by Susan Itell | Mar 2, 2018 | 3-D Projects, masking, Super Easy |
Good Friday to all and I hope that you have had a great week! If you live on the East Coast….I say – no need to do your hair as we are to have SUPER HIGH WINDS…..50 – 60 mph! I think the weatherman thinks we are in Kansas…..poor Daisy, she will grumpy today as pigs are sweet little swines that are rather picky about the weather!
Do you remember Monday’s post? Well if not…how about CLICKIN’ HERE….and you will see this super sweet Note Card that I made with the Hanging Garden Stamp Set and the Stampin’ Blends! You know I love projects like this and I hope that you find this post helpful! As my sweet Mom always said…..it’s all about the presentation….and I hope that this shines that to you!
As I said on Monday, I knew that this would be a stamp set that would live on Randall Lane….WHY????? The way that it was sketched….I adore all of the sketchy lines and the endless options of coloring! Even though the “subject” images of the stamps are not super dynamic and fun (just being honest after all, they are just baskets) I knew that this would “dress up wonderfully”….and the sentiments are great!
This is something that you need to think of when you are looking at stamps that you wish to make the investment with. I invite you to ask yourself this questions…
- Will it be a classic and timeless set that you will reach for now….and in the future?
- Are the sentiments and fonts ones that you will use over and over?
- Can you use the images/sentiments with other stamps that you already have?
- Can you envision at least 3 different ways that you could use the stamp set?
I say, if you get in the habit of looking at a stamp and then asking yourself these questions (and probably more) you will be making wiser investments, Trust me….I am just like YOU as I have many…and I mean MANY stamps that I have bought impulsively and they are just sitting (many not even inked).
It happens to us all but I think that the more that you craft and the more that you find and develop a style you get more comfortable with selecting your purchased. This IS one thing that I have become better at as there are just too many great crafty products out there on the market that I like to purchase!
Today I wanted to just use the stamp set above…(Monday I also used the Hostess Stamp set, Yay You ) and today….I want to show…..perhaps entice you to think OUT OF THE BOX…and actually MAKE A BOX to gift a fabulous gift that would be soooooooooo well received by the lucky recipient!
Let’s face it…we all love to craft (dah….that’s why you are here) and one thing that we love to do is not only make things with our hands…but to do the next – GIVE … GIFT THEM AWAY to the ones that are super special to us! There is just nothing like a handmade gift!
Another thing that I did to switch it up a bit today was to mask one of the plants for some of the cards (just to make some of them a bit different!)…..but these cards are so fun and practical. I stamped the 2 different sentiments of 1/2″ strips of paper and then the inside sentiments from this stamp set are perfect…or you can easily leave them blank!
I say….WOW – what a practical gift and when you break it down…..it is also super affordable. As I shared on Monday, the notecards are so affordable being just $6.00….and making the box…..from a sheet of paper….!!!! You can handle that….
Now how about the 411 of how to make this box…..well, here you go – super easy….and there is no doubt about it…YOU CAN DO IT!
- Old Olive Cardstock – 8″ X 11″
- Score on the 8″side (shorter) at 2″ & 6″ I do use and suggest the Simply Scored Tool….I always think that leave a deeper impression than the trimmer…again, it is a basic tool that we all need and will use!
- Turn Paper to the 11″ side (longer) and score at 4 1/2″ & 6 1/2″
- Fold In and use Bone Folder to give a great crease
- Cut in the scored lines (look at picture) and it really does help to taper in as shown (makes a much cleaner final product)
- Use Tear & Tape as shown and fold in sides
You can easily stop here….but what is another 10 minutes?!?! To add some finishing and WOW touches….. add a panel of the basket fun of these notecards to the front of the box. The DSP that I used is from the Tutti Fruit DSP 6 X 6 stack…. and I invite you to always look deep into your DSP Stash as this project….is sooooooo basic that we have many papers that would color coordinate!
Here are the dimensions that I did for the decorating of the outside of the box! (I knew you would want them….I hope that you can see that these little extra touches really do make a difference)
- The stripe DSP is 3 3/4″ X 4 1/4″
- The White piece is 3 1/4″ X 3″
- The Old Olive mat is 3 3/8″ X 3 1/8″
I had to laugh about the packaging…..I bought these bags last year and when I received them I thought…they are HUGE….but they are perfect for this! I tucked in my box of love and tied a sweet bow with the Old Olive Chevron Ribbon and BAM….a simple yet great finishing touch! (These bags are super sturdy and this presentation is just easy and fun).
It goes to show you…,you can make Lemonade with things that you do not use that you have bought! After I jazzed up the box…I took my scissors and WACKED off the excess of the bag and POOF – I loved it….how about YOU!!! I would love to hear your thoughts…..
I broke down the cost for the “guts” of how much it would cost to make up these 20 cards/envelopes….YEP….this box fit a complete set of notecards! The total is $9.49 and here is how I came up with that….
