Friday, December 30, 2022

Adorable Owl on some Dandy paper!

My December team swap entry. These owls are just so sweet. You'll need to put them at the top of your list for Sale-A-Bration 2023...spend $60 and get the stamp set for free. They're super easy to hand cut out or just stamp onto a layer and punch/die cut the whole layer out. This paper is a free choice as well...Dandy Designs. 48 sheets of 12" x 12" with all fun spring and everyday patterns for a minimum $120 order. That will keep you crafting!



Thursday, December 29, 2022

Places in the Heart

The Places in the Heart is the stamp set I chose for my January team tutorial. What's this? It's a 4 card tutorial free for my team members. They can use it to recreate the cards exactly as I've designed them by using the featured stamp set/bundle and papers or they can swap out colours, stamps, papers and embellishments and make themt heir own! How do you get this every month? Buy the Stampin' Up Starter Kit for $135 (or $175 with the mini Cut & Emboss Machine starting January 5) and designate me as your team leader. We get together in person and virtually, swap cards, learn and have fun sharing this hobby we love so much!


 

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

And still more Mini Calendars!

Well you know I also made a mini calendars for Michelle and Kyle! This style works great to stand up on a counter, window edge or desk (it's intended purpose) but you can add a magnet to the back and add it to your fridge just as easily!

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Tuesday, December 27, 2022

One more kid...one more stocking....one more mini calendar!

Here's the 2023 tabletop mini calendar I made for Alec's stocking this year using the Starlit Punch. It was bundled with a matching stamp set last holiday crafting season but it's well beyond a Christmas item! Pairs really nicely with this greeting from a new stamp set called Greatest Journey which I will be using a lot for masculine cards and projects for the travelers in our family.



Monday, December 26, 2022

Sneak Peek: Seaside Bay 2023 Mini Calendar

Made a bunch of desktop mini calendars for friends and co-workers. This is the one I put in my son Craig's stocking. Yes...28 year olds still get stockings from mum. Features a sneak peek at some of our new products: Seaside Bay Bundle and By the Bay designer series paper. We may have winter but crafting for the beach already!



Sunday, December 25, 2022

Merry Christmas!

What a beautiful swap card from my team member Lee in November! Those stamps are from a set you would not think of for winter holidays: Forever Fern. Enjoy the seasonal get togethers with family, friends, fur-babies and nature! If you celebrate Christmas as I do, Merry Christmas one and all!



Saturday, December 24, 2022

Sneak Peek: Thanks a Bunch Swap Card

Sneak Peek from one of the Sale-A-Bration freebies....a Thanks a Bunch card! The front of the card and the stamped inside.




My thanks to all the sales clerks, check out staff, wait staff, City workers, emergency personnel, hospital staff and more who are working extended hours so we can shop, eat out and safely get around our communities this holiday season!

Friday, December 23, 2022

Ready for Crafting!

 I'm all set to create anew...check back in a few days because it could be a new Craftimess! As crafters we love organizing and setting up our craft spaces almost as much as making something. Who hasn't wasted 3 hours of prime craft time to organize their stash? Hands up, folks as I know you've done it, too!

Today's video was a snapshot of my very tidy space all ready to start creating with new products from the January to April Mini Catalogue and our annual sale, Sale-a-Bration. I have already made a few items but this is crafting on steroids. You might find me here for 12-14 hours straight once I get in the groove. 

What do you like to do when crafting?

  • Listen to music?
  • Watch videos?
  • Listen to podcasts?
  • Snack?
  • Troll pinterest or the internet for inspiration?
  • Copy what you've already made with new products, textures and colours?
  • Enjoy a favourite beverage?
  • All of the above?
Depending on my mood I may do any or all of these at the same time! One thing I find when I'm in the zone is I like to craft on my own. Prepping for a class is more fun with a friend in the stamp room or over Zoom (shout out to my bestie, Tamara Bertram of Tamara's Paper Trail in Edmonton, AB) but when it's time to create, it's head down and in the zone.

Whatever your style and whichever crafting tools you use, may you find inspiration and fun this season and make something truly beautiful!

