I got back from a short trip to Florida last week and when I got back to Illinois it was cold and rainy and the river that usually sits 250 yards behind my house was now just 1 or 2 yards from my house. It wasn't fun but we kept the water out of the house this time!
2 days after I got back I had the pleasure of stamping with some of my favorite stampers and show them how to watercolor with the stamp set Waterfront. This stamp set was designed by Connie Heisey who has sold over 1 Million dollars with Stampin' Up! I love the set she designed its so versatile.
When I posted my projects to Instagram and my business facebook page over at Create With M.E. (follow me on either of these social medias by clicking on the links here to see more watercoloring projects) I had several ladies mention that they would like to know how I completed the projects I showed. Also a few of the ladies were unable to attend our club and want to see how it was accomplished so I made a video to show you how. After the video you can click on any of the links below to purchase your set or supplies to make your watercolor card using the Waterfront Stamp Set.
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!"
I will preface this post with the fact that I was not the designer of this card, the minute I saw it I absolutely loved it. You see I am a big bird lover! Just look at my blog header to see how I love the birds. I feed the birds and I love to watch the birds so this card was love at first sight. The design credit goes to Jo Anne Hewins over at Luv 2 Create. Thanks Jo Anne for sharing your talent with all of us!
Look at how cute that little red bird is showing off how she has decorated her home for the holidays! He He
We love to decorate for the holidays and she (my little red birdie) is no different.
I just love this little bird from the Birds & Blooms thinlits it was on my very first New Catalog order. No Questions about it.
I have made a fun quickie video again so you don't to waste too much time watching and that means more time creating. It will give a fun way to see how it's put together. I would love to get your feedback on what you think of this holiday card. Leave M.E. some love in the comment section!
If you are reading this in your email click on this link to view the video: Click Here. If you want to know how to get this in your email click on my subscribe button and get a notification when i post to my blog. Don't miss a thing and remember I would love to get your feedback in the comments.
All the Products I used are listed below my video. Click on the pictures to get more details or to order. Thank you for coming to Create With M.E. today!
When I saw this card idea from my friend Susie Wood I totally fell in love with it! Such a clever idea on how it's assembled so I thought I would share with you the details on how it all comes together.
There are a few different cuts on this card so here are my measurements:
Use the Stampin' Trimmer to make perfect cuts every time.
Cardstock pieces are as follows:
Real Red: (1) 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (1) 11" x 2 1/8" (1) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Whisper White: (1) 2" x 5 1/4", (1) 2" circle
Crumb Cake: (1) 1 3/4" x 5 1/4", (1) 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"
Designer Series Paper: (1) 2" x 5 1/4"
Scrap of Garden Green for stamping bow and punching out.
It's fun how it opens up just half of the card with a fun "diamond" shaped piece on the front for your message and design. All the products I used to create this card are listed below.
You can view my video for a quick "how to" for assembly. Click here to view video if you are reading in your email. (Subscribe on my blog to get my posts delivered to your inbox so you never miss a thing!)
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!
Today I celebrate the men and women behind the scenes at Stampin' Up! The ones that get to listen to our complaints, our constructive criticism, our frustrations at times. They celebrate with us, they listen and genuinely care for us. Here's to you, the Demonstrator Support Staff at Stampin' Up! #WeloveDS
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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This is my personal blog. I am an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and responsible for its content. Stampin' Up! does not endorse the use of or contents of the classes, services, or non-Stampin' Up! products I may offer here.
