by Jackie Bultje | Oct 30, 2019 | Christmas, double stamping, Snow Front, white craft ink |
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday! Today I want to share with you a cool double stamping technique with Snow Front. This technique was a big hit yesterday at coffee and a card class and I showed how to do it during my weekly Facebook live video last night. I will include the link to the video at the end so you can see it too in case you missed it.
How to do double stamping
This technique is actually really simple and the best part is that you don’t need a lot of accuracy to make it look good. The secret is a white craft ink pad. For this card I first stamped the pond in pool party and then the trees in pretty peacock. The next step is VERY important. Be sure to clean your stamps thoroughly otherwise you will get coloured ink residue on your white craft ink pad. Ask me how I know! After the intense cleaning you can ink up your stamps in white craft ink and stamp over top of your trees and pond. If you offset your stamp just a wee bit that looks even nicer.
The result
The result from this simple technique is that your forest and pond look like they have been blanketed by freshly fallen snow. You can still see the colour peeking out but it looks very ethereal. There are ways to step it up a notch with some sparkle. One way is to stamp over the pond one more time with white craft ink and then sprinkle on some shimmer white embossing powder and heat set. You can also spread on some shimmery crystal effects and then add some ice stamping glitter. When your scene looks good you stamp your deer using the stamparatus so you can ink up several times and make your deer nice and bold.
The cards
The moon and the stars were stamped using our Delicata silvery shimmer ink pad. Those images come from the Waterfront stamp set which pairs very well with Snow Front. The saying is from the amazing host set Greatest Part of Christmas. Did you know that if you place a $200 order online you are also entitled to host benefits? You would get $20 in free merchandise and this set is only $18. Host sets are a fantastic deal because that one is worth $30 and is only available to people hosting a workshop or placing a $200 order.
Finding Joy in the Little Things
I was driving home from pickleball this morning and it had started to rain. After several beautiful days it was actually refreshing. There is something beautiful about wet pavement on tree lined streets. I actually did a u-turn so I could get some pictures to share with you. This is just two streets over from my house. It was raining and I was parked illegally so I snapped a few quick ones and one of the three was blurry but I still want to share it. You will see the potential I am sure! Another one is still on my phone that I forgot at my son’s place. Oh my….
Oma Duty
As a closing note, this blog post is super late because I had the lovely job of oma duty tonight. It was a crazy busy day with a fantastic Most Wonderful Time class this afternoon, a live video on my Elite group page, some finishing touches on my AIrbnb apartment above the garage and of course pickleball. Well…now it is time for bed but I didn’t miss a day of blogging! Truth be told this post was almost finished before noon but then life got in the way.
Thanks for dropping by, sleep well and don’t forget to count your blessings. Before I forget, here is the Facebook live video I did and you can see how I made one of these cards and two other ones as well.
Product List
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 28, 2019 | business opportunity, Christmas, embossing, loneliness |
Hello stampers and happy Monday to you! I ran out of time on Friday so you never got to find out why I call myself the “pampered” stamper. Rumour has it that I like to be pampered and that is why. While that may be true from time to time, that is not the real reason I am The Pampered Stamper.
My First Love
My first love is making food. Yes I am that rare creature who likes to bake and cook. I read cookbooks for fun! Before I became a demonstrator I was a scrapbooker and my very favourite place to go was to someone’s home in Mississauga. Together with my sister-in-law Yvonne we would drive more than two hours one way down the 401 to go and scrapbook for a day. Crazy right? Do you know why we thought it worthwhile to drive that far for a day of scrapbooking? It was the food!!! This lady was my inspiration. I realized that paper crafting was much more fun if there was food involved. It really does change everything.
Pampered
Everyone loves to be pampered. It means those extra little things that make you feel special. That is what I like to do for my customers. Sharing my love of stamping AND sharing my love of food. It all starts with a great cup of coffee or tea. Being Dutch, there is no such thing as a “naked” cup of coffee. In the Netherlands when you order a cup of coffee anywhere you will always get a little something with it. So lovely. At The Pampered Stamper you will always get something with your coffee or tea too and usually it will be homemade.
