by Susan Itell | Oct 13, 2013 | Fall Cards, Stamp-a-ma-jig |
I am doing it again….something in 3's! It just simple works….odd numbers work with cards….they work with flowers…they just seem to work!
I adore Fall and even though in the East we have been soooo dry, the leaves are falling fast! I do not think we will see this vibrant colors that we usually do…but to me – it does not matter – I simply adore this time of year! Over the past 3 days we have also been in 3's again …rain – rain & more rain! (we needed it)
I hope that this card warms your heart and encourages you to either pull out your Gently Falling Stamp Set or to order it…as it's a keeper! I was soooo happy that they carried it over from the previous years catalog!
You know that I love odd size cards and now that we have the Envelope Punch Board...the sky is the limit! This card size is 4 X 6 and it is fun! You can make sooo many different envelope sizes that all I can say is…have fun!!!!
Remember yesterday when I pulled out that simple ruler? Well, I did it again today because a ruler and an eraser are like "peanut butter and jelly"…we all have simple tools and tricks that make us look WOW!
To me, the easiest way is to take another piece of Very Vanilla at the same size….4 X 6 and then find the center point….make a faint pencil line for your center mark! Easy…right????
Using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get the perfect placement….stamp your center image….and then work outwards to the sides! I simply would not make cards without this tool!
After I did this…I then Cut the Very Vanilla piece down to a 3 3/4" X 5 3/4" to make it even….THEN I matted it with a piece of Early Espresso cut at 3 7/8" X 5 7/8"….a perfect fit!!!
You know me by now….when I have a big piece of paper like this that is simply going to be covered over by another piece of paper….I NEED TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!!!
Look at the picture below and see how I was able to "save" some paper to use for a later card!
Cutting pieces like this is another reason why you NEED the Stampin' Trimmer….it is simply the best and is truly a time-saver and a life-saver! Being able to make exact cuts time and time again it key!
The colors that I used in today's cards are: Early Espresson, Cajun Craze, Old Olive and Crushed Curry….perfect colors of Fall!
LOVE this sentiment! It is from the Million & One Stamp Set and it is a winner! It is just 2 stamps but the stamps have powerful sentiments! I knew from the minute I saw this set in the catalog that it was coming to my home!
Using the deep color of Early Espresso for the sentiment made it pop and hold center stage!
I used stampin' dimensionals to give the base a good lift….these truly makes such a difference when you are highlighting a focal point!
This is a card that can be made over and over again with some simple changes here and there! Another keeper for you to use now and in the future!
To the envelope we go….SIMPLE today! Just a quick Stamp and then a "stamp off" is all that is needed with this bold and fun card!
Here you go again….less is best!
I hope that this card has put you in the fall mood! Have a great day….make some memories and remember that I am an email away if I can help you…inspire you…or answer any questions you might have about Stampin' Up!
As I always end my post….Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 10, 2013 | Fall Cards |
Wow…this has been a busy and exciting week!
It's Thursday and that means another Pals Paper Art Challenge! Its a color one(they are my favorites) and here it the color palate that the super design team chose…please play along with the Pals! I would love to see your masterpiece!
Today I am going to start with who is the lucky Blog Candy winner from Tuesday's PALS Blog Hop!
I thank you for the comments and I will say, you brought back many wonderful memories of Halloween costumes and I hope that you felt the same! To me it was great to see many "fun" costumes instead of super scary! Thank you….and thank you for your popping by my blog!
And the winner is….Pam Steckman
My
favorite costume was in 1st grade- my mom made it and I was a purple
crayon. I loved that she always made my costumes! Thanks for the
inspiration!
Pam, please email me with your address and I will send you your Blog Candy….Enjoy and thanks!
Let's get to the card…I was tickled with it and I had a method to my madness to share with you today!
Stampin' Up! is offering weekly deals. The discount will be reflected in the shopping cart…WOOT-WOOT – love a deal!…(Stampin' Up! is the best) and I used one for today's card!
The Squares Collection Framelits were the focal part to the card! I love being able to be in control of making frames/mats…simple solid squares and also mixing and matching both!
These colors work so beautifully for a Fall themed card! The Stamp Set is called Gently Falling and I can remember it was one of my 1st stamp sets I had ever bought…I was so proud of myself to do "double stamping"….it creates a fun effect!
