Mother's Day!

Hope all you mum's out there had a faberooney day yesterday, I know I did. My kids bought me some rubber stamps although they never knew till yesterday, lol.

Anyway I would like to share a project I made for my mum. she is nearly 80 and is very fit and active for her age. I think that is what keeps her so young.

This is a Tote that I purchased through Here. Her tutorials are fabulous. I did have to enlarge some of the measurements to fit our A6 cards. I used cardstock rather than designer paper. I also used one of the background stamps to make my card look like designer paper. This one I used the paisley stamp.

Onto the cards.

For these cards I used the Tea and crumpets designer paper. The stamp set is birthday best. This is one of the cheaper sets from Stampin' Up! but the quality is fabulous all the same. I have used pretty in pink, and always artichoke cardstock.

Again I have used tea and crumpets DSP. Chocolate chip cardstock and Always artichoke. The stamp set is Crazy for cupcakes. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to just stamp two lots of the cupcakes, side by side. This really is a great piece of kit. I have embellished it with chocolate chip and pretty in pink taffeta ribbon. You get heaps on a reel for only £5.50

This last one is using the same DSP. Chocolate chip and So Saffron cardstock. The stamp sets used where again Crazy for Cupcakes (my all time favourite) and the hostess stamp set Best yet. This is available for free if you order products of £150 or more. Obviously the more you order the higher the free merchandise you would also be allowed to get for FREE! If you want to know please get in touch.

Just a little update on my brother. He had a heart attack last Thursday and was taken to hospital. They have since unblocked the artery that has caused the problem. Hopefully he may of been sent home late yesterday but as its a tad too early to ring him, I don't know if he has yet. He seems to be in high spirits considering everything he is going through. Thanks again for all your well wishes, they do mean a lot.

**Update**

Thank you to eveyone who has sent some lovely emails and also replies to the posts. Just want to do a quick update on my big bro. He has been diagnosed with mesiothelioma which is a rare cancer. It is caused by working with asbestos years ago. Not many people know much about the disease but from experiance its not nice at all. Fibres can get into your tissue and grow and turn into cancer, not sure how but it can take 20-30 years to come out. Some people lead a horrible life after diagnosis. He has yet to visit the top man to see if there is any treatment but I know when my father had it, there was nothing they could do as it was too far advanced, but that was 12 years ago. So I am hoping as medicine has come along way since then. That there is hope of treatment.

Well I am trying ever so hard to get back into things. I have just received a delivery of a couple of new sets from the new mini, plus the new mini books have arrived too. So I going to try and create something.

I am also working on putting some nice blog candy together for some very lucky person. So keep watching.

Where oh where is my mojo?????

Ever had one of those weeks when your mojo just goes. Well I am having one of those weeks. In fact I have never felt on top form since we came back from Scotland a few weeks ago. Sadly when we came back, we had some bad news that my BIG brother was in hospital, really poorly. Anyway to cut a long story short he has been diagnosed with cancer as he has tumours in his stomach. They have taken some biopsy's last week but we are still waiting on the results. He has gone down dramatically since Christmas. Loosing a lot of weight. Hopefully when he gets the results they can then start on some treatment but the doctors are hush hush until they get these results back as to what type of cancer it is. As he worked with asbestos years ago, we are almost sure its got to do with this. But nothing has been confirmed as yet.

My mum has been really down and I really feel for her and I am trying to stay strong and focused for her, just in case she needs me. Please keep them in your prayers.

So this is why I haven't been posting very much the last couple of months. I am trying to get back into everything but its just so hard to concentrate on anything else.

So if anyone see's my mojo on their travels please send it back home as I really could do with the therapy of crafting right now.

Another Stampin' Up! OFFER

Have you ever wanted cheaper craft goodies?

OR

Have you ever thought about running a crafting business?

Well this month Stampin' Up! are having special on their starter kits. If you sign up to become a demo between 12th-25th March you would get the starter kit for just £125 instead of £139.

Don't worry if doing demo's are not your thing, or even doing parties in peoples homes You can still be a demo but what we call a hobby demo. If you would like to know more about this please email me melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com and I will give you more details.

Here is the flyer.

Just look at all you get for £125, All this retails at over £240 (this is including all the business supplies too).

New Products coming....

.....VERY SOON. Check them out, click on the link at the right hand side to view some new products that will befcome available from April 1st to30th September 2009.

I am sure you will just lurve something that is in there. I already have my catalogue and will be ordering some later this week. I must say my list has nearly everything on it, but then I just lurve everything Stampin' Up!

I ask a lot of my customers what they like about Stampin' Up! and the majority always say its the way everything co-ordinates. With having four colours families you are never short of colour combo's. They are just fabulous. So what are your thoughts about Stampin' Up!

March OFFER

Sorry its been a while since I last blogged. There has been just so much going on through February, holiday, kids half term and then a very sick member of the family was in hospital. I am trying to get back into things but for the moment, I feel a little out of sorts with the shock of things.

Anyhow for March Stampin' Up! Offer it's 25% off chipboard. For all your scrapbookers its a fabulous offer, but its not just for scrappers. Card makers can use it too and also those of you who do altered art. I just love using the stuff.