- Notecards and Envelopes – $6.00
- Bag – .36
- 5 Sheets of White – $1.15
- 6 Sheets of Old Olive – $1.98
There you go….something for you to think about making! I challenge you to go to your stamps and see which stamps that you already own that you can make up a bunch of cards! Next, I would HIT THAT PAW PRINT below and order this stamp set if you do not already have it….also order some of the bags and notecards….(all products are found below and you can click away).
Over the weekend you could go ahead and cut the white paper to the size that you will be stamping on…(3 1/4″ X 4 3/4″) and then the mat (3 3/8″ X 4 7/8″) and start to color etc…..remember, PACE YOURSELF and then you will not get overwhelmed with doing a task.
This concept makes a fabulous gift and one that you could start at any time of the year…..and then when that BIG HOLIDAY rolls around that you do not know what to give to the person that has everything…..you are ready….as a gift from your heart always wins!
Enjoy the weekend and be safe today. I will be “un-plugged” for the weekend as one of my dearest friends is celebrating her 60th. There are 8 of us going to the great city of Philadelphia for the weekend to do some fun things….the opening of the Philadelphia Flower Show, a museum exhibit, the Italian Market, great foods….a needlepoint store that I adore…..2 amazing garden and decorating stores in different sweet towns along the way…just an agenda of anything goes!
Many thanks for the well wishes for my dear Dad…..he is doing super-de-duper but honestly a bit stir crazy as he has to have care 24-7 until he can go to a Cardiologist Specialist…..that appt. is on Monday – so Monday will be a big day for seeing the next step! Keeping him down is like keeping me down, a hard thing to do! I have all of his meals ready for him while I sneak away…..at least it is a comfort that he is well and safe with care he respects!
I will see you on Monday with some more inspiration….(well, I hope so at least)….and maybe some pictures from the weekend. Be safe in whatever you are up to and please remember to take some of that well needed and deserved “me time” that we all need.
If you are anything like me….you can have the tendency of beating yourself up that “me time” could be used in doing other things but the reality of it is…..we do need it and we only have once chance……go and make a difference….make someone smile…..do a random act of kindness….we all have so much to give and to be thankful for…..and I thank you for spending a bit of your time with me in popping onto my blog!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 13, 2014 | masking, Watercoloring |
Woot-woot…I love my little Red Wagon! When I see this is brings back great memories of pulling my kids in a wagon when they were little…I sure miss those days!
It's Thursday and that means there is a challenge….how about pulling out these 3 colors and playing along! If you need help – no worries – I will gladly help you upload your masterpiece!!! Please go to the Pals Paper Art Website and see the endless ideas and then if you need help loading….please email me!
Before I get to the scoop of today’s post…I wanted to answer a question that I get asked a lot! The question is…
Why do you share so much on your blog postings
(like the measurements, tips and tricks etc….)
Well…the answer is super simple…
Why not?
I love what I do and why wouldn’t I want to share what I have learned!
The truth of the matter is…we all have to start somewhere and I must admit – I am not the quickest learner and even though I am passionate about stampin’ – I realize that many people who pop on my blog are beginners!
We all have started as a beginner in many things we set out to do. I want to share with YOU as much as I can so YOU can see that YOU can do it! I find that many of us second guess ourselves and the more we do that….the more we lose self confidence.
I am passionate about Stampin' Up! and I want YOU to feel the positiveness that I feel!
Even though it is very hard for me to answer each of your comments, please know that I deeply appreciate them. I am an email away so please feel free to reach out to me!
Ok. – sorry for the rambling, I just want you to know why I do what I do!
Let’s go….this is a “Susan” card and using the water-coloring technique always makes me smile! This is something that the more you do it…the better your results are…and again, don’t be hard on yourself…whatever you do is from YOU!!!
- I wanted to switch it up a bit and used the Naturals White Paper and cut it to a notecard size – 3 ½” X 5”…I love the natural look of the paper and there are little subtle flakes/fibers thru it that make it look super with the Water Color Paper!
- The “little red wagon” is from the For the Birds Stamp Set and it is perfect for water coloring…using the black staz on ink I “masked” the sentiment, as I wanted to use the sentiment from another stamp!
TIP ALERT: Again, I know that this is basic but I also know that many of you are beginners…when you do this…simply take a post it note over top of the area you want to cover…ink it up….peel it off – PRESTO!!!
- The Big Shot and the Deco Labels Framelits are the “wonder tools” for today’s card…I know that the below pictures are super basic but again, I am trying to teach you some easy techniques that are useful for many cards!
- I used the So Saffron Frame and attached them together with sticky strip…perfect hold!
- Cut out another Wild Wasabi Frame and cut it in half – you can see how I just “peeked” it out on the sides and then took scissors to clean up the other “left overs” – I just wanted the sides to peek!
