by Susan Itell | Mar 6, 2018 | Fun & Cute!, Super Easy, Uncategorized |
Morning!!! 🙂 …I think I should say, Good Afternoon!
Yep, it is Tuesday and yesterday did not happen but I know the delay will surely make you smile and also show you that minimal products can make a HUGE IMPACT.…as this IS my kinda card that I adore to create!
I actually created this card to be one of the offering of my monthly card kits but unfortunately with the “life” happenings…I need to hit the “pause button” on my kits ……so this is a great taste of the offerings that I do!
In November when I was at Salt Lake City for the On Stage Stampin’ Up! event…..I saw a card on display and I knew that I needed to snap a picture of it and CASE it. How stinkin’ cute and clean is this beauty? I invite you to think about this….it is all about the basics! (trimmer, big shot, nesting dies, white paper….punches)
For my Monthly Kits….I was going to offer ideas showcasing the Fruit Basket Bundle. Yep…it’s a keeper as it is a Photopolymer Stamp Set….plus the “bundled portion” is 4 punches and we know what that means….easy peasy as using a punch is super easy 🙂 …
One of the things that I adore about this card is the amount of “white space” that it has…as my Mom always said….you just can’t go wrong with white….always clean and classic …..and ALWAYS in style!
I made the squares with the Layering Squares Collection of Framelits….(a must have basic) for your stash. True….it is tricky with lining up the squares but that is what a handy ruler is for plus your own eyes! Having basic shapes like this make perfect layering a cinch….I adore the white on white effect of the squares….but you could also easily do a color for one of the squares!
A card design like this is always on trend and one that you can use OVER and OVER again…(a formula)! The best way to master this is to get the center row where you want it….and then you can eye-ball the rest! Just look at the simplicity of this – a blue ribbon winner…
The punches with this bundle make this a fast one to whip together and then the stamping is also a breeze as you can see through the stamps because of it being a Photopolymer Stamp. The beauty of this particular stamp/punch set it that it is very forgiving…..WHAT??????
Seriously, after you stamp the image the punch is smaller than the stamped image so it is a breeze to line up and punch – no worrying about getting is “just right” – it is just wonderful when things like this happen!
For me, this would be a card that you could make up in the masses (again, I was going to use this design for a kit) as I know….I know – there is a bunch of cutting of the squares….but think of it this way – it is a GREAT WAY to use up scraps and it is also something that you could work on to cut a bunch of….put them in baggies …..and then pull them out as needed!
I always have a “key” to work from…after you figure out the spacing….make sure you write it down (the measurements) or better yet, make a template and BAM – you are good to go!
I also encourage you to use a Stamp Postioner. I used the Stamparatus and it is a dream tool. I know that if you were not the smart/lucky stamper to have preordered it…you will have to wait until the new catalog comes out in June. (I’m sorry…as I warned you…..) It is SOOOOOOO worth the wait and we know…..June will be here before we know it!
It is a wonderful tool and one that Stampin’ Up! should be super proud of. As I have blogged many times before, I have many other stamp positioners but this one….BLUE RIBBON – why? …I adore the (2) plate system. I could go ahead and have it all ready to stamp the sentiment on the front….and have the other plate ready to rumble to stamp an inside sentiment! (Actually with the (2) plate system, you could line up up to (4) different stamps as you can easily remove a plate and flip it around)
How about the POP of color with the envelope? It is from the Tutti-Fruiti DSP 6 X 6 pack and I am sure many of you are thinking…..why didn’t you use the strawberry print paper?
Here me out….(I do have an answer for you)…
- I think with the classic feel of this card, that the strawberry print was a bit whimsical for the POP. I adore the boldness of the paper that I chose….does this make sense? I would love to get feedback – please feel free to leave a comment!
- The other reason was….I adore the flip side of the strawberry paper…the classic Night of Navy polka dots is in my alley of a fun, clean & simple print!
