by Susan Itell | Aug 11, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday, Super Easy |
Monday…Monday….and we know what that means – WOOT-WOOT, make it mine Monday and this sketch can be interpreted sooo many different ways and I have been “itching” to use this stamp so I think it works just perfectly!
When I saw this stamp in the catalog I instantly did 2 things….burst out laughing and then I knew I needed it as I have some GREAT friends to send it to! There are many ways to color this stamp but I like it best done like this – a solid to make it POP!
I am sure that you have someone that you know would adore getting a card with this great sentiment. This so sold as a single stamp and it is called appropriately , “Friends that Know”
Let’s get to this and I hope that you can see that the simplicity of this card is there but the very simple touch of using an embossing folder added not only great texture, it brought the card from a good card to a step up to enter the WOW arena!
I know that it is hard to see in the pictures but it does have a stunning effect!
I try to listen to my friends and as I have posted before about Jeanie…she swears that the inexpensive product of an embossing folder is worth its weight in gold! Today I used the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder!
TIP ALERT: You can see that this is a vertical card…simply open the card up and just run the front part through the Big Shot…this way there is no layering.
If you read my blogs regularly you know that I have a pet peeve about ribbon showing on the under side of a card when you open it up and therefore I always use a mat of paper so it is concealed etc….but when it comes to the Embossing Folders like this today…, I actually love the look of the backside of this folder!
Hannah helped me pick out this color palette and I think our “real red” is such a great red – I love it as it is a “true” red – no orange in it. The Designer Series Paper is from the Back to Black collection and it can’t get any simpler than this…a quick snip of the scissors is all that was needed!
To stamp the image I used my new go to Black, the Memento Tuxedo, I love this ink because you can simply use the regular cleaner to clean it…just one step….and that saves time.
Because this stamp has a framelit that will give you a perfect cut, the Labels Collection Framelits and the help of the Big Shot – DONE in a jif! Remember to click here to see the great offerings when you purchase a Big Shot this month! This is a must-have for doing projects that we all love to do!
Keeping to the theme this week – I did another double whammy with the envelope – I embossed the back flap like I did the front of this card and then lined the inside with the envelope liner framelit – easy…peasy!
Please give it a try…I know that you are going to come up with some GREAT Ideas and please email me to share! I am always soooo proud of you!
I am back home…getting into the swing of things…I have some great posts for you and on Wednesday, will be the PALS monthly hop…..I love the HOPS – inspiration to the MAX!
Thank you for your support and popping in, thanks for sharing my blog and inspirations with friends and family! Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Aug 10, 2014 | Birthday, Super Easy |
Before we get to today’s card…many thanks for the special and heartfelt comments and emails you send about our dear Murphy. John came down to be with us yesterday and it was great for him to see Hannah ride and be together! Each day will get better and for those of you that I have been through this…time truly heals the wounds but the great memories are always present.
I have been having so many birthdays lately and I need a masculine card and I think I like it!! After I started to play around, things just came together and then when I stood back and looked at it – I was one happy stamper!
Let’s get going! There are 2 elements that I do not use often and when I do I say to myself “Why do I not use them more?” They are the Stamp Set Gorgeous Grunge and Washi Tape!
- The base of this are is a regular A-2 card but I have the fold to the left. The color of the base is Sahara Sand. (I have to admit – this was one of my least favorite colors years ago…but please try to use it – it is a wonderful neutral for so many color options.)
- The Very Vanilla is 4” X 5 ¼” and using the Memento Tuxedo Ink I gave it a quick stamp with the fun stamp splatter from the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set (another confession…when this stamp set came out last year I thought it was the worst new stamp set in the catalog…WOW, was I wrong. It truly is very versatile and I find it to be a life saver for quick fillers!!!
- I scored it with the Simply Scored at ¾” and then just one more larger (7/8”)…then placed my washi tape and then did a similar score on the other side…so easy – yet so effective! True you can use the Stampin’ Trimmer but I think using this tool gives you a much deeper and effective embossed score line.
- The sentiment is from the Four You Stamp Set and this is one that should be on your shelf of goodies! Please click here and order it if you do not have it as it always is a lifesaver especially in making clean and simple cards!
- Trying to keep the masculine feel I used the hexagon punch and paired it up with the Flash Back Designer Series Paper. I adore this paper as it coordinates with Very Vanilla, many times our DSP go with the white and this is why I find this to be a refreshing paper choice!
- Just using one hexagon POPPED up I think did the trick and the trio of stars was the finale that was needed! This is another MUST HAVE…the itty bitty accents punch pack deliver a BIG punch – another great filler!
