Blog Award? Who? Me?

The other day I received a lovely honour from fellow blogger, Kellie Winnell. Kellie has been busy updating her blog with some lovely cards and other news, and she graciously bestowed upon me the Butterfly Blog Award:



I thought it a lovely gesture - thank you so much Kellie! As part of receiving this award I am to pass it on to other worthy recipients. Well that's really hard! How do I pick a couple of blogs from the hundreds of wonderful blogs out there? So I thought I would narrow it down by concentrating on Australian bloggers, and just including blogs that I have visited quite recently. I decided to include ones that get updated regularly, and that have projects on them that I have found myself particularly inspired by of late. And I tried to avoid blogs that have recently received blog awards. Phew!

So if you arent in this little list, please dont think that I have avoided you. Im just nominating a few of my favourites. I'll do different ones next time. Here are the chosen blogs, in no particular order:

Georgina Martin (also my upline - aren't I lucky?)


Sarah Klass (fellow 2008 IT recipient and all-round gorgeous person)


Kerri Hunter (fellow Elite Stamper and creator of beautiful 3d Projects)

Pam Godfrey(great girl and team member who has been inspiring me for years with her incredible scrapbooking and papercraft skills)

Vanessa Webb (another fellow IT2008 achiever, and wonderful friend)

Debra Elliott (one of my team members, who produces gorgeous work and loves papercrafting whenever she can)

Enjoy blog surfing and let the girls know what you think!

I'll be back soon!

Linda H
0412 375 552
higgiz@bigpond.com

Stamp Club starts tomorrow night - wanna see what we're making?

As my first Stamp Club for the year is beginning this week, I thought you guys would like to see what we are going to be making. Although the ones that the girls are making tomorrow will be in different colours... this is just a sample to give you an idea.

I saw this idea originally on Makeesha Byl's blog.. and thought it would be perfect for the Stamp Club. In Stamp Club we make lots of different projects - something a bit more involved than what you would normally make at a workshop. This gift card holder is fabulous for gifts and once you've made one, you can quickly and easily make lots more. Just by changing the patterned paper and cardstock you make them up to suit both the girls and the men in our lives.

Rather than use a gift card tomorrow, we are going to make a card and a calendar to go into the holder. This is what it looks like when it's closed;




If you would like more information about anything in this post please feel free to contact me at higgiz@bigpond.com.

Kids are back at school now, and Im getting my SU business back on the road, so you will be seeing more classes and events coming up soon.

Enjoy!

Watercolouring makes me Happy

Everytime I get my inks and watercolour paper out, I wonder why I dont do it more often. It's so therapeutic! Today I decided to do some watercolouring for the latest Mojo Monday challenge, and here is the result.

This is the original sketch:


It's only a little card (approximately 10cm square), but it's big on personality dont you think?

I am planning on doing another Watercolouring class soon, so stay tuned for that.

For those considering the ribbon share (see previous post), I have only 2 spots left. So contact me if you would like to take part - it's such a great way to get all the double stitched ribbons in each colour - and still pay one low price.

In the meantime, enjoy today's card!

By Popular Demand - another Ribbon Share

I have been asked to run another Ribbon share, and I thought I would start by offering the Double Stitched Grosgrain ribbons again, available in the InColor range. I've decided to run this one again now because these ribbons will only be available anyway until the end of March - at which time they will be discontinued. Some of the ribbons in this share are shown in the picture above - the only colours missing from this photo are Soft Sky and Purely Pomegranate, although you can also see the Soft Sky ribbon on the blue card on my blog banner at the very top of the page. I've just used up the last of my Purely Pomegranate ribbon - so I'd better order myself some more don't you think??

How does a ribbon share work? Well, normally these Double-stitched ribbons cost $16.95 (plus postage) for a roll of ribbon, and there is approximately 13.7 metres of ribbon on each roll. There are 6 different colours available. So, in a share, you pay $16.95 (plus 5% postage which works out at 85c) - and you will get 1/6 of each roll of the different coloured ribbons. This way you will get a variety of ribbon colours for the same price that you would normally pay for just one colour. Most people find this a great way to get all the different colours - especially if you are having trouble deciding which colour you like the best!

