Another TIP and GIVEAWAY!

by Susan Itell | Dec 18, 2016 | Uncategorized | 38 comments

Good Morning…well one week from today it is the BIG DAY to celebrate this beautiful and special season! How is everyone doing? I think that there are times that the holidays bring us “speed bumps” in life but I encourage you to look at them and try to find some humor in them…just say to yourself, “you just can’t make this stuff up”

Here is the latest and greatest on our end…..WE HAVE INTERNET!!!! The cyber gods have opened up and made me happy BUT the weather yesterday……CRAZY – it was to get warm….but oh no, it was an ICY mess and it truly did not get better as the day went on. After John and I left McDonald’s yesterday (for me to finish my post) and then to the gym…..IT WAS CLOSED!!!!! (due to weather)

Last night I asked John where the mail was and he said, it never came….I could not believe it as it really wasn’t THAT bad….so I texted on of my friends that works at our local post office as John and I had a bet….JOHN WON…..she said – YEP, they told the mail carriers not to go back your road!

I am LOVIN’ being SANTA and wowzers….it looks like there was LOTS of great discussion about the Absorbers. I am glad that so many of you use this method and for those of you that are still unclear, let me say a couple of things before we get to today’s topic.

We need ANOTHER WINNER……so here you go – the lucky winner today is #4 – Carol ~ WOOT-WOOT.….do that dance and then send  email me  with your address!

Quickly to the absorber….

It is just a basic car drying chamois that all I do is cut into “workable” sizes for my hand. (I personally thing that if it is too big….it is super frustrating). I will be a post with the links to many ideas on non Stampin’ Up! this week but for those of you that are unclear about the product – here is a link and then here is another link. You can clearly see that the prices are different and the reason is the size…you are going to “cut it” so take that into consideration.

I will say….I think that the “absorber” brand is the best – it seems to hold up great through many hard uses and washings! You can buy this at any auto store (maybe in your own garage)…Walmart etc….I just find it SUPER handy to use and it works great for me!

O.k. – now to day! We all take soooo much pride and joy in making things and also in picking out the “special something” for gift giving – today is all about making them look their best as after all…when someone sees a beautiful presentation…now matter what the value of it is – THEY FEEL SPECIAL!

Below you will see a couple of pictures of packing that I do. I ADORE wrapping gifts, even so much that I would love to have a service to fru-fru and wrap peoples gifts! I find it fun and rewarding but trust me, I AM SUPER SAVVY!

Here are tips for you….now I know one thing that we all have in common is HOARDING paper and ribbon so 1st I say USE IT. I will then say that there are some ribbons that are TIMELESS and SUPER CLASSIC that are just tooooooo darn good of a deal to not STOCK PILE – yes, you heard me….I am saying BUY MORE AND HOARD it because it is going to be useful in many time ahead!

The “key” to doing this is to purchase wisely. When we buy wrapping paper you are almost always guaranteed that white or ivory will work. YEP – click here and then click here. I ask you, how can you go wrong for $2.80 a roll…it is simple – YOU CAN’T~

Here is another type of ribbon that I SWOOPED up on because it ties BEAUTIFUL in the simple knot….(works for me as it lays flat and always looks great) – are the 5/8″ Striped Cotton Ribbon. These are also $2.80 per roll – they are fantastic ~ (I seem to use the Hello Honey and the Blackberry Bliss the most)

Now you might be surprised on this one….this is what I have on one of the packages you see in the picture! It is the Wild Wasabi Seam Binding Ribbon – this is another keeper for many papers! Here is another sleeper for many of you….the Craft Rope Trim. This was from the holiday catalog and it just gives a great homey feel to a package and I trend to use it for things that I pull together tissue paper around.

Here is a FUNNY FOR YOU…..when I was taking down the cornstalks from our front porch I found a surprise (remember….John did the decorating)….I went to cut them off of the pillars and guess what he used – THE CRAFT ROPE TRIM!!!!! Here is goes, you just can’t make this stuff up! I asked him about it when he came home that night and I loved his answer….the baling twine on the hay bales at the barn were blue so I went upstairs to your stash and thought that was perfect! 😀

Here is the last ribbon I will share today as I think by now “you get it” where I am going with this post. It is the Real Red 3/4″ Stitched Ribbon. It is beautiful and I have used it a bunch this season. It is now $5.10 and I do not mean to sound cheap etc…but I have been on the fence waiting to see if it would go lower in price so I haven’t gone “too overboard” on this one…..I do love it and it made decorating Mason Jars a breeze! (this would be great for Valentines Day as well!)

Let’s chat about paper…do you know where I love to get super cute paper for just $1.00 a roll. Michael’s Arts! If you go to the section in the store that has the $1.00 bins…you can always find fun and different paper patterns. That is always the 2st place I go when I go to Michael’s as those bins are great!

The other great place that I find FUN tissue is Hobby Lobby. When they have a sale….they have a great sale! This fun polka dot tissue is 50% off and I bet it will be 75% off soon….I will SWOOP that up as it works for Valentines as well plus I always give my product shares lots of love on making them look pretty for you!

