by Susan Itell | Mar 22, 2016 | Easter, Uncategorized |
I know that this Sunday is Easter but you can still make this adorable card and when you break it down into steps…it is a fun one to do a mass production line. At the end of the post you will see all of the products that I used and you can click on them to see all of the specifics of the products….the reason that I am pointing this out to you is that there might be products that you do not have but no worries…you can substitute with others….hang tight, I’ll explain!
The star of the show is the HANDS DOWN MUST HAVE SENTIMENT Stamp – Suite Sayings….even if you do not have this…use another Easter sentiment you might have….but I would purchase this set as it is filled with great sentiments that you will use all year long.
Here is the low down on the products that I used. I do hope that this is helpful for you and I encourage you to pin it to Pinterest for a reference for the future! You know that I LOVE polka dots…and this embossing folder is super fun.
I shared that you could make substitutions~ if you do not have all of the products….and you could easily use a plain overlay and then use the white gel pen to add some simple bling.
I did use the banners framelits to make the focal sentiment shine…you could easily cut that with the trimmer and a pair of scissors to make your own banner. The fun underneath the banner is a simple square with a mat!
Let’s chat about the flower and twine. I did use the botanical framlit and then the itty bitty accents punch but again, USE WHAT YOU HAVE…trust me….it will look great! I adore the bakers twine….to me it has attitude because I puled it through with the bees wax tip that I share 2 weeks ago….I love the straightness of it – just plain FUN!!!! The pearl in the center of the small flower is the classic touch to soften the flower!
You know…a fun envelope! The is 1/4″ strip of Blushing Bride and then the DSP is from the Birthday Bouquet DSP Collection…..Well…thoughts???? How do you like this layout? It is one that you could use for so many cards…it is fun yet still easy and clean.
Please let me know how you like it…I can’t believe that this Sunday is Easter……time is flying! I made this card and also the sheep card for my cards that I am sending…they are both simple and clean. I really encourage you to look at your supplies and see how you can use what you have to CASE projects.
I am the very first to realize that it takes time to build up your inventory and I just want you to know that there are other ways to achieve a similar end results. You know that I am all about the speed tools and I try to purchase practical products that will make me shine in a minimal amount of time.
Yesterday I was super productive but something strange happened….I ran out of ink in both of my white gel and black project life pen….2 staples that I use a bunch! There were 2 things that were super hard for me to do while away….mailings ~ as I did not have a printer and it was super hard not having all of my shipping supplies with me and also doing videos….so yesterday I sent out 27 mailings and filmed a video…..
Darn it is hard to get back in the swing….remember, it is Tuesday ~ time for a new batch of weekly deals…fingers crossed that there are some keepers to help you with an order before Sale~A~Bration ends…..yikes – it is right around the corner! See you tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Mar 21, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Morning and many thanks for your understanding in not blogging yesterday ~ also many thanks for he wonderful and caring comments you left on Saturday. The service was a beautiful tribute to the super sweet man that he was….it was great to have all of the family together and reliving fun memories! The peeps left and it was great to have all of them home….even under the circumstances!
(click on the below photo to see it larger)
Now let’s get to the Stepped Up version of Saturday’s card. Not huge but I think fun! I know that we have a tendency to use white or vanilla for our card bases but I encourage you to try to change it up at times….it gives a totally different look and feel and if you use a light color like this…there is no need to add a white inside as this color, So Saffron is light enough to write on!
The little bees are super cute popped up. do not worry about trying to cut the tail or antennae out….nit necessary as the one below will make it look realistic. I did use the aqua painter to color the bumble bee but you could easily use a marker to color it, I just “go to” the aqua painter!
Below you can see the changes that I did….not huge ones but you can see that it is a different look. It comes down to that time thing we often talk about.
Classic, clean and fun~ Sorry for the short post but I must say…it has been a long and busy week and I rarely say that I am pooped….but I am pooped! I hope that this card and stamp set made you smile. I adore the sentiments and it is a card that is just “one happy card”
by Susan Itell | Mar 19, 2016 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good Morning! I hope that this card brings some sunshine to you and a smile on your face! I adore yellow and today I used both Daffodil Delight as well as So Saffron. I love both of these colors and in general, yellow is a happy color!
