by Susan Itell | Sep 5, 2014 | Birthday, Photopolymer Stamps |
Guilty as CHARGED! I must confess that when Stampin' Up! 1st came out with the Photopolymer Stamps…I was like a 3 year old having my Mom telling me to eat my vegetables! I was not a fan of them…but my opinion has changed!
I LOVE THEM!
Why….??? They are sooo darn tooting easy to use! Not only can you see through them when you stamp…they are super easy to clean…they stick like glue to you mounting blocks…and the best thing is that the image is "pin perfect"
This stamp set is from the NEW set called Yee-haw!!! (you just can't help but love the name)…and there are so many options that you can use this stamp set for…..a child….an adult….something just plain fun and whimsical!
As you know I love to be square…and today is no different, The card is a 4 1/2" square and the colors of the card is Soft Suede and the Ivory Naturals….now let me ask you – when was the last time you used Ivory Natural Paper….and next – do you even know about this paper!?!?
I love this paper as it has "flecks" throughout it to give it a warm and soft feel. This looks great with many neutral and warm color paper! I used the same color on the "horse shoes" to do a tone on tone effect! It also comes in Naturals White and that too is a keeper! Both of these papers also make incredible envelopes!
I used Crumb Cake to stamp the lasso and then "fussy cut" it out which really was super easy with the paper snips! I pieced the middle with the tip and then ZOOM….a quick snip all the way around!
I punched a hole in the upper right corner and then cut a narrow strip of the 1 1/4" burlap ribbon…and a quick and easy wow…the perfect touch! The stampin dimensionals were the perfect finishing touch! (love those stampin' vitamins)
CONFESSION: I was actually dreading fussy cutting this out but it really was a cinch and the effect of having the lasso over top of the ivory naturals paper is WORTH IT – love the look and using the green glue made it easy as well!
Because of the square envelope, the envelope punch board was in order and the liner was a a cinch – mimicking what I did on the card – I carried the theme to the back flap… but then the front….well, I just could not resist!
I do hope that you take the extra time to give your envelopes some extra love! Think about it this way…it is the very first thing that the recipient sees…it gives you an "instant excitement" as to what is next!
This card is for Hannah's trainers Birthday! He will love it but he will love what I post about more tomorrow as it will be "Part #2" of this post! Please pop back and you will see why!
Please feel free to shoot me an email or leave me a comment!
Enjoy your day and get ready for someting super fun that I know many of you will love on Sunday! A new "offering" I am doing that will make it SUPER EASY to have a great stack of cards…that YOU do !!!!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Sep 4, 2014 | PPA Challenges |
Good Thursday Morning! It is Thursday and that means another PPA Challenge and this weeks challenge is a color challenge using the below colors!
I wanted to "think out of the box" and try not to use the NEW Holiday Catalog and here is what I came up with! I saw this technique a long time ago when I to a card making class and never had tried it! I was super happy with the end result….what do you think? Please feel free to leave me a comment if you wish!
The Blackberry Bliss seems to photograph so dark but in real life these colors are great together! Think about the card…it would be perfect for a birthday, a graduation, a promotion….a simple woot-woot to make someone day!
You can see that the main components that are this "STAR" card (ha-ha) is the Star Framelits and the simple stitching using the white gel pen..you know I love to do that and it makes just the perfect touch!
1st, lets talk about the sentiment! I stamped is from the Fabulous Four Stamp Set and to me…it is ONE FABULOUS STAMP SET! Just love all 4 of the sentiments and the other great thing is that these sentiments fit perfect on scraps you have….I just love using up my scraps!
After I stamped the sentiment I took the paper snips to make it into a banner and then measured the width…it really does not matter how wide you make it, you just want to make sure that you measure it so you know how to do the next step!
I found the center of the crumb cake and made a pencil mark an then did equal to the left & right. Out comes the paper piercing tool and I poked holes above below where the sentiment banner goes!
I simply threaded the Crushed Curry Bakers Twine through the holes and then doubled up a small piece and tie a bow on the middle one! Easy and super cute!
The finale of today's post is the lining of the envelope! East-peasy with the help of the Envelope Liner Framelit…."Heavens to Betsy"….I couldn't share a card to upi without a pretty envelope!!!
Thanks for popping in and I hope that you go to the Pals Paper Art Website and see the inspiratation that is here this week and then I hope that YOU play with these colors and submit your take on the challenge!
Many thanks for all of the kind words for Ted, I am still here but heading back home today. He is a trooper and has such an amazing network of friends. People have been coming in shifts to help stay with him at the hospital!
Enjoy the day and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Sep 3, 2014 | Tips and Tricks!!! |
Good Morning! Today is a different post for me as I am out of town and did not plan on being away.
If you follow my blog, I have blogged about my friend Ted that has been very ill. Well sadly, he has taken a turn for the worse and being that it was his son Birthday on Monday, (Brandon –remember I did a card for him)I drove down to Ted's hometown to be with the family and I needed to stay for another day to help the family! It truIy meant a lot to Brandon that I came down.
Have no fear – this is what I love about being a part of Stampin' Up! – I can blog from wherever I am and the best thing I am able to watch videos and share them with you with some comments….so I hope that you find something useful from today's post!
I want to touch on some of the great resources that Stampin' Up! has that I truly find useful…Please go to You Tube and subscribe to Stampin' Ups! You Tube Channel….there is a wealth of information there and I am going to highlight some of the products that I simply think are going to be a huge hit! Let's go!
Please click here and watch this video. I find that watching these videos are a HUGE help before I tackle trying to figure it out myself…(that type A person in me sometimes does not have the patience!)
