by Susan Itell | Feb 28, 2016 | Step it up Sunday! |
Hello and welcome to Step It Up Sunday! If you are new to my blog…WELCOME and I hope that you will subscribe to my blog as I blog daily and I love to share and teach you clean, simple and practical cards that you will have fun making along with tips and tricks along the way!
You can click here to see yesterdays post and then you can decide…which one you like! My goal is to share and show you that you can make some simple changes and great results.
So…Side By Side… You Decide!
Today’s card I cut the white stamped piece a bit smaller = 3 ¾” X 5” – Again, letting the WHITE be a focal part of the card. To the left side I adhered a ¼” strip of daffodil delight!
Before I added that strip I did my stamping, same as yesterday and I hope that my pictures and explanations of “masking” are not to elementary to you but I always feel like never assuming that everyone knows different techniques.
I highly recommend that you play around with masking. It is super easy and the results are always super fun. I know that when I first gave it a try, I was terrible…but then once I had a roll on it – LOVE IT!
There is no secret I adore Bakers Twine. It took me years to see the light but I am glad that I “caught the ray” as it is SUPER AFFORDABLE and so effective.
I simply places a small amount of adhesive on the back to secure the twine and then I wrapped it around 3 times (love this look) You can see that this is crushed curry twine but you can also see that it blends great – do not be afraid to use what you have!
To the sides of the sentiments I added White Perfect Accents. Darn, I wish and hope that Stampin’ Up! would continue to add more colors to these enamel dots…they are fast, fun and effective!
Here is the final picture…(sorry for so many) but I think pictures truly help you learn! I know that there are times that when you see the list of the products that I use for my projects….looks sooooooo big – if you really break it down, I think I do a great job in using the basics…
It’s like setting up a kitchen….WHAT?????
Just think, when you had your 1st kitchen ~ it took time to build up the basics….you start with empty cabinets and then you add to it. That is exactly how I view starting a craft like this….start with the basics and then build…..you can do it! There is no reason that you have to have everything. I do not have everything and I am super happy – I purchase what I LIKE and what I think I will use!
Thank you for your time….I hope that you have learned how to take a simple card and still keep it simple but make some small changes.
Please click here to see the post that I shared at the beginning of the month about the goodies that you will receive from me with an order! I adore this card and I have been having fun making them….please feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Still having FUN in the South and what a joy to be with Hannah. She had a fabulous day yesterday and looking forward to another great day ahead! My “Joy Tank” is filled to the brim being with my Horse Show Friends!
See you tomorrow….enjoy the day!
by Susan Itell | Feb 27, 2016 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good Simple Saturday to you and a BIG hello from the South! Hannah arrived safe and sound and we headed straight to the barn so she could exercise Stanley. She shows today and tomorrow so another early day for us!
Today’s card is one that I have been just itchin’ to get all inked up and it is the Apple of My Eye Stamp Set from the Occasions Catalog (page 47) This is the first that I have used it and I admit when the catalog came out….it caught my eye!
With being away, I tried to take stamps sets that I have not used a bunch and PLAY and JUST HAVE FUN! What attracted me to this stamp set was the uniqueness off it….The clean and crisp lines it offers and then fun font and sentiments – a fun stamp set!
Now I think that you can agree…a great simple card starts with a bunch of white space….(White space is GREAT….it is your friend) Sometimes I think we get so caught up in making it difficult…be easy on yourself – this is all about creating and having fun!
You can see that I used a White base (Heavy weight Whisper White) and then cut another piece ¼” smaller….4” X 5 ¼” I stamped the lemon image on a piece of paper to create a simple mask. A quick fussy cut and I am good to go!
Taking the lemon stamp and stamping it off once I stamped the lower right side…then put the mask over top and repeated that across the bottom of the card stock.
I really like having the “lemons” go off the sides of the card; to me it makes it look fun and festive but then what is more fun than beautiful bright lemons…and better yet, homemade lemonade!
I stamped another one on a piece of cards stock and then fussy cut it out….the same with the leaf. A quick stamp of the sentiment in classic black…the card was coming together!
The FUN FACTOR of the card is using the Simply Scored and making scored lines on the card stock. I personally prefer using the Simply Scored as I have better control with pressure (personal preference) but you can easily use the trimmer…that is the beauty of having so many great products to choose from!
