This morning we had a ton of fun at my annual Boo's & Brew's event. This is our bimonthly Coffee Class all dressed up for Halloween. It's something I really look forward to every halloween season. I make lots of spooky delicious treats and the ladies dress up and we have prizes for best costumes.
Aren't they all so cute?! They outdid themselves as usual. The food was delicious too.
And that wasn't even all of it. We have spider web chocolate covered oreos and Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Witches Brew! Yum.
We all made popcorn box treats filled with carmel corn to give away. They were all different and all cute! My daughter made us the Carmel corn with her special microwave recipe. It is so good and very easy.
And the awards go to...
Most Creative- Gail the "Tea Lady"
Scariest-Hannah "Hell in High Heals"
and Cutest goes to- Russell and Carl from Up
Happy Halloween Wishes from Create With M.E. I hope you will enjoy making your treats special for holidays or just the everyday with the Popcorn Box and Accessories.
My friend Teresa inspired me to create these beautiful flowers this week. She shared a beautiful handmade book/album she had made for her granddaughters first birthday. I fell in love with these tiny flowers she had on the book. They were made out of paper and they were glittery and they were a beautiful keepsake. She shared that she had bought the stamps and dies from another company so I quickly went to work seeing what I could do with my Stampin' Up! supplies. This is only the beginning ladies and gentlemen. So many possibilities.
Let's start with the supplies needed:
A Pansy Punch
A Petite Petal Punch
Spritzer filled with water
Ink color of your choice (I used Watermelon Wonder)
Sponge Dauber
Embossing Stylus from the Simply Score Tool
Liquid Multipurpose Glue
Stampin' Pierce Mat
Whisper White or Very Vanilla Cardstock scraps.
Start by punching 3 flowers from each punch for the bigger flower shown on the tag. This totally can be changed to make buds or bigger flowers. This is just how I started and I liked the way it looked.
Next you will need to color your flowers with the sponge dauber. I start in the center and work my way out highlighting the edges. The 3 Pansy punches (the bigger of the two flowers) you only need to color one side. The Petite Petal punches I recommend you color both sides since you will see both sides of the petals on the buds.
After you color the punched flowrs turn them over and spritz them with water, spritzing one at a time. Using your embossing stylus with the smaller tip pounce the edges of the back of the flower making the petals turn toward you. View my short video to see how this looks in action. After you have "pounced" all of the petals turn flower over and using the larger end of the embossing tool pull each petal in from the outer edge in to the center. Set aside to dry. Repeat on the other flowers. You will see in my video that I accidentally tear off one of the petals but notice it's a quick repair and no one is the wiser. :)
Now it's time to glue your flowers. Use plenty of Multipurpose adhesive to glue your petals together. Don't be stingy. Usually I am known to say less is more but not in this case. Form each flower as shown in the video. Attaching each layer so they petals alternate. Now you have a beautiful flower as is, or add some glitter with a little fine tipped glue to the edges of your petals, sprinkling with dazzling diamonds. Oh Yes!
When your flower is completely dry it will be very firm. The combination of wetting the paper and the glue makes your flower very stiff and your flower will last for a very long time. Like I said this is only the beginning. You could stamp the flowers with the coordinating stamp sets for more detail or what about using vellum? It is gorgeous when you emboss on it but that is for another day. I hope you will enjoy making some of these flowers and then let me know what you plan to put them on. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Now for another "Quicky Create With M.E." video for you to see how it all comes together.
I love getting fun homemade things from friends, don't you? Today's share is a fun bag of yumminess I received at a retreat I attended recently. This treat was from Aimee Slocum. So cute and Yummy to eat! Thanks Aimee!
I just love how Aimee used the cute little moose from the Jolly Friends set and turned him into the perfect tag for this treat. Some watercoloring and added words to tell me what my treat is using one of my absolute favorite little alphabet sets called Labeler Alphabet. You get 101 photopolymer stamps for only $17.00 Check it out in the Product list below.
The little touch of glimmer with the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper is a perfect addition to "Santas" hat.
