Going, Going, Gone!

August 31st always feels a bit like Christmas Eve to me, waiting for the excitement that the next day will bring. The new Catalogue goes LIVE tomorrow. I'll be taking last minute orders from the current catalogue today, so if there's anything you need, make sure you let me know by 9pm tonight! Here's a handy design for using up some DSP scraps. All you need are 5 pieces, all 10cm x 2.5cm and a piece of ribbon, and you can whip up these quick cards:
I like to use up my DSP, that way I have lots more room (and justification) for purchasing more ;o)

Friends 24-7 Stamp-a-Stack

The countdown is on...only a few more sleeps until the release of the NEW Idea Book and Catalogue!! I will be doing my catalogue mail-outs this week, so email me to organise your copy, if you haven't already. Catalogues are $10 to pick up from me, or $15 mailed anywhere in Australia. You will also receive a gift voucher to spend on your first order.

But before I start showing you some new stuff, I had to have a final play with some old favourites this month.
I used Friends 24-7 and Sanded for one of my Stamp-a-Stack designs this month:
I love this colour combo - Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy and Always Artichoke. I also used my favourite and most-used die, the Top Note. It's such a versatile die. I love that it can be used for cards but also to make bag toppers and boxes.
Lots of sponging and distressing on these cards, to give it a vintage feel. I'll be back soon to show you a few more "final plays".

More SOLD OUT Items

More items are now sold out:

STAMPS:
Garden Whimsy [wood-mount]
Choo Choo [wood-mount]
Sanded Background [wood-mount]
Full Calendar [wood-mount]
Afterthoughts [wood-mount] Level 1 Hostess
Cheers To You [wood-mount]
Friends 24/7 [wood-mount]
Sense of Time [wood-mount]
Scribble This [wood-mount]
Christ is Born [wood-mount]

CARDSTOCK:
Bashful Blue 12" x 12" Cardstock
Early Espresso 12" x 12" Cardstock
Chocolate Chip 12" x 12" Cardstock
Night of Navy 12" x 12" Cardstock
Marina Mist 12" x 12" Cardstock
Very Vanilla 12" x 12" Cardstock
Crumb Cake 12" x 12" Cardstock
Rich Razzleberry 12" x 12" Cardstock
Wild Wasabi 12" x 12" Cardstock
Basic Black 12" x 12" Cardstock
Sahara Sand 12" x 12" Cardstock
Not Quite Navy 12" x 12" Cardstock
Baja Breeze 12" x 12" Cardstock
Perfect Plum 12" x 12" Cardstock
Brushed Metallic A4 Cardstock

ACCESSORIES:
Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
Metallic Eyelets
On Board Art Journal

TOOLS AND PUNCHES:
Oval Punch
Photo Corners Punch
Spiral Punch
Star Punch
Designer Label Punch
Sanding Blocks

Make sure you get your orders in ASAP if you don't want to miss out! View the Full Retirement List HERE

My New Catalogue Launch Party!

If you receive my newsletters, you would already have received your invitation (and hopefully already RSVP'd 'yes'!) to THE Stampin' Up! event of the year...my Launch Party for the NEW Idea Book and Catalogue.
If not, there is still time for you to RSVP! Here are all the details...but let me know ASAP if you would like to come along!

Come and enjoy a glass of bubbly and some nibblies while you check out all the new Stampin' Up! goodies.
There will be some very Special Offers, you'll be able to join in a make-and-take (or two!), there will be a goody bag to take home, and you might even win a Lucky Door Prize! So come and join the fun.

I'm having 2 time slots, so it won't be too crowded, but places are still limited!

When: Saturday, 3rd September

Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
OR 7:00pm - 9:00pm
(let me know which time
suits you when you RSVP)

Place: my house (details given when you RSVP)

Cost: $10 (payable on the day - includes a copy of the new Catalogue and a gift voucher)

Bring a Friend BONUS: Bring along a friend who is new to Stampin' Up! and you will both be able to choose a gift from the Gift Basket!

