Hello stampers. I am packing to fly back to Canada today but I just had to share with you this gorgeous card using the new Sophisticated Sled bundle. Oh how I love this bundle. It reminds me of my childhood on the farm where we had a sled just like this and where I sometimes went skating on the frozen creek in the valley on our farm. Do you have favourite childhood Christmas memories? Do they perhaps involve a sled and a pair of skates?
Sophisticated Sled Bundle
Not only are there great stamps in this set, but there are also dies that are independent of the stamps giving you even more creative versatility. Here is a photo of all the pieces that I made before doing a Stamping Through My Stash video as well as various shots of the completed card. I think this one is scheduled for sometime in September while I am traipsing across Nova Scotia with Gerard and visiting with my son Oliver and his wife Laura.
Inspiration
I have made this type of fun fold before, but I was inspired this time by the beautiful work of JilliBling
Be sure to check out her beautiful blog for more inspiration. I love this style of card because it really showcases your patterned paper and provides a stunning focal point for your intricate die creations. We will be making a version of this card at my St Jacobs Fall Retreat and there will be a complete pdf tutorial available in September! Stay tuned!!
Video Guide
Here is a short YouTube video to give you an even greater appreciation of this Sophisticated Sled bundle. I love ingenious way that the skates are but together with three separate dies!! Find my channel here so you stay up to date with my creations.
Thanks!!
Thanks so much for checking out my blog today, I hope you were inspired by my Sophisticated Sled creations. If you are looking for more inspiration, you can find it in my tutorials section of my blog. These are free with an online purchase of $60 or more but you can also purchase them anywhere in the world. I appreciate you!! If you live in Canada, you can also click on the links below to shop with me and make this gorgeous card at home.
Well good morning stampers. I just couldn’t wait. I had to share these gorgeous sympathy cards with you. Go figure. I don’t blog for three months, and then I blog three times in one week. Perhaps you will love these cards as much as I do. The best part is that they make clever use of an amazing die!
Gorgeous Sympathy cards with just two dies!
It does feel a bit odd to use the word “die” in the same sentence as sympathy cards, but this time the word has a different meaning. A die is a shape made out of metal that is used to cut something out of paper using a die-cutting machine. Stampin’Up! has an awesome one called the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine. To see how I made the focal point with the dies, check out this one minute video (that is much quicker for me than taking step by step photos and then editing them all!)
After looking at these cards you might be wondering, where are the sentiments. Sometimes I prefer my cards without sentiments, but the day after making them I still wanted to see what they would look like with sentiments. Are you curious too? First I am going to share the closeups so you can see the lovely details in the patterned paper as well as the dies.
Closeups of the Sympathy Card focal points
My first one
This was the first card that I made in this series. I think I am partial to blue now even though I always thought my favourite colour was red!!
Sympathy Cards with sentiments from Comforting Thoughts
Have you discovered Comforting Thoughts? It really is an essential stamp set in anyone’s collection. It truly is perfect for sympathy cards and in other difficult situations. At the end of this blog post you will find a supply list. These are also links to my Canadian webshop if you would care to shop with me. As a thank you, you will receive a pdf tutorial bundle from me!
Thanks so much for joining me today! Have a super day.
Hello stampers! Have you discovered the Online Exclusives section of products from Stampin’Up? These are not found in any catalog, only online. Today I am featured the Latte Love bundle which is a fabulous online exclusive. There is a whole suite of coordinating products called A Little Latte Suite Collection. I quite adore this suite, but then coffee is a huge part of my life. I am even learning to try a cappuccino once in a while because they are really pretty!! Together with my good friend and team member, Caroline, we held a fabulous class with this suite. I am planning to bring the samples along to my St. Jacobs Fall Retreat.
Some Details on this Latte Love card
It really is all in the details isn’t it?? I love the patterns in this designer series paper and the colour is just right. I love Lost Lagoon and Crumb Cake together. Add in some Early Espresso and Pool Party and it just looks fabulous!! Do you see those adorable little cups? The dies cut and emboss them at the same time.
Time to Spoil Yourself
Have you heard about my St Jacobs Fall Retreat? This is the second annual one and it will take place in a quaint Mennonite village right beside the famous Farmers Market. Imagine two days of stamping, laughing and sharing with your friends and soon to be friends. Lasting relationships are formed at these retreats, and I am so excited to be able to offer this to you. Registration closes on August 25, but there are still a few spots left for you and your friends!! Here is the link so you can check it out and decide if it is for you.
Testimonials
I can tell you how awesome this retreat is, but of course I am biased. It is much nicer to hear from other people what they thought of the experience last year.