This is a sweet paper pack and I know when you see all of the bright colors and different shapes….it looks super busy but when you see them in person and allow yourself to think of how you could best use it for your style…you will see it is a great addition to our paper collection.
In closing, you can easily see that a fun and classic card CAN be created with a minimal amount of product. I invite you to cut up your scraps and get them organized on baggies so you are more likely to use shapes …
I also bet that many of you have punches in shapes in a variety of sizes…..see what you have and how you can use them. You just simply cannot go wrong with nesting collections of basic shapes (circles, squares, hearts etc….) They WILL BE a go-to for years and years!
There you go….a clean and simple card that is SUPER duplicatable so I say….go to it! This stamp set will be one that you will use over and over as it is a basic…and the sentiments…. – super fun and the font is a keeper as well. Remember, these are key questions that I ask myself when I decide if I am going to invest in a stamp and the other thing….I only pick stamps/bundles for my kits that I believe in…..
Now to my weekend….do you remember I talked about the WIND on the East Coast? Well…..let me tell you – we were smart ladies and did not leave home until 11 a.m. as the wind did get better. We did what we should have done….checked the advisories…..checked the main highways for accidents etc…..plus we had 8 husbands looking after us to make sure that it was safe to leave…..
We left at 11 – made a stop for a fun lunch and guess what…..we were about 1hr. 15 minutes from the Philadelphia area and BAM…..we hit SNOW…yep…SNOW that came from no where and the PA Turnpike was one hot mess….we used out navigation systems for different routes….only to have roads with fallen trees on them….closed roads because of accidents….just one thing after another.
We ended up getting to the hotel at 7:30 Friday night…..missed our Museum ticket/tour….but all thankful to be safe! We stayed in the hotel and talked into the wee hours of Saturday morning like we were on a slumber party….all 8 of us! The next day…..POOF – still windy but the temperatures rose and everything melted!
We went to the Garden Show on Saturday night and it was FABULOUS – it was the opening night and the theme was the 70’s – music was GREAT and the Village People preformed (yep…now that is dating ourselves) and there were (2) of the originals from 4 decades! They were a hoot and the last song…..yep, YMCA – I wish that you would have seen all of the amazing costumes!
For my Dad….we went to the Doctors yesterday and on Thursday they will be doing a procedure to get him ready for hopefully the bigger surgery. I hope to see you back here tomorrow…..if not – it will be Thursday as I will be sitting waiting for many hours!
I hope that this post inspired you and I do love this bundle…so fresh and fun…..have a GREAT DAY and many thanks for popping into my little blog of “me”! Below the paw print, you will see the supplies I used!
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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 | Feb 26, 2018 | Stampin' Blends, Super Easy, Uncategorized |
Good Morning and happy new week!
Last “Hump Day” did not happen because of “life” (my sweet Dad has been having some health issues) and then I typed up everything for Friday to hit the publish button….and POOF it was all gone…….I was super sad and just tried to shrug it off as I was away and just had to do one of those …..deep breaths….“OH NO” and not let it get the best of me….so the moral of this story is…..I have a cutie for you today!
These hanging basket images are from the Hanging Garden Stamp Set that made it’s Stampin’ Up! debut in the Occasions Catalog! I have been itchin’ to play with it as I knew that it would be a dream to color and today I used the Stampin’ Blends. This image would also be wonderful to use the Aqua Painter with and watercolor but the ease and speed of the blends is what I reached for today!
I used the super affordable Whisper White Notecards & Envelopes to create this sweet card. These truly are a great bang for your buck as you get 20 precut and scored cards & envelopes for just $6.00 and don’t forget…they also come in Very Vanilla!
I like this size of a card as they are a perfect size (3 1/2″ X 5″) to write a quick note. This size also make a fabulous gift to give to someone as a gift. I do not know about you but….if someone gave me some notecards like this….I would not only be touched…I would be doing the happy dance….(BIG time!!!)
