by Susan Itell | Jul 16, 2017 | Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |
Good Sunday to all! Well…here you go – the 2nd day of our FUN that we have on weekends! Todays card was made by Bridget Trefethen, a team member from the great state of North Carolina!
Well…thoughts???? You can clearly see that we have 2 different cards but at the same time used the same basic elements to create! This IS why I like to do these posts on the weekends…there are sooooo many different ways to take a stamp and make YOUR own mark on it!
A big thanks for the love that you gave Chris R from Iowa (her trademark name)….as her card was super sweet and I am sure that you will give Bridget the love that she deserves as well! I will say…..both of these ladies do not have blogs so this is a great example of being a turtle and sticking your head out….many thanks as I am super proud of them!
Bridget chose to make a fun fold card! I know that there are many of you out there that love fun folds and I was thrilled that Bridget chose to “step it up” with a technique.
Here is the scoop for the “ins and outs” in how she made this FUN card….
- The Marina Mist Card Stock is 5 1/2″ × 8 1/2″. Score at 1 1/2″  and 4 1/4″. Make sure that you fold and burnish the score lines good. (this really helps a bunch with the overall end result)
- There are (2) different white pieces. One is 5 1/4″ X 4″ and the other is 5 1/4″ X 2 1/2″. Using the Simply Scored  score all 4 sides of each of the pieces at 1/4″. This simple scoring gives the card not only interest but it gives a bit of texture.
- The Eskimos were stamped with Basic Grey and popped out with the coordinating punch.
- The sentiment was stamped on a scrap in Marina Mist and then hand cut and popped up with dimensionals.
- Bridget used the markers to color….the fur on Eskimos with the Smoky Slate marker – Â trim on coat, mittens, and edges of boots with Marina Mist marker and give the Eskimos rosy cheeks with Pink Pirouette marker.
You can see in the above photo that the crisp score lines of the card is what makes it super special. It is adorable as it stands up but it is even more of a blue ribbon winner that it is just a flat card that fits perfectly in one of our regular envelopes! (now I know…this is something that you all really, really like)
On the narrow blue fold I adored how Bridget took white bakers twine to wrap around 3 times and added some excess behind the sweet Eskimo….the “tails” of the ends of the twine appeared to be “curled” – hmmmm...I like this and I think I am going to give it a try – it does add a bit of fun 😀
Do you remember that yesterday I shared…to keep in your memory bank the “heart” in the punch? Well….this card is a great example of why. The little hearts that are scattered between the sentiment came from the punch! Punches sure are life savers as they are zoom….FAST!
Trust me….with Halloween around the corner those circles will also come in handy for “eyes”…I think that there are times that we just look at the punch and say – oh, that is for that Reindeer or Eskimo….and not look at the other elements!
Well I think that we all can agree……this was a fun Christmas in July for all of us! I thank both of these gals for sharing. It was so much fun to let them have the podium! You all know that I love what I do and I am soooooo proud of them for sharing. Sharing IS this way that we all learn and trust me….when I get back and into the swing of things – watch out as I am ready to inspire!
Here is a fun fact about Bridget…..when she found my blog and we developed a relationship…she lived in France! How fun is that – her husband and her moved to France for a timeframe (I know it was well over a year) but the minute she came back to the states….she joined as a SUD! Actually Bridget flew over and met me in Salt Lake City for a convention before she became a SUD…a first time for both if us at the home office – fun times!
Also…this is a fun fact – her husband is a coach for a debate team and in August they host a “camp of some sort” for the debate students (I guess that is what they would be called???) Talk about a small world, my daughter went to college right by Bridgets home in Monroe, NC….so if you live in the area…..look Bridget up!
Now go have a great day and thanks for popping in and sharing some time and love with us!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 15, 2017 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Yep….that’s right – it is time for another Simple Saturday and today we have the one and only….“Chris R. from Iowa” in the house! If you follow my blog and you read the comments…then you already know that Chris is a hoot and she has one super cute card for us today!
