by Susan Itell | Jun 13, 2016 | Uncategorized |

Happy Monday! Yesterday afternoon I sat and worked on product shares and as I wrapped and wrapped ribbon I decided to watch some videos on You Tube to pass the time away. It was fun, super fun!
First I ask you – Do you subscribe to Stampin’ Ups! You Tube Channel? If not, I highly recommend that you do so as there are some GREAT and super short videos that will give you a spotlight on a new product…I watched a BUNCH yesterday and I was super impressed with them and the best part – I learned something! Click here to see the channel and then I would subscribe to it so whenever Stampin’ Up! has a new video, you will get a reminder…. ๐
The next question for you….you know that I am SIMPLE SUSAN….but the trend is and has been shaker cards – with Stampin’ Ups! new Foam Adhesive Strips…Would you like to see me blog about Shaker Cards? Please give me some feedback and if it is a YES – I will do my best to GO FOR IT!
Here is a video from the Stampin’ Up! office about Shaker Cards…it is a great snap shot of the ins and outs of making a shaker card! This thin strip of foam adhesive will be a life saver in making this technique.

I LOVED the comments from yesterday and I am so happy that you LOVED the inspiration from Lisa – you see….this is THE BEST THING about Stampin’ Up!…learning, sharing and growing…together ~ and oops….the most important part…the friendships and genuine care we have for one another….even if we can not be together, thank goodness for the internet!
Enjoy the day!
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by Susan Itell | Jun 12, 2016 | Uncategorized |

Good Morning! Here you go…..Lisa enabled me to share with you the 411 of her card! Below you will see her card and then we will get to a bunch of pictures of my take with the super sweet elephant…..he is sooooo darn adorable!


As promised…today I shared with you that I was going to attempt to CASE Lisa Poe’s card that she submitted for the swap…and here is my take – I hope that you like it! If you do not like it….I know one thing that you will be happy about….all of the dimensions! Please give Lisa some love in your comments for graciously sharing all of the dimensions for this super fun card!
Base and inside dimensions (under the flap) of card:
- Base Card – Sahara Sand in good old A-2 card…. 5 1/2″ X 4 1/4″
- Layer – In Color DSP Stack in Sweet Sugarplum…5 1/4″ X 4″
- Layer – Sahara Sand 4″ X 2 1/2″
- Layer – Thick Whisper White 3 3/4″ X 2 1/4″ (then stamped in gray with the Layering Love Sentiment
- Flap – 4 1/2″ X 1 3/4″ in So Saffron and embossed with the Happy Hearts folder (TIP – I am not sure if Lisa did this but I scored it at 1/2″ and then ran it through the Big Shot)…..I admit, being the type “A” person I am…..after embossing it, I cut off a bit of the front to have the hearts perfect!
Layers attached to flap:
- Layer – Sahara Sand – 4″ X 2 1/2″
- Layer – So Saffron – 3 3/4″ X 2 1/4″
- Layer – Thick White – 3 1/2″ X 2″ (stamped with the ADORABLE Elephant in gray ink)

Well guys…you know me…I am SIMPLE SUSAN…and I will say – in the endย – this was a FUN card and I thank you Lisa for sharing with me the dimensions so all of you can create amazing cards!
Let’s chat a bit about this ADORABLE Elephant – is he the cutest or what! This is a Hostess Stamp Set and trust me, it is easier than you think to get this…please email me and I will be happy to put my “thinking cap” on and help you get this in no time….heck it is just $9.00 and it is OVER THE TOP ADORABLE!

When you open up the “flap” – the super fun and oh so true sentiment of “enjoy the little things” seemed to be the appropriate sentiment for this cardย – now this new stamp set is a keeper! I love big & bold sentiments….


I hope that you can see from the below photo that this is a whole card and then the “flap” is just tucked behind the polka dot DSP….SOOOOO cute! I adore Fast Fuse (yep, there is a learning curve but once you get around that turn….it will be your best friend) This adhesive holds everything super tight.
Because I used a neutral, Sahara Sand…you can just go ahead and write your note in the card but if you used a dark color base….I would add a layer of white to write!

Mailman LOVE X 2 – the outer elephant in the corner and then the envelope flap. Icing on the cake! I just think that the little mouse is so sweet looking up to his friend.

Here is your 411 of the card…and I do hope that you try this… – if you do, please email me a picture of your card as I love to see your work. Again, a HUGE thank you to Lisa for the inspiration for today’s post!
Think about this….isn’t it wonderful that there is soooo much talent out there and that we can share to each other from the comforts of our home things that make us tick and smile! Sharing is great….Sharing is fun….Sharing makes us a better person.

Yesterday was a blast. Well…anytime with Jeanie is a blast. We have been friends for a long time and when we part…my heart is filled with joy, laughter and a simple “we need to get together more often” – I am sure that many of you can relate to this. That TIME thing seems to get the best of us…but I can say – it was GREAT!
We made some super fun cards and I will share with you some. It is wonderful to be together with people that have the same passion and come home with GREAT cards!
Long day but fun day….I hope to see you tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Jun 11, 2016 | Embossing Folders, Uncategorized |

Does this ever happen to you? Have you ever been enabled by a card that you just HAVE TOย “cave in” and purchase the stamp set? Well my friends…I hope that you are saying YES as hopefully I have done this to you at times!
Today’s card was from my dear Texas friend, Alyece. She sent me this card in February and I must say that I have looked at it…and smiled ๐ย and then looked at it again (I do keep the cards you send to me)….and then I smiled again ๐ย – and then it happened…I CAVED and I ordered this as I knew that if I have been looking at it for this long…than it needed to come to Randall Lane!