You really do not need me today for this card…but hang tight…..you are going to get me as I have some measurements and ideas for you. I want you to look at this as a “formula”…hang tight and hear me out. You already know that the notecards are super affordable…I invite you to see the impact that paper and layers do to “make” this sweet card special.
Paper DOES make a difference and if you are not comfortable with using paper with layers….I encourage you to have a little chat with yourself….and do it! I know that there are many out there that cringe and say…I feel like I am wasting it. Trust me crafters….we waste MANY, MANY other things and do not think anything about it.
Remember….this is a craft, a FUN thing that we do….so why not make it special and just add layers! It truly is as simple as that as it is an extra touch that takes your card from….a great one to a WOW one.
The other key factor is the sentiment. Choosing the right sentiment also takes a card to a new level. You all know that I am goo-goo over sentiments and truth be told…I often purchase a stamp set JUST BECAUSE of the sentiment and this stamp set, Yay You is a perfect example of that!
This stamp set is a Hostess one…and it is only $10.00 plus it is a photopolymer…..a doubly whammy of goodness! I think that you can easily see the fun and unique stamps and sentiments in this set. I think that it is chocked full of uplifting and unique sentiments….something that we all need more of in this world!
Things to remember if you are going to be CASEING this sweetie….use the Memento Black Ink when using the stampin’ blends! WHY??? Simple – you need to use it because it is formulated to work with an alcohol based marker like the blends. I am giddy about these markers for many reasons but by far the first one is the ease and speed of them.
As I have said many, many times….I get it – you all see the $$$$ of them and are fearful that you would make the investment for them and not know how to use them….and then this one that I hear all of the time…..I do not know how to blend?
Here you go again….YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW TO BLEND….how about this – give yourself a break and be gentle to yourself...just have FUN and color. There is NO BLENDING here at all with this card….I just colored and I had FUN!
Another thing to remember….when you use the blends – IT WILL BLEED through the paper, that it totally normal so you will want to make sure that you have a scratch piece of paper underneath so you do not ruin your work surface!
When you use an alcohol based marker you do not get lines of streaking like you would with the Stampin’ Write Markers. Please do not get me wrong, I have them and I do use them but I would never enjoy coloring with them like I do with these.
Think about it in this way…we all have shoes – we have some shoes that are just the favorites….that when you wear them you could walk and walk…and then there are others that you really like but they just aren’t as comfy…..that’s how I feel about the blends.
For me, coloring is relaxing. Do you remember when you were little and the excitement you have when you got to dive into a NEW box of Crayons? I can still remember the WOW that I saw with all of the pretty colors lined up and I was excited but I didn’t want to mess up the pretty box.
As kids – we got over that and played with the crayons and this is how I look at an alcohol based marker.They just open up a whole new world of fun and YEP, I am happy that Stampin’ Up! has them and I do hope that the continue to come out with more colors.
Right now we have 12 color families. Each marker has a light and a dark. The majority of the time…I just color with the light and if there are any “sketchy” black lines that the stamp has in it….I take the dark marker and use it where the black lines are….that’s MY LEVEL OF BLENDING….
It truly is as simple as that. I have shared with you that I have made the plunge of making an investment with Copic Markers as Stampin’ Up! did not have an Alcohol Based marker until now …and trust me – I have spent a bunch of $$$$$ with them but I can also say…..I do not regret it one bit as I love them.
I have 2 complete sets of the blends as I have one in my work area and another in a grab and go bag that has stamped images in it. I often take that with me if I know that I will be waiting (like at an appt) as practicing is the best way to get comfortable!
You can get the WHOLE complete set right now for just $99 and then pick 2 stamp sets that tickle your fancy……the ultimate bundle during Sale-A-Bration.I know that you get super scared when you hear the word or think about the concept of joining Stamp Up! so how about this….just email me and I will be happy to talk to you about it.