Bookings Essential by 29th August. PLACES ARE LIMITED, SO BOOK IN NOW!

Stamp Camp rundown

I had an awesome weekend at Hunter Valley Retreat. I'm still on a Stamp Camp high I think...and I think I'll need at least a week to catch up on sleep too! The weather was perfect for stamping. We ventured outdoors only to dash to the dining room for some yummy food and then back again to stamp some more. It's an amazing feeling to be in a room of 30 ladies, all busy making different things, and hearing the chatter, laughter and singing (and this year I'm happy to say it wasn't just me singing either!)
This year as everyone arrived, I gave them a to-do checklist. This will give you an idea of how busy they all were. Most people checked off all the items on the list, and worked on their own projects too! This was their list:

Stamp Camp To-Do Checklist
Make a name badge
Wear your name badge every day
Complete Christmas Challenge
Bring Christmas Challenge to Saturday Dinner
Pay someone a crafty compliment (make it genuine!)
Complete Punch Art Challenge
Bring along something for morning/afternoon tea
Complete Renovate-a-card Challenge
Sing out loud so everyone can hear
Complete Black and White Challenge
Chat to someone you’ve never met before
Complete all 10 Shoebox Swaps
Watch all 4 Presentations
Laugh out loud at least once
Stamp your Bingo Sheet
Play STAMP Bingo (Saturday night)
Play Stamp-tionary (Saturday night)
Play Stamp-in-your-sleep (Saturday night)
Vote on the Challenge entries (Sunday morning 11am)

The 'name badge' was just a wooden peg. Who would have thought a plain old peg could look so great? As you can see we had several challenges. Since there are so many renovation shows on TV at the moment, one of them was to Renovate this very beautiful card I made:
I tell you, it was quite a challenge to make this one. I was aiming for the ugliest card in the world, and I think I succeeded!! Their challenge was to make a new version of it, changing whatever they wanted. The new versions were all a huge improvement on my ugly duckling.
We had at least 25 entries to each challenge and voting for our favourites was extremely difficult.

On Saturday night we had a Christmas in August dinner, with games afterwards. We played Bingo (with Bingo cards that we stamped ourselves) followed by Stamp-tionary (ever tried drawing stamp images? We had some true artists in our midst!) and then a game of Stamp in Your Sleep, where three not-so-willing volunteers had to make a card while blindfolded and being directed by their team mates. Hilarious!

We were also visited by the Stamp Fairy each night while we slept. She must have known that all stampers like chocolate! We all got a gorgeous chocolate slider box one day and then these cute little purses on the next: What a clever fairy!
I was even visited by a special fairy of my own. On Friday night I left an unfinished project on my table (I was making 40 bookmarks mass-production style) and on Saturday morning when I sat down, the stamp fairy had stuck them all together for me. Now if only I could find a housework fairy...

Baby card for Leo

It's been ages since I put an actual card on here! I've been so busy with family stuff and also getting ready for my team Stamp Camp, which is this weekend. I'll be heading up to the lovely Hunter Valley tomorrow to spend a weekend stamping and scrapping with 35 lovely ladies. I can't wait!

But, so you didn't think I'd forgotten you all, I thought I'd pop in and show you that card I promised - the baby card I made for my new little nephew Leo. I know my sister prefers brights to pastels, so I avoided the traditional baby colours:

There's also a sneak peak of some new goodies on there. I've used a new stamp set, a new punch, and a new colour! I love new stuff! ....especially new babies ;o)

Look what I got!

My first cuddle with my new nephew! I was so excited when my sister rang me yesterday to say no, we couldn't come and visit them in hospital because they were being discharged! I probably should have given them a bit longer to settle in at home, but I just couldn't resist visiting today. My excuse was that I was bringing some meals for them. I didn't stay long, but I did manage a couple of cuddles while I was there ;o)

aaawwww what a cutie (yes I am a bit biased!)

