by Susan Itell | May 14, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Super Easy, Thank You |
Thank you for joining us for the May Pals Blog Hop and our annual
retirement party! It's time to say goodbye to stamps and accessories
that will not be available in the new 2013-14 Stampin' Up! catalog.
Although it's always sad to see wonderful products retire, it is
exciting to think about all of the new products that will soon be
available. So enjoy the farewell tour for our favorite retiring products
– and remember you have until June 3rd to order from the retiring
product lists.
You should have just left stop number 4 on the Pals Hop – Kathleen Law at Craft with Kathleen . If so, you are in the right spot.
If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along
from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.
Today is a bitter sweet day for all of the wonderful and dedicated viewers that are enjoying this incredible "Retirement Party" for the PALS Blog Hop!
I did a card very similar to these before…just tweaked it a bit 'cause I loved it before but I love it more now! I hope you like it as well!
As I am just entering into my 2nd year with Stampin' Up!…I have learned something loud and clear…and it is simple = Stampin' Up! makes decisions that are best for all of us and they keep us on the cutting edge of what is "on trend"!
Picking my sadness was between 3 stamp sets…but I chose this one, Easy Events….why? Simple = this is the stamp set that gave me the confidence this past year that I can do things that I never thought I could do!
I simply love using the Aqua Painter…( I was never good in Art Class) and using this great tool makes me happy! I just loved the simplicity of all of the stamps in this set!
How did I get the "thank you" with the "tree"…simple = I masked it with a bit of sticky note…inked it up with the Black Staz on…then peeled it off and PRESTO – perfect and clean! When you look at this stamp set…the stamp is different than the sentiment! Thanks to the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig it was a cinch!
There are a couple of things that I am a stickler about and one is…use the watercolor paper when using this technique…why – simple = why would you take all of your precious time and energy to create a beautiful card to have the edges curl?
Just about everything in this card is going "bye-bye"…the stamp set – Easy Events, the colors of paper…Not So Navy Paper, the Certain Celery Ribbon 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon…this ink…Certainly Celery and Riding Hood Red…but this is OK – cause GREAT things are coming your way…
Do you see how clean…simple…and fresh this card is…to me it is just classic and one that you could make and make ….and send and send – and it will always be in style!
Stampin' Up! makes our life so easy with their quick and simple tools… the "Window Framelits" were the focal balance of the card and running through my main man…"Mr. Big Shot" it helped the POP factor…with the help of the paper piercing tool and the Festive Paper-Piercing Pack to add the little added touch!
Before I tied the ribbon in the simple "Susan knot" I did use a simple sponge and lightly sponges the edges with Certainly Celery! I think a simple trick like this adds an element of depth!
If you are used to reading my blog and if you are not – I do hope that you subscribe to it for a daily dose of inspiration and creativity…I always do something special to my envelopes…it is a trademark that reminds me of my late Mom….and this paper that I lined is from such a special "bye-bye" paper pack…Print Poetry ( go buy it NOW if you do not have a stash)
I love what I do and I love being a PAL, Mary Fish and her wonderful group of super talented paper crafters have been such an inspiration to me and this past year has been a ton of fun! I hope that you have enjoyed this post and that you have a BLAST going through all of these wonderful posts for our Retirement Party!
I know that it is days like this…that I simply love going through and seeing all of this FUN!!! Have a great time and all I can say is….GREAT READY for the BEST catalog!!!
Please email me if you have any questions or feel free to sit back…relax…and click away and order from your home….Stampin' Up! makes life and shopping so easy!
The next stop is Kari Linder, at Stampin' Essentials, stop number 6 on
the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!
- Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
- Kerry Willard Bray at Stampgoodness
- Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
- Kathleen Law at Craft With Kathleen
- Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
- Kari Linder at Stampin' Essentials
- nicole watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
- Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons
- Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
- Lynn Hoyt at Cattail Designs
- Nancy Gleason at My Stampin Space
- Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
- Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
- Amy Lazzell at Just a Thought…Cards by Amy
- Leslie Davis at Life's Moments
- Kim Czenszak at LiveLoveStamp
- Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!
