by Susan Itell | Mar 22, 2013 | Birthday |
BIG NEWS! MDS2 and MDS2+ are being renamed (to simplify) to MDS and the price of the software has been greatly reduced from $79.95 to $19.95. Even better news – you can download MDS for a free 30 day trial period – it simply does not get better than that! Each and every Tuesday, SU comes out with new downloads to add to the MDS program!
Today's blog is a fun twist…and it is a test…for my beautiful daughter that will be 19….not today but in a week! I made the promise to you that I would do a MDS every week and here you go! Let's see if she notices that this is early! (she'll get a beautiful card next week, on her real Birthday…my kids profess that they subscribe to my blog…we'll see!!!!)
If you follow my blog, you know that I consider myself "computer challenged" ( just look at my blog header and you can still see it is February in my world….can't seem to figure out how to change it)…once again – if I can make cute cards like this – YOU CAN!
Well here you go…first – close your eyes and image that you are holding a card…this is what I absolutely LOVE about MDS…it is the same price printing using 1-2-3-or 4 sides to a card! (Click on the images to enlarge and to get a great feel of the card)
I am choosing to not show you the back of the card ('cause it's just blank!) but please know that YOU CAN put more text….more photos etc…if you wish! Adding your own pictures, your own message really makes the wow factor come to life!
The ideas are endless and trust me – there are sooooooo many gu-ru's out there that inspire, help, and build your self confidence that you can do this plus MDS has a website for help, ideas and support – check it out… You can print (1) card…or you can print (100) cards and the pricing is fabulous!
Today is the LAST DAY of Sale-A-Bration! What does this mean to you! This is the last day that you can place an order…and have it be $50.00 or more and get a free item of your choice for every $50.00 that you spend!
Go ahead…click here and have fun from your own home! Feel free to email me if you need ideas on what to get for $50.00(but who needs help shopping – but trust me….I would love to suggest and help you!)
This super cute card is from Sale-A-Bration called, Lemonade Stand, that you can get for free.There are so many more cards, scrapbook pages, decorative items that you can make from this one disk! This card is so much fun – think how you can make it "generic" to be able to send to many!
We all need cards in a snap…we are all caught with deadlines and just not being able to find the peaceful and fun time in sitting and creating cards….why not let this software give you the best of both worlds….being able to create….and having someone else do the printing…
Using MDS in this way allows the "creative" side of you to still have fun designing , then you can either print it off using your computer or having them do it! The quality of the paper…the professionalism of all of the effects are truly amazing!
Until tomorrow…..let's see if Hannah reads my blog and thinks her Mom has "lost it" in forgetting her Birthday date!
I love what I am doing….and I would love to help you! MDS is a great product and MDS is something that YOU CAN DO! Email me and I will be there for you!
by Susan Itell | Mar 21, 2013 | Thinking of you |
I have a confession…when the Spring Catalog came out – I instantly loved this stamp set, Beyond Plaid, why??? – not sure but I have to say I have never been so frustrated with trying to create something that I am happy with! I have never struggled so until this card – I really like it and I'm smiling!!!! I just kept crossing the design to make the backdrop of the card!
All of the colors I used came from the In-Color 2012-2014 Collection! They all work together so well and now that it is SPRING…doesn't this make you feel cheerful! I stamped the images on white card stock and then popped them out using the 1 3/8" square punch. I just kept crossing the design to make the backdrop of the card! Turned out pretty cool!
After "scruffing up" the Feels Good stamp to get maximum coverage ( remember a pet peeve of mine) I ran it through my dear, Mr. Big Shot, my favorite stampin' man – then using the Labels Collection Framelits I cut out that fun shape! To give it a bit of softness, I lightly sponged the sides of the sentiment piece! After matting it I used the Paper piercing tool and the Festive Paper-Piercing Pack using every other hole to give the WOW factor a WOW!
