Hello stampers! My heart is full of gratitude today as I write this. I don’t usually make a big deal of my Stampin’Up! anniversaries but this year marks thirteen years of doing what I love. I can honestly say that I love it even more than when I first started. The main reason for that is YOU!!! It is because I now have so many amazing people in my life that my work is even more rewarding. My customers, my team members and my fellow demonstrators have become amazing friends. Especially in this last year when life has thrown me some curveballs I have had such tremendous support from all of you. For this I am grateful beyond belief.
Finding out yesterday from a fellow demonstrator in Toronto, Selena Merali that I had won some awards was just the icing on the cake. These things are important milestones in my career so I share them with you because you are also a big part of these accolades, I’m not trying to brag.
Number 4 in all of Canada!!!
Number 55 in all the world. There are more than 50,000 demonstrators just so you understand the magnitude of this number. It made me get goosebumps!!
In Canada I was also #8 in Leadership #9 in recruiting, and #13 in sales. Not too shabby at all. We have some amazing talent in Canada and around the world and I am humbled and honoured to be a part of it all. Thanks for letting me toot my own horn. I am “direct to the company” so I don’t have an upline who would to this on my behalf, otherwise I would let him or her do it for me.
Well, enough about me, and let’s talk about stamping shall we? Today I want to share with you an amazing home decor piece. I was inspired by fellow demonstrator and friend from Minnesota, Sandy Carlson. The neat thing about this framed art is that the “O” is interchangeable. It has a velcro backing so that you can switch it up according to season or mood. I have mind behind the glass right now to keep it from getting dirty, but some people omit the glass to make it easier to switch the decor piece. I used the Large Letter framelits to cut out the letters with both basic black cardstock and with a thin foam that you can get at the dollar store. This gives it added sturdiness and dimension. Let’s take a look:
Here is a cute Santa version. I also changed up the background a bit. I found it quite tricky to use the simple stripes embossing folder on a 5×7″ mat. It meant that I had to run it through the Big Shot with the stripes going vertically and that ruins the paper. There is no way to run it through horizontally. I used our retired corrugated paper and I think it looks quite nice. I love using my card making supplies for home decor and it sure is nice to have something on the wall or the mantle that you have made yourself. Being able to use it all year long with a simple substitution is also a huge bonus. With Christmas just around the corner this would also make a beautiful but inexpensive gift.
The last one I made is actually the one I cased from my friend Sandy. I love it!! I used the Rooted in Nature bundle as well as the Colorful Seasons bundle for the maple leaf. The “M” looks like it is shaded, but it was a cloudy rainy day here in southern Ontario and that is just a shadow, so just ignore it.
I will be teaching this as a class on Wednesday November 28 at 1pm and 7pm. Cost is $30 and it includes the frame. Number of spaces depends on how many frames I can source. Here is a short video showing how the velcro piece works. I didn’t take a picture of the velcro on the “O” pieces, but the video explains it for you.
I almost forgot to say that I would love very much if you would order from me if you don’t already have a demonstrator. I am also very happy to have you join my team and to share my 13 years of experience with you to help you succeed as well. If you do choose to order online, it is even nicer if you take the time to use the host code that is posted on the sidebar of the blog post. I appreciate each and every one of you so very much. Have a super day!
Hello stampers! Have you ever gone to a store and seen something you really, really loved and then you talked yourself out of it and walked away? You go home and you think about it and you think about it and you are filled with regret and then a few days later you rush back to the store deciding that you are worth it after all? Then it’s gone!! Oh the disappointment. Well. Don’t let that happen with Snowflake Showcase. Stampin’Up is offering this suite of products for one month only. Snowflake Showcase is simply stunning. The framelits are the star of the show for sure. There are 20 framelits in the Snowfall set.
Snow is Glistening
There are two stamp sets that coordinate with these framelits. One is a Christmas set called Snow is Glistening. Check it out:
I used the pretty tree image and embossed it using Mossy Meadow ink. Did you know that you can use your regular ink pads to emboss? You do need a juicy ink pad and then right after you stamp you sprinkle on clear embossing powder. Works like a charm. Take a look.
The tree that is raised has been clear embossed over mossy meadow ink. Merry Christmas is part of a bigger sentiment but I just used a cherry cobbler marker to ink up these words. I just wanted a small and narrow sentiment on this card.
