by Susan Itell | Jul 27, 2014 | Blog Candy |
The word for today is “Happy”…as I am so happy to have read all of the great comments from yesterday…joy might be a “short” word in length but WOW – it is one beautiful word that speaks great volumes!
Above in the picture you will see MORE goodies for you to win! So…..one person will win both the 12 cards from yesterday and also the above from today…WOOT-WOOT – please leave me a comment!
Share with me some “happy moments” that bring a big smile to your face…
Back to Webster…here is the definition for happy.
happy
ˈhapē/
adjective
adjective: happy; comparative adjective: happier; superlative adjective: happiest; suffix: -happy
1.
feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
Here are some of my "happy" moments that come to my mind….
- Watching old “I Love Lucy” and Johnny Carson shows!
- Having my jammies on and stampin’
- Waking up at 4:30 a.m. when we are at a horse show and having the excitement of a fun day ahead (I know that seems crazy but it is a happy thing for me)
- Another horse thing…giving them a good bath and hand grazing them after they have worked so hard!
- Getting all of the laundry done and PUT AWAY (I am famous for not getting it back to the drawers and then I am constantly looking for things)
- Seeing daffodils pop up in the Spring and crisp Fall nights that you can wear sweater.
- Making Thanksgiving Dinner…watching the Dog Show…and Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation (traditions we do on Turkey Day)
- Watching the dogs play and get excited when I come home and going to the barn and have the horses whinny to me when they see me!
- Seeing John’s smile as he comes in the kitchen door with the “fruits” from his garden. (This is the 1st year he has had a garden and he is so proud of it)
- Picking up the phone and hearing on the other end…a “peep” saying “Hi Mom!”
- Going on a long walk on Christmas morning while everyone else is asleep and reflecting on the "season"
I could go and on but I think you’ve got it…pretty much simple pleasures make me happy – what about you? Please leave me a comment and you can have a chance to win the blog candy from yesterday plus the new goodies I added today!
I will use random.org to pick the winner and announce it on Monday! Good luck and I encourage you to take a moment and read the comments from yesterday and today! I can promise that it will make you happy!
So…how about it….take a moment and share with everyone makes you happy.
Remember on Friday I shared that I was going to meet Bridget…well here is a picture of the 2 of us! Now this is a GREAT example of "simple hapiness" – Who would have ever thought that our paths would cross – this is what I LOVE about Stampin' Up and blogging….getting to meet Bridget was so special!
Tomorrow is Make it Mine Monday and get ready to challenge yourself with a fun sketch!
Thank YOU for bringing me JOY and making me HAPPY!
Have a fabulous day and until tomorrow!
p.s. – Yesterday when Hannah and I were driving home (L O N G drive) as there were several accidents but thankfully they were "fender benders" …..I was trying to read your comments on my I Phone and reading them to Hannah….I think I deleted one….and it was sooooooo special…
I can remember it said something to the effect of still loving to hold hands with her husband after 37 years? – If that is YOU……please re-post a comment to yesterdays post…it was beautiful and I want you to have a chance to win!
by Susan Itell | Jul 26, 2014 | Blog Candy |
Happy Saturday to all! I made it to Charlotte (finally after being delayed 3 times) but I guess it was important to have a flight crew! Talk about a fast…ZOOM trip – while you are reading this…Hannah and I are probably driving home!
Nothing like helping your daughter load up her dorm room and keep her company for a 6-hour drive…(I adore the time together catching up!!!) She is a great young lady and had a wonderful experience with her internship this summer.
I was able to meet Bridget from North Carolina/France and WOW…what a treat! (Talk about 2 women talking and talking)– it was wonderful! We met and talked for 2 ½ hours and I adored every minute of it…it was a “joy” for me to meet her as it is great to have a “cyber friend” and then be able to meet in person. I cannot wait until the next time…as I know that there WILL be a next time – what a treat!
Now to the post…as I said yesterday, today and tomorrow are going to be a different type of Posts and YOU can have the opportunity to win blog candy!!! WOOT-WOOT!!!
The candy is 12 handmade cards and beautiful envelopes made from my “2 little paws”
The way you can win is super simple! I do not know about you but there are times that I find it so hard to turn on the news as it is most of the time it is….”not happy” – I like to “be happy and positive” so let’s just all be happy and share with each other what brings us joy!
Leave me a comment and let me know what brings you “joy”! I think this past week has been such a busy and exciting one for me in many ways…here are a couple of things that have happened that make me reflect what happiness and joy is to me!