If you would like to place an order with me please don't hesitate to get in touch. Details are on the right hand side.

Something to share

Gosh where has January gone? It seems like it was only here yesterday. So much has been going on and things preventing me from blogging. But today I have managed to get a card made and even took pictures with my camera (I have so got learn how to use this thing). OK the light isn't brilliant today as we have had dark clouds and a few snow showers. Not coming to much though, thankfully. But I have tried my best and played with setting too on the camera. Anyway here is the card I want to share with you all. Its technique is called the Split Negative. I learned how to do this many years ago but had forgotten all about it till it was refreshed by another Stampin' Up! demo here in the UK. Thanks Monica for sharing a wonderful technique.

I have used elegant eggplant as my main colour (card and ink pad) also whisper white and also white embossing powder. This is all mounted on some Lavendar lace cardstock. Whisper white taffeta and one of my own brads for embellishments.

I have also stamped inside on the insert.

I have used the small baroque border with the Elegant eggplant ink pad (yep no ink cartridge). You can do this for small pieces of work but I would recommend the cartridges for larges sections. Well I better get back to crafting as I need to get a few things done today. One being my son's Valentines present, for a girl he really likes ;-) Bless him he is only 10.

Dials anyone?

As some of you know I am part of the tutorial team on In Love With Stamping forum(see link to the right). It was my turn to write one for today so here is what I did.

Materials
Cardstock in two colours
Brads
Pencil/Ruler/scissors
¼” and 1 ¼” circular punch
¼” square punch
Craft knife
One of the following methods of cutting; Nestabilities circles, compass and pencil, coluzzle with circle template.
1. I have chosen to work with nestabilities for this project, but you can use a compass and pencil, coluzzle with circular template. Just adjust to accommodate.
Choose 3 sizes, large (9.5cm), Medium (7.5cm), small (3.5cm) all approximate.

2. Choose your main colour and cut out the three circles from step 1.

3. On the back of all three, find the middle by using your ruler and a pencil. (Work in pencil as it can be rubbed out as you proceed.) Make a cross.

Where the lines cross, using a pricking tool punch a hole. This will be for the brad to go through later on.

4. Using a piece of contrasting card cut a strip 2.5cm (1”) wide. To round the edges use your 1 ¼” circle punch. Slide your strip of card through the punch. Centralise it on the end and punch out.

5. To get the length, place under your large circle and pencil the edge. Place it back in the punch and punch a tiny bit away from the marked edge.

6. For the hole, place it under the large circle again but on a pricking mat and prick through the hole of the large circle.

7. To make windows on the strip for each dial. Use a scrap piece of card the same width as your strip (2.5cm/1”). Draw a line along the centre and using the ¼” circle and the ¼” square punches make some windows.

8. To make your windows in your strip, take your brad and push it through your strip. Take the small dial and place that on top. Using a pencil mark the side but on the strip. Do this for all three dials.

9. Remove all dials off the brad and strip. You will now have guidelines for all the dials (these can be rubbed out later).

10. Using your template you made in step 7, place which ever window you want showing over the relevant dial, within the guidelines for that dial and trace. If you don’t like it, you can erase it and choose another.

11. Once you are happy punch/cut them out.

12. Put it all together and Voila!

13. Now you have the basics you can decorate using stamps, rub-ons, peeloffs, even doodling.
You can even experiment using different shapes; making them smaller for different projects, use less or more layers.
The only limit is your imagination.

New cards but not SU

Well I have managed to take some photo's of the cards that I made but I am not too sure what is going on with my camera. I have Fuji finepix S9600 and for some reason I can't get the camera shake off, even when its just resting on the table and no one is near it. HUH? Any ideas anyone?

Well here is the cards as promised, they are using the new magnolia elves, I think they are ever so cute.

I have left this one blank for the greeting as I am not sure what and who it will be going to and for what reason.

Here is the one of the elves, don't you just love them. OK I had better get on as I have a tutorial to write for ILWS for tomorrow. Oh yes I like leaving things till the last minute. I just hope my idea works, other wise its back to the drawing board, literally.

Desk Top Calendar

I have been getting into the swing of things this week, even though my throat is still very swollen and sore. Just wish it would go away.

Today I decided to make a desk top calendar as I am always looking for my calendar and its in another room. I know you have one on the computer but when your busy beavering away its handy to have.

Sorry for the quality of the photo but I think I have adjusted a setting on the camera and don't know which one, typical. I must learn on how to use this properly.

I have used Sweet Always designer papers with matching cardstock, plus pocket silhouettes stamp set. I have seen these on quite a few blogs and they use the tree for all seasons stamp set. Unfortunately I don't have that set, yet, its on my list though ;-)

I have decided this is what we are doing in class tonight as its the first night back since the holidays. So something nice to break them in gently. I have made some cards but I have used Magnolia images will try and get those photo's taken this week, camera willing, lol.

Ta ta for now!

Sale a Bration!

Yippeeeeee!!!!!!

It is here for the first time in the UK.

