by Susan Itell | Mar 18, 2014 | Baby |
I must admit… this is the first time I have ever used the Hexagon Hive Framelit and once I cranked it through the Big Shot…I was saying to myself – WOW…why have I not used this before!?!?!
Well…hold on tight as you will see it on Friday ( in a different way)as I have already have my posts ready for the week and I think that Friday is a “keeper” just like today is a “keeper”!!!!
Babies are sooooo darn tootin’ sweet and when you need a quick card…I have you covered! This is a fun card that it super easy to do and I used Very Vanilla as I was looking for a softer look!
If I were to do a “boy” card – I would suggest using Marina Mist with the very vanilla and this stamp set has a cute “boy” stamp as well!
Here we go!
- The base is Very Vanilla in the A-2 size but I made is a vertical card by scoring it at 5 ½”
- Using for the 1st time – the Hexagon Hive Framlit I saw an INSTANT tone on tone with the very vanilla that was bringing a smile to my face!
CONFESSION TIME: I surfed the internet on ideas with this framelit and I must admit that I was not totally wowed with ideas as I am not much into sponging and many ideas showed a darker image behind – I just love a tone on tone!
- I used the “green glue” to put the hexagons in perfect place! Too darn cute and easy!
- The Stamp Set was Baby, We’ve Grown…fun, fresh and also super cute for Easter – (that bunny is sooooo cute) I stamped it in Melon Mambo and then used the Chalk Talk Framelit to pop it out!
- Popping it out again in the Pink Pirouette I cut that in half and then punch 2 small holes to add the Melon Mambo 1/8” ribbon to add a bit of bling…easy – fun & done!
- It is time….it is time to make the mailman smile = I did a double whammy …pulling out the stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement to the front of the envelope and then using the envelope liner framlit…WOWZER – so cute and done!
TIP ALERT: When doing the envelope…do the right and left side…and then the middle will work out! So easy…and it make a big impact!
- Now to the fun…. simply place Stampin’ Dimensionals behind the “full” hexagons and then use the “left-over’s” on the dimensionals (the straight ones) on the edges…and WOW = what a statement it makes! (When I did the edges…I mean the upper left and lower right corners….do not stress yourself with the tiny frame – you do not need to….the dimensionals behind the hexagons do the trick!)
I do not do a bunch of “baby” cards but I am so super pleased with the end result! This is not only cute…classic and fun but so adaptable for many variety of cards!
I have sooooo enjoyed this card…and I cannot wait to us it for other cards…it is a really – REALLY fun framelit and I cannot wait to continue to play with it!
Please make sure that you pop back later this week because I am showing you a totally different way to use this framlit …and I have some great learning tips for you…(as I learned the hard way)!!!
The snow was here and the snow is gone…I am being positive and I am going to try to fulfill a “bucket list” for me….I am looking forward for the Cherry Blossoms in DC to be in bloom…it has always been a dream for me to go down and take it all in at it’s peak – the time frame is April 8th – 12th…and when I heard that today – I did the "happy dance" as Spring is really going to make it's appearance!
Thanks for popping in today and I hope that I inspired you and made you smile! Please click here to order your products and get guidance and inspiration from me…as you know…I love what I do and I love helping YOU!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Mar 17, 2014 | Uncategorized |
In a while crocodile….
This stamp set is just too darn tootin' cute and with it being St. Patty's Day I planned to have a "green" card for you and trust me…I would not want to be pinched by an alligator….but this alligator is a happy alligator!
I sure hope that this card makes you smile…because it sure made me smile with the end result! I am also playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches and below you will be the sketch that we are working from!
The fun thing about taking part in challenges is…it allows you to let your creativity flow…just look at the sketch and then you can see the elements you need to have in it…but then you can adapt your personality and ideas to make it work!
By now you know that I adore odd size cards…and this card is 4” X 7”. Most of the time when I make cards…I make them for a specific reason – today’s card is for my daughter Hannah and I am going to see her this weekend at college and I thought I would put this in her dorm room with a gift for her to find after I leave!
Let’s go…
- To make the card, I cut a piece of whisper white to 8” X 7” and then scored and bone folded it at 4”
- The Garden Green is ¼” smaller = 3 ¾” X 6 ¾” and then I “dot and stitched” using the white gel pen!
