HURRY....LAST CHANCE

....Order your FAVORITES NOW before they go !!!!!!!!!!!

Hello, well IS HERE!!! Stampin'Up! have published the retirement list. Now while as a demonstrator I am sad to see some of my favorites sets retiring for good (sob, sob) I am also excited at the prospect of new stamp sets. So have a look at what's going then be quick to order your favorite because this list will only be available till the end of the September and I expect items will sell pretty quick with the fabulous deal that's on at the moment, you can get up to 50% discount on some items. That's a fabulous saving and if you have any must have sets and accessories on your wish list be quick because once they're GONE they are GONE for good. To see the retiring list click HERE then email me today at telemech01ataol.com to place your order. Every order placed with me and containing a retirement item will receive a special gift.

Big hugs Monica xx

I still think is Sunday!!

Hello is so odd as I feel like is Sunday today but is not. I am on tender hooks (along with 300 other SU demoes) as tonight we get a glimpse of the new things to come in the new SU catalogue launched on the 1st of October, we also get a chance to pre order a small selection so you can imagine just how important day it is today. I have so many things I want/wish for and I am hoping I will get quite a few of them in not ALL>(what? can't I dream?)
I have also place a big Almighty order for catalogues and I am giving you a chance to preorder your copy for ONLY £2.50 plus postage. You can reserve your copy today to be sent to you at the end of September by sending me an email to telemech01ataol.com. I know you will want to see the new book as soon as possible and I will get those out the door as soon as I receive them.
A new challenge has gone up yesterday over at SWUS and this time is a sketch again. I decided to make a Z fold card which was very much inspired by the talented Jenny over at Stamping Moments, I tend to stick with plain card designs.

Real Red , Chocolate Chip card stock, Old Olive designer paper and the ever so beautiful Silent Night stamp set. I cut a snowflake from the Winter post set only because I was working on my October Class when I did this card so it was there in front of me. The image was coloured with the ink pads and lashings of dazzling diamonds dazzling glitter have been applied using the tombow multi glue. It sparkles very much so.

Now Luca's second birthday is fast approaching (scary how fast time goes) and of course I am hunting for present ideas. this little boy is mad about cars and he likes nothing better than to sit in a car and fiddle with every wiper, indicator levers or hazard, windows, stereo buttons for ages. So as he is started to climb out of his cot we have decided that we will buy him a bed and what better bed than a car shaped one. We still haven't found the ONE yet but we managed to narrow it down a bit. I did however ordered the cutest plaque for him from this lovely lady. Juls and her hubs make the perfect team when it comes to handmade plaques and she has a good selection in her ebay shop. She made one for Luca that reads Luca's Broom Broom and is just delightful. It came while there were here last weekend and his face lit up when he unwrapped it. First words he uttered? BROOM BROOM. I loved seeing him so happy and he was delighted with it. Thank you Ju this is a gift he will treasure I'm sure as it will hopefully hang on his new bed, and I am very touched by your generosity.

Look at that happy face? oooh I could eat him whole. Have a great week hugs Monica xxx

OCOTBER CLASS

Hello how are you? Is yipetteeeee Friday again and the last Bank Holiday weekend of the year if you live in the UK. I managed to get my October Christmas class designed and sorted and here it is.

A Yummylicious and very different combo for Christmas but oh so elegant made with this gorgeous Vintage inspired stamp set. In this class you will make the three cards shown plus you will have a go at stamping on real stone tiles and make 4 coasters complete with feet to protect your furniture, perfect gift idea.

The class price is £27.00 and for this you will receive the following

*One Winter Post stamp set

* 4 natural limestone tiles with 16 self adhesive felt pads

* Three card kits containing everything you need to complete the cards shown all cut to size, including ribbon and brads.

* Step by step instructions with clear photographs guiding you through the process.

You will need to provide glue, glitter, Really Rust, Brocade Blue and Chocolate Chip ink pads( don't have any of those colours? you can add them to your order just ask me).

When: Saturday October 10Th 2009 at 10 am

Where: Wesley Place Community Centre, Snaith

Can't attend the class but you still want to take advantage of my super deal? order your class by mail and add £3.95 for postage costs. Want to take advantage of the super price but you already have the stamp set, simply choose another one of the same value or more and pay the difference. Email me to order yours at telemech01ataol.com.

