by Jackie Bultje | Jul 29, 2019 | acrylic block stamping, kids cards, pigment sprinkles, silhouette scenes |
Hello stampers. I love silhouette stamps. They remind me of being a kid for some reason. Silhouette Scenes is a fantastic set that is also available as a bundle with Sweet Silhouettes dies. The dies include a leafy tree branch, a dandelion and three words: inspire, forever and adventure. The silhouettes are a girl pointing to the sky, a boy with a toy airplane, a girl on a swing and a boy looking into binoculars. I used the new shimmer black embossing powder and I really like the look of it.
The first card is an early espresso base with a seaside spray card front. the leafy tree branch is cut from mossy meadow cardstock. The girl on the swing is embossed in shimmer black and the words are stamped in memento black. This is a super simple card but the simple elements make it very striking and elegant.
Do you know how I got the colourful square in the middle of this card? First I embossed the couple in shimmer black embossing powder on a 3 3/4″ by 5″ piece of white cardstock. Then I sprinkled our new Pigment Sprinkles on a clear D block and spritzed the block with water. I then used the block as a stamp and held it on the white cardstock for a minute so that the colours bled together a bit. I used three colours of pigment sprinkles: daffodil delight, mango melody and granny apple green. When it was completely dry I stamped the words in memento black. I wasn’t sure if it would work on our regular whisper white, but it did! It might be even more striking on either watercolour paper or shimmery white cardstock, but this is more cost effective!
This last card deliberately has a child-like feel to it. The images were stamped in Versamark on so saffron then embossed with shimmer black and mounted on a blueberry bushel card. I added a leftover piece of the branch to the bottom corner of the card and added a squirrel from the retired Sitting Pretty bundle. There was no time to see if there was another small creature that I could use instead and I remembered where to find this squirrel so that is how I finished up this card. I’m not sure how much I like it, I think maybe another silhouette stamp might be better. If I come up with a better solution I will share it on my Facebook live on Tuesday at 7pm EST.
We will be making these cards at my weekly coffee and a card class Tuesday morning and I will also show you how to do them during my weekly Facebook live on Tuesday evening at 7pm. Thanks so much for stopping by, as always you can click on the images below if you want to buy those products. I would be most appreciative if you use the host code XBTQ47UR.
Until July 31 you will get a $6 bonus days coupon with every $60 purchase. This code will be emailed to you and you can use it on any order in August. If you live in the States and don’t have a demonstrator, just click on the shop with Julie button. Julie is my cross border buddy and she does amazing work! Here is her blog in case you haven’t checked her out yet.
The Extra, Extra promotion is also going on and you can save a LOT of money by getting the starter kit. As per usual, you pay only $135, you can put in it whatever you would like except for host sets and the total amount of merchandise you get to choose is $205!! You also get a free Paper Pumpkin of unknown vintage. If you would like to take advantage of that amazing deal, you can click here.
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by Jackie Bultje | Jul 26, 2019 | butterfly, colour wash, pigment sprinkles, technique cards, watercolouring |
Hello stampers. I squeezed in a little time yesterday to play with the new pigment sprinkles. I would really like to meet someone who doesn’t get dirty when playing with this product! Time was of the essence since I had a class in an hour, so I didn’t get to play as much as I would have liked. Freshly Made Sketches is a website that offers a weekly sketch that you can play along with. I have been wanting to do this for months but simply never got around to it. This might be the card that finally makes it into the challenge! Here is the sketch.
You don’t actually have to use a butterfly for your card but I had a butterfly card in my mind that I have been wanting to make for a while now. I made one similar to this years ago for an event. For this card I used the new pigment sprinkles and I knew I was going to get dirty! I don’t mind getting dirty hands although it is a different story when you ruin your cards by getting ink in unwanted places. I really don’t like wearing gloves, but it is handy to have wipes and paper towels handy to clean up the mess as you go.
This was the first card I made. I was hoping to structure my stripes a bit by using an aqua painter to make a guide for the pigment sprinkles one colour at a time. It sort of worked but I wanted to try it again with less structure. Take a look at the next card and tell me which one is your favourite.
I think I prefer the second card but it is a very loose interpretation of the sketch challenge since my stripes are more fluid. I do love the smoothness of our new watercolour paper. If you cut it in half you get two pieces of 3 1/2′ by 5″. That leaves a nice space at the bottom of the card for your words. These words came from the July Paper Pumpkin On My Mind.
As you can see in the picture, the pigment sprinkles come in six colours. They have a flip top cover under the lid with three little holes already made for you to sprinkle on your wet watercolour paper. I will definitely be doing more with this product, I also think you can use it together with our old Brusho paint crystals. I think I could make it the theme of one of my regular Tuesday night Facebook live videos.
There are only six days left to get Bonus Bucks for August. With every $60 you spend you will get a $6 bonus days coupon to use in August. If you order online, please use the host code XBTQ47UR if your order is less than $200. If your order is $200 or more you will receive host benefits that you can use for exclusive host sets like the one below or for any product you like. Host sets are your best value since the price on them is roughly half of what they are worth.
