by Susan Itell | Feb 6, 2016 | Sale-A-Bration, Uncategorized |
Can you see me right now?!?!? I feel like Fred Flintstone kicking my heels together out of excitement for many reasons….here you go!
- I really, REALLY like this card…
- Hannah signed her contract and she is going to Duke University to be a fabulous and beautiful “research rat”!!!
- My wonderful John went onto my blog yesterday and made a comment (that meant the world to me that he took a peak)
- I took Eddie to the (V_TS) yesterday (he does not like that word) as I was feel a bit guilty that he has not been in a while and I am so afraid to leave for Gulf Port and have to leave him behind….but all in all – a good report but we will know for sure with blood work results..
The above stamp set is a FREEBIE in Sale-A-Bration BUT only until February 15th – and you know….WOW – that is right around the corner! This is a SUPER popular Stamp Set and I have not showcased it yet for you as I was searching and searching…..scratching my head….and then I thought – SILLY SUSAN….just do what YOU love to do and that is SIMPLE!
Do you remember the other day with the sympathy card that I said that when you have a “keeper” USE it….DUPLICATE it…JUST BECAUSE! This is just what I did but you will have to POP back tomorrow to see if I did today’s card or the stepped up version!
Clean…Crisp….and Classic! You can see that I have blended (2) stamp sets…..this freebie and also the Guy Greetings Stamp Set….the great thing about this stamp set is that it is available in all (3) mounts…..I prefer the photopolymer as I love the ease of seeing through!
I have blogged lately that I am lovin’ the White Fun Foam to pop up larger areas….and today I used it to give a lift! You can click here to see the product on Amazon and I have to admit….you will be AMAZED with how far a pack goes….true you can purchase fun foam at craft stores….but I know that the quality and the ease of having it delivered to your home is a win-win!
I hope that you can see that simple works and that simple is O.K.!!! I know that we all struggle with Masculine cards….but with this stamp set – NO WORRIES NOW and the best thing is …..it’s FREE!!! The sentiments in stamp set are GREAT and I plan to use it over and over with cards….but my goal was also for you to see that you can use other sets that you possibly have and make it work!
That’s is folks! A clean and simple card that will make someone smile and very happy! Remember, for every increment of $50.00 you will be able to choose a FREEBIE…and I hope that you choose this stamp set as it is going “BYE-BYE” on February 15th!
Don’t be a snail….GO FOR IT! – I can’t wait to see what you think about tomorrows “stepped up version“ Have fun shopping….Sale-a-bration is the BEST time of the year with Stampin’ Up!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 5, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Good Morning and you are getting this post late today for a couple of reasons….yesterday was a fabulous day as I turned the music up…made cookies…did a bunch of mailings and then “shared handmade kindness”….it was a very fulfilling day and then the icing on the cake was to have dinner with my Dad and brother (John has a terrible cold) so it was a great day all around.
Today is a day that Hannah needs to make a decision…she is so lucky as she graduates from college in May and has 2 amazing job offers, one at NIH in DC and the other at Duke University…so I am sending this silly card to her as this is a very exciting time for her.
It is truly amazing how many phone calls I have received from her over the past week and as you can imagine, she does most of the talking and trying to be a good Mom…..I just say – “this is exciting….I am sure that you cannot go wrong with either one…we love you….we are proud of you”
Does the worrying of your children ever stop?
I promised that I would give you a “pooch” update….we are in the meltdown on the East Coast so the beauty of the snow is turning into a muddy icky mess! Messy mud means muddy paws – the work does not stop but I love it! It still feels empty without Norman but ever day it gets better.
You can see that I attempted to create a card for Hannah that would make her happy and laugh…(and I am sure that many of you are like John was….he burst out laughing and said….that is different….then he thought that they were SHEEP……he needs glasses)!!!! This is from the Balloon Builders stamp set….very whimsical but very fun!
Below you will see the most incredible “share” that I found on Pinterest. Is this amazing or what! The obviously talented Darlene DeVries created this great visual for all of us to see….now I know that this is making you smile. They are super cute!
I know that this card will make Hannah smile…she knows that I am silly but she knows that I deeply care! I have combined (2) stamps sets to make this card…..the other one is Beautiful Ride…..this too is a fun and whimsical stamp set that have been really, really popular! I used the hearts and also the sentiment inside!
Look at the detail of this stamp set….it is a fun one and then I used the blender pen to fill in the hearts! When you click on the Beautiful Ride Set below you will see that I used just a part of the sentiment…..I just love when Stampin’ Up! offers sentiments that are perfect for the inside!
Cute….right????? The colors of the card are Sahara Sand as the base…..Soft Suede and then the Thick White. I am going to send this with her Valentines Care Package on Monday! I know whatever decision she makes…it will be a great foundation for her to continue her love of the sciences and research! We NEED people like this….research is sooooooo important and she just loves it!
Now to the parade of pictures of the pooches…..darn, we have some strange mis-fits but I adore each and every one of them!
To touch on Eddie a bit….he is hanging in there – last week was a GREAT week for him, energy was good etc….this week he is a bit slower but he never seizes to amaze me…all I have to say is “I’m going to the barn – does anyone what to come” and there is my little man….loyal always!
With the snow melting the dogs are finding new friends that have been covered….poor Mr. Chicken made it……Eddies Mr. Smiley made it…..Rosie’s favorite pull toy made it…..it’s like Christmas in our yard! I find a pile of toys by the back door!
All of these pictures were take either last night or this morning! There truly is never a dull moment and I hope the one of Charlie makes you laugh….he truly is a bit different~ this is how he sleeps most of the time.
