by Susan Itell | Sep 28, 2014 | Christmas, Photopolymer Stamps |
I am so happy with today's post and I hope that you find it informative as well! When this set came out in the holiday catalog I knew that it would be a "home run"! I comes as a bundle and if I were you…this is the only way I would order it! This bundle is the stamp set and the punch…this way you'll save 15% right off the bat!
Several weeks ago my wonderful downline, Nancy Farrell sent me an email and said…."Here is a video that I think you will enjoy…it's a fun way to use the tree punch"…well she was right – this is the best trick to make trees of all sizes!
The inspiration came from SUD Deb Valder and you must click here and watch her video and then this whole card will come together like peanut butter and jelly! Not only is the video very informative, I adore Deb's enthusiasm…
Let's get going…I think that the new in color, Mossy Meadow is a beautiful color for the holiday's and the "little touch" of Gold Embossing makes this card special!
It's hip to be square and this card is no different…the is a 5" square card in Very Vanilla and then each layer is 1/4" smaller! Another thing that I loved about Debs video is that she used the "inside" of the layers to maximize your paper. I was able to pop out mossy meadow trees and have then them for the future!
After I stamped my trees and punched them out, I did something different than Deb did and I wanted to share it with you!
I always keep scraps (long strips) of card stock handy to do this trick with punches! I place a little adhesive on the end of the strip and then I have a "handle" to punch! This way you can re-use the piece and I find it super easy to get the "right size"
After you have your trees "just like you like them"…start to have fun with placement! You need at least 3 flat to the card at different heights and then you can play around with your forest and stampin' dimensionals!
Here's another tip…make sure that you stamp your sentiment before your forest gets to thick! It makes it to "risky" for perfect placement – especially when you are using the stamp-a-ma-jig! (you are…aren't you?)
The sentiment is from the hostess stamp set that is full of amazing sentiments with the font beng so fun! This is available until October 31st and with an event or a single order of $300.00 this is yours! Please email me and we will carve out a plan on how you can earn this!
Did you like the touch of the ribbon! This ribbon is the Cherry Cobbler 1" Liinen Ribbon from the Holiday Catalog. This is a great example of how the simple touch of color and texture did the trick!
Making the envelope was easy-peasy with the Envelope Punch Board and then envelpe received "double love" with the In Color Designer Series Paper in Mossy Meadow and then I added and extra tree and sentiment to the front!
I adhered the tree with "Green Glue" to the tree on the envelope and I find it to go thru the mail "just fine" – I ask the post office to hand-stamp the card so it does not go through the machine! (It pays to be nice to your local post office….homemade cookies goes a long way…!!!)
Well….how do you like this? John is always a great shoulder for advice…and when I showed him before I typed my post…he was all smiles! I hope that you make a forest of your own and have fun! Super easy, super versatile and oh, so cute!
Many thanks for the comments yesterday on my "fast food" friends…they are so much fun to make! This is the time of the year when there are many craft shows etc…and these are going to be popular! Next week I will share the next "fast food" die that Stampin' Up! has…
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or simply want to chat….I am thrilled that so many are enjoying the September Stamp of the Month Kit…I am receiving great feedback and I hope that you will consider the kit for October!
Enjoy the day….thanks for popping in!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 13, 2014 | Photopolymer Stamps, Super Easy |
Happy weekend to all! I was excited to share with you today's card! I adore monchromatic cards and I think that this one is simple, sweet, practical and just classic! I will say that the photos do not do it justice so please try it for yourself!
The stamp sets I used today are the Bordering Blooms (pg. 162) and Hi There (pg. 18)! There is something that I love about each of these stamp sets..
- The borders are a photopolymer set and WOW – we know how easy that make for us for perfect placement
- The "hello" font is priceless ( I would but it just for that sentiment….adore the free flowing font!
Some people think it is a challenge to do a card in the same color family…it really is not – best advice is "go for it" I personally love the end result! Let's get to it…..
Now that Stampin up! has come out with the Note Card and Envelope is Crumb Cake….I am doing the woot-woot dance! I love this size as it is "just perfect" for writing the prefect note!
Making a mat a "smidge smaller" as you know I do not like to see the linen thread on the inside of the card (if I can help it) – I corner rounded all edges of both the mat and the card!
