by Susan Itell | Mar 23, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Happy HUMP DAY!!! Yesterday was a day that I can only sum up by saying….I FELT LIKE I WAS CHASING MY TAIL!?!?!?!!!! Have you ever had a day that you wanted to get a BUNCH ACCOMPLISHED….but you just could not get into the groove!?!?!?
I felt like my “TO DO “ list was huge and I think I was having a pity party for myself but no one was showing up…..except Eddie. Sweet Eddie..…he is doing great and he was upstairs with me in my work area…but the others…..snoozing on the job!
I decided to play with some techniques and even though you I am the “clean….simple gal” I thought that I would try something new for you! My question is…I am giving you a “taste” and please leave me a comment if you would like to see a whole post/ maybe a video on the ins and outs!
I had an email from someone asking me if I knew of a good embossing poser in a specific color. We did not have it but I suggested that she used the color that we have and then going back over it with clear embossing powder and PRESTO – you have your own custom embossing powder!
Have you ever tried this?
Below you will see that I used the Flower Patch Stamp set and a variety of colors to make a fun palette! Use any color that you want….and then clean your stamp, pull out the versamark….go over the stamped, inked image and then stamp with the versamark and use the clear embossing powder.
This is what it looks like with the embossing powder before you heat set it….INSTANT MAGIC!
I know that this pictures are not the best….as I was in my work area where there are no windows….but I think that you can get the idea – the end result, a beautiful shiny color that is super rich and elegant….WOW!
Well…would you like to see me do a step by step post with this technique? I know that it is a little different than my clean and simple style….but I will let you give me the feedback – leave me a comment with your thoughts!
You all are the best….thanks for popping in…..thanks for leaving me feedback!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 22, 2016 | Easter, Uncategorized |
I know that this Sunday is Easter but you can still make this adorable card and when you break it down into steps…it is a fun one to do a mass production line. At the end of the post you will see all of the products that I used and you can click on them to see all of the specifics of the products….the reason that I am pointing this out to you is that there might be products that you do not have but no worries…you can substitute with others….hang tight, I’ll explain!
The star of the show is the HANDS DOWN MUST HAVE SENTIMENT Stamp – Suite Sayings….even if you do not have this…use another Easter sentiment you might have….but I would purchase this set as it is filled with great sentiments that you will use all year long.
Here is the low down on the products that I used. I do hope that this is helpful for you and I encourage you to pin it to Pinterest for a reference for the future! You know that I LOVE polka dots…and this embossing folder is super fun.
I shared that you could make substitutions~ if you do not have all of the products….and you could easily use a plain overlay and then use the white gel pen to add some simple bling.
I did use the banners framelits to make the focal sentiment shine…you could easily cut that with the trimmer and a pair of scissors to make your own banner. The fun underneath the banner is a simple square with a mat!
Let’s chat about the flower and twine. I did use the botanical framlit and then the itty bitty accents punch but again, USE WHAT YOU HAVE…trust me….it will look great! I adore the bakers twine….to me it has attitude because I puled it through with the bees wax tip that I share 2 weeks ago….I love the straightness of it – just plain FUN!!!! The pearl in the center of the small flower is the classic touch to soften the flower!
You know…a fun envelope! The is 1/4″ strip of Blushing Bride and then the DSP is from the Birthday Bouquet DSP Collection…..Well…thoughts???? How do you like this layout? It is one that you could use for so many cards…it is fun yet still easy and clean.
Please let me know how you like it…I can’t believe that this Sunday is Easter……time is flying! I made this card and also the sheep card for my cards that I am sending…they are both simple and clean. I really encourage you to look at your supplies and see how you can use what you have to CASE projects.
I am the very first to realize that it takes time to build up your inventory and I just want you to know that there are other ways to achieve a similar end results. You know that I am all about the speed tools and I try to purchase practical products that will make me shine in a minimal amount of time.
Yesterday I was super productive but something strange happened….I ran out of ink in both of my white gel and black project life pen….2 staples that I use a bunch! There were 2 things that were super hard for me to do while away….mailings ~ as I did not have a printer and it was super hard not having all of my shipping supplies with me and also doing videos….so yesterday I sent out 27 mailings and filmed a video…..
Darn it is hard to get back in the swing….remember, it is Tuesday ~ time for a new batch of weekly deals…fingers crossed that there are some keepers to help you with an order before Sale~A~Bration ends…..yikes – it is right around the corner! See you tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 21, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Morning and many thanks for your understanding in not blogging yesterday ~ also many thanks for he wonderful and caring comments you left on Saturday. The service was a beautiful tribute to the super sweet man that he was….it was great to have all of the family together and reliving fun memories! The peeps left and it was great to have all of them home….even under the circumstances!