Adding just a dap of ribbon, the Primrose Petal Stitched Satin Ribbon the final touch was in place! Putting my Stampin' Vitamins, Stampin Dimensionals and lining the envelope with the In-Color Designer Paper, this card came to life! Please email me or leave a comment and let me know how you like this!
I would love for you to be a PAL….and time is running out to take advantage of the Sale-A Bration Celebration! Do you realize that well over 80% of SU Demonstrators are hobbiest like myself! I just love creating and love making and sending cards to family and friends..how about joining me with this fun journey!
Until tomorrow…..happy Stampin'!!!
Paper: Primrose Petal (126841), Gumball Green (126840), Summer Starfruit (126839), In Color 2012-2014 Collection
Designer Paper (126910)
Ink: Primrose Petal , Gumball Green, Summer Star Fruit
Cool
Tools: Big Shot (113439), 1 3/8 " Square Punch (119877),Labels Framelits (125598),Festive Paper-Piercing Paper Pack (127857)
The
Perfect Touches –Stampin Dimensionals
(104430), Snail (104332),2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Primrose Petal Satin Stitched Ribbon
by Susan Itell | Mar 20, 2013 | Birthday, Stamp-a-ma-jig |
"Henry" is tooting his horn 'cause it is my Grandsons 3rd Birthday! Happy special birthday Liam!!! Unfortunately little Liam lives way far away so anytime with him brings John and I smiles!
This card is a bit "out of the box" for me cause when I need to watch and re-watch videos I get a bit nervous as remember….I am simple…clean and use lots of paper! When you start breaking out things that plug in – I get a bit overwhelmed but this was SUPER easy….SUPER fun and SUPER cute!
My inspiration came from a fellow Pal Liz Hughes, from "Cardiology Ink" ( Isn't that the cutest name)…and I watched her video and thought – "I can do this!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq3iHfehDHc
This is a standard A-2 card with the Marina Mist as my card stock! Cutting the Basic Black just 1/4" smaller, I took Liz's advice and used the Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils to draw my borders…it really – really looks like chalk! Using the grid paper made it super easy to whip those lines with your ruler!
The Embossing Buddy is a must to get the clean and crisp look when you emboss! This little gem takes all of the static and dust off of your paper to make your stamped image covering clearly! When doing this method you use the VersaMark Pad and then set it with the Heat Tool!
Now to get dear Henry tooting his Happy Birthday Horn in the perfect place…I once again took Liz's advice and first stamped the image on a piece of vellum….embossed it so I could see it – then placed it exactly where I wanted to to go!!! Once again, that little Stamp-a-ma-jig is my go-to lifesaver! Personalizing Liam's Card…I used the NEW Photopolymer Stamp Set ( still trying to figure this one out but I think once I master it – it will be super fun!)
Now for the fun banner up top! I cut 2 snips in ( thanks to Liz's tip) to anchor my bakers twine! Out came my main man….Mr. Big Shot, poor guy – he gets dragged around all over the place! Using the Hearts a Flutter Framelits I cut out my banners to give this car the pizzazz it deserves! Doesn't this just make it!
To give the "chalkboard" effect….I did use the White Craft Pad Ink along with a sponge dauber, I first dappled it off on a scrap piece of paper then to my card….getting the effect I wanted! I then lightly went over Henry using the Water Color Pencils to color him lightly in blue!
Naturally I POPPED them up with Stampin' Dimensionals and then added an adorable button to give it that special touch for this special little guy! For my "trademark" I lined the envelope with the cheery Polka Dot Parade Paper! Too fun and cute!