It is nothing more that you taking advantage of a sale.
Yep – all of the Blends for $99 ships for free and you pick any 2 stamps!
Over this past weekend…I spent time with 2 amazing women that also happen to be downline but more importantly, I am proud to call them friends. We stamped….colored….cut….played and just had fun! Below my sweet little Milo went with me and let me tell you….he is amazing….staying up late with us and hearing all of the laughter!
Unfortunately I have had some “trying times” over the past several weeks with my Dad and his health. He is doing better but I knew that I needed this time away and it was the best medicine a doctor could ever order. In reflection as I drove home….I felt very blessed that this wonderful little thing that I do…..called Stampin’ Up! has allowed me to meet people from all over.
In April….there are 7 of us going away for a fun getaway that you would think we are kids going to Disney. Yep, that works for me and I am super excited for our time together!
Back to reality and as I opened up my computer….I saw over 300 emails…..let’s all have a great day and please remember, just have FUN with the wonderful thing that we have in common…..making cards and making people smile.
It DOES make a difference and so do you!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 9, 2018 | Just Because..., Super Easy, Uncategorized |
Happy Friday! I have been excited to do this post ever since I received an email from a customer, Sue E. from New Hampshire! I just LOVE IT when I am inspired by blog readers and this email led me to a full blown enablement and I am just THRILLED!
I need to be honest….so go grab your Occasions Catalog and turn to page 17. This is where is all begins! I totally skipped right over this stamp set, A Good Day – I naturally HOPPED on buying the punches without batting an eye as when I see a punch – SOLD as I love the ease and speed of using a punch!
I can remember my first impression of this stamp set was….images are too small….I wasn’t crazy about the Mini Embroidery Hoops as I tend to crack the wooden embellishments and then also the bulk with shipping….UNTIL AN EMAIL…..from Sue and that’s all it took – SOLD ME!
Take a peek of this image and then read on….it will make sense!
Sue said that she watched a Video that Sara Douglas did using this stamp set along with the narrow notecards & envelopes (another item I wasn’t 100% sold on) but keep reading……(I told you I was going to be honest) I then put my investigator hat on and found the video…..it was a FaceBook Live Video that Sara had up on the Stampin’ Up! Website!
I watched this and said an immediate WOW – right up my alley……
Click Here to see the video…it is cute and Sara is just adorable! After I ordered it I immediately called Jeanie and asked her if she had it to borrow….STRUCK OUT….I now know how if feels to be impatient waiting for an order to come….even though I had a ca-zillion other things to work on….I wanted it NOW!
It finally came Monday night and I could hardly wait to play with it and make some of these sweet cards! I warn you….they are like POTATO CHIPS…..super addictive to make and as you make them you start to think…..“These would be great to give to ________ for a little Birthday Gift” or “These would be great to give a set to my Mother In Law for watching Mr. Perfect” (aka Milo)
Below you can see the (2) new punches. These really made putting this project together a breeze. I think that we all can agree….when you can pull out a punch and get the job done….We are HAPPY Crafters! Stampin’ Up! Punches are always so hight in quality and value. In the product line up you will see all of the various sizes of punches….they are just super handy to have on hand…a basis that you will use over and over!
Really…the sky is the limit and it also gets you to think of other stamps that you have that are small in image size to make up and paper….well WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE PAPER….so here is your permission to USE IT UP!
Now you can see why I am giving the Narrow Notecards & Envelopes as my gift with purchase this month! I will also tuck in several of these with the notecards……You can always find the current incentive on the drop down bar on the blog and the current Hostess Code is on the side of my blog.
As you can see in Sara’s Video there is nothing to it in whipping a bunch up! I did add a mat to the samples below…just because – you know me, I love my paper and I do think that it dresses it up a bit!
I also invite you to look at other simple sentiment stamps you have as you can see on the Easter one…..a simple Happy Easter dressed up this sweet bunny – this is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes oldie but goodie stamp!!! (I already know that I am going to make these for Easter and put on the fru-fru when I make Lemon Bread!)