I started by stamping the left side with the adorable border stamp but all I used was versa mark…that's right – versa mark and nothing else! Doesn't it give such a rich and deep effect against the crumb cake paper?
Pulling out "old faithful" – the Stamp-a-ma jig…I was able to get the "hello" just where I wanted it. I did use the crumb cake ink for this! I wanted it to be a bit deeper to stand out but to still blend and be subtle with the border!
Now here comes some fun! I wrapped the linen thread around which in itself gives it a great look but then I took some scrap crumb cake and balled it all up….then smoothed it out and punched the flowers! WHY? – I thought that this gave it a soft look and then a simple candy dot…DONE!
You know I need to do something to the envelope! I thought that the sentiment was too big for the front so I did a simple stamp on the back flap for the mail man to smile and then added the border across the front!
This card would be one that you could mass produce in a jif and also it is so appropriate for so many cards that we send….change up the colors and get a totally different feel. I think that these borders are super fun and I plan to do many more cards with them for you!
It is a bittersweet time being back in Lynchburg but all in all it is great. My brother is here….so many friends etc….The one thing that is truly amazing about Ted was that he had friends of ALL generations and they are all so wonderful…it's hard to explain but it is so comforting to be with so many positive, interesting and lovely people!
Please pop back tomorrow as I have a card that looks hard but it is not at all ( you know me….I am challenged with difficulties)…I did the coloring while listening to a video….it's super cute and carries a big punch!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Sep 5, 2014 | Birthday, Photopolymer Stamps |
Guilty as CHARGED! I must confess that when Stampin' Up! 1st came out with the Photopolymer Stamps…I was like a 3 year old having my Mom telling me to eat my vegetables! I was not a fan of them…but my opinion has changed!
I LOVE THEM!
Why….??? They are sooo darn tooting easy to use! Not only can you see through them when you stamp…they are super easy to clean…they stick like glue to you mounting blocks…and the best thing is that the image is "pin perfect"
This stamp set is from the NEW set called Yee-haw!!! (you just can't help but love the name)…and there are so many options that you can use this stamp set for…..a child….an adult….something just plain fun and whimsical!
As you know I love to be square…and today is no different, The card is a 4 1/2" square and the colors of the card is Soft Suede and the Ivory Naturals….now let me ask you – when was the last time you used Ivory Natural Paper….and next – do you even know about this paper!?!?
I love this paper as it has "flecks" throughout it to give it a warm and soft feel. This looks great with many neutral and warm color paper! I used the same color on the "horse shoes" to do a tone on tone effect! It also comes in Naturals White and that too is a keeper! Both of these papers also make incredible envelopes!
I used Crumb Cake to stamp the lasso and then "fussy cut" it out which really was super easy with the paper snips! I pieced the middle with the tip and then ZOOM….a quick snip all the way around!
I punched a hole in the upper right corner and then cut a narrow strip of the 1 1/4" burlap ribbon…and a quick and easy wow…the perfect touch! The stampin dimensionals were the perfect finishing touch! (love those stampin' vitamins)
CONFESSION: I was actually dreading fussy cutting this out but it really was a cinch and the effect of having the lasso over top of the ivory naturals paper is WORTH IT – love the look and using the green glue made it easy as well!
Because of the square envelope, the envelope punch board was in order and the liner was a a cinch – mimicking what I did on the card – I carried the theme to the back flap… but then the front….well, I just could not resist!
I do hope that you take the extra time to give your envelopes some extra love! Think about it this way…it is the very first thing that the recipient sees…it gives you an "instant excitement" as to what is next!
This card is for Hannah's trainers Birthday! He will love it but he will love what I post about more tomorrow as it will be "Part #2" of this post! Please pop back and you will see why!
Please feel free to shoot me an email or leave me a comment!
Enjoy your day and get ready for someting super fun that I know many of you will love on Sunday! A new "offering" I am doing that will make it SUPER EASY to have a great stack of cards…that YOU do !!!!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 6, 2014 | Photopolymer Stamps |
Before we get to today's post…I need to say that I thank you. You know me well enough that it was hard for not me not post for you…but I was having a sad day with Murphy news and I thank you for all of your wonderful, kind and heartfelt words…it truly meant a lot.