Until tomorrow….I am a click away or you can shop away with this click! Have a super-duper day and dear little Liam…many more fabulous Birthdays ahead! xoxoxox
STAMPIN' UP! SUPPLIES:
Stamp Set: Henry Says (128093) clear, (128090) wood, NEW – Photopolymer Stamp Set (132956)
Paper: Basic Black (121045), Marina Mist (119682), Perfect Polka Parade Dot
Designer Paper (126902)
Ink: VerseaMark (102283) – Whisper White Embossing Powder ( 109132)
Cool
Tools: Embossing Buddy (103083), Heat Tool (129053), Hearts a Flutter Framelits (1130159),Stamp-a-ma-jig(101049), Big Shot (113439)
The
Perfect Touches –Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Snail (104332), Glue Dots (103683), 2-Way Glue Pen (1oo425), Bakers Twine, Neutrals Designer Buttons(119743)
by Susan Itell | Mar 19, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Thank You |
Clean + Crisp = One Cute Card!
I know…..I know….who WON the BLOG CANDY from my 50th post!!!! I promised you that I would tell you this morning…but 1st – lets look at today's card!!!! ( ha-ha!!!!)
I just think the Elephant is sooooo darn cute! Last night when I was looking through my designer paper I came across this Elephant paper from the World Spectacular Designer Series Paper and I thought …now this could be super cute for a masculine card or also used with the Sale-A-Bration Patterned Occasions Stamp Set!
I wanted to showcase this little guy and I knew if I did them in a row – I would need the Stamp-a-ma-jig (I know…I can see the majority of you now saying….I do not know how to use this thing)…well – again, if I can do it – YOU can do it! The best advice I give you is practice – practice – practice! Within a matter of minutes you will say – this was easy!!!
A couple of tricks here….First I used the grid paper that we sell ( again, on my A list) as it makes lining up projects…jotting notes about the project you are working on so easy! I drew a line with pencil 1/2" up as my guide! I then stamped an image with the Stamp-A-ma-Jig to get the right spot! Next, I masked the sentiment and the flower with a piece of sticky note and then inked up the Elephant stamp up with Black Staz-On Ink…peeled off the sticky notes and stamped away! Perfect…right!
Now to add a bit of fun I pulled out the Dotted Scallop Border Punch and punched away – Just LOVE the effect it gives! Another "A list" tool that is just an absolute must is the Stampin' Trimmer – it is the ONLY way that I could have made just a sliver to on top of the Scalloped Punch!
Where did the "hearts" come from – the Owl Builder Punch! ( Personally I have never been a huge fan of Owls but I will say this punch is incredible with all of the different things you can make out of it!!!) I did the same technique with the sentiment on masking and then POPPED it out with the Window Word Punch…too easy again!
Now a couple of ?'s you might be asking yourself….
- How did she get that teeny tiny strip of So Saffron on the border = Tombo Multi Purpose Liquid Glue! This is my new "go to" adhesive for several reasons…..it is super inexpensive ( $3.95) and it is super strong!
- What color of paper is this card = Sahara Sand! This is the 1st time I have used it as a base of a card and I LOVE it! To me it complimented the liner of my envelope! Speaking of envelopes – we do not have Sahara Sand envelopes….sooooo darn easy – just make one yourself! Presto!!!
- A ? I get asked all the time…..how do I seal my envelopes as I always line them = 2-Way Glue Pen…BINGO-BANGO…..I probably have 6 of them floating around the house as it is so easy to use and it really seals them tight and for $3.50….how can you go wrong!!!
- Remember, I am a click away for you to order your products and have them delivered right to your door!It simply could not get easier than that! As always, please fee free to email me anytime!
-
NOW FOR THE WINNER……My Dear husband John picked it …..and he picked #33! When I asked him WHY? – the Accountant in him came out….
3 (March)+ 17 (St. Patrick's Day) + 13 (for 2013) = 33
...and the lucky winner is…..Debbie
Here is the wonderful comment she posted:
Thank you for sharing. You've encouraged me to look at the chipboard
& Bigz alphabet. I would love to see a video or step-by-step
instructions of how this was done. Did every letter of the alphabet set
get cut out, then you chose the letters you needed?
