by Jackie Bultje | May 24, 2021 | International Tutorial Bundle Team, Pansy Patch, The Netherlands, travel |
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you. Today I want to talk to you about overwhelming dies. Have you ever had it that a bundle has so many dies that you feel overwhelmed? It is a great thing to have a lot of dies in a bundle because that is good value, but then you think, oh no, what a LOT of work!! Don’t let overwhelming dies scare you off!
Overwhelming Dies
One such bundle is Pansy Patch. Now I really love pansies. Those pretty flowers look like they have smiling faces and they bring a burst of joy in early spring. The gorgeous paper was also irresistible, so I took the plunge. Did you know that the die cuts also cut out flowers from the designer series paper? Here are a few photos from my fellow International Bundle Tutorial team members that might be a big help to you.
Caroline van der Straaten made this beautiful photo showing how the dies work.
Another International Tutorial Team member Tamara Bertram made this die graphic.
Create With Us International Tutorial Bundle Team
Did you know that I am a part of this new amazing tutorial bundle team? This month we will have 15 members and that means fifteen tutorials for you all featuring the `Pansy Patch bundle. The tutorials can be purchased for $25 OR you can get them free with a $60 purchase. For May the tutorial features the Sweet Strawberry bundle. June 1 the Pansy Patch tutorial will be available.
Here is a sneak peek of my card for this tutorial. If you want to check out my tutorial offerings, you can do so here. Tutorials are great for instant gratification. They take the work out of making cards. Why not indulge yourself today?
Don’t Let it Scare You Off
Please don’t let those overwhelming dies scare you off. Pansy Patch is a gorgeous bundle and there is a trick to easing the fear. Simply die cut the various shapes in bulk so that you have a good number of each in various colours. Put them all in neat little piles and then you will be ready to get creative! Let me know how it works for you.
Some More Stories from Holland
Truth be told, I shouldn’t say “Holland” for this beautiful country, it is really called The Netherlands and Holland is only a province or two (north and south Holland) My parents always called their country “Holland” so I do too.
I just wanted to share a few more photos with you to brighten your day and kindle your desire to visit here.
Stormy skies make for splendid pictures. The village of Woudsend is so beautiful you can make a whole photo book to capture it all.
Dutch people love their neatly trimmed hedges and “espaliers” which is what you call trees that are trained to grow to grow flat against a wall or supported on a lattice.
The design on these wooden shoes (klompen) is the Friesian flag. Such cute little vignettes!
Prime Time With the Pampered Stamper
Perhaps you have heard of this private Facebook group. I started it shortly after COVID19 hit and I had to cancel all my in person classes. Let me tell you, that was a little scary. Recently divorced, in my own home with bills to pay I was scrambling to make up for this lost income.
I started Prime Time to help fill the void. My thought was that by charging only a small amount of money and hopefully attracting a larger number of people I could do private, exclusive video classes once a week and also offer weekly prizes. The cost is only $10 a month.
Recently Gerard suggested that I give my Prime Time members more perks. One of those perks is exclusive photos and stories of my traveling adventures. I would love to have YOU join as well. This group is for people all over the world. If you are a demonstrator, you can use the cards that I teach in your own classes or with your team. Here is the link if you are interested.
Thanks!
Thanks for joining me today, I alway love hearing your stories and reading your comments. I love that you send me emails, but did you know that it is even nicer when you leave a comment right on the blog? Then everyone can enjoy what you have to say. This blog, like my Facebook page is a stamping community. I’m so glad you’re here. Have a super day.
PS. Don’t forget on the amazing deal on the starter kit. It ends May 30 and I would LOVE to have you on my team.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | May 22, 2021 | fancy fold, gatefold card, The Netherlands, travel, tulip fields |
Hello stampers and happy Saturday to you. It’s all about the story for me. I have always loved reading books and words simply delight me. Today’s blog is about how stories let me to plan this little getaway.