I pulled out my Blends and just added some simple color to make these little sweeties come to life. You can use many different coloring mediums but I find the alcohol based markers are not only speedy….but also super easy!
In the Video, Sara showed how to cut the paper to maximize your cuts. Didn’t you think that it was so darn clever to use the 2 1/4″ Circle Punch to use as an envelope liner? I made the below visual for you to use.
So…..What do you think? Do they make you smile….
I know what I think….I am GRATEFUL THAT SUE EMAILED ME….and that I put some together!!! This would be a wonderful way to get together with friends and make some – you can yack away and have fun chatting and also pound out a bunch of these sweet cards……I literally had to stop myself and put them away as I kept wanting to make more and more….(I plan to make some while watching the Olympics)
Enjoy the weekend and I do hope that you will have time to watch the Olympics. I love watching them and I am always so amazed with the strength, dedication, endless training that these amazing athletes do! It truly is a special time to see the extreme talent.
We are to have a super rainy weekend….better rain than snow….the ice we had earlier in the week has played havic on many of our trees and we lost a HUGE pine tree and also several HUGE LIMBS…..it always makes me sad to see trees die as I think of how many years they were there.
Find some “me time” to craft away and I hope that this post inspired you to look at these sweet notecards. I just get giddy when I see a project that is fun, easy and practical. These would make a wonderful little gift to make up for that hard to buy for person as after all, a gift that you made with your own hands is the best gift as it is from YOUR HEART and HANDS!
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by Susan Itell | Jan 26, 2018 | Birthday, Super Easy |
Happy Friday….this week has been about Birthday Cards as lets face it…we each have one of those special days each year and we also love to send Birthday Cards…..well, we love to when we have a great idea or a stash ready – but trust me, I get it!
In November when I went to On Stage in Salt Lake City I can remember the first time I saw this kit in the display area…needless to say I was wowed! Not only was I doing a “happy dance” with the sheer beauty of the fun box but it didn’t stop there as when I saw the sheer quality and design of the cards…and then…the monthly dividers – I loved it!
The lightbulb that went off in my head was…WHAT A GREAT GIFT!
Let’s face it, I think that it is pretty fair to say that most of our “WANTS IN LIFE” are very minimal as I think we all feel very blest but I don’t know about you…I love to share my love of crafting with family and friends and what a fabulous gift this would be for that hard to buy for person.
The beauty of this is…it is timeless – being that no matter when you would “gift this” to someone… they can always use it. You could either give the Kit as a gift and have you and your friend put it together for a fun time spent together or go ahead and make it up and give it as a gift!
I have a BUNCH of pictures for you today but before you peek at them….watch this short video that Stampin’ Up! did showcasing this kit and you will see 1st hand what a blue ribbon winner it is!
I always try to give you a “heads up” for tips and tricks when I recommend a product. I followed the instructions to a tee with the exception of the placement of the Dapper Denim Bakers Twine and I also did not use the tassel stickers that were to go onto the balloons. Just some personal preferences in placement.
The kit is VERY generous with the amount of ribbon and twine. You can see in the below pictures that I doubled up on the twine for all of my bows (again, just a personal preference) and I had plenty. I always like to share these tips as I realize how frustrating it is to keep thinking while you are creating….can I use more…or maybe I’ll run out!
Below is a great visual of the kit contents…..
The next several pictures are close-ups of each of the cards that I put together. Not only were they super easy to put together, this are super cute and oh so practical cards!
The stamp set that is used to create these cards is called the Perennial Birthday Stamp Set. THANK YOU Stampin’ Up! for creating not only great outside sentiments….but also the ones that coordinate for the inside of the card. WOOT-WOOT…..we all LOVE that!
