by Susan Itell | Jan 18, 2016 | Uncategorized |
hip
Happy Monday and a BRRRRRRRR it’s cold Monday here in Maryland but then I guess it is January! We have been super lucky with the weather but the weathermen says that it could possibly be snow on Friday as promised, I am showing you another card that is appropriate for Valentines or just a “love” card in general!
I think that this stamp set, Watercolor Wonder is easily in the top 10 “keepers” in the Annual Catalog! It is soooooo versatile……sooooooo on trend……a fun, fun set!
As I shared with you before, I am not a huge believer in purchasing a stamp set (unless it makes your heart pitter patter) for a holiday that is just one day! Before I get a bunch of emails, let me clarify that – Easter is a season…..Christmas is a season…
This stamp set covers it all…so in my eyes – IT’S A KEEPER! Is it also so forgiving – what do I mean about that???? Easy….you can do a stamp “here and there” and it always seems to work out! This is the best – right????
I have blogged before about the other stamp I used….I call it a “sleeper stamp” – WHY…..EASY = most of you flip right past it in the catalog but then when you see it – you say, “Where did that come from” This is what I call a classic…..I ask you, How long has ruled paper been around? – bYou can check it out at the end of the post.
You can see that I matted it with Blushing Bride but you bet that I used the inside of card stock as WHY NOT???? Use up as much as you can! I am a HUGE believer in this and once you get used to it – it becomes second nature to you!
You know me, I love my envelopes and today is a double-whammy! It is a great thing to make your mailman smile…..remember, kindness matters!
I hope that today’s post has shown you that these stamp sets combined create a fun, simple and classic card! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or need help!
Tomorrow is another Valentines Day….and then I promise, I’ll take a break! (well for a couple days) I just know that this is the time for you to pace yourself – I am super proud that I have all of Will’s (my oldest peep that is a teacher) Valentines for his “munchkins” = they are super cute but more importantly – THEY ARE DONE!
Please do not forget that tomorrow is the last day for you to take advantage of the product share as I will be ordering tomorrow and having it expedited so you can have your goodies in a snap! Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jan 17, 2016 | Uncategorized, Valentines |
It’s Sunday and it is time to Step it up a bit from yesterdays post. I am just in love with my little friend and again, I really do not know which card I like better…they are both cute in my eyes! I loved the comments and maybe we need to let Caleb say which one he likes better!
The biggest difference is that I used the watercolor paper and the aqua painter to color him in and also add the slivers of red around the edge! Here he is…..what do you think? Here they are side by side….now it is time for you to decide!
Darn I wish that we all lived closer so you could see both of these in person side by side…the photos just do not give our little friend justice and trust me, he deserves it as he is so darn tootin’ cute! You just have to smile when you see his face!
In hindsight, I think that you could really get by with just using the Thick Whisper White paper to do a quick wash over his body with the sahara sand….Because it is so faint, I think it would work and I know….I know – I should have tried it but I also like the texture and feel of the watercolor paper. (I will try it today and report back tomorrow) as tomorrow is another super simple Valentine idea.
I know that you have heard me say this a million times but a mechanical pencil and a good eraser are your friends when crafting. Being straight without a help of a ruler and/or a stamp-a-ma-jig does not work with me – (brings out the inner pre-schooler in me) – these are simple tips that will make you shine and also once you get used to using these tools, it become second nature to you!
The other tool that is a crafters must have is the silicone mat – (oops, I forgot to share a link below) but this as you can see is “well loved” – I actually have 2 of them as I like to put adhesive on the back of a bunch in I am making several of the same cards! I love the fact that if you were a bit “glue happy” and squeezed it too much, that just letting it sit for a bit – you will be good to go! LOVE MY GREEN GLUE!
There you go….“Mr. Frog” in his Sunday suit! He just makes me happy and I already have an idea on how he will “get dressed” for St. Patricks Day! In yesterday comments Mary Ann (our sheep herder) said he is perfect for a square card and she is right….he is! There are times that when you have a shape like this that it lends itself to a square ….actually – I think that all of the stamps in this set do that…what do you think?
One day I should do a post on all of the stamps and then pull it together as a “gift” for someone – this really is a fun set….whimsical but not too silly!
