by Susan Itell | Jul 18, 2014 | Uncategorized |
This is one of those WHAM BAM cards and it comes together in a jif because of one special die…It is called the Flower Frenzy Bigz Die and I know what you are going to say…wowzers – $37.95. I do not disagree that this die is an investment…but aren't most investments in life worth it?
This whole flower image was create by this die. I was oober excited when I saw it as I instantly knew of endless possibilites with it.
The other thing that I love about a die like this is you can really use up scraps of paper and you can also put multiple colors of paper where you want them and run it though the big shot at one time. I call that a win-win and it deserves a BIG woot woot!
Speaking of the Big Shot…Stampin' Up! is having a great promotion on the Big Shot for the month of August. With the purchase of a Big Shot, you will have the opportunity to choose a bundle set for free.
The Big Shot is another one of those "investments" but we need to talk about it. It is one tool that I could never be without and it is amazing all of the different things it can do. I will admit that when I first bought it I was totally intimidated by it and thought that I would never figure it out!
Once I put "my big girl pants on" and played with it, I thought I ruined it as the cutting pads were all scratched up and I was sick….I actually called my stampin' friend and she laughed as she said that was normal…..whew!
I think that the simplicity of this card and the fact that it only used this one die is just a HUGE bonus! I realize that I could have jazzed it up a bunch more, but I want you to see it at its totally basic state!
The stamp is from the Hi There Stamp Set and boy…this set has seen lots of use already! Click here to see the post that I did with the simple "hello"….this was the card that I sent to everyone who placed a ribbon/paper share order with me!
The only "bling" that I did was the simple yet elegant single pearl in the middle, but if you did not want that extra "bump" you could easily use the white gel pen or simply leave it blank (I just love options….how about you?))
The trio of Susan dots and the lining of the outside of the envelope was all that was needed – BAM! You can see the mileage I receive from the Designer Series Paper Stacks…that's why I offered them to you…I just find them sooooo handy!
Clean, fun and done! These are the handy tyoe to keep on hand when you need a super cute card…"just because" As always, thanks for popping by and it is exciting to hear from the PALS at convention…they are having a ball and the reports are "THUMBS UP" with the new Holiday Catalog!!!
Enjoy your day and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jul 17, 2014 | Uncategorized |
It is Thursday and time for another PPA Challenge! This week is a sketch challenge and I was pretty darn happy with the end result! Yesterday when I was reading my dear friend, Brian Kings post…he said it as best as anyone could….please click here and see his post as this is exactly where this card idea came from!
On the weeks that I need to submit a challenge for the team, I usually look at the sketch or color challenge on Sunday (our work is due on Tuesdays). I have shared with you before that I use to find sketch challenges to be tough but I thought and thought about today's sketch and on Monday morning I POPPED out of bed and ran upstairs and PRESTO….the light-bulb was on (well, in my head)
So here you go with the sketch! Thanks once again to PAL Margaret Moody for the fun sketch.
I knew that I wanted to continue to show you all how you can use DSP on the base of your card and it's ok. – there is nothing to be fearful about and it still can be clean and classic! This is from the DSP called Maritime and remember, you can click here and see the papers in this offering.
To me there is nothing more clean, crisp and classic than Navy Blue. I truly feel that even if you do not live by the shore that there are many great offerings of paper that will enhance a project with its sheer boldness.
You know me – I like to mix things up and I decided to have this card open from the left side but it is still a regular card size!
Also this week, I have been trying to showcase a project that uses just 1 stamp set and today's stamp set is Six-Sided Sampler. Not only are the stamps fun, the sentiments are super sweet. The extra bonus is that there is a matching punch…woot-woot – I love that when that happens = it is the Hexagon punch.
One thing that "bugs" me is to see ribbon and/or twine on the "inside" of a card when you open it up. How to get around that is simple by adding that extra layer on the front so when you wrap the ribbon…it will not be on the inside!
I simply used the Real Red ink to stamp my images and then placed a stampin' dimensional under the lower part of the hexagon. I figured the "bulk" of the Bakers Twine would lift up the top part when I tied it on and it did.
Are you wondering where this natural Bakers Twine came from? It is the Metallic Bakers Twine and I simply "pulled" the gold tread out (very easy to do) and PRESTO…a new product!
After I had adhered the Hexagons on and did the sentiment I thought – I wonder if the sentiment would fit into the hexagon so out came the stamp-a-ma-jig and BINGO it worked! I was going to re-do the whole card but thought…no way – it looks great – how about just jazzing up the envelope!
