by Susan Itell | Apr 29, 2014 | Uncategorized |
I naturally could not share with you what I did for my downline for the Stampin' Up! NEW Catalog Premiere….and with having to write this post BEFORE the event…I am just soooooo excited!
At the end of the post I am going to sneak in something about the
new catalog to "inspire you"…
if I can be awake enough when I get home!
I felt so blessed to have 3 of my "downline peeps" go with me to the Alexandria, VA show….and I also had the great opportunity to be with (2) more of Mary Fish's PALS that met up with us…..sooo much fun!
I hope that you can see that I was able to "keep it simple"…yet make it a super fun card! As always, I will break it down for you! It was fun and making it made me get so excited to see the new catalog!
- The base is the notecard size…(WOWZERS – that's a shocker for me!!!!) and then the red is 4 5/8" X 3 1/8"….using the white gel pen…..I did my "dash – dot" thing I like to do!!! (Remember – keep those pens on their side….you will not have a problem with them clogging up)
- The sentiment was a cinch as I did it with MDS (but you could do it with Word) as I just used a font and the cut it out to mat behind the On Film Framelit….CUTE – isn't it???….so easy yet fun! Just think of how you could put many different "spot lights" in the film frame….
- Now to the fun and simple "decorations" to POP the card! The "popcorn" is from the Create A Cupcake Stamp set and then popped out with the Cupcake Builder Punch… the Itty Bitty Shapes Pack was the fun popcorn and I sponged in with daffodil delight!
- The ticket is from the That's the Ticket Stamp Set….and THIS was the TICKET…as I wouldn't have missed going tp the preview movie!
- I used Stampin' Dimensionals to "lift" this whole focal part UP from the red base! What would we do without out Stampin' Vitamins!
- The liner with the help of the envelope liners framlits was from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack….just love to boldness of the Red Red!!!
- A quick Stamp to the front of the envelope was the finishing touch! I love to jazz up the fronts of the envelopes when I can!
PRODUCT ALERT: – You know that the Create a Cupcake Stamp Set is on the discontinued list…but did you notice that the punch is still here…well…I would say we are getting a new stamp set….which is a WOOT-WOOT!!!
Well…what did you think!?!? I thought that this card created a WOW….but it was still so simple, clean and has classic lines….just like I like it!!!
I loved your comments about yesterday's post and I am thrilled that you understood where I was coming from. Sometimes it is hard to put into words….but from the emailsI received, I think that many of you are going to give sketches a try….I am very happy and proud of you!
You can email me for help….I am just so excited to see the "lightbulb" go on and see that you are excited and developing a confidence in your own style…sooooo exciting to hear!
QUICK SCOOP ON THE NEW CATALOG!!!
Naturally I cannot share with you pictures of the new catalog yet but the one thing that I walked away with is…
If you like my style of stamping…
I know you are going to LOVE the new catalog and it's offerings!
We did not get the catalog until we left the movie theatre and the whole way home, I was getting a PAGE by PAGE…look at this….OMG……look at that!!! From what I could digest (as I was driving)…it is very clean and fun…FUN is a great word to describe it…
Stampin' Up! has truly done a fabulous job with this catalog and I know that you are going to love it and I also know that I am going to LOVE to inspire YOU with some great projects!
Thanks for popping in….long day but great day…..my heart is filled with Stampin' Up! happiness and it was a fun journey to be on….I had to text the kids to say….I just experienced a 1st in probably 15 years….I went to a movie and did not fall asleep!!!! YIPPEE!!!!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Apr 28, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Super Easy |
Here’s to a NEW and FRESH week! Last week was a tough one with the Blog situation and also with being under the weather!
Here’s the scoop on both of these things!
- I will be making a change with my blog moving from Feedburner to Feedblitz – (It all sounds “Dutch” to me) but as I am sure you are aware of…many SUD are doing this! Patsy will get to my blog as soon as she has time….so for now – if you are not getting your daily subscriptions automatically to your computer every morning…you might just need to type in my blog address….and you’ll be good to go! I’m still here…and I’m not going anywhere! I appreciate you patience and understanding through this!
- I am feeling LOTS better – still have a bad cough but I could hardly wait to go to bed last night as I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve….WHY???? Today is the day that Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators get to “preview” the NEW catalog in a movie theatre! Doesn’t that sound like FUN…I am oober excited to make the trek to Alexandria, Virginia with 3 of my downline to see!
Now to the Post for today….you saw that the title was “Making it Mine Monday’s”….well let me explain!
I often get asked where do I come up with my ideas and how have I learned to develop a style with my cards? Well…from LOTS of places…from YOU…from PINTEREST…from the WEB…I take On-Line Classes but I will say that once I started to really reach out of my comfort zone and try to work from sketches…I learned 2 things!
