by Susan Itell | Mar 20, 2014 | Uncategorized |
It's Thursday and you know what that means…it is time for another Pals Paper Art Challenge and this is my kind of sketch! For you "newbies" and I hope that there are "newbies" here let me explain what the Pals Paper Art Challenge is…
First, it is open to everyone and guess what? That means YOU!!! You do not need to be a demonstrator…you just need to tell yourself that YOU are going to have fun and play along!
One week there is a "color challenge" where the design team comes up with 3 colors for you to work with and then next week there is a "sketch challenge" where the team will provide a sketch for you to interpret how ever your heart desires!
I was asked to be on the design team last year, and not only was a flattered to have been asked…I can honestly say that it has helped me grow and stretch myself in trying new ideas! We all start somewhere, so why not start with this clean and simple sketch that we are using today!
Please feel free to email me if you would like me to help you upload a picture to the site…click here and you will see what the Team Designers came up with and then you will also see lots of inspiration from others!
Let's get going as you know me…I make my cards for a purpose and today is no different! This card is for my dear friend Caron…she truly is one in a million to me and even though our paths did not cross until later in life, it has been a joy and a blessing to call her my friend!
She keeps me on my toes and our daughters ride together and boy – do we miss the Horse Shows and the early mornings in the dark drinking our coffee and laughing at how crazy we are to be doing this…sooooo this is a card for Caron…just because!
Ready…set….let's go!
- The card base is Very Vanilla opening from the left!
- The sentiment is soooo sweet and sooooo Caron and it is from the Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set called…See You Later (I think that this has been the most popular set)
- I stamped it on a piece of very vanilla that 1 1/2" X 3" but what I did was use the brush end of my markers to give it the 2 tone look…the colors were baked brown sugar and tangerine tango and then I matted it on a piece of Baked Brown Sugar that was 1 3/4" X 3 1/4"
- Now let's put it together! Before I mounted the DSP I put a strip of snail on the back to anchor the Soft Suede ribbon…..(the type A in me comes out) – I do this to keep it nice and flat so as I bring it around – it ties just the way I like it…a smple "Susan knot"!!!
- We know that it would not be a Susan card without a pretty envelope! With the help of the Envelope Liner Framelits….a cinch – this card is ready for my handwriting!
I do hope that I have inspired you today and I hope that you can take a moment out of your busy day to write a special friend a note "just because" like I am going to do for Caron! She fills my heart with joy and makes me laugh…she makes me realize how fortunate we are in life!
Below is a picture of her and her beautiful daughter Catherine! Just seeing this picture makes me smile!
I hope that you have a Caron in your life…I am getting super excited to go see my daughter Hannah for the weekend! Her Godmother is going with me and we are going to have fun!
I deeply thank you for popping on my blog and please subscribe to it if you have not already! I do blog daily and I try to explain not only my love of paper crafting…but give you an outlet to be able to learn techniques that are doable and clean!
Enjoy the day….and PLEASE – think about trying this challenge….you have until next Tuesday at noon!!!
Until tomorrow!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 17, 2014 | Uncategorized |
In a while crocodile….
This stamp set is just too darn tootin' cute and with it being St. Patty's Day I planned to have a "green" card for you and trust me…I would not want to be pinched by an alligator….but this alligator is a happy alligator!
I sure hope that this card makes you smile…because it sure made me smile with the end result! I am also playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches and below you will be the sketch that we are working from!
The fun thing about taking part in challenges is…it allows you to let your creativity flow…just look at the sketch and then you can see the elements you need to have in it…but then you can adapt your personality and ideas to make it work!
By now you know that I adore odd size cards…and this card is 4” X 7”. Most of the time when I make cards…I make them for a specific reason – today’s card is for my daughter Hannah and I am going to see her this weekend at college and I thought I would put this in her dorm room with a gift for her to find after I leave!
Let’s go…
- To make the card, I cut a piece of whisper white to 8” X 7” and then scored and bone folded it at 4”
- The Garden Green is ¼” smaller = 3 ¾” X 6 ¾” and then I “dot and stitched” using the white gel pen!
- The Garden Green Designer Series Paper is from the Regals Paper Stack and that is 2 ½” X 5 ½”
- Now to the fun stuff! Cut a piece of Crumb Cake at 2” X 5” and then using the Angled Tag Topper Punch…let it do it’s magic! To the opposite end – the easiest and fastest way is to find the middle (1”) and then cut to the center to get you banner ends!
