Ahh is so good to be HOME!!! I love spending time away but is always so good to return to your own surroundings and sleep in your own bed (heaven). I mean talk about traumatic times LOL<>Before I lefy for my jolly I got to play with one of the new scrapping kits from the new catalogue, and oh my goody is delish. I took 20 minutes to whip those cards and little box up and 45 min to whip the cracker up LOL> In all fairness I was making it happen as I went along so I kinda had a lot of figuring out to do first. It looks so very gorgeous and is so easy to work with. I am actually ordering another one for that last minute panic on Christmas Eve, when I realize number 24 have sent us a card this year and we didn't. All festive colours that you can't go wrong with and don't even get me started on the scrapbook pages I am going to make for my mum and my sister featuring our very own star Luca.
Now is been a while since I posted a cake and the week before I left for my holiday I had 2 Christening cakes to finish and boy was I stressing about it, it was when I managed to get that virus that affected my joints so it was a bit hairy at times but I managed to finish them in time thank goodness, and here 's one of them.
It was made for baby Faith, here's the card I made when she was born 9 weeks ago. Bottom tier was a pink madeira cake with white vanilla buttercream, and top tier a very indulging chocolate torte. I couldn't attend the event but I was told it went well and everyone enjoyed the cake. Righty then, I will be back with exciting happenings soon but till then BIG HUGS to you all, I am so glad to be back. Monica xx
ps. Only 4 places left in my new Virtual Hostess club, are you still thinking about it? xxx
Yiiikes!! Our lovely 2 week break was coming to an end yesterday and what a fab time we had after the week in Cyprus meeting up with friends and family across Germany this last week. Firstly we travelled to Aachen and spent some time with my two gorgeous nieces then we headed up towards Haag in the ever so beautiful Bavaria and spent a few days with my good friend Claudia her husband and their 7 months old baby. Once again we took advantage of Clau's sister Adi and her Husband Felix hospitality in their beautiful home, visited a few lovely towns and Bavaria's biggest lake Chiemsee, indulged in a bit of shopping therapy before heading towards Wurzburg where we spent another day with Mona and her partner Douglas, again being spoilt with yummy food( Douglas is an expert cook and everything that came out of his kitchen was superb, how Mona manages to stay so thin with a cook like Douglas I'll never know. The weather was so nice I could have easily took advantage of their inviting swimming pool in the back garden. Yesterday came and we had to say goodbye to our friends and Germany and we set off to finish the 5.30 hour journey to Rotterdam where we had a lovely cabin booked on the overnight ferry to travel back home. Nearly three hours in and everything seemed fine but as we approached Düsseldorf we suddenly came to a halt. Something bad must have happened about 6km in front of us (the only bit that we understood from the MS 3 signs) and we were parked on that motorway for 3.30 hours. At this point we realized that unless a miracle happened we were never going to make the ferry in time. And we never did!!! we entering the port as the ferry was setting off we ended up being 35 min to late. Boo hooo we spent a night in a hotel nearby and here we are wasting a day doing nothing as we don't want to take any more chances and venture into Rotterdam in case anything else happens. So if you are waiting for me to get in touch with you please note that I am not home yet, and I am struggling with a painfully slow Internet connection. I am itching to get crafting so much. I did some crafting on my lap tray travelling but it was mainly assembling work for the organized swaps I am taking part for Convention next month and boy I'm I ready to go again LOL. So please keep everything crossed for me to make it home safe, hugs Monica xx
Hello how are you? my God I cannot believe that he is 2 TODAY!!! We were back from Cyprus in time to finish decorating his 2 tier birthday cake that featured all his favourite cartoon characters from the *In The Night Garden*.
It was fairly simple but her was delighted to see his beloved Igle Piggle, Upsy Daisy and the infamous Pakka Pakka as he calls Makka Pakka jumping out of the green butter cream covered layers. And of course the card had to match his passion at the minute. I really wasn't sure how I was going to swing this one but after a few head scratches my treasured SU punches provided me with the perfect solution.
A rather odd looking Makka Pakka but hey to a 2 year old he looked just fine. LOL
I used a few colours on here starting with a Night of navy card blank, Summer Sun, Old olive, Brocade Blue, I used the tree stamp from the Forest Friends set to stamp them on my sponged hills, Pocket Silhouettes to stamp the the grass, the little cupcake came from the Level 2 Cause for Celebration set. He had an amazing day with 9 of his closest friends making as much noise as possible, there was dancing and a lot of playing involved as well as eating a yummy finger buffet expertly and freshly prepared by mummy. He was shattered by the end of it just like anyone should be after a proper party.
