Thursday, 30 March 2023

Lots of BIG News - and a Free Card Class!

Friends, with all the big announcements Stampin’ Up!® made yesterday, plus my own upcoming stamping events, I’ve got lots to share! So grab a cuppa and enjoy.

First, I've got NEW Online Classes for May, ready for registration anywhere in Canada:


Click here to sign up for Simple Stamping - spring florals for beginners or a relaxing evening


Click here to register for Rhino Ready - cute animal cards with Club option to earn freebies

Second, the Last Chance Products lists were released!


Lots of items from current catalogues are retiring - and many are discounted! The sale goes live April 4. Nothing will be re-stocked, so if there’s something you really want, get it now! (Some items have already sold out.) See the lists here:


Third, new pricing has been confirmed as of May 2.

Like all companies, Stampin’ Up! has been hit hard by inflation. They put off price increases for as long as possible - but they are coming. New pricing applies May 2, on everything from adhesives to inks to DSP. Stock up now & save!


Fourth, about a quarter of our core colours are retiring!


Check out the colour graphic above to see which 11 colours retire May 1. Get your ink pads, refills, markers, Stampin’ Blends, and cardstocks in those colours before they’re gone!


Fifth, I paged through the brand new Annual Catalogue!

It will go live to customers May 2 & pre-order for demonstrators starts April 4. Want in on the pre-order? Join Creative Cafe! You’ll get $190+ worth of items for $135, a minimum 20% discount on future orders, and a cross-Canada crafting community!


Finally, I’m offering a FREE Card Class thru April 6!


Sign up for a class or place an online order with host code UYR4BQM7 by April 6 & get a FREE card class! PLUS receive my tutorial bundle & card of the month!


Includes supplies & instructions for 3 cards. (Supplies may be different than pictured.) Just supply your own ink & stamps!


Phew, that was a lot! Thanks for sticking with me, friends. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m here to help! And have a wonderfully crafty day.


 Special Offers 

🛍 Shop with Me using Host Code UYR4BQM7 & receive:

  • FREE tutorial bundle featuring Playing in the Rain Bundle
  • FREE card of the month


Available anywhere in Canada! Click on the photo for more info on these current classes:


No selling required. You don’t even have to buy anything else, ever!

Find out more here

Receive FREE pre-cut paper pieces for a card as my thanks! (Canadian addresses only)

💻 Follow my blog:
Click the button below so you won't miss a single card!

Wednesday, 29 March 2023

Soft Pastels Sweetest Cherries Card & Blog Hop

Warm greetings from Saint Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada! I live just across the border from Calais, Maine, USA, along the Skutik/Saint Croix River, in the traditional territory of the Peskotomuhkati/ Passamaquoddy. I'm grateful that they share this beautiful place with us. 

A big hello to everyone blog-hopping around the Stampin' Up!® world with us this month! Our cards come from Austalia, Canada, and the USA, with designs created by talented members of the Inspirations in Ink group. I'll post the links to everyone's projects near the end of this post.

This month's blog hop and our upcoming tutorial bundle for April both feature Colouring Techniques. My card focuses on Soft Pastels. I'll include a clickable photo supply list for you at the end of this post.


To start, I stamped the sentiment from the Sweetest Cherries Stamp Set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink onto scraps of Poppy Parade Cardstock. Tip: if the large word "sweet" stamps unevenly, simply colour it in with the Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker. (I used the brush tip.) I used Paper Snips scissors to cut out the words.

Next, I used the Soft Pastels. If you've never used them, no worries - imagine a combination of crayons and chalk. I scribbled Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green onto a scrap piece of paper to produce chalky dust. Tip: Place more scrap paper underneath, and keep a damp cloth nearby, to clean your fingers and avoid spreading the dust onto your card. Here's what the Soft Pastels look like:

I then used VersaMark Ink to stamp the cherry and stem randomly across a 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" Basic White Cardstock panel. I dabbed my Sponge Daubers into the Poppy Parade Soft Pastels dust, then dabbed the dust onto the "invisible" VersaMark cherries I'd stamped until I achieved the colour I wanted. I repeated this process with Granny Apple Green to reveal the stems. I next blew the excess dust off the card, then used my finger to gently rub around the outlines of the cherries and stems, in order to blend any stray pastel dust into the card. (It's not a precise process, but rather one you continue until you like the result.) Here's a look at the finished images:

To assemble the card, I adhered the cherry panel to a 4" x 5 1/4" Basic Black Cardstock panel. I attached the two panels to a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Basic White Thick Cardstock card base with Stampin' Dimensionals. Then I die cut a vellum circle, using the largest circle in the Stylish Shapes Dies. 

