Hello and HHD (Happy Hump Day)…Happy August…Happy everything!!!
Before we get going on some inspiration for you with a super clean and simple card….I think that the below graphic sums up how I feel inside. (well…that might be stretching it a wee bit as actually I feel like I am chasing my tail with all that I need to get ON TOP OF) but we are back and it was the time of my life over the past weeks….
Pop back tomorrow and I will share with you some “bullet points” of the what’s been happening with the Itell family lately…some will make you laugh out loud….some will make you smile….some will make you think – it could only happen to Susan….and then….of course we need a bit of candy….so I hope you will pop back for some highlights of our time away!
I have yet to go thru all of the emails that have piled up (we all know how that can happen too darn fast) but my goal….is to be all caught up by the weekend.
Let’s DIVE IN and I have a cutie for you today! My niece is getting married on Saturday and here is the card that I made for the happy couple. It’s actually a bit hard for me to make wedding cards as this is something that I do not make often but I admit, I was super happy with the end result.
It certainly is a “Susan Card”…isn’t it – very clean lines, very simple and yep…it’s a square card and that always make me smile. I will have the “recipe” for you below – it is a keeper layout that is a super way to use up you paper!
I am working from the Annual Catalog today and truth be told….I think that darn annual catalog doesn’t get the “limelight” that it so deserves. We all get soooo darn excited for the annual catalog to come out and then what happens….YEP – the next catalog comes out in 3 months (the Holiday)….and then in 4 months another catalog comes out (Sale-a-bration and the Occasions)…right back to the next year! Poor Annual Catalog!!!
This stamp set, Dandelion Wishes was coming to Randall Lane the minute I saw it….WHY???? Easy-peasy as I do not know about you but….blowing dandelions was a part of my childhood that I remember. I remember asking my Mom why didn’t we have those beautiful flowers that I loves to blow into the wind in our yard.
The other thing that I instantly loved about this stamp set was the sentiments and the font. You know that I am a BIG believer that sentiments have to “speak to me” if I am going to hit that button to purchase it and yep,this does.
I just love the feeling of using up scraps and products that I have on hand….how about you? I am sure you do as well as it gives us that instant gratification that we are using it up! Many of you think that creating a card like this might be a challenge but actually it is super simple.
You also know how I love to organize what we have. Tomorrow I will share with you (along with some blog candy and some vacation highlights) that will show you how you can conveniently store strips of paper so when you go to sit and create – PRESTO….they are all super clean and ready to use!
As I already share, the over all size of this card is a 4 1/4″ square (my favorite) and the technique that I used was heat embossing the main images from the stamp set. Here is the “recipe” for you and then you will agree with me…it IS super easy to make. At the end of the post you will see the entire list and links for products I used.
As I always say, it is all about having the basics as when you have the basics you can do just about anything. Why in the world do we stress ourselves out by always feeling we need to recreate the wheel. This IS a layout that you could use over and over with different color combinations, a different size of a card and different stamps…and PRESTO – you will smile as much then as you did when you made it the 1st time!
- The over all size of the card is a 4 1/4″ Card in Thick White Card Stock
- Take another piece of scrap paper that is say…..around a 4 1/4 ” square and adhere a piece of Multipurpose Sheet over top of it and then pull back the sheet to expose the adhesive part. Place the 1/2″ strips of paper over top of it. Now you can see how stinkin’ easy this is and how there is no mess!!! If you do not have the Multipurpose Sheets, (I’m sorry but I would hit that button and buy them as they come in handy) you can use either green glue or tear and tape.
- Take the beautiful and colorful piece to your trimmer and cut this to a 4″ square (see how easy – by doing it this way…you eliminate the need to be so precise)
- Use the embossing buddy to make sure the stripe surface is completely free of dust and fingerprints…now it is time to heat emboss! (get ready to smile for the magic). Use the Versamark Pad to stamp the image onto the fun piece and then sprinkle embossing powder over and heat set. Magic every time.
- Mat the embossed piece to a 4 1/8″ square of Gray Granite – this makes a big difference seeing the “peek of gray” behind when you hold it in your handy….remember, it is these simple finishing touches that make a difference to our end projects!
- Take a piece of scraps (this was 1 3/8″ wide to stamp the sentiment on and heat set it) Depending on the width of the sentiment this dimension might vary but I think that the white embossing powder makes a classic statement.