I stamped the lower leaf in Cajun Craze and then did the upper one in Soft Suede (I have been using this color a bunch lately) Being that this was one of the 1st stamps I bought…I did not line up the images and stamps very straight so if this happens to you…you might want to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig…just in case!
This card is so simple and quick…all it needed were some Stampin' Dimensionals to add some pizzazz…again, less is best and this is a card that YOU can do and one the YOU will feel proud to send!
I know that it might be hard for you to see in these pictures…but the larger So Saffron Square has a matted Cajun Craze square that I made using 2 different sizes of the framelits…in hindsight – I should have popped the Cajun Craze square as well to show the fun effect…..next time!!!
Making an envelope was a cinch to make in the So Saffron and since there was not a Designer Series Paper that complimented these 3 colors….I went right to the Regals Designer Series Paper Stacks to match up with the Cajun Craze to line the outer envelope! (see 1st picture)
Mailman smile time….besides lining the outer back flap of the envelope, I simply could not resist stamping and adding a sentiment to the front of the envelope! Loved the outcome! The stamp set I used was Sweet Essentials, one that is an "A list" for me….but one that I have not used a bunch lately and I loved how it turned out!
Here is a closer image for you….Just doing a little something to your envelopes is always a fun trademark to do! It's fun and it makes something go from ordinary to extraordinary!
I am thrilled with all of the emails and inquiries about the super $25.00 opportunity to join Stampin' Up! It truly is a wonderful opportunity and Stampin' Up! has been celebrating their milestone anniversary in many special ways!
Please email me and I will call you and help answer any questions you might have! I would adore for you to be on my team of inspiration and I will love to teach you how keeping it clean will allow you to always have fun…to me – less is truly best and it always works for those of us that are busy and also allows you to feel such a sense of accomplishment!
If you are ready, click here and just make sure that your order is a minimum of $25.00 and not over $26.95…that is it I say another WOOT-WOOT!!!
You will be "good to go" and if you choose to place your 1st order within the 1st 45 days…you will get 30% off of your total order! WOOT-WOOT…..PLUS you will also be able to pick ANY stamp set of your choice in December absolutely FREE!
This is such an exciting time and there are absolutely no penalties if you just say….this is not for me….BUT the best news is, you'll still have me and also lots of passion and inspiration as the most important thing is …that you are having fun and stamping!
Please go to the Pals Paper Art Website and see all of the beautiful inspirations! Lot's of talent out there…and I would love to see yours!
I blog daily, and I love expressing myself for you to get to know me better! I am passionate to help you have the confidence in having fun! Please share my blog and passion with your family and friends!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 22, 2013 | Fall Cards, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Thank You |
Wow…I am getting my fill of thank you cards to send out!
Today’s post is using the Note Card size of cards ( 5” x 31/2”) and they do
come with matching envelopes…and the best thing is that this is not only super affordable
as the come in packages of 20 for
just $5.95!!!
Why do I love and promote these so much – easy…they are
already cut…they are already scored…they come with envelopes and the size is
super sweet to write a quick note! I say click here and order a set or 2 – you’ll
love them!
This stamp set is so simple and beautiful all at the same time! It is
call "Too Kind" and the trick to remember is…stamp the lighter color
1st (and it will be the larger of the stamps) and then go back with a
darker color (and now it will be the smaller one) I have not used this set for a while and it was the
sentiment that spoke to me for today's inspiration!
This card came together in a snap because I had the right
tools right in front of me! This is sooooo darn key, again getting back to that
time thing we all need…the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig was the fast and furious tool to make
this card happen! Love this tool and if I lost mine…I would be sad!
For some strange reason, I do not seem to used the color of
Cajun Craze until the fall…and even though it is flowers…I used my Color Coach to help me pick a color to go with the Cajun Craze…. and Crushed Curry it
is!
If you do not have the Color Coach, I highly suggest you
order it…why? When in doubt it is a great reference tool to get color ideas
without wasting your time playing around! Time is sooo darn important to all of
us and I will say – when I have used it and I see something that I think is a strange
combo together…it always comes out great!
Another thing that I have not shown in a while is paper
piercing…this is a super simple technique that always created interest and a
fun dimension to your projects! Now we all know that it would be next to
impossible to line up the dots by “our eye’ but using the Essentials Paper-Piercing
Pack made it a cinch!
Envelope time!!! I did a double-whammy for the mailman today! I lined the outside of the envelope with the Regal Designer Series Paper Pack ( a must have in every color collection!) and then using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig with the sentiment - I found the center of the envelope and then added another to the left and right! SOOOO easy to do and it does create a wow factor!