Look what Aimee put in her Moose Munch! Pretzels and Carmel corn and little candy pieces. What would you fill your cellophane baggies with this holiday? I know what I would give away in mine, something that has been affectionately known as "Crack" around here. You can find the recipe here: Crack Recipe. AKA Crispix mix just so there is no strange google search issues Bwahahaha #notfunny It's a real winner, trust me just go try it and plan to double the recipe. Use half crispix and half cinnamon chex. (a new delicious twist)
The Stampin' Up! Catalog is chock full of wonderful ideas. This is why it's called the IDEA BOOK! The card I am showcasing today is pulled right from this great IDEA BOOK without any changes.
I love everything about it. The colors are fun and bright. The stamp is perfect for fall and it's super easy to put together. Why change it? Hence the term CASE (Copy And Share Everything!) I've also heard it as Copy and Steal everything but I'm not really stealing it since Stampin' Up! encourages us to CASE ideas from their IDEA BOOK all the time. I have always, always been someone who rather give than receive. I love to share, I always have and that is what I love MOST about my job. So I will go with Copy And Share Everything. The people I tend to surround myself with are so free and willing to share just like I am! If this was a cut throat, kill or be killed job I wouldn't be doing it. Not my thAng! Not in my make-up!
One of the tips you can view in my video below is how to make a stamping, or better yet, a punch template for the Acorn Builders Punch. Check it out, it's less than 2 minutes! Lots of time to practice making your own template.
All products used are in the Product List below, feel free to click on each product to get more details or to order. I will be releasing a new Shop with M.E. FREE Product Incentive Program soon but you can take advantage now. Here are the basics, If you place a $40.00 online order using the hostess code: QJDHHVMK You will receive FREE product at the end of the month mailed to your home along with some great project kits. Full details coming soon but you can still take advantage of this offer for October. When you use this code when checking out you can order anything you like and it will ship directly to your home. The FREE product and Project Kits will ship to you from M.E. at the end of the month. The amount of FREE product is determined by the number of orders placed using this code. Make sure you allow me to contact you (do not click on NO contact or I will not have your mailing information and can not send you your FREE items. Thank You for Shopping with M.E. today.
What I really love about Stamping is how easy it allows me to watercolor and it looks so good. It's not because of me, it's because of the stamp! I know a lot of folks say "OH NO, I can not watercolor" but with Stampin' Up! the stamps tell you where to watercolor. Seriously the stamps speak to you. No, I am not a stamp whisperer! Anyone can do this! Read on...
The stamped images (at least the ones I lean toward) have hashmarks right on the stamp so you know where to make it darker. Look at this image below to see what I am talking about. Not only does the concept artist show where on the basket should be darker they also show where the basket will be casting a shadow so you can know where your light source is coming from.
Then if you want to step it up to the next level keep reading. This is fun, but totally not necessary, to have success. If you imagine light coming in a window and shining on your image whatever it may be (a barrel in my case) then you know where to keep the coloring light. Think of anywhere something hangs over something else then it will be shadowing hence darker color is needed.
Give it a try I believe anyone can be successful watercoloring using Stampin' Up! stamps. If you want to order the Basket of Wishes the supply list is below. If you already own it and just want to see what colors I used check out the product guide to see all the supplies used.
Again I have a "Quickie Create With M.E." video for you to watch. It's only 2 minutes which remember, gives you more time to create, play and stamp!
Deer season has started in our other home business. My family and I own and run a deer processing business here in Central Illinois. River Bend Wild Game & Sausage Co. We have been in business for almost 25 years and I do love the hunters they are so awesome and you get used to the deer, you really do but I seriously love them on this card much, much more. Who wouldn't right?! We have a mother and her twins in our back woods almost every summer and I LOVE watching them. They are beautiful animals so I really enjoyed coloring this card. So, on with the card and it's details
This card uses a simple mask cut with the Layering Oval Framelits. Stamp your images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I love this black ink and use it almost exclusively as my all around favorite black. It works great with the blender pen and various inks, not to mention it gives a nice crisp black line when stamping.
I like using the blender pen when I need to make things a little more precise and a little lighter/softer in color than using the Stampin' Write markers directly. I like to pick up the ink from the lids of my ink pads. You can see this in the video below. Check back Monday to see how to use the Aqua Painter to give a different look to your coloring. I will be showing a Basket of Wishes card and video.
I love this easy making technique when you just want to highlight something and using the sponging gives it a layered look without the bulk layers of paper.
Take a look at this Quickie Create With M.E. video showing how to put this card together and remember this fun fast video is just 2 minutes which leaves you more time to stamp. If you have questions on how I did something or need more clarification please feel free to contact me.
