by Susan Itell | Jun 20, 2016 | 3-D Projects, Uncategorized |
Happy NEW WEEK….and I have a question for you…WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A HORSE THAT HAS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING? Well, many of you would first say…I would not to a darn thing for a horse on its birthday but then you know me…I love my animals and when I know of their special day….I remember, I celebrate.
Stanley just turned 7 and for practical purposes, that is still relatively young for a Warm Blood. He is a super sweet Dutch horse and most people in the horse world refer to “Warm Bloods” as “Dumb Bloods”….because they are slow growers and some say, slow learners. He is perfect in my eyes.
He is leased out to a super sweet young lady for the summer and as much as it is “Killin’ Hannah” – she knows that it is the best for him while she gets settled into her new life at Duke. She is looking for a barn to have him come down to in September.
Horses adore peppermints and actually they look for them after they do a job. Spoiled is what I call it. When we first bought Stanley 4 years ago, he did not know what carrot was…what an apple was…and for sure – he had no idea what a peppermint was. He was only in the USA for about a week before Hannah’s trainer saw him….it was an instant connection for Hannah and him as she really wanted to bring up a baby. She has done an amazing job doing that.
You all know that I do not do a bunch of 3-D’s but when one tickles my fancy...I am ALL IN! I totally was going to pass this one up until I saw it in person while on the trip and my wheels instantly were spinning with ideas! I think the main thing that I love about this thinlit (but I would DEFINITELY purchase it as a bundle) as the stamp set has some amazing stamps for general cards.
Last week I shared with you about the You Tube Stampin’ Up Channel, here is a super short video on this product and it is a must watch as it will make TOTAL SENSE how to put it together.
I followed Donna’s instructions to a tee but I did use the fast fuse to adhere the end of the box (truth be told…I just had my nails done and the tear -n-tape in such a small area stressed me out!) 😯
Below are the ones that I made! The barn colors are Grey and Navy so this is why I chose this! My dear Stanley is “on the road” so I thought that these would be PERFECT for him…heck, carrots would wilt!
Look at these “squiggle fru-fru’s” – LOVE THEM…they are in the framelit set and just think how you could use them for other cards and projects! I did take the bone folder to break the paper fibers down to make them more pliable….I adhered them with glue dots!
Not lets chat about this trim…adorable! The mini pom-pom trim is the icing on the cake! I simply used the tear-n-tape to hold it in place. So cute, so fun, so festive! I think the biggest bonus of this bundle is the fact that you can use it all year!!!
The other thing that I think is key is….our card stock is plenty strong enough for this goodie. I think that this would be a fantastic “treat” for a gift card sticking out….trust me, you will be seeing this again with other ideas I have up my sleeve! 🙂
The below (2) pictures are from Stampin’ Up and you can clearly see that they are “keepers and simply amazing” So fun, so fresh, so doable! Don’t you LOVE that floral stamp on the Birthday one? I am just itchin’ to use this on a card!
I know that this picture is not the best but you can see them side by side that they are both super fun, yet have a different feel. Do you have a favorite? If so, please leave me a comment as I would love your feedback.
Versa Mark is something that YOU MUST HAVE…..to me, it serves 3 purposes;
- Gives you a tone on tone like I did today with the “Happy Birthday”
- Is the MUST HAVE for embossing
- It is a “secret weapon” in conditioning your stamps….especially the Photopolymer Ones , (but I do the same for the clear mount, especially if they are large images)
I hope that I have enlightened you today. I truly think that many of us totally “by pass” items that are 3-d….I “get it” to a certain extent but I will say that this one is a keeper as it “fits the bill for many occasions”…
Many of you are going to be happy tomorrow as I will share with a Tuesday Tip with the colors on how I organize my paper. This is a tricky thing as we all have different ways in doing this…this just works for me and I hope that it might work for you! 🙂
by Susan Itell | Jun 19, 2016 | Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |
Here you go! A couple of simple changes that make the “feel of the card” a bit different from yesterday! Both work for me, it just comes down to time and product. I am a firm believer that we can create amazing cards with the basics, the classics.
With that said, I can look at a stamp set and say, “I can use that a bunch” and then there are other stamps that I can easily say….“That is just not me” – and guess what – that is TOTALLY ok – that is what makes each of us roll!
There you go…side by side, you decide! The definite agreement is that the stamp set is a BLUE RIBBON KEEPER, we can always use a great thank you stamp set and with the great sentiments, (both for the outside as well as the inside) makes this a stamp that needs to be on your shelf!
Now we will get to the differences of the cards….today I used the FUN Swirly “what-evers” shine! I love these as they can go both ways, modern and classic. I used the “green glue” to adhere them to the dot DSP. Just little dots of this adhesive does the trick!
The other change that I did was the addition of the silver thread. This gives an instant fun factor and whimsy to a card. It is really easy to work with and the best tip that I can give you is to make sure that you have a good amount of adhesive to the back that you are adhering it to. I like to use Fast Fuse and then I press it into the adhesive – then flip it over so I can see it….fuss with it to get the loops just the way I want them to be and then give a good press….DONE!