During Sale-A-Bration--1 January – 28 February--Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new recruits the opportunity to earn fantastic, FREE, limited-edition stamp sets they'll enjoy for years to come.Here's how Sale-A-Bration works:

Customers When you spend £45 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward. There's no limit--for every £45 you spend, you can select another free Sale-A-Bration reward!

Hostesses When you host a workshop of at least £300 (before shipping), you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward--in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits! You can also become a virtual hostess, ask me how for more details.

Recruits During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set--a value of up to £34.95--from our current Idea Book and Catalogue!

To view the sets online visit Here , If you want to know the stampin' supplies list click Here

Any questions please don't hesitate to email me melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com

Hello!

Sorry for not bloggin for what has been weeks now, but there has just been so much going on and each time I go to do some blogging I have been side tracked or something has cropped up.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Me, I spend most of it asleep as I have had this dreaded virus for the last two weeks. It has been one awful virus, I can tell you. But I won't go into detail as it just wasn't nice.
I hope Santa was good to you all and brought you lots of crafting items. I received loads of crafting stash from my hubby and also a puppy dalmation. Oh she is sooooooo sweet, but its not the one that you have to take out for walks, no, this one is for my Nintendo DS. I have wanted a real one but we just don't have room, so hubby bought me one of these instead. So when I am really busy, I don't have to worry about taking her out for walks, lol.

My kids really enjoyed them selves and I only managed to get a couple of photo's as I was just so out of it.

I am hoping to get back into the swing of things and maybe post a bit more from next week but on Monday my little boy has to go to hospital to see a consultant about his ears. He has had a problem for just over a year and the week before Christmas I had to take him to see our GP. So I had had enough and told him I want him referred as it was not normal for gunk to come from his ears and for him to be in so much pain. So off we will be trotting on Monday. I hope it is something they can do there and then, just to relieve the poor mite of deafness and pain.
Well I better get organised as I need to post soem details of an offer from Stampin' Up!

Back soon!

Bad Blogger

Well I was hoping to get some projects shown this last week and everything has just become so hectic here. I have a new part time job, plus I am preparing for Christmas like many of you. I spent yesterday afternoon Christmas shopping to buy only one gift after three hours of browsing. My feet ached. I think I should just do it all online, but finding what my darling son wants is hard. The best way is to take him to toy shops and to just watch what he goes for. He is unusual as he never asks for anything. Not like my daughter, lol.
I am currently working on some projects for a Christmas Extravaganza Evening I will be holding on December 3rd. More details and some sneek peeks of projects will hopefully appear over the next week or two. So until then happy stampin'.

I'm back and some offers!

Hey! I am back, the flooring is looking good too. But my poor aching fingers are still a bit sore. Yep that is what happens when you are using cement and grouting. Not something I want to repeat in a hurry. It was a long job which took ALL week but its done and I can try and get back to normal this week. Just got a few jobs of cleaning first and of course putting ALL my craft stuff back in its home.

But I have some amazing offers for you from Stampin' Up!

The first one is if you place an order of £150 or more you not only get the hostess benefits but you also get to choose another FREE stamp set from the list below.

109467 pg17 Wondrous gift £19.95

107930 pg20 Snow Flurries £9.95

110528 pg 56 Friendly £14.95

110536 pg 60 Seasonal wishes £15.95

109324 pg 91 Dotted Autumn £12.95

105979 pg 91 Cold Play £24.95

This offer runs from November 1st till December 31st.

**************************

The second offer is 20% off Rub-Ons and also textured cardstock when you spend £20 on any Stampin' Up! products.

113659 pg 77 Hidden Garden Blossoms rub ons £6.00

113660 pg 77 Cherished Memories rub ons £6.00

113634 pg 68 Bold Brights 12 x 12 textured card £7.40

113635 pg 68 Earth elements 12 x 12 textured card £7.40

113636 pg 69 Rich regals 12 x 12 textured card £7.40

113637 pg 69 Softsubtles 12 x 12 textured card £7.40

113638 pg 67 Neutrals 12 x 12 textured card £7.40

This offer runs from 10th to 30th November.

If you would like to order anything, not just offers please get in touch on melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com

Ok off to get those pesky jobs out of the way as I desperately NEED to get some crafting done.

** Stampers Club **

I already have a Stampers 6 club on the go but have had a couple of more enquiries with joining in on the next one. I am aiming to start the next ones in January but if I fill another 6 places, I will start as soon as possible.
With a Stampers 6 club we have 6 members
It runs for 6 months
Each month every member commits to ordering a minimum of £25 worth of product plus P&P
Each month one of the members is selected as a "virtual" hostess and received the hostess benefits which will be a minimum of a Level 1 hostess stamp set and £15 worth of free products. This is guaranteed but it could be more.
You will receive a free copy of the catalogue.

Stampers 6 is a great way of building up your stash each month without
breaking the bank.

If you would like more information, please mail me on melanie.reid2@ntlworld.com

I would like to say at the moment all those that have been in the stampers 6 have gained a level 2 in the hostess sets and also had £35 to spend in merchandise FREE for that one month.

This is all without having to hold a party at home.