Next week ... 2nd April 2012

Good morning gorgeous people :-)

Another week has zoomed past!  So busy here, what about you?  A fantastic day last Saturday!  Everyone had a wonderful time making their Mini Envelope Album and they all looked so good!!!!  Thank you for a great day, I really enjoyed myself!

Spent yesterday following Jennifer's class around the oval for Sport's Day - her last for primary school!  Lots of fun running through hoops, an old fashioned sack race relay and a Chook Chuck!!!  Yep - because javelin, discus and shot-put are too dangerous they have a rubber chicken flung through the air.... I'm sure there's a union...somewhere...!!!! :-D

 

 

 

Lots of photos for scrapping :-)

Looking forward to the end of daylight saving tomorrow night, an extra hours sleep-in on Sunday will be relished!  Here's looking back to a wonderful summer :-)  This might be the last flush of flowers on the roses out the front until spring, still beautiful...

Next Week's Workshop is ... 

Layer upon Layer   $22

Monday 7-9pm and Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm

NO WORKSHOP THURSDAY

Lots and lots of layers on this page and it looks fantastic!  You will have fun choosing your papers to layer them and make the fun circle bunting to match.  You will need 6 photos.  Two portrait @ 4”x6”; 1 landscape @4”x6”; 1 portrait @ 4”x5”; 2 portrait @ 3”x4”.  You will also need your basic tool kit, inks, white paint, paint brush, a title (I used a mixture of rubons and chipboard letters), 2” circle punch, 1½” circle punch, journal pen (I used my white gel pen), foam mounting tape and an around the page border punch set.

Many of you have been asking about my recent trip to Melbourne to attend the Copic workshops.  Learnt heaps and I am busy putting together a series of workshops to teach you all how to use these fantastic markers!  So, the dates for the first workshops are - 5th May &  26th May, 1-3.30pm.  The reason there are two dates are so you don't miss out - they will both be the same workshops.  Still working out the finer details, but will probably be around $35-40 which will include 3 markers and everything you need for the workshop (apart from your basic tool kit).  Pop it in your diary, you can even book in with a $15 deposit when you see me next.

Easter Scrap'n'Roast is on 14th April.  4pm - midnight, $16.  Still some spots left!  Book NOW with your $5 deposit.

Mini envelope album workshop ...

Is tomorrow from 10am - 4pm. Have had a late cancellation - so there's one spot up for grabs if you're still interested!!!
Give me a buzz or message before 10 if you'd like to do this gorgeous album. $50 - full kit. Bring lunch to share. Drinks and snacks provided. See previous post on blog for all the details

Happy scrapping,
Mandy :-)

Next Week ... 26th March 2012

Hi everyone,

Another busy week flown by!! I had a wonderful time colouring with Copics in Melbourne over the weekend - can't wait to put some workshops together for you to start playing too :-)

Here is an awesome art journal page done by the very talented Mandi Klinger from CopicAustralia.  All Copic products - except the bling string!!  I had a wonderful time looking through some of her art journals and cards, just amazing what can be done with these markers!

Don't forget to check out the recipe and specials pages to see what's new!!!   This week is the yummy Vietnamese Chicken Wings recipe and 50% off all things Alphabet.

Feedback I've received says that you are all receiving your emails regularly (if you have signed up with the new emailer).  If you aren't receiving the weekly emails you can click here and you will be taken to the sign up page.

Thank you to everyone who are pushing and sharing my posts and links on facebook.  I have noticed an increase in traffic and hopefully that will lead to more workshop participants and shoppers.  It doesn't take long, but makes a big difference!  Thanks for helping promote Made by Mandy Scrapbooking in an effort to keep me open and running great workshops :-)

Tomorrow (24/3) is the Mini Album Envelope Workshop - yeah!  10am until 4pm.  $50  

BOOKED OUT

This really cute mini album uses the Martha Stewart Score Board to make cardstock envelopes which will become the pages of our album.  Using a fantastic (and easy) binding method to put our album together you will love this little album. Three different paper kit themes to choose from, using a 6”x6” paper pad with co-ordinating cardstock stickers, there will be a kit for everyone to love.  You will need your basic tool kit, inks, border punch (or two), strong adhesive, MS Score Board, bone folder and your hot glue gun.