- Debbie Mageed at Scrappin' and Stampin'
- Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
- Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
- Katy McGloin at Just Fun Stamping
- Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
- Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
- Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
- Peggy Noe at prettypapercards.com
- Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works
- Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair
- Shirley Sumption at look at my cute stuff
- Debbie Crowley at expressivelydeb…
- Shannon Jaramillo at ezpeasycards
- Barbara Furlong at The Love of Stamping
- Elaine Fleming at Studio Elaine
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by Susan Itell | May 11, 2013 | Thank You |
Confession time…For many of you "regular" followers you can see that this post is very late today! I am sorry…
I shared with you that I did not prepare myself enough over the weekend for this weeks posts and after a L O N G day at work…I came home at 7:50 p.m….fed the dogs and dear Daisy…fell asleep on the couch …and the rest is history! Today is a new…great day!
Now is this a fun card or what! I am very pleased with the end result and just think about how you can use up scraps!
We all have lots of odds – n – ends laying around….my suggestion for you…when you see scraps…go ahead and pop out 1 1/4" piece and have them on have to make this simple and beautiful card!
Here you go…enjoy and please email me if I can help you and please leave me a comment and let me know how you like this – I think it is super fun!
Just like a quilt…I have used something old ( soon to be retired)…something new ( the catalog is coming soon!)…enjoy!
- The card size is a standard A-2 card in Island Indigo and then matted a 1/4 smaller in Pool Party then I lightly sponged the edges for a bit of depth in Pool Party!
- Speaking of Sponging…here is a tip = cut the sponge in 1/4's, therefore with one package you will get 12 sponges to work with…I try to rinse mine out right away after using them and they always look like new! Also, if you do not like getting your fingers dirty – use a clothes pin!
- The focal paper is the ***NEW*** Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Paper cut – using the 1 1/4" Square Punch and then I adhered them down 4 across and 3 down!
- Pulling out my main man, Mr. Big Shot, and then having a date with the Top Note Die created the perfect look of a quilt for this card!
- Is this center stamp great or what!!! It is ***NEW*** as a hostess gift and I just love it! It is called Sweetly Framed and it is perfect that you can pop it out using the Decorative Label Punch. I popped another one with the Island Indigo, snipped it and then adhered it to the outer edges!
- I looked at it and thought it still need a little pop…so pulling from the colors I thought Daffodil Delight would be a beautiful and fun addition…POP came a 2 1/2" circle punch…easy-peasy!
- The envelope…too darn cute, right!?!? I did the same concept as above…adhered it to the outer flap of the envelope and voila!
I hope you have enjoyed today's card and I hope it inspires you to go to your craft area and have fun creating all different themes using a quilt!
I love and would love being your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator…you can click away from your own home! I do send my customers tips, ideas and inspiration as my way of "thanking them" for using me as their Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!
I know that there are many options out there and I do appreciate your support and dedication to me…my business and more importantly my passion for paper crafting!
Until tomorrow….
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by Susan Itell | May 4, 2013 | Thank You, Thinking of you |
"Head's Up" for all of you faithful readers…get ready to do the "happy dance" when you see the NEW catalog! It takes many, many looks to take it all in!
It's funny – I think we all get a bit reluctant with "change" and I am sure like myself…we are sad to see many stamps sets being discontinued and then when we get the new catalog and do that 1st go-thru…we say…it's ok but…IT TAKES TIME to let it all soak in!
I have been looking at it everyday and each day I get more and more excited to order the new goodies! HANG TIGHT – Stampin' Up! has not and will not let us down and personally – I think they did an amazing job with the new catalog!
Here is a sneak peak of one of the incredible designer series paper…it is called "Quatrefancy Specialty" and it is WOW! Just love all of the rich colors and it is so fresh and cheery! I did the card style last month and had so many great comments, I thought it would be fun to use a total different scheme! Hope you enjoy!
- The base is Pool Party 8 1/4" X 4 1/4"…scored at 2 3/4". The inside Whisper White piece is 5 1/4" X 4 " and the print paper is 5" X 3 3/4"
- The outside scored piece is Whisper White 2 1/4" X 4" and the fun print paper is 2 1/4" X 3 3/4".
- The "inside" card it Pool Party 6 1/2" X 3 1/4" scored in half…31/4" then layered with the NEW IN COLOR yummy color – Strawberry Slush in a 3" square with a piece of Watercolor paper at a 2 3/4" square ( make 2 of these)
- The inside sentiment came from one of the "bye-bye" stamp sets, "A Word For You"…one that I will miss, always a simple and special way with words!
