by Susan Itell | Jun 17, 2016 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Here is the last day this week that I will share with you another “formula” of a layout. Today I am showing you how to adapt this layout with a vertical A-2 card versus the square cards that I showcased to you the past 2 days…I hope that this has show you how you can make changes and have them work for your needs!
I am sure you have seen this ADORABLE little fox and OH SO MUCH MORE on a bunch of blogs….I “get it” as he is the cutest guy that has come down the pike since my blind date with John over 28+ years ago! 🙂
Enjoy the pictures and please sketch this layout and put it in your memory bank. I am going to do this type of posts with you in the future as I know how it helped me tremendously and I know that you will learn and gain confidence as well with your stamping and creating.
Both of these pictures (above and below) are great additions to your crafting obsession as they both with create fun and special projects. I usually do not do a bunch with punch art but there is something fun and special about this bundle. TIP: – I would definitely purchase it as a bundle as not only will you save 10% but you will also save soooo much time in not having to fussy cut out the pieces!
You can go to Pinterest and put in Foxy Friends and hang on to you hat – you will smile…you will be inspired…you will see that you need this bundle.
As I have shared throughout the week, the POP up of the stamped focal element makes the depth and dimension and instant blue ribbon. Today I chose to use an embossing folder on the card – love the touch and feel it gives. TIP: I like to use the “green glue” to adhere the embossed wood elements….because of the nooks and crannies of the embossed pieces, I think it is easier to work with to get it “just right”
This is a new product that came out with the new catalog and it comes with all orders of the Big Shot now. Many of us have the platform that has all of the tabs (that really can be a bit annoying to flip) but this one not only elimantes that but it gives a much cleaner and crisp end result with your projects.
Remember the other day I posted about the Stampin’ Up! You Tube channel? Well…here is another great example of a fantastic video that will help spotlight for you the scoop on this new product and actually a product review of the Big Shot.
I highly recommend for you to watch this video because we have so many new thinlits, detailed dies, embossing folders etc…it gives you a great glimpse of how to use this must have tool to the most effective way it can be used.
I purchased it and love it….the results are super and there was no guilt on my part to saying goodbye to the other platform.
TIP: – You can see that I matted the dot paper in White. I originally was going to do it in Calypso Coral but once I looked at it I thought it was “too much” – again, this is a way that you can learn to see what works for you. Paper adds so much. With a simple and clean layout like this you can see that the level of difficulty is very low…it is just layering and keeping it simple.
Adorable, just adorable! You could easily change the sentiment to say….thinking of you or I miss you. This would be a cute one to make up in the masses and then leave the sentiment off and then you can add it when needed! Simple works for me!
Here is a quick run down on the dimensions. You can go back to Wednesdays Post and see the dimensions that I used for that card and then see that the “basic formula” is the same, just some tweaks to make it work for the paper and stamps you are using!
- A-2 card in Thick Whisper White, 4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″
- White Mat 4″ X 5 1/4″
- Smokey Slate DSP Dot Paper 3 3/4″ X 5″
- White stamped piece, 2 1/4″ X 3″ and then matted in Calypso Coral 2 3/8″ X 3 1/8″. I stamped the fox face on a piece of scraps and then used the puch to POP him out with a dimensional on the back
- Embossed Pool Party, 1 1/4″ X 3 3/4″ and 1/2″ X 3″
How can you not smile when seeing this cute little guy! I am sure that this would make anyone’s Birthday a special day! I think that it is the combination of the “fun fox” and then the sassy script in the sentiment – the balance just seems to work! THOUGHTS?
Let’s all have a great weekend…I am super excited to go see Stanley show tomorrow and I have a secret for him and then I will share it with you on Monday….his birthday was on Tuesday (good thing he is a horse so he won’t be mad at me with being late) but of course I need to recognize his special day and trust me, I will have plenty for the barn and his buddies!
We are BACK ON TRACK for the weekend….I hope to see you back tomorrow for Simple Saturday! YIPPEE!!!
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by Susan Itell | Apr 20, 2016 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Today is a super special day at our home…it is John’s birthday and being out of Tax Season is the best gift he could be given plus we are to have great weather so that is an added plus. We are going to go to lunch with him Mom (she is doing great) so it will be a nice day!
In keeping with the LET’S USE UP OUR DSP…..here is a great card that would make any Birthday special! This layout would also be super-de-duper with any DSP and any sentiment! Remember…POP OUT OF THE BOX and stretch yourself….I believe in you…I know you can do it!
I have a parade of pictures for you and I hope that it inspires you to use up your DSP and make a fun layout like this! Here is a tip…you do not have to worry about being perfect with matching up the pieces…you can use the sliver of paper (tip top taupe) is what I used….and this creates a balance if there are any boo-boo’s….YOU SEE…I even like to teach you tricks!