From the good old dictionary:
joy
joi/
noun
noun: joy
- a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Here are a couple of quick thoughts that popped into my head….(naturally my dear family and health are always a top of the list but here are some other examples af what make me fulfilled)
- I had a downline send me the sweetest card and the message was beautiful. She knew that I have been super busy with work and the card truly brighten my day and it felt wonderful that she cared. Then several days later she sent me this video (46 seconds of pure joy!) – CLICK HERE and be ready for your heart to fill with joy. This is especially special to me as my love for my dogs and horses! I cannot tell you how many times I have watched this…an instant “pick me up” (thank you Nancy)
- I love to see the smile that I bring to many members at work when I sit and talk with them and just simply ask them “how they are and their family” (There are many elderly people that come to my work and often they are waiting to be picked up by a caretaker etc…and it fills my heart to take a minute and ask them – "How was your day” I will say…I need to be ready as I hear the whole family tree but I know it made them happy!
- Believe it or not…my blog brings me a tremendous amount of joy…why? Well first, I have always considered myself computer challenged and when I set a goal out to try this (it was a BIG one for me) but I have been determined and dedicated to do this. It brings me “joy’ to touch many and to know that I am inspiring you to go out of your comfort at time and try!
- This is a different one…picking strawberries and blueberries brings me so much joy! I know that this is a weird one but there is something so special to go to a farm and appreciate all of the hard work that farmers do and to be able to be in nature and pick the berries. John and I picked 28 quarts of blueberries this year and it brings be great joy to "give away" to others and see their eyes light up to have fresh berries!
Ok – ENOUGH….I could go on and on….so how about it – let's all bring JOY to each other and leave me a message below on something that brings you joy! I know that when you read others "simple pleasures of joy"…you are going to have a great day!
You can leave me a message today and you can also leave one tomorrow so this way you will have DOUBLE the chance of winning! I will use Random.com and announce the winner on Monday Morning!
Pop back tomorrow….as tomorrow will be day #2 of positiveness and I am going to throw in some more goodies to the Blog Candy of happiness! Remember, you can leave me a message today and then pop back tomorrow for more fun!
In closing…this is one statement that I have always said to my kids…and I know if they are reading today's blog…they are saying "OK Mom…I know – you have said it over and over" but it is just in my heart!
"If there is no joy in the journey – than there is no joy at the journeys end"
Thank you for being YOU and sharing a portion of your day with me! I adore your comments and I do read each of them…that in itself is a joy!
Until tomorrow….(go make someone smile today)….
by Susan Itell | Jul 25, 2014 | Uncategorized |
I am OOBER glad that today is Friday! As you read this I am probably on a plane going to see PEEP Hannah and I am so ready and happy for seeing Hannah….BUT – the super fun thing also about my quick 24 hour trip is that I get to meet a Blog follower, Bridget!
Bridget is from North Carolina but has been living in France and she often comments on my blog. When we figured out that she lives near Hannah we worked to see it we could meet when she came back to the states! Tomorrow is the day and I am OOBER excited! This is what I LOVE about Stampin up! – meeting someone in person….wow!
Isn't this a fun card! I just adore the Flowerpot DSP and remember – this is one that it on the buy 3 get 1 free paper! Click here to see the offerings! These are all good to the end of the month !
I know that many of you are afraid of using DSP as the focal part to your card but to me…this works and it is fun, clean and simple! You know that I love square cards and this work perfectly!
Remember…you can scroll down and see all of the products that I used to make this clean card and you can click on the product and add it to your shopping card in a quick click!
There are several things that i love about this card…the white space with the sentiment (the sentiment is GREAT in itself) and polka dots make me smile! I felt that the touch of the banner worked and the "stitching" was the perfect simple touch!
It is super unusual that I use 3 different DSP's on the same card and it worked! Using the simple colors in a subtle way just works! So…the moral of the story is – try it…you might like it!
Please pop back tomorrow as I will be giving you the opportunity to win blog candy….12 handmade cards from me! My posts over the weekend will be different but I hope that you enjoy them and be inspired by them!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jul 24, 2014 | Photopolymer Stamps, Super Easy |
I have a true confession – when I was making this card for you today I started to make it WAY TOO COMPLICATED and I was getting a bit stressed and then I looked at it and said – enough….do what you do best – less is best!
This card is going to a special person to all of the PALS and especially to Mary….her wonderful neice Kris Kilcoyne. I shared with you yesterday a picture of the 2 of them and it is sooooo darn cute and special I just need to share it again!
True, Kris is Mary's neice (and that is super fun in itself)…but Kris is so much more to Mary and the whole PAL team…she is Mary's assistant and is nothing short of amazing!
I think it is the "coolest" thing that these 2 incredible ladies live across the country from each other but with the power of technology and sheer "synergy"….together they make it work for all of our benefits! I am sure that Kris was beaming seeing "Aunt Mary" at convention!