(click on the below photo to see it larger)
Now let’s get to the Stepped Up version of Saturday’s card. Not huge but I think fun! I know that we have a tendency to use white or vanilla for our card bases but I encourage you to try to change it up at times….it gives a totally different look and feel and if you use a light color like this…there is no need to add a white inside as this color, So Saffron is light enough to write on!
The little bees are super cute popped up. do not worry about trying to cut the tail or antennae out….nit necessary as the one below will make it look realistic. I did use the aqua painter to color the bumble bee but you could easily use a marker to color it, I just “go to” the aqua painter!
Below you can see the changes that I did….not huge ones but you can see that it is a different look. It comes down to that time thing we often talk about.
Classic, clean and fun~ Sorry for the short post but I must say…it has been a long and busy week and I rarely say that I am pooped….but I am pooped! I hope that this card and stamp set made you smile. I adore the sentiments and it is a card that is just “one happy card”
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by Susan Itell | Mar 19, 2016 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good Morning! I hope that this card brings some sunshine to you and a smile on your face! I adore yellow and today I used both Daffodil Delight as well as So Saffron. I love both of these colors and in general, yellow is a happy color!
This stamp set, Garden in Bloom is a great double stamp set….I know that some of you might be skeptical of having a stamp set that you double stamp…but it is both fun, easy and rewarding!
This is a stamp set that is forgiving so please do not think that you need to do the masking….but sometimes masking is effective. Below in the photo you will see that I used a piece of stick it note and did a quick fussy cut. You do not need to be exact….just go for it! I like to keep my mat in the stamp set so I have it for future uses!
You can easily use this stamp set without masking…just go to town and have fun. It was great to be able to use only one stamp set today….and still get a fabulous end result ~ a great card!
The flower to the left I stamped with Daffodil Delight…and then the other (2) – I stamped in So Saffron. For the bumblebee….easy – colored him in with daffodil delight and then stitched to give him some movement and attitude!
Today I did not have a label a bunch…as it was a one stamp wonder …. is a dream when it works out like this! I totally encourage you to use up your DSP… Look and see what you have as it is a great way to use it up for jazzing up an envelope…we will be having new DSP with the new catalog coming around the corner so USE UP WHAT YOU HAVE!
As I said when I started this post…yellow makes me happy but you can see that the sky is the limit with what you can use. There are no rules so just have FUN with creating colors that you love! To me, that is what is the best about card making…letting your own personality shine through.
Another look…and then I will do a stepped up version for you….now don’t get all exited about this….I will make some super subtle changes that hopefully you will see and learn….”I can do that”!!!
Well….do you think that you could make this card? I sure hope that it made your day! I adore it as it uses minimal product but carries a BIG punch!
Time to share with you….do you remember that I shared with you that John’s Dad was not in the best of health? Well…the past weeks have not been the best and I have been trying to keep my blog going but he past away and today is his funeral. I will not be posting tomorrow but have no fear…Monday I will share with you the stepped up version.
Please keep John and his Dad in you thoughts….all of the peeps are home and we all know that it is a blessing….enjoy the day – make someone smile and I will see you on Monday!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 17, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Did you think I forgot about you? NEVER…EVER!!! I am home and that journey home wiped me out! I am back and ready to share with you a fabulous post (well I think it is) It is Thursday and that means that it is time for a Pals Paper Art Challenge!
Today is a sketch Challenge and it was designed by fellow PAL, Beth Beard. If you want to see beautiful bows….you need to check out Beth’s work as I am always in total awe with her bows! You can see that I took this sketch literally and I hope you like it!
You know how I feel about single stamps and this one is no different. Single Stamps are no-brainers for me as they usually always lend themselves to many different cards! Changing up the sentiment always provides a new look and today I chose to watercolor it with a aqua painter and the end result was fun!
I think that many of us have forgotten about these sentiment die cut….it is a “keeper” and the enamel dots on the sides added that little extra pop that gives it a punch….but the REAL PUNCH is the water-coloring…..let’s get to this!!!
This was SUPER easy and the end result….beautiful! I simply took the aqua painter and used pool party….then I went back and added another brush of pool party in certain areas to intensify the color! Super easy….super doable…super fun and YOU CAN DO IT!
Confessions of an honest stamper – You can see the yellow highlights in the flower…well I had the so saffron on the aqua painter and thought I had cleaned it off on the paper towel but obviously it wasn’t so I rolled with it and added more yellow to other petals and I LOVED IT!!! You see…making lemonade was easy!
