by Susan Itell | Jun 24, 2017 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good Saturday to all! I have a super fast and elegant card for you today! I admit, this is my kinda card and it just came together in a matter of minutes! I sure do love when it happens like this.
Pop back tomorrow to see how I made some changes and stepped it up! I am being honest….I have not created the card for tomorrow yet….and I really and thinking that I might be stumped….as I love it just the way it is!
There are (2) elements of this card that you might have a learning curve with and I highly suggest that you grab that extra cup of coffee to watch them….I know that when we see a set of framelits and an embossing folder we immediately think……I know how to use them but these 2 products have some unique characteristics about them so I highly suggestion to take another look.
- Eastern Beauty Photopolymer Bundle – This is a very unique and detailed stamp set and framelits. At first glance it looks rather straight forward but the unique element of this is the framelits…..the amount of different ways to use these framelits are remarkable…making this so fun and special.
For today’s card…I allowed the simplistic beauty of the die to be my focal point and then used the amazing clean & simple sentiment, “You’ve got this.” to make a statement! I admit…I have not played and used these framelits to their best ability and I truly think that if you have a “play date” with it….your paper and Mr. Big…you can come up with some amazing unique shapes!
This sentiment is from the You’ve Got This Stamp Set that was carried over from last years catalog. This was a huge hit last year….filled with not only 3 great sentiments but the font…..oh, so classic!
Here is the other product that has the learning curve….if you turn to page 211 in your catalog you will see that we have (5) of these special dynamic folders and this video will be a HUGE help in making this product work for you! I am just giddy about these as the end result is this deep…rich and 3D looking image!
In the video Donna referenced to using a Stampin’ Spritzer to help with the papers fibers…and yep – I would recommend that. This makes a difference with the deep impression – have you ever ran an embossing folder through Mr Big to see areas that there are “cracks” – will this will help soften the fibers of the paper to help prevent that! (just a little tip!!!)
Whew…..we are over the technical part….let look at some pictures of the project up-close! I am really tickled with this and I am still amazed at the ease.
It truly is like I say over and over…..when you have the “basics”…..(like – Mr. Big….layering framelits – circles, squares etc…) then you can add the “specialty items”….(like this bundle and embossing folders) to create an amazing classic card you just cannot go wrong!
I chose a square card for today as I thought that it lent itself to the shape of the die…and heck – you know I adore a square card. Here is a funny for you – I am a “stamp nut” – what is a STAMP NUT???? Easy – I like to have fun and complementary stamps to go along with the card that I make….call me silly but I do love my stamp collection.
When I made this card I knew that the “LOVE” stamp would be a perfect compliment to the card. When I see a stamp that comes out that I love….I buy many sheets of it to have on hand!
Tomorrow I will share with you tips and tricks on ow to make this card “safe to mail” to protect this delicate and beautiful die. As I said in the beginning of the post….I really don’t know what I can do to step it up….any suggestions?????
I am in my “motherhood glory” as all 3 of the peeps are “in the house” and we are having the time of our lives….we have many to do’s today and I really am not sure if they will be completed….as we were having dinner last night we all shared what we wanted to do….here is a sample and then I think you will agree – GOOD LUCK as there are only so many hours!
I feel very blessed that they all surround us being together….and that is the element that makes my heart pitter-patter…..pick blueberries, power wash the aisle-way in the barn, have a family tennis tournament, have a family corn-hole tournament, give Oscar & Arnold a bath, set off fireworks, make a fire in the fire pit, have a dessert throw-down in the kitchen, go for a long run,play Scrabble & Backgammon, wash the car…..
YIKES – if everyone gets their wishes….we are going to be one productive family! (I bet you can tell which ones are my suggestions) Anyway, have a great day….make some memories and I hope to see you back tomorrow!
Remember, the Daisy Punch is back…and I am sure that you saw from many blogs that SUD are super happy about that so please do not miss the opportunity to grab yours…..it is AMAZING of the popularity!
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by Susan Itell | Jun 17, 2017 | Simple Saturday |
Woot-Woot – it’s the weekend! I have a SUPER SIMPLE Card for you today! I think that this is the fastest card I have made in a L O N G time. The beauty is the stamp does all of the work for you!