- It saved me a BUNCH of TIME…and TIME is soooo darn tootin’ precious to all of us….why? I was not “surfing around"…pinning here and there….taking bits from this and bits from that etc…
- I am on the Design Team for the PALS challenge every Thursday and one week is a color challenge and the other is a sketch challenge! You have heard me blog before that I prefer the color ones….but I have come to realize that the reason I say that is because I am not "stretching myself out of my comfort zone”
SOOOOOO…..I have decided to dedicate Monday’s to “Making it Mine Monday’s” where I will share with you a sketch and then show an interpretation from it….
I highly recommend YOU to challenge yourself with these Monday sketches I will share with you…look at them….see what stamps you have…and just try it!
Below you will see a past sketch from the PPA and I have BLOCKED OUT the date not to confuse…this is a PERSONAL challenge for YOU….and if you want…please send me a picture of your work…you can do it…I know you can! Take a picture and email me…I love to see your work!
This is a very clean and simple sketch from PAL Nicole Watt – she is OOBER talented and a MDS gu-ru…I am always in awe of her work!
Here is my interpretation of this…and the funny and honest thing is…I NEVER went back to the post that had this challenge (it was in January) – I encourage you to LOOK at the SKETCH….see what "speaks" to YOU…and then GO FOR IT!!!
When I see a sketch…I step back and look at it…I look at the area that I feel I want my "focal stamping and/or sentiment" to go…This space dictates to me what stamp set I am going to use! For this card…I saw that rectangle (#4) to me my "focal" point and when I looked at my stamps – I thought – "I have not used Timeless Talk in a long time" and the shape is perfect and I let my card start from here!
Also, you know I adore paper…if I have an "itching" to use a certain Designer Series Paper, that I will also let that play a huge role as to what stamps/theme I am going to go for…
To me – working from a sketch is the BEST way to help develop YOUR style…we all have our own "feel" – when we go out of the box on our comfort zone…it is when WE get frustrated and doubt ourselves!
O.k. – we have got to get to this cause' I am Cinderella and need to go to bed to go see a movie today!
- This is an A-2 card in Very Vanilla as I am using the BEAUTIFUL Modern Melody Designer Series Paper… the DSP is cut at 3" X 4" and then the Black piece is 2 1/4" X 5 1/2".
- The"stamped piece" is 3" X 2 3/4" and then the Stamp Set is Timeless Talk – very classic!
- Naturally I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for PERFECT placement of the "bike" and the same for the sentiment! I actually "stamped" this bike twice as I cut out the "simple circles" to add a bit of POP!
- I am on a roll with these Candy Dots and Brad Bases….(thanks to KATE)…I used a glue dot to hold them in place! A simple dash with the basic black marker is all that is needed! I popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals!
- Envelope time…time to make the mail man smile! I stamped the front of the envelope as well as lining the envelope with the help of the Envelope liner frameit!!!
Well….I know that this has been a L O N G post but…how do you like the card? I hope that you enjoyed and embraced this concept that I am trying to convey to you…
YOU can do it…..I KNOW YOU CAN….I would love to help you discover the "Inner Picasso" that it within you!
Please make sure that you POP back tomorrow…as I will share with you the FUN card I made for my downline for the movie!!!
I am SOOO excited! Stampin' Up! never lets up down…and I am sure that the new catalog will not disappoint you…and if you are a customer of mine, you will automatically receive a NEW catalog from me!
Have a great day…a great week and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Apr 27, 2014 | Stamp-a-ma-jig |
The early bird & the observant bird is going to get the worm this Sunday morning…why???
Well if you are the 1st person to leave me a comment and getting it correct….you will win a "goodie" (it's a product) as well as I will send you this card….(you can see that I made 2 of them)….here's the question!
Look at this card…and tell me something that I have never done before?
(I can't wait to see how long it take someone to get it right…I love games!!!)
Well…several things….I am feeling more like myself….not a 100% but getting pretty darn close…I thought I was a ground hog hibernating with the amount of sleep I had…I must have needed it!
DRUM ROLL…..DRUM ROLL….the winner of the BLOG CANDY OF CARDS was……
Sharon Haster from Oregon
A HUGE woot-woot to you and a BIG thanks!!!
Free Shipping always seems to make people happy…I know at the holidays – I love to play a game and figure out a way to wait until there is FREE SHIPPING!!!!
Many thanks to everyone that placed an order with me! You all are the best and for those of you that sent me sweet emails saying that you are waiting for the New Catalog…"I TOTALLY get-it!!!"
Now lets get to the card today…you know me by now – I make my cards for a purpose…and this card is going to a friend of mine that works soooo incredibly hard! She is the marketing director for a local School of the Arts and I just learned that her school received national recognition for achievement!
