Very Vintage Free for Hosts
Hello stampers. Have you ever noticed the host sets in the back of the catalog? Do you know why Stampin’Up! even offers them? Perhaps you have even tried to add one to your order only to experience frustration. You see, you cannot buy these host sets, you can only earn them as a host. When you host a qualifying workshop with orders totalling $200, then you get 10% of the total orders in free merchandise. Your best value is in the host sets as they are offered at a much lower price than their actual value. Host sets are there to entice you to host a workshop. I am in love with several of the host sets this year, especially the vintage ones. Very Vintage is one of them and Pressed Flowers is another. Take a look at what I have made with them.
You will notice that both of these cards have the same layout. The one on the left uses Fresh Fig and copper embossing for the filigree and for the winged creature (we’re not sure if it’s a fly or a wasp, but it has been decided that it is not a butterfly!) The one on the right uses Blueberry Bushel and has the insects fussy cut. Both have the addition of a few wee pearls which is just perfect for vintage cards. I also sponged the edges of the whisper white panels which measure 3 5/8″ by 4 7/8″. This will enable you to get five card fronts from one sheet of 8 1/2 by 11 card stock which makes my Dutch heart happy. I say Dutch even though I am 100% Canadian. My parents immigrated from the Netherlands on their honeymoon, so most of my relatives are still there and every time I visit I do feel like my heart is coming home.
Here is a closeup of the fresh fig vintage card. By the way, the ruffled ribbon is to die for, so scrumptious and soft, it really does pop your card over the top and it doesn’t fray so you can just cut it to size and not have to tuck it under the sides.The band with the filigree stamping is approximately 5/8″ by 3 5/8″ and is also sponged lightly.
In September I will once again be offering a Vintage Club which will be totally dedicated to making vintage cards. I must admit it is one of my favourite styles. Totally different from clean and simple which is also wonderful and very popular right now. The next cards use the floral bouquet from the Very Vintage set.
Once again a similar layout for the two cards, the one on the right is in Blueberry Bushel with the addition of a sponged pearlized doily (sponge on the plain side, the ink adheres better). There is also corduroy ribbon. The one on the right is actually Grey Granite even though it looks more like a soft suede. There is a punch that coordinates with the “You’re a blessing” square. It is found in the very beautiful gift tin set called Darling Label Punch Box. The ribbon is also exquisite, so soft and easy to use.
I am going to use the card on the left as my swap card on the Alaskan Cruise in a few weeks. I have to say it is one of the perks I enjoy the most with my job as a Stampin’Up! demonstrator. They spoil us so much on these trips with pillow gifts every night, a hospitality suite with yummy treats and spin to win prizes every day as well as beautiful display boards to inspire us. When I first joined Stampin’Up! I had no idea that I would ever do so well that I would be going on these amazing trips every year. I was just thrilled to get a discount on my products, to share what I love with my friends and family and to be able to go to Stampin’Up! events. Now it has become who I am and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Here is a close-up of my cruise swap card, it really is my favourite one of them all and it was inspired by one of my Facebook followers who cased my gray granite card and used blueberry bushel as well as a doily. Thanks so much Molly Sanders.
When I first joined 12 years ago I missed a big incentive to join by only one month. In August there was an offer that you could get an entire family of ink pads for free as a signing bonus. No one told me about it, but in September I decided I wanted to be a demonstrator and there was no extra incentive at all. Imagine my delight to see that they are doing that same offer again. You will have no excuse, because I am telling you about it! If you join and get the starter kit in July, you get to choose one family of ink pads. That’s ten gorgeous, new style ink pads for free! Let me know if you want to join my team, the only requirement is that you have to live in Canada. The starter kit is already a great deal at $135. You get to choose $165 of any products of your choice and you pay no shipping or tax.
Ok, back to the cards. I also made some vintage cards using the host set Pressed Flowers. One used old olive, gorgeous grape and whisper white and I softened the other one up a bit and used very vanilla, soft sea foam and whisper white. I inked up the retired organza ribbon with a sponge and ink pad (I will share the video of how to do that) Which one do you like best?
One note of caution. Be sure to let the ribbon dry for a few hours before finishing up your card. I had inky fingers and smudged the bottom of the soft seafoam layer, a bit of a bummer but someone will still get this pretty card and most likely won’t even notice the minor flaw. If they do, they will just smile and realize that the creator is also human! The sentiments on both of these cards come from the stamp set Detailed With Love. I stamped the background with only three images from the Pressed Flowers: the burlap strip repeatedly with soft sea foam first, then the leaves in old olive and then the little flower in gorgeous grape. The little dots were borrowed from the set Timeless Textures. After I stamped the background I stamped the flowers in versamark and intended to emboss in copper, but instead it was early espresso. I would have preferred the copper, but no time for a do-over. The doily on the right was sponged with gorgeous grape on the plain side, the ink will not stay on the pearlized finish.
The last card is not really vintage but I do love the look of it. I cased a swap card that my team member Amy Dumoulin-Jeromel received and I do not know who made it, but it was lovely. The flowers are embossed with white on black card stock and then coloured with Blends. I used rich razzleberry, old olive and dark pink pirouette.
I made this particular card in a bit of a rush during class so I forgot to use the embossing buddy and you will see tiny specks of white on the background. The embossing buddy really does make a difference, especially on dark card stock. It gets rid of static and of hand oils so that the embossing powder only sticks to the versamark from the stamped image. It is a handy tool to have in your arsenal.
Well, I hope these cards have inspired you to host a workshop or join a club so that you can get these great host sets. If you live far away from me, I plan to offer a long distance stamp club as well as a monthly draw for people who order online from me using the host code. The current host code is alway on the side panel of the blog. Here is the video of how I made one of these vintage cards:
I also did a little video showing how I inked up the ribbon. This is a fantastic way to get coordinating ribbon for ALL of our colours.
Finally, here is the video I did on the Delft Blue vintage card that will be my swap card for the Alaskan Cruise incentive trip in July. Feel free to case, but don’t use it for your swap card if you are going on this trip.
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