I had offered to my team if they wanted to have some fun while I was gone with some posts…and I am thrilled that many took the challenge and that I am sharing them with YOU while John and I are away!
Pop back tomorrow to see the stepped up version that Bridget is going to share with you and also, please give these ladies some Simple Stampin’ love…I am sure that they will adore reading your comments! Let’s get going…..
The stamp set that they chose was Christmas Cutter Christmas (carried over from the previous catalog) and I love the reason that they chose this Eskimo image….they thought  that there have been soooooo many cards in the past using the Reindeer and the Santa…this dear, sweet Eskimo needed some love!
Do you all remember me saying time and time again that when you see a bundle – to HOP ON IT as it does NOT always stay as a bundle as this is a prime example. Even though both products “go together” they are NOT a bundle now so you will see them at the end of the post in the product line up!
We all adore punches as face it – they are super easy and fast. This punch is even more of a bonus as they are many other little “this and that’s” in the punch! (make a mental note that there is a great small heart now that the beloved Owl punch flew the coop)
This is my kinda card….as when I received it in the mail I beamed…sooooo clean & fresh and Chris did a FABULOUS job in coloring it. I learned a great lesson about this gem and one that I will try to try to do more of.
Chris colored this image with the watercoloring pencils! YEP, lesson learned for Susan and I am a “go to” Aqua Painter and the ink pads…but I am giddy of the softness and great blending that the watercolor pencils give.
Chris used the following color of pencils:Â Basic Gray, Pacific Point, Early Espresso, and Melon Mambo.
When she emailed me she shared that she also used the Aqua Painter…..so I am guessing that she used that in conjunction with the pencils! (again, lesson learned – I thought that you just used the blender pens with the pencils….learn something everyday!)
The card size is a whisper white notecard but it could easily be adapted to an A-2 card….I am a huge fan of this card size and the value…..can’t beat it!
Now don’t you think that this fun paper from the Color Theory DSP Stack is just perfect for this card!!!! Great choice Chris as I think the subtle change in color lends itself the image and the coloring of the sweet Eskimo!
A gal after my own heart….Chris gave her envelope some love. We are just so darn lucky that Stampin’ Up! does an absolutely BANG UP JOB with the color coordination of paper, stamps and inks…..we always have a “go to” to “go to” (say that 3 times)
Keeping the fun theme of the card, the sentiment was stamped on a scrap and then blinged up a wee bit with some pearls…..now this is MY KINDA bling….very soft and subtle!
I say SUPER CARD and SUPER JOB in creating the “front end” of our 2 day post! As the saying goes….Christmas in July and this sweet one would be a fast one to whip up as a Holiday card….a thank you card….or heck – just a sweet card to send to make someone smile!
I shared with you last weekend that I will try to share a “fun fact” about my team member that shared their talent…..well I think that we all know Chris R from Iowa from her fabulous and oh so witty comments but here are just a couple that make me burst out laughing when I think of her and….
- The comment about Mike and the Minion mowing the lawn…
- The comment about the guy driving the hearse and waving to her and Teddy…
- The comment about getting locked out of her house and getting a fireman to let her in…
There are many, many more and I am sure that you all will think of them (definitely Sonny will) but one thing that I do know is…Chris is a super kind person and truly loves to craft and also makes many of us smile by leaving comments on blogs! Way to go with this card!!!!
See you tomorrow….I KNOW that you are going to smile…..it’s time to STEP IT UP….think of us tomorrow….we will be flying to another part of Thailand to continue the fun!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 14, 2017 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Can you say….Hip Hip Hooray! I have a fun and fast one for your Friday! This new stamp set, Celebrate You is one “fast stampin’ dream machine”…basically it is a wham – bam…stamp…YOU’RE DONE stamp set!
I think that this is one of those “blue ribbon winners” in the catalog and this would be a stamp set that can easily be made in the masses to have a surplus on hand. I think that we all know that you cannot have too many Birthday Cards on hand!
The shapes in this stamp set are super easy to “fussy cut out” to make a simple card that truly is a simple one but it carries a BIG and CLASSIC punch!
