Melts Monthly Subscription Box- June

I realise it has been almost a month since I last posted! I promise I haven't been abandoning the blog, but I have had a few bulky home improvements going on, and I'm  now decorating, so have been rushed off my feet between that and working. I'd love to say its nearly done, but there are a few rooms yet to go! Anyway, I thought I would pop on and let you know what I thought of my latest subscription box!

As we all know, I absolutely love receiving things in the mail. Whether it be postcards, letters or packages, I am always keen to see what the Postman has brought me.  I also LOVE candles and having my home smell amazing.

Well, Last week I received my June Melts Monthly Subscription Box! Yay!!! I had subscribed near the end of May and this was done on the website as a pre-approved payment on Paypal. A kind of Direct Debit. Almost. And I can cancel any time.

Costing just £10 per month, you receive 8 full size wax tarts which usually cost £2 each, and from what I have seen a little bonus too! Great bargain as postage is included in your payment, so I had to give them a go!

The box was made up of 8 full size wax tarts as well as a little tester package of mini melts. For those who have missed a trick, wax melts can be used in an oil burner or electric wax warmer and release a strong scent around the home. You can find out more about melts and how to use them here. 

Packaging was cute and quirky, and it all arrived intact. It also contained a little description of each scent which was rather useful when trying to figure out exactly what made these melts different from other brands. There are some wonderful combinations happening in this box! The scents were all really summery and gorgeous- Im sure this will change along with the seasons. Of all of the scents, there was only one that I wasn't as keen on, but thats just personal preference.

As the melts are made of soy wax, they melt very quickly compared with, for example, yankee melts, but I am glad to say the scent lingers for hours. From just 1/4 of a melt, I got 3 hours of a well scented burn! And, even after the scent had died down, there was no awful burning wax smell that is typical when you have burned normal wax melts. They are really easy to break into quarters, which I like to do so I can use the same scent in different rooms and also because I want as much out of them as possible!

I will be keeping this subscription going and hopefully manage to resist burning them all straight away so I can have a nice wee collection!  I have already taken advantage of the discount code included in the package and ordered another 10 melts- oops! I would love to be able to buy the Lime, Basil and Mandarin scent as a candle, but I haven''t been able to find this on the website so far. Fingers crossed it will become available soon.

The scents included in the box were:

1- Lime, Basil and Mandarin
"Top notes of Sicilian lime and zesty bergamot blend into a juicy heart of nursting ripe mandarins, basil and sharp green velvet"

This was my partners favourite as it was a very citrusy smell, which was quite strong and it is a lovely fresh and vibrant smell- perfect for the season. 

2- Chocolate Macaroons
"Chocolate Macaroons with hints of spice makes this scent almost good enough to eat"

This is the scent i'm not actually too keen on as I don't like "foody" smells, but I will definitely use it as I'm sure it will be pleasant when it burns. It is a very sweet smell, and definitely chocolatey. 

3- Sweet Pea
"Sweet floral fragrance with notes of sweet pea, rose and hyacinth"

Such a lovely floral scent that it feels as though you are still sitting in the garden. It actually smells of flowers. Not in a fake way at all. 

4- Verveine
"A lovely uplifting scent, Verveine blends the fresh citrus notes of sparkling verbena, orange and lemon."

Another Zesty little number, this is one of my favourites and was absolutely perfect after having had a spring clean. 

5- Rhubarb & Blackberry
"Based on a classic English crumble of custard, vanilla, rhubarb and blackberries, this scent is a sweet and fruity delight"

Another sweet smelling foody-inspired scent, but this one is much more to my taste. I think the berries help to even out the vanilla tones, and it definitely make for a lovely scent when it burns.

6- Lavender
"A luxurious and relaxing fragrance capturing the distinctive and soothing smell of fresh lavender"

Quite a cool, almost masculine scent. Even though you can definitely smell the lavender, it isn't an overly floral fragrance. 

7- Japanese Zen
"A fresh blend of cucumber, wasabi, grapefruit, guava and lime"

A more subtle zesty scent, but it was definitely there along with another fruity scent which is identified on the card as grapefruit. This scent could easily be put into shower gel! Its so fresh!

8- Night Jasmine
"A seductively lush perfume of water jasmine, sweet honeysuckle, neroli, gardenia and orange blossom."

A complex floral scent as there are definitely a few flowers to identify in there, but the combination is perfect. Not too strong and very natural smelling.

