by Jackie Bultje | Dec 18, 2019 | Blends, Botanical Prints Product Medley, Framelits |
Hello stampers and happy Tuesday to you. Today I am going to share my card using Wrapped in Plaid paper with the Botanical Prints Product Medley. When I saw this paper I knew I wanted to use it for a non-Christmas card. I am really happy with how it turned out. Chances are pretty good that you will have some of this paper left over after you are finished with your Christmas card making. Now you will have an idea for January.
The Card
I am having some issues with the computer that are making me want to sin!!!! When I try to fix a sentence it keeps “eating” the words ahead of it. Instead of a cursor blinking it is a highlighted mark. No idea how to fix it so I just deleted the entire sentence and created a new paragraph, so if it reads a little funny, you know why! Sorry, I just had to vent a bit. What I wanted to say is that this foliage branch looked a little Christmassy to me, so I coloured it with cherry cobbler and old olive blends. The foliage looks great with the strip of Wrapped in Plaid paper and the pop of cherry cobbler in behind. The strip is 4 1/8″ by 1 1/4″. The plaid piece is 3/4″ by 4 1/8″.
To keep the look more natural and a bit assymetrical I trimmed the one floral branch a bit. I would have liked to add a bit of sparkly crystal effects and a few pearls but I don’t have either of these with me. Do you see the mossy meadow leaves tucked in behind the foliage? They add a little depth and interest. There are two leaf framelits included in the Botanical Prints Product Medley. If you want to watch me making this card, then check out my Facebook live video from yesterday here.
A New PDF
I am so happy with the success of my Parisian Blossoms pdf. It shows how to make the 11 projects that I made for #OnStage2019 in Toronto. Based on your positive feedback, I am planning on making a pdf for this Botanical Prints Product Medley as well. It is a gorgeous assortment of coordinating products, but having a pdf to show you exactly what to do with it will make for instant gratification. We all need that once in a while don’t you think? If you missed out on my first pdf you can get the buy it now link in this post. Haven’t got a clue what pdf even means? Here is a definition: PDF stands for “portable document format”. It was introduced to ease the sharing of documents between computers and across operating system platforms when you need to save files that cannot be modified but still need to be easily shared and printed. When you purchase the pdf then I send you an email with the document attached and then you can print it out or just use it on your device.
Happy Mail Contest
I thought I would remind you about my happy mail contest! If you send me a card in Holland then I will feature it in a blog post and I will enter you in a contest to win Poppy framelits from the new mini catalog. Here is the mailing address Jackie Bultje, c/o Gerard van der Sar Bloemenlaan 6, 2691 JC ‘s-Gravenzande, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
This will accomplish a lot of amazing things. It will shine the spotlight on your work, it will give me happy mail and it will help me blog every day even though I have limited supplies with me here in Holland. Lastly it will give you the chance to win some great framelits!
Thanks
Thanks a lot for joining me on this blog today. If you take the time to share on Facebook or Pinterest, that really helps me spread the word about my work and I do appreciate it very much. This is the cyber version of old-fashioned “word of mouth” which is crucial to the success of small business owners. Of course, if you live in Canada I would be over the moon happy if you ordered online with me or if you considered getting your own discount on every purchase by getting the starter kit. That would also make you a member of the Beyond Pampered team which also gives you membership in my exclusive Training Group and Elite group. We have a LOT of fun together. Enjoy this beautiful day, the sun is shining in Holland!! I need to get outside.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Dec 17, 2019 | Botanical Prints Product Medley, retreat, Stamparatus |
Hello stampers. Today I was inking up in Holland for the first time. I hadn’t stamped in exactly a week!! That is a very rare occurrence and I was worried that my creativity might lag. I used my usual tricks and it all worked out just fine. Do you want to know what I do to jump start my creativity?
Jump Starting my Creativity
I have a fairly simple system to jump start my creativity. In the past I would have trolled the internet and wasted a LOT of time. Now I simply stamp all the images in the set a few times. I colour the ones that could use that approach and then I use the framelits to cut out a bunch of images as well. Everything is laid out: all the patterned paper, the copper bees, the ribbon and the die cuts. I tied a few bows and knots and then I start playing with layouts, deciding which paper to use, what to cut in strips and which sentiment to use. It helps to have had a cup of coffee or your favourite beverage and to have some nice music going.
