Coming back down to earth

The week after Convention is always a funny mixture of coming back down to earth and still being on a high. I had Team Meeting on Monday, and it was great to relive it all, and share with those who weren't able to make it along this year. And then I've had 3 classes this week too. Plus, it's Amy's birthday on Sunday, so I've had a few bits and pieces to do for that. Can you believe I'm going to be the mother of a teenager?? That spins me out. Thankfully, she is still a sweetie (no sign yet of the teen attitude and moodiness I have been told is just around the corner!).

I haven't managed to share a card all week. I've made a couple...Amy's Birthday card for one! Shannon West showed us a clever card using the Circle Scissor and making a spiral pop-up inside, and I've made a butterfly version for Amy. I haven't taken a pic yet, but when I do, I'll pop it on here. It turned out really cute. Amy even told me what colours I had to use!

In the meantime, here's my other Technique card from this month. this one uses a variation on the Joseph's Coat technique (a form of emboss resist)

Lots of brayering on this one!

...and that Melon Mambo sure is bright!

20% off Starter Kit!

One of the exciting announcements that they made at Convention was that until July 31, there will be 20% off the Starter Kit! That means you can get over $560 worth of products for only $259...a saving of $65! What a bargain! That's the cheapest price for the Starter Kit that we have ever had here in Australia.

As well as getting lots of fabulous products in your kit, and being able to buy at a discount or run your own business, when you join Stampin' Up! you become part of my team, which means I will be your Upline to help and support you. You can come along to monthly team meetings and you can also attend team events like our Stamp Camp in July.

DID YOU KNOW...?

Have you checked out my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Business Web Site lately? You can now join Stampin' Up! online --and immediately get a demonstrator ID and password for the Demonstrator Web Site--without having to fill out paperwork, mail it in, and wait for the ID and password to be sent back. All you need to do is click Start Your Own Business>Join Now, and it will lead you through the sign-up process.

You just need to have the following information on hand:
Australian Business Number (ABN) which you can get online HERE
Personal contact information
Credit card payment information
Recruiter Authorisation Password (mine is marelle)
In just 30 short minutes, you will have a demonstrator ID, a password to the Demonstrator Web Site, and be ready to go!

If you would like any more information about joining Stampin' Up! feel free to email me

Convention 2010

I always come home on such a high from Convention. Even though I'm exhausted, I think I haven't stopped smiling for the past 5 days! It is such a battery-recharger. There's nothing like being in a room full of 500 other like-minded people who all share the same obsession...I mean passion....as you. Seeing stamping demonstrations, learning new tips and tricks, chatting in person to people you have previously only met online, getting brand new stamp sets, shopping in Memento Mall and being totally spoilt at the Awards dinner were just some of my favourite things. It is just so much fun from beginning to end. I'm sorry to say that I don't have many photos to share with you all. I was too busy soaking it all in to even pull out my camera most of the time!

I did take a few pics, though...I can't resist sharing a photo of some of my 'girls'. They are the loveliest bunch of people you could ever hope to meet. There were 13 of us at Convention. Here we are in front of the stage:

And here we are glammed up for the Awards dinner:
Don't we scrub up well?! And a few more of my favourite people:

Teneale, Georgina and Jayne, looking gorgeous.

And a couple more:

Steph Pike and Sarah Klass, beautiful people inside and out.

I think this year was more exciting than ever, because our Convention bag contained 2 brand-new stamp sets that will be in our September Catalogue. Shelli also had a surprise for us on the last day - an extra new set for everyone, and it's gorgeous! I also came home with 6 other new stamp sets, because I won some awards, which was really exciting...although I hate walking across the stage, and can't get off there quick enough!! One of my downlines joked that she had to set her camera to the 'sport' setting to be able to catch me! LOL I also came home with a Burberry Scarf and Necklace. Sarah laughed at me because I didn't even know what Burberry is *blush*

I feel like I'm bragging if I tell you what awards I won, so I'll just say that 4 is definitely my favourite number this week ;o) If you want to know more, you can see it on my About Me page. I will tell you that I had tears in my eyes when I collected my Incentive Trip Certificate and pin, because there's no way I would have even been up there if not for the support of so many lovely people. So, thank you so so much.

