Hello stampers and happy Monday to you. Did you know that you can get the gorgeous Peaceful Prints Paper for free? This paper is part of the summer saleabration campaign. Perhaps you have been so busy recovering from COVID stress and concerned about a possible fourth wave that stamping has taken a backseat in your life.No worries! There is so much exciting stuff waiting for you and it is not too late to take advantage of saleabration. It goes until September 30. Here is the link to all the saleabration offerings.
Peaceful Prints Paper
This beautiful paper is free with a $60 purchase and with that purchase you are also entitled to the huge tutorial bundle that this card is a part of. What I especially love about this paper is that it coordinated with our Peaceful Deer Bundle on page 26 of the holiday catalog. The Peaceful Prints paper has Garden Green, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand and Basic Black in its designs. You can punch the buffalo plaid deer out with the punch and in my YouTube video I show you how you can punch them out in BOTH directions which is a super cool trick. Check it out below.
Peaceful Prints Fancy Fold Card
I’m so happy that I decided to go back and check on my previous blog posts because I thought I had already blogged about this card. I love it so much!! This paper is stunning and I don’t want you to miss out on it. I am not going to share how I made the card because that information is all in the tutorial that you can get for free with a $60 purchase. You can also purchase it for $20 US if that suits you better. This particular tutorial focuses on the saleabration and holiday catalog so there is lots of variety for you and of course tons of talent!
A Hidden Gem
Do you see that gorgeous focal point? That buffalo plaid deer really stands out on that lacy white circle doesn’t it? Do you know where it comes from? Let me tell you! Check out page 70 and page 159 in the annual catalog. Encircled in Beauty is the name of the dies and the bundle is called Encircled in Friendship. Wait. It gets better! There is another stamp set in the holiday catalog that also coordinates with these dies making it an even better investment. That stamp set is called Encircled in Warmth. All the links to these products will be at the bottom of my blog post, you can simply click on them and then shop in my online store. How excited are you??
One More Photo
Have you noticed when you look at a pretty card that someone has either given you or is sharing with you so that you can be inspired that you look at it closely? I know that I like to check it out from different angles so that I can see all the details. A blog post can be that way too and I like to share a card from different angles and perspectives. Sometimes due to time constraints this is not possible, but when it is, it does make me happy to do so.
Don’t you love how the black and white twine from the Playful Pets Combo trim pack looks with this paper? It made me super happy too. I hope you enjoyed my card today and that you feel inspired to make one of your own. It’s always nice to have a few fancy Christmas cards made ahead of time for the special people in your life. Who are you going to send yours to?
Sharing the Joy
I have decided to start beginner card classes in the Netherlands. It’s time to share my joy of stamping with new stampers and I intend to share that journey with you as well in the hopes that you too with share your hobby with new people. Often I remind my team to consider how happy they are when they are stamping. More people could use that type of joy in their lives. I know that before I started stamping I had no idea that papercrafting would be something that I would enjoy and excel at. You just never know how something simple like stamps, ink and paper can change a life.
Thanks for joining me today! I hope you jump on the saleabration bandwagon before it is too late. Happy stamping and happy shopping. If you need inspiration, check out my tutorials here and indulge. You deserve it.
Hello stampers!! It’s so good to be back to share my love of stamping with you. Today I will be blogging about the Christmas Whimsy card kit. You may have noticed the cute whimsical images at the beginning of the holiday catalog and wondered where to find this kit. It is now available! Let’s take a look.
Christmas Whimsy Card Kit
The Christmas Whimsy card kit is part of our online kit collection. Kits are no longer available in the catalog and I will tell you why. In the past our kits were a bit confusing. Some included the stamp set and ink spot, and some didn’t. Some had instructions for the cards and some didn’t. There were different price points and sometimes our kits sold out. Now the kits are all the same price and they all include the same basics: an ink spot, a stamp set, a clear block as well as all the consumable products needed to make your cards. All available kits will be seen online. When they sell out, they will be gone and this will eliminate the frustration of trying to order something that is either back-ordered or sold out.
I don’t know about you, but these whimsical Christmas cards remind me of Nordic Christmas folk tales. They bring me back to my childhood, although I realize that probably has more to do with nostalgia than reality!
The Whimsical Christmas kit also comes with a versatile stamp set so you can finish your cards beautifully and then use this stamp set for other cards too. Take a look!
Why Get This Kit?
I am on a mission to get my stampers to share their hobby with others! The past two years have taught me that this amazing hobby has more meaning and purpose than ever. Let’s try and give the gift of stamping and creativity to more people. I think we can all agree that we need more joy in life. More moments to treasure, to slow down, to enjoy the little things and each other. Less screen time. Less loneliness.
If you are a seasoned stamper, I would encourage you to get this kit or a different one if you prefer. Invite a few friends over if you feel comfortable having people in your home (I know at first it can feel a little weird after all this time of isolation!) Take a photo of your group enjoying the kit and I will send you a surprise in the mail!! Click here to order your kit in you live in Canada.
