by Susan Itell | Oct 6, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tips and Tricks!!! |
I promise that today's post will not be as long as yesterday's but I wanted to reinforce how super-DE-duper the Stamp-a-ma-jig is and share with you another card that simply would not come to life without it!
I know…I know – this is a different type/style of card for me…but sometimes you just need to make something a bit different!
Before we get to the card…drum roll….drum roll….here is the winner of the blog candy from my 250th post… you know what I will say….a big WOOT-WOOT and the winner is…..
Ellen Berkson
Pumpkin and the other flavors and smells of Fall are why it is
Hands down my favorite time of year. Love your
Blog Susan, you are very talented. Hope your hubby
Is feeling better each day.
A big thank you Ellen for your kind and sweet comment….please email me your address and I will pop your goodies in the mail! Woot-Woot!!! I LOVE Pumpkin Pie and I adore the Fall!!!
Today's card is for my dear friends daughter that had a big scare this past week and they thought she had meningitis…thankfully she doesn't! I wanted to send her a WOOT-WOOT card "perking her up" and I thought the words "Yippee-Skippee" was just the right sentiment!
This stamp set, Yippee-Skippee is a fun and fresh set with some modern sentiments that make you smile! I chose to focus one 3 colors….odd numbers always work great and these colors are Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit and Chocolate Chip!
I am using a paper that I have not used in probably a year and honestly – I forgot about it and I do love it! It is the Naturals Whites and it is a "sleeper in the catalog" and I am sure is over looked by many….but please consider it as it gives a soft natural look – (I know it's hard to see on the card but on the envelope you can really see it).
The other thing that is great about being able to use this paper…being able to make your own matching envelope is a cinch with the Envelope Punch Board…another "must have" tool in your craft room!
I chose the colors for the card from the liner I was using for the envelope, the Soho Subway Designer Series Paper…a very modern paper but the colors are very subtle! I do this many times – I let my liner help guide me to how I create a card…"it's kind of like cooking "a little here…a little there"!!!
Just "roll" with what inspires you for the day….there are no rules!
You can see that without the help of the Stamp-a-ma-jig, this simply would not have turned out this way! It truly is a life saver and I hope that you love and appreciate that piece of plastic as much as I do!
Another must have tool and I am sure that many of you say "ya-da…ya-da" to it – but it is my stampin' friend along with it's side kick! What is it…you'll laugh but it is the Stampin' Scrub…just love this and would not be with out it…..(I actually have 2) as they come in handy when there are many hands trying to clean their stamps!
I know what you are thinking…how often do I clean it? Maybe once a week…maybe!
Why do I love it? – Easy-peasy….it deeply cleans your stamps and while it is doing that it conditions your stamps when you use the Stampin' Mist... a "peanut butter and jelly" combination! Once you simply get used to doing this….it is natural to you and it feels weird not doing it!
I realize that many use wet paper towels and also baby wipes….but I prefer this method as I know that my stamps are getting a deep clean and they get DRY…..to me this is key before storing them for the next time!
You can see from the above photo that I also used the very fun and popular Stamp Set, Gorgeous Grunge….utilizing all 3 colors that I stamped my sentiment with! This stamp is soooo versatile and does create a fun and fresh end result! I know…it's a fun & funky stamp set…but it really works with all types of cards!
Matting the paper and DSP and then adding the fresh Summer Starfruit Satin Ribbon and a simple "Susan knot"…works for me! Did you notice that I corner rounded opposite corners? That was a cinch with the Envelope Punch Board….to me it works much better than the punch!
Look at the envelope…you can see some of the "natural specks" in it….it really is rich and handsome and is perfect for Fall cards! I made the matching envelope and then had to make the mailman smile with a bit of fru-fru on the front of the envelope! (click on the picture to make it bigger – you'll see the specks)
I thank each and everyone of you that left me comments on my 250th Blog Posting….it's fun…it's a joy…it's a dailiness of my day! I hope that your Sunday is peaceful and that you can just simply find some time to enjoy yourself and enjoy the day!
Tomorrow is a super exciting day…with the new…incredible incentive kicking in and I truly hope that you find some time today and reflect on …"How can you lose for $25.00" and be a part of my team, let me inspire you and let me help you reach your personal goals….
I can remember the day I talked to Mary Fish and I told her that I simply wanted to do this for ME….and she said -" GREAT…..over 80% of SUD are hobbyist and I love hobbyist as they have the creativity, the excitement, the passion and energy"…..I still consider myself a hobbyist but I will say – I do realize the potential with the endless fun I am having!!!!
Having FUN is the name of the game…I cherish my cyber friends that I have met and I continue to look forward in building more friendships! You all are great!
Come join the ride with me….you know it will be an inspirational one! Email me…let's talk!