(proud Auntie)

More Sold Out Items

More items are now sold out:
Metallic Eyelets
Jumbo Eyelets (in both colours)
Sanded Background stamp
Full Calendar Stamps
Bashful Blue 12x12
Early Espresso 12x12
Spiral Punch
Oval punch
Photo Corner Punch
Star Punch

Make sure you get your orders in ASAP if you don't want to miss out! View the Full Retirement List HERE

Off to a bumpy start....

My new little nephew Leo made his entry into the world on Thursday...all 4.5kg of him! Unfortunately it wasn't a smooth one. He has spent the first few days of his life in Intensive Care as he was having difficulty breathing and needed to be intubated. When we visited on Friday this was the frightening sight that greeted us:

....more wires and tubes than baby :o(
He is improving in leaps and bounds each day and yesterday he was taken off breathing assistance and my sister was able to have her first cuddle.
Here's the little cutie, minus most of the wires and tubes:

It's been a traumatic few days for all of us, and I think we're all feeling a bit shell-shocked. It will be such a relief when he is out of Intensive Care, but at the moment we are just taking one day at a time...I'm looking forward to my first cuddle too.
I sat down and made a card for him yesterday (it was "cards as therapy" I think!) and I'll be back to show you that soon. I'm feeling quite helpless here and visiting hours are extremely restricted, so I'm trying to keep busy!
All your thoughts and prayers are really appreciated...

Retirement List Update

Just popping in to say that a few items are already sold out! Metallic Eyelets and Jumbo Eyelets (in both colours) are now GONE, and so is the Spiral Punch. Make sure you get your orders in ASAP if you don't want to miss out!

Retired List Highlights

I always forget how crazy this time of year is! ...the mad scuffle for bargain stamp sets, colours and embellishments we only just realised we NEED...placing orders and keeping fingers crossed that the items are still available. And crazy stampers staying up until midnight to see WHAT'S ON THE LIST. Gotta love the utter madness of it all! I'll try to keep you updated on Sold Out and Running Low items on here, but my advice would be, if you don't want to miss out, get it now!

Here are a few list highlights for you.

There are 3 stamp sets that are 40% off:

• Gifted (page 21) is now $29.97 (wood) or $23.97 (clear)


• On a Pedestal (page 33) is now $20.97 (wood)


• Hello, You (page 133) is now $11.97 (wood)

....and 22 other sets are 25% off!

• Fresh Cut Notes (page 123) are 25% off, making them only $13.13 a packet


• I'd grab a pack of Jolly Holiday DSP if I were you. It's 40% off, making it just $10.17 for a pack of 12 sheets.


• The gorgeous Striped Ribbon in Real Red, Certainly Celery, Night of Navy and Early Espresso is 25% off, making it just $14.96 per roll.


• "Good Times" Simply Scrappin Kit (page 131) - perfect for Masculine cards and layouts is 40% off - now only $22.17!


• This is the last chance to be able to purchase New Colour Kits from the Colour Renovation (in ink pads, Markers, pastels, and Crayons) page 117 and 142. The Crayons and Pastels are 25% off!


• 5 Punches are Retiring. I'm always sad to see these go and they always disappear fast - the Spiral Punch, Designer Label Punch, Small Oval Punch, Photo Corners Punch and Star Punch (page 146-8)


• 15 Wheels are Retiring (page 158-9). These usually disappear fast too.

I hope that helps you cope with the LIST...email me if you NEED anything ;o)

The Last Chance List is HERE!

I love this time of year! Stampin' Up! have a giant clearance, to make room for lots and lots of new stamps and accessories.

You can view the list HERE
You might like to print it out and then highlight the retiring sets in your catalogue.

Some of my old favourites are going....in particular I'll be very sad to say goodbye to Friends 24-7, Party Hearty, Priceless and Bella Toile and Sanded Backgrounds *sob*

The fantastic news is that some items are discounted by 40%!!

So, check the list to see if anything you love is disappearing forever - but order it fast, because these items are only available while stocks last! Email me to place your order