- I think just about every card I have done this week has had a double whammy envelope! I line the outer flap and then I carried the theme of the card to the front to make the mailman smile and again, I find that if I use the “green glue” the stars will stay put for mailing – just ask the postmaster to “hand stamp it” so it will not go through the machine!
Trust me, when they see me come into the Post Office, they know that I will stand in line to have my cards hand stamped!
That’s it folks! Can’t you just imagine the variety of colors that you can use to make this card different! If you wanted a feminine feel…use the flower punch and a fun and bright washi tape! JUST HAVE FUN!
FUN is what Hannah and I have been having. It will be sad to go home but I would not have traded this week with being with her for anything!
Life throws things to us for a reason….I truly believe this… she is getting ready to go abroad for her junior year in college next Saturday and will not be home until December!
As a family we talked about Murphy and knowing that his time would be limited, we asked her if what her wishes were…I do believe that animals know who is the stronger link and it is definitely John not me…aa hard as it is – we will be ok – as we will live on such precious memories!
I hope that you have enjoyed this masculine card and will keep it in your “memory bank” – it’s a keeper layout!
Thanks for popping in today and you know what tomorrow is…Make it Mine Monday!!! Woot-Woot – it is a super easy yet fun sketch that I know you will create some GREAT projects!
Until tomorrow…whew…I am sooo glad that I was prepared thru Wednesday for you! Hannah gave me some GREAT tips last week getting prepared for this week!
by Susan Itell | Aug 9, 2014 | Super Easy |
Today I told you that I have something very simple for you today for this “Simple Saturday” – and WOW…this sure is simple! While I have been at the Horse Show with Hannah I have had lots of time to go ahead and pre-type my posts. I am so glad that I did and read on and you will see…
Do you ever believe that some things happen for a reason? I had this card scheduled to be posted for today but I did not expect to be typing this paragraph. I am going to keep this super short, as I get emotional. Murphy went to heaven yesterday. Below you will see a picture of him about 3 weeks ago…what a handsome boy! He gave our family 13+ years of love and lessons…he was doing so well these past couple of days but John said he could see in his eyes that it was time.
I do not know about you…but I know that animals are so darn smart and they know who is the weaker link…as much as it pains my heart that I was not home, I do believe there is a reason.
On to the card…Just look how different this card is from yesterday’s card, click here to see yesterday’s but isn’t it funny how using the same stamp set and using totally different colors can change the whole feel!
You really do not need me for this one but I know that you like it when I give you the dimensions! The base is my go-to Whisper White card and then the layer is ½” smaller = 3” X 4 ½””
I used the Color Coach for advice today. I do use this often and I think it is a must have tool to help you go out of the box in putting colors together. I am always surprised at what it comes up with and I always smile with the end result.
The colors I used today were Sahara Sand, Strawberry Slush and Raspberry Ripple. A quick stamp with the colors shown did the trick and then I took the super fun sentiment from the “Just Saying” Stamp Set. This stamp set has matching framelits so it is a cinch to pull together!
Adding Stampin Dimensionals to both the sentiment and also the base makes this a super easy and clean, crisp and just “down right fun” card to make! I think that I am going to use this one at the end of the month for my stack and stamp – this kind of card can come in handy for so many!
Because it was so easy I thought that the envelope needed a doubly whammy! You can see that I carried the same theme to the front of the envelope!
TIP ALERT! You can see that I put the sentiment on the front! I get many people emailing about when I do this if it says on in the mail! YES it does for me! I always use Mono Glue (I call it the Green Glue) and I always make sure that it nice and flat. I also ask the postmaster to “hand stamp” my cards as it is one less machine for the, to go through!
The 2nd part to the envelope was using the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack to line the outside flap of the envelope. THAT’S it!
Now…am I right!?!? Wasn’t this simple? Wasn’t this doable?
Mix up your colors and HAVE FUN! This stamp set, Work of Art is just that…a total work of Art! I encourage you to google this stamp set and I think that you will find such a variety of ideas that you will agree that it is a must have on your shelf!
Thanks for popping in, please feel free to email me and I do hope that you pop back tomorrow as I have another super easy Masculine Birthday Card!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Aug 8, 2014 | Super Easy, Thank You |
Yesterday I ended my post with today’s card was going to be a super simple yet Fabulous Friday card for you! When I was working on it before I left to go out of town…. Hannah’s comment was…. WOW – aren’t you the artsy one!!!
This not only was super easy…it was super fun and wow – -just think of all of the different colors you could use with this! I was inspired by another SUD, Brenda Keenan, and I was so intrigued that I just had to give it my spin!