Not only do you feel pampered when you get treats, there is also a different vibe when food is shared. Everyone slows down a little bit. People congregate. They talk more and get to know each other. In short, friendships and relationships are built around a simple cup of coffee.
Beyond Pampered
That is the name of my team! It was my team member Liz Fields who came up with this name and I am ever grateful. She declared that with all that I do for my team they are “beyond pampered”. A generous thought that I am not sure is true. As a leader I feel that I am never really doing enough for me team. I would love to have the time to do more. What I do do however is create an atmosphere of family, of community a “sisterhood of the traveling stamps”! Whenever there is a Stampin’Up! event I try to rent a cool Airbnb or HomeAway place so that we can have a very special time together.
We have monthly gatherings where we create, share and inspire around food. The result is a lot of fun with great memories and relationships being made. I try to do a Facebook live video for my long distance team members.
Loneliness
It is now common knowledge that loneliness is a huge problem for people in all age brackets. This may have to do with social media and our age of technology that hinders people from having real relationships. Let me tell you that joining a stamping group whether just for fun or for the business opportunity will definitely fix the problem of loneliness! The beauty of this stamping business is that it also lets you make a difference in people’s lives by sending cards to dispel the loneliness. I love being in the “happy” business! As you know, there is always room for you on my team or in my classes. Please reach out. You are loved!
A Card
We can’t have a blog post without a card, so I wanted to share this swap card with you that I received from Janice Thompson. She uses a very fun technique, stamping on embossing folders. If you have never done it, check out my blog post here. It make take more than one attempt before you are totally pleased, but stick with it and you will love the outcome!
Here is a closeup. Do you see the snowflake sequins from the Still Scenes Snow Globe suite?
Thanks
Thank you so much for stopping by, it truly warms my heart. We are all connected and together we make a difference in so many lives. I hope you have a wonderful day and please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
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 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
by Jackie Bultje | Oct 18, 2019 | Christmas, Paper Pumpkin |
Hello stampers. I think it is fitting that my topic today is Winter Woods Paper Pumpkin. There was a little frost on the roofs this morning and there is a nip in the air. My gas fireplace is on and it is cozy! The Winter Woods Paper Pumpkin is gorgeous with sparkly white birch trees in the foreground and a lush evergreen in the background. Shall we take a look?
The Card
This is the card made exactly according to the instructions. Paper Pumpkin has included suggestions for two alternative projects, one is a card and the other is a 3D shadowbox. I was planning to make one of the alternative cards but my Woodland embossing folder is missing in action!
In this closeup shot of the Winter Woods Paper Pumpkin card you can see the beautiful sparkle in the birch trees and the silver accents on the banner and on the coordinating envelope. It really is all in the details! The pretty snowflake sequins add just the right finishing touch and they are included in the kit as well.
What Makes Paper Pumpkin Special?
What I really love about this kit is that it coordinates with products in both the annual and holiday catalogs making it super versatile. Paper Pumpkin is great for beginning crafters but it also offers instant gratification and portability for seasoned stampers. I know that it brought me joy when it came in the mail yesterday. If you would like to order it for yourself or as a gift for a teacher, friend, coworker or relative, here is the link.
Paper Pumpkin allows you to experience this great hobby without a big investment of space or money. You can make beautiful cards and other projects easily and without stress. No need to figure out what to make, instructions are included and there is also a link for videos as well as several online Facebook groups that share all kinds of alternative projects to inspire you.
Next month is a continuation of this kit but you will make 24 sensational Christmas tags that will coordinate with these cards. As a Paper Pumpkin subscriber you also have access to past kits and refill kits if they become available. You also have the option of skipping a month or adding an extra kit if you want more than one in a given month. It really is wonderful to have that kind of flexibility. You can also cancel at any time with no penalty.
A Video Tutorial
Sometimes it is nice to see first hand what is in a Paper Pumpkin and how easy it is to make a beautiful card. As a new subscriber you will also get a clear acrylic block in your first kit. If you want to see the live video that I did yesterday showing how to make the card, you can see it here.
Thanks!
I’m so happy that you dropped by today. It is great to connect with you and to share what I love and what I am making every day. If you have any questions or need help with your paper crafting, or if you have topics you would like me to address, please let me know. Have a super day.
Product List
