Join a Hostess Share!

Do you like freebies?? (who doesn't??)
Here's a way for you to take advantage of BOTH of this month's specials without lifting a finger! Join my Hostess Share. For this Share to go ahead, I need 6 people.

Here's how it works:

Place an order for $108* (min.) and you can choose $32 in Freebies (from the regular section or Hostess section of any catalogue)

OR Bump up your order to $125* and you can choose $32 in Freebies PLUS you will get the Reason to Smile set absolutely free!

 AND all 6 of you will go into the draw to win 1 additional Item at 50% off!

*regular 5% Stampin' Up! shipping applies, but I will cover the cost of mailing out to you if you are not local to me.

What an amazing deal! I'm expecting this to be very popular (who doesn't love freebies?) so send me a quick email to reserve your place, and then I will need your order by the 8th June.

If one group fills, I will start another group. You may take more than one place if you wish, and double (or triple!) your freebies and chances to win!

Convention Run Down

Where to begin??? Apart from catching up with old friends and making many new ones, one of the biggest highlights of Convention are all the Sneak-Peaks, giveaways and Announcements that we are privy to. Unfortunately I can't tell you all of those!

What I can tell you is that Convention next year is 23-25 May in Brisbane, and I'll be going for sure! We can take guests too...anyone want to join me??

Our next Incentive Trip is 21-26 July in Utah (yes, really!!!!), and we have the option of attending US Convention prior to the trip if we wish! (I do wish!). I intend to be there, but I still have a lot of work to do between now and March 31 (that's when we need to qualify by)...anyone want to book a party??

Our Catalogue schedule is changing! Our Main Catalogue has a new release date, starting in 2013. It will now be released on July 1. This year is a transition year, so it will still be released in September, but only run for 10 months. Our Mini Catalogues are now called "Seasonal Catalogues" and they will be larger (in both size and page number) and last for 5 months. We have a Holiday Seasonal Catalogue that will run from September - January, and then an Autumn one from February - June.

Inspiration is everywhere at Convention, and I always come home with my batteries fully re-charged and raring to go.....anyone want to book a party?? Hang on, did I ask that already?

Here's just a couple of the many swap boards:

This is some of my lovely team, all dressed in shades of pink in honour of one of our gorgeous ladies who couldn't be with us this time, but was very much there in spirit. She's in the photo too, albeit as a head on a stick! The real Sam will be joining us in Brisbane for sure.

This is what you do when you find an unexpected surprise in your bag (in the form of a "Demonstrator of the Year Top 25" Pin):

My dear friend Teresa. She cracked me up all weekend long. We have such fun together.

Here's me with my roomie, Jo Wassens, all dressed up in our finery for the Awards Dinner:

Jo was the perfect room-mate. We are just on the same page and laughed and chatted until the wee hours of the night.

I was very proud to have one of my team members join me at Manager's Reception this year...for the first time ever :o)
Here's me with the lovely Juliette:

And 2 of my Stampin' besties, (do they need introducing?) Sarah Klass and Teneale Williams:

I hope you enjoyed that very brief snapshot of my Convention experience. It really is the most enormously fun ultimate girl's weekend. I wouldn't miss one for the world! Bring on Brisbane 2013!

We {Heart} our Hostesses

June and July are the perfect months to host a Craft Party. What could be better than gathering with friends on a winter's afternoon or evening to stamp and chat?
You provide the snacks, and I'll bring everything else we need for a fun-filled crafting session.
AND you'll get an extra $90 in freebies if your party sales reach $650!

Here's how it works:
Dates: 1 June – 31 July 2012
Bask in the extra $90 in FREE products you’ll receive when you host a friend-filled qualifying* party that celebrates your creativity. With hundreds of innovative products to choose from, there’s never been a better time to party!

Your Party Sales*	Regular Hostess Benefits	Additional Hostess Dollars	Total Hostess Benefits
$650	$100 + 1 item at 50% off	$90	$190 + 1 item at 50% off
$800	$130 + 2 items at 50% off	$90	$220 + 2 items at 50% off
$1000	$160 + 3 items at 50% off	$90	$250 + 3 items at 50% off
$1250	$200 + 4 items at 50% off + 15% of amount over $1250	$90	$290 + 4 items at 50% off + 15% of amount over $1250

*Minimum $650 party; party sales do not include shipping

Ready to have fun with friends and free products? Contact me today and we can choose some projects to make that your friends are sure to love.

 

A Reason to Smile Promotion

What better reason to smile than...FREE STAMPS! That's what you can get this month with a $125 purchase.

You'll smile during June with the exclusive Reason to Smile set-only available during this special offer! Get it in two different ways:
1. Get it for FREE with a $125 purchase!*
2. Purchase it at the regular retail price-no additional purchase necessary!

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Reason to Smile Set	130826	$35.95	130828	$28.95

*Only one free set per customer
Contact me today to get yours and discover your reason to smile! But hurry...this offer ends June 30th.

*Not actual size

Back from Convention!

