by Susan Itell | Jan 7, 2014 | Valentines |
All of a sudden it hit me and I felt very silly…I am going to go to Houston and see all of these over the top Valentines Cards and mine are going to look rather boring….but heck – I made the challenge this week to share with you just Valentines as we need to get on it and plan ahead as February 14th will be here!!!
I think this little guy is super cute and the whole card is a "keeper" in my eyes…you know that I try to do the weekly Pals Paper Arts Challenges but I am going to try to "gently push myself" to do other challenges that are put there! There is just soooo darn much talent out there, I find it fun playing and getting to know other stampers and their tips!
Below you will see the sketch from the Mojo Monday Challenge! Saying true to my word in "valentines" – I hope that you enjoy my card! Please go to the Mojo Monday Website and you will see sooooo many others interpretations!
Lucky for you….I had my trustworthy pen and paper ready to write some great notes to enable you and hopefully you will CASE away and make up this cute card! This is a fantastic layout…one that you should "stash" away for future ideas…very basic and will lend itself to a clean and crisp card! Enjoy!
- The base of the card is a regular A-2 card but I scored it at the 5 1/2" side to create a more vertical card!
- You know me…when I see a challenge….I usually try to follow it as it is pictured – when I saw that rectangular shape – I knew instantly that I wanted to use this little bird guy….too cute! He is from the Love You More Stamp Set.
- I stamped this little guy in Pool Party on a piece of white card stock – 3 1/4" X 2 3/4" and then matted it to a pool party piece that is 3 3/8" X 2 7/8". After cleaning my stamped, I used the real red marker on a piece of scraps and colored a red heart to "fussy cut" out! Cute….right!?!?
- Did you notice that I used an arrow and the sentiment? I did not want all 3 of the arrows as I thought it would be too much…so I used the "brush end" of the marked and with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig….worked ike a charm!
- Am I getting a lot of use out of this Fresh Prints Paper Stack or what! Now this is the super cool thing….from one sheet of paper, I cut it to a 2" strip by 5" and then I have the other half to do my liner for the envelope PLUS have enough to cut the little heart out of the Hearts a flutter Framelits!
- Do you see on the sketch that there is a decorative banner type of piece under the focal part! I thought – use the new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and it worked perfectly! Look at this picture and you can see that there is a hole…and PRESTO – the heart in the DSP covered it right up!
- Traditionally I am not a "tag person" and I do not know why as I do love the look and this was soooo easy! Just take a 2" strip of paper….push and done! This heart was a perfect "cover up"
- The rest is pretty straight forward….I used a glue dot to put the red heart on his beak and the other hearts were a simple pop with the small heart punch !
- Stampin' Dimensionals to the rescue – these just give the life it needs…and this card will not require extra postage…woot-woot! I thought it need a little yet subtle bling…I put a white Neutral Candy Dot in the center of the hearts….just a fun and simple touch!
- The envelope liner was from the left over piece from the single sheet of paper of paper we used for today's card! I adore the corner rounder on the envelope punch board…you can see that I used it in several places today! So easy…leaves a great clean and crisp cut every time!
I am just having a ball with this designer series paper! I am not one that likes to venture from the traditionals colors of a holiday….this is a prime example – to me Valentines is white red and pink…but I am LOVIN' these fun colors!
I have been having fun doing the Valentines! I hope that you are also liking them! So much to day before I leave but it will all come together….it usually does and one thing that I know that I am way toooooo guilty of…is being too hard on yourself – it will all come together…..
Have a great day and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jan 6, 2014 | Super Easy, Valentines |
This is the week for LOVE….or should I say….a week of inspiration for Valentine’s Cards!
It seems like we go from one holiday to the next and even though we are only in the 1st week of January…February 14th will be here before you know it!
How about this for a super clean and simple card! I am going to have a Valentine’s Card making class this month so you get to see the fun cards that we will be making!
Are you all loving the new catalog? It is great and I hope that you keep looking through it as there is so much to take in…I love to see the front section where Stampin’ Up! has inspired us with many great ideas! I use these Ideas a lot…why not? They are “keepers”!!!!
I had a “fun and play” time yesterday with my dear friend Jeanie and she came to my house to “play” and as we were stamping and creating….she would say…”Hey – where did this come from?” and when I would say it’s in the new catalog….she would say “No way…I’ve looked through that catalog a 100 times…..”
Today’s card is from the new catalog and the note cards are from the special Valentines collection – I am not one that usually likes “pre-printed” cards…but this is the 2nd time I have used this on posts and I think it is super cute!
Let’s get to it……
- The note card is called Sweet Saying Cards and you get 12 pre-printed cards with envelopes that coordinate! I love the fact that you get 4 of each color of envelopes…real read, pool party and crisp cantaloupe all for just $5.95!
