School Spirit

 It's Christmas spirit week at my Grandon's school and he needed some themed shirts so he could "dress down".   It's hard to find a "tropical Christmas" shirt in Ohio in December!  Especially when you get the list on Friday afternoon for the following week.

Being Gram I knew had to get to work.  Here are the two shirts I created for the cause. 

This shirt is for White Christmas day.  

This shirt is for Tropical Christmas.  I'm especially proud of the tree trunk.  I didn't have any brown HTV and didn't want to spend $12 for a roll that I'd probably not use much.  I did some research and found out that I could use alcohol markers on white vinyl - and it worked!

Just a reminder that my Etsy store is open for business.  It's SusieLouCreates.  I have about 1/4 of my cards uploaded.  I need to work on the rest of my inventory.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Stamping Foam

 Have you tried Simon Hurley's stamping foam?  You can take any surface and make a stamp out of it.  You just heat up the foam block, press it into a textured surface, ink it up, and then stamp away.  It's a great way to stretch your supplies - dies, embossing folders, ribbon, even household items like sweaters, baskets, upholstery, carpet ... anything with texture.a

I took some dies and laid them out to make a patterned background.  I heated up the foam blocks (I have two taped together), and pressed them firmly into my dies.  I used one of the plates from my Stamparatus to apply even pressure  

And now I have a great background stamp.  The impression will stay in the foam until I heat it put again.

I inked up the blocks with Distress Oxide ink by swiping it across the blocks and then using a blending brush to move it around.  I lined my blocks up in my Stamparatus and pressed down.  I again used one of the Stamparatus plates to help apply even pressure.

Image 1 is the first stamp I took directly to cardstock.  I like the snowy look to the background.

Image 2 is one that I lightly misted the foam with water (without re-inking) and then stamped the cardstock.  The faded background looks like seeing the snow through a pane of glass.

Image 3 I misted the cardstock and stamped again. The subtle look will make a perfect backdrop.

You can get a 4-pack of the stamping for under $10.  It's a great bargain.  Be sure to check out videos by Simon Hurley, Gina K, and Jennifer McGuire showing how they use the foam.  On a Gina & Simon video Simon said you can use all six sides!  

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Not a crafty post ...

This is not a crafty post but I had this on my mind.  For my FB friends who follow my blog this is a repeat of what I posted there.

I heard this in a song : Who can search the depths of me and love me to the core.

We all have hidden secrets, things we don’t tell anyone.  Thoughts, actions, stuff that happened to us or by us in our past, emotions … things we’ve stuffed down and never told another living soul; things we are afraid to even think about.  Things that sneak up on us and choke us, making us feel like we are drowning.  Some of these things are so dark and ugly that if anyone knew they would surely be disgusted and repulsed by them and by us.

Who can search the depths of me and love me to the core. 

There is one.  His name is Jesus.  Jesus looked into the depth of my heart and your heart and saw the ugly, the repulsive, the shameful, the disgusting.  He looked at the hateful, the pain, the scars, the monsters that we live with in the deep dark recesses of our heart and He loved us anyway.  He loved me and you to our cores – even with all the mess, the crap we have buried deep down, tamped down, tried to destroy, tried to forget.  He loves us to our cores.

He even went a step further than just loving us.  He took all that ugliness – mine, yours, all the sin committed by us and to us – and He opened his arms and paid OUR price so we could stand blameless before God.  He took the beatings, the mutilation of his physical body, the abuse to his spirit, the degradation of death on a cross and He opened his arms and said I LOVE YOU TO THE CORE

When you feel unloved, when you are hurting, when you are abused, when you are alone, when you feel like there is no hope remember that Jesus loves you to the core.  No matter what.  Nothing can change that.