The other thing I wanted to tell you about is my next Virtual Hostess Club, I have 2 more spaces left. We start in October with the launch of the new catalogue and I just know you will have a big wish list. So it makes perfect sense to join one of those clubs and spread the cost. Read more info here.
Lots of deadlines as well, august offer finishes on 31st don't forget to place your order for the free ribbon bundle, sign up to become a demo and a Passionette and get a Free stamp set plus a bumper pack of goodies to help you start out, and don't forget to send those entries for the Summer Design challenge and a chance to win £150 worth of SU goodies. I have sent mine in yesterday and I will be able to share it with you all very soon. Right off I go now sorry for the long business post have a great bank holiday weekend. hugs Monica xxx

OMG!!!! Do you Zumba?

Hee hee hello, I know what you're thinking this woman has gone mad!! Her blog titles are getting more weird by the day.
I have something cool to share.
Now if you are one of my lovely American readers, you might already be totally familiar with this or indeed if you are fitness fanatic you will have at least heard of it. Zumba ( check this video link out) is a fitness craze that swept over America only to be introduced all over the world. Well I have attended my first class last night and OMG !!! I loved it!!! Such a fun way to exercise especially if you love dancing like I do. Check classes local to you and if you manage to find some try it out you will love it!! is the best fitness class I've ever attended, I am too excited till the next one. LOL


Next I want to share some little cards I have made to go with some prizes won by some lovely ladies in one of my live chats over at SWUS. They have all been received now so I can share them. Once again my inspiration came from a top I have.



Cameo Coral, Ruby Red and Choco. Chip. I have used the level 2 hostess set Fall Flair(yet again), and stamped my own paterened paper. The sentiment is one I really love but not used it much, it was fitting here as I have not sent the prizes out till nearly a week later ( I was waiting on some goodies, poor forward planning on my part).

My next tit bit is my last project designed for the SWUS Online. A sweet baby box filled with three stamped baby grows. The card is one you have seen before on my blog, but it matched so well I decided to use it .

A combo I love and use a lot for baby boys, Basic Grey, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery. Wild About You stamp set and 3 baby grows from Asda for £2.50. A very cute and inexpensive gift for someone new.
I will see you again very soon till then, big hugs Monica xxx

Just testing!!!!

Hello I am blogging !!!!!
Yes I know you're probably thinking SHE'S LOST IT!! she's been blogging for a while now, but let me tell you this is a different kind if blogging as is from my IPhone. I had one for about 2years now but no need to find out if I can blog from it as my wireless enabled laptop is surgically attached to me LOL. You see very soon I will be attending a very important event in the stamping world and that is the Stampin'Up Convention. This is another great reason to join SU, this truly is a fabulous three day event where you get the chance to interact with hundreds of other demoes, share and swap wonderful ideas, get to meet Shelli the CEO and co founder of SU, and just have the best time EVER !! The first European Convention will be held in Frankfurt/Germany!! Of course I cannot wait and this is the reason why I wanted to see if I can successfully blog from my phone, I wanted to be able to update you all from Frankfurt when and as things happen. Now I don't have any crafty pictures on the phone so I will have to settle with a few of my gorgeous little curly top for this post.



How cool does he look? Here he was trying my sunnies on



Cool little dude indeed. Ok fingers crossed this works now. Thank you for bearing with me hugs Monica xx
Post From My iPhone

Challenge time...

... Hello are you having a wonderful weekend? The weather is GORGEOUS and we have a sun bathing day planned. Like you know my sister and Luca are visiting we've been out and about yesterday and today we're taking it easy. That's what Sunday are for right? cilling out and completing the challenge over at SWUS !! This week we want you to use the following: One colour card stock, one patterned paper, one flower, one ribbon and 3 brads. And here's my example

I used So Saffron card stock and patterned paper, the stamp set is the Spring Solitude level 2 hostess set. I stamped the outline flowers and watercoloured them with the ink pad and the So Saffron marker. Added three brads to some of the big flowers and lots of glitter. My tiny flower came from the Pretties Kit. I think i got it wrong with using two ribbons instead of one but I won't tell if you don't.

I also wanted to share with you my third project designed for the online classes.

A folder that holds 6 or more A5 standard cards and their envelopes. Made in Kraft, Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip colours and using the crazy for Cupcakes stamp set this will take a great gift for that non crafty person to have on hand. I hope you will have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday I will see you soon with more. Hugs Monica xxx

Birthday Passionette !!!

YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEKKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello, like me title and first line of my blog post suggest a member of my wonderful Stampin'Up! team is celebrating her birthday today. Bekka is one of my career building demos and she is doing really well. This girl is the sweetest, kindest most helpful person you'll ever meet. She truly is wonderful and I am so lucky to have her in our team, she helps me more than I help her and I do feel like she is my upline an not the other way round, and for this I am eternally grateful to her. Here is the card I have made to celebrate her special day!!

Bekka's favourite colour is teal and she also loves owls, after her main love for lighthouses. Now SU have not got a owl set in the catty yet or a lighthouse one( please SU give us some owls and lighthouses for next year so I can use them for sweet Bekka's cards LOL), so instead I have used my punches and my Coluzzle system to create this little cutie. Taken With Teal, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant and Chocolate chip were the colours used. To make the owl I have cut an oval with my Coluzzle and then used various strips of scalloped pieces of card and overlapped them. The wings were made with the Oval punch, the ears made with the flower punch the eyes use the 3/4", 1/2" and 1/4" circle punches. The gorgeous sentiment shape was obtained from the large scallop oval punch and a craft knife. Simply cut away 2 straight lines either side of the stamped sentiment. Looks fabby doesn't it? And I'm pleased to tell you that Bekka loved her card.

Bekka I hope you have a wonderful day today and you get spoiled lots my love, big squezee hugs !!!!!!!

Right got to go because I have a VIV(isitor) coming over today and I have his travel cot to get up and sorted and install those bloomin stair gates everywhere LOL. yeah THE BOY is coming over for the weekend and I couldn't be happier **BIG GRIN**

lots of hugs Monica xx

BIG Anniversaries

hello how are you? I was asked recently to make a Diamond Anniversary card, and it got me thinking. The couple celebrating this wonderful milestone have been married for 60 YEARS!!!!!!!!Common think about it 60 years!!!! WOW how must that feel? Do the wife stops nagging about the toilet seat business or the socks abandoned by the side of the bed, do the man gets better at finding where pots live in the cupboard?( mine can expertly run 400 million pounds projects but still can't find where our few pots and pans live, even if they ve been there from day one). I somehow doubt that very much, but is heart warming to think what those two individuals have witnessed together in all those years. And I was glad to have contributed to their celebration even though I don't know then, I feel good thinking that they will look at the beautiful card I created for them, and yeah I am throwing modesty to the winds because I love how this card ended up.




Used the wonderful A Rose is a Rose stamp set, and a subtle colour combination. I didn't want to go the white, silver and diamonds route, instead I opted for soft Blush Blossom with a hint of Certainly Celery. Lots of dazzling diamonds a vellum embossed layer and some tiny crystals. The sentiment was embossed in silver and the chipboard numbers came form my scrapbooking stash

I also had to make 20 Christening invites last week and I choose to make those cute babies, inspired by this one here.


Simple design as parents had a budget and wanted to stick with it, and they were fairly simple to make but my hands were really sore after cutting away the sides with the craft knife. Pretty in Pink card stock, the wonderful card stock vellum for SU ( if you've not tried this yet YOU MUST!!!) was embossed with a cuttlebug folder, and some satin ribbon from my cake making stash finished off the design. Here s a view of the inside. The colour of the printed card was a better pink match in real life it looks red on here. OK I hope you like my offerings today, take care and I will see you tomorrow. Big hugs Monica xx

SWUS colour challenge

Hello is Sunday and that means one thing and one thing only, a new challenge has been posted over at SWUS!! Last week we had Christmas and this week we have a colour challenge. I like those the best. Hop over to check the inspirational picture. Gorgeous gerberas one of my fave's flowers in hot pinks, oranges and reds. Is mum's birthday on the 22nd of August so decided to make her a card in this weeks colours.

This card is quite different for me and not one I would like to receive myself if I am honest , but you see this is the perfect card for my mum. Firstly she adores flowers I mean she really , really likes flowers. She has the biggest collection of house plants( she s very proud of it too) I have ever seen (apart from when visiting a botanical garden) and buys fresh cut flowers every week without fail. So I thought what better card then this lavish bouquet of wonderful roses. Firstly I have stamped each rose and cut out, then I cut my pot out of some chocolate chip card stock and started arranging the blooms until I was happy. Some flower heads were popped onto dimensionals and some were simply glued down. Colours I have used here are Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red and Old Olive. A Rose is a Rose is the beautiful stamp set, I have also used the gorgeous Frame With a Flourish to underline the word Mama which was stamped with the Short Order Alphabet.Old Olive grosgrain was tied in a neat bow and placed amongst the flowers. I hope you are inspired to give those colours a go I would love to see what you come up with. Ok have a wonderful Sunday see you again soon. Hugs Monica xxx

Rusty Chocolate....

