Create With M.E.

Vintage Verses~Chalkboard tutorial

Have you fallen in love with the "new" Chalkboard technique but think it's too hard to duplicate or don't even know where to start? Well, let M.E. break it down for you. I love this great look probably because I can be messy and it LOOKS GREAT that way! LOL

Start by throwing your embossing buddy down on your basic black cardstock.  If you do not have an embossing buddy do not stress over it.  Order your's here today or just skip this step.  The reason you use the embossing buddy is because it just takes that stark blackness off of your paper and gives the next step a little bite.

After you wipe this around and blow a little you will take some Whisper White craft ink and a piece of sponge and lightly sponge some white color onto your cardstock.  I concentrate on the edges for the most part.  I always start off my page in a swirling motion and work onto my cardstock.  Then I might swipe here and there.  Do it just like you are cleaning off the blackboard in class. I taught this for a class full of teachers the other day and they told me it's all white boards and smart boards now! Probably why we love this technique it's vintage anything vintage is cool because it reminds us of our childhood...right?

Now it's time to do a little stamping!  Yay!  Here I used one of the greetings from the FREE sale-a-bration set called Vintage Verses.  I love this versatile set.  Each greeting is unique and different and did I mention FREE!  Who doesn't love FREE.  But remember it's only available for another WEEK.  Get more details on how you can earn yours for FREE here

click on the image to go to my store to get more info

No embossing just stamp it in Whisper White craft ink.  Now it's time to just finish this piece off with a little border.  I used the white pencil from the Watercolor pencil set but you can also use the white crayon from the Watercolor crayons I have used both successfully. 

I love using my grid paper as a guide when doing this.  I place my image on the lines and using any straight edge (usually a scrap piece of cardstock on my desk) I draw from corner to corner but in this case I went just a smidge shy of the edge to give it a different look. 

I used the FREE Madison Avenue paper from the Sale A bration catalog folding the corner over to showcase both of these beautiful sides.  Why only show one I say?!  How do I get both of these items free M.E.?  For every $50 your order in Stampin' Up! merchandise (you need an embossing buddy, watercolor crayons, black paper, whisper white craft ink...sponges.  You get the point) you can choose 1 item from the Sale A Bration brochure.  So order $100 and you get 2 free items and so forth!  Don't wait these are not available after the 22nd of March.

 

My Paper Pumpkin~It's a Magical Paper Escape Every Month!

 

It's a Magical Paper Escape Every Month!

Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!

 

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

Get Started

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program  by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Select Mary Ellen Stites Saint Joseph, IL as your demonstrator. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

The very first Paper Pumpkin will arrive on your doorstep starting in March-if you sign up before March 10.

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)  
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Make sure you specify Mary Ellen Stites Saint Joseph, IL as your demonstrator so I can assist you to my fullest with any questions, helps or creative ideas you might need!

Madison Avenue~Let's Sale-A-Brate!

I like to spend a little time on Pinterest at the end of a long day and saw a simple but clean card by Ruth M over at Flower Sparkle that really jumped out at me because it uses one of my new favorites called "Madison Avenue". One of the reasons it's one of my favorites is because I didn't need to purchase it. 

It was FREE for M.E. and it can be FREE for you too!  It is a Sale-A-Bration set.  Sale-A-Bration is where when you purchase $50 in Stampin' Up! merchandise you get to pick one item from the Sale-A-Bration brochure.  Order $100 pick two and so forth. I guess until you get them ALL!

This is the card I made.  The original can be found on my pinterest papercrafting board here.  Make sure you follow me on Pinterest to see what I've been pinning today.

Go ahead and place your order today and earn this set for FREE! Click here to order.

When you place your $50 order enter one of the numbers below in the picture depending on if you want a clear mount set or a wood mount set. (click on the picture to enlarge and see how great this set is)

Punch art~A little something silly

Ok do you ever need one of those cards as a "pick me up" and you hope your friend has a sense of humor?  This was one of those times for M.E.  My dear friend Meg fell a couple of weeks ago ice skating.  Now this is not someone who doesn't know what they are doing.  She used to be a figure skater.  (Really I've seen pictures! :) and now her beautiful daughter is taking up the art.  Well, Meg took a little (big) tumble on the ice and got her first broken bone ever! 

I finally got around to creating this silly card for her.  She has a fantastic sense of humor but is also one of the most "on the go" active women I know.  She is even doing a little kick boxing right now (well not right now :) so this probably really isn't that funny to her but she knows that laughing is all she can do.  I love her disposition inspite of the inconvenience and pain.

By The Tide~Sold M.E.!

When I first saw the stamp set "By the Tide" it was actually SUPER easy for me to just pass it right by.  'It's not my style' I thought.  I hardly ever get to the beach it's really the opposite of my lifestyle, not that I don't sometimes wish it was but living in the midwest I'm more trees, grass and livestock instead of sand, water and marine life! LOL

Recently I saw a card...somewhere (we will talk about that in a minute) and it sold me on this stamp set and immediately I had to have it but since I knew it wouldn't be a mainstay in my stamping repertoire I wanted it for FREE or at least a discount. 

