The Stamp Spot

December Daily : Day 4

  

Today I gave a girlfriend in need a helping hand with her annual baking. Paula (also a recipient of an album I am documenting for her) is crazy busy. 6 kids ranging from 23 to 5, husband is a Pastor, their old Queenslander is on the market for sale and tomorrow is the 2 youngest childrens last day of school. Paula goes all out just before every school break and especially for end of year holidays.

On the list this year for handmade items (for a total of 5 teachers) are: Tomato Relish, Caramel Fudge, Lemon Butter and Rocky Road Wreaths. I have helped with the Caramel Fudge and Lemon Butter,  leaving Paula with the Tomato Relish and Rocky Road Wreaths. Paula also includes a purchased item in the figurine or jewelry line and a good bottle of red.

 

 

It was good practice for me as I am gifting handmade this year (where possible) and Lemon Butter and Caramel Fudge are on the list. Paula is kindly making extra Tomato Relish in exchange for my help... win win!

I will put this Lemon Butter recipe in a separate blogpost so as not bother anyone who is not interested. Here is that blogpost with that recipe. 

 

 

Day 4 spans a double page opening plus a DIY transparency in between.

 

Left side:

(includes the day 4 mini envelope tree decoration)

 

 

 

 

Right side:

 

 

 

The single word list on this page celebrates all that we love, talk about, acknowledge and value in and of our long term friendship. The odd seemingly negative word 'neglect' is simply a part of this relationship... we do sometimes neglect to check in on each other... however we both know it is simply a consequence of extremly busy lives. Our lives have crossed and parted and recrossed and re parted so many times... I believe that is normal of all long term friendships.

Close ups of the typewritten on vellum words -

 

 

 

and with transparency on top -

 

 

Transparency a side:

 

 

DIY Transparencys are very easy. A sheet of transparency/acetate, Stazon Opaque White ink and a stamp set and block/stamp press.  I have made a whole bunch so you will see more as December rolls along. I shared them on Instagram recently - search #thestampspot or follow @thestampspot.

 

Flip side:

I have added the Caramel Fudge recipe in photoshop over top of a photo of the fudge, inserted into a 3x4 flip pocket, added sequins front and back and the machine stitched it closed.

 

  

Day 4 as it appears in the album:

 

 

.... and with the transparency flipped -

 

 Further information about December Daily can be found on Ali Edwards website - www.aliedwards.com and is listed under Projects.

 

Hope your December Daily is plodding along nicely,

Cheers

Michelle x.

Documenting December 2014 Kit REVEAL!

 

Documenting December 2014 Kits

 To say I am super excited for this reveal is a total understatement.

Thank you for joining me for what I feel is one of my very best Kits. I have given enormous amounts of thought as to the contents of the main kit, the add on kits and the mini add on kits, right down to the teeny tiny details.

My hope is that the entire kit can be utilised, if not solely for your December Album then elsewhere. I have included Christmas specific and non specific for this very reason. Gold, sparkly, glittery, fun, beautiful and EXCLUSIVE ... but also practical.

My hope is that your precious December memories will be documented and that these beautiful products will add to the magic and joy of this process.

My hope is that you will find this kit convenient, but also love that it is a bit different with handmade and exclusive to The Stamp Spot elements.

My hope is that you have a cuppa (or other beverage) in hand and can set aside some time to take in this comprehensive kit - this post comes with a warning - it is lengthy, detailed and photo heavy. My aim is to share this Documenting December 2014 in great detail so that you know exactly what your hard earned dollars are buying -  as much Christmas (and not so Christmas) goodness as I could cram in.

 

Let's unpack this kit together, here we go .....  

THE MAIN KIT:

The kit colour scheme is gold, white and kraft. A complete and detailed list of the kit contents is at the end of this post. For now, allow me to share this kit bit by bit....

The cards -

The cards included are a mix of  3x4 and 4x6.

Some from Teresa Collins Tinsel and Company Collection, some from MAMBI, some from Simple Stories Us Collection and the remainder designed by yours truly.  Confetti pockets in 3x4, a 4x6 and even a half pocket. Gold embossed vellum 3x4's and a foil stitched card round out the handmade cards.

Also....  2 3x4 inserts that are quite different - one is burlap, the other is balsa wood (more on that later!) How cool is that to get something quite very different? !

 

 

 A close up (with a bit more light exposure to show off the gold!) -

 

 The embellishments -

 

Close up of the exclusive flair! 8 exclusive flair made by me just for this kit!