- This part is soooooo cute! I used the Bigz L Peekaboo Frames (and YES – it is on sale today($24.71) but remember the sale ends tonight) and I cranked out with the help of my Big Shot the magic to this card! Fold the ends back to get a good crease and then I tool a scrap piece of white and traced the image of the rectangle to get a perfect placement and stamped away! PERFECT and CUTE!!! I did mask the lower sentiment and now I am asking myself why? It would have been so appropriate!
- I adhere this whole piece on the tag using the Mono Glue!
TIP ALERT: I found a fantastic tip on Connie Collins Blog. Connie is a Artisan Design Team Member and she did a fabulous card with Bakers Twine and her tip was to use spray starch and iron it to get the bow to “behave” for the look you are going after…well I tried it and WOW – I loved it and you all know I do not do bows well!
- I popped up the tag part as well as the whole green piece…I used the sidepieces of the Stampin’ Dimensionals…we go not waste a thing!
- To the envelope we go…Now that we have the super Envelope Punch Board…we can make any size of envelope we want! I went to the handy-dandy guide and it said I needed a 8 ¾” square…this is a great reason what it is good to have 12 X 12 paper….you WILL use it! I punched and scored it just like it told me to….presto – I have an envelope that works!!! Woot-Woot!
TIP ALERT #2 – This is a total personal preference and you know me…I like to share with you as much as I can! I do not care for the “big points” that is on this envelope…look at the picture and you can see them – I simply cut them down to make them look tidier and then lined the outside of the envelope to pull the whole card together! What do you think? Do you agree that the long points we just too much!?!?
These little “peek a boos” are fun…I do forget about them and when I saw that they were on the weekly deals…I just couldn’t resist making a card using them!
The calendar is flying by and that means that Sale-A-Bration will be ending soon……March 31st! Remember with every order of $50.00 you will be able to pick a FREEBIE….and this stamp set, See You Later is one of them! It is just so darn cute! My card for you on Thursday is using the same stamp set and remember, from ME you will also get free swatch book showcasing the Sweet Sorbet paper!
Please feel free to email me if you need any help and I hope that you have a great St. Patty’s Day! A big Happy Birthday to Carrie and Chris…have a great day!
I look forward to inspiring you tomorrow….it’s fun having coffee together – just wish that it could be in person!
Hugs and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 12, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Did you all have fun HOPPING yesterday! It was wonderful…it was fun…it was inspirational! WOWZERS – there is lots of talent out there! Today is all about Ted – it is super hard to find masculine card…do you remember that I shared with you that I went to a Stampin' Up! event over the weekend…..well this is where the inspiration came from!
I participated in a card swap and when I saw a masculine card ….I was doing the WOOT-WOOT dance! The inspiration came from Julie Brewer from Woodbridge, VA ! I knew that I could take her swap and make it my own….
Below is Julie's card and I thank her for her inspiration….but here is what I did to it – to change it up!
Before we get to the nuts and bolts of this card…another inspiration came from Ellen….she emailed me yesterday morning asking me about a post I did in November! After looking it up and emailing her – I knew that I could adapt it to this card! Mission accomplished!
I guess this is one reason that it is great to have a blog as I had already mailed out the card she was asking about but using the search button on my blog made it super easy! Remember, just put a specific stamp set in the – hit search and POOF!
Let’s go! This is so simple – you don’t need me!
- The base is Very Vanilla in the A-2 card size!
- Cutting another piece of Very Vanilla at 5 ¼” X 4” and then pulling out the ON SALE – Argyle Embossing Folder to do the magic! WOOT-WOOT – it's on sale this week!
- The next step to the WOW is using the sanding block and going back and forth….the fibers break down and the “underneath fibers” come to life! Such a simple yet effective effect!
- The Vanilla Strip is 1 ¼” X 5 ¼” and then matted with Soft Suede at 1” X 5 ¼”
- This is where my cyber friend Ellen came in…she asked me about this post, and I liked what I re-visited when I looked it up from her! Using a 1/8” of a strip of very vanilla does the magic…so why not do it again!
TIP ALERT: – Use the RIGHT side of the Stampin’ Trimmer to make your cuts when they are so narrow….works like a charm every time!