- I then punched out the stamped image with the heart punch along with 2 more real red ones and then using the fun print in the Fresh Prints Paper Stack…I punched 2 of them (and still have plenty to make a liner for my envelope later) and one in pool party!
- I used the mono liquid glue for the hearts…why??? I like this adhesive when you want to “wiggle them” into a certain place…so easy and it is SUPER strong!
- The focal stamped heart – I added some stampin’ vitamins…aka Stampin’ Dimensionals to lift it up and to let the “simple WOW” happen!
- That’s about it…a couple of “Susan dots” here and there and the use the Envelope Liner Framelit with the rest of the piece of DSP and YOU’RE DONE!
Let's talk about these paper stacks! I am thrilled that Stampin’ Up! has them and I truly hope they continue to have them available! I love them for several reasons…
- With a sheet you can line 2 envelopes!
- For this card…I was able to line the envelope and cut the hearts out (actually I can cut 6 hearts and line one envelope….great for classes)
- If you really want something quick and fast…you can use one of these sheets to use on the front of a regular A-2 card!
- This pack is so affordable and the size is great to pop in your bag. Many times…I precut…pre-punch things and then at lunch at work I put cards together!
- You get 48 sheets for just $6.95
Thanks for all of the comments on yesterday’s post…it is soooo fun to read them and see what products you are inspired by etc…remember – leave me a comment and you might win my “Pot of Gold” that I am giving to one lucky winner….
$20.00 worth of any Stampin’ Up! Products = 14 handmade cards from me =
2014
Woot-Woot to you! Please let me know how you like this sweet card today! When I first saw the colors that the pre-printed cards were – my 1st instinct was I was not sure…but I LOVE them together! (See…I need to step out of my comfort zone….)
This is a busy and fun week for me…I am super busy with my job getting things in order for me to go to Houston…but I CANNOT wait to go to Leadership and be inspired by such amazing people…
Let’s have a great week…thanks for popping by and remember to click the SHOP NOW button and you can get any of these goodies delivered right to your door and also…please subscribe to my bog (right hand side of the blog) to get a daily dose of inspiration!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jan 5, 2014 | Things you just have to buy!, Tips and Tricks!!! |
Happy New Year…part #2
On January 1st I posted this post….a unique post as I do not have a card to share with you…rather I am sharing with you some of the Stampin' Up! products that I love and "works for me"…
Today is the 2nd of 3 posts of sharing with you some of my all time "keepers"! I could go on and on about all sorts of things and today I wanted to randomly pick some of my favorite products that we have at Stampin' Up! and give you the "why's" I love them so much as well as some "tips and tricks" that I have found with them!
Here you go….these are not in any particular order of my preference! Read to the end as you will see you will have the opportunity to win some blog candy!
I am purposely not putting in specific stamp sets…the solid papers….our marker collection…and the Big Shot…as to me – these are the staples…(bread & butter) to our fabulous collection of products!
- Stamp-A-Ma-Jig – If you are one of my "regular" blog followers…you already know that I adore this tool…simply cannot and would not be without it! Why….
- Perfect placement each and every time you use it! SIMPLE!!!
- Confessions of an honest stamper: way before I became a Stampin Up Demonstrator I bought this "thing" (as I called it) – I had absolutely NO CLUE how to use it until I clearly realized that I was "afraid" to stamp (especially) sentiments on my cards because they would be "crooked" – then I decided to master this…and that is exactly what I did…..sooooo my advice to you is simple!
- Do this….get a sentiment out….or any stamp and practice…practice and practice! Once you get it – you get it! It is like learning to ride a bike. I honestly would be lost without it and I truly want to you reach out to me if you are frustrated with it or if you are not using it….
- Simply Scored Scoring Tool – I know what you are thinking…..on my 1st post I shared with you the Stampin Timmer that also is super cool that it has a scoring aspect to it…..but this is a bit different in my eyes and this is why!
- No doubt I ADORE and would not be without the Stampin' Trimmer but this is different to me especially with 3-D projects! I think that this tool has a "deeper" score that is necessary with certain projects!
- I also love the "markers" as when I am making "many" projects – I find it such a cinch not to have to worry about counting!
- I love having the "ruler" on the top as well as down the side!
- Grid Paper – I know that this is a weird one for you….but hang on and see "why" I have this on the list! It is truly "my friend and savior many times"
- This is a must in my eyes as not only do you get 100 sheets of these grid papers….it is PERFECT to work with as you have a ruler…and area that is every 1/4"
- You have a section that you can "write notes/dimensions/instructions for future cards….but it is a GREAT place to make notes of what you are using and what you need to order!
- I have had the SAME PAD OF PAPER FOR PROBABLY 3 YEARS….why? I have a piece of plexiglass over top of a sheet and there are many times that I do not ever write on it!