It’s All About the Story
The Netherlands really is a small country. It fits more than two times into Lake Ontario. Crazy, right? Don’t let it fool you for a minute. There is so much to see and do here. I have been here many times and believe me when I tell you that I have barely scratched the surface of discovering this beautiful little gem of a country.
I had never been to Friesland which is one of the northern provinces and also the most unique. Last summer we tried but because of COVID19, everyone was vacationing in their own country and there was nothing nice available. This visit, I tried again. The search began with tulip fields.
A Fun Blog
When I typed in “best tulip fields in Holland” one of the search results was this lovely blog called Wanderlust. I discovered that there were three main areas to find lots of tulip fields. One was near Lisse, where I went the very day that I arrived. The second one was near where my father comes from and the third was near Schagerbrug. What made the third one so appealing is that there is a windmill in the background of your photos. When I saw that this was sort of on the way to Friesland, my mind was made up and I was so excited. What I didn’t pay close attention to is that the blog post was written in 2019 and there is such a thing as crop rotation. That means that the fields are not always planted with the same crop!!
The miller traditionally lived in the windmill and you would be surprised at how spacious and cozy it is. These windmills are quite large! Due to COVID19 it was not possible to go inside.
The Glorious Tulips
Holland is of course renowned for its tulips which made many people here quite rich in the 1600s. Suffice it to say that tulips were so popular that people would sell their horse or carriage for a single tulip bulb!! You can read about the history here.
Can you believe that I had never been to the Netherlands in the spring? It was on the agenda last year but then COVID prevented all travel. That is why I was over the moon excited to be able to see the tulip fields this year. Here are a bunch of photos that try to capture the beauty that I saw.
An Idyllic Inn
It was on this same blog that I came across Omke Jan which is an idyllic “herberg” or inn in Woudsend, Friesland. I was intrigued at the story of Omke Jan and the inspiration behind this restaurant and inn. Omke Jan sounds like just the kind of guy that I would have loved to meet. I did meet his relative who owns this unique gem and his love for people and life just sparked from his eyes. A kindred spirit indeed.
If you look closely at this photo you will see the modern “omke Jan” sitting on the edge of his terrasje enjoying watching his customers anonymously.
I could post a ton more photos of this idyllic place but you can check out the Wanderlust post for yourself. If you ever get to travel to the Netherlands I highly recommend this place, be sure to book early to avoid disappointment!
This was out typical Dutch breakfast. My favourite part was the freshly squeezed orange juice and of course room service at no extra cost because of COVID19!! We were exceptionally lucky to be here at this time of year and during COVID19. It felt like we had the place to ourselves! The bonus? We got upgraded to a bigger, better room. Our room is the one that is featured in the Wanderlust blog post.
Prime Time Card
I feel that as a Stampin’Up! demonstrator rather than a travel blogger, I should include at least one card in my post! I was inspired to make this gate fold card because I thought that the die cut trees would look great on a belly band. What do you think?
The paper is Beauty of the Earth but the trees come from the Inspired Thoughts bundle. This bundle coordinates quite well with the trees from Beauty of the Earth. You can see another blog post with this suite here.
Thank You!
Thanks for joining me today. Hope you enjoyed your journey through the tulip fields and to Friesland. It’s all about the story. I love these stories, I hope you did too. Have a super day!!
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | May 19, 2021 | blessings, travel |
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today’s post is not about cards. It’s about blessings new every morning. As you may know, I am in the Netherlands right now with Gerard for five weeks. Did you know that this was a very difficult decision for me? Why should you even care?
Leap of Faith
The reason it was so difficult for me to leave is that my Pap is 94 and in failing health. What kind of a daughter goes on an international flight during COVID in such a situation? Thankfully both Pap and Mom said, go, you cannot put your life on hold. I had to have faith that Pap was in God’s hands and that there is nothing I can do to change the number of his days. We have said everything that there needs to be said. I have peace because he is at perfect peace. He is ready to meet his heavenly Father. How amazing is that?