If it were not for Alyece…I probably wouldn’t have purchased this but I am so glad that I did. This card was made for my peep James. He is a wonderful person that has a wonderful heart and he is such a kind person. Last Friday night when John and I came home from our trip he was to pick us up from the airport. I was to call him when we landed as he would be waiting at the cell phone area.
Well…we landed, I called. Then as soon as we hung up from each other I had another call – it was from a driving service that we were to walk out of the airport and he was waiting to take us home. I was sooooo confused but James arranged this so he could be at our house…relieved the “house/dog/horse/donkey/pig/garden/flower sitter” (talk about jack of all trades) and make us a special dinner so when we walked in the door, everything was perfect.
Ever since James has been a little grasshopper I have always said, “If there were more James’ in the world, our world would be a better place” – I truly mean that – he is the keeper of all keepers. We had a great dinner together (even thought John and I were pooped but we found the energy to cherish the moment)

Wasn’t that special that he took the time and thought to do this…..and oops, I forgot – he also had on the table my favorite flowers, yellow tulips! Once we arrived home…we had calls from peeps Will and Hannah as they we all in this as well and they were so happy and proud that there “Mama and Papa Bear” did this fun and big trip! (We are blessed!!!)
I immediately ordered this stamp set and framelits…as I knew that Alyece’s card was so special to me, that this would be a perfect way to give a BIG bear hug to my peeps! Here is the image of the stamp set….I am going to have fun with the apron!!!

I have blogged about this before…embossing folders are a GREAT addition to your card…it is amazing how something so simple can produce such texture and sheer fun! I have yet to blog about the NEW ONES…but hang tight ,you bet I will!

Another product that I could not be without….BAKERS TWINE….it is the best and in my opinion, I think that you should have it in every color as not only is it super affordable but it is sooooo darn tootin’ easy to work with! There are so many things that you can do with it and for a “bow challenged” person like myself, it is the answer for me! (it’s kind of hard to get a bad bow with Bakers Twine ๐

The heart on the bear is adorable and as you can see I totally CASED it from Alyece but I also wanted to do something in the inside that was fun and whimsical… This sentiment is from the MUST HAVE Sentiment Stamp Set that was carried over (woot-woot) called Suite Sayings….now I am “just saying” you really need this one – it is a great addition for so many cards that we make!
Confession time: I stamped this on the inside without my stamp-a-ma-gig and it was crooked….and I was sad – well actually I was a bit mad at myself as I thought, why would I have done all of this to try to save a bit of time only to have it be crooked!?!?!? Well, there is always a plan B for us “type A’s” out there – love, LOVE these nesting framelits!



Well…thoughts? Did my Bear make you smile? Now how about this envelope with Baby Bear…he is sooooo sweet! After I learned my lesson with messing up on the inside of my card, I did pull out old faithful, Mr. Stamp-a-ma-gig and gave the front of this envelope some love….”nobody hugs like a mother”ย ๐
I feel like I have been working at Jo Ann Fabrics in cutting ribbon this week……I have been BUSY getting the products shares all together and I am SUPER happy to say that they will be OUT THE DOOR on Monday Morning! (Get ready for happiness in your mail boxes) I will offer another share later this month in case you missed this one!
Have a GREAT day….I am going to as I am going to a Shoebox Swap today (I have no idea what to do…I just listened to what Jeanie told me to do and bring) and I am sure I am going to come back with some great cards – I have a CA-ZILLION things I should be doing here at home but…..WEEDS…they can wait….LAUNDRY…that can wait….sometimes a girl has to do what a girl needs to do! After all it is just from 8 – 1~ ๐
I will see you tomorrow as I am CASEING again…..this time from Lisa Poe – do you remember her fun card from the card swap? I will do my version and share with you all of the measurements!!!! Go make a memory today and make someone smile!
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by Susan Itell | Jun 10, 2016 | Uncategorized |

Good Morning and I am sure that your “in boxes” have been filled with the ONE DAY PAPER PUMPKIN DEAL…..and yes – this IS A DEAL but it is only good for TODAY!
This offer is good for new subscribers and I ask you…how can you lose? YOU CAN’T – for $5.00 you will get the entire June kit…a stamp set, a ink cube, a project (hopefully some great cards) and it ships for FREE!
This would be a perfect gift to give someone…just go to Paper Pumpkin (CLICK HERE) and enter the promo code ONEDAYDEAL before Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT).

Here isย super quick video about this FLASH SALE..but remember, it ends tonight ~Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT). Need more inspiration, CLICK HERE to see the pinterest boards all about Paper Pumpkin!

I love getting my little RED BOX in the mail….I am going to take advantage of this and get one for Hannah as she is not a subscriber….I figured that this would be a surprise for her….(and heck – I can splurge for $5.00) – this is a great deal….and we all love deals!
Have a great day….woot-woot – it’s the weekend!
p.s. – With this great deal…you do not have to continue – try it this month and see if you enjoyed the “me time” of creativity….so go for it – it’s just $5.00!
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