Here’s the rest of this song by Hillsong – No One But You

Who can melt the hardest heart

And speak life into my soul
Who can spin the world around
And hold me ever close

 

Who can search the depths of me
And love me to the core
Who controls the world I see
And walks me through it all

 

No one but You
No one but You

Who has made the righteous bright
Who has paved my way with grace
Loved me through my darkest hours
A thousand different ways

 

No one but You

 

For the one who needed to read this ... I pray your heart is changed because He loves you.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

SusieLouCreates Etsy store

SusieLouCreates on Etsy is finally open for business.  It took awhile but I finally got 1/4 of my inventory uploaded to Etsy.

I'm was hoping to get some Christmas card sets done and in the store but since November will soon be half over I think I may have missed that window!

In addition to the individual cards available, I plan to offer sets of cards that mixes occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, thinking of you, and hello.  I don't know if I'll use cards I've already made or create ones exclusively for the sets.

No new projects to upload ... I've been sick for the past week.  I'm thinking it has been a cold that hung on because I've not lost my sense of taste or smell.  

If you get a chance to check out my store, Handmade cards for every occasion. by SusieLouCreates on Etsy.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

October is on the way out

 Can you believe how quickly this year is passing.  We are coming up on Halloween and soon after we'll be in full holiday mode with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Before that happens, I have a few more cards to share.

If you need a unique Christmas gift for someone who likes to send cards, please visit my blog posts and send me an email at SusieLouCreates@gmail.com with the card numbers and how many of each. My cards sell for $5 each or 5 for $20 (plus shipping).  Let me know your zip code and I'll email you the price for shipping (I ship via USPS).

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Word Cardmaking Day

 Saturday was World Cardmaking Day.  My husband was gone on a fishing trip so I had plenty of time of play.  Here are the cards I was able to make this weekend.

The top two were stamped with The Greetery's Market Day Bouquet and the bottom one I used Altenew's Lush Garden kit.  I love the 3D embossing folder.  I'll post individual pictures later on - we've had rain all weekend so I couldn't get outside pictures.

I hope you had time to craft this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Beautiful weekend

 It's been a beautiful weekend here in Central Ohio.  The sun has been shining and the the temperature in the 70s.  My oldest grandson spent the night and we had a rousing game of keep-the-balloon-off-the-floor.

I also got a couple of cards finished.  This first card used Altenew's Peony Bouquet stamp set with the sentiment from their Beautiful Heart set.

This second card is a sympathy card made with The Greetery's Summer Sketches stamp set.  The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set.

I'm off to get a few more cards (hopefully) done before bedtime.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Back at it!

 I've been working on cards since my last post but I just finished the envelopes to go with them.  

I found a new stamp company with great sets - The Greetery.  This card was made using Summer Sketches and greenery that I had precut.  I tinted the small background cardstock with gray ink because I couldn't find the right color gray cardstock in my stash - isn't that always the way!

I really like Altenew's Peony Bouquet layered stamp set.  The full bloom and budding bloom look great against Spellbinders Venetian trellis die.

I usually don't purchase kits because I don't fall in love with all the products included.  But Hero Art's Sunflower kit is small and focused.  It came with 5 ink cubes, the sunflower flowers stamp and die, and dies for Hello and Thanks - both the skinny script and outline.  I really like the look of this with and without the outline. 

I haven't got my Etsy store open yet but almost there - hopefully this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by - Susan

Never Forget

 It's hard to believe that 20 years ago most Americans were glued to their TV sets for whatever news we could get after the horrible morning watching the attack on our country. It is a day that we will never forget, much like our elders who experienced the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I've determined not to watch television today; I don't want to relive the memories.  I've spent the day crafting. Most of my work was on my grandson's birthday card and several cut files I designed.  Now to get back to cards.

Here are a few I finished up this past week.

These were made with Altenew's Peony Bouquet.  I was able to buy the stamp and die set from a Facebook group member.  I love finding product at a great price and I don't mind that it is used.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Bergenia Beauties

 These cards all use Altenew's Bergenia stamp set.  It is one of my favorites.

Today marks a devastating day in Afghanistan.  Please pray for our military and citizens and allies still on the ground.  May God protect them and get them out.  