- Stampin' Dimensionals – aka to me….my Stampin' Vitamins! LOVE-LOVE-LOVE!!! I would NEVER and (never is a BIG word that I do not like to use) be without them and this is why!
- These little gems are simply the BEST on the market! I TOTALLY realize and I honestly can say, I also shop at stores that offer a 50% coupon and I realize that there are other companies that make items that are similar to the Stampin' Dimensionals but they are SOOOOO different!
- Ours not only have the perfect height…they "peel off" sooooo easy and there is simply NO WASTE!
- I love using them as they give a great card to a WOW card with a simple touch….and when you simply use the stampin' dimensionals – no extra postage needed……I would say probably 90% of my projects have them!
- Black Staz On Ink – As my late Mom would say….."Black and White are the classic's…and you can never go wrong with the classic's" and this is why….
- When it come to stampin' in black – you want a good and crisp image….and this is my #1 reason that I love this ink pad!
- When you are water-coloring…this ink is a must as it will not run and bleed!
- Probably my #1 reason I love these are…..the size! I truly wish that they would come out with Very Vanilla…maybe soon (fingers crossed)…it is a perfect size to write a quick note!
- I love the fact that we have framelits to line the envelopes of this special size!
- I love the fact that you cam get 20 cards and envelops for just $5.95!
- This is sharp…a weapon as I call it! I find it my "handy and go-to tool" for picking up pieces of paper that have adhesive on it…
- I love it to "place" glue dots in place – they work perfectly each and every time!
- I do have and use the paper piercing templates – and I will say that I think that is a quick and effecive way to make a card go from a great card to a WOW card!
Now here is a way for you to WIN some fun! Please leave me a comment or send me an email and I will put your name in a "pot of gold".…and after all 3 posts…I will pick one person from random.org to make it fair for everyone and you will have the chance to win in honor of the NEW YEAR….
$20.00 worth of Stampin' Up! products of your choice
PLUS 14 handmade cards and envelopes from me = did you get it???
2014
This way you will have 3 chances to win if you follow my blog everyday
…WOOT-WOOT!!!!
I thank you for popping by today and I truly wish you a Happy New Year…again!
Remember to leave me a comment and you could win the 2014 blog candy for the start of the NEW YEAR! If you are a SUD that follows my blog….please leave me a comment – we all work together and I to go to your blogs for inspiration!
If you left me a comment on the 1st post….please feel free to leave a comment again….better chance to win the "candy"! Check back for the last posting on my favorites!!!
Here's to a great year – so far it's been a great one and….Unitl tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Jan 4, 2014 | Things you just have to buy! |
Oh, HAPPY day to all of YOU!!! I do not know about you….but I am sooooo confused as to what day of the week it is with the holidays and next week will be another change up for me….as I leave for Houston and I am SUPER excited!!!
Being with the PALS is going to be a great time in itself but…. another fun aspect is “swapping” cards with other Stampin’ Up Demonstrators! Mary Fish, my wonderful upline is hosting a sip and swap for the PALS on the 1st night we get there….and this is the card I am making for my swap!
I think it sums it up…Oh, HAPPY day! I just said to John, I feel a bit guilty going away next week and when I showed him today’s card he said…”Go…have fun…as it will be one HAPPY time for you!!!” He is simply the best!
I have lots to share so we have to get to it! Sorry, so many pictures but I know you like pictures and I think a “visual” helps! As always, email me if you have any questions! How fun is a ROUND card!!!!
Here you go….PLEASE try it – you will really make someone smile when they open up an envelope and see it’s a round card!!
- The base of my circle is the largest of the Circle Framelits….and guess what – THEY ARE ON SALE THIS WEEK – woot…woot!!!! The color is the yummy crushed curry and from one sheet of paper you can make 2 cards! I cut the card stock at the 4 ¼” mark and then scored it at 5 ½”
- Below you will see a picture of how I placed the framelits on the crushed curry….TIP: – it is a snug fit (left to right) so make sure you have it in place and naturally it is sooo easy if you use the magnetic platform! You need to put a gap at the top to make the “hinge” part of the card!
- The next circle is using the largest Starburst Framelit and then the next layer is the 3rd largest circle in Bermuda Bay! EASY…right!
- Let’s look at the next couple pictures….you know me – I do not waste a bit of paper! You can see that I cut shapes out….(I know I’ll use them later!!!) and I must admit – I had a comment the other day about how do I store the shapes…I am sorry that I did not reply but this is one way I store them…I have a LARGE Plastic Tool Box ( I guess that’s what you would call it) – it has probably 50 little drawers…I either put the shape on the front if it fits – or use my label maker and make an appropriate label!