You know how I feel about bakers twine...BUY IT…if it is on clearance…BUY IT….why? 1st – it is super affordable and 2nd, it creates a great effect…each and every time. I like using glue dots to hold it in place….works line a charm!
I have shared this with you before, I probably never purchased Bakers Twine for my 1st couple of years with Stampin’ Up! and once I took the plunge….I learned, it is a card makers friend as it not as bulky as other ribbons!
I anchored the bakers twine with a dimensional and then anchored the ends with a glue dot. Then…I added to bow over top. Again, I hope that you see that this is a simple way to make a WOW happen fast!
Now look at this beauty….one classic card! Look at the envelope liner framelits…..I am STILL SCRATCHING MY HEAD why they are being retired….I adore them and I think they are the “icing on the cake” – I will continue to use them and I highly recommend that if you do not have them…you need them.Simple as that!
Here is you picture to Pin to keep for future reference. We all love Pinterest and it is so easy to keep the cards you like in one place!
In the products below you will see that I showed the BUNDLES for this…..true you can purchase them not as a bundle but I would do the bundle. It is being retired. If you think that you would not use the stamp set a bunch, then I would just purchase the party punches – theses are fantastic and I do not understand why they are leaving. (They would be great in shaker cards)
Remember….you can click the shop now button and then you will see the retired goodies right there…..See you tomorrow…..we have some chatting to do!!!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 7, 2016 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Here is a super simple card that takes just minutes to make and the colors that you can use are endless and the end result – FUN!!! There is a fun moment within the home office at Stampin’ Up! with the super fun and sweet Shannon West….you can CLICK HERE to see the post all about her idea and concept to sending handmade cards to people to celebrate and honor their special day.
I LOVE her concept and I am hopping on the Birthday Card Train and I hope that you will do so as well. Please do not get me wrong…social media is a great tool and so easy to click a button and say Happy Birthday….but receiving a piece of mail, a handmade card is so special.
The star of this super simple card is the Watercolor Words Stamp Set shown below. This is one stamp set that I have blogged about a bunch and it is one that I never get tired of because of its versatility! It is so fun and fresh and I adore that it is a photopolymer so it makes it even easier to line up and stamp!
You can see in the parade of pictures that I used (2) colors of paper and the same (2) colors of ink ~ Bermuda Bay and Pool Party! THere are clearly no rules in making a card like this…I call this...READY ~ SET~STAMP = ONE FUN CARD!
Today on the sentiment I double stamped the sentiment….just ever so slightly moving the top color (Bermuda Bay) up a bit….LOVE THE LOOK…what do you think? You can see that I did a super quick fussy cut of the sentiment and then matted it. How EASY!
When you stamp of the edges like I did today, simply place a piece of scrap paper under your card stock over top of the Stampin’ Pierce Mat. I think it is a fun and fresh look to have stamped images go off the edges of your card stock. Several trio dots here and there added that little something special to your card!
How clean and simple can you get? Just think of all of the fun colors you could use. If you wanted to make this masculine…I would stamp the Happy Birthday just like I did it today and then simply place that over top of a masculine DSP ~ DONE!
I think that you can see how fast you could whip up a bunch of these. I challenge you to go through your card stock….find some colors that “speak to you” and then sit down and make a stack of special goodness from your heart so in turn, you can make someone smile as you remember them on their special day!
The 6 x 6 paper stacks that we have are great for many reasons but I do use them a bunch for envelopes. Sometimes I look at the paper I have that I want to use for my envelopes to dictate the color scheme that I will use for my project.
Below you will see the front of the envelope! Doesn’t it make you smile? I challenge you again to do this on the outside of the envelope…I think it will make you super proud and you will be amazed at how quick it is to do!
So…how about it – How about making some super clean and simple cards for you to have on hand to make someones day!
Today you can order the super adorable stamp that Shannon created…a perfect stamp to stamp on cards and envelopes so you can SHOUT IT OUT TO ALL….that what we do is GREAT and what we do is SPECIAL! I hope that you will join the fun!
One more peek at this card…its a keeper and remember, cut the cardstock that you are going to cover up….waste not want not!!! Thanks for your precious time and click that SHOP NOW Button and order this fun stamp today! WAY TO GO SHANNON for being the brainchild for this great concept!
Please, please do not underestimate what we do…throw perfection out the window as what is important is that YOU DID SOMETHING for SOMEONE ELSE! That is soooo powerful…and I am proud of you!
