Hello stampers and welcome to a rare Saturday blog post. Since I had an “oma” day yesterday, I thought I would do a blog post today. I am featuring Pressed Petals specialty designer series paper for my Tuesday coffee and a card class so this post will showcase those cards. My main point is that when you have beautiful paper like this, it needs to be the star of the show. You start with the beautiful paper, then you choose a coordinating cardstock, which is very easy to do just by looking at the description of the paper in the catalog. Right there it will tell you which colours are in the paper and that makes it simple to choose which colour you want to accentuate in the paper. Add a little texture with ribbon or embellishments, choose how you want to frame your sentiment and you are all set!
While these three cards all look very different, they all use the same collection of Pressed Petals specialty designer series paper. Each card just focuses on a different colour found in the paper. Which one is your favourite? I don’t have the Path of Petals stamp set yet that goes with this suite because the coordinating framelits were backordered. I also wasn’t sure if I needed another stamp set with flowers. After a second look at this set, I realize that I really do love the sayings in it, so it will be on my next order! I chose to use the Woven Heirlooms stamp set instead which I think is a very good fit too. Here are some close-ups of the cards.
It is a bit difficult to see in the picture that I used the Scripty embossing folder in the background on the Blueberry Bushel cardstock. It mimics the script of the sentiment from Woven Heirlooms. It may be a bit bright for a sympathy card but I feel that it is entirely appropriate if it is indeed a “celebration of life” event for someone who has lived a good, long life. Sympathy cards don’t always have to be dull and gloomy.
For this card I pulled the burlap theme from the background of the Pressed Petals patterned paper. I also distressed the background on the sentiment panel by stamping off with Rococo Rose and Woven Heirlooms. The sentiment was stamped in Merry Merlot. Both of these colours can be found in the Pressed Petals patterned paper. Layering the lace over the burlap ribbon evokes a lovely vintage feeling. You could also add some pearls if you wanted to.
This last card uses my favourite washi tape ever! It is called Pressed Petals specialty washi tape because one of the rolls actually uses individual flower petals that you can easily combine into different flowers. How awesome is that? The card also uses two of the coordinating sheets of the Pressed Petals designer series paper. I once again used the Scripty embossing folder for the background of this very vanilla card.
I am very excited to announce that I am going to start doing regularly scheduled weekly live Facebook sessions every Tuesday evening at 7pm called Coffee and a Card Revisited. It will feature the cards we made that morning at coffee and a card as well as any special insights that may have arisen during the class or cards evolved from it. Of course, given my squirrely nature, there also be random Facebook lives and other videos posted both on YouTube and on my Pampered Stamper Facebook page.
If you are a demonstrator needing or desiring more training and inside tips on how I work my business, you may want to join the Pampered Stamper Training Group. It is only $5 month just to slightly compensate me for my time. I am very excited to see how my trainees achieve greater success through their participation in this group.
Today is July 20, so there are only 11 days left for Bonus Days. If you spend $60 in July, you will get a $6 bonus coupon to spend in August. I thought I would end this post with a photo of yours truly on one of the formal nights of the cruise. I am on our own private balcony on the ship. Stampin’Up! spoils us with the best rooms. I had some truly relaxing moments on this balcony with a very full heart of gratitude.
After a hot week in Rome it was so nice to enjoy the cool breezes off the sea. Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Hello stampers. It is a Friday afternoon here in southern Ontario and it is officially summer and it feels like it too! Can’t complain about the heat after such a long wet and cold spring! (I didn’t get the post finished, so it is now almost noon on Saturday!!) I have just discovered the Pressed Petals paper and the coordinating washi tape. Both are just so lovely!! I did a quick Facebook Live video on my page, I am hoping that you can access it here. Pressed Petals has a very vintage feel to it and the washi flowers look so real you want to touch them! I am very, very impressed. I think you will have a LOT of fun with this product. As adults we definitely need to play as well and I think that is something that is seriously lacking in most people’s lives. When is the last time that you played?
The best part of this card is the amazing washi tape flower! It looks like a roll of washi tape but it is actually individual petals with which to make very realistic flowers. They are beautiful to look at and touch and the delightful surprise is that they are so very easy to make.
The best tool for making these pressed petals washi tape flowers is the silicone mat. After you have made your flower, use the embossing buddy and tap the back of the flower to take the stickiness away. That way your flower will sit naturally on the card and not get stuck to it and lose the dimension.
Here is the paper in this beautiful suite of products.
Let’s take a look at the inside of the card. I used the other spool of washi tape which is absolutely beautiful and also has a great vintage feel to it. I used Woven Heirlooms for the sentiment.
Here is a closeup of the pretty flower! The Perennial Essence floral centres are perfect for the Pressed Petals washi tape flowers.
Thanks so much for joining me today, I hope you like the card. As always, if you want to order anything, and you live in Canada, just click on the images below and you will go straight to my online store. If you live in the USA, click on the shop with Julie link and she will help you out! Have a super day.
Hello stampers. Have you ever noticed when you go shopping that you see Stampin’Up! colours? That is no happy accident. Stampin’Up! prides itself on being on trend, especially with the “in colours”. I am going to take some time during the next week to introduce you to the new incolours. Today we will be taking a peek at Rococo Rose. My team is doing an event next week Friday featuring the new incolours and this card is my contribution. I also incorporated our new shimmer white embossing powder which it totally amazing! I love how heavy the powder is but still with a fine consistency. It embosses beautifully and is a great mix between white and shimmer. The shimmer part actually looks like silver.
I combined Merry Merlot with Rococo Rose as the sponging in the middle of the flowers turned out such a lovely deep shade. I used the faux chalkboard technique and then sponged rococo rose in the centres of the flowers. Here is a closeup look.