The details are truly unique in this stamp set. In my eyes, this is a very different stamp set for Stampin’ Up! and I will say that when you stamp it – it looks elegant even before you add some color!
The biggest tip I can give you is…MAKE SURE YOUR STAMP IS CONDITIONED WELL. I will go into that…but you can see the boldness of the letters in “THANKS” that you want to make sure that when you stamp….your image is clean and crisp!
There really is not much to say about this card because it is so straight forward but I will chat a wee bit about the coloring that I did. I used my old faithful go-to, the aqua painters.
We all seem to pick the coloring medium that works best for us and the aqua painters are my comfort zone. You could easily use the watercolor pencils, the blender pens or even just the markers….this is a very forgiving area to add color to – just have fun!
I did a wash of So Saffron and then went over with Daffodil Delight where there are the darker sketchier areas of the stamped image. For the leaves I did the same thing….colored the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and then went back over with Wild Wasabi wherever there were the sketched lines….super easy!
Earlier this week I had shared with you that I often pick my color scheme for my card from the DSP Paper that I use for the envelope. Well, today I did not do that (confession of an honest stamper) because I think that I was just so darn excited to start to color away that I never thought about the envelope.
It worked out. We always seem to have yummy paper that will work for the feel and design of a card but remember….if not – just go with a solid coordinating color of paper and perhaps emboss it….that will always do the trick.
You can see that Old Olive is the “green” used in the below DSP of Delightful Daisy….and yep, you are right….I did not use Old Olive – another great example of “don’t get stuck in the rigid box” – always look to the outside! 😀
Before we leave….let’s chat about the conditioning of the stamp. I have blogged about this but sometimes you cannot hear it too much. I like ti take my new stamps and stamp them up really, really good with Versa Mark Ink and then stamp, stamp , stamp.
For those of you that say….what do you do with retired cardstock???….well yep, this is what I do. I have card stock cut down to smaller sizes and I grab a piece and use it to stamp my images when I condition them.
For a stamp like this…you might need to give it some extra love. What do I mean??? Easy….do this method….clean your stamp (I use the Absorber Towels) as you can really get them super squeaky clean and then repeat….stamp with Versa Mark….even squish the stamp around (twist it with your hand) then do a couple regular stamps…..etc….
Now you can go to the black ink and see the results. You really want to make sure that you have great coverage with your stamp image to have that solid clean and crisp stamp. PRESTO!!!! Your stamp is conditioned and you can always reach for this and be good to go!
Now go take this day and make it yours! We are hanging close to home….Oscar, (the perfect horse) had a little surgery on Thursday so I need to be close…he is fine – just needs to be in for a couple of days to make sure that he does not pull stitches….of course that gives me time to “be the Mom” to him and give him extra carrots and brushing!
A perfect day in my eyes….I hope that you enjoyed this card…I confess – I am amazed with how fast it comes together and the end result is a beautiful and unique work of art from the heart!
Just in case you have some “me time”…how about playing the Tic Tac Toe Challenge….there is time to play and trust me, you will have fun – there is something exciting about looking at the elements on the board and then letting you creativity go!
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by Susan Itell | Jun 10, 2017 | Simple Saturday |
Here you go…it is time for our 2 day weekend post! If you are new to my blog, welcome …..but let me fill you in about the weekend posts! On Saturday’s I share a project that is rather simple and then tomorrow….please POP back and see how I stepped it up.
Todays card showcases the NEW Photopolymer Bundle, Beautiful Bouquet. It is just that – BEAUTIFUL! I know, I know what many of you are thinking….another floral stamp…..yep – you are right but I invite you to look at it a bit deeper!
Do you SEE all of the Framelits? This is the answer to many of your “fussy cutting wishes” – This stamp set is chocked full of amazing stamps in a variety of sizes but to have the matching framelits – YES….we are all doing the happy dance….
