And the winner is.... (plus a special offer for everyone else)

A great big thank you to everyone who entered my most recent competition. I always love reading everyone's responses, and also finding out where you all are. Im still amazed that some of you check in from so far away. Its so wonderful that SU is so widely known and loved, and thank you for visiting me here.

So I need to announce the winner of the competition, and this time it is..... (drumroll please) ...................

Jill Fitzgerald, NSW

Congratulations Jill, please contact me at higgiz@bigpond.com to claim your prize of a Brand New 2008 IB&C, plus a $20 voucher to spend on anything that you like from the new catalogue. I hope that you enjoy looking through the new catty (how could you not... it's absolutely divine!) and use your $20 towards anything in the catalogue that your heart desires!

Dont despair everyone else... I will be running another Competition soon. In the meantime if anyone would like to get their hands on a new catalogue please contact me and I will get one to you. Catalogues are normally $12.95, but I am happy to get one to you for $10. And if you book a workshop with me (yes, I am happy to travel to anywhere on the Central Coast or I will also travel to Sydney and Newcastle) you will also get a new Catalogue free (plus all the other wonderful hostess benefits). The new hostess stamp sets are even better than last year!

BUT, as a special offer for bloggers, if anyone places an order over $100 by emailing me at higgiz@bigpond.com (from now until the 4th April) you will also receive a free catalogue. This includes orders that are placed for retiring products before the end of March (and yes, I am still offering 10% off retiring stamp sets until the end of March) or for orders from the New catalogue. The new catalogue will also be available Online through either this blog or the SU website after the 1st April.

I am so excited about what this year will bring when our catalogue is so lovely.

And lastly I wanted to show you the Double Pocket Bags that I made with my Stamp Club group this month. I love them and they are so easy to make. Great to hold cards, gift vouchers, a CD or any other smallish flat object you can think of. I've used Big Blooms and Au Chocolat paper (both about to be discontinued as of this Monday 31st March) because I will miss them! OMG... that's tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Huge CONGRATULATIONS!

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

I have some exciting news as of this morning....

My downline and beautiful friend, Cheryl Andrews, (who many of you know and love) has today reached her goal of attending the SU Incentive Trip to be held later this year. Im so excited! This means that Cheryl and I (plus some other attendeees of course) will be spending 5 days in Palm Cove at the Angsana Resort in Queensland in August. (With our husbands as well who are both stoked that we are providing them with an all-expenses paid holiday to North Queensland! I think we will go shopping and treat ourselves to massages whilst they head off to play golf or similar. The boys are friends already, so Im sure they will be able to pass the time just fine and do "man stuff".) And apparently we will get to spend some Stamping time too... last year's trip attendees (there was only 8 last year) spent some time with Shelli (SU's founder from the States) stamping and making stuff with some previously unreleased stamp sets, which were gifts for the girls. They also went White Water rafting, and had some gorgeous gifts lavished on them. OMG can you tell Im just a little bit excited?

Who knew when we started SU only 18 months ago that we'd be here now? Cheryl and I were friends before SU, but we've become close friends doing SU together. And now here we are about to go on holidays together! Its fantastic!

Cheryl, I just wanted to say a great big "Congratulations" on a job well done! You've worked hard, but it's been loads of fun too, and I love having you in my wonderful team of girls. What an honour!

Cant wait to share this amazing time with you!

(By the way, the card above is yet another made with a stamp set that is about to be discontinued... Roses in Winter. Only a few days left....)

Last day to enter my competition to win a new Catalogue plus a $20 voucher

Hello everyone.

I've been busily getting ready for the new catalogue to begin, and also busy taking orders from the current catalogues - especially as so many items are being discontinued (like the set used to make this card.... "Big Blooms"). Dont forget that you have until Monday 31st March to place your orders. To order just call me on 0412 375 552 or email me at higgiz@bigpond.com

Today I had the last class for March... my Watercolouring class. We had a lovely day playing with lots of different Watercolouring techniques. Thank you ladies for joining me and I hope you all enjoyed your projects. I will announce next month's class schedule in the next few days.

April is an extremely busy month with SU. Obviously the new catalogue makes things VERY busy. But we also have our annula convention in Brisbane, and I will be heading up there and joining several hundred other demonstrators for a few days of fun and papercrafting. I love Stampin'Up's events... they really go over the top with all their occasions. I will try to take some photots so that you can all see what we got up to. I am beginning to get so excited now!

Lastly, dont forget the Competition that Im running closes at Midnight tonight, and I'll be announcing the winner over the next couple of days. Thanks to all those of you who entered already, and for everyone else....there's still time. Get your entry in now!

Happy Stamping everyone!

I'm Going to Miss U!

