An apology

I feel like a big liar.... know I said I was back but I've discovered that when I get focused on one thing, I'm really good and shutting out everything else! My headspace has been very much in the renovations, and I've found it really hard to concentrate on anything else. I'm one of those people that likes to do one thing at a time, and do it thoroughly and keep at it until it's done.
The good news is that the carpet arrived, looks fantastic and the kids were able to move in upstairs on Monday. All we are waiting on now are a few small electricals to be fixed up, and the bathroom fittings, and we are done! I still have lots of boxes to unpack, but I'll be taking my time with that.
I can't wait to put all this behind me and get back to doing what I love. Incentive Trip is looking more and more unattainable at the moment (I only have until the end of March to qualify, and a lot of sales still to get before then!).
Amy also starts high school tomorrow (I think I am more nervous than her!) so today we will be making sure that she has everything she needs.
Then I have a workshop tonight, my sister's birthday tomorrow, a workshop on Friday night and my Open House on Sunday. Family dinner is here on Monday night (for 10 people), my first class is back Tuesday night and Dave flies to the US for a week-long Conference on Wednesday. So, even though I'm "back", I may not be on here much until next week. But then, I hope to be back with a vengeance. I'll have renovation photos to show you and lots of cards and projects too.
I hope you all understand and don't feel like I'm ignoring you. I love blogging, love getting your comments and feedback, and I've missed it heaps!
xoxo

Let's Sale-A-Brate....and help Haiti too

It's started! Everyone's favourite time of year - Sale-A-Bration!

With rewards for customers, hostesses and new recruits, Sale-A-Bration gives everyone a reason to celebrate!

Customers: Receive a FREE Sale-A-Bration product for every $100 purchase (no limit!). Hostesses: Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product with a $600 or more workshop, in addition to the regular hostess benefits.

Recruits: Choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $79.95) from the current catalogue when signing up during the promotion.

This year's sets are just fabulous. When I saw them I immediately wanted all 4!

You can see them HERE (or email me if you would like to to mail a copy of the brochure to you)

Just simply email me to place an order for $100, and let me know what free Sale-a-Bration set you would like! It's as simple as that. Or you may like to join one of my Hostess Clubs. All you have to do is spend $100 per month in January, February and March. You will earn 3 Sale-a-Bration sets, $30 in free products and a Level 1 Hostess set over the 3 months. Email me for more details.

I'm holding my own Sale-A-Bration Open House next Sunday.

You're Invited to come along and see my new renovated Craft space, and also join in some Sale-a-Bration fun! There will be nibblies, free make-and-takes, Special Offers, and a little pressie to take home. It's also a chance to sign up to some classes, book a workshop or catch up with new and old friends! I'll be running 3 sessions, so choose the one that suits you best!

When: Sunday 31st January
Time: 10am - 12pm, 2pm-4pm OR 7pm-9pm
Where: 27 Ryan St Dundas Valley
Cost: FREE

Places are limited, and bookings are essential. Feel free to bring a friend along! Just email me mail@marelletaylor.com to let me know what session you will be coming along to.
Hope to see you there!

While you Sale-a-Brate, you may also like to help Haiti too. Until the end of February Stampin' Up! will donate $2 for every I {heart} Hearts Stamp set sold to Haitian Disaster Relief. It's a gorgeous set from the mini catalogue, and co-ordinates with our heart punches too. You can see I've used it here for February's Project Class:

On the Renovation front, the painting upstairs is finished! Carpet was meant to be laid on Friday, so the kids were very excited to be moving into their rooms over the weekend. Unfortunately, the carpet company let us down and I received a phonecall on Friday afternoon to say that it couldn't be laid until this Thursday! Needless to say I was pretty annoyed, and managed to get them to find someone to do it today. Fingers crossed he turns up at 8:30am, or there will be 2 very disappointed children (and a Mum too!)

I'm back!

