Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today’s card uses Seaside Notions and is created by Chris Margrie. Can you believe that I do not own this stamp set I reallly do love both the set and Chris’ card. European cards are slightly narrower and longer than ours in North America. Their cardstock is A4 which is 8 1/4″ by 11 3/4″. Just a small difference but it makes a big difference in the look of a card. Thanks so much for this very pretty card Chris! Now I really want this stamp set for my collection.
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
Chris Margrie comes from Barnstaple in the United Kingdom. Now I am not sure, but I think the UK refers to England, Scotland and Ireland as a whole. Would it then be proper to say that Chris comes from Barnstaple, England. I am hoping to hear from my British readers as to what is proper. Either way, Barnstaple is the main town in Devon and possibly the oldest borough in the UK. It became wealthy through the wool trade but has since diversified into many different industries. Barnstaple dates back to at least 917!! Here are a few pictures.
Chris’ Seaside Notions Card
Here is Chris’ beautiful card. She used a soft palette of mint macaron, whisper white and just jade. The background piece was first stamped around the top with the coral image and then embossed with the Subtles embossing folder. What makes this card so very pretty in my opinion is the way Chris fussy cut some of the shells and placed them at the bottom of the centre panel. She also did a watercolour wash over the seahorse and added some wink of Stella for some glitz. Thanks so much for sending me this lovely card!!
If you want to check out some more nautical creations, check out this blog post. I am thrilled to say that I have ordered extra supplies so that I can do a class on this sampler if you want, or even make kits to go!
A few Photos from Holland
This past weekend we were in Zwolle a beautiful old “Hanzestad”. This is what I found online: The goal of the Hanseatic League, which was founded when Amsterdam was still a tiny settlement, was to expand commerce and spread knowledge. Dutch cities like Zwolle, Kampen, Hattem and Deventer were members of this league, and this chapter in their history is still clearly visible in the many 14th and 15th-century monuments. Most of these are found by the water’s edge, as waterways represented crucial transport routes, and possess a rich history and unique façades. In other words, when in Holland, a visit to at least one Hansa town is almost compulsory.
“Hanse” is an old High German word for band or troop. Bands of merchants traveled between the Hanseatic cities for trade. The Hanseatic League existed between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. Can you tell that I love history?
Waanders in de Broeren
One of the attributes of a history lover is also a love for books. This book store in an old church was at the top of my list of things to see and I found a stunning book there for the grandkids. It is a huge hardcover book with beautiful paintings and stories about all the highlights of the Netherlands. I am trying to use the proper word for this country. Tourists call it “Holland” but actually Holland is just the name of two of the provinces, Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland.
“Terrasjes”
This is the name that Dutch people give to their outdoor patios and they are so very charming! Every town and city has myriads of them and they are complete with cozy couches, low tables and pretty lights. It is like a giant outdoor, communal living room with a great vibe. The tables and couches are set up so that you have a view of the street and can people watch. There is a combination of all ages and that is what makes it so special.
What I did notice, especiallly in the evening is that Dutch people usually just enjoy beverages and not a lot of food to go with it. The servers are very low key and do not bother you unless you summon them. There is no pressure to keep ordering or to pay the bill and leave. They also don’t offer you a menu, they just assume that you know what you want to drink and that is that.
Zwolle and Canada
Zwolle was first mentioned in literature in 1040, a very long time ago! I found it delightful to see remnants of the old city wall. Zwolle was liberated by Canadians during the Second World War and one Canadian in particular, Leo Major was instrumental in the surrender of the Germans. Every time I read about what Canadians have done here, I get goosebumps. It really is no wonder that Dutch people love Canadians so much!
Bicycles
We rented bikes for the weekend and that was so, so nice. Even when it was super hot it was a pleasure to bike because then you could catch a breeze. My pictures aren’t the best because it was a bright sunny day and that is not ideal for good photographs. I noticed later when we were biking by this wall that there were steps going up and I would have loved to get a picture of that too, but at some point you just stop getting off you bike to take pictures. Maybe I can find a photo online!!
