by Susan Itell | Oct 29, 2015 | Birthday, Super Easy |
Usually on Thursdays it is the Paper Art Challenge but because there are 5 Thursdays this month….we are off for the week! Did I get your attentions with the title of today's post? Let me clarify it and I think you will see where I am coming from!
I will ask you…
Why do we complicate something that we love to do?
What am I talking about? So many times we get ourselves in such a dither that we just get frustrated, we sometimes get angry and many times we throw our hands up and say – I just can't do this right now….
Does this sound familiar? Trust me…been there ~ done that….a lot!
You have heard me talking about developing a style. It does not happen over night but the best thing I can advise you is to try different styles…see what works …see what doesn't! You'll know. Personally I am a clean and simple gal and I know that once I try to to a really fussy technique, I stress!
I needed a card for a friend and I was fighting the clock and said to myself ( and a bunch of dogs eyes looking at me) – ready ~ set~ just do it! I love the simple yet classic style of this card and I am excited for you to see how easy it is! Now I ask you, can you duplicate this?…..we all know the answer – YES!!!!!
I have the dimensions for you so I hope that you can find some "me time" and make a card with this layout. Put you thinking cap on and change the sentiment, change the DSP…just DO IT!
- Very Vanilla A-2 card – 4 1/4" X 51/2"
- Very Vanilla layer is 4" X 5 1/4"
- The DSP from the Happy Hauntings is 3" X 5 1/4"
- The Very Vanilla that the "Happy Birthday" sentiment is on is is 3 1/2" X 2 1/4" LOVE this stamp set, Watercolor Words
- The Tangelo Twist is a "smidge larger" – 3 5/8" X 2 3/8"
- The Very Vintage Button was threaded with "threads" pulled from the In Color Tangelo Twist In Color Ribbon….great trick when we do not have a thin ribbon that would work!
- Stampin' Dimensionals to the rescue….ONE GREAT CARD!
- Use the "green glue" to the back flap of the envelope….place a piece of DSP that is 3" X 6" – adhere and trim off the excess!
There you go my friends – I hope that you will give it a try and then after you smile and are proud of yourself, you say to yourself – I DID IT!…if you want – please send a picture of it to me….I always love to see you work!
Today's card is a layout that I hope that you "memory bank" it because this is a great example of how a "formula" as I like to call it works…trust me, you could do this layout over and over again and make the changes in your stamps and papers and no one will ever notice….
as the saying goes…..
Try it…you might like it!
I hope that you do and I hope that this has inspired you to keep it clean and simple! Enjoy the day….and until tomorrow!
Tomorrow I am going to share with you some tips and tricks that I find making what we do easier….I have had many ask me about the mailing of bulky cards….how I organize certain things and also some great waterproof bags that I like to have handy with projects in!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 28, 2015 | Uncategorized |
Oh Christmas Tree….Oh Christmas Tree…..(I have told you before, I cannot carry a tune but keep on singing) I made this card last week for you but did not have a chance to share it. Let's dive in as it is a fun technique that is an easy WOW!
The base is the thick white card stock and once you are used it, you will never go back! It is just wonderful and my fingers are crossed that they will out in Vanilla as well!
Another piece, 1/4" smaller and then a quick run thru the Big Shot with the FUN Polka Dot folder which in turn gave the punched out circles from the Kraft Corrugated Paper – SUPER FUN as it gives a card a fun interest but great depth!
Hang tight before you adhere….as do not do what I always do, JUMP THE GUN and forget to adhere the ribbon! I used the tear & Tape to hold it in place and then using a glue dot to adhere the simple bow. The linen was a special touch for the special time of the year!
Now to the part you really want to learn. Hang on as it is ridiculously easy. The small one is very straight forward but the larger one is TOTALLY FUN!
I stamped (3) of the same tree on both the front and the back. Having framlits is a huge time saver and also it is a HUGE help that this stamp set is a photopolymer.
Fold the tree in half and give it a great score to get a great edge. I took a piece of tear & tape along the seam of where I folded it and snuggled it in on the tree.
To mail this, all you need to do is flattened it and it will slide right int he envelope and then when you pull it out of the envelop, you will see that it pops back up! (I think the key is the great crease)
I think that it is a super cute card and you could have some real fun with different colors and leave the polka dots out. I think that this would be super elegant using very vanilla and vanilla dots….and even the trees and perhaps adding some glimmer to the trees.
