by Susan Itell | Jan 13, 2017 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
You asked for some Masculine Cards and you are in luck because Uncle George is turning 88! I am saying right now…I really like this card and I will use this layout again…with different colors as it is a classic! I know..I know, I could have left off the bow but I just could not resist ~ I think it makes it festive!
I took the lead from the catalog and I am tellin’ ya….USE THE GREAT EXAMPLES in the catalog for inspiration! Not only are they fabulous ideas but the photography is over the top!
Along the way…I made some changes. Why do I show you the below picture? I do it because it happens to me…just like it happens to you. There was NO WAY that I would “scrap” this card and I hope that this shows you that you can make changes to have it be the vision that you wanted!
I used the grid Paper to help me stamp as evenly as I good. I think that we forget to chat about the grid paper as this is a MUST HAVE and you will use it forever. I bet that I have had the same pack for 3 years and I will say that it is not only super handy but I like the ability to stamp on the paper before I go to my project.
Here is where I made some changes….I guess that it is not fair to say that it was a boo-boo….it was more of a personal preference and I am glad that I “covered up” some of the “It’s Your Day”….I know that you can see it (if you look close) but I can say – it does not stick out like a sore thumb!
Sometimes you need to think of your paper and embellishments as make-up – they are great cover ups! 😉
Last week I blogged with this stamp set and I loved it last week and I am lovin’ it again this week….(hmmmmm – I think I will use it next week to see if we can get Tick -Tack-Toe – 3 in a row of winners!) I am still on the fence about the “pretty one” so if someone can explain that to me, I would appreciate it….I know – I am a little slow out of the gate I guess.
You know that the Urban Underground is one of my favorites and it looks like there are a bunch of layers but there are not…..I hope that I can explain….let’s call it a work in progress and this was the end result!
- I started with a 4″ X 4″ Very Vanilla
- I added a 1 1/2″ wide strip of the DSP…(did you notice that I colored in some of the circles – LOVED that touch!)
- I then stamped all of the sentiments
- I added a 1/4″ strip of Dijon and then a sliver 1/8″ strip of Dapper Denim right next to the DSP…..this is where it appears that I “built” it up but I really did not.
- After I did all of this fun, I matted the whole thing to a 4 1/8″ square to peek the blue !!!!
By “bumping the thin pieces together against the edge of the circle DSP, It allows the visual of layering but in reality it is just green glues to the vanilla piece! Make sense???? 😕
Here is another look at the different angle of this handsome card. That font of the Happy Birthday is just wonderful! It makes such a statement. Another tip that I wanted to share….I often am asked about making the “flagged ends” to the banner. I did not use a framelit …..I simply take scissors to the center and then do the other angle.
I am sure that they are not perfectly balanced but remember about what we do….
We are HANDMADE, not HALLMARK! 🙂
Here is your picture to PIN AWAY! You can see that I made my own envelope to fit this square card. They are some of my favorites to make and I realize that the postage is a more…but Uncle George is soooooooo worth it. I know that he will enjoy it and display it proudly
Well…thoughts???? I sure do hope that this has inspired you as you will see it again with a different look. This is a perfect example of “you can’t go wrong with the classics”
With the great incentive with the Ultimate Bundle, the starter kit that you customize and it is sooooo simple – you save money…you get to pick and 2 stamps sets on top of the bundle and it ships for free….a win-win all the way around! I would definitely have this in my Ultimate Bundle….
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about the card and also about getting the Ultimate Bundle. If you join with me during Sale-a-bration, I will let you pick (2) SAB items (as they are not in the bundle deal, this is a personal promotion from me) 🙂
Guess what is back – SIMPLE SATURDAY…..and let me tell you, it is sooooo easy!
p.s. – I LOVED your comments yesterday, all was quiet on Randall Lane yesterday, I guess the biggest thing that happened that was funny was that it was super (weirdly) warm and I watched poor Daisy just walking around looking for a friend to play with ~ well honestly just to acknowledge her and she struck zero.
