PINK SATURDAY - TOOL KIT PREZZIE

Decoupaged tool kit for the geek in your life (or your DIY drawer)

I'm sure everyone is like me: frantically busy, just a little broke, and therefore looking to give handmade prezzies (that don't look HOME made - there is a difference). So I thought a quick and easy project might be just the job! Perfect for anyone, and unusual too! It's a TOOL KIT!

This was inexpensive, but doesn't look too cheap (although the plastic case was a dead giveaway, hence the decoration)

This is just a cheap basic tool kit you'll find in most hardware stores, a good size for changing plugs and other small electrical stuff (women need to be able to do this too, lol) also poking holes in signatures for books, levering out staples, prising drawing pins out of walls etc.

Front and back prepared in exactly the same way - just change the positioning of the decorations

PREPARATION

As it's plastic, it's rather slick and not good for gluing, so sand a little first, just enough to roughen the surface (use an emery board if you don't have sandpaper).

DECORATION

• Couldn't be simpler: leftovers of scrapbooking paper for the front and the back, cut to size. 
• Collage the ticket on first, then overstamped some text (using Staz-On ink).
• The dots were Punchinella (sequin waste) used as a stencil, stippled with acrylic paint. Move the stencil and stipple again, creating a drop shadow using a metallic paint. 
• Finally, decoupage a vintage scrap image of a clown's head.

 I used PVA (white glue) throughout. Mod Podge is also good.

Next step: glue to the tool kit using a good quality strong glue such as Crafter's, Gorilla, Aleene's Tacky Glue or use double-sided tape. You don't want this peeling off at a later date.

Finishing touches: I ran a metallic gold pen round the edges, then applied a single coat of clear acrylic varnish for protection.

TIME TAKEN

Very fast - took around 2 hours including coffee and biscuits, and drying time!



Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

PINK SATURDAY - GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

My 'NOEL' Configuration box - I'm teaching this next week at Blade Rubber Stamps!

I know it's early, but if you're making your own decorations you really need to start NOW!

My excuse (not that I needed one) is that I'm also teaching a couple of classes shortly, so of course I've got to make my samples. I'm totally in the mood, and can't wait to put up all our decorations on 1st December. So... if you want to make some too (or overhaul the ones you already have) here's some inspiration.

My own wreath, for my Christmas Decorations Special class at Blade Rubber Stamps

Closeup of my wreath for the Christmas Decoration Special class.

The secret with wreaths (and any decoration, really) is lots of dimension, lots of glitz and glitter, lots of reflective surfaces and lots of colour. And lots of lights.

My 'NOEL' box - closeup - unlit

My 'NOEL' configuration box - closeup - lit up (including a little LED light up the skirt of the blown glass angel on top)

The box unlit, in daylight

All lit up for the evening

Closeup of the tree, the other lights and the German glass glitter - this tarnishes a little over time, adding to the atmosphere of the piece

Of course these rules can be broken: white on white, shabby chic, matt surfaces played off against glossy surfaces... don't take it all too seriously though -  it's supposed to be fun after all! If you don't have fun with your decorating, it show!

White wreath, pink ribbons and the sweetest little bird - wish I knew who made it! If it's YOU, please let me know

Off pinterest

Copyright HappyDotMom - click this link for the tutorial

Above is some inspiration I've seen online - I am crediting where I can (I lost a lot of my links when my old computer died) so if this is yours, and not credited and linked to you, please let me know so I can give credit where it's due!

Copyright Michele Kovak - tutorial here

I adore the cupcake ornament/place setting above - and can see this will adapt very nicely for snowball ornaments too.

Copyright Karina Guirre at Creative Chaos

Above is the ultimate in do-it-yourself trees by Karin at Creative Chaos - I absolutely adore it.  A wonderful confection of crepe paper, tinsel and glittery balls (with a touch of artificial snow) her tutorial is here.

Finally, below is another wonderful display - with and without lights, adapting ornaments you probably already have.

Copyright Sandi for Christmas Pudding

Copyright Sandi at Christmas Pudding - all lit up with LED lights nestling in the foliage

These images are copyright Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage (who we all know and love)  - who also has this other wonderful blog: Christmas Pudding.As you can tell, I'm highly recommending using lights whenever and wherever possible.

For my freebie Vintage Robins background and header set, go here

Have you noticed Sandi's using my freebie Vintage Robins blog background on her Christmas Pudding blog?



Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

A VERY PINK HALLOWEEN

  

PINK HALLOWEEN by Susie Jefferson

As it's Halloween weekend, I thought you'd like a non-scary and PINK background and header set.

  

Just copy and paste all the code below into an html box in your sidebar.

<style type="text/css">
body {background-image: url("http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/25902efb.jpg"); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; }
</style>
<div id="tag" style="position:absolute; left:0px; top:50px; z-index:50; width:150px; height:30px;">
<a href="http://1stfloorflatblogology.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
<img border="0" src="http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/9061ddc2.png"/>
</a></div>

HEADER

  

Right-click to bring up to full size, then left-click to save to your computer. Add your own text with your favourite graphics programmes or click 'Behind title and description'.

PERFECT POSITIONING:

Here's how to centre the heading in the older templates (eg: Minima), and here is the tutorial for centering the header and removing that bar at the top that shows behind the header in some templates (eg: Simple, Watermark). I've used the Watermark template for my test blog.

Here's a fun YouTube video for not-too-scary Horror fans: the Addams Family:





I hope you all have a fun Halloween.

