by Susan Itell | Mar 1, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!! |
Good Tuesday to you and as promised I am sharing with you some more TIPS & TRICKS to inspire you! I know that you enjoyed the ones that I shared with you last week and I hope that this week you will be smiling too! 🙂
I do hope that you find these helpful and as I shared – there are times that you need to think about how we set up a kitchen….ALL DIFFERENT and just like your kitchen to my kitchen…what works for you might not work for me….and guess what – THAT IS OK!!!!!
Here you go…..please feel free to email me if you have any questions and also, feel free to leave a comment if you have tried any of these “remedies” before….we all enjoy seeing comments from so many (this is how we learn, grow and also get to know each other)
I totally realize that I am showing you items that are not Stampin’ Up!….but that’s ok….let’s go back to our kitchen….do you have all of the same items from the same company on your kitchen….NO!!!! I am just trying to help you with ease…..I am sure that you can find many similar products from your hometown stores….(I just love the ease of shopping online)
#1 – Do you remember on Sunday’s Post I said that I would share with you a secret weapon that helps me A BUNCH with Bakers Twine…..YEP ~ here you go….just “pull” your bakers twine through and it makes the BEST bows…the most “behaved” fru-frus!!! Here is a link from JoAnn Fabrics…LOVE IT!
#2 – A GREAT RULER…this is such a handy tool and one that I would never be without (the type A person that I am)…here is a link for you….but remember, you can probably find this at other places as well!
#3 & #4 ~ The next (2) are like Peanut Butter and Jelly to me….this has been a game changer for me as I realized that I forgot my Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Scrub on my trip! I have read from many bloggers that they find the “Absorber” to be a great product for cleaning their stamps and YES ~ it is…..again, I am sure that you can find similar products in stores near you…
Here is a link from Amazon.….I cut this into MANY smaller squares….One of these will last you a LONG time!!!!! Do not worry if it looks stained – being stained is GREAT as that means yo have been stampin’!!!! 🙂
Now this little gem is from The Container Store and again, you could use almost any container but I adore the shape of this! I admit, I bought (2) and have been using one for the use it was meant to be….for Onions and it is fantastic….no smells in my refrigerator!
If your towel dries out….just re~wet it and you are good to go!
There you go….4 more tips for you to make your Crafting love more enjoyable! I will share with you more next week! Please remember…these are just things that work for me…we all have differences in what we like or do not like…I just want to share what makes me smile! 🙂
Now to the FUN time of the week…..
It it is Tuesday and you know what that means….time for a new batch of Weekly Deals….click here to see the” new sale ~ bies” THANK YOU Stampin Up! for doing this for us! Enjoy the day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 29, 2016 | Birthday |
Do you realize that we have a full 24 hours extra this year….yep, it is a Leap Year and so I ask you….what are you going to do today with your extra day of the year? Hannah and I are going to Florida!!! (that sounds so funny but it is true) Monday’s are “down days” at horse shows so we will go out and see Stanley and walk him a bit…graze him….but then we are hittin’ the road to Pensacola to see my brother for the day!
In honor of Leap Year…I am wishing any of you that celebrate a Birthday today…a Happy one because – I think that it is so funny that you are only 10 but you are really 40…..wouldn’t that be a hoot! I am also playing along with the The Paper Players this week….Claire Broadwater came up with this fabulous sketch and I just adore Claire and her work so I decided to play along…it is a SUPER FUN sketch!
Let’s get going…..I know that many time we get stumped with making masculine birthday cards but the minute I saw this sketch I knew exactly what I was going to do! Truth be told, my brothers Birthday is next week and I knew I needed to whip up a super quick card as I was pooped from the day so I put my thoughts into action and BAM it worked!
I have shared with you that while I am away, I am trying to use stamp sets that I have not used a bunch to STRETCH myself…( I know I preach that to you so I should do it as well) – This stamp set, Endless Wishes is just fabulous and fun! I adore that it is a photopolymer and I adore the fun and flirty fonts!