Free Paper Sampler
Don’t forget that if you live in Canada and place an online order with me in August you will get a free paper sampler from the Holiday catalog. You will also get a free 16 project pdf tutorial! To qualify you must use the current host code: AGR97TCJ.
Thanks for joining me today, I am looking forward to sharing more Happy Mail in Canada contest. A special thanks to Chris Margrie from the UK for this beautiful card using Seaside Notions.
Hello stampers, I’m back with a gorgeous Come Sail Away sampler. It is so hard for me to stay away from this Come Sail Away suite as I am always drawn to the water and to all things nautical. I also love samplers! What about you? What’s your go to set in this catalog? Do you love making samplers too? This one is a 12 x 12 and will fit in either a regular frame or a shadow box. Mine is in a dark shadow box and I think it might look nicer in a simple white frame.
The Sampler
What makes this Come Sail Away Sampler so awesome is that it is so very easy and quick to make. The Memories and More pack make it this way. Three of the sections are made using the beautiful laser cut cards in this kit. I simply matted them with night of navy 1/4 inch bigger than the cards. I will include a list of supplies that you will need to make this sampler yourself at home. The whole thing took me about an hour to make.
Some Tips
Did you know that this sampler was made using no stamps at all? This is a great beginner project for that reason. I also thought it would be very nice to include a memorable picture in the bottom panel where it says celebrate today. That would add the perfect personal touch. These cards were designed to be used for scrapbooking but they can also be used for cards. In fact, Stampin’Up! makes special cards and envelopes to coordinate with these cards. If you are like most people and sometimes find yourself wishing you had more hours in a day, you might want to check out this product line. You can keep it simple or you can go fancy, but either way it is a wonderful time saver!
Facebook Live
Every Tuesday at 7pm EST I do a Facebook live video showing the cards that we made at coffee and a card that morning. This time we used the Come Sail Away suite. Here is the link so you can check it out too.
Thanks so much for joining me today, sorry it has been a while since I posted. This was due to my wanting to spend the last week of vacation with my kids and grandkids but also because I needed to rest my wrist and thumb some more. The healing is simply not happening. Tomorrow I am going to try acupuncture for the first time!
I always look forward to seeing your comments and every online order excites me and brings me deep gratitude.
Hello stampers! I really love the title of this blog post, On My Mind. Did you know that you are often on my mind? I am always thinking of ways that I can make my business more meaningful for you. Someone close to me said that I was doing great things but using the “dullest tool imaginable”. Obviously she doesn’t love stamping, because I would strongly disagree. I think I am using beautiful tools and that together we are changing the world one card at a time. Of course I am assuming that you are not only making cards but also sending them. If you are hoarding your cards then the world is not being changed too much by your hobby.
On My Mind is the title of this blog because it is also the name of the July Paper Pumpkin. Every month I host a Beginner Class on the fourth Wednesday of the month. I have been using Paper Pumpkin for these classes because I think that this product is perfect for beginners. Seasoned stampers can use the products in these great kits to make “avid” cards. Did you know that Stampin’Up! has us categorized into three different types of paper crafters? Beginner, casual and avid. We all know what a beginner stamper is, someone who is baffled by all the tools and terminology, not to mention our crazy colour names. SU sounds like Laurentian on steroids, or am I the only one who remembers Laurentian pencil crayons? Maybe that is only a Canadian thing. A casual stamper comes to classes once in a while. They know what they are doing but they don’t need to have it all, they are happy with just making the cards that they need or to get out and have fun once in a while. Then you have the avid paper crafter. That’s us. We are hopelessly addicted. We want it all and we love layers, embellishments and fancy folds. That’s ok. If fact, it’s pretty awesome. Without my avid people I wouldn’t be in business!