Thanks, Debbie
Answer to Debbie's question – No…I simply cut 2" X 2" pieces of the chip board and then just ran through the letters I needed to spell L U C K Y! Super easy and no waste!
I truly appreciated each and every comments! Thanks for taking the time to read my Blog!
p.s. – One of my next "to-do's" is to do some video's…just need my kids to come home from college to help me get going!!!!
STAMPIN' UP! SUPPLIES:
Stamp Set: Sale-a-Bration Patterned Occasions (122737) clear
Paper: Sahara Sand (121043), Island Indigo (122923), So Saffron (105118), World Spectacular
Designer Paper (126897)
Ink: Black Staz On (101406)
Cool
Tools: Window Word Punch ( 119857), Dotted Scalloped Border Punch (119275), Owl Builder Punch (1118074),Stamp-a-ma-jig(101049
The
Perfect Touches –Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Snail (104332), Tombo Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue(110755), 2-Way Glue Pen (1oo425)
by Susan Itell | Mar 18, 2013 | Thinking of you |
My precious little tea cup girl had to go to the Vets yesterday for an annual check-up! Well naturally she needs to send a thank you to her Doctor friends that made her so comfortable! Several week ago, I made a card very similar to this one but I decided to "tweak" it cause I wasn't 100% happy with it!
This one I love…I think what needed to be done was to make this a square card as the angles in this card are very square, using the 1" square punch and also the "pig" is relatively square so it just seemed natural to make this card a 4 1/2 X 4 1/2 Square Card! Before punching the square out, I ran my card stock through Mr. Big Shot ( my dear friend) using the Hounds tooth Folder!
I hope that you can see the richness and texture that using the hounds tooth folder gives this card…to me – it is the WOW yet subtle factor!
A tip that I have shared to you before but one well worth saying again, as it is TOTALLY a "pet peeve" of mine…that you see one of our stamps not having a true/solid image! I personally would rather not see a stamped image that is not clean,sharp and crisp….BUT you can do it by "scuffing" up your stamps with a fine grain sand paper…this TOTALLY helps with ink coverage! Another tip – when using Black…I always use Black Staz On…the coverage is perfect! Don't you just love the Neutrals Designer Button on her nose! Cute and fun touch!
Because Daisy is Black, naturally my pig needed to be black and because she is a girl – pink was it! ( she has 5 brothers….dogs – so she is quite the princess!!!) Using the square lines this just came together like 1-2-3!!! Once again, I am using the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set…( remember this is on my A list) and just these 3 little words are a perfect choice! Giving this sentiment a "stage of its own"…the Ticket Duo Builder did the trick! Popping another one with the Melon Mambo and snipping it in half made the POP factor work!
As always, Stampin' Dimensionals are everywhere and the envelope liner is from the Brights Designer Series Paper! Don't the Polka Dots make you smile! Please feel free to email me at anytime if I can help you….inspire you….
After a long day for Daisy she was happy to be home with her brothers! She brings me joy each and everyday as having a "house pig" has always been on my Bucket List! I truly believe that we all need to have a list of goals/dreams that we want to have…life is so short – we need to live the life we all have…we all have gifts to give…until tomorrow have a great day!
p.s. – remember yesterday was my 50th blog and I am offering BOG CANDY….please look at yesterdays post and leave me a comment and YOU could win the Blog Candy! I will announce the winner tomorrow morning!
STAMPIN' UP! SUPPLIES:
Stamp Set: Button Buddies (122735) wood, (122737) clear,Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370) wood, (127802)
Paper: Whisper White (100730), Basic Black (121045), Melon Mambo (115320), Brights
Designer Paper (117155 )
Ink: Black Staz On (101406)
Cool
Tools: 1" Square Punch ( 124094), Big Shot (113439), Ticket Duo Builder Punch (127883)
The
Perfect Touches – Houndstooth Folder 123134), Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Snail (104332), Glue Dots ( 103693), Neutrals Designer Buttons (119743)