The theme for this year's Stampin' Up! Convention was "I am..."
And I have come home with many "I ams". I am inspired, re-fuelled, re-energised, and invigorated; I am also a wee bit tired! Sleeping is never high on the priority list at Convention!
I was lucky enough this year to have 14 of my lovely team members with me at Convention this year. I made us all a team pin. Here's our little Stampers Anony-mouse that I made for us:

Isn't she cute?? I had lots of fun making these. She is wearing a silver crown (from "Artistic Etchings") with a bit of rhinestone bling.

And here's my Convention swap. I made 60 of these:

and came home with 60 beautiful creations from 60 lovely ladies :o)

Now for a ONE TIME ONLY SPECIAL OFFER!!!
Here's a very special offer for you. The next person to join my team will receive one of these mousie badges and also this card! It's as simple as clicking HERE, and choosing $235 worth of products and you will pay only $169. No shipping, no obligation, just $235 worth of awesome products of your choice! I only have one badge left though, so you'll have to be quick!

I have also come home with lots of exciting new stamp sets and products (we were so spoilt with prizes and giveaways!) and we saw lots of sneak peaks and heard lots of exciting news too. There's so much fun stuff coming!
I'll be back soon with more news! (my bed is calling me)

 

Pressed Vellum Bordering on Romance

Just a quick one from me today, because I have about a million things to do before I leave for Stampin' Up! Convention...TOMORROW! It's also Amy's birthday tomorrow (15, can you believe it???), so we are having a "girls night" with my sister tonight as an early celebration, since I am being a bad mother and leaving while she's at school tomorrow (she has given me her blessing, but I am still sad to miss it).
I've been working on some designs for classes that I have coming up, and here's one card that I particularly quite liked:

The class is on the "pressed vellum" technique. Here are the dates in case you're in Sydney, and would like to come along:
JUNE - Wednesday 20th or Thursday 21st (7pm for a 7:30 start) and Thursday 21st (9:30am for a 10am start)

I loved the vellum card in THIS blog post by Dawn O, and took my inspiration from there, but I've used Pool Party instead of So Saffron.

Here's a closer look at the lovely raised effect of the pressed vellum:

I'll share how I did it after I run my class (I can't give too many secrets away!  ;o)

Punched Blossom Notecards and Framelit Box

Here's a cute little set of cards I made, along with a matching box. I was inspired by the "Fresh Cuts" notecards that were in our old catalogue. I made my own version using the Blossom Punch and some plain old white cardstock:

Here's how they sit inside the little box:

The lid of the box is 2 Framelits, folded to fit over the rim, and adhered at one end. It is held in place by the Belly band. I like to make my Belly Bands stretchy by hiding a piece of elastic (just stapled to the ribbon because I'm not a sewer). The smaller framelit hides the elastic.
Here's a closer view of the cards:

I've used "Attic Boutique" DSP (in the Autumn-Winter Mini) behind the flowers. The nice thing about this design is that both sides of the DSP are visible - you can see the reverse pattern on the inside. I used the 2 different Triple Layer punches for the centre and finished off with a pretty brad/button. I designed these cards to fit inside our small square envelopes.
Only 5 sleeps until Convention!



P.S I've just finished reading the "Chaos Walking" series by Patrick Ness. It's technically teen fiction (I read a lot of Amy's books these days and we chat about them) but I loved it. It had me from the very first line of the very first book. And I don't think I've eveer been so affected by the death of a fictional character (I absolutely bawled) since George O'Malley died on Grey's Anatomy or Dobby in Harry Potter. I still keep waiting for them to be somehow magically resurrected...

Happy Anniversary...

...to me! Today marks 6 years since I joined Stampin' Up! And what an incredible 6 years it's been. Have you seen the movie 'Sliding Doors'? In my other 'Sliding Doors' life, there's a Marelle walking around, completely oblivious to the giant hole that's in her life because she didn't join Stampin' Up! There's hundreds (yes literally hundreds!) of friends that she doesn't have and so many special memories and moments with her children that she missed out on because she's out working full time. And she doesn't get to go to Stampin' Up! Convention next week (I can't wait!!)
Thanks for allowing me that moment of sentimental philosophising...I always get a bit nostalgic at this time of year!

To celebrate this milestone, I'm running a 6 day special. It runs from today (19th May) until next Thursday (24th May). Every order that I receive during this time will be entitled to receive the following Special Offer: Order 6 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!)

If you order more than 6 items, you get 20% off every 6th item ...and before you ask, yes the Big Shot is included in this offer! Normal shipping and handling charges apply. As a extra-special bonus, every 6th order that I receive will include an extra gift from me :o)
Email me to take part!

More Mixed Bunch!

Hopefully you're not too sick of seeing this stamp set and punch on my blog! Here I've tried something a little different....I've stamped in Whisper White Craft ink on Basic Grey cardstock, and then used a Versamarker pen to create a shadow effect around the edges. I'm not sure what this technique is called, or if it even has a name. I saw it somewhere around the traps, and filed it away for future use (as you do!). It really makes the flowers pop!



