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Ready…Set…It’s a SIMPLE SATURDAY!

by | Jun 17, 2017 | Simple Saturday | 9 comments

 

 

 

 

Woot-Woot – it’s the weekend! I have a SUPER SIMPLE Card for you today! I think that this is the fastest card I have made in a L O N G time. The beauty is the stamp does all of the work for you!

The details are truly unique in this stamp set. In my eyes, this is a very different stamp set for Stampin’ Up! and I will say that when you stamp it – it looks elegant even before you add some color!

The biggest tip I can give you is…MAKE SURE YOUR STAMP IS CONDITIONED WELL. I will go into that…but you can see the boldness of the letters in “THANKS” that you want to make sure that when you stamp….your image is clean and crisp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There really is not much to say about this card because it is so straight forward but I will chat a wee bit about the coloring that I did. I used my old faithful go-to, the aqua painters.

We all seem to pick the coloring medium that works best for us and the aqua painters are my comfort zone. You could easily use the watercolor pencils, the blender pens or even just the markers….this is a very forgiving area to add color to – just have fun!

I did a wash of So Saffron and then went over with Daffodil Delight where there are the darker sketchier areas of the stamped image. For the leaves I did the same thing….colored the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and then went back over with Wild Wasabi wherever there were the sketched lines….super easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier this week I had shared with you that I often pick my color scheme for my card from the DSP Paper that I use for the envelope. Well, today I did not do that (confession of an honest stamper) because I think that I was just so darn excited to start to color away that I never thought about the envelope.

It worked out. We always seem to have yummy paper that will work for the feel and design of a card but remember….if not – just go with a solid coordinating color of paper and perhaps emboss it….that will always do the trick.

You can see that Old Olive is the “green” used in the below DSP of Delightful Daisy….and yep, you are right….I did not use Old Olive – another great example of “don’t get stuck in the rigid box” – always look to the outside! 😀 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before we leave….let’s chat about the conditioning of the stamp. I have blogged about this but sometimes you cannot hear it too much. I like ti take my new stamps and stamp them up really, really good with Versa Mark Ink and then stamp, stamp , stamp.

For those of you that say….what do you do with retired cardstock???….well yep, this is what I do. I have card stock cut down to smaller sizes and I grab a piece and use it to stamp my images when I condition them.

For a stamp like this…you might need to give it some extra love. What do I mean??? Easy….do this method….clean your stamp (I use the Absorber Towels) as you can really get them super squeaky clean and then repeat….stamp with Versa Mark….even squish the stamp around (twist it with your hand) then do a couple regular stamps…..etc….

Now you can go to the black ink and see the results. You really want to make sure that you have great coverage with your stamp image to have that solid clean and crisp stamp. PRESTO!!!! Your stamp is conditioned and you can always reach for this and be good to go!

 

 

 

 

 

Now go take this day and make it yours! We are hanging close to home….Oscar, (the perfect horse) had a little surgery on Thursday so I need to be close…he is fine – just needs to be in for a couple of days to make sure that he does not pull stitches….of course that gives me time to “be the Mom” to him and give him extra carrots and brushing!

A perfect day in my eyes….I hope that you enjoyed this card…I confess – I am amazed with how fast it comes together and the end result is a beautiful and unique work of art from the heart!

Just in case you have some “me time”…how about playing the Tic Tac Toe Challenge….there is time to play and trust me, you will have fun – there is something exciting about looking at the elements on the board and then letting you creativity go!

 

 

 

 

A Friday “quickie & cutie”!!!

by | Jun 16, 2017 | Uncategorized | 26 comments

 

 

 

Good Morning….guess what is Sunday – YEP, It is Fathers Day and I have a quickie card idea that I CASED from Tami White. I thought was a cutie for Fathers Day! Who doesn’t like something that is quick and cute – all at the same time!

Last month, Tami White was the guest speaker for the PALS Monthly Webinar Meeting and she was fantastic. After the call I went to her blog and found this super cute card. I know that I do not do a bunch of Punch Art…..(because I am not the best at it…..just sayin’ ) but I always appreciate and am in awe of those that do it so naturally!