I'm back home, feeling rejuvenated and refreshed and ready to tackle 2010 head-on! We had a lovely break in Port Macquarie. The weather was perfect, and we swam, read, swam some more and just generally chilled out.
Since we got back, we've been getting stuck into assembling desks and cupboards for my Craft Room, and painting upstairs. The Painting Fairy came to visit while we were away (my lovely Dad!) so upstairs has been undercoated, and the ceilings done, and both kids bedrooms walls too. What a lovely surprise that was to come home to! So we just need to do the trims and the rumpus room walls and we'll be done, ready for carpet. When I say 'just the trims', it's 7 doors and architraves, 6 window frames, 2 windows, all the skirting's and the stairwell banisters.....I think I'll stick to thinking of it as 'just the trims'!
Having spent the last 2 months sharing a room, the kids will be really ready to appreciate having their own space!!
I'm looking forward to getting stuck into some stamping too. I'm hoping to set up my desk today (yay!). And I've only got a couple more months to qualify for the Incentive Trip, which was my big goal for this year, and I still have a fair way to go for that, so I'd best get cracking! I'll be sending out my newsletter hopefully today or tomorrow with all the latest specials, class dates and an invitation for an Open House to come and see the renovation in all it's glory. Make sure you are subscribed, using the link over there----->

As you know, I haven't been able to stamp lately, so here's one from the archives. This was a card we made at a team meeting before Christmas. Nice and bright and summery, using 'Butterfly Prints' (from the Summer Mini) paired the 'Flight of the Butterfly' set (from the main catalogue):

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Butterfly Prints
ink: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Versamark
card: Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Real red, Whisper White
other: Butterfly Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Square Scallop Punch, Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Rhinestone Brad, dimensionals

Stop Press: Don't forget the Catalogue Inventory Clearance! 2 stamp sets are now SOLD OUT at the discounted price - 'Jumbo Outline Alphabet' and 'Just Riding'. The others are still available, but only for a limited time!

A Belated Christmas Wish!

I was hoping to get on here before Christmas, but my internet access has been sporadic as we shuffle furniture around to put in floors (which are now done!) and paint (still lots of that to do!).
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had a lovely day celebrating with family and friends. We always get together with my Mum's side of the family at a park, and the rain held off for the perfect amount of time. We were able to have a casual picnic lunch, and exchange gifts before the rain set in. Then we had dinner here with Dave's family (15 of them!). We always host it, and this year was no different, despite bare gyprock walls! No one minded and the extra space was nice :o) Boxing Day was spent recovering, and we also got stuck into painting downstairs. Today we visited my Dad's side of the family in Wollongong, then came back home for more painting. We're trying to get downstairs finished before we head up north for a week by the beach after New Year. Dave's got lots of New Year's Eve balloons to do though, so that might get in the way of that plan!
I managed to mail out 160 Christmas Cards...not quite as many as I had hoped, but I had to cut myself some slack this year. I kept my cards REALLY simple this year (thanks Circle Scissor!), and did 2 colour combinations:
I love the Snow Swirled set, so that was the one I chose to use. It's hard to tell in the pic, but the trees are all glittery.
To those I didn't manage to get a card sent out to, I hope you like this cyber version, and I hope you had a joyous Christmas, surrounded by loved ones.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Snow Swirled, Occasional Greetings
ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Shara Sand, Chocolate Chip
card: Whisper White, Kraft, Sahara Sand
other: Circle Scissor, 2 way glue pen, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, Walk in the Park DSP (retired), Ski Slope DSP (retired)

My Secret Santas

At Christmas time my team does a Secret Santa. I put the names of everyone who wants to participate in a hat, and everyone is allocated their Secret Santa recipient. We keep it secret until our team Christmas dinner, when we open our gifts and have a guess who we think our Secret Santa is. In the few weeks before the dinner we also send our Secret Santa recipient a card. Because I allocate all the names, the only one who it isn't a secret for is me. I thought I had it all organised (no mean feat, since we had nearly 30 participants!), but then imagine my shock when I received 2 cards in the mail, both signed "Secret Santa"! I thought I had really mucked it up, and was trying to think how it had happened and what on earth I could do about it. Then the next day, I received 2 more, and then 3 the next day. By this time I knew something fishy was going on. Without me knowing, my lovely team of wonderful ladies had joined forces to shower me with Secret Santa greetings. In the midst of renovation chaos, it was the nicest 2 weeks of mail that I have ever received! Each card was an absolute work of art.
Here they are, gracing my lounge room:
Each one had a cryptic message inside. I LOVE this one, Serial Killer style! On the night of our Christmas dinner they came clean, and told me how they had co-ordinated it (with Robyn P the brains behind the scheme). I feel so lucky to be part of such a thoughtful, generous, clever and talented group of ladies :o)