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Redo!

 I was not happy with my two Waterfront cards from yesterday.  I actually woke up at 4:00 am thinking about them.  I knew I had to update them.

This first one I added a few layers to the frame.  I wanted more of a window look.

This one got a new stamping job and then I layered the focal piece so it pops off the background. 

I'm much happier with they way they look.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

The start of another weekend

 I had a tooth extracted on Thursday so I took Friday off from work.  Fortunately the pain isn't ongoing so I was able to paint some flowers and turn it into a card.

This card was stamped with the Simon Says Floral Garden.  I handpainted each flower and then used Blue Ribbon Oxide ink to make the background.  I love how the flowers stand out against that color.

These next two cards I used the Stampin Up Waterfront die.  On one card I used watercolors to paint the stamps and the other I used dye inks.  I should have popped up the panels so give it some dimension but didn't think about it until it was too late.

With all that is going on in our country and the world, please pray.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Another Weekend Flies By

 Why do the weekends go by so quickly?  I'm advocating for a 4-day work week and a 3-day weekend...or maybe it should be a 3-day work week and 4-day weekend!

My grandboys came by this evening.  They were at their great aunt and uncle's 40th anniversary party.  I asked what was the best part and they both said "the cake!"  

Here is the last card of the weekend.  

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Butterfly Brilliance Card

 I finished this card last night but forgot to post it.  I used the Stampin Up stamp set Butterfly Brilliance.  The background die cut is Dare 2B Artzy and the stamped background is HCPC Vintage Background.

I copied a design I saw on the internet but that card was done in very dark blues.  I like the colors in mine except next go around I'll make the butterflies brighter.  I think this was the first time I used that background die and I really like it.  It's substantial but not overwhelming to the rest of the design.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan.

A Quick Card

 This card came together quickly.  I embossed the blue cardstock with Altenew's Bergenia 3D embossing folder and then lightly rubbed Versamark ink on the raised parts.  I heat embossed it with gold powder.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up's Flourishing Phrases and the gold baubles are from Trinity Stamps.

Tomorrow morning I'm off with a friend to a garage sale that promises lots of crafting goodies and proceeds go to Pelotonia.  So I'm hoping to find some treasures and spend some money!

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Layering Card

 This card took me several days because of all the layers.  The Altenew Bergenia flowers were painted individually as well as the Scrapbook.com Spring Sprigs.   The Sending You Hugs is from 3 different saying stamps from the Whimsical Saying set.  Jennifer McGuire gave me permission to cut my stamps apart.  She is good about reminding us to make the most of our stamps by using them in as many ways as we can think of.  The round iridescent gems are from Studio Katia

This card turned out prettier than I expected.

Thanks for stopping by, Susan

Weekend cards

 Happy Sunday!  It has been a great weekend.  I spent Saturday in my room playing with paper and glue!  Then our kids game over for game night.  My 6-yr-old grandson loves to play Uno.  He wanted to sit by Gram because we sometimes "share" cards!  He told me at dinner that we weren't going to cheat but he made sure I saw his fingers were crossed.  I love that boy.

I finished one of my cards early this morning.  Very early.  When I went to bed it was 3:00AM.  I totally lost track of time, obviously.

This first card I used Altenew's Tranquility Rose stamp and die set.  I embossed some of the images in white; then I embossed the images in gold and cut them out.  The frame in the background was cut and then dry embossed.

This birthday card is a shaker.  The background paper is actually wrapping paper.  I dry embossed the background paper.  The Celebrate I designed on my Scan N Cut and then coated it with Glossy Accents to give it a shine.

I didn't feel creative this morning; I think it was because I was tired.  I cleaned my space and then crawled back into bed to read for a bit and to take a nap.

I hope your weekend was relaxing.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan.

Hello Blue Blossom

 Remember the pieces I showed that were in piles?  Here's the finished card.  

