I love the Bokeh effect – in photography and in crafting – where the out of focus highlights are twinkling in the background of the shot…. and this stamp set makes it easy! Twinkle Trees, from the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalogue is a great holiday set, and I love when I can use a holiday set in a way that doesn’t scream CHRISTMAS!!!! (Though I have nothing against that, but it just makes the sets even more versatile, in my opinion!). The large circles stamped randomly in the background recreate a bokeh effect, and the little hearts rising from the mug also have a bit of the same effect. This is my Thank You card for September orders (and I’m working on getting them mailed out or handed out!). On some of the cards, I used the Gold Baker’s Twine from the Baker’s Twine trio, and I love that it’s a bit more substantial than the Metallic Gold Thread on this sample, but not too bulky. Of course, this card also uses my thrifty trick of punching something out of the background layer – so the circle that backs the mug circle is cut from the Elegant Eggplant layer that backs the bokeh piece.
I did a video a while back showing another way to do a bokeh background, with a watercolour wash and circles cut from a window sheet. Click here to visit the YamStamps YouTube channel if you can’t see it embedded below.
I was having some internet woes for a while, but it seems like they’re all resolved now (FINGERS CROSSED) so I should be able to get back to a regular schedule with online sites. Today is Stamper’s Club – always a fun time – and of course the ongoing Christmas Card Classes. (See the YamStamps Events page for upcoming events). If you’re in the Burlington Area and are attending the Black Cat Masquerade in support of the Burlington Humane Society, look for the basket of goodies I’m donating! It includes a free card making class for 6 people so please bid high and bid often. I’m happy to once again be supporting this event and organization. Ok I’m back to prepping for classes – but as always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below!
Don’t forget to sign up for the YamStamps papercrafting newsletter – free ideas and inspiration each month, plus special editions, like the Twelve Weeks of Christmas!
Pretty self explanatory, right? This special does NOT include Specialty Designer Series Paper or stacks, but everything else is fair game. This cannot be included in a Starter Kit selection. Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance placing an order. I will be sure to feature some projects and ways to use the Designer Series Paper in your crafting in the next few weeks.
Here’s a Frugal Friday Video Tip – using up your Adhesive Die Cut Leftovers! This video uses leftovers from the February 2016 Paper Pumpkin Kit. Subscribers can purchase past kits and refills, so if you “need” extras for this kit, grab them while they’re available! If you’re not yet a subscriber, now is the time to sign up! The three month kit is on sale, and you also qualify for a Sale-a-Bration item at the same time! Find out more about Paper Pumpkin here or shop the rest of the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store here.
Trying something new with this quick video – decided to go wordless – so there’s music, the video and some written words, and the whole thing is only about 2 minutes long! If you can’t access the video below, please visit the YamStamps YouTube channel to see this video and the others that are up there. Let me know what you think of this format. I realize that not all paper crafting videos are suited to this style, but it may be something for the quick videos… you can leave a comment below, on the video itself, or email me. Thanks!
Oh – and YamStamps Newsletter Subscribers received Early Access to this video! If you want to get in on the advance notices in the future, be sure to be subscribed!!
One of my goals this year is to get more organized in how I work my business. Truthfully, I think every year I have some sort of organizing goal/resolution! I have spent some time and think I’ve hit a good method for me to keep on top of all the ongoing tasks….so we’ll see how it goes! Fingers crossed. One of the areas I needed to streamline was my thank you card process.
This is the thank you card for eveyone who placed an order in January. I came up with a quick card using some great Sale-a-Bration items – Botanicals for You stamp set and Botanical Gardens Designer Vellum stack, and teamed Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder together for a monochromatic colour scheme. I have post-it notes inside with a note to the recipient, with the intention that they can re-use the card for their own card giving needs!
I tried out a set up to shoot some quick videos on my iphone, and I can already tell I need to invest in a microphone to improve the sound quality. That being said, you can still hear what I’m saying, and see what I’m doing. This was a “one take wonder” video, no re-dos and no editing other than for time and to add the title and end slides. If you subscribe to the YamStamps YouTube Channel, you’ll hopefully have received notification of this video when it went live yesterday. In the meantime, here it is again for your viewing pleasure 😉 If you don’t see a video below, go to the YamStamps YouTube Channel to check it out. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. If you want to see what the February thank you card looks like…you should place an order!!
Today until Friday, pay nothing for standard shipping on any Stampin’ Up! order. (Expedited shipping excluded from this offer). Grab an item from the Weekly Deals that are expiring today (if you don’t have the Magnetic Platform for your Big Shot, you *need* to get this now!), then come back tomorrow and grab some of the new Weekly Deals! BONUS: If your order is under $200, use the hostess code EE37UBSF to receive a bonus tutorial from me (will be emailed to you at the end of the week). If your order is over $200, do not use the code – you will automically qualify for the bonus tutorial plus receive Stampin’ Rewards. If you are new to online ordering with YamStamps / Stampin’ Up! Canada, check out this video walking you through creating an online account and entering a hostess code. Please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order. Happy Shopping!
The Twelve Weeks of Christmas mailings are finished now – but why is it that I’m still surprised by how quickly time has passed? (Note – this would be the heads up that I have not really finished my own cards…LOL). Stampin’ Up!’s Snowflake Card Thinlits die does make for a fairly quick and impressive card, though! Of course, everything also looks more impressive when you add some bling – in this case, a snowflake from the Silver Glimmer Paper. The All Is Calm Designer Series Paper covers the back flap of the card, and the small snowflake from the Letterpress Winter Photopolymer set is on the front of the card, with the large snowflake taking centre stage.
The next shot shows the open card. You can make your card long like this one by cutting your cardstock to 5-3/8″ x 8.5″ and having the one end of the cardstock on top of the die (at the end farthest from the snowflake), rather than underneath it. This allows the snowflake end to be die cut/embossed, while not chopping off the other end of the cardstock. Then you simply fold the long end inwards and you have an extra area that will let you write on the inside of the card without having it exposed when the card is closed. (The last photo shows how to position the cardstock.
I hope you have the chance to try this out! In the meantime…off to finish preparing for the big family party this weekend…