We will have a shared lunch, lounging on the deck, so bring along a plate of something savoury to share and I will provide the morning and afternoon tea treats plus your drinks for the day.  

Tomorrow (24/3) is also a Scrap'n'Roast.  4pm - midnight.  $16 for 8 hours of scrapping fun with dinner!!!  Still a few spots left if you message, email, facebook, ring me today :-)

Next week's workshop is ... Attack Your Stash - Little Boxes   $10

Another really fun attack.  I started from a page sketch with lots of boxes and I started singing that old song ’little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky tacky, little boxes… well, you know the rest. I’m sure you’re singing now in your head!!  I used up so many trinkets and bits that have been in my stash for ages - I was very pleased with myself!  You will need 2 cardstock for your background, 2 sheets of patterned papers for contrast 1, 1 sheet of double sided patterned paper for the little boxes and 2 sheets of cardstock for photo matting.  You will also need a heap of embellishments to fill your boxes in keeping with your theme.  You will also need your basic tool kit, inks, a title, edge distressor, foam mounting tape and 10 photos.  Two @ 5¼”x5¼”; 8 @

2 3/8”x2 3/8”.  You probably won’t get all your boxes filled with ticky tacky during the workshop, but you will have the basics of the layout done and you can embellish to your hearts content later on at home...quiet time in front of the tele :-)

Have a great weekend,

Happy Scrapping,

Mandy :-)

Ciao from Melbourne :-)

Hi everyone!
Sitting in my apartment colouring with Copic markers, practicing some techniques learnt today, iPod playlist playing in the background. Pretty cool!
Here's what I've just finished - you probably can't tell but her wings, dress and hair are covered in Spica (twinkling glitter)...you can never have too much bling!!!
Enjoy your weekend.
Happy scrapping,
Mandy :-)

Next week ... 19 March 2012

Hi everyone,

Packing my bag here and marking my markers, ready to fly to Melbourne in the morning for the Copic Certification courses.  Looking forward colouring all weekend and then onto planning workshops to share the Copic journey with you :-)

Don't forget my Wednesday Weekly Winner special on Copic Markers!

 

Next weeks workshop is ...

Page Maps March   $21

Monday 7-9pm; Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm and Thursday 9.30-11.30am

It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home grown apricot…  This page map is dedicated to the delicious apricots you have all tasted at one time or another off my beautiful apricot tree -  may it rest in peace!  We are also going to play with the (mist)·a·bles resist tags from Pink Paislee using our glimmermist and/or smooch sprays.  You will need 7 photos.  Two landscape @ 6”x4¾”; 4 portrait @ 3”x4¾” and 1 portrait @ 3”x3½”.  You will also need your basic tool kit, inks, a border punch, glimmermist/smooch sprays (2 or 3 colours), paper piercer, sewing needle and foam mounting tape.

Scrap'n'Roast   $16  24th March 2012

There's still some spots left for this Scrap'n'Roast.  Let me know if you'd like to come along for 8 hours of scrapping fun!

Have a great weekend,

Happy Scrapping,

Mandy :-)

Next Week ... 12th March 2012

Hi everyone!

Busy, busy here, as usual!  How about you?

I have a new emailer, so if you would like the weekly blog updates on time and regularly, unlike the networked blogs emailer, you can sign up very simply here. In the meantime I am trying to work out how to disable the old one, please be patient if you are receiving two emails while I figure it out :-)

I have also started a proper website, http://madebymandy.weebly.com/, it doesn't replace the blog and you will see that it has links to the blog, but will give me more flexibility with managing my business including an on-line shop.

Getting very excited as my Copic Certification workshops draw nearer!  Check out the Wednesday Weekly Winner - the special is on Copic markers and will be going for two weeks.  I shall keep posting samples of what when I have been playing!

Next weeks workshop is ...

