by Susan Itell | Apr 13, 2014 | Uncategorized |
WOWZERS….long training day but a wonderful day yesterday! It is energizing to be with such a great group of Stampin' Up! totally fun Demonstrators! There is one person that has been a Demonstrator for just 2 months and there is one person that has been with SU for 16 years!
The moral of this story is…everyone is at all different levels with a variety of experience but we all have the common inner desire…to continue to learn, grow, inspire and reach goals!
Let's touch on goals…we all have different ones and that what is GREAT….yours might be to make Easter Cards….yours might be to help a charitable organization….yours might be "to have an outlet" for yourself…what ever it is –
It's o.k. because it is what YOU choose to go after!
Below you will see wave #2 of the Spring Card Swap that so many of you participated in!
Today I am showing you 16 cards – I say a big…
WOOT-WOOT….I am just smiling with the talent out there!
Sandy Fielder from IA
Margaret Spencer from VA
(This card swings out!)
Bridget Trefethen from Lillie, France
Nancy Farrell from New York
(the front of this card is short when you open it up…right under the row of pink flowers)
Eileen Curry from Maryland (woot-woot…go MARYLAND)
Mary Jane Elue from Ohio
Sharon Haster from Oregon
Julie Hulka from Wisconsin
Judy Hoffman from New York
Stephanie Sherry from Florida
Stephanie Sherry from Florida
Karen Hellam from California
Maria Rodriguez from Indiana
Sharon Gibbons from New Jersey
Rose Roscoe from Ohio
Rose Roscoe from Ohio
Well….what do you think – I think inspiration to the MAX!!! I am glad that you are starting to receive your cards….I know that it is sooooo exciting to get a goodie in the mail!
At the training today we had a wonderful surprise….remember there are only 30 of us here….and surprise! From the home office came 3 Stampin' Up! employees that were wonderful, informative and as always….very genuine!
Remember when I said how fun it is to get a goodie in the mail? Well the home office gave us the reports on the Paper Pumpkin program and it is H O T and on fire! We had the opportunity to preview the April one….and for those of you that are Paper Pumpkin subscribers with me…woot-woot!!!! This is the week we should be receiving them!
Thanks for popping by and I will have another W A V E of fun for you tomorrow…
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by Susan Itell | Apr 12, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Hello from Arizonia! It is beautiful here and I adore the warm weather! I am just amazed at how large Tucson is…I was able to spend time with my cousin and her family on Thursday evening – it was wonderful! Yesterday morning I was up and off to the airport to pick up Brian King….and let the fun times begin!
What a great guy…we had lunch together and a fun afternoon before going to our first function for the weekend! We attended a "Sip and Swap" with the 30 people that are here….so I will have even more swap cards to share with you!
Here comes the 1st wave of cards from the Swap…
Today I am showing you 10 cards that I received from the people that participated in the Spring Card Swap I offered…I will be show casing every-ones cards….so please do not worry if you do not see your today! WOW – they are all fabulous!
I am super proud of all of you and I hope that they fill your hearts with inspiration! It was fun for me to see all of the different styles and I adored how brave many of you are with trying unique color combinations!
I learned a lesson…it was tricky keeping track of all of your beautiful cards…I think I "got them all right" so please don't be mad at me if I made a boo-boo…..I will share with you 10 more tomorrow!!!
Enjoy…and I will keep sharing the cards….Until tomorrow!
Kathy Colgan from Texas
Sandy Fiedler from IA
Randee Schola from MI
Ellen Berkson from AZ
Lisa Poe from Ohio
Laura Banks from Maine
Jeanne Nelson from IL
Rita Yure from CA
Rita Yure from CA
Julie Fearing from Ohio
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by Susan Itell | Apr 11, 2014 | Super Easy |
I shared with you last week that I really loved the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper when it came out last year….to me it is so clean, classic. crisp…just WOW!!! It has been sitting out on my work area and I needed to whip up a card in a jif…so here you go!!!
The other inspiration for me was that the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch was also left out….you can clearly see the picture I am painting for you….my work area was a total mess – but isn't there a saying that creative people work better in a mess??? (Sounds good to me)
I have this very special elderly lady that always pops in my office to say hello…and the other day she brought me some flowers to brighten up my office – she says she feels sorry for me that I do not have a window! She is soooooo classic in her style..the way she dresses – always looking like a million bucks and she probably is 85 years old! I knew that she would adore this card and color scheme!
Let's go….this is going to be super quick today!
A beautiful card does not have to take a bunch of time…
Remember…less is best sometimes!