She did a great video showing the in’s and out’s of making this card….so I will not be going into the details – you can CLICK HERE and watch it…..very straight forward and below you will see the changes I made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • I made the black a bit smaller, I like the look of a wee bit of black matting and then let the WHITE pop!
  • I used vellum for the smoke and lightly sponged the Smoky Slate Ink
  • I sponged the clouds in Soft Sky to give them a bit of depth
  • The sentiment is from All Things Thanks Stamp Set…..I loved the font!
  • The envelope FUN is from the Pick a Pattern DSP and a wee strip of Cherry Cobbler.

 

I hope that this made you smile and it was SUPER FAST to put together and after all….it’s a work of ART made from YOUR HEART so it will be loved!

See you tomorrow…….enjoy the day!

 

 

 

Let’s Play Tic-Tac-Toe!

by | Jun 15, 2017 | Uncategorized | 24 comments

 

 

 

Good Thursday morning to you and are you ready to play a game this week? I sure hope so and I also hope that you pop over to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge Website to see what the other amazing designers came up with!

This is a FUN game that you can play each week and Thursdays are the magical day where we get to see a new Game Card! You can see that I went straight across today and at a 1st glance you might say….hmmmmm – that is a pretty boring card Susan but hold tight as I think that you are going to love this technique!

Here is the challenge for this week, I think that it is sooooo much fun to look at the different elements on the game board and then sit back and let you mind go wild with different thoughts of the products that you have and also trying to figure out a strategy to play….just have FUN! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My card today is all about a technique called “paper piecing” and it is like putting a puzzle together (you see…another good old fashion fun….a puzzle) but today I am going to be using a NEW product that Stampin’ Up! has in the new catalog that needs to be in your stash of adhesives as it is a time/frustration saver!

The Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets are just that – very multipurpose! To me they are huge time savers as you simply place a piece of card stock (about the size of the die as we do not need to waste any of this precious product) ,,,Place your die on top…run it through Mr. Big and PRESTO…you have adhesive on the back of the detailed “Happy Birthday” Diecut and your fingers are free from any adhesive!

The real star of the show for this technique is the Paper Piercing Tool aka…Mr. Pointy! This is a tool that I reach for daily and one that does not get mentioned a bunch. It “does the job” in helping pull off the release paper of the sheets and then you can stick it to the side of Mr. Pointy to keep it clean and move it to wherever you want it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s get to the pictures and it will all make sense…you know me – I love my pictures to help tell the story. Todays card is a 4 1/4″ square card that is a classic….just like the game of Tic-Tac-Toe! The Smokey Slate is a 4″ square and then the white is a wee bit smaller, 3 7/8″

I put the adhesive sheet on the white piece and then ran it through Mr. Big and you can see below the end result….this is where the FUN comes in.

I carefully removed the excess of the white as remember – you are going to PIECE that back in like a puzzle! Cut a sentiment one the same way with the adhesive sheet in So Saffron…..now have FUN!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see how Mr. Pointy is a handyman for you in the placement of this delicate die. You will have some “forgiveness” of the adhesive but once you get it and all of the “pieces of the puzzle” in place and give it a firm rub with the bone folder, YOU ARE SET!

The other star player in this post is the below bundle, Happy Birthday Gorgeous. Even though I did not use the stamp for todays post, this is one that you will want the bundle – WHY???? Easy…its a Birthday classic and you save an instant 10% – just look at that fun and festive font of the sentiments and the little “filler stamps”….a keeper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below you can see that the envelope fun was created by using the Delightful Daisy DSP but to you notice….there is no So Saffron or Smoky Slate listed in the coordinating colors. I know that this seems super basic but please do not overlook paper that you have as sometime it is like a chameleon and just works! (another reason why the DSP Swatch Books are perfect companions for creating)

Sometimes a stamper just has to do what a stamper needs to do – KEEP GOING and it will all work out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, there you go! This was FUN…right?!?!?! There is something so special about this clean and simple card when you hold it in person. Yesterday it was on my kitchen counter and my son said….“That’s a nice card” – then I ask him to look at it closer and he said – WOW….how did you get that in there….

I do hope that you will try this technique and you will also be thrilled with the ease of these new adhesive sheets. You can remember that I have blogged before using the Stick It Product but now we have our very own and it works GREAT!