Use the Stamparatus for your sentiments
The stamparatus is perfect for stamping your images correctly on the labels from the Botanical Prints Product Medley. After I have stamped the three I pop them out and put a new blank one in the template. That way I can leave my stamps in the right position. It is also super helpful when you are working with a relatively old and abused Memento ink pad. I had to stamp three times to get the right intensity and that would have been a nightmare without the Stamparatus.
The Basic Layout for the Card
This is the basic layout for the card. I used a whisper white thick cardstock base of 8 1/2″ by 5 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″. I then cut a card front out of mossy meadow, 4 1/4″ by 5 1/2″. I used tombow and a sponge with the silicone mat to adhere the detailed die cut piece to the front. There are four of these included in the product medley. It was so much fun to use the mini paper trimmer to cut a strip of paper for some pretty contrast.
There are four different coloured die cuts all ready for to use when you want instant gratification. Now to decide whether we like the peaches or the plums best. Tomorrow I will use a different die cut on my card, but you can see it already in the live video. One thing is certain, those copper bees are adorable!!
Everything on this card comes from the Botanical Prints Product Medley. The card base is mossy meadow but the ribbon is old olive. These two greens work very well together and I am really happy about that because I have no old olive paper with me. It is a good challenge for me to work with what I have. Makes me feel a bit more like my customers!! I am so happy that the copper bees came in this product medley.
Copper Bee Embellishments
I used a copper bee embellishment on both of the cards, they are just so very pretty. Of course they will work very well with several of our new stamp sets in the new mini catalog and the saleabration catalog. These bees are only available as part of the Botanical Product Medley. Here is a close-up of the bee:
When Can You Get It?
Well, that is always the million dollar question isn’t it? If you are a demonstrator you can get it right now. If you get the starter kit, you can put it in your kit right now as well. Or you can get it as part of my retreat in February. This entire kit is included in your cost which is an amazing deal. We will be making all the cards that I blog about as well as the one I am designing for the new design team I am a part of. How exciting is that? Of course, if you are a patient person, you can wait until January 3 to order this great product medley.
Facebook Live
I showed how to make these cards at my Facebook live this morning (or afternoon depending on where you live). If you missed it, you can catch it here. I will go live every Tuesday at 9am EST which is 3pm in Holland. The one on New Year’s Eve day will probably just be a live video showing me making oliebollen.
Thanks so much for joining me today, I love connecting with you on my blog. I almost forgot to remind you that there are LOTS of amazing new deals on the clearance rack. You can check them out here, there are lots of amazing framelits, embossing folders and ribbon for really good prices.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Dec 16, 2019 | coffee and a card, treats |
Hello stampers! It’s actually Saturday here but I thought I would get an early start to Monday’s blog post. It’s all about the treats is an integral part of my business, so much so in fact that I have a regular hashtag for it. If you follow me on Instagram you will often see #itsallaboutthetreats. Have you ever wondered why?
Why Treats?
Life is too short to not have dessert. It could be because of my Dutch roots, but I do love high quality baked goods. There is no such thing as a “naked cup of coffee”. Growing up at home we ALWAYS had something with our coffee. Most of the time it was home baked. Mom was a stickler about portion control. It’s better to have a little bit of something very good then a lot of something that’s mediocre. I also love to bake and the coffee just tastes better when you have something delicious with it. When you have a treat with your coffee it turns it into a celebration, a bit of an event.
Coffee and a Card
When I finally turned my hobby into a business, this was my first venture into a regularly scheduled class. I was inspired by the lineups at the Tim Horton’s drive through. Tim Horton’s is a coffee and donut franchise that is very popular in Canada. I thought that if people would spend money on a cup of mediocre coffee and a less impressive donut, they might be inclined to spend a similar amount of money on better treats, better coffee and a handmade card.