I am super excited with the end result of this post for you…why??? – because I made Lemonade out of Lemons. Have you ever started out with a vision for a card to have it not turn out the way you wanted it? Well…if you are like me – this is exactly what happened to today's post but I was tickled pink with the end result!
I wanted to do a one layer card and I had some boo-boo's of ink bleeding a bit….so PLAN B goes into effect – I made some super thin slivers to cover up my boo-boo's! It might not of ended up to be a one layer card…but to me it is super simple, clean and just down right FUN!
I have lots of pictures for you today so I hope you enjoy this clean and crisp card! I just adore this sentiment – it pretty well sums a bunch of stuff up….who does not like to celebrate!?!?It is from the Fabulous Four Stamp Set!
I feel like I am at the Ritz being at a horse show with my beautiful and fun daughter….talking to each other before we go to bed and lights out by 9 as 4:40 will be here….I am in heaven! She LOVED this card and encouraged me to share it with you even though it wasn't what I planned!
I super fun flowers came from the Flower Patch Stamp Set….I think that this set deserves Stamp Set of the Year – WOWZERS….so beauiful, fun and versatile! The colors I used today were Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Pool Party and Crushed Curry!
You can see that I used my good old faithful go to's…the Designer Series Paper Stack from the Brights Collection! I know that they are an investment BUT they last forever! I just love not having to think…I always know that I will have something that matches!
You can see that I lined the envelope but I just could not resist stampin the from of the envelope! This just brings an instant smile to my face! It is a smile yet super effective way to make and envelope JUMP to WOW!
Now to the 2nd card…I did a BIG boo-boo up high on the card and I was getting ready to cut the front off ( of course I would not waste a big piece of white card stock) and Hannah said – "Mom…just add to it – it will be ok" – and she was right – it worked!
I simply added some more stamped images and a couple more pieces of strips of paper to balance the whole card. I just love these colors together….what do you think? Sometimes I think having 4 different colors works – what are 4 other colors that you think could work? Please put your thinking cap on and leave me a comment – I am sure that we all would love to hear!
Below is a close up of the outer envelope! I do hope that you make the mailman smile! Try it – start to do something different with your envelopes – it will make you happy!
You can see that my "trio of dots" using the fine tip end of the marker just adds the little special touch that makes it POP!
Tomorrow is the PPA Challenge – remember that I thought it was last week? Well, I am a girl scout and I am prepared and I think that you are going to love it!
Again, many thanks for your kind words, thoughts, cyber-hugs etc…..John said that Murphy was doing great and his tail was wagging when he came home…life is good!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 24, 2014 | Photopolymer Stamps, Super Easy |
I have a true confession – when I was making this card for you today I started to make it WAY TOO COMPLICATED and I was getting a bit stressed and then I looked at it and said – enough….do what you do best – less is best!
This card is going to a special person to all of the PALS and especially to Mary….her wonderful neice Kris Kilcoyne. I shared with you yesterday a picture of the 2 of them and it is sooooo darn cute and special I just need to share it again!
True, Kris is Mary's neice (and that is super fun in itself)…but Kris is so much more to Mary and the whole PAL team…she is Mary's assistant and is nothing short of amazing!
I think it is the "coolest" thing that these 2 incredible ladies live across the country from each other but with the power of technology and sheer "synergy"….together they make it work for all of our benefits! I am sure that Kris was beaming seeing "Aunt Mary" at convention!
I think I summed it up with this Clean and SImple Card….WOW…WOW…WOW!!!! I am lovin' these photopolymer stamps and I must admit, it was nice not having to use the stamp-a-ma-jig (but I DO adore it)
As I said in the beginning, I was being super fussy about adding stars….flowers…..arrows…..yada-yada and then I just stood back and said DONE…these words speak LOUD and GREAT with nothing!
Lesson to be learned…when in doubt – LEAVE IT OUT! Less is best and this works….just fine! I did corner round all of the edges (probably because deep down I felt guilty about being so easy-peasy!
I think when you had big and bold images…there is an opportunity to keep it super clean and simple! Also, these images are GREAT heat embossed!
I am just head over heels with this DSP Stack and YES – Stampin' up! is coming out with more in the holiday catalog! WOOT-WOOT! These are such a GREAT BANG for your BUCK!!!
You can line (2) envelopes with each sheet….they are perfect for the front of a card…the sky's the limit!