9- (Bonus Melts) Strawberry Rhubarb
"A perfect fruity fragrance combines freshly picked strawberries and pink rhubarb"

These gorgeous little shaped individual melts are set with glitter and they are my favourite scent of the batch. So sweet and smell like candy, I'm saving these for best!

If, like me, you love candles and you also love a little monthly treat, check out the Simple Candle Co website here.  I've heard that all new subscribers in July will receive a free wax warmer! And just incase you happen to want a flame free warmer, heres a link.

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This has been an unpaid, unaffiliated review and I purchased the items myself. The review is based purely on my own experiences.

Yoohoo! Mail Subscription Box- May

Apologies that I haven't shared this post sooner- I have been a  little under the weather, but on the mend now, thankfully!

Today I am going to reveal the contents of the wonderful Yoohoo! Mail subscription box that I received for May. It had an incredible 29 pieces in it! OK, it may not be officially 29, but one of the items was a gorgeous 10 piece writing set, so I have included that in my count.

As you all know, I received the Yoohoo! Mail box in April and was so pleased with it, I have decided to keep ordering. I must point out that I have bought these items myself, and I am blogging about them purely because I love them, as is always the case (so far) on my blog!

So the theme for May was "Wanderlust" and it is easy to see the correlation across all of the items. I was surprised to see that the designs were not necessarily a typical mismatch of "holiday" items such as buckets and spades, beaches and air-planes, but I was really pleased that the designer has taken a different approach.

This box contained 3 gorgeous little Typographical postcards. Really simple black and white background patterns with bold circles of pastel colours and "hello" written in 3 different languages- Can you tell what they are?

As we all know, I love sending letters and postcards, so these will definitely come in handy!

There are also 2 fabulous prints in the box, one which is a kitsch illustration of a hot air balloon and will tie in beautifully with my craft room- yay! And another which is really simple handwriting with some highly detailed floral illustrations on a white background. I was surprised to receive 2 prints, and I really like them both.

There were some lovely little list cards- I would use them while travelling to write the day's itinerary on- I'm hoping that was their purpose, but you can use them however you like. There is another little list- a packing list- and I will definitely use this for my next trip!

As usual, there are 5 greeting cards with corresponding envelopes and on great quality cardstock and papers. My favourite design this month has to be the unicorn, but it is closely followed by the "bon voyage" card that shows the vintage suitcases.

To finish it off, we have a lovely little writing set that I will be using soon when writing to my penpals- yes, I have penpals, and no it's not sad! #SnailMailRevival If you are thinking "what would I do with a writing set, then please see this hub. 

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Sugar Skull Lino Prints

So as we saw in my latest Work in Progress... Post, I have been working on a lino print of a sugar skull. Well, it isnt lino exactly, but a much more futuristic and fabulous material called adigraff- it cuts so simply and is a dream to work with- I would recommend you give it a try if your into printmaking.

I underestimated just how long the print would take to carve out, but I am really glad I took my time with it. I have printed at the moment just in black and white and have experimented with a few nice colours for the background. I will be experimenting digitally later on, as well as trying some prints onto patterned paper and collage prints, but for now I want to share my favourite simple colour print. It is perfect for my craft room, and ties in the skull theme from the lounge in a gentle way.

I'm not quite sure where to hang it, but the blue wall is winning ever so slightly...

I also done a simple black on white print onto a canvas that I had nearby, and I really love the little imperfections that are shown from the printing process. My mind has been running with what to do with it now. I'm torn between colouring it with bright acrylic paints or really sparkly, brightly coloured glitters! What do you think? Sparkly or bright? Spaaaarkly??? or Briiiiight? Time will tell!

I really like the way the print has transferred onto the fabric that I may just have to try printing it onto a top or even a little shopping bag... Watch this space....

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Craftseller Focus: Ash Beads

I have had to sit on this post for some time as I was buying as a present for my Mum. Since my Gran died, we have been unable to let go of her ashes, so I thought it would be nice to put them to some use and get a little keepsake made for Mum's birthday. This also means that if we do decide to spread the remaining ashes anywhere, my mum will still have a little part of her close-by. It may seem a little sombre, but I think it is a really lovely way to hold someone close to you after they have passed.

I had never thought anything like this existed and it wasn't until Ash Beads were recommended by a friend that I even looked into the idea.

What I found was absolutely stunning bespoke jewellery made from ashes- be that human or pet remains, you can actually have a gorgeous pendant or bead made. I also found that the prices were very reasonable when compared to other ash jewellery makers out there, and the quality and workmanship truly spoke for itself. Even if Ash Beads were more expensive, I would still buy from them rather than competitors, who charge 6 times as much for what looks like costume jewellery.

