Post-It Notes "Friendly Frankenstein" Canvas Artwork

Gone are the days when Post-It Notes came in a single size and colour and were considered to simply be somewhere to write memos to stick to the wall using the clever self-adhesive strip.  These days they are a fun stationery must-have which have inspired people to become far more creative when using them.  Now available in lots of different colours, shapes and sizes, they are still handy for note making, but they can also be used as a material for arts and craft activities. They are mess free and re-positionable so are suitable for even the youngest artists in the family to use. No scissors or glue required. The sticky sheets are ideal for making mosaics, can be used to decorate a pinata, can create fun patterns on the wall or be used to make pixel-style pictures.  There are some amazing examples of fabulous full-wall size murals made using Post-It Notes on the internet which are simply incredible!

3M have just launched Post-It Notes Colour Cubes which really help inspire creativity with their range of vibrant hues!

We were challenged by 3M to come up with an idea for a piece of artwork made using Post-It Notes.  We were supplied with a selection of Post-Its and a canvas to use.

It was fun experimenting with the colourful shapes and making designs.  After a lot of sticking and re-sticking of the Post-Its we had made Initial Mosaics and geometric patterns.  But the design we all agreed on was a fun and easy to make "Friendly Frankenstein" face made using the small green and yellow Full Adhesive Post-It Notes and one large blue Post-It Note.

Unfortunately, although they are super sticky and stick to almost anything, they didn't stick firmly to the uneven, rough surface of the canvas so we made our design on paper first, cut around it and then mounted it onto the canvas using fabric glue.  It looked very effective.

Here is my video tutorial on how to make a Friendly Frankenstein Canvas using Post-It Notes.

                           

We were really pleased with the end result, especially the curled hair on top.  Freddy wants it hung on his wall so he obviously thinks it is quite good!  We are going to experiment with this idea further ... a Mrs Frankenstein with curly eyelashes and matching hair-do will be next! There is so much scope to get creative and designs can be as simple or as elaborate as you want.

It is a really fun way of creating art and something that is suitable for all ages and abilities.

Check out the Post-It UK Facebook Page to check out the new range of Post-It Notes and discover a whole world of colour!

Scotch Mystery Gift Challenge #4

Here is the fourth clue in the weekly Scotch Mystery Gift Challenge.  Simply submit your guess on their Facebook app for your chance to win a beautifully wrapped gift from Scotch.


Cheltenham --- or Leamington--- It’s sure to be a day of pampering; leaving you relaxed and revitalised!

Good luck!

Scotch Mystery Gift Challenge Week 1

Every week between now and the January 3rd 2013, on the Scotch® UK Facebook Page,  there is a chance to win a beautifully wrapped, mystery gift.....worth up to £150! If you'd like to be the lucky one that gets to do the unwrapping, simply submit your guess as to what that week's mystery gift is. It is a great opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!

Each week I'll be posting a clue to help you guess what present is all wrapped up ready to be won!  Just solve the clue and then pop along to the Scotch Mystery Gift Challenge page and submit your guess.

Here is the first clue:

Week 1 - I’m the smallest member of my family (one billionth); fit in the palm of your hand and can hold tunes a plenty!

Good luck!  Remember to check back every week for the latest clue and enter on the Scotch® UK Facebook Page for your chance to win a lovely prize.

Is It Worth Paying More For Cleaning Products?

Testing Scotch-Brite Against Cheaper Products

Scotch-Brite is a company that produces cleaning products that are a little more expensive than many other  brands on the market.  In this economic climate, I have been challenged to find out if it is worth paying a bit extra for cleaning products and whether buying cheaper brands is a false economy.

I was sent a selection of Scotch-Brite's products, along with some of their competitor's products so I could test them for durability and efficacy.  I want to find out whether it is sometimes worth paying a bit more initially and whether I'll be saving money in the long run.