- Very Vanilla is the base for the day in the A-2 card size but scored at 5 1/2" to make a vertical card!
- Strawberry Slush was the POP color for the day and that is just 1/4" smaller!
- To the Tag we go! The key is to make the width a teeny-tiny smaller than 2" as it will not fit into the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch as well….and simply make the length whatever your heart desires!!!
TIP ALERT: Look close at the card….do you see that I matted it in black….easy -peasy…I just popped out 2 in black and adhered them just to "peak" out of the sides….and guess what – the best part is that theVery Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon "hides" the excess!!! WOOT-WOOT!!!!
- I'm getting ahead of myself….the tag was stamped with the beautiful must have, elegant…classic stamp set….Everything Eleanor! I just purchased this about 6 months ago and I keep saying why did I wait this long! Take a good look at all of the elements in this set…it is just wonderful!
TIP ALERT: I always use Black Staz On Ink when working with black…why???I just perfer the coverage! Remember that you have to use a Staz On Cleaner…but trust me…it's worth it!
- Flower Power Time….I adore this stamp set….it comes as a bundle and I would definitely get it as a bundle as you will save an instant 15% …sooooo happy that Stampin' Up! is having more and more of these bundles! It is called the Petite Petals Bundle! Popping the flowers up with Stampin' Dimensionals is all that is needed to make this card come to life!
- Envelope time….because I just adore this paper and I think that it has a BIG statement with it's clean lines…I chose to just line the outer flap…you know me…I like to make the mailman smile!
If there was a card contest…this is one that I would be proud to enter…it is clean, simple, classic, practical and timeless! All of these elements are what I love about card making! Do you remember last week I shared with you finding a "style" that reflects who you are?
To me, this card is a "Susan Card"….some might think that it is boring but I find it to be one of those "keeper" layouts that you can pull out time and time again….change up the colors and embellishments…..BAM – a totally different card!
I can honestly say that if I tried to do WOWZER cards everyday….try new techniques everyday….I would get frustrated and most likely resentful. That would not make me happy and in turn you would not be happy because I would probably not blog everyday like I do!
Doing what I do "works" for me and it is my goal to teach you how to make cards…how you can be confident and understand the "ins and outs of card making"….we all start somewhere and this is why I put a lot into my blog!
I thank you for your time….please email me if you have a question….and I invite you to consider becoming a Stampin' Up Demonstrator…trust me – you would never regret it!
Two years ago I was not a demonstrator and today I am in Tucson Arizona and I can honestly say that this is a blessing to be surrounded with an amazing group of positive and inspiring people!
Get ready for a parade of cards from the Swap I had…they went out in the mail yesterday so look for your mailman to be bringing you some fun! Enjoy the day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Apr 10, 2014 | Easter, Tips and Tricks!!! |
Every week Stampin' Up! is the best in offering us special deals for the week! Each Tuesday, Stampin' Up! offers a grouping of "weekly deals" and today's card…I am featuring some of them! Remember…it's that "out of the box" thing that I talk about….
To me – this out of the box for me was to look at the weekly deal products and figure out a way to make them work in a card…I used 3…and I think that is pretty good! I do not know about you…but "wheels" totally intimidated me until I learned how to turn them into a stamp! With the weekly deal of this gingham wheel just being $4.88…that in itself is a woot-woot!!!
I have 2 confessions for you today! (remember – I always am honest with you guys)
- I have never used a "wheel"…and truthfully I do not plan in it! WHY? I really do not know but they just look to "messy" – maybe I am totally wrong…but they intimidate me! Mary Fish is my upline and I have learned so much from her and her wonderful group of PALS…please click here to watch a video on how easy it is to do and so practical! Gingham is another thing that makes me smile…
- I wanted to use the Color Coach as I have not used it for a while…well I did – but I did not have my "readers" on and I used Crumb Cake instead of Sahara Sand!!!! SIlly me – I still love the way it turned out! I went to the Elegant Eggplant Color Swatch and presto…it told me that the colors of Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky and Sahara Sand would be a good blend….oops – you know I love crumb cake!
Let's go…please CASE away and play with different colors! If you do not have a Color Coach, I highly suggest that you put it on your next order….why??? there are times that we get into a road block with colors…times that we need a little nudge etc….this is the best tool to guide you to think differently!
There is no way that I would have put these colors togther!
- The base is Elegant Eggplant and this color in itself is soooo beautiful! It is a regular A -2 card and then I cut the mat in the same color at 4" X 5 1/4"
- Taking that "wheel stamp" that I turned into a stamp…I stamped the right edge with the whisper white craft ink….yes I said craft ink….I usually do not care for this ink but when stamping on a dark shade like this…you need it – but you need patience to let it dry!
