A card by Zoe

I've had lots of lovely entries to my Catalogue Challenge. You still have one more day to enter! Before I announce my favourite, I want to show you an entry by a lovely customer and friend of mine, Zoe.
Zoe doesn't have a blog of her own (although she should, because her work is lovely!), so I hope she doesn't mind if I show it here:

Zoe has used the Catalogue to case the card on page 83. Hasn't she done a fantastic job? She's used 'Haiku' DSP, and a couple of Retired Stamp sets on her card.
Thanks for entering Zoe! The rest of you have until midnight Sunday night if you would like to join in the challenge.

lots of my favourites!

I was happy with these cards for this month's Stamp-a-Stack....probably because I just LOVE this stamp set, and everything made with it LOL
It's Fifth Avenue Floral, and it makes such simple but elegant cards. It's my favourite set at the moment.
I've also used 2 of my favourite new ribbons - Kiwi Kiss Satin and Riding Hood Red Taffeta. The satin ribbon is vanilla on the other side, and the taffeta has a pretty border on it.
And I've used my favourite Hostess set - Best Yet. Did you know that you don't have to have a party to earn the Hostess sets? Simply place an individual or group order for $300, and you can choose a Level 1 set and $30 in free merchandise!
And there's also my favourite punch at the moment - the Eyelet border. I seem to be using it on everything!
I like red and pink together, but it can be tricky finding the right shades of red and pink to combine, without clashing. Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red are perfect partners. I've also added Close to Cocoa and Kiwi Kiss for a bit of contrast.


Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Best Yet (hostess), All Scallops
ink: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa
card: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla
other: Eyelet border punch, Scallop border punch, Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

p.s. Thanks for all your kind comments about my last post...you are all lovely!
p.p.s. I'm working on getting my newsletter out in the next day or so.
Sign up in the box in my sidebar if you haven't already! ----->

Not inspired...

This is one of those cards that didn't come out at all as I saw it in my head, so I don't like it. Maybe I would like it, if my head version wasn't so much better!

It's very sparkly in real life. I inked up the stamp with markers (after first inking the flowers with my Baja Breeze inkpad) and then used 2-way glue and fine supernova glitter. The colours of this glitter are just gorgeous!
I made the little tag using the scallop square punch, and chopping off most of the scallops!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Inspired by Nature, Friends 24-7
ink: Baja breeze, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa
card: Baja Beeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper white
other: Scallop Square Punch, Fine Supernova Glitter, sponge dauber, Wide Chocolate Chip Stitched ribbon, 2-way Glue pen, Linen Thread, Vintage brad

A few reminders

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Craft Sale. It was a fantastic day, and very successful for everyone. It was great to come home with a much lighter load, and we'll definitely be doing it again!

Thanks also to those of you who ordered a DSP Sampler book. The places are all filled now, and most have been mailed out. I still have a couple of places left in my Ribbon Share though, so email me if you'd like to join in that!

Don't forget my Catalogue Challenge. You have until the end of May to join in. That gives you all week. There are some great entries already!

You also have one more week to take advantage of Stampin' Up!s May Specials. When you buy 3 packs of paper, you can get a 4th pack FREE, and you can join Stampin' Up! for only $150!

Here's a quick card I made using the Inspired by Nature set. It's a great one to pull out when you need to make a quick card, because it takes up almost the entire card, leaving you with little else to do. I coloured the stamp with markers, and then gave it a spritz with water before stamping on Whisper White cardstock. I made a couple of these for some special people.
Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet
ink: Regal Rose
card: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White
other: Regal Rose marker, Certainly Celery marker, Apricot Appeal marker, Old Olive marker, Pretty in Pink marker, Scallop border punch, Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain ribbon

Craft Sale Reminder

GIANT CRAFT SALE!

No time for cards today! I have so much to do to get ready for our Giant Craft Sale Day. We have cleaned out our cupboards, and have lots of Craft Goodies that need to find new homes. There are stamps (both Stampin' Up! and other), scrapbooking supplies, ribbons, embellishments, plus handmade cards and gifts too, and lots more!