- The sky is the limit of the sizes you can make…the color you choose and the new Under the Tree Speciality Paper works GREAT with this as it is a "heavier" weight of paper…plus it is super cute!
Next…a product that has been and will continue to be SUPER popular – the Wonderous Wreath Bundle! This is a fantastic bundle and I am sure that you have seen many samples with it! Please click here to see a post I did several days ago!
Please click here to watch another great Video on this product! Here are some of the things that I love about it!
- You are not limited to just the holiday season, you can make it a fall wreath a beautiful Spring Wreath is pink, yellows and greens etc…
- These framlits of joy and noel as fabulous…keep things super simple…let the word be your focal point!
Lastly for today I wanted to point out something on my shopping website that I have not played around with as I never noticed it before and WOW – I like it….it is a section called "Shop By Solution" Click here to see it! Why do I like it?
- I like the way it breaks down products to specific themes
- Remember to also use the search space to look up specific stamp sets etc…just type in the key words!
Another tip…if you have a specific stamp set you want to use and you are just having a mental road block…simply google that specific stamp name and PRESTO – ideas galore and then there is Pinterest….oh my we all love pinterest!
Thanks for popping in and I hope that you check out the videos and enjoyed the tips I shared with you! I am hoping to be back home tomorrow but no worries – tomorrow is PPA Challenge and I already had that post completed!
Please keep Ted in your thoughts…he has fought a courageous battle…
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Sep 2, 2014 | Fall Cards |
Here’s another Fall card for you to get in the mood…cause’ Fall is right around the corner! It sure doesn’t feel like Fall as it is super hot in Maryland and it is making me miss the beautiful weather we had in Cape Cod!
Yippee-Skippee is a great stamp set that fits so many cards that you can make. This is a sentiment that makes me smile…”You can never have too much happy” and how true – how true!
At this time of the year I like to use Very Vanilla as it is a bit “softer” and I feel like it lends itself to Fall and the colors.
The Honey Comb Embossing layer started to set the tone of the card. The Film Framelits held the sentiment and I suggesting the “green glue” to place the behind the frame! (gives you the wiggle room to get your sentiment straight)
I know that I have been using the Fall Fest a bunch but as I have posted before…I adore the fact that this bundle has these leaves…I have been using fall colors in scraps to “stock pile” a bunch of leaves! The colors I used today are Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Meadow Moss
I really did not have a plan for this card I just let the leaves do their own thing…after all – that is what fall is about leave blowing here and there! Just love it!
Before I popped up the sentiment I did put some adhesive with the snail on the back and then loosely took the linen thread to create some loops. (Don’t stress about how to do the linen thread – just do it and it will work…)
I am lovin’ all of the new DSP and this envelope liner is from the Color Me Autumn and this works perfectly. Once again, the Big Shot and the Envelope Liner Framelit to the resque!
It’s weird that we are already on Tuesday…having the holiday throws me off! Click here to see Stampin Ups! Weekly deals…remember, these are just for one week!
Please feel free to leave me a comment or email me if I can be of help. Oops…I almost forgot….drumroll…drumroll…
The winner for the (2) DSP Packs and the handmade cards from me is…
Sharon Haster with her 2nd order…WOOT-WOOT….please send me an email and let me know which DSPs you want! (on a side note…Sharon is AMAZING and does incredible work – she participates each and evey week with the Monday challenges)
I thank each and everyone that placed an order with me. I love the feedback that I have received about the new catalog and it is a keeper and I love the simplicity…
Enjoy the day! Until Tomorrow…..
by Susan Itell | Sep 1, 2014 | Birthday, Make it MINE Monday, Watercoloring |
Today is a special day for many reasons…it is my dear friend and godfather to our children; Brandons 51st Birthday…today makes a year to the date that John had his accident and he is amazing – doing all of the things he did before….and it is a Make it Mine Monday, a day for YOU to have fun playing with a sketch!
Please feel free to send me "your take" on todays sketch. I love to see them and I am just amazed at how amazing you all do…this is a fun, rather straight forward sketch!
I can remember that when this stamp set came out…I burst out laughing and I still love it today! I know that you all are seeing lots and lots of new goodies from the Holiday Catalog, I thought that I would throw in goodies from the Annual Catalog! This stamp set is called Giggle Greetings!
Today's post I am using the water-coloring technique using the Aqua Painters but today I filled them with alcohol…a tip that I learned from fellow PAL Ann Schach when reading her blog…she is one talented lady! The reason I did this is that alcohol dries much faster and the paper was very, very flat! I also liked the coverage!
I realize that some of you are a bit skeptical of using the aqua painters…but I say – try it…it is a very rewarding technique and the end result is always a smile on your face!
As far as tips go…I say start with just the "right amount" of "liquid" on the tip and squish together your ink pad to get a smear of ink on the top part to work with. If you start "lighter", you can always go back to darken it up! Make sure that you have a paper towel handy to dab and also clean the brush to use a new color!
I let the DSP of Flash Back dictate the color scheme of today's card! I often do this…let my paper be my guide! The Neutral Candy Dots were the perfect embellishment to follow the sketch!
"Stitching" the Smoky Slate piece I felt did the trick to break up the card and added dimensions. Please do not stress about doing this – just do it…no matter if you do not like it….trust me – the recipient will appreciate your work, time and true love in your card-making!
Thank you for popping in and this is such a special day to me…we all have so much to be thankful for and trust me, I try to tackle life without taking things for granted. John's recovery is amazing and it is hard to believe that it has been a year!
Please email me if you have any questions about today's card and I hope that this made you smile!
Until tomorrow!
p.s. – Guess what Brandon is getting for his Birthday…yep! A nice piece of GREAT cheese and a GREAT bottle of wine….!!!!