- Let’s get coloring! Using the Aqua Painters…become your own Picasso…remember to have a paper towel handy to blot off excess water and also to clean the brush to pick up a new color! Have fun…just do it and have fun!!!
- Using the Mono Glue to adhere this whole piece to a mat cut at 3 ¼” X 4 ¾” ….and I used the envelope punch board to corner round the edges….POP up with dimensionals – DONE!
- Making the envelope was easy – following the guide, I needed a 7 ¼ “ square and then punched and scored it at 3 1/8” and kept turning…punching…scoring! Done – it is so fun and easy to make your own envelopes! I lined the outer flap of the card with the Designer Series Paper from the Subtles Collection!!!
Thank you for popping on today! I hope that you like my little red wagon….and I hope that you have memories of a wagon! My peeps are all grown but I love to remember the past! Have a fabulous Thursday and please subscribe to my blog (under the occasions catalog) if you would like a daily dose of inspiration from me!
Remember, when you place an order with me that qualifies for a FREEBIE – will also receive from me…a swatch book of the Designer Series Paper from Sale-a-bration!!!!
Speaking of swatch books…I am going to be doing an offering for you to purchase these handy-dandy gems ( in all of the collections!!!!) to help you with your projects!
I have had a busy week at my "other job" so hopefully I will get my ducks in a row for the scoop for you…I find them to be soooooo handy!
3 lucky people won them from me and I do appreciate when you leave me comments – you never know when I will throw in a fun give-away!
Have a great day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 5, 2014 | masking, Sale-A-Bration |
I share with you that today I was going to share with you a SUPER CUTE…SUPER FESTIVE fun Valentine post…but you'll have to wait until Friday! I am sorry….I needed to switch up my post and tomorrow is the PALS Paper Art Challenge and with me being on the design team….you know I'll be there!
The moral of the story is hang tight cause' it's worth it…I think that this easy-peasy card will surely bring a smile to your face! You can see that it is all about Sale-A-Bration items…and this little ray of sunshine is finding its way to my daughters mailbox….to let her know that I am doing the "Spring Dance" and hoping that sunshine will be here and that I miss her!
One great item that it in the sale-a-bration items that is also going to be in the annual catalog is the Banner Punch….true, you cn get it for free right now with a qualifying order of $50.00 but it will be in the catalog in June! With this card, I used it to cut the "rays" on the sun!
This card is so easy but sure does pack a BIG punch! The overall card size is a 5" X 5" card! The other piece of white is just 1/4" smaller…nothing better than a backdrop of white on white….the canvas is ready so lets go!
The sentiment stamp is a Sale-A-Bration item….and a popular one too! It is called the See You Later Stamp Set and it is super cute! (Remember the alligator card I did last week….it is the same set!!!!) I masked part of the sentiment and stamped it with Black Staz On Ink and then POPPED it out with the 1 1/2" circle punch!
The rays are a simple 1/2" strip of the yummy Designer Series Paper that is from the Sale-A-Bration collection, called Sweet Sorbet and this too is a super-duper popular one! It is simply the best and I just cannot get enough of it!
I quick and simple punch of a small heart in Summer Starfruit is all that is needed….well, except the tiny pearl – Hannah loves pearls!!!! Smart girl! I did a quick stitch to add some fun!
Well, this is just about it – I told you how easy it is! I did make my own envelope and another example why it important to have 12 X 12 Paper….I would not be without it! With the paper and the envelope punch board the envelope appeared! MAGIC!
As the cartoon say……
So easy…so do-able…so fun! I hope that you CASE away and bring some sunshine to someone! Everyone loves to get a card in the mail and who would not LOVE to get this! We all need sunshine!!!!
Sale-A-Bration is in full swing and I hope that I have inspired you! Let me know how I can be of help to you….I love what I do and I love helping you!
Until tomorrow…..
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by Susan Itell | Sep 6, 2013 | Get Well, masking, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Super Easy, Tips and Tricks!!! |
This card is sure going to bring a smile to my wonderful husbands face when I go see him today! Many thanks for all of the emails and comments wishing him a quick recovery! He'll be just fine…just a long road but we'll get thru it!
I told you that I will become the "Queen" of get well wishes cards and I was super duper happy with this one!
As you have heard me say ENDLESS times before….I am in awe of all of the amazing talent out there! Being that I am getting "super close" to doing videos (thanks from your encouragement) I totally enjoy surfing You Tube!
I love to look at many different Stampin' Up! Demonstrators You Tube Videos and I stumbled upon this one from SUD Patty Bennett. Please click here and watch this video and you will see 1st hand how fun and easy this style of card is to make!
Being that a "file" reminds me of a doctors chart at the hospital…I let my mind go creative to make this simple card! Look at it and break it down…it uses minimal products and the "fun factor" is high!
