Create With M.E.

Blue Ribbon~Great for the Grad in your life!

It's Graduation time!  My youngest daughter just graduated from 8th grade this week (congrats Abby!) and the highschoolers in our school district will graduate tomorrow afternoon.  Mother's Day weekend the local University kids graduated.  It's happening all around here. 

One of my nephews graduated today (congrats Nick!), one graduates June 1st (congrats Jack!) and I have a niece graduating June 9th (congrats Jaclyn!).  Lots of kids graduating and moving to their next stage in life. 

I wanted make the 8th graders life just a little sweeter so I made them a little treat I could give each one as I congratulated them and welcomed them to their next season of life. 

 

I made them with the 1" x 8" cello bags #124134 filled with colored candies that are close to their school colors of blue, red and silver gray.  I finished them off with coordinating colored cardstock stamped with the set called "Blue Ribbon" #125979 (wood mount) or #125981 (clear mount) I also added some bling with the Silver Glimmer Paper #124005 punched with the scallop circle punch #119854 and added a rhinestone from the Rhinestone basic jewels pack #119246 to just finish it off perfectly.

Here is a picture of me and my silly graduate!  Congratulations Abby!

Bloomin' Bouquet~it's a Project Kit

Limited Time Only Order at:

www.CreateWithME.stampinup.net

 

Mother's Day. Teacher appreciation. Just because. Say thank you with this no-maintenance bouquet. There's no watering, no weeding-just enjoying. This easy-to-assemble kit comes complete with the petals, stems, and buttons to create the flowers, as well as four different tags to make this the perfect gift for any occasion. All you need is some paper, ribbon or a vase to add the finishing touches to the bouquet.

As if that weren't enough, the kit contains a "baker's dozen"! This means you can create and give (or keep) a dozen flowers, and have a bonus flower left over to pass along to someone new! Give it to someone you wouldn't normally think of: a teller at the bank, a grocery store clerk, or the librarian at your local library. Anyone you encounter on your way that you'd like to give a little "thank you" to-and introduce them to Stampin' Up!

Ordering information:

Item 134542 $12.95

Available starting April 29 at 4:00pm CST, while supplies last. (so do not wait!)

Kit contents:

• 2 sheets of preprinted and precut flowers on 12" X 12" cardstock; makes 13 flowers using Pool Party, Gumball Green, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry
• 13 Vintage Faceted Buttons
• 13 green floral wire stems

Adhesive not included. (Glue gun recommended.)

Whatcha Up To M.E.?~ "OH, This and That!"

Have you heard?  It's all the rage! Don't believe me? Check out the latest Scrapbooking magazines, pinterest and the big scrappy blogs!  Smash Books that's what I am talking about! They are everywhere, so cool, and so personal but best of all....so M.E.! Disorganization, quick, messy...that is M.E. to a Tee! If you are now thinking...hmm quick, disorganized, messy this is me too but if you are thinking I do not like disorganization or mess but I had you at quick, take a look at this video and see what you think. You might be surprised at the possibilities. To me it can be the difference between actually doing something creative or not because I don't have the time.  How about you?

 

These new products are now a part of Stampin' Up! and will be coming out in the new catalog but no I am not teasing you, you can get them now! With more items coming later! But don't wait too long these are only available until the end of April.  So excited! You can purchase each of the 5 items separately but why when you can bundle these new products in one nice tidy package and save 15% to boot!   Here are the details click on the item numbers to see each product in my store or on the bundle number to see the whole kit n kaboodle:

Item	Description	Price
131268	Epic Day This and That Journal	$10.95
130814	Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper	$10.95
130133	Remember This and That Rotary Stamp	$5.95
131271	Epic Day This and That Designer Stickers	$4.95
131269	Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape	$4.95
133350	Epic Day This and That Bundle Includes the five This and That products listed above. Only available in a bundle until April 30.	$32.08 15% Off Retail Value!

Happy Easter~ from this Chick!