Heavy Duty Scourers

Scotch-Brite's Heavy Duty Scourers retail at £1.15 for a three pack, which makes them about 38p each.  I was comparing it against Product A which sells at 30p each as part of a four pack and Product B, also 30p but sold in a three pack.  The first difference that I noticed was that the Scotch-Brite scourer felt much thicker and denser than the two other products.  I personally hate the feel of scourers, they make me cringe, so I usually leave scoring to my husband, but in the name of reviewing I gave them all a try!  The biggest difference was that the Scoth-Brite scourer was much more absorbent than the competitors, which really came into its own when scrubbing down the work surfaces.   It was also very effective and hasn't yet shown any signs of disintegrating.  I am still not a fan of the feel of these scourers, but for an extra 8p, the quality and usability of the Scotch-Brite was definitely better.

Multi-Purpose Non-Stick Scourers

The Multi-Purpose Scourers had the biggest price difference of all the products.  Scotch-Brite's premium Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge cost £1.15  The others cost 15p each for Product A and 17p for Product B.  A and B are almost identical (except for the colour) with a synthetic sponge base and a stuck on white scouring layer.  The Scotch-Brite scrub sponge is a very different product.    The wave shape makes it very ergonomic and easy to hold.  The sponge side is thick and dense and the scourer feels strong and claims to scour 50% faster than other scourers and is recommended for use on premium cookware.  It works a treat with its delicate cleaning sponge side and its tough scouring side.  It takes up the bubbles from the washing up water and makes a good foam for cleaning up.  It is really gentle but a powerful cleaner! The scourer is easy to rinse through after use.  The cheaper ones seem to clog and disintegrate after a few uses. 

It is definitely much better than the flimsy, lightweight cheaper products, but you have to take into account the fact that you could buy seven cheaper ones for the cost of one Scotch-Brite one.  Will seven cheap ones last longer than one premium one?  Or does the quality of the longer lasting, tougher scrub sponge justify the expense?  I think if you have some top quality cookware that you want to protect and keep clean, it is worth the investment, but for everyday lightly soiled plates you can get away with using the cheaper ones, although they are nowhere near as nice to use.

Sponge Cloths

The Sponge Cloths from Scotch-Brite cost £2.49 for a multi-coloured pack of five.  With a stripy finish on one side and a spotted finish on the other side, they are thick and really soft to the touch.  Product A and B, both retail for £1.30 for a four pack equating to 33p each, as opposed to 50p each.  A was noticeably thinner and felt drier and less springy.  It only had one textured side.  B was almost as thick but less soft and had a waffled texture on both sides.  When it comes to absorbency, I put the three sponge cloths to the test using a glass full of water 'spilled' into a tray, replicating a common household accident that occurs regularly in our home!

Product A performed quite poorly sucking up only about half of the water.  It also didn't hold the water it had absorbed very well and it run from the bottom corner.  The Scotch-Brite sponge cloth and Product B both did really well, mopping up and holding the water well with just a little bit of leakage when picked up.  The Scotch-Brite product actually claims to hold ten times its weight in water which I'd say is pretty accurate.  However, the one big difference between Product B and the Scotch-Brite sponge cloth was the flexibility.  It was far more easy to wring out and felt nicer to use.  Product B was a bit stiff and felt slightly brittle on drying out.  The Scotch Brite sponge cloth is definitely more durable and out performed the competition.

 Conclusions

It's been quite an eye-opener testing these products against each other.  Saving money is a huge consideration to me and my family.  We can't afford to be frivolous anymore, but sometimes paying a few extra pence can be more cost effective in the long run.  Using cloths that are not up for the job will end up being a waste of cash and make household chores more difficult. Taking environmental impact into account, I'm happy buying products that last a long time rather than constantly re-buying and disposing of cheap alternatives. Weighing up the pros and cons and making an informed choice is the wisest plan of action.  But sometimes, it definitely pays to go with the better quality, more expensive product if it is going to outlast and out perform the cheaper alternative.