Hello my title sounds all wrong doesn't it? LOL

Over at SWUS Online we not only have beautiful projects provided for you we have fun live challenges as well with a time limit attached to them. They are fast, mad and very, very FUN> So last week it was Zoe's turn to host a live chat and set a challenge for us all and I managed to have a play myself. Zoe set us a ketch and I pretty much followed it.

Here's my rusty chocolate card. I have used a Choc Chip card blank, So saffron designer paper and Really rust card stock as matting layers. A hint of old Olive in the felt flowers and some of the gorgoeus saffron grosgrain ribbon that's on offer this month. Don't forget you get two free rolls of ribbon with each £45 spend, also I offer free postage for all your orders this month.(excluding Stampers 10 clubs.)
My next card is one I have made to demonstarte the dryer sheet technique.This is such a fun technique but quite a messy one, I was wearing dazzling diamonds for days after this LOL> So Saffron, Certainly Celery card stock, Tempting Turquoise designer paper from the Rainbow Sherbet collection, and new Certainly Celery polly twill ribbon. The stamp set is Live your dream and copious amounts of dazzling diamonds provide a super sparkly effect. here s a close up

Have a wonderful whatever you're doing I will see you again soon. Hugs Monica xxx

And what fun we had...

Hello, I hope you had a great weekend. Like you already know I had a class on Saturday. I had 10 people booked for this and by Thursday there were only 3 left. So decided against the venue and we held it at my house instead, and because it was a gorgeous day we held in in the garden. Before we started all set and ready to go
However it didn't take long before the girls were well into their projects and the table looked like this
Bless, it was so nice to be outside (we were in shade of course) but we did have a few issues with the bees, they rather liked the bright colours of the paper we were working with. From left we have lovely Alison then, lovely Joanne and peeking in the corner( she was trying to hide) is lovely Jane. They are such a great bunch of girls and I really enjoy their company, we had such a laugh. And of course there was cake as well. ( I dare you to click on this picture and make it bigger)

A rather yummy apricot (cos they are in season) upside down cake served with real dairy vanilla ice cream. Not terribly pretty but very nice. (And yes I scoffed the rest by Saturday night girls lol).

Ok should I show you a card? It was Sunday yesterday and that means one thing , there is a new challenge posted over at SWUS and this time is Christmas. I really need to start on Christmassy makings but here is my first effort, pretty simple one to ease me in nicely and steadily.

Certainly Celery, Real red and Chocolate Chip, Snow Flurries stamp set and Big Deal alpha,the pudding was made with the 1 3/8" circle punch and the scallop circle punch. And check that new twill ribbon out, it ties heavenly, I love it!!!
Ok got to go hope to catch up soon, hugs Monica xxx

Wooohoooo....

...........is the weeeeeeekend!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yiiipeeeee.
Hiya how are you? I am in a happy mood, finished work a bit earlier today, got home blitzed the house because I have some lovely ladies coming over for an AL fresco class( should have actually tidied the garden not the house LOL), yes it means that the weather forecast is actually decent so I am soo looking forward to it, never held a class outside(I will take photos of course).
Today it was my turn to post a project over at Stamp With Us and this is what I come up with.

A sweet little birdhouse that is actually a box, the roof lifts up to reveal a collection of 3"x3" love notes plus their envelopes, of course the box could be used for so much more, I am actually working on a gingerbread house version right now and it looks promising. Ballet Blue, So saffron designer paper, Really Rust were the colours used for the box. The owl is from the Forest friends stamp set and the branches were made with a stamp from the level 2 hostess set Spring Solitude. The little notes were made using the neighborhood wheel. All products Stampin'Up! If you would like to make this project and more you can still join in. To buy this step by step tutorial click ont he buy it now button at the end of this post. Here's a closer look at the cute little owl.

This particular box was a gift for my new neighbours, last month our next door neighbours emigrated to Australia, and new ones moved in. I thought those little notes would be perfect to let friends and family that they moved or to use as thank you cards for the new home gifts they might have received.

I hope you will have a wonderful weekend whatever you do. See you again soon. Hugs Monica xxx

Join ME now!!!!!

