaching! Register by Wednesday for this holiday class – your class fee of $30 includes a package of Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes that we will use on your cards – with plenty of leftovers for you to take home and use on other projects! Registration available after Wednesday, but may be subject to an express shipping fee (in order for your product to arrive in time for class!). Class dates: Wednesday, September 19 at 1pm, or Thursday, September 19 at 7pm. Please note the “split dates” for this month – as I’ve got a demonstrator group meeting on the Wednesday evening and a business mastermind session at the end of the month – both great combinations of work, inspiration and FUN! Looking forward to seeing you in class soon!
Aug 27, 2018 | Business Opportunity, Stampin' Up!
For me, September is a time of new beginnings – just like January! I have always loved the “back to school” and “back to routine” routine…and of course, shopping for back to school supplies. Other than shopping for Stampin’ Up! craft supplies, I think going to an office supply store (in person or online, I’m not picky), is my second favourite shopping option! (please tell me I’m not alone…..). Anyway, around here this upcoming September is feeling a little extra big as my one and only son is heading to university away from home. I know that he’s ready for it and will adapt, but I can confess that I’m a bit of a worrier (which parent isn’t, really?). So with that in mind, I’m prepared to provide support from a distance, and distract myself with things around here! If you are looking for something new to keep yourself occupied, or provide a little extra income, may I suggest the Stampin’ Up! side hustle?! It’s not a new dance….but it could be as fun… and we can keep each other distracted for a while hahaha!
(probably as close as one could get to a Stampin’ Up! side hustle image? Made with the stamp set Beautiful You)
Side hustle is the term for an extra job or occupation – you don’t have to quit everything and embark on a new path, you just add a little something to your current situation. Stampin’ Up! has been my side hustle since before they invented the term! I started just after my maternity leave and continued when I moved across country and started a new job. In the past few years, I’ve chosen to decrease my hours at that job to part time to step back from some of the stresses and pressures in order to try maintain my life balance and happiness. I’m happy that I had this Stampin’ Up! side hustle to support that move.
If you think this might be a good time for your to consider something new, I have a page dedicated to FAQs about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, so you can read that to see if your questions are answered there. I also invite you to come to my next Information Evening, scheduled for Wednesday, September 12th at 7pm here in Burlington (click here to RSVP and get directions). If you don’t live closeby, or can’t make that date, there are options! Contact me and you can join the online version that evening, or we can set a time to chat (in person, online, via emails, whatever your preference). I hope you’ll consider starting a side hustle with my group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators!
Aug 26, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
It’s time for another Sunday Swap Card Share! This time – Baby Shower Wishes! Lisa Hardie created this pretty card featuring the Wonderful Moments photopolymer set from Stampin’ Up! The background papers are from the Twinkle Twinkle Designer Series Paper – I love the soft effect echoed in the coordinating images stamped onto the card as well. The Stitched Shaped Framelits are one of my favourite ways to cut out an image or sentiment, and the doily softens the edges a bit more.
Can’t find that particular doily in the catalogue? It’s one of the Colo(u)red Doilies from the Annual Catalogue! The reverse side is white – so if you have a project like this Baby Shower Wishes card and don’t have enough of a certain colour, or want to use a different colour scheme than dictated by the doilies themselves, you have options!
If you follow the YamStamps Instagram feed you’ll have seen the castoffs of my mass card production a few days ago – because I was completing my contribution to the latest demonstrator card swap – featuring products from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s great work, and to sharing the inspiration and ideas with you – either through the internet or in a class! I did have to work hard to focus on the projects, since we are right in the middle of the chaos that is getting ready to send my son to his first year of university. Lots of changes on the near horizon, and I’m so glad that I have my Stampin’ Up! friends to see me through the next while! Nothing like a little crafty distraction to get through the empty nest feeling….and nothing like a little “side hustle” career to help make ends meet while helping with post secondary education costs!! If you’re interested in finding out more about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, please join me at my Information Evening – you can join in person or online – just RSVP and I’ll give you directions to connect. Wednesday, September 12th – 7pm – Burlington ON or online. You can also get some answers to FAQs on my info page here. Hope to chat with you soon!
Aug 23, 2018 | cards, Christmas, specials, Stampin' Up!
The Blended Seasons stamp set and Stitched Seasons framelits are only available in August from Stampin’ Up! – have you grabbed these special products yet? The specially priced bundle (with your choice of wood mount or clear mount stamps) will see you through a number of seasons! Paired with the Watercolour Pencils (assortment 2), another special item for August, you can create so many great cards! Here’s a recent class card featuring these products – plus a sneak peek at an upcoming special product (can you spot it?)
