by Susan Itell | Oct 31, 2013 | Thanksgiving |
BOO! Happy Halloween to all! I hope those of you that have little ones have fun seeing the magic in those little eyes when they get so excited to be dressed up!
I know that many areas and many people do not recognize Halloween as truly the times have changed but I will enjoy thinking back to fond memories of going trick-n-treating with my brothers and hoping that Mrs. McCraw would be giving out her homemade popcorn balls! WOW – would I do anything to have one…I still remember how she tied the ends up with black and orange yarn!
I love to remember that all 3 of my children wore the most adorable Pumpkin Costume that I LOVED and they were not as keen about it as they were probably around 4 at the time and I loved to keep stuffing the costume with white tissue paper to make the costume round! (The part that they really disliked was the "stem" that they wore on their head – the boys did not like the elastic part that went under their chin….but I loved taking pictures of them!)
Ok….let me hop off the road of memory lane and now that we have Halloween behind us…let's start getting going on some Thanksgiving inspiration!
Do you realize that 4 weeks from today is Thanksgiving and we are going to be stressing out if the turkey is cooked…how in the world are we going to get everything in the oven and cooked…who's going shopping for Black Friday…ya-da-ya-da!
I adore Thanksgiving for many reasons…I love having my family home and I find it a perfect day of total relaxation and fun!
It is a casual day that I look so forward to…making a big breakfast and homemade sticky buns (kids favorite)…watching the Macy Day Parade…then the Dog Show….then going for a walk on the C & O Canal…to football…and then the HUGE meal that we always say we are going to eat at "x" time…only to always be 2 hours later! Just love this day!!! Then as we are all miserable from over eating – we watch Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation and hopefully someone will play bananagrams with me!
Down to business! I feel like I have totally neglected Crumb Cake lately and I do love it as it always is a neutral that can go both ways….subtle or fun – depending on the colors you put with it!
The stamp is from the Seasonal Sayings Stamp Set and this has such a great assortment of holidays! This is a great stamp set to have if you enjoy making cards for the holidays throughout the year! The sentiments hold up for themselves so you need a minimal backdrop!
When I think of Thanksgiving, I do think of leaves, pumpkin pie, the fireplace going….and I think of warm browns, yellows and orange! The Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper was the prefect choice for today's card!
I had to put my thinking cap on and I kind of "fudged it" but it worked! Remember….anything you do is a work of art from YOU!
I wanted to use the shape of the Chalk Talk Framelits and it was just too short so "Plan B" – I cut 2…and stretched it out to be a size appropriate for the stamp! YEAH!!! I used sticky strip…just love that for certain projects!
I stamped my sentiment in soft suede and then matted it on the ends of a framelit of soft suede before adhering it to a piece of pumpkin pie! A simple "stitch" around the focal part is all that was needed!
A tool that I simply could nt be without is my Stampin' Trimmer…making even cuts of the diagonal stripes is easy and perfect each and every time! This is a fun way to do a quick "something" to a card!
The envelope goes without saying…simple and super cute! I quick lining on the outer part of the envelope and BAM….in the mail you go!
We all have sooooo much to be thankful for…I encourage you to take some time and make some cards and send them to those that make a difference in your life, to those that need encouragement, to those that are less fortunate!
I will continue to inspire you with some Thanksgiving ideas…the calendar is zooming…is tomorrow really November 1st!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Oct 30, 2013 | Christmas, Super Easy |
I knew that today is the countdown day of the week…and it is 8 weeks until Christmas Day! I spend lots of time trying to figure out what card I am going to use for my family and I think I love this card so much…it just might be this gem!
Why do I like it so much…
- It's super clean…just like I like it!
- It's very "simple" and soooo easy!
- It's a very affordable card to make!
- It would be easy to make a bunch of…assembly line!!!
- It will mail without extra postage (the bow is very flat)
Let's get to it and when you look at it and break it down…so darn' doable and the wow and classic feel is there! It really puts me in the warm and festive mood!
Very Vanilla was the choice neutral for today's card cut at the 4 1/4" length and then scored at 5 1/2". I have been wanting to use the Very Vanilla Core'dinations Paper and running it through the Big Shot with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder!
Now before we go any further…let's chat about the Core'dinations Paper…this is a super cool paper that allows you to "tear it" and you will expose a texture like no other and the other thing you can do is use the Stampin' Sanding Block (like I did with this card) and it will expose some of the natural fibers to give it a very rich and classic finish!
I matted this over top of a piece of Always Artichoke piece of paper (yes…I cut out some shapes to save paper…why not? – you're going to cover it up!!!) I love paper and I love saving paper!!!
The stamp? Where did it come from? It is a single stamp – "be merry" and it is just $8.95! You see…this really is a value of a card! Click here to see all of the Single Holiday Stamps that we are offering this year!
Did you notice that I left out the "To and From" on the stamp…I simply put a piece of sticky tape over it before I inked it up and then peeled it off before I stamped it!
I did a quick cut with the paper snips and then matted it with the always artichoke. To cut the little hole for the ribbon, I used the Chalk Talk Framelits to give it that professional cut!
A simple "pull through" with the Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon is all this card needs!