Hello how are you? is pretty hectic here I work every day this week , class on Saturday, Stamp With us in full swing oooh is all go!! And on top of all this of course I am always working on building my SU business, and with this in mind I have an incentive offer going on. Join me and the Passionettes in the month of August and become a Stampin'Up! demonstrator, and on top of your fabulous value kit that you can fully customise to suit your taste I WILL OFFER YOU AN ADDITIONAL STAMP SET of your choice, this can be any set you want no matter how expensive !!! plus a BUMPER PACK containing coordinating card stock, patterned papers, ribbon, brads, buttons, embelishments a very comprehensive kit to work along side your new demo kit. The Passionettes are a big and really friendly team and by joining me you will have the guarantee that I will be there for you for the long haul, this is definitely a full time job for me so you won't run the risk of being orphaned a few months down the line because your upline has decided she dosen't want to do this anymore. Also I am committed to looking after my team so you will be receiving as much or as little support as you need, I AM ALWAYS available for ALL my team members . I have demonstrators in my team from all over the country, and we keep in touch via a private passworded site with interactive live chat facility. Also as part of my team you will have access to all my class planners and tutorials that I design plus lots of informative videos. Want to find out more? send me an email at
telemech01 AT aol.com and I will be more than happy to have a chat with you and explain how you really have nothing at all too loose by joining only a lot to gain. Thank you
Ok, I have a card to show you next, is a nice and bright one to make up for the lack of sunshine outside. I cannot believe that is August already and we've hardly seen the Summer Sun (love that colour hee hee).So it was Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie with a hint of Old Olive that I've used for this card , this combo is sooo cheerful. I made this for the SWUS online to demonstrate a wonderful technique using flour and water( yes you read it right, we were cooking LOL). It gives a lovely 3 dimensional effect to your images. Stamp set used is the ever so yummy Crazy for Cupcakes, sentiment Circle of Friendship.

Here's a close up of the wonderful cupcake frosting, and to find out how it was done visit Donna's inspirational website at Butternut Sage Designs . Right thank you for visiting me and, I hope I'll see you again soon, big hugs Monica xxx

Sunday musings..

Hello.. I feel so tired today!!! We had the SWUS launch party last night and we ended up being very late, then I was up at 5 am then at 7 again it was not good. So I think I will need an early night tonight.

The first project went live today and it is one designed by myself.

A girly ensemble in yummy summery colours.

I have used Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion and So Saffron. The patterned paper is from the Rainbow Sherbet collection a very nice and brightyfull combo. I was really upset to find that there were no pink peanut M&M's I was really convinced that there were, hmm in my defense I have not bought any for years.

The outside of the shoe was stamped and embossed in clear powder with the seeing Spots set and the gorgeous flower was made with the scallop circle from Pink Passion and So Saffron card stock. Here s a close up

Looks good enough to wear huh? don't forget you can still join in with the Online classes just click on the buy it now button at the top right hand corner of this page.

That s it for me this time, I hope you had a great weekend hopefully I will be more chatty next time, hugs Monica xxx

FREE RIBBON??????????

DID I SAY FREE RIBBON? Yes I did because that's exactely what you get if you place an order of £45.00 or more with stampin'Up! throughout the August month.You not only get one reel you get TWO A 9.1 meters reel of So Saffron grosgrain type and one 9.1 meters reel of Certainly Celery polly twill. I have just placed an order myself so I will be showing you some samples of it soon. Tempted? I'm sure you are a girl can never have to much ribbon can she? Well I am here to tempt you even more, place a qualifying order with me and not only you will get your beautiful ribbons for free you will get your order shipped for Free( please note free postage does not apply if you are a member of my Stampers 10 clubs). Also I will enter all the orders into a draw and the 3 lucky winners will win a stamp set of my choice each. To place your order email me at telemech01@aol.com .

I had to make a card for my friends boy the other day and I think I got it so wrong. I love the combo and I like the card, but the colours are wrong for a 10 year old. Yes I know you agree and not got a clue what went over me really, not for a minute did I think ohh this might be a bit to serious for a 10 year old.
I have used the spotlighting technique and used the sweet wellies for the Scene in the Garden. You see Connor is the oldest of three boys so the three pairs of wellies image was fitting. I am sure he didn't care much about the colours but I truly wish I went with primaries. Oh well everyone makes mistakes I'll just have to learn. Have a wonderful weekend see you soon. Hugs M xxx