You know me…the icing on the cake- my loved envelopes…I just cannot have a fun card go out without a fun envelope Fru-Fru! Today I used the In Color DSP Stack to line the envelope! My wonderful Mom loved lined envelopes and there is never a day that I do not think of her when I craft! True it takes a bit more time but that time is soooooooo well worth it!
I thank you for hanging in there with me while I am away….I am trying to keep my blog going….keep you inspired…and let you know the sheer FUN and POWER we have in creating cards!
While I am at the show, trust me……I craft away (truth be told – I have a hard time sitting still)….I adore needle-pointing….and you know I love to do what I do with paper crafting There is never a time that someone comes up and asks me….What are you working on now???? I am amazed at how many people feel like they are not creative…but when I share and show them what I do – BINGO, they get it and guess what….they smile! 🙂
I hope that this clean and simple card made you smile….and I hope that you pop back tomorrow to see how I switched it up a bit! Shop away and having fun! Jammie shopping is the best!
by Susan Itell | Feb 26, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Morning! WOW…many thanks for all of your comments yesterday on the post with the Hexagon Hive Framelit. I am so glad that you liked it and I liked it too! It is truly fun to make but just think of all of the fun colors you could put together etc!!!!
Below are the other (2) cards that I made. I shared with you yesterday that the beauty of this card technique is that you come out with (3) cards….the ahdesive is already on the back of the hexagons so i say WHY NOT!!!!!
Enjoy the pictures….please let me know your thoughts and if you need help with it – please email me! I did read through the comments and I will go back and comment as well. It has been a LONG day but GREAT day.
After the pictures….you will see 2 pictures of TOP DOG….he is just amazing and he makes my heart pitter – patter! He is having a ball and has met so many friends! Today is a HAPPY day for me as Hannah comes in….trust me, I will be at that little airport super excited to see her!
I must say…being out in the air all day is great but it does make you tired….I am right behind Milo after having dinner! Have a fabulous day and I do hope that you can GET INKY!!!!
Please refer back to yesterdays post for the ins and outs of how I made this card….
by Susan Itell | Feb 25, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Thursday! I am kicking my heels with excitement as you know Thursdays is the day of the week that we have a Pals Paper Art Challenge! I adore color challenges and this weeks challenge first had me stumped but then I had a breakthrough…..DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN TO YOU????
If you follow my blog, (thank you) 🙂 but you know that I am out of town. It was SUPER hard to try to figure out what to take with me as I naturally wanted to keep my BLOG FUN going and also inspire you with projects that I know are both doable but practical!
Here is the color palette that we are working with this week! It is super fun….RIGHT? I ADORE navy…..and I will say that I think Pear Pizzazz often gets overlooked and that makes me sad 🙁 as it is a really great color! Many thanks to fellow PAL Lynn Hoyt for coming up with this great challenge this week!
Let’s dive into it! When I was deciding what products to take with me….I thought – take things that you have not shown much…take products that will make me stretch….take products that are practical ~ and I can honestly say, I buy Stampin’ Up! products that I LIKE and products that I will use….that is the BEAUTY of being aligned with this great company!
You might think by a glance that this was a super hard card to create?!?!
Guess what – IT WAS EASY-PEASY with the help of Stick It. Click here to see my post and video that I showcased the ease of using this product. To me, being able to find and share other products that make it easy for us is a HOME-RUN in my eyes!
When I made this card….I actually made (3) card…as you can see that you will pop in the colors of the hexagons to the other bases so….WIN~WIN…I am a happy stamper as I have not 1…not 2….BUT 3 CARDS READY TO GO!
I am all about using what you have…and with working with a limited amount of inventory I decided to just GO FOR IT and use whatever I have….you will see that I have used many different products (at the end of the post you will see the total supplies that I used) and below I will parade for you the products.
Using the (3) colors of the challenge today, I cranked them through the Big Shot and then “puzzled” them together to make a card. It is a super fun technique and just think…the color combinations are endless!
Below you will see how and where I used the variety of products. This was a SUPER FUN card to make and I hope that you can see how endless the sentiments/themes can be when you make this!
I did stamp and POP OUT (2) of the flowers…one I adhered down with green glue and then the other I curled up slightly and then POPPED it up with dimensionals.
I did bring some embellishments with me and in a later post I will share with you how I store them as it was a gift to me from Stampin’ Up! and I was like….HECK YES…..stock that up and take it with you!
On Tuesday I will share with you more TIPS and TRICKS like I did this week…..it will shed some light to you about mailing and options that you have with having an embellishment like this button!