Let’s take a look at the cards we will be making at Beginner class next week Wednesday. Have I told you that you don’t have to be a beginner to come to these classes? This class goes at a slower pace and doesn’t assume any prior knowledge of stamping. Ask your most basic questions and don’t feel like an idiot. (I hope I never make anyone feel that way, but sometimes we put that pressure on ourselves)
I do so love the font of this saying from On My Mind. What a fabulous card to send to someone in the mail for no reason at all. Do you have someone in mind when you see this card?
This card was slightly altered. If found that the base was not as sturdy as I would like in a card so I simply cut the back off and then trimmed the front to measure 4 1/8 by 5 3/* and put it on a pretty peacock card. I really like how that makes the whole thing pop. Aren’t the lined envelopes just so pretty?
Have you noticed that the cards and stamps in this Paper Pumpkin coordinate with products from our annual catalog? I love that, it adds more value all around. While these cards look amazing and a little bit complex, they are perfect for beginners too. I can’t wait to see who comes to this fun class. Class fee is only $15, but if you choose to order you get that money back to use on your order. Win-win.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. In the product links below I have included the coordinating suites of products that are in the annual catalog.
Next month’s Paper Pumpkin will be fall themed and it is gift bags. For the first time ever Stampin’Up! is offering an add-on coordinating card kit if you want. I thought the gift bags would be perfect for beginning of the year teacher and staff gifts or to be used at a Thanksgiving meal as table favours with notes of gratitude tucked inside. Mine are coming with me to Holland and that is exactly what I am going to use them for. If you want to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, here is the link for you. I do try to make it easy to get what you want!
Hello stampers! Here is my summer sampler. It has the exact same measurements as the Spring Sampler I posted yesterday. I love the fresh vibrant colours in this one: coastal cabana, bermuda bay, pool party, daffodil delight and a pop of calypso coral all on crisp whisper white background. This one has a lot of texture with embossing folders, popped die cuts and white emboss resist with the lighthouse. I also love the fact that the letters in SUMMER are all different. I totally cased this from fellow demonstrator Cathy Casey whose creation you can see here. I also used her idea for the daffodil delight panel. Here is my work.
I just love playing with different stamp sets and small vistas. Each little rectangle is its own masterpiece. If you have never made a sampler before, you should try it. It’s a lot of fun!! I love the crisp contrast with the heron on the top left corner and the dreamy quality of the lighthouse panel. I embossed it in white and then sponged over it with coastal cabana and then a little touch of calypso coral and daffodil delight to create a sunset look. The stamp sets that I used work very well together: Lilypad Lake, Beautiful You, Colorful Seasons, High Tide and Come Sail Away.
Don’t you just love how I turned the girl in the dress from Beautiful You into a girl in a bikini? I think I did a video on that a long time ago. It wasn’t my original idea but it sure is fun! First you add the belly button, then draw a line to make a bikini top. Then draw on a bikini bottom and give her some legs! I can hardly draw at all and I managed to do this without a problem. Have fun and play, you will be amazed at what can happen.
The measurements for this sampler are almost exactly the same as the Spring Sampler from yesterday’s post, but I will include them here to make life a little easier for you.
Measurements
frame: 8″ by 10″
bottom panels: coastal cabana 3 5/8″ by 2 7/8″ white: 3 3/8″ by 2 5/8″ scrap of crumb cake torn to look like sand
centre panel- : 2 7/8″ by 7 1/2″ whisper white: 2 5/8″ by 7 3/8″ The letters are daffodil delight, coastal cabana, bermuda bay, granny apple green and balmy blue.
top panels: 2 3/8″ by 3 1/4 ( two are coastal cabana, one is daffodil delight) one white and one bermuda bay 2 1/4″ by 3 1/8″
I hope you enjoyed this summer sampler and that you are inspired to create your own.
I will most likely be absent from this blog for the next ten days. Tomorrow I am going to Detroit to meet with a fellow demonstrator. We are hoping to collaborate together as cross border buddies. I will fill you in on all the details when I get back. Even more exciting, Gerard is coming for an 8 day visit for my birthday which is on Saturday. I want to spend every minute with him, so work is going to take a back seat. I know you will understand. That is the beauty of owning your own business and doing what you love. #workhardplayhard #familyfirst I will try to stay on top of emails and orders and I will post on social media a little bit too. Thanks for all your love and support, it means so very much to me. Enjoy your new catalogs, I have left some on my front porch if you need to pick one up.