Before we get to pictures…I hope that you can see the endless options you will have with this bundle. I adore an offering when it has part of the framelits that are perfect “fillers” that do not require stamping (like the below pear pizzazz leaves) – these are PERFECT to tuck in here and there and also great to cut many of and put them in a baggie for a rainy day!
There are just a ca-zillion ways to have fun with this bundle and the sentiments…..another keeper. Here is a great idea for you – when you see a new bundle go ahead and do a search for it in Pinterest…..or Split Coast Stampers – these are great sources for additional ideas but I think that you see the potential!
I have been really getting to know the new DSP’s with all of the cutting I have been doing! How about this FUN and bold stripe….how can you not love a great paper like this – Happy dance – HOMERUN!!!!
When I sit down (actually I like to stand) to create – I often let the liner for my envelope to tell me how to create a card! YEP, that is how the color scheme happened….I just looked at the colors that coordinated and BAM…stamp away!
I haven’t “scored” for a while and I think that it adds a fun interest to a card. I honestly like to use the simply scored when doing this rather than the trimmer….just a personal preference as I feel I can get a “deeper impression” with the score lines. Doesn’t it just give a fun element and texture?
Pool Party is such a FUN and UPLIFTING color to work with. Do you remember earlier in the week we were chatting about having fun with different colors? Well…Pool Party is one that looks fantastic with neutrals but then add another POP of a bold color and the WOW happens in a jif!
I can honestly say that Stampin’ Up! Cardstock is the best…..and here is a reminder for those of you that are just getting started with this Stampin’ fun that we do……you can purchase the color collections in “bundled offerings” getting just 2 sheets of each color of paper offered for just $8.00 a collection…..(Please see the lineup of products at the end of the post) This really is a great way to get our paper!
I hope that you have a great weekend and I hope that you pop back in tomorrow to see the changes I did to step it up a wee bit…either way…today’s card or tomorrows….you will be happy as this bundle is a “keeper” and the sky is truly the limit!
Is anyone doing anything fun today? Today is the Belmont Stakes Horse Race…..no Triple Crown winner this year but it still is wonderful to see these magnificent horses run and watching them on TV!
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by Susan Itell | May 27, 2017 | Simple Saturday |
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I have a SUPER simple card for you today but a card that has a BIG punch with the quote! By now you all know that I adore sentiment stamps and as I have learned from my fearless leader and friend, Mary Fish….I take her words of wisdom to heart. She shared with me…when in doubt – go with the sentiment sets. (That link that I hyperlinked for Mary is a video that she has today on her blog about making a perfect bow and ironically…we are using the same stamp!)
This stamp set, Just Add Text is a NEW stamp on the block and it is definitely an “A list” stamp. (that means…it’s a keeper) 😀 Just look at the 6 amazing sentiments in this set. I think that you can quickly see the possibilities of many cards.
There are a couple factors that make my heart skip a beat when I am creating….this card has many of those elements…
- I love white space (or heck, Very Vanilla space) as I think that there is something clean and oh so classic about it!
- I love clean lines….the stitched framelits add just a wee bit of pizzazz but still keep it super clean
- I love layers…to me, layers are like that extra dollop of icing! It just “feels good” when you hold it in your hand
- I love fun and practical ribbon….this is a new one that is just beautiful. You all are going to go nuts with the ribbon selection in the new catalog….remember to check out my Product Shares…
- I love a card that less WORKS and this card is a perfect example of that! 😉
There is also something super special on a monochromatic card. I invite you to try to stick to one color or color family. For many, it is a challenge and they simply do not like the “restrictions” but I think that it is very impactful……
For the ribbon, I first anchored it down with the Fast Fuse and then added a bow on the front secured with a simple glue dot. I think that the stitching on the ribbon and then the stitching on the framelit just makes this card – it is as SIMPLE as that!
Now may I ask you….are you smiling with the fun Polka Dot Paper? It is just adorable and it is from the Birthday Memories DSP Collection and this is a super unique paper offering for Stampin’ Up! as there are framelits that match many of the designs on the paper.
Because I am working with a limited supply if the new DSP’s that are in the new catalog….I found this one and it actually turned out perfectly. Just think – this time next week you will be able to order any of these products!