Everything will be priced to sell, so come along and grab a bargain! We'll also have Lucky Door Prizes to be won.

When: Saturday, 23rd May 10am -2pm

Where: The Church Hall (Blacktown East Presbyterian) Cnr Heffron Rd and Gallop Gve, Lalor Park

Hope to see you there!

Carousel Note Album

This month's Project Class is Jan Tink's Carousel Note Mini Album. I'm runing the class tomorrow (21st May), and I've just had a cancellation for Thursday night's class. So be quick and email me if you'd like to come along and make one!

Here's the front of the album:

And here's what it looks like inside:

I've used "Holiday Treasures" DSP and the "Always" stamp set to decorate it, and LOTS of punches!

Party Hearty - Part 2

I do 2 different kinds of workshops (or home parties): Traditional workshops, where I demonstrate a few different things, and everyone makes a card to take home. It's free, and everyone gets to get their fingers inky, but it's not too overwhelming for beginners. After they've been to a Traditional workshop, most groups like to move on to doing a Class. Usually this takes the form of a Stamp-a-Stack (everyone makes 6 cards), but it can also be a project like this one - 4 cards and a matching Pocket Tote Bag.
These 4 cards have all been made from the same pieces of cardstock. To me, that's the magic of stamping. You can take the same pieces of cardstock, the same colours, and even the same stamp set and end up with an infinite number of completely different cards. At a traditional workshop we would make just one of these, but I still love to show everyone how different you can make them look. The Pocket Tote Bag with envelopes and the other 3 cards are a gift for the hostess for having the party.

I first saw this bag when Liam brought one along to a team meeting. I always feel inspired after team meetings! Liam is our Ideas girl. She ALWAYS has something new to wow us with.
She has even been kind enough to put a tutorial for making this bag on her blog HERE. Make sure you leave a comment to thank her!

Here is what it looks like inside:

I'm currently taking workshop bookings for late June and July, so email me if you'd like me to come and make a project like this with you and your friends!


Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Party Hearty
ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding hood Red, Chocolate Chip
card: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
other: Scallop Circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1" circle punch, Word Window punch, tag punch, Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon, Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP, Riding Hood Red patterns DSP, Linen Thread, Silver brads, Mat pack

By Popular Demand...

Another Ribbon Share!

I have had a number of requests for another In Color Ribbon Share. This Share is open to anyone in Australia....SU! Demonstrators are welcome to join in too! It's a great way to try all the new ribbons. It would cost you over $120 to buy full rolls of all these colours. You can view the ribbons on page 150 of the catalogue

5/8" STRIPED IN COLOR GROSGRAIN RIBBON $15.00
6 colours - approx 1.7m of each colour (Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss)

EMAIL ME to join the share!
note: If you are already purchasing a DSP Sampler book for me, your postage will be included.

Party Hearty - Part 1

The final part of my Convention Presentation was about the all-important make-and-take. I always think very carefully about which stamp set to choose for workshop guests to make their card with. I want it to have widespread appeal (not too cute or too arty, suit both males and females of all ages), be useful for many occasions, and be easy for beginners to stamp. Some sets I have chosen in the past are Priceless, Baroque Motifs, One of a Kind, Wild about You and Lovely as a Tree. Now I've added another one to my favourites: Party Hearty. The fact that this set also co-ordinates with so many of our punches is a real bonus (I still get a thrill of excitement when I punch out that 'Celebrate You' and my Scallop Punch fits perfectly around the words! Yes, it doesn't take much to make me happy LOL). I always like to show lots of examples of some different cards made using the same stamp set.

Here I've used the Scallop Circle, 1" circle, 1/2" circle, Small Tag, Large Tag and Word Window Punches with Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red.
Here's a simple card in more girly colours:

We did a similar one to this at my Launch party, but in more masculine colours, and a used Patterns DSP instead of stamping the Polka Dots.
I've shown you this one before, but I'll put it here too. Here's a really girly version:

But you can also make it very masculine too:

And if I haven't convinced you how versatile this set is yet, how about a Christmas Card?:

I made this one using the row of party hats (which magically turn into Christmas trees when you put them in the right context), and Good Morning Sunshine DSP, and a stamp from 'Many Merry Messages'.

