by Jackie Bultje | Jan 23, 2020 | Blends, Painted Poppies, Peaceful Poppies, stitched shape framelits |
Hello stampers and happy Thursday. For some reason my heart is full today and a little bit sad. Always remember is the theme of my card and it happened quite by accident. Let me tell you the story and set the mood.
Always Remember
My card started with the idea of having a window in the front and layering the vellum poppy accents around the edge. When the card was almost finished I decided that the flowers needed colour, it was just too washed out looking for my mood. I wanted a small sentiment for the outside and “always remember” was perfect. The problem was, I wasn’t sure what to put with it in the inside. Then inspiration hit. It didn’t need anything more.
This is the perfect card to always remember what our soldiers did for us. So many of them were so young, children really, who had no idea what they were going into. The horrific slaughter they would witness. The atrocities they themselves had to do in the face of war. Many, many, many of them gave their lives or their limbs.
Poppies really aren’t peaceful, they are symbols of loss, of war, of death. And yet. Those beautiful, bright flowers also keep growing and blooming and are witness of a hard won peace. Always remember.
War Cemeteries
Three years ago I visited several war cemeteries and it was a profoundly moving experience. In May I hope to be back in the Netherlands. May 4 is the official holiday here (their Remembrance Day) and the entire country will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland by Canadian troops. If you want to read a moving story of how the Canadian war cemeteries are maintained and honoured by Dutch citizens, check this out. A Canadian veteran tells the story of his experience here. This town of Holten is just minutes away from where Gerard’s sister lives!
Reading the stories of Canadians who served in various wars makes it real and also makes sure that we always remember! I hope that you take the time to check this out and also share with your children and grandchildren. As time passes it is even more important to keep this truth alive. Here is a great link to get your started.
Always Remember Card
Blog posts don’t usually drain me like this, but I am just heaving a huge sigh. This is heavy stuff, but I am so happy to be able to share the honour that these children and this nation bestows on soldiers who died so long ago. It really is true that Dutch people today still love Canadians so much. They have always remembered!
I first adhered the striped patterned paper from Peaceful Poppies to the front of the card and then I used a stitched circle die to cut out a “window”. In the inside of the card is another circle with contrasting paper from the same suite. The vellum elements were coloured with mossy meadow and poppy parade Blends.
The stark simplicity of the sentiment suits the purpose of this card. I am hoping to some kind of fundraiser for our veterans using this suite of products. I am hoping that we can make a ton of poppy cards that I can take with me to Holland so I can give them to both soldiers, their families and also to the local Dutch people who have maintained the cemeteries there.
Feeling Deeply
I can now tell you why my mood was sad to begin with. When I create I often watch Netflix and the show I was watching involved a mother who was a drug user and her own daughter had to report her so that her three year old sister would not be in danger. Yes, it is only a show, but I know this happens in real life and I can just get way too involved and feel so sad for those who do have struggles like this in their lives.
Good thing those sad feelings culminated in this great card! I really am happy with it. It evokes just the right feeling that I want to express to those receiving it. Making a card is like writing a blog post or cooking a meal, you have to feel it in your heart to make the magic happen!
Thanks
Thanks again for joining me today, it makes my heart happy to see you here. I love your comments, your silent footsteps and of course happy mail. Thanks if you have ordered online from me and thanks to my team members for their love and support. My tribe is awesome and please know, there is a place for you too!
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by Jackie Bultje | Jan 22, 2020 | Peaceful Moments, Peaceful Poppies, starter kit, Z-Fold card |
Hello stampers and happy Wednesday. Today I have a simple Z-Fold card for you using the Peaceful Poppies paper and Peaceful Moments bundle. I find that a z-fold card is a great way to showcase two coordinating or contrasting patterned papers. The one I chose today is actually included in the free paper pack that you get when you get the starter kit with Stampin’Up! This is one sheet of paper, it has stripes on one side and a watercolour poppy design on the other side.
Z-Fold Card
I love the fresh colours of this paper and you can never go wrong with stripes and a floral together! The poppy on the sentiment is from the Peaceful Poppies elements. It is a watercolour paper die cut with embossing already on it, all you have to do is give it a watercolour wash with your aqua painter and some ink.
The label for the sentiment is used twice, once on the Z-fold panel and once again inside the card. I left the inside one blank so I could write something personal there. This saying is meant to be paired with the “With Deepest Sympathy” saying but I felt that it could be used on its own for a simple thinking of you card. There is a family in my hometown right now whose daughter was involved in an industrial accident. She will most likely be paralyzed from the chest down unless a miracle happens. It is already a miracle that she survived. How horrific for this twenty year old and her parents! This card will be for them.
Here you can see the top view of the z-fold card. It measures 4 1/4″ by 11″ and it is scored at 2 3/4″ and 5 1/2″. It is a super simple fold but so effective for showing off your beautiful paper. If you would like to see another example of a Z-Fold card, check out this blog post.
When You Want the Best Deal Ever
Imagine for a moment that you really love this Peaceful Poppy suite. How could you get it for the least amount of money? Put it in a starter kit. If you get both bundles, that is two stamp sets and two sets of framelits, add to that the Peaceful Poppies elements and the Poppy Parade ink pad. You will then have $4 left over. If you go the clearance rack there are about ten choices for that price point, but I would suggest the real red solid ribbon here. In your kit you will get the assorted patterned paper collection which includes the peaceful poppies paper used on this card. You will only pay $135 for all of this. If you would put it on a normal order in Ontario your total would be $204.85.