Anne Wallace: “This was a fabulous, fun-filled weekend. My sister and I have already signed up for this year. To anyone who’s ‘on the fence’ about attending this retreat – jump off the fence and onto the list of attendees. This was the most amazing weekend last year and great value for the money. The instructions were clear and concise, (I’ve referred back to the instructions for several card ideas since then). The Goodie Bags were awesome. Friendships were begun and/or renewed and I truly believe a great time was had by all who attended. Don’t hesitate and miss out on this great opportunity!”
Sharon Verbeem: “We had loads of fun“
Marion Greenlund
Every retreat is unique and I am a firm believer that just the right mix of people attend each retreat. Blessings abound!! I really hope that YOU can be a part of it too. If your heart and soul are stirring as you read this, then I hope I can help you make it a reality.
The Theme of the Retreat
The theme of the retreat this year is Reindeer Fun. You will get a 20 card pdf tutorial and a goodie bag worth $140!! There will be lots of samples to inspire you and a host of new products for you to play with as well. This all happens in a gorgeous floor to ceiling windowed room that will make you feel like you are at an official Stampin’Up! event. Throughout the weekend I will be doing stamping demonstrations so that you will go home having learned some new tips and tricks to make you an even better card maker!! Ready to have some unforgettable fun? Click this link to sign up and share this blog post with anyone who you think will also love an event like this. Sharing is caring!!
There will be a “latte love” shared at this event. Be sure to take your phone so you can take lots of pictures!!
Hello stampers! Have you seen the Expressions of Kindness kit? It is a stunner!! Not only are the cards gorgeous, but the envelopes are so pretty, you will want to cut them up to use as card elements. That is just what I did to make these cards. Take a look!
Expressions of Kindness Alternative Cards
Video Tutorial
Seeing is believing, and it is always nice to see the cards being made.
Enriching Lives
Kits are a great way to share your love of stamping with other people. Most people are yearning for connection these days, so why not invite your neighbours, your friends or your family members to come for a fun time of creativity? I would love to hear your stories if you decide to do this.
Thanks so much for joining me today, it has once again been WAY too long since I have blogged. If you have missed me here, please leave a comment to encourage me to be more consistent. Sending hugs from Holland!!
ps. the product list below doubles as my online store for Canadians!
Let’s wander. Doesn’t that sound just wonderful?! How often do we take the time to wander?? That is one of the reasons that this stamp set appealed to me so much. Let’s wander where the wifi is weak is one of the sayings. Where the wifi is weak is usually also where it is beautiful and peaceful!! Would you like to see the card that I made with this set?
My Let’s Wander Card
To make this card, I used a fun technique called emboss resist. What that entails is first embossing your image and then adding colour either with blending brushes, daubers or sponges. In this case I used a water painter and diluted ink refills. My colours of choice were Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock. The die for the sentiment is from Stylish Shapes dies. I spattered a little crumb cake ink with my water painter and the lost lagoon ink that is on there was there from the creative process!!
Video Tutorial for Let’s Wander
Check it out!
If you want to see the stamp set in closer detail, just click on the image in the product list. This list is SO helpful, not just for shopping. The links WILL take you to my Canadian online webshop, but you can also use it as a tool to get more information about the product. Thanks so much for joining me today here on my blog. If you like what you see, please pin my cards so that more people can find out about me. I appreciate you and hope that you have a super day.
Hello stampers! Just the other day I finally took the time to reorganize my stamp sets and dies. I was gone to Mexico when the last mini catalog ended and the new annual catalog began. Something old and something new is what resulted in the following cards. I just love the happy surprise of finding some great stamps and dies in my collection that I had forgotten about. Often this happens when the dies are quite independent of the stamps which is the case with both the Sentimental Park dies and the Something Fancy dies. Do you want to see what I made??
Something Old, Something New
The new thing that I wanted to use, I mean REALLY wanted to use, was the Full of Life paper. I just love the colours and the patterns and they make me feel artistic. The other new thing was the Flowering Zinnias paper, also because of the vibrant colours and because I thought the paper would go well with the “old” dies that I had rediscovered.
I only have the one photo of the three cards and now it is dusk so not a great time to take photos. The “friend” card uses the Something Fancy dies and the “thinking of you” card on the right uses the Sentimental Park dies. Both of these cards use the Full of Life paper. The card on the far left uses the Flowering Zinnias paper and the Nested Essentials dies.
Video Tutorial
Seeing is believing, and perhaps you also want to take part in the Cheer Corner sketch challenge. Take a look!!
I truly loved making these cards. Are you inspired? If your wish list is long, today is the last day to take advantage of the amazing deal on the starter kit. Here is the link to join in Canada. Here is the link to join my European team. Remember, if you are reading this post after today, the starter kit is ALWAYS the best deal in the catalog!! There is a warm and welcome place waiting for YOU on my team. Have a great weekend!! Thanks for reading to the end.
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