Create With M.E.

September 30th Weekly Deals Announced~Get them before they are gone!

Alphabet Rotary Stamp [133769] $14.95 $11.21	Banner Punch [133519] $12.95 $9.71	For The Birds [132001] $32.95 $24.71	Hearts Border Punch [133784] $15.95 $11.96
Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit [134998] $19.95 $14.96	Sweet Details Photobook Template - Digital Download [125742] $17.95 $10.77	Ticket Duo Punch [126883] $15.95 $11.96	Very Vintage Designer Buttons [129327] $5.95 $4.46

Bokeh Technique~Step by Step Picture Tutorial

I had the opportunity to spend the last 4 days with the most creative amazing group of women.  I am so blessed to be a part of a wonderful Stampin' Up! team.  We spent the weekend together stamping and creating, sharing and laughing!  It was SO much fun!  But seriously let me show you what was really important....

Ok just kidding but I think these ladies really know my love of snacks because that table was directly behind me!  All I had to do was swivel around and enjoy my cheese in a can! hehehe

But again seriously today I want to share something I had the priviledge of sharing with all of them on Saturday.  The Bokeh Technique.  I asked my new friend Annette Klasinz to be my "hand model" for each step. Thanks Annette!

Let's start with what does Bokeh mean and how do I say it?!  Bokeh is usually equated with photography.  Google Bokeh and look at Images for some inspiration.

Bokeh  BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as BOH-kə,

The term comes from the Japanese word boke, which means "blur" or "haze", or boke-aji, the "blur quality". The Japanese term boke is also used in the sense of a mental haze or senility.^[8] The term bokashi is related, meaning intentional blurring or gradation. n photography,

 

So, with the technical details out of the way let's begin.

Here is your supply list so you can get it ready.  Watercolor paper is a must! Aqua Painter or water and a paintbrush will work too. Whisper White Craft Ink and a sponge dauber, along with some Circle masks either punched from cardstock or Window Sheets.  I like the look of using the Blue Painters tape around my background for 2 reasons.  One, it gives a nice border/matted look and two it keeps my paper flat because when you add water it wants to curl.

1. Cover your whole Watercolor Paper with a brushing of water.  Make sure it's completely wet but not sopping wet.

2. Pick up Ink either from the lid of your Ink Pad or from your Ink Refill and start laying down some color.

3. Keep layering color down on your paper.

Keep picking up color and layering it on your paper, don't worry if you don't love the way it looks because you will be adding your bokeh effect over the top and probably some type of greeting or image.  So just keep plugging along, trust M.E.!

4. Either walk away and let it dry (who am I kidding) or speed up the process with your heat tool.

5. Carefully remove your Painters Tape if you chose to use it.

6. I punched 3 different size templates from Window Sheets.  1 3/4" circle, 1 1/4" and 1".  I like to pounce on my Whisper White ink with a sponge dauber and then for the largest circle I rub it to make the big circles a little lighter.  As I go down in size of circles I want it darker if possible.

Move your template and keep adding Whisper White Ink.  I like to use rule of 3 when adding my bigger circles.

Here's large number 3.  Note that you don't need to stay inside the lines. YAY!

Move on to the next size using all three templates until your paper is covered or to you liking.

After you have used all the templates you can just go directly to the dauber. Now is when I throw out the rule of 3 and just pounce to my hearts desire!

Now it's time to get real small....

Bring out the pencil eraser and dunk it in your Whisper White pad and stamp away!

Now it's time to set aside and dry or zap it with the heat gun and finish it off with the design of your choice.  Let me show you some fantastic samples made by the ladies at the retreat.

 

 

 

 Click on the Tams# link below to print a full tutorial.

tams# 1380

Product List
Stamp

• Sponge Daubers [133773]
• Medium Window Sheets [114323]

Ink

• Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731]

Card Stock

• 6 X 9 Watercolor Paper [122959]

Tools & Adhesive

• Aqua Painter [103954]

Enjoy!

M.E.

September 23rd Weekly Deals announced~So many wonderful deals

The Weekly Deals are out!  OH my goodness best week ever!  The Hamburger Box the Banner die Gold Glitz just in time to put on your holiday cards?!  If you have had these on your wishlist NOW is the time to get them.  You won't find them cheaper but don't wait they only last a week. These are amazing deals to take advantage of.  Click on the product to do some shopping today.

