by Jackie Bultje | Oct 25, 2019 | business opportunity, Paper Pumpkin, scrapbooking |
Hello stampers. I thought you might be interested in hearing my story, about how The Pampered Stamper came to be! Sometimes lives can be changed by someone’s story and eyes are opened to new possibilities!
A Scrapbooker at Heart
When I was growing up I thought it would be amazing to write a book. I have loved reading ever since I first learned how and I just love words. Scrapbooking was therefore a great fit for me and I was an avid journaller. It really is all about the story! I started scrapbooking when Rachel was a baby. By this time Stefanie was 11 and Katrina was 9. The reason I tell you that is because I only made scrapbooks for the three youngest. The two oldest already had baby books with lots of photos and stories and I encouraged them to start their own scrapbooks, which they did!
How does Stampin’Up! fit into this picture? In three ways.
- At my first workshop I realized right away that I was the type of person who would want it ALL! So I got nothing as this would be way too expensive seeing that I had five kids in a private Christian school. I didn’t even get a catalog. I was outraged that they were charging $7 for it.
- I also saw great possibilities. Stamps can be used over and over and would be a lot cheaper than using stickers in my scrapbook pages. I started buying stamps that could be used for both card making and scrapbooking. I loved the coordination of the ink, cardstock and patterned paper.
- Hosting workshops was the best way to get my supplies in a more economical way. I would host one workshop in the fall so I could get Christmas stamps and one in the winter to take advantage of sale-a-bration. I would invite a lot of people so I could maximize the amount of free stuff. I loved my scrapbook pages, they were so beautifully coordinated and making Christmas cards with the family was also a fantastic bonus.
My First Scrapbook Pages
The Switch from Customer to Demonstrator
The big question is, why did I switch from being a great customer to being a demonstrator? Oddly no one asked me to join their team. Either they didn’t want to be an upline or they didn’t want to to lose their best customer. I say “they” because over a number of years I had different demonstrators. That is why I always offer the opportunity to all my customers. They deserve the discount and the opportunity to do so very much more if they want to.
My biggest motivation for becoming a demonstrator is that I wanted to share what I love and I wanted to teach people how to make beautiful things. Stampin’Up! opened a whole new world of creativity for me. The last time I had felt truly creative was when I learned to paint in kindergarten. After that I developed an inferiority complex when it came to art. My only artistic outlet that I felt totally competent in as a youngster was colouring. I love colouring and that also fits in well with Stampin’Up!.
The Most Amazing Surprises with Stampin’Up!
What I did not expect with the purchase of my starter kit is the success that would become of this business adventure. I did want to make some money at this, but my goals were not big. To have my own supplies for free was the first goal. After three years of slow but steady growth I decided that if other people could go on this fantastic incentive trip then I was going to give it a shot too. Well!!! My first incentive trip was a dream and the beginning of an amazing adventure. A whole new world opened up to me.
- I met inspiring people from all over the world.
- Stampin’Up! rolled out the red carpet and treated me like a rock star.
- I received training that helped me become an even better business person.
- I was able to travel to places I might not have gone to. Every year I was able to take one of my family members on an unforgettable trip. The Caribbean several times, Alaska twice, Greece, the Mediterranean including Italy, Spain, and France. Thailand. Washington DC, Hilton Head Island not to mention all the Leadership Convention places. My favourite one was San Antonio.
- A once in a lifetime opportunity to attend Founder’s Circle in St. George Utah. What a posh weekend where each one of was treated like a movie star with our own personal hotel room. No one to share with! I got to meet all the “big names” in the Stampin’Up! world and I was pinching myself that other people were now seeing me as a “big name” too. Of course we are all just normal people but it is so very nice to be recognized for your hard work and achievements.
The reason I share this is that I really, really want you to know what can happen with the small investment of the starter kit. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Your enjoyable hobby can now be called your job! How wonderful is that? You can make it into whatever you want and regardless of the level of your commitment you have the opportunity to meet so many great people at Stampin’Up! events. My Beyond Pampered team has become a wonderful community of friends that support each other throughout the challenges and joys of life.
