Well good morning stampers. I just couldn’t wait. I had to share these gorgeous sympathy cards with you. Go figure. I don’t blog for three months, and then I blog three times in one week. Perhaps you will love these cards as much as I do. The best part is that they make clever use of an amazing die!
Gorgeous Sympathy cards with just two dies!
It does feel a bit odd to use the word “die” in the same sentence as sympathy cards, but this time the word has a different meaning. A die is a shape made out of metal that is used to cut something out of paper using a die-cutting machine. Stampin’Up! has an awesome one called the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine. To see how I made the focal point with the dies, check out this one minute video (that is much quicker for me than taking step by step photos and then editing them all!)
After looking at these cards you might be wondering, where are the sentiments. Sometimes I prefer my cards without sentiments, but the day after making them I still wanted to see what they would look like with sentiments. Are you curious too? First I am going to share the closeups so you can see the lovely details in the patterned paper as well as the dies.
Closeups of the Sympathy Card focal points
My first one
This was the first card that I made in this series. I think I am partial to blue now even though I always thought my favourite colour was red!!
Sympathy Cards with sentiments from Comforting Thoughts
Have you discovered Comforting Thoughts? It really is an essential stamp set in anyone’s collection. It truly is perfect for sympathy cards and in other difficult situations. At the end of this blog post you will find a supply list. These are also links to my Canadian webshop if you would care to shop with me. As a thank you, you will receive a pdf tutorial bundle from me!
Thanks so much for joining me today! Have a super day.
Hello dear stampers. I am ever so grateful that you are here reading my blog. Stamping is my passion and I love to share card tutorials with you with my videos. This was a big switch for me when COVID started and when I knew that I would be moving temporarily to the Netherlands. Truth be told, I do miss my in person classes. Nothing beats the laughter and connection that happens when you gather around a stamp room table. This connection can be found in a different way as a YouTube channel member. You can find my channel here.
Recently I have offered a new way to connect with me and it is in the form of YouTube Channel platform membership. This was NOT my idea. YouTube asked me if I would be interested. The only guidelines they gave me is that I needed to offer at least three levels of perks for a potential YouTube channel member. You know me! Of course I was all in once I figured out what I could offer my members. Would you like to know more?
Nothing Crazy Will Happen!!
Don’t worry about clicking join. It doesn’t happen automatically. What WILL happen is that a box pops up with your three options as well as the monthly fee.
Here are the options:
Video Buff- for this level you get an exclusive video every Thursday. Every Wednesday I post the supply list and the dimensions of what we will be making.
Creative Queen- for this level you get the Video Buff perks plus you get a monthly pdf tutorial bundle.
Creative Business Builder- for this level you get the perks from Video Buff and Creative Queen as well as a weekly training video every Friday. In this group you also get to make special requests if you have any questions about running your Stampin’Up! business.
Good for you and also wonderful for me!!
There is a LOT of free content out there, but creative content creators like me pour their heart and soul into creating for others. Of course we hope to generate sales through our videos, reels and blog posts but this doesn’t always happen. One of the reasons for this is that a lot of our followers are fellow demonstrators. Channel membership is a great way to support your favourite creators! I hope that I am one of them and I hope that you consider this option.
There is definitely a wonderful community feeling to the membership platform. Did you know that there is a special community tab on YouTube where I interact with my members?
Video Explanation
Of course, I made a video explaining how you can become a YouTube channel member. Seeing is believing!!
Yikes, I look a little manic in this photo!!! I AM super excited that I can offer channel membership and let’s just pretend that is the look on my face.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, I really do appreciate you. Maybe YOU will be my next YouTube channel member. Have a wonderful weekend, and happy stamping.
Hello stampers! Have you discovered the Online Exclusives section of products from Stampin’Up? These are not found in any catalog, only online. Today I am featured the Latte Love bundle which is a fabulous online exclusive. There is a whole suite of coordinating products called A Little Latte Suite Collection. I quite adore this suite, but then coffee is a huge part of my life. I am even learning to try a cappuccino once in a while because they are really pretty!! Together with my good friend and team member, Caroline, we held a fabulous class with this suite. I am planning to bring the samples along to my St. Jacobs Fall Retreat.
Some Details on this Latte Love card
It really is all in the details isn’t it?? I love the patterns in this designer series paper and the colour is just right. I love Lost Lagoon and Crumb Cake together. Add in some Early Espresso and Pool Party and it just looks fabulous!! Do you see those adorable little cups? The dies cut and emboss them at the same time.
Time to Spoil Yourself
Have you heard about my St Jacobs Fall Retreat? This is the second annual one and it will take place in a quaint Mennonite village right beside the famous Farmers Market. Imagine two days of stamping, laughing and sharing with your friends and soon to be friends. Lasting relationships are formed at these retreats, and I am so excited to be able to offer this to you. Registration closes on August 25, but there are still a few spots left for you and your friends!! Here is the link so you can check it out and decide if it is for you.
