by Susan Itell | Oct 20, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good morning….maybe many of you have seen this video but “just in case” – here you go. I am a subscriber to Paper Pumpkin and each and every month I still have that same HIGH level of excitement each and every month when that box is in my mailbox.
I invite you to watch this quick video (it is just over 2 minutes) and then think of what I will do with it….do you think that I will do it as Stampin’ Up! has showcased it….or will I “shake” it up a bit?
Yesterday I stumbled on a fantastic Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator that does an AMAZING job with her videos on how to take the Paper Pumpkin Kit and use alternative ideas….I invite you to check out Rachel Tessman’s videos ~ she shares and inspires you to take the Paper Pumpkin Kits and make them your own.
You might be thinking….why would I share with you someones videos….EASY – this is how we learn, this is how we grow. It is clearly obvious that Rachel has a passion, desire and talent to think “Out of the Box” – kudos to her!
I am also the first to admit….there are some months that I am not a huge fan of the offerings….but then again, I can only imagine how incredibly hard it is to create these kits. When I get a kit that is “not my likings” – I just have FUN and make it work in some shape or form.
I will say, after I saw Rachel’s video on Septembers Kit….I clicked that button and just purchased more refills! (Yikes…..I bought a bunch when they first were available …..but after seeing her take – LOVE IT!) I can see some FUN Christmas ideas!
Have a great day…..if you live on the East Coast….it is an Autumn summer again, our horses have been “growing hair” with the cooler weather over the past 2 week and now they are sooooooo confused! It’s bad enough if we have troubles with our hair…..but a horse – CRAZY!
See you tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 19, 2016 | Sympathy, Uncategorized |
Good “Hump Day” to you and yep…we need sympathy cards unfortunately. This card is for Janice….she was the wife to Bud. I am sure (and I hope) that you are lucky enough to know a “Bud” in your life….he was one in a million and my life was blessed to know him.
Many times we blog about happy times, birthdays, holidays etc…but there are always the need for sympathy. I was pleased with the end result. I took the liberty to play with the Global Design Project Challenge this week. My friend, Brian is on the design team and I wanted to “play in his court” this week. I am getting SUPER excited to go to Atlanta….to see Brian, to see the PALS, to go to On Stage.
The DSP, Petals & Paisleys is the shining star. If you look at the colors that coordinate with it – it is NOT Always Artichoke…actually is it Mint Macaron but I hope that you can see...IT WORKS! (I actually tried to use the Mint Macaron but I really did not like it) To me, this works!
The other shining star is this FABULOUS Stamp set…I admit, I breezed right past it and it was on the “second wave” of my initial order in the annual catalog, maybe because of the price….but WOW – I have used it a bunch and it is a keeper….one stamp set chocked full of goodies!
I had someone email me and say, “I love embossing folders” – I thought about that and YEP…she is right – they add an instant touch with minimal work! I admit, I often forget about them but when I do, I smile! 🙂
The Flourish Framlits were the perfect accent to this card. I did not use the stamp set but I will say, I would purchase this as a bundle. It is a beautiful collection. Please do not be afraid to play with textures and colors….it is FUN and then the linen thread is the perfect accent.
You know that I adore my envelope…and today is no different! Soft, subtle, classic and meaningful….one great layout and one comforting card. I used glue dots to tuck the pieces under the sentiment – the fastest, least frustrating option we have!
Here is your “411 ~ Directory Assistance” picture for you to PIN away….just hover over it and save it – you will be happy that you did when you are in need of a fantastic layout.
My heart is sad that I am having to make a card for the passing of my dear Dads best friend. Bud was the best of the best. He was 84 and my wonderful Dads best friend. He was the ROCK to our family when my Mom was ill almost 6 years ago….and after her passing, he became my rock….as he knew my parents and he helped and taught me many life lessons.
In closing, please take an extra moment to read the excerpt from his obituary, I think you will “get it”
At the time of his retirement, Bud moved to Oxford, MD, and quickly engaged in the life of his new community. He was a member of the Tred Avon and Poplar Islands Yacht Clubs, where he served in leadership roles. Bud loved being on his boat, painting, traveling and collecting beautiful art. Key West, FL became his winter home as he loved all that Key West offered, including walking to daily mass, serving as a Eucharistic minister, and his treasured role as a volunteer at the soup kitchen. His bike became his preferred method of transportation for all errands and he loved being able to walk to galleries, music venues, and restaurants.
Whether working in his business or being retired in Oxford or Key West, Bud was known for the personal touches he took with his customers, family and friends, the pride he took in remembering names and events, his sense of humor and his ability to find the good in any person or situation. He loved his grandchildren, seeing the growth of their talents in the arts, athletics and in their ability to banter with him. Finally, Bud was a friend to all, as he loved the ability to call friends daily just to check in, and to understand how he could help in any way.
