Birthday Passionette !!!

Helloooooo, how are you? Well after 5 days of nice and hot Summer days we are back to dull and chilly, got to love our english weather still the ironing is all done and I am so glad I am not the only one, Hanna confessed of ironing while catching a sun tan too. Yay, I am not that odd after all.



Today is Jo's Happy Birthday!! Jo is one of my newest Passionettes. She is such a funny and lovely, lovely girl and her favorite colour is dusky pink, ermm I had a bit of a challenge here as I didn't find a single piece of card/paper in dusky pink in my entire stash mountain . So I thought about it and then the light bulb moment came to me. Here s the card I made for Jo

In an effort to end up with a dusky pink colour I have added a layer of card stock vellum to my Pretty in pink card blank, and would you know it, *it worked !!!!* Is not perfect but is definitely dusky. Card stock vellum is fabulous to work with, and I know I talked about it on my blog before but honestly until you try the fabulous weight and quality of it you won't really appreciate why I'm banging on about it. Is also perfect for boxes and packaging (vellum packaging looks so stylish) because is heavier and behaves much better when heat embossed like I did here. The fresh cuts stamp image was embossed in white powder on the vellum and colour was added on the reverse using the markers, this is a wonderful technique that looks so effective. A simple layer of Choc Chip then a smaller one of Pretty in pink frame the main image and make it stand out. The sentiment was also embossed in white and small white pearls complete the soft feminine look. I just hope Jo will like it and if you're reading this Jo I hope you had a fabulous day my darling. Hugs xx

I thought I would also let you know about my next class on Sunday 14Th June at 2pm.

The Venue:

Wesley Place Comunity Centre, Snaith (behind the Methodist Church)

Cowick Road, Snaith, Goole, DN14 9JF

Click here for a map

The Projects

We will be making this hinged box with 5 decorated fresh cut notes. This is a longer class than normal expect 3-4 hours, nibbles and refreshments will be provided. The class costs £25.99 and included in this price is the following

One new and unmounted Fresh Cuts stamp set

10 meters of assorted grosgrain ribbon

5 fresh cut notes and envelopes

Brads and buttons

All the card stock and designer paper needed in order to construct the box and line the notes.

Printed sheet with step by step instructions and photos showing you how to complete the project.

No extra class fee as this is included in the price, as well as home baked goodies and refreshments .

Book early to avoid disappointment as places are limited, I already have 14 people signed up for this class so you will need to be quick as the maximum number is 20. Email me for more details at telemech01@aol.com and book before 7 Th June, this is the cut off date in order to give me enough time to order the supplies needed.

Don't live close enough to attend in person but you would still like the chance of making this beautiful box and take advantage on this fabulous deal? Well you still can, for an extra £2.00 towards postage charges you can have this kit sent to your home complete with instructions, email me for more details.

Hope you can make it would love to see you there, hugs Monica xxx

SUMMER is well and truly here!!

Gordon Bennett we have summer!!! and I have been soaking every single ray gratefully those last few days. So much has been happening since I last blogged, caught up on lots of jobs all my baskets and tubs are planted and in situ ready to reward me with tons of colour, providing I keep watering and feeding them ( what a job that is).
It was my good friends Julie 40Th Birthday last Friday so on Saturday myself and another 2 friends of Julies have clubbed together and treat her to a day at a gorgeous and decadently decorated SPA, Oulton Hall. The plan was for us all to be there on the day but unfortunately the other two girlies couldn't make it so it was me and Jules. We had the most amazing treatments and the relaxation room was FAB, in fact the whole day was a very very pleasant one, an experience we will repeat for sure. Then out for a fabulous Italian meal on the Sat. night, truly a fabulous day and we ( me and hubs) always enjoy our friendly get togethers. Here s the card I have made for Julie

Soft Summer stamp set and a combo that looks like the Neapolitan ice cream. So Saffron, Pretty in pink, Certainly Celery and Choc chip. Used some nesties( not sure what labels they are) and a CB embossing folder out of all of them this is my absolute fave.