That a BIG woot-woot to me and I want to send her a card letting her know how proud I am for all of her hard work and what a difference she has made to our local community!
- The card size is a 5 X 5 square card…love this size…true it does require extra postage but I think it's totally worth it!
- Your friend for this card will be the square framelits and naturally the Big Shot….they are having that "peanut butter and jelly thing" going on! Remember, I refer to the sizes of the framelits from #1 being the smallest to # 8 the largest, the scalloped one!
- Take a piece of whisper white and cut the #8 Scalloped square. To that (we would hate to waste paper) take the #6 framelit to cut out the piece you are going to stamp on.
- Using the Eye-Catching Ikat Photopolymer Stamp Set, I started in the middle and stamped with Pistachio Pudding….(you can see a faint pencil line to the one on the right…I always do that to find my center…a good eraser is your friend!)
- The sentiment came from one of my favorites….so glad it is being carried over…Feels Good Stamp Set…this was stamped in Night of Navy and YES – I did use the Stamp-a-ma-jig!!!
- Using the Square Framelits, use # 5 & #7 to cut out a frame in navy…a great trick…as if my stamping was not perfectly straight…I can wiggle it around some…this is why I like using the "green glue"
- Again using the green glue, I adhered this to the Scalloped Square! I put a bunch of Stampin' Dimensionals to the back and then adhered this piece to the 5 X 5 card base!
- Where did the star came from? The Perfect Pennants Stamp Set and it is a cinch to "fussy" cut out! I pierced a hole in the middle and the pushed a Candy Dot Brad Base and then the "cherry on top" was the Night of Navy Dot from the Regals Candy Dots! I lifted that with a Stampin' Dimensional!
- Envelope time…pulling out the Envelope Punch Board made making a custom envelope a cinch! To me…for $19.95 this is the BEST tool we have!!! (well…one of the best ones!) If you do not have one and would like to learn how to make and envelope without having this tool, please email me!
I wanted to make the mailman smile – I stamped some stars on the front and then using my "go-to" In Color Designer Series Paper Stack, matching the color was a cinch!
So…have you figured it out yet?
What is the "eye spy" part of this card that I have not used before?
Thanks for popping by today and I thank you for your patience with this "blog thing"…I will say that more changes will be coming as I am still getting many of you saying that you are not receiving the automatic daily posts when you log on!
It looks like I will have to make a change…but I will give you "head's up" when that will be…please continue to share the Simple Stampin' fun with your family and friends! I love blogging, designing and helping you reach your goals!
You can always email me at anytime and I will be glad to help you! Remember…when you see the below pictures of the items I have show-cased in today's post….you can click on it ( click on it again to make it even bigger)… and then if you would like to purchase it…..PRESTO – click and into my store it will be!!!
Tomorrow is a FUN day for me!!! Stampin' Up! is showcasing the NEW CATALOG in movie theatres all across the country….and I am lucky enough to have one (kinda close) to me and the best thing…..I am going with 3 of my downline!!! WOOT-WOOT – this is going to be OOBER FUN!!!!
Enjoy the day…and thanks again for you patience….there are SUD all over experiencing the same problems…please know that it is equally frustrating for us as well and I am looking forward to getting it fixed!!!
Until tomorrow and congrats to you….Sharon!
by Susan Itell | Apr 26, 2014 | Super Easy |
I feel like the little engine that could…I think I can…I think I can….I am not one that gets sick often and this is twice this year and I am not liking it one bit!!! I think I can see the light…I came home from work…slept for 3 hours…did a post…and back to bed – I am sure that today will be a great day!
My middle peep came home and I could not have him come home without a card from Mom on his bed….This is SOOOOO simple but I am tickled with it and I truly hope that you CASE away!!! It seems SOOOOO weird to do a one layer card…true it is a challenge but the was easy-peasy-pudding pie!!!
You are going to love this and I want you to let your imagination go wild….as this was just plain FUN!!! If I can do it…you can do it!
Let's get going as there is not much instruction….but I do have lots of pictures! (and you like them!)
- The card base is a regular A-2 card but in the vertical…I also cut another piece at 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" to make a mask for the card!
- Take the cut piece and place the heart from the Hearts Framelits and I used #2 for this…run it through the big shot…this will be your mask and your friend! (you'll be able to use it over and over again for future cards!!!)
- I placed this over my card front and used washi tape to secure it in place ( this way, I will be able to lift it up easily)
- Using a sponge (I cut them in 1/4's) I used the Rose Red Ink and in a circular motion I added a deeper color to the outer edges and had a lighter touch towards the center! Pull it off and….VOILA! You are an artist!
