by Susan Itell | May 14, 2014 | PALS Blog Hops |
Welcome to the May Pals Blog Hop!
This is the first hop on our new day – the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Before we celebrate the release of the new Stampin' Up! catalog next month, we want to take time to say "goodbye to our favorite retiring products."
This month we are showcasing projects that feature stamps or accessories that are retiring along with the 2013-14 Idea Book & Catalog on June 4th.
You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Stop # 6, Sue Becker at RnR Stamping on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog.
I will say that it is always bittersweet to see certain stamps and products go bye-bye…but I can honestly say that I am so thrilled with the new catalog – I am ready and excited!
This card showcases a stamp set that I will miss. I did this card on a "notecard" size before but I wanted to include a sentiment that was also special to me that is on the "bye-bye" list!
The Stamp Set is Bright Blossoms and the Sentiment is from the Sweet Essentials set. I often get asked…what do you do with your discontinued stamps? In a nutshell…if they "touch my heart" and also if I know that I could use it for my Breast Cancer Cards…I'll keep it!
These 2 stamps sets "I'll keep" – they represent a simple look that I love! Click here to see the post that I did with just a single vase. Today I thought it would be fun to do an odd size card and the 3 1/3 X 7 was the base!
In keeping with today's theme, I used the "bye-bye" Gumball Green and then vases are Midnight Muse. The punch pack is going to be really, really sad to leave but I know you are going to like the new one. (Pop back tomorrow as I am using the new flower on my card)
The stamp-a-ma-jig was my must have friend for today's card…I always draw a faint pencil line to use as a guide – but the stamp-a-ma-jig is the real life saver!
Please refer back to the orginal post to see some of the tips…but this pictue below is something I do often for the instant pop for the flower – glue dots are your friends!
You know that I try to make my "cards for a purpose" and this adorable card is going to my friend that was in charge of the fundraiser for our local hospital! She did an amazing job as it was a huge success!
Using the punch board to make a fun and unique envelope and I lined the outside with the in-color designer series paper…Did you notice what I did to the back flap? I cut it off as I do not care for the long point when you make a long and skinny card – I think it looks great like this!
This is a HUGE BLOG HOP today and I hope that you enjoy all of the great talent out there. I thank you for stopping by and I hope I made you smile, inspired you and taught you a great tip!
The next stop is # 8 Michelle Quinno at Shell's Life on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you next month.
Have a fabulous day and have fun hopping….until tomorrow!
- Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
- Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
- Debbie Pierce at Stampin' Sunshine
- Jackie Diediker at Stampin' Jackie
- Nancy Gleason at My Stampin Space
- Sue Becker at RnR Stamping
- Susan Itell at Simple Stampin
- Michelle Quinno at Shell's Life
- Beth Beard at My little craft blog
- Amy Lazzell at Just A Thought…Cards by Amy
- Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
- Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
- Katie Ferguson at Cottage Paper
- Colleen Mollema at Uncanny Crafting
- Natalie Bradley at Natalie Bradley Events
- Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
- Kerry Willard Bray at Peonies and Paper Chains
- Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin'
- Marlene Heringer at So Many Toys So Little Time
- Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
- Lynn Kolcun at Stamping With Avery's Owlery
- Kelly DeTommaso at Kelly's Creative Corner
- Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works by Shannon
- Christie Crosby at Stampin' Creativity
- Kalyn Shubnell at Stamping Chronicles
- Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
- Michelle Gleeson at StampinMojo
- Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
- Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
- Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
- Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!
- Donna Kopenski at Crafty Cardmaker
- Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
by Susan Itell | May 13, 2014 | Super Easy |
Today's card is for my Red Caboose….Hannah. She is my youngest and I am the youngest in my family and my Dad always tells people I am his Red Caboose!
Hannah is finishing up her 2nd year at College and she is such an over achiever and has been "stressing" so much with her final exams so I wanted to make her a special card letting her know how much her Dad and I love her.
Today is her last Exam and then she will only be home 2 short days before having to go back to Charlotte for an internship for the summer…in the short time that she will be home she will love riding her horses, having long lazy dinners with John and I – and I am sure she will give us a complete detail on how this last week went for her!
She works sooooo hard with her studies (obviously gets that from John…not me!!!)…that I am hoping that she will see this blog today and it will bring a smile to her beautiful face andmake her heart go pitter-patter – we love you and are so proud of you!
Let's go…as this simply could not be any easier to make – this is one that you do not need me for this simple card – but I'll walk you thru the in's and out's!