Not only was it easy but I am sure that the mailman will be smiling! I am now "itching" to try more hexagons with sentiments inside…stay tuned!
This whole card came together in a thought process just like Brain was saying…the BEST advice I can give you if you are working on a project and it is just not coming together is…WALK AWAY! Most of the time YOU are your worst critic and you just need some time to let you "comfort zone" come out!
Remember, each and everything we do is a reflection of us as an individual. They are works of art from your heart. All of the PALS are arriving at Convention and I know that they are going to have a ball! I am super excited to hear all about it.
Please make sure that you go to the Pals Paper Art Website and see the interpretations the team made and then how about giving it a try. It always is so fun to see how we all look at things differently.
We have had the GREEN light on with the power at the house! Woot-woot….Daisy is happy to not have Piggy House Duty. Make is a great day and keep smiling – I hope that I was able to inspire you!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jul 16, 2014 | Birthday |
I know that I am guilty in not sharing with you very often - masculine cards…I must be better about this but today here you go! This is a special day for a special young man…and being that he is a music major he will get a kick out of this!
Well…let's be honest…he will get a better kick out of his care package that will be coming his way as he is a "Rising Senior" in College and loves care packages – heck I would still love to get a "care package" at 50!
This stamp set, Timeless Talk is very versatile Stamp Set and I have used it many times before. Click here to see probably one of my favorite cards I've made.
There a couple of things that I think make this card special…the stamp…the basic color of the paper…basically the simplicity of the over all design! This is one of those "keepers" that I often talk about…remember this and think about other stamps you can use with it!
The overall size of the card is a 4" square and I dictated the size of the square opening by the image of the stamp. I went ahead and cut the DSP 1/4" smaller and then used the #4 of the Square Framelit to cut out the center of the DSP.
I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement…it truly is my friend. After that was in place I took out the Black and used the #4 & #5 to make a perfect frame! (Use the "green glue" for perfect placement…I just love that wiggle room before it dries!)
Can you see the "KEY" part to this card…probably not and darn, I wish it was in your hands right now cause it really is a great card. You know how you always have those "extras" when you use up your Stampin' Dimensionals? BINGO!!!!
Take these long pieces left over and use them for a great lift! This gives this card sooooo much dimension. Now don't skimp…make sure that you also use some in the inside of the square…we all know that we do not like "sags"!!!
Using the same paper to line the envelope was the icing on the cake! Well the cake is the ….Envelope Punch Board but the icing – the liner! This is a trick I learned from my dear friend and upline, Mary Fish!
Measure from the edge of the flap point to the edge of side of the envelope…take that measurement and bring it down 1/4" – in this case it is 3". Now take it back to the Envelope Punch Board and punch it 1/4" smaller…flip it…punch it at the same. BINGO – fits like a glove!
This special card is for a very special young man….my daughter Hannah's boyfriend…Aidan….here is a picture of the 2 of them…I swear they are the most photogenic couple in the world and they have so much fun together….so Happy 22nd Birthday!
He is from the UK and I love to call him my favorite "British Bum" – great guy….Happy…happy day to you!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jul 15, 2014 | Thank You |
It happened…again – POWER went out last night! This is getting just too darn funny as this has never (guess you should never say never) but out the door John and I went and to my Dad’s. Good thing that Daisy Mae had a couple days of “piggy rest”…back to duty she goes!
Let’s get to the card for today…well by now you know that I make my cards for a purpose and this card was a “Thank You” to a sweet lady that belongs to the Country Club I work at as she made John and I some soup and the best loaf of Blueberry Bread when we were out of power last week!
This is very straight forward and over the weekend I had a HUGE date with my label maker as I like to put the item #’s on my punches as it makes it easier for me when I am creating a blog post. I labeled the Scalloped Edge Border Punch and thought…”I have not used this is a while” …so out it comes for you today!
Please click here to see the Tuesday Weekly deals…and guess what – this punch is on it! (now that's what I call luck as I had no idea when I made this card…woot-woot!)
- The card base is a regular A-2 Card in Whisper White and the stamp is from the hostess collection and the clear mount is just $9.00! (please email me and ask me how you can earn this for free!)
It is a great basic stamp and I can see many fun and simple cards made with it! I love it's name…"Let Your Hair Down" I think many of these images would be super het embossed!
