by Susan Itell | Apr 10, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Good Morning! I am typing this as I am at the hospital again with my Dad. I was super proud of him that he reached out to say he wasn’t feeling well and he is where he needs to be right now. Fingers crossed, all is good but you all know the wait and see time at a hospital.
I had an amazing time in Hartford, CT with my Top Dog puppies! I think that the easiest way to put it is…we are blessed. We call ourselves the “Sisters of the Traveling Stamps” and it felt great to be with these ladies! We rented a house to make a stampin’ fun time and my car did not move from the time I pulled in on Thursday until it was time to come home on Sunday.
We never left once (well except to go to OnStage) as we bought all of our food (and darn was it yummy)… we brought all of our stampin’ stuff (WOW – we had a ton)… we just yacked…stamped…laughed…REPEAT!!!
The house we rented was super fun, HUGE and OLD…..a perfect retreat place as we took over the dining room….had stations set up all over and just had a fun time doing EVERYTHING and NOTHING…all at the same time! (this is my way of having fun….SIMPLE!)
There are so many things to share about On Stage and more importantly the exciting new changes that will be coming with the debut of the new catalog. I am sure you have all heard about the color revamp….and to me….this is the biggest exciting thing that was making my heart pitter patter!
I have already placed a preorder and I will go more into detail with the new colors later in the week if time allows. I truly am super excited and I think that Stampin’ Up! did a fantastic job with this revamp. Very exciting….and in a nutshell….FUN and FRESH are the colors!
When a new catalog comes out…we all know what happens….products become retired. Please remember that the retired list is while supplies last so make sure that you take a look at it! (I will update it as it is updated by Stampin’ Up!)
Here is a head’s up for you…..you might be confused when you see that ink pads in colors that you know will be current next year….Stampin’ Up! has made changes (in both the container design and also in the formula)….and they will be available when the new catalog comes out.
I will go into more detail about this in a future post but please take a deep breath and know that what you have is just fine! Again, I will share with you my thoughts about this later but I will say….the change is very positive and yes, I did notice a difference when I was able to stamp and play with them.
Ok….onto the lists! I have created some cute pirate images for you! Click away and I know what you might be thinking….what is that I am going to miss the most? Well…here is the answer as of now – I really do not know as I have not had time to mark up my catalog yet but I will say one thing that I know is the white organza ribbon that is currently my incentive special this month.
I just adore this ribbon as it makes the prettiest bows. I will stock up on that but once my Dad is settled, I will have time to look and YEP, I will report back to you!
Have a great day and one thing I will leave you with…..we all get the “lower lip blues” when a retired list comes out but I think that you will agree with me that when you see the new offerings, you will have a wonderful feeling of…..
YIPPEE-SKIPPEE…..I can’t wait to get them and play!
Hopefully I will be able to play with my pre-order tomorrow when it arrives…..always a fun time! Here is a tip for you when you look at the retiring list. If you can, I would print it off and then go by the page number to see what is leaving…..perhaps you will want to put an X over an image or simply write retiring beside the product name.
I know that it always looks like a ton and if you are anything like me, you flip through and do this search and rescue thing…and then end up frustrated! Take a deep breath and go through it page by page!
2nd tip…..remember, there are items that look from a glance to be retiring but perhaps they have been bundles and in the new catalog they will not reflect the bundled pricing, please read the guide and if you need me, email me!
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by Susan Itell | Apr 2, 2018 | Thank You |
Good Monday to you!
As you have noticed…I have been “unplugged” but I am here with you today! As we all know, life is life (one of my favorite sayings) and I have been needed in many directions over the past week with family, friends and Easter! I have skimmed through emails and many thanks for the emails of concern and….my Dad is fine.
Last week was a week of Doctors appointments but he is doing great….I think that I get my “keep going” attitude from him! We have all heard the saying, “one day at a time”….well – I take that one to heart and truly I have had to look at each day what I could get done and also what I needed to just say…..“not today”.
The great news is…..I have a SUPER card for you today filled with lots of pictures and YEP.…dimensions for you as this is one great layout and it is also a super-de-duper way to USE UP THAT DSP that we have stashed as you know…….right around the corner – the NEW Catalog will come out and you know what that means…..NEW DSP for us to once again purchase to feed our paper addiction!