I know that many of us are afraid of using “shapes” on a card….do me a favor, give it a try! If you have time today….just do it – go to your craft area and give this sketch a try…this is a great one to help build your confidence up. I literally picked the colors that I wanted….then picked a DSP and just went for it – and you know what….I think it worked!
Silly Susan….I totally forgot to list (3) items in the lineup at the end of the post that I used for this card (you can tell I am tired as I was too lazy to go back and re-do the list of supplies). I used (2) circle punches….the 1 3/4″ circle punch and the 2″ circle punch and then I also used the decorative dots embossing folder – I thought that it gave it a fun texture.
I decided not to add any color to the cake area and keep it super clean and simple….sometimes you need to just stop and let the card set the tone without making it too colorful. (there already has a lot of fun color going on)
You know me…I love my dashes and dots – a simple a very quick “little something” …that just adds a bit of fun and so fast. Just think of the endless color combinations you could do with the layout! You could also easily change the whole theme with a different stamp set and DSP!
The finale – the lined envelope…I must say, Hannah and I are very tired! I literally whipped this card up in 10 minutes tops and I hope that I was able to inspire you today! I was going to showcase you with a bunch of pictures from our 1st week here at the show but honestly, I just ran out of steam to edit my photos for you!
I will leave you with a funny….do you remember waiting and waiting at the pediatricians office waiting with your children….well now that I am WAY PAST that stage in my life, I had to laugh yesterday….after Hannah competed….Stanley needed to get new shoes ( a every 6 week thing that still makes John scratch his head) but being that we were in a strange place…I just simply could not leave him with a stranger…so I sat in a chair watching him get a “pedicure” (ha-ha) 🙂 The ferrier said, you can come back in an hour….(I thought – no way….I would not leave my darling baby)!!!!
Can’t you just picture me sitting in a chair watching like a concerned Mom! Below is a sweet picture of Hannah and Stanley. I feel super blessed that we have the great opportunity to spend this time together. To think that her passion and love she has for the horses is still so strong…..her Senior Year Spring Break….spent with her Mom….it doesn’t get better than that!
Enjoy your EXTRA day of the year….my son will has a friend that has a birthday today….she is 7 and also 28!!!! It is so funny…..We are entering the last full month of Sale-A-bration….this IS the most exciting time of the year and I hope that you see the fun of shopping for your basics that you know you will use…and get a FREEBIE along the way!
Tomorrow is my Tips and Tricks blog posting….I have some new picks for you to make this fun that we do even better….you will smile, trust me! Enjoy the day, I know that we will….Milo is excited to go to another state!!!! He is an AMAZING dog….such a good boy!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 28, 2016 | Step it up Sunday! |
Hello and welcome to Step It Up Sunday! If you are new to my blog…WELCOME and I hope that you will subscribe to my blog as I blog daily and I love to share and teach you clean, simple and practical cards that you will have fun making along with tips and tricks along the way!
You can click here to see yesterdays post and then you can decide…which one you like! My goal is to share and show you that you can make some simple changes and great results.
So…Side By Side… You Decide!
Today’s card I cut the white stamped piece a bit smaller = 3 ¾” X 5” – Again, letting the WHITE be a focal part of the card. To the left side I adhered a ¼” strip of daffodil delight!
Before I added that strip I did my stamping, same as yesterday and I hope that my pictures and explanations of “masking” are not to elementary to you but I always feel like never assuming that everyone knows different techniques.
I highly recommend that you play around with masking. It is super easy and the results are always super fun. I know that when I first gave it a try, I was terrible…but then once I had a roll on it – LOVE IT!
There is no secret I adore Bakers Twine. It took me years to see the light but I am glad that I “caught the ray” as it is SUPER AFFORDABLE and so effective.
I simply places a small amount of adhesive on the back to secure the twine and then I wrapped it around 3 times (love this look) You can see that this is crushed curry twine but you can also see that it blends great – do not be afraid to use what you have!