I naturally had to jazz up the back of the envelope too…..I just could not resist! This sentiment fit perfectly right on the back of the envelope and I know that not only will the mailman smile….but Kris will smile as well!
Well Kris…hat's off to YOU for being the amazing helper to all of the PALS! I know that I drive you nuts in emailing you at the wrong address but you are an amazing organized person and I appreciate all that you do! I marvel at your computer skills and ability to have everything at your fingertips!
Kris is an amazing photographer and also adores My Digital Studio (something that I need to do more of as it is amazing). She loves Yoga….is a great Mom and Wife and the BEST to all of us PALS!
Congratulations Kris for all of the hard work that you and Mary do….I appreciate YOU!
Until tomorrow….
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by Susan Itell | Jun 8, 2014 | Photopolymer Stamps |
I love trying to stretch myself in making one layered cards and I know that I said that I was going to do a 3-D project for you today, I just could not resist showing you this today and I do hope that you try it!
The inspiration for this card is from my friend Ted that is battling cancer. He received great news from the doctors on Friday that his tumor has shrunk and when he called to tell his son….he said "Son, great news…I'm going to be around a bit longer" – he has the BEST attitude and he still is doing Chemo 3 X's a week….please keep him in your prayers!
One layered cards are sometimes a challenge to make but I have lots of pictures for you so hopefully it will make sense to you! I am using basic circle punches in sizes 1 1/4", 1" and 1/2". I just use scraps of paper to punch out the shape to be able to sponge in the color!
Sorry for the glared picture but you can get the idea! This stamp set is one of the new Photopolymer Stamps Sets, Borderettes and it is a keep as you can use this for soooo many different cards! I used Sahara Snd to give it the backdrop that is simple but the color is light enough for me to stamp over!
You can see how I randomly sponged circle images and I wanted to show you how I "masked them" – very easy…Do you see the red circle…that is the same size as the one underneath that I sponged…I simply places the red one over it….then took the circle template as shown in the next picture…sponged and voila!
A couple of tips and tricks!
I just used a 1" painters tape…something that is not too sticky – actually what I did to make sure that it was not too sticky (as I would not want to rip my card) I put the tape on my jeans and pressed it hard to make it less sticky before I placed it on the card….but you need to make sure that the edge that is going to be sponged….is pressed really hard to get the tight!
The colors I used were inspired from the Lullaby Designer Series Paper…these papers are just WOW this year!!! I love the fact that right under the paper it lists the coordinations colors and that's exactly what I used! I just love it when things are easy!
After you do all of the stamping…carefully peel off the "mask rectangle" and WOW…YOU DID IT!
How about that sentiment…another BLUE RIBBON WINNER…it is called Bravo and wow – how appropriate – just look at the great sentiments in this stamp set!
Isn't this a great technique?!?! I truly hope that you give it a try. Play around with your colors…you would not have to mask it off if you did not want to – there are many colors that you could just shade over top and it would look great!
Remember….today is the last day for you to have the opportunity to winner INSTANT hostess credits! For every order that I have received this week, I will randomly (using random.com) pick a lucky winner. Please click here to see the post earlier this week but remember the Hostess Code is 9AHHUX9Z.
Well…thoughts? Will you try to do this technique? I sure do hope so as I found it to be fun and different! Tomorrow we are going to be "back on track" with Make it Mine Mondays – a personal challenge that I am throwing your way for you to try at home!
I am oober proud of many that I have been sooooo loyal in trying and then sharing their works with me! I do think I am "on track" for all of the ribbon shares to go out on Monday! WOWZERS – it's a lot of ribbon but I know that you are going to love being able to have many of the ribbons at a fraction of having to purchase every rol!
Have a fabulous day and get ready for another great week of inspiration – WOOT-WOOT to Ted and you are truly my inspiration – keep that positive attitude and continue to inspire…until tomorrow!
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Several weeks ago my wonderful downline, Nancy Farrell sent me an email and said…."Here is a video that I think you will enjoy…it's a fun way to use the tree punch"…well she was right – this is the best trick to make trees of all sizes!
Well….how do you like this? John is always a great shoulder for advice…and when I showed him before I typed my post…he was all smiles! I hope that you make a forest of your own and have fun! Super easy, super versatile and oh, so cute!
