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A SUPER single stamp….

by | May 12, 2017 | Get Well | 9 comments

 

 

 

Good morning! I have a great post for you on a stamp that is “walking the blank” but one that will be staying with me on Randall Lane. You know how I feel about single stamps….usually they are always “blue ribbon” ones and this is a great example of a “keeper”

Why do I like this stamp….easy – it is EASY to use and it is a great stamps to make in the masses. Let’s face it…COLDS HAPPEN and how sweet is this stamp to brighten someones day that is under the weather.

I hope that you take another look at this classic before it walks off the plank into bye-bye land at the end of the month. It is funny, when I look at the stamps that I keep….many of them are “single ones” – for some reason…they tickle my fancy!

 

 

 

 

 

I used the gold embossing powder to do the magical fun for this card. When you make this card, make MANY as we all know that they will go to good use in sending to family and friends.

We all know that there is something so rewarding when we heat emboss but please remember to use the stampin’ buddy to prep the cardsock so you will get a clean stamp and heat set with the embossing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that the next 2 pictures help you see that pulling this card together is actually not hard….let’s face it – nothing is hard when the method is explained to you!

Just stamp and cut. It is a wee bit of paper-piecing but I think that you can see the end result is totally worth the steps. We all have a TON of DSP and many prints work great with this stamp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the opposite angle – I tried to get the shine from the gold so you can see how rich looking it is! The color palette is using 2 of the NEW In Colors, tranquil tide and powder pink – both great new and fresh additions to our card stock collection! Remember, these are around for 2 years so there is LOTS of time to play with them!

 

 

 

 

 

The DSP that I used is a new kid on the block and it is from a 12 X 12 stack – (yep, I will be offering them in a product share)….the pattern might look familiar to you as it is the one that we currently have with the Navy and White…. – a true classic and one that I know we are all going to have FUN with!

 

 

 

 

Here is your “pin-able” picture for you…but if you do not have this stamp – please hit that below PAW PRINT and add it to your stash…heck – the price is great and you know that the size and simplicity of this stamp makes it an easy one to use!

Can you see that I just used the good old trimmer to make clean and simple cuts to set the tone for this fun card. You just cannot go wormng with the classics!

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was a busy day….I mailed out the NEW catalogs so if you have placed an order with me in the past 6 months…..you will be receiving some “HAPPY MAIL” from me….I know that it is a FUN time to have the actual catalog in your hands and look…and look – and guess what – soon enough it will be JUNE 1st!

I also have been working on what will be on my Product Share and I will have that ready for you soon as well. When the new catalog comes out, there is always so much to see, take in…one “heads up” about this new catalog, the RIBBON IS FANTASTIC ~ we have not had a surge of fab-o ribbons like this in years! (I know that you are going to enjoy it) as it is “practical” ribbon, meaning that you can easily use it for cards. (yep, there will be a ribbon share too)

See you in the morning for our 2 day post..Simple Saturday will get your weekend rolling~ I think that you are going to like it. Speaking of liking? – How did you like this card today – I adore the stamp and even though I am sad that it is retiring, I am happy that it has a home on Randall Lane as I will use it for many cards in the future years – IT’S A KEEPER….just like YOU!

 

 

 

Pals Blog Hop: Stepping Up with Textures & Techniques

by | May 10, 2017 | PALS Blog Hops | 27 comments

Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for May 2017. We are thankful you stopped by to take a look at our 2017 Blog Hop monthly themes. This month we are featuring projects that are “stepped up” by using textures or fun techniques. We hope to provide you with lots of ideas and that you enjoy our creations.

You may just be starting the Blog Hop or may have come from the previous link from the Line-up on the Pals Blog Hop listing shown below.  The full lineup will help you move along from blog to blog so you may see all the projects.

 

 

 

 

 

I am showing products that are “WALKING THE STAMPIN’ UP! PLANK” as we are in our final weeks of grabbing them! Todays card is for my wonderful godson that is graduating from College on Saturday and it was a perfect timing for todays theme of textures …techniques!

I think that we all have struggles with a masculine card…and yesterday I shared in my blog a Tuesday Tip with the “shaving cream” technique. Below you will see the “masterpiece” before I cut it down for the card.