The star stamp set of this card is Vertical Greetings…a super stamp set from the Annual Catalog! This one is a stamp that many of you have as I think when it made its debut is was so darn different for Stampin’ Up! that we all had to snatch it up! I love the uniqueness of the sentiments being vertical but the other thing I love…the price – super affordable at just $19.00
The magic of this card uses just 3 colors…..the classic Black and White combo that we all adore and then the POP is Pear Pizzazz! Truth be told I was going to use Lemon Lime Twist but I thought that Chris R. would not think of that being a fitting way to add love to this clean and classic card….and so it was the Pear Pizzazz….the color that Sonny P loves! You see….I do listen to your likes and also dislikes!
The DSP Collection is from the Petal Passion….another HUGE HIT from the Occasions Catalog. I admit….I know that there will be many more new paper collections coming out that I am going to adore…but I think that I will purchase some extras of this beauty…..I ask you – how can you go wrong with a FAB-O Classic like Black and White!?!?!
Now to the part that you REALLY WANT….the dimensions for you to CASE AWAY…..and guess what ??? I HOPE THAT YOU DO as this really is a great layout. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or email me….I would love to hear how you like this super simple card.
I know that I have been blogging about being selective as what to purchase and what I need to pass on….I can remember when this stamp set 1st came out I looked at it and thought…...LOVE the vertical Sentiments…..LOVE the topiaries as to me, they are super clean and classic….LOVE the fact that there are many practical sentiments that I could use for many different occasions…..so YEP….it had to come to live on Randall Lane!
What makes this card unique and a bit different that what you are used to seeing me create is the fact that the front of the card has been partially cut off and also that I am using a “color of cardstock” for my base as I usually tend to go with the thick Whisper White or Very Vanilla!
This really is sooooooo darn EASY!!!!!
- The card base is an A-2 size ( 4 1/4″ X 5 1/2″ ) in Pear Pizzazz with the fold to the left and then cut off 1″ from the front Pear Pizzazz panel
- The inside is Thick Whisper White at 4″ X 5 1/4″ and then I stamped the Thank You greeting so it was centered as the card was closed.
- The DSP on the front is 3″ X 5 1/4″
- The White piece that the topiary is stamped on is 1 1/2″ X 4 1/4″ and then matted in Pear Pizzazz at 1 3/4″ X 4 1/2″
- Using Fun Foam I popped up the topiary and then also added more height with stampin’ dimensions under the pot.
- The bow was attached with a simple glue dot.
- The envelope – my good old staple – 1/4″ X 6″ and then the DSP 2″ X 6″…adhere and cut excess away!
You can see that the color combinations are endless depending on the DSP you choose. I chose the black for the pot and at first I thought that it was too stark but after it was all together…it was perfect. Here is a tip for you – when I stamped it….I just stamped the whole image in Pear Pizza….(not worrying about the color of the pot).
Next, I stamp the pot twice in black on scrap paper. WHY TWICE? Easy – you know that I am type A with details…..so after a quick snip of the pot I adhered one over the green one that I stamped and then popped up the other one over top. The way that I look at it is that this just takes seconds to make a much better visual difference in case any one see the green pot from the side.
I know that I will be seeing the new catalog this weekend when I go to Hartford, CT for OnStage but IF this White Organza Ribbon is being retired, I will purchase MANY, MANY rolls of this gem. It ties a perfect bow each and every time and they “behave” so well as you can fuss with them exactly the way that you want them to be….and they STAY PUT!
Because I adore this ribbon so much and it is just a classic staple for any cards that we make (how can you go wrong with white) – this White Organza Ribbon will be my gift with purchase this month for orders of $75+ using the current hostess code of WJQG4MWE (Please remember, you can always find the current hostess code to the right of my blog.)
I would be SHOCKED if it is walking the plank but you never know! I just stock up on things that “work for me” to make the process of creating that much more fun and rewarding! I hope that you know where I am coming from on this one! We DO this thing of crafting for FUN so I look at it like this – find what you like and just keep on using it! (the same way I feel of Fast Fuse)
One last picture for you before we go….a great picture for you to see the impact and difference it does make to give your envelopes some love. It’s kinda like the thing that I did with the pot…..it is the “little things that make the difference”
Once you get in the habit, you will never have your envelope be NAKED!!!
There YOU go….a card that you can easily be proud of to send and also a card that you can make in the masses and also use up a variety of papers that you have. This IS my kinda card and one that always leaves me feeling rewarded when I create it. I featured this stamp one month for my kits and using it again today for you just reiterated my love for this stamp set. As I say, it’s a keeper!