Making A Difference
What I almost forgot to tell you is that I now have the privilege of using my business to make a real difference in the lives of people in my city. I have partnered with Chatham-Kent Hospice to make cards for the one year anniversary of the loved ones death. I was already volunteering there and at my annual “performance review” my regular job came up in conversation and I was presented with this opportunity. What a joy to do something so meaningful. Of course there have been many other ways to make a difference. One year our team did a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald house and I have done many more fundraisers throughout the year.
A Card
I still love what I do and often find myself making just one more card at ten o’clock at night. Just because I want to. This happened last night so I am going to share it with you to thank you for dropping by and reading my story.
I used a piece of the beautiful Feels Like Frost paper, the dies from Merry Christmas and from Detailed Deer. The card measures 5 1/4 by 6 1/2. I used the stitched rectangle framelits to cut a window in the card front just a bit smaller than the birch tree element.
I am late for a birthday lunch so I am going to say goodbye now! Thanks for joining me today and have a super day.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 24, 2019 | boxes, Christmas, envelope punch board, gifts, Paper Pumpkin, ribbon |
Hello stampers! Those of you who know me will appreciate what a departure this is from the norm! Today I am going to show you how to make some easy boxes using the envelope punch board. Ironically I am way behind the eight ball since this product is now on the clearance rack. So get it while you can! Here is the link to go straight to my store if you are in Canada.
Why this is strange
The reason that I say it is a departure from the norm is that I very rarely make anything but cards. One of the reasons for this is that my customers prefer to simply make cards. Another reason is that I really do hate crafts. Most people cannot believe that about me. To me a card is useful and can really make a difference in someone’s life. Three dimensional things are lovely but I feel that they easily get thrown away. Besides, what do you do with all of them? I am coming to realize however that it really is nice to get a prettily packaged gift, it can really make a person feel special.
The Perfect Box
I am thrilled to finally discover how easy it is to make a box for your cards. To me this is the perfect 3D item. Giving cards away as a gift is a brilliant idea and to be able to present them in a coordinating box makes it even better. It is true that the box for the regular sized cards is easier to make than the one for the big square cards but I did manage to do it. The trick to figuring it out is to use this amazing tool from a British demonstrator, Joanne James called the Box Buster. You just punch in your measurements and check whether you want inches or centimetres and you are good to go. This is what it looks like:
Here you will see the measurements I needed to make a box big enough to hold my 6×6″ cards. The tricky part is when you go to the 5 5/8″ measure that extends 5/8″ beyond the envelope punch board measurements so you have to use a ruler to get it right. I did it though! If you want to make a box big enough for regular cards use a piece of cardstock 9 1/2 inch square and score at 3 1/2″ and 5″.
The Boxes
Let’s take a look at what I made using the envelope punch board. I used the stamps from this month’s Paper Pumpkin with night of navy, real red and Delicata silver ink pads. You can make a belly band or just use pretty ribbon to tie around your box.
This box was super easy to make, I just had to add a full piece of 6×6 paper to the front and then I tied coordinating purple posy ribbon around it. You can always add a tag when you know who you are going to give it to and why. Here is a close up co you can see how pretty the ribbon is.
The next boxes are all for regular sized cards that measure 4 1/4″ by 5 1/2″.
If you would like to see the live video I did yesterday showing how to make this box using the envelope punch board you can see it here. Despite my many mistakes the end result was still a lovely box. It will become very clear to you that if I can do it, you most certainly can as well. It ended abruptly because of an internet issue, so if you want to see me do the finishing touches with the belly band (with another hilarious mishap!) you can find part two here.
Of course the envelope punch board is also perfect for its intended purpose, to make envelopes! There is a handy chart right on the board that tells you what size paper you need for the size card that you have and where to score and punch. Stampin’Up! has made a video showing you how to use it. It is really helpful to watch so you get it right the first time and avoid frustration.
Thanks for yesterday!
It was so very gratifying and humbling to read all the comments on my blog post yesterday. God definitely had a plan when He whispered to me to go outside and spend some time with him to restore my soul. The pictures weren’t amazing but they adequately conveyed the stories I needed to share. Thanks for joining me. Take time to slow down and to also give yourself grace. God really doesn’t want us to be in a rat race or in a continual state of near panic. Let go and let God. This is a lesson I also need to tell myself over and over.