So there you have it. A few people from Convention have already told me that I 'made' them buy this set. I'd love to hear if you will be joining them!

Tomorrow I'll show you the set of cards and Pocket Tote Bag that I made using this set in Part 2 :o)

fun with techniques

Next we have a couple of technique cards. These are both using 'Upsy Daisy' which is a great set for different techniques. I've seen some gorgeous brayered backgrounds done with this set...

During my Presentation, I showed these 2 cards looking nice but ordinary, and then showed a 'Stepped Up' version, where I've added accessories like brads, buttons and ribbon. Here are my 2 Stepped Up ones (you'll just have to imagine them dressed down!):

To give this 3D effect, I've first stamped in Whisper White Craft ink, and then once it has dried, I've stamped over the top in Not Quite Navy. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position it just slightly to the right. The sentiment is from 'Best Yet' Hostess set, which is my favourite Level 1 Hostess Set. I've added some of the gorgeous Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon to step it up a notch, and then a 'bouquet' button.

TIP: I love adding co-ordinating thread to my button, but since I don't own thread in all 48+ Stampin' Up! colours (actually I don't own any!) instead I use a tiny thin strip of cardstock (in this case Not Quite Navy) and thread it through the holes of my button.

To get this effect, I've inked up the whole stamp in So Saffron, then (don't stamp it yet!) I've used a More Mustard inkpad to ink up just the lower 2/3 of my stamp and then (you still can't stamp it!) I've used Tangerine Tango to ink up the lower 1/3 of the stamp. Now (hope you haven't stamped it yet!) use a sponge dauber to blend the areas where the colours meet, to soften them. NOW you can stamp it (make sure you go 'ooooooohhhhhh!' afterwards!).

I blinged this one up, using a line of Sticky Strip with glitter applied to it, and a Rhinestone brad.

Isn't it amazing how different a stamp set can look when you use different techniques and colours on it?

Materials for card 1 (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet
ink: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
card: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
other: Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Bouquet button, Kiwi Kiss satin Ribbon

Materials for card 2 (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet
ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango
card: So Saffron, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla
other: Haiku DSP, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Curly Label Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, sponge daubers, sticky strip, Fine Supernova glitter, Rhinestone square Fire brad

Sweet Nothings

...on to the next part of my Convention presentation! (are you sick of this yet??)
Unfortunately I only have one pic of this bit :o( I also showed a 12x12 page (yes, can you believe it??) and a card, and also a 4-fold pouch. If anyone took pics of those, I'd love it if you could email them to me so I can pop them up here for everyone to see.
These were all projects made with the "Sweet Nothings" Simply Scrappin' Kit. These kits make such quick and easy projects and definitely aren't just for Scrapbookers. This is a "sunny boy" (or sour cream) container that I put together using the Simply Scrappin' Kit:

I did a tutorial on these a while back. I didn't seal up this one, though. I just punched 2 holes and threaded some ribbon through to hold it shut. You can still open it without even undoing the ribbon, and pop a little gift inside. I love showing these at workshops, because they are soooo easy, and require no preparation!
Tomorrow I'll show you a couple of technique cards using Upsy Daisy :o)

A Couple of Reminders

Preparations are underway, and there's going to be so much STUFF!!! It's less than 2 weeks away now, our

GIANT CRAFT SALE

My team and I are getting together to have a Giant Craft Sale Day. We have cleaned out our cupboards, and have lots of Craft Goodies that need to find new homes. There are stamps (both Stampin' Up! and other), scrapbooking supplies, ribbons, embellishments, plus handmade cards and gifts too, and lots more!

Everything will be priced to sell, so come along and grab a bargain! We'll also have Lucky Door Prizes to be won.

When: Saturday, 23rd May 10am -2pm

Where: The Church Hall (Blacktown East Presbyterian) Cnr Heffron Rd and Gallop Gve, Lalor Park

Hope to see you there!