That's basically it! The color combinations you can use with this stamp set are endless…I used to be scared of "double stamping" but once I realized it was super easy…it was a great feeling! This is something that I think we are guilty of….stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new things!
Yesterday's card to me was a prime example! A year ago, I would have never even attempted to make a card like that – and once you try something and then you find out that you like it…..you'll do it over and over!
But on the other side…I will admit that I have tried things and then after doing them…I decided – "that is not for me" and that's ok too!
It's all about finding your style and being comfortable with it!
Thanks for sharing a cup of coffee with me this morning! I appreciate your time in reading my blogs! It's a joy creating them but it's a better joy knowing that you enjoy them!
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions! Have a super Sunday and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 20, 2013 | Fall Cards, Thank You |
John and I are blessed with so many wonderful friends and family helping us over these past weeks! A dear friend set up meals for us several times a week and so many people have been so generous in making yummy meals! WOW – as it is super easy for me not to have to think about cooking after I get off work!
True angels are the best gift one could give as it is great to come home and not having the "cooking task" to face!! Another angel has been my Dad, he comes and sits with John while I am at work and he has been a huge help to me. My favorite guys are here together and I am blessed!
Still lovin this weather on the East Coast and I wanted to continue the fun with the new Best of Autumn Stamp Set! I featured a post on it on Tuesday that I thought was super cute and I wanted to play with the beautiful leaf !
The card size is a fun size, 3 1/2" X 6"…love the different size and with the new envelope punch board it is a cinch! Let's get to the fun!
Now this is a great CAS card that anyone would enjoy receiving! The colors I used with Early Espresso for the base and then a mat of Crumb Cake and then the neutral of the card is very vanilla!
I wanted the leaves to be the foal point in a simplistic way so I chose very Fall-ish colors – Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Cajun Craze.Great fall colors…
This card would be a super easy one to make many of at one time and naturally you could make it into a traditional A-2 card size to use our already made envelopes…and this card is a super card to use up scraps of paper!
If you are anything like me….I have a ca-zillion pieces of vanilla, white and crumb cake pieces here and there! Stamp a bunch of leaves and then put them in a container and as time allows you …have a cutting session!
No need to stress and YES – I did "fussy cut" the leaves out but it truly does not take too long…just do not "over think" it! Paper Snips to the rescue and you are golden!
The sentiment is one that I have been getting a lot of use from, Lot's of Thanks Stamp Set – a definite A list! These words are so sweet and so true! I have so many wonderful friends that truly do give…give…give!
Isn't this a pretty card? Please let me know how you like it and if it is putting you in the fall mood! As I stated before, I made the odd size envelope with the punch board and I did a double-whammy on the envelope!
I stamped the front with the leaf stamped….then stamped it off all in the Cajun Craze! Love to make that mailman smile, he is always so sweet! Simple little tricks like this is an added touch that you can look at it as a 3 for 1….your happy – the mailman is now smiling – and the lucky person getting the card is saysing wow as well!!!
The back flap of the envelope was decorated with a simple solid piece of Cajun craze – something that might be a bit boring – but actually it looks sharp!!! I was on the fance about what designer paper to use so I thought – why stress….just pull the cajun craze from the leaves I just stamped on the front of the card!
Before I ahered the crumb cake part to the base of the card I felt I needed a bit of subtle bling so a quick piece of Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon and then attached a simple knot…quick…simple…and done!
I cannot believe that it is the weekend already but I am soooo happy! I feel like being a hybernating wife and doing nothing but pampering my dear hubby and playing with the animals!
John is doing great….the PT is coming to our home and he (thank goodness) is very strong and has learned transfering himself like a pro from the bed to the wheelchair! Once he is able to bend his knees (even a little bit) he will be happier. I cannot imagine not being able to bend my legs!!!
This has been an experience that makes us thankful for things we simply take for granted! The great news is that he will be fine, but the recovery is long and 1 step at a time!
I am thankful for so many things and I hope that over the weekend you are able to find some "special time" for yourself to reflect on what you are thankful for….
Just love this time of the year as the crisp days make me so happy…have a great day and please remember to email me or leave me a comment on how you like today's post!
Remember…shopping in your jammies is fun and you can have all of your Stampin' Up goodies delivered right to your door!
Stampin' hugs and until tomorrow……
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