After stamping the image on a piece of scrap in Flirty Flamingo I just quickly cut it out. Now for the fun…I took a piece of the new Flirty Flamingo 3/8″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and cut the side binding off and then “pulled the ribbon” to let the little fine threads in both the white and pink get separated! FUN…right!!!
Here you can see the fibers a bit better…..I thought that this would be a fun alternative to do. A quick Whisper White Bakers Twine Bow over top of the fru-fru ribbon was the perfect accent. Here’s a tip….and one that you have heard me say over and over….glue dots are the PERFECT adhesive of choice for adding bows…
I just think it is a fun to see how we can use products in different ways and the fun fibers showing the colors of the flirty flamingo adds not only FUN but texture!
I know that it is super hard to see but I did use the polka dot embossing folder to the overlay of the card…a simple addition that takes guess a “sec” to do but if you are like me…it is something that I just forget about doing….(truth be told -I think it is because I need to move my container of embossing folders to the forefront of my Big Shot area….out of sight  – out of mind!!!)
Do you love the DSP as much as I do….it is from the Pick a Pattern and there are all sorts of ways to use these papers for such a wide variety of projects…I use my swatch books that I make when I do a product share as they truly are the lifesaver/timesaver for me to use when coming up with the perfect compliment for my envelope – the colors and unique patterns of this paper are such a WOW!
I do not know about you but…there is usually one side of the DSP’s that I gravitate to…and with this specific print – YIKES….I like both sides as I am a HUGE fan of a great black and white pattern!
Can you see that I used the new Washi Tape on the envelope?! I love the way that the Washi Tape is with the new catalog…all in one place….YIPPEE, page 195!
I know…I know – we all seem to have a ton of washi but….really – what is one more when it is sooooooo adorable!
So Hip Hip Hooray….it is another Birthday! I hope that this glimpse of this stamp set has made you think and see that it’s a keeper. Birthday cards are ones that we always seem to need and this lends itself to a fast and fun card!
Have a fabulous Friday and guess what tomorrow brings…..a team member will be in the house so get ready for another weekend post from 2 team members! You will be smiling….as I sure was when they shared with me their talent!
Thanks for popping in……make it a great day!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 13, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Hello and Happy Thursday…you know what today is – it is time to play TIC-TAC-TOE….and you can see that I did 3 in a row! (ha-ha…just like I am suppose to!!!!)
Today I chose the path of far right….DOWN =
There is something just FUN about a game and then there is something just FUN about these dear piggies! My sweet piggy, Daisy Mae is a black piggy and they are not as fun to color in black so in my world….a pink piggy does the trick! (and look….how appropriate – she is holding a Daisy!!!)
I simply pulled out that Aqua Painter and did a super quick color using both the powder pink ink and then used the blushing bride to add a wee bit of accent to her ears and cheeks! You can see the other colors that I used to color in the line up at the end of the post!
Remember my best TIP & TRICK to using the Aqua Painters….JUST DO IT – practice is your best friend!
Just look at this super sweet gal kickin’ up her heels as she picks her flowers….not a care in the world – life is great! There is something just magical about this stamp set, This Little Piggy as the minute you see it…..it happens – YOU SMILE!
The other super popular DSP in the catalog is, Wood Textures DSP 6 X 6 Stack – it is chocked full of practical and oh so life like wood grain images…a definite “have to have” in your stamp stash!
Today I took the liberty of “wrapping” the ribbon around the “wood DSP” so check off my list of the game board (actually a double check off) 😀Â
It would be a “Susan card” without a fun envelope…and today is no different! Pulling all of the colors that I used in the card….I made my custom envelope with the envelope punch board and went to town!
Isn’t the pick paper great to accent this sweet swine…..every piggy needs a classic paper – the Fresh Florals DSP Stack….after all – she IS a beauty….just like my sweet swine!
There you go…now it is YOUR TURN TO PLAY and I truly hope that you will! POP over to the Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge and see what the other designers had up their sleeves this week and then go ahead and find that “me time” that you sooooooooo deserve and play along!