 

Close ups of the rest of these embellishments -

 

 

 

 

Onto the next set of embellishments -

 

Close ups -

 

 

Onto the next set of embellishments -

The numbers show here are to show you the design, included in the kit are enough digits (thirty nine in total) to take you from 1 through to 24 December (26 - 31 December will be offered separately) with a large 25 included also (I shared that on the first embellishment page, you know the one with the 8 (!) exclusive to The Stamp Spot flair badges)

 

 

 

and the next, last (photo) but not least is the all important alphas and an extra tag and even more washi (from Freckled Fawn) thrown in for good measure  -

 

 

A few items have not arrived in time for me to include photos in this post, instead I will share the manufacturers images -

also included are 1 x Sakura gelly Gold metallic journaling pen (colour swatch pictured) ; 1 mini Color Box gold inkpad, pinch of large (18mm) gold star sequins. Not pictured but also included  are small gold metallic adhesive gems, a 4x6 clear acetate/transparency card and a 3x4 gold printed acetate insert/card.

 

Ta Daaahhhh! I almost feel like singing ".... and a Partridge in a Pear Tree" !!!

 

Purchase price :   $59.95 incl std postage within Australia.

Click on this link here to take you through to where this kit is hanging out instore at The Stamp Spot. 

Please bear in mind every single component of this kit passes through my hands, some stay a short while, whilst others longer as they require sewing, embossing etc - I kindly ask that you allow me time to make your kit,  plus there are components not yet here. The Stamp Spot is me, just me - no assistants, no employees. I expect all supplies within the next 2 weeks therefore I am aiming to have kits going out by very early October. You will be kept informed along the way. I truly appreciate and advocate (and most seriously recommend) being organised early. I undertake multiple albums each year and they wouldn't get done if I was not organised prior.

They don't call it the Silly Season for nothing!

There is a finite number of kits that I can produce all exactly the same. If you find they are sold out please don't panic. I have on order more supplies so that I can produce more, however there could be the odd element I need to substitute.

 

Instore you will also find the following add ons...

 

Silver:

Red and Green:

Red:

 

Pink with gold:

 

Pink with silver:

 

Black:

 

Purple:

 

NEWSFLASH: Teal is coming, waiting on supplies to complete it. A sneak peak went up on instagram yesterday....

and a cute Project Life 6x8 album that might interest you, these can be pre ordered instore also:

 It is quite possible that one even two of the above add ons could fit in (obviously an album will not) and not incur any further postage costs. However, I have listed them separately and that price does not include postage. This accomodates the customer who only wants an add on/s. Any excess postage charged as a result of including add ons in your order will be refunded at the time of posting. Signature on delivery is an addition $3.00. Courier deliveries are possible for Brisbane Metropolitan area.

So now for the final part of the Documenting December 2014 Kit reveal, the list of contents is as follows:

3 x 4 cards

9 double sided 3x4 cards 8- Teresa Collins Tinsel & Coy collection; 1- MAMBI  

2 full 3x4 confetti cards, 1 is double sided

1 half 3x4 confett card, double sided

 1 3x4 plain white card - scored and folded (perfect for hidden journaling or additional journaling)

1 3x4 burlap insert

1 3x4 balsa wood insert (can be stamped on but not sewn or heat embossed)

1 3x4 white with gold foil ribbon stitched

3 3x4 vellum each with gold heat embossing

1 3x4 gold printed acetate insert

= 20 3x4 cards, 14 are or can be double sided.

4x6 cards

1 4x6 plain white card, scored and folded

1 4x6 kraft card American Crafts cardstock

1 4x6 gold glitter card DCWV

1 4x6 kraft spot/strip Simple Stories

1 4x6 MAMBI

2 4x6 Teresa Collins Tinsel & Coy

1 4x6 full confetti

1 4x6 clear transparency

= 9 4x6 cards, 5 double sided. Don't forget that you could cut the plain cards in half to make 2 3x4's if need be.