- This is a 5" square card is in Very Vanilla and then the layered part is 4 3/4". I corner rounded all of the edges to give it a subtle look.
- The 4 3/4" piece had a quick spin thru "Mr. Big Shot and the Heart Framlit"…POP!
- Taking a piece of scrap Very Vanilla Paper, I used the Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape and covered it and them adhered it to the piece that the heart was cut out of. (Did you notice a NEW sentiment…it's a sneak peak from the new catalog…you are going to love it – Something To Say Stamp Set!)
- Using Stampin Dimensionals to give it the "lift" it deserves…just makes it special!
- Using the Envelope Punch Board to make my own envelope was a cinch and then the lining – so fun…polka dots always make me smile and I thought that it was in keeping with the tape!
TIP: – To adhere the Gold Vellum to the envelope…I put little bits if snail where there is a "dot" so it would not show through the vellum. Works like a charm!
Hannah is going to be with her friends for 2 days before she comes home Thursday and this will be on her bed with a special goodie that I know will make her smile!
Hopefully you will try this card as it is SUPER easy and used a minimal amount of product! It would be cute stamping a very small image where the I used the vellum or it would be wowzers with a pink polka dot designer series paper!
Tomorrow is a SUPER fun BLOG day as it is the PALS monthly Blog Hop and we will be show casing the items that we are saying farewell to….(tear-tear) and there are 33 "hops" for you to get inspired – you know what I'll say…..WOOT-WOOT!!!
Thanks for popping in today and remember…it is so darn tootin' easy to order from my online store – you can click the "Shop Now" button or if you like specific items that are highlighted in today's post – easy-peasy…click the image below and it will be right in your shopping cart with me!
Enjoy the day….and until tomorrow!
by Susan Itell | May 12, 2014 | Make it MINE Monday, Super Easy, Thank You |
It's Monday and that means lets have fun with a sketch! I was surfing around on pinterest and I found this sketch and I immediately said YES – this is it for this week? Ready for your own personal challenge?
Now this is the type of card that you will want to print off the sketch…hang it on your work area, as it is a “keeper” as I call it. This card is the best to use up scraps and to use a multitude of different sentiments.
The other thing I like about this is – it would be perfect for so many color schemes – think about it for a baby…use a soft sky or pink pirouette card base…this would be super for a 4th of July card with Red, White and Blue…a birthday, an anniversary, a thinking of you – the sky is the limit!
When I became a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator I can remember asking Mary for some advice about which stamp sets to invest in. She gave me great advice and one that I remember and I will share with you …when you are on the fence between stamp sets – buy the “sentiment” one!
When she shared this with me I had to think about it…my take on it is there are so many things that you can do with paper, think about it – we have embossing folders, framelits to cut out shapes and if we have “sentiments” we can do just about anything! Today’s card is a perfect example.
Before we get to today's post….the lucky winner is #44 – sorry, I do not know your 1st name…sooooo happy for you….please email me with your info!
My favorite memories are of time spent with my mother and sister. We travel somewhere every year or two; sometimes close to home, sometimes far away. The memories we've made are treasures to me. We've seen so many great things and have a great time together making memories we will always hold close.
This is so straight forward that you do not need me to give you dimensions…just pull out the scraps and have fun! For the Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper I looked at it and wanted to make the width be “2 of the columns” of the pattern – just have fun!
This sentiment came from the Four You stamp set and I am super excited that it is carried over…you can clearly see that this is a must have set in your collection. Again…using up scraps is the best!
Adding simple things like “stitching” and Stampin’ Dimensionals just makes this simple card have a little bit of fun!
Well…how about it? Pull out your paper and have fun! I have been so tickled with several of you that try these challenges and share with me your work. I truly hope that it is helping you figure out a style that you are comfortable with! Way to go – I am proud of you.
Again, woot-woot to lucky #44 for winning the blog candy! I loved reading each and every one of your comments and it is so clear to me that you also enjoyed going down Memory Lane! Please email me with your info so I can mail you the goodies….
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions and I know that you are getting excited for the new catalog to begin! I mailed my catalogs out on Friday so you should be receiving them any day!
If you do not work with a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator I would be happy to mail you a catalog – just please email me.