 

 

 

 

 

Now you need to get your thinking cap on and see what product/project you can make with the Tic Tac Toe Challenge this week! It is super fun to play and if you need any help uploading your project – I will be happy to do so.

Here is a great thought and one that I hope you let sink in…just try a challenge – you have nothing to lose as you will be having some good old fashion “me time” and you will find it to be fun! If you have a crafty friend….email them and say – let’s try it….and you will love to see what she made and how she interpreted the challenge.

As we grew up we played games to have FUN….it is the same for this challenge – TO HAVE FUN! Now go have a FABULOUS day!

 

 

 

PALS Blog Hop…Pick a “B”

by | Jun 14, 2017 | PALS Blog Hops | 29 comments

 

Welcome to the June 2017 Pals Blog Hop. Thank you so much for joining us today. This month’s theme, Pick a “B”, features projects inspired by Babies, Birthdays and Brides to name few. You may just get a glimpse of new catalog products while you hop with us today.

Whether you’re just starting the hop, or have come from a previous Pal’s blog, you’ll find the line-up toward the end of my post to help you move along.

 

 

 

 

 

YIPPEE-SKIPPEE!!! This is one of my most favorite days of the month….a PALS Blog Hop! Now I know that you have a BUNCH of HOPPING to do so there are 2 things that I want to say….

  1. Thanks for popping in….
  2. I hope you come back! 😀

 

Now let’s get going…..

Today, I decided to do a super fun card that uses a technique that we all love….Emboss Resist….are you saying WHAT?????

It is super easy and super fun but the real fun of this project is the below stamp set….now I ask you – did you skim right past it in the catalog???? (it’s kinda in the back of the stamps….page 161) but let me inspire you as it is a FUN STAMP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 2 things that I did for todays card…

  1. I sponged a piece of Thick Whisper White with Rich Razzleberry and a wee bit of Berry Burst.
  2. I stamped the flower image with Versa Mark and then Heat Set it with White Embossing Powder.

Hence….emboss resist!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other “must have…no questions asked” product that we all need is the Layered Leaves Dynamic Embossing Folder….isn’t is B E A U T I F U L ??? I am over the moon with it….

This is the 1st that I have blogged about it but I ask you….look above at the envelope flap and see the texture – how fast and easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here comes another NEWBIE….the Lemon Lime Twist 1/4″ Ombre Ribbon….how about the new ribbons in this wonderful new catalog….are they the BEST or what….

I admit, I am usually not a fan of ombre things….but this ribbon is so subtle in the variation of colors that it is a BLUE RIBBON winner in my eyes….(heck, truth be told….I LOVE any of the new products in the Lemon Lime Twist…..just sayin’)

This ribbon is a dream machine to make a bow…if you can tie your shoe – than you can make a great bow with this ribbon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the picture to smile about….it all pulled together! Can you see that taking basic elements and basic techniques can make you go “out of that catalog box” a wee bit and have a FUN and different card!

This truly is soooo simple….basic shapes….fun blending the ink….fun embossing…fun stampin….fun making a simple banner – just ONE FUN CARD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know that you have a BUNCH OF HOPPING…..so I say – HOP AWAY but thank you for popping in…..how do you like this card???…we all have many “B’s” throughout the year and I think that you can easily see that the colors that you can use are endless….(heck – try this with several colors on the same card with the blending….)

 

Thanks again for hopping with the Stampin’ Pretty Pals today. Take a minute to mark your calendar for our next hop on July 12th. We’re having a pattern party! Now hop along using the Blog Hop Line-up below. See you on July 12th for the next Pals Blog Hop! 