Embellishments:

1 tag (design will vary) and 1 set alpha stickers gold Teresa Collins Tinsel & Coy collection; 1 pack AC Thickers Fitzgerald by Shimelle (pls note these need to be folder over to fit in the post box); 1 gold glitter 2014 and 1 gold glitter 25 (both designed by me and cut on Silhouette Cameo); 3 metallic gold tags (small medium & large); 1 3x5.5" bag, 1 3x4.75" envelope and 1 2"glassine envelope (with a pinch of varied sequins inside); 1 die cut mini envelope kraft with gold stars; 5 very mini gold rimmed tags; 5 mini square swing tags; 40cm gold Maya Rd tinsel ribbon; 40cm gold foil and white ribbon or plain gold metallic ribbon; 1 square and 1 oval gold foil large label; 1 Lawn Fawn white envelope; 8 gold star stickers; 50cm Lawn Fawn gold/kraft twine; 4 gold brads - 1 large star, 1 large heart, 2 small hearts; 1 white & 2 gold mini clothespins/pegs; 2 gold foil circle stickers; selection of gold foil small circle stickers; 8 EXCLUSIVE FLAIR BADGES; 39 die cut numerals/digits (1-24); 20cm 2cm wide AC white glitter tape; 2 white and 3 gold foil Freckled Fawn 4" doilies; die cut speech bubble; 1 large 2 medium 3 small wooden stars, 1 medium wooden heart; 1 foil punched Christmas tree; 1 gold arrow paperclip/2 wooden arrows/1 word (will vary) and 2 emoticons (will vary) - Freckled Fawn; 60cm ea metallic gold & silver 6 strand embroidery thread; 2 metallic gold office paperclips, 2 white buttons, 1 metal Christmas tree charm (altered to gold with enamel paint and glitter); wood veneer from Studio Calico includes stars, punctuation, geotags and a tree; punched glitter paper shapes includes ovals, arrows, 1 silhouette cut gold Christmas tree, ampersands and words (commercial license purchased); 1 3x3 gold foil origami paper; gold washi sampler - 4 designs x 40cm each; gold and white Freckled Fawn potty people washi 80cm on a small white tag; 1 Sakura gelly gold metallic journaling pen; 1 mini Color Box gold inkpad; gold metallic gems; 9 total (small medium large) Studio Calico wood veneer enamel dots AND pinch of 18cm gold star sequins.

 

Now I really do feel like singing "... and a Partridge in a Pear Tree".

 

Thank you for investing your time and patience in reading through this lengthy, detailed post.

It is with utmost pleasure I again share the link with you to my Documenting December 2014 Kit.

It is now up for order instore at The Stamp Spot.

 The Stamp Spot has some wonderful, enthusiastic memory keepers on board in a specially formed Design Team. Some are long time and dedicated December Daily memory keeping participants, some are short term and some are brand new. I will be introducing these lovely ladies over the course of the next few weeks, they need their kits first!

 Special thanks go to my awesome online friends who happen to be customers also, for their feedback and trialling of my prototypes.

Handmade Christmas 2014 : Lemon Butter trial run

 

 

I know Christmas is still 4 and a bit months away, but... I say it every year... next year I will be better prepared and far more organised, I will start much earlier... and I just don't!

However...

this year I am !!!

This year (for that very reason of doing things in advance) will be a Handmade Christmas (or as much as it can be, clearly there are recipients, think children or young adult males,  that just wont see the love in a bottle of Lemon Butter or a box of Caramel Fudge!).

However...

there are plenty who will see and I hope feel the love that will go into each handmade gift.

  

The plan is for those cute little jars to hold Lemon Butter, Tomato Relish, Strawberry Jam (see this post for details), Honey & Cinnamon Butter and maybe a few more delicious recipes.

 

I decided recently it would be a good idea to trial the recipes I have settled on (so far), with Lemon Butter being the first. I do not want to find out come December or thereabouts that the recipe just doesn't work, or I can't make this look like the picture! I also need to know exactly how much the recipe will make in terms of filled jars.

There is an abundance of Lemon Butter recipes out there, I specifically wanted simple and ideally with a microwave option in case I get seriously pushed for time later in the year.

I found a few and settled on one. It's from the 4 Ingredients (2) recipe book by Kim McCosker & Rachael Bermingham. This book is much loved and was given to me by someone much loved.

Very basic ingredients - butter, sugar, eggs and lemons. If I have one criticism about the measurements for the recipe is that they are not in what the ingredients come in ie 1/2 cup butter. Butter comes in grams not cups. Thinking there would be a conversion table somewhere in the book, I flipped front to back a few times to discover there isn't one. I do have other recipe books so I looked up the tables elsewhere. It would have been so much easier and quicker to not have to do this. I also appreciate seasoned cooks/chefs would have these conversions in their head, I did not.