It is a long walk for those little stump legs to go from the barn to the house and back~ finally I saw her in the field with Arnold. I was happy, she found a friend but the sad part is…he is the one that is almost blind that needs the donkey (I wouldn’t darn tell Daisy that)…life was great!
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by Susan Itell | Jan 6, 2017 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
You know that I am a HUGE fan of BIG Sentiments….and this stamp set is one that will not leave me disappointed! I knew that when I first saw it…it would have a home on Randall Lane! Just look at all of the fun projects you could use this amazing set with. The fonts are so versatile and “just goes with a bunch”
Here is a picture from the catalog that made me giddy about this set when I was flippin’ through the catalog! You can see that I am going towards the sample on the right but I am making it a “Susan Simple Way” because I needed a card in a jif but you bet that I will do a future post CASING that one!
Do you remember when a bunch of you were saying that you wanted ideas with a masculine flare…well – HELLO…the one in the middle would be a fabulous card for a guy – that too I will do as a post because I already have a plan in my little brain! 🙂
One this that is deceiving when you do a layout that stretches across the card like I am doing today is….I seem to always underestimate how much my length should be so I realize that this is a bit in the “excess” but I didn’t want to have to redo it as again, I needed a Birthday card in a jif!
I will give you the dimensions down below but just know that it is WAY BETTER to overdue it….than to come up short. Just look at this beauty…an instant smile happens when you see that beautiful font!
After I stamped it with the Black Archival Ink, I quickly added clear embossing powder over the sentiment and heat set it with the heat tool ~ as always….a WOW happened and again I smiled! (It happens each and every time you do this)
I tried to take this picture on an angle so you could get a great feel of the luscious sheen and texture that the clear embossing powder gave to the sentiment. It is like MAGIC each and every time.
Let’s chat real quick about the Black Ink. If you have been around Stampin’ for a while you know that there have been many different Black Inks that have been introduced. This is the only Black Ink that I use now as it does everything. It always produces a clean and crisp image and even if I am using the aqua painter or Blendabilities (remember, the alcohol based marker that we had) – it works like a charm.
I will give you a heads up that I would definitely have a re-inker on hand. I do find that I need to re ink it often but then again, it might be because I use it all the time. This is a must have ink as it does the job for all methods of stamping and techniques! 🙂
Just look at this quick and easy beauty! I say a blue ribbon winner as it literally take minutes to do!
For the quick coloring…I used the watercolor pencils….scribbled a little color down and used the blender pens to make the magic happen – HOW EASY IS THAT and remember, I will send you a set of blender pens (3 are in a pack) for an order of $75+ this month (check the tab – Paw Prints Rewards) 🙂
Something I rarely do but I knew that my friend would love a little bling, I added 3 sequins to add to the fun card! I will say, I am a rather “plain Jane” when it comes to fru-fru…..but this is “just enough” to make a statement!
Before we get to the dimensions for today’s card…let’s gander at this paper! I will say that the picture just does not do this justice one bit – this is a FABULOUS set of paper and you will be seeing me use it a bunch! It is called the Succulent Garden DSP collection and it is just fun and fresh!
With being a BUSY CUTTER in making swatch books for the Product Share….I have really gotten to know the new papers and this one is one that is just a beauty! I think when you see it in the picture below your eye goes right to the Calypso Coral which is rather bold but trust me…this just blends beautifully with many projects – I really need to see it in person to appreciate it!
Now here is what you all love….the dimensions! 😀 I know that many times I forget to share them with you….so if that happens – please leave me a comment or email me! It is ALWAYS my desire to help you create cards and to HAVE FUN…and not stress by trying to figure things out!
I am sure that many of you use these as a start point to help you do your own thing and that is GREAT… guess what – I do the same thing! That is why I signed up to be a SUD as I followed Mary Fish’s blog and found myself CASEING many of her cards and then I thought, this is silly – I can get the products at a discount and the rest is history (I will say that it was NOT in my plan to be around almost 5 years later….but I am glad that I did)
- The card base is an A-2 size, 5 1/2″ X 4 1/2″
- The Sweet Sugarplum is 5 1/4″ X 4″
- The white piece is 2 3/4″ X 8 1/2″ (remember…this was way tooooooo long but I am sharing what I did)
- The thin strips of Mint Macaron are just 1/8″ strip. (You could mat it with a larger piece but using the trimmer I just used a sliver and then green glue to the rescue!)