I chose to just use 1 color of a re-inker….Delightful Dijon. Maybe I should have used several colors to make it more interesting…..I was super happy with keeping it super simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you watch the video below and then I hope that you go to the store and buy some shaving cream. Sometimes you can find a travel size!

I did it just like the video with the exception of using a paper plate. I know that there were many comments that it is messy but for me…I found that it really was not that bad. Remember, I am SUPER SIMPLE….so mess and simple are not like Peanut Butter & Jelly!

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the stamp set I used….I will hang on to this one. I love the fact that it is a photopolymer but more than that – I adore the uniqueness of it and the sentiments -they are perfect and LOVE the font!

 

 

 

 

You can see how incredibly simple this layout and card is. Again, simple works (well at least in my camp or should I say, “my world”) and you cannot go wrong with clean and basic cuts….love our Stampin’ Trimmer!

 

 

 

 

 

The DSP is from the Urban Underground DSP  and I admit….I was LATE getting out of the gate with using  it but then…..I saw the light! This is one CLASSIC and FABULOUS DSP offering! (too bad it is sold out) but for those of you that have some….I say – WOOT-WOOT to you!

I just had to add that heart…I know that Leighton is a young man with a bright future ahead but I just had to add that heart to let him know that wherever he is….HE IS IN MY HEART! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that this post made you see that you can take a stamp set and make it work for your needs. This is what is GREAT about what we do – we all see things with different glasses on. I knew that this was coming to Randall Lane because my “peeps” love to travel.

You need to get hoppin’….there is so much talent out there – be a HUGE SPONGE AND SOAK IT UP!

Thanks for visiting. To continue with the hop, please refer to the Blog Hop Line-up below. We hope to see you on next month’s Pals Blog Hop!

 

 

  1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
  2. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
  3. Karen Gooch at Inker’s Workshop
  4. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven’s Retreat
  5. Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
  6. Lynn Tague at Beyond Beaches & Blessings
  7. Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
  8. Peggy Noe at Prettypapercards
  9. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin
  10. Jeanie Stark at Just Stampin’
  11. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
  12. Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
  13. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
  14. Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stampin’ Habit!
  15. Becky Retzer at Just in Thyme
  16. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
  17. Karen Zaring Browning at Stamp With Me KZB
  18. Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity
  19. Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
  20. Lisa Pretto at InkBig Academy Stamps
  21. Rae Harper-Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
  22. Angela Curry at Kindred Stampers
  23. Shawn de Oliveira at ShawnStamps.com

 

 

A “timely” TIP for your Tuesday!

by | May 9, 2017 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized | 10 comments

 

 

Tuesday are the days that I love to share with you a tip that will make you say….“That’s a great idea”…or something like “That would work for me” etc….and this is one that I hope that many of you will think about and say – Why didn’t I think of that  and I am going to HOP ON IT!

Each and every year I get emails from people asking if I have a refill for a color that has been discontinued and I will share with you what I do.

When we have NEW COLORS come out (like our upcoming NEW In Colors) and I do buy the ink pads and I buy the refills. The way that I look at it is that I naturally need the ink pads to show and share with you the colors on my blog and I do buy the refills because I do find that I need to re-ink over the 2 years that the colors are available and also I use them for different techniques.

Below is a video that shares a technique using re-inkers. I ask you – have you ever tried this? Hmmmmm….I think that I need to do a post on it…..whatcha think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I say…if you do not own the ink pads in the In Colors that are retiring…I say – this is a great solution to get them without breaking the bank or how about this – if you have a stamping friend – share the refills between yourselves as I am sure that you have DSP that has these colors in them.

 

 

 

 

I know that many people love the size of the “spots” as they are super handy to have on the go and YEP – these are the sizes of the cubes that are in the Paper Pumpkin. They are sooooooo cute!

Now let’s talk about cute 🙂 …..here is a picture that I just had to snap as I walked through the family room…we have some “Horse Neighbors” that use our riding ring and here are Milo and Rosie perched up on the sofa watching them out the window!

