Hello stampers! My, it has been way, way too long since I have written a blog post. My brand new Umbrella Days card kit has given me the inspiration to get back in the blogging saddle! Let me tell you how this kit has come about, it really is a bit of an epic journey.
Inspiration for a Card Kit
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When I first moved to the Netherlands and had to transform my business to an online model, I decided to focus all my energy on my YouTube channel. While this was successful in that I got lots of subscribers and am even getting paid by YouTube for ads, it was not successful for getting online orders. My hope was that people would watch my video, be inspired and then click on the links in my description to order the products that they wanted.
When chatting with fellow demonstrators who were mainly from the States, they told me that I needed to offer card kits. I dragged my heels for a while because I didn’t want to stand there for hours die cutting and making packages, but now I feel that I really must give it a try. Here is my first kit!!
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Tips and Tricks for working with Umbrella Days
Clear emboss the rain on a dark background, Basic Black, Night of Navy or Misty Moonlight.
White emboss the sayings on Basic Black Cardstock for a dramatic effect.
Paper piece the umbrella, either on its own or on the stamped image. You can do this with the dog coat, or the boots as well. To take it up a notch you can dry emboss these pieces as well, use two-tone white core cardstock or patterned paper.
Colour your stamped images with Blends, Watercolour Pencils and a Water Painter or Blender Pen, Water Painter and ink or Stampin’ Write Markers for the smaller parts like the hands, the hair and the boots.
For an interesting variation, leave your image black and white and just add colour to the umbrella!
Use Adhesive Sheets with several different colours of cardstock to create sticker diecuts with the small dies. This is so easy and useful!!
Lastly, did you know that if you choose option 2 for the starter kit you can choose $206 worth of products for only $135? This will allow you to get the Umbrella Days bundle, the Spring Corners Bundle AND the Everyday Arches bundle plus either a set of Blends in your choice of colour OR your choice of 12×12 two tone cardstock??
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When you watch my video you will see how all the parts of the Umbrella Days bundle work and I will also make the bottom right hand card with you. I also share some details on the square card that I gratefully cased from the talented Jacque Williams from New Zealand. If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Trust me, I am way more active there than on my blog, but hopefully that will change in the future.
Shop with me
If you live in Canada, you can simply click on the easy links below to shop with me. As a thank you, you will get at least one pdf tutorial bundle AND you will get the six card kit shown above as long as your order is at least $75. Thanks so very much for stopping by my blog after I have been silent for so long. It’s good to be back!!
Hello stampers and happy Tuesday to you. Have you perhaps overlooked the stunning Aspen dies? These dies coordinate with the Perched in a Tree stamp set and today I have altered the die to make a very cute raccoon card.
I was scanning over my stamp sets in my Kallax IKEA shelf and I saw this stamp and realized that I have never inked it up. The Aspen dies had also not been used for a very long time and I wanted to combine them. My first instinct was to use the lovely Fragrant Forest background stamp but this was a better fit. The only obstacle was that the forest was too thick to properly show off my chosen creature, the raccoon.
Wild & Sweet Aspen Dies Card
Here is a picture of my card so you can see how I changed the Aspen die to make it work. If you watch the video, you will get a better idea of how I did it.
Video Tutorial
I always enjoy watching a video to see how the card is made. You can fast forward through the boring bits or if you think my colouring or blending is taking too long. Really, it is a free class! I hope you like it! If you do, please share on social media or comment and give a thumbs up. All those things really make a difference in my business.
Inspired to Create at Home?
If I have inspired you to want to create this at home, you can simply click on the images below of the products and you will be in my Canadian webshop. Live in Europe? Simply go to the Stampin’Up! website and choose Jacomina Bultje as your demonstrator (this is still the name in my passport)
Thanks so much for joining me today, I hope you have a super day. Today is also the last day to take advantage of the starter kit deal. Why not get a ton of great products with no shipping costs that will also give you a 20% discount at least until the end of April 2024?
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today I have a beautiful tinted embossing paste butterfly card for you. If you have been following me on my YouTube channel, then you might know that I have been a little obsessed with embossing paste. Once you open a jar, you just want to keep playing. Want to see what I made??
Beautiful tinted embossing paste butterfly
First off: a disclaimer. The Butterflies & Flowers layering decorative masks are no longer available. Every year Stampin’Up! “retires” some products and this is one such product. They have different masks available now but this was one I had on hand that would really show off the tinted embossing paste technique.