The Secret Santa gifts themselves were a sight to behold. The emphasis is on the packaging, rather than the actual gift (although the gift of Stampin' Up! goodies is easy to appreciate too!). Everyone took this to heart and went to SO much effort to make their gift packaging special. I have never seen so many gorgeous boxes, bags and containers. It was amazing. It was also so much fun making a gift for someone that you KNEW would appreciate the time and thought that had gone into it :o)
I received the most amazing handmade bag from Sarah, in Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip (my favourites!). She had also made little tins and boxes inside, all exquisitely decorated, and even some handmade jewellery made form Stampin' Up! buttons. Also a gorgeous decorated Cookie tin, filled with homemade cookies! You can see the bag on the right and the cookie tin on the left. It was one of the most memorable gifts I have ever received.

This is what's under my Christmas tree at the moment, all from lovely team members.The kids are a bit distressed that there's nothing under there for them yet. Until the floors are done on Monday and Tuesday, I can't really wrap anything, as we'll be shuffling things all over the house. I think I'll be doing a marathon wrapping session in the wee hours of Christmas Eve!

Proud Mum Moment

This week we had our School Presentation Day awards, and School Reports came home. I had a sneaking suspicion it was going to be a positive occasion, so I made up a card for Amy and Jacob to tell them how proud we are of them. I used some Alphabet chipboard to spell out a fun "U R A star" card. I made it in a couple of different colour combos - Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise and Real Red for Amy:

I LOVE this new Polka Dot ribbon! The Chit Chat Rub-ons make a really quick and easy greeting too.

Kiwi Kiss, Tempting Turquoise and Pumpkin Pie for Jacob: It's really easy to dye the chipboard using an inkpad and sponge dauber. I punched out the star with the Large Star Punch, and added some fun buttons too. The Tombow glue does a great job of sticking it all on.

Luckily I had these all made up, with a book wrapped up to match (my kids are so easy to buy for. They both LOVE books!); both kids brought home excellent reports and both won awards at Presentation Day too. As Vice-Captain, Amy also did a fantastic job of presenting on the day too, so I was one very proud Mum :o)
Amy also had her Year 6 Farewell this week too (yes, it's been quite a week!). Here she is, my beautiful daughter, looking so grown up:
I can't believe she's off to High school next year! *sigh* ...excuse me while I go and have a little quiet cry

Kids Christmas Cards

With everything we've got going on at the moment, I was thinking that this might be a good year for Amy and Jacob to (block your ears as I'm about to utter cardmaking profanity) BUY their Christmas cards. *gasp!* I know!....Can you believe I even thought such a thing?? I must have been closer to insanity than I realised! Thankfully before I could damage my children's sensitive souls with such a suggestion, they started pestering me to let them make their cards. Of course I said yes, as if no other option had crossed my mind...

Amy came up with this idea for Build-a-Roo when she first saw it in the catalogue back in April, and has stored it away in her little brain all year:
She stamped Build-a-Roo, and omitted the end part of his tail, and she has drawn a Santa hat on there. She was tossing up whether to put presents or the joey in the pouch, and decided on the joey for cuteness factor. The roo and joey both have Rudolph-red noses too! She stamped a snowflake background using Snow Swirled and watercoloured all the roos using Watercolour Wonder Crayons. The greeting is from the Window Dressing Hostess set. Amy chose Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery for something a bit different!

Jacob is a big fan of the markers. He has used my Bold Brights markers more than me! Whenever he picks up a stamp he always wants to make it multicoloured. He chose to use Christmas Classics for his Christmas cards, which was a perfect choice for this marker-obsessed boy!

All of his cards had slightly different combinations of stamps on them, but they were all coloured with markers. Jacob went for traditional Christmas Real Red and Glorious Green for his cards, and a traditional greeting too!