Do you remember that yesterday we chatted about the new Big Shot Platform? Well….I used it again today but I also added the precision plate. This is another must have for the things we do.
With all of the more intricate dies out there, the great combo of the precision plate and the Big Shot Die Brush make cutting these dies a breeze, each and every time.
I would love this sentiment on a square card and the boldness lends itself to a square card but I know that many of you rather have a good old A-2 card. Hopefully you can see that it will work both ways!
This also would be a great easel card, click here to see the one I did and then you can see that you would be able to do the same with this stamp set.
Thanks for sharing your Sunday morning with me and a HUGE HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all of the great Dads and mentors we have out there. I am blessed to have a GREAT Dad and John is a GREAT Dad to our peeps…..it is to be a beautiful day on the East Coast and we plan to be at the best place on the earth – HOME!!!!
John wants to be here and we will grill…..play with the critters and I am sure also do work – but working outside on a beautiful day is FUN when you can do it together! I hope to see you back here tomorrow…I will share with you what I made Stanley (the horse) for his Birthday!!!!
The products I used for today’s post are below, shopping from home is FUN and oh so easy! I hope that you have enjoyed this 2 day post and that I have shown and inspired you to see that there are always options out there! Have a fabulous day and make some memories!
by Susan Itell | Jun 18, 2016 | Uncategorized |
I admit, I am happy that my blog posts are getting back on track with the regular features that I like to do and also it seems like you like them as well! Now let’s have a quick chat as this is not going to be a long post….it simply does not get any simpler than this….agree????
This is what I call a “P,S &I” card – PAPER, STAMP & INK CARD!
One thing that I am a tad bit sad about is that the pictures are not the best. I hope that you can imagine how clean and classic this simple card is with the White, Emerald Envy and Night of Navy – what a CLASSIC trio!
After doing the “formula” posts this week I thought to myself…there is absolutely nothing wrong in keeping it simple….to me ~ simple is doable…simple is easy to duplicate and a card like this never goes out of style!
This stamp set, Thankful Thoughts is one to have on your shelf. The sentiments, the fonts, the inside sentiments that you can use make this a must have as we can always use a “keeper” thank you set!
Just using “speed tools” like the Big Shot and the NEW Layering Circle Framelits brought this card together in a flash. You all know by now that I adore the DSP Stacks and this fun polka dot set the stage for today!
Another thing that sets the stage…the FUN and BOLD Sentiment – LOVE IT….I am over the moon happy that Stampin’ Up! has come out with many new stamp sets in the new catalog and this one is for sure a keeper!
Do you see what I mean? This sentiment inside the card is a quick stamp to make a fun card in a jif!This makes me smile and when I smile – I am happy!
Again, “P,S &I” card – PAPER, STAMP & INK CARD!
Did you notice that in the below picture that I am using (2) different DSP’s – The In Color DSP Stack and then the Floral Boutique DSP for the envelopes. This is one thing that I love about product shares…you can get a bit of everything and SEE what is new….(I will offer another Product Share at the end of the month)
I wanted to use something different for the envelopes and flipping through my swatch book….BINGO – I found the perfect paper!
I hope that you are not disappointed with the simplicity of this card. This is my kind of card. Please pop back tomorrow to see what I have up my sleeve. Remember, little changes can make a difference….can you guess what tomorrow will bring? Enjoy the day….
p.s. – don’t forget ~ tomorrow is Fathers Day!
by Susan Itell | Jun 17, 2016 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Here is the last day this week that I will share with you another “formula” of a layout. Today I am showing you how to adapt this layout with a vertical A-2 card versus the square cards that I showcased to you the past 2 days…I hope that this has show you how you can make changes and have them work for your needs!
I am sure you have seen this ADORABLE little fox and OH SO MUCH MORE on a bunch of blogs….I “get it” as he is the cutest guy that has come down the pike since my blind date with John over 28+ years ago! 🙂
Enjoy the pictures and please sketch this layout and put it in your memory bank. I am going to do this type of posts with you in the future as I know how it helped me tremendously and I know that you will learn and gain confidence as well with your stamping and creating.
Both of these pictures (above and below) are great additions to your crafting obsession as they both with create fun and special projects. I usually do not do a bunch with punch art but there is something fun and special about this bundle. TIP: – I would definitely purchase it as a bundle as not only will you save 10% but you will also save soooo much time in not having to fussy cut out the pieces!
You can go to Pinterest and put in Foxy Friends and hang on to you hat – you will smile…you will be inspired…you will see that you need this bundle.
As I have shared throughout the week, the POP up of the stamped focal element makes the depth and dimension and instant blue ribbon. Today I chose to use an embossing folder on the card – love the touch and feel it gives. TIP: I like to use the “green glue” to adhere the embossed wood elements….because of the nooks and crannies of the embossed pieces, I think it is easier to work with to get it “just right”
This is a new product that came out with the new catalog and it comes with all orders of the Big Shot now. Many of us have the platform that has all of the tabs (that really can be a bit annoying to flip) but this one not only elimantes that but it gives a much cleaner and crisp end result with your projects.
Remember the other day I posted about the Stampin’ Up! You Tube channel? Well…here is another great example of a fantastic video that will help spotlight for you the scoop on this new product and actually a product review of the Big Shot.