Now it's heads-down-bums-up to earn the Incentive Trip to Fiji in 2011! I'm going to try and not leave my dash so late this time!

Blue China

I've scheduled this post because at this very moment I'm enjoying the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention.
This is one of the cards we made at this month's technique class. The technique is Emerging Colour, a type of Emboss resist. For this card, I stamped a background on Very Vanilla cardstock using Very Vintage wheel and Vintage Vogue stamps in shades of blue. Next I embossed the Medallion on top in clear embossing powder, and finally, brayered over it in Brocade Blue ink. It's a great effect, and the Medallion stamp is perfect for this technique. This card reminds me of blue and white China....

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Occasional Greetings, Medallion
ink: Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Versamark
card: Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
other: sponge dauber, Designer Label punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Brocade Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Heat Tool

My Convention Swap!

The second Technique Class card for April did double-duty as my swap card for Convention. I switched the Kiwi Kiss to Old Olive, and used some different DSP and changed the sentiment to {friend to friend}, but apart from that, I kept it the same.
A few little tricks here:
* I used the outer part of the little Leaves Die, and popped it up on Dimensonals, with DSP behind it
* I used the Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder, but on the Kraft side, I used the reverse side, so it's inverted Polka Dots
* I used the Tags Die, but turned the tag into a framed tag...can anyone guess how I did that?

Here's the inside (I didn't do this for my swaps!!)
Looking forward to swapping and bringing home 50 new designs!

Edited to Add: To make the framed tag, use the Big Shot Tags die to make a Kraft tag and a Chocolate Chip Tag. Cut the Chocolate Chip tag in half - in a horizontal line (where you will be putting the Word Window). Mount the top half of the Chocolate Chip tag just inside the Kraft tag, and the lower half also just inside (you will have an overlap in the middle which gets covered by the Word Window) Voila!

Happy Anniversary!

...to me!
Today marks 4 years since I joined Stampin' Up! What an amazing 4 years it's been. It's scary to think that so many people that I now call dear friends would not be in my life it it wasn't for Stampin' Up!
To celebrate, I'm running a 4 day special. It runs from today (19th May) until Sunday (22nd May). For most of that time I won't be here...I'll be off enjoying myself at Stampin' Up!'s Convention, but every email order that I receive while I'm away will be entitled to receive the following Special Offer:

Order 4 items, and receive 20% off one of them!

You can take the 20% off whichever one you like (but if you're smart, you'll make it the most expensive one!)
EDITED TO ADD: If you order more than 4 items, you get 20% off every 4th item
...and before you ask, yes the Big Shot is included in this offer, but no other offers apply with it. Normal shipping and handling charges apply.
As a extra-special bonus, every 4th order that I receive will include an extra gift from me :o)
I won't be back on email until after the weekend, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can after I return!
I've scheduled some posts on here while I'm gone, including my swap card!

Asian Artistry

During the last school holidays, my team had a fun stamp day at Nikki's house. We decided to have a Shoebox Swap. These are a great way to get a few cards made, without having to put any thought into it. We all cam along with a Shoebox, and inside was a card, and all the ingredients to make it (pre-cut cardstock, stamps, inks, etc). We just kept swapping shoeboxes, until we had all made each of the cards. So, we arrived with bits of cardstock, and went home with completed cards! Plus, we chatted, had a delicious lunch and the kids played happily upstairs...all in all, a perfect day!