- Let’s get stampin’…..the stamp is so fresh and fun! It is from the new Starburst Sayings Stamp Set and I used the In Color of Strawberry Slush! Using the Matching Framelit from this set…A simple twist from the Big Shot…makes the magic happen!
- Time to put together!!! Adhere….adhere…then on the “oh, HAPPY days”…put Stampin’ Dimensionals all around!
- Envelope time…. Envelope Punch Board to the rescue! I looked at the chart and did not find one for a 4 ¼” card…so I looked at the guidelines for a 4” card and then a 4 ½” card…and simply met in the middle! The Paper size was 7 ¼” square and then score at 3 5/8”…BAM…done!!!!
- Liner time…so easy…look at the picture below and you will see that you place a ruler at the edge of the envelope and take it to the edge of the “valley” – take that measurement and cut a square …in this instance – cut a 3 1/2” square! You can see that it uses a minimal amount of paper!
- Go in just 1/8” and punch(for this 3 3/8")…..flip over and do the same….BINGO-BANGO….a perfect liner! Works every time! I learned this trick/tip from my upline, Mary Fish! LOVE IT!
Just look at the end result – One cute card that will MAKE YOUR DAY! I am soooo excited to see the PALS and I hope that they enjoy this card! Trust me…there will be lots of chatting going on!!!
It's fun doing an odd size card and just think of all of the framelits we have now that we can do this concept with! Have fun….experiment – try to stretch yourself a bit out of you comfort box!
Remember…you can order BOTH of these products as a bundle(and save 15% right away)….but if you do this (and it totally makes sense doing it this way) make sure that you order with the BUNDLE number! I love that Stampin' Up now has a "Bundle" category in the ordering area….!!!
So ….what do you think of this card….I hope it makes you smile and I also hope that the new catalog makes you smile…..I LOVE it…have a super Saturday and until tomorrow…..
by Susan Itell | Jan 3, 2014 | Super Easy, Things you just have to buy! |
I hope that you are as excited as I am with the unveiling of the new catalog as I think that it is SUPER GREAT! Have fun flipping away on line if you do not have a hard copy yet!
Read to the end for a carrot that we all use….stampin' dimensionals!!!
Take your time viewing it on-line and also make sure that you "take in" all of the wonderful samples that are showcased at the beginning of the catalog!
Let me help you with the catalog…pages 1 – 17 showcase the products in pictures and samples and then starting with page 18 – you will get the "ordering as you know it"….I adore the name of the catalog…
"Celebrate the everyday"
This is such a wonderful catalog name and I do hope that YOU celebrate everyday and that you
"enjoy"
my card for the day…
This is so simple to make so let's get to it as I will also share with you a quick run down of some of my favorites of this new catalog!
- The card is a note card size that I cut using the Night of Navy card stock! You know I love this size!
- The Whisper White piece is 3 3/4" X 2 1/4" and then using the stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the super sweet and simple sentiment of "enjoy" in the center! (don't you LOVE this font) This is from the Simply Celebrate Stamp Set!
- The Real Red piece is cut at 4 1/2" X 2 3/4" and then a simple stitching with the Uni-Ball White Gel Pen…makes a big statement with such little effort! For just $3.95 – I say this is a must!
- These super sweet hearts came from another new stamp set called, Language of Love! What a great new addition and I can already see many cards in the making with this gem! The small heart punch is the perfect fit to punch out these real red hearts!
- Adding some stampin' dimensionals behind the hearts as well as behind the Real Red piece….is all that is needed – BAM – one cute card!
I am super happy that Stampin' Up! keeps these stacks coming…to me – they are perfect for lining envelopes plus the size is perfect for those of you that like to make a front of the card with a quick and easy piece of designer series paper!
Now……for a drum-roll……here are some of my favorites from this catalog….
They are in no particular order…just me flippin' and sharing!
SOOOO thankful that there are soooo many bundles…
remember when you buy a bundle – you save an instant 15%
- Vivid Vases….LOVE IT – Can't wait to play and water-color!!!
O.k. – I could just keep going on and on…..this really is a WOWZERS group of goodies…..I hope that you have enjoyed today's post and I hope that you have fun going through the catalog!!!
Please feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email! Exciting times… – I think that it is just great to see everyone get so excited – like a kid in a candy store…
Speaking of candy….we all LOVE candy and my candy to you is a FREE pack of Stampin' Dimensions if you place an order with me and get at least one item from the NEW catalog…(basically you can order anything from the regular catalog…the clearance rack as well….and if your order is $25.00 or more)…I will send you a pack of Stampin' Dimensionals!
This offer is good through Saturday the 4th at noon!
My thanks and excitement for this new catalog of goodies!!! Now this is a WOOT-WOOT!!!
Click here or hit the SHOP NOW BUTTON and start shopping away….
Until tomorrow…