Rugged Icons Guitar Card

From the "I bought it and haven't used it yet" craft supplies pile. Rugged Icons dies. I *think* I've used the Merry Melody embossing folder but wow - they pair up nicely, don't they? This one is in honour of my son-in-law, Kyle, who plays guitar. Enjoy!



Thursday, December 22, 2022

Sneak Peek: By the Bay Suite Collection coming January 5, 2023

 As demonstrators we get to preorder new products a month ahead of their release which means....we have some amazing samples to share with you! The By the Bay Suite Collection was the one I was first drawn to. Between the birds (ok we all know I love birds) and the shells and the colours....the images invoke a sense of peace. This was my swap card for a group of Canadian demonstrators I know. What do you think?



Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Framed Florets for a Special Person

The Framed Florets bundle was an early release in November from the January - April 2023 Mini Catalogue. And isn't this a stunning card?! The oval with the hearts peeking through die cuts the hearts out but not the outer oval. So just centre it on your cardstock and run it through! To have the coloured hearts show through, adhere a piece of your favourite colour between the die cut layer and your cardbase. Love the added touch of the copper foil sheets for the leaves. When photographing, they take on a rainbow look but they're actually copper foil. My grateful thanks to Glenda Mollet for this gorgeous swap card!



Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Graceful Tiles Stamp Set

 Would you check out this fabulous card?!?! From my very talented friend and team member Stacey. She used the Stamparatus tool to get the images all lined up then coloured them in with Stampin' Write Markers. So very pretty! Thanks, Stacey, for showing us the versatility of the Graceful Tiles stamp set (#159390 for $25!) with this amazing card as our December Creative Ambassador!



Monday, December 19, 2022

Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peek!

The Thanks a Bunch stamp set is so darn cute with 3 sizes of carrots! Perfect for the "Thanks a Bunch" greeting, right? Here's the card shown at my December 19 Facebook Live showing off the FREE Sale-A-Bration products you can get with your minimum $60 or $120 order starting January 5:


The card that was the inspiration for tonight's cards is this beautiful swap card:

The card made live was featuring another FREE choice during Sale-a-Bration, the Adorable Owls stamp set.  I love all the cute critters we are featuring lately and so the owl are a perfect addition to my collection. Here's the Adorable Owl card:


For the measurements, step-by-step instructions and some fun banter, check out the replay:

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Thanks for stopping by!



Splendid Day

I just had to make one more card with the Splendid Day Suite before it retires. But you know what? We have some new foil paper coming next month and this card could so be CASEd with it! The squares are from the smallest Stylish Shapes stitched square and evenly spaced across strips of matching cardstock to the layer below (Soft Sea Foam). Then the greeting in the centre is heat embossed in copper. I must say, this is a beauty!



Sunday, December 18, 2022

#Shareyourmoment

This is a long retired stamp set from Stampin' Up! (My Special Day) that I borrowed from a friend to make this Christening card for a co-worker. Wow...long intro there!

All this to say, there are so many beautiful ways we can enrich the lives of others through our cardmaking adventures beyond birthdays and thank yous. Alex at work was overjoyed with the card and it will be THE unique one the family receives. If you're a card maker, #shareyourmoment


Saturday, December 17, 2022

Nuts About Squirrels for Christmas!

Sharing my Team member, Jane's 4th card in the series on Nuts About Squirrels. This is a super cute stamp set and as she has demonstrated, way outside "fall" or "cutesy". Today's card shows the twisted ribbon technique with a traditionally Ontario grey squirrel all decked out for Christmas. Wonderful job, Jane!



Friday, December 16, 2022

Snowflakes for the Beauty this Season

Oh the look of heat embossing! That's the ticket at the holidays, isn't it? The first year I tried heat embossing (it was a deer in gold embossing powder) I was hooked on this stamping and paper crafting hobby. My thanks to Mary Louise Hamill for this beautiful card featuring the large snowflake stamp. As you are bustling about getting ready for the holidays, my wish is that you enjoy all the beauty of this season!



Thursday, December 15, 2022

What's your favourite flavour of Candy Canes?

Another fun card from Andrea Estensen of Prairie Sky Paper Crafts. It truly IS the season to be jolly! The santa hat on the "Jolly" greeting brings a real smile to my face.