Look at this adorable chick!  He's just as cute as can be and so easy to recreate.  I used the 1 3/4" circle punch for his body I used the wings from the Bird Punch for his wings.  The Boho punch finishes off his little crown and his feet.  So cute. I adorned the box with one of the chicks from the cute clips out of the spring mini catalog.   A couple of adorable greetings from one of my favorites all time sets teeny tiny wishes.  They are perfect when you are doing these little items.

I used a simple folded triangle for his beak and a couple of dots with my basic black marker for his eyes to bring him to life.  I found this cute box idea somewhere.  Ugh I just spent an hour trying to find out where it was so I could send you there and give credit.  I know it was a video and it had a curly label punch with a window sheet front but that's all I can remember.  (if you know please make a comment so I can edit my post.  I have been over every one of my pinterest boards.  I will keep looking and post credit as soon as I am able.  I did have to make some changes to it's size to accomodate this little yummy....

Ok since I can not send you to the website I am going to post a few extra pics so you can put your own together with my measurements. 

You need two pieces of cardstock the box that will hold your treat is 5" by 2 3/4" You will score it on the long side at 1/2", 2 1/4", 2 3/4" and 4 1/2" then turn it and score the short side 1/2" from each side.

You will remove all the 1/2" squares from this piece as shown.  Punch one side with a 1 1/4" punch or whatever size you need to accomodate your treat.  Put sticky strip as shown on the opposite side of the part you punched.  Assemble the box bottom.

The wrap around part is 8 1/2" x 1 3/4" score on the long side at 1/2", 2 7/8", 3 3/8", 5 1/4", 5 5/8", and 8" Put sticky strip as shown

Place the box bottom as shown and fold up the sides and decorate. 

I sure hope that helps you be able to replicate this adorable box.  I have yet to expand into videos but hope it in my future?  Maybe with a little encouragement I can do it. :)

 

 

My Digital Studio~Not just for Scrapbooking.

Not by any means.  Actually I am known to do very little scrapbooking.  <gasp> But I love My Digital Studio and I use it for lots of fun crafting.  Yesterday I held my club meeting and we had a lot of fun making the bracelets I showed you last week here.  We also spent some time crafting a cute bookmark.  There were two little girls who joined us so I thought this was something they would be able to use and us busy moms and grandmas always need some way to mark our spot!

The image is right from a My Digital Studio download called Book Buddies.  All I had to do was shrink it down to fit a 1" circle punch and color it.  So easy to add color to the stamps with My Digital Studio. Ask me how!

So we punched them out, ran our Soda Pop Tops through the Big Shot to turn down the edges.  We adhered the 1" circle inside.  Added a bead of crystal effects all around the edge and sprinkled on some bright colored beads.  Adhere all of this to a giant paperclip with hot glue.  The finishing touch is the cute little daffodil delight ribbon bow.  Attach it with a mini glue dot.  Look what my favorite childhood book is.  Anyone who knows M.E. knows this is my favorite all time story.

Just wanted to throw a shout out to all the great people that came to club last night.  I think we had 13 in attendance and they were so involved in painting their bracelets they hardly had time to look up!

Take a look at My Digital Studio it's a phenomenal program.  Not ready to take the plunge Download your FREE trial here.

Elements of Style~A Fashionable Style.

I'm so worried that the pictures just won't do this project justice.  It's AMAZING in person.  Shiny, dimensional, colorful and just plain gorgeous.  Last month I was wearing one of these to my club and the girls noticed it and wanted to learn how to make one.  It just so happened that I had "inherited" a ton of these little dominoes just a week beforehand so I was all over that one. 

About the only issue with the ones I "inherited" and the ones I had used on my first bracelet were the ones on my first bracelet were pre-drilled, these didn't have any holes in them!  Yikes! 

Well, it just so happened that my husband had recently purchased a nice drill press for our new shop.  So I put one of my boys on the task of drilling holes in about a million of these.  (ok maybe only 120) but when you have to drill 2 holes in one side flip em and drill 2 to meet up with the first two it's a little bit of a chore.  He got it done in pretty good time though so I went to work on making another sample to show the girls.