The next reminder is about the DSP Sampler Books. The first group should all have received an email from me. The second group is filling up...I have only 6 places left. Let me know by Friday if you want to join in (but once the places have filled, I can't take any more names, sorry!)

Always...

This is the next card I showed during my Convention presentation. One of my favourite things about Stampin' Up! is that the stamps come in sets. No longer am I faced with moments when I look at a single individual stamp, trying to think of a new way to use it. This card illustrates that perfectly...the 'Always' set comes with a couple of focal images, some smaller stamps to use as backgrounds and accents, and words in a co-ordinating font. All this means is that you can put together cards quickly and easily. I made this card (in different colours) for my hubby for our anniversary a few weeks ago.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Always
ink: Versamark, Perfect Plum
card: Pale Plum, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper white, Perfect Plum
other: Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon, White embossing powder, Heat Tool, Mat Pack, Scallop Edge Punch, 1/2" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

The Colour Coach

This is another card I showed during my Convention Presentation. This time I was talking about the Colour Coach. The colour coach is a great little tool to use to help you choose matching colours, and it also explains Colour theory. I used the Colour Coach to make this card. Sometimes just finding a colour combination is the hardest thing to decide on, and the Colour Coach can make the decision for you. Just close your eyes and spin the wheel LOL. This colour combo is straight from the wheel, and I used the Colour Theory explained on the wheel to put it together too. I chose my main colour (Really Rust), and then used only half as much of my next colour (Bordering Blue), and then half as much again of my next colour (Mellow Moss) and then my fourth colour (Bashful Blue) is used only as an accent. This way, the 4 colours work in harmony, rather than competing with eachother.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Friends 24-7
ink: Really Rust, Bordering Blue, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa
card: Really Rust, Bordering Blue, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla
other: Vintage Brads, Bashful Blue Taffeta ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, sponge daubers, blender pens

A Catalogue Challenge!

I'm hoping to get back into the swing of blogging this week, and I've got heaps to show you. I'm going to start by showing you the samples I made for my Convention Presentation.
When we get a new Catalogue, one of the first things I like to do is copy a card EXACTLY from the catalogue, and then make my own version. When I do a "catalogue tour" at workshops, it's a great way to show what a useful tool the catalogue is. No wonder it's called an Idea book!
This year, I copied the card at the top of page 83:

And then I made my own version....using DSP also made it very quick and easy. Don't forget about this month's Special Promotion if you want to stock up on DSP. By 3 packs, get one free!

No one would even recognise it as the same card, but the great thing is that making it took very little brain power on my behalf! (always a good thing!)

Here's my Challenge: Why not give it a go next time you're stumped for ideas? I've challenged my team this month to do just that. You can join us if you like! Just post a comment here, and include a link to your own creation. I'll pick my favourite at the end of the month to win a Patterns Pack II Level 1 Hostess Gift. Entries must be in by May 31. Open to anyone in Australia, SU! Demos included.

You can see the Stampin' Supplies list for all the ingredients of the first card, and here's the recipe for my version:
Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Cheep Talk, On Your Birthday
ink: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip
card: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Sweet Always DSP
other: Curly Label punch, 1 1/4" circle Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain ribbon

DSP book update

Thanks to everyone for your interest in the DSP book. I have enough people to go ahead with one group, and am starting another. Let me know by this Friday 15th May if you would like one. Postage will be $5.50, anywhere in Australia (or you are welcome to pick up from me). These are only available to Australian and NZ residents, and Demonstrators are more than welcome to purchase them.
I haven't got around to emailing everyone who has requested one yet - that's tomorrow's job! If you have requested one via a comment on my blog, can I ask that you also email me, as Blogger often doesn't let me reply to comments.
I use mine all the time, when deciding on which paper to use. It's much easier than pulling out a pack! And considering our catalogue is going to be around for 17 months, this one is going to see a lot of use!
Hope all the Mums out there are having a lovely Mother's Day. My family have spoilt me today, and tonight my Mum is coming over so I can spoil her!

DSP book offer!

