by Susan Itell | Mar 30, 2015 | Congratulations, Embossing Folders, Tips and Tricks!!! |
Well my friends…it's going to happen again this week, the end of another month. Darn I swear that the older I get the faster that darn calendar spins around. You know what March 31st is as well, the end of Sale-a-bration.
I am not going to go over all of the "why's and favorites" that I have…as you have heard me and other SUD's many, many times but I will say – that this is the best time to stock up on staples and also take advantage of the Clearance Rack.Between staples and clearance goodies, I am sure you will hit that magic threshold for a freebie!
(I truly thought I had bought all of the Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Ribbon left in the world but I see it is still available!) This is BEAUTIFUL ribbon and do you remember when I did the Advent Boxes? One roll will do all 25 boxes…(trust me – I did many) and for that fact the 25 days Photopolymer Stamp Set will do the trick for a fun project next year.
Let's get going on today's fun and bright card and more importantly….the challenge for the week! Remember, this is a personal challenge that I throw out to you…why??? I want you to pull out your supplies and have fun and also help you learn to step out of a comfort zone, I know you can do it!
Today's personal challenge is to use (2) solid pieces of card stock and a DSP as the "bulk" of our card….this is for all of you I CAN'T USE MY DSP as it is so beautiful….I know you are out there….(trust me – SU will come out with even more incredible paper and then you will want that!!!!) yes, I will be doing the color swatches with the next catalog.
This is a fun and festive card that could be used for a graduation, a promotion, a simple "Way to go" (that is what I am using it for). It is from the stamp set called Bravo! and I truly love this one in the photopolymer so it makes is a breeze for exact placement. This is a BIG stamp set and has so many great sentiments for so many occasions.
I wanted to make the sentiment pop out like a bookmark and against the paper, I think it did the trick! Here are a couple of tips and tricks that I want to share with you – hopefully you will find them useful for projects!
- When you use 2 colors like I have done today, adhere them together with sticky strip BEFORE you run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder, this way your points will always be perfectly aligned and also your adhesive is already on!
- Don't be afraid to mix up and bring lots of different colors and textures to your projects. The best thing is that Stampin' Up's products all match, from our paper – to our ribbons – to our ink pens…you are always guaranteed to have a "closet full of matching items"
- Have fun with trim, ribbon and please try getting use to using Bakers Twine…we have it is sooo many colors and it is super affordable…play around and do something festive and fun like I did today, it will be remembered by the recipient!
Having fun with color is a reflection of who you are. For example, this print "speaks to me" and I find it easy to use where as the Something Borrowed DSP is absolutely beautiful, but I would have a hard time having an idea POP into my head…I guess what I am saying it try different things!
Another great tip…NEVER EVER SKIMP ON STAMPIN' DIMENSIONALS – these are not only super affordable, they truly are the best on the market and they do the job! Having a "lift" on your card adds an instant WOW factor….so the moral of the story….never run out of these!
The biggest Stampin Crisis is…running out of Whisper White Paper, Stampin' Dimensionals and adhesive…the worst – so making sure your pantry is stocked is soooo important!
Getting back to the stocking up point….remember we are going to be saying bye-bye to the in colors: Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding and Crisp Cantaloupe. Saying goodbye is hard and you know once it gets closer to the new catalog, these are going to be swooped up!
I hope that this cheery card put a smile on your face and I do hope that you will be able to carve out some time today and try this personal challenge, you can email me your card and I will randomly pick a winner and let you know tomorrow ….
Let's have a great week…Hannah had a great birthday (even though I was sad that we were not together) but she will be coming home this weekend so what better way to celebrate than with Easter!
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by Susan Itell | Nov 6, 2014 | Congratulations, Fall Cards |
Woot-woot…it is Thursday and that means it is time for a challenge! We were "off" last week because of the way the calendar fell and I am excited to play with these colors today! Will you come play with me and the rest of the Design Team!?!? Please pop over to the Pals Paper Art Website and see all of the great interpretations for this color scheme!
Before we get to the nuts and bolts of this fun card….I need to tell someone that they won my "Mid-Week" (not Mid-Life) Blog Candy of a dozen handmade cards made by me! I thank you for your comments and I hope you know how much I enjoyed our "conversations" over the weekend and yesterday…..(drum-roll….)
Woot-Woot to Cathi – Please email me your address and I will make the trek to the Williamsport Post Office for you! Please enjoy and many thanks for your comment!
Now….back to business! Isn't this a fun card? You will see that there is no envelope as I mailed it with a gift to a special friend! This is a layout that I often did when I was a Creative Memories Consultant!
You know already that I adore odd size cards and this is a 5 1/4" square card! Using the 1" punch makes it easy-peasy to line up the 5 squares! I took a piece of 5" square paper and worked my squares on using the "green glue"….love that wiggle!