- Pull out the Chalk Talk Bundle (get the bundle – you’ll save an instant 15 % and if you are a demonstrator – you receive an instant 35%) instead of purchasing them separately!
- The background was stamped with Old Olive and then the super sweet sentiment was stamped in Soft Suede! (love that neutral)
- The envelope was an easy-peasy decision….with this masculine card….a simple soft suede liner was all that was needed! BAM….DONE!
With the bundle, you can cut out the “background piece” with the framelits but the sentiment was a cinch from the Ex. Large Oval Punch! ….LOVE our punches!!!!
I am so happy that sooooo many of you had a fun hop yesterday! I thank you for popping onto my Blog!
If you are new – please subscribe to my daily blog (right under the Occasions Catalog) and you will get a daily dose of “Susan”!
Ted is doing well….and I thank you for reaching out to me and wishing him well. I am going down next Friday to see him before heading to North Carolina to see my dear Hannah!
Ted has such a great support network and a positive attitude! His 1st round of Chemo over….and doing well….keep those prayers coming!
We all have sooo much to be thankful for….and I thank you for your thoughts, prayers, comments and support you give!!!
Pop back tomorrow – it another color challenge….you’ll smile!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 6, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Have you ever met someone that the minute you "really….really" understood "what they were all about" you left feeling so positive and fulfilled?!?! Well, this is exactly how I feel about Hannah's riding trainer…he is one special guy!
I feel like I am always telling you a story…and I get many emails from people asking me where my inspiration comes from!?!?
Well since I am on the Design Team for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge I need to have my design in by Tuesday at 1 p.m. – I have had these 3 colors out since last week and I asked myself…what am I going to do with them. I love the colors but I simply did not have a light bulb moment!
I even asked John…what do you see? I loved his answer… "3 sheets of different colors of paper” Men…they make me laugh…especially John!
Well I know you get tried of hearing my “soap box” stories but it was Tuesday morning and I was picking the stalls…(I know some people call it cleaning…some say mucking – I just say picking!!! )
Here’s the quick (I hope) story…on Sunday night I received a text from Hannah’s wonderful trainer, Tom. Hannah’s horse – Oscar is in Gulf Port for 6 weeks. He is leased for the year to a wonderful lady! Tom sent me a picture of Oscar and a text letting me know that he was a good boy and won both of his classes…well being the proud Mom…my heart skipped a beat!
Back to Tuesday morning…I woke up super early still scratching my head as what card to create for the challenge…
THEN THE LIGHTBULB CAME ON…
All while picking poop! (sorry – I just could not resist) I was thinking about Oscar and how proud I am of him being such a good boy and taking care of this lady (funny, her name is Susan too)…
The barn’s colors are Navy and Grey (woot-woot…the challenge) and how appropriate – make Tom a card that looks like a ribbon in the colors of the barn! I did a woot-woot with the pitchfork in my hand!!
I was not worried about the wisteria wonder…heck – I can fit that in somewhere! Mission accomplished!
He adores Peanut M & M’s(only on Sunday’s) and I thought he would love a care package from me saying “thank you” and how much I appreciate him taking such good care of Oscar…so this is exactly how this happened today!
Below is a picture of Hannah and Oscar at a show…I truly do not know why…but I adore this picture…he is such a great horse and Hannah is such a great young lady – love them both to pieces!
I truly do try to make my cards for specific people and occasions…I was happy with this one as I know Tom will appreciate it! Let's go!
If you go to the Annual Catalog and look at the Blue Ribbon Stamp Set...there is a ribbon stamp but I had problem…I do not own that stamp set….(now that's a real problem) but then I thought – I will make my own ribbon and it will be done…..BAM!!!!
This was so easy….
- The last part of this sooooo simple card was the banners for the bottom of the ribbon! This is from the Banners Framlits! I swear, I do not know what I would do without framelits…they are true blue (ha-ha) lifesavers! Handy-dandy they surely are!!!
The finale to my care package is the "loot of M & M's" for Tom! He will love them and I tied it using today's colors!!!
Even of you do not play with the PALS this week….help me out…if you were to so something with these colors…what would you have done!?!?! I was really stumped this week….but Oscar and Tom to the rescue!