Blessings New Every Morning
I am one of four children. What I have seen now that I am gone is that my older sister is filling the void. She has stepped up what she does and how often she does it. She is finding her niche and it a beautiful to see. As you know, every child has a unique relationship with their parents. When one child leaves for university, it can really change the dynamics in the family. Same thing when an adult child leaves for another country. My sister is no longer in my shadow and it is wonderful to see that relationship flourish!
I have seen the same thing happen in church ministries. When you have certain gifts, you feel called to use them but sometimes life happens and you have to cut back on your commitments. What I have found though, is that when you step back it gives someone else an opportunity to step forward and that is a beautiful thing.
Update on Pap
Prayers are being answered and Pap is doing amazingly well. He still sleeps a lot, but in the morning he is in the kitchen before mom and even sets the table and makes the tea! He has a head start because she has first helped him with his toiletries, and then she has to take care of herself.
On Mother’s Day Pap went for a car ride and visited my sister for outdoor coffee and drinks and then stopped by the farm to see my brother and his wife. At the farm it was just a “drive by” visit but how wonderful for him to get out of the house and see all his kids. Imagine my joy when mom told me that Pap was able to get in and out of the tub all by himself! Mind you, this does change from day to day. The next day it was such an ordeal that Mom finally conceded that she should get help. Another blessing!!
Why did I share this?
The reason I shared these details with you is to encourage you to also step out in faith. If there is something that you wanted to do but you were holding back on because you felt like you couldn’t “let down” or disappoint the people around you, think again. It might be just what they need for their own personal growth.
I am going with Gerard to Friesland today. Friesland is the Dutch equivalent of Quebec. The Fries people are fiercely independent and have their own language that is so different from Dutch that I cannot understand it. Friesland is in the north of Holland, about a two hour drive. I will be sure to post pictures. Here is the quaint B&B we will be going to.
Thanks for joining me, I hope you have a super day!
by Jackie Bultje | May 17, 2021 | flowers, Happy Mail in Holland |
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you. Today my post is about inspiration at a flower stall. Let me tell you the story of what happened.
Inspiration at a Flower Stall
On Saturday afternoon, despite the rain in the forecast, Gerard and I stepped into the car and headed for the beautiful old city of Dordrecht. This time we made sure to pack our umbrella and I had a big wool scarf to drape over my lap in case it was cold on the terrasjes. When we got there we were delighted to see that there was a Saturday market. Gerard tells me that every market is basically the same wherever you go in Holland.
There are fish stalls, cheese stalls, flower stalls and of course bakery stands and some clothing and even craft stalls. The flower stalls always draw my attention first and today was no exception. I started snapping photos and before I know it this adorable old woman is asking me if I want to buy some flowers. She is describing her favourites. Did I see the gorgeous peonies? They are the first of the season she says.
Of course I wanted to buy as many bouquets as my arms and Gerard’s arms could hold, they were all so beautiful. With regret I told her that I already had a living room full of flowers. I shared that I was from Canada so my appreciation for her beautiful flowers was immense! I asked if I could take a picture with her. She just lit up! Then she told me her story.
Her Story
What I loved so much about this lovely lady was her enthusiasm for life and for her work. She is 75 years old and she just buried her husband a week ago. He was 92. She was at the flower stall where she has worked most of her life and she was there on Saturday especially to thank everyone who had sent her cards and gifts to honour her husband.
She met him first when she was 14, but he was 17 years older than her so her parents were naturally vehemently opposed. They met again when she was 17 and then there was no stopping her. She moved in with him and back then of course this was very taboo. Even now I am sure that most parents would be aghast at their 17 year old moving in with a 34 year old. They had a great life together, had children and grandchildren and ran their flower shoppe. Her son and daughter-in-law now run the flower stand.
What inspired me most was her passion for life. Even after such a recent loss, she was so joyful. It made her happy to share her story and she was so happy for us as well. Her joy made me want to buy her flowers and I know that the next time I am in Dordrecht, I will be looking for her flower stall.
So Many Beautiful Flowers
It doesn’t seem to make any difference how many flower stall I see, every time I am enthralled. What a joy to be surrounded by such beauty!! I couldn’t share just one photo, so enjoy them all! I wish I had taken more!