OOPS – I already took my pictures! I thought that this ribbon was still available, it is not and I would use the seam binding in the Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon – this would be classic !!!
Add some Stampin' Dimensionals and BAM – one beautiful card….What do you think? Is it a "keeper" in your eyes?
The envelope could not be easier or more straight forward…a simple liner from the Regals Designer Series Paper Stack with the help of the Envelope Liner Framelit and you're done!
Now this was easy wasn't it…I am so tickled with it and I think that I am going make the same card in other color combinations!…..cherry cobbler, old olive and crumb cake! It was so much fun to make and so easy!
Another weekly deal that is here for the week…click here and see the goodies and then click on my SHOP NOW button and you will have them delivered right to your door! My top 2 picks this week are the paper snips and the secret garden framelits (love that stamp set)
I hope that this card inspired you and warms your heart…just the message alone says it all "be merry"!
Go have a great day and let joy into your heart! Thanks for popping by and please share my blog and my passion for being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! I thank you and….
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Oct 29, 2013 | Birthday |
Do you remember yesterday"s post? Well…just in case you did not have the chance to pop by…here is the link but as I said…sometimes you want to give a little something for a gift but here is the card for my friend!
We are going to meet today for a coffee and I know that there will be a smile to her for this post but also she will love her gift of the 3 X 3 cards and envelopes that I made!!!
Before I go any further….a big WOOT-WOOT to the lucky winner of the adhesive bundle!!! Not only did Margaret have 1 but 2 but 3….she had 5 chances to win this bundle and I am sooooo happy that YOU took advantage of the 25% off but I am even more excited that YOU will get from me:
I say a huge WOOT-WOOT as we always need adhesives! Thank you!!!
Let's get to today's card! Clean classic and truly a card that I had no clue where I was going with it but I let creativity go and I love it!
Simple, clean, crisp and super easy…a true winner!
The Stamp Set I chose was the Four You Stamp Set and it is one that should be on your "A list" of stamps! Love the font of the sentiment!
Check out the others….all keepers! When you see a set like this…just hit the "Shop Now" button and order it….trust me – you will not regret it!
By now you know me…I pick my card from the liner of the card! I have not used this paper a bunch lately and I know that this colors are Ellen's favorite – fun and spunky…just like her! It is from the I Am Me Designer Series Paper and it is just super clean and fresh!
Adoring lots of "white" spaces on my cards, I thought I would let the bold and fun colors do their magic! I know that I have said endless times before – when you have the right tools….everything comes together!
I could not be without my Stampin Trimmer and also the Big Shot! These 2 tools made my card come to life in a SNAP!!!!
The fun and modern flowers came from the Blossom Part Orginals Die and it is a keeper! So fun….so fresh and modern – it is one that is a great "fill in" when you need a bit of bling!
I have a simple ? for you….would you go to all of this trouble in making this card to have your sentiment not straight? This is why the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig needs to be your best friend!!!
PLEASE…if you do not know how to use this tool, please email me and I will happily call you and work you through it! I had the same problem and now I am passionate in helping others feel comfortable!
There rest is super straight forward! The MUST HAVE envelope liner framelits are the best thing that has come down the pike! I still am super proud that I lined envelopes "Susan's Way" before it came out but I will say – this is not only a life saver…but a time saver and that is key!
Please pop back tomorrow as I will be showcasing another Holiday Card for you! Can someone please stop that calendar….???? Well…it is what it is and we just have to accept it and what ever we can accomplish…we do!!!
Thank you for your support and Margaret….have fun making cards as the adhesives that you won will be making you smile!!!
Have a fabulous day and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Oct 28, 2013 | 3-D Projects, Birthday, Super Easy |
We all know that when it come to Birthday's most of us really do not need a thing…I would wager to say that many of you are like me…spending time with family and friends is the best gift one can give…but I also know that there are times that you want to give someone a little something…
Well how about this "little practical something" Not only will you get a "feel good" by making a gift from your hands and heart…but knowing that it is a practical and useful gift! We all can use some cute enclosure 3 X 3 cards and with lining the envelope, this makes it extra special!
Today is the last day for you to take advantage of the 25% off of 25 Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets and today I am showcasng another 2 sets for you!
Don't forget when you order from me any of these stamp sets, you will have the opportunity to win a bundle of adhesives from me as my thanks to you! If Stampin Up! is celebrating and spoiling us…I am going to do the same to you!!!
I adore making 3-D containers for goodies that I make and this super cute 3 X 3 box idea came from fellow PAL, Beth Beard! Please go and check out her blog and video on making these gems – super easy to whip up and it you do not want to decorate the side…just do the front panel!
The 2 Stamp Sets that I used today were Crazy, Mixed-Up Love …
and…Label Love! Both of these stamp sets are super cute and very easy to use with lots of different cards!
Do you remember that I have posted before that sometimes I think we forget that Stampin' Up! sells 12 X 12 card stock in many of the colors…Please go to the paper section in the catalog and you will see which colors they are available in!
For this project I used the Whisper White Card Stock in the 12 X 12 paper and made cuts at 3" and from 1 sheet of paper, I can make 8 cards! Love it!