- The envelope was jazzed up by cutting the designer paper to fit the outer flap and then using the best scissors in the whole wide world…the paper snips to make it look WOW!
I hope you enjoyed this post…it is truly a great card style to make in so many ways! I was totally WOWED by the amount of emails that I received yesterday in getting the files for the paper!
I will be logging all of that next to get to you as I am sure many of you are ready to get organized!
Referrals are the best way….so please refer my blog to your friends, family and co-workers! Subscribing to the daily blog is so easy – just enter your email in the catalog above and you will be able to get a daily dose every day! I am also an email away if you need a question answered!
Enjoy the day….it's Derby Day…always a favorite of mine to watch! Remember, you can click here and order from me and your items will be shipped right to your door….doesn't get any easier than that!
Until tomorrow……
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by Susan Itell | Apr 29, 2013 | Masculine, Organizational Tips, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Thank You |
On Saturday I hosted an event for my job and it involved golfing! I needed a "thank you note" to send to the golfers that came out to support the event!
I immediately thought of the Dapper Dad stamp set! Confession time…this is the first I have used it but will say – not the last… so get ready to see some great ideas using this super fun set!
I felt that the Perfectly Penned Stamp Set was a perfect choice to add to the golf shoe! Now you know what I am going to say…this simply could not be done without the Stamp-a-ma-jig! This silly little tool makes life so much easier but better than easier – it saves you a ton of time!
I knew that I needed to make many of these and I wanted to share with you how easy it is to do an assembly line process when making cards! Here are some tips that might be useful…
- I always take a piece of scrap paper to write down all dimensions and tips!
- I cut the base card (Crumb Cake for this card) and score in half.
- Pull out the Crumb Cake Envelopes and decide the liner I wanted to use….easy-peasy – Neutrals Designer Series Paper!
- Make sure you ink pad has plenty of coverage…if not…use the refill as you continue to organize. ( you need to wait 10-15 minutes to settle in the ink pad)
- Go to your scraps 1st and see if you can utilize them before using a fresh sheet of paper!
- Cut the vertical pieces….stack them up in the colors per card!
- Run the vertical strips through the Big Shot using the Argyle Embossing Folder.
- Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig – prepare the clear sheet for doing your stamping.
- Stamp the shoe 1st….then follow up with the sentiment!
- When I made these…I did use a bit of snail on the back of each to hold it in place so the stamp-a-ma-jig would not wiggle!
- Drew a pencil line down the center of the card to place the center piece and then it was easy to "eyeball" the others!
- Adhere…pop it up with my Stampin' Vitamins – Stampin' Demensionals!
I personally think this is one fun and handsome card! Change the colors up for a more feminine feel….I think I am going to try it with a heat embossing technique! I can see a pink shoe!
Please do not forget to subscribe to my daily blog….I love creating and I love working my creations into my personal lifestyle! Click on the box right under the catalog!!!
On Wednesday is my monthly Breast Cancer card making fun time….we will make over 100 cards for the local "Angel Program"….sending a card and "pick me up" to those that are unfortunately going through some tough times! This is such a "feel good" evening!
Please leave me a comment or email me and let me know how you liked this card….sometimes it is hard to come up with an idea for a masculine theme…I think the colors set the stage for this card! I do say….I loved focusing and "picking up" the argyle from the show in the embossing folder! A great added touch!
Here's to a fabulous week….I am up for a busy one… but fun one…until tomorrow!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Apr 27, 2013 | Stamp-a-ma-jig, Thank You, Thinking of you |
At my job I need to write many notes! (Good thing I love Stampin' Up! so much)…just like picking out what to wear to work everyday – I too get in a "funk" with using the same cards! I thought I would switch it up using my 1st initial!
This doesn't get too much easier! I knew that I wanted a bright "pop" – and polka dots always bring a smile to my face! One of my favorite color combinations is blue(midnight muse), yellow(daffodil delight) and a crisp white!
One of my "bye-bye's that is on my "A" list" – Circle Circus Stamp Set was stamped in the Midnight Muse…TIP ALERT – Take your pad to the stamp to ink this one up….if you do it the traditional way – you'll have a good chance in making a blob in the middle!