Every year my team and I get together to make one of these. It's a Designer-Series Paper Sampler Book. It contains a 4" x 4" square of each of the Designer Series papers. It's great to see the papers "in the flesh". I've had a few comments from customers that they would like one of these too, so I thought I'd see if there was any interest (this is open to Demonstrators not on my team too). The book is $25 (postage to you will be $5.50). I need 18 people for this to go ahead and places are strictly limited, so let me know if you would like one!

It's been great answering all your questions about joining Stampin' Up! this week. Who knew that so many of you would come out of the woodwork?! I've also been getting together with a few of you over a cuppa to answer your questions. If you'd like to do that, just drop me a line and we can sort out a time. It really is a great time to join. You may also like to watch the "First Impressions" video, which has just been made available online HERE

My Convention swap

I finally had some time this afternoon to take a whole bunch of photos, so I'm all set now to show you lots of samples that I presented at Convention. Firstly though, my swap card. Really simple, since I had to make up 60 of them, but in my favourite stamp set, and in my favourite colours (at the moment!). I cased my own card (thanks Louise Ryan for that idea!)
I received some gorgeous swaps in return. Everyone has been poring over them at my classes this month!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Best Yet (Hostess)
ink: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
card: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip “Patterns“ DSP
other: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

A No-Brainer...

What if I told you that you can join a special Stampers Club. If you join this club, you get access to a website with tons of inspiration, an online forum of other friendly stampers, monthly team meetings, full-colour monthly newsletters, at least 20% off all your stamping supplies (30% off in your first order), plus you can attend all my classes for half price.


It will cost you $150 to join (for this month only), but for that, you will get a stamp set ($77.95 value), a Simply Scrappin' Kit, 12x12 Textured cardstock, an inkpad and Craft and Rubber Scissors. That's all worth over $180.

You also get some business supplies to get you started: Idea Book & Catalogue (8), Getting Started DVD, Getting Started Guide, Guest Invitation Postcard (100), To My Hostess Envelope (10), Project Sample Sheet, Recruit Brochures (20), Hostess Brochure (20), Hostess Benefits Form (10), Customer Order Form (50).

If you decide you no longer want to be a member, you get to keep everything, and simply go back to being a customer. You don't have to meet any sales requirements until the end of September, and then it's a very manageable $550 (incl. GST) per quarter.

What are you waiting for?? It really is a No-Brainer. You have absolutely nothing to lose.

Send me an email now, and I'd love to help you join my team!

Convention!

What an amazing few days I have just had!! I have been in Canberra for the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention. It was great to spend 2 full days being inspired and motivated by some amazing Stampin' Up! staff and fellow demonstrators, and catching up with old friends and making new ones.
I had the honour of being asked to present "Demonstrator Theatre" with the lovely and talented Makeesha Byl, and I think the thing I was most proud of was that I didn't let my nerves get the better of me. I was able to put my inner terror aside and actually enjoy it. It ended up being a big highlight of the Convention, rather than the thing I wanted to get over with. Everyone has been so lovely, and many people have taken the time to tell me that they enjoyed my presentation, so I must have done OK!
The Dinner and Awards night is always a big highlight for me. I was lucky enough to have 10 lovely team members there, cheering me on (although the biggest cheers came from my dear friend and roomie Teneale!)
Here are my team "Stampers Anonymous" all looking glamorous at the dinner (thanks Kirrily for the pic!):

L-R Carolyn, Jen, Rosanne, Jane, Sue, me, Kirrily, Lorna, Noreen, Karen, Ruth

At the Awards Presentation, I was stunned to be given awards for being 3rd in Australia for sales, and Number 8 overall. So 8 is my favourite number this year (see this post if you don't know what I'm talking about!). I'll also be going on the Incentive Trip again, this time to Noosa!

I couldn't have done it without the support of all my lovely customers and my lovely team, and of course my gorgeous family! So, thank you all. I was lucky enough to be presented with stamp sets, long-stemmed roses and a gorgeous pair of Tiffany ear-rings! I'm still pinching myself!
I've been busy working on lots of things for my presentation, which I can now finally start to show you. So, over the next few days, I'll be doing just that.