A Recipe of FUN!!!

by Susan Itell | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized | 5 comments

I realize that this is LONG but I think it is filled with

some great TIPS for you….enjoy!

(my pictures are still not the best….sorry, I do not know what is up!)

As I quickly shared with you in the earlier post this morning I shared with you that yesterday when I went to town making more of my Mason Jar Tags for upcoming gifts….I realized that the process can be a bit overwhelming without a plan.

I wish that you had seen my work area – A TOTAL PAPER MESS! (does this sound familiar to anyone?) I admit that I was becoming frustrated and I thought, this is silly – make this a process!

This post is about a process…think of it as a recipe just like you would be making in your kitchen. I reworked it and simplified it to 4 different patterns (recipes).

Having a plan and having everything ready makes this a FUN project!

#1 – Go ahead and cut all of you tag bases to the color scheme that you are looking for. I am using Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Heavy weight Whisper White and Old Olive.

• Cut the full sheet of card stock in half at the 4 ¼” and then cut into 2” strips – this way you will get 10 tags from a sheet of paper. I cut a BUNCH at once so I have lots ready…to me this is a time saver and I know that they will always get used up!

• I used the scalloped tag topper to do a quick and decorative finishing touch. If you do not have a punch, simply use scissors and snip off the edges for a tg effect but I will say that I use our tag punches a bunch!

#2 – Cut paper into ¼” strips. I know….I know – I can hear the moans and groans from you now but not only is this a GREAT way to utilize your scraps…it is a great to have a STOCKPILE on hand as you will find that they are super handy and a key element in making clean and simple cards!

• TIP – many times I like to use the right hand side of my trimmer to make cuts…I find it easier to keep them straight.

• In the picture below you will see how I store my strips! This is the container that the markers came in….(I just knew that it would come in handy one day)…be creative and find a system that works for you!

• When I go to cut to an 1/8” inch, I just do them on “as need” basis as I find that they are super fragile and tear….They do make a great statement against the ¼” strip so play around and have fun with them!

#3 – Look at what stamps and Die Cuts you have and just go to town! What I like to do is pull off the shelf anything that works for the theme I am doing…remember, tags are not just for Christmas time….you can make a jar of Birthday Tags – what a FUN gift to give!

• This is another GREAT time to use up scraps. Stamp away and if you need to use a punch go ahead and stockpile a bunch at once….I like to use little cups to keep each design in.

• If you are using bakers twine to make simple bows, go ahead and make the bows and put them in a container to have on hand (like the Santa example today)

• I adore our cotton ribbon. In the Mason Jar I put 10” of the following colors, white, pear pizzazz and real red…these seem to go great for the holiday but then again, this is the PERFECT time to use up scraps and odds and ends of ribbon you might have!

• The Red is 1/4" and the white is 1/8".

• The plaid DSP is 2" X 2" and the Red is 1/4"

• The plaid is 2 3/4" and the Mossy Meadow pieces are 1/4" each

•  The plaid pieces are each 1" wide and the strip is 1/4"

There you go…..a quick run down on different looks to make a super cute project! Remember, it is all about having your items ready to rumble! This will be the last week that I will be showing a bunch about Christmas …..I am going to continue with the theme of great and practical gifts that you can make to give…gifts from your hands are simply the best and they are ALWAYS treasured!

Remember that you can win the LOOT of MARKERS….click here to see that post! Enjoy the day, tomorrow will be a different twist but one that I know many of you will like. Enjoy the day!

Oh no….we have a delay!

by Susan Itell | Dec 6, 2015 | Uncategorized | 7 comments

O.k. folks…you all know me well enough by now that I am very "type A" and I am super excited to share with you some "RECIPES" and "TIPS & TRICKS" for making Tags.

Truth be told….when I went to add my pictures to the post they were (are) terrible. I was not pleased with yesterdays pictures and when I started to edit todays pictures were even worse. I will be back in a couple of hours with the easy ins and outs!

I will say/…yesterday morning I went to town making a bunch more "Mason Jar" fun…..for gifts and I realized one thing – this can be an intimidating process so I really….REALLY broke it down to a super simple project!

In a couple of hours when I post the "RECIPE" for you …..you will see how makings a SUPER SIMPLE gift of homemade tags is not only fun, rewarding and a GREAT way to utilize paper and products you have on hand!

I know you will enjoy the post….until later!

Saturday fun!

by Susan Itell | Dec 5, 2015 | Uncategorized | 12 comments

I know that we are all getting super busy with the many check lists that the holidays bring to our lives so I am going to try to share with you some easy, practical and fun projects that you can whip up in no time using products that you have!

The best thing about making tags is simple….