Now let’s wait to see what Caleb thinks….he is our official “Jr. Stamp Master” and he is dear Eddies biggest fan……speaking of Eddie – he is doing great. THis has been a great week for him and his appetite is great. Yesterday he went down to the barn with me and we played ball and he had so much fun…it is funny – he adores the fireplace, (his command central) but if I say, “Who wants to go to the barn” he is always the 1st one up and eager! That little guy brings me so much joy!
Have a fabulous day…and I hope that I am continuing to show and share with you ideas on how to make Valentines cards without purchasing a stamp set that is so specific for that 1 day! I think that you are going to like tomorrows post….super simple with a smile factor!
Please do not forget to email me if you are interested in a Product Share as Tuesday is the cut off for orders (this is my final share this month) Shares are THE BEST WAY to go to be able to see, feel and play with our products! Enjoy the day, make someone smile and I hope that you will be back tomorrow!
p.s. – I forgot to mention about the hearts – they are from the Beautiful Ride Stamp Set but if you do not have that set I am sure that you have a heart in another set! After I colored it with the red, I took the new Wink Of Stella Brush Pen over it….a perfect accent for the hearts!
Remember, my gift to you this month with any order over $75.00 is a Wink of Stella Pen, this is a fantastic accent – click here to see that post and also the card I will sent to you…..the hostess code for this offer is 3RPTW7MB but you will always see the hostess code in the upper right of my blog!
by Susan Itell | Jan 16, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Darn, I love this little frog! I guess it is the animal lover in me! Dear, sweet little “Mr. Frog” has been on my blog many times and I adore this stamp set….it is whimsical , fun and oh so fun to play up with sooooo many sentiments.
You can “dress him up” with hats, hearts …whatever your little hearts wants to do but the end result = YOU WILL SMILE!
The pictures simply do not do this card justice – it is totally sweet, simple, and a card that if it was in your hand…you would SMILE….really… really big! Darn, I wish that there was a “crown” to put on “Mr. Frog’s” head…that would be the “Cat’s Meow”
I know that it is super hard to see…but the colors I used were the Blushing Bride for the Dots and the Real Red for the hearts! I used the blender pen (a product that I find is super hard to use for me) but I did it….and then I smiled!
The (2) stamp sets that I uses are (in my opinion, MUST HAVES) Below you will see them and then you can let your imagination go….very versatile and next week, I am going to post a TOTALLY DIFFERENT card with these 2 stamp sets that will make you say WOW, and then you will smile, again!
Having a fabulous sentiment set like this one is KEY in making a card complete! This stamp set has been around as long as I have been with SU – (3 years) and WOWZERS – you can see why it is a keeper…..it is a “secret weapon” when you need the “perfect” sentiment!
I love and am super comfortable with clean, classic and simple! I have been working on my monthly card kits and knew that I needed to do a fun and practical 2 day post that was both quick and easy = and yep…I am happy! This little guy makes me happy!
You know that I love square cards…the overall size of the card is a 4″ square and tomorrow when you pop back, you will see how I made some changes to “step it up a bit” and then you can see which style works for you – p.s. – (I love them both)
The teeny tiny mat is 1/8″ larger and to me ~ it does make a difference! A big lift UP also makes a difference . This is a card that comes together in a SNAP and again, you will smile!’
Have a GREAT day and I hope that you will pop back tomorrow…..a simple and a “Stepped up Version
by Susan Itell | Jan 15, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Ok you die~hard stampers that like to get you hands on the new goodies…..it is time for “ROUND 2” and (the final round) for a Product Share from the NEW Occasions Catalog!
You can click here to see the post that I did showcasing all of the offerings!
HANDS DOWN….You LOVE PAPER, and I “get that” as this is the best way to play without breaking the bank!
The top 3 picks in the shares were:
Share #1 – The Paper Swatches – $15.00 – a must have for both the crafter and the demonstrator as you have everything at your finger tips….makes your work area so much tidier!
Share #2 – 1/2 sheets of the NEW 12 x 12 paper and full sheets of the 6″ x6″ paper – $20.00 – this best of ALL worlds as you will get all of the new paper plus a 1/2 sheet of the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper
Share #5 – 1/2 Sheets of all of the DSP Stacks – $28.00 – I offer this with every product share and it is always sooooo popular and again, “I get it” because if you were to purchase all 5 collections of these – it would be $$$$… ($22.00 X 6 = $132.00) – you will get 1/2 sheet of each print in all of the color collections – I ADORE this paper as it is always a super easy “GO TO” for matching up….