Please try this and play with the colors! I would love to see your take on it and if you can email me your card – I would love to see it! Now there is one thing about this card…you need the Work of Art Stamp Set, so if you do not already have that, please click here and order it! It is a great stamp to have as you can do so many things with it.
The overall size of the card is a 4 ½” square and then the Baked Brown Sugar is a 4 ¼” square. The colors used for this card are Old Olive, Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar and Crushed Curry.
Let’s get going…you can click here and watch a video that Brenda Keenan did but I have some pictures for you that I think you will find it super easy to re-create! The size of the White Stamped piece is a 4” square!
- Start by stamping the sentiment and the dot (center of the flower) in Soft Suede.
- Using the Crushed Curry…ink up – STAMP OFF ON A SCRAP OF PAPER and then start making your flower petals. Do this “Stamp off” all the way for this card – I like the soft effect!
- After you are finished with the Crushed Curry go to the Baked Brown Sugar – STAMP OFF – this REALLY softens up the total look and feel!
- Lastly…the Old Olive for the leaves but turn your stamp around to stamp the image in the opposite direction! Again, STAMP OFF or it will be too dark!
Is this super fun or what! I feel like Picasso and I actually liked what I did! I think that I am going to do this card for my Stamp Camp later this month and I also think that this would be a super Breast Cancer Card. You could easily adapt it to a regular A-2 card size!
Well….whatcha think? It is very different for my style but I have to say – it felt great to be a bit out of the box! Help me think of other combinations for the flower…any suggestions would be great!
The envelope came to life with reading the handy dandy chart on the envelope punch board! Love that piece of plastic! I was oober happy with the liner today…it is from the Lullaby Designer Series Paper. I think that the color of Baked Brown Sugar is so yummy! It truly goes with everything….
I did it again! I just had to do the front of the envelope as it was so fun to do! I really….really felt "artist" with this whole card – it was down right FUN!
Tomorrow is Simple Saturday and it is as simple as it can get! It also uses this stamp set …I just had to get it inked up again before I put it away.
Remember that you can click on the icons below and that will take you right to my store and your goodies will be delivered right to your home! Doesn’t get any easier than that!
Here’s to a GREAT weekend….I sure am having fun! Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Aug 7, 2014 | Embossing Folders |
Woot-woot…it a day of inspiration from a whole bunch of talented team designers plus YOU! Many of you are having fun with the Monday challenges so what about giving this a try! Please click here to see the Pals Paper Art Website and take in all of the great entries!
Today is a color challenge…and I just love a good color challenge! I do hope that you will play along! Here is the palette of colors we are to be working with!
I have a confession, the stamp set I used here called Too Kind and it sat on my shelf for a while as I was intimidated to do a “double stamping” – does that sound familiar to any of you? Well once I put my “big girl pants on” and took the plunge I loved it and not I am “game on” with stamp sets that you need to “double stamp”!
The key is to use the LARGER stamp with the LIGHTER color and then go over with the SMALLER stamp using the DARKER color! Easy…right!?!?Now there is one other key factor and that is the Stamp-a-Ma Jig – I know I can see many of you sighing but its ok! I snuck the Wild Wasabi for the stem!
The size of this Very Vanilla is 2 3/4" X 4" and after I did the stamping of the flower, I “squeezed” in the sentiment…once again – thank you to the stamp-a-ma-jig. I felt I needed a bit of balance to the right side so a quick and effective touch is a trio of Subtles Candy Dots in Pool Party.
As you can see that I could not resist on taking this image to the front of the envelope – why not because you already have your stamps all “inky” and you also have the stamp-a-ma-jig out….right!?!?
Adding the liner to the inside was the double whammy to this special card and once again – I went to old faithful…the Subtles Designers Series Paper Stack. I rarely use this print but I really liked it.
Now lets talk about the fun embossed part! The folder is the Zig Zag and I simply used a piece of scraps (the size is 2 1/4" X 5") and then matted it with Wild Wasabi just a smidge larger! Doesn’t this texture just add a great and clean touch!
That’s it…I can see this card to be appropriate for a Birthday, Sympathy even a card with no sentiment at all – it is just a classic and I invite you to keep this card layout in your “thinking cap”….as it’s a keeper – a secret weapon when you just can’t think! All you need to do is change up the colors and stamp set and presto …a new card!
Now wouldn't you love to see this envelope in your mailbox! I say go for it as it really does not take much more time and your stamps are already out! I decided to stamp this on the left side to make a bit different.
Thanks for popping in today and I do hope that you will give this color combination a try and then go to the Pals Paper Arts site and play! I think that it is super fun to see everyone’s different interpretations of using the same colors!
Until tomorrow – have a wonderful day!