- The Garden Green Designer Series Paper is from the Regals Paper Stack and that is 2 ½” X 5 ½”
- Now to the fun stuff! Cut a piece of Crumb Cake at 2” X 5” and then using the Angled Tag Topper Punch…let it do it’s magic! To the opposite end – the easiest and fastest way is to find the middle (1”) and then cut to the center to get you banner ends!
- This part is soooooo cute! I used the Bigz L Peekaboo Frames (and YES – it is on sale today($24.71) but remember the sale ends tonight) and I cranked out with the help of my Big Shot the magic to this card! Fold the ends back to get a good crease and then I tool a scrap piece of white and traced the image of the rectangle to get a perfect placement and stamped away! PERFECT and CUTE!!! I did mask the lower sentiment and now I am asking myself why? It would have been so appropriate!
- I adhere this whole piece on the tag using the Mono Glue!
TIP ALERT: I found a fantastic tip on Connie Collins Blog. Connie is a Artisan Design Team Member and she did a fabulous card with Bakers Twine and her tip was to use spray starch and iron it to get the bow to “behave” for the look you are going after…well I tried it and WOW – I loved it and you all know I do not do bows well!
- I popped up the tag part as well as the whole green piece…I used the sidepieces of the Stampin’ Dimensionals…we go not waste a thing!
- To the envelope we go…Now that we have the super Envelope Punch Board…we can make any size of envelope we want! I went to the handy-dandy guide and it said I needed a 8 ¾” square…this is a great reason what it is good to have 12 X 12 paper….you WILL use it! I punched and scored it just like it told me to….presto – I have an envelope that works!!! Woot-Woot!
TIP ALERT #2 – This is a total personal preference and you know me…I like to share with you as much as I can! I do not care for the “big points” that is on this envelope…look at the picture and you can see them – I simply cut them down to make them look tidier and then lined the outside of the envelope to pull the whole card together! What do you think? Do you agree that the long points we just too much!?!?
These little “peek a boos” are fun…I do forget about them and when I saw that they were on the weekly deals…I just couldn’t resist making a card using them!
The calendar is flying by and that means that Sale-A-Bration will be ending soon……March 31st! Remember with every order of $50.00 you will be able to pick a FREEBIE….and this stamp set, See You Later is one of them! It is just so darn cute! My card for you on Thursday is using the same stamp set and remember, from ME you will also get free swatch book showcasing the Sweet Sorbet paper!
Please feel free to email me if you need any help and I hope that you have a great St. Patty’s Day! A big Happy Birthday to Carrie and Chris…have a great day!
I look forward to inspiring you tomorrow….it’s fun having coffee together – just wish that it could be in person!
Hugs and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Mar 16, 2014 | Super Easy |
Today’s card is my hopes in chasing away the snow that we are expected to get tomorrow! Remember I shared with you before that my Mom said…March can fool you…and think her wisdom will hold true tomorrow!
Yesterday I gave Stanley a bath and let him enjoy grass and tomorrow we are to have snow…CRAZY! I sure hope that this is a mix up!
The elements of this card are so basic but doesn’t it give you a “big WOW”… it goes back to my statement of…less is best! Just look at how a single sentiment and some punched out flowers can create an impact!
Let’s go and I hope that you case away on this simple gem!
- The card is an A-2 Whisper White and then my “go to” mat a ¼” smaller = 4” X 5 ¼”
TIP ALERT: Take a ruler and draw a line in the middle….2” so you can get your sentiment smack dab in the center!
Give me your thoughts???: – Do you like the black ink or do you think I should have stamped it in Rich Razzleberry? I wanted the sentiment to have a “statement:” and that is why I chose the black – what would you have done?
- Remember from yesterday’s Hybrid Card Post…I cut the center of the garden green paper with the Little Leaves sizzlet…well here they are today! I just “pruned” the leave I wanted and used the Mono Glue to adhere them and then worked on the flowers!
- These flowers are so simple but just think if all of the ideas you could do with them! The Blossom Party Die is a die that I enjoy using this to get a fun flair and also a great way to use up scraps!
TIP ALERT #2 – Do you know that you can “sharpen” your punches…easy – pull out a piece of tin foil and punch them several times…it really works !!!