- Using the Secret Garden Stamp Set…I stamped in the colors, Wisteria Winder, Soft Sky and Crumb Cake and then POPPED them out using the matching framlits….that are on sale – woot-woot….who doesn't LOVE a sale!
- Using another SALE product…I used my "go to…must have….do not understand if you do not have them"….itty bitty shapes punch pack….woot-woot…on sale too!
TIP ALERT: Remember my trick…take the shape and press it down using the stylus…this gives it an instant WOW….then use a glue dot to perfectly place it where you want it!
- The sentiment…it is from the other go to stamp set., Delightful Dozen…so clean and simple…just like I like it…I will admit – I used the stamp-a-ma-jig…just because! I find it to be the handiest tool…one I would never be without!
- Last but not under-estimated….the envelope…you know my favorite! I used the Wisteria Wonder DSP from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack….you know….my go-to!!! Works every time!
I hope that this Easter card can fill your heart and better yet….I hope that you will CASE away! Purple at Easter….is perfect! The color scheme is sooooo rich and luscious!
I am oober-goober excited as today is the day that I am going to Arizona! It will be a wonderful training and I am super excited to see and be with so many SU demonstrators that I respect and admire! Trust me…I will be a big sponge and taking it all in!
The other "keeper" of this super short trip is that I will be able to see my cousin….do you remember last year that I was making cards for her son Matthew that was undergoing severe surgeries….I am super excited to see their family!
Please email me if I can help you….please hit that SHOP NOW button and take advantage of the weekly deals! I look forward to them each week and I hope you do as well!
I cannot wait to share with you the Spring Card Swaps that I received….Jeanie was "true to form" and was wow…woo…look at this…look at that….we had a ball…as usual!
Enjoy the day…can't wait to share the fun I will be having with YOU….my wonderful cyber friends and wonderful customers!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Apr 9, 2014 | 3-D Projects, Easter, Super Easy |
There are times that I just have to admit….that I "tickle" myself….and this dear little bunny is one of them! Isn't he sooo darn tootin bunny cute!!! I hope that you run out to the store and buy these Lindt Chocolates…and they also come in "chicks" and "lambs"…don't worry – I will have other fun posts with them!
Before we get to this SIMPLE 3-D fun…I want to say a big thank you for popping by yesterday and I hope that you enjoyed all of the fun posts…so many great ideas…so much fun!
I did email those who asked for the cookie recipe…my computer was acting up so I apologize if I sent it to you twice! (please let me know if you did not receive it and requested it)
Let's go….and boy do I have a bunch of pictures for you…this is so easy that you are not going to believe how easy it is!!! Naturally you can change up the colors and the colors of grass etc….let your imagination go wild – mixing up colors would be super cute!
- The strip is Strawberry Slush cut at 2" X 11" (make is a teeny-tiny smaller than 2" so it will fit in the Scallop Toppers Punch better)
- I told you this was easy-peasy…flip around the other side and run it through the big shot just like you did before!
- Next, take the Topper Scalloped Punch and POP each ends!
- The last thing before we get to fru-fruing it is to take the Ex Large Oval Punch and POP out the center!
- That is IT!!!! Now for the fun! Just put adhesive of your choice and "squish" up your easter grass and press it down firmly and then trim any excess that looks "unruly"
- Isn't he just adorable!!! I place several glue dots on the bottom of the bunny and gently pressed him down….and he was happy!
- The simple yet elegant Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon was the icing on the cake! I wish this ribbon would be out in ALL colors as I can actually tie a bow….another reason to do a WOOT-WOOT!
Here's a little side view of my friend….
To me it's like have a floral centerpiece on the table…
you want it to look great at all angles!
I hope that this made you smile and I hope that you make some one smile and make them! These will be on my Easter table and I have also made some for co-workers as well as some for elderly people that could use some joy!
My dear John has a client that has suffered many strokes and he tries to go and visit him weekly – John took him one! Mr. Johnston loved it and was smiling from ear to ear! Isn't it wonderful that simple things like this can bring us ultimate joy!
YOU popping by my blog brings me joy! Please email me if I can be of help! I love helping you reach your goals and I know that you have many options of being your demonstrator….but please know, if you need one – I'm here!
I love to help teach you to have the confidence that we all have….sometimes it just needs to be "un-leashed"…we all have talents…we all express ourselves in different ways….
YOU can do it….until tomorrow!
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