I absolutely love the vintage feel of this card. I plan to offer a tutorial on this card in the very near future. Exciting things are happening on this blog! Thanks so much for joining me. I always appreciate your comments. I still need an address from Kathy Ireland who won the last blog candy which is a mini version of the Hugs from Shelli stamp set. Tomorrow I will choose another winner from the comments. Not sure what the prize will be yet, but I know it will make you happy.
If you wish to purchase any of the items used today, just click on the images below and you will be taken to my online store. I always appreciate it if you use the host code, this helps me to consolidate orders and save money by not losing out on host rewards which I use to keep my class costs down. The current host code is always shown on the sidebar of this blog. Have a super day!!
Hello stampers. Oh the thrill of finding a pretty vintage nest with eggs in the lower branches of a tree! This Hugs from Shelli Paper Pumpkin kit fills me with joy. I especially love the card with the vintage nest of eggs on it and the matching envelopes with the pretty little nest of eggs. I have been on a Paper Pumpkin bandwagon for the month of May because I really believe in this product and I want you to lock in the savings before the price goes up in June! So many people ask me for a kit after I get them but often the good ones are sold out. Lately there have been a lot of stellar kits and I proved to my Blends class just a while ago that you can turn what you think is a “bad” Paper Pumpkin into some very pretty cards. Let’s take a look at what I made using the leftovers of the kit.
For the card on the left I used the bird from Best Birds and coloured her with Blends. The only other thing I added was polkadot tulle ribbon. I added a mat of Balmy Blue cardstock and put it on a Very Vanilla card. For the card on the right, I ran a piece of Pool Party cardstock through the Pinewood Planks embossing folder. I cut out the label with the vintage nest from the matching envelope and tied some twine around it. So simple, so pretty.
Here you can see the detail of this pretty card. The pinewood planks embossing folder is the perfect fit with this vintage nest. I tied the twine from the kit around the pool party mat before adhering it to the card base. I adore this card because not only is it beautiful it is stunningly simple!! The best combination ever.
Do you think this card would look better if I coloured the eggs in the vintage nest and the leaves on the branches? Let me know and I will try out your ideas! Thanks so much for stopping by, and if you want to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, here is the link. I hope you have a super day. Make someone happy and send a card today.
PS. My new catalogs are here! Let me know if you want one. I will mail anywhere in Canada. Postage is around $5 but I trust that if you want me to mail you a catalog that you will also order from me and then the catalog is my gift to you. If you want it only for inspiration, then I would appreciate payment to cover the shipping.
Hello stampers. Hugs From Shelli arrived yesterday and today I got to play with it. What are Hugs From Shelli? It is the name of the latest Paper Pumpkin that Shelli designed and it is a stunner. Shelli loves all things vintage and this kit reflects that. Sumptuous velvet ribbon, pretty bronze metal birds, vellum feathers and the most gorgeous cards in four different patterns. This kit has twelve cards in it!! I am on a Paper Pumpkin kick and I am really, really promoting it right now because you can still save significant money if you get a twelve month prepaid subscription before June. Why? Because in June the price is going up $3 a month. The twelve month pre-paid is always the best deal because you not only save $1 per month, you also get a month for free AND you get host benefits of $27.50. It is a win-win. Do you want to see what the cards in the kit look like?
One thing to be careful of when making these beautiful cards is that there are three different sized labels to put on the front of the cards. I made a mistake on the “Hello Friend” card. I used the wrong size!! I didn’t feel like taking it apart but it does look better on a smaller label.
The embellishments and elements from the kit looked so pretty laying on my table that I just had to take a picture to show you. Even the envelopes are special. I decided to use my kits to make anniversary and wedding cards for my regular Coffee and a card class on Tuesday morning. I am so happy with how they turned out. If you look closely at the anniversary card you will see that our nested label framelits coordinate perfectly.
I want to show you closeups of all the cards that I made.
I made a little mistake on this next card. I used the wrong sized label. The picture also does not capture the pretty detail in the metal bird embellishment.
I just love the vellum feathers in this set. The pretty peacock velvet ribbon is so beautiful in real life, this picture does not do it justice.
This next card I had already made a month ago at OnStage in Quebec City when we were given a sneak peek at the amazing Paper Pumpkin designed by Shelli Gardner, cofounder of Stampin’Up!. I was stamping in a room full of ladies and I didn’t do it perfectly, but it is what it is, and it is still perfectly lovely.
Here are the closeups of my alternatives.
This wedding card made me think of something borrowed, something blue, so I added a blue feather and some speckling in the background. Both of those images are in the Hugs from Shelli stamp set.
Now this is the right size label for this card but I turned it into an anniversary card and layered it with a blushing bride nested label framelit. I tied a bow using the twine provided but adding some old olive linen thread as well. My reasoning here was the quote from the Bible ” a three-fold cord is not easily broken”.
This last card is a vintage for the bride card. I added some pearls and the polka dot tulle ribbon. The sentiment is from Special Celebrations. You could step it up a notch by adding another layer of cardstock behind the sentiment. I actually just got up to look at the card, but in real life it doesn’t look as stark or need that extra layer. I had so much fun playing with this set and am excited to share it at coffee and a card class on Tuesday. I know everyone is just going to love adding their own touch to the cards. Some people might not need wedding or anniversary cards. If not, they can make the originals or change them to suit their needs. Here is a picture of the stamp set. Even the tissue paper in this kit was different, a lovely vintage pink!
Thanks so much for stopping by. If you live in Canada and decide that you want to get Paper Pumpkin, then you do that by clicking here. Have a super day and a great long weekend if you are in Canada. Long live the queen!
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.