- Look at the below pictures…you can see my tip on making the flowers have a bit of dimension…Simply take the stylus and gently push it in to the paper piercing mat and presto – your flower has instant dimension! But look…the yellow flower has that hole…no worries – take a piece of scraps and place it over top the hope….press – presto!
- I did use the "green glue" for all of the flowers and then POPPED the whole Mat piece up with a bunch of demensionals….always makes a card look great!
- Did you notice in the center of each flower I added a tiny pearl….such a cute and feminine touch!
This was a super fun card to make…and talk about quick! Just think of how you could "mass produce" this gem! It also would be a super sweet card with different sentiments! Give it a try…..
The thing I love is the was the flower pop up….when you mount a flower down and then layer another on top…the effect really is classic!
Well…that's it! I do hope that you CASE this one…and if you do….please share it with me! I love to see your creations!
If you do not have these punches/die…no worries – play around with what you have…it is a great layout for many shapes!!!
Thanks for popping in and let's all thing sunhine…and say NO TO SNOW!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Mar 15, 2014 | Birthday |
Here's a story for you…you know by now I love to tell you about things! Yesterday morning I woke up with the chickens as I had an early morning meeting at work and while having my coffee I surfed PINTEREST for ideas to decorate for St. Patty's Day for an event at work!
I needed some super simple ideas and then I thought – why not try MDS?
Now let me be very, very clear about this and for those of you that know me and have been with me with my blog know that I am computer challenged….I try and I am proud of myself with my daily blog postings…but when I have to "THINK" about something too long and hard….."I FREEZE" and I know I need to get over it…
Well…I have tried MDS several times and have had very good success but the truth is…I do not get on it enough to make it seem "natural" to me as I adore having paper and scissors in my hands!
In playing and playing with MDS I realize WOW…it was FUN!!! Then I also knew that I have another friend that also celebrates her birthday on St. Patty's Day….so here you go!!!
I was sooo darn tootin' excited with the end result and when I came down stairs and showed John…he said – "when did you do that" – seriously it was like the "peanut butter and jelly" thing that I talk about! I just love it when things go together!
This is my 1st "hybrid" card…but no way my last!
I never…ever thought that I would enjoy creating something on MDS and then printing it off on my printer (and trust me – my printer is a super old – portable printer that I take with me when Hannah and I are traveling with the horses so it is nothing super special!)
I am not sure where to go with this post today but one thing I do know is…I need to learn to post about MDS because I'm going to do many more!
I make many, many cards for my job to send to members and I can clearly see how this will be a "great resource" for me to still feel like I am being "creative" and then still have my paper and scissors in my hands…to create a great card!
I simply played around and POOF – this is what I came up with… the shamrock came from the Lucky Frameable Designer Kit – clover and then the sentiment "lucky charms"….for some reason I cannot highlight these items so you can click to them. (sorry!!!!)
I would highly suggest that you hit the SHOP NOW button and on the digital downloads you can see all of the different downlaods that are available!
It is soooo super cool that you can click on the shamrock and then click the color – put in garden green and WOWZERS – it works! I was soooooo happy playing away! – I am going to master this…don't know when…but it's fun and adictive and I am going to do it!
The super cute border in between is called the Tasteful Trim Shapes 3 and the color is Sahara Sand! Isn't it sooo fun that you can change the color just like we have in our paper!!! Another woot-woot!
Seriously, I had fun! It just is a tool that you can play and play and guess what – it works! I apologize that I can not be more precise today but one thing that I can suggest to you is….to down load the FREE 30 day trial of MDS….
If you click on here….you can surf around and see all of the downloads that you can add to the MDS software! Just have fun looking at the different offerings MDS has!
I have done other projects and had Stampin' Up! print them and they are amazing but I will say it was very rewarding to do this myself! I really was impressed that I could whip up something fast for myself here at the house!
After I created this on a piece of Whisper White Card Stock, I cut the the front to 5 1/4" X 4" and then matted it with a piece of Garden Green just a smidge bigger…and you know me…save paper! 
LOVE IT!!! I matted it on an A-2 card size and then added pearls….why not???? Pearls are a girls best friend!