 

Eclectic Paper-Piercing Pack [133778] $7.95 $5.96	Faces I Love Swatchbook Template - Digital Download [134595] $12.95 $7.77	Festive Paper-Piercing Pack [127857] $7.95 $5.96	Gold Glitz Dazzling Details [133755] $2.50 $1.88
Hamburger Box Bigz Xl Die [133724] $42.95 $32.21	Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack [129387] $7.95 $5.96	Ovals Collection Framelits Dies [129381] $26.95 $20.21	Party Pennants Bigz L Die [133732] $32.95 $24.71

Enjoy!

M.E.

September 16th Weekly Deals~Which One is Your Must Have?

It's Tuesday, that means time for the GREAT weekly deals by Stampin' Up! Which one really appeals to you as a stamper?  Is it the Stamp Set? (Yippee Skippee is one of my favorite verbage sets) is it the Framelit card maker? OH boy a card with movement! Yippee Skippee uh oh I think I see a trend.  Put those two together! WOAH! Maybe you are just thinking "it's time to stock up on some Gold ribbon for my Christmas Cards" (that's what I am thinking for sure!) Well, Check out all the deals here and as usual they are all clickable links for more information.

 

Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583] $4.95 $3.71	Happy Hour [132013] $29.95 $22.46
Label Card Thinlits Die [133479] $32.95 $24.71	Sweetheart Punch [133786] $15.95 $11.96
Tangerine Tango Baker's Twine [134578] $2.95 $2.21	Essentials Wooden Elements [132258] $4.95 $3.71
Write Stuff II Digital Kit - Digital Download [120881] $9.95 $5.97	Yippee-Skippee! Wood-mount Stamp Set [131341] $18.95 $14.21

Enjoy!

M.E.

Unite & Excite~Educate and Network Stampin' Style

I had the opportunity Saturday to go to a "new to ME" event that Stampin' Up! (the company I work with) is holding across the country this month.  This specific event was in Terre Haute Indiana just an hour and a half from my home and just across the state line. It was called Unite & Excite.

 

Stampin' Up! demonstrators can come together from all over the area and get some great tips, see TONS of samples, and learn from each other.  I met some wonderful creative business women.

Here was our hostess Karen Davis bringing us all together.  I also had the priveledge of presenting to the group and I won one of the great door prizes. FREE STAMPS!  Yes, we LOVE free stamps too! Especially when they are Stampin' Up!'s high quality stamp sets! 

Before the event ended we all got to do a little playing in the Product Playground.  That is playtime for creative grown ups!  Using new products, seeing any tips so we can present them seamlessly to you our customers.

Of course we swapped card ideas and this was mine.  I really had a lot of fun creating it because I am in love with the colors the fun accessories and the season of Fall. 

There was a little bit of fussy cutting to do but well worth it I say! I added the Autumn Wooden elements to top it off.

 

Print Recipe

Product List
Stamp

• For All Things Clear-Mount Stamp Set [135155]
• For All Things Wood-Mount Stamp Set [135152]
• Kinda Eclectic Clear-Mount Stamp Set [135350]
• Kinda Eclectic Wood-Mount Stamp Set [135347]
• Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper [135820]
• Autumn Wooden Elements [135846]

Ink

• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953]
• Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [126965]
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173]

Card Stock

• Old Olive 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100702]
• Cajun Craze 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [119684]
• Cajun Craze 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [119684]

Ribbon & Trim

• Linen Thread [104199]
• 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon [132140]

Did you notice the cute little card stand?  That was a gift from one of my Table Mates Teresa MaGill who has been a demonstrator for almost 18 years I think she said!  Wow!  Amazing and I added a little punched design to it and Voila' a very cool card stand!

24 hours left~HALFOFF2 special on Paper Pumpkin

Last week I told you about the great special on Paper Pumpkin Here.

 

 If you are reading this in your email please click through to my blog to view this Paper Pumpkin reveal video.