I think I summed it up with this Clean and SImple Card….WOW…WOW…WOW!!!! I am lovin' these photopolymer stamps and I must admit, it was nice not having to use the stamp-a-ma-jig (but I DO adore it)
As I said in the beginning, I was being super fussy about adding stars….flowers…..arrows…..yada-yada and then I just stood back and said DONE…these words speak LOUD and GREAT with nothing!
Lesson to be learned…when in doubt – LEAVE IT OUT! Less is best and this works….just fine! I did corner round all of the edges (probably because deep down I felt guilty about being so easy-peasy!
I think when you had big and bold images…there is an opportunity to keep it super clean and simple! Also, these images are GREAT heat embossed!
I am just head over heels with this DSP Stack and YES – Stampin' up! is coming out with more in the holiday catalog! WOOT-WOOT! These are such a GREAT BANG for your BUCK!!!
You can line (2) envelopes with each sheet….they are perfect for the front of a card…the sky's the limit!
I naturally had to jazz up the back of the envelope too…..I just could not resist! This sentiment fit perfectly right on the back of the envelope and I know that not only will the mailman smile….but Kris will smile as well!
Well Kris…hat's off to YOU for being the amazing helper to all of the PALS! I know that I drive you nuts in emailing you at the wrong address but you are an amazing organized person and I appreciate all that you do! I marvel at your computer skills and ability to have everything at your fingertips!
Kris is an amazing photographer and also adores My Digital Studio (something that I need to do more of as it is amazing). She loves Yoga….is a great Mom and Wife and the BEST to all of us PALS!
Congratulations Kris for all of the hard work that you and Mary do….I appreciate YOU!
Until tomorrow….
by Susan Itell | Jul 23, 2014 | Uncategorized |
This is a card…made with love for my wonderful uplne Mary Fish…I think that this card sums with 2 words…
YOU ROCK…
You have heard me before in my posts that I ADORE the fact that Stampin' Up! has come out with so many "single" stamps and this is one of them! When the catalog came out and I saw this stamp, naturally I bought it but I had one person in mind…MARY FISH!
I apologize that the pictures are not the best but I wanted to incorporate many things that I love that remind me of Mary! She is such…."the real deal" and has a heart and a vision that is endless!
Two years ago when I started following her blog, I knew that it was a "Peanut Butter & Jelly" thing going on! I knew instantly that I loved her style and passion .
I was just like Mary….wanting to get the discount….have the inspiration….and just simply be happy with doing what I want with no boundaries or expectation!
I waited until today so I could really get a grasp on all of her amazing achievements and I am super proud to share them with you!
Just take a look and see why I am inspired by this and how honored I am to call her my upline and friend!
- First place with 106 promotions to Senior Associate
- First place with 30 promotions to Supervisor and Above
- Third place in annual sales
- Recognized as the only demonstrator in the company earning the Achiever's Performance Bonus 5 times during the Stampin' Up! year (for the second year in a row-woot)!
The FUN of this card to me is 2 things…the Polka Dot Embossing Folder and the You Rock Stamp! This is a kind of a "plain jane" card as it is super basic with not much color but I think it has a big punch and I know when Mary receives it…she'll love it!
I first Stamped the image and then took it to the embossing folder to make sure that "it would work"…well it does and next – off to the Big Shot and square framelits…..the magic is starting to happen!
You can see how it all comes together and the help of the Seam Binding Ribbon…made a quick and easy difference..you know I am challenged with ribbon…but this ribbon is my friend! ( the new cotton ribbon is amazing too!)
Did you wonder how I did that border around the opening of the image!?!? Easy…with the help of the Stampin' Trimmer I can cut "slivers" in a second! LOVE this tool!
Well…cute – right!?!? I added a bit here and there and you know me…I love my envelopes!
The Dots Decorative Masks are fabulous! (I feel like I should pay SU more $$$$ as the are such a great value and quality…just love them!)
I have to admit…I rushed it a bit and used the Craft White Ink which is very "juicy" and I will say that I needed to "blot" them to dry….but you get the idea – super cute – super easy – super fun!
Since I wasn't totally pleased with the flap…I knew that I could do something fun with the front! SIMPLE….I embossed the image with the White Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool…double whammy!
This picture below is priceless to me as it captures the best of both Mary and her wonderful niece, Kris! Tomorrow's card is for her…as she is such a HUGE part of the PALS….I adore the bond that they have!
So Mary….."hat's off to you" and I am proud to be a part of your team.
I should have probably used the One in a Million Stamp….but if I could "photo shop" a picture of you in this Rocking Chair….I would have… (but we know I am also a bit computer challenged!!!)
MARY FISH….YOU ROCK!
Huge hugs to you and thank you for being YOU!
Until tomorrow!