If you need anything or have any questions, please let me know. It brings me great joy to share what I love. I often tell you about the shopping opportunity and also about the amazing deal on the starter kit, but tomorrow I am going to share my story about how I started as a demonstrator and how it has changed my life. The starter kit really is such a fantastic opportunity that I would love to open your eyes to the possibilities it might have for you! Have a super day.
Product List
Envelope Punch Board
[133774]
$27.00
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 23, 2019 | 24 hour sale, nature |
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Yesterday was a day that left me in a funk and so I knew that I needed some lessons from nature. I needed to get out of the house, out of my stamp room and into the quiet to spend some time with God and his creation. It was time to gain some focus, to remember what I am thankful for and what is truly important. I thought I would share my lessons from nature and some pictures that I took with my phone so that you can share my journey.
God brings beauty out of everything
As I was walking through the woods along the edge of the city I was calmed by the still beauty around me. Gazing at all the beautiful leaves on the ground I was struck that the beauty that I was looking at was all dead! God uses dead leaves to give us a gorgeous fall world. Those dead leaves also turn into compost and better soil. How much more can he not use me to better the world one small way at a time?
These leaves are not particularly gorgeous but when you stop and take a look at all the different colours and shapes and textures it is truly beautiful. On the fallen, rotting tree trunk is some astounding yellow mold or fungus. Again, beauty from death.
Different is beautiful
What struck me about this leaf is the odd colouring. It remained mostly green with just a touch of vivid colour. It is uniquely beautiful. Why is it that we strive so hard to fit in? Why can we not accept our own uniqueness? I need to learn to own my imperfections too.
Do you see anything different about this leaf? I sure did! It is a very odd shape for a maple leaf. It is much longer than usual and also skinnier in the middle and yet….it is beautiful! Another lesson from nature to accept each other just the way we are, all different shapes and sizes, all beautifully unique.
He leads me beside quiet waters
We live in a hurried world and often forget to take time away from the busyness of life. That is what happened to me yesterday. I felt the need to just stop what I was doing (all of it important of course) and just get out into the stillness of nature. I slowed down and just absorbed the beauty around me. When something struck me, I took a picture so I could reflect on it later and share with you. Water and trees are calming. They restore your soul. So does time with God.
Darkness
Sometime we can get overwhelmed and things can look dark. That is when we need to remember to look up, to see the big picture and to remember that we are loved with an everlasting love. God has promised to never leave or forsake us. In the woods the light can be blocked as well. When I looked up I saw this one tall tree beginning to change colours ahead of the other ones. It really stood out. Remember to look up and see the light!
Perspective
The following pictures show the perspective when you look down, when you look back and when you look away. I purposely included my boot in this picture to give you some perspective as to how huge this leaf was. I am pretty sure it was as big as my head!
When life gets tough, find joy in the little things. The colour and texture of the leaves as they contrast with the dark earth and even the reflection of the water on one of the leaves. Again you will notice that none of these leaves are particularly beautiful but together it is simply breathtaking.
This picture isn’t a great one, it is a little blurry but I wanted to include it anyways because of the feeling it evokes. The wide open space, the fresh green trees, the crunchy leaves on the ground, all of it just makes you want to breathe deeply.
A little further on my walk I could peek through the trees and see a farm in the distance. The colours were a little brighter and it was just neat the way the trees framed this little vista.
A Quiet Gift
Nearing the end of my walk my eye was drawn up the trunk of this tall tree and I had a surprise! There was this beautiful carving of a heron or some other bird. Obviously someone had taken a lot of time to make this and then to share it with everyone in this public park. There is no plaque announcing this gift but it there to surprise and delight people. Sometimes we can find extraordinary things in the ordinary if only we take the time to look.
Seemingly Insignificant
On the edge of this park is a small isolated field. It is difficult to get to with farm equipment and it seems that the harvest will not be impressive. The weeds had a good year! Yet there is beauty here and value. It will be amazing how much squash will be harvested from this small field. Sometimes in our lives we may feel small and insignificant, but you never know how much you impact others. Small deeds can have huge consequences. Be open to the possibilities that cross your path. Plant the seeds of kindness and don’t worry about the harvest.