I took a walk today and was in awe of some of the beauty. I hope that this picture below makes you say….WOW, and I hope that you are able to touch someones life as “Bud” did for my family – truly…one of a kind!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 18, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
Good Morning! I am excited to share with you a tip that i think will make many of you excited and also I bet that many of you are going to find “Mr. Big Shot” and a die to see if it works!
Before we get to this tip and need to say who was the winner of the (6) Birthday Cards that I had on my post yesterday! I had a fabulous day and I sooooooo enjoyed reading your comments on how you like to spend your special day. Last night around 10 I was going to bed and I had a call from Hannah and she said…
“Have you seen your blog today? You have so many comments…and I think that it is so fun to read what everyone does. Mom, this was a fun idea to do and I think people liked it”
Well….I have 2 things to say about this little conversation with Hannah! 🙂
1 – It made me smile….what a great way to end a great day!
2 – She totally “GETS IT” – she understands what I do and why I do it. My family knows that I work so hard on my blog and so hard in trying to get people to understand that “they can do it” and to share and give simple kindness as it does matter.
Here you go…..GINGER is the winner and Chris R – you were ONE away but I know that you are going to be happy that Ginger won. “Chris R.” often emails Ginger and I FUN and KEEPER ideas so this is super fun that she one! Way to go Ginger….I have your address (unless it has changed) and I will send you the cards!
Now let’s get to today’s TIP! This one is right up my “TYPE A” alley.
I will say right out of the gate ~ the pictures are not the best but I know each and everyone of you know what I am talking about.
We all agree that the BIG SHOT is one amazing tool. Most of us use it for just paper but do you know that you can cut through other materials as well…like felt? Every Big Shot is calibrated a bit differently so your results and my results might be a bit different. I have (2) Big Shots and I can even tell a difference between the 2 but the end result is a smile as we love it that it cuts out things for us in a jif!
I know that many of you are going to try it and I hope that you do! Tomorrow I am going to do a post using a shape and also try this technique so please pop back and see if it worked!
I have blogged many time that I like to use fun foam under large sentiments on my cards. I do this because I like the sentiment part to be nice and solid as there are times if you do not use enough stampin’ dimensionals, it sags and we do not like sags!
Try this with a piece of fun foam….I think that it gives even a more even pressure to roll away your lines!
Do you remember last weeks Tuesday Tip…CLICK HERE to see that post. We had a bunch of great conversation going on with that Big Shot topic….let’s do the same this week – I truly believe that this is how we learn from one another. Please share your thoughts so we all can learn and chime in.
You might be thinking….WHAT IS THE SANDWICH THAT YOU USE TO DO THIS? Well….this is what I did – after I die cut the shape I then used the platform that we use for embossing and put the paper or fun foam on top and ran it through.
I can remember (I think it was Ramsey that asked this) – Why do you keep a clean set of cutting plates? – THIS is a great reason why…..if you have a clean plate….it is super even and flat all the way….so when you want to get the BUMPS out….it makes it easier!
There you go my friends…thoughts….comments – we would all love to hear! See you tomorrow…..go have a GREAT DAY!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 16, 2016 | Birthday, Masculine, Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |
Happy…happy Sunday! Yesterday was GREAT and the BEST surprise was that Hannah drove home to surprise James. We had a family fun day and the highlight for the kids (22 and 26) were that we went to the Pumpkin Patch! I was internally saying (YES inside) as they still love the simple and traditional festivities that we did when they were grasshoppers.
We missed not having Will home but we all talked on the phone…..the weather was amazing and we sat outside on our patio….we we have a fire-pit…..John said, without skipping a beat –Â “Susan, you shoe is smoking” – I wish that you would have seen me JUMP UP!!!!! All is good and my shoe is fine, we all laughed! John was just so funny as he said it like it was no big deal….
Here you go…side by side – you decide!!!! I did a similar layout for a Monthly Card Kit and I will say that I think that it is a classic. I personally love the mixtures of different papers.
When I showed Hannah and said which one is which – she was perplexed (I think she thinks too hard) 😆 – But in my eyes, today’s is the stepped up one because of the piecing of the banner paper and then adding the Baker’s Twine. You might be saying ~ what about the numbers?????? Well, have no fear….I stamped them in the inside!
Another change that I did was to add the Dapper Denim instead of keeping just the black. To me, the little yet minimum pop of a color still lends itself to a great masculine card.
Today I did not use the banner framelits and I will share with you a tip. I said before that I used this layout before and I found if I cut the DSP paper (remember, this is a 6 x 6 stack) into 2″ widths, you can get (6) banners from a piece of paper. By adding the extra paper (in this case, the dots) you can stretch the paper! Using scissors is an easy way to make the banner if you do not have the banner framelits.
Here is your picture to pin….I know that you have a TON of DSP paper so I invite you to go to town and try this layout! Clean, classic yet fun is the name to this weekend post! I hope that I have inspired you this weekend and have also shown you different ways that you can do different methods of products that you have.