Until tomorrow!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Oct 5, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tips and Tricks!!! |
Today's card is a special card to me for many reasons…it is a card inspired by my friend, Jeanie…it was a card that we made this week for Breast Cancer Patients in treatment…it is a card that is just my kind of card – clean, crisp and just fun!
I am hoping to share with you many tips that will be helpful to you….I apologize in advance that my posts are so long …I just love to share with you tips and tricks that I have learned…tips that have helped me grow…and tips that I hope will help you!
I want to start with when the new catalog came out…after flipping through – I fell in love instantly with the Stamp Set, Flower Shop – I knew that it was going to be mine especially when you can get a super pansy punch to POP these gems out! (it does come in a bundle…WOOT-WOOT – you save 15%)
The excitement of this stamp set quickly came to an end when I simply was frustrated that I could not get the stamps and the punch to line up!
I had tried lots of different tips that I had watched on the internet from other SUD but nothing clicked ( I know – I am challenged with some things!!!!) – and then there was Jeanie – my light-bulb!
Look at the black dot to the right…this is key! I cut a piece of scrap paper and then took it out to keep it as my "security blanket" Using the Subtle Candy Dots are perfect for the center of the flower and of course, Stampin Dimensionals are a must to POP them up!
Go ahead and do this to all 6….you will be happy! It works like a charm…When you put the stamp on your clear block…just make sure that the dot is to the right….and then you can take your punch in and POP…works every time!
When in doubt…line the stamp up like below….
To the card we go….Stamp the leaf part with Pear Pizazz and stamp both up and down to get the image but do not worry one bit about making an overlap or mistake – it will be covered!
A simple strip of Strawberry Slush at 1 1/4" X 5 1/4" and then a piece of Pear Pizzazz that has been run through the Big Shot with the Fancy Fan Embossing Folder creates a super focal point!
The paper piercing adds a great little detail, this is not necessary of you are running low on time but I will say, it does add fun! The Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack allows you to piece a straight line in a jif! I chose to do every other and then after I make the quick pierce…I do go back and make a "deeper" pierce by simply pitting my 2 fingers to line the tool up and go very deep to create the nice and bold piercing!
I need to touch on a tool that I simply just could not live without….the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I have more emails and questions about how to use this and I truly wish that we all lived closer as it is easier to show yo in person, but let me try my best! You NEED to learn how to use it as it is such a life saver and a time saver…WHY? you get a straight stamp each and every time!
Next, take the plastic mat that you "stamped" your sentiment on and put it where you want your sentiment to go on your card. This gives you the freedom of placing the sentiment where you want it…and you can get it straight each and every time!
WHEW….this is hard to put in words but I do hope that these tips helps you…please take a sentiment and play with the stamp-a-ma-jig. If you were like me…I tried it a couple of times….became very frustrated and put the tool away and vowed I would never use that dumb piece of plastic! (Sounds familiar)? This IS one of my top 10 favorite tools as it always makes me look great!
Now I ask you…isn't this one beautiful card? Simple yet elegant and the colors were perfect for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!! ( Strawberry Slush and Blushing Bride) Another thing I ask you…wouldn't it be a shame to do the work for this beautiful card and then have the sentiment crooked?
The sentiment came from the Stamp Set, Gifts of Kindness – a great set for so many cards…just look at the great messages….and the font is fun!
Being able to have the freedom of placing it where YOU want it is the best with the help of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig…please do not be afraid of it!
The envelope came together with the Big Shot and the Envelope Liner Framelits (both a MUST AS WELL) as they are a time saver and again make you shine!!! The liner was from the In Color Designer Series Paper and I know you are tired of hearing me say this….but here I go – all of the collections of Paper Stacks are another "must have" as they are a quick go-to to finish a project!
Many thanks to all of you that left comments on my blog yesterday and remember….if you did not see yesterdays blog posting, click here and leave me a comment on yesterdays post and today at noon I will take all of the comments and emails I received and one person will win the BLOG CANDY that I featured!
I will announce the winner on tomorrows post! I look forward to another 250 blog postings and I look forward to many more memories made with YOU! Thank you for all of your kind words of inspiration!
I hope that today's posting was a help to you and that I inspired you to use some of the great tools that we have!
Hat's off to Jeanie for inspiring me and helping the light bulb go on to LOVE and use the Flower Shop and Pansy Punch! She is not only a HOOT….she is one talented stamper!
Have a great day and until tomorrow…..thanks for popping by!!!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Oct 1, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Thinking of you |
I woke up this morning and had to edit my blog posting today…..PLEASE read to the end as Stampin' Up is offering us all sorts of fun specials this month!!! WOOT-WOOT!!!!
I wanted to challenge myself to try to make a single layer card…this is something that I rarely do and I adore layers and I also love my Stampin Vitamins, stampin dimensionals!
