by Susan Itell | May 26, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday, Photopolymer Stamps, Thank You |
Happy Memorial Day to everyone! I hope that you are enjoying the weekend and I hope that each of us can take some time today to think, thank and be grateful for the men and women who served and have served in the Armed Forces for our wonderful country!
It is Make it Monday and here is your sketch for you to play around with! There are a couple of "challenges" (websites) that I like and this one was a past sketch from Freshly Made Sketches…. I hope that you can find some time for yourself and create a masterpiece from this sketch! Here's my take…..
If you have subscribed to my blog for a while….you always know there is a story behind the cards that I make! We just celebrated my Mother in Laws 80th Birthday and it was wonderful to have a special dinner with my in-laws!
Sitting there – looking at how amazing my MIL looks with all that she has on her with taking care of my Father-in-law that is not in the best of health I realize how blessed I was. My FIL loves Memorial Day and his little town always has a parade. In the past he always went and was so proud.
My FIL was in the Korean War an has some very repressed memories of his time serving for our country. Sitting there I realize how much we take for granted…and this card is for him…to thank him for being so brave!
How can you go wrong with these colors and so fitting for this day!
- The card base is a note-card size, 3 1/2" X 5" in Real red.
- The Whisper white piece is 1 3/4" X 3 1/2 and then the Not So Navy from the Regals Designer Series Pack and is cut at 2" X 2 3/4"…love these papers!
- For the sentiment, the stamped piece is 2" x 3" and then I stamped it with the MUST HAVE "Thank You" set and it is in the new catalog….
Comment: – I am so happy that with the new catalog that Stampin' Up! is offering more and more photopolymer stamp! I am doing the happy dance as they are so easy to see when you need "quick placement" –If you go to my Shop Now you will see that this stamp set does not show up…it is on backorder but it is in the NEW CATALOG!
- After stamping the sentiment from "Another Thank You", I did a quick mat in the red 1/8" larger, and then the white is 1/4" larger – I thought a quick stitching in night of navy was appropriate to "break up" the white!
You know what is left – the envelope! Easy-peasy with the Big Shot and the Envelope Liner framelits! Please pop back tomorrow to see my offering for the Color Collections Paper swatch offerings and also ribbon…WOWZER – we have some GREAT NEW ribbons!
Today is a special day…one that I truly hope that's "reflection" touches your heart1 After seeing my FIL and seeing his love for his family and so excited to be "out" with family…..it made me STOP and reflect how we take many things for granted…if you can…thank someone that has had the courage to honor their country!
Until tomorrow….
by Susan Itell | May 25, 2014 | SNEAK PEEK!!!, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tips and Tricks!!! |
Are you ready for a FUN technique that not only creates a great effect…it is a great "stepping stone" to develop you confidence in "water-coloring" The technique is "Coloring with re-inkers" – ready to learn?!? You are going to love this and I hope you give it a try!
- The base is a A-2 in a vertical base and then the Island Indigo is 5 1/4" X 4" and the NEW IN COLOR , Lost Lagoon is 5 1/8" X 3 7/8".
- 1st I used the Embossing Buddy to get any static or dust off of the paper…..next - the Mixed Bunch Stamp set and the versa mark ink…I randomly stamped the flowers as shown and then heat embossed it with the white embossing powder.
TIP ALERT: – I probably did not have to do this but after I did the above I then did the sentiment with the help of the stamp-a-ma-jig. (I was afraid that I would smudge the flowers if I did not heat emboss the flowers first!) The sentiment came from the Four You Stamp Set.
Now comes the fun! This is so easy that you are going to be sooooo darn tootin' proud of yourself!
- Using on of the clear mounting blocks…squeeze a couple drops of Island Indigo and another one with Pool Party re-inker! Taking a dry Aqua Painter (do not fill it with water) dip the end of the brush in just a touch of water, then into the ink and made a "puddle" – Color away and have fun! I did probably 3-4 petals before adding more ink!
TIP: It is soooo much easier doing it this way if you are not feeling confident with using the aqua painters! I personally love them and use them often with traditional water-coloring, but I find this technique super fast, fun and easy! The embossed edges make it easy for the ink not to bleed out and over!
- A couple of quick decorating tips and DONE! I wrapped bakers twine around and the I also tied a bow on white buttons and used glue dots to adhere them….fast and cute!
- The liner for the envelope came from the NEW Moonlight Designer Paper Series Stack….such a keeper of a product!!!
This was a super fun card to make and I am excited to make more with this technique! Don't you think that it would be amazing in neutrals? I can see Crumb Cake as your card base and using sahara sand and soft suede! Please let me know your thoughts in how ou liked it!
Tomorrow is "Make it Mine Monday" where I will provide you with a sketch and then you can give it a try…a fn way to help you develop a style and also have fun all at the same time!
Have fun the holiday weekend and I am an email away! Until tomorrow…..
by Susan Itell | May 24, 2014 | Birthday, Stamp-a-ma-jig |
Birthdays are a yearly reminder that we all should celebrate as it is a special day! Yesterday was my Mother-in-laws special day and it was a milestone…she turned 80! I still find it hard to believe as she is so active and always has a positive attitude with taking care of John's Dad as his health has failed!
A special dinner with family was the perfect setting to celebrate this great birthday! Rita was a librarian in an Elementary school and still enjoys reading so I thought a card with a bookmark would perfect!