You can be anywhere in Australia to participate in this Ribbon Share - I am happy to mail the ribbons to you. So for anyone wanting to take part, the total cost is $17.80 to get a sampling of all 6 ribbons. Just let me know if you want to be in it by emailing me at higgiz@bigpond.com - DO NOT reply to the Feedblitz email because I wont receive it. I will keep the share open until we have enough takers to put a group together, so get in quick to take advantage of this offer.

Hope you are all enjoying the last few days of the Summer holidays!

Linda H

Mojo Monday # 70 and SCS CC202

One of my resolutions this year is to attempt more challenges - if you've been following my blog over the past couple of weeks you would have seen that so far I am giving this particular New Year's Resolution a pretty good shot! Well, of course it's one of the most fun ones to do - the one about keeping my craft room tidy isn't doing quite so well at this point! How is it that making one little card can result in so much mess?

Anyways.... here is my attempt at not one, but two challenges at once. It's called saving time, as I can fulfill the requirements of two challenges but only have to create one card. I have combined this week's colour challenge over at SCS (cc202 - named Regal Kisses, Bravo!) with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch shown here:



I really love the way the card came out - but I have to say that I would never have considered using those colours together. The colour challenge is Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy and Kiwi Kiss. As we don't have Kiwi Kiss here in Australia I have used Old Olive instead, but it still works pretty well dont you think? I also used Live your Dream (again) and patterned paper and pieces from the Crew Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit. It was another late night inspiration, but I still love it this morning, so it must be OK!

Hope you like it.

Linda H

Kristina's latest Challenge

I am just scraping in to get Kristina's latest challenge submitted in time. I love these colours, but was a bit lacking in inspiration today. Never mind, I ended up being quite happy with it.

Here is the original inspiration:




Great colours. I used the Eastern Blooms set again, plus the En Francais BG stamp, and the words are from the "Embrace Life" set (obviously!) It was a fun card to make so I might have to do this design again with different stamps and colours next time. I've been using the Pretties kit pearls a lot lately and don't think I would want to be without them - they always make a card look classy.



Hope you like it.

Live your Dream

One of my most favourite sets in our Mini Catalogue this year is the Live your Dream set. It was given to all demonstrators who attended the last Regional training in Sydney last September. At first I wasn't all that taken with it...but it's grown on me, and now I find myself reaching for it on a regular basis. In particular I love the wording of the sentiment: "Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams." To me, that's a really profound statement. Aside from the sentiment, I love the butterfly and other stamps in the set too.

The card I've done with it here is based on Makeesha's sketch challenge. Here's the sketch":



I used the Afternoon Tea Designer Series paper, and coordinating cardstock colours... I really like the way it turned out.

Enjoy!

Whoops!

I really should learn to read things properly! In my last post I showed you a card that I had done for Makeesha's Colour Challenge. Turns out it wasn't actually Makeesha's challenge at all, but a Colour Challenge for SCS. Silly me! Makeesha IS having a sketch challenge at present if you would like to have a look at it here.

I thought I'd have a go at the Mojo Monday challenge too. This one is challenge #69 and I loved the sketch:




But I think my card is way over the top. Well that's what happens when your 6yo daughter is adding her 2cents worth of advice on a card - notice the excess of pink?? Here it is anyway...

I've used Bali Breeze DSP, Eastern Blooms stamps, Chipboard, chunky glitter and Pretties kit flowers and rhinestone brads. Yep, over the top. My daughter loves it. :-)

Not colours I'd normally use... what do you think?

Just a quick one today... Makeesha put up a colour challenge this week. And a bit challenging it was too... we had to use Brilliant Blue, Garden Green and Pumpkin Pie. These are colours I probably wouldn't have put together, but that's the point of a challenge right?

I've used the Polka Dot Punches free SAB set again (using it lots right now) and the sentiment is from the "Yummy" set. The patterned paper is from the Bali Breeze paper pack. The background is the "Sanded" BG stamp, which I borrowed this week from Georgina so that I could have a play with it. I really like it!