We don't really 'do' Halloween in the UK, although it's catching on fast - but I've been buying up B movie DVDs from the local discount shops, and have stocked up on popcorn and a couple of bottles of wine, so the plan is that Himself and I will be holed up and having a film fest all to ourselves! Can't wait!

  

Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound   to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

PINK SATURDAY - VERY VOGUE

Couture by Ashely David

Found on We Heart It

Some fun images I found online - evoking a Vogue vibe!

This and following pix copyright Rene Gruau

 

Found on WeHeartIt

Don't you just love these nail colours for Autumn/Winter? I know they aren't pink, but they'll definitely go with pink!



Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

SCARY PINK SATURDAY

It's nearly Halloween - so it's time to dress up your blog with something scary! Here's a not-too-scary freebie blinkie I just made, especially for you Pink Saturday fans.



<center><a href="http://1stfloorflat.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br /> <img border="0" alt="1stFloorFlat" src="http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/uu313/1stFloorFlatComputery/3b69622a.gif"/></center></a>

 If you scroll down you'll see some new freebie backgrounds (also archived on Blogology - see the sidebar for even more scary stuff) and these are very scary!

Have fun...



Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY - PINK SATURDAY!

A small canvas I finally found the time to finish.

They always say things go in threes.... and right now I'm working on THREE massive blog makeovers. Call me Mrs Simultaneous.

Mind you, it's left me very little time to do or think about anything else. Here's what I've been up to:

Ms Skull N Roses - this is a new online jewellery store, selling fabulous high-end sterling silver jewellery (with and without gemstones). Bang on trend - this goth look is highly fashionable at the minute, and the detail in the jewellery is just amazing. I took my inspiration from the Pre Raphaelites: Burne-Jones, Millais, Waterhouse, Rosetti... and deep, deep red roses.

I am A Mother Seeking - not just a Mom site, Meredith is a specialist in child education and development, and has also published a book!  The travel theme for her blog is representative of her journey through life and all its highs and lows. Plus she has the most stunningly photogenic kids! I found the maps in the 15th Century - all hand drawn, hand coloured, and made my own from around 8 of them.

Mixed Media with Oxana - a fabulous mixed media artist, the blog uses all of Oxana's own artwork for the header, the buttons etc. Oxana is Russian, living in Norway, and writes her blog in all three languages (English as well). Her work is a stunning mix of vintage, paint, collage - and for sale on her Etsy shop.

All of these have been big projects and I'm enjoying myself enormously! Yaaay for my new Speedy Gonzales computer!

I'm teaching an art class tomorrow (Saturday) but will do my best to do some Pink Saturday visiting.



Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!

PINK SATURDAY - STARBUCKS-STYLE COFFEE

At the moment I'm so busy I'm going to meet myself coming backwards, as my mother used to say. I'm in the middle of doing THREE blog makeovers!

So I'm in need of a VERY strong coffee or three...

I'm always forgetting to drink it, and I hate lukewarm coffee, so I've trawled the net and come up with a few COLD coffee recipes I think are do-able (I love frappucinos):

'STARBUCKS' FROZEN FRAPPUCINO
Found on Grouprecipes

Ingredients
3/4 cup double-strength coffee, cold
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup low-fat milk
2 cups ice
3 tablespoons caramel topping
whipped cream
3 tablespoons Hersheys Chocolate Syrup

Method

• Make double-strength coffee by brewing with twice the usual quantity of coffee required by your coffee maker: 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per each cup of coffee. 
• Chill before using.
• To make drink, combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. 
•  Pour into two 16-ounce glasses, and serve with a straw.

CARAMEL Version:
For this version, add 3 tablespoons of caramel topping to the original recipe and prepare as described. Top each glass with whipped cream and drizzle additional caramel over the whipped cream.

MOCHA Version:
For this version, add 3 tablespoons Hershey's chocolate syrup to the original recipe and prepare as described. Top each glass with whipped cream, if desired.

And here is a very similar Weightwatchers version, from Recipe Kitchen:

Ingredients
⅔ cup double-strength coffee, chilled, see prep tip
⅔ cup (1%) low-fat milk, see substitution tip
2 tablespoons caramel topping
4 packages Splenda, Equal, or other sugar substitute
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla
2¾ cups ice

Topping
Light whipped cream or light vanilla flavored whipped cream, see shopping tip
1½ teaspoons caramel topping

Directions

• Combine chilled coffee, milk, caramel topping, Splenda, sugar, vanilla and ice in a blender. 
• Blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. 
• Pour into 2 glasses. 
• Top each glass with 2 tablespoons whipped cream and drizzle about ¾ teaspoon caramel topping over each. 

Serve at once with a straw.  Makes 2-(12 oz) drink

Shopping Tip
New to some supermarkets is a light vanilla flavored whipped cream. The vanilla makes it a creamy color. instead of white. If you can’t find it use any brand of light whipped cream.

Prep Tip

• Make double-strength coffee by brewing with twice the coffee required by your coffee maker. 
• Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per each cup of coffee. 
• Chill before using. 
• Make extra, if desired, to keep on hand in the refrigerator.
• We used fresh brewed hazelnut flavored coffee for this recipe but any regular or decaf coffee will work.

Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 3 - is made with nonfat milk, no sugar, only Splenda. Includes toppings

Otherwise, this counts as Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 4 

Skinny Facts: for a (12oz) serving including 2 tablespoons light whipped cream and a little caramel drizzle

• 133 calories
• 1.8g fat
• 3g protein
• 26g carbs
• 0g fiber
• 9g sugar
• 126mg sodium

Sounds worth a try! Great tasting, but also lower fat etc? HAS to be a win/win!

 

Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!