The flowers are from Dare 2 B Artzy Blossom stamp and die set.  The Hello is die cut from Altenew's Blooming Bouquet.  The background is embossed with Sizzix Beaded Ribbon.  This folder was a great find at a yard sale for $1.  

If you are interested in purchasing any card you've seen on this blog send me an email at SusieLouCreates@gmail.com with the number of the card(s).  The cards are $5 each or 5 for $20 (plus postage if I'm mailing).  I accept paypal and will ship for cost.

Thank you for stopping by, Susan

One More Card

 I got one more card completed today.  I love how this looks. 

The LOVE is a die from Scrapbook.com that I got free with an order.  Sending is from Spellbinders Our Favorite Font dies. The background paper is handmade cotton paper I got in a box I bought from Simon Says Stamp.  The full price I paid went to Huntington disease research.  My uncle died with Huntington disease so I was glad to contribute (and the goodies in the box were a bonus).

I hand painted the flower bunches and punched out the hellos for another card but didn't get them put together.  

Hope you had a great weekend and thanks for stopping by, Susan.

Celebrate and Prayers

 As promised earlier, here are the cards I made today.  I feel like I should have gotten more made but each layer takes a while - cutting, inking, stamping, painting/coloring, assembling - and I'm making multiples of each.  It's the process that I enjoy.

Love the colors of this card.  I used Ranger Oxide inks in Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron.  The stamped image is Altenew's Vintage Rose.  The celebrate is file I created on my SNC.

This card uses Sweet N Sassy's Creative Worship for the stamped background and Hero Arts Prayers die and stamp set.  The small flower spray and greenery is from the Altenew Focus On You stamp and die set.

Hoping to get back into my room tomorrow (Sunday).  We are still watching church services online even though our church is finally opened with no mask restrictions.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for stopping by, Susan

Catching up

 I'm not sure how I manage to get behind with this blog.  But first one thing and then another comes up.  My oldest grandson spent the night last night and today rode with Grandpa to take the boat to get a cover.  On the way he told Grandpa that he bets Gram is in her room making cards and watching a video.  He was right!

Here are a few cards I finished this past week but didn't get posted.

I love Altenew's Tranquility Rose on these two cards.  These were done using the layering stencils.  On the purple card I used the coordinating stamp set on the background and Spellbinders Our Favorite Font dies for Thinking of You.

On the pink card, I used Simon Says Stamp Leaves Background to lightly stamp behind the rose. 

These HI cards I designed on my Scan N Cut. The background on the first one is the Sweet N Sassy Creative Worship background stamp.  The leaves were cut on the SNC as well.  On the second card I heat embossed in white Simon Says Stamp Flower Garden.

I'll post the cards from this weekend later.  I've got one done and getting ready to start the next one but I knew I had to get these cards listed.  Thanks for stopping by, Susan 

Craft weekend creations

 I spent last weekend in the country enjoying time with friends at a crafting weekend.  We have a great place locally that is basically a crafter's B&B.  No thoughts of meals, cleaning up, schedules, husbands, children (we are all older so more like grandchildren).  It is a relaxing weekend of creating and laughing and talking and sharing.

Here are the cards I created that weekend.

I made my own graduating dots stencils with my SNC and stencil film.  The flower is Altenew's Fabulous Floret and the sentiment is from Altenew's Beautiful Heart set.  I was going to leave the flower just as an outline but the girls at the crop liked it better colored in.

I really love these thin sentiments from Spellbinders (Our Favorite Font).  The flower is Altenew's Tranquility Rose stencil and the background is from the Tranquility Rose stamp set. I tried stamping the rose outline but I like it better without it. 

The Tranquility Rose is beautiful on this background made with the Simon Says Stamp Leaves Background stamp.  The sentiment is from the Altenew Hope stamp set.

I had 2 full days of crating and I got three cards finished!  In fairness, I did multiples of these cards.  But I also got some scrapbook pages for my Grandsons mostly completed (I forgot my box of letters and didn't have a machine to create them).

Thanks for looking, Susan