There you have it….a super simple card that carries a big message. I would not feel guilty one bit that this card literally took minutes to pull together. You betcha that whomever is lucky enough to receive it will be clickin’ their heels!
I hope to see you back tomorrow to see what is up my sleeve – it will be totally different so be prepared!
John and I are probably picking Strawberries while you are reading this with your coffee. We love doing that but we really – REALLY love when it is Blueberry season….(that will be in about 3 weeks) There is something so rewarding and fun to go into a field and pick fresh fruits and vegetables and then coming home and enjoying them.
Speaking of enjoying….I hope that you enjoy your day whatever you are up to and be safe if you are traveling!
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by Susan Itell | May 20, 2017 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good weekend to all….I just adore this sentiment as to me, it makes me smile! Isn’t it funny that 2 little words put together can mean such a BIG meaning….so here you all go – as I hope that you all do these 2 words –
“enjoy today”
There is something just so simple and fun about this card to me. I just love the card stock color of Emerald Envy and I think in the new catalog we have several NEW DSP’s that pair up wonderfully with this color! I am just clickin’ my heels with the NEW Lemon Lime Twist and I am thrilled that we have this green, Emerald Envy for at least another year!
I can hardly wait for you al to see the new DSP’s but I can say this one, Pick a Pattern is right up there in my top 3. I only have a handful of the new offerings and I am trying to be like you – patient for the date of June 1st to get here.
You can see the ease I had picking the “cut out critters” that are looking through the window. This paper pack has a couple of different “critter offerings” and wow – it was a cinch to fussy cut them out, The best tip I can give you is to just do it….do not get “fussy” about how your cutting looks…it always seems to work out in the end!
This is a great example of how the paper swatches are a life saver. It is a cinch to do a quick flip to see the colors and patterns but it is even going to be better when I have all 15 of the new dsp’s in swatch books complete. This is stampin’ heaven because many times I will be working on something and then want to see other dsp collections that have the same color and a quick flip – PRESTO…I have options!
This sentiment is part of a stamp set called Pieces & Patterns. At a first glance you might be saying…..hmmmm – not much there for me but I invite you to hold your judgement on this one as there are LOTS of fun and simple options with this set. (hang tight…we are just getting geared up with the new catalog)
The thinlits that I used for this sweet card is the Hearth & Home. I am thrilled that this is being carried over and I admit, it took me a while to use it but once I did I was kicking myself with why did it take me that long! It seems so basic and simple yet it is a great “addition” to add fun and interest to a card.
This little bear looks like it is looking for a friend and I bet that bird is “kin” to “our chicks” from SAB – (I think that it is a 2nd cousin twice removed) and I bet the bird is giving him an earful!
A product that I often forget to use on a regular basics is Embossing Folders! WHY? – DON’T KNOW…but this is a new folder on the block and it is a great simple and clean addition. Appropriately called, Oh My Stars…you can see up close that it is a keeper.
Embossing Folders give you a quick POP with little work and heck – they are super inexpensive for all they do. It is very rare that I do not purchase all of the offerings of newbies because when in doubt – it is easy to pull them out and let THEM do their job!
Now let’s chat. I need to say right out of the gate I ADORE THIS ENVELOPE PAPER but….there is a problem – I also ADORE the flip side of it -another keeper in Black and White – click here to see a post that I used that. Here is another great example of why and how the swatch books are friends to you.
I would remember this fun floral being in this dsp collection but there are chances that I would forget where that fun black and white one is from because it is such a classic that you might not think of it being in a whimsical collection like this. A simple…..flip – BINGO – there it is!
There you go….one super simple and sweet card that I know would be a smile maker to anyone that received it! This DSP paper is really fun and unique. The colors are great, the prints are great and it is so fun to be able to do a quick fussy cut to make the “critters” part of a card!
I hope to see you back here tomorrow to see the changes I made with this sweet card. I just get a bit giddy with a card like this as it is a “happy card” and one that is a “joy maker”!
Do something fun today….we are having some great weather and we plan to be outside working….one thing that is for sure…..weeds and grass do not stop growing 😎 I know that this might not seem like an “enjoy today” but for me…it actually is because of the end result!
