by Susan Itell | Sep 8, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday |
Woot-woot…. it’s Monday and that means that is another day for you to personally challenge yourself with a sketch! You all have really made me look forward to the Make It Mine Mondays and I always have fun surfing the internet to find a sketch that I think you will have fun with!
Well…here you go for this week! You know that I love circles …to me they are like balloons and an instant smile comes on my face! Do you remember the retired stamp set called Circle Circus….well that was one of my favorites but you can really get a similar effect with punches and DSP.
These colors are so fun…hopefully an instant smile is on your face when you see it! This paper is a new one from the Holiday Catalog, All Is Calm and it’s a keeper! You can see it has many different prints….for a fun card like today or to a beautiful winter card! The base is soft sky!
You have heard me blog before that Stampin’ Up! has the best punches in the market and literally this card came together in a cinch! Best tip I can give you is to add a punch onto every order…this way you will gradually build up a great set of punches.
I really lucked out with the stamp as it had a “double sentiment” and it was PERFECT for today’s sketch! This is a must have (who knows…maybe I will make it a Stamp of the Month Club)…and it is called Fabulous Four…and it is FABULOUS!
I did something different today and I loved how it turned out…and I asked myself – Why do I not do this more often? I heat embossed the sentiment and then used the CLEAR embossing powder! It gives it such a great effect (it looks better in person but I think you get the idea)
I think that this card with this sentiment can go for so make occasions! I am using this for a Birthday Card that I need for my sons girlfriend on Wednesday…this is Lydia’s favorite color and I know that she will adore the DSP.
The envelope was a fun to do! I stamped the sentiment in Lost Lagoon and the back flap was the fun and whimsical "dot print"….I just adore my envelopes!
Thanks for the great response for the September Stamp of the Month Kit. Please click here to see the post from yesterday and below I will answer many questions that people emailed me about.
Please email me with your address and put in the subject line September Stamp of the Month and I will email you back!
Here are some answers to questions that I was emailed…
- Is the Shipping included in the price of the kit for $40.00? YES…$40.00 includes it all…you will have your own "Simple Susan" in the mail to you!
- If I sign up for the kit this month am I locked into future months? NO…I want you to love what I provide…it is entirely up to you!
- If I want to purchase additional kits of the "pre-cut" cards, can I do that when I purchase the initial kit? YES, if you want the additional kits to make more cards the cost will be $15.00. You will receive (2) of each of the feature cards that month = 6 more cards!
- Can I order the Wood Mount and if I already have the stamp set feature for the month, can I substitute another stamp set? YES, I will simply charge you the difference of the wood mount and you can email me and substitute another stamp set of the same or less value and I will mail it to you with your kit.
Let's all have a great week…I have some great posts for you and this Wednesday is the PALS blog hop…this is a monthly treat that we all love to do and love to hop…hop…hop!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 1, 2014 | Birthday, Make it MINE Monday, Watercoloring |
Today is a special day for many reasons…it is my dear friend and godfather to our children; Brandons 51st Birthday…today makes a year to the date that John had his accident and he is amazing – doing all of the things he did before….and it is a Make it Mine Monday, a day for YOU to have fun playing with a sketch!
Please feel free to send me "your take" on todays sketch. I love to see them and I am just amazed at how amazing you all do…this is a fun, rather straight forward sketch!
I can remember that when this stamp set came out…I burst out laughing and I still love it today! I know that you all are seeing lots and lots of new goodies from the Holiday Catalog, I thought that I would throw in goodies from the Annual Catalog! This stamp set is called Giggle Greetings!
Today's post I am using the water-coloring technique using the Aqua Painters but today I filled them with alcohol…a tip that I learned from fellow PAL Ann Schach when reading her blog…she is one talented lady! The reason I did this is that alcohol dries much faster and the paper was very, very flat! I also liked the coverage!
I realize that some of you are a bit skeptical of using the aqua painters…but I say – try it…it is a very rewarding technique and the end result is always a smile on your face!
As far as tips go…I say start with just the "right amount" of "liquid" on the tip and squish together your ink pad to get a smear of ink on the top part to work with. If you start "lighter", you can always go back to darken it up! Make sure that you have a paper towel handy to dab and also clean the brush to use a new color!
I let the DSP of Flash Back dictate the color scheme of today's card! I often do this…let my paper be my guide! The Neutral Candy Dots were the perfect embellishment to follow the sketch!
"Stitching" the Smoky Slate piece I felt did the trick to break up the card and added dimensions. Please do not stress about doing this – just do it…no matter if you do not like it….trust me – the recipient will appreciate your work, time and true love in your card-making!
Thank you for popping in and this is such a special day to me…we all have so much to be thankful for and trust me, I try to tackle life without taking things for granted. John's recovery is amazing and it is hard to believe that it has been a year!
Please email me if you have any questions about today's card and I hope that this made you smile!
Until tomorrow!
p.s. – Guess what Brandon is getting for his Birthday…yep! A nice piece of GREAT cheese and a GREAT bottle of wine….!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 18, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday |
Here's to a NEW week…here's to a GREAT week! I am going to "MAKE a WISH" that you are inspired this week and that you will continue to learn all about papercrafting and just having fun! This is a fun sketch this week and I hope that you play along!