It gets better. You also get a free mini paper trimmer which is absolutely adorable and perfect for using up your little bits of paper and cardstock for banners and sayings. Lastly, you get to choose one extra stamp set of your choice from either the mini or the annual catalog. Why not pick a great expensive one? May I suggest Well Said, a set with 51 cling stamps with lots and lots of different sayings? It is worth $61. Another great choice is Rooted In Nature which is $57.
After getting this amazing deal where you save all the shipping and tax AND get free stuff, you now will also get your very own discount of 20% on every order you place. You will keep this discount until the end of June no matter what. Did I mention that you also get a free Paper Pumpkin in your starter kit? I just had to tell the story about this amazing deal.
Well Said: A Possible Free Stamp Set
Rooted In Nature: Another Great Choice for your Freebie
Thanks!
In just one week I will be heading home after a wonderful stay in Holland. I am so very thankful to all of you who have journeyed with me and also sent me happy mail. I am curious to see if the mailbox will have any surprises today. If you would like to shop with me, just click on the products below and you will be on your way! If you would like to see the live video I did yesterday showing you how to make the fun flap fold card from yesterday’s blog post, you can see it here. There is moment where it freezes because I got a Facebook call, but it doesn’t last long! Have a super day.
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by Jackie Bultje | Jan 21, 2020 | fancy fold, flap fold, Peaceful Poppies, teepee card |
Hello stampers and happy Tuesday to you. Today I have two cards for you, the first one is a teepee card using Painted Poppies and the second one is fun flap fold from yesterday but with Painted Poppies. It is ten o’clock in the morning here in Holland and thus far there is no happy mail, so I am going to write a blog post using my own cards. Revolutionary!
Teepee Card with Peaceful Poppies
Last night I actually worked. I hadn’t really done much all day and Gerard had had a very busy day and he just wanted to chill in front of the TV. This squirrel couldn’t handle that. I still had a blank teepee card left over from last week’s Facebook live video, so it was a quick and easy card for me. Then I found a lovely surprise in my stash, something I had thought I had brought along but couldn’t find! Do you what it is? It is the Peaceful Poppies elements. They are so much fun and include two sheets of printed thick watercolour paper that is embossed and perfect for the emboss resist technique, two sheets printed thick cardstock with various poppies, two sheets of printed vellum and two sheets of black elements. I will do a video so you can see them all in action.
If you would like to see a video on how to make this card, you can find it here. There is an interesting story in this video on Dutch toilets as well! The black circle and the double poppy image are both from the Peaceful Poppies elements. You can see them here or in the product list at the end of my blog.
I entered this card into the Joy of Sets Tic Tac Toe challenge, #JOSTTT013 and you can read all about it here or join in yourself! I used red, pink, floral.
Fun Flap Fold Card with Peaceful Poppies
Here is my fun flap fold card that was inspired by Faye Molladay’s happy mail card yesterday. I made this card last night as well and I was really happy with how it turned out. My job was easy since I could just copy Faye’s measurement. I did accidentally put my flap on the other side of the card, but I don’t think there is a right or wrong way for this.
You could definitely add more interest and texture by embossing the mossy meadow diamond piece in behind the black square but I only have two embossing folders here with me and neither of them were suitable. Here is another angle of the card sitting up a bit.
This card will also be in my soon to be released Peaceful Poppies pdf and it will also be one of the cards we make at my Suite Sweet Saturday class on February 29. If you order any of the bundles you will get this pdf for free.
I purposely left the middle section blank rather than stamp a sentiment in it. Birthdays are super personal and you would hate to have the wrong thing stamped in and not be able to use this great card for just the right person. Never underestimate the power of your handwritten words!
A Personal Story about the Past
Being in the land of my roots is very powerful. So many times I see a name or a place that conjures up childhood memories of my mom or my pap telling stories about their life in Holland. Gerard lives in the town right beside the town where my mom grew up. In between those two towns in a beautiful nature preserve called the Staelduinse Bos. She walked there and rode her bike there, and I am sure she had some romantic moments there as well. I can see why! This forest is an area that used to be all dunes and tidal ponds. Fisherman would set up stakes (stael) and string up their nets to catch fish, and that is where the name came from. I always thought it was named after one of the local families whose name is Van Staelduinen. Good guess, right?
On Sunday afternoon we went for a leisurely walk there. It was a gorgeous sunny day with little wind and 8C. My heart was so happy to be walking amidst the huge trees, the rolling landscape and the singing birds. It was only January 19 but it felt like spring. At one edge of the park there was a beautiful, whimsical garden beside an old cow shed. Inside the cow shed was a visitor centre showing all the flora and fauna of the area and the creatures.
I could add lots more pictures but I think this gives you an idea of the tranquil beauty of this place. When you know how densely populated this little country is, you will understand what a lovely surprise this was for me. I felt so connected with my mom and I had a wistful thought of how lovely it would be to walk and talk with her here along the path.
Thanks
Thanks again for joining me today! I’m so glad you stopped by. In one week I will be flying home and getting into serious saleabration mode. I must say, I am really hoping that some of you faithful readers in Canada will want to join my team. In the next few years I have a dream of doing a cross Canada trip and visiting all my team members along the way. Maybe you would like to be one of them! We do have a great tribe of stampers and most of them are doing this just for their own discount and to be a part of a fun group.
If you have any questions, please contact me. I don’t always like clogging my blog with “sales”. In the meantime, if you do need any products, now is the best time to get them. WIth every $60 purchase you get a free saleabration item. If you live in Canada, just click on the products below and you will be in my online store. Happy shopping!
Product List