Having a monochromatic card is always a classic! Anyway you do this would will be a smile factor card and the recipients will think that it is super fun that the tree pops open!
Feel free to email me…looks like we are to be getting the rain today on the East Coast….great time to stamp!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 27, 2015 | Uncategorized |
I knew that I loved this stamp set, You're Sublime, but I even love it more today as "Mr. Frog" is so darn tootin' cute! The idea was inspired when the wonderful "Chris R. from Iowa" sent me a link to a card that she knew I would like and YEP, I loved the concept!
Please see the post that SUD, Robin Messenheimer did with "Mr. Frog" that gave me today's inspiration! I needed a couple of thank you notes to get out so why not make the recipients even smile even more when they see this adorable little guy!
Where did that hat come from? Is was from the September Paper Pumpkin Kit….I still think that this was the BEST kit that has come thru the Pumpkin Patch in a while but don't worry…I can also see antlers from the Wonderland stamp set on "Mr. Frog"
I have a big smile on my face every time I look at this card as I am typing this up for you! The overall size of the card is a 4 1/2" square and the designer FUN Polka Dot paper is a 4" square with the black just a "smidge" bigger!
The circles were made from the SPEED TOOLS – the circles framelits! Can you image trying to cut out a perfect circle! My Big Shot to the rescue each and every time…and then I smile! This is one tool that never ceases to amaze me – it is a MUST HAVE for what we do!
The aqua painters were the FUN factor…if you have not tried them – WHY ARE YOU WAITING? they are fun, they are addictive and the more you play with them, the better and more confident you feel!
The green is pear pizzazz….maybe a different choice but I think that he looks cute! You could have also mixed with the old olive but I tend to like for speed to use just one color (well the real truth is that i do not know a think about the whole shading thing)
The ease of making your own envelopes is so fast, so easy…just the icing on the cake! I am still amazed at how many of you are skeptical of making your own envelopes…..I truly wish that you would email me and I will be glad to help you! It is like learning to ride a bike….once you have it – you have it!
Are you smiling? He is one cute little frog and I am excited to get him "ALL DRESSED UP FOR CHRISTMAS" and big thanks to Chris R. for sending this nudge my way…..she just knew that I would love it and I did!
It is Tuesday, so please click here and see this weeks offerings, remember that these weekly deals are from today until next Monday – thank you ….thank you Stampin' Up! for doing this for us!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 26, 2015 | Uncategorized |
Halloween is on Saturday and I know that many of you do not celebrate Halloween but this super quick idea can be used for many different holidays and also…for no reason at all other than to make someone smile!
I like “quickies like this” to whip up in a second and also it Is a great way to use DSP that you have around. Today I am using the super cute Happy Haunting Halloween Paper and I admit, I will be sad to see this leave. It is so cute and how can you not smile with this adorable paper.
Start with a 6” X 6” piece of Paper and fold to corner to corner, (point to point) and give it a good crease, I would definitely use your bone folder.
Fold the left side over and give it another good crease with the bone folder. Place a glue dot under the point to hold it down.
Fold the right side over and do the same thing….a good crease and use another glue dot to hold it in place.
Simply fold down the top piece and do the same… a good crease and use another glue dot to hold it in place. This is super easy and fun to make! (this would be fun to make with kids)
The sky is the limit in how you would want to decorate the front. Today I kept it super easy and used the sweet Happy Halloween Stamp from the Sweet Haunting stamp set.
This stamp coordinates with the Note Tag Punch, I just love that when that happens and then I popped out another to mat it behind for a quick pop of color! (I did take the paper snips to the stamped out image and trimmer it close so you could see the mat)
That is it my friends….EASY isn’t it?!?! They are addictive to make and really takes such a minimal amount of time….I have a bunch on their way to Boston for Will to give something to his class!
These are always a hit and are the perfect size to tuck in some of the Halloween snack size candy in. You could be “Casper the Ghost” and make many smile. When I worked I always snuck them on everyone’s desk before they came to work!
Enjoy this day, let’s all have a great week and until tomorrow!
p.s. – I just had to sneak this picture in – we had a FANTASTIC time with Hannah and her friends at Parents Weekend. My "joy tank" is filled being together and Milo was a HUGE hit! Hannah adored him and he spent one night on campus!!! He liked the college life!
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