- Simple Susan stitching with a white gel pen does the finishing touches that I was going for……also….do it for the envelope as well!
- Pop up this piece onto your card base and you are in home stretch!
- Make a custom envelope with the envelope punch board. Not only is it easy, but it makes the whole project come together!
Now for the parade of pictures that I have for you. I know that you all love pictures so please enjoy and also please feel free to leave me a comment and I will get back on track in answering your questions! As I always say when I share a card with the dimensions or also call it a “formula type card” …I encourage you to go to your work area and make one.
WHY???? Easy – by doing this while it is fresh in your creative head it will help you understand the process. I am a visual learner and then I need to try it myself. I would write down notes on your “trial run card” and also write the blog date of this post so in the future you can easily find it!
There you go…..a great card that is super easy to do! I do love this color combo together….Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Granite Gray and Flirty Flamingo…fun yet classic! I do hope that you will try it out!
I am sure that you all know what is this month at Stampin’ Up!…..well….many things – but the one that I admit that I love now and then even like it better next month is the Bonus Dollars Days…..for every $50.00 you spend, you will receive a $5.00 coupon to use next month…(YIPPEE as the Holiday Catalog will be live) but remember to keep the email that Stampin’ Up! will send to you….with a code for next month.
I would have no way of doing a “search and rescue” for you and I do not want you to loose that discount. What I do is – the minute I get the email I print it off and then I also write it in my calendar in case I misplace the copy.
Gotta run…..I will pop on tomorrow with some highlights of our time away and also some blog candy for someone! It feels great to blog to you…it has taken me a LONG TIME to type this but I hope that it inspired you and made you smile!!!
I agree that the annual catalog doesn’t get enough love. I’m not done shopping from it and already they have holiday stuff for us! Great formula card, pretty colors. My cars chew strips of paper if you don’t secure them.
I’m glad you’re in the same ballpark as I am about the annual catalog! It just gets very lonely once those other catalogs keep rolling out…
Read your last sentence that you wrote… I’m kind of afraid to ask you if your car really does chew up paper… As you know you always make me laugh and I think there’s going to be a super funny story that I might need to hear about? Have a great weekend…
I’m sure you had a wonderful time and are happy to be home. I’m glad you’re back and ready to give us some “Susan inspiration”. I can’t wait to see the new things up your sleeve. Beautiful card today. Thanks for all the details about making it. I look forward to see what you have in store for us tomorrow. Enjoy your day!
Hello my East Coast friend … i’m so glad you liked the card! I thought it was a rather unique stamp set but I absolutely adore those fonts and the sentiments.
I was in your neck of the woods a couple weeks ago ….I think? The next time we chat I need to ask you how far away from Delaware city do you live? If not too far ….Jeanie and I need to make a road trip…
So nice to have you back…..!
Thanks Claudia… I appreciate you popping on my blog and it feels great to be home and all I can say is I need to take a deep breath and take one day at a time.
We all know it’s fabulous to be away but we all know how quickly things pile up when you’re away! Have a wonderful weekend…
Glad to have you back! Love the card. This set is growing on me.
Hey Kathie… I’m happy you liked the card. I have to say when I see your last name I beam myself. I’m sure you’ve had many people ask you if you’ve had a beaming day…
You listed white and clear embossing powder. I don’t see where you used clear embossing powder. Can you clarify? Thanks, lovely card.
Hi Ellen and many thanks for the question! If you look up at the picture that had two cards beside each other… You will notice that one has the clear embossing and the other has white embossing.
I asked some of my friends which ones they preferred and they all said they liked the white one better…
I have to be honest with you… There is something magical about clear embossing on color paper… I hope that you have tried that before and if not please give it a try as to me, it has a magical effect!
Welcome back dear friend! I was going through Susan withdraw! Love your card and the colors are perfect together. Can’t wait to hear all about your exciting trip. Hugs from NJ.
Hi Mary Anne… How is retired life? I’m happy you enjoyed the card… And you know how I feel about formulas!
We did have a fabulous time away and yesterday I received a video text from Hannah… She left to go to the UK for a week and she sent me a video of a whole field of sheep…
Needless to say the first thing I thought about was my favorite sheepherder from New Jersey!