We had a lovely week in Cyprus, I discovered a wonderful world of yummy food especial koopes on which I blame my weight gain entirely, in spite of me trying to work them off every day. Just look at this for a laugh. I always try and do a bit of exercise while on hols and the first thing I did was check out the activities. I was pleased to find a daily gym session at 10.30 am and a aqua aerobic session at 12.00pm. The first day I missed the 10.30 session so I was all geared up for a max 20 min session which is what I experienced nearly everywhere we've been. What a shock I had when 30 min in the session got harder and harder involving water filled water bottles to be used as weights and it went on for a bloomin hour. Geez, I did do it every day religiously but never gave the 10.30 session a go LOL.
Oh and ladies check Marcus out, I have never seen a class that full LOL. I did tell him that this picture will end up on my blog.
Hello how are you? sorry I am being really mean teasing you. I will stop that.
What do I have to show you today? Firstly a card I have sent to a very lovely lady who is going through a bit of a rough patch. I am sure she will be just fine but wanted to send her card to let her know that I was thinking of her.
I have used this wonderful stem from Live Your Dream stamp set, and stamped using the markers to add more than one colour to the whole image. I then stamped the heads again and cut them out and mounted them onto dimensional.
The colours used are So Saffron, Regal Rose and Old Olive, sentiment from the Sincere Salutations.
Next I have to show you the cards I made to thank everyone for ordering of the last chance list through me.
I just love this set so much, so much, I think is got to do with my insane obsession with symmetry and everything round. Circle Circus new stamp set available from 1st of October, Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum card stock, Elegant Eggplant, Orchid Opulence and Perfect Plum ink pads. The sentiment from Pocket Silhouette was stamped on twill after seeing it on Emma's blog. She is one amazing stamper I just love her work. Those cards are 4x4 inches. Hope you enjoyed seeing my samples today thank you for stopping by. I am off now and will see you very soon with some more cards. Hugs Monica xx
Yay!! Another girlie in my team celebrates her special day this time of the year. Today is Carole's Birthday. Happy Birthday my love. Carole is a sweetheart, we become good friends since she joined my team and I just love her calm way and also admire her card making style. I am sure you've visited her before, but if you haven't stop by her blog and admire the beautiful projects she makes. Here's the card I have made and sent her.
Queue Up new level 3 hostess set again and what a cutie this set is. I love those birdies in full song and I have imagined that they are signing happy birthday to Carole.
Carole's favorite colour is RED so I have paired it here with Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow, an elegant combo and I hope she approves. I have also used one of the stamp sets from the Circle Circus on the lower half stamped in versamark to add some interest. Sentiment from the A Bit Of Birthday Cheer set. Have a wonderful day my love I hope the boys spoil you rotten. Big hugs Monica xxx
Hello how are you? Yesterday was Jayne's birthday!!!!! Jayne is one of my much loved Passionettes and she is just lovely, we are yet to meet but I know she's lovely because we chat plenty. This is the card I made to mark her special day.
oh I just love this combo!! Jayne's favourite colour is Hot Pink so I choose Pink Passion. I paired it with Summer Sun and Chocolate Chip for a really punchy combo, it just fascinates you is so bright. And how about that stamp set? Is the new level 2 hostess set called Whimsical Wings and I lubbe it lots. I used the markers to colour the whole image, sentiment part of the set called A Bit Of birthday cheer, taffeta in chocolate chip and the scallop edge punch used to create a border. Would you like to earn this set for FREE? then why don't you join my new virtual hostess club starting 1st of October? Find more details by clicking on the link at the top of my blog.
Jayne Happy Birthday sweetie I hope you liked your card and I hope you have a fabulous day. Hugs Monica xxx
...is 21 today!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday sweetheart I hope you will have a wonderful day!
Hello how are you? I nearly forgot to make a card for Zoe's birthday (can you imagine what that would have meant, gosh ) so this was done the night before I left for my holiday.Az fold card done using the Whimsical Wings stamp set,Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive colour combo, sentiment from the Circle of Friendship. Zoe I hope you enjoy your day my lov ely and I hope Toni Macaroni spoils you rotten.hugs
Is Sunday and that means that is challenge time over at SWUS.