I was very impressed that they made all of their cards in one sitting (about 20 cards each). It took them a couple of hours, but they kept on going, and wouldn't let me help either!
Amy and Jacob would both love to hear what you think of their cards!

Jumbo Alphabet Christmas

We made these Christmas cards at one of my last Stamp-a-Stacks. I always like to show a few cards using non-Christmassy sets, in this case an Alphabet. This is one of my favourite alphabets, Jumbo Outline. It's normally $77.95, but has just been announced on the Inventory Clearance List for $38.98!! If you've been buying lots of pressies for everyone else, why not treat yourself to a bargain stamp set for Christmas. There are lots of other fantastic bargains on the list too!
This alphabet is perfect for stamping on plain or patterned paper and cutting out (like this), stamping and then watercolouring, or you can combine the two - stamp on Patterned Paper like I've done and then lightly watercolour with a Blender Pen in the same colour as the paper, just to make the letters stand out a bit more.


I'll be back soon to show you Amy and Jacob's Christmas cards for their friends!




Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Jumbo Outline Alphabet, Snow Swirled, Many Merry Messages
ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
card: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
other: Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Mat pack, White Gel Pen, Kiwi Kiss Satin ribbon, Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon, Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Blender pen

Want Half Price Stamps??

Stampin' Up! Australia is having an Inventory Clearance Sale!
Some stamp sets are 50% off...but only while stocks last. There's also Designer Series Paper, glitter, ribbon and embellishments too! Entire alphabet stamp sets for $38.98! There are bargains to be had!
You can check out the list HERE

Email me if you'd like to place your order!

Renovation Report

This is what our house looked like a few days ago:The kids said it looks like it's all wrapped up for Christmas!
Upstairs now has all the plumbing and electricals in, and gyprock on the walls. Here they are doing the gyprock:
That photo has been taken from the rumpus room, and you can see the kid's bedroom doors and the bathroom door.
In the last 2 days, the cladding has gone on the outside, and windows too, so it's starting to look like a real house now!

Today they are patching up walls downstairs. Yesterday we had the stairs measured, and they are due to go in next week. It's looking like almost everything will be done by Christmas, so we'll be painting in January :o)

I've totally given up on cleaning anything now. There's going to be a MAJOR clean up at the end of all this!!

A Couple of Handy Tutorials

I've had a few questions about the Circle Scissor, and whether it is difficult to use. I love it, and find it extremely easy to use (unlike other horrible circle cutters I have used in the past!). I have made my 160 Christmas cards (all done now, just needing to be written in and sent off!), all with nice big circles on them. The circle scissor is so quick and easy, and makes a simple layout look a bit more special. Like my Razzle Dazzle card that I did for our Blog Hop:

I wish I had the time (and the video camera!) to do a tutorial for you, but since I have neither, fortunately some other SU! demos have done all the work for me :o)

Click HERE to watch one I found on You Tube. The Circle Scissor and Glass Mat are sold separately (you can see them on the last page of the Summer Mini Catalogue). For a real bargain, you might like to purchase my Circle Scissor Bundle...available only until the end of this month!

I have also been asked how to set grommets. They are super-easy too. No special tools required, unlike eyelets. You can see a tutorial for those HERE.

If you'd like to have a try of the grommets, without breaking the bank, you might like to join a Share. The first group is full, but I have started a second group. Shares close in 3 days!

I'll be back with some updated Renovation pictures soon....real progress has been made on that front! YAY!

Great News!

A few of the popular products from the Spring Mini Catalogue are still available for purchase even though the mini is now over. These products will also be available in next year's Idea Book & Catalogue (due for relaese in September).
Here is a list of the still-available products:

112534 Jumbo brads 5/16" Neutrals Assortment $15.50
112533 Jumbo brads 5/8" Neutrals Assortment $13.50
114889 Scallop Oval punch $30.95
106960 StazOn ink pad (White pad and refill) $22.95
109196 StazOn Cleaner $9.95