Anyway, I digress.

There are lots of options on the website. You can get beads made for Pandora style bracelets, or cabochon setting pendants, or the simple globe style bead pendants. The round pendant I chose for Mum was a medium size. Surprisingly, the price is the same for a small, medium or large pendant and you can opt to include a matching chain. I didn't buy the chain simply because my mum has a fairly strong neck, so we went for a thicker, more robust chain from elsewhere to prevent her losing it.

The pendant itself looks like a little mini earth, which is quite fitting really- your world around your neck. The colours are gorgeous- aqua blues, greens and the texture is added with the ashes themselves, all sealed in glass to keep them safe.

The owner of Ash Beads, Merry, treats the whole process with the utmost respect, consideration and love. The overall impression of this lovely lady is that she really wants to help people with her talent. She asks that you send a little story about the person or furry friend in question, along with a photo, and even some music so that she can channel all of her energy into making the best beads possible after getting to know the person behind the bead a little better. She is also very careful throughout the whole process to ensure that the remains are treated with care and consideration, and any leftovers are returned.

Overall, the process was quite simple. Merry kept me informed the whole way through, and even despite a delay with me posting the ashes, I received the bead in plenty of time for Mum's birthday. She also included a little extra gift in there, which was so thoughtful! I really didn't expect it, and can only think it was maybe a trial run or a slight misfire?- Merry really is a perfectionist with her art. Either way, I was more than pleased with my little extra! It also gave an interesting view of how differently these beads can turn out- the different thickness of swirls and the different colourings. Both are beautiful, though.

There were some additional charges from customs, so I would bear this in mind if using the service- allow an extra £35-40 for VAT charges on receipt of the item.

All of the organisation and forward planning was definitely worth it as my Mum absolutely loved her present! She actually has not taken it off since she received it.

I would highly recommend Merry's service to anyone looking for a unique memento of their loved one. There are also options of having bulk batches made, so if you wanted a fitting gift for family at a memorial, these would be ideal.  Or if there were a lot of siblings who couldn't agree on a location for the spreading of the ashes etc, they could each have their own little trinket. I think this would especially be great for families spread across the world.

You can order your very own Ash Beads on the website here.

You can also find the business FBpage by searching "Ash Beads" on Facebook.

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Yoohoo Mail Subscription Box- April

Warning: Spoilers!!! Look away now if you do not want to see April's Yoohoo! Mail box.

As you may or may not know, stationery is one of my weaknesses. To the point where I get excited about going to a stationery or craft store. I remind myself of Pauline on Little Britain with her pens sometimes! Anyway, the idea of a delivered monthly subscription of unique, quirky stationary really appeals to me.

So after months of seeing the little adverts for Yoohoo Mail on my Facebook feed, I finally gave in and ordered a Yoohoo! box. I was so intrigued with the new theme that I decided to buy one. Just a little one off. Maybe.

The Yoohoo box comes with up to 20 items of stationery, and includes things like cards, list pads, menu cards, art prints- really any printable paper based stationary items. So many to choose from!

My intentions were really just to test the feel and quality of the materials inside before committing to a full 3 month subscription, and I think that it really is a great idea that you can buy as a one off.  Although, I already had in mind that as long as the card-stock wasn't terrible, I would probably subscribe anyway- a little monthly treat while saving up some gorgeous stationery.

The contents of the box are a complete secret until you unwrap them (or read a spoiler-oops!) I quite like the element of surprise, especially when I know I will be getting some rather unique designs that not many people will have seen.

In Aprils box, there were 19 items, including envelopes. One of the items was a simple A4 black and white typography print that makes you sing the words each time you see it. I think it would look nice in a modern frame on the wall. While I won't necessarily use it myself, I'm sure I will get some use out of it in a project in future.

There were a selection of 5 gorgeous cards in the box too. One is a birthday card, the others are for no particular occasion and all of them are blank inside so that you can leave your own message. I already have an idea of who I will

The designs on the cards are very bright, colourful and quirky, and the envelopes all match perfectly. Even the yellow of the envelope on the pac man card matches pac man exactly. I must say I'm very impressed!!

The quality of the card-stock is great- definitely not cheap and flimsy feeling, and will definitely not slump over when upstanding.  Even the quality of the envelopes is very high- there are a variety of smooth and textured papers used for the envelopes, but again they feel quite rich and you couldn't see through them either. These are definitely not the cards you can buy from Card Factory on the high street at 10 for £1!

I will definitely be adding these to my little box of cards so I can pull out a showstopper when the time is right!

