Oct 5, 2017 | cards, Stampin' Up!
My least favourite card to make is a sympathy card, but it’s often the most appropriate and appreciated. Unfortunately, I’ve had to create a few of these for friends lately. I never feel that creative when I’m sad, so often when I “need” a sympathy card, I don’t feel like making any cards at all. My grandmother recently passed away just before her 99th birthday, and we received some lovely sympathy cards, including some beautiful handmade ones (I shared a few on the YamStamps Facebook page). A card can be like getting a hug from a friend in the mail, and it’s truly appreciated at a sad time, but this occasion also reminded me that I should send cards for happy occasions, and “just because”.
Simple, clean cards (also sometimes referred to as CAS – clean and simple – cards) are a great “go to” design in general, but especially when you don’t feel like fussing a lot. The featured sympathy card uses the Colo(u)r Theory Designer Series Paper Stack, the Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, and the Better Together stamp set, which is available in wood mount or clear mount. I love how the ombré paper makes this very simple design more interesting and eye catching but not too busy. This particular Designer Series Paper Stack has this design in a number of different colours so you can change up the colours as you feel inclined.
I love the detailed leaf die cut from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits, though it can be a bit “fussy” to adhere them to projects. The return of the Adhesive Sheets to the Stampin’ Up! catalogue has made attaching fussy cuts so easy! The sheets are 6″ x 12″. I cut my Gold Foil sheet to 6″ x 12″ and adhered the adhesive to the back, leaving the second liner sheet in place. It’s ready for die cutting after that – I cut my foil into 2″ strips, then die cut the leaf. Peel off the remaining liner sheet, and it exposes the sticky adhesive, already in place on the back of the die cut! The other option is to place a the die cut piece onto an adhesive sheet to tranfer the adhesive onto the back of the die cut. This is great for those moments when you don’t have a pre-lined piece of cardstock prepped, or for the more solid cut outs, but I do find it can be a bit messy for me with the more detailed cuts.
I often find it helpful to make a few sympathy cards to have on hand in my stash, so that I’m prepared if I need one. Often, in my classes I will have a card that doesn’t have a sentiment on it, so that it can be an all purpose card, or so that you can stamp the sentiment when you know what kind of card you need. My Monthly Card Classes are always the first Wednesday of each month here in Burlington, ON, but I also take them on the road for private card classes too. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, want to register for a class, or want to book a private class with your friends and family.
Sep 30, 2017 | Announcements, specials, Stampin' Up!
Save and Celebrate! World Card Making Day is October 7th, and Stampin’ Up! is helping with the supplies you’ll need to make a card to send!
These items are on sale October 1 – 10, and a lot of them have coordinating Designer Series Paper. If you’re on my mailing list, you’ll already know that there’s a Buy 3 Get 1 Free Deal happening the entire month of October for Selected Designer Series Papers! All the Coordinating Papers listed are part of the sale, plus the Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper.
In addition, during October 1-10, purchase a Fast Fuse Adhesive , get TWO Fast Fuse Refills for FREE! The Fast Fuse retails for $13.50 and the Refills are $10 each….you do the math….
Here are the sales items – REMEMBER: Sales Price is effective October 1-10 ONLY.
These are great deals that you can use to build up your card making supply stash! (Save money? That’s something to celebrate for sure!) Happy Shopping! If you live in Quebec (customer online ordering unavailable) or need assistance placing your order, please contact me. I can place the order for you and have it shipped directly anywhere in Canada! As always, please contact me if you have any questions. Remember, the sales start OCTOBER 1, 2017.
Sep 19, 2017 | cards, Christmas, event, Stampin' Up!
Aren’t these Stitched Felt Embellishments cute? This is what participants in the October Christmas Card Class will be receiving as part of their class fee! A package of 15 embellishments (5 of 3 different designs) that we will use on that day’s four different card projects. These will add a fun dimensional effect to our cards, but the remainder of the package can be used after class – either to recreate the cards from class, or on original projects and gift packaging!
There are two remaining Christmas Card Classes on my books at this point in time (I know – only two?!). Wednesday, October 25th at 1pm or 7pm, and Wednesday, November 22nd at 1pm or 7pm. For the October class, there is one option – the $30 class fee will include a package of the Stitched Felt Embellishments. Due to the nature of this accessory, it’s easiest if each participant has their own package for projects. For November, the product will be the Mini Tinsel Trim Combo, and there are two class fee options – $20 for the class supplies only, or $30 which also includes a package of the Mini Tinsel Trim.
Of course, if you can’t make the scheduled class dates, get a group of friends together, and we can set up a private class for you! Please remember that this is always an option if you see a class you’re interested in but need a different time or date option. Contact me to book a private class – it could be a Christmas Card Class, an All Occasions Card Class, a Birthday Card Class….you get the idea.