The cut off to order for the final round of Product Share is Tuesday, January 19th at noon Eastern. I will be ordering and having it expedited so I can turn it around to you and out the door by Friday, the 22nd.
I do take great pride in my shares and I know that you will enjoy the goodies. Please email me and put in the Subject line PRODUCT SHARE so I can spot it! I am thrilled that so many of you are enjoying the new catalog!
To me it is one that you need to go through…..put it down and then go back – you always find new goodies and inspiration! I hope to see you tomorrow for Simple Saturday…..it is soooooo simple yet……soooooo cute!
by Susan Itell | Jan 15, 2016 | Uncategorized, Watercoloring |
I WISH THAT YOU COULD SEE MY FACE….I am frowning as I put a lot of work into the editing of this video and I erased all of the editing……I am soooo bummed as I worked hard but as you will read below – I am NOT getting a Golden Globe for this one – One thing I will promise is NEXT WEEK – you will see a HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!!!! I am determined to do this video thing!
Here is the link for you to watch….. “judgment FREE zone” xoxox to all!
I typed all of the below yesterday as I was waiting and waiting for my video to load to have me be CLICK HAPPY and erase all of my edits!!!! Please come to my pitty party!
Well….I did it – a video for you! I have done videos in the past for my Stamp of the Month Card Kits (but they had a private link as they are really, really primitive) and you have seen me do some product share ones but it is my goal to hit the video trail this year as I have soooooo much to “show and tell” you – I always loved that time in Kindergarten. (Did you SHOW or TELL?) (I can’t wait to read Chris R.’s answer – I know it will be a hoot)
I hope that you like the video and also find it helpful! I think that it is a super fun card and I apologize in advance as I totally realize that I am not going to Golden Globe Award on my video but you have to start somewhere…right? I am determined to share with you my love and details in paper crafting with videos this year.
With water-coloring the BEST TIP I can give you is practice, practice and then practice some more! PLEASE do not throw away anything that you did….I know exactly how I felt when I started with those darn aqua painters and now they are my “blue friends” (I have names for my SU tools). I know that mine are a far cry from an over the top creation but guess what?
I LIKE THEM and when I look at cards I do with watercolor, I AM PROUD OF THEM and then guess what????
I SMILE…..(really, really big) – that’s what it is all about….right?????
Here is the scoop on the card for you to CASE away….and I hope that you do as this is a super cute stamp set! It is new in the Occasions catalog and it is called appropriately, Beautiful Ride….
- The Base is a good old A-2 Card base 5 1/2″ X 4 1/4″ in THICK Whisper White (once you start with this – YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK!)
- The “ultimate” size of the Water Color Paper is 5″ X 3 3/4″
- The Sahara Sand is 5 1/4″ X 4″
- The colors of ink I used were, Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Basic Gray
I think the rest of the scoop is explained in the video, as always – please feel free to email me if you have any specific questions or just want to say HI! In the below you will see all of the products that I used. I know when you see this HUGE lump – you say – I do not want to get all of this….I HEAR YOU…I HEAR YOU…..
I mentioned in the video a couple of products that I ADORE….and I highly recommend them as they work GREAT for what we do – I am ALL ABOUT EASE and when I find something that works for me…of course, I need to share it with YOU!
Micropore Tape – In this packaging you get 12 rolls – you can see that it is super inexpensive….go in with a friend – you will love it!
White Fun Foam – As I said in the video I am sure you can find it cheaper but I just love the convenience of Amazon…I usually get things next day! I totally encourage you to try this…I LOVE the feel of the card….you will as well!
As my wonderful son said, “Start small…think BIG” – I just love that saying and trust me, you can switch things up with what you have and I know that it will be an amazing work of art….because it is from your heart!!!!! (Honestly, this is why I became a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator) – to get all of the stuff I wanted and “just had to have” and then I was GONE……well I am still here and I am amazed…..
In a MILLION YEARS I would not of imagined blogging and in a BILLION YEARS I would not have imagined doing a video….but heck – here I m and I hope you enjoy! Please subscribe to my You Tube Channel so you will not miss any “Golden Tarnished Awards” from me!
Stampin’ hugs……here is to the weekend…guess what? Life is a Beautiful Ride!