When the new catalog starts…I am excited to share with you a ribbon share as well as Designer Series Pack Paper swatches (I was not able to order the new In-Colors with the pre-order) but once I can, I will offer the swatches in the collections (Brights, Neutrals, Subtles, Regals and In-Color)
To me, these are such a “must- have staple” of paper and having them in a swatch format will be a lifesaver for you to flip through to see the colors (PERFECT for lining envelopes).
With the new catalog, I will be starting some new and fun programs and offerings for you. As I said, I will be doing ribbon shares & paper swatches as well as offering online stamping clubs – please feel free to email me with any questions you might have.
This new “stampin’ up!” catalog year is very exciting to me! I can hardly wait to dive in and create with new stamps. Yesterday was a great day and with being in the car for over 7 hours, I finally had a wonderful block of time to take the new catalog in – very exciting and I will anxiously wait for June 2nd to be here!
Ted was GREAT and so happy to have many of his friends and family be together for a beautiful Mother’s Day Brunch. A “life lesson time” for John and I as his strength, positive outlook and love shines so strong.
Let’s all have a wonderful week! You all are the best…until tomorrow…
p.s. – I have sat hear and read all of these amazing comments about memories with their Mom. If you need some inspiration, laughs and total "feel goods" – than please read some of these wonderful comments!
I miss my Mom so…but I try to keep her memories alive each and everyday…just like many of you do!
by Susan Itell | May 11, 2014 | 3-D Projects, Super Easy |
1st…HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you great Mom's out there…
I hope that each and everyone of you do something fun (if that's what you want)…have some "me time" (if that's what you want)…or simply do nothing (if that's what you want)!!!
This is what I am going to do today…I think I am a bit crazy (as it is 1 3 1/2 hour drive) but I know that my heart will be filled with joy. If you follow my blog you know that my best friends Dad is terminally ill – I am speaking about "Ted". I stopped to see him when I went to see my daughter in March and had such a GREAT visit – he is such an inspiration of positiveness and determination.
About 2 weeks ago I received a call from his house while I was at work…my heart instantly sank as I was fearful to answer but when I did I heard…."Hey Susan – it's Ted….we are going to have a party on Mother's Day and we want you and John to come down!!!"
Needless to say I was shocked…but my heart was filled… and I am getting more "crows feet around my eyes" from smiling so much (that's a good thing in my opinion). Naturally I instantly said yes, we would not miss it for the world. I think that it is sooooo amazing that he wants to be surrounded by family and friends for a brunch when he is going thru so much!
Lesson learned =
Faith, determination & the will to embrace what is dealt to us makes us who we are!
This is so much like my late Mom…she passed away from Pancreatic Cancer and from the time she was diagnosed to the time she passed, it was about 3 1/2 months. It still amazes me how someone so healthy found out that she had this terrible disease to leave this world so quickly.
It was the worst 3+ months of my life but I can also say it was the best 3+ months of my life because I learned a very valuable lesson…we CAN stop many things that we do and it really does not matter – I stopped life basically for this time and dedicated my time to her…and I never looked back!
One thing that she always taught me was to always be gracious and thank those that are gracious to us…so naturally I would not go to Ted and Billie's without a gift!
What better gift to give than a practical gift of enclosures!
This post came from a post I did before….please click here to see the scoop and you will see the measurements etc…when it is a keeper – it's a keeper!
In a nutshell the box is a piece of paper:
- On the "short side" (5 1/2”) and score at 1” and 4 1/2"
I hope that you enjoy this parade of pictures and I also hope that you can see how an easy gift like this is not only practical….but meaningful!
You can see that all of these cards were made with 1 stamp set, Sassy Saluations and the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack! You can see how fasr and easy it is! Love this fint…love the sentiments – they just work and I am so glad that it iin the catalog for next year!
I can fit (8) decorated cards and lined envelopes in this one little precious box = great gift!
There are times that the basic's and "go to's" just work…this project is one of them! I truly hope that you play around and have fun with this size of card – it is fun. I am so thankful that Stampin' Up! carries these cute, small envelopes.
For all of you Mom's out there…..woot-woot – have a great day! Please remember to leave me a comment so you have another chance to win "Blog Candy" – click here to see the post and also the Blog Candy.
I hope that you take some time to read the AMAZING comments from all…there are some that make me laugh…some that touch my heart….some that just bring tears of joy to my eyes!
Memory Lane is such a great lane to be on!
I am personally looking forward to a fabulous day – John and I will have lots of time to talk! Remember – tomorrow is Make it Mine Monday, I am so happy that many of you have been playing with the sketches and having fun learning!
Until tomorrow….