Last night's card making for Breast Cancer was wonderful! On my way home I called Stampin' Up! to tell them a big "thank you" for making us such great products and encouraging us to "do good" – that is what I feel each and every month as I know 1st hand how special cards meant to my Mom while she battled cancer!
Have a great day – please go and see the other works of art from the others on the Design Team and please consider playing along!!!!
Have you figured out a theme for this weeks posts…???
Put your thinking cap on and until tomorrow…..!!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 19, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Hello all….I was soooo ready for you this week and I have some A M A Z I N G clean and simple cards….but last night when I came home from a L O N G day of work….my "Paper Pumpkin" arrived and I am apologizing in advance – that I threw today's post together in a jif!!!
I had to stay at work for a meeting and it lasted way TOO long and then home and take care of the animals….(that darn donkey) it was after 8 until I was in the house and then –
dinner….paper pumpkin….dinner…..paper pumpkin…the pumpkin won!!!!!
I was super excited as I had one of my "pumpkins" email me and say that she received hers…..and mine had yet to arrive…..and YES – I did reach my goal/number I was reaching for and THANK YOU FOR THAT!!!
Please take a minute and watch this super quick video showcasing this set……CLICK HERE!!!! It is a great video and I love how easy it is to do!!!
There is so much exciting news about the Paper Pumpkin Program and GREAT news – the FREE set of markers has been extended…..so that is a woot-woot in itself so please click here and go to the Paper Pumpkin Website and sign up….you will not regret it! Remember, please use my name and town….WIlliamsport, MD!
Please feel free to email me with any questions you have with this program…..and I will be glad to help you! I think that this is a super fun and cute kit that is sooooo fun and festive!
I adore the (2) super photopolymer stamps that are in this kit!!!! I can wait to use them for cards….they are GREAT stamps and I can see them as a fantastic background stamp! I can already visualize cards for the future!
One is a "stripe" and the other is a "polka dot" There are so many extra pieces in the kit that I am looking forward to putting to use! I am super happy with the quality of the "shopping bags" and naturally the ribbon for the handles is a beautiful and a heavy grosgrain white ribbon!
Here is the full "tote bag" that I made for my daughter Hanah……just love those teeny tiny clothes pins!!!! The amount of letters thay gave you are fabulous….and I can see the "extras" for cards!
Now to the super exciting part that Stampin' Up! unveiled today….in a nut shell…if you are a subscriber to the "Paper Pumpkin" program ( now say that 3 times) you can have the opportunity to purchase kits that you really like or perhaps ones that you have missed….
This is a GREAT opportunity! There are some kits that will make you say….WOW...there are others that you might say are just "o.k." – and you know what – that's ok!!!!!
As I have said to those that have signed up with me and are just getting the introduction kit.. – I have ordered plenty of these SUPER cute totes and it you would like one….I will be glad to send one your way and I will pick up the postage – that is how passionate I am about them!
CLICK HERE and see this great PDF that will share with you the program that they are offering to people that already are a paper pumpkin subscriber…..it is exciting so….what do you have to loose – NOTHING!!!!!
I am just soooo darn tootin' happy that Stampin' Up! realized that this program needed to be re-vamped and they have listened!!!! This month is great – but next month is WOWZERS too!!!!
Here is a card that I made for my friend Haven….I know that she will love it – right up her alley…especially when I drop it off with some homemade soup! You see…there are some fun things you can do with the goodies in your paper pumpkin!
Have a super day….and please pop back tomorrow….it is a Pals Paper Art Challenge and I think I have a fun, clean and classic card for you!
Until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 8, 2014 | Uncategorized |
I know that many of you have been hearing me complain a bit about the weather…well – I decided to take the "high road" and be positive and "THINK SPRING"! This simple card for your Saturday is just that…fun, uplifting and SIMPLE!
You have heard me many times about keeping in your memory a card layout that just "works" – well this is one of those kind of cards! Can't you see the endless ideas of changing up the stamps…sentiments and colors and still have one BINGO-BANGO card! A reason to give a quick woot-woot!!!
Let's get going…!!!
- The card base is a regular A-2 card size but scored at 5 1/2" to make a vertical card! The white piece that is stamped on is 3 1/4" X 3 1/2" and then the Black Piece behind it is a smidge bigger (a smidge to me is 1/8" )
- Working from the Annual Catalog for this card…the adorable flowers are from the Secret Garden Stamp Set…this is a very popular set and even though it is Winter - thought it deserved a bit of "stage presence"! The best thing is…there are framelits for this….2nd woot-woot for the day!