So when Stampin' Up! said that I got a discount for my birthday I scooped this set up immediately! (Do you want a discount from Stampin' Up! for your birthday? Join my Create With M.E. team today!)  Here is my version of the card I think I saw because I can't find the card I really saw anywhere and I'm starting to think I just dreamed about it.

We are going to duplicate it tonight at my Forget-Me-Not card keeper class in Villa Grove.  Still room to join M.E.! Email M.E. now!

I really do love Pinterest don't you?  I think this time though Pinterest took advantage of me!  LOL  I have spent a lot of time looking on my boards and even other stampers boards to find the card that drew me to this stamp set in the first place. First so I could refresh my memory on the card and secondly to give credit. Darn if I can't find it anywhere. I think my version that was hazy in my head turned out pretty good!

I guess I have to stop taking Pinterest for granted.  Just because I see an idea or recipe somewhere doesn't mean it automatically goes on my boards. (that comes in the future I guess)  Like me on Pinterest to see many ideas I actually did pin! ;-)

Do you love the Beach and have to have this set now or just love this card? Order the By the Tide set today because it's in the spring catalog and will be gone soon! Click on the number below to go to my store to have it shipped right to your door.

#129120 By the Tide (clear mount)

 

Button Buddies~I'm here for you my friend!

I have a friend that is really getting attacked right now in the health department.  I just wanted to let her know how special she is to me and that I am here for her so I made this card for her this morning. 

I was taking my couple minutes on pinterest earlier (ok minutes might be an understatement when talking about pinterest :) and saw a card that really stood out to me.  It was created by Kari Webster a couple years ago. 

Like most cards that I am inspired by on Pinterest, so that I made them my own, I walk away from the computer. I usually sort some laundry, do the dishes, wipe up a counter and then go down to my studio and create from memory so I am making sure it's my own. (if you know me personally you know that the older I get the worse the memory is for M.E.! :) If you want to see the original go to my pinterest paper crafts board. Here is my version: 

I think what I like about it is not only the colors but it really is simple stamping, no layering but yet a very pretty card.  I love my Big Shot, don't get me wrong, but I just used the basics today for an effective look.

I used the Button Buddies #122735 stampset along with the saying from Blooming with Kindness #126420. I added a few bright buttons and finished it off with bakers twine. 

Card went out in todays mailbox.  Hope it brightens her day but mostly let's her know she's not alone in the battle.  I'm praying for her! 

Miss U~Simple Stamping to say you care.

Isn't it great to get a letter in the mail?  Isn't it better if it's a handstamped card?  Here's an idea you can use today.  Some simple stamping a little punching and voila' you have the perfect card to tell someone you miss them.  How about making it even simpler. Simpler you say?  Tell me more!   Both sets used here are available in My Digital Studio (MDS) Design your card digitally today after downloading the designs here and have this card at the ready when you want to send it to that special someone who needs to hear from you.  What a GREAT idea!  Get started today.

#126592 (c) Morning Post Alphabet (also available in MDS #127201)

#126397 (c) Postage Due (also available in MDS #131233)

 

Sent With Love~Limited Time Only!

 

 

Get your's now! This is the cutest bundle.  So many cute stamps, Designer Series Paper that is so versatile and Calypso Coral Bakers Twine.  All for only $25.50! Click on the link below to view all the details then hop over to my website to place you order. 

Download Flyer_SentWithLove_Demo_Feb2013_US

Order your bundle here. When you do I will send you this card so you start out with one GREAT sample!  Look at the layers and details on this beautiful card.  Only Available until April 30th so don't wait! 

Collage Curios~ with Featured Artist Mary McNeely

My Friend Mary McNeely made this card.  I had to beg and almost steal it from her!  She made them for a swap at the Stampin' Up! Leadership event in January but I really wanted one and she was so kind to share.  I think she said this "wasn't a perfect one" but to me it's GREAT!  I love it!  She used the new Collage Curios set #129102 (Clear) from the Spring Catalog. The layering and layout is so appealing.  The colors are rich and delicious and she used the paper from the new Print Poetry pack of Designer Series Paper #129312.  These little paper packs are just the right size in my book and definitely the right price only $6.95!  I have found myself using more DSP now that it comes in this format.  It seems so usable and so many more patterns.  Find it in the Spring Mini Catalog.

Thank you Mary for sharing your card with M.E.!

You Rule~Queen for a Day

When I saw the new "You Rule" stamp set in the Spring mini I wasn't sure how I felt about it.  When combined with the "More Amore" Designer Series Paper and some of the Large Rhinestone Bling it's almost irresistable.  What a great Card to send to your girlfriend on her special day to let her know she's a Queen...

...at least for the day! :-)