My Best Friend's Wedding...

Just a quick post today to let you know that I wont be posting for a few days as I will be away with the family. My Best Friend is getting married on Sunday in Coffs Harbour (about 6 or 7 hours north of here for those that dont know). Actually I will be a bridesmaid so it's pretty exciting. And then after the wedding we are going to have a few days holiday as Coffs is such a great holiday town.
I've had the honour of making the wedding guest book for the big day, and I must say I am very pleased with how it turned out. The picture here is a "sneak peek". (Note the beautifully manicured nails ready for Sunday... thanks Belinda!)

Hope you all have a lovely week.

Linda

Decisions Decisions...

As many of you are aware, I am mum to 2 children... Emma is 4 and Benjamin is nearly 18 months. As Emma will be off to school next year, we are faced with that decision that so many of you will have faced... where do we send her for school? Emma is a sensitive little girl, but also extremely strong willed (read defiant and contrary) so we want to make especially sure that she goes to the right institution.
Last night Greg and I attended our first "Information Night" at a local private school. This afternoon, we have another one to go to. The public school that we are zoned for is quite some distance away, but we will be checking that out too.
Going through all the options is mind boggling... but last night's school will be a hard act to follow. The programs offered include all the "normal" stuff (English, Maths, Science etc) but then there's also swimming lessons, music and dancing classes, and languages such as Japanese and french. Even kindergarten kids do Japanese. It's just amazing... school has changed a lot since I was there.
So Im very excited, but a little bit daunted by it all. Im guessing that life is just about to change again...
I'll let you know what we decide.

Above is a 6x6 layout of the kids being cute... although they aren't always this charming! And below, I've shown one way of converting the 6x6 page into a 12x12 layout.

Linda



Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

It's almost here...

As one door opens, another one shuts... or something like that anyway!

With the final days of the 2006/2007 Idea Book and Catalogue upon us, change is in the air. This means that Stampin'Up! has now been in Australia for a full 12 months - still early days - and most importantly, we have a brand new catalogue launching on April 2. I have already received my copy in the mail, and am expecting another shipment of boxes full of catalogues this week. Cant wait! I have so many excited customers waiting to receive their's too. Don't forget that they're not just a catalogue but an ideas book packed with great projects for you to try. There's 2 ways to get your own copy - firstly you can purchase one from me (they retail for $12.95, but I am currently selling them for $10) or secondly you can have a workshop in your own home and get one for free (in addition to other fantastic hostess benefits). Just contact me at higgiz@bigpond.com to receive your copy and let me know which way works for you.

I will also be placing my last order from the current catalogue this week, so please contact me if there is anything that you need. Dont forget that several items (such as cardstock and punches) are going up in price after April 2 so if you would like to take advantage of the lower prices you will need to let me know before March 30.

Finally, here's a layout that I did a while ago that uses stamps that will be available in the new catalogue. The alphabet stamps are the Big Deal alphabet, and the flower stamps are mostly from the Looks like Spring set. I used the "Rock and Roll" technique on the letters to get the two-toned look.

Happy Stamping everyone!

Linda

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Cyberstamp Fun

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to update you on some stuff I've been up to with my demonstrator group. We've just had our most recent "Cyberstamp" - basically this is where we all get together to make cards, but given that our group of girls is all over Australia, the easiest way for us to do this is online. Hence, the Cyberstamp! Each time one of the girls "hosts" the night - she will put up challenges periodically and those of us who feel up to it can complete the challenge and then post the results on the gallery. It's lots of fun, and there's usually a fair bit of "chat" going on while people are completing their challenges.

This time Alisa hosted the night (Thanks Alisa!) and the challenges were:
#1 - a colour challenge, where we had to choose from specific colour groups to make our card
#2 - where we had to use a card from the current catalogue as our inspiration (I actually made a couple of these ones)
#3 - a sketch challenge. (The sketch gets uploaded to our gallery and we have to interpret it as we wish to make the card)

So I thought you might like to take a look at the cards that I made. I didn't make them all on the night - the last 2 got finished over the next couple of days. But that's something that I really like about all this - it's all really relaxed and there's no pressure at all. Here they are:



Challenge #1 - Colour Challenge



Challenge #2 - Casing Challenge



Challenge #3 - Sketch Challenge

I probably should mention that Challenges 2 and 3 were both made with stamps on the Retiring List... that means that they will no longer be available after 31st March. Part of the reason that I used those sets was so that I could demo the cards at a workshop that I had last week. The hostess (Hello Alicia :)) had specifically requested to see some of the discontinuing sets at her workshop so these cards were created with that in mind.

The Cyberstamp was so much fun... thanks Alisa for hosting, and to everyone who took part. Cant wait for the next one!

Linda

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Trifold Cards are SO Easy

Check out the Trifold Cards I've pictured here (and in the post below). They are super easy to make, but look quite impressive dont you think?




If anyone would like a workshop to learn how to make them, please let me know and we can book it in!

Thanks to everyone who has given some feedback... it is much appreciated!