After you get all of the squares completed – you can POP this piece up with Stampin' Dimensionals but before you do this let's add some simple and classic bling!
Using the Mossy Meadow ribbon, I anchored a piece ot the back and then took another piece and tied it. Them, taking some ravels from the burlap ribbon (thank you Jeanie for this tip….I use it ALL THE TIME), I simply laid it on-top of the ribbon and finished it with a knot!
OOPS…I almost forgot about the sentiment….wowzers – the focal part of the card as this is the message that I am sending! It is from the fabulous set, Bravo and being that it is a photoploymer set….I actually stamped it twice to get a nice dark stamp (sometimes I find when working with Crumb Cake that the paper is more porous and soaks in the ink…..do you ever notice that?)
One fun card….RIGHT? There are many of you that take on the personal challenge on Mondays so why not try this color challenge? If you do not want to upload it to the PPA site, please just play and have fun!
I am going to share with you a feminine version of this card over the weekend, please pop back and you will see it in a totally different way (guess what – I made a bow!!!!) With that said, how can you not pop back!
Thanks for your precious time and please know that it is as easy as pie to purchase any of these goodies today! You can simply click on the image at the end of the post and POOF – shop from home!
This above strutin' chicken is Cathi as she is the WINNER-WINNER…..CHICKEN DINNER! Way to go and I adore all of your comments! Dear, wonderful John helped me again and here are the way you all voted!
Coastal Cabana – 39
Baked Brown Sugar – 22
Crisp Cantaloupe – 18
Strawberry Slush – 9
Pistachio Pudding – 7
My pick…well toss up – Strawberry Slush and Baked Brown Sugar!
Until tomorrow….you're the best!
p.s. – for some reason, very, very early in the morning there were (2) of the same posts that went off….please know that I took the (4) comments from that post and put them in the "pot" to win! (They were the 1st 4 that left comments)
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by Susan Itell | Aug 3, 2014 | Birthday, Congratulations, Super Easy |
I have shared this card before on my blog eons ago but it is one card that I get more emails about and I thought it was very appropriate as I needed to send a card to (4) specials kids that just did wonderful in the Jr. Club Championship at our Club! I just love to see kids enjoy a sport and the smiles on their faces with a medal…PRICELESS!
Please click here to see the 1st time I posted it and when I looked at it I laughed…you can see that it is before we had the envelope liner framelit and you can see that it is the old designer series paper!
If you remember yesterday I shared with you that I could not find my Oval Punch…but have no fear the smallest oval framelit worked like a charm! This is such a great card to have on hand (well…if you have golfers in your life) and make a bunch up and do not put a sentiment on it…then when you need a card – PRESTO!
Today I am sharing you (2) different sentiments and I think they both work GREAT! The "enjoy the fuss" is from the Big News Stamp Set and the "Happy Birthday" is from one of my favorites…Sassy Salutations…(I love the font!)….remember what I said yesterday about sentiments!
This card is a perfect example of this…
let the paper do the magic and the sentiment will fit in!
The base of the card is my old faithful Note Card (5" X 3 1/2") and I know…I know I have shared this with you over and over again but it is soooooo well worth repeating – you can get 20 Note Card and Envelopes for just $5.95 and remember, they now come in Crumb Cake as well!
Another thing that I wanted to share…you can see that I used the Garden Green Paper from the Regals Designer Series and from one sheet of paper, I was able to make 9 cards! I know that many of you purchased the 1/4 sheets of DSP from me when I had a paper share…you can line the backs of 3 envelopes from a 1/4 sheet.
One thing that I also love about this card is that you can really use up scraps that you have! I do not know about you…but I always seem to have pieces of white paper and I love to use scraps up! Remember, USE THE INSIDES OF THE PAPER….I cut many hearts out of the red!
Not only is the a fun and fresh card…it is super simple yet clean and crisp! When you go to put the "flag" on…let the center lift up a bit. This gives it a bit of movement.
I hope that this post made you smile! It is a SUPER SIMPLE card to make and it is perfect for avid golfers! This is one of those "keepers" to keep up your sleeve. I am excited for this upcoming week and to kick off the week is the Monday personal challege I send your way!
I hope that you will pop back tomorrow…I hope that you reach out of your comfort zone and give a sketch a try! I am so proud of many of you that are loving these Monday fun sketches!
Make it a great day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 2, 2014 | Congratulations, Photopolymer Stamps |
Today's post is a big WOOT-WOOT to my friend and fellow PAL, Brian King! If you know Brian…you will know what I mean…he is larger than life…totally fun…totally a work horse….and totally a special person and I feel very lucky and blessed to have him as a friend…(and another HUGE thing is….one talented stamper!!!)
Brian earn a milestone in the Stampin' Up! ladder, becoming a Manager! He is sooo deserving of everything that comes his way! When I learned this…I instantly thought of a card that I wanted to make for him and it was a card made by another PAL that I was able to swap with at Leadership!