If you place an online order and you reach $200 then you will be prompted to redeem host rewards. You can choose these sets as one of your options. I hope this is helpful. You cannot add these to a regular order. You can find more information on these exclusive sets at the back of the annual catalog on page 205-207.
Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I am going to be having some beach time with Rachel and then some Oma time tonight and tomorrow. That means no time for pdfs just yet. Thanks for your patience!
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by Jackie Bultje | Jul 25, 2019 | beginner stamping, Birthday, Nautical, Paper Pumpkin, thinking of you, Uncategorized |
Hello stampers! I really love the title of this blog post, On My Mind. Did you know that you are often on my mind? I am always thinking of ways that I can make my business more meaningful for you. Someone close to me said that I was doing great things but using the “dullest tool imaginable”. Obviously she doesn’t love stamping, because I would strongly disagree. I think I am using beautiful tools and that together we are changing the world one card at a time. Of course I am assuming that you are not only making cards but also sending them. If you are hoarding your cards then the world is not being changed too much by your hobby.
On My Mind is the title of this blog because it is also the name of the July Paper Pumpkin. Every month I host a Beginner Class on the fourth Wednesday of the month. I have been using Paper Pumpkin for these classes because I think that this product is perfect for beginners. Seasoned stampers can use the products in these great kits to make “avid” cards. Did you know that Stampin’Up! has us categorized into three different types of paper crafters? Beginner, casual and avid. We all know what a beginner stamper is, someone who is baffled by all the tools and terminology, not to mention our crazy colour names. SU sounds like Laurentian on steroids, or am I the only one who remembers Laurentian pencil crayons? Maybe that is only a Canadian thing. A casual stamper comes to classes once in a while. They know what they are doing but they don’t need to have it all, they are happy with just making the cards that they need or to get out and have fun once in a while. Then you have the avid paper crafter. That’s us. We are hopelessly addicted. We want it all and we love layers, embellishments and fancy folds. That’s ok. If fact, it’s pretty awesome. Without my avid people I wouldn’t be in business!
Let’s take a look at the cards we will be making at Beginner class next week Wednesday. Have I told you that you don’t have to be a beginner to come to these classes? This class goes at a slower pace and doesn’t assume any prior knowledge of stamping. Ask your most basic questions and don’t feel like an idiot. (I hope I never make anyone feel that way, but sometimes we put that pressure on ourselves)
I do so love the font of this saying from On My Mind. What a fabulous card to send to someone in the mail for no reason at all. Do you have someone in mind when you see this card?
This card was slightly altered. If found that the base was not as sturdy as I would like in a card so I simply cut the back off and then trimmed the front to measure 4 1/8 by 5 3/* and put it on a pretty peacock card. I really like how that makes the whole thing pop. Aren’t the lined envelopes just so pretty?
Have you noticed that the cards and stamps in this Paper Pumpkin coordinate with products from our annual catalog? I love that, it adds more value all around. While these cards look amazing and a little bit complex, they are perfect for beginners too. I can’t wait to see who comes to this fun class. Class fee is only $15, but if you choose to order you get that money back to use on your order. Win-win.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. In the product links below I have included the coordinating suites of products that are in the annual catalog.
Next month’s Paper Pumpkin will be fall themed and it is gift bags. For the first time ever Stampin’Up! is offering an add-on coordinating card kit if you want. I thought the gift bags would be perfect for beginning of the year teacher and staff gifts or to be used at a Thanksgiving meal as table favours with notes of gratitude tucked inside. Mine are coming with me to Holland and that is exactly what I am going to use them for. If you want to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, here is the link for you. I do try to make it easy to get what you want!
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by Jackie Bultje | Jul 24, 2019 | Birthday, Daisy Lane, in colours |
Hello stampers. I am a big fan of in colours. Usually you can see these colours popping up everywhere in both home decor and in fashion. Stampin’Up! gives us five new colours each year and they last for two years. This is a great addition to our core colours that gives us a great colour refresh and keeps us current. This year instead of offering an in colour club, I decided to one Epic In Colour Day instead. Summer can be difficult for gathering people together for regularly scheduled classes but stampers do like to get their hands on the new products and especially the new in colours. My advice? Get the in colours as soon as you can rather than trying to resist. You may as well get as much use out of these beautiful colours as you can.
I did a little Facebook live video showing you the products that people will be getting tomorrow. I also shared a little peek behind the scenes at my creative process. I had the bits and bobs of a card laying out with a few alternatives that I had rejected. If you missed it, you can see it here. Here are the cards that I decided to feature for this class. Originally I had hoped to use the Heirloom framelits and coordinating embossing folders but the UPS man was too late and my patience ran out. Of course as soon as I had my three cards done, he showed up!!