Thanks for popping in and I hope that I made you smile. Please keep Hannah in your thoughts as she makes this decision….I am just waiting to hear the final decision….she is a mess but I adore her….she is sooooo hard on herself!
Below you will see the goodies that I used to make my silly card (John might laugh but I thought it was cute)….have a great day and please do not underestimate the power if a simple card…a simple smile…a simple hello!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 4, 2016 | Uncategorized |
Happy Thursday and today we have a fabulous sketch from the super talented Linda Callahan – I always admire her clean and classic style and she always adds an element of “fun” to her cards and this sketch below is a FUN ONE! I hope that you pop over to the Pals Paper Site and see what the other designers came up with this week – it is always such a treat to see how others interpret a challenge!
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I think that you can tell that I have been having cabin fever with the colors I have been using lately! I just keep convincing myself that if I use HAPPY and CHEERFUL colors than the sun will come out….and I would be happy!!!! After reading the comments from yesterday, I think that we need to send the sun to Iowa for Chris R. – I promise that one day we wlll meet in person and trust me, there will be a whole blog post about that venture!
You all know that I adore BIG and BOLD fonts…why???? They are the show stopper and you can keep your card super simple! Remember, this stamp set, Botanicals for You is a FREEBIE with a $50.00 purchase in Sale-A-Bration! Click here to see the brochure and guess what…..There are 3 NEW items being added in the middle of the month and I know that you are going to be excited. (but honestly – this one is such a great set…the flowers are perfect “fillers” and having sentiments for the inside is fabulous!
Let’s get to the ins and outs….this is super simple. Navy, a Bright Yellow and White are a happy trio…..crisp and classic! I am using the Brights DSP Paper Stack as the FUN paper. I was able to make this card and also do the envelope with just a 6″ square of paper. I go ahead and cut my 12 X 12 DSP Stacks into 6″ squares and I find it easier to store and easier for me to see what I have.
Using the Night of Navy as my card base I let the contrast of the Daffodil Delight POP! These paper stacks are true lifesavers when you want a color really POP and how can you go wrong with polka dots…..YOU CAN’T – I am sure an instant smile is on your face! I call this “happy paper” 🙂 (Chris R….don’t frown with the smiley face)
True to my style and what I love…a great crisp stamp with a simple mat….and then POPPED up….it doesn’t get any easier or better than that. Paper is so fun….isn’t it just the best that you can take some paper….make some simple cuts like I did today and end up with something that is fun.
Can’t you see how versatile and fun this card is? Remember…we are the ones that LOVE and ENJOY and DERIVE PLEASURE from creating these works of art….but what is the IMPORTANT PART is the message inside. I am the very first one that says, “I do not like my handwriting” but guess what?????THAT IS ME….that is the familiar writing that my children and friends know….so please do not underestimate the power of a simple card!
Please go and see what the other designers came up with! There is so much talent out there and guess what….I am meaning YOU as well! We all have gifts….we all have inner talents….please do not be afraid to shine as you shine in my eyes! Please feel free to email me and I hope to see you tomorrow as it is going to be a DOG GOOD DAY…..
I have not blogged much about my buddies since Norman past….so I want to give you the scoop with how the other guys are doings….they make me pitter patter! The amazing support of cards, emails and texts are/were amazing! I have so much to share that will warm your heart! See you tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Feb 3, 2016 | Sympathy |
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I know that making sympathy cards is a tough one because many of us like to customize the card for the specific person. To me when I do this, it allows the memories of the person come to me but then there are other times that we need a sympathy card on hand….and this is a GREAT one to have.
I have used this stamp set so much…I wish that you could see how stained it is (that’s a GOOD thing as a stain photopolymer stamp means it is of good quality) – I know, I know…..many of you do not like the fact that they look icky but I will say, I do love the ability to see right through them!
Besides the stamp set, the key to this clean and simple card is the Big Shot and the Deco Framelits. Do you remember the other day that I shared with you that purchasing “nesting dies” are a wise choice? Well this is a great example of that.
When you have dies that are graduated in size, it allows you to make frames (like I did today) and it also makes it a cinch to layer one on top of the other! In the below picture you will see how I created a ring and then put the next size smaller in for the focal part of this card. You betcha that I will use that Mint Macaroon piece for something else!
I think that when this paper came out in the annual catalog we were all in awe of it. It truly is a beautiful pack of paper but I think the thing I like best able it is that it is in Very Vanilla…I think it is so rich and comforting. For those of you out there that are fearful of using up your DSP….look at this!!!! I am using it to the max and I think that you will agree, it is very classic.
The dimensions of the papers are just 1/4″ smaller each level. I know that you are covering up a bunch of DSP but trust me, it is stunning and you know that the recipient will love and appreciate your kindness….(remember, sharing acts of kindness DOES make a difference)
Another win-win about this stamp set is that there are great sentiments to stamp in the inside of the card. I know, I know…..I wish that Stampin’ Up! had more “insides” for us for the variety of occasions we make cards for…
I do not know about you……but when I find a card that I like and that it simply “works for me”, I like to make up a bunch to have on hand. I made up a dozen of these to have on hand and not only did they come together quickly, I am ready to have a card if needed. (Actually, I would challenge you to have a “keeper” card in all occasions…..maybe this would be a fun challenge for us)
Having to send a sympathy card is hard…but I think that we all agree that it is a necessity. This is a great sympathy set…I had posted last Spring a card with the other major stamp in this set but I will do another card for you soon so you can see how to use the entire set!
You know what I call this….A KEEPER! Let’s continue to have a great week and go make someone smile today!
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