Today's card was an inspiration from fellow PAL, Margaret Moody, and when I saw this ….I was wowed as I never gave this stamp set a thought as I could not imagine what to do with the little "states"! WOWZERS…isn't this the cutest card!!! Margaret gave us this card at the PALS swap in Houston…..too darn cute!
Stampin' Up! unveiled several Photopolymer Stamps and they are WONDERFUL! I will admit, when I first saw them and bought the first stamp set, I was less than wowed but then they kept improving them and when the Another Thank You Set came out…I WAS SOLD!
At Leadership, they announce that Stampin' Up! will be producing them "in house" starting this year so look for LOTS more to come….I say woot-woot! Why do I like them so much…..??? They stamp beautifully, perfect placement EVERYTIME…..and great coverage!
This year as they produce them in house, they will come to us in a case…another woot-woot!
Let's get to this FUN card for Brian…(and let's see if he pops on my blog today)!!!!!
What is this all about? Well this MAP and HIGHLIGHTS are all the states that Brian has downline in to help him reach this growth in the Stampin' Up! ladder! Brian's upline is Pam Morris,and she is nothing less than a TON OF FUN!
Last year when I went to Leadership Pam was soooo sweet to me! I was clearly the "new kid on the block" with the group and Pam was always so incredibly kind to me and always….always made me laugh! I had no idea what a "swap" was…and I had soooo much fun running around with Pam with my jaw down swapping cards!!!! (She gave me a handful of cards to swap)
This stamp set is the Map It Out Photopolymer Stamp Set…..again, I first thought it was dorky but when I saw what Margaret did with it….I thought – HOW CUTE…. then I thought….you could put the state to whomever you were sending a card to….or how fun would it be mapping out a trip……of your travels!!!!
I emailed Pam and asked her if she would send to me the states of the downline that Brian has….and mission accomplished – she came through…..11 states in total but knowing him – it is probably more by now!
Brian always adds a freshness and uplifting spirit when you are with him….and even if he is on a conference call – you know that "Brian is in the house"!!! When we were at Leadersip together last month we had a great time together…he is one of the funniest guys I've met!
This is a super simple card…..just let the magic of the stamp set itself do the magic! Just think of how many cards this would reach to…..I adore how Margaret used it when we received it at leadership….but here is another idea…..I am going to make it and highlight the states that my kids live in and the use the sentiment of "I Miss You"…..
The Whisper White is 4 1/4" X 3 1/2" and the I used the Owl Punch to POP out the states!!!! Matting this "map" just a "smidge" larger (4 3/8" X 3 5/8") was all that was needed!
Using the same size for the Crumb Cake, I just tilted it…and it works – can you say EASY!!!! The key to this card is the Stampin' Dimensionals! I cut them into 4's for the states…Around the edge of the white piece, a quick stitch-dot-stitch-dot in Crumb Cake creates a fun border!
I had to think of a sentiment for Brian, and BRAVO is PERFECT! This simple yet effective sentiment comes from the A Dozen Thoughts Stamp Set! It is a "keeper" stamp set…..a little something for everyone and for many occasions!
Just a quick stamp on scraps….and then a simple trim and then matted in crumb cake….DONE! This is a quick and simple trick when you "don't know where to go"…works every-time!
I was trying to think of the genealogy of Brian and I……I think we are 1st cousins….once removed!!! (ha-ha!!!) Pam is his upline….and Mary Fish is Pam's Upline…and Mary is my Upline…..so that's how we are ALL related but the best thing is …..we have each other!
WOOT-WOOT to you Brian and it is a pleasure and joy to watch you grow and better yet…a friend!
HAPPY SUPERBOWL to everyone and to let you know….Stanley, my daughters horse is happy and settled in…YEAH….. and it looks like the East Coast is getting ready for more bad weather……..YUCK!!!!
Have a great SUPERBOWL SUNDAY and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Nov 11, 2013 | Congratulations, Watercoloring |
I
bet you are smiling right now! This is a very fun and whimsical Stamp Set
called, Giggle Greetings! When the new catalog came out and I saw this – I knew
it would be coming to my house!
I
adore using the Aqua Painters and this is the type of a stamp that lends itself
to water coloring! YEAH!!! You know what I am going to say…use the watercolor
paper as it really holds the water and gives you great coloring and shading!!!
Being
that I love square cards, this stamp was the perfect shape to use the Square
Framelits to bring this card to life! The card is a 5” X 5” card and the color
is Night of Navy!
TIP
ALERT: This is not necessary but I will say it maybe adds 1 minute and it is
worth it as you will get it “spot on” – take a ruler and measure both ways to
find the center…put a mark and then when you use the framelits your “hole” will
be it the perfect spot!