Wanting to keep this super simple, I decided that I was sticking with the color scheme of White, Yellow and Black! Can't go wrong with the basics! The Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper was the fun paper for today! Don't you just love polka dots…they make me smile…always!
When stamping in black, I do always use the Black StazOn Ink…always so clean and crisp but plese remember to clean your stamps properly, you will need to use a special StazOn Cleaner! You always want to keep your stamps clean and conditioned!
I simply did a quick and easy stamp on the front…added a couple of dots here and there and then pulling out the Big Shot and the envelope liner framelits…lining the 3 X 3 envelopes that Stampin' Up! sells…made this project a breeze!
Can't you think of many people that you know would love this! You can make it seasonal for a teachers gift…give someone Holiday Cards….the sky is the limit! I have fit 12 cards and 12 lined envelopes (2) of each 6 different designs (you could probably easily fit 15 in it!)
Using the Large Oval Punch and then the Basic Black Chevron Ribbon...the gift was finished!
Now isn't this super simple and cute! You use minimal product, one color of ink and paper, the same liner for all 12 cards…and the best thing it is soooo practical and your friends and family will love it!
Please leave me a comment and let me know how you like this simpl and clean gift! If you would rather email me, simply click here!
I thank you for popping by and please subscribe to my blog…(upper right corner) – I adore posting everyday to inspire you! You insipre ME each and everyday!
Here is to a new week! Let's make it fun and safe!
Until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | Oct 27, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig |
Happy Sunday to all! Did this card make you…
S M I L E…
I sure hope so as I think it is fun and when you hear the
story behind this card, you will be smiling as well! I always create cards that
are ones that I would send out and I usually create a card for a specific
reason…
Last Saturday night I was smiling from ear to ear! I wish
John would have been able to go but I relived the story to him and he too was
smiling! Our dear friends were in a dancing competition for a wonderful cause
in our local community!
The format was like the TV Show “Dancing with the Stars” but
hang on…here comes the“pulling of your heart strings”…it was the Dad and his
19 year old daughter! They were not only adorable; they were fantastic and just
seeing them together beaming in front of over 400 people was a sight and inner
feeling I will never forget!
So…this card is for Sandra. I have know Sandra since the day
she was born and my own daughter, Hannah and her are the same age and it has
been a joy and privilege to watch her grow into the beautiful, confident young
women she is!
Sorry for rambling but you know me, I love to tell my
stories of how I am inspired! Staying true to you I have used 2 of the 25% off
stamp set and tomorrow is the last day of the special celebration!
You know that it is “hip to be square” and today is no
different…so lets get to this fun card! Please try this technique and remember
that you can use all different types of framelits to use this concept!
- The card size is a 5” square…love this size! The
base color is So Saffron and then I matted a piece of whisper white
- Using the magnetic platform and the big shot cut
a square with the Square Framelits in the front of the card (this will be your window)… This platform is a
MUST HAVE product and it makes it so easy to keep the framlits in place!
- I put a piece of white card stock on the inside
of the card and then with the card closed, use a pencil and lightly draw the
square – then find the center of the square as this will be your 1st
“smile” stamp and then you can do the top and bottom stamp!
This stamp is from the Happy Day Stamp Set and it is a
keeper with the bold and fun sentiments! I just love the WOW impact it gives! From the 1st day I saw the new catalog…I knew that this stamp set would have a home on my shelf!
- Taking a piece of So Saffron and taking the
square framelit the size of your window and then taking the one that is 2nd
larger than the window, make a square frame! You will see using the Magnetic
Platform is a life saver!
- Adhere that on the front of the card and I like using the Tombow
multipurpose glue (remember a little goes a long way) as if you do not get it
perfectly lined up the 1st time…you can wiggle it around a bit!
- Here comes the 2nd stamp set…Betsy’s
Blossom…this is a very versatile set and I encourage you to google this stamp
name and you will be amazed with how this can made for many different themes!
- Using the Strawberry Slush and Gumball Green I
stamped the images and then using the BEST scissors in the whole wide world,
the paper snips, I did a quick “fussy cut”…no stressing on perfection as this
is a work of art from YOU!
I know you might be thinking, where do you write a message?
I signed the card underneath the smile portion so it would not show when you
looked at the card but I also put a piece of white on the back of the card to
write to Sandra to let her know how proud I am of her and her Dad!
- Naturally I needed to do a bit of bling on the
outside and after doing this on the card several days ago, I had many positive
comments so I thought this would work well today! Hopefully you are smiling
now! The Stamp-a-ma-jig is your friend to do this!
Remember that tomorrow is the very last day of the sale of
25% off on the 25 stamp sets! Hopefully you have been inspired on my showcases
this past week of these sets!
If you follow me regularly you know that my main goal is to
inspire you to reach out and try something different. We are all to hard on
ourselves and remember, there is no perfection…anything that you do is a gift
from YOU!!! Do not be so hard on yourself!
Please email me if you need any help and I will gladly help
you or if you need me to call you…I’ll be glad to do so!
Enjoy this day and please do not forget to S M I L E…as not
only is it contagious …it’s a free “feel good”!
Until tomorrow!