I often get emails asking where I find sketches…I try to go to websites for challenges and find on that I think you would like…this one I borrowed from Freshly Made Sketches (great weekly challenge)
Lots of FUN color today and I decided to use a base color that I do not use often, Rose Red. It is such a clean and crisp color and I think that it looks super with the Crushed Curry! I just cannot get enough of the BIG dots with the embossing folder…It just makes such a great and crisp statement!
Now that we have Crushed Curry in embossing powder, I simply could not resist "heat embossing" the sentiment!.To get the effect of the tag I simply used the Angled Tag Punch and then matted it embossed sentiment!
In the picture below you will see this but I lifted the tag with Stampin Dimensionals and them all I had to do with the star was to put a dab of Mono Glue on the right side of the star and it lifted up perfectly! The white gel pen was also a life saver…..AGAIN! Just love the simple touch!
This stamp set, Perfect Pennents is a great set! There are so man different and fun options with this set….just google the stamp set name and you will be shocked with all that is out there! One set that I definately would be in my work area!
The ribbon I just cut in half to make it narrower …cute! I was not going to do the lower sentiment but then the "follow the sketch" came out and I thought this was a perfect finishing touch! I have neglected Embellished Events…just love that santa hat!
Now to the fun finale….the envelope! Another double whammy for you! I hope that I do inspire you to give your envelopes some "love"…it is the 1st thing that the recipient sees…and trust me, a little extra work will leave a lasting impression and smile!
Well….how about it!?!? Can you give it a whirl!?!?! I hope that you play around and if so…lease send me a picture! I love seeing your work. I think that it is super that there are so many of you that look forward to this! THAT make me smile…..
You can see all of the products that I used below…so easy – click on them and they will go right into a shopping cart…all from your home – woot-woot – shopping made easy!
Here's to a great week…Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 11, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday, Super Easy |
Monday…Monday….and we know what that means – WOOT-WOOT, make it mine Monday and this sketch can be interpreted sooo many different ways and I have been “itching” to use this stamp so I think it works just perfectly!
When I saw this stamp in the catalog I instantly did 2 things….burst out laughing and then I knew I needed it as I have some GREAT friends to send it to! There are many ways to color this stamp but I like it best done like this – a solid to make it POP!
I am sure that you have someone that you know would adore getting a card with this great sentiment. This so sold as a single stamp and it is called appropriately , “Friends that Know”
Let’s get to this and I hope that you can see that the simplicity of this card is there but the very simple touch of using an embossing folder added not only great texture, it brought the card from a good card to a step up to enter the WOW arena!
I know that it is hard to see in the pictures but it does have a stunning effect!
I try to listen to my friends and as I have posted before about Jeanie…she swears that the inexpensive product of an embossing folder is worth its weight in gold! Today I used the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder!
TIP ALERT: You can see that this is a vertical card…simply open the card up and just run the front part through the Big Shot…this way there is no layering.
If you read my blogs regularly you know that I have a pet peeve about ribbon showing on the under side of a card when you open it up and therefore I always use a mat of paper so it is concealed etc….but when it comes to the Embossing Folders like this today…, I actually love the look of the backside of this folder!
Hannah helped me pick out this color palette and I think our “real red” is such a great red – I love it as it is a “true” red – no orange in it. The Designer Series Paper is from the Back to Black collection and it can’t get any simpler than this…a quick snip of the scissors is all that was needed!
To stamp the image I used my new go to Black, the Memento Tuxedo, I love this ink because you can simply use the regular cleaner to clean it…just one step….and that saves time.
Because this stamp has a framelit that will give you a perfect cut, the Labels Collection Framelits and the help of the Big Shot – DONE in a jif! Remember to click here to see the great offerings when you purchase a Big Shot this month! This is a must-have for doing projects that we all love to do!
Keeping to the theme this week – I did another double whammy with the envelope – I embossed the back flap like I did the front of this card and then lined the inside with the envelope liner framelit – easy…peasy!
Please give it a try…I know that you are going to come up with some GREAT Ideas and please email me to share! I am always soooo proud of you!
I am back home…getting into the swing of things…I have some great posts for you and on Wednesday, will be the PALS monthly hop…..I love the HOPS – inspiration to the MAX!
Thank you for your support and popping in, thanks for sharing my blog and inspirations with friends and family! Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 4, 2014 | Birthday, Make it MINE Monday |
Woot-woot….it's Monday and I love Monday as it brings me "joy" that many of you like and enjoy participating "with yourself" in challenging yourself with these challenges!
You know me by now…I try to make cards for a purpose and this week I have several birthdays…this card today is for on of the "Iguana's"….(that is a group of gals that went on a GREAT trip and we names ourselves this)…and I know that she will love it – especially with a bunch of cupcakes! This is her last year before the big 50!
Here is the challenge and I was scratching my head trying to figure this out! This is one that looks a bunch better in person than the photos show! I think that this is a super fun stamp set and I love the name – Peace, Love & Cupcakes! I have used these stamps "singly" on cards but not all together but I think it is cute!