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Images Copyright 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

As all of you would now know, the current Stampin'Up catalogue comes to an end this coming Monday 31st March. After that, many of the stamp sets, paper, Incolour range and a ton of accessories will no longer be available. The "Retired List" has been up for everyone to see for the past few weeks. BUT, what none of us knew until now was that there were a couple of sets left off the list. Now that the Demonstrators have started to receive their copies of the NEW 2008-9 catalogue, we've noticed that the Aida cloth Background, and the ALL ABOUT U stamp set are not in the new catalogue. So they will be discontined also next week, but we didnt know about it until now.

In particular I will miss All About U, as I have found it fantastic for making masculine cards and Scrapbook layouts. I've put a couple of my more recent cards made with this set up today for you guys to see. Both cards also use Double sided papers that are also discontinuing, and the Buckaroo Blue Cardstock on the "Just be U" card is also going, as well as the Taupe ribbon on both cards. The Vintage Violet Cardstock on the "Thank U" card is also retiring.

Dont forget that any discontinuing stock is going out at 10% off until next Monday (the 31st is the final day to get your orders in, and then the stock is gone forever). It's not just stamp sets either.... there are loads of accessories that will no longer be available. Please check the list here to make sure you dont miss out of anything that you need.

And of course dont forget about the competition that Im running... click here for more details... only a few more days to go. :)

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Well, ok, that probably sounds a bit personal to all you bloggers out there, but actually it IS a bit personal. You see, today is my Wedding anniversary... we have been married 11 years.

And for the very first time in our 11 years of marriage, we are spending this anniversary apart. He is in Port Macquarie with the kids, (at his folk's house) and I am spending some time with my parents in Tamworth. Mum is really sick at the moment, and I thought it was important to spend some time with her. We decided to take advantage of the long weekend to travel, but as Easter falls early this year, it just happens to have fallen on our Anniversary weekend.

Never mind, Im sure there will be other Anniversaries, and Im sure we will find a date soon to make up for the loss of spending today together.

So you can all close your ears (or should that be eyes) while I say "I love you Honey, and its great being a part of something like we have. Oh, and here's your card, I hope you like it. :) Mwah. " Now I'd better phone him up there and let him know that the card is here for him to see.

For the rest of you, this card and it''s full of littles clues as to what will be in our new Catalogue released on April 1st. Contact me on higgiz@bigpond.com.au or call on 0412 375 552 if you'd like to reserve your copy of the catalogue. I promise you: it's stunning. Dont forget to enter the competition in the earlier post if you'd like to win one (and $20 to spend).

Stuff you might have missed: A competition, Retired list update, and new IB&C teasers

For some reason the last couple of posts that I have put up have not come through to you emails via Feedblitz. This seems to happen to me a lot. I dont have any idea why. But Im just putting up this post in the hope that you will go back and look at the last couple that you didnt receive. In particular, the competition that Im running, and also details of the upcoming Watercolouring class on the 27th March.. I still have a couple of spaces left.
If you'd like to enter the competition to win a brand new IB&C, as well as a $20 voucher to spend on whatever SU stuff you like, scroll down and read the details in the previous post.

Have a great day today!

The new IB&C is almost upon us... so here's a little competition for you.

One of the best things about being a Stampin'Up demonstrator is that you get to see new stuff first! No-one is allowed to order from the brand new Idea Book & Catalogue until April 1st but I have my copy and so I am just going through everything and trying not to drool on the pages.

There are some lovely new things. There are definitely some sets that I am going to miss (as they havent made it into this catalogue) - notably many of the current Summer Mini Sets and papers are definitely going to be discontinued on the 31st March. At first glance I am excited to see gorgeous new Papers, Ribbons to die for, some lovely new tools and storage solutions and Simply Scrappin packs that in my opinion leave last year's for dead! The new In colour range is just lovely too. And of course there are lots of wonderful new Stamp sets plus the welcome return of some much-loved favourites.

I've posted this particular card though because Big Blooms (in our current Mini Catalogue) is definitely not going to be in the new catty, and neither is the Cool Carribean cardstock nor the Flirty ribbon pack. If you've been eyeing off this stuff, you need to order it before the end of this month, or it's gone gone gone. There are other items (like the grosgrain ribbons for example) that are going up in price, so please contact me for more information if you have your heart set on something. Also refer to the Retired list (see below in the post Friday 22nd February) to see what other sets (apart from whats in the current mini) are definitely no longer going to be available.

So for all you girls out there I am running a little competition. Who would like to get their hands on a brand new catalogue? Plus a $20 voucher to get you started on the new catalogue after April 1st? The competition is open to all subscribers to the blog (to subscribe just enter your details at the "Subscribe" button over on the right), except for SU demonstrators. You also need to be an Australian Resident.