Thank you
I hope that you enjoyed this little diversion from the regular card making. Maybe if I needed a break you did too. Take some time to just enjoy the little things in life, to regain your perspective and to just breathe. Thanks so much to each one of you who takes the time to leave a comment, who pins my cards to Pinterest and who follows me on YouTube and Instagram.
Don’t forget about the 24 hour sale today. I made a little video walking you through the catalog and showing which sets are on sale and what the reduced price is. You can see it here. If you order online using the host code then I will send you a free pack of holiday rhinestones.
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 22, 2019 | Christmas, Perfectly Plaid, punch |
Happy Tuesday stampers! Perfectly Plaid is the star of today’s blog post. This great stamp set comes with a coordinating tree punch and the most gorgeous Wrapped In Plaid designer series paper. If you love traditional Christmas you will love this bundle!
The Perfectly Plaid Cards
This card measures 5 1/2″ by 8 1/2″ and is scored at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″ along the long side. I did a Facebook live video showing how to make this card and two others from start to finish. You can see it here.
Always Better in Person
Although a picture is worth a thousand words, real life is always better. Just like when you are photographing spectacular scenery on a vacation, photos can never really capture the true beauty you see with your eyes. Once again at class this morning people were saying, wow, these cards are so much nicer in real life.
If you love making Christmas cards and you love plaid, pine trees and a little bling, then this suite is for you. I also love the font in this set and the sayings. There are four different pine tree images to choose from that all fit in the punch. The paper also has trees that can be cut out using the punch.
One Day Sale and Online Bonus from me
Tomorrow there is a 24 hour sale with quite a list of stamp sets that are 15% off. I took some screenshots of the list to help you out a bit. Anyone ordering online will get a bonus from me of Holiday rhinestones! Of course they will be tucked into a Perfectly Plaid card.
If you want to save even more money you can add these discounted sets to your starter kit as well. Click here to get started on that adventure!
Thanks!
Once again, thanks for joining me on my little blog. I hope that in a small way I am making a difference in your life with some creative inspiration and a little entertainment now and then. Happy stamping and remember to bless others with your hobby! Have a super day.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 21, 2019 | Christmas, Paper Pumpkin, Winter Woods |
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you! Today I have some Paper Pumpkin alternatives for you. Paper Pumpkin is an awesome monthly subscription kit and while the cards in there are wonderful, it is always a fun challenge to make something different with them as well. Let’s take a look at two of my alternative cards.
The Cards
For this alternative card I used a carry over Christmas set that is in the annual catalog called Winter Woods. Coincidentally the same name as the Paper Pumpkin this month. I used the envelope to make the front panel. Just carefully pull it apart and then you can cut off the flaps. I ran a small piece of whisper white through the Pinewood Planks embossing folder to create some fun texture and then I cut a circle out of whisper white using the largest circle framelit from the layering circles collection. I sponged the circle with pool party and night of navy. The sentiment, the sequins and the cardinal are all from the Paper Pumpkin kit.
My vellum card was inspired by Arlene Luscombe on the Paper Pumpkin Fan Club on Facebook. I used a punch instead of dies, a different sentiment and a jingle bell. The vellum was cut to the same size as the card front and then adhered with a thin line of Tombow adhesive right along the edge. This edge was then covered up by the shaded spruce frame cut using the stitched rectangle framelits. I used the sprig punch to add two shaded spruce punchies and a gold jingle bell to set off my sentiment. The sentiment is also from Winter Woods.
More Inspiration
You can find lots more inspiration on Facebook. My favourite place to look is the Paper Pumpkin Fan Club which you can find here. Stampin’Up! also publishes a monthly newsletter which you can find here. If you would like to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, here is an easy link for you.
You Can Make Them Too
If you would like to make these cards you can! Just come to my beginner class on Wednesday October 30 at 1pm or 7pm. Cost is $15, but if you place an order then the money is put towards your order. If I have extra supplies and you live out of town, message me and maybe we can make something work! Thanks for stopping by and have a super day.
Product List