In closing I wanted to share a little something…..I do adore my blog and I do enjoy creating, sharing and hearing from you….but at the same time I need to remember that I need to actively embrace that “balance of life”! Remember me????, the person that got the kit to get the discount and run….well – I decided a different route…the route of blogging and sharing.
Doing blog posts takes a bunch of time and true I could just put up something to get the post “in” etc….but I am trying to give you not only fun, detailed and practical projects, but also a way for me to express “who I am and the whys” I do things with my crafting addiction that I have!
I do hope that you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and we certainly did on Randall Lane! It was not my plan to be unplugged but it was the right decision for me….I really do miss my cyber buddies when I am gone.
Have a fabulous day and for once….. I am SUPER excited for the calendar to roll this week…..as I am leaving on Thursday to be with 6 of my downline for the Hartford, CT OnStage…..we are doing a girls crafty time together and making it a bit of Creative Vacation for us as we have rented a house…..doesn’t get better than this……
Stampin’ hugs to you all!
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by Susan Itell | Mar 27, 2018 | Birthday, Just Because... |
Happy Tuesday and I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Before we get to this post I need your help with some feedback if you have been experiencing issues with my blog. I was having some computer issues and I have received emails that there are issues with the comment section and also delivery. If you have experienced this, please email me so I can properly try to see what is up!
WHEW…you know me and computers…not a happy marriage – let’s get to the fun!
Can you believe that this is the last week of the Month….and that is NO April Fools! We are blessed with a glorious sunny day and the card that I have for you today is perfect to go with this perfect day of sunshine! You know we have been talking about using up the DSP we have stashed….so here you go, more inspiration!
Today I am going to the Annual Catalog with the Bunch of Blossoms Photopolymer Stamp Set. I do not know about you….but there are many times that I feel the Annual Catalog gets a bit “back-burnered” …and we are always so excited to see the newbies from the Holiday and Occasions Catalogs that we forget about many of the “keepers” that are on the Annual Catalog!
This stamp set has been around a while and you can see below that there is a punch that coordinates with it. Do you remember last week we were talking about the ease and speed of the punches? Well today….is a perfect example of that !To me, ease and speed are 2 key ingredients that speak to me when I am card making!
You might be wondering why it is not a bundle? Well….it WAS a bundle eons ago when it was first introduced to the Stampin’ Up! line but always remember, they will not always stay as a bundle – that is why it is a great idea to snatch them up before a new catalog comes out.
No worries…as you can still get them separately and YES – I would definitely get the Blossom Builder Punch as it does save a bunch of time. Another thing that I want to point out to you today is……when you are short of ideas and inspiration…..just google the name of our Stamp sets and I am sure that you will find a ton of inspiration
Do you also remember last Monday that I share with you that it is time to use up paper? We….I am doing that today as well because the reality of it is that we are going to be tantalized with many different new offerings really soon when the New Annual Catalog comes out on June 1st. Now THIS IS a very exciting time when we see the new kids on the block but darn, please do not forget to give that big & beautiful Annual Catalog love throughout the year!
The paper is the Petal Garden Paper and it was used a BUNCH when it first made its entrance last June but then…..I think it was pushed away. With the sunshine and Spring here…let’s pull it back out and use it! I was so happy to see how easy it was to coordinate 2 different prints with ease on the focal part of the card.
I can remember my initial thought about this paper…it was “I think it’s pretty but is it too fussy for my style” – Yep, I pre-judged how the end result would be if I could make it work for my style and I think that todays card will prove it to you that I was wrong. It IS a Susan type card and actually I was so pleased with the end result that I am going to make it in the Calypso Coral as well!
This stamp set it super fun to work with because it is a photopolymer stamp which makes it super easy to look through and line up. The stamp allows you to build up layers of colors but building on top of each other. The ink colors that I used today were Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzelberry.
It appears that I have 3 colors but there is only 2. I stamped the 1st layer in Sweet Sugarplum and then for the 2nd layer, I stamped it “off once” in Rich Razzelberry before stamping it over top and lastly the 3rd layer was Rich Razzelberry in full strength. That “stamping off” a color really works super and it is something that I think we all forget about.
Did you notice that the pattern of the DSP also matched the Trellis Garden Embossing Folder? Yep, it does and that added texture on both the rectangle on the card front as well as the envelope flap is the icing on the card. (I wish that you were holding it in your hand as it is just stunning)
I am trying to remember to use the embossing folders more often as they are a super quick and easy way to add pizzazz to a card with little expense and little effort Here is a tip….I always keep a spray mister bottle of water by Mr. Big and mist my paper before I run it through with an embossing folder. It help the paper fibers get a nice and deep emboss.