- I stamped the sentiment in the Black Archival Ink and then sprinkled the clear embossing powder over and heat set it.
- Watercolor Pencils and the Blender Pens were the magic for to little POP of color!
There you go…a super quick card and also a card that you could MASS PRODUCE to have on hand…and then color and coordinate DSP’s with is as needed.
I was thinking that it would be a great idea to have some “old faithfuls” like this and make many….and then build your stash up….I would do 3 different Birthday cards….some thinking of you etc….and then you will always have a great stash!
Speaking of great, we know that Sale-a-bration is a great time of the year but what is not better than the deal below! This IS the time of the year that hobbyist love to join as they see the deal that it is – $99 will get you $125 with of products and then on top – you can pick (2) stamps of your choice (what would you pick????)….WOW….and if this is all that you want to do – great with me!
Why wait, there is no obligation to sell, to blog…to do anything but to have FUN for yourself and to get Stampin’ Up! Products at a 20% discount each and everyday! Click here to get started…you’ll be happy!
Enjoy the day…..it is super cold but we have a dusting of snow and it is beautiful to look out and see….let’s just hope that this does not stop the Brown Man (my wonderful UPS Truck) from making its way to Randall Lane as I want to get those PRODUCT SHARES out the door to YOU!!!!
Remember, today is the LAST DAY for you to get in the 1st wave of the shares….if not – you will have to wait until the end of the month as I need to focus on my Classes in the Mail….please email me today if you want a share ~ they really are the best way to get a feel of the “new kids on the block” without breaking your “Daisy Bank” 😀
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by Susan Itell | Nov 30, 2016 | Birthday |
Good morning – happy HUMP day….I have a confession – I needed a break from Christmas Cards and when I received a text from my dear Dad yesterday reminding me that a family friend was turning 65 on Thursday….It was like a LIGHT BULB going off to say – YES….you can have a “HALL PASS” from Holiday Cards!
I know that this looks rather more like Spring but I know that my friend will love it! Heck…there are times that a girl has to do what a girl has to do – go OUT OF THE BOX and have fun! That is what I did for you all today!
Darn, I LOVE white and I love to have LOTS of white space and I think that this is a great example of how it worked! I am using (2) different stamp sets….Flower Patch Photopolymer and Cottage Greetings!
I will also have to share…I do like and now actually prefer photopolymer stamps as there is no guess work for alignment…I was not always on this wagon…but as we have more and more photopolymers, I appreciate them and prefer them!
I admit, there are times that I just do not want to pull out the stamp-a-ma jig (even though I really like it) – as it is a time thing. I will say – I DO use the stamp-a-ma jig because I would rather take the TIME to make sure that my stamping is straight (TYPE A in me)…so I do it!
You can see that I layered the white mat but I also lifted up the stamped and cut shapes. At the end of the post you can see the colors that I used. Pear Pizzazz to me is a GREAT color….and one that I think gets overlooked.
Now how about THIS POP! The In Color DSP MAKES this project come together! WOW, I adore these papers and I do think that they are totally overlooked in the catalog and I also know that they are expensive, this is why I always have them offered in Product Shares!
With the new catalog right around the corner, you betcha that I will be offering a product share….keep on the look out for the details!
Here is your picture to PIN AWAY! (just hover over it and click) I did cut the banners AFTER I stamped them. The one with the stamping is 1 1/4″ wide and the other is 1″ wide. I know that we have framelits to make banners but I prefer to cut them with a trimmer most of the time and then just snip the ends to make the banner ends 🙂
One more view of this super clean and simple card. I know, I know – I say this all of the time….PLEASE work with what you have. IF you have purchased the stamps, then you LOVED the stamps….pull them off the shelf and give them some love!