First I stamped it in Jet Black Stazon using the stamp set "Elements of Style". I then colored them with crystal effects colored with reinkers.  This can be done in a couple of ways.  I like to use a tootpick since these dominoes are so small and the spots are tiny to color.  I also like using an old blender pen (because you do not really need the blendy solution to help you just need the felt tip) I like to pounce the color on so it stays dimensional and it gets some light and dark shading that way.  You aren't looking for full coverage. 

Wish I had thought to take pictures during the process but all I was thinking about was making my sample tonight and it's so much fun I couldn't stop to run upstairs and get my phone to take these pictures.  Yes, even too lazy to even get out the "real camera!" LOL

Here are the dominoes after I finished coloring them before stringing:

This picture definitely doesn't do them justice. but you can at least see how I laid out the design.

Here is a close up shot of two of the "tiles". A little blurry but you can see the shiny-ness and yes, this is after they are dry.  Now it's time to string them.  I use the stretchy cord and string it with small beads between each tile as a spacer. 

The size of these are 1" by 1/2" inch, so quite small (not your normal domino size).  Just to give you an idea the hole is made with a 1/16" drill bit so they aren't more than 1/4" thick at the most.

I guess if you get tired of wearing it as a pretty bracelet you could flip it around and be a little eclectic with a domino bracelet! LOL 

Well, I can't wait to show my Villa Grove club ladies how to make one for themselves next Sunday.  If you live locally and want to join me in Villa Grove I can accomodate 12 at this month's club, it's all about jewelry! We will use our new Soda Pop Tops too!

Want to be a member of the Villa Grove club and do more involved projects?  The class is free with your $25 order and you will get hostess benefits one month.  Just want to come to a class here and there with something more than cards?  It is $15 to cover the cost of supplies with no monthly committment. Email M.E. for more details or to RSVP.

That's the Ticket~Your Ticket for LOVE!

You want to really impress that special someone this Valentine's Day? This is your ticket to show them how much you LOVE them! Here is an easel card using some awesome goodies from the Spring Catalog.  I had a different card all ready to show you today but after I designed this card in my head last night laying in bed.  You do that don't you?  This morning I got right down to business and made this card in "real life" ;) and just had to share it with you immediately!  We are going to make it tonight in my monthly card class because I love it so much and I know that my stamping friends will love it too!

 

Look at all the fun goodies on it.  You can see after I took the picture above and I was zooming in for a close-up I thought "gee that card really needs something else" and so I added the little pearl inside the heart.  Just what it needed to look finished in my opinion. 

You've still got just enough time to place your valentine card supply order.  Do it today on my website: www.CreateWithME.stampinup.net for all your stamping supply needs. 

Perfect Heart Shaped Valentines~Use your Petal Cone Die

I remember folding my construction paper in half in grade school and drawing that half heart shape before cutting it out.  I was always anxious to see what shape my heart might take.  Was it going to be fat and squatty? Was it going to be long and skinny or maybe just maybe was this time going to be the perfect heart shape?  Not too short, not too tall, the lobes would they be nice and plump?  I get that warm feeling in my heart just thinking about how after 45+ years I still get that feeling when I craft something.  I know you probably have that feeling too or you wouldn't be looking at ideas on my blog...am I right? Leave me a comment and tell me one of your early crafting memories.  I'd love to hear them.

Well, now with my Stampin' Up! supplies I get to make the perfect heart shape every time. 

I cut 2 sheets of Primrose petal cardstock (look at this paper it kind of reminds you of our old red construction paper in a way so I thought it would be perfect!) with the Petal Cone die. 