Here's what you need to do. Just post a comment on the blog, and tell me firstly your name and whereabouts you are, and then what items you turn to first when you slap your eyes on a new catalogue. For some, it's the stamps. For others, its the papers, or the wheels, or the ribbons. For me I'd have to say I get even more excited about the accessories than the stamps. Dont get me wrong, I love the stamps. But I cant get enough of all the little bits and pieces that make it all go together. Probably papers are my favourities, closely followed by the ribbons. Wait until you see the ribbons! OMG!

Dont forget you also need to have subscribed to the blog for your entry to be valid. The competition will close at midnight on Thursday 27th March, and the first person to have their name drawn out will win the prize. I will then get your catalogue to you ASAP so that you can get your hands on it!

One more thing:

I still have a few more places available in the Watercolouring class to be held at 10.30am on the 27th March. Please email me to reserve your spot. Classes are held at my home on the Central Coast and I will email you the address at the time of booking. Classes are $10 and all materials are supplied, as well as light refreshments.

To place your order, or to book in to the class on the 27th just email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on 0412 375 552.

Happy stamping guys!

A couple of classes left this month...

Just a quick blog post tonight as I have had a big day with hubby and the kids at the Dinosaur exhibition at the Australian Museum in Sydney today. Lots of bones, and creepy stuff... just the way the kids love it! Tonight we have 2 little people very tired and now fast asleep, and 2 big people nearly as tired too!

I wanted to thank you girls who came along to this week's Crayon Resist class... I really enjoyed your company, and everyone seemed really happy with the results of the technique. Even my husband (not normally known to notice my papercraft efforts) commented on them and said "Gee honey, those sure do look professional". Well of course they do!

Dont forget that I have 2 more classes happening this month... we are doing chalking techniques on Tuesday night 18th March (yes, that's this Tuesday!), and then we'll do a Watercolouring Class during the day on the 27th March, starting at 10.30am. At time of writing I do still have places available in both classes. So if you would like a break away from all the other stuff for a couple of hours, please come along! Cost for each class is $10, and All materials are supplied, including light refreshments. Just bring yourself, and have some fun.

And just quickly the card on this post is made with the Big Blooms set from our current Summer Mini Catalogue (to see the catalogue, just click here or let me know and I'll send a free copy out to you) but this Mini Catalogue only has 2 more weeks to run, and then these products are not guarranteed to make it into our BRAND NEW GORGEOUS IDEA BOOK&CATALOGUE which is released on April 1st. (I have my suspicions as to which sets are likely to be in the new catty, but I am busting to find out if I am right!) I have lots of stuff on my wishlist!

Dont forget to get your orders in if you are looking for anything on the discontinued list, or have your hearts set on anything in the Current Mini. Just email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call on 0412 375 552

Crayon Resist Sample... How cute is this?

Just thought that you might like to see what Crayon Resist looks like... a couple of customers had said to me that they are interested in coming along to the class on Monday but they just aren't sure of what they'll be doing.. what on earth is Crayon Resist?
Well its a simple little technique, but the result is just beautiful... here's a sample card for you. I've used Not Quite Navy and Certainly Celery ink and cardstock, as well as glossy cardstock, Black Stazon ink and of course, crayon. Nothing fancy... just good old wax crayons like the ones that the kids use. If you would like to create a couple of projects like this one, come along on Monday night.. I have 3 spaces left at this point.

If you would like to book in, call on 0412 375 552, or email me at higgiz@bigpond.com. The class is held at my home on the lower Central Coast. I will email you the details at the time that you book.

Happy Stamping!

Linda H

March Classes - a few spaces left

Hello everyone...

Just wanted to remind people about the classes that I am running this month - I have a few spaces available in each class at this stage. So here are the dates again for you.

Monday 10th March, 7.30pm Crayon Resist Technique - learn how to create great proects with this simple but effective technique. It will give you a great look with minimal effort - and you will be using just one white crayon (with Stamps, ink and Paper) to get this look. You will go home with a couple of lovely projects and a head full of ideas.

Tuesday 18th March 7.30pm Chalking Techniques - think chalk is just for Blackboards? Think again! You'll learn how to use your chalks or pastels in several ways and take some lovely projects home.

Thursday 27th March 10am Watercolouring Class - Learn about the different ways to get a great watercolour look on your cards. (Note that this is a daytime class)

I will send you the address details when you book in.

If you would like to book, just contact me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on 0412 375 552. All classes are $10, and will go for around 2 hours. And all materials are supplied so just bring yourself!

I've really enjoyed running the classes that I've held so far. It's great getting to know you all a little bit better. If anyone has any requests or suggestions for particular classes they would like me to run, please dont hesitate to ask.

Hope to see you soon!

Linda H