Yesterday was a much smoother day for Hannah and I. She felt well enough to ride and she did fantastic! Still not 100% but feeling soooo much better than Saturday. She left to go back to school.The other girls that were ill as well are feeling better but one poor Dad – is still not feeling great!
I feel bad for him as he is here with his daughter that is super young and he is miserable. Good thing there are lots of hands to help. She is adorable….she looked at me yesterday and said, Mrs. Itell…..I am SOOOOOO glad that I just ate the cheese pizza, not the pepperoni!!!
Pop back tomorrow for some more tips and tricks….have a great day…think about keeping some simple cards like this on hand to make someones day!Watercolor
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by Susan Itell | Feb 29, 2016 | Birthday |
Do you realize that we have a full 24 hours extra this year….yep, it is a Leap Year and so I ask you….what are you going to do today with your extra day of the year? Hannah and I are going to Florida!!! (that sounds so funny but it is true) Monday’s are “down days” at horse shows so we will go out and see Stanley and walk him a bit…graze him….but then we are hittin’ the road to Pensacola to see my brother for the day!
In honor of Leap Year…I am wishing any of you that celebrate a Birthday today…a Happy one because – I think that it is so funny that you are only 10 but you are really 40…..wouldn’t that be a hoot! I am also playing along with the The Paper Players this week….Claire Broadwater came up with this fabulous sketch and I just adore Claire and her work so I decided to play along…it is a SUPER FUN sketch!
Let’s get going…..I know that many time we get stumped with making masculine birthday cards but the minute I saw this sketch I knew exactly what I was going to do! Truth be told, my brothers Birthday is next week and I knew I needed to whip up a super quick card as I was pooped from the day so I put my thoughts into action and BAM it worked!
I have shared with you that while I am away, I am trying to use stamp sets that I have not used a bunch to STRETCH myself…( I know I preach that to you so I should do it as well) – This stamp set, Endless Wishes is just fabulous and fun! I adore that it is a photopolymer and I adore the fun and flirty fonts!
I know that many of us are afraid of using “shapes” on a card….do me a favor, give it a try! If you have time today….just do it – go to your craft area and give this sketch a try…this is a great one to help build your confidence up. I literally picked the colors that I wanted….then picked a DSP and just went for it – and you know what….I think it worked!
Silly Susan….I totally forgot to list (3) items in the lineup at the end of the post that I used for this card (you can tell I am tired as I was too lazy to go back and re-do the list of supplies). I used (2) circle punches….the 1 3/4″ circle punch and the 2″ circle punch and then I also used the decorative dots embossing folder – I thought that it gave it a fun texture.
I decided not to add any color to the cake area and keep it super clean and simple….sometimes you need to just stop and let the card set the tone without making it too colorful. (there already has a lot of fun color going on)
You know me…I love my dashes and dots – a simple a very quick “little something” …that just adds a bit of fun and so fast. Just think of the endless color combinations you could do with the layout! You could also easily change the whole theme with a different stamp set and DSP!
The finale – the lined envelope…I must say, Hannah and I are very tired! I literally whipped this card up in 10 minutes tops and I hope that I was able to inspire you today! I was going to showcase you with a bunch of pictures from our 1st week here at the show but honestly, I just ran out of steam to edit my photos for you!
I will leave you with a funny….do you remember waiting and waiting at the pediatricians office waiting with your children….well now that I am WAY PAST that stage in my life, I had to laugh yesterday….after Hannah competed….Stanley needed to get new shoes ( a every 6 week thing that still makes John scratch his head) but being that we were in a strange place…I just simply could not leave him with a stranger…so I sat in a chair watching him get a “pedicure” (ha-ha) 🙂 The ferrier said, you can come back in an hour….(I thought – no way….I would not leave my darling baby)!!!!
Can’t you just picture me sitting in a chair watching like a concerned Mom! Below is a sweet picture of Hannah and Stanley. I feel super blessed that we have the great opportunity to spend this time together. To think that her passion and love she has for the horses is still so strong…..her Senior Year Spring Break….spent with her Mom….it doesn’t get better than that!
Enjoy your EXTRA day of the year….my son will has a friend that has a birthday today….she is 7 and also 28!!!! It is so funny…..We are entering the last full month of Sale-A-bration….this IS the most exciting time of the year and I hope that you see the fun of shopping for your basics that you know you will use…and get a FREEBIE along the way!
Tomorrow is my Tips and Tricks blog posting….I have some new picks for you to make this fun that we do even better….you will smile, trust me! Enjoy the day, I know that we will….Milo is excited to go to another state!!!! He is an AMAZING dog….such a good boy!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 12, 2016 | Birthday |
As promised…it is a “Mr. Frog” day…or should I say today it is a “Mrs. Frog” as she is all ready for to wish a girlfriend Happy Birthday. You know I adore Mr. Frog and he from the You’re Sublime and Mr. Frog’s hat is from the FREEBIE Sale-a-bration, “Hello” and remember – this stamp set is only available thru MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15th!