A Personal Note
I thought you might want to get up to speed what is happening in my life. Gerard was finally able to visit me from August 28 to September 7. Yesterday we were able to fly back to Holland together, which was so very lovely!! Our first time flying together and not having to say goodbye at an airport. When the KLM crew heard about this and the rest of our story they surprised us with a tray of champagne in real crystal stemware, chocolates and nuts as well as a handwritten postcard. Quite unforgettable really!
We had a whirlwind tour including a wonderful two day visit with my parents, my cousins on my mom’s side and then a visit to Ottawa and Montreal. Having five kids has never felt so busy as now!!
Thankfully my back is doing much better. I was concerned about the plane ride, but I managed just fine. It helped that we had an extra empty seat beside us and I could lay down for a while with my head on Gerard’s lap! His lap was much cosier than the seat armrest!
Sharing What I Love
I hope that you will join me on Tuesdays for the weekly virtual coffee and a card classes. At 10am EST I will be live on YouTube and on Facebook I hope! I am going to do a trial run and see how the internet is doing here at Gerard’s house. He has made some changes and has done his very best to make this possible. If the speed is not sufficient then I will prerecord these classes for the highest possible quality.
Blogging should be back up to speed again as well. I do love connecting with your this way and it keeps me creating. This time I brought a LOT more supplies with me so that my creativity isn’t stifled. I am also trying to set work hours. In the past when I was in Holland I often slept in thinking that all my people in Canada were still sleeping too. This became a bit of a problem because I was often on my computer in the evenings and then it seems like I am working all the time and that is not healthy for a relationship! We’ll see how it goes. Let me tell you, 7:30 came way too fast this morning but I did it!
Thanks for joining me and I hope you have a super day. Looking forward to sharing what I love in Holland too.
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. I am thrilled to present to you an online and in person class called À la Carte Christmas Class. This class will take place online on Thursday October 28 at 7pm EST and in person on Saturday October 30 at 10am. You will make ten gorgeous cards regardless of which option you choose. You will receive a class kit that will include more items than you will need to complete your cards so that will be a LOT of fun. Let me explain how it works.
À la Carte Christmas Options
I called this class À la Carte Christmas Class because you have three options to choose from as to which format you choose and then at the class you can also choose which cards you want to make with your kit. Lots of options for you to personalize your experience. You can even choose to join in on the online event on Thursday and then come in person on Saturday as well.
All options include ten cards, a kraft gift box and a package of Gingerbread & Peppermint acrylic shapes. The base price for this is $35 plus $5 shipping anywhere in Canada.
The regular class also includes a stamp set of your choice. You can choose between For Unto Us OR Holly Jolly Wishes. For this option you will also receive 6 iridescent snowflakes. The price for the regular option is $55 plus $5 shipping if you need it shipped.
Lastly there is the deluxe option at $120. You get all the things that are offered in option one and two PLUS the Frosted Peppermint bundle as well as a 6″ by 12″ piece of white velvet and red velvet paper.
Video Tour of this Class
There are so many cute details on these cards and they are finished beautifully on the inside and even on the back!! You can check it out in this video tour as well. Seeing is believing!!
Here is a closeup of one of the cards so you can see just how lovely they are up close.
Here is another look at all the cards. Remember, you will be making ten cards in any combination that you like. Included in your class is a half a package of the Gingerbread & Peppermint Memories & More collection which means ten large cards and envelopes, two sticker sheets, three “baking racks”, 18 3″ by 4″ cards and 9 4″ by 6″ cards.
Ready to Join This Fun Class?
I have tried to make it really easy for you to join this À la Carte Christmas Class. You can just click on the button below and choose your option. I am looking forward to crafting with you either in person or online!
Hello stampers and happy Friday to you. I am almost burning the midnight oil tonight. I was debating with whether or not to write a blog post and you can see what I have decided! Feels Like Home is a saleabration freebie that I love. The image is so lovely an it really does feel like home. The sayings are in a beautiful font and are ever so meaningful. I made these cards for my Blends Class on Monday.
Feel Like Home Tips and Tricks
While creating the cards I noticed a beautiful little image in the stamp set that I had at first overlooked. It is a small pot of tulips. I was curious what this would look like as a design element in my cards. Would this pot make a big difference? Let’s take a look.
There is one more thing I want to share with you. If you ink up your Brick & Mortar embossing folder before putting your cardstock in and running it through the Cut & Emboss machine, you will get a wonderfully detailed impression. Then use your sponge dauber to rub on a little white craft ink. Wow!!
Feels Like Home Cards for Blends Class
When I saw the Feels Like Home stamp set I knew it would be perfect for a Blends class. Do you know why? If you purchase five sets of Blends (yes, there are five new colours in the annual catalog!) you get the Feels Like Home stamp set for FREE!! My customers also get to make these cards for free. If you purchase Blends online through my store by clicking the links below, I will send you the card kit as well.
If you order through me you will get a Demo Design Dream Team tutorial for FREE, an the tutorial to make this card is in there as well. Thanks Lori Longwell for the inspiration!