I removed the tab off of one of the heart shapes (what it looks like before being assembled into a cone) and using Sticky strip on the other I attached them together with the tab on the back of my card.  I embellished it with all kinds of fun layers.  Some More Amore Designer Series Paper, half of a paper doilly, a couple of stamped hearts.  The Primrose Petal Love stamp on the front is one of the new single stamps.  I added a fun arrow clip from the Hung Up Cute Clips #129389 from the Spring Catalog.  Maybe you would want to add one of the hearts from the elements set that is GREAT too!  Both are perfect for this card.  I finished it off with some Pool Party seam binding ribbon made into a bow.  Cute!

The red heart in the back is trimmed from the More Amore paper.  You get 2 full sheets of these laser cut hearts. 1 sheet is real red and white and the other sheet is Primrose Petal with white on the back.  I could see even jazzing this up a bit with pearls or rhinestones...the possibilities are endless!

 

 

Stampin' Up! Magnet boards~Dude, you're welcome.

Last of my magnet boards for this week. I am going to show you two today. For the Dudes in your life. One I made for my youngest daughter Abby but it could work equally as well for a young man's bedroom too since it has a look that just says teen but not boy or girl specifically.  The other one is definitely a masculine type board but many of my friends and customers say it's their favorite. Here is Abby's board for all her Important items or not so important it's her choice! ;-)

Here is a close up of the balloon image.  Can you see what the balloon is made with?  Yep I used the one of the Ornament Framelets turned upside down.

I embellished it with one of the time piece charms from the tea time trinkets charms.  Some of the new Marina Mist Striped Organdy ribbon found in the Spring Mini catalog. It comes in 2 other colors; Melon Mambo and Old Olive incase Blue doesn't suit you. Take a note of the oval cut with the Oval Framelets.  I embossed it with the Cloudy Day folder so you get the feeling the balloon is air-born.

This next magnet board will probably find it's way out to our shop.  I think it would be a great place for folks to put their business card on our desk.  We have a lot of taxidermists etc...who like to leave a calling card for others to see.  I just have to get a deer on it somehow.  Have yet to figure that one out. 

You have to take a close up peek of this one because you can't really see the detail.  I stamped the pocket watch on a window sheet and embossed it with platinum embossing powder.  The piece underneath has been sponged to give it an antique look.  I finished it off by stamping the clock hands with Jet Black Stazon right onto the window sheet and added the brad to the center.

I think if I was making this as a gift I would use the recipients initial and layer it on the right of the clockwork images.  That would be perfect!  Now maybe you can see why this was the favorite.

 

Stampin' Up!~Inspiring others to be their creative best!

Seems like since I got back from Orlando Florida a couple of weeks ago I have been doing most of my stamping to show others.  I have had a full schedule of classes, clubs and even a couple of meetings.  Yesterday I thought I really wanted to stamp for M.E.!  I remembered something that Shelli Gardner (Stampin' Up! CEO incase you are looking at my Stampin' Up! blog from under a rock :) had shown us. At the time I turned to my roomie next to me and said "that is the FIRST thing I am going to make when I get home!"  Ha well it wasn't the first thing but I did get it done yesterday.  Want to see it? 

I sat down and created a fun banner for my stamp studio.  I love how it turned out but as I was editing the pictures I thought gee these really do not do it justice.  Let me just show you each piece.  I have a feeling it may be one of those things that I kind of keep adding things to it.

Here is the first "flag":

You can see some stamping, distressing and embossing but like I said you really can not see how much fun ink distressing is on this piece. 

Lots of layers on this one.  LOVE that new Tea Time Designer Series Paper in the Spring Catalog. Just think layer, layer, layer when you put yours together.

We are half way through now here is Flag #3:

LOVE this Swallowtail. It's so huge but so detailed.  Perfect on this banner.

#4:

I made this one in My Digital Studio with a reminder of why I do what I do...

and lastly:

The one that sold me on why I needed to make this banner.  So much fun stamping for myself.  But...on that note I couldn't wait to share it with you!  Just to save you some time I made my "flags" 4.25 x 7" on average. I may have to try to change my lighting and take some better pictures for you