This week we are taking inspiration from this beautiful quilt set here.
Oh isn't it stunning? I love those bright colours.
And this is my interpretation. I took the challenge a bit to literally and made a quilt effect on my card. Colours used are Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive. I have white embossed the card stock layers using stamps from the Fall Flair level 2 hostess. the sentiment is from the level 1 hostess set Best Yet. I love how this turned out, you know me I am all out for bright colours. I hope the weather is nice where you are cos is bloomin scorchio here in CYPRUS. Have a great Sunday chat soon. hugs Monica xxx
ps I thought you would like to see the view from our room.
.... and cheers to me, cos I am nearly on my way. Is been hard going this last couple of days as I managed to get myself a virus that affected all my joints so I did feel 98 for the last few days and I didn't like it one bit, so hopefully some sun will do me good. I have a manly card to share I admit I do not like making these half as much but check this out, not to bad even if I say so myself.
Fairly simple layout but the combo really stands out, that's why I love SU I can get hundred of colour combos from the 4 colour families, love our colour families to the point where I am obbssesed with them, I translate every colour I see into SU colour names.( I also know that you're probably doing the same thing LOL)
Cheers to you stamp set, Short order alpha, Sage Shadow, So Saffron and Chocolate Chip card stock, twill tape and some original hodge podge hardware that is retiring soon. I coloured the beer mugs with the markers.
Next another sneak peek from the new catalogue this time is the cute bird from the Good Friend set. Now I have to admit starting to work with this set and not loving it straight away, but three cards in and I was hooked. I now LOVE IT!!!
You know who it reminds me of, the birdie on the cornflakes box LOL. Have a look next time and let me know if you think they're related. Aww how tweet is this? Ruby Red, Tempting Turquoise and More Mustard card stock and inks. You get quite a few stamps in this set, varied ones as well like flower heads and stalks etc. Like I said I do love it now. However this was my second attempt, the first ever card I made with it was not as successful shall we say LOL. I will share it anyway for you to see next time. Thank you for stopping by see you again soon. Hugs Monica xx
Hello are you ready for some more peeks? I had a massive clear out last week and tidied my space out then on Sunday I had a marathon day stamping using my new stamps. I will show you those samples over the next 2 weeks like I said so keep popping by. Here's the first one for today.
Oh this set is fast becoming one of my favorites, I adore this bird with the filigree wings, is called Whimsical Wings and this will be a level 2 hostess set in the new catalogue. This is typically the level my clubs reach every month so if you like what you see and would like to earn this set FREE then join one of my virtual hostess clubs! we start in October and I still have 7 places left. The stamp set contains a beautiful swirl that I stamped all over my card blank and at the bottom of the whisper white layer.
Colour combo is a very pretty one, quite soft even if I have used the bold red. Sage Shadow, Real Red and So Saffron card stock, the image was coloured using the marvellous markers sentiment punched out with the large oval and scalloped oval punch, real red grosgrain ribbon.
Right got tons left to do and need to think about packing so I will see you very soon, hugs Monica xxx
hello how are you? I had a busy weekend and I am now happy, happy as I am officially on countdown to my holly jolly.Wow thank you so much for all your comments to my last entry I loved reading them and I can confirm that we have one firm winner. A few of you were close ish but none came quite as close as CATH. cathcrops said... 868 circles ?Good luck with the comp.best wishes Cath x Cath guessed that my neck piece was made from 868 circles( a wild guess I am sure Cath) but she was nearly on the money as the piece was made from 897 circles, I added an extra one as I am superstitious and believe that odd is better than even LOL. WELL DONE Cath please send me an email with your favorite colour and I will make you a smaller version. Thank you all once again for playing. Ok I have lots to tell you, firstly the STAMP WITH US WINTER edition is open for registration NOW. It starts 18Oct. and I cannot wait. I have some fab projects already lined up. Registration is only £15.00 and you will get tons of Christmas inspired projects plus gift giving ideas and packaging. To join simply click on the buy it now button below. If you are an International no need for currency conversion Paypal will take care of it.
Also our dates for the next Stamp With us Retreat have been announced. Our first one was such a success we had to do another, and also we had quite a bit of feedback that it was too far down South for some to travel so I am hoping you will put your money where your mouth is and join us this time as we are holding one in Startford Upon Avon as well as Guildford.