Next, you the stamp-a-ma-jig to get your initial from the Lovely Letters Stamp Set…( another bye-bye) to get that perfect image! Pop the stamped image using the 1 3/8" Punch and then layer that on top after putting some stampin' vitamins on it – ( Stampin' Dimensionals) – then the 1 3/4 Scallop Punch with the Daffodil Delight Makes it really pop with the classic white and navy!
"Simple Susan" continued to play up with the yellow and just a simple 1 1/2' strip of the polka dot parade designer paper and matted with a snip of white – really looks sharp against the Midnight Muse…very classic! I still wasn't finished…and wanted to do something I haven't done in months!!!!
Out came the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and I added 3 scored lines on each side and it really added depth! ( I know – it's hard to see int he picture….but try it – you'll like it!!!!) the last touch was a simple snip of Not Quite Navy Taffeta Ribbon to break up the yellows against the monogram!
See how clean and fast this gem is! This would be a super graduation gift to give…you could make up a batch of these, create your own box = a perfect and useful gift…feel like you needed more for a gift….include stamps and perhaps a gift card to a coffee shop! I sure would love some beautiful stationary and be able to have a great cup of coffee to sit and write notes!
Notice something different? I chose to line the outside of the envelope instead of my traditional way! This would surely put a smile on ones face when they went to the mailbox to find this cheery envelope! I hope you have enjoyed this and I hope that it shows you different ways to use your stamp sets that you have! I am going to miss both of these from the catalog!
GREAT NEWS…as I have posted….the starter kit is $99.00 but you get bonus allowing you to pick $155.00 worth of ANY Stampin' Up! product…INCLUDING THE NEW SNEAK PEAK products! I received my Sneak Peek Order yesterday and it is A M A Z I N G !!! You will love the new catalog! Please click here and let me help guide you to my picks for a starter kit!
Enjoy the day….keep me and our horse "Oscar" in your thoughts….he had a "tummy ache" last night I and set my alarm every 2 hours to go down to the barn to check him – this is why probably if you check your posts 1st thing in the morning….you had an incomplete post….I fell asleep! I think he'll be fine but it was a long night!
Until tomorrow….stampin' hugs to you all !
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by Susan Itell | Apr 19, 2013 | Super Easy, Thank You |
Ok …it doesn't get any easier than this! Is this a super cute, super clean, super crisp, super fast card or what! If this stamp set gets discontinued I am going to be one sad stamper as this is for sure is on my "A list" and one that I go to often!
The Easy Events stamp set is always a winner! I needed a quick card to send thank you's out for my job and I needed many of them in a jiff! I knew that it needed to be subtle…and I was tickled with the result!
One thing that I did different than usual was that I used Stampin' Ups! Note Card and Envelopes…these are a perfect size and also something that I think gets overlooked in the catalog! For $5.95 you will get 20 note and 20 envelopes….WOW!!! How much easier is this than to have the card stock already cut and scored for you!
As I always do when I use the Aqua Painter Pens I used the watercolor paper. WHY?…simple ~ why wouldn't you use a paper that is meant to have water painting on it so you get the look and feel that you are going for…and more importantly – it always lays so nice and flat!
You know what I am going to use next…if I am using a water color method than I need to use the correct ink…the go to of Black Staz On Ink is the way to go! The colors I used were the new Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron!
To give a little interest with color, I kept it very subtle matting the image with So Saffron and Sahara Sand! LOVED the color combination – very soft! The envelopes were lined with a fun and simple pattern from the Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Paper
This was a fun and quick card to make…one that I am going to be using in my Stamp-a-Stack as know how much fun it is to use the Aqua Painters and also I think I am going to use this stamp with a different sentiment for my Breast Cancer Cards for next month!
If you do not have these note cards…put them on your list! Remember, you can click here…order right from your home and your goodies will arrive right to your home! How easy is that!!!I love helping you and being your Stampin' Up! friend…
One thing I am asked all the time….What adhesive do you use for lining the envelopes? 2-Way Glue Pen is my friend…for $3.50 how can you go wrong and I love how easy it is to use and I love how it keeps my paper flat!
Enjoy the day…weekend is in sight!!! WOOT-WOOT…but I have lots of yard work to do…..weeds are popping up!!! I love what I do and I love helping you!
Until tomorrow…..
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