THE ARE NO RULES…OTHER THAN TO HAVE FUN!

If you are one that feels like it is hard to create and find a style that works for you….than this is the BEST way to develop a style and get your "Mojo" going! Tags are truly fun to make and naturally they can be used for so many occasions/themes.

Today I am showing you some fun pictures of tags that I made to give as hostess gifts to people we visit over the holidays! To me there is nothing better than a good old classic Mason Jar, so I decided to utilize them and fill them with tags and coordinating ribbon.

Because they are in a jar, they are protected from the weather when you are going somewhere, they are super easy to store and have ready in a jif, and the best is….they are practical!

Tomorrow I will give you a breakdown of all of the basic recipe that I use when making tags! This is a project that really allows you to go thru your scraps….use them up….pull out stamp sets that you have not used in a while and GO TO TOWN and HAVE FUN!

You can clearly see a color scheme and them going on – please pop back tomorrow and I will share with you some tips and tricks in how to make a bunch of tags in an easy , methodical way! This is the time of the year that we are using up paper and this is a super way to mix and match what you have on hand and make something super special!

Way before Stampin' Up! I always made my own tags….and if I can find one I will share it with you! It was a super adorable snowman that was the "HIT" on my packages, I just love the extra handmade touch of making your own tags….what do you think? Do you make tags???

I personally love wrapping gifts. I think that the wrapping process is the fun way to express yourself to make the recipient both super excited and also have them try to guess what is inside. I often will write a clue on a tag to see if they can guess what is inside! (Trust me… my kids have seen all of my tricks…I just hope that they continue the tradition with their own children some day)

Please go and have a GREAT day and then come back tomorrow and be ready to learn the basic A,B,C;s of being a tag making pro!

A TIP you will LOVE!

by Susan Itell | Dec 4, 2015 | Uncategorized | 14 comments

I know that you will probably agree with me that there are times (actually, many times) that it is super frustrating when your clear mount stamps fall off of your blocks? Am I ringing a bell with you?

I know that many of us have tried many different things and trust me, if you have a way that works for you….WOOT-WOOT and pat yourself on the back and keep using it. Today I wanted to share with you a tip that a fellow Demonstrator and friend, Jane Rozes shared with me and I am lovin' it!

I have always and will continue to be totally "TYPE A" in keeping my stamp blocks and stamps clean and I highly recommend that you do the same to keep them in the best possible condition they can be in.

Here are some tips that I do to keep my pride and joys pristine!

• I do wash my blocks with a mild soap (Dawn) and wipe them super dry at least once a month.

• In between I always have handy alcohol swabs to do a quick clean up on areas that the ink dries and gets yucky! (I am sure you know what I mean) I purchase them from Amazon (here is a link) and I always have them handy! You will be amazed at how often you will use them and also they are handy when you need to clean up your work area in a jif!

• Now to the product that my friend told me about and I am kicking my heels like Fred Flintstone as it works great! (Here is a link) – The link to the left is in clear and that is what I would recommend getting. There are (6) sheets in the pack and I did all of mine with (2) sheets (and I have a lot of extra blocks) so you can split this with a friend!

• After cleaning your blocks well, cut the Cling Vinyl to the size of your block and then PRESTO – your clear cling stamps will stay perfect!

• TIP ~ make sure that you use the flip side of the blocks for your photopolymer ones….as if you put them on the Cling Vinyl side, you will probably pull it off!

I know that many of you love when I post about tips and tricks and I do hope that you find this helpful…please let me know your thoughts as maybe I was "late getting on the train" and you all have been doing this all along!

Please feel free to shoot me an email if I can be of help to you…..I am SUPER-DE-DUPER excited that my order is in for the New Catalog…..I know that you are going to like the "teasers" I have for you this month!

Now to something SUPER IMPORTANT to me

and I hope that you will be able to help!

This thing that I do is sooooo much more than a blog, a business….

it is a way to reach out and touch lives.

There is a Mom in my community that needs prayers, inspiration and love. She is a Mom of 4 that is battling cancer and she has been soooooooo courageous for a long time. She is not well. If you wish to send me a card of inspiration to her, I would LOVE to drop off a pile of cards from people all over that are praying for her.

Last night I stayed up and made her a bunch of Christmas Cards for the family to send out…random acts of kindness does make a difference and with all of the crazy and sad things that are happening in the world right now, we all need to stop and think of what we can do to make someone smile and feel loved.

You all are "kind people" and trust me, I am very blessed to have you come to my blog each and every day!. Thank you for being you.

If you wish to send a card…in advance, thank you….please keep it uplifting. You can send it to my house:

Susan Itell

15002 Randall Lane

Williamsport, MD, 21795