I added a bow made from Black & White Gingham Ribbon, securing it to the vellum with a Mini Glue Dot. Using Stampin' Dimensionals, I added the sentiments to the vellum circle, then attached the circle to the card with Mini Glue Dots placed under the bow and sentiments. Finally, I embellished with Classic Matte Dots.

I hope you enjoyed this project, friends! Be sure to check out all of the other wonderful cards in the blog hop, each using a different technique:

Theresa McEntee – USA


Robbie Rubala - USA


Vicky Wright – Australia


Christy Gridley – USA


Deirdre Croal – USA


Julie Golding Page – Canada


Karen Beck - Canada


Rebecca Nutley - Australia

 

  Special Offers 

🛍 Shop with Me using Host Code YZFVA3SE & receive:

  • FREE tutorial bundle featuring Playing in the Rain Bundle
  • FREE card of the month


Available anywhere in Canada! Click on the photo for more info on these current classes:


No selling required. You don’t even have to buy anything else, ever!

Find out more here

Receive FREE pre-cut paper pieces for a card as my thanks! (Canadian addresses only)

💻 Follow my blog:
Click the button below so you won't miss a single card!

Product List

Tuesday, 28 March 2023

Share a Milkshake Ice Cream Punch Card & Demo

Friends, I had so much fun using the Strawberry Builder Punch from the Clearance Rack in last week's Facebook Live, that I decided to try another Clearance punch! If you missed last week's project, you can find it here.

This week's card features the Ice Cream Cone Builder Punch, which retails for just $14.40 CAD. I'll include a clickable photo supply list for you at the end of this post.


Click here to view my demo 

To make the card, I started with die cutting. I used my Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine with:

  1. Scalloped Contours Dies to cut the 2nd largest rectangle from Basic White Cardstock
  2. Stylish Shapes Dies to cut the longest label from Basic Black Cardstock
  3. Share a Milkshake Dies to cut the waffle cone from Crumb Cake Cardstock
I then stamped the sentiment from the Share a Milkshake Stamp Set in VersaMark Ink, toward the right side of the Basic Black label. I sprinkled White Embossing Powder from Basics Embossing Powders over it, then tapped off the excess powder and returned it to the jar. After that, I used the Heat Tool to work its magic, turning the powder into smooth, raised, shiny letters. 

The Share a Milkshake Bundle is terrific, with so many sweet possibilities:

To assemble the card, I first scored and folded a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Basic White Thick Cardstock card base. Then I adhered a 4" x 5 1/4" panel of Ready to Ride DSP. 

This motorcycle- and tool-oriented paper is not what I would think of as pairing well with the ice cream theme. But one of the patterns was perfect, and I love its reflective shine! It just goes to show how we can often use unexpected combinations of supplies to make something fabulous. Here's a look at the interesting patterns in Ready to Ride DSP:


Next, I adhered the scalloped rectangle to the card base using Stampin' Dimensionals. I then pieced together the ice cream cone, adhering it to the card with Stampin' Seal. I think the 2022-2024 In Color Glimmer Paper is perfect for ice cream, with its beautiful colours and sparkle. Bonus - the glitter doesn't flake off, so no glitter storm in your house! Here's the paper, in all 5 current In Colors:

I layered on the label with Stampin' Dimensionals, then used Mini Glue Dots to attach a bow made with Black & White Gingham Ribbon. The final touch was embellishing with Sparkle & Shine Sequins Assortment. I used the putty end of my Take Your Pick tool to pick them up, adhering them on tiny dots of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends! Please check out my Special Offers below, for perks of ordering with me and NEW upcoming online classes, available anywhere in Canada. 

I'm here for you if you have questions, so please reach out anytime. Thanks again! 

Special Offers 

🛍 Shop with Me using Host Code YZFVA3SE & receive:

  • FREE tutorial bundle featuring Playing in the Rain Bundle
  • FREE card of the month


Available anywhere in Canada! Click on the photo for more info on these current classes:


No selling required. You don’t even have to buy anything else, ever!

Find out more here

Receive FREE pre-cut paper pieces for a card as my thanks! (Canadian addresses only)

💻 Follow my blog:
Click the button below so you won't miss a single card!

Product List

Lots of BIG News - and a Free Card Class!

Friends, w ith all the big announcements Stampin’ Up!® made yesterday, plus my own upcoming stamping events, I’ve got lots to share! So grab...