Remember, this below stamp set is sold separately from the kit but I think you will see and agree, it’s a keeper! After these photos I will share with you what I did with this kit…and trust me, it has been a huge hit!
Before we get to the last 2 cards let’s peek at the dividers….they ARE key to me…as this will KEEP US FROM MISSING someones Birthday! I just do a little wiggle of excitement when I can be more “on top of it” and having a “key” with Birthdays filled in does it for me!
Even though the kits makes 16 cards….you can easily put more in the box and also throughout the year as you make cards they can be added! I like to think of it as my stash of ready to rumble!
Here are the last 2…they are just adorable and being able to stamp a coordinating sentiment to the inside of the card is a time saver!
Now you know me….I adore my envelopes. To me, the envelope is the FIRST GLIMPSE of the presentation of the card. My Mom always taught me that if you take a bit of time for the presentation of something….than the recipient will feel special from the minute they see it….and let’s face it ladies….we all love to feel special cause’ guess what….WE ARE SPECIAL!
I used the Sweet Soiree DSP to add some love to the envelopes! The colors work perfectly for this kit and it gave me the extra special trademark touch that I love to give.
You can see in the picture below that using my DSP Swatchbook from the Product Shares made the picking out the paper a breeze. To me, they are the 911 when creating!
You can also see that I have a pack of gold candles…I purchased them for a whopping .97 at Walmart along with some simple balloons…after I made up the kit….I also tucked in a pack of candles and the balloons….just another sweet touch that costs sooooo little but will make someone feel super special and add so much!
One last peek of the entire kit and also an idea for you…. and then one from my sweet John…..
After I put together the first kit and saw the WOW of it….I thought – what a perfect gift for my girlfriends. I admit, most of my friends have no clue what I do but they know that I am crafty. (I do not teach locally as the bulk of my Stampin’ Up! fun is cyber) I purchased a bunch of these and had a ball making up these kits! I tied a beautiful white bow around it and strategically placed a long skinny cluster of gold candles thru the bow.
They are all stacked in a closet and PRESTO….a perfect gift that will only be super special and practical to them…but they will see firsthand what I do…. (the truth be told…I have a fear of teaching that I am afraid no one would come) I have already had 3 Birthdays this month with friends…and they have loved the kit!
My sweet John is an Accountant and this is his time of year of craziness. When he saw this kit is was amazed. He was also amazed when I told him that many of my customer simply do not purchase the Stampin’ Up! Kits….he asked me why and I said…..I really do not know as they sure do like my kits…..
He then said – this is perfect….I’ll take 8 of them for my ladies! Every year when it is Business Administrators Day (it is April 25th this year)…John takes the ladies to lunch. It is always a highlight for them as John is great in taking time to make his employees feel special. These people make the whole system work in cranking out the workload and it is his way of saying thanks!
He said… can you put a big bow on each of them and we can put it at their place. (I usually always put a little potted Spring Flower at their place setting) and then I will let them know that at 4 p.m. that day they will be treated to a special time with you in helping them put the kits together! Doesn’t this sound like fun!
I told you he was a keeper (and actually the best blind date I was ever on).….naturally I am THRILLED with the order….but I also know that his ladies will love it as well! The moral of the post is….this IS a keeper kit and it is also priced right!
How perfect to get the kit or kits…..the stamp…take advantage of some FREEBIES from Sale-a-Bration…WOOT-WOOT all around!
Have a wonderful weekend…..I have another idea for you on Monday that will make you say….now that is soooo darn cute! Thanks for shoring some time with me and thanks for being YOU!
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by Susan Itell | Jan 19, 2018 | Fun & Cute!, Photopolymer Stamps, Super Easy |
Good Morning and here is to a start of the weekend…woot-woot for so many reasons…first it is the weekend but this is the best part…we are going to be having some WARM WEATHER on the East Coast…a totally welcomed bit of news for me and trust me…I have had one super grumpy pig as Miss Daisy just is not a fan of the cold!