Yesterday another challenge was launched over at Stamp With Us, and this time is a sketch if you like sketches why don't you play along? Here s my sample

I took the sketch literally and I have used various scraps of coordinating designer paper and punched out various sizes circles, scrunched them up and secured them together with a brad. Is a fun card and I love how it turned out. Regal Rose card base and Old Olive card stock layer, Striped so saffron grosgrain ribbon, Spring Solitude stamp set. Why don't you pop over and check out what the other lovely DT members have come up with, there are some fabulous examples on the blog.

Normal service is resumed hopefully so i will see you again very soon. Hugs M xx

Oh by the way today I caught up on 2 weeks ironing while catching a sun tan at the same time.

Hee hee please tell me I am not the only one that does this. xxx

Birthday Passionette !!!

Hellooooo is the WEEKEND, hooorah!!! it was Dawn's Happy Birthday this last Thursday and like you know I try and send all my Passionettes a card on their birthday. This is what I made for lovely Dawn. I fell in love with a card Elizabeth designed for one of the challenges over at Stamp With Us, and because Dawn's fave colour is pink I have decided for a pink and choccie combo and wanted to try my own version of a cake shop window. I have used Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and Window Dressing ( level 3 hostess set), the combo is Chocolate chip, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue. The cupcakes were coloured using the marvellous markers and the blind was scalloped with the scallop edge punch. I have also used some Choc Chip and Sweet always designer paper. I am late in updating this but I have been told by Dawn that she had a fabulous day and got really spoilt by her family and friends, which was nice to hear as she's the most lovely person. Hugs Dawn xx

I also want to share with you my last project designed for the Stamp With Us Online, this time I have designed a tiny and ever so cute tote to hold 5 Stampin'Up little love notes. Those would be great as a thank you gift and perfect for teaching at a class.

Tea Party designer paper was use along with the ever so beautiful Soft Summer stamp set to make and decorate the love notes. Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, so Saffron are the colours used.

I hope you will have a fabulous Bank holiday weekend and the sun will shine where you are. Hugs Monica xxx

Father's Day soon...

Helloooo, yep Father's Day is coming soon. And with this in mind I have designed a hinged box that will hold a few golf balls and a posh tee for those golfing dad's out there, but of course this could easily be adapted to house a nice tie, a wallet, a pair of cuflinks or just some yummy toffees.

This was one of my other projects I designed for Stamp With Us and it consists of a hinged box that holds the golf balls+tee a score card wallet(every respectable golfer that has a crafty spouse/sister/friend should own one of those), and of course a card.

Here's a view of the inside

The colour combo a lovely bright one. Ruby red, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue with a touch of Old Olive. Designer Paper from the Washington Apple collection.

I have also been busy with those paper shares I have organized and OMG!! they look so yummy, I have even added some sets that didn't appeal to me before hand to my list so I will be taking advantage of the super special offer of buy three packs and get one FREE>

Here are the neat piles all tied up and ready to be posted. I still have a few spares on my third share so if you would like some email me at telemech01@aol.com for more details. Also you might want to consider taking two shares and have your papers in a 12 x6 size so they can be used for scrapbooking.

Well I decided that it has been too long since I've done a video tutorial for my blog, so on Friday after a dental check up I will shoot one, but if you would like to see something featured in particular, please leave me a comment. Hugs Monica xxx

oops!!!

Is Sunday and I didn't post for ages. Naughty but I have been creating honestly, just not enough hours in the day. I am showing you a little mini album I made for the Stamp With Us classes, is a little mini book documenting Luca's first birthday. I love mini books and this one is really cute and a novel idea as the pockets pages are made from toilet tubes.

I have used yummy papers from the Washington Apple collection, Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Old Olive card stock, Wild About You stamp set and a selection of coordinating ribbons. It looks so lovely in real life, this particular one will go to my sister but I am already planning one for my mum as well..