This card was inspired by a scrap of Farmhouse Christmas paper laying on my stamp room table. I had cut out all the snowflakes with the white velvet paper and I thought they looked so nice together. A narrow strip of silver glimmer paper adds just the right effect. Can you see the white embossed snow on the top and bottom of the “wood” paper? It really is all about the details. You can make this beauty at my class on either Thursday November 22 at 7pm or Saturday November 24 at 1pm. Class is $20 for four cards or free with the purchase of the framelits and one stamp set.
Happiness Surrounds
I love how this “all year” set also coordinates with the Snowfall thinlets. The stamparatus makes stamping this beauty so easy. I also love how the colours work together: blueberry bushel, balmy blue and gray granite.
I couldn’t resist adding a little bling to the nordic looking flower. The easel card is also a very easy and fun fold to make. Just put one extra score line on your card front at 2 3/4″. Then you need an “elevated element” on your card base to hold it in place. A little video might be in order!
This next card was actually the first one that I made using this Snowflake Showcase suite of products. It is a “bare midriff” card and I actually had the card base pieces laying on my table as leftovers from a class. Perfect, right?
Here are the dimensions for the card. I wrote them out on our new grid paper that fits the Stamparatus. I love it!! It really helps for guaranteeing that your words are straight. A small indulgence in an elevated and improved stamping experience.
Embossing with Framelits
The last card I am going to share with you was totally cased from my Australian friend and fellow demonstrator Linda Dalke. Did you know that you can emboss with your framelits? It is so very easy to do, all you need is the embossing mats pm [age 221. For a small investment of $21 you will double the use of your framelits. I will share a video at the end showing how to do it. I used the largest snowflake framelit from the Snowfall collection for this card.
The champagne foil paper is 3 3/4″ square and is matted on black 3 7/8″ square and the card itself is 4 1/4″ square so it will fit in a regular envelope. Here is the inside of the card. Oh my, how I love all these pretty snowflakes!! They were stamped in balmy blue with two of them “stamped off”. That simply means that you first stamp on a piece of scrap paper and then stamp again on your card for a lighter effect.
The last project I am going to share here is a home decor piece. I will be featuring it in a class on Wednesday November 28 at 1pm and 7pm. I will do a separate blog post describing in detail how it is made and also showing you some alternatives. I am so excited to be teaching this lovely framed art! Thanks to my friend and fellow demonstrator Sandy Carlson for the great idea (I saw her fall version online last week)
Finally, here is the video that shows you how to emboss with your framelits. You will be shocked at how easy and effective it is!! If you need anything at all and you live in Canada, feel free to shop with me. Both of us will be happy! Host code is EQSBSG9U. Have a super day.
Hello stampers! As promised, here is the continuation of the Santa’s Workshop post with some more great cards using the stamp set in this suite called Signs of Santa. In today’s post you will see some super simple cards that I made in less than thirty seconds using the coordinating Memories and More pack also called Santa’s Workshop. These would be great to make with your kids as a much appreciated teacher gift or to send to family and friends. What a wonderful tradition to include your children in the Christmas card sending tradition. The art of letter writing is almost lost and this is a great way to revive it. I did use the Signs of Santa to make some more intricate cards as well, so there is something for everyone here.
What you can’t really see in these cute cards is the details that take them beyond ordinary. The sparkle on the Santa hat and the ho, ho, ho and the fuzzy velvet on the elves’ hats. The saying on the card on the left is from Signs of Santa.
This super cute card was cased from Tami White. I changed up a few things. I didn’t have any Frost shimmer paint so I used a little embossing paste and dazzling diamonds glitter to bling up the background. I also used a “north pole” sign from the designer series paper instead of colouring my own and I left the sign “wooden”. The lovely snowbank edge is a framelit from Winter Woods.
Does the card above look familiar? I used the leftovers from coffee and a card class where we made Emilie Poncelet’s Pole Nord card and I put the cut outs from the Santa’s Workshop designer series paper on it instead. The next picture shows you the exact same card but with some bling added to the wagon. The enamel shapes that go with this suite are stinkin’ cute!! Which card do you like better? With or without the enamel shapes?
This next picture will show you just how addictive this suite is. Signs of Santa has a ton of cute images and sayings, many of which coordinate with framelits. The whole family will love making fun things together, you can even use the leftover Memories and More cards to make a cute family album. New traditions all around!!