We all cannot forget the dollar store…..here is a great one that I love to do for a little “giftie” for my mail carrier. He loves to go to the movies…I buy him (2) movie tickets that he can use whenever and purchase a popcorn box form the dollar store….put some $1.00 boxes of candy, a cute card….BAM!!!!

Here is another GREAT GIFT that anyone would love to receive. I did this for my brother that is a single dad. I bought him a bunch of different wrapping paper like I talked about….a bunch of our ribbons, a “good” scotch tape dispenser with refills and a great pair of scissors….this is such a practical and useful gift that would nake someone happy not to have to do the “guess work”

There you go…another post that hopefully has brought some insight to you! Now here is the FUN…..leave us a comment and give us some feedback of the products I highlighted and also some tips and tricks that you do.

One person will win several rolls of ribbon that I know will make you smile!

I highlighted the specific product for you rather than showing the scrolling store like I normally do with my blog posts because “at a glance”, they do not show the discounted price……but remember, clicking on the highlighted link will take you directly to my on line store….and also click here as well!

There are LOTS of deals and remember….YOU can GO TO THE VAULT! Ho-Ho-Ho! I like to make sure that I have the “basics” so stocking up on great Year End Deals is a win-win….and then toss in some staples like paper, envelopes, adhesives…..I know getting to $75.00 is not too hard…then you can PICK A FREE STAMP from ME!

New TIP for you – GAME CHANGER!

by Susan Itell | Dec 17, 2016 | Uncategorized | 56 comments

Good morning! Once again, I adored and appreciated reading your comments from yesterday’s post! I am thrilled that you all are enjoying the break from normal post to have good old fashion fun and letting me play SANTA to YOU!

Back at McDonald’s but this time John is with me and then we are going to the gym…..this weather is crazy as we had freezing rain but then tomorrow we are to be in the upper 50’S….PEEP from Boston was heading home today but he called at 8:30 last night saying he just hit the road because Boston was to get bad weather…..I heard him come in around 4 this morning and I am thrilled that he is here safe and sound.

Update on living in the boonies….I was coming home from getting shavings for the barn and I spotted the Cable Truck……I think I PUSHED ON THAT GAS PEDAL  in excitement to see if he was there for “our problem”….are you ready for this…..I pulled up beside him (Milo was with me in his dear little red plaid coat) and I put the passenger side window down…. and kinda yelled “hello”…NO RESPONSE….

Next I tapped the horn of the truck (I really hated to do this but I did) and the guy JUMPED in his seat – HE WAS ASLEEP!!! I burst out laughing and then I thought – you just cannot make this up….I then said – by any chance are you here for a repair call for 15002? He first apologized (heck it was around 1 p.m. ~ maybe he was in a food coma from his lunch) and then he said also 15004 & 15007.

When I heard that there were (2) other cases I was SOOOOOOO HAPPY because I believe in the POWER OF NUMBERS…..because we all know when there are more people having the same issues….things happen! I really wish you would have seen my face as I was just ecstatic that other people had issues! (that’s kind of mean if me…..I know, shame on me)

I then said, by any chance do you know what the problem is? He said he thought it was because of the drastic drop in temperature and that he needed to go back to a transformer on a road that is probably 2 miles from my house. (I again thought to myself, how silly is that that we would be hooked up to that box way down the road…but I didn’t say a word!!!!)

I went home, unloaded the shavings – came up to the house and decided to head back out with a secret weapon….Homemade Cookies and Hot Chocolate (thank you Christmas time with having cookies around)….his truck wasn’t there where I saw him coming home earlier…..I went down to the end of the next road, no truck (at this point I was thinking….did he ditch our job ~ and if he did…..hmmmmmmm)

I went down another small road and THERE HE WAS…….I pulled up to his truck and this time he was out working (guess that cold air was going to keep him awake) and said, I thought that this would taste good to you as you can see…..I am hoping….really hoping that you are going to get to the bottom of this and have our internet back because I am going through computer withdraw (and that makes me grumpy)

He laughed and thanked me and said that he was still working on figuring out what area it is and what the issue was etc….I went back home….told the dogs my story (aren’t animals the best to talk to – they kind of tilt their heads back and forth like, YES MOM….I GET IT! ~deep down they probably know what I am saying and are thinking – you are nuts)

Back out again I went to go to an appointment and when I came home there was a note taped on the front door from my “new friend” – he said…I found the problem and we will be back out tomorrow. There came the happy dance (again, the poor dogs thought I had lost it)

Ok – ENOUGH about the “story time with Susan” (I am thankful that I can use WORD and just save it) we have a winner from yesterday….it is…..Gracie Harrell.…WOOT-WOOT to YOU – please email me your address and your pens will be in the mail to you! I know that you are going to love them ~ they are great! (thanks for popping in)

For today…this is THE KEEPER OF ALL KEEPERS! I know that I am sharing a bunch of great tips but even if you do not win today...YOU NEED TO DO THIS as it is the best! (One day next week I will be doing a post on my top 10’s of different things and I will feature this with the links etc…so keep watching)

I can hear you right now….THIS LOOKS LIKE ONE HOT MESS…well, let me tell you – it does look icky but it is THE BEST and one of YOU will be a lucky person to win the container and I will cut you (4) little squares!

