Manic Monday – Crafting Tips

On this Manic Monday I thought I’d highlight a few crafting tips that I shared in the recent Live session I did on the YamStamps Facebook Page. The shortened video version is below, but thought I’d highlight a few things if you like to read vs watch…

crafting tips still from video
full video below….

Distinktive Stamps are more photorealistic and have multiple depths on the same stamp. Crafting Tips for good distinktive images: To get a clear image of all the different depths, it helps if your ink pad is not too juicy – you can rub the surface of the ink pad with the back of a spoon or your bone folder to push excess ink into the pad vs having it on the surface to get better definition in your stamped image. The stamp set used in the video is Forever Lovely; another distinktive stamp set example is Baby Bear.

Crafting Tips with the Small Grid Paper: Positioning multiple step stamps and coordinating framelits. In the video, I use the Stamparatus to stamp the images – because once they’re in the right place on the plates, you don’t have to think about it again! My tip – stamp onto the Small Grid Paper so you can see where your image will end up. Position your card stock and mark where the corners of the cardstock are on the grid paper so you know where to place it for future reference.

You can also position the framelit over the stamped image and mark where the side edges of the framelit are on the grid paper so you have it for reference. You can use the grid paper when stamping with the stamparatus, then remove it and place it onto your Big Shot plastic cutting plate as a reference for placement of the framelit – just be sure to remove it before you cut!!

That way, your reference sheet will be intact and ready for future use.

Last tip you might have picked up in the video – put your Big Shot Die Brush and foam pad into a small shallow box to catch all the bits (and store everything together! I used an old cardboard box (it actually held my carvable stamp set, remember that one?), but you could also use one of the full wide stamp cases.

Here’s the shortened video – it’s also on the YamStamps YouTube Channel (quick link yamstamps.com/youtube) – you can subscribe by going to yamstamps.com/youtube subscribe !

How do you prefer to get your crafting tips & tricks? Video? Written format? Let me know so I can be sure to have you covered for future tutorials – leave me a comment below or message me!

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Why, HelloThere!

Why, hello there! I’m happy to report that I survived Scrapfest and have more or less recovered…LOL. All that lugging stuff around and standing on a hard concrete floor…and I’m not as young as I used to be… Sharing this hello card that you may recognize if you were at Scrapfest and stopped by the YamStamps booth! The make and take we did using the Stamparatus created the main feature of this fun card.

yamstamps ready to layer hello card

The main element on this hello card uses the Ready to Layer stamp set. I absolutely love this four stamp set that combines to create the above image. For the colour palette, I copied the one in the Stampin’ Up! Catalogue! (why work too hard, I say…). So – Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist. The Detailed Trio punch adds some interest to the corners. To turn this make and take tag from scrapfest into a card, I simply mounted it onto a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock, and then onto a piece of Lemon Lime Twist Cardstock that had been embossed with the Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I thought the wavy lines in the embossing folder went well with the line art of the image.

I’ll share a Facebook Live this weekend on the YamStamps Facebook page showing how the tag portion was created with the Stamparatus. It’s a fantastic tool for this set! I love this hello card so much you may see it show up in a few upcoming classes

On a completely different note….

band geeks film

…if you’re in Canada, please tune in to the CBC tonight (Friday, October 19th) at 9pm to watch “Band Geeks”. You can also stream it online at the CBC website. This documentary film follows the Burlington Teen Tour Band in preparation for their Rose Parade appearance. I was a member of this band, and my son just finished his time with the band as well. I’m lucky enough to volunteer as a photographer and chaperone with the band, so was with them during the filming of this show. I think that Suddenly SeeMore Productions did a great job of capturing the incredible work ethic of these teens (and staff) but also the fun and camaraderie that is had when you’re a “band geek”. So take a bit of time out of your crafting (or colour a few images while you watch?!). It’s nice to see a positive story about youth! (End of plug…hahaha). In the meantime, I’m looking forward to getting back into routine around here and sharing some more crafting inspiration. See you online!