- The simple sentiment came from A Dozen Thoughts Stamp Set and it was the "perfect" sentiment that I wanted to send to my dear James….I naturally used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig for perfect placement…and that is exactly what it did! (Love that little piece of plastic!!!)
- Using the corner rounder on the Envelope Punch Board, I corner rounded the upper corners…now wasn't this super easy!
- The line for the envelope is from my "go-to" Regals Designer Series Paper Stack…these gems make it SOOOOO easy to always be on top of the game!
WOWZERS….that is it!!! I was "tickled"….with the end result and I am amazed that I did a single layer card! If I can do it….you can do it!!!
I hope that this brought a smile to your face and to your heart! I thank you for "putting up with me" this week with this crazy typepad craze….please email me and let me know if you are still having issues with receiving my blog posts!
James is an Eagle Scout and my dear John is still very active with Scouting….today our local Council is having a "Clay Shoot" at a local farm! James and his Dad will have a blast together and the Scouts will benefit from the day!
Selfishly, James' girlfriend Lydia and I will have a blast at home making tomorrow's post! She's a totally sweetie and we always love "playing together with paper".…and with me being under the weather….it will be a perfect day!
Thanks for popping by and THANKS for the orders this week with the free shipping – as promised I will let you know tomorrow who the lucky blog candy winner is!
I truly love what I do….and I love helping YOU!!!!
Until tomorrow….(please pop back – as you will smile….Lydia and I are going to have FUN!)
by Susan Itell | Apr 25, 2014 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Super Easy, Thank You |
Wow…it's finally Friday! This has seemed to be the L O N G E S T week and now to top it off, I have a cold…actually I feel like a bowling ball (my head) that can't stop coughing! My head feels like it is going to detach!!!
The good news is…I can only get better…the blog thing can only get better…and it can't get any better with having FREE shipping, but remember today is your last day!
Remember that with the products that are being retired…they are on a 1st come basis and there are already some that have been sold out…here is the most up to date list!
By now, you know that I usually make my cards with a specific purpose…and this card today is just that – this is the card that I will be sending to say "thanks" to those of you that ordered from me this week!
Can you say…SIMPLE…can you say…CLEAN….Can you say….LET'S GET TO IT!
- You know me….my "go-to" notecard and envelope size…love-love-love – would not be without!
- To the simple touch a scrap piece of white paper 3 1/2" long and 2 " wide and ran it through the Big Shot with the Scallops Textured Embossing Folder.
TIP ALERT….take this piece and place it where you want it to go and then take a pencil and draw a line across the top….then take away so you know where to stamp the sentiment!
- Pulling out the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and using the Lots of Thanks Stamp Set….this simple sentiment does the trick…erase your pencil line!
- Now you can go back and adhere the embossed piece to the front of the card!
- Again, using scraps – stamp the flower image from the Flower Shop Stamp Set with Daffodil Delight…a quick punch with the Pansy Punch is all that is needed!
TIP ALERT…use the bone folder or a pencil to roll the egdes of the flowers…always loosens up the fibers in the paper and creates great movement!
- I took a simple white button and the treaded a piece of whisper white twine…a simple bow…a useful glue dot….DONE! I did put a stampin dimensional on the back of the flower!
OH NO…I have already taken my pictures and I just noticed…I forgot my "Silly Susan Dots"…
- The envelope was lined with the Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (snif-snif…I'll miss this) but the dots just make you smile!
I just love the freshness of this card…the white is so crisp and clean and then the yellow and black is so classic and fun! I hope that you CASE this one as it's fast to make and very sweet!
If you do not like to add "bulk" to your card with the button, you could easily use a small circle punch and just use paper!
This just might be a card for Breast Cancer next month and I will change up the sentiment!
Remember that today is the last day for the free shipping offer and the BLOG CANDY from me for every order in a $25.00 increment!
I will announce the winner on Sunday morning (with not feeling great – I will probably go to bed early and I know that many of you on the West Coast will be up much later)…so just to be fair if someone orders late as I will already have my blog post typed up…..thanks for understanding and GOOD LUCK!
One of my "peeps" is coming home for the weekend so I am determined to feel better! I am excited to see him since he was unable to come home for Easter…(I have those cute chocolate bunnies that I made one the table) He will like them…I like to look at them…he likes to eat them!!!
Thanks for popping by today and I hope that leaving a comment works today! By the end of the day yesterday – there were comments that came through! I thank you for your patience during this frustrating time but we're getting there….and together we can accomplish lots!!!
Remember…if you want to purchase any of these items…use the new handy pictures below – they will go right into the cart on my online store…it is so easy and then you can also add additional products that I have not highlighted on today's post!
You all are the best…have a great day…and until tomorrow!