Sometimes I think we "over think" techniques and me being the "queen" of being challenged with fussy cards…this is easy-peasy! Just follow my simple bullets ….and BAM – done and FUN!
- Take your regular A-2 card stock (8 1/2" X 5 1/2"…scored at 4 1/4")
- Put this in the stampin' trimmer and cut off 3/4" (You better have this trimmer….it is simply the BEST in the whole wide world….I have a closet full of trimmers that are collecting dust ever since this gem came out!!!)
- Take the cut side (the shorter if you had it folded) into the Envelope Punch Board and line up the left side in the Punch Board Edge and simply punch!!! EASY…hang on – you can do it!
- Slide this over to the 3" mark and punch again!
- Back to the Stampin' Trimmer….take the "dip or valley" part on the cutting track of the trimmer and simply cut this piece off!!! PRESTO….you made your 1st tab!!!!
- TIP ALERT: If you have a little ridge….no worries – simply run your fingers back and forth to smooth the edges OR lightly use the sanding block to even it out! (again….my "type A " of crafting!!!!)
- I simply could not resist using my label maker to "personalize" my hubbies name and room number!
- I only used 1 stamp set….( I think that's a 1st in a while)…and the name of it is perfect…You're My Hero Stamp Set….as John is my hero!
- The stamp-a-ma-jig is essential…by now if you have not mastered this….please email me and let me help you….I go into total STRESS ALERT if I cannot find my stamp-a-ma-jig at my workspace! ( I swear that they hid this in the new catalog as I am ALWAYS searching for the number…page 197)
- I did use the Black Staz on Ink….why???? – don't exactly know but I love it!…I did "mask off"the real red and crushed curry part….you see…..YOU NEED THE stamp-a-ma-jig!
- The sentiment could not be more perfect…."you're my hero!"….just what John is to me! (again…stamp-a-ma-jig)
Was this FUN or what….I hope that I have inspired you and my head has been constantly spinning and I have some real "keepers" for you next week!
I hope that you have stopped by the Pals Paper Art Website to see all of the simply amazing ideas for the color challenge this week! I hope you play…..it's fun…why not!!!!
I sure do hope that you have a "hero" in your life….John is the most wonderful husband, Dad,brother,son and friend one could ever have….ZOOM for a speedy recovery! I'll be with you every step of the way!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 16, 2013 | masking, Thinking of you |
Ok….my "old faithfuls" that visit my blog – I know many times I tell you how we need to step out of the box! Today's card is just that for me.
I have never "masked" before and I was quite tickled with the end result! Not only was it fun…it is easy! I realize that there are little boo-boo's here and there but…what the heck – you can't sweat the small stuff!
Today's card is using my favorite Note Cards and Envelopes, perfect size and a bargain at $5.95 for 20 cards (already scored) and envelopes! As you know I adore white…I cut a piece of white at 3 1/4" X 4 3/4" to make the base of the card and then ultimately matted it a smidge larger with Melon Mambo!
Here you go with the scoop….I know you all love when I give you the "details"…
A simple click here will get your Stampin Up! goodies delivered right to your door….
I know that there are tons of great choices with Stampin' Up! demonstrator…but I sure would love to be yours! I am passionate to help you believe in yourself and reach your goals!
- Drawing a faint pencil line to make sure everything will be even. I pulled out the Stamp-a-ma-jig and stamped the sentiment in Melon Mambo that comes from the Four You Stamp Set, this is from the new catalog and it has 4 great different sentiments that are super-duper – a definite "A" list!!!
- Using the ruler again and the fine tip point of the Gumball Green marker, I added lines on either side of the sentiment!
- Putting "Sticky notes" to use…I carefully placed a sticky note to the bottom section first and stamped in Gumball Green the leaf image that is from the Secret Garden Stamp Set I then moved my sticky note to the right side and with the Pink Pirouette Ink – I did the same with the flower!
- TIP ALERT: Make sure you get good ink coverage when you do this method so you do not get a line in between the image and the sticky note – is this happens….NO WORRIES, just pull out a blender pen and it will be a quick and easy fix!
- I said I had some boo-boo's….no worries, the Boho Blossom Punch to the rescue…. a quick pop in daffodil delight was all I needed (I actually only needed 2…but do things in odd numbers – it helps the balance!) Using the mini glue dots and a brights candy dot was the perfect finishing touch!
I live on the East Coast and we are having some incredible cool and crisp weather….it's making me want to play with all of the new fall…Halloween and Christmas stamps!
We all know that time flies by so I hope that the inspirations I throw your way next week will get you excited to work on some projects!
Please email me if I can help you and click away here to order any of the Stampin' Up! products you need! Thanks for popping by and have a fabulous day!
Today I am doing something "totally out of the box for me" and I will share with you the scoop on Saturday…..
Until tomorrow…..
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