Take advantage of this paper special this month click on the image above to shop now. Get ready for your Christmas cards! Use hostess code: QJDHHVMK when checking out and I will send you a goodie in the mail. Please do not use the hostess code if you order is $150 or more so you can get your hostess benefits. Make sure you do not click on the No Contact or I won't know where to send your goodies.
Click on the links below the video to see the products used on the "In the Meadow" card and to place your order.
Monday was our first annual Ultimate Pink Blog Hop in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. I participated with this fun project. I was so inspired by so many of the blog hoppers. This one in particular stood out to me by Jennifer Blomquist and I knew I wanted to show the versatility of this fun Christmas set. Here are the cards I designed.
I just love this little bear. I found out that He/She really looks best if you do not punch him with the cookie cutter punch. You can but you lose a little of the bigger face so I like just stamping it without punching it out.
We did this cards in class tonight. The ladies agreed that these cards really didn't need to be for a baby. A young child or even an adult would like this card. Who doesn't love a teddy bear? I know I still have my favorite!
Here is each card individually for a better look. I also did a quickie video for you.
This one uses Melon Mambo and Blushing Bride.
This one uses Marina Mist and Soft Sky for the color palette.
Click on the links below to see the products used and to place your order.
Use hostess code: QJDHHVMK when checking out and I will send you a goodie in the mail. Please do not use the hostess code if you order is $150 or more so you can get your hostess benefits. Make sure you do not click on the No Contact or I won't know where to send your goodies.
Time for our annual paper stock up sale. Click on the Image to shop
Welcome to the first ever Ultimate Pink Blog Hop – My name is Mary Ellen (M.E.) Stites and I am happy you stopped by! Today I am just one stop in a collection of amazing ideas from Stampin’ Up! demonstrators who live all over the world. We are featuring many shades of pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join us as we craft Pink for one day. Makers worldwide united in creativity.
Many of us have been touched in some way by Cancer so today we honor the fighter!
When I was planning this project I wanted to celebrate! Whether that is the "all clear" or just finishing one of the stages of the battle. Whatever it is, we celebrate the step. What better way than a gift that says "there is much to celebrate"?!
Start out with a simple wrap on your bottle of choice and don't limit it to just your favorite beverage. What about your favorite bath time bubbly?! Right?!ADorBs! Who wouldn't love a dressed up bottle? This gift says it all, the message we all need to hear is all right there.
I cut some matching blushing bride paper with the heart die from the Sunshine Wishes thinlits set. This is such a fun heart shape, that "scribble type" look that is so popular right now. I added the word hope from the same thinlit package cutting it out of very vanilla card stock and highlighting it with some Wink of Stella for some extra glimmer, then add a few sequins from the Fancy Frost Sequins package to finish this layer off.
Time to wrap up the bottle. OH-My-Garsh I love these big gusseted cellophane bags! Not only will it fit this big bottle of bubbly but imagine making up a big batch of your favorite caramel corn tying it up and adding a fun tag for the teacher, mailman, bank teller, or even your best friend! The possibilities are endless.
But we are not done yet. We need to "tie it all up with a bow"! In this case a wonderful tag with a pink ribbon of course. Watch the video in this post to see how this gets cut and goes together. There is a die that makes it SO easy-peasy with matching stamps that fit the tags perfectly! Click on the links in my product list below to get more details about each product or to order now. Because I know you will want have this in your craft box for all those holiday parties and hostesses.
Here is a quick 2 minute video to highlight the best parts of this project. Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel so you do not miss any of my "Create With M.E. Quickies"! Subscribe by clicking on the subscribe now button in the video or click here.
If you are reading this post in your email then you will have to click here to view the video. View Video Now
I am excited you are here today. Continue to be inspired whether you came from the person before me or after me (M.E. Stites) all participants are listed below to help you as you journey among us being filled with "Pink-Spiration!"
My name is Mary Ellen (M.E.) Stites, I LOVE what I do and I LOVE sharing it with others at classes, in-home workshops, and online.
I have been married for 33 years to my best friend Chuck. I am the mother of 4 wonderful children. 2 boys and 2 girls 30, 26, 24, and 18 years old.
I have been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator since 2003 and have no plans to stop! Stampin' Up! is cutting edge in the Memory Keeping and Stamping industry and I only want to present the best to my customers!
Stamp Woman
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