Cards by A Cook

menu icon
subscribe
search icon
×

Uncategorized

Best Advent Calendar for Stampers!

1 · · Leave a Comment

Happy Wednesday!  Do you love holiday surprises?  Well, we have a treat for you!  For the first time ever, we are offering Advent Calendars for sale, filled with Stampin’ Up! products. I’m pleased to partner with fellow Demonstrator Wendy Fee to offer these fantastic Advent Calendars to Canadian papercrafters.

Each silver snowflake calendar has 24 doors that open.  Inside you may find Stampin’ Up! embellishments, ribbon, or something entirely different.  One calendar will have a Golden Ticket that can be redeemed for a stamp set of the winner’s choice from the upcoming January-June Mini Catalogue.  

Everyone who buys a calendar will also receive an invite to an EXCLUSIVE Sale-a-Bration Online Class ($20 value) in January.  

Each Advent Calendar is $45 ($75 value!).  Porch Pick-up is free; Canada-wide shipping is available for $17.

Included in each Advent Calendar:

  • Embellishments
  • Ribbon (minimum of 1yd per style)
  • Other Surprise Stampin’ Up! items
  • $10 coupon for a $60 order placed between January 4-31st (1 lucky person will receive a Gold Ticket instead!)
  • Free Online Class in January ($20 value)

These calendars are wonderful for cardmakers and scrapbookers.  Why not buy one for yourself, and another for a friend? They make great pre-holiday gifts.

Pre-orders open on Friday, October 22nd, and the last day to order and pay for your calendar is Wednesday, November 10th.  Quantities are limited, and when they’re gone, they’re gone!!!

CLICK HERE to fill out the reservation form!

Payment can be made by Cash (delivered to Wendy or Amy), EFT, or PayPal.  It  MUST be received to complete your order and secure your calendar(s).

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

If you do not receive an email confirmation from me within 24 hours of signing up, please contact me here.

We will put you on the reservation list and email a PayPal Invoice on Monday, November 8th.

Deadline to RESERVE and PAY: Wednesday November 10th, 2021

How it works:

  • Register until Sunday, November 7th
  • Pay your invoice when received on November 8th (deadline for payment is November 10th, 2021) 
  • Calendars will be shipped as soon as possible after November 18th (we cannot order products for the calendars until payment is received).
  • Local packages will be available for pickup on November 26th (no shipping fee)
  • Cross-Canada Shipping is $17.

The Fine Print:

  • We are only able to offer this to Canadian addresses
  • If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can still pay the invoice received with a credit or debit card. We also accept EFT payments through Interac e-transfer.
  • We will send Advent Calendars to the address noted on your registration form, even if the address listed in PayPal is different. If you need to change the mailing address after registration has been submitted, please let me know BEFORE November 18th 2021. We are not responsible for packages mailed to the wrong address if not corrected before the deadline. We are not responsible for lost or stolen packages once they have been sent through Canada Post.
  • By submitting this Advent Calendar Reservation, you are agreeing to join and pay for Amy & Wendy’s Advent Calendar Sale, and pay the PayPal invoice no later than November 10th, 2021. You understand that the products will be purchased for the calendars on November 10th, 2021.  The calendars will be shipped as soon as possible after November 18th.

Sparkle of the Season Christmas Wreath card

45 · · 1 Comment

Who doesn't like wreaths? Christmas wreaths add a welcoming touch to front doors across the country. This card features a holly wreath from the Sparkle of the Season bundle by Stampin' Up! A simple Z fold adds interest to the design and the "Tidings of Christmas" patterned paper adds beautiful colours to an otherwise simple card. See some fall inspired cards featuring Sparkle of the Season wreaths HERE and HERE

Z fold cards are easy to make once you know the measurements to use. I created a bright and fun Rainbow of Happiness card featuring a Z fold as well. See it HERE. Want to try a Double Z Fold card? See the full tutorial HERE

Scroll to the bottom to use my easy to print card recipe with complete measurements and instructions to make yourself.

Sparkle of the Season Christmas wreath card
Sparkle of the Season Christmas Wreath card
Make it yourself:

I started with the Tidings of Christmas 6x6 designer series paper by Stampin' Up! The patterns are so pretty! Choose your favourite for the background. I then pulled the 2 greens from the paper to create the wreath. Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent are two colours I would not normally pair together but I like the final look. I found using only one wreath looked too skimpy but layering two wreaths created a full looking wreath easily.