I know that some of you thought that all items were available thru the end of March, but look at the catalog and you will see that there are several items that I going bye-bye in Monday but the great news is….Tuesday, there will be some new additions, and you will smile!
You know that I adore “Mr. Frog” and this hat is PERFECT for him to strut his stuff wishing someone Happy Birthday! I really should have showcased this stamp more and I do hope that you can see that this is a fabulous stamp set that is practical all year around! (Darn, it is so cute….it should be in the big catalog)
Enjoy the parade of pictures and I hope that you can see that not only is it “HIP TO BE SQUARE” and also know that simple cuts of paper can make a WOW card in a very short period of time. (Remember, my motto….when you are making a card….it really is just as easy to make several so you have a stash)
I like to use masking tape to do a simple mask of the sentiment and of course…I use the stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement each and every time! I did use the THICK white card stock and just a dab of the melon mambo with the aqua painter…true you could use the marker straight on but I think it is too dark…and this is super easy!
This is just one FUN…CLEAN….and SIMPLE card that I think you will agree…..will make anyone smile! I also loved the top of his hat as it reminded me of the DSP…did you notice that? This truly is a fun and special pack of paper.
With the house glass starting to turn for getting this stamp set free…..remember, for every $50.00 order you can pick a Sale-a-bration item…and if I were you – I would pick this gem….you will use it over and over for cards throughout the year!
For some reason I have a TON of Birthdays this month….and I think that I am going to play some more with this stamp set. I am thankful that the weekend is here…John is starting to get super busy and I was truly pooped yesterday. Busy day…..please feel free to email me and I will get back with you….I did not check my mail last night….I just typed this up and HIT THE HAY!
See you tomorrow….it’s Simple Saturday!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 29, 2015 | Birthday, Super Easy |
Usually on Thursdays it is the Paper Art Challenge but because there are 5 Thursdays this month….we are off for the week! Did I get your attentions with the title of today's post? Let me clarify it and I think you will see where I am coming from!
I will ask you…
Why do we complicate something that we love to do?
What am I talking about? So many times we get ourselves in such a dither that we just get frustrated, we sometimes get angry and many times we throw our hands up and say – I just can't do this right now….
Does this sound familiar? Trust me…been there ~ done that….a lot!
You have heard me talking about developing a style. It does not happen over night but the best thing I can advise you is to try different styles…see what works …see what doesn't! You'll know. Personally I am a clean and simple gal and I know that once I try to to a really fussy technique, I stress!
I needed a card for a friend and I was fighting the clock and said to myself ( and a bunch of dogs eyes looking at me) – ready ~ set~ just do it! I love the simple yet classic style of this card and I am excited for you to see how easy it is! Now I ask you, can you duplicate this?…..we all know the answer – YES!!!!!
I have the dimensions for you so I hope that you can find some "me time" and make a card with this layout. Put you thinking cap on and change the sentiment, change the DSP…just DO IT!
- Very Vanilla A-2 card – 4 1/4" X 51/2"
- Very Vanilla layer is 4" X 5 1/4"
- The DSP from the Happy Hauntings is 3" X 5 1/4"
- The Very Vanilla that the "Happy Birthday" sentiment is on is is 3 1/2" X 2 1/4" LOVE this stamp set, Watercolor Words
- The Tangelo Twist is a "smidge larger" – 3 5/8" X 2 3/8"
- The Very Vintage Button was threaded with "threads" pulled from the In Color Tangelo Twist In Color Ribbon….great trick when we do not have a thin ribbon that would work!
- Stampin' Dimensionals to the rescue….ONE GREAT CARD!
- Use the "green glue" to the back flap of the envelope….place a piece of DSP that is 3" X 6" – adhere and trim off the excess!
There you go my friends – I hope that you will give it a try and then after you smile and are proud of yourself, you say to yourself – I DID IT!…if you want – please send a picture of it to me….I always love to see you work!
Today's card is a layout that I hope that you "memory bank" it because this is a great example of how a "formula" as I like to call it works…trust me, you could do this layout over and over again and make the changes in your stamps and papers and no one will ever notice….
as the saying goes…..
Try it…you might like it!
I hope that you do and I hope that this has inspired you to keep it clean and simple! Enjoy the day….and until tomorrow!
Tomorrow I am going to share with you some tips and tricks that I find making what we do easier….I have had many ask me about the mailing of bulky cards….how I organize certain things and also some great waterproof bags that I like to have handy with projects in!
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