For further information about anything that I've used or to place an order, please email me at higgiz@bigpond.com

And thanks for the challenge Makeesha!

Linda H

Join the Club - 3 Spaces left

I still have 3 places left in the next stamp club which will begin at the end of this month. Stamp Clubs are loads of fun and you will create projects that I wouldnt normally do in a workshop. Last year we did Card compendiums, boxes of different sizes and various other items. I know the girls really enjoyed it. How does it work? We have 6 girls involved in the club, and it runs every second month over 2009, so we have 6 club nights in total. Each club member commits to spend a minimum of $50 at each club night, which ensures that we always have a minimum $300 workshop. Which means that each member gets to be the hostess once during the year, and therefore gets to receive all the hostess benefits for herself on her night. Very cool. Hostesses are assigned in the order that they signed up to the club.

I hold the club nights at my home in Narara on the Central Coast. The next one begins soon.

If you would like to join the club, please email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on my mobile which is 0412 375 552.

Hope to hear from you soon. :-)

Upcoming Classes and Events

Hello All,

What a great start to the year it has been! Sale-A-Bration (AKA SAB) is already in full swing and from all reports everyone is enjoying the free stamp sets. You have until the end of February to get in on the action, so contact me for a free SAB catalogue if you would like to see what is available. The card you see on this post has been made with the free set called "Polka Dot Punches", which at the moment looks like it will be one of the most popular ones. The drawcard of this set is that most of the images perfectly match our punches, so no wonder it's popular!

I also have some card making classes (and other papercraft) coming up - as usual you can always view them over on the right hand side of my blog, but I am listing the next couple here for you as well. Currently I have places available in both January classes, but I only take a maximum of 7 attendees at each class, so contact me as soon as you can to ensure you reserve your seat. You can reach me via email at higgiz@bigpond.com or on my mobile 0412 375 552. I dont just concentrate on cards, so if you are looking for different types of papercraft classes, then stay tuned, because there will be lots of different classes coming in 2009. I am located on the Central Coast and run the classes in my home.


Everyday Card Class
When: Thursday 15th January, 7.30pm
Where: Narara, NSW
Cost $15
Make sure that you are prepared for your cards coming up this year... you'll make 4 cards:

* One Friend's Birthday Card
* One Male Card
* One kid's card
* One Valentines or Anniversary Card

Light refreshments provided


Mini Album Class
Friday 23rd January
7.30pm
My Place, Narara, NSW
Cost: $20
Come along and make a beautiful Mini Album - great to keep or give as a gift. I'll put a photo of the album up on the blog soon.

Hope you can make it!

Happy Birthday Georgina!

For those arriving from Kristina Werner's challenge #38 or Mojo Monday #70 - I linked to this post by mistake! If you go to my home page and scroll down you will be able to view the correct card. For Kristina's challenge click here and for Mojo Monday #70 click here. Sorry about the confusion!




A quick card this morning and a birthday greeting for my friend and upline, Georgina Martin who celebrates her birthday today! Happy Birthday Georgina!

I thought I would do this card using Kristina Werner's Colour Challenge as my inspiration: here is the picture she used for the inspiration this week;




These colours are so ME! The card uses the "A little Something for you" stamp from the "Yummy" SAB set - it's one of the free ones this month. Contact me if you would like more information.

Enjoy!

Great minds think alike...

One of my absolute favourite things about being an SU demonstrator is the cameradie and community found between demonstrators. I am part of an online forum which definitely gives us an advantage in many ways - all the demonstrators who are part of the online group share project ideas and business tips, not to mention just having lots in common - all loving craft and SU so much. I have made so many new friends being part of this group. One of the girls that I have got to know a little is Kerri Hunter in Victoria - and this week I noticed that she had done something really similar to the blue card that appears on my blog banner. We used the same stamp set and the same DSP and colours to do the same technique (3D stamping AKA Faux Dry Embossing) - it's not the first time I've seen that happen. Although Kerri used the reverse of the patterned paper that I did. Sometimes I think that we girls have an ESP thingy going on. LOL! Kerri's work is lovely - check out her card here.