As always, check the YamStamps Events page to see upcoming classes and events – it’s continuously being updated – and sign up for my newsletters – you’ll get project ideas PLUS notification of specials and events in your inbox! Please contact me if you have any questions or are ready to register for a class!
Sep 15, 2017 | cards, Stampin' Up!
This is an elegant thinking of you card that we received this week from Arlene – a member of my Stampin’ Up! demonstrator group. Isn’t it gorgeous? I love the die cut leaves (from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits) and the musical background – the Sheet Music stamp in wood mount or clear mount – on my wish list still… The three metallic tones (gold, silver, copper) and placement of the leaves is so artistic! Arlene is very good about getting cards in the mail – I am still working on that habit!
This past week our family has received a number of cards due to the passing of my grandmother, who passed away just before her 99th birthday this past weekend. We have so many happy memories of a woman who lived a very full, very extraordinary life with a lot of verve while she could. That definitely eases our sadness, as has the expressions of support and sympathy we’ve received. Lovely cards like this have also reminded me how nice it is to receive cards in the mail. I’m going to renew my efforts to get more cards in the mail – especially the “just because” kind – because I think an unexpected piece of art in the mail is the best way to brighten a day and remind someone what they mean to you – besides getting to see them in person.
I plan on spending some time with friends and family this weekend, and also getting some more cards created and actually mailed. I’m pretty good about sharing them “virtually” – online – but I’m going to make more of an effort to share them in real life. Join me?
Sep 6, 2017 | Paper Pumpkin, specials, Stampin' Up!
A reminder that you only have a few days left to take advantage of this special for new subscribers to Paper Pumpkin! Go HERE and enter the code HALFOFF0917 to get September’s kit for half price! A hint about what’s coming in the fall kit – check out the die cut leaves on the sales image above…rumour has it that it’s a sneak peek at what is in the September Paper Pumpkin! If you want more information about the Paper Pumpkin program, you can go here to check out some FAQ. From that page, f you want to get in on the promotion, be sure to click the MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION button (the one on the left of the page) – as prepaid subscriptions aren’t eligible for the promotion. (Hint – purchase the monthly subscription now, then consider purchasing a prepaid subscription for October onwards!).
Paper Pumpkin is Paper Crafting Happy Mail every month!
Sep 4, 2017 | cards, Seasonal Catalogue, Stampin' Up!
This is a handmade wedding thank you card that I created to share with the Weddingbells Magazine staff – I think you could see it in the photo on their Instagram feed. I used the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue set Cheers to the Year (available in clear mount or woodmount). It’s the same set that I used for the card the other day – with a different focus.
I used the silver and gold scheme once again, this time, embossing the words in silver and the accent in gold. If you look closely, scattered over the cardfront I tamped the snowflake lightly in Smoky Slate – to add another dimension but not dark enough to draw the eye too much. The other thing I did on the front of the card is that I omitted a letter on one of the stamps! The sentiment is actually “and so your story begins” – but I inked up the stamp and then carefully removed the ink from the “y” so that it says “our” – which I thought was more suitable for a thank you card. If I was bulk producing this handmade wedding thank you card, I would probably just cut the stamp – this is obviously easiest or most forgiving if you use a clear mount set. If you do a straight cut, you can keep the portion of rubber, and use it when you want… since I was just making one card here, I chose not to cut the stamp.
For the envelope flap, I randomly stamped the snowflakes and then heat embossed. I stamped & embossed the larger silver snowflakes first, then to be safe, I swiped the flap with my Embossing Buddy to ensure when I did the smaller snowflakes that the gold embossing powder wouldn’t go astray too much. These are the Whisper White notecards, so the card and envelope are slightly smaller than the “usual” half sheet cards. The notecards are thick Whisper White cardstock, so they feel quite substantial, and the embossing makes everything more “wow”. I think handmade wedding thank you cards are a wonderful personal touch you can add to your wedding stationery.
Around here, we’ve been focusing on a different type of stationery – that would be the back to school kind of stationery. My son is not so keen on the whole back to school shopping idea (well, shopping in general, actually). I, on the other hand, LOVE the office supply store…so back to school supply shopping is always a happy thing for me! (Please tell me I’m not alone in that regard…) I actually picked up a great item that helped me with my ongoing organization kick, so tune in later to see that.
I hope everyone has a great first day of school tomorrow! I know that my son will enjoy it since he doesn’t actually start until 1230!!! The grade 9 students start at the regular hour, but the rest of the school starts later. It’s a nice way to ease the grade 9s into highschool, I think. While the kids get back to school, don’t forget that you can get back to class as well! Wednesday is the Monthly Card Class, and the September Christmas Card Class is coming up on the 13th! See the YamStamps event page for more information, and contact me to reserve your spot! Hope to see you in class soon!