- Yesterday I used the number in the die cut way….today I stamped them on the inside
- Yesterday I used 1 DSP Print on the banner….today I kept the same print but jazzed it up with another paper.
We are having AMAZING Fall weather here in Maryland…just picture perfect and the leaves are starting to change. When Hannah came home she said, “Mom – your hair looks good” – I laughed and said – it’s the Fall weather……I am having a good hair day!
I hope that YOU have a wonderful day and make some memories. I am warning you…..giving you a total advanced warning – pop in tomorrow and you will be a happy stamper!
Thanks for sharing you time with me, I deeply appreciate it. I love what I do and I love the fact that my blog is also an expression of my life and love that I have from my family, friends and animals!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 12, 2016 | Uncategorized |
O.k. – call me SILLY SUSAN!!!
Today is a PALS Blog Hop and truth be told – I totally forgot to sign up for it! I hope that you HOP on the PALS trail because the theme this month is Fun Folds and it is going to be FUN! Be a sponge and take it all in! I am always so amazed with all of the talent out there!
I want to remind you that I am having a Card Swap….click here to see the post that I did about it! I wanted to answer some questions that I have been emailed to help ease your mind and hopefully that you will join the fun by submitting a card.
To be honest, as to date the amount of cards I have received is low. I love showcasing your work and the date to have the cards to me is Friday, October 21st. I will be traveling at the end of the month and that is why I used that as a deadline so I can have them and take pictures before I leave.
- What is the Theme? – Thanksgiving or Christmas
- Does everything have to be Stampin’ Up! products? No, I realize that we all cannot have everything from one company, but it would be 🙂 if the “meat and potatoes” were Stampin Up!
- Do you showcase all card that are submitted on your blog? YEP, unless you tell me that you would rather not.
- If I am a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator can I submit a card? YOU BETCHA….I LOVE and welcome everyone and anyone!
- What will I get from participating in the swap? You will get a card from someone else….this IS THE FUN part, getting a surprise card in the mail!
I do hope that you will send a card in. It is fun. I think that you know me by now, I am all about showing, sharing and encouraging everyone at every level of stamping. What we do is handmade…not Hallmark.
I feel that “gifts made by our hands” are a precious and beautiful thing….we all love making cards so please….join the fun! Please hop on the Pals Blog Hop today…
In closing – WOW……I am soooo happy that we are having such a happy, healthy and informative discussion about yesterdays post about the cutting plates! I sat down to answer comments and WOW – soooo many, love it! I stopped about 3/4 through…..and will finish today – I just love the interactivity we have with each other – this is how we learn and grow!
Have a great day….make someone smile as you all make me smile! 🙂
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by Susan Itell | Oct 11, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
Good Morning and I know that many of you will think that this topic is a “no-brainer” but I also hope that I am not on that Island by myself today! I admit, I have a problem, actually a HUGE problem in pitching “Cutting Pads” away and replacing them.
I can remember the first time I tried to use the Big Shot by myself and I scratched the mats….I was like a turtle and my head went in (I put the Big Shot away as I thought I ruined it)…It actually took me until the next Stamp Club to ask my friends…..”OK – I have that thing (Big Shot) but I ruined the mats…and YEP, I needed someone to walk me through it 😳
I am telling you thins because I want you to know, we all start somewhere. I am the very first to admit that I get sooooooo excited and I just want to do it…create…smile! 🙂
The cutting pads are a KEY and necessary part to the Big Shot. The other thing is that you need to know that it is important to have proper pads to use for our many ways we use the Big Shot. WHAT?????
It is a great idea to have several sets.
I like to keep a set that I use just for using Embossing Folders.
I have a set that I use for framelits.
I have a set that I use with the precision plate.
I know that this sounds a bit “over kill” but they do serve a purpose for completely different needs. I just have this issue of NOT pitching ones that are way tooooooooo used! (You will see the picture below)
I know that some people swear that they rotate (flip them) after each use…I simply forget but it is normal that they will warp. I will be totally honest that the precision plate really – REALLY warps them and I usually rotate the ones that are all scratched up to the precision plate stack!
The reason that I am posting about this is….I highly suggest that you have a spare….“just in case” – over the weekend I noticed that my “stack” of ones that I use for cutting framelits were way too scratched and when I was cutting something, the scratched were impressed onto the paper. (I know….I am being type A but I am being honest)
What usually happens when times like this happen, I take my squeaky clean ones for embossing folders and then they get scratched and filtered into that viscous circle I have going on in my craft room so the moral of the story is….KEEP A SPARE!
This machine “Mr. Big Shot” is truly amazing what it does for us but we need to remember to keep it up to date ( kind of like getting our oil changed in our car) – I am curious as to hear your thoughts about this.
Do you keep an extra set, just in case?
Do you use one set for all use of the Big Shot?
Do you rotate your plates after each use?
Let’s get some chatting going, this is how we learn from one another! Have a FABULOUS day!
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