This class started out as just one card and coffee with a treat for $5. It has since evolved into three cards, coffee and a treat for $15. Active team members get a discount and only pay $12. Coffee and a card is so very much more than a class. It is a tribal gathering! If you could hear the chatter and the laughter as more and more people join in it would warm your heart and make you want to be there. The treats are a big part of this. People simply love to gather around food! It is also true that deeper relationships are forged when you slow down to eat and drink together. Treats are important.
Treats in Holland
If you ever come to Holland and you order coffee or tea you will notice that you get a tiny treat as well. Even if you order dessert to go with your drink, you will still get the tiny treat too. I love it! The downfall is that you will not get free refills for your coffee. Bakeries in Holland are amazing, not just for cookies and pastries but also for fantastic breads.
My latest discovery is an “oliebollenkraam” which is a sort of food truck that sells only traditional Dutch Christmas treats. Gerard owns two amaryllis greenhouses, one at his own place and one at his father’s place. They are about 2 kilometres apart and I often walk from one to the other. Along the way is a garden centre called Intratuin, and they have this food truck. Yesterday I tried the oliebollen (sort of like the Dutchies they used to have at Tim Horton’s but round, and way, way better) and the appelflappen. Here are some photos. They are best when eaten warm with icing sugar accompanied by a black cup of coffee.
Balance
My battle plan is to just walk a lot, both from one greenhouse to the other and also along the beach. The trick is to time it so you are not walking in a downpour! Yes, there is a lot of rain here, no snow. If I get enough exercise then I can indulge in all the treats. Usually I do a lot of Christmas baking but it is hard to get motivated when the quality of the treats available is so good and you just want to try it all! Shortbread and butter tarts will definitely have to be made but after that I’m not sure. Finding the ingredients can also be more challenging than you might expect. I will need cornstarch for my shortbread cookies. Stay tuned!
Keeping Busy
The greenhouse is so busy now that there is no room for a stamping station, besides it is a little too chilly to be working in that all day! I have not yet set up a stamping space here yet, but I thought I would show you what I was busy with. Each box of flowers needs a label telling what variety it is and also the quantity. My skill set was sufficient to tackle that job, and many hands make light work, so it felt good to contribute. This morning at auction about 80,000 stems were sold from Van der Sar Amaryllis!
Saleabration Sneak Peek
Did you know that Stampin’Up! has an artisan design team? Each year a new team is chosen from applicants all over the world. These talented people have made some beautiful things using new saleabration products and I thought you might want to hop along. Just click on this link and from there at the end of each blog post there will be a place to click to go on to the next one. Lots of fun. Here is a card made by Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand.
Cutting Plates
One last thing before I go: cutting plates for the Big Shot are now available again. If you need any I would advise getting them asap because I have no idea how long they will be available. My “contraband” plates were not much cheaper than this (you save the shipping and the tax, but these are definitely much nicer to work with) The order number is 150815 and the cost is $15 a pair. Click here to go to my store if you live in Canada. Keep your old ones to use with the precision plate and save the new ones for framelits and embossing folders and they will last a long time. Please do use the host code if you order, it really helps me out! The current host code is 6KVMESQ6.
Thanks for joining me today. Remember that you can now purchase a beautiful pdf that shows you step by step how to make all my Parisian Blossoms cards from my presentation at #OnStage2019. If you go to this blog post you will see the buy now link. I hope you have a super day! Hugs from Holland.
by Jackie Bultje | Dec 13, 2019 | Christmas, Most Wonderful Time |
Hello stampers! Happy Friday to you all. I’m a big fan of the little things. It is often the little things that can make the biggest difference. Little things can bring great joy, they can also irritate if you let them. Finding joy is often closely connected with appreciating and showing gratitude for the little things in our lives. What little things are you thankful for?
Little Things with Stamping
Little things can really make people feel special. They also don’t have to cost much. For example, bake some of your favourite cookies and then put each into a small cello bag. Tie on some festive ribbon and then add a simple stamped tag. This little extra step of the bag and the tag is enough to make a person feel very special and loved. Now take a small batch of these specially packaged cookies and go spread some love. Not into baking? Love to shop? It can be fun to find cute and festive things to put in a little cello bag as well. The point is to just make some adorable tags and add them to a little package and make someone’s day.