Last month Jeanie and I went to another SUD house for a class and we learner how to make this card. I wanted to switch up the stamp set and colors and even though it is a bit more difficult than my clean and simple cards…it was well worth it and I would definitely do it again, it is fun!
In the above pictures you see how the "book mark" is to the right of the card and I used the perforated blade to "prepare" this. I will have to say…if you do not have this…no worries what so ever, what I would do is make a "heavy" score line and then let the person know to simply cut it off!
This is the 1st time I have used the rotary cutter with the perforated blade…it was fun but just do not press too hard as you will cut the paper! You can see at the bottom part of this bookmark – I pressed to hard but you can see how easy it would be to tear off and use!
Let's go….here is the scoop for you to make this gem!
- The card base is 5 1/2 X 10 3/4". Score at 4 1/2" (This will ultimately be your A-2 Card)
- The other dimensions are Elegant Eggplant 4" X 5 1/4" and Very Vanilla is 3 5/8" X 4 7/8" and also 2" X 5 1/4" for the bookmark
- If you have the rotary cutter with the perforation blade…run it down at 8 1/2" – IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS…no biggie – just score it very hard so you can clearly see where the bookmark will be!
- Take the top part of the "bookmark" part and use the scalloped tag punch and push it all the way on (centering it on the 2 1/4" part) to make the bookmark come to life – then do the same with the skinny piece as well!
- The stamp sets that I used were Everything Eleanor and Memorable Moments…I thought they would be perfect for this card and the neutral was Sahara Sand…a great color!
- A must have for this card is the stamp-a-ma-jig! I know that many of you are still "on the fence" with it but I really hope that you learn to like it!
- The flowers were "fussy cut" which was super easy but I did 1st "green glued" one down and then put a stampin' dimensional on the top and added a pearl! Classic yet clean!
- The Big Shot and the Labels Collection Framelits made cutting out the sentiment part a breese!
You can see how when the card is "closed" up with the bookmark, it becomes a regular size card! Lining the envelope with the Elegant Eggplant Designer Series Paper Stack makes it a "no brainer" every-time!
Try this – use different stamps and colors and I even think it would be stunning with vellum paper! As I said before, it was different for me but it was fun!
It is the holiday weekend and we are looking forward to doing nothing….but be at home and enjoy some peaceful days!
Typepad was acting up yesterday – I hope that it will not be a pain today! Enjoy your Saturday and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | May 23, 2014 | Super Easy, Thank You |
You know that I adore the notecard size and envelopes and I do not think I have shared this with you…but a big woot-woot because with the new catalog…they will be available in crumb cake!!!! YIPPEE!!!!
This might be a little card – but it carrys a BIG punch with the boldness of the DSP! This is one of the new one called Lullaby and it is just super (actually, I think all of the DSP this year will hit a home run with you!)
- Crumb Cake is the color of the day and until the new catalog comes out….I needed to cut it to a 3 1/2" X 5" card and SU already has the envelopes in this size1
- The DSP was cut 1/4" smaller and I adhere it to the base as I knew the flowers would be my POP factor for todays card! (Don't you just LOVE the boldness of this paper) Even though this is Baked Brown Sugar…it looks super with the crumb cake!
- This is (I think) my favorite flower stamp set, Flower Shop…I love the simplicity of it and I love the fact that we have a punch that will POP out the flower….fast…fresh….DONE! I stamped in Strawberry Slush.
- The top flower I put stampin' vitamins on all petals to lift it up but also keep it flat and then the other one I just put a stampin' vitamin on the center and then used my pencil to curl it up!
- You know I am "bow challenged" but I was very happy with this! I used a good old hole punch and made 2 holes…threaded in this SUPER NEW THICK Bakers Twine (love it) and made a simple bow – so easy yet the texture makes it look WOW!
- I have been using this sentiment set a bunch! The Four You Stamp Set was carried over and for a GREAT reason….it's a keeper!
- Last but not least, the liner for the envelope! The Envelope Liner Framelit to the rescue…what would we do without it!
Well – are you "perked up" with this bold card! I think I am going to use this for the Breast Cancer Card in June and switch up the sentiment! It truly could not be any easier than this!
You all make me smile when you hear the word SALE!!! I know it's hard not to pass up a deal and I am appreciative and thankful for those of you that went shopping yesterday!
Click here to take advantage of the goodies in the clearance rack!
I do admit, my best advice is…if you REALLY….REALLY do not need it than pass…there are sooooo darn tootin' many great new products in the catalog that I know you are going to love!
Speaking of loving the new products….
Stay tuned for scoop about Ribbon Shares and Designer Series Paper Stack Offers!
(I know…this picture is not new ribbon…I can't get it yet either!!! –
but when you see the NEW RIBBON – you will be doing the WOOT-WOOT dance!!!)
I will also be doing paper shares of 1/2 sheets of the DSP's in each of the color palettes as well as "Swatch Books" of these papers – you know I adore them and use them often…a must have!
Brights * Subtles * Neutrals * Regals * In Color's (both)
but I cannot get the NEW In Color until June 2nd!
I have a dear friend that is a "King" of a guy that does incredible DSP Swatch books – I will just be doing the above color collections…I'll send you his details …
Lot's to be excited about and the calendar is flipping by to the unveiling date of June 2nd!!! YEAH!!!
I hope that today's card made you excited and I hope that you CASE it and have FUN! As always, please email me if I can be of help …until tomorrow!