- Remember how I have shared with you that many times I pick my card to the lining that I want to showcase! Well, this is what I did for this card! (I guess you can say it working backwards – but it works for me) – The Designer Series Paper is from the Gingham Garden Collection and the crispness of Daffodil Delight sets the tone! LOVE this collection!
- The designer series paper is cut at 2 1/2" X 4 1/4" and then the mat of black is just a smidge bigger at the top and bottom (the 4 1/4" width stays the same)
- Let's get to the fun part….the stampin part! I stamped the "stem" of the flower in Gumball Green and the flowers are in Daffodil Delight! Out comes my main Stampin' Man…..Mr. Big Shot – and with the help of the Secret Garden Framelits…this was easy-peasy!!!! I colored in the stem with the gumball green marker.
- Did you notice that I stamped (2) flowers…the one I adhered and the other one I took my paper snips and cut in and then gently rolled them a bit to give the flower some movement and attached them with a mini glue dot! ( a fun look….don't you think???)
- Sentiment time…I think that this is such a sweet sentiment and it is from the Field Flowers Stamp Set…this is another beautiful set and one that I think gets over looked! I just adore this sweet sentiment but I did use the Stamp-a-ma-jig as I would not want to do all of this work and than have a crooked sentiment!
Well, that's about it….but I do hope that it brighten your day!
Now…I want to re-touch on the exciting news of the Paper Pumpkin Kits that Stampin' Up! offers…As you know – I was not a fan of them….actually not at all until last month at convention and this below image is just what I needed to do…Think Differently…..WHY?
I was just not "on board" even if it was just $20.00 a month…but when I saw the changes that they made…I did the woot-woot dance and signed up on the spot!!! I had heard and read many comments… feed-backs about the program and I just thought that it was not for me…..
But now…..IT IS TOTALLY FOR ME and I hope that you too will join!
Here is the scoop….you just go to the website, click here, and sign up! If you do this before Monday evening the 10th – you will receive a free set on In Color Markers….(that in itself is a $14.95 value) so you can see – what do you have to lose….
I was able to see the kits for February & March and they are just adorable!!! Now, when you sign up over the weekend…you will get the introduction kit….but that's o.k. – it has 2 great stamps and a clear mounting block and cards…..but do not worry – I have ordered PLENTY of the February kits for the "newbie's" to purchase from me since in February you will be getting the introduction kit….so again…
What do you have to lose…..nothing!!!
This is how strongly I feel about this program…you have nothing to lose and the BEST thing is…if you do not feel like it is for you…or you do not want to continue to get monthly kits for $20.00….guess what – YOU CAN GET OUT….!!!! How easy is that! The magical date of the month is the 10th of the month to cancel or "skip" a month (yes, you can do that too)!!!
What I will do is email each of my Paper Pumpkin Customers at the 1st of the month to check in with them and see how they liked the product for that month and then to also remind them that if they want to cancel….to do so BEFORE the 10th! EASY-PEASY!!!
Now…here's how you can help me…I am ALWAYS up for a challenge…
and a carrot was dangled to Demonstrators….
Stampin' Up! knows that they needed to change up this program and they reached out to us (I think it is great that they realized it was not the program that the customers wanted )…and that if we recruited new Paper Pumpkin customers….that we would be rewarded!!!
My goal was to add 7 new Paper Pumpkin Customers…..and I have 5 and still need 2! Have I ever steered you wrong!?!? I would not be so passionate about it if I did not believe in it!
So the moral of the story is…
When you go to the Paper Pumpkin Website and go through the signing up process….they will ask you a demonstrator name…and you know that (hopefully!!!!)…..BUT they also ask you my city and state…..that is dear little… Williamsport, MD…..(no – it is not the baseball place – that is PA)!!!!
Trust me, you will be smiling too as if I make this goal – Stampin' Up! will be rewarding me with goodies that in turn I will share with my new Pumpkin Pals!!! Here comes another Woot-Woot!!!! I just love a challenge!
Thanks for popping by and I hope that I brought sunshine and inspiration your way….and thank you for considering to help me with the Paper Pumpkin Program….as always, please feel free to email me! Have a great day and…..
Until tomorrow!
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