Linda

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Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Having a bit of a break

Hello All,

March has been a much quieter month... and after the hectic pace of February, that's been a welcome change. Not that Im complaining... it was wonderful to have so many workshops. And I would like to thank all my customers for helping me reach some wonderful incentive goals in February.

Stampin'Up! are a lovely company to work for. Apart from the generous commission structure, they also seem to really appreciate their demonstrators. All of the demonstrators were sent a lovely new stamp set (from the new catalogue due out next month) to say "Thanks" in January. And I was proud to reach my 3rd "Stampin' Start" goal in February. That means that in return I get a total of 15 free stamp sets for reaching that target. (I've picked out and received 5 so far). Also, we were rewarded for reaching Sales Targets in the Sellabration period (Jan - Feb) and so I was lucky enough to get another 4 sets for that too. I haven't chosen those ones yet - I'm waiting for the new catalogue so that I can choose brand new ones. Hooray! I just love this business!

So why are things quiet right now? Well, firstly because I decided to have a bit of a rest. But also because everyone is going a bit crazy for the new catalogue - and everyone wants their workshops after April 2 - and who can blame them! So I'm expecting April to be a busy month. Having said that, I am taking a week's break with my family in Coffs Harbour for the first week of April. It will be lovely to get away.

If there's anyone reading this who would like to book a workshop please contact me by leaving a comment on this page, or alternatively you may reach me at higgiz@bigpond.com. For anyone who has never been to a workshop, it's a great way to check out all the wonderful things that Stampin'Up has to offer. Small groups work best... 6 - 8 are the perfect numbers, although 4 is fine too. You will all get to make a couple of projects - most often these are cards or boxes or scrapbook pages - it just depends on what you would like to do. The nice thing is that everyone gets to go home with something that they have made, and Im happy to say that lots of people tell me how much fun they have had. For the hostess there is the added incentive of receiving free products and gifts, so that is always popular!

Dont forget that April is filling up fast, so let me know if you need me to book you in!

Finally, I've been playing with "Trifold Cards" lately and have posted one here so that you can have a look.


Trifold Card - closed






Trifold Card - open










Happy Stamping eveyone!

Linda

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Half way there...

Well March is now nearly half-way through, and some of the retiring stamps are starting to run out completely.

Here's a link to the availability list as at today:

http://www.stampinup.com/au/documents/AUS_retiredlist_QTY.pdf

Items listed in green still have sufficient stock, items listed in yellow are running low, and items in red are no longer available. So please check the list if there is something that you have your heart set on... I'd hate you to miss out on something that you love. Not all of these items will be available until March 31 as some are running out much sooner.

I am also booking up very quickly for workshops in April - everyone wants to get their hands on that new catalogue! Let me know if you are after a date for your workshop.

Finally, I wanted to showcase a scrapbook page that I made recently for a photo swap. The page, "Merry & Bright", does use some non Stampin'Up! paper, but otherwise it's predominantly made with SU stuff. The inks, stamps, white gel pen, circle punches and embossing powders are all SU. It's one of my favourite pages. Enjoy!



Linda

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

"Retired List" - the BIG list of discontinued stock!!

Hello again Guys,

Yes, I know it's been a long time between posts. A million things have been going on around here - way too many to mention.

But what I am excited about most right now is the great big huge gigantic list of discontinued stamps and accessories that have been announced by Stampin'Up! Australia this month. There are a few items on there that have taken me by surprise, but before anybody gets too sad about that, it's important to remember that these items are going TO MAKE WAY FOR BRAND NEW EXCITING STUFF!!! Hooray! Our brand new Idea Book and Catalogue comes out next month, and already the excitement is building!

The stamps and accessories on the Retired list will be available for purchase until March 31 or until stocks run out (whichever happens first), and then they are gone forever! And it's not just stamp sets that are being discontinued, there are accessories as well. For example, the tag sheets (page 105) are being discontinued, and so are the Mini Gable Boxes and Tags (page 104). Lots of the wheels are going too.

So if there is something that you have had your eye on, please check the list to make sure that you wont miss it.

I am also offering a booking special for people who book workshops in March or April. Just for making a booking, you can choose for free any of the solid colour A4 Cardstock packs from pages 96 and 97 in the current 2006/2007 catalogue. There are 24 A4 sheets in each pack, and they retail for $8.95. There are lots of colours available, and it's always great to have them on hand for all your papercraft. Please contact me if you would like to take up this offer. In March I will be doing "Retirement Workshops" with an emphasis on discontinuing sets. In April of course I will be welcoming the new catalogue at your workshops.

Below is a link to the "Retiring List" on the Stampin'Up! website. Enjoy looking through and thinking about which products you would like. If you have access to a catalogue already then you may find it easier to use the "Sorted by Page Number" list. If you dont have your own Catalogue handy, you can go to the Stampin'Up! website and view the Catalogue online. The web address is: http://www.stampinup.com/au/ena/default.asp


Sorted by Name:

http://www.stampinup.com/au/documents/AUS_retiredstamps_ALPH_COLOR.pdf


Sorted by Page Number:

http://www.stampinup.com/au/documents/AUS_retiredstamps_NUMB_COLOR.pdf


Have fun everyone! And Happy Stamping!


Linda

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!