The dashes with the white gel pen is a perfect accent….something that I do all the time….because it works – it you find something that works…I say ROLL WITH IT! The other thing that I think we all do is to use stampin’ dimensionals (aka Stampin’ Vitamins)….another simple yet effective touch to clean and simple cards!
If you follow my blog (and I hope that you do) ~ you know that I like to use our coaster board when adding height to sentiments – I did not have it with my so I just cut out several of the sentiments and “green glued” them together…..presto!!!
Below you will get the LOW DOWN on the products…I just was super happy with how the flower turned out. Water-coloring is a technique that is so rewarding but many of you are scared of trying….just give it a whirl – you will be proud of yourself.
One thing that I was not able to do while away was making videos…I will be back on the video train next week and I will do a water-coloring one as I think that if you see me do it…you will see and say – I CAN DO IT…and yep – you can!
This card says it all…“thanks” for popping in today but I hope that you will hop over to the Pals Paper Art site and see the beauties on the runway! I always find it fun to see how others interpret a sketch….and I hope that you find some time and try it yourself!
Enjoy the day….I hope that you can find some “me time” and get inky and I also hope that you consider water-coloring. Remember, no rules ~ just have fun! We are on the final countdown for the FREEBIES from Sale-a-bration…..
Tomorrows card will make you say…..hmmmmm – I need that stamp set! Enjoy the day, it feels great to be posting.
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by Susan Itell | Mar 14, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Monday morning and whew……yesterday was a super fun day but it was an exhausting day….I guess that goes with the territory as it is time to hit the road…and it will be a long trek ahead but I will have my 2 main men with me….Milo and Stanley!
I deeply appreciate your patience with my blog while I have been away but I tried my best to keep it going. It was a juggling act trying to fit posts in with the other responsibilities I had but I managed to do it and many of you have asked me how I did it.
Here are some pictures that will show you how I “set up shop” and the house that we rented actually worked out great! When I was able to play with paper and ink, it was nice and bright area….which I adored every bit of sunshine I could get!
I naturally had LARGER EYES on what I wanted to accomplish and truly play for myself….but that’s ok …three will always be time! I really kept it to the basics as those are what we need to have to make fun projects!
Below is the work area….every thing was at my finger tips….I tried to label you the highlights but one that I want to point out that I adore…..very inexpensive plastic baskets that you can get at a dollar store….I like them because they will stack if you want but I like to have one with my dimensionals, one with my snails, one with glue dots etc…..to me, it keeps the things we reach for neat and tidy.
Time to slide over to the kitchen area….because this was a rental there really was not much at all in the kitchen cabinets and that worked perfectly for me. I was able to hide all of my goodies but still have them handy for my needs!
I am a huge believer that it is so important to take great card of our precious products….the stamp pads should lay flat and at home I have a Stamp-n Storage Wall Mount holder but the drawer worked just fine! I kept them in the color families for me to find what I needed quickly!
It was super easy for me to just grab and go when I left home of all of my dies and embossing folders. I love my caddys from Stamp-n-Stoage and the Big Shot sat on a kitchen counter….a perfect height!
PAPER….this is probably the one thing that is a super key element to our needs. For my White and Very Vanilla…..I had a caddy that held all of my pre-cut bases and mats….I blog about this last Tuesday and it truly was a game changer for me when I started to do this!
All of my DSP is in a holder that sits on my shelf so that was super easy….grab and go!
The solid pieces….that was a bit harder as I had limited space so I decided to just purchase packs of paper and it was PERFECT! When I get home I will fill in the solid sheets to my others and then file my scraps!
Picture taking…this seems to always be a “hot topic talk” with those that blog but here you go….below you will see my fancy high tech area that I took my pictures…Sometimes a girl just has to do what we have to do….and this worked great for me!
That it my friends….my eyes are super heavy and I have a long day ahead. I thought that you would enjoy the last 2 pictures….Milo truly loved being a Horse Show dog and was perfect in every way. He ADORES Hannah and he would jump in the back of the truck and sit on Hannah’s saddle…..too darn cute!
Here is a picture of Stanley LOVIN’ life as after he competes and comes back from getting a bath etc….he gets to stand in ice boots for 30-45 minutes….horses love it as it comforts their legs after working so hard. He is a wonderful young horse and it has been a fun journey to be able to see Hannah work with him to bring him to where he is now.
I love my boys and can’t wait to see my other boys in a couple of days!!!! Hey Caleb…..Eddie is doing GREAT – the minute I get home I will take a picture of him…
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