I love the stitched look on these Stitched Seasons framelits – and the fun thing is that there’s stitching on both sides of the cut edge. While this card only uses the positive portion of the die cut, the remainder of the cardstock also had a stitched look finished edge around the cut out negative portion, which could be used on another project, or could be a design feature in a project (I’ll share an example of this in the next YamStamps newsletter on Tuesday). The Blended Seasons set (which is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount) was stamped in StazOn ink and coloured with the Watercolour Pencils Assortment 2. I added the colour directly to the image with the pencils, then blended the shading and colouring with a Blender Pen. This is a way to get a watercolour look while still maintaining a lot of control over the colour movement (which I know some crafters prefer…). This card is all on Shimmery White cardstock, which stands up to a bit of work with water or blender pens, and has a beautiful subtle shine (so subtle, I bet you can’t really see it in the photo….but trust me it’s there!)
As for the sneak peek on this Blended Seasons card….it’s the patterned paper! The Dashing Away Designer Series Paper is a set of 12 sheets of 12″ x 12″ double sided patterned paper, with 6 different designs in total. Some patterns are definitely screaming “Christmas!!” while others, like the one above, could be used for any time of year. This exclusive paper will be available for FREE with qualified orders in September. Hosts of classes or parties with sales of $350 or more will get a package of this paper for free. If you’re keen to get your hands on some of this Designer Series Paper, please contact me ASAP to book a date for a class. You can have an in person class with your friends, or do a catalogue or online party instead – again, contact me for details and to set it up.
Registration is also open for the September Monthly Card Class, happening September 5th at 1pm or 7pm. Contact me to register, or click on the link on the YamStamps Events Page. As per tradition around this time of year, we’ll be having at least one Christmas/Holiday card included in the four cards we create in each monthly card class. If you want all holiday cards, come to the September Christmas Card Class – this time the class will be featuring some fun accents from the Holiday Catalogue! We’re splitting the date this month – Wednesday, September 19th at 1pm or Thursday, September 20th at 7pm. Hope to see you in a class very soon.
Aug 19, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
Time for another Sunday Swap share – this time, it’s a gorgeous Gatefold Card! This card was created by Chris Carmichael. It features the Botanical Tags Thinlits Dies and the Botanical Bliss stamp set – which is available in red rubber wood mount or red rubber clear mount. The stamp set and dies are also available together in either a wood mount bundle or clear mount bundle.
This card opens in the centre – the sides swing open like a gate…and is held closed by sliding the yellow tab underneath the circle held in place by a brad.
When you have a dark card, it’s great to put a lighter coloured insert inside so that you can write on the inside – in case you don’t have a White Stampin’ Chalk Marker on hand, or want more options! This card also uses the Share What You Love Specialty Designer Series Paper, and the pieces are small enough that you could use scraps – or the cut outs from your Scrapbook in a Box?!
If you’re looking for more creative or “different” folds like this gatefold card consider the Clever Cards Online Class! It features 5 different fancier fold cards – Z fold, curved strip, rotating image, hidden message, and twisting pop up – and you’ll get lifetime access to the class materials. (HINT: if you sign up for the YamStamps mailing list, follow the process all the way through to see a special offer for this class only!). As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Hope you’ll join me in class!
Aug 15, 2018 | cards, Stampin' Up!
I know that around here, at this time of the summer (because it IS still summer!) many people start thinking about autumn. While I love back to school supply shopping (I have a thing for paper, what can I say?), I definitely don’t want to rush the season. So – here’s a Painted Harvest non autumn card!! Stampin’ Up!’s Painted Harvest stamp set definitely reminds me of autumn, but by changing the colours, you can switch it up. While I chose to use Highland Heather (because I’m really liking that new colour), I can totally see using Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze or Soft Suede to create a sunflower effect….
I also used the Stitched Labels Framelits Dies for the sentiment and to add a little texture on the backing panel. Painted Harvest is a two step stamp set, so there are two images stamped on top of each other to create a more dimensional look. While you can mix and match ink colours, I like to keep things simple and just use the same colour ink. Two layers of the same ink colour make a deeper shade, and not too much thinking for me – yay!
My in person card classes are a great way to try out new tools and techniques for card making – you can take stamps and other Stampin’ Up! products for a test drive (so to speak), build up your stash of handmade cards, and learn some new techniques and tricks to make your card making easier! I specialize in “lazy crafting” – it needs to be fairly easy but with impressive results – and those are the types of cards that I share in classes. Starting in September, each Monthly Card Class will include one Christmas card – because it’s time to start building up those holiday card ideas! If you’re close to Burlington ON, please message me to reserve a spot in September’s class – Wednesday, September 5th at 1pm or 7pm. Class fee of $20 covers all class supplies required. Not close to Burlington or can’t make that day? You can contact me to book a private class with your friends, or try one of my Online Classes – the latest one is the Under the Mistletoe Class – details for this one at yamstamps.com/mistletoe . Hope you’ll join me in class soon!