Places are limited to 35max. so reserve your place ASAP. Find more details on HERE Ok how about some cards?
First up my SWUS weekly challenge, I love those challenges and they end up being challenging all the time cos I always leave it till the last minute and then I end up with cards I am not totally happy with. But I like this one.
Not terribly involved and very easy to make but the colours are good colours together. Not Quite Navy, Really Rust and More Mustard. Loads of Love and accessories was used ( I will never tire of this set, too versatile). Gingham ribbon to act as road( quite clever I thought, even though I know is not so clever). I layered the sentiment from the Sincere Salutations set and made it look like a wheel. Used the tab ounch and both circle punches(1 1/4"and 1 3/8").
Next I have managed a scrap page!!!! I know you're shocked i was shocked myself LOL> I had a major tidy up on Saturday and found some photos of myself in an envelope so I thought, yes I know what I can do, scrap a page for the never ending book of ME that I started 5 years ago and still only has 3 pages in it. Lookie here...
I took this photo myself back in 2007. It was after I got my Big Girl camera and needless to say didn't have a clue what I was doing (I am not saying I do now but I do have a better idea then I had then). So exposure of this photo was so bad my skin resembles that of a snake, but I was soo happy at the time. I really was chuffed with it. I thought that poignant moment was worth recording. So I scraped with Blacks and Ruby Reds and Always Artichokes and Kraft and Rose Red. What? what are you saying? what stamp set is that? Oh that one... err I think this is a new stamp set that Stampin'Up! is bringing over on the 1st od October, yeah that 's the one.
What is called? oh ok is called Circle Circus and I LOVE IT!!! Bad Monica I know.
How excited do you think I am? as a demo you get a chance to preorder early new upcoming stamp sets. And I have a few of them in my greasy mitts( or inky ones), and over the next few weeks I will show you loads of samples to get you all excited for the release on October 1st. There are some fab things coming your way save those pennies, and don't forget to join a club to spread the cost you will want to when you see the new goodies, read more about it at the top of this page. Have a great week hugs Monica xx
Yay!!! I can finally reveal my entry. It isn't a card and it isn't a scrapbook page in fact it has very little stamping on but I love how it turned out, and I am already making more. Is a fully wearable necklace made from punched out circles. I used nearly all the circles punches, starting with the 1 3/8" then moving outwards the 1 1/4", then is the 1" then the 3/4". And how I love those colours I tell you I had real trouble sending this in to SU. I have used the following colours
Basic Black, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Orchid Opulence, Almost amethyst, tempting Turquoise, Green Galore and Certainly Celery those two colours were alternated for a brighter green but not quite as bright as green galore on is own. I have simply threaded the discs onto necklace thread and separated the different section with clear crystals from the Pretties kit. Elegant ribbon finishes it off. Here's another view complete with the display stand I made.
It really was quick and easy to make apart from maybe a little taxing on my hands, and i have completed it in 2.5 hours on a lap tray in car while travelling down to London. ***NO I WASN'T DRIVING SILLY ***
So I hope you will love this as much as I do and I have a little game for you to play. Guess how many circles I used for this entire neck piece? The FIRST person to get it right will receive a little prize from me, I might even make a smaller version of this necklace for them. Good Luck !!Hugs Monica xxx
Join my Next Virtual Hostess Club starting at the end of the month. A few places still left, to find out more details click here then email me at telemech01@aoldotcom to book your place.
Contact Monica with this button and send your order today!
Wife to Pete, sister to my best friend,auntie to LUCA the most precious little boy, daughter to Roumanian parents( born in the heart of Transilvania) and surogate mummy to Nico our 9 year old German Shepard. I am an Independent Stampin'Up! demonstrator with a passion for anything crafty.
Seen something you like and you have to buy it NOW? Would you like me to do a demonstration for you and your friends/family? Would you like to attend some of my fun classes/clubs? then please get in touch with me at telemech01@aol.com.
It looks so very gorgeous and is so easy to work with. I am actually ordering another one for that last minute panic on Christmas Eve, when I realize number 24 have sent us a card this year and we didn't. All festive colours that you can't go wrong with and don't even get me started on the scrapbook pages I am going to make for my mum and my sister featuring our very own star Luca.
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