This stamp set, Garden in Bloom is a great double stamp set….I know that some of you might be skeptical of having a stamp set that you double stamp…but it is both fun, easy and rewarding!
This is a stamp set that is forgiving so please do not think that you need to do the masking….but sometimes masking is effective. Below in the photo you will see that I used a piece of stick it note and did a quick fussy cut. You do not need to be exact….just go for it! I like to keep my mat in the stamp set so I have it for future uses!
You can easily use this stamp set without masking…just go to town and have fun. It was great to be able to use only one stamp set today….and still get a fabulous end result ~ a great card!
The flower to the left I stamped with Daffodil Delight…and then the other (2) – I stamped in So Saffron. For the bumblebee….easy – colored him in with daffodil delight and then stitched to give him some movement and attitude!
Today I did not have a label a bunch…as it was a one stamp wonder …. is a dream when it works out like this! I totally encourage you to use up your DSP… Look and see what you have as it is a great way to use it up for jazzing up an envelope…we will be having new DSP with the new catalog coming around the corner so USE UP WHAT YOU HAVE!
As I said when I started this post…yellow makes me happy but you can see that the sky is the limit with what you can use. There are no rules so just have FUN with creating colors that you love! To me, that is what is the best about card making…letting your own personality shine through.
Another look…and then I will do a stepped up version for you….now don’t get all exited about this….I will make some super subtle changes that hopefully you will see and learn….”I can do that”!!!
Well….do you think that you could make this card? I sure hope that it made your day! I adore it as it uses minimal product but carries a BIG punch!
Time to share with you….do you remember that I shared with you that John’s Dad was not in the best of health? Well…the past weeks have not been the best and I have been trying to keep my blog going but he past away and today is his funeral. I will not be posting tomorrow but have no fear…Monday I will share with you the stepped up version.
Please keep John and his Dad in you thoughts….all of the peeps are home and we all know that it is a blessing….enjoy the day – make someone smile and I will see you on Monday!
by Susan Itell | Mar 18, 2016 | Sale-A-Bration |
WOW – this is one amazing Stamp Set and the best thing is….it is a FREEBIE from Sale~A~Bration and you can easily see that it is a set that you will use….FOREVER! Such clean and classic stamps! The can be left plain…they can be jazzed up – the choice is yours!
We are less than 2 weeks away from Sale-a-bration coming to an end. I admit that I have not showcased this stamp set a bunch as I always knew it would be a perfect one to “fall back to” but then again I said, SILLY SUSAN….SHOW IT TO INSPIRE…so that is what I am going to do!
Yep, I stamped it up with the Black Archival Ink ~ a must have and I PROMISE….that I will be doing a post in the near future all about the black inks we have as I know that many of you have asked about….but I will say – this is my new “go to” as it stamps a perfect crisp image each and every time but it is a perfect choice for water-coloring as it is permanent!
The above and below pictures will show with you the simple coloring that I did…I really tried to go out of the color box that is in my comfort zone was to use perfect plum and rich razzleberry together and I liked the end result! For the leaves I used the pear pizzazz and old olive together to highlight the leaves! Just have fun and play with colors that you usually do not use…you just might find out that they are your new friends!
Now to some tips that I did to make this card come together! You know how I feel about a ruler and a pencil…..kinda like peanut butter and jelly – they just go together! I faintly made a line as to where I wanted the flowers to end (this just helps me to make sure that my flowers are a focal part)
I then took a piece of old olive scrap and scored several score marks all the way across and I love the texture and feel it gives. I made it a specific width so my sentiment would fit perfectly. (and YES – I do use the stamp-a-ma-jig for my sentiment for perfect placement) and OOPS…..look what happened…I did not stamp it well…
HAVE NO FEAR…A QUICK FIX IS HERE!
Don’t laugh….but as I always say….I am an honest stamper and I always like to share with you when I make a boo-boo…as we all make boo-boo’s! I used the single stamp sentiment from the Vivid Vases. This is an A+ stamp and the sentiment is perfect for so many cards and I wanted it today!