The other tip that we all know to do….it add layers of paper with different dimensions. We can do that easily with dimensionals but we can also do that by simply adding movement to the edges of the paper with the bone folder. WHAT? Yep, look below and you can that I curled the petals of the flowers.
The 2 base ones are adhered on with green glue at the base but I left the free edges tipped up a bit and just the middle petal is lifted with a dimensional. Please do not be afraid to work your paper with the bone folder – by going back and forth with it will break down the fibers and allow it to be supple.
That’s it for today….one beautiful card that used 2 different prints from the same DSP Collection….one big and bold covering the entire panel of the card….the other just a quick accent to add interest to the stamped image. I hope that you stretch yourself and try using more than one print to a card, the effect is super and when you also throw in an embossed piece….I say…
“bases load and the envelope fun is the homerun!”
The hour glass has DEFINITELY turn for the end of Sale-A-Bration……remember, you only have until Saturday to swoop up the FREEBIES with purchases but to me the best deal, the 2 Free Stamp Sets that you could have with being a hobby demo…..I know that this seems to scare the heck out of you….but it is as easy as saying, I get a minimum of a 20% discount each and everyday! Email me, I would love to be able to answer any questions you might have!
Have a great day and I will do my best to be back on track tomorrow, I need to take my Dad to Baltimore today so we all know how that might be….enjoy the day and thanks for sharing some of your precious time with me, I deeply appreciate it and I hope that this card showed you that “Today is the perfect day to be happy” …….xoxoxox
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by Susan Itell | Mar 24, 2018 | 3-D Projects, Easter |
Good Morning and I have a SUPER fun post for you today. I am warning you….I have a ton of pictures for you today. I think pictures are a huge help in seeing projects. I have been working on my photography so much over the past months to deliver to you clean and crisp images and wouldn’t you know…today of ALL days….I think my pictures are a mid-grade C+.
I was sad as I have worked very hard on this project as you know that I love to do FUN things for Holidays and this post….YEP – it is a super fun one that can be used ANYTIME of the year……hang tight, you will see what I mean. Today I am focusing on Easter with bunnies driving the Pick up Truck but think out of the box…..would this just be an adorable Graduation Gift to give to someone?
I can see it with a pun of… “your adventure awaits…….best of luck” and roll up money and stack it in the back of the pick up! I just LOVE this idea! I think I am going to do something like that for the “pet sitters” we need from time to time……wouldn’t this just be super adorable!
Before we get going….I need to share with you where I got this idea…..and before I get to that – I would like to address the one thing that I hear over and over again – “I am not creative…..or…..I just CASE things from pinterest because I can not think of anything…..or…..I would never know how to do that….” Do these sound familiar?????? (let’s be honest….)
Well – there are many and I mean many times that I feel the same way but guess what…??? – We are human and with that said…we are here to help each other and to learn.
I learned about these SUPER ADORABLE PICK-UP TRUCKS from another Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Blog Post. Yep, that’s right…..I totally CASED this project and I am sharing and hoping that you will enjoy it…..make it….and share it. To me, that’s what it is all about! I made some changes and I will let you know about them but honestly….the PDF will be a huge help.
I saw this idea on Sarah Will’s Blog…..and the minute I saw this…I PERKED UP as I thought that it was just adorable! It was made by Twila Davis and she was so kind to have a PDF of instructions…..so you see…that whole thing of “PAY IT FORWARD”….it really does happens and that makes my heart skip a beat! (thank youTwila and Sarah….this is a great project)
I went to town being a Mechanic and I now have a whole fleet of Pick-Up Trucks on Randall Lane ready to roll out the door to make my loved ones smile! These guys actually hold a bunch…and they are just so much fun to make up!
When I saw this idea I thought about making Jeanie one for her Birthday (pst….IT’S TODAY) as she is always making the most unique projects (and she knows that I am so challenged with following directions) so….here you go – this is Jeanie’s Birthday Truck!
I had an idea of stuffing the truck with critters and sweets….as this kinda sums me up…..as Jeanie always gets cracked up with my life happenings with animals. I have a memory of Jeanie hopping in my Pick Up Truck with the Horse Trailer and we drove to find this place that was going to work on the trailer. We laughed and laughed as Jeanie was quite impressed with how I handled the “rig” and I can still see her smile and expression of…..this is fun truckin’ with you!