Thanks Kerri - looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Convention!

Just for fun...

Has anyone seen that ad on TV where they are talking about how parents feel when they see their little people heading off to school? You think it's going to be sad and all about how to face an empty house, and then the parents all start doing the "happy dance" because the kids are back at school?? I LOVE that ad!

I'm feeling it especially now that Christmas is all done, hubby is back to work and Im doing the full time Mum thing with them at home. Aaaaaargh. And I even have the little one in Daycare a couple of days a week... and I'm still over it!

So while little guys has been napping for an hour this afternoon I have been making a couple of quick cards with my 6yo daughter to give her something to do. It's definitely getting easier as she doesnt need constant help. We were playing with the Pick a Petal set as it's one of her favourites. She made her own embellishment out of circles - very cute. (She wont accept any help from me whatsoever) Here's the card I did:



And here's the card that Emma did (actually she did 3, but this was the one she liked the best):

Embracing my Failures

Well not a failure exactly but shall we just say a card that Im not particularly happy with. Sometimes they just dont turn out the way I pictured them in my head. I borrowed the "Embrace Life" set from my friend and downline, Nerida, and this is the first card that I came up with. But I don't think it really works, certainly not the way I wanted it to anyway. Maybe I'll go away and see if I can come up with something better - I'll see what I can do.

A common misconception about being a SU demonstrator is that you need to be super-creative and very skilled when it comes to papercraft. In fact when most of us started out, we had limited skills in that area. But SU's training program and resources are great, and there is so much support available that you can always develop your skills as you go along. It's far more important to have heart, and a desire to turn your love of all things papercraft into either a hobby or a business. Anyone can do it. You should see my early card efforts!!! I look back and see how much I've improved and Im so grateful for that! ;-)

If you are thinking that you might like to find out more about being an Stampin'Up demonstrator, and receiving all the great things that goes with that, then please contact me and I will send you an information pack. Quite honestly, it's one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it's surely worth finding out more about! And at the moment there is an extra incentive - join SU before the end of February and you will also receive an additional stamp set of your choice at no extra cost. (Up to $79.95 in value!)

You can email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on my mobile 0412 375 552.

Linda H
0412 375 552


PS... Don't forget there are only 2 days left to receive a free inkpad with your $100 order. Place your order with me by 7th January. (This offer is only available from myself)

And the Winner is...

A couple of posts ago I put up a little competition asking you to pick the stamp sets I used on this card. Thank you to all those who replied or emailed.

The correct response was "Thanks" from "Live your Dream", The scallop circle from "Labelicious" and the flower in the background was from the "In the Spotlight" hostess set. (I used the bleaching technique with the "In the Spotlight" stamp). The Linen-look panel was indeed from the "Afternoon Tea" paper pack. And the first correct answer was from:

Kim in Canberra.

Kim, if you could please email me your address details and I'll send your mystery selection pack out to you. Well done!

In the meantime I need to offer a correction for my last post. I announced that the special offer to receive a free inkpad was for any orders placed before 7th August - It should have read 7th January. That would be me. I probably should snap out of holiday mode dont you think?

Happy Stamping!

Linda H
0412 375 552
higgiz@bigpond.com

Only 3 days left to get your free Inkpad...

As per my previous post I am offering my one week only special... to receive a free Classic inkpad (colour of your choice) valued at $9.95 with any $100 order... and that's on top of the free SaleABraton stamp set you will receive for placing your order this month. But you will need to order by 7th January to receive your free InkPad. To see the free sets available click here.

Aren't they lovely?

I also have some new classes coming up this month - see over on the right-hand sidebar of this blog. (If you are reading this post via the Feedblitz email you will need to click into the blog in order to see the class schedule)

Finally I have 3 spots left for the first stamp club which will start up in late January. If you would like more information click here or contact me directly to join the club. You can email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on my mobile 0412 375 552.

I Hope to hear from you soon.

Linda H