Tuesday 28 September 2010

Craft Jumble Sale

When: Saturday 20th November 2010
Time: 2pm-4pm
Where: Harlington Centre, Fleet

After the positive feedback last July I have organised another second-hand craft sale! If you like crafting, come and grab some bargains! There will be new and used craft stash, including some Stampin' Up! goodies (retired). Please let your friends know and I look forward to seeing you there. I'm trying to persuade my sister to come home for the weekend and bake for it but we'll have to see...

If you have stash that you would like to sell, contact me to book a table.

Monday 27 September 2010

Jammy-licious

One of my colleagues kindly gave me a bag of damsons so I cooked up some jam! This is the finished result. I used some retired Old Olive DSP and layered on Pale Plum CS stamped with Elegant Eggplant ink using Just Perfect Alphabet stamps and then finished with Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon.

You can barely see the top of the jar but I stamped with Old Olive ink using a stamp from Baroque Motifs and then layered it on a scalloped circle of Pale Plum CS.

Now I've been given another bag of damsons, I'll have to think of something else to make!

Sunday 26 September 2010

Aiden's birthday celebration

Today we went to a birthday celebration for a little boy called Aiden (aka Munchkin's boyfriend). I cased this idea from the brilliant Monica Gale and had a great time with my Sweet Pea stack of papers (soooo sad that these are retiring, but heck, what a bargain they are at the mo!) and my alphabet stamps.The main base is Brocade Blue, a retiring colour. The balloon basket is stamped using Big Bold Birthday and the 3D treatcup provides the balloon and is filled with yummy chocolate raisins (perfect for a one year old?!). Hope he likes his card. He had an amazing birthday cake and lots of friends playing with him, and I bet Munchkin is looking forward to her birthday even more now.

Also been preparing for my Catalogue Launch Party (next Saturday). Sooo much to do but I'm happy that lots of samples are in progress as well as the goodie bags. Not long now til the new catalogue!!!! Only 5 more sleeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday 23 September 2010

Tealight holder

Today's project is something I whipped up while Munchkin took a short nap. I got the tutorial from ILWS, I think it was designed by Melanie Reid. (If you know, please let me know via the comments!) The idea is to use a battery operated tealight as the vellum etc. is obviously highly flammable. Unfortunately I couldn't locate my battery ones so I was very bad and used a regular tealight, just for the photos.

The colours used are Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Glorious Green and Pixie Pink. The patterned paper strip is from the Simply Scrappin' kit, Sunny Day, which is sadly not being carried over to the new catalogue! I couldn't resist using some stitched felt to decorate the outside of the holder too!
This shot shows you a birds-eye view of the tealight holder. This project was sooo quick to put together but I think the result is pretty effective.

Check out my new kit by mail - it's available now!
Hope you are having a good day and are not too soggy. It's pouring with rain here so we're entertaining ourselves indoors until Nanny and Uncle Philip arrive to play!

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Another magic folding mini book

Many people have been asking for a preview of the magic folding minibook class. Sadly, as it features DSP papers from the new catalogue, I cannot reveal it just yet.

Still, here is another version I made using the gorgeous Cottage Garden DSP, which is not in the current catalogue, but was brought out later in the year and features Rich Razzleberry - YUM YUM new colour. I've combined it here with some Old Olive and some Close to Cocoa for a striking minibook. I am very naughty though, and I've not finished it off with some pictures... I promise there will be pictures in the sample for the class so you can see just what it will look like when it is all finished.
Other than that, I've not been too well so I've had to take it easy the last few days. I'm still counting down to my catalogue launch party... only 10 days to go!!!! Have a great Wednesday.

Sunday 19 September 2010

What's new with you?

Hope you are having a great weekend. Above is the class I held on Thursday night. We had a lovely time chatting and making this cute handbag (designed by Monica Gale) and this flowery card (desgined by me!). The card uses the same stamp for all 4 flowers, but each flower demonstrates a different stamping technique (as described on a previous post).

I loved the handbag when I made it at a class so I couldn't help but share the lushness of this project with my ladies!
These are the little ribbon bundles I gave to people who have ordered from me in September. I tried to give each person colours that they would use and enjoy. The tag was cut with the large tag punch, and has Trendy Trees images that have been clear embossed. The sewing edge was drawn by hand and the finished tag was attached with a little linen thread.

Yesterday DH went to play rugby so Munchkin and I went with a friend to BirdWorld. A fun time was had by all!!
Enjoy your Sunday!

Friday 17 September 2010

Sale continues

Just a quick post to say that SU have reduced their sale prices even more! You can click on the picture to the right of the sale list or here.

This time it's even easier as they've added a column highlighting which items have been further reduced. Of particular note are the ink pads, many of which are a steal at £2.13 each. Also, lots of the embellishments, for example the Pretties kit is reduced to just £11.63 and many of the ribbons are reduced more too. In the Mini catalogue the Sweet Pea DSP stack and Stitched felt is now half price - what a bargain!!!

I'm still placing orders regularly so if there's something you'd like, let me know! blueangelcrafts@gmail.com

Have a great Friday!!!

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Here is the invitation I have sent out to all my customers over the last year, inviting them to my Catalogue Launch Party. I've slowly fallen in love with Rose Red and I think it looks great with Kraft, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla CS. The stamp set is Simply Said, one of the stamp sets with my Starter Kit, and having rediscovered it I was pleased with this result.