Hello stampers. I decided to make a second twisted pop-up card with the Come Sail Away Suite as I needed to show you how I made it. It was time for an updated version, but the jury is still out whether or not it is an improved version or not. The first one was quite effective I am told. While the video is uploading I will write this blog post and show you some pictures of the actual card. For the card front I used a card from the Come Sail Away Memories and More card pack.
There are five different items from the Come Sail Away suite on this card: the baker’s twine, the sail away trinkets, the Come Sail Away Memories and More card, the Smooth Sailing dies and the Come Sail Away designer series paper. Suites make it a dream to coordinate and create a great card.
I really love how this card turned out in the inside. I stamped the sailboats in Memento Black and coloured them with Blends. In yesterday’s card I had them stamped just in one solid colour and that works too, but this is definitely a step up.
Here you can see the panels up close. Each panel has a piece of designer series paper measuring 2 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ as well as a stitched oval framelit (the second largest one) The sailboats, the anchor and the banner are all popped up with mini dimensionals. In this last shot you get a glimpse of the inner mechanism of the card fold.
Finally, here is the video that I made to show you how to put this card together. I hope you find it useful and that you feel inspired to make one of these beauties yourself. Thanks for stopping by, but before you leave, can I ask a favour? Please pin your favourite card as that really helps me get more traffic to my blog and that eventually will also help to grow my business. I really appreciate you! Have a super day.
Hello stampers. When is the last time you really played with your stamps? This retiform technique is a great one for encouraging just that. Retiform means “netlike”. The Webster dictionary says:
Definition of retiform. : composed of crossing lines and interstices : reticular netlike; specifically : being the connective tissue cells of the framework of the lymphatic glands.
Well, we are not interested in the lymphatic glands, but the crossing lines and all the other fun stuff involved with this technique is truly addictive. Here is what you need to have on hand to do this technique. Two coordinating colours of ink, a lighter shade and a darker one. A sponge. Sticky notes of varying sizes. The five inch by three inch is ideal and then the smaller square ones are great too. Rather than describing the technique in writing, it is much easier to simply watch the video, so I will post that at the end. In the meantime, check out the various cards that I have made. I was originally inspired by a video I saw on Pinterest by Randi Collins. Here is the link to her video.
For this card I used early espresso for the stamping and soft suede for the sponging. I used the stamp sets Night in Bethlehem, Hearts Come Home and Musical Season. I accidentally stamped the one drummer boy in soft suede, but it still looks good I think. For the next card I used the exact same stamp sets but switched it up a bit. No two cards are alike, and that is the fun part.
This one is different mainly because of the straight segment at the top of the card. Do you think this adds to the card or takes away from it? The next two cards use the stamp sets So Many Shells and High Tide and the colours marina mist for sponging and dapper denim for stamping.
The next card is done by my customer and friend Heather Adams. She left a bigger white line between segments and I really like that look as well.
The last card has a bit of a twist in that it uses a pop of colour. I used the stamp sets Painted Harvest and Vintage Leaves. Colours are soft suede, early espresso, crushed curry and cajun craze.
This last card was made by my team member Aileen Boersma. She made it for her grandson using No Bones About It.
So there you have it! A great new technique called “retiform” which sounds more complicated than it really is. Just mask off sections with sticky notes, sponge and stamp till you fill up your card front. Watch the video for full details and then get down and dirty and make some of your own. I would love to hear how you make out with it. If you need any supplies and you live in Canada, please use the host code on the side bar when you place your order and I will pop a card in the mail to you as a thank you. Are you a true addict? Then save yourself a bunch of money and join my team by getting the starter kit, it really is the best deal in the entire catalog. Click here to do that, or message me if you have any questions.
