by Jackie Bultje | Nov 28, 2019 | Christmas, Paper Pumpkin, tags |
Hello stampers! Oh the Paper Pumpkin possibilities! I think you may know by now that I am a rather big Paper Pumpkin advocate. That is saying a LOT. You would think that having a stamp room full of stamps, ink and paper that I would never get Paper Pumpkin for myself. Do you want to know why I do?
Treating Yourself
The main reason that I get Paper Pumpkin for myself is that it is an instant gratification treat. For once I get to papercraft without having to think and that feels pretty darn good once in a while. I have often compared it to ordering take out food even though you are a great cook and enjoy cooking. Once in a while it is just so nice to be able to indulge without any muss or fuss. Paper Pumpkin lets that happen. The Dutch in me also repurposes the beautiful box that it comes in.
Portability
The other thing that I love about Paper Pumpkin is that it is so easy to grab and take with me when I go somewhere. I always have one with me when I go and visit my parents. Mom is 87 and she loves to do this with me, especially when she realized that there is a lot of product in the box so it is ok if she messes up and needs another piece. I love watching her decide what to do with what she has as she loves to change things and make it her own. Paper Pumpkin gives us quality time that we might not otherwise have. There are only so many dice games I can play in a row!!
Possibilities
Every once in a while a Paper Pumpkin comes along that you think you might not like. No worries! You can either choose to skip a month or wait a while and see what everyone else makes with it. That’s right! There is a huge stamping community that subscribes to Paper Pumpkin and shares their creations on social media. Check out the Paper Pumpkin Fan Club on Facebook. This month the kit was Christmas tags and I heard at least one customer saying, I don’t do tags. Well, take a look what I made with this kit!
My Card with the Tag Kit
Even though this month’s kit was 24 tags, you don’t have to be limited by the suggested use. Debbie Henderson showed us this great card and I just recreated it myself. I didn’t change a thing because her card was beautiful! I did add a piece of patterned paper from the Wrapped in Plaid pack just like she did.
Here is a close up. I cut two strips of silver foil paper, 3/4″ by 5 1/4″ and 1 1/4″ by 5 1/4″ and embossed them with the Hammered 3D embossing folder. The strip of paper is from Wrapped in Plaid and it is 3″ by 5 1/4″ which means you can get two pieces out of each 6×6 piece of paper.
The deer in the kit are actually silver foil but Debbie turned them around so they would be white. This simple adjustment changes the look entirely! The other subtle change is that she cut up the sentiment and switched the order. I will show you a picture of the tag and you will see what I mean.
A Personal Note on Fear
As many of you already know my 93 year old Pap has been dealing with some nasty health issues. His bout with shingles landed him in the hospital and this evolved into fluid around his lungs, bowel issues and overall failing health. It was starting to look rather grim, but Mom had some wise words. She said that sometimes the things we fear are worse than what is actually going to happen and through this needless fear we make our lives more difficult than they need to be!
I live two and a half hours away from my parents and I have spend many hours on the road visiting them. Of course I am prepared to go again at the drop of a hat but sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and follow your head and not your heart. I got some advice from my own doctor and now I am calling the nurse’s station every day to get an update on my dad. Then I can make an informed decision instead of driving back and forth like a crazy squirrel on steroids. My absence for a few days also gives my siblings the opportunity to step up to the plate.
I have no fear for my Pap. He loves the Lord like his best friend and when he dies he will be in heaven and how awesome is that? He also has no fear, but only the regret that he is leaving the love of his life behind. This too is assuaged by the fact that God also loves my mom very much and she will be taken care of too. What a precious gift!!
Another gift
It seems a little frivolous after talking about the precious gift of salvation to be talking about the gift of Paper Pumpkin!! However….Paper Pumpkin is a wonderful gift for yourself, a friend or a teacher. You have many options to choose from. You can get a subscription where you pay monthly. You can also get pre-paid subscriptions for one, three, six or twelve months. No matter which option you choose, you can always choose to skip a month when you want. Click this link to find out more. I will also have icons at the bottom of this post with the product list. You can click on those as well and go straight to my store.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Nov 27, 2019 | Christmas, double tri-fold shutter card, fancy fold, Snowman Season, Uncategorized |
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today I have a tri-fold shutter card to show you. I made it two weeks ago for my Upon Request Club. Trust me, this is NOT the card to make if you are pressed for time. That will take all the fun out of it. You want to make this card when you have time to fuss a little.
The Inspiration
Normally I would not make a card like this for a class since it is just too much cutting and scoring, not to mention all the little pieces and layers, however…. For my Upon Request Club the host gets to request what we do so I could hardly say no! I’m glad we made the card since it really is lovely. The important thing is that you need to have the time to actually enjoy the process. Be sure to make a bunch of bases right away while you’re in the groove and then you will be all set to make more when you need them. Teri Pocock from the UK was the original creator of this card and her tutorial was super helpful. You can find it here.
My Card
When you see it all closed up like this with the cute belly band it looks like a pretty box.