Edited to add: Thanks to Pam and Tina for the link to THIS fabulous website that showcases this technique - called Versashadow!

Tea Shoppe Blues

I love this tea cup from the Tea Shoppe set. I inherited a "crazy tea set" from my grandmother, and this stamp puts me in mind of that delicate china. I've paired it with a doily to really make the most of that olde world charm. This doily is from the Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper. The paper pack comes with 2 sheets of die cut doilies, in pink and orange. That didn't work with my blue theme, so I just used the reverse (white) side! You can even sponge these to any colour you desire, or use the doily as a stencil and sponge or spritz through it. They really are very versatile!
I stamped my tea cup in Marina Mist ink on Bashful Blue cardstock, and made a faux tea bag tag using the tag punch. It would look really cute with an actual tea bag poking out of the cup too!
The DSP is from the Twitterpated pack (again!)

Seam Binding Ribbon Share

The Blossom Punch is fast becoming one of my most-used punches. I love the way it fills a card so nicely. It leaves just enough room for a stamped sentiment, and you're done! Here I've used the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder for the background (doesn't it look pretty in white?). I made my blossom look extra special by layering 3 Modern Labels over the top, punched from Vellum. Adhesive shows through Vellum, so to avoid that messy look, I just put a tiny dab in the middle, which was covered up by the Triple Layer Flower and the Antique Brad.
I've used my favourite Seam Binding Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz. It's so soft and easy to work with.
You can see some other cards that I've used this ribbon on HERE

By popular request, I'm running a Seam Binding Ribbon Share:

1/2” SEAM BINDING RIBBON (p 139) - 8 colours, approx 1.1m of each colour
Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Pool Party

$13.50 (pick up from me) or $14 (mailed to you)

Email me if you would like to take part. I'll need 8 people for this Share to go ahead. The closing date is 25th May. I will then order the Shares, divide them up and contact you to sort out delivery and payment.

If there are any other Shares you are interested in, just let me know and I will see what I can do!

Twitterpated CaSE

More gorgeous Twitterpated DSP and more of that pretty Pleated ribbon - I told you I couldn't stop using it!
I saw these pretty cards on Julie's blog, made using the Simply Sent Kit. I don't own the kit, but I decided to make my own version anyway, using a few punches. Doesn't that ribbon look pretty behind the Lots of Tags Die? I held it in place with some glue dots (my favourite way to secure ribbon).
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mums out there for Sunday. I hope your loved ones look after you and make you feel really special1

Twitterpated Wallpaper

I've been loving the Twitterpated DSP in the new Mini. It has lots of really pretty, girly patterns, but it also has some stronger designs too. I've used some of them on this card.
I stuck the 3 panels onto a piece of Basic Grey cardstock, and then ran the whole piece through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.
The main panel is a Framelit, also cut out with the Big Shot. For the little medallion, I used the Doily Triple Layer punch to punch out one of the stamps from Mixed Bunch. It gives it a totally different look. I layered it with a stamped circle and then an Antique brad.
I've been putting the pleated ribbon on just about every card I make at the moment. It's so elegant, and doesn't need any knots or bows...gotta love that!

Mixed Bunch Punched

I think I've seen about a million similar versions of this card on many blogs around the place. I'm not sure where the original design came from. I just loved the idea and had to make my own version. I love the idea of punching out part of the blossom and having the DSP show through (I've used the new Attic Boutique DSP from the Mini - buy 3 packs, get one free this month!)
I've used the Blossom Party Die for my other flowers, plus some stamps from the Mixed Bunch stamp set for the centres. The Glimmer brads and In Color brads add the perfect finishing touch, along with that gorgeous pleated ribbon.
I couldn't decide whether to stamp my sentiment in Peach Parfait or Poppy Parade, so I compromised and inked the top half in Peach and the bottom in Poppy!

Mixed Bunch Stamp-a-Stack

It's so great to be back to running classes this week. I've missed all my lovely ladies. We have such fun and so many laughs!
This is one of the stamp-a-stack designs from this week's class:

I think "Mixed Bunch" is one of the most versatile and easy to use sets in the Mini (gotta love that matching punch). These cards are pretty simple, but also showcase a few different ways to use the punch.

• For the Baja Breeze card, I trimmed the flower down into a butterfly shape by cutting off 2 opposite petals. I then punched a Vellum butterfly using the Butterfly Punch to layer on top. I tied the two together using Pool Party Bakers Twine. The knot forms the butterfly's antenna.
• For the Pear Pizzazz card, I cut a slit in each segment of the petal to add a bit of texture and interest. The leaves are made using the Modern Label punch
• For the Perfect Plum card, I extended the length of the petals by cutting all the petals off a Perfect Plum Blossom, and then placing them behind a Whisper White Blossom. That nifty little scallop circle in the middle is actually the Triple Layer Flower Punch.
• For the Blushing Bride card, I punched 3 Modern Labels from Vellum. They fit perfectly inside the petals of the Blossom....cool, huh? The Triple Layer Flower covers up the adhesive.

So there's a few different ways to use this punch. I hope you like them!