I always strive to share with you some fun and easy cards that can be duplicated in a snap! The other thing that I liked about this card was the fact that I scored on the 5 1/2" side….I've been doing that a bunch lately and I really love it!
Sometimes less is best and this card reflects this and at the same time the scoring of the 3 simple lines adds an element of depth….so….you can see the stampin' trimmer is a double-whammy and one that is an absolute must to own! I have closet full of cutters that collect dust ever since this came out!
Let's get to it….
- Start with scoring the 3 lines, TIP ALERT: Take advantage of the measurements on the RIGHT of the blade…I prefer to score in this way for this card….from the bottom the card…score at 1", 1 1/8" and 1 1/4"…and I give it a nice and heavy- handed score so the score is nice and deep!
- Ink up this fun and snazzy chevron oval from the Oh Hello Stamp Set with Sahara Sand and stamp trying to center from your top score line to the top of the card!
- This elegant floral stamp is from the Morning Meadow Stamp Set and I think using the Island Indigo created such a depth of richness with this beautiful color!
- This is one stamp set not to overlook – I have used it so many times (I think the only one I have not used is the bird!!!) It looks super in an array of colors and it is a hostess set and the price is….just $10.00!!! I say WOOT-WOOT!
- Now it's time to pull out the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the sentiment in the perfect placement! If you are not comfortable with this tool….please email me and ask for some help and tips! This is the lifesaver for making your beautiful cards look professional and it is a stress buster for you!!!
- The sentiment is from the Best of Greetings Stamp Set….remember, these stamp sets are only for a limited time in honor of Stampin' Ups! 25th Anniversary and each month Stampin' Up! comes out with a new one and when you get 6…send in a form and you will get the 7th free! (at the end of this post you will see the new one for October!!!)
Download the monthly flyers
- Envelope time! I lined the outside of the flap with the Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper, the colors are soooo rich! Doing this is such an easy touch that makes a great impression when you go to the mailbox and receive a beautiful card!
I encourage you to try to make a single layer card…I thought it was going to be super hard but it really was not and the best part…I was very pleased with the end result and again, this IS a layout that can be adapted for so many different cards…think out of the box…play with color…but most importantly…HAVE FUN!
Hot off the early morning press (even before I have a cup of coffee in me)
Speaking of fun…have you ever considered to be a part of this Stampin' Up! fun!?!? I would love to have you be a part of my team and have even more fun together than we do on my blog! I am a part of Mary Fish's PALS partner program and I would love to have you grow and have fun with me!
Now…HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT as this morning Stampin Up! announced for
2 weeks (October 7th – 25th) you can sign up to join Stampin' Up! for $25.00!!!
That's right…that is CRAZY amazing! I am so glad that is wonderful company is having these great 25th Anniversary specials….they are special and so are YOU! I would adore you to join this fun and be on my fun and inspiring team!
Please email me and we'll talk how this will benefit you and "your stampin habit" (ha-ha) and I can share and answer any questions you have…..click here to email me!
You will be amazed at the resources that are available to you and the best part…it's fun, it's rewarding and you can do it YOUR WAY!
Guess what…another super 25th anniversary goodie your way…
In honor of Stampin' Ups! 25th Anniversary, they are making the hostess benefits for the month of October even better this month….click here to see the flyer! You will get an additional $25.00 worth of products for every qualifying hostess level….I say a huge WOOT-WOOT!!!
In a million years, I would have never thought that I would be blogging daily…and it is a daily learning experience and I am proud of my commitment and dedication I have in it….and Friday marks my 250th post…so…in honor of that – it's BLOG CANDY TIME….so make sure you pop back on Friday to win!
Now I hope you pop on everyday and if you have not subscribed….please do so…and I thank you for sharing my blog with your friends and family!
HOT OFF THE PRESS….Now here is the NEW "Best Of Christmas" Stamp Set this month….
Whew…this was long but this is all exciting!!!!
Have a great day and until tomorrow!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Sep 30, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Super Easy |
Let's all have a GREAT week! I hope that everyone is coming off of a great weekend…mine was great – I had an Open House with 8 other Direct Selling Companies that was super fun….and my husband is making great progress as we mark his 1 month since his injury!
We both appreciate all of the great wishes we have received but I am here to tell you….being in a wheelchair for a month when you are used to being super active as really been an eye opener experience for both of us and he has the BEST attitude in the whole world so this card is for him! Just a couple more weeks until he can start to progress with therapy!
We both love yellow and the color of So Saffron is always soooo pleasing to your eye! I wanted to use a stamp set that I have not used in a while and since I am "guilty as charged" for not playing with the "real" washi tape…I thought using the Tape It Stamp Set would be a fun twist for this Monday!
Let's get to this super clean, crisp – fun card! John loves blue and I have been using Night of Navy so much for thank you cards for him to send – I thought Pacific Point would be a fun and fresh twist!