Next I am sharing the card I have made for the SWUS challenge blog, it is a colour challenge and I hope you will take part in it. This is the inspiration pictureHow fab are those towels? The DT have come up with some fabulous examples, you need to see them really to believe me. And here is my example

Washington Apple designer papers ( love those so much I have had to buy another pack as I already used a full one, good job for the special offer this month, ask me about my paper share!!!), So Saffron, Old Olive, Real Red card stock, olive grosgrain ribbon, scalloped oval punch and large oval punch square scalloped punch, the stamp set is the gorgeous Tart and Tangy sentiment form the Crazy for Cupcakes set.

Well I am hoping to be back with more soon. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. hugs M xx

I CAN DO CUTE....

Hello, did you think I cannot do cute? Huh did you? Well just look at this little cutie here Jo one of my new downline came round to mine yesterday and we had a little play, now on Sunday night Dawn send me a message to ask if I had Caz's address as it was her birthday on Tuesday( Today). So knowing it was her special day I thought I would make and send her a card. Caz loves frogs and have decided one a pink one made from punches. I took my inspiration from those ones here and changed it about a bit. The colour combo is Bashful blue, Old Olive and Regal Rose. I used the Seeing Spots stamp set the large Oval punch the 13/8"circle punch, three for you flower punch for the feet 1/2"circle, 1/4"circle punch, made a iklle bow from a piece of red gingham, soo cute. Jo kindly made me the best lily pad ever and suggested I stuck some dew drops onto it for a even more realistic look. I cannot tell you how much fun making this was and we ended up having a right giggle and a laugh making them. Caz I hope you had a lovely day and I hope you loved your card. Jo thank you for a lovely day and thank you for my private demos.
Update on paper shares, I have filled two of them but still need 3 people on the third one so if you would like to take part please get in touch with me at telemech01@aol.com.
Hugs M xxx

May Class and chocolate brownies!!

Hello, have you had a nice weekend? We had some sunshine here but unfortunately along with it we had a very chilly wind which meant you could no be outside and be comfortable. Yesterday I taught my monthly class and those were the projects we completed.Can you see that sun shining through? We made a posh bagalope and a matching card. We used the Scene in the garden stamp set for the new mini and the colour combo is Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke and So Saffron. I even baked this time, a batch of yummy brownies that had a ribbon of vanilla soft cheese cream through them. They were yummy and very moist and of course incredibly easy to make.
Here is the recipe, the ladies asked for it on the day and I know some of you might want to try it, trust me they are delicious and very little effort needed.
The recipe says it will make 16 brownies but I was only able to get 12, I think 16 is a bit mean but probably that's the reason why I cannot get down to a size 10 no matter what LOL.
Ingredients:
200 gr. low fat soft cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (pay the extra for extract you will notice the difference)
2 eggs
250gr caster sugar (super fine sugar)
100 gr butter
3 tbs cocoa powder
100 gr self raising flour
50 gr pecans chopped ( I left mine out because I wasn't sure if any of the ladies had a nut allergy)
Lightly grease and line a 20 cm (8") square tray, beat the cream cheese along with the vanilla extract and 25 gr. of sugar until smooth ans set aside. Beat the eggs and the remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Place the butter and cocoa powder in a small pan and heat gently, stirring till butter melts and the mixture combines, then stir it into the egg mixture. Fold in the flour and nuts. Pour half the mixture into the baking tray and level the top, carefully spread the soft cheese over then pour the remaining brownie mixture over the top. Bake in a preheated oven 180 degrees for about 40-45 minutes, cool in the pan then turn over and cut into squares or rectangles in my case. Enjoy
I am also sharing a recent card I made for the Stamp With Us on line classes. It showcased the paper pleating technique.
I have used the same colour combination as above (purely by chance) with a bit of Chocolate Chip added in the shape of the grosgrain ribbon. Used the Blooming With Beauty stamp set and the sentiment comes from the level 1 hostess set Best yet. Thank you for still visiting me I know I have been a bit slack with this blog lately due to my busy, hectic schedule. Hugs Monica xxx