I also used the Jolly Felt to add some festive holly berries to the Christmas wreath card. I love that the Sparkle of the season dies allows you to cut out 6 berries at one time.

If you are in Canada and would like to make this yourself you can purchase the supplies needed HERE in my store. I appreciate your support of my business.

Want to purchase premade cards?

I am happy to create a set of Christmas cards for you to give to friends and family this Christmas. Contact me to make arrangements.

Christmas wreath card

Sparkle of the Season Christmas Wreath card

Amy Cook

www.cardsbyacook.com

Use your Stampin' Cut and Emboss machine to create beautiful holly wreaths. This Z fold card is easier to make than it looks with all the measurements included below.
5 from 1 vote
Print Instructions Pin Recipe
Level of Difficulty Intermediate
Total Time 30 mins

Tools

Supplies
  

Instructions
 

Cut paper to the following sizes:

  • Designer Series Paper: 3 ¾ ” x 2 ¼“; 3 ¾” x 2 ¾ “
  • Evening Evergreen: 4¼ “ x 11” scored at 5½ “ and 2¾ “ folded as shown below; 4x4 for wreath
  • Basic White: 4 x 5 ¼“; 3½ x 2½”; 2½ x 4”; plus a strip ½” x 3½“
  • Cherry Cobbler: 3 ¾ x 2 ¾ “
  • Soft Succulent: 4x4 for wreath

Die Cut:

  • Use the holly wreath die and the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine to cut out 2 wreaths. 1 out of Evening Evergreen and 1 out of Soft Succulent
  • Cut out 4 or 5 cherry cobbler felt holly berries with the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine. 

Stamping:

  • Stamp “Merry Christmas” with Cherry Cobbler ink onto the Basic White strip.  Cut the end on an angle. 

Assembly:

  • Lay the Evening Evergreen card base horizontally with the 2 scores to the left hand side.
  • Adhere the largest piece of Basic White cardstock to the right side of the Evening Evergreen card front – the side with no scoring. 
  • Adhere the widest piece of patterned paper to the far right of the basic white, leaving a small, even border as shown.
  • Layer the shortest Basic White rectangle onto the Cherry Cobbler.  You will know you have the correct piece if it aligns with a small border evenly around the perimeter. 
  • Layer the patterned paper onto the other Basic White rectangle.  Similarly, there should an even border around the perimeter. 
  • Adhere the Basic White and patterned paper layer onto the far left of the Evening Evergreen card front.  The score line/fold should be next to this and it should have an even border. 
  • Using adhesive on only the left hand side of the Cherry Cobbler piece, adhere to the very front of the card when it is folded as shown.
  • Layer both wreaths on top of each other and adhere to the left side of the front. 
  • Use Stampin’ dimensionals to adhere the Merry Christmas banner
  • Add the felt holly berries with Stampin’ glue dots.
Get instructions for a Double Z fold card HERE
Keyword Christmas, holly, sparkle of the season, Stampin' Up!, wreath
Create this card yourself!Buy stamping supplies here
Click HERE to contact me with any questions.

Quiet Meadow Cards

1 · · Leave a Comment

The new Quiet Meadow dies from Stampin' Up! are simply beautiful. The set of flower silhouettes is stunning and even comes with a couple butterflies. There is also a scalloped label die to cut out all your sentiments. Don't miss the cutest little tag they threw in for good measure. Make sure you read to the bottom for class information and a FREE tutorial complete with measurements for the mini set of 3x3 cards.

Meadow Dies available alone or with the Quiet Meadow stamp set

Stampin' Up! also has released the 2021 -2023 new In Colors! I love them all! Sometimes I like most of the colours but this year all of the colours are a must have item. I created this set of 5 mini 3x3 cards to showcase the new colours and the Quiet Meadow bundle. You could easily pick one of the designs and replicate it using each of the different flowers above. I wanted to make each a little bit different. Which is your favourite?

Soft Succulent, Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya, Evening Evergreen, Polished Pink

In addition to making the 3x3 mini cards, I packaged them in this cute mini pizza box. A simple tag on top with coordinating ribbon in the new Fresh Freesia in-color finishes the gift box nicely. There is room in the mini pizza boxes for a cookie or chocolates but I decided to add a couple sachets of tea. They make a beautiful, little gift.

Fresh Freesia open weave ribbon gives a pretty touch to the little box of mini cards.

I had so much fun making these cards. To help you make these Quiet Meadow mini cards yourself, I've included a full tutorial with instructions for you to print. Full measurements and instructions for each card are included in the Quiet Meadow mini Cards Tutorial.