The Hobby that Keeps on Giving
I like to remind people that stamping is hobby that just keeps on giving and blessing people. First it blesses the person who has the hobby. It makes you happy to stamp, it helps with your mental and physical well-being. Second, it blesses your family. It gives you a great activity to share with your kids, their friends, your in-laws and whoever drops by. Have you ever gathered around the kitchen table to make Christmas cards or tags? Such fun! Even if they don’t enjoy stamping with you, they will often come and ask if you have a card for them to give to someone for any number of occasions! Third, you bless and bring joy to the person receiving your creation. How wonderful is that?
The Gift of Time
Have you noticed that Christmas time is SUPPOSED to be about spending time with your family and friends but that is more often spend rushing around doing and buying stuff? Slow down and gather with your family or friends or a combination thereof and share the gift of creativity. It is such a great feeling letting time slow down and enjoying each others company while you chat and create. You will find it to be a completely different experienced compared to just having a cup of coffee together somewhere. I know that as demonstrators we often forget to share our hobby with those we love the most. We forget to enjoy it the way we did before it became our business.
Our First Card
Before I left for Holland I got an envelope clearly marked for “Jackie and Gerard” so it had to come with me unopened so we could open it together. I’m not sure if Janis realized the significance of this seemingly little thing! Our first Christmas card together! We were very touched. Janis used the Most Wonderful Time product medley to make this pretty card. Thank you!!
Here is Gerard opening the card in his office.
You can see that I took this picture in the greenhouse with the amaryllis in the background. Gerard did say that this card should go back to the house to be displayed. I agree.
Make your Hobby your Gift
If you are like me and you love to make cards you may forget how special they really are. Did you know that most people would be thrilled to get a package of your handmade cards with some envelopes so that they can give your cards to their loved ones? That’s right! No need to go shopping on Amazon or stand in long lines at the mall or peruse all the gift ideas at the store. Just package up some of your pretty cards, tie on some ribbon and add a tag and you will be making a gift of your hobby. You can check out the cute tags I made with the November Paper Pumpkin here.
Thanks
Thanks so much for joining me today, I would love to hear your stories of how you incorporate stamping into your Christmas season. Do you have traditions with your family that include your hobby? What are your favourite little things? I hope you have a super day. This is my first blog post from Holland! I will be sharing more photos and videos from here on my Pampered Stamper Facebook page.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Dec 10, 2019 | Christmas, Framelits, Snowman Season, Toile Christmas |
Hello stampers! It is my last day here in Canada so I thought happy mail would be a great topic. Happy mail is a handmade card between the bills and flyers and it is always appreciated. When you see that special sized envelope in the mail with handwriting on the front of it, you just know you are in for a happy surprise. I received happy mail yesterday so I thought I would share those cards with you today.
The Cards
I got this lovely card from my team member Karen Gardner. The snowmen are vintage, from many years ago. She told me it was one of the first sets she got. I love that!! This card has so much sparkle in real life.
This stunning cardinal card is from team member Jean Burke. I think the paper might be contraband but the cardinal is from Toile Christmas. Her idea of putting the sentiment on an angle like that is really great!
This last beauty is from fellow demonstrator Marion Greenlund. I love how she combined the trees from Winter Woods with the Feels Like Frost paper and the stitched rectangles framelits. The foil is from the Peacock suite.
A Great Idea
I had a great idea this morning. SInce happy mail is so wonderful I was wondering if you would like to send ME happy mail in Holland! I would then blog about the cards that I get in the mail and at the end of my stay in Holland I will choose one lucky winner to get the Poppy framelits from the new catalog. Here is my mailing address:
Jackie Bultje c/o Gerard van der Sar
Bloemenlaan 6,
2691 JC ‘s-Gravenzande,
Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands
Free Shipping Tomorrow
Just a reminder that tomorrow there is free shipping on orders of $65 or more. This will be the perfect opportunity to try ordering online and have your products delivered straight to your door. Please do use the current host code as that is a great help to me. Do NOT use the code if you are placing an order of $200 or more, then you will get your own host benefits.
Thanks for dropping by, I am now off to my parents and then on to the plane tomorrow at 6pm. Yay!!!
Product List