The
outer square was super easy to make and it is the In Color – Baked Brown Sugar!
Using the Stampin’ Trimmer, I cut slivers of the White Naturals Paper to add
some interest and then with a black candy dot the fun came together!
When
I water colored my image, I used Crumb Cake and Real Red…remember – go light
and then you can always go back over for shading!
ANOTHER
TIP ALERT: to get perfect placement for the image to show through the “window”,
I suggest you use Mono Liquid Adhesive…remember – a little goes a long way. I
like this as you can “wiggle” it around to get it in the perfect spot!
The
envelope was made with the White Naturals Paper with the help of the Envelope
Punch Board! Did you notice that I stamped the outer part of the envelope to
make the mailman smile?
Remember
to always use the Black Staz-On Ink when you water color… it came out fine but
the color and the texture is so much better using the Water Color Paper!
Lining
it with fun polka dots from the Regals Designer Series Paper is the perfect
choice! It is just wonderful not to have to think of what paper to choose
as a liner when everything we have
matches up so nicely!
It
feels great to show you a simple card! I think cutting out the front is a
clever and fun technique to do and it lends itself to so many stamp sets we
have! Try it!!!
Tomorrow
is a special day to the PALS…. as it is our monthly Blog Hop! You will want to
make sure you HOP back as it will be a parade of cards with the theme of “Thanks”
I
think you all will like my card…I focused on water coloring and it is a
beautiful card that looks like fall!
Here’s
to a great week…I have some fun projects brewing for you! Thanks for popping by
and get ready for a SUPER day of hopping from one inspiration to the next!!!
There's lots of talent out there…be a sponge and absorb it all in!
Until
tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 17, 2013 | Congratulations, Super Easy |
Everyone deserves a 2nd chance and this 2nd chance is for a 4 legged little guy named Rosco! If you follow my blog, I am a huge animal lover and when my son called me to say he was adopting a dog…how could I not be more thrilled!
I am the very 1st that truly believes that if you take on the responsibility of caring for an animal than you go into it with a total commitment! This is my son that has lived in China for the past 4 years and he had to leave his cat behind with a friend and has missed having an animal!
Like MOTHER like SON…I received a call that he was going to adopt a dog from Arkansas and he lives in Boston. There are soooooo many wonderful organizations and incredible volunteers that help these helpless animals from being in shelters that they would be euthanize!
I am a huge believer in adopting a dog if possible to give them a 2nd chance – another reason I am so proud of my sons research, love and dedication he did in finding Rosco! I still do not have pictures other than his adoption picture as he is waiting to get him and it is 10 :15 p.m.
The drivers have been making stops from Arkansas ending in Maine with uniting dogs to wonderful people that have been screened to be given a new chance on life! I truly hope that you have the opportunity to meet a person that has the heart that these people have…a true gift!
Enough of the story…lets get to the card!
This card was an inspiration from my upline, Mary Fish, and I can remember the day I saw this card….I knew I would be making it one day! Making a few changes to make it with my touches, I think it is super cute! Click here to see a video Mary did that is a huge help!
The card size is A 4 1/4" square card and the 2nd layer is 4 1/8" square with the corners rounded and then the "paw part" is a 3 1/8" square!
As you can see in Mary's video…using the designer paper is a key to making this easy! One additional flair I added was to mat a piece of Chocolate Chip Card Stock to the back and then again punched out the shapes!
The "heart" is from the Heart Framelits (the 2 smallest) and the "pads of the paws" were made with the Small Oval Punch!
When you "punch" out again….take your paper snips and clean up any chocolate chip (if that what you are using for the mat color) from behind….it's easy as you would not have any adhesive there….just put the adhesive on the edges! (I rushed a bit and you can see a hint in one of the pads but it is really not a big deal to do) and I think it makes it POP!
Stampin Diminsionals all over make the whole card come together and give it the total fun factor!!!
The clean and classic sentiment came from the carry over stamp set of Sweet Essentials, one of my all time favorites – just love the clean and classic lines but still has a fun flair!
The envelope was naturally made with the super new and fun must have tool, the Envelope Punch Board! The envelope color I thought was perfect and it is from the Sweater Weather Design Series Paper….very classic!
Where did the cute dog bone come from? Confessions of an honest blogger! I could not resist these brads I found at a craft store….I broke off the ends and used mini glue dots to adhere it!
I will pop back on and post some pictures of Rosco…I am sure he is very tired as it has been a long travel with lots of stops along the way…my fingers are crossed and my heart is happy for my son that his new little buddy will get there safely and it all works out!
This is one thing I love about blogging, I can intertwine my life stories into the Stampin' Up! life that I adore as well. It is simply the best to be able to do what you love and at the same time help others reach your goals!
Keep stretching up to reach…I'll be here for you!
Until tomorrow!
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