To the sides of the sentiments I added White Perfect Accents. Darn, I wish and hope that Stampin’ Up! would continue to add more colors to these enamel dots…they are fast, fun and effective!
Here is the final picture…(sorry for so many) but I think pictures truly help you learn! I know that there are times that when you see the list of the products that I use for my projects….looks sooooooo big – if you really break it down, I think I do a great job in using the basics…
It’s like setting up a kitchen….WHAT?????
Just think, when you had your 1st kitchen ~ it took time to build up the basics….you start with empty cabinets and then you add to it. That is exactly how I view starting a craft like this….start with the basics and then build…..you can do it! There is no reason that you have to have everything. I do not have everything and I am super happy – I purchase what I LIKE and what I think I will use!
Thank you for your time….I hope that you have learned how to take a simple card and still keep it simple but make some small changes.
Please click here to see the post that I shared at the beginning of the month about the goodies that you will receive from me with an order! I adore this card and I have been having fun making them….please feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Still having FUN in the South and what a joy to be with Hannah. She had a fabulous day yesterday and looking forward to another great day ahead! My “Joy Tank” is filled to the brim being with my Horse Show Friends!
See you tomorrow….enjoy the day!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 27, 2016 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Good Simple Saturday to you and a BIG hello from the South! Hannah arrived safe and sound and we headed straight to the barn so she could exercise Stanley. She shows today and tomorrow so another early day for us!
Today’s card is one that I have been just itchin’ to get all inked up and it is the Apple of My Eye Stamp Set from the Occasions Catalog (page 47) This is the first that I have used it and I admit when the catalog came out….it caught my eye!
With being away, I tried to take stamps sets that I have not used a bunch and PLAY and JUST HAVE FUN! What attracted me to this stamp set was the uniqueness off it….The clean and crisp lines it offers and then fun font and sentiments – a fun stamp set!
Now I think that you can agree…a great simple card starts with a bunch of white space….(White space is GREAT….it is your friend) Sometimes I think we get so caught up in making it difficult…be easy on yourself – this is all about creating and having fun!
You can see that I used a White base (Heavy weight Whisper White) and then cut another piece ¼” smaller….4” X 5 ¼” I stamped the lemon image on a piece of paper to create a simple mask. A quick fussy cut and I am good to go!
Taking the lemon stamp and stamping it off once I stamped the lower right side…then put the mask over top and repeated that across the bottom of the card stock.
I really like having the “lemons” go off the sides of the card; to me it makes it look fun and festive but then what is more fun than beautiful bright lemons…and better yet, homemade lemonade!
I stamped another one on a piece of cards stock and then fussy cut it out….the same with the leaf. A quick stamp of the sentiment in classic black…the card was coming together!
The FUN FACTOR of the card is using the Simply Scored and making scored lines on the card stock. I personally prefer using the Simply Scored as I have better control with pressure (personal preference) but you can easily use the trimmer…that is the beauty of having so many great products to choose from!
You know me…the icing on the cake- my loved envelopes…I just cannot have a fun card go out without a fun envelope Fru-Fru! Today I used the In Color DSP Stack to line the envelope! My wonderful Mom loved lined envelopes and there is never a day that I do not think of her when I craft! True it takes a bit more time but that time is soooooooo well worth it!
I thank you for hanging in there with me while I am away….I am trying to keep my blog going….keep you inspired…and let you know the sheer FUN and POWER we have in creating cards!
While I am at the show, trust me……I craft away (truth be told – I have a hard time sitting still)….I adore needle-pointing….and you know I love to do what I do with paper crafting There is never a time that someone comes up and asks me….What are you working on now???? I am amazed at how many people feel like they are not creative…but when I share and show them what I do – BINGO, they get it and guess what….they smile! 🙂
I hope that this clean and simple card made you smile….and I hope that you pop back tomorrow to see how I switched it up a bit! Shop away and having fun! Jammie shopping is the best!
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