Testimonials
I can tell you how awesome this retreat is, but of course I am biased. It is much nicer to hear from other people what they thought of the experience last year.
Anne Wallace: “This was a fabulous, fun-filled weekend. My sister and I have already signed up for this year. To anyone who’s ‘on the fence’ about attending this retreat – jump off the fence and onto the list of attendees. This was the most amazing weekend last year and great value for the money. The instructions were clear and concise, (I’ve referred back to the instructions for several card ideas since then). The Goodie Bags were awesome. Friendships were begun and/or renewed and I truly believe a great time was had by all who attended. Don’t hesitate and miss out on this great opportunity!”
Sharon Verbeem: “We had loads of fun“
Marion Greenlund
Every retreat is unique and I am a firm believer that just the right mix of people attend each retreat. Blessings abound!! I really hope that YOU can be a part of it too. If your heart and soul are stirring as you read this, then I hope I can help you make it a reality.
The Theme of the Retreat
The theme of the retreat this year is Reindeer Fun. You will get a 20 card pdf tutorial and a goodie bag worth $140!! There will be lots of samples to inspire you and a host of new products for you to play with as well. This all happens in a gorgeous floor to ceiling windowed room that will make you feel like you are at an official Stampin’Up! event. Throughout the weekend I will be doing stamping demonstrations so that you will go home having learned some new tips and tricks to make you an even better card maker!! Ready to have some unforgettable fun? Click this link to sign up and share this blog post with anyone who you think will also love an event like this. Sharing is caring!!
There will be a “latte love” shared at this event. Be sure to take your phone so you can take lots of pictures!!
Hello stampers! Have you seen the Expressions of Kindness kit? It is a stunner!! Not only are the cards gorgeous, but the envelopes are so pretty, you will want to cut them up to use as card elements. That is just what I did to make these cards. Take a look!
Expressions of Kindness Alternative Cards
Video Tutorial
Seeing is believing, and it is always nice to see the cards being made.
Enriching Lives
Kits are a great way to share your love of stamping with other people. Most people are yearning for connection these days, so why not invite your neighbours, your friends or your family members to come for a fun time of creativity? I would love to hear your stories if you decide to do this.
Thanks so much for joining me today, it has once again been WAY too long since I have blogged. If you have missed me here, please leave a comment to encourage me to be more consistent. Sending hugs from Holland!!
ps. the product list below doubles as my online store for Canadians!
Hello stampers! Have you fallen in love with the Take to the Sky suite?? It was one of the first suites that I purchased. I love the vintage feel of this whole suite, the colours, the vibe and the fact that it is perfect for masculine cards. OnStage in Houston was where it was first introduced and all of the projects displayed made me go “wow”!! Today I will share with you some of the cards that I made and I will also tell you about a brand new adventure that I have started!
My Take to the Sky Cards
Many of these cards were inspired by my friend Melissa Alvarez who presented on this suite at OnStage in Houston.
The Adventure
It has been on my heart for a while to collaborate with a fellow demonstrator so that we can combine our talents to better serve stampers. My goal was to figure this out while on the incentive trip to Mexico. Less than 1% of demonstrators achieve this goal, so it is super special to be there. One of the best things about these trips is to be with other demonstrators who are often on the same wavelength regarding the business side of Stampin’Up!
Unbeknownst to me, there was another demonstrator also in Mexico who was having the same thoughts and she approached me!!! What a blessing. We decided to chat more to see if our vision for this collaboration alligned, and it did! Yay!!!!
As many of you may already know, I have collaborated with the amazing Natalie Travis from My Stamp on Life to create Stampin’ Haven. This is a private group but all demonstrators and stampers are welcome to join, so check it out and request to join. On the first Tuesday of every month we do a free Zoom gathering at 11 am EST and then on the fifteenth of every month we launch a tutorial bundle.
Tutorial Bundle
Our first Stampin’ Haven tutorial bundle is ready for purchase!! It is $15 on the 15th of every month. This month we are featuring Take to the Sky suite. There is a fancy fold card, a technique card and two other cards. The bundle includes a written pdf tutorial as well as video tutorials.
Both Natalie and I love to support our teams and our customers. That means that the tutorial bundle is free to team members as well as to customers who place a $50 order. If you are a demonstrator and just want to purchase the tutorial, that is also possible.
To purchase the tutorial you can either etransfer to jackiebultje@gmail.com or if you want to use PayPal you can use this link. Be sure to also email me so that I can send you your tutorial bundle. Thanks SO much for your support. Have a SUper day!!
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