A final reminder that TODAY is the LAST DAY that you can take advantage of the Stitched from the Heart 25% off opportunity. There are some great stamps….so take a look! (click on the image to view the offerings)
Have a great day…and tomorrow is going to be a day that could be very interesting. Stampin’ Up! will be unveiling the retired list from the Holiday Catalog and that means….there will be a HUGE SURGE of people wanting to swoop up items that they have been on the fence. I will say, just because something is being retired….doesn’t mean that it is not special! Enjoy the day…..
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by Susan Itell | Oct 16, 2016 | Birthday, Masculine, Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |
Happy…happy Sunday! Yesterday was GREAT and the BEST surprise was that Hannah drove home to surprise James. We had a family fun day and the highlight for the kids (22 and 26) were that we went to the Pumpkin Patch! I was internally saying (YES inside) as they still love the simple and traditional festivities that we did when they were grasshoppers.
We missed not having Will home but we all talked on the phone…..the weather was amazing and we sat outside on our patio….we we have a fire-pit…..John said, without skipping a beat – “Susan, you shoe is smoking” – I wish that you would have seen me JUMP UP!!!!! All is good and my shoe is fine, we all laughed! John was just so funny as he said it like it was no big deal….
Here you go…side by side – you decide!!!! I did a similar layout for a Monthly Card Kit and I will say that I think that it is a classic. I personally love the mixtures of different papers.
When I showed Hannah and said which one is which – she was perplexed (I think she thinks too hard) 😆 – But in my eyes, today’s is the stepped up one because of the piecing of the banner paper and then adding the Baker’s Twine. You might be saying ~ what about the numbers?????? Well, have no fear….I stamped them in the inside!
Another change that I did was to add the Dapper Denim instead of keeping just the black. To me, the little yet minimum pop of a color still lends itself to a great masculine card.
Today I did not use the banner framelits and I will share with you a tip. I said before that I used this layout before and I found if I cut the DSP paper (remember, this is a 6 x 6 stack) into 2″ widths, you can get (6) banners from a piece of paper. By adding the extra paper (in this case, the dots) you can stretch the paper! Using scissors is an easy way to make the banner if you do not have the banner framelits.
Here is your picture to pin….I know that you have a TON of DSP paper so I invite you to go to town and try this layout! Clean, classic yet fun is the name to this weekend post! I hope that I have inspired you this weekend and have also shown you different ways that you can do different methods of products that you have.
- Yesterday I used the number in the die cut way….today I stamped them on the inside
- Yesterday I used 1 DSP Print on the banner….today I kept the same print but jazzed it up with another paper.
We are having AMAZING Fall weather here in Maryland…just picture perfect and the leaves are starting to change. When Hannah came home she said, “Mom – your hair looks good” – I laughed and said – it’s the Fall weather……I am having a good hair day!
I hope that YOU have a wonderful day and make some memories. I am warning you…..giving you a total advanced warning – pop in tomorrow and you will be a happy stamper!
Thanks for sharing you time with me, I deeply appreciate it. I love what I do and I love the fact that my blog is also an expression of my life and love that I have from my family, friends and animals!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 15, 2016 | Birthday, Masculine, Simple Saturday |
Good October 15th to all….this is a special day for ME (the Mom) because it is my MIDDLE PEEPS 26th Birthday (James) – as a Mom…I adore when it is one of the Peeps Birthday. I always knew that I wanted to be a Mom….and when I was blessed to me able to have my 3 peeps…I am a happy and blessed person!
Below you will see a super simple yet fun masculine card ~ you will have to pop back tomorrow to see the stepped up version and then you decide…not only which one “tickled your fancy” but also – which one did I give to James!?!?
Remember when we have chatted about the basic shapes? – A circle, square, rectangle etc…..worked again for this card! I let the BIG numbers a focal point to the card and you can see that they are POPPED UP?
I just love using “fun foam sheets” and these are a breeze to cut out just like you would do with Card Stock. To me, it adds that extra special POP!
