Just for Fun!

The Recipe For Melanie

3 parts Sweetness 2 parts Friendship 1 part Imagination Splash of Playfulness Finish off with an olive

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

October Offers from Stampin' Up!

Whoops I forgot to add these to my blog at the beginning of the month. There are two offers that are availble this month. One runs out on the 11th, this was to celebrate World card making day. Which was last Saturday.

If you buy the Simply sent card elements you get them for £10 instead of £12.50, also the simply sent card making kits are now £31.96 instead of £39.95

The second one is to celebrate Stampin' Up! 20th Birthday.

If you spend £20 you can choose one of the following sets at 20% off

111618 - Crazy for Cupcakes - page 32 - £16.76

105455 - Birthday Best - page 33 - £8.76

110524 - Cheer and wishes - page 58 - £11.96

Sorry for the delay in posting these offers up.

!!! OFFER !!!

**For the month of October only.**

If you would like to purchase any of the following, I am offering a discount of 10% on selected items only.

This offer is my own offer and NOT one from Stampin' Up!

Silent Night Stamp set @ £14.36

Ink pads - Basic gray, bashful blue, ballet blue, Apricot Appeal, Barely banana, Night of navy @ £3.83 Each

If you are interested in purchasing any of these products or any from the current catalogue, please email me on melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com

Postage is £3.95 on orders up to £80

Silent Night

1. Stamp your image (church stamp from Silent Night), using basic gray ink pad. I choose gray as its not as bold as black.

2. Colour in your image. I used a mixture of ink pads and markers. A little white gel pen on the trees to indicate a little snow, brrrrrrr.

3. Dry off using your heat gun. Using a versamark pen, go all around your image and colour it in. Don’t do the open trees in the background.

4. Pour over clear embossing powder. With it being clear it’s hard to show in a photo. Heat using your heat tool. Don’t worry if you miss bits you can over with your pen and repeat the embossing process. Put to one side for now.

5. For the moon you need to either punch out a circle or cut your shape out. I am going to use my moon stamp to show how it’s used but it’s the same for a punched out circle.
At the top of the post it note (where the sticky is on the reverse), stamp your image. (Or punch out your circle). Cut it out.

6. Place the mask where you want it on your project. Using your second colour (bashful blue) and a piece of kitchen sponge. Stipple the colour around the moon.

7. Remove the mask and sponge on your first colour (barely banana). Just go outside of the moon shape to give a natural glare coming from the moon.

8. Keeping the moon clean, re place the mask back over the moon. Using your third colour (ballet blue), sponge around the edge and blend into the bashful blue as you go.

9. Cut down your image, so that it is ready for matting and layering. Now using the Night of navy ink, place colour all around the edges of the sky section only.

10. Remove the mask and sponge a little of the Apricot Appeal in the centre. This will give the moon a little more depth.

11. If you have a moon stamp, you can stamp it now using your stamp-a-ma-jig. If you have just used a punched out circle, leave as it is. Both versions look just as good. Mat and layer onto your cardstock. I choose Apricot appeal, basic black and night of navy.

First sample showing a plain moon the second with a stamp. Enjoy!

Inspirational!

Most days when I have a coffee, I tend to go blog hopping. I normally skim through a lot of blogs and never leave many comments. I know shame on me for not telling others how GREAT their work is. But there is one particular blog that has caught my eye this week. You may of already been a fan, but I have only just discovered Michelle's fantastic work. So much so I wanted to have a go at one of her tutorials. Check it out Here. Don't you agree how fab it is. There are many more tutorials on using brayers etc

I have stamped and water coloured the church stamp from Silent night. I then used a versamark PEN, not ink pad. Coloured all over the image with it and clear embossed it. I then choose a few ink pads, barely banana, bashful blue, ballet blue, night of navy and apricot appeal. I tore up a kitchen household sponge and used that to stipple on the colours where I wanted them. to build up the colour of the sky. I then used my stamp-a-ma-jig and a stamp from Magnolia to create the image over the moon. Cardstock is Apricot Appeal and Night of Navy. I hope you like it.

New catalogue

Whoa the new catalogue is finally launched today and there are some fabulous stamp sets in there. Plus loads of other surprises.

If you haven't yet got yours, you can either click on the catalogue and it will take you to an online viewing of it. Or you can purchase a copy direct from me for £4 including postage. £3 will be refundable off an order of £50 or more.

I will also be starting another stampers 6 soon, so if you are interested please drop me a line and I will explain how it works.

I am working on some new projects at the moment in between seeing builders and running as a taxi service for my children. So please keep checking back.

No posts today

Sorry for no posts yesterday and today. I have been extremely busy making some small items for a shoe box appeal, that my daughter school is organising. So far I have altered some lolly pops, decorated some note books and also some packs of pencils. She needs them all by Monday, so I have yet still some things I would like to get done. Like some colouring books and I have a lovely idea for that. These will be issued to the Samaritan's for their purse appeal. Basically its a show box filled with goodies for children. Now these could be the first Christmas present a child has ever received. I was shocked at reading that. We just take Christmas for granted and sometimes don't think about the 3rd world children.

Hopefully if I have time I will take some pictures of what I have done.

Bind It All book

For today I have been busy writing some instructions for my craft class this evening. They will be making a simple book using the Bind-It-All and index cards.

These days the index cards come in different sizes. If you can't get hold of index cards you could just cut up some printer paper to what ever size you need.

The papers used are from Cutie Pie collection. This set will retire at the end of the month and will remain available while stocks last. I have also used certain celery grosgrain and the stamp set is from one of the new ones from the new catalogue. Its called True Friend. I have used my markers to ink up the image before stampin'. Then I used a dauber with bashful blue ink pad to create a subtle colour around the edges.