It is a gray, rainy November day here so the conditions were not great for taking pictures. Please excuse the shadows! You still get a good idea of what the card looks like. This paper is so, so cute! The combinations are endless. I followed Teri’s tutorial but I balked at adding more little layers in the tiny squares that you see are just pure red. Follow your heart as to how much layering you do!
Here you can see a close-up of the middle part of the card. The felt hat and scarf and other embellishments are from the Let it Snow Embellishment kit which is so much fun to use! I used some Snowfall Accents puff paint and ice stampin’ glitter as well.
In the picture above you can see how the fold actually looks. If you go about it slowly and breathe deeply AND follow Teri’s tutorial, you will have no problem at all. This beauty definitely deserves a place of honour among your Christmas decorations this year.
A Reminder
I just want to gently urge you to order any Christmas items from the holiday catalog as soon as possible as things are beginning to sell out! I hate to see you disappointed. Be sure to tell your loved ones that I offer gift certificates that can be redeemed for product or classes. Have a super day!
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Nov 25, 2019 | Christmas, Framelits, So Many Stars |
Happy Monday stampers! Do you ever tell yourself that you are NOT going to get a particular set? Yes, even I do that! When I saw the So Many Stars set my first reaction was that it looked very similar to a set we had just the previous year and I was not impressed. Well….take a look at the previous page and take a closer look at the stitched stars dies! They are amazing. Yes, I broke down and ordered them.
Stitched Stars Dies
So far I have only used the largest stitched star and the swirly star border and both are beautiful. I really love all the stitched dies that we have and this is no exception. I happen to know that there will be a coordinating stamp set in the Occasions catalog to go with these dies so that makes them an even better buy. When it comes to the catalog, the pictures do not always tell the whole story. It’s not until you have the product in your hands and use it that you realize how wonderful it really is.
My Card
Doesn’t the star framelits look amazing with the Wrapped in Plaid paper? Add that gorgeous shaded spruce and gold striped ribbon and it all comes together like a well coordinated outfit. The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Christmas. I cut one star banner framelit out of gold foil paper and one out of shaded spruce. You then put the shaded spruce stars inside the gold star banner for a great contrasting effect. I used the tombow glue trick with the sponge and the silicone mat to adhere the stars. If you have not heard of this trick, you can see it here.
Not All About Me
The thing to remember is that it isn’t always about me. I reacted like a two year old when I saw the So Many Stars stamp set. I was a bit pissy because it was so similar to a stamp set we had in last year’s holiday catalog. What I need to keep in mind is that there are always new stampers who have never been exposed to Stampin’Up! before, so they would love this set. It made me smile a bit to think back on how I reacted. Have you ever had moments like that?
I thought I would share one more card with you, this one is made by Jaimie Babarczy and she is from New York State. It is rare for me to post other people’s cards on my blog but I really wanted to show you a different possibility with this bundle. You can read more about it on Jaimie’s blog here.
A Personal Note
I just wanted to thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for my Pap. I ended up driving to Fergus again on Saturday as he was admitted to hospital. The medicine to combat the pain was disrupting his bowel function so he was just in a lot of discomfort all around! Mom is 87 and she gets quite anxious when they are separated so I went mainly to be with her. It is so gratifying when you cook them comfort food and you see them eating well. I made a pot roast with mashed potatoes and green beans and even Pap had some when I took it to the hospital. Mom had two servings! That never happens, she usually eats like a bird. Hopefully Pap will be discharged tomorrow and they will be reunited again.
Never take your health for granted! I highly recommend that you get the shingles vaccination, this is not a disease you want to get.
Parisian Blossoms PDF
I finished the pdf for the Parisian Blossoms cards and the two scrapbooking projects. If you want all the details, measurements and step by step instructions for them, it is only $15. Just click on the buy it now button below.
by Jackie Bultje | Nov 14, 2019 | Christmas, Cup of Christmas, Framelits |
Hello stampers! What on earth does sharing a drink have to do with making cards? Let me tell you. This post will feature my last card for Cup of Christmas which is also my stamp of the month for December. I love this card because I can just picture two people behind this card sharing hot drinks in these super cute cups. Do you want to see it?
Getting Philosophical
Tricked you! Sorry, you thought I was going to show you the card already, but I want to talk about the thoughts that came to my mind when making this card. Sharing a drink with someone is a lot like sharing food, especially if you are like me and usually have food with your drinks. Spending time over food or drink makes you slow down and connect with the person you are with. That is why it is often the line that is used when people want to get to know someone. Can I buy you a drink? Would you like to go out for coffee?
It is so much more than that though. Especially with the Christmas season coming up, we should try to be aware of the many lonely people around us. I have to confess that sometimes I can be stingy with my time. Generosity with my time is something I need to cultivate more. It really is the ultimate gift since it is such a precious commodity. That might be the reason that coffee and a card is my all time favourite class. This class now starts a half hour earlier than before just to give people more time to relax and connect over coffee and treats before the class starts.
My challenge to you is to invite someone to have a drink with you. Maybe even see if they want to make a card with you after you finish. I truly believe that almost everyone would be happy to give a handmade card to someone they love. This stamp set is perfect for making heartfelt cards for any gender, any age. Unleash your creativity by designing your own cup with your favourite colours and embellishments.
