Stampin'Up's Bushfire Appeal - Latest Update

I wanted to say a huge "THANK YOU" to all you special people who have bought stamp sets from the list of 10 that are contributing to the Stampin'Up Bushfire Appeal. When you purchase any of these sets, Stampin'Up are donating 50% of the purchase price towards the Red Cross to benefit the victims of this month's devastating bushfires. I thought that you would like to know that just in the past two weeks that the appeal has been running we have to date raised

$34,653.80!!!!!!!!!!!

How fantastic is that! And we still have another month to go. Here again are the stamp sets that are part of the appeal:

Here are the sets that you can purchase to raise money for this appeal:

Stamp Set	Item Number	Page Number in Catalogue	Retail Price
Priceless	112312	105	48.95 AUD
Seeing Spots	108909	89	29.95 AUD
Baroque Motifs	112380	98	39.95 AUD
Live Your Dream	114261	3 (Mini Catalogue)	55.95 AUD
Looks Like Spring*	108864	76	58.95 AUD
The Snowflake Spot*	108934	27	39.95 AUD
Bodacious Bouquet*	108756	80	58.95 AUD
Polka Dots & Paisley*	110247	46	35.95 AUD
G'day Mate*	111973	115	35.95 AUD
Be Happy*	108744	51	39.95 AUD

Please note that the sets with Asterisks above are also going to be on the retiring list come March 1st. They will only be available until they sell out. So even if they sell out before March 1st.. that will be it. They wont be available again.

And dont forget my contribution to the fund: I am offering a further $5 off each of these special sets sold so that I can sell as many sets as possible and make this fund really work! So that's a $5 voucher with each of these sets. I will offer this $5 off until the end of March, or until sets sell out. So if you buy 3 sets, you will pay $15 less, and as well 50% of the stamp set value will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal by Stampin'Up.

If any of these sets are on your wishlist I would encourage you to grab them now! What better reason have you ever had to purchase a stamp set than this? The appeal will run until March 31st, but only until stock runs out.

To order please contact me on my mobile: 0412 375 552, or via email at higgiz@bigpond.com I can have your order sent to anywhere in Australia for a small postage charge. Contact me today and we can all make a difference!

Last Chance to get your free stamp sets...

Can you believe that February is almost over?? That means that you only have until tomorrow, February 28th, to get your orders in if you want to take advantage of a free stamp set that you receive with every $100 order. To see the free sets click here, and I have also put some cards here that use these sets - the one above uses "Botanical Blooms", and the one here uses "Polka Dot Punches". As always the sets have been popular again this year, but like anything, it really helps when you see some of the things you can do with them.

Get your orders to me by 9pm Saturday 28th February AT THE LATEST. After this I will not be able to get the order through, because on Sunday 1st March, it's all over and they will not be available anymore.

And dont forget that 1st March is exciting for another reason - our discontinued list will be out! If you havent yet entered the competition that goes with that, check out my previous post here to see the full details. You just have to tell me which 10 sets you think are sure to retire to win a stamp set from my personal collection. The winner will be the person with the most sets right (but you cant include Hostess sets or the sets on the Bushfire Appeal list - we already know about those).

Email me your answers (or orders for SAB) at higgiz@bigpond.com

Good luck!

Competition Time - Pick the Retiring stamps!

Thought everyone would like a little competition to ring in the Discontuing List (otherwise known as the Retiring List) which will be coming out this coming Sunday 1st March. I get very excited when the Retired List comes out, because I know that it's only a short time until we get our Brand New Idea Book and Catalogue, full of beautiful new stamps and accessories. And I really cant wait to see what's in it this year.

So....... us Demonstrators have been speculating as to which stamps sets will be staying, and which ones will go. What I would like you guys to do, is to put together your list of 10 stamp sets that you think will be on the Discontinued list on Sunday. Please submit your entries by email to higgiz@bigpond.com, and make sure you have them to me by 9pm Saturday 28th February in order to be eligible for the prize. (What prize? I hear you ask) Well how does a retiring stamp set from my own collection sound? I will give you several to choose from and as you know retired stamp sets are in high demand. The winner will be the person who gets the most retiring sets right on their list of 10. Should there be a tie for first place I will draw one winner from those that were tied.

Please note that you cant include Hostess sets (we know that those will all be going, so those dont count), and you also cant include stamp sets that are on the Bushfire Appeal list (click here for that information) as they already have a * next to them if they are retiring, so they dont count either. But any other stamps sets in the catalogue are fair game!

For this competition you can only win the prize if you are not a demonstrator, and if you are Australian based - but Demonstrators are still welcome to try their luck at guessing the retiring sets and seeing how many they get right. I'd love to hear from everyone! I think I will give this one a go myself!