Yippee! A message from Susan. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post and hearing about your vacation adventures. Your card is so sweet. I love the dandelion and had completely overlooked it in the catalog. Thanks for giving it some “love” making it the star of you card. Will definitely give it a second look.
Hello Robyn….. I have to admit… I think there are many people that blew right past that stamp sad! I think there’s something very unique about it and I really do believe that the whole image of a day and a lying and making a wish is quite special…
On another note… My son Will was home from Boston over the weekend. He is the one that is a Montessori school teacher. He read the book that you gave to me and he was very touched… He even asked if he could take it back to his Classroom!
Squuuueeee! Susan is back 🙂 This set is on my list also. This will be a fun layout to try. I think it would be beautiful doing the sentiment on vellum also. Or use a thinner sentiment that fitswithin a strip.
Hello my Ohio friend… I am so glad that I made you squeal! Daisey would be jealous. This layout is so much fun but I must say it is so much easier using that multipurpose adhesive sheets.
I truly believe that everyone over looks using them as I think they forget about them and I also think they are apprehensive to try them. They are Lifesavers in my opinion…
You are so smart. I never thought of putting strips on a slightly larger piece of cardstock and then trimming it. I always struggle making it even. Missed your blog when you were gone. I can’t wait to here about your trip. Glad you are back.
Oh Gracie you know me …simple is my middle name!
I have no patience for things that drive me nuts! I hope you do give this a try because it makes the process so much easier and the end result is something totally unique and clean!
I can remember probably doing what you were doing in making strips the perfect size and then trying to figure out how to get them straight and adhere them straight…
This is a great layout for all different sizes of cards and also putting the strips on a diagonal is quite magical as well!
Welcome back! Cute card. I remembering telling Mary Fish that I thought that set was the sleeper set in the catalog. I almost ordered it but I do have one so similar from another company from long ago. So, I am still sitting on the fence about that. I gotta come in out of the sun though as it is hot here!
OK here is my problem this week. Someone hacked my E-mail and I have been trying to recover it all week. We have tried resetting the password and still no go and other things Outlook suggested as well as something else. I have 18 years of my life on there! So, if someone E-mails me and I don’t answer that is why. I am trying to decide what to do next about the situation. Even me who decided I needed to get rid of some clutter of paper made a file on there with formula cards on it.
Hello my dear… I will say I too have been having a Chris r. from Iowa withdrawl… Did you hear me as I flew over your state say hi?
I cannot believe your computer got hacked… Why do people have to do such crazy things. I hope you get it straightened out because I know it’s very frustrating…
I am not sure if I ever shared this with you but about three months ago I was becoming very frustrated with my computer as every time I tried to delete something they kept creeping back in doubles…
Being completely inpatient I started getting press button happy… And there was this message that said are you sure you want to delete all emails and I hit the button and not only did delete everything…I couldn’t get them back!
On a good note ….lit’s a really sad thing when it happens but the end result is it doesn’t really matter… Just get the computer fixed and pick up the pieces…..When is that state fair?
Welcome back. Love the dandelions and have been using the set a lot. Will be looking at my scraps to see what I can match up now. Thanks
I am so glad to hear that you have been using that set… You know I really think that it is something when people first look at it they have a hard time visualizing what to do with it.
It is just so unique that to me it lends itself to just something very basic. I hope you did try this layout!
Oh goody ! Susan is back home ! We missed you and are excited to hear all about your adventures .
Pretty card and yes, I loved making wishes with Dandelions when I was little also .
Big welcome home hug !!
Hi Sonny and I hope you are doing well and feeling wonderful! I thought of you on the cruise as there were these two cute little girls that we’re getting ice cream cones in front of me and they were huge fans of your football team!
I told them about you and how you loved your team and they said that they have moved from the Charlotte area to Colorado but they are still rooting for the team! Thanks for popping on to my blog…
I always forget to ask you… Are you a fan of Shark Tank on TV? I’m addicted to it… And I rarely watch TV!
So glad you’re back Susan! Missed you!
Oh my pretty Peggy… Seeing that picture of you always makes me smile and it actually always makes me take a deep breath as I truly love your patience and kindness that you always give…
We had a great time away and now I can see why you like living on the West Coast!
Are you going to Orlando in November? Hugs right back to you my friend… Have a wonderful weekend!