 

 

Now I say….life is rough for my fur babies….it is just not worth continually saying….off the couch when they seem so comfy! Have a great day and HIT THAT PAW PRINT and take me up on this tip!

p.s. – Sonny and Chris….I know…I know – Milo is a bit “bottom heavy” but my “perfect boy” has the abs of steel to not fall off the pillow!

 

 

 

 

 

Step It Up Sunday with bling!

by | May 7, 2017 | Step it up Sunday! | 22 comments

 

 

 

Good Morning…here is a bit of sunshine for your Sunday morning with a bit of fun new bling with the Gold Faceted Gems. For the “stepped up” this week I decided to change the orientation to a vertical card and the cut off 1″ of the bottom of the front of the card and stamp the sentiment of “Thank You” on the inside base of the card!

So…here you go ~ side by side, YOU DECIDE!

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I shared with you that I would take a picture of the stamp and also the paper from this suite. Right off the bat I knew that this bundle would be coming to Randall Lane for 3 reasons…

  • This stamp set is a photopolymer and that makes me super happy!
  • The bundle has a punch and a classic punch of a Daisy Flower is a winner and that makes me happy!
  • Bundles give you an instant 10% discount (and then I get another 25% discount) and that makes me happy!

 

It is just so much better to be happy  😉  (life is just too darn short)

 

 

 

You can see that the paper is colorful and artistic. If you have never watched the video that Stampin’ Up! has on how the artist create and then make many of our Designer Series Papers. I know that it is an older video but it truly is very interesting so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this short video. (it really makes you see our papers in a different light from this short video)

I am truly amazed that many of our papers are soooooo beautiful that I hate to cover them up! I am excited for you all to see the new papers coming out. I know that it is hard to see in the little picture above but hopefully you can get a feel of the watercolor look and feel this collection offers!

 

 

 

 

As the title of this post says….there is a bit of bling….. and here you go! Meet the NEW gold faceted gems ~ they are going to be hot aa it is the perfect combination of bling with classic (hope that this makes sense) By now you know that a little bling to me is adding some ribbon or twine (that is another addition today) but I just had to add these gems.

Glitter and I do not see eye to eye as I think that is a total mess and at the end of the post I will tell you a funny about glitter in the Itell household but these new gems are just the perfect balance and they come in 3 sizes  – a quick peel off and stick – BLING!

 

 

 

 

I just had to take a close up for you because of the beauty. It looks like gold glitter is embedded in these gems and they are stunning. When I saw them in the catalog I though….nope, not for me but I am sure that they will be a hit but I did purchase a pack for a preorder and when I saw them in person – WOW….I was so wrong as they are a great mixture of bling and classic to really brighten someones day!

These beauties will definitely be on my Product Share that I will be offering to you all soon. (Heck – I know you need time to get the catalog 1st and take it all in) but I know that you realize that Product Shares are the way to go when a new catalog comes out so be ready for FUN! My catalog are on order and the labels are made….so all I am waiting for is for them to arrive to Randall Lane.

 

 

 

 

I know that it is hard to see but I did cut off 1″ from the front panel of the card….here are some quick measurements for you – I love this style of card as it creates an instant interest when you hold it and see that it opens “not even”

  • The base is a thick whisper white in the vertical mode with 1″ cut off the front.
  • Stamp the “thank you” on the inside with Night of Navy (because it is a photopolymer….it is a cinch)
  • The Daffodil Delight is 4 1’4″ X 4 1/2″
  • The white is 4″ X 4 1/4″
  • The DSP Strip is 1 1/2″ X 4 1/4″
  • The flower was tone on tone stamped with daffodil delight and pear pizzazz

I would either make a card today with this formula or write it down as I know that you all have many stamp sets that you could make a similar card. I think that making it yourself helps you through the process and then I would write the measurements on the back and keep it for reference for the future.

I have a tin that I keep near my work area that “formula cards” in it and I will say when I am in a creative slump – it is a pick me up to look through and find a layout that tickles my fancy! TRY IT – I think that you will be happy ti have a library of reference.

 

 

 

Another rainy day on the East Coast but today we re having another “weed date” – as much as weeds are nit my thing – we have to deal with them and I would much rather get them out when the soil is easier to get the darn job done!