I thought that all the cards together just looks so cute. If you make an assortment like this you won’t get bored by making the same old card for everyone. I see a family and friends card making event in your future. Put on some Christmas music, bake some Christmas cookies and get in the spirit of the season. Making Christmas cards now is much more fun than waiting until December when life gets too hectic.
This last card is a Jackie original. I wanted to showcase the different papers together. Card making is a little bit like quilting in that you like to use different colours and patterns to complement each other. Polka dots make me happy and cheerful and stripes are just so fresh. Together they are amazing!! Add the coastal cabana to the real red and it is just so retro and lovely to me. I hope you like it too. I used a memories and more card for the inside to pretty it up and make it even more special.
This card was inspired by some leftover shimmer white circles from a coffee and a card class. I wanted to do something different for my last card that would show off the different patterned paper. I used this same fold at my Time For Tea class. You can see it here. The fun green and white thick baker’s twine has been a great addition to several cards in this collection. It is all those little touches that really make your card extra special. When I realized that I changed my buying habits. I know get everything I love from one suite rather than buying some from here and some from there. Shop by suite and you will see how much easier it is to create more beautifully.
Here is a short video that shows you how to make this last card. It is sideways (of course this happens once in a while just to keep me humble) but it works just fine. It gives you the dimensions and a peek at the inside of the card too. Have a super day!!
P.S. If you want any of the supplies and you live in Canada, you can click on any of the images below and it will take you to my store. Please do use the host code at the side bar of the blog. Thanks!!!!
Hello stampers. We have now had our first frost in southern Ontario and we are approaching the last week of October. That means Halloween is almost here and after that we go straight into serious Christmas preparations. If you are a card maker there is a pretty good chance that you make your own Christmas cards. Santa’s workshop will make you smile and get less serious about this. I am usually not so keen on “cute” Christmas cards, but this one stole my heart. Santa’s Workshop has so many wonderful features. As per usual, the catalog does not do it justice. I participated in a Holiday Catalog swap at the end of August and two of the cards I received were made using this suite of products. When I saw them I knew right away I had to have the Santa’s Workshop suite. Why? A perfect storm of reasons:
1. the designer series paper is unbelievably cute with white velvet texture on the snowflakes, the snowmen, the Santa hat and cuffs as well as glitter!!!
2. The stamp set has the most adorable Mrs. Claus, a Santa Claus holding his list, several elves, a North Pole sign and lots and lots of sayings.
3. Framelits that cut out not only the stamped images but also images in the paper. Wow, wow, wow.
4. Tons of accessories including thick baker’s twine, enamel shapes and red rhinestones.
5. Santa’s Workshop Memories and More cards that coordinate with everything else in the suite. Perfect not only for memory keeping (scrapbooking or pocket pages) but also for easy card making with the kids.
6. Red cards and envelopes to match the Memories and More cards. There is no more “cutting to size”. The M&M cards fit perfectly on the two different sizes included in the pack of cards and envelopes.
All those cute images that you see above are cut with framelits from the adorable Santa’s Workshop designer series paper. The next picture shows all the stamped images available.
The card below is one of the swap cards that I received that sold me on the Santa’s Workshop suite. It just made me smile. Thanks Christine Dionne for this fun card.
The next card is a swap that I received from Emilie Poncelet, also super cute and also with that adorable white velvet so you just need to touch it!
This next card combines the sassy snowman from the Santa’s Workshop paper (yes, he was fussy cut) but the rest of the card is super easy since it uses the Memories and More cards and the cards and envelopes. I love it so much!!
What a quick and easy card and it just brings out all the warm and fuzzies, and isn’t that what Christmas cards are all about? The words are from Merry Christmas to All, the background is from the Santa’s Workshop Memories and More pack and the card base is from the package of red cards and envelopes in the Memories and More set. Here is another quick and easy card:
I just had to use more of the cute snowman from the designer series paper together with the cards from the Santa’s Workshop Memories and More pack. Too cute for words!! The next picture isn’t super exciting, but it is the inside of this card and it also uses the M&M cards. This takes all the stress out of Christmas card making. Great therapy indeed. Also a wonderful activity to do with the kids. A meaningful craft!!! Those are the only kind I like.