- The All Abloom DSP is the POP of the card! As you can see in the below photo…it is a must have! My fingers and toes are crossed that Stampin’ Up! is going to have more of these Paper Stacks with the new Holiday Catalog! The width of this is 2”
- Pulling out some Strawberry Slush Scraps…I punched this adorable and simple border! I do not know what I forget about this gem…but every time I use it – I love it! The added “white dots” from the white gel pen gave it a bit of interest!
- I wanted to added a bit of extra femininity so I thought a simple flower from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack was the perfect choice…(this is another MUST HAVE) this little flower has been punched out soooo many times since the new catalog came out! A simple Brights Candy Dot was the finale!
- Because the print of the paper is so busy, I thought just a fun and classic liner was in store…so easy-peasy…the In Color DSP to the rescue!
That’s it for today! I am sooooo hoping that the power comes back on but we are to have another storm late today! (It’s a good thing that my Dad lives close to my work)…and John will do the “morning” animal duty!
I have had many of you email me if I was going to Convention…my lip is hanging down like a toddler, but I am not. I am sad as I just adore being with the PALS and taking everything in that Stampin’ Up! does. This is a big weekend for me at work and I cannot get off work…(trust me – it’s killin’ me) but I know that the PALS will keep us posted as to what is going on!
Thanks for popping by today and have a super-duper day! I am smiling and being positive that we will be back on with power!
p.s. – I had to share with you this cartoon that was sent my way by Julie H….it is so cute! Daisy had to get a bath yesterday…she found a nice BIG spot of MUD after I dumped the horses water!
Until tomorrow….you all are THE BEST!
by Susan Itell | Jul 14, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday |
Welcome to another Monday if “Make it Mine”…this is a simple personal challenge that I am having fun with each Monday! Just to catch you up to speed if you are new – I found that when I attempted to do “sketch” challenges, I froze!
The more I realized that I did not have to be so “type A” (habit of mine) and just enjoy trying to look at it and think of how I can let my personality and comfort zone shine!
Here you go with this weeks sketch! I "borrowed" it from Freshly Made Sketches, a great challenge that is offered weekly! ( Check out their challenges….they are great and give it a try!!!)
Please try this sketch and if you want to share your interpretation with me, please email me. I am so happy that there are many of you trying these challenges each week. Way to go for you!
This is my take for today and I must say, I am very happy with it! I need to listen of my friend Jeanie more and use the embossing folders! I loved how this card turned out and I will share with you some tips that always work when using the embossing folders!
- The finished card size is a 5” X 5” and the color is Very Vanilla… ( I wanted to use the Flashback DSP) again (remember these are on sale….click here – buy 3 get 1 free)
- Knowing that I wanted to use the new Tiny Triangles Embossing folder, I let the width of the folder dictate the size of the next square = 4 ¼” so here is a great tip! I cut both of the colors to 2 1/8” X 4 ¼” and then adhered them with sticky strip and also placed sticky strip around the outer edges. WHY? When you run it through the Big Shot…it gets a bit wavy and this way I took care of that and the pattern of the triangles matched up perfectly! WOOT-WOOT!
- I matted this to a piece of Bermuda Bay that is 4 ½” square…love these colors together!
- Speaking of LOVE…how about this stamp set…when the new catalog came out, HANDS DOWN this is the bundle that needed to come to my home! I will admit that there has been a bit of a “learning curve” with using the BIG Floral stamps but another tip…use the Stampin’ Mat…(one that you have not pierced or any firm foam. This seems to help a bunch with stamping the larger images for great coverage! You can get an instant 15% discount buy purchasing it as a bundle….I just love it when there are matching framelits! Here is a great shot of all the stamps in the set.
- I know that I will be asked what colors I used…the leave were pear pizzazz and old olive and then the flower was stamped in Coastal Cabana. I loved what I did with the top flower…this is Bermuda Bay and then I used the basic pearls to jazz it up a bit!
- Here is another tip…use the “green glue” (remember, just a little) to adhere the flowers on top of the embossed imaged…WHY? I find that it you use snail adhesive, it simply does not stick as well with the bumps of the embossed paper!
- Sentiment time…this also is in the stamp set and I simple stamp and snip is all that is needed!
- I made my custom envelope with the easy envelope punch board and then lined the outside with this great black and very vanilla paper.
Well….your thoughts?!?! I was very happy with the end result and I really like seeing the 2 different colors of paper. I think that it really creates interest and the textures are super!
I hope that you give it a whirl today…I am excited to see what you come up with! We are to have another round of bad weather tomorrow….fingers crossed we do not have a "repeat performance" of last week!
Thanks for popping by and until tomorrow!
