by Susan Itell | Jul 19, 2017 | Just Because..., Uncategorized |
Happy Hump Day and it is time for John and I to “EXPLORE” today as we are going to see some temples today in beautiful Chiang Mia (I think I have the day/date correct). This is stamp set that I would wager to say was “passed by” in the new catalog but I just love it! (it is on page 35 in case you want to know)
You can see that this is a “Susan kinda card” as I just love those stamp sets that lend itself to a clean and simple card. You can see that this is all about the basic’s…..and BAM – YOUR DONE!
- The Stitched Framelits
- The Aqua Painter for a quick and simple pop of color
- Layers of Card Stock (that always is an eye pleaser)
- Doing a simple tone on tone stamping to create an INSTANT interest
In the below picture you can see that I did a tone on tone stamping with the suitcase stamp (I thought this would be soooo appropriate as we are traveling) but just look at the fun feel it gives to this card!
You can also see the super quick coloring I did….the colors that I used are in the line up at the end of the post and how about that linen thread? Does the trick each and every time!
To me, I just adore the color combination of Pink, Grey and White! How about you? The icing on the cake is the envelope fun as always using the Whole lot of Lovely DSP!
I hope that this has perked yo your day and that you will take a look at this fun stamp set! I see lots of possibilities for the small images and then adding a BIG sentiment from another set….that will be for another day!
We are winding down on our travels and I am hoping to edit my pictures and share with you the fun we have been having…..I am sure that our critters at home will be wanting some LOVE from their Mom and Dad – we have never left them this long!
Have a great day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 18, 2017 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized
Hi guys…..still away and today if I have figured it out correctly….today is the day that John and I are going to an Elephant Sanctuary! As you know I am a HUGE animal lover and this is truly a “pinch me” time so I am hoping that it will be a “heart filling and rewarding” day for us!
I am hoping to take lots of pictures and trust me, there will be a day that I will share with you some of the Thailand fun that we have been having!
You know that I love to share with you things that make my life easier when I am crafting and even though I am a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator at heart, there are times that we do not have a specific product and when I find something that makes like easier for me….I like to share it with you!
The below product is a must have (in my humble opinion). You can get them at a big box store so keep your eye out for a 50% off coupon or make it easier for yourself and hit that Amazon button and have them delivered right to your door!
Several weeks ago….peep Will was home – he is the Montessori Teacher in Boston and we had a big time doing “crafty things” together! He had asked me if I had another pair of the Craft Scissors that Stampin’ Up! used to carry and I said, I only have the ones that I used….as they had been discontinued…..
We went on a trek to the Craft Store and we found these…..I fell in love with them soooooooo much that I went back and bought a pair for myself and THEY ARE THE BEST!
Below you will see a trio of pictures that I have shared before on how I love to give my envelopes some love….but this is why I adore these scissors – they have a non stick on the blade so the adhesive does not get stuck on them….to me – a DREAM MACHINE!!!!
With all of the “sticky” that I have going on when I do my envelopes….these make the process a breeze…..I just had to share as why keep a great thing a secret!
Be careful though….they are really big – you can see that the blade is 9 1/2″ long….but you will be a happy stamper – PROMISE!
Until tomorrow! We are doing Temples tomorrow!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 16, 2017 | Step it up Sunday!, Uncategorized |
Good Sunday to all! Well…here you go – the 2nd day of our FUN that we have on weekends! Todays card was made by Bridget Trefethen, a team member from the great state of North Carolina!
Well…thoughts???? You can clearly see that we have 2 different cards but at the same time used the same basic elements to create! This IS why I like to do these posts on the weekends…there are sooooo many different ways to take a stamp and make YOUR own mark on it!
A big thanks for the love that you gave Chris R from Iowa (her trademark name)….as her card was super sweet and I am sure that you will give Bridget the love that she deserves as well! I will say…..both of these ladies do not have blogs so this is a great example of being a turtle and sticking your head out….many thanks as I am super proud of them!
Bridget chose to make a fun fold card! I know that there are many of you out there that love fun folds and I was thrilled that Bridget chose to “step it up” with a technique.
Here is the scoop for the “ins and outs” in how she made this FUN card….
- The Marina Mist Card Stock is 5 1/2″ × 8 1/2″. Score at 1 1/2″ and 4 1/4″. Make sure that you fold and burnish the score lines good. (this really helps a bunch with the overall end result)
- There are (2) different white pieces. One is 5 1/4″ X 4″ and the other is 5 1/4″ X 2 1/2″. Using the Simply Scored score all 4 sides of each of the pieces at 1/4″. This simple scoring gives the card not only interest but it gives a bit of texture.
- The Eskimos were stamped with Basic Grey and popped out with the coordinating punch.
- The sentiment was stamped on a scrap in Marina Mist and then hand cut and popped up with dimensionals.
- Bridget used the markers to color….the fur on Eskimos with the Smoky Slate marker – trim on coat, mittens, and edges of boots with Marina Mist marker and give the Eskimos rosy cheeks with Pink Pirouette marker.