Special thanks to Mary Knabe for the inspiration for this card. Now, tell me, what do you think? Does the little pot of tulips make a difference? I think they really do.
That’s It!!
That’s it for today, I hope you like what I shared. Next week I will have more stories to share, and in the fall I will get back to blogging more often. Gerard comes on Tuesday!!! Guess who is over the moon excited?
Thanks so much for joining me today. Happy stamping and be sure to take advantage of the wonderful saleabration offerings. You should also check out my vastly improved tutorial section!!
Hello stampers and happy Friday to you. Our linen paper is amazing!! I finally had a chance to try it out and while I was playing, I made an amazing discovery. Would you like to know what it was? Read on my friend!!
Linen Paper is Amazing
I did a quick google search for Stampin’Up! linen paper and I didn’t find a lot of information. By now you may know that I am not a patient person, so I thought I would just learn by doing and dive right in. In art galleries I have seen reproduction prints available and the high quality ones are often on linen paper. That gave me the idea to stamp on the paper and use watercolour pencils to colour my images. I was a little afraid of using Blends or much water as I thought it would bleed. When I was finished colouring and ready to put my card together I noticed that the back of the paper was quite smooth, a lot like sticker backing.
What did I have to lose? I picked at a bit with my nails and voilà! The backing came off and it was a sticker backing!! There was a drawback however. When the solid sticker backing comes off the remaining linen paper is quite thin and it is almost impossible to get it on your card with perfectly square edges. My solution? To use Tear & Tape adhesive and our gorgeous gold Gilded Leafing to give it an even more artistic flair. I am actually quite smitten with the results and would love to hear your thoughts too.
My Linen Paper Card
If you ask me, I think that this card has an antique feel to it. It reminds me of old needlepoint or artwork that you see in a museum. Not from the masters of course, but items that were handmade at home by people who dabbled in art but had no formal training. This was my first attempt and I am looking forward to see what other possibilities there are with this linen paper. I had embossed it with the Timeworn Type embossing folder, but when you remove the backing, you notice that most of the embossing stays on the backing and the linen paper has very little imprint left.
With this closeup picture you can really see that this “paper” is actually fine fabric which reminds me of vintage embroidery. Truly gifted artisans used linen for their embroidery, not Aida cloth. Mmmmm, ask me know I know that!
A Video With Some Great Tips For Linen Paper
A Funny Story
Do you have time for a funny story? I would like to know if I am the only nut out there, or if you would have made the same decision.
Last night I decided it was high time to mow the lawn. When I went out to start the lawnmower, it made a loud, protesting noise and then a big poof of smelly smoke came out from the front of it. I immediately turned it off in a bit of a panic, regretting that I had not thoroughly cleaned it after it’s last use. Without taking the time to put on gloves, I reached into all the orifices of the lawn mower and removed as much old grass as possible. One more tug on the starter. Nothing.
I decided it was time for a thorough investigation and tipped the lawnmower on its side, wondering all the while if this would literally flood the engine as I had just filled it with gas. Can you tell that I have no clue how engines really work? I did know that I had to get all the stuck bits out in case it could start a fire or who knows what. With the lawnmower back in upright position I gave one more mighty gut on the starter. Nothing. Hmmmm. Back inside. Time for supper perhaps? Or finish my cards for the September virtual coffee and a card?
What happened?
Neither of those things happened. Instead I called my mother for our daily call and then I decided to give it one last try. It started!! However there was an alarming poof of smelly grey smoke from under the front of the lawn mower. I decided to take my chances and headed bravely for the front lawn decided that if it blew up or caught fire I would just leave it in the middle of the driveway where it could do minimal damage. That would mean no more lawn mowing for me. I happen to know a young man who does it for the price of a card kit a week. No, he doesn’t want the card kit. He wants cash which means I have to sell a card kit to pay him!
Thankfully after two rounds of the lawn the lawn mower quit belching smoke and fumes and behaved nicely. Your resident squirrel survived the adventure to create more cards and this blog post. What would you have done??
A Card From Ana
On Wednesday I got my first handmade card from Ana, my three year old granddaughter. She made it all by herself and you will notice that she loves ribbon just like her oma. When they were here on Monday she had been playing quietly in my basement for a surprisingly long time. Today I found out why. She had discovered my washi tape and decided to decorate a box of stamps that I am saving for my sale next year. I had to smile.
Thank You!!
Thanks for joining me again today, I always love to see who drops by. Comments are always appreciated and if you want to purchase any of the supplies I used today, just click on the links below and you will be right in my online store. Remember, with a $60 purchase you get to choose a free saleabration item AND you get a free pdf tutorial from me. While supplies last you can also get free items from my BOGO sale here.
Be sure to check out my new online store for my tutorials! Now your tutorial download will be sent to you automatically within minutes. You can also go back to your account in case you need to download your pdf again. So helpful!! I can even put my tutorials on sale there and it also happens automatically when you check out. My prices are in American dollars since most of my tutorial customers are American. If you are Canadian, message me before you purchase and I will give you a coupon code that you can apply for a discount!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy stamping my friends and stay safe.