The below stamp set, We Must Celebrate was just PERFECT for this project! I have blogged with this stamp set and if you remember, I did “surgery” to the critters….yep….out came the scissors and the were separated right on Randall Lane. It was a successful surgery and now I can just stamp them one at a time or if I wish, I can group them back together! I know that some of you cringe with this….but there are times that I just DO IT!
I used my Stampin’ Blends to color my friends and secured them with a glue dot to the truck. Glue Dots are a HUGE help with the “crafting thing that we do” – I would always recommend have 2 boxes of them as the minute you run out…who wants to wait to get them!
The other key Adhesive for making this project is Tear & Tape. You need a STRONG adhesive when you make 3-D’s. This too is another thing that you need 2 rolls of – a back up is always a necessity with our adhesives! I use this for my envelopes all of the time (the 1/4″ strip) and another “get into the habit” of using product!
You can see in the pictures that the shy is the limit to having fun with colors….remember, no rules here other than to HAVE FUN! For those of you that sigh when Stampin’ Up! In Colors leave our line of paper, USE IT UP making trucks….as the saying goes….KEEP ON TRUCKIN’!
Remember to refer to the amazing PDF but in the picture below you will see some changes that I made and some tips. I am just so thankful that Twila was so kind to share these amazing instructions!
I find it helpful to make one and have all of the cut lines finished and scored etc….and I keep that as a template so when I want to go back and be a mechanic later…I can use the template to get the old brain fired up!
You saw in her directions that she used a border punch to give the cab of the truck some fun….but I figured that many of you might not have that so I did a “plan B” for you….this project uses the “BASICS” and I figure that if you are on my blog today, than you know that I love and work from the basics. I scored.
I found (personally preference) that I needed more room for the bunny and I did not find the need to make a seat for him. In the above picture you see that I scored the (2) areas for some texture and on the finished truck, it does add a nice flair. If you look closely you will see that the front piece is a wee bit shorter that the “outside arms” on the front. (look at the picture…you just want to score the (2) piece front & back where the arrows are)
The front gets 3 score lines and the back gets 4 score line….then you cut one of the score lines OFF. (I figured that it was easier for you to cut a straight line following the score line)
Once you get rollin’ and “get it” they go fast. TRUST ME…..please leave me a comment if you need further help….. I also found (just like I do with cards) that mass producing is the way I roll. I have many, many cabs already made….and then next time I sit and play…I will make the beds of the trucks etc.
I do want to say that I have a Scan & Cut….yep, Santa was good to me and I used it to cut out my critters but you know that the good old fashion way of fussy cutting works too! Paper Snips are the BEST! I am still learning the ins and outs of the Scan & Cut but fortunately many of my teams members have them so we chat about our victories as well as the frustrations of learning how to use it!
After I made over a dozen of these guys and AFTER I took the pictures….I realized that I forgot to put the lights on the trucks! SILLY SUSAN…..I will go back and add them with a simple glue dot! You can see in the line up of products that I used (3) different circle punches…..hmmmmm…..funny – we have been talkin’ about punches lately and SEE – this is a GREAT example of how having the basic punches in your stash becomes a lifesaver!
I rarely use enamel accents….why, I am not sure as I just forget about them….but they did make the wheels smile a bit! Just look at what you have and go to town! If I had the time I was thinking of doing a white truck and have small flowers stamped and colored all over it – how cute would that be!
WHEW…this is SUPER LONG and I am sorry…..but I just wanted you to get the whole idea! I DO hope that yo make these – they are simply the cutest. They are super sturdy (from the cardboard) and they will make you smile each and every time you see them sitting at your desk.
I have 3-d’s all on a shelf in my work area and they all have a special meaning to me….I still think the “sheep” steals the show for me. Mary Anne made that for me many years ago and I smile each and every time I see him! One of these trucks is going to New Jersey to her home as this was perfect timing as she just redeemed some of her Paw Print Rewards from me and chose this stamp set…..We Must Celebrate as her freebie!
Have a FABULOUS DAY and I hope that this not only made you smile….that it inspired you to make one….(or many!!!!) Please feel free to leave a comment and/or email me if you have any questions about making them.
A HUGE thank you to Sarah and Twila for the inspiration…..this is what I love about Stampin’ Up…sharing and paying it forward. We all CASE….and that is just perfect. I always like to think of it like a recipe.
How many times to you like something, ask for the recipe and make it? Do you feel bad about making it?….the answer is probably NO and I think of creating the same way…..CASEING is fine….we all learn from others, just thank them….perhaps add some of your own touches….and be happy!
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