You can see in the above photo that the crisp score lines of the card is what makes it super special. It is adorable as it stands up but it is even more of a blue ribbon winner that it is just a flat card that fits perfectly in one of our regular envelopes! (now I know…this is something that you all really, really like)
On the narrow blue fold I adored how Bridget took white bakers twine to wrap around 3 times and added some excess behind the sweet Eskimo….the “tails” of the ends of the twine appeared to be “curled” – hmmmm...I like this and I think I am going to give it a try – it does add a bit of fun 😀
Do you remember that yesterday I shared…to keep in your memory bank the “heart” in the punch? Well….this card is a great example of why. The little hearts that are scattered between the sentiment came from the punch! Punches sure are life savers as they are zoom….FAST!
Trust me….with Halloween around the corner those circles will also come in handy for “eyes”…I think that there are times that we just look at the punch and say – oh, that is for that Reindeer or Eskimo….and not look at the other elements!
Well I think that we all can agree……this was a fun Christmas in July for all of us! I thank both of these gals for sharing. It was so much fun to let them have the podium! You all know that I love what I do and I am soooooo proud of them for sharing. Sharing IS this way that we all learn and trust me….when I get back and into the swing of things – watch out as I am ready to inspire!
Here is a fun fact about Bridget…..when she found my blog and we developed a relationship…she lived in France! How fun is that – her husband and her moved to France for a timeframe (I know it was well over a year) but the minute she came back to the states….she joined as a SUD! Actually Bridget flew over and met me in Salt Lake City for a convention before she became a SUD…a first time for both if us at the home office – fun times!
Also…this is a fun fact – her husband is a coach for a debate team and in August they host a “camp of some sort” for the debate students (I guess that is what they would be called???) Talk about a small world, my daughter went to college right by Bridgets home in Monroe, NC….so if you live in the area…..look Bridget up!
Now go have a great day and thanks for popping in and sharing some time and love with us!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 15, 2017 | Simple Saturday, Uncategorized |
Yep….that’s right – it is time for another Simple Saturday and today we have the one and only….“Chris R. from Iowa” in the house! If you follow my blog and you read the comments…then you already know that Chris is a hoot and she has one super cute card for us today!
I had offered to my team if they wanted to have some fun while I was gone with some posts…and I am thrilled that many took the challenge and that I am sharing them with YOU while John and I are away!
Pop back tomorrow to see the stepped up version that Bridget is going to share with you and also, please give these ladies some Simple Stampin’ love…I am sure that they will adore reading your comments! Let’s get going…..
The stamp set that they chose was Christmas Cutter Christmas (carried over from the previous catalog) and I love the reason that they chose this Eskimo image….they thought that there have been soooooo many cards in the past using the Reindeer and the Santa…this dear, sweet Eskimo needed some love!
Do you all remember me saying time and time again that when you see a bundle – to HOP ON IT as it does NOT always stay as a bundle as this is a prime example. Even though both products “go together” they are NOT a bundle now so you will see them at the end of the post in the product line up!
We all adore punches as face it – they are super easy and fast. This punch is even more of a bonus as they are many other little “this and that’s” in the punch! (make a mental note that there is a great small heart now that the beloved Owl punch flew the coop)
This is my kinda card….as when I received it in the mail I beamed…sooooo clean & fresh and Chris did a FABULOUS job in coloring it. I learned a great lesson about this gem and one that I will try to try to do more of.
Chris colored this image with the watercoloring pencils! YEP, lesson learned for Susan and I am a “go to” Aqua Painter and the ink pads…but I am giddy of the softness and great blending that the watercolor pencils give.
Chris used the following color of pencils: Basic Gray, Pacific Point, Early Espresso, and Melon Mambo.
When she emailed me she shared that she also used the Aqua Painter…..so I am guessing that she used that in conjunction with the pencils! (again, lesson learned – I thought that you just used the blender pens with the pencils….learn something everyday!)
The card size is a whisper white notecard but it could easily be adapted to an A-2 card….I am a huge fan of this card size and the value…..can’t beat it!
Now don’t you think that this fun paper from the Color Theory DSP Stack is just perfect for this card!!!! Great choice Chris as I think the subtle change in color lends itself the image and the coloring of the sweet Eskimo!
A gal after my own heart….Chris gave her envelope some love. We are just so darn lucky that Stampin’ Up! does an absolutely BANG UP JOB with the color coordination of paper, stamps and inks…..we always have a “go to” to “go to” (say that 3 times)
Keeping the fun theme of the card, the sentiment was stamped on a scrap and then blinged up a wee bit with some pearls…..now this is MY KINDA bling….very soft and subtle!
I say SUPER CARD and SUPER JOB in creating the “front end” of our 2 day post! As the saying goes….Christmas in July and this sweet one would be a fast one to whip up as a Holiday card….a thank you card….or heck – just a sweet card to send to make someone smile!
I shared with you last weekend that I will try to share a “fun fact” about my team member that shared their talent…..well I think that we all know Chris R from Iowa from her fabulous and oh so witty comments but here are just a couple that make me burst out laughing when I think of her and….
- The comment about Mike and the Minion mowing the lawn…
- The comment about the guy driving the hearse and waving to her and Teddy…
- The comment about getting locked out of her house and getting a fireman to let her in…
There are many, many more and I am sure that you all will think of them (definitely Sonny will) but one thing that I do know is…Chris is a super kind person and truly loves to craft and also makes many of us smile by leaving comments on blogs! Way to go with this card!!!!
See you tomorrow….I KNOW that you are going to smile…..it’s time to STEP IT UP….think of us tomorrow….we will be flying to another part of Thailand to continue the fun!
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