Download Tutorial HERE

See the full list of supplies HERE and scroll down for an opportunity for more ideas using the Quiet Meadow stamp set and dies from Stampin' Up!

Interested in more ideas for using the Quiet Meadow bundle by Stampin' Up!?

Wendy and I are hosting a set of 2 EXCLUSIVE Facebook Classes in June. These will take place in a private Facebook group for those that purchase the Quiet Meadow Class Bundle. All posts/videos/tutorials will be available on the following dates - it is not necessary to be present online for the entire day.

  • June 7th (cards) - 2 video presentations, project samples and tutorials. 
  • June 21 (sampler) - Full video and downloadable instructions on how to assemble the Shadowbox Sampler

Class fee is $110, which includes the Quiet Meadow Bundle, both EXCLUSIVE classes, and all of the class supplies needed to create the Shadowbox Sampler.  All you need is the ink & the frame!  Bundles will be ordered & shipped direct to you. Supply packs will be mailed separately.

Registration for this exclusive class, along with EFT with payment, is available for Canadians. Please indicate if you are outside of Canada and we can make arrangements for payment for instructions only.

Register for class HERE

Happy Stamping,

Amy

New Year - Time to stock up on Birthday Cards

1 · ·

Picture Perfect Stamp Set makes a pretty and simple card.  I've given up on making New Year's resolutions I can't keep - but I really would like to send more birthday cards out to friends and family this year.  A simple card like this takes little time to make and will be a good start to my plan.  It also suits many different ages and would be perfect for my niece.

A simple and pretty card using Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Birthday Photopolymer stamp set
A Picture Perfect Birthday

To make this card I started by picking my favourite piece of coordinating 6X6 page of Picture Perfect paper - cutting a strip and then matching the colours to that.  I love pool party with berry bliss!  The pool party layer is embossed with the new scattered sequins embossing folder.  It gives a deeply embossed impression that adds the perfect touch to the card.  If you don't own a big shot - this step could be skipped and the card would still be pretty.

When making the candle greeting I stamped the candles off once onto my scrap paper before stamping onto the whisper white card stock.  This allows the colours of the candles to be light enough for the greeting to be stamped on top.  The photopolymer stamps make it easy to line up the candle flames.

 

Picture Perfect Birthday photopolymer stamp set by Stampin Up!
Noise maker adds some fun to the inside.

I matched the inside of the card to the outside by stamping a noise maker.  The same stamps that make the candles can be used to make these cute party noise makes.  (is that the proper name for these thing a majigs?) I stamped the solid part first in lemon lime twist then added bermuda bay polka dots on top.

 

Hope you enjoy this paper and matching stamp set as much as I do.  I encourage you to make this year, the year you send more cards!

 

 

You Snailed it! A cute and easy congratulations card

1 · ·

Quirky Critters wins again with a cute way to congratulate a friend

Let someone know they did a great job by sending them this cute snail card.   The Quirky Critters  snail is suitable for a small accomplishment or a big celebration.  This example uses melon mambo for a distinctly girl card- especially with the ruffled embossing folder background- but the stamp itself could easily be used for a more masculine card.

I love this colour combo-melon mambo with lemon lime twist and a touch of tempting turquoise.  The lemon lime twist ombré ribbon adds a touch of whimsy and is easy to add.  Run a couple strips of fast fuse perpendicular to how you want the ribbon to go.  Place the ribbon back and forth and cut.  The hardest part is trying not to do it perfectly and to just try it.  The ribbon should lift off if you need to try a few times until you like how it looks.

Like the Quirky Critters?  See a belated birthday card made with the same set here.

The special whale Quirky Critters image makes a pretty "just because" card or as I like to say a "Cheer you up" card as shown here.

 

Welcome to Cards by A Cook

1 · ·

Cards by a cook?  So is this a foodie blog or a card making blog?

Hi, my name is Amy Cook and I love to create homemade cards with rubber stamps.  In fact, you could say I'm obsessed with all things stamping....but more like a healthy addiction than a stalking, creepy obsession.   I'm creating this blog to share my addiction passion with you!

Why recipes?  Much like a cookbook contains delicious recipes, step by step directions, ingredient lists and pictures, my blog will include great card designs, step by step instructions, supplies needed and pictures.  All of this will be organized like recipes to make it easy for you to learn how to make simple and beautiful cards.

Do I like to cook?  Well I do make yummy brownies, but I relax and recharge even more by being creative.  Let my site help you spend more time creating so you can be the best you!