Now for a funny on glitter and please pass this on to others that have young children that are loosing their teeth. When my oldest was at the age of loosing their baby teeth I had this WONDERFUL Grandmother give me a great idea on how to deal with the “tooth fairy” and it was always a huge hit!

She told me to purchase a small container of fine clear glitter and when a peep lost a tooth and had it under their pillow….sprinkle a small amount of glitter from the window in their room to their bed when you go to to the “tooth fairy magic” while they are sleeping.

The next day they will wake up and have a shimmer to them….well I did that and it was a wonderful magical experience each and every time when they came downstairs and said…..THE TOOTH FAIRY CAME!!!! (and I would say – look…she kissed you and sprinkled fairy dust on your cheek ~ this is the ONLY example of glitter that makes me smile)

I will say…one container of shimmer lasted for all 3 peeps as I only put a wee bit because of the mess but trust me, it was worth each and every vacuum just to see the magic in their eyes and the smiles on their faces! I just love memories like this!

Now go have a GREAT day…make some memories….have some “me time” to do something for YOU and I will see you on Tuesday!

 

 

Simple Saturday is blooming with FUN!

by | May 6, 2017 | Simple Saturday | 13 comments

 

 

Good Morning and I am tickled that we have a new punch! I don’t know about you but I just love the ease and quickness of a punch and this shape, a classic Daisy Flower is a welcomed addition to the Stampin’ Up! line of punches.

This punch is part of a bundle, (thank you Stampin’ Up as we all know that this will save us an extra 10%) and then I get an extra 25% off of that (woot-woot)…you see – being a hobby demo is totally worth it. In tomorrows post I will show you the stamp set but this “Thank You” is part of it….isn’t that a fabulous font?

 

 

 

 

This DSP that I am using is also part of the “suite’ around this bundle and as we have all come to learn and love, Stampin’ Up! has provided us with a beautiful pack of paper that will certainly bring some sunshine into your craft area. It is called Delightful Daisy and tomorrow I will snap a picture for you to see the color combinations etc…. (DARN – I wish that it was June 1st and I could just show you the images from inside of the catalog but I can’t, it is against the rules) 🙁 

 

 

 

 

Can you see the ease of this punch? You could easily just punch the shape out with a solid piece of cardstock but today I used the daisy stamp that is part of the stamp set to do a tone on tone with Daffodil Delight before I used the punch.

I did 2 flowers to give a simple get fun flower with bending the pedals a bit for some movement. Glue Dots to the rescue…..it doesn’t get any easier than that!

 

 

 

 

You can also see that I did the same for the leaves. There are (2) leaves stamps in the stamp set but this was just one stamp….fuss-cut and DONE!  A bold splash of DSP seem to be all that this card needed – when you have a limited supply of the “newbies”, you like to use them sparingly  (another reason for June 1st to come)  😀 

 

 

 

 

It seems like I have been on a roll with your pictures to pin with not having a bunch of products used…to me, that is “just fine” because that tells me how simple something is!

I kind of like to use the analogy as to if you were looking up a recipe….when you see that it needs a TON of INGREDIENTS…many times we “push back” mainly because of that “time thing that gets in our way”….but you need to read the recipe and then decide if it is as hard as it seems….many times it is not a big deal but when you see that there is not much to it (like today’s card) you instantly have the “I can DO IT attitude!

 

 

 

We are going to have a WET and RAINY weekend and you can bet that I will be watching the Kentucky Derby today….it is a day that always makes my heart pitter patter to see the beauty and strength of these beautiful animals. Going to the derby one day is a dream and my dear friend that I spent the weekend with at the Simon Says Event is going to the Derby today ~ (she bought a beautiful and fun hat) and I hope that they have a ball!

Nothing too much funny happened on Randall Lane yesterday….except that the grass and weeds are loving this weather. I actually think that John and I are going to pull weeds in the rain as we all know that it will be easy to pull them! (sounds like a fun date)

Enjoy your day and I hope to see you back here tomorrow…..to see how I have stepped it up a bit. Everyone loves a little flower of sunshine and I hope that this card brought you a smile! Until tomorrow……