I am just kickin’ up my heels as well with so many playing….I say a big WOOT-WOOT and it is fun and rewarding….you ALL are winners in my eyes!
I will see you tomorrow and it will be ready to say HIP…HIP….HORRAY! I have a fun one for you! Shopping from home is the best….remember with every $50.00 you will receive a $5.00 coupon to use in August….the gift that keeps on giving!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 12, 2017 | Birthday, Uncategorized |
Good Hump day to you! As promised here is a super sweet and simple card that uses the “cut out DSP” that I blogged about yesterday! Just look at the precision that the matching framelits give and the color of the DSP…..B-eautiful!
You can easily see in the framelits below in the bundle the variety of shapes there are to not only use with the stamp set but to also use with the DSP….I say – a double woot-woot!
Doesn’t these images remind you of storybooks of the past? There is something whimsical about them that just bring you back to your childhood.
The sentiment was a breeze to stamp in the banner. This is a photopolymer stamp so you know what that means….easy and perfect placement. The color of ink that I used was Crumb Cake – this is striking as a tone on tone against the crumb cake card stock.
Let’s stop here and chat….quick and easy….no denying and the gifts stamped in the crumb cake – icing on the cake and then the narrow strip of the DSP and sentiment…another winner!
I have to admit, this paper is super yummy with all of the rich and vibrant colors that I am trying to use it as sparingly as possible but this wee accent did the trick!
The “birds eye view”….adorable! There is something “just fun” about this guy and you can easily see that it would be a card to make in the masses. What I would do is to cut up the entire sheet of DSP with the framelits so you are ready to go….
If you wanted to make up some with other colors…the sky’s the limit because of the fun colors in the DSP….just go to it and have FUN!
That’s it for today…just a sweet card marching to his own beat of his drum! Tomorrow is some Tic-Tac-Toe fun…..Daisy style so I am sure you will smile….as how in the world can you not when you see a precious piggie!
Enjoy the day….see you tomorrow!
Buy now….Save later! I’ll take it!  For every $50 you spend between July 1–31 (before shipping and tax) you will receive a $5.00 coupon to use in August – I see you smiling!!! 
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by Susan Itell | Jul 11, 2017 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
Good Morning and I have a super quick tip for you and then pop back tomorrow and you will see an ADORABLE and oh so simple card using this tip!
I know that many of you realize this but I am super surprised at how many do not….so HERE YOU GO and I hope that you not only read this but also you store this in your memory bank (hint-hint…upcoming catalog) as you will be seeing more and more DSP that has this same concept!
What concept?
Having images from DSP that have framelits which cut PERFECTLY!
In the “Suite” below (which is found on page 69) you can play “EYE SPY” in the below picture and SEE the images that are cut PERFECTLY…thanks to the framelits!
I say – HOW BRILLIANT! Pop back tomorrow and you will see it in action as I have a super simple card for your hump day! For those of you that do not like to watercolor or simply run short with time…this concept might be right up your alley!
The artwork on this DSP is just spectacular. One thing that Stampin’ Up! NAILS each and every time is….our DSP and this one is a super example of color, versatility, and uniqueness!
Another tip that I do not think most of us realize is…this bundle has 3 Elements in the Bundled Price…the stamp set, the matching framelits and the DSP….another unique factor to this fun set!
I look forward to having you see the sweet yet simple card tomorrow using this bundle – I say….a card in a jif…YIPPEE!!! (just the way I like it)
Below you will see another example of a DSP that has a framelit to cut. This is from the Coffee Cafe Bundle and I will say…this has been one fantastic bundle! I think that once you see a “visual” like I have below you can see and appreciate how this tip works! Very smart Stampin’ Up! and trust me….you will see more in the future! 😀
Please do not forget about the Bonus Day Coupons…..It is like a gift that keeps on giving…Buy now….Save later! I’ll take it!  For every $50 you spend between July 1–31 (before shipping and tax) you will receive a $5.00 coupon to use in August – I see you smiling!!! 😀Â
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