I highly recommend for you to watch this video because we have so many new thinlits, detailed dies, embossing folders etc…it gives you a great glimpse of how to use this must have tool to the most effective way it can be used.
I purchased it and love it….the results are super and there was no guilt on my part to saying goodbye to the other platform.
TIP: – You can see that I matted the dot paper in White. I originally was going to do it in Calypso Coral but once I looked at it I thought it was “too much” – again, this is a way that you can learn to see what works for you. Paper adds so much. With a simple and clean layout like this you can see that the level of difficulty is very low…it is just layering and keeping it simple.
Adorable, just adorable! You could easily change the sentiment to say….thinking of you or I miss you. This would be a cute one to make up in the masses and then leave the sentiment off and then you can add it when needed! Simple works for me!
Here is a quick run down on the dimensions. You can go back to Wednesdays Post and see the dimensions that I used for that card and then see that the “basic formula” is the same, just some tweaks to make it work for the paper and stamps you are using!
- A-2 card in Thick Whisper White, 4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″
- White Mat 4″ X 5 1/4″
- Smokey Slate DSP Dot Paper 3 3/4″ X 5″
- White stamped piece, 2 1/4″ X 3″ and then matted in Calypso Coral 2 3/8″ X 3 1/8″. I stamped the fox face on a piece of scraps and then used the puch to POP him out with a dimensional on the back
- Embossed Pool Party, 1 1/4″ X 3 3/4″ and 1/2″ X 3″
How can you not smile when seeing this cute little guy! I am sure that this would make anyone’s Birthday a special day! I think that it is the combination of the “fun fox” and then the sassy script in the sentiment – the balance just seems to work! THOUGHTS?
Let’s all have a great weekend…I am super excited to go see Stanley show tomorrow and I have a secret for him and then I will share it with you on Monday….his birthday was on Tuesday (good thing he is a horse so he won’t be mad at me with being late) but of course I need to recognize his special day and trust me, I will have plenty for the barn and his buddies!
We are BACK ON TRACK for the weekend….I hope to see you back tomorrow for Simple Saturday! YIPPEE!!!
by Susan Itell | Jun 16, 2016 | Super Easy |
Let’s chat….I really like this card – I mean I REALLY like this card! I am excited for you to “take it all in” and see that it is basically the same as yesterday but a change of the stamp set…the DSP and PRESTO a new card with a totally different look!
It is my hopes that you can see that you do not need to reinvent the wheel each time you sit down to make a card! Literally, the longest part for me in making this card was to pick the stamp set and paper.
I have blogged before using this stamp set….to me, a great sentiment stamp set and great paper – BAM…you are good to go! Did you notice the little dapper denim heart? It is from the Owl Builder Punch – a quick and effective “add on” that adds the perfect touch!
Do you remember the blog post I did about my favorite paper? Well…this one honestly was not my 1st pick BUT once I saw it in person – LOVE IT….the colors are so yummy. I have a confession, I am not crazy about the stamp sets that coordinate with this paper but I LOVE the paper and I hope that you can see that even though certain parts of a “suite” might not be your style….go deeper and see if you can make them work in other ways like I did today.
On Saturday when Jeanie and I went to that “Shoe Box Swap” – we were amazed at how many people used Delightful Dijon…and I thought, I must give it a try. I do not know about you…but – I think it takes a while to get comfy with the in colors…and I am super happy with the end result – one classic card.
As I said yesterday – the envelope punch board is the BEST tool to make you look amazing! Having the ability to make a CA-ZILLION different sizes of envelopes and also like Sonny said yesterday, you can make bows as well!
One more look at this handsome…classic card – isn’t this sentiment wonderful. This card is going to a special someone that MADE MY DAY when I received a super cute, super sweet – card from her. You all know that I adore my animals and I admit, my heart is still heavy with Eddie. He truly was the best…I know we did the right thing but I do miss him – I am sooooooo used to him being by my side – ALL OF THE TIME.
When you go back and look at yesterdays card…you can clearly see the similarities. The only changes I made was I “tweaked” the width of the DSP Strips to make it work with the pattern of the paper. Little tweaks is all that you need!
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I just had to share this picture with you… Milo is filling my heart. He adores me and I adore him. While we were gone, I did miss him – and our “jack of all trades” kept texting me telling me that he was great – all of the animals were great!
When we arrived home and when I walked in the door, he melted. He was sooooo excited to see me and it was like he needed to know that we were ok. The below picture is him CRASHING while I took a shower, he never left my side.
You can see his leg that he was shot. It bows out a bit but it does not seem to affect him – he has the heart and appreciation of the BIGGEST MOUNTAIN one could ever climb – truly a special boy~ I do still take him over to see Earlene…and she love it! This is truly a story of fate….I adore him and the JOY that he brings Earlene is amazing. She will often call me and say “How is our perfect dog today”?
Please pop back tomorrow as I will share with you ANOTHER version of this “formula” in a regular A-2 card…I know that you will love it but the main point that I want you to see and embrace is….find a “formula/layout” that makes you happy and just ROLL WITH IT!