Question: Do you like candy canes? And if so, what flavour? The usual peppermint ones aren't everyone's cup of tea in fact in our house we like blueberry, peach and raspberry! Gotta hunt them down early because they go fast. Thanks, Andrea for this happy candy cane card!


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Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Double Embossed Technique

What's Up Wednesday? How about the Double Embossed Technique!
Combine your love of dry embossing with heat embossing in copper metallic for a super WOW card.



And the best part??? The Splendid Stems dies are just $18.80 while supplies last or until January 4, 2023. Normally $47 so a great deal to be had. Add these gorgeous dies to your stash today!

For all the instructions and measurements, check out my video tutorial:

SUPPLIES LIST

Thanks for stopping by!



Sweet Scottie Dog

Merry Christmas from my favourite wee Scottie Dog! Today's creation was shared with me by my Silver Sister Desiree Spenst. The snowy white velvet sheets are now out of stock but a quick embossing will give you the texture you're looking for on this card. The cardbase and main layer are Parakeet Party for such a great pop of colour. Enjoy!



Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Yummy Candy Canes!

Lovely, yummy candy canes. If these were real, I bet they'd taste like spearmint or wintermint! I received today's card in the mail from my friend Dawn M who is also a crafter on my team, The Inksters. Look at that great bow holding them together. Thanks, Dawn, for sending me this very pretty Christmas card!



Monday, December 12, 2022

The Fun Fold non-standard card

From tonight's Facebook Live Creative Escape:


Typically I make a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" but there are times when I'm just in the mood to try something new and this is one of them! Check out how I used a 5 1/2" x 3 1/2" card base (folded) and added a layer above to create a fun fold non-standard card that fits in a standard envelope. 

A few more versions of this great card layout!




Need some step-by-step instructions, check out the video below:

Cardstock/DSP Measurements:

Cardbase: 7" x 5 1/2" scored at 3 1/2" and folded
Layer: 3 1/4" x 5 1/4"
DSP layer: 3" x 5"
For the squares: 2 3/8" x 2 3/8"; 2 5/8" x 2 5/8"; 2 7/8" x 2 7/8"
DSP strip along the bottom: 1" x 5 1/2"

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Thanks for stopping by!

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Peace to You this holiday season

Today's card was designed and created by Joanne McTavish of Fergus, ON. The image is so crisp and clear you'd think it was printed and not stamped - buy WOW! It's a stamp from the Peace to You set #159776, y'all! It was stamped in Starry Sky and I would highly recommend using a stamp positioning tool like the Stamparatus so you may stamp it over and over to get full depth of colour. Stunning! Thank you, Joanne!



Sunday, December 11, 2022

Paper Strips to the rescue for an adorable tree focal point!

 Check out this cool way to use up scraps! From Andrea Estensen (Prairie Sky Paper Crafts) in MB. Totally in retro red and green striped paper, this card is super cute. The strips measure 4" x 1/4". Hope you like it!



Saturday, December 10, 2022

Nuts About Squirrels

Back in November the squirrels on our street were still very busy getting ready for winter! Riley and I would see them while we were out on our morning walk in droves: grey ones, black ones and brownish ones, too. Funny...when I create with this stamp set, Nuts about Squirrels, I almost always do the squirrel in shades of brown. That's off since I see so many black and grey ones about. Today's card is the first one Jane shared with us in her time as Creative Ambassador with this set. The stamp set was Jane's choice and hers to keep - a gift from me - for posting a card weekly in her month as ambassador. Our team has many other perks so if you're thinking of getting the Starter Kit come the new year during Sale-A-Bration, we'd love to have you join us!



Friday, December 9, 2022

Graceful Tiles Card

My team members are so amazingly talented! I'm excited to share this beauty designed by Stacey Stark, our Creative Ambassador for December 2022. This month Stacey will be showing 4 cards using the Graceful Tiles stamp set. This is a gem of a set with 13 stamps (6 greetings and 7 images) for just $25. Perfect for all kinds of occasions. I love these colours with the Sun Prints paper from the Annual Catalogue. Enjoy!



Thursday, December 8, 2022

Gnomes for any occasion but especially as Santa!