TIP: to get the darker area at the base of the stems, I sponged Soft Suede ink straight on to the rubber

TIP: I love this little trick with the Scallop Oval Punch - trim off the top and bottom of the Scallop Oval, and you have a perfect mat for the Word Window!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Asian Artistry (Level 2 Hostess), Sanded Background, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
ink: Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Versamark
card: Kraft, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red
other: Word Window, Scallop Oval, Ruby Red Marker, Cutter Kit, Mat Pack, Sponge Daubers, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon

Manhattan Flowers

In just one week, I will be heading off for the Stampin' Up! Annual Convention. I am starting to get really excited! Convention is in Sydney this year, but I am still going to stay at a Hotel in the city, to make the most of the few days. Convention is an amazing experience. 500 people all in the one place, all passionate about stamping is exciting enough, but there's also catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, learning new techniques, swapping, shopping at Memento Mall and then it is all capped off by the Awards Dinner. My hands are always red-raw and my voice is hoarse by the end of it from all the cheering. Can you tell I am a tad excited?? I'm lucky enough to be sharing a room with the wonderful Teneale, and that in itself is going to be a blast. Lots of my team members are coming along for their first Convention too, and I'm excited for them. Now I just have to finish off my swaps (nearly done)!

In last month's technique class we explored the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. I showed a few different ways to use the folders and a few tips and tricks.
The Manhattan Flower folder is just gorgeous, and really doesn't need much dressing up:

These cards are so touchy-feely. You just can't help running your fingertips over them. I even decorated the inside...not quite up to Teneale standard, but still pretty. The Fifth Avenue Floral set co-ordinates perfectly:
Did anyone spot my set of cards using Fifth Avenue Floral in this months Australian Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft Magazine? What did you think?


Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Best Yet, Fifth Avenue Floral
ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
card: Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
other: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, Manhattan Flower Textured Impression Folder, Big Shot

Fox and Friends Stamp-a-Stack

Vintage Vogue may be my favourite set from the Mini Catalogue, but this set wins hands-down for cute factor: Fox and Friends


Making a Stamp-a-Stack using just 4 of the animals was really hard...all 7 are so cute! 7 animals for $23.95 (unmounted version) is such a bargain too.
I've used a very simple layout, so the animals take centre stage. I'm loving Teeny Tiny Sentiments too...all those words that fit inside the word Window Punch come in so handy!
I've used one other stamp set for these cards....can anyone tell me what it is? :o)

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)

stamps: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, and ???? {have a guess}
ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Really Rust
card: Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust
other: Riding Hood Red taffeta Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Slit Punch

Vintage Vogue Stamp-a-Stack

These were my Stamp-a-Stack designs for April. Everyone seemed to like them...what's not to like about the combination of Rich Razzleberry and Vintage Vogue? They were nice and easy to put together too, thanks to quick a background stamped with the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, and also thanks to the Top Note. I'm loving my Top Note...it fills up a card front perfectly, and requires no layering!
I've been busy with classes the last couple of days, and I'm endeavouring to get my monthly newsletter out too. Make sure you are subscribed...this month I have a Big Shot Dies Special for you!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Heard from the Heart, On Your Birthday, Very Vintage (Jumbo wheel)
ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Old Olive
card: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Old Olive, Whisper White
other: 2-Step Bird Punch, Old Olive Wide Grosgrain, Old Olive Striped Grosgrain, Clear Rhinestone brads

Bird on a Branch

This is one of the little love notes I mailed out with copies of the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I whipped up a whole ton of these and it hardly took any time at all, thanks to the wonderful new punch! These are only 3"x3", so they don't use up a lot of supplies either. I used different paper patterns (from "Cottage Wall" DSP in the mini) and mixed up the branch/wing/body colours for the bird too. Easy Peasy!
If you haven't received your copy of the mini yet, you're missing out! Email me and I'll pop one In the mail for you (Australian residents only please).

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)

stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

ink: Rich Razzleberry

card: Whisper White, Pale plum, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

other: Small Oval Punch, 2 Step Bird Punch, Cottage Wall DSP