So butter measured and melted, sugar tossed in, eggs cracked and beaten then added (I also sieved mine to ensure those 'bits of white' dont make an appearance in the finished butter), lemons juiced but..... again no actual measurement just 3 lemons listed. I had a mixture of sizes, some rather large, some much smaller - I had a total of 5 and no 3 were the same size! Perhaps not a dilemma to most but I seriously just wanted a basic recipe, for sure, but not that basic. I decided to choose 3, 2 large 1 smaller,  juice the 3 and then measure how much juice they yielded. This was actually just shy of 1 cup.

 

 



One final dilemma... of course! There was no yield listed.... simply pour into a jar and store in the fridge.

!!!

Might not be an issue if you have more than one jar on hand, or even a variety of jar sizes on hand .... I have been collecting pasta sauce jars and thankfully I had more than one sterilised on hand. This recipe made 3 cups... awesome.

However....

how many cups are in a 500g jar?, a 300g jar?

Sheesh! I had to do some calculating and fast. I poured Lemon Butter into a 250ml/1 cup measure and then poured it into the largest bottle I had. Note to self: next time use a funnel.

I quickly discovered my 500g size ex pasta sauce jar does not hold 3 cups, more like 2 1/2 cups. I am guessing this recipe yielded about 650g of finished product. The jars I have purchased especially for my Handmade Christmas 2014 gifts are 300g.

If I were just making Lemon Butter for the family for any old week of the year this would not be an issue.  It is an issue if you are bulk batching or are making for a special occasion in advance.

This recipe will fill 2 jars with a smidge left over. I am happy with that. 

The finished product was rather tart, which I quite like. I imagine I could reduce the lemon juice a smidge to reduce tartness and the end result would be a smidge thicker.

It is smooth, slightly opaque, smells beautiful, looks great in a jar....  so this recipe is ticking all the boxes for joining the lineup for my Handmade Christmas 2014.

Thankfully doing trials of recipes will remove all concerns prior to when I actually do have to make this and other recipes that cannot be made months in advance come December. I have also chosen recipes such as jams and relishes that will keep well for several months so that I can make these by November. I chose to make this one as I had the ingredients on hand, clearly not a logical sequence but figure time is on my side... for now.

 

So... my suggestion is if you are thinking of including some handmade homemade gifts this Christmas, don't wait until November/December to get your apron on.

I don't believe you can be too organised for the Silly Season!

Handmade Christmas 2014 : Gift giving Kits

As part of my friend Paula's and my quest to have a Handmade Christmas 2014 (ready well before Christmas 2014) our thoughts have been preoccupied with the ... "What can we do now?"

Every gift requires giftwrapping and tags.

This revelation prompted a discussion and a lot of text messages.

What if.....

some of the gifts, the handmade gifts were gift giving orientated.... ???

What if.....

we could come up with a practical, colour co ordinated gift giving kit... as a gift ???

The recipients are most likely to be the Mums, maybe even the Teachers on our lists.

The super busy, you know (or are) the type that usually buy the paper, tags and card on the way to the multitude of birthday parties their children (or they) get invited to. The family's with many Christmas gifts to give, the lovely people in our life who give a small gift for no reason other than to say thank you, thinking of you or perhaps get well soon.

 

We discussed amount of tags, metres of twine, colour combinations, gift bags, tissue paper, doilies etc. that each kit should comprise.  An amount of each 'ingredient' was decided on and I got busy creating tags (this post), gift bags (not this post) and measuring out twine.

Each kit will have plain tags, some stitched tags and some stamped tags.

Here are some pics of the stamped tags in the making, Lawn Fawn Love you Tons and Year Four stamps and matching dies were used:

 

After the images were stamped on patterned paper, I used Chickaniddy Crafts Date Night 6x6 paper pad and Memento Tuxedo Ink, I die cut the images, using my Big Shot:

 

I use washi tape to hold the dies in place.

I stamped the matching greeting and the heart after I worked out the placement of the images, I do not adhere the images until after stamping.

I wanted to pop some up on foam but I really don't like the look of foam dots if you can easily see them from the side. My solution was to die cut foam in a complementary colour, ideally matching but I didnt have a green anywhere near the cardstock colour. The green you see here is for tags cut from white cardstock. Using double sided tape I attached the foam die cut image to the stamped image then adhered to the tag.

and this shot again showing no foam on the left and with foam on the right.

I am super lucky to have a Silhouette Cameo and an abundance of 12x12 textured cardstock by American Crafts. With 10 tags per gift giving kit multiplied by the amount of recipients we need 150 tags! Thankfully I really enjoy repetitive type crafting, not every time I craft mind but there is something awesome about production line style creating....

and as with all things handmade no 2 are exactly the same, which is pretty awesome also.