The top card features Pretty Peacock. I first though I would pop the middle panel onto a piece of whisper white cardstock embossed with either the Mosaic, Pinewood Planks or Tin Tile embossing folders but this looked too busy. The big white daisy on the bottom card was also supposed to find its home on this card, but I found it to be too busy as well. I really like the final card. Another twist? I had planned to use the other side of the designer series paper, a pretty gingham, but this pattern pleased me more. Who would have thought? The creative process definitely wasn’t straightforward this morning!!
This monochromatic card is pleasing to the eye. What was surprising to me is the mat of seaside spray to contrast with the pretty peacock. The in color faceted gems make the perfect muted accent to this card. The saying is from Daisy Lane. Check out the inside of the card.
I couldn’t manage a daisy on the outside of this card, so I stamped one in the inside instead. I really like this frame from Swirly Frames. Yes, there is a little smudge from my finger on the edge. Oh well, proof that life happens sometimes.
This card has a LOT going on. At first I was going to use Seaside Spray as the card base but I didn’t want Terracotta Tile to feel left out so I chose that in colour instead. That means there are four in colours happening on this card: Terracotta Tile, Seaside Spray, Purple Posy and Rococo Rose. Since all those colours are in this piece of Woven Threads patterned paper it actually works. The script paper is from the In Colour patterned paper assortment. I made the daisy by layering two of the large daisy punches and two of the small daisy punches. The centre is a half inch circle punched from seaside spray and then layered with a terracotta tile faceted gem.
The centre card is the one that Rachel received from Kay Smith on the cruise and I featured it in a post a few days ago. I hope you enjoyed these cards. Everyone who is coming to my class tomorrow at either 1pm or 7pm will be receiving 20 sheets of patterned paper, 20 sheets of assorted cardstock. five markers, four ink pads, faceted gems and five yards of ribbon. For the first time in the history of in colours we are having an issue with one of our ink pads. Purple Posy is not cooperating! Stampin’Up! is working on the third attempt to get the right dye recipe. So far it has been either foamy or not stable. We don’t want you to have an inferior product so if this third attempt is not successful then there will not be a purple posy ink pad. We still have the marker and all the other products so it is not the end of the world, but I thought you would want to know. If you want to join in on the class, I still have room for you.
Thanks so much for stopping by and if you want to help me grow my business please take a moment and pin one of these creations so that more people will see my work. Yay!! If you order these in colour supplies online then I will send you the kits for the three cards we are going to be making. Have a super day and see you tomorrow.
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by Jackie Bultje | Jul 23, 2019 | Birthday, dinoroar, kids cards |
Hello stampers. Sometimes you have bigger plans than you have energy for and you need to be able to accept that with grace and not fight it. I really wanted to make some fun things today but my energy levels were down so I decided that rather than make cards I would share a bit of the creative process with you and go from there. I wanted to use Dinoroar because it is a fun and energetic set. When you see the actual stamp set it is not quite what you get inside. Do you know why? If you look carefully it will say in small letters, images at 90%. You would be surprised at how much bigger that 10% is! I took a picture so you could see for yourself.
I find that it really helps to lay everything out on the table that you hope to use in the creation of your cards. I only had the stamp set, the framelits and the coordinating paper laid out so far. There is also coordinating ribbon and very fun epoxy shapes. When you see it all displayed, especially with the catalog also open to the suite of products, it is much easier to be inspired. If you are feeling tired like I am today, then you can start by copying or “casing” the catalog samples. That will really jump start your creativity! I will try it and let you know how it goes ok?
You can really see all the possibilities with this paper. Some of it just screams dinosaur, but others could be used with different stamps and occasions as well. I grouped the paper so that each group of two is both sides of one paper. I find that if I don’t like the one side either because of the colour or the pattern, then I do like the other side. Don’t forget that even if you don’t like a piece of patterned paper when it is uncut, it can look totally different as a narrow strip on coordinating solid cardstock. #loveitchopit and then you will be much more likely to use it rather than hoard it.
I took a few pictures of some of the samples in the catalog that I plan to use for inspiration. I will either copy them exactly or use them as a starting point. My results will be in tomorrow’s blog post.
I love, love, love the cracked egg framelit in the Dino Dies. There is lots of layering and texture in this card with the vellum and frayed denim ribbon. Using dimensionals also really makes a difference by creating a 3D effect.
Here is the last shot I took of the catalog samples, but there are more, just check it out yourself on page 98 and 99 of the annual catalog.
That’s all for today. I think I have shown you that you can use the catalogue for inspiration as well! Thanks so much for dropping by today, I really appreciate it. Just a reminder that you can always find the current host code in the sidebar of my blog. When you place an online order it is so very helpful to me if you use this code. What it does is that it puts all the orders together on one so that at the end of them month I can add on to the order with things that I need for my classes and then I can redeem host rewards. With those host rewards I can keep my class costs down as well as offer some fun prizes on the Facebook page or here on this blog. It also helps me keep my class costs down and lets me spend more money on postage to send thank you cards. I just hate to see these rewards unused.
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