 

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Video – Valentine’s Day Decorations

Happy Valentine’s Day! I get to spend the day doing things I love to do! We are having a make-up date today for the February Card Class that was supposed to happen last Wednesday, but was weather delayed. I thought I’d share this video from last year when I was on Halton Insider, showing some quick and easy Valentine’s Day decorations. If you want to see more videos, please be sure to subscribe to the YamStamps YouTube channel. I do still post videos….in fact, I should be due to upload something in the near future. (that’s not really a teaser, that’s more of a “make sure this is on my to do list” thing LOL).

In the meantime, for your viewing pleasure…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Musical Greetings!

A musical holiday greeting for you! One of my favourite groups, Pentatonix with an uplifting, joyful version of O Come All Ye Faithful!

 

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Wallpaper Craft – Use Those Remnants!

yamstamps wallpaper card

I was recently asked to participate in a fun project for the Wayfair blog – making a wallpaper craft! The idea was to showcase how to use leftover remnants of wallpaper. I got to pick whatever wallpaper I liked from the online store (that was a chore in itself, narrowing it down!) and then use it to create or re-create a craft project.

This is the project that was shared on the Wayfair blog. – I did a version of the metallic birthday card with remnants of the wallpaper, plus made an envelope. I was pleased at how easy the wallpaper was to work with – I was worried it either wouldn’t cooperate or would crack or not fold as I wanted, but it is wallPAPER after all…. The wallpaper featured in this is Silver Shimmer – it’s a heavier, almost fabric-like feel. Okay, maybe not fabric. Lightweight pleather?? Anyway – it cut and scored easily enough for me to use the Envelope Punch Board to create the envelope. I added portions of it behind the Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper rather than the Silver Foil I used on the original card. The one caution – it will add some heft to your project, so you may end up paying a bit more postage to send it – depending on how much wallpaper you use. The Silver Shimmer wallpaper is as advertised – it has silver tones and it does shimmer, so the whole package together is WOW. This is a wallpaper craft project that will have you wanting to have surplus wallpaper so you can make multiples!

yamstamps wallpaper card 2

This is a variation on the theme – showing off the wallpaper a bit more. Love the texture it gives. I used Tear & Tape to adhere the wallpaper to the project (and to adhere the other layers to the wallpaper) – just to ensure it was really “stuck”. I find the Tear & Tape very good for 3D projects or things with a bit more texture or heft. The Multipurpose Liquid Glue would likely work well for a wallpaper craft….but I don’t always work well with liquid adhesives, being the slightly messy crafter that I am….

Here’s a better look at the wallpaper envelope.

You can see the score line, and the corner rounder on the Envelope Punch Board worked with the wallpaper as well!

So thank you to Sarah at Wayfair for inviting me to participate in this really fun project. I still have some wallpaper here….so you may very well see it pop up again in future projects. Or maybe I’ll actually use some on a wall…..(who am I kidding….wallpaper crafting for the win!). What’s the most recent non-crafting item that you’ve used in your crafts lately?? My enquiring mind wants to know…

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Quick Set Up Video – Love Today Planner Kit

A quick video on setting up the Love Today Planner Kit (with an actual appearance from me….at a funny angle….because I couldn’t be bothered to change the location of my tripod so I just kind of turned the camera and leaned into the frame…and because it’s a holiday Monday and that’s about the most effort I could make today….hahaha!)

The video shows you the completed set up for a month – I suggest you 1) Unpackage your pages 2) Sort like with like pages: Labeled Month pages, blank Month pages, Weekly Sheets, Weekly Sheets with Lined Backing 3) Assemble like in the video!

EDITED TO ADD – sorry, I know when I said quick, I didn’t mention that I was speaking quickly as well!! If you like, you can visit the video on the YamStamps YouTube Channel  and turn on the captions….

Hope that helps, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

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