- This card is a regular A-2 card but scored at the 5 1/2" mark and then the white was cut 1/4" smaller…4 1/4" X 5 1/4"
- Because the type "A" stamper I am…out came the Stamp-a-ma–jig to make sure I had the placements of the "tape"…just right! (you could easily 'eye-ball it")…don't be afraid to overlap!
- Using a scrap piece of whisper white paper to stamp the "happy day" image from the Happy Day Stamp Set (dah!) and then pulling out my main man, Mr. Big Shot with the help of his friend Chalk Talk Framelits…the card is coming together! Isn't this a great stamp set!
- Popping it up with Stampin' Dimensionals was the way to go to make it come front and center! I just love these little gems!
- The envelopes came to life with a bit of pizzazz with the help of the Subtles Designer Series Paper…love – LOVE all of the collections! It truly makes it sooooo easy to find the perfect finishing touch to your card! The Envelope Liner Framelits make the task of lining an envelope a breeze!
I know that there are times that it is hard to come off of a weekend and get back into the new week ahead but I hope that this card has brighten your day! Just think of all of the fun colors you could do with this!
I like having just 2 colors as the focal point….it really brings out the crispness of the card!
It wouldn't be right not to thank you for being soooo darn tootin Stampin' sweet in popping by my blog yesterday! I know that I am blessed to be a PAL and I always enjoy being Mary Fish's guest stamper…but I will say – WOW…..I hope that the are chocolates left in the store!
Please, please email me if you need any help and also tell your friends and family about my blog and subscribe so you can get a daily dose of inspiration from me!
Ordering from my site is a cinch….click above and shop away! I will be there for you and I love to spoil my Stampin' Up! customers…..this is such a fun company….with fabulous products…and the BEST people in the world!!!!
Have a "happy day" day and until tomorrow!
Like this:
Like Loading...
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!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Sep 9, 2013 | Love, Stamp-a-ma-jig |
If you follow my blog, you will see that this card is not a "usual Susan" card but I think it is fun! I can remember when the PALS had a conference call going over all of the new goodies before it was available to everyone – I remember soooo many saying how much they LOVED the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set!
I can specifically remembering as I was going page by page with the new catalog before this call and writing down all the stamps sets that I considered to be an "A Set" and then I had a column of ?'s until I heard some feedback and then the last column was the ones that I simply did not like….and this is where Gorgeous Grunge was….and now – I LOVE IT!
I learned a lesson from this and one that I try to "preach" to my children….not to prejudge! This is exactly what I did and since it was not a clean and tailored look…I felt that it would not be a stamp set I would use often…..WRONG!!! It is a perfect accent in soooo many ways!
Today's card was truly an inspiration from this weeks Pals Paper Art Challenge! ( It's not too late for you to play along….) I truly love looking at all of the ideas that people come up with and the instant I saw the card with the very simple "I Dig You" I fell in love with it!
This card was make by Stampin' Up! Demonstraor, Karin Menghini, and you can click here to see her "take" of this fun color challenge this week! I loved everything about it and emailed her to see if I could feature it on my blog and show my twist off her great card!
I knew that I wanted to use this stamp set, Tag It Stamp Set, in a a way that would create lots of interest as the 3 simple words of "I dig you" is so fun! Remember, every time we sell one of these Tag It Stamps Stampin' Up! will donate $3.00 to the Ronald McDonald House! IS that oober great or what!
I need to say that "I dig" Stampin' Up! for doing such a generous gift for such a needed organization! There are many demonstrators all over that endlessly give their time and talent to the Ronald McDonald House! Unfortunately, we do not have a chapter locally so this is why I am soooo passionate about my Breast Cancer Cards!
Here you go….short and sweet cause' it's sooo easy! The key tool is the Stampin-A-Ma-Jig….your true lifesaver! If you are going to do something like this….why wouldn't you have this tool to use to make your life easier! Click here and order one now!!!
The card size is a 5 X 5 square and the colors I used were Rose Red, Sahara Sand and Early Espresso! After stampin' the back ground in the Sahara Sand I let my sentiment and Stamp -a-ma-jig do their magic!
Matting it with the same colors I still felt that it needed something little….and that darn' heart in the Owl Punch was once again the perfect finishing touch! Love that little Owl and ……check back this week cause I have and adorable Owl treat coming your way!
The oober fun Envelope Punch Board made it easy-peasy to make my custom envelope! The Regals Designer Series Paper Stack was the perfect finale to this card!
Tomorrow is a SUPER FUN day with many blogs…it the PALS Blog Hop for September! The theme is for us to showcase Stampin' Up! Tools that we love….wow – where do I begin!
I can begin by thanking YOU for popping to my blog…it's a fun creative outlet for me and I adore meeting so many cyber friends and customers along the way!
Hugs to you….and until tomorrow!
Like this:
Like Loading...