My Card
Finally, here is my card. I absolutely love the colour combination of very vanilla and pretty peacock with a bit of mint macaron. By total happenstance, I have discovered that the Brightly Gleaming paper coordinates perfectly with this stamp set. What do you think?
It’s a bit of an odd combination that actually works really well. The card base is very vanilla but the panel on the front is white as are the embellishments on the cups. The colour in the patterned paper is definitely very vanilla but surprisingly it all works very well together. While this stamp set is called Cup of Christmas you can definitely send this card all winter long.
Shopping with me
If you want to see the supplies that I used, just scroll to the bottom of this post and you will see an itemized list. Live in Canada? You can just click on what you want and you will be in my online store. Happy mail is always great. Your happy mail will be the Stampin’Up! box at your door, and my happy mail will be an email telling me that I have an online order notification.
Locals can come to the December 2 coffee and a card class for free if they purchase this stamp set. Anyone ordering it online will get the card pieces mailed to them. You can also choose to purchase the cards for $15 plus shipping. Here they are all together in one pretty picture.
I try to show my appreciation for your online purchases by sending you a card in the mail, but every now and then I think I may mess up and forget. If I have disappointed you by not sending a card, please message me and I will make up for it. Two are going in the mail tonight. Maybe I will beat you to it. Thanks for all you do to support me in my business. I appreciate each and every one of you. Have a super day.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Nov 13, 2019 | Christmas, Facebook Live |
Hello stampers! Here is my Brightly Gleaming trio of cards that I made yesterday at my weekly coffee and a card class. Many of you probably know by now that I also do a weekly Facebook live video called Coffee and a Card Revisited. In this live video we create the cards made at class that morning and I share any tips gleaned from that experience.
Something New
Not everyone has the time or desire to make cards but that doesn’t mean that they can’t have them to keep or give away! I am starting something new. Starting today you can purchase the cards already made. I will mail them anywhere in the world. How wonderful is that? If you are a demonstrator you can use these cards for your own class when you are pressed for time. A little instant gratification is so nice once in a while.
The Cards
If you click on the buy now button you will get these three cards sent to you completely made unless you stipulate otherwise. If you prefer to do your own colouring, or if you want to put it together yourself, that is also an option. Please allow a week before mailing.
Feedback
I would love to hear what you think about the Facebook live videos. The time may be tweaked a little. I’m finding that perhaps 7:30pm is a better time for both myself and viewers. It gives me more time to enjoy a leisurely supper. I am also curious if the lighting is sufficient. If you missed yesterday’s Facebook live, you can see it here.
Thanks for joining me today! Just a heads up that next week Tuesday is my Pap’s 93rd birthday so I might do a short live video from his house just so you all get to meet this amazing man. No regular live video though. Coffee and a card class will also be postponed until Thursday.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Nov 12, 2019 | Christmas, Cup of Christmas, embossing, Masking, stamp of the month |
Hello stampers. It’s a beautiful snowy Tuesday afternoon and this oma’s house is quiet for the first time since Friday! No patter of little feet, no tumbling of towers, no squeals of delight. I’m not going to lie. While I will miss my adorable little man, the quiet is rather sublime!!
Today I am going to do a blog post with Cup of Christmas all stacked up. A big thank you to Annette Koolmees for the inspiration. I shared her card in a previous post which you can see here. Cup of Christmas is also my stamp of the month for December.
My Card
I really like taking a picture with the ink pads so you can see at a glance which colours to use. Here you can see the Cup of Christmas all stacked up. Did you know that this stamp set uses brand new technology that allows you to do reverse stamping with the same stamp? Yes, the cup stamps are totally reversible!!
I took a picture with the Nine Lives stamp set in the background as well so I would remember that the heart stamp came from this set. The aqua painter is in there because I saturated it with old olive ink and then tapped it aggressively to make the background splatter effect.
I used the very same layout as Annette but I wanted to make my card easier so I masked the middle mug and just stamped the other two. None of these mugs have been die cut. The Sweet Christmas Wishes is embossed on vellum and overlaid on the middle mug for added interest. You could stamp it right on the mug if you wanted to, just make sure to emboss so that you don’t see through the sentiment.
Stamp of the Month
Cup of Christmas is the stamp of the month for December. If you purchase the stamp set then you will get the class for free. This will be our second card for that class. Stay tuned for card number three! Class will be on Tuesday December 2. I will do a Facebook live on the cards Tuesday night at 7pm and you can also purchase all three finished cards for $15 plus shipping. I will have today’s cards on my blog post tomorrow with a buy it now button. How awesome is that? Instant gratification.
A personal note
This afternoon I will be putting the finishing touches on my presentation for OnStage this weekend in Toronto. I have big plans!! The cards and projects that I am sharing are so lovely that I am going to be making my first ever pdf so you can recreate all of them yourself at home. This will be a huge task. I will be photographing them all today. That will be the start of it. I am really hoping that I will have the pdf finished before I leave for Toronto, that way everyone can purchase it and be ready to create with all this lovely new product. My first blog post on this will be on Monday, so stay tuned!!
Thanks for joining me today and have a super day.
Product List
Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad
[126982]
$8.50