Good luck guys - and dont forget to email your entries to higgiz@bigpond.com

:-)

Watercolouring Class this Wednesday - 3 spaces left

I have 3 spaces left for my Watercolouring class this Wednesday, 25th February, 2009. If anyone is in driving distance from the Central Coast please feel free to join us. You will make several projects, whilst learning the basics of Watercolouring. It's such a beautiful technique and I always get comments on my Watercoloured cards, and after this class, Im sure you will too.

The class is held at my home at Narara on the Central Coast, and will cost $15 - which covers all your materials and a light lunch. If you would like to attend, email me at higgiz@bigpond.com to reserve your place, or call my mobile which is 0412 375 552. I would love you to join us. :-)

BTW, I know you've seen the card here before, but I wanted to show you again, because it's similar to one we'll be making on Wednesday. We'll also be making an ATC and a 3rd project, so come along and enjoy! Just make sure that you reserve your place.

Newcastle Craft & Quilt Fair this coming weekend 20th - 22nd February 2009

If you find yourself with any free time in the coming days you might like to put the Newcastle Craft & Quilt Fair on your 'To do" list. From all reports this show is one of the best craft shows around, and we are hoping that this year's will be no exception - especially as there will be a group of Stampin'Up demonstrators there, and I'm going to be one of them! If you can make it to the show, please come and pay our stand a visit - we will have displays, door prizes and demonstrations, as well as the chance to sit down and create a card with us. And of course we will also have some special offers just for the show.

One of my favourite things about past shows that I have done is that sometimes my blog readers and long-distance customers have come along and said hello - it's always a wonderful surprise, and so lovely to put faces and names together. I'll be there all 3 days of the show, so I would love to see you.

If you would like more information please click on this site.

Im really looking forward to the show and am busy preparing samples and display items. I hope you can come and say hello!

Happy Valentines Day

Thought I would post a quick card today to say Happy Valentines Day to EVERYONE! This is just a little Versamark Resist card (with a brayer) that I came up with for a workshop and I think it is perfect for a Valentines card. The stamp set on this one is "A Happy Heart". The colours are regal rose, rose red and Black. The patterned paper is Bali Breeze.

Of course all of these wonderful products are available for purchase from myself. Click on the catalogue to the right of this blog to see what else is available - there are so many lovely things. Or, if you would like to have me come to you to show you some cool techniques, and you are anywhere between Sydney and Newcastle (NSW), just email me at higgiz@bigpond.com and we can arrange it together. For more information, please contact me anytime.

Stampin'Up's Bushfire Appeal - How you can help by buying stamps

If you, like me, have been searching for a way to do something to assist the victims of the Victorian bushfires this past week, then I would like to offer you a great way to do that.

I adore working with Stampin'Up, and they have again proved to me that I am with the right company by offering a very special way for us Papercrafters to help. They put this message today on their website for demonstrators:



Bushfire Appeal
11 February 2009

Over the past few days, with the bushfires that have ravaged Victoria, Australia has suffered its largest natural disaster in the nation's history. We grieve with you over those who have lost their lives, loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. And like you, we feel a compelling need to help and offer support to all those who are suffering.

Together, we can help provide the assistance that the survivors of this tragedy so desperately need as they work to rebuild their families and their lives.

Join us in this effort by supporting the Bushfire Appeal--a cause in which Stampin' Up! will donate 50 percent of the retail value of sales from a select group of ten stamp sets to the Australia Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal.

Here are the sets that you can purchase to raise money for this appeal:

Stamp Set	Item Number	Page Number in Catalogue	Retail Price
Priceless	112312	105	48.95 AUD
Seeing Spots	108909	89	29.95 AUD
Baroque Motifs	112380	98	39.95 AUD
Live Your Dream	114261	3 (Mini Catalogue)	55.95 AUD
Looks Like Spring*	108864	76	58.95 AUD
The Snowflake Spot*	108934	27	39.95 AUD
Bodacious Bouquet*	108756	80	58.95 AUD
Polka Dots & Paisley*	110247	46	35.95 AUD
G'day Mate*	111973	115	35.95 AUD
Be Happy*	108744	51	39.95 AUD

Please note that the sets with Asterisks above are also going to be on the retiring list come March 1st. They will only be available until they sell out. So even if they sell out before March 1st.. that will be it. They wont be available again.

And here is my contribution to the fund: I would like to offer a further $5 off each of these special sets sold so that I can sell as many sets as possible and make this fund really work! So that's a $5 voucher with each of these sets. I will offer this $5 off until the end of March, or until sets sell out. So if you buy 3 sets, you will pay $15 less, and as well 50% of the stamp set value will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal by Stampin'Up.