To the inside…. it was from the Cake & Ice Cream Stamp Brush sentiment! Think about this…for just $5.95 you get all of these goodies and you can make them the size that you want…the color you want…that in itself a huge woot-woot!
I have to do a envelope….right??? This was super easy and I used the Designer Series Paper to line the envelope…I wish that we were together to see how happy I was that this all came together!
How about trying MDS? I know – it might not be for you but that is OK….I am going to continue to "play" and when I do …I will share! Remember, you can download it for FREE for 30 days…and then if you like it – it is just $19.95!!!
They even have their own website for help…ideas…tutorials….click here and see! I think you will be wowed with all of the super cute and fun ideas they show!!!
Thanks a bunch for being patient with me today and until tomorrow!
p.s. – go and download the FREE MDS …email me if you need help!
by Susan Itell | Mar 14, 2014 | Birthday, Sympathy |
I know that it is hard when you need a sympathy card as many times we find out that we need one and I think that it is good to have some on hand…just in case!
Yesterday John said to me – “I need a sympathy card for a client – can you make me something special” Mission accomplished, as I needed to do it before I went to work!
Here is a great little card that has a clean and simple WOW factor! Actually you could change out the sentiment and put Happy Birthday, Thinking of you etc…
Let’s go….
- Note-cards and envelopes to the rescue…What am I ever going to do if Stampin’ Up! discontinues these gems! Go ahead and cut the mat at ¼” smaller = 3 ¼” X 4 ¾”
TIP ALERT: You have seen me do this a bunch of times and I think that this is the 1st time I have said this to you…I cut up a whole stack of these mats in Whisper White…Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake as these are the base colors that I seem to “go-to” often! The way I look at it is…a time saver. When you have things at your fingertips – things just come together like peanut butter and jelly!
- The Stamp Set I used was the Stippled Blossoms Set, it is a beautiful set and when you play around with different colors….WOWZERS happens all the time! (please go back to previous posts I have done with the stamp set…they really show you a larger spectrum of the flowers….gorgeous! Just type the stamp name in the search button above!)
TIP ALERT #2 – When you stamp…use the light color 1st and then go over with the darker one….it is a 2 step process and I HIGHLY recommend that you use the Stamp-a-ma-jig!
- For this card I used the Pink Pirouette 1st (lighter) and then went over top with the more detailed stamp in Strawberry Slush (darker)
- The leaves were Pear Pizzazz 1st (lighter) and then Old Olive (darker) next. HOW EASY!!!
- The sentiment came from the hostess stamp set Simply Sketched and using the stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement it fit perfectly on the card! WOOT -WOOT – this is just $10.00!!!
- I wanted to add some simple ribbon so you can see in the pictures below how I anchored the ribbon! I am trying to share with you ways to “hide the mechanics” of your card projects! By using simple glue dots on the ends, you can wrap the ribbon behind the mat and have a very clean and professional finish!
- Add dimensionals to the mat….POOF!!!! Done in no time! What would we do without out Stampin’ Vitamins !?!?!?
- To the envelope we go….I was happy about this! I lined the outside of the envelope with the Strawberry Slush Paper from the In Color Collection and then thought – how about using the Large Scallop Edgelit to add a bit of pizzazz!
I was tickled “pink” with the end result of the envelope and all in all…this is one beautiful, fast, easy card that will touch the heart of John’s client!
You have heard me blog before about the “just in case” phrase that I use – when I say that it is like the “little black dress” ! We need to have some "go to’s" for when we are in need of a quick card to send!
I want you to think about what your "go to’s" are for…
- Birthday Cards
- Anniversary Cards
- Sympathy
- Get Well
- Thinking of you
- Just Because
It’s a great idea to have a file of some of your favorite "go to’s" so when you need them…they are ready! One thing that I am guilty of is that I send my cards out (but trust me – I have a nice stash in a basket) and it’s a good thing I have my blog as I often go back and look at different themes!!!
Enjoy your day…get ready for a fun weekend…stay warm and I thank you for popping by today!
Please feel free to email me and as always, I love your comments…you all make me smile and are my source of inspiration!
Shopping in your jammies while drinking a cup of coffee is also super fun…hit that SHOP NOW button and have fun…remember, Sale-a-bration is coming to a close in 2 weeks…
Until tomorrow!