The gnomes are carrying over after the end of this holiday Mini catalogue so you can still get them! They'll be perfect for spring time and garden cards especially the dies to use with a new product coming in the Jan-April mini catalogue. These remind me of my cousin's garden and her Mr G garden gnome. He has a social life of his own! Shared with my from Gail Bragg in the Nov 26 swap. Thanks!



Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Cut and Fold Technique

Today's card comes from Debbie Bean in Brantford. The layout is a fun one to show off the layer you've covered up with the cut and fold technique on the side. It's simple:

About half way down the DSP layer, cut in about 1" (to as far in as you'd like - I usually go 1 1/2") and fold back the flaps. Cover up the slit with a shape and greeting or punched/die cut shape. When you love both sides of patterned paper, this is a great way to show them both off! Thanks, Debbie.


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Tower Pinwheel Card

 Let's totally WOW your friends and family with this amazing card:



It's called the Tower Pinwheel card and with 8 panels to decorate, you bet the recipient will love showing this one off. It's super simple, I promise. 

Check out the replay of my Facebook Live from December 5, 2022 demonstrating how to cut the paper and put together this card as well as a smaller version to fit in a note card envelope. Talk about your options! 

SUPPLIES LIST

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace & Joy

I received today's holiday card from my team member and friend Jane W in our November swap. I really like using left over pieces of patterned paper like these that measure about 1 1/2" x 3 3/4". You know when you have a strip left over from cutting a 12 x 12 edge? Perfect! Lots of texture here with the circles and tree as a focal point. What a lovely card to send this holiday season! Thanks, Jane.



Monday, December 5, 2022

Because Adulting is Hard....

Some days adulting IS hard! My go to is often chocolate, but cocktails works, too! Cheers to everyone during this holiday season and many thanks to Janet Harrison for this simple yet impactful card swap.



Sunday, December 4, 2022

Pretty Fitting Florets Card

This has to be one of the pretties cards I've seen yet with the Fitting Florets Collection. The die cut from patterned pack, DSP strip on the right and an embossed layer over stamped greeting. This card has it all going on and working so well together! You'll be seeing this one in a future Monthly Class for sure. Thanks to stampinwithbetsy for swapping with me Nov 26. Love it!



Saturday, December 3, 2022

Nuts About Squirrels Birthday Card!

Part of the reason I started the Creative Ambassador program with my team, The Inksters, was to show off the versatility of some of the lower priced stamp sets in the catalogue. These are often overlooked if they don't come with dies and punches and there are some real gems in there! So it is with Nuts about Squirrels and this sweet card that Jane created for us in November. Enjoy!



Friday, December 2, 2022

Pink Christmas Trees? Why yes!

So enjoy participating in my team's monthly swaps. This is my card from November which was mailed to the other participants. I CASEd the card from Tamara Bertram's one shared a few weeks ago. The embossing really makes it, I think and with a little sanding of the trees with an emery board, there's a whole new look about it. I think this is the first time I've used the Merry Melody musical notes embossing folder. I quite like how it turned out!



Thursday, December 1, 2022

Shaded Summer so beautifully coloured with Stampin' Blends

These colours are stunning together, don't you think! Thanks for my team member, Wendy for joining me at the business builders event and sharing this card in the swap. Love this layout for a future monthly card class. The focal image could be stamped as done here with a flower from the Shaded Summer stamp set or a die cut for the Kit to Go option. And that stitched layer is from Greenery Die. Fabulous backdrop! Thanks, Wendy!



Stampin' Up! Retirement List: July to December 2022 Mini Catalogue

All good things must come to an end...but do they? Not just yet - ha! Click on the image below to get Mini Catalogue items before they're gone for good. Some lovely ones are carrying over and some that are retiring are at great discounts!

Please use my host code 7F37YD9P for a free gift in the mail from me!


Click on the image over to go directly to my store


DOWNLOAD THE LIST

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Treat Box

Enjoyed sharing this easy treat box with you from one sheet of paper measuring 7 1/2" x 9 1/2". How cute is this and boy does it hold a lot of stuff: jewelry, chocolates, gift card, and more!

Perfect for a party favour, Christmas table gift, packaging - you name it.

Follow the instructions in the video replay from my November 30 Facebook Live below and check your cutting template with the one below:
Your box should look something like this:

Here's the replay in case you didn't catch me live:

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Thanks for stopping by!