Join me at Pink Frog Crafts for a fabulous demo!

Have I got some lovely things to share with you at this demo. I'm so lucky to be able to show you the new Texture range of embossing folders and stamps, and wait till you see what clever things the Big Score can do too!

I'm back!

Well after taking a well earned couple of months off over the winter period I am now back feeling totally refreshed and ready to craft up a storm again!

I am demoing at the brand new The Range store in Burnley this coming Sunday (1st February). I hope you can join me there where I will be showing you the latest Santoro Mirabelle range. It's simply gorgeous and you don't want to miss it!

I will be back at The Range in Burnley again on Sunday 15th February and then I will be demoing the latest Crafter's Companion products at Pink Frog Crafts in Chesterfield on the 21st February. It's going to be a busy month but I'm back to doing what I love most, getting around the country and meeting loads of lovely crafters and sharing ideas with them.

Happy crafting!

Melanie xxx

IndigoBlu Christmas

Here are a few of the samples I will be taking with me to my demo on Saturday 25th October at the Beverley Garden Centre, Woodmansey. Everything is made with IndigoBlu stamps, mega-flakes and paints. Hope you can join me there.

It's beginning to look a lot like Wedgewood!

I made this card in blue as that's my fave colour and it wasn't until afterwards when people started commenting it had a Wedgewood look to it that I spotted the connection!

The blue card is Hunkydory's Silk Art cardstock, which I believe is something like 350gsm. The background is created with the gorgeous and ever so versatile IndigoBlu flourish stamp. I stamped in Versamark then used Papermania Tinsel White Embossing Powder. I actually applied the embossing powder after each time I had stamped the flourish so I could see where I was going. Finally I used the new IndigoBlu stamp Connor's Crown Jewels to create the topper, which was also with the same powder. I matted and layered on to some silver mirri card just to define the topper and make it stand out from the background. Finally I assembled all the components on to an A5 scalloped card blank.

I took this card to a recent demo and it received some lovely comments. I hope you like it too.

Melanie x

IndigoBlu Challenge October

As many of you know I am very lucky to be a demonstrator for the wonderful quintessentially English stamp company IndigoBlu. Each month they have a different theme on their challenge blog and this month the theme was following a sketch drawn by the super talented Clare Horner. The challenge was thrown open to the demonstration team and this is what I came up with.

I just love the Rockin Robin stamp so knew my challenge card had to include him. First I stamped the image on to rich chocolate brown Centura Pearl card stock with Flitterglu. Then I stamped the background up using the Script stamp using the Flitterglu. 

Whilst waiting for the Flitterglu to 'cure' I stamped Rockin Robin on to some cream cardstock to match the card base and then went and had a cuppa. When I came back the Flitterglu was the perfect tackiness so I got busy with the Chariot of Fire Mega Flakes. I adhered the flakes and scoochied them. Then it was time to add the ribbon and start matting and layering. I have a bit of a 'thing' for ribbon so have a huuuuuge collection. After having a little rummage I found his gorgeous hessian ribbon which is printed with poinsettias and added the beautiful poinsettia flower to finish. 

You can see what the other girls did for their challenge card at http://indigoblublogchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Chocolate Gift Card

Now my laptop is mended I can share with you all the chocolate gift card I make at demos. This is an ideal little gift card for all those teachers, teachers assistants or the lady next door that takes your parcels in. You can make it to fit either chocolate or a diary, no surprise I made mine to fit a chocolate bar (yum)!

You'll have noticed the chocolate is missing and that's because Mum and I ate it on the way home from one of my demos! 

Instructions

1. Measure your chocolate bar or diary. My Milka bar measured 19cm x 9cm and was 1cm deep, so I will give instructions using my measurements.
2. First cut an A4 piece of card along it length so it's 19.5cm wide. If you have gone for a diary or other brand of chocolate you will need to cut accordingly.
3. Now begin your scoring, I scored at 9.5cm to make the front flap
4. Then I scored at 10.5, which made the side fold.
5. Score again at 20cm.
6. And finally at 21cm, use your bone folder to make the creases nice.
7. You will see your gift card taking shape now. For the part that is going to sit on the inside and nestle the gift in I used Spellbinders Bracket die to make it fancy but any edging die or punch would work.
8. Next I cut decorative panels to fit all the flaps.
9. Decorate as you wish but don't forget to put your ribbon on so you can tie the gift up.
10. I put a blank decorative panel on the inside flap so that I could write my message.

I hope you enjoy making this gift card as much as I do, it always goes down well at demos!

Melanie x

Coming to a craft shop near you.....

I'm often asked by my crafting friends on Facebook if I know of any demos happening up and down the country. Well I've put together a quick list of a few I know that are taking part this weekend. All the ladies doing the demonstrations come very highly recommended and if you can go along even for half an hour you are sure to pick up some great ideas. If I hear of any more I will edit this post and add them at the bottom so don't forget to keep checking my blog for updates! x

Saturday 13th September


Sycamore Park Garden Centre, Chester Road, Great Sutton, Cheshire IndigoBlu

High Legh Garden Centre, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire (IndigoBlu)

Strikes Garden Centre, London Road North, Poynton, Stockport (IndigoBlu)

Crab Apple Crafts, Lady Hayes Craft Centre, Kingsley Rd, Frodsham, Cheshire Crafter's Companion UK)

Crafts 4 U 2 Do, Greenfield Road, Denton's Green, St Helen's. (Crafter's Companion)

Daisy's Jewels & Crafts, Unit 3 Bryant Road, Exhall, Coventry (Chloe's Stamps)

Woodward PDA Limited, Unit 3-4, Cromford Road Industrial Estate Cromford Road, Langley Mill, Nottingham (Stix2 / Woodware)

Crab Apple Crafts, Lady Heyes Craft Centre, Kingsley Road, Cheshire (Stix2 / Woodware)

PoppyCraft 36 St Martin’s Street Wallingford, Oxon (Stix2 / Woodware)


Keep On Crafting, 98a Risbygate Street Bury St Edmunds (Stix2 / Woodware)


Saturday 13th AND Sunday 14th September

King's Church at Indbuild, Colburn Business Park, Catterick Garrison (Claritystamp Tickets £5.00 payable on door)