Twin Butterflies

My adorable twin nieces turned 1 last week (can you believe it??). Even though I know they're too young to appreciate cards and gift-wrapping yet, I knew their Mum would, so I had fun making their cards and pressies the same, but different.
It was a good chance to play with lots of new goodies from the Summer Mini too :o)
I've used Kaleidoscope DSP, "Butterfly Prints" stamp set and matching punch (see my Bundles for a great deal on these!) and the 1 3/4" Circle Punch too (sooo handy!)
I chose blue for Hannah:
It's Tempting Turquoise to match the Kaleidoscope paper. These papers have lots of Bold Brights colours, but they have a slightly faded-out look to them, like well-worn fabric. To co-ordinate with that, I sponged the Tempting Turquoise cardstock with Whisper White Craft ink. My 1 3/4" circle actually started it's life as a plain white circle. First I sponged it in Tempting Turquoise and Green Galore, and then pressed my Versamark inkpad all over it. Then I applied heat-and-stick powder, heated it until it is just sticky, and then applied dazzling diamonds glitter. One more blast of the heat tool to set the glitter and voila - bling! Certainly Celery ribbon and a Rhinestone brad complete the card.
I have to say, I'm loving the butterfly set and matching punch. It sure beats cutting out all those wings!
Of course I had to make wrapping to match. This is a pull-treat pouch: And inside is....

A Colin Buchanan cd! The girls love music already, and I figure you're never too young for memory verses, right?!

Here is Becca's version in Pixie Pink (also sponged with white):

More gift-wrapping to match:And the peek-a-boo surprise inside:

A Colin dvd this time. And hiding behind is a Target voucher for Mummy and Daddy to spend ;o)

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Butterfly Prints, Wow Flowers
ink: Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, Whisper White
card: Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, Whisper White
other: Kaleidoscope DSP, Butterfly Punch, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon, Word Window Punch, Clear Rhinestone brads, Horizontal Slot punch

Summer Mini Bundles

The Summer Mini is here! If you haven't got your copy yet, simply email me with your address and I will be happy to mail one out to you. You can also view it online HERE.
If your wishlist is huge, why not take part in my Special Offers.....Get a Free Bonus when you purchase my Summer Mini bundles, and joining a Share is a great way to try a sample of everything without blowing the budget.
Places are limited, so don't miss out!
There are 3 Summer Mini Bundles to choose from. You may like to purchase just 1, 2 or even all 3. The more you purchase, the more freebies you will qualify for, and the more chances you have to WIN!

#1 Something Sweet Bundle $75.90*

Something Sweet Stamp Set (p 9) +1 3/4" (4.4cm) Circle Punch (p 8)

= 12 Sweet Treat Cups FREE

#2 Butterfly Bundle $56.90*

Butterfly Prints Stamp Set (p 12) + Butterfly Punch (p 12)

=a marker for FREE (in the colour of your choice) OR 20% off Flight of the Butterfly Stamp Set (Main Catalogue page 82) - $43.16 - over $10 off!

#3 Circle Scissor Bundle $92.90*

Circle Scissor (p 22) + Glass Mat (p 12)

= 2 FREE markers (in the colours of your choice) OR Dotto re-positionable adhesive 50% off ($12.50 instead of $24.95)

For each Bundle you order, you will go into the draw to win any Hostess set of your choice! (Level 1, 2 or 3)

* normal 5% or $5.95 (whichever is greater), Shipping and Handling applies.
Bundles only available until 31st December, 2009

Summer Mini Shares

DESIGNER BUTTONS $10.80
20 buttons (10 Playground, 10 Sherbet)

SCALLOP NOTE CARDS $7.50
9 cards (3 of each colour)

FLEURETTES $5.20
3 handcrafted, crocheted flowers (3 sizes)

REAL RED POLKA DOT RIBBON ¼ roll (approx 2.3m) $5.20

PINK PIROUETTE 1 ¼" RIBBON
¼ roll (approx 2.3m) $3.90

GROMMETS $4.70
12 small and 4 large grommets in 4 colours

Buy all 6 shares for $35 (a saving of over 5%!)

PLACES ARE LIMITED, SO BOOK IN NOW!

Stampin' Up!'s 5% Shipping & Handling Charge is included in the Share price, but if you need your shares mailed out to you, postage will be at actual cost.

The Closing Date for Shares is 14th December, 2009

Send me an email to join a Share!