Well people, it is now 10pm and this squirrel needs to call it a night. I have more cards to show with this great suite of products, but that will have to keep until next week. Stay tuned for more, and as always, if you live in Canada and don’t already have a demonstrator, I would love to have you shop with me. Please use the current host code (always located on the sidebar to the right of the blog post) when you order as it helps me to keep my class costs down and my mailing costs. Thanks for blessing me!!
Hello stampers. This week one of the suites I have been exploring is the All is Bright suite. It is the first one in the Holiday catalog and it did catch my eye right away. The Merry Christmas to All bundle is one that you will want and never give away. It has a combination of fonts and sizes to make many different Christmas Greetings that are perfect for both cards and scrapbook pages. The coordinating framelits are also fabulous. I am looking forward to using them in some home decor pieces too. The Swirls and Curls embossing folder is also a stunner and great for all sorts of occasions, not just Christmas. I have only covered the first page of this suite! Let’s take a look at what I have made.
I love all the elements in this card and I cased it straight from the Holiday Catalog. It is such a great source of inspiration. Sometimes we all forget that! What a great way to jump start your creativity. I ran out of call me clover cardstock so I didn’t have enough to make the actual card out of it, so I got creative and used some paper from the Tropical Escape 6×6 paper pack. This card would be great for any climate! I love the vellum circle in the background as well as the gold star paper clip. I used Blends to colour in the mini Christmas lights. Here is a close-up. It is such a bright and cheerful card.
I love how the sentiment is actually two different stamps so you can make a multi-coloured saying without fussy colouring with markers on your stamp. I used the layering circles framelits to cut both the sentiment and the vellum circle. The magnetic platform is great for keeping the circles exactly where you want them.
This beauty was also cased from the catalog except I made it bigger. It is a 4 1/4″ square card. I also used the retired gold sequin trim, but the mini gold sequin trim that is available now will also look darling, maybe even better! The sentiment is stamped on the All is Bright designer series paper (the bokeh design one). To see how I made the string of lights be sure to watch my video at the end.
The punch makes it very easy to make cute Christmas lights, but they look fantastic stamped directly on the paper too.
I really love this card. It came about when I was supposed to be cleaning up my supplies and I saw the scrap of Bokeh paper on the table and the beautiful Christmas Bulb paper. Then I remembered that I had some sparkle glimmer paper and that you could colour it with your markers! Well, didn’t that just turn out well?! I love my “call me clover” Christmas light bulbs. They look a little blue in the picture but they really are green.
This is a closeup of the next card so that you can see the Subtle embossing folder used in the background. It really is subtle, but it is so beautiful and versatile. The pine boughs are from Pretty Pines in the annual catalog. We made this card at Christmas Club and many of the ladies thought that the black line from the bulbs was string. It isn’t! It’s a stamp which makes it super quick and easy too. The bulbs were stamped in blueberry bushel, granny apple green, poppy parade and mango melody. Here is the full card. I cased it from a swap from Leena Girsa. The big “merry” is from the framelits in the Merry Christmas to All bundle.
The last card is also cased from a swap I received. I just changed up the colours a bit. Sadly the business card got separated from the card so I can’t give credit! If it’s yours, please comment below. The cardstock is 4 `/4 by 11′ and it is scored at 3 1/4″ and 8 3/4″. The polka dot paper from Under the Mistletoe is 3″ by 4″ and the white banner piece for the sentiment is 2″ by 5 1/4″. The far panel is run through the BIg Shot with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder. The Christmas light bulbs were stamped in eral red, crushed curry and old olive.
I used a totally different stamp set in the inside of the card because I really do like to focus on the fact that Jesus is the reason for the season. It is called His LIght and it has a beautiful font and a big “Rejoice” that would be great on a card front too.
I forgot to add the sentiment until the centre panel was adhered so my stamping is just a little crooked, but I figure when I write all my happy greetings in the inside no one will be focusing on that. Besides, the recipient already knows I am not perfect so it’s all good.
I hope you have enjoyed all the great products in this All is Bright suite. If you live in Canada you are most welcome to shop with me, just click on any of the items in the supply list below. If you use the current host code K47RYHQZ then you will also be entered into a draw for a half price item all in celebration of my 13th anniversary with Stampin’Up. You will also get a paper sample pack in the mail from Dashing Along. Here is the video I made with some tips and tricks for these products, I hope you like it.