 

 

  1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
  2. Rae Harper-Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
  3. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
  4. Lynn Tague at Beyond Beaches & Blessings
  5. Tricia Chuba at ButterDish Designs
  6. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven’s Retreat
  7. Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity
  8. Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
  9. Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
  10. Peggy Noe at Prettypapercards
  11. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
  12. Kim Jolley at Stampin’ Artfully
  13. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
  14. Rosanne Mulhern at Heartfelt Stamping
  15. Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stampin’ Habit!
  16. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
  17. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
  18. Jeanie Stark at Just Stampin’
  19. Amy Hoptay at Craft Carnivore
  20. Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
  21. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin’
  22. Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
  23. Becky Retzer at Just in Thyme
  24. Sherrie Gross at Stampin’ Sunshine
  25. Sara Hicks Stuart at Sentiments by Sara
  26. Rachael Shedeed at Bluebonnet Stampin’
  27. Su Mohr at Aromas and Art

 

 

 

 

Step it Up! on Tuesday!!!

by | Jun 13, 2017 | Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized | 24 comments

 

 

 

 

Yep…you read it right….we are stepping up Saturdays post to Tuesday! Life happens and I couldn’t have you not see how it was stepped up! Creating is the fun and easy thing about blogging….the time to sit and type, edit etc is the time drainer but I am back!

I have the “stepped up” card from my last post on Saturday so it is up to you…..side by side you decide! I have been in the trenches…the paper and ribbon trenches but I am thrilled to say that my 1st wave of Product Shares are out the door! (and I was glad to shut that door)

If you were in the 1st wave…you will need to do some stretching (I am warning you) because you will be doing the dance….the you know what dance…the HAPPY DANCE!

You can click here to see the card on Saturday…and then you can laugh at me as YEP….you are correct – todays card is in Soft Sky….not Pool Party like the one on Saturday. Now I ask you….am I the only one on this Island that does this? Clearly they are 2 different colors but I admit, when I grab this color I often do this and I did not discover it until after I had heat set the wood image! (Silly Susan!)

 

 

 

 

The floral star of the show is the below stamp set/bundle (FOR SURE I WOULD GET THE BUNDLE) and as I said before….I know that we have many florals but this one has it all…to me it is a very practical and useful stamp as there are lots of “fillers” – I love “fillers” as they allow you to tuck in here…..tuck there and the end result – a masterpiece.

 

 

 

 

 

Now to the POP Stamp……Tree Ring. This is an “A list” stamp…I invite you to go to pages 164 & 165 in the catalog and look at our background stamps. Background stamps make a huge difference with minimal effort. We have some new kids on the block and they are keepers. There were (2) on my first order…..can you guess what the other one is that I just “had to have”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

After using the stampin’ buddy and Versa Mark Ink….I heat set it with White Embossing Powder and the WOW happened! You never, ever get tired of heat embossing….it truly is magic before your eyes! Because this is such a large stamp…you easily have the ability to cover the whole front panel of a card, today I trimmed it to 4″ X 5 1/4″

I invite you to take a good look at the background stamps as they truly are a great “little something” to have to add a totally different feel for a card. Todays card is my pick…I just love the details in the wood and the white just pops the floral part!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am just giddy about this arrangement. I think that it is fun to lay some of the elements flat…others POPPED up….just have fun. You know we what about the “classics” a bunch –  today is no different can you see how the nesting circles and the stitched circles are perfect elements for this card.

We all know that Mr. Big is the best and also we have many great basics that compliment Mr. Big….when people ask where do I start with getting the dies/framelits…..I say start with the basic shapes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing it with the DSP is a smile maker….right!?!? Even though I had the wrong color today you can see that it blends. It is funny….when I see DSP Papers I immediately let me head go wild in thinking what stamps and themes of cards I will be using.

When you look at the catalog you can see that Stampin’ Up! already breaks the DSP down for you into “suites” – this Whole Lot Of Lovely starts on page 86 and I would really use the samples in the catalog to get you to really get to know the feel and colors that the DSP’s go towards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you go…your PIN for the future! I think that we all know someone that would be thrilled to receive this card. The sentiments in this set are also so practical and super easy to use…a quick STAMP….then MR. BIG and you are done!

 

 

 

 

 

Well…that’s a wrap! I hope that both cards tickled your fancy and you can see that they both are keepers in many ways. Using the scored lines on Saturday is always a fun one to do and also it is creates a WOW with minimal effort but the heat embossing really POPS it up and I personally never get tired of the effect.

Tomorrow is a FUN day….as it is a Pals Blog Hop……so you know what that means, INSPIRATION TO THE MAX as there is so much talent and FUN out there! Have a great day, be safe with this heat wave we are having (sounds like a perfect day to stamp) and I hope to see you in the morning!