by Susan Itell | Apr 3, 2016 | Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |

Good Morning! WOW ~ I am so glad that you enjoyed yesterdays card and I sure hope that you like today’s version…still basically the same…just a bit stepped up! I know that I say this all of the time…but I really do not think that you could go wrong with either card!
I hope that if you are new to my blog…1st welcome and 2nd…on the weekends I do a (2) day post showing you the same card….just 2 different ways. Some weeks…the Simple Saturday might suit your fancy…and then there are the Step it up Sunday version that make you roll….which ever it is, it is my goal to inspire you to find some “me time” and just have fun…
Here you go….you decide!

My pick this week…today’s version. I think the POP of the splatter from the gorgeous grunge stamp set makes the washi label punches POP… Here is a tip ~ if you do not own the gorgeous grunge stamp set and want this effect…take a paint brush…and “flick” ink onto your card stock. ( I will say…this IS a stamp set that you would use a bunch so I say….GO FOR IT)

Below you will see how I “built” the focal part. I just found this to be easy using a scrap piece of paper. The paper size that I used was 3 1/8″ X 2″ and then simply adhered the piece on it. I made a dozen of these cards in a snap…this IS a great card to mass produce and it is FUN to make.

Here are some great close ups that will show you how the contrast of the grunge stamp accents the FUN from the Washi Tape Punches. This method/design is perfect for small prints of paper and also have fun coming up with different sentiments!

The other difference I did today was to add a very simple piece of Thick Bakers Twine to the front. Here is how I do it as I get super frustrated trying to tie a bow…..I took a piece of twine and just anchored it behind and then took another piece….tied a bow and used a glue dot to hold it in place!
I am sure that there are many of you that are surprised that I do it that way….but heck – I am just being honest as this works for me and causes no frustration! (when that happens…I smile!)

Yesterday I shared with you that I used a regular envelope (but of course it was lined) and I asked you…..does that bother you not to have an envelope that is a perfect fit? If you go back to read the comments there were many views and again, I just think that it is a personal preference….
My thoughts….I like to make an envelope that fits. Trust me…this is totally a no judgment zone here, I am just being honest with what I like to do. I can remember when we used to make envelopes with the Simply Scored….(I honestly can’t remember how to do that) and then the envelope punch board came out….and I swore that I would never be ever to figure it out….(remember….that’s why my blog is called Simple Stampin’…sometimes Simple Susan doesn’t get it)

Here is the low down on the products used! Remember, at the end of the post you will see all of the items used and you can click on the image and read more about it and then if you wish to purchase it, you can simply add it to the shopping cart!
Please remember to pin your favorites so you can go back and make them – quick references are always a huge help!

Enjoy your Sunday….I am excited to hear what you think about today’s card…feel free to leave a comment….I think that we all love reading what makes us roll. I am going to make John some of these cards (layout) and change up the paper and also use a more masculine font as he needs to write some notes. He is always my best critic….he said he liked today’s card!
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Apr 2, 2016 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |

I must say….I am happy that we are back on track with our 2 day posts that you all have learned to loved! This is a SUPER simple card and one that the sentiment can easily be changed up!
I love cards like this…a quick change of the sentiment and maybe the DSP – PERFECT….works for me – how about YOU! Do you remember about 2 weeks ago I shared with you that as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator we get a quarterly magazine filled with inspiration….well – this is where this idea can from!
This is a square card, you know I adore them and it is a 4 1/4″ square with the mat at 4″ and scored! The DSP is from the Pretty Petals DSP Stack. This card design works fabulous with small prints….

I say ~ go thru your stash and see what you have and just do it! How can it get any simpler than this? The speed tool of the Washi Tape Punch is the real star of this card…..I say – paper – punch – done!
Tomorrow I will give you more tips and tricks (the stepped up version) so please pop back – this is a GREAT card and one that I know you can whip up in a jif! Time is ALWAYS the thing we have against us….but with this card – no worries….a true speed card!

I have a ? for you….you can see in the above picture that I show you that you can use a regular envelope to mail this. True it is lined…which makes me happy 🙂 but I ask you….do you mine that the envelope is not a perfect fit???
You know me…I will share with you my thoughts tomorrow….one last look at the great card….

What do you think I am going to say about the envelope????? Hmmmm……guess you will have to POP back and see….and also see how I stepped it up!

Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Apr 1, 2016 | Uncategorized, Watercoloring |

Well…usually I am one that likes to play April Fools Day jokes/pranks on people but I must admit, I am ready for the calendar to turn to a new month. March for me was truly “March Madness” filled with many peaks and valleys. I will be happy to watch the March Madness this weekend but personally I am glad that we are in a new month! 🙂
Every month I offer a both handmade card from me as well as a gift for purchases through me! I deeply appreciate your support to my Stampin’ Up! fun that I have and it is my pleasure to reward you with some handmade love!
The hostess code for this month is 4YXSRA9Y and you will always be able to find it in the upper corner of my blog. Easy! 🙂 If you place and order with me that is $35.00+, I will send you this card and if your order is $75.00+ I will send you both; the card and an Aqua Painter.
You know my now that I adore water coloring and I want you to try it too. It is so easy and so rewarding! Below the pictures will help you step by step! Please click on the collage picture to make it larger (I think it will help you)

I know that this might look intimidating but truly it is not. I used to be so darn tootin’ scared of water coloring and then one day I just sat down and decided – I CAN DO IT.…and yep I can and the best thing is….YOU CAN AS WELL!

I have blogged before about Micropore Tape…I love it and you can click here and see it at Amazon. You can see that it is cheaper to purchase it in 12 rolls….so go in with a friend. It is the BEST as your paper does not tear.
I just purchased a cutting board at Bed, Bath & Beyond and it works like a charm! Because you have used heat embossing…it is PERFECT as the color stays inside the embossed area.

Sorry the pictures are not the best, whites are super tricky and I took this in my work area where I do not have natural light 😡 but I think that you can get the idea….


Here is the “low down” on the card….but I would LOVE to send you one in the mail and then you will smile….PROMISE! 🙂 Naturally the sky is the limit with the colors you can use….another great way to use up DSP for your envelopes etc….

You can see that I did not put a sentiment on the card front. I thought that it was so pretty “just the way it is” that it really did not need one. What do you think? Could you see yourself trying to make this card? This would be a perfect card to make as a gift in a bunch of different color combinations and then give a bundle as a gift….Who wouldn’t love that!!!!
You can click here to see another post that I did with this great stamp set…I love the artistic look and feel of it!

Many thanks for a fabulous Sale~A~Bration season. It is wonderful to see you all get soooo excited (as I do) with the freebie stamp sets and goodies. I think that Stampin’ Up! did a great job with their offerings this year. We are back to our 2 day weekend posts….I think that you will find it super simple yet super practical that you can make with so many DSP scraps you have! (I know you have them…after all – we are stampers) 🙂
Like this:
Like Loading...
by Susan Itell | Mar 31, 2016 | Uncategorized |
This is a BIG day…it is time for another Pals Paper Art Challenge 🙂 and then it is the last day for Sale~ A ~ Bration 😥 Wow – the time sure has BUZZED BY! You still have all day to take advantage of the “BEST TIME OF THE YEAR” with Stampin’ Up!….we all love our freebies!!!!

Today’s challenge is a sketch challenge and I hope that you play along with it! Fellow PAL Member Dawn Tidd came up with this super clean and fun sketch! You know what I love about it? EASYÂ = the door is WIDE open as to what you can do and it is one of those sketches that you would want to keep for future projects!

Do you remember that I used this concept for the Easter Egg event that I did!?!? Click here to see that post and I must say….I adore the fun, clean an simple lines of this card but at the same time…I think that it is super fun to be able to use different colors….different textures to make it have a totally different feel!

Darn, I wish that we would have more FUN and CLASSIC DSP like this one from the Bohmenian DSP Collection. The “cross hatch” pattern is a fun one to work with. I used the washi tape from this same collection.

Trying to pull it all together; I used the honeycomb embossing folder to work with the honey comb washi tape. I love the simple yet effect effect it gives. How about you? I bet that you have washi tape hanging around….pull it out and put it to use! 🙂


My signature…the beloved envelope! I did a “double whammy” on this..using the washi tape and the DSP ~ a win-win! This card would make a card for all seasons….change up the sentiment, the colors etc…a great card!

Wow. It is the last day of March. REALLY????? I personally wish that I could slow down the clock but these are things that are out of our control. Sale~ A~ Bration has been a fabulous time and I deeply thank you for your support and sheer FUN we have had!
I think that you are going to smile with tomorrows card….I look forward to hopefully making you smile….have a great day and until the NEW MONTH!
Like this:
Like Loading...