I just felt like I needed to send you a quick reminder that we are in our last 24 hours of this special.  It's such a great subscription program at full price but half price is just a super steal and so I want to make sure everyone knows about it! So why not click here and Join Now! 

Use promo code HALFOFF2 to get your first two months for half price!

Enjoy!

M.E.

 

 

 

 

September 9th Weekly Deals announced~So many great ones!

When I saw this weeks weekly deals I thought "Oh boy, I know I will be shopping today!" there are so many great must have products that you won't want to miss out on so with no further adeu' here are the deals.  Click on each link to purchase. Now, I will see you later...I gotta go shopping!

 

What's Up Punch $16.95 $12.71	2" Circle Punch $16.95 $12.71	Sweet Treat Cups $2.95 $2.21	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter $4.95 $3.71
Blushing Bride Baker's Twine $2.95 $2.21	Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder $7.95 $5.96	Hexagon Punch $15.95 $11.96	World Traveler Photobook Template - Digital Download $17.95 $10.77

Enjoy!

M.E.

Gobble Gobble ~ I Feel it in the Air Today!

When I stepped outside this morning to feed the dogs their breakfast I could sure feel Fall in the Air for the first time!  Even though Fall is bringing me all kinds of "fun" allergy symptoms and trips to the doctor I still say it is my favorite time of the year.  The air is crisp and clean and COOL! The leaves are starting to fall to the ground and make more work for me but I still say it's worth it.

Today I want to share a couple of Fun projects using the new Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlit Die from the Holiday Catalog.

These little boxes are a zip to put together and decorate in all kinds of cute ways.  The possibilities are endless.  I started a board on Pinterest because there were just so many adorable ideas.  Go follow it here. These boxes are actually larger than you think to so you can put a real stash of goodies inside for that special someoone.  Wouldn't these make adorble Classroom gifts? 

The Pumpkins face is from the Stamp Set Fall Fest and it's stripes are from Work of Art.  It was embellished with a saying from the Good Greetings set you can earn as a hostess for FREE by hosting a workshop that qualifies or if you have a huge wishlist you can also earn it. Just ask me how.

I would love to see what you are making with your Curvy Keepsake Box die please share a link in the comments to your creations!

Purchase your products by clicking on the links below:

Product List
Stamp

• Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies
• Fall Fest Photopolymer Stamp Set
• Work Of Art Wood Stamp Set
• Work Of Art Clear Stamp Set
• Autumn Wooden Elements
• Good Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Punch

• Word Window Punch
• 1 Inch Circle Punch
• Owl Punch

Ribbon & Trim

• Linen Thread

Big Shot

• Autumn Accents Bigz Die

Enjoy!

M.E.

Here Come the Holidays~Open House Event

This is just a quick reminder for my local stamping friends that tonight is our Annual Holiday Event.  I know those of you that attend never miss and I wanted to make sure I got this out to as many folks as I could.

Here are the details:

Here is a sneak peak of our Make n Takes for tonight.

 

 

Hope you can join us! 

Enjoy!

M.E.

 

September 2nd Weekly Deals~Video Tutorial on how to use the Simply Pressed Clay

Sometimes I just love doing the things I did as a kid.  I have some of that new Kenetic sand on my table that I just love to stick my fingers in and mold and play with it.  I love to color, it reminds me of my grandmother and all the hours we spent coloring pictures at her house, and I love to play with clay!  Luckily Stampin' Up! can help me relive my childhood days with most of those memories!  This week you can get a great deal on some of the wonderful Simply Pressed Clay.  If you don't know what it is or how to use it watch this video I made for you.  Then look at the great weekly deals that Stampin' Up! has for you!

 

I hope you enjoyed watching that as much as I enjoyed making it for you.  But most of all I hope you were inspired to use your simply pressed clay too! 

Here are this weeks deals!

 

Back To School Ensemble - Digital Download $17.95 $10.77	Buttons Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds $7.95 $5.96	Island Indigo Classic Stampin Ink Refill $2.95 $2.21	Pool Party Classic Stampin Ink Refill $2.95 $2.21
Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink Refill $2.95 $2.21	Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Ink Refill $2.95 $2.21	Simply Pressed Clay $6.95 $5.21

Enjoy!

M.E.