Now onto exciting news... My craftroom! Ok, so it's not quite finished but my lovely hubby has worked so hard. I was thrilled to be able to fill it with my stash!!
There is a pine set of drawers that need to be taken out and I've got a few details left so it will look a bit more finished soon. I'm awaiting the arrival of my magnetic blackboard and the light fitting is going to be updated too.
I'm not a great seamstress but I hope to make a curtain type thing to go along the worktop to hide the HUGE radiator. Can you believe that my amazing Dad kept the legs from our breakfast bar in our old home and they were the perfect fit for this worktop! What a hero.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Project update

Yes, yes here I am! Thought I'd dropped off the face of blogdom, didn't you?Well, it's been all go here. The craftroom is starting to take shape, I've just got to put my stash into the fabulous storage set that Dear Hubby has prepared for me. What an angel. The poor man was up til nearly midnight last night!

Here you can see a selection of pages from my Learn Something New Every Day class that I am taking from Shimelle.com. The best thing about this project is that it is small so I am using up all my stash that is not being carried over onto the new catalogue.
Talking of the new catalogue, if you recieved a Catalogue Launch Party invitation from me, please let me know if you can come! It's going to be a fabby event and I'm already dreaming up the make and take, goodie bag gifts and cakes that we're going to enjoy!

On a different note, here is a (not very good) shot of Munchkin. I found that she had been chewing an emery board (nail file) and you can just about see her lovely emery goatee! Very funny. However, removing the ridiculous goatee wasn't less popular. Can't believe that she's just turned 11 months!!!

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Join the Party!

Make the most of the Stampin' Up! Last Chance List this September by joining my Virtual Hostess Party!

The sale starts on Wednesday 1st September and continues for the entire month, but my Virtual Hostess Party ends at 11pm on Wednesday 8th September. You will need to phone or email me your orders to me to be entered into the random draw. You get a ticket in the draw for every £20 you spend, so the more you spend, the more likely you are win!!

One winner will receive the hostess benefits (FREE money to spend in the catalogue) and another winner will receive the hostess gift (special stamps or papers).

Contact me now to place your order! blueangelcrafts@gmail.com

Tuesday 7 September 2010

No place like home

I can't bear to see my odds and ends go to waste so today I made something with them! I saw the idea in Simply Handmade magazine (mar/apr 2010). In the magazine it was a Valentine feature but I altered it to be a bit less seasonal.

The main base was some packaging card from a DSP pack. I traced the letters onto it and cut them out with a craft knife and scissors. I then adhered some Sweet Pea DSP stack onto each rectangle and cut out the letters again. On the reverse I added some vellum to make translucent windows. If you look carefully you can just about see candlelight shining through the vellum letters.

To join the pieces together I punched a hole using my Crop-a-dile and loosely tied polka dot Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon through the holes. I am so sad that the polka dot ribbon is going barely before it really arrived. (sigh)

Still, I had a great time using all my felt stitched embellishments and a few bits from the Pretties kit too. On the far right panel I even punched a few hearts.

Even more excitement was added to today when my new catalogue arrived in the flesh. Ladies, you will LOVE it! Not long for you to wait now and then we can all go shopping!!! Hope you've had a good Tuesday.

Monday 6 September 2010

Techniques Class

This is a class that I attended myself, run by my upline, Natalie. I enjoyed it a lot as there are 14 different techniques, so there is something new for everyone.
I ran the class twice and it was great because each time was different and the attendees went home with a little bundle of inspiration!

Talking of inspiration, I have been doing another online class from www.Shimelle.com called, Learn Something New Every Day. Today I actually began making the album for it, so I will try and post pictures soon. You never know, I might even finish this project. LOL.

This week I am still sorting through my craftroom and it is gradually starting to look less like a building site. Hopefully the rest of the storage will be put together soon and then I can post pictures. Hope you are having a good start to your week!

Sunday 5 September 2010

Wedding Fair

Today I attended another wedding fair at the Guildford Holiday Inn. It was a great day.
I met some lovely people and was really excited to talk about weddings again. For those who I met today, you are probably wondering if you won the FREE consultation I was advertising in my prize drawer. Well the winner is..... STACEY!

Stacey was actually working at the fair with her parents and sister. I had a great time chatting to them so I was really happy when luck had it that she won. Congratulations Stacey!

Saturday 4 September 2010

Craftroom renovation

You may have thought that I had gone into hibernation with the Last Chance List and you wouldn't see me in a while... The truth is, it's been quite a week all round. It's back to school in my other job (new term, new classes, getting back into teaching after maternity leave), the Last Chance List, I also got a peek at the new 2010-2011 catalogue (oh my gosh! Just you wait til you see the amaaaazing things in there!) and then there's my craftroom.

When we moved into our house we had an agreement that I could have a craftroom. I've really pushed and pushed to have the room 'sorted out' and at last my darling hubby has begun. He took time off to paint the room and this week we have also got storage organised. I also wanted to update our dining chairs.

The chairs are really comfy but pretty old-fashioned looking: So I got brave, and out came the paintbrush! :
This is the first time I have renovated any furniture and I'm quite pleased with the results. What do you think?