You could also attach ribbon to the rings of the binding to decorate it further.

I received my delievery of catalogues yesterday and all I can say is WOW. Some scrummy looking stamps, not to mention the new decorative papers and scrapbooking kits too. Plus the new scallop edge punch that I am sooooo excited about. Can't wait to order one of those ;-)

If you would like to order a catalogue they are £4 including postage. I take cheques or you can pay by paypal. Please email me first if paying by paypal for details.

Trinket Box Tutorial

Remember this box, well I have been asked how I made it. So I thought I would write a little tutorial on how I did it. It wasn't my original idea, and I can't remember whose blog I got it from to give credit, I am sorry.

• Take a sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock and cut in half to 6 x 12 inches.
  
• Score at 3, 6 and 9 inches along the 12 inch edge.
  
• Turn 90 degrees and score again at 1.5 and 3 inches
  
• You now need to cut out three larger panels, indicated by a 'X' on the photo.
  
• On the bottom panels you need to cut up to the first score line, again indicated by black lines on the photo.

• From the section cut away, cut a small piece of card 3/4" x 1.5" score in half length ways and fold. This will be your joining piece on the box. Place DST on to both panels.

• Stick this little piece to the inside of the box on the middle panel. Then stick the other side to the other end of the box, to join the sides together.

• Fold up the bottom part of the box and stick together using DST
  
• Cut two squares out of cardstock measuring 3.5 x 3.5 inches. Also one square out of decorative paper 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".
  
• You can use a corner rounder or a ticket corner punch to decorate the corners at this stage.
  
• Place the paper on top of one of the cardstock squares.
  
• Adhere the squares to the top and bottom of the box. Remember to place the one with the decorative paper on the top part of the box.
  

• You can now decorate the top. I wrapped ribbon round and tied at the side to close the box.

Scallop Box

Would you like to know how to make this?

Uncovered

Covered

It is an scalloped box that will hold A6 cards and envelopes. Great idea for a gift. I chose a Christmas theme because I have just given them as some gifts.

If you want all the instructions check out ILWS. Or you can click Here these should take you there. Hope you have fun making one of these, any questions please just email me. Details on the right.

Note: If you click on the above here, you will need to join the forum. If however you don't want to join and still would like the instructions please just email me with your details. I can send it either PDF or word format. Please say which one you would like.

Christmas part 2

Who said big bold birthday had to be only for birthday's? I have used this set to create a couple of Christmas cards, colours used, real red, old olive, certain celery. The designer paper is one that is retiring at the end of September. I have also used the pricking mat that comes in the tools wallet.

This card uses the Lovely as a tree stamp set. I am not sure the picture shows the glitter that is on the tree to simulate snow. This is very quick to make if you are pushed for time. Colours again are real red, whisper white and old olive.

12 days to go!!!!!

Yes it is only 12 days to go before the New catalogue is launched in the UK. I have some on pre order and when I have checked today they are in 'Picking'. Meaning they are getting ready to leave the warehouse. I am sooooo excited as are other demo's.

If you would like a copy of the catalogue please get in touch and I can reserve one for you. I am not sure on the cost yet, but I can't see them being no more that £4 including postage.

If you are in my stampers clubs one is already reserved for you, so don't panic.

Have you checked out my offer for next month yet! Its on the right hand side. Basically every time you spend £5 with me through October you will receive a raffle ticket. At the end of the month I will draw one number and they will receive a NEW scallop edged punch. These are similar to the Fiskars one with the holes in, only ours won't have the holes, but they are easily put in with a punch. I like that idea best as you can have them with or without. Also there will be some fabulous stamp sets not to mention some new designer papers.

Oooooooo can you feel the excitement!

Christmas Cards

One of the things I have been asked to do in my craft classes are ideas for Christmas cards. I have done quite a few lately as I do need to get mine made as I have 100's to make and send. So over the next couplf of days I hope to share some with you.

This is using two stamps sets, Hung up on the holidays and Occasional greetings. The cardstock is Whisper white, real red, chocolate chip and Old olive. I have used a nestability die to make the rectangle and a cuttlebug small folder for the snow scene. I used a white gel pen to highlight some areas on the embossing folder. A sticky gem was then placed on the bauble.

Trinket Box

Sorry its been a while since I last blogged but I have not only been very busy but been a bit unwell to boot. Hopefully the doctor will get me back to an even keel over the next couple of weeks, just need to run some routine tests.

This is the project that I will be doing at tonights craft class. It is made out of a sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock. I choose Real red. I have seen this done on quite a few blogs and I think it makes a lovely item to pop in a small gift for a special occassion. As I do jewellery, I have made a few for my Daughter to give to her friends for Christmas.

The sentiment actually comes from a new stamp set that will be in the new catalogue called Seasons of Joy.

I am soooooooo looking forward to the new catalogue that will be available on October the 1st. I have been like a child waiting for Santa to arrive as we have had a few sneak peeks of what is to come. There will be the ever famous scallop border punch for starters, not this will only cost £10.95 Plus there will be loads of other new stuff. I don't want to tell you too much as I don't want to spoil any surprises.

Well hopefully I can now begin to share some of the things I have made lately, thanks for being patient.

Going, Going, GONE!

Yes you guessed it, we have a retirement list for the UK catalogue.

There are a few things that will probably go like hot cakes and some may well be there next week or the week after. All I can say is, if you want anything on this list to order as soon as possible because its basically first come first served.

Hopefully clicking on it you will get to see it at a larger size. If not you can always email me and I will forward a copy by email. If you would like to order anything please just get in touch.

Me email address is melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com