I first used a blending brush to make a solid butterfly image. Then I used the detailed image at the bottom to use with the embossing paste. Just two drops of pool party reinker were added to about a tablespoon of embossing paste. I put it in a little bowl and stirred it with the smallest palette knife. If you want to see the whole card being made, just watch the YouTube video tutorial at the end of this blog post.
Here you can see how nice the tinted embossing paste looks up close.
Video Tutorial
More Embossing Ideas
Did you know that I am a member of the International Create With Us tutorial bundle team? This month our tutorial bundle features embossing folders. You can get this fifteen card tutorial for free if you order online through me or you can purchase it in the tutorials section of my blog. Below is a sneak peek of our tutorial. PDF tutorials are a great way to jump start your creativity and to become a more talented stamper. Enjoy!!
Thanks for joining me today, I hope you have a super day!
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you. Today I am sharing a really lovely card that features a stunning fold with just one die!! This card looks so complicated but it really isn’t! That’s my favourite kind.
Why Grassy Grove?
I was checking the Inventory Status report to help me decide which suite to feature for August and I realized that all the suites that I wanted to use are backordered. Then I saw the beautiful Grassy Grove on my shelf and thought I would show it some love. It has long been a favourite of mine, and I just recently was able to purchase some New Horizons paper that coordinates with this suite perfectly. Take a look at the photo.
That’s right. If you don’t have this stamp set and dies yet, I will send you ten sheets of the beautiful New Horizons paper for free. Then you will be able to make this stunning card too.
Weekly Cheer Corner Video
Did you miss my weekly Monday Cheer Corner video? Every Monday at 10am EST I go live on my Facebook page to make a Cheer Corner card. You can nominate someone to receive this card; anyone who needs a little cheer. Together we CAN change the world one card at a time. Click below to watch the video tutorial. Please subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already. I would very much appreciate it if you would also click on the share button.
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you. Today I have a Simple Emboss Resist card for you using the Circle Sayings stamp set. Find out how easy this technique is when you watch my YouTube video tutorial. The paper that I used for this card is an “online exclusive” called Simply Irresistibles. All the links for the products that I have used are found at the bottom of this blog post.
YouTube Video Tutorial for Simple Emboss Resist Card
Watch this video to see how this card was made. Emboss-resist is such a fun technique! If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Free PDF Tutorial Bundle
If you spend $35 with me online or if you purchase the Circle Sayings stamp set, you will get a tutorial bundle featuring many cards using this stamp set. What a great way to get the most use out of your purchase!! If you want to see more emboss resist cards, click on this link. Happy stamping, and thanks so much for joining me today.
Hello stampers and happy Saturday to you. I know! A blog post on Saturday? This free split sponging technique Zoom class is so exciting to me that I just couldn’t wait to share it with you. While you are reading this blog, I am sharing this card with the 25 Dutch demonstrators that came to my High Tea and Paper Pumpkin event. When demos get together we usually like to swap. That means that I will be sharing my swap cards with you in the next little while.
Free Zoom Class with the Split Sponging Technique
Why do a free Zoom class? I’ll be totally honest. The truth is that running my business online can get a bit lonely. With the fact of living in two countries and traveling a lot back and forth, it is difficult to hold consistent in person classes. While I love creating video tutorials, I thought it would be a nice change to be able to see you as well. Creating a lively stamping community is dear to my heart. Here is the link to the event where you can also get the Zoom link to join in on this free class which will be on Tuesday May 9 at 4pm CET which is 10am EST. You can google what time that is in your time zone.
Split Sponging Technique Cards
Here you can see what we are going to be creating. It’s really so simple, yet so striking. Huge thanks to Jay Soriano for sharing this technique and layout. If you want to see more cards made with Artistically Inked, check out this blog post.
Of course I couldn’t leave the inside of the card blank, so I stamped the small flower from Artistically Inked in the inside using Melon Mambo and Parakeet Party for the leaves. You can really see the distINKtive design of this stamp. Basically this means that you get a variegated colour with just one simple stamp. I love how artistic this makes me look and feel!
What to do before the free Zoom class
First of all you are going to want to put the date and time into your calendar on your phone so that you get a reminder. Then click “going” on my event page so that I know I won’t be stamping alone. Be sure to check out the supply list below to make sure you have what you need to play along. Questions? Message me; I love to help.
Zoom Recording
Did you miss the free Zoom class? Here is the recording for you. Enjoy!!
More Resources
If you already have the Artistically Inked stamp set you might want to get this pdf tutorial bundle which is now half price!
Thanks for joining me today. If you like what you see, please share either on Facebook or Pinterest. Comments are always appreciated too! Have a super day.