Embossed Backgrounds   $21

Monday 7-9pm; Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm and Thursday 9.30-11.30am

We all had lots of fun using the pre-embossed cardstock last year, I thought I would show you how to make your own stunning embossed background effects!  You are also going to love the use of the double sided papers on this layout.  You will need 6 photos for this double layout.  One portrait @ 4”x6” and 5 @ 3”x3”.  You will also need your basic tool kit, inks, border punch, title, paper piecer and any embellishments you might like to use.  (I used some stickers that matched the theme and papers of my layout.)

Next Scrap'n'Roast in on the 24th March and there are still some spots left!

Happy Scrapping,

Mandy :-)

Wednesday Weekly Winner

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your messages of support!  I will try my hardest to keep the business running.  Traffic on facebook is up quite a lot and also on my blog.  Keep on sharing and we will find more people to come to workshops or just to shop.  I really appreciate your help :-D  Keep your ideas rolling in :-)

 

Wednesday's Weekly Winner is up on the site :-)  I think you'll love it! Go here -

http://madebymandyweeklyspecial.blogspot.com.au/ to find out all the details!  This one is running for two weeks so you can take full advantage of the special.

Don't forget to vote on facebook for the card workshops.  The poll is pinned near the top of the page.

STOCK IN THIS WEEK -  

X-Press It Double sided tape - thank goodness!!

X-Press It Blending Card

From the makers of COPIC markers comes the Spica glitter pen. This pen comes in 24 transparent colors and contains pigment based, non-toxic, acid-free ink. It is archival and has a no-clog tip. Best of all this pen will write for over 360 yards- twice the length of other writing pens. It is perfect for adding sparkle to your scrapbooks and craft projects.

 

I have Gold, Silver and Clear to start with - and they are really nice!!!! $4.20 each

If you would like to get the weekly updates and quarterly newsletter by email - sign up here. Feedback from you has indicated that the blogger email is not reliable with each weekly update. I sometimes don't get the email until 3 or 4 days after I have posted! This is an independent email site that I control, so once you've signed up I will be able to bulk email you all the weekly info and newsletter :-)  I have to learn how it all works, so will be a few weeks before it's all up and running. If you're not sure what to do, let me know and I can add you to the list.

Also in the process of creating a website complete with on-line shopping - but it will be a slow process! The website will be - www.madebymandy.weebly.com It's not live yet, so don't try to vist! Will probably publish without the shopping page to start with.  Shall keep you posted with this one.  

Happy Scrapping,
Mandy :-)

Next Week ... 5th March 2012

Hello again,

Another week has flown by!  Jennifer's birthday was a success - even at 40 deg!!  All I had to do was take down watermelon and iceblocks, the girls spent the whole party in the pool, which was the best place to be in such heat!

Daniel is taking part of the World's Greatest Shave!  If you'd like to sponsor him or just make a donation let me know :-) There's a donation box on the counter.

Next weeks workshop ... Recycling   $15

Monday 7-9pm; Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm and Thursday 9.30-11.30am

I'd love to show you a sneak peek or even the layout - but this is my desk at the moment!!!  Hubby decided that it was the place to put everything in the room when he replaced the window and guess where the layout is....yep....under all that mess!!  Not impressed! But on the bright side, the windows look fantastic :-)

 

I’ve been collecting all sorts of bits and pieces and now it’s time to recycle them … onto your page!!!!  You will only need one portrait 4”x6” photo for this single layout.  You will also need your basic tool kit, inks, a title, edge distressor and any recycling bits you might like to share!!  Think clothes labels, stamps, old flower arrangements, can ring pulls, bread tags, vegie netting … the list goes on and on! 

Scrap'n'Roast tomorrow night.  Still some spots left if you'd like to come along.  4pm - midnight, $16.

I don't know if you're aware that I get stats from blogger and facebook telling me how many people visit, look, share, etc...  I have to tell you, I am not doing so well, which is reflected in the visit count and actual class numbers. I am trying so many things to try and build up my business, but nothing seems to be working. So I will be overhauling and downsizing and eventually winding down and closing. I put in a lot of work into the layouts for workshops and I know that the few of you who come along really appreciate it, but unfortunately it's not enough to justify the time and expense.  I have given myself a deadline and unless I can pull some miracle out of my head by then, after 12+ years Made by Mandy will be a thing of the past.

Happy Scrapping,

Mandy :-)