If any of these sets are on your wishlist I would encourage you to grab them now! What better reason have you ever had to purchase a stamp set than this? The appeal will run from today February 12th until March 31st, but only until stock runs out.

To order please contact me on my mobile: 0412 375 552, or via email at higgiz@bigpond.com I can have your order sent to anywhere in Australia for a small postage charge. Contact me today and we can all make a difference!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today my husband is celebrating his XXth birthday - I would tell you how many years it actually is, but he's a bit sensitive about it. (Which amuses me as I am quite a few years older than him) But here's the card I made him... really simple, but effective don't you think?

I actually really enjoy the opportunity to make cards for guys. This one uses the Spring Break paper (great for guy's cards). I crimped the Pumpkin Pie Cardstock and set a Jumbo eyelet with the CropADile, and then tied some Taffeta ribbon through. The cake image is stamped with Stazon Ink on Watercolour paper, and then watercoloured with dye inks and aquapainters. The image is from the "Fun and Fast Notes" stamp set. And that's it! The whole card probably took me 10 or 12 minutes from start to finish.

Where can you get all these wonderful items? From me of course! Just email me at higgiz@bigpond.com or call me on 0412 375 552 to place your order and I can have it sent to you anywhere in Australia. Dont forget that you will currently receive a free stamp set from the SAB catalogue if your order is over $100. Click here to view the free stamp sets available.

If you like the look of the Watercolouring you see here I am doing a Watercolouring class at 10.30am Wednesday 25th February here at Narara on the Central Coast, NSW. We will make several projects and you will learn some valuable tips and tricks for Watercolouring. The class will cost $15 and all materials and refreshments are provided. At the time of writing this I only have 2 spaces left, so get in quick!

Here's a close up of the card for you:



Happy Stamping!

Mojo Monday on a Friday

Well I created it last night, so technically I should say I did it on Thursday. The ornate design of the patterned paper led me down this track - I quite like the card, but I'm wondering if it's a big too much? It's for the latest Mojo Monday challenge - I am really enjoying these challenges so much. I love the flexibility that a sketch gives you. Here is this week's sketch:



For this one I've used one of my favourite colour combos - Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I am going to miss those colours so much when they retire at the end of March! The patterned paper is from the Spring Silouhettes paper pack. I used the Brocade Basics stamp set to get the Wet Watercolour look (I borrowed the set from my team member, Gemma - thank you so much!) and finished the card with a couple Jumbo Eyelets set with the Crop-A-Dile. The one on the left hand side also has a Rhinestone Brad in the middle. Until I put the brad in I knew the card was missing something - I liked it much better with the Rhinestone Brad. Here's a close up:




Dont forget that you can contact me anytime if you would like to purchase any of these items from me. If you want to see a catalogue, click on the link on the right-hand side of this blog, or contact me at higgiz@bigpond.com for a catalogue to be sent to you.

February Papercraft Classes

One of the wonderful things about being an SU demonstrator is that I get to set my own hours. As you know I run classes from home - both at night and during the day. When I have lots of other stuff on, I run fewer classes, and when I am having a quieter month, I increase the number of classes that I offer. Currently we are still in the Sale-A-Bration promotion period, which means that my February schedule is jam-packed with workshops and events for customers. Customer enjoy the specials at this time so much, that I have some clients who book months in advance. Which of course is great for business (yay!), but I do offer less classes at this time of year.

So I have decided to only run two classes this month, and the details are below. This month they are both day classes as my evenings are all booked up with workshops! Respond by email (higgiz@bigpond.com)or my mobile phone (0412 375 552) if you would like to attend. I only take a maximum of 7 attendees at these classes so get in quick! Here are the two classes that I'm running this month:

Everyday Card Class
When: Thursday 12th February, 10.30am (Please note that this class is now postponed to Wednesday evening 4th March, 7.30pm)
Where: Narara, NSW
Cost $20 (or $15 if you provide your own Snail, or you can purchase one at the class)

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


All materials and Light refreshments provided


Technique Class - Watercolouring
When: Wednesday 25th February, 10.30am
Where: Narara, NSW
Cost: $15

I am offering this class again by popular demand. You will learn the basics of watercolouring with inks, and create some lovely projects. One of these projects will be an ATC, which you can add to your ATC display folder if you have been to a technique class before. If not, you will be supplied with one at the class.

All materials and Light Refreshments provided.

I will certainly be offering more classes (including evening classes) in March, so visit the right-hand sidebar of my blog for more details. (If you are viewing this post via the Feedblitz email in your inbox, then you will need to click into the email and actually visit the blog to see this information.


In the meantime here is a little card to entertain you... I made this one very quickly. And the circle in the background is actually an empty ribbon spool, covered with paper from the Bali Breeze range. Looks good doesn't it? Hope you like it!

And here it is close up: