Catching Up!

Happy Sunday!

Oh my goodness!  I started this post last night and then totally forgot to finish it off this morning!  Truth be told I've been all OVER the place this week (yes, even more so than usual!) . On Friday I had to take my little fluffy buddy to the vet to have some biopsies done.  Long story short he's 100% FINE - just fat deposits and no surgery is needed.  We were pretty sure the two lumps we felt WERE just fat but there was another "mass" the vet found that had me VERY concerned.  If it were sinister and needed removing it would be quite tricky.  Not gunna lie ... I ate my emotions a LOT this week!  I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am.  The thought of losing my bestie just rips at my heart!  The number of walks I fought back the tears were many.  I actually put on a full face of makeup most days to ensure I didn't bawl my eyes out! lol.  So!  Now we can all breathe again and get back to our normal level of crazy!

I must apologize for not posting on Sunday mornings, as has been my plan.  I have joined a number of blog hops and those are on various days of the week/month ... and I just don't have the time to blog more than once in a week ... so I've been all rather random in my posts.  I'm hoping to get a few more projects under my belt next week (not this week, I have 4 major events this week!).  Bare with me as I try to find a new groove.  I AM happy to report that I absolutely do NOT work as much as I did last year.  Most evenings I can be found hanging with the family, playing games or watching shows.

Here's a quick catch up on some of the projects I made over the last few weeks.  Many of these are ones that I feature in my "Check it out Tuesday" Facebook Live events.  If you don't know about those, check it out!  Head to my facebook page "Tamara's Paper Trail" on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm mountain time.  It's NEVER polished, USUALLY a gong show and ALWAYS entertaining! lol.

Here are the projects ...

SUCH a quick and easy masculine card ...

I used the trees from the Medley "Most Wonderful Time" but there are MANY trees that would work if you don't have that stamp set.  The trees in the Merry Moose, Snow Front, Waterfront, Let it Ride,  or Rooted in Nature would work too!  The deer are from the Snow Front set.  I used Mossy Meadow and Soft Suede inks.  The sentiment is from Piece of Cake.

The next card I CASED from Lori Heling - I made some minor changes but it's her design.  I made my own buffalo check flag using the stamp set of the same name.  I stamped Old Olive ink on Soft Sea Foam card stock and then drew lines with my Night of Nave marker.  I used my Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Smoky Slate blends to colour the image, and my Tin Tile Embossing Folder for the background.  Great card Lori!

The next card is one that I really CASEd from myself.  I forgot I vowed never to use that leaf die ever again .. it's a royal PAIN to get the paper out of it ... alas, I like what I like and it had to be done.  I used the Birch background stamp in Crumb Cake ink, the sentiment from Country Home, the mat in Sahara Sand and the leaves in Cherry Cobbler,  Cajun Craze and Pretty Peacock.

I made the same card with a Pretty Peacock mat instead of Sahara Sand.  I like it better.

This one was a lot of fun to make.  I used the Perennial Essence paper, Rich Razzleberry CS and the dies from Tasteful Backgrounds.  The sentiment is from Woven Heirlooms.  So pretty!

The next project was CASEd from my friend and downline Nicole Zandbergen.  We ran the lids of the coffins through the Big Shot with the Scroll folder and then sponged it with silver and Gold "Delicata" ink.  I used the Monster Bash designer paper for the image and sentiment and added some embellishments for fun.

Last up is a SUPER quick and easy card made with the Very Versailles stamp set and Garden Lane designer papers.  I used Mossy Meadow paper and ink, as well as Soft Sea Foam ink.  Quick and easy!

I think that brings us up to date so I'll sign off as I have about another 20 minutes left in setting up for class tomorrow and then it's time to hang with my peeps!

I hope you had a great weekend and your week ahead is a stampy one!  Thanks for popping in :)

Tam

Stampin' Creative Blog Hop - Birthday Bonanza!

Welcome to the Stampin' Creative Blog Hop!  I'm Tamara Bertram, coming to you from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  I'm SO excited to he hopping with so many AMAZING demonstrators from around the globe as we bring you projects this month on a Birthday theme!  I don't know about you but I find birthday cards the hardest ones to design!  Honestly!  Hopefully you find some information as you hop along.  Please leave comments for us as you go.  It's always nice to see what others think of our work.  Happy hopping!

MY project came together quite quickly ... if you don't count the 7 hours of "Research & Development" (aka Pinterest *lol*).  After scrolling for HOURS (not kidding!) I decided to CASE a layout I loved ... one of MINE for about four years ago.  This seems to be my go-to method of design lately, finding an old card I loved then changing the pieces to use new papers, colours and stamp sets.

Here is my inspiration CHRISTMAS card:

 ... and here is my new , and improved BIRTHDAY card ...

I love it!  I seem to be into soft, muted colours this week.  It must be fall!  I used Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Petal Pink.  They look GREAT together!  Of course no card is complete without some doo-dads and some bling, so I used our adhesive backed sequins and Wink of Stella to fill those requirements!

I used my Stitched Shapes oval dies, the Piece of Cake stamp set and the banner from the new Toile Christmas set.  In order to NOT get the Christmas sentiment I just used my markers to colour the outline in Early Espresso and then stamped the happy birthday in Crumb Cake.  The sentiment is from the Piece of Cake set as well.  I ran the background ovals through my Hammered Metal embossing folder and the Scripty embossing folder to give those pieces some added interest.  The banner is popped up on dimensionals and BAM!  One pretty little birthday card ready to go!

I hope you like my project!  Now check out the projects of these other demonstrators.  Thanks for checking us out! Have a stampy day! Tam

CLEARANCE RACK UPDATE!

Happy Tuesday!

I had to pop on and let you know that the Stampin' Up! ® Clearance Rack has just been updated!

There are LOADS of great deals!!!  The full set of "new colour" markers for only $25??!!
  They were regular $64!!!  Faux Leather photo albums - regular $41 for only $16??!!

Check it out NOW and place your online order here.  Items will FLY off the shelves at these prices!

Canadian orders under $200 that use the hostess code SRV277H7 at the checkout will receive a thank you in the mail from me.

DON'T WAIT!!

(Yes, you can add other items to your order as well - any current product, including Designer Papers that are on the Buy 3 Get 1 Free promotion!)

Happy shopping .. and have a stampy day!


Tam

Beautiful Friendship - Greek Isles Achievers Blog Hop Sept 2019

Welcome to the Greek Isles Achievers Blog hop this month!  We are a group of Stampin' Up! ® Demonstrators from around the world that earned the incredible Stampin' Up! ® incentive trip that we were on in July.  It was an incredible trip!  We are hopping together to share with you some awesome inspiration using Stampin' Up! ® products.  I opted to use a set from our ANNUAL catalogue, giving it some love after ignoring it for the last month or so in favour of the fabulous new  Holiday Catalogue!  Like most demonstrators, I get caught up in the Holiday Crafting and forget about all the great products in our annual catalogue.  I rectified THAT issue this week! *lol*

Speaking Of the Holiday Catalogue ... do you live in Canada?  Do you need a physical copy?  If you don't have a designated demonstrator I would be happy to mail you one!  Leave me a message and I'll hook you up!

Right!  On with the projects!

I wanted to share several that  I made this week using the FABULOUS "Beautiful Friendship" set!

 Aren't they pretty??  The BEST part is they are so EASY!!  The epitome of #simple stamping!

The stamps do all the work!  I just love the colour combination; Rococo Rose; Merry Merlot and Pear Pizzazz.  The first project is a full sized card while the other three are notecards.  SO quick to whip up a little package for a friend's birthday or a last minute hostess gift!

Thanks so much for popping in!  There is an amazing lineup of Stampin' Up! ® demonstrators from around the world, and we know you are going to love all the amazing projects they are sharing!  Click on each of the blog links to check them all out! ... and have a stampy day!

BLOG HOP LIST

Free Skate Fun!

Happy Sunday!

I have been a working MACHINE this week!  I LOVE that it's fall, that the kids are back in school and that lazy, unstructured days are OVER!  Yes, I suppose that makes me more than a little weird, but those of you know me KNOW how I need structure in order to get ANYTHING done around here!  It's ok to say that mid-August every year I look forward to the kids going back.  It doesn't make me a bad mom and it doesn't mean I don't love my kids.  It just means  I need quite solitude to actually get s*** done!

This week was all over the map.  Alicia started Grade 9 on Tuesday at noon.  (Yes, she's only 13 years old here!  Eek!)

Rebecca started Grade 11 on Wednesday morning.

Thursday is always a half day for both of them, which results in me just being the taxi driver from 8 am until around 1:30 ... not very productive at ALL!  Despite that I managed to have a solid 3 hours a day at the computer organizing my 10-Month-Club, my Blends Club, my Paper and Ribbon shares, a few classes, LOADS of flyers and emails .... and my upcoming team meeting!  SLAYED it!

This weekend I'm hell-bent on sorting out my craft cave.  This Saturday Dale Hampshire, Demonstrator Development Manager for CANADA is coming to my team Stampin' Social.  Eek!  Nothing like Stampin' Up! Royalty attending to motivate me to find the floor in my cave!  lol.

Now ... amidst all THAT chaos last week I DID manage to make a card.  Check THIS one out ...

I showed my Facebook followers how to make it on my "Check It Out Tuesday" weekly live video.  You can see it here.

As I mentioned in the video, the layout is one I CASEd from a card I made years ago ... this one ...

You can see my blog post about that card here

When you find a layout you like use it over and over, just switch out the colours and/or elements!  Quick and easy!

For my newest version, I used the new "Free Skate" bundle of product from the new 2019 Holiday catalogue.  I used the beautiful Feels Like Frost DSP for the 1" strips along the bottom and Seaside Spray ink, marker and paper for the accents.  On THIS version I used our new Silver Delicata ink for the snowflakes but in a second attempt I used the Seaside Spray ink and I like it much better.  I used my rectangle stitched framelits for the stitched layer on the front.  Check out my FB video for a tip on how to cut that out effortlessly!

This card really is quite quick to put together.  I'm going to get a lot of use out of this bundle!

If you're in Canada you can shop my online store 24-7 here.  If you place an order that is under $200 and use the hostess code H23ZKW97 at the checkout I'll mail you a thank you!  If your order is OVER $200 you DON'T use the hostess code ... you scoop the 10% in free product instead!!

That's it for today - I'll leave you with a few pictures of my favourite Doodle Dog, Koda.  I think he misses me being layed up and playing with him - he's constantly begging me to play!  Hee hee ...

 I'm off to give him his walk and then I'm hitting the Craft Cave.  Whatever YOU get up to today, I hope you have a stampy day!


Tam

Stampin' Up! 2019 Holiday Catalogue is HERE!!

Happy Wednesday!

No time to chat ... there's shopping to do!

Click on the holiday catalogue image on the right hand side to see the catalogue.

In Canada?  Click here to place your online order.  All orders under $200 that use the hostess code H23ZKW97 at the checkout will receive a thank you in the mail from me.

Off you go!  Happy shopping!!


Tam

Toile Christmas Two Ways

Happy Sunday!

MAN it feels like LATE fall this weekend, rather than EARLY fall!  We had to turn the heat on last night!!  Am I complaining?  HECK NO!  I LOVE this weather!  It's my absolute FAVE!  The ONLY downside for me is it is WAY too short and it is quickly followed by 6-8 months of snow, ice and cold.  I'm going to enjoy every cool fall day I can get!  PERFECT crafting weather!

I only managed to spend about half an hour crafting this week.  The rest of my "spare" time has been spent playing game with the girls, back to school shopping and getting those 3 years worth of photographs in my albums!  I'm down to just two little boxes.  I think I started with 9!  The goal back in June was to get it done by the end of summer.  I'm cutting it close, with only 3 days left before school starts but I think I'll get there!  Go me!

It has been a process for SURE!  I've already gone through 15 PACKS of our pocket pages and am on album #4!  It will feel SO good to get this project off my "one-day" list!

So!  What crafting did I do this week?  Well, if you follow me on Facebook (Tamara's Paper Trail) you have already seen today's project.  It's a re-make of the Blog Hop card I created for the "Stampin' Creative Blog Hop" I posted Thursday.  For THAT card I CASEd a card right from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue, using the Toile Christmas bundle.  This is the card I shared:

Isn't it pretty?  For full details on how to make that card click here.

After I made THAT card I had a few leftover pieces on my desk.  With those I made THIS card:

This one uses Cherry Cobbler (4" x 3 3/4") and Old Olive "4 plus 2 ticks x 3 3/4" plus 2 ticks).  I coloured the branch with my markers and added some Ice Glitter to them.  The Cherry Cobbler layer was run through the Scripty 3-D embossing folder.  Quick, easy card!

Thursday I wanted to play with the Toile Christmas bundle some more and I wanted to see if the Cardinal would work as a Bluejay so ...

 I would say it does!  Now the face is a little creepy to me.  I used my whisper white watercolour crayons first (that worked well on the tummy) but it didn't give great coverage on the face, so I used our Chalk Marker on top of that.  It worked well enough but I think I'd like to try it again, stamping the face on Blueberry Bushel card stock in White Craft ink, then cut it out and adhere it down.  I think that may be less creepy.  If I try it I'll let you know how it turns out!

Here are the two versions together.  For the Bluejay card I used the Itty Bitty Birthdays set for the sentiment.  I like it!  Which do YOU like better?

That's it for today.  I'm off to start some laundry, walk Doodle Dog and then crack off another box of pictures.  What ever YOU get up to today, I hope you have a stampy one!


Tam

Stampin' Creative Blog Hop - Sneak Peek New Catty!

Welcome to the Stampin' Creative Blog Hop!  I'm Tamara Bertram, coming to you from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  This is my first ever Blog Hop and I'm THRILLED to be hopping with so many AMAZING demonstrators from all over the globe!  Please leave comments as you go!  It's always nice to see what you think of our work!  I hope you enjoy what we have on offer this month.

Toile Christmas Sneak Peek

Since the 2019 Holiday Catalogue doesn't go live for another WEEK (Ack!  ... the wait is KILLING me!!!), I thought I would share a GORGEOUS sample that I cased straight FROM the catalogue. 

It used a new bundle of products called Toile Christmas.  The star of the show is the GORGEOUS Cardinal.  Check it out!

Isn't it lovely??

Quick 101:

• Whisper White standard size card base
• Sahara Sand layer measuring 5 1/4" x 4"
• Stitched Rectangle Whisper White layer (uses the 4th largest die measuring 3 3/4" x 2 1/4")
• The cardinal was stamped on Real Red card stock in Black Memento ink and cut out with the coordinating die
• coloured highlights added with Daffodil Delight and Whisper White watercolour pencils
• The branch was stamped on Crumb Cake card stock with Black Memento ink and cut out with the coordinating die
• colour was added using Early Espresso, Old Olive and Real Red watercolour pencils
• The green leaves were cut out of Granny Apple Green card stock with the coordinating dies.
• The banner was stamped in Smoky Slate ink, using a marker to make the sentiment Real Red.
• Dimensionals and Fine Tip Glue were used to adhere the pieces
• Five self adhesive sequins were used to finish it off

That's it!  This card is GORGEOUS in person and really quite easy to make!  Check out the rest of the projects in our blog hop by clicking on the links below.

Thank you for popping in - have yourself a stampy day!

Tam

Feels Like Frost Obsession

Happy Sunday!

I can't believe how fast the days are flying by this month!  This slower pace must be agreeing with me!  Having said that, I DO crave a bit more routine and that will only come Sept 4th, when the girls are back to school.  Oh don't get me wrong, I don't relish HAVING to get up or HAVING to to make sure there are packable-lunch-foods in the the house every day but I really do get more done when it's just me and the critters!

So last week I made the most STUNNING card using the new Feels Like Frost designer paper that is available for purchase Sept 4th (unless you buy the Starter Kit NOW!  THEN you can scoop yourself two packs of it ... which you should totally do because I believe this one will sell out before the snow flies! ... but I digress *lol*)

I just LOVE THIS CARD!  The paper does 90% of the work ... the glitter the other 10%!  (See my last post for more details).

I went down to the cave Thursday to actually CLEAN UP (for once) ... but what ended happening instead was this ....

Hee hee - as usual, distracted my shiny things!  I just couldn't stop ... so I didn't ... and not only did I actually USE DSP (I usually wait until it retires before I ever CUT it! lol) but I ended up with a fabulous set of cards that I am now offering in a "Product Included" class so my stampers can have a pack of this paper for their very own!  If you are in the Edmonton, Alberta area check out my business Facebook Page "Tamara's Paper Trail" for more details on that in the next few days!

If you like quick, beautiful cards you want to get your hands on the Feels Like Frost DSP ($20 CDN), some Stampin' Ice Glitter ($8.75) and a Fine Tip Glue Pen ($9.50).  This paper matches beautifully with SO many of our card stock colours - the options are many!  The products are available Sept 4th, as I mentioned.  If you are in Canada and are interested in becoming a demonstrator so you can order them NOW please drop me a line.  I'd LOVE to have you in my group!

That's it for today.  Thanks for popping in and have a stampy Sunday!


Tam

Feels Like Frost Simplicity!

Happy Thursday!

Wait!  THURSDAY?  Not Sunday?  What the heck? lol

Ya, Sunday got away from me last week.  TBH I was very busy taking it easy.  I overdid it a bit on Saturday.  I'm not sure how .. maybe sneezing (I sneeze with GREAT force!) ... or, more likely, just by moving around too much.  I wasn't doing any one thing for LONG ... and that was the problem.  Just getting up from the chair or couch was a bit much for my incisions, so I really did just relax a little more (HUGE for me, as anyone who knows me knows!)

So why am I posting on a Thursday?  If you checked out my "Check it Out Tuesday" live Facebook video you saw my creative process and helped me come up with my end-result card.  Well!  That card was SOOOOO well liked (as in over 300 "likes") that I just HAD to do a post about it.  I haven't yet done a video that can be posted to YouTube, but you can check out my FB Live video here

Make sure you "like", "follow", and "get notifications" on my business page "Tamara's Paper Trail" to stay in the loop of all things Stampin' Up! ... and to catch my videos each Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Mountain Standard Time.

So, without further adieu, I give you Feels Like Frost Fabulousness *lol*

Isn't it pretty???  Now I seriously feel guilty about all the rave reviews I've had on this card.  I can take VERY little credit.  The PAPER is the star of the show and just makes me look like a creative genius!  All I did was cut it, place it on a Night of Navy layer, stamp a sentiment in Night of Navy and apply some Ice Stampin' Glitter to it with a Fine Tip Glue pen!  That's it!  That's all!  Nothing more!

So what is this magical paper I speak of??  Ahhhh, that's the kicker.  It's called Feels Like Frost Designer Paper.  It is a STUNNING pack of 6" x 6" paper, showcased on pages 40-42 of the UPCOMING 2019 Holiday Catalogue ... and is $20 for 48 sheets.  Do I expect this paper to run out of stock before the end of January.  I absolutely do!  The images in this paper make are DIVINE and make a beautiful card SOOO quick and easy!  You seriously just need to stamp a sentiment on it and you're done!  You CAN jazz it up more but the paper stands alone.  You don't WANT to cover it up and it doesn't NEED anything more!  As I mentioned, I DID add some new Ice Stampin' Glitter to the card - $10.25 for a 20 g pot (also on page 41 of the new catalogue) for some extra interest, texture, dimension and glitz.  This glitter is chunkier than the Dazzling Diamonds, but not as chunky as some of our past glitters, that really felt rather sharp.  This stuff is soft and OH so pretty!

Customers can't order the paper OR the glitter until the catalogue goes live, September 4th ... but demonstrators can!  That's one of the great many perks of BEING a demonstrator - you get to order products a month before customers!  Hello no backorders! (well ... backorders do still happen occasionally, even on a pre-order but chances are a lot lower than once the catalogue goes live!).

Would you like to get this paper and glitter early AND at a major discount?  Then you want to order them NOW, in a "Starter Kit".  Yes, you will technically me called a demonstrator.  No, that doesn't mean you have to demonstrate ... or "do the business" in any way.  You CAN order more products, at a discount, but you absolutely do NOT have to.  You don't have to place orders for yourself or anyone else;  You don't have to ever log into the website.  You CAN just buy the kit for the MAJOR discount and free product and run away!  If you're in Canada, here's the deal ...

Pick out ANY product adding up to $205.
Pay $135.
Flat.
No shipping.
No taxes (in most provinces)
No obligations.
No strings.

You get the $205 in product you pick out PLUS they throw in a $30 Paper Pumpkin kit PLUS a $14 coupon to use in Sept of Oct IF YOU WANT TO PLUS business supplies, should you want to hand out catalogues to your friends and earn some extra cash for the upcoming holiday season.

If you have any questions about this deal PLEASE do not hesitate to get in touch with me.  I am more than happy to explain all the fine print to you so you are comfortable believing there are NO strings.  I won't pressure you to get the kit, I'll just explain how everything works.  If you decide against it no hard feelings!  I'm truly just trying to save you a bag full of money!  If you were to order $205 of product and a Paper Pumpkin through me you would make more than DOUBLE the starter kit price of $135.  True story.  You are saving over $136.  Interested?  Get in touch or click on my link to order your kit TODAY!  The deal is only on until the end of August.  Do it!  Click here to get starter.

Right!  Must dash.  Full day of eye appointments and other riveting mom-duties!  Thanks for popping in.  Have a SUPER stampy day! 


Tam