All you have to do is leave me a comment and let us know if you use this method and if so…how do you like it…..or just leave a comment and let us know something that works for you.

I just find this to be SUPER fast and easy to keep my stamps clean and then I throw them in the wash machine every so often. They always looked stained (I call that well loved) and they are great as it is the perfect amount of moisture to clean and then they dry super quick!

Again, next week I am going to be doing (3) in a row of posts of MUST HAVES (in my opinion) and I will share with you the links for them! Remember, shopping in jammies is not only FUN but ON TREND…..(just saying) 🙂

Please do not forget about the Product Share…I will send out confirmations by next Tuesday so if you have not heard from me, please do not think that I did not get your share request…..and also, DO NOT FORGET THE VAULT…….for those of you that I have been IN THE VAULT – you know that there is a TON of FUN!

See you tomorrow….another GREAT tip and fun give away! (FINGERS & TOES crossed that we get the internet back)

Another day of TIPS and GIVING!

by Susan Itell | Dec 16, 2016 | Uncategorized | 50 comments

Ho-Ho-Ho….SANTA SUSAN here!

Again, another late post because you can’t even make this up! I am sitting at a  McDonald’s to get an internet connect because out phone lines and our internet are DOWN and they earliest they can get here is TUESDAY……needless to say – John and I are not happy customers!

It is brutally cold and I needed to take care of the animals before I could get into town….but hang in there because we have more TIPS and more WINNING for a lucky person!

Good news is that I am able to use WORD to do my typing and then I just need to go somewhere that there is internet…..soooooooo if you email me and I do not get right back to you….it is because – I am a sad Susan with no connection!

Well here you go with another FUN post that has a tip for you that I think is SUPER IMPORTANT. You will hear why I am so passionate about this tip after we have a …..WINNER….WINNER ~ Chicken DINNER!!!!

WOOT-WOOT…..it is time for Roberta to be doing the happy dance! It makes me soooo happy when someone wins that is excited to get it….I think I have your address – but please email me it just to be sure!

I have a confession, the majority of the time I am upstairs in my work area and sometimes a dog will sneak up and keep me company but there are time that I just break into a “HAPPY DANCE” and say/sing woot-woot….dance in a circle and  then I am DONE!

Then I will look at the dog, usually it is Milo or Rosie and the are looking at me like, “Have you lost your mind…WHAT was that you did and then GO TAKE voice lessons”

Sometime I do get exited just like you do so the moral of the story is…we are NEVER TOO OLD to break into a personal HAPPY DANCE and have fun!

Before we get to the TIP today, I loved your comments. I must say – I totally laugh when I hear that some of you use a straightening iron for bakers twine and ribbon…..(well – I admit, I have ironed wider ribbon) but I think if John walked upstairs and saw me using a curling iron he would BURST out laughing at me but then again, a girl has to do what a girl needs to do!

Now to the tip….and hang tight as this is an important one because I know how much time and love we put into making our cards…..

Yep, same drill as I am having sooooooo much FUN being SANTA this week….leave a comment and let me know if you use these products or if you have any tips about the topic and I will send the random lucky winner the pens!

O.k. – here is is….it is simple. You need to purchase the Project Life Pens. It is as simple as that. WHY you ask???? They are great pens that do not smear and they are easy to write with. I do not do Project Life personally and I think that many of you hear the word “Project Life” and say – I don’t do that….but seriously, these are GREAT Pens!

The come in a pack of (2) in different widths and they are fabulous. (Just do not let your kids or husband get to them or you will not get them back). They are easy to write with and I simply cannot tell you haw many time I will get a card and see that the writing was imprinted slightly on the top of the card because of the pen that was used.

Now there is NO NEED TO PANIC….as trust me, it is not a terrible mess but I am “just saying” many times when you use a Ball Point pen…..they leave a residue when the card is folded together.

The other pen that is also perfect for writing with is our Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker. You can buy that individually and the fine tip on this works like a charm as well when writing your cards.

Does this make sense to you? I know that it is hard to put into words but trust me on this one…it does make a difference to have a great pen that will write smoothly and that will not smear,

Back in my Creative Memories Days….we ALWAYS used fabulous pens for the longevity of our journaling because after all, they are scrapbooks meant for life. I can remember having customers not believe me that it is important to use a proper pen and then they would see the same thing….after they closed their book several times, the pen would leave a residue on the prior page!

There you go ….another TIP from me and leave me a comment about pens…maybe you use these…maybe you have something else that you love…..please share!

One lucky winner will win 2 pens, the set of Project Life Pens and the Single Black Marker.

I hope that you are enjoying these fun posts as much as I have in posting them, to me it is a great break to sit down and get your mind off of the busy times and have some “me time” together!

Until tomorrow….Ho-ho-ho….SANTA SUSAN has something in the bag again!