I placed a piece of tape over the vases so I did not have to worry about being so accurate in inking up the sentiment (hope that makes sense) ~ just make sure you peel it off before you stamp ir then you would really be up a creek!!!!
Now look what happened…..YUCK – it happened, Silly Susan….but have no fear, I simply took a piece of scrap white that fits that space and stamped it and then added it right in…no one will know …this is the beauty that we are able to do!!!!
Below you will see the 911 on the main products that I used and also you can click away in the scrolling store at the end of the post. Feel free to pin this to pinterest to have it as a handy tool to CASE away!
The envelope liner is from the DSP paper stacks; you know that I adore them as the guess work is completely out the window as you always know that you will have a PERFECT match! My motto….WHEN IN DOUBT – PULL THEM OUT!!!! This is why I always included these in my product shares…as I know that once you get a taste of them…you’ll see the ease and magic!
Here is the Stamp Set…so simple; yet so elegant and practical. When you have single and relatively small flowers like these…you can “group the together” to make an impact or do what I did today, a simple random pattern!
So what do you think? Is this stamp set in the Sale-a-bration collection your favorite? If not, please let me know which one is and I will be happy to put my thinking cap on and do something fun for you.
The bottom line is…SALE~A~BRATION is the best time of the year…to be re-energized after the holidays….the unveiling of a new catalog (Occasions) and then the opportunity to get free and exclusive items…WOOT-WOOT….life is super-great!
Enjoy the day and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Mar 17, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Did you think I forgot about you? NEVER…EVER!!! I am home and that journey home wiped me out! I am back and ready to share with you a fabulous post (well I think it is) It is Thursday and that means that it is time for a Pals Paper Art Challenge!
Today is a sketch Challenge and it was designed by fellow PAL, Beth Beard. If you want to see beautiful bows….you need to check out Beth’s work as I am always in total awe with her bows! You can see that I took this sketch literally and I hope you like it!
You know how I feel about single stamps and this one is no different. Single Stamps are no-brainers for me as they usually always lend themselves to many different cards! Changing up the sentiment always provides a new look and today I chose to watercolor it with a aqua painter and the end result was fun!
I think that many of us have forgotten about these sentiment die cut….it is a “keeper” and the enamel dots on the sides added that little extra pop that gives it a punch….but the REAL PUNCH is the water-coloring…..let’s get to this!!!
This was SUPER easy and the end result….beautiful! I simply took the aqua painter and used pool party….then I went back and added another brush of pool party in certain areas to intensify the color! Super easy….super doable…super fun and YOU CAN DO IT!
Confessions of an honest stamper – You can see the yellow highlights in the flower…well I had the so saffron on the aqua painter and thought I had cleaned it off on the paper towel but obviously it wasn’t so I rolled with it and added more yellow to other petals and I LOVED IT!!! You see…making lemonade was easy!
The dashes with the white gel pen is a perfect accent….something that I do all the time….because it works – it you find something that works…I say ROLL WITH IT! The other thing that I think we all do is to use stampin’ dimensionals (aka Stampin’ Vitamins)….another simple yet effective touch to clean and simple cards!
If you follow my blog (and I hope that you do) ~ you know that I like to use our coaster board when adding height to sentiments – I did not have it with my so I just cut out several of the sentiments and “green glued” them together…..presto!!!
Below you will get the LOW DOWN on the products…I just was super happy with how the flower turned out. Water-coloring is a technique that is so rewarding but many of you are scared of trying….just give it a whirl – you will be proud of yourself.
One thing that I was not able to do while away was making videos…I will be back on the video train next week and I will do a water-coloring one as I think that if you see me do it…you will see and say – I CAN DO IT…and yep – you can!
This card says it all…“thanks” for popping in today but I hope that you will hop over to the Pals Paper Art site and see the beauties on the runway! I always find it fun to see how others interpret a sketch….and I hope that you find some time and try it yourself!
Enjoy the day….I hope that you can find some “me time” and get inky and I also hope that you consider water-coloring. Remember, no rules ~ just have fun! We are on the final countdown for the FREEBIES from Sale-a-bration…..
Tomorrows card will make you say…..hmmmmm – I need that stamp set! Enjoy the day, it feels great to be posting.