I wanted to try to limit myself to using only 2 colors (I don't know why but I thought it would be fun) and the colors today I used were Blushing Bride and Lost Lagoon. Let's get going!
- The white squares are a 2" square and then the Lost lagoon are just 1/8" larger! You know me on this one and I know many of you take a deep sigh and say no-way….but out came the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement…it is not only a life saver for me – but a friend!
- A quick POP UP with Stampin Dimensionals gave interest to a somewhat "plain" card.
- I did use the image that was in the sketch – I tried to use a flower but it just did not work! So…why not – we have a Star Framelits and why not?!?! I thought a simple stitch with the white gel pen was the perfect touch.
- We have the BEST Bakers Twine – I took a piece and "tripled" it up and made a simple bow and using a simple glue dot was all that was needed!
- Not much left but the envelope! I did stamp the "Happy Birthday" sentiment across the front of the envelope and the outside of the envelope was jazzed up with the In Color Designer Series Paper Stack!
Well…can you give this sketch a try? I would LOVE to see what you come up with as I was "scratching my head" but I think it worked out just fine! This is for my dear friend Sabina!
She will smile and then laugh when she sees it as she loves "peace signs" and this is right up her alley! I have 4 Birthdays this week! I feel bad sharing with you so many but then I thought – we all have Birthday so why not!!!
I can't wait to see what you come up with …..and I can't wait for my pre-order to come today!!!! That deserves a HUGE Woot-Woot!
I will be getting my catalogs and I will be mailing them out to my customers on Tuesday! Get ready to get a cup of coffee…by the end of the week and you will be oober excited! If you are not currently working with a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator…I would love to work with you…..
Please email me and I will be glad to send you a catalog….have a fabulous Monday and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 28, 2014 | Blog Candy, Make it MINE Monday |
Today is a double whammy….the Monday challenge that seems to be a "happy thing" for many of you and also the WINNER of the 2 day blog candy winner!
On Mondays, I only work until noon so my goal is to go back and post comments to the incredibly up-lifing comments that you all left…thank you!
And the winner is………SUSAN HAYES!!!!!
Today's joy is reflecting on the many ways I have been blessed.
Over the 2 days I had 196 comments on my blog and email and I hope that you were inspired by the comments! I was smiling from ear to ear as I read them! Being "happy and experiencing joy" is something that IS in our control…lets make it a goal to have it be in our daily routines of life!
Please email me and these goodies will be in the mail to you and I hope that you enjoy (I know you will) and I thank you for your comment!
Now to the Monday Challenge! I hope that you give it a try! I feel like I wimped out by using a flower but I just love this die! Other Ideas that you could use….hearts – stars – I am sure that you have something totally different in mind and I can't wait to see yours! Please email me!
Back to the basics…look at it – see what you have to work with and GO FOR IT! I truly believe that if YOU challenge yourself to do sketches, you will learn so much about your personal style and what works and what stresses you….(now we do not want stress!!!)
We are on the last week of July (yikes – can you believe it) and this means that this is your last week to take advantage of the but 3 get 1 free of the DSP…click here to see the offerings that you can choose from!
I adore this clean and classic paper….Back to Black – it looks soooooo classic with a POP of bright color! So glad that SU paired the white and black together!
I receive many emails from you that you are afraid to use the DSP as a BIG focal point to a card…and even though I am clean and simple – I hope that shows you that it works! YOU can do it….and I know you can!
I know that these Bigz Dies can be $$$ but I encourage you to look at the big picture of the longevity and usefulness of them! I adore the fact that you can change the colors to match what YOU want and it create a WOW factor in a crank of a BIG SHOT!
We need to have a little talk about the sentiment! This is a MUST HAVE….why??? Sentiments that are practical like this set will be your lifesaver to add that special touch that will be the finishing touch…I always remember when I asked Mary Fish about what stamps to purchase….when in doubt – BUY the sentiments!
Look below and let the sentiments open your mind to how they can work for you! I find these "little sentiments" work for just about any card!
As you can see…this is a very basic card…but once again, the lift of the Stampin' Dimensinals are the key to making this card. I call them my Stampin' Vitamins and I always make sure that I am NEVER without them! They add the touch that we all look for!
Envelope time….my favorite! From the very 1st photo you can see that I lined the outside of the envelope…easy…done & fun….but I did also add the sentiment to the from of the card! Why not? I already had the stamp all "inked up"!
I hope that this post has put a smile on your face as I know it did mine! This was a "peanut butter and jelly " thing….and it is one that can use different DSP and different colors that the end result is WOW….
There are no words that can convey to you how touched I was with the great comments! I am looking forward to commenting on your comments! (now say that 3 x's)
I adore Stampin' Up! and I am thankful that the internet allows us to connect….like Bridget and I! That was a great time and I love the emails I receive from many that I wish we could all meet!
A huge WOOT-WOOT to Susan Hayes for winning the blog candy and I thank all of you for taking your time to leave a comment!
My goal was to bring JOY and bring HAPPINESS to your weekend!
Until tomorrow!
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