You know me….I ADORE my envelopes…..the PAPER STACKS (page 144 in the Annual Catalog) are my GO-TO’s…my FALL BACKS…and YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG WITH THEM…this is why I ALWAYS offer them in my Paper Shares as I realize that they are $$$$…. but they are soooooo worth it! They go a L O N G way!
As I said above…..Pear Pizzazz is often over looked….please give it a try – I find it super useful as it is a bit brighter than Old Olive and it “just works”…I know that I am totally guilty of getting STUCK on certain colors…..another goal I have while being away, stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new colors and stamps!
Thanks for popping in today….you know that I blog daily so the BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME is….share my passion with your family and friends! I thank you …..and I think you know I adore what I do!!!!
You know what else I adore (well…besides YOU) 🙂 is being here….holding crazy hours….being with people that share the same common interest…..HORSES…DOGS….friendship & laughter….but knowing that Stampin’ Up! is right there with me….along with you!
Please feel free to email me.…and I will be happy to help! Have a wonderful day and please consider sharing your talent (I know you have it) with this weeks challenge!
by Susan Itell | Feb 24, 2016 | Paper Pumpkin, Uncategorized |
Please do not click me off when you see that this post is about this months Paper Pumpkin (ha-ha) 🙂 because I think that you will agree that it is super cute! In the collage below are images that I took from Stampin’ Up! and you can see how they gave us instructions on how to put the kit together….but you know me – I like to twist it up a bit so please read on!
Did you know that Paper Pumpkin has it’s own You tube Channel? YEP, you can click here to see this months video but there is also something else that Stampin’ Up! is starting…..Paper Pumpkin will have its own Blog. This is a great idea as everything will be in one place…there will be alternative ideas on how to use the kits and also many other features that go along with the program.
Did you know with a 3 months subscription, (Which is on sale until the end of Sale-a-bration) Yep, that right….and the BEST THING….when you subscribe to a 3 months subscription you will be able to pick a FREEBIE SALE-A-BRATION item….that deserves a WOOT-WOOT!
You can click the button at the end of the post to subscribe – this is the way I feel about it…there might be a month that comes by that doesn’t make you do a happy dance BUT if that happens, I guarantee you that you will find a very quality kit put together….you will get a stamp set that you will use again and you will get a ink cube (I love them) that you will use over and over!
Every Month when my little red box is in my mailbox, I get excited. You never know what is in there and I adore that element of a surprise. I personally offer a Stamp of the Month Kit that is very popular with customers as they love to have a project “all pulled together for them” and then they get the joy of finding “me time” to create and feel rewarded. This is the same with the Paper Pumpkin Program.
After Stampin’ Up! sends out all of the kits to the subscribers, if there are extras…they offer them to people that subscribe to the kits the opportunity to purchase a refill…and YEP – this months is being offered as a refill and YEP – I have purchased several…..This means that I can make a complete card for under $1.00 a card…..THAT WORKS FOR ME! Below is an example of what comes in a kit.
Contains supplies for 9 cards and envelopes:
The February Kit Includes… (this is the refill)
* 9 printed card bases (3 designs)
* 9 printed envelopes (3 designs) THESE ARE ADORABLE!!!!
* 4 sheets of die-cut stickers
* 1 sheet of gold foil stickers
* 2 sheets of white banners
* 1 sheet of blue banners
* 50 sequins
* 200 adhesive dots
What was in the kit was also a Blackberry Bliss Ink Square and the MOST ADORABLE STAMP SET….you will be seeing this one again in posts….it is just adorable!
Now to my parade of pictures of how I took my kit and made it work for me! You will see in the supplies at the end of the post the products I used to change it up a bit. I was very happy with this months kit….
I think that you can see how you can be a traditionalist and follow the instructions or you can let your own inner creativity flow and make it a bit different like I did. These kits also make fabulous gifts for someone as everything they need is in the box! A true box of fun!
Here is a little carrot to dangle to you…..sign up with me with a 3 month subscription and I will send you a pack of White Bakers Twine (this is a product that we always use and need on hand) Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Have a fabulous day and I hope that you enjoyed my twist on this kit!
p.s.- I had many emails making sure that I am ok where I am….yes, there was terrible weather yesterday but all is fine and they prepared and closed all of the barn areas down to prepare for the storm….I am hopeful as I wake up today that everything is good to go!