There are also some gorgeous little postcards. I'm not sure I can even bring myself to use these as they would look amazing framed in some little box frames from Ikea. I might just have to do that instead.

Again, the quality of the postcards are great. Not flimsy or see- through, you are definitely buying quality in the Yoohoo! mail box.

I am already looking forward to the May edition and I haven't even ordered it yet! I wonder what the theme will be!

As you can see, the running theme for April is "Retro Baby" and this is detailed very well, right down to the nostalgic bubblegum thrown in!

The weekly meal planner that is included is also done in a "Happy Days" Diner style. It is so cute I can't bring myself to write on it so I am thinking of laminating the page so I can keep reusing it. It would look great in my kitchen, stuck on the fridge- and useful too!

Theres a handy phone numbers list- I always love a list, as well as some funky little happy face stickers. So many littly funky bits and pieces in such a little box!

The last little novelty gift in the box is one of the magic Fortune Teller fish. You can usually get these in christmas crackers, but I haven't seen them in years, and definitely not to this standard.

As you can see, it's pretty accurate as it indicates that I am passionate! Well then!

Overall, I am really happy with my Yoohoo! Mail box. The quality is great and really, the cost is pretty good too. If you think about how much it costs you to buy a card in Asda, you couldn't get many for a tenner! Especially of such great quality. If I continue to get these boxes (which I plan on), I will very quickly be getting a lovely collection of cards, and the rest of the stationary really will go into my stash as a bonus!

If you like what you see, you can order your own Yoohoo! Mail box here. 

Do you have any monthly mail subscription boxes?? I am thinking of trying out another few- maybe candles or wax melts? I do love a good scent! Any you would recommend?

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Work In Progress- Lino Print and Key Holder

So I thought I would keep you updated on some little projects I have been working on since I shared with you last. I am determined not to let my creativity die away, so I am deliberately making myself create some gorgeous things!

I have been toying with the idea of quick makes for the sake of a shiny new blog post, but figured it would be good to just show you my progress to date.

If you follow my Facebook fanpage, you will probably have already seen these snippets. If not, you may want to get liking for sneak peaks in future!

Firstly, I have been working on a little lino print. Well, it's not actually lino, but adigraff- it's much easier to cut, which creates a much nicer finish. Well, that is if you have better coordination than I do!

The design is a little more complicated than I'm used to and I haven't used this technique in a good few years (you can see my some of my previous Lino print examples here) But I think if I go slow and steady, I'll be able to get something pretty out of it in the end.

I'm not completely sure what I will do with it as a final piece- I do know I want to feature whatever I create in my living room, but the creative process is quite young on this one! I'll be sure to share the results with you as I try to decide on the finish and combination that I would like for the finished piece. Any suggestions? Please feel free to leave a comment!

Secondly, I have been working on a pretty sparkley key holder. This was really just to give me a break from carving the adigraff and let me loose with some super sparkley holographic glitter! The photos really don't do the finish any justice, but I will be sure to share a how to post, with a little video in it so you can see the dazzle for yourself!

The wooden letters were bought from poundland and this really is a super easy- glue and glitter type of make, but the results really are gorgeous! I can't wait to add hooks and see it hanging in it's sparkley glory!

I'm looking into making more of these to sell on etsy or even a facebook sellers page, but I'm still considering the options there. I will also be doing a DIY post for those of you that want to make one for yourself so you can be as proud as me when I'm showing it off!

So what projects are you currently working on? Or are you more of an admirer than a DIY trier? Share the love and leave a comment!

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Craft Haul At Poundland!

I always love a crafty bargain, and I regularly go to Poundland to have a rummage for anything craft related. Or anything pretty for the house really. I was delighted when I went in this week to find this great stash!

Imagine my amazement when I see that Poundland are doing Dovecraft items! I had to obviously buy every colour of the 3D Pearl effects paint- I think it will give some lovely touches to cards and other papercrafts.

Unfortunately, the photo doesn't really do the wool much justice, but it is sparkley! I am determined to at least make a start on crocheting this year, so a nice stash of wool to play with is essential! 3 balls for just £2!

The little sewing book wasn't an essential, as I do know how to sew, but I like to learn little tips along the way and this included some pretty patterns for bags and a lovely cami top, so I had to buy it.

Where else could you get this bounty for under £15??? I can't wait to get started on using them, and I have actually already started on a little crafty project so will be sure to update you with it soon.

Here is a little article of how else to save cash while crafting. Where do you buy your craft supplies? Any tips on keeping your crafting budget down? Please comment with your suggestions x

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