Don’t be afraid to make a fun and bold statement using a mixture of patterns from a variety of papers! The stars are from the Warm & Cheer (Holiday Catalog) and the fun black crosshatch is from Playful Pallette DSP Stack!
This is a PRIME EXAMPLE of why I adore paper swatches when I do Product Shares….you can FLIP through paper offerings and let your mind go wandering to find the look you are going for!
Clean lines…yet still masculine and I love the sentiment from the Birthday Fiesta Stamp Set. This is another example as when you look at a stamp set…at 1st glance you might say….“This is to whimsical….or this is to detailed and specific”…but what I was looking for was a great Birthday Sentiment that would be great for a age for this age….BINGO!!!!
I only used the sentiment but below you will see that bundle that goes with this fun stamp set! This Lama is adorable but please do not overlook the fun and festive banners. These would work great with many different themed cards!
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What do you think? A great and festive card (in my opinion) and I know that James will love it! Earlier this week I had a call from Hannah saying that she was having a hard time a perfect card….I said. “WHY” ~ I adored her answer…it will be a tough act to follow when I see the cards that you make (I melted – as she knows that I love what I do) 🙂
I am excited for today. James is home for the weekend and one thing that I have ALWAYS and it is STILL TRUE…
“If there were more James’ in the world, our world would be a happier place”
I deeply mean that. He is a wonderful young man and always has been a joy. He has the heart of gold and is so kind. His kindness and all around “happy nature” is always a breath of fresh air. He is our peep that has had some medical issues but I can say that I am in awe of his determination and commitment to learn how he can deal and take care of himself.
I am happy today….I am blessed to be a Mom and I look forward to having my peep home! He is the BIGGEST HELPER to me and John as he loves to be our “fixer” – we are doing fence posts….he is going to trim the upper branches of limbs that get in my way when I ride the horses….and just be here…home – it doesn’t get any better than that!
Have a GREAT day….and I hope to see you tomorrow for our SUNDAY FUN!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 20, 2016 | 3-D Projects, Birthday, Uncategorized |
I have a fun post for you today! (well…I hope that you think that it is fun) I know that many of you think that 3’D’s are not for you but I invite you to think out of the box and think of all of the different ways that you can use this sweet bundle!
I have a bunch of pictures for you and I hope that they can help you see that this is a great product. I personally think that it is a bit impractical to put popcorn in (ha-ha) but it sure is perfect to tuck in a gift card, some candy and the best thing, a smile of happiness!
I can remember that I was always fearful of 3-d’s as I thought that this was something that simply, wasn’t for me….but I admit, once I started to play with them I realized many ways that I could use them and make lots of smiles!
I think that we forget about our square envelopes that fit a 3″ X 3″ card….this is a super sweet size and very practical for enclosures. We all have so many stamps that would work great with this size of a sweet card, I encourage you to look at your stash and then go or it!
I used the stamp set from the bundle and it was super easy as it is a photopolymer stamp and I used the stamp -a-ma-jig and the grid paper to space the “happy birthday 1/2” down with the grid paper! (WOW – I still have my original pad of grid paper….5 years ago!!!!)
There are so many ways that you can decorate or “fru-fru” these little gems! I took a scrap of the DSP and ran it through Mr. Big Shot and adhered it to (2) of the sides….bakers twine…and the stamp from the other bundle, Badges & Banners is a true blue…a simple true blue!!!
To me, this is one of the perks about this bundle. I think that many of us think that the 3-D’s use up sooooooo much paper. Here you can see that you can make a popcorn treat with just 1/2 of a sheet of our card stock – I say WOOT-WOOT!!!!
Here is the “low down, the 411” to today’s post! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions! I was super happy with the end result and I know that the recipient will love it! I admit, it will have (2) movie tickets in it, I just did not have them for the picture but isn’t this a great gift!
Peep Will returned safe and sound, I am still “pinching myself” the fun that we had together! Even though he was not as “THRILLED” as I was about “crafting together“, it was sooooo worth it to cook together and just hear his ideas about life, his career and his dreams! To me, it doesn’t get any better than that!
Enjoy the day!
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