Flying by to say Happy Birthday

Paper piecing can be tedious but oh so worth it.   This plane from Spellbinder's Flyby Greetings die set is so cute.  I made a template for the clouds in the background.  The clouds popped up are from this same set.  

These cards will be going up to my Etsy store so grab them while you can. 

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Weekend Crafting

My Grandson had a soccer game.  My sister was in town for her husband's family reunion.  I wasn't sure I'd get into my craft space this weekend.  The soccer game was cancelled (too much rain + lots of kids running around = messing up the soccer field!).  I was able to meet with my sister for coffee and a few hours of chatting (good news is I'll see her again next weekend).  And I was able to create a couple of cards.

For this first card, I used Altenew's Lush Garden 3D embossing folder to create this soft ink blended card.  Blending with Ranger oxide inks is like spreading butter (and even a novice like me can get good results)!  The colors I used are Loss Shadow blended with Hickory Smoke, Saltwater Taffy blended with Spun Sugar, and Squeeze Lemonade blended with Fossilized Amber. I lightly blended Lost Shadow on the card base and then added Simon Says Stamp's Just a Note and stamped sentiment from Handcrafted With Love (emblossed with Altenew Pure White).  I splattered the card with Stampin Ink Whisper White pigment ink mixed with water and a coppery metallic water-based paint.

On this card I used Altenew's wide washi tape Monochrome - isn't it beautiful.  I then ran it through the Spellbinders Platinum 6 with the Altenew Rose Boquet 3D embossing folder.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up Expressions and embossed on heat resistant vellum.   I added a few silver pearls to finish the card.

If you are interested in purchasing either of these cards, head over to my Etsy store https://susieloucreates.etsy.com 

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

I'm back!

It's been almost a year since I last posted ... not quite, but almost.  I've been busy creating in my room.   Unfortunately, that creativity has not translated into this blog or my Facebook page (Facebook).

Watching a friend in my condo community gear up her facebook page and advertising an online class got me thinking that if I want people to know about my Etsy store and vendor events, I'm going to have to get a move on with my social media outlets.

So here goes!  Please visit my Etsy store at SusieLouCreates - Etsy.  I have lots of great cards for sale.  Remember, if you are local to the Columbus, OH area, I'm happy to save you shipping charges and meet to deliver your purchase.  Outside of Etsy, I will accept cash, Paypal, and Venmo.

Most of my creating for the past several months was to get ready for a vendor show.  I had so many items that I didn't have room in my booth for my individual cards!  It was a first-time show for this location and the attendance was lower than I expected but I did better than I had thought I would so that is a plus!

I have several more cards to upload (over 50) into Etsy and other projects like brag books, mini scrapbook albums, journals, notebooks in different sizes, Christmas and birthday tags, card sets.  Many of these would make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends, and family members.  I can also do custom items if you are interested (I'm working on 3 albums for someone who is heading to Aruba and wanted to gift them to the friends she's going with).

I'm exploring different avenues of selling as well and will keep you posted.  If you want to contact me directly, feel free to use the email SusieLouCreates@gmail.com.

Here are a couple of cards that I haven't shared.  The typewriter is a fun one and I like the snarky-like sentiment.

And isn't this bear adorable.  He is peeking around the corner to say happy birthday.  This is a new die for me and I've got lots of ideas on how to incorporate him into lots of different cards.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Christmas Tags

I have two wonderful grandsons - one is in 1st grade and the other is in daycare (he's 3).  I made Christmas tags last year for my older grandson (the younger was at a sitter's and I didn't think about doing it for him) so this year I'm doing it for both.  Because my grandson goes to a private school, at least 1/3 of his classmates are from the previous year so the tags needed to be different.

My youngest grandson loves nutcrackers (he calls them nutcracks).  When I saw Concord & 9th's Winter Wonderland nutcrackers on a card that Jennifer McGuire made I knew I had to have this die set.  It did not disappoint.

Here is a sampling of the tags I made.  I finished 25 tags and still have 10 more to do.  I think the rest of them will be with snowmen instead of nutcrackers!

These guys are very small but not hard to assemble - even the teeny tiny pieces (even with my big fingers).  I started by die cutting the pieces out of various cardstock colors and then matching them up when I assembled.  The next round I cut several from the same color combo and then assembled - much easier (especially for color challenged people).  

If you haven't seen this die set from Concord & 9th, check it out.  It comes with the nutcracker, snowmen, a car with a tree on the roof, a snow globe, and tiny snow flakes.

There's a stamp set that coordinates with it but I didn't get that.  This snow globe ended up in the trash because I didn't do a good job of assembling it (in the picture the glue is still wet and visible).

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you get to spend your Thanksgiving with those you love and who love you.  Susan

Christmas Card Class

 Our local scrapbook/cardmaking store - Made on Main - had a card class this year.  The ladies that went said it was so much fun.  Unfortunately I missed it because my husband had surgery the day before and I needed to be with him all day.  But I did get my kit and it was fun putting them together.

Here are the 12 card designs we made (2 of each card). 

The nativity was my favorite ... so much so that I immediately bought the Hero Arts Looking Glass dies so I could make these again.  And I bought a few of the other Looking Glass die sets.  

It is a shame that some many of the local craft stores have closed so it is a real treat to have Made on Main so close (25 minutes from me).  They have also opened a retreat center for weekend craftiness.

If you are local to the Columbus, OH area, be sure to check out Made on Main in Ashville, Ohio.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Cards from the summer

 I have a few cards to catch up on.  These are some that I worked over the summer but didn't take time to photograph or post.

This last one I used the tissue paper from an Altenew package for the background.  I love when our companies send us a little extra that we can create with!

Thanks for stopping by, Susan 

Word Card Making Day 2022

 It's Word Cardmaking Day and I finally found time to get to work!  Well, to be honest, I've been in my room a lot but working on other things.  I've been working out card boxes and folios and such for Christmas gift giving.  I'll show those later.

But onto what really matters ... the card I made today.  Yes, card - singular.  In fairness I managed to make two of these and it only took me four hours.  Okay, not really 4 hours but I had to clean up my room first.  I had the scraps of said card boxes and such all over the place and had to clean them up before I could start a new project.

I decided to do the PinkFresh Studio's challenge and made a card using mailing their products.  I LOVE how this turned out and will definitely be making more in this same vein.  PinkFresh has really great products and as I thought about the elements I wanted on this card I was happy that most were from them.

This card uses the following PinkFresh products:  Daisy Wreath stencils (I love their laying stencil sets), Folk Edge Circles (another absolute favorite), You sentiment, Leafy Branch.   The "are amazing" is from Stampin Up Expressions stamp set.

Funny story ... I had to redo the sentiment circle because the stamp says "you are amazing" and I covered the "are" instead of the "you" and didn't notice it until I was ready to post the picture.  I'm glad I saw it before hitting "publish".

Thanks for stopping by, Susan