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by Susan Itell | May 13, 2017 | Simple Saturday |
This is a special weekend for MOM’S out there but I will say THIS MOM is super excited to be at home this weekend and have one of the “do nothing but everything at the same time” weekends. Just having “no agenda” days are THE BEST in my opinion. I have super sweet card for you this weekend and it is from the Bundle, Best Birds….and I just bought it!
I wanted to showcase this and also give you A TIP. Once I saw the new catalog I naturally looked at what was walking the plank and what was being carried over. (Sounds normal…right???) Next, I look to see the bundles that are being carried over and then look to see if there are some that I do not have and then weigh the options.
This is why this is the first time I have blogged about it because I just bought it! When you pop back tomorrow I will share and also show you how I conditioned the stamps, a tip that I have blogged about before but it doesn’t hurt to see it again!
This IS being carried over but IT IS NOT at the bundled price and this gem – you do want both …the stamp and the dies because they really are detailed!
The over all card size is a 4 1/4″ square and tomorrow I will share with you all of the measurements etc….and remember, you could easily use a regular envelope to mail this is it would fit just fine, but I like to make my own envelopes with the Envelope Punch Board – a unique and fun finishing touch that just some to you when you open up the mailbox and see a square card!
For the “lift” of my feather friends I used the foam adhesive strips to add the POP for the images. It was a breeze to just cut a strip and the have an instant lift without having to cut up dimensionals. I admit, I forget about these adhesive strips and I am not sure why – they are great and can be use for so many things other that for shaker cards.
You are getting to see a “sneak peek” of a new DSP paper….it is a 6″ X 6″ paper stack called color theory. It is a very interesting one and one that you need to look at an have an open mind. At a glance you feel like you are at a paint store looking at paint swatches but then the lightbulb goes on and you say – that is a perfect about of “splash” !
In the coordinating colors you see that the green is Old Olive but I paired it with Pear Pizzazz and I think it looks super! Please do not be afraid to try other shades in the same family….you will be happy that many work.
To color the images, I used the brush end of our markers and then took the Aqua Painter over the stamped image and blended color a bit to make it a bit more solid in the color but you could easily skip this step. The marker colors I used were soft suede and pear pizzazz.
The birds were a cinch – a good old crank through “Mr. Big” with the framelits in this bundle and a pice of blue paper from this stack – easy and worked for me! I really do not know why I passed up this bundle before because I am amazed at the detail of these birds! Tomorrow I will share with you all of the elements to this bundle and I think that you will see for yourself that is is a wonderful collection.
Now let’s have a brief chat about these sentiments and the font. They are beautiful and so clean, crisp and simple. (again, why didn’t I give this more attention….????) – sometimes I think that this happens because you do not see a bunch of bloggers showcasing it but once you do….you have a different pair of glasses on and the lightbulb goes off!
You can see that the moral of this birdie story is….this is going to be around for at least another year and who knows…..maybe longer but we all know that the bundle price WILL NOT be around starting June 1st!
When I take pictures for my blog I try to take them from both angles….and I just could not decide which one to show you so I thought – why not BOTH because this is such a cutie/classic! (You see….even I get tickled with myself every once in a while) I hope that this sweet card made you give this bundle another thought!
Naturally if you are not a fan of square cards, you could easily change that but if I were you…I would make up several to have on hand and then just leave off the sentiment or better yet, make several up for someones birthday and then stamp the various sentiments and let the recipient decide what she would want.
Giving several cards to someone as a gift with some stamps is always a special “little something” to give and the BEST THING – it is a win-win for both of you because you are happy and proud of yourself and she will be thrilled to have a stash of handmade love to have on hand!
I hope that this little square card and this little birdie brought you a bit of joy and a smile. I cannot wait for you to see ow I stepped it up for tomorrow. That is the challenge that I enjoy doing for you each weekend.
I say, give this bundle another look….I think you will see that the stamps/framelits are a classic and fun but the sentiments – “blue ribbons” for them….just soooo classic!
Enjoy your day, find some “me time” and smile!
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