So Happy!
I’m so happy that I took my big Canon camera with this time. It is heavy to carry around but the pictures are so much nicer than with my phone. Yes, the phone takes great pictures, but I like these even more. I feel like you can almost smell and touch the flowers in these pictures. Hopefully they also bring you some joy.
I think it might be time to share a few other things that brought me great joy this week. Happy mail!!!
Happy Mail
Here are three hand made cards that I received this week and I am so very happy to share them with you. The first one is from Karen Silvester from Saskatchewan. She cased this design from Amy Koenders. I love it, thank you!!
Karen used the Pretty Perennials bundle from the mini catalog. Did you know it is retiring? Be sure to get it before it’s gone. The current host code is on the left hand side of my blog.
I also received cards from some Dutch demos. How wonderful!! Gerard and I are really feeling the love and it is amazing.
Thanks!
This was a super long post, I hope you enjoyed my story of the inspiration at a flower stall. I do love sharing what I see and do in Holland. On Gerard’s advice I have decided to spoil my Prime Time people even more for their loyalty to me. Prime Time members pay $10 a month for private video tutorials and for prizes. I have decided to also post more pictures and videos from my travels exclusively in this group to give it more value. Thanks Prime Time members for keeping my business alive during COVID19! I appreciate you ever so much. If you want to join, that would be just awesome. Here is the information for you.
Have a super day!
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | May 15, 2021 | Beauty of the Earth, fancy fold, shadowbox card |
Hello stampers and happy Saturday to you. I was having too much fun yesterday to write a blog post but today I am going to share a Beauty of the Earth Shadowbox card. This shadowbox card is easy to make and impressive to receive. I had my original one sitting on the shelf for years!
Beauty of the Earth Shadowbox Card
What I like about this card is that it is just one long piece of cardstock folded and scored with an opening cut with a large die. To see all the measurements and directions, you can read this blog post.
One thing about being in Holland is that I am working with limited supplies and that can be a creative challenge. I find it useful because it helps me relate to newer stampers or those on a budget who have limited supplies as well. My shadow box card requires 12 x 12 cardstock and I had only two colours to choose from: Garden Green and Early Espresso. I ended up using Early Espresso because I felt it brought out the colours of the Beauty of the Earth paper better. Let’s take a look.
All The Bits and Pieces
All the bits and pieces from the tree on the front of my shadowbox card are die cut from the gorgeous designer series paper Beauty of the Earth. The layers really do look quite spectacular together. If you look closely you can see that the stamp set in there is from the March Paper Pumpkin. I still have of few of those for sale in case you missed out.
The Beautiful Inside
What I like best about this card is the surprise that happens when you open it. From the outside it looks just like an ordinary card. It looks so nice standing on a shelf or a window sill. Mine is quite simple but you could add more embellishments and layers if you wanted to.
A Little History Lesson from Holland
Yesterday I went to Rotterdam with my cousin Kees. Coincidentally it was the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Rotterdam by the Nazis. Over 1500 people were killed in one day and many, many more people injured. Not many buildings were left standing in downtown Rotterdam. Nazi Germany did this to bring the Netherlands to their knees so to speak and make them surrender. Hitler threatened to bomb Amsterdam and the Hague the following day if they didn’t surrender.
We had lunch in the Old Harbour with a view of one the buildings that was left unharmed by the bombs. It is called de WItte Huis which means the white house. It is a grand old apartment building that claims to be the first one with an elevator. I am including this photo from my phone. If I find better photos on my “real” camera, I will add them for sure.
Thanks!
Thanks for joining me today! Just a reminder of a few great things.
- Awesome deal on the starter kit.
- Fantastic host benefits with an extra $30 in host rewards.
- Paper share and ribbon share available.
- Five more kits left for June Virtual Coffee and a Card class.
- Spots available in the June 4 Fab Four class.
Message me if you have any questions!! Have a super day.
Product List