As I shared yesterday…I have some wonderful customers that just love kits…and trust me – I GET IT!
On yesterdays post…I showcased a sentiment from this kit to make yesterdays sweet card and today…it is all about this kit. I truly think that this kit is just breezed over in the annual catalog (page 15) as you all flip right to the stamps and leave the Stampin’ Up! kits to a “thought for the perhaps future” and stampers….let me tell you – this IS a keeper!
After I had a date with this product I am showcasing today…it was a joy and a rewarding feeling to be able to sit down and have all of the products needed in one box and complete a kit with the end result of 20 completed cards plus I have a great photopolymer stamp set that has fun and useful sentiments that will be used for other projects!
Here is a video that Stampin’ Up! did that showcases this products…its a great overview but trust me…this is so straight forward and I love the saying…of Stamp and Stick! – cause’ lets face it – there are times that we just simply do not want to think but we want to craft and create with completed results…that is exactly what this kit will do for you!
I have had this kit sitting in the super cute box that it comes in for some time…and all it was doing was collecting dust. Well….I had someone remind me about this kit as she was ordering one and I thought…I need to put this together myself and that is what I did!
Here are some of the thoughts that I had through the journey in putting it together and I will tell you right off the bat…I am NOT the best in following directions as I am one of those just DIVE IN and DO kinda person….
- I loved the fact that everything that you need is all in one place
- Even though they were supplied in the box, I used my own ink (in the full size) and I prefer my acrylic blocks and also the glue dots that are on the roll – just a personal preference but all of these are supplied in a kit version and heck – we all keep the stampin’ spots!
- I actually enjoyed the fact that the sizes of the cards varied – it was great to have that assortment to grab and go!
- I was happy that the color choices of the designs were so bright and vibrant…a super fun POP with each and every design
- I think the price is extremely fair. $35.00 for the whole kit and the stamp set….a keeper that will get lots of use and the best ….it is a photopolymer!
Below you can see this stamp set. As you recall…I try to “condition” my stamp sets as I go to use them for the 1st time. It is a great habit to get into and then I stamp a full image of the stamp set to store with the stamp. I personally condition my stamps with Black ink and I can hear many of you gasping but I like to see the images…really cuts down the search and rescue on my work space.
Now grab that cup of coffee and get ready for 4 great pictures that showcase each of the cards. I grouped them together as by the size of the cards and one thing that I did not show is….the envelopes – the envelopes are all in a kraft paper and a fun change from white!
I have not jazzed up the envelopes (as I usually do) and I am really not sure if I will as the cards are just so fun and fresh! After all…this is one of the things that people struggle with….time and thinking what to do….and this kit is all about….getting it done – feeling confident!
Enjoy the pictures…they are fun – RIGHT????
I told you…..they are just super cute…Here is another thought – I know that we are the crazed crafters but I also know that we have many friends and family that are not….
- maybe it’s because they feel like they aren’t creative…. (this is crazy as we ALL have a creative gift inside)
- maybe it’s because they don’t have the time…
- maybe it’s because they say…”I don’t need another hobby”…
- maybe it’s because they say – “I’m not going to invest in all of THAT STUFF” ….(I think that they are talking about the STUFF that we have and guess what – I LOVE MY STUFF)
I think you know where I am going with this….and guess what – This kit would be a fabulous and fun time to get together with these kinda people (we all have and know them) and just have fun!
You are just $15.00 away from picking a freebie from the SAB offerings….so I say….no brainer, grab some basics that we use all the time and have a win-win…..20 completed cards that are ready to go when you need one….a great stamp set to use in the future and a FREE Product from Sale-A-Bration….works for me….how about you!
Have a great weekend….be safe, make memories and make someone SMILE!
p.s. – please make sure that you look at the LONG LIST of products that I used to make this post….. (tee-hee-hee)…YEP – that is right….JUST ONE THING!!!!!
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