February Class Schedule

Well I think EVERYONE now knows that SAB (Sale-A-Bration) has begun. This means that if you place a $100 order of SU products you will then be able to choose a free SAB set from our SAB catalogue. Workshop hostesses can also qualify for additional SAB sets (on top of their regular freebies) and for anyone thinking of joining SU as a demonstrator.. there are extra benefits there as well. Ask me for more info if you have any questions at all.

Wow... I have now been a Stampin'Up Demonstrator for 4 and a half years. And still, after all this time, I love it! The best part for me is sharing what I love with other people... whether that be at a workshop, at a craft fair, or at the many classes and events that I run from home (and sometimes other places when they are too big for home!) I am blessed a thousand times over to have the most wonderful customers, and the friendships that I have formed through this business amaze and astound me. My life is so much richer for it. I was chatting with a friend a week or two ago (yes, another customer who has become a dear friend) and thinking about where my life is right now.. and was astounded to realize that I am probably happier than I have been in years. That sure, my life isn't perfect, and looking after 2 kids full time is full on, but I have so much freedom. Creativity is very important to me, and being able to express that at my own pace is a fantastic thing. I have been able to assess what's important to me, rather than just going through the motions. What's important? Faith, family, friends, creativity, spontaneity. Life is about choices.. even if we dont always choose our circumstances, we certainly choose how we respond to it. Sometimes its not possible to prioritize everything, but I think we do the best that we can.

So this week, my youngest child begins Kindy and so a new chapter begins. Maybe that's why i am feeling so philosophical :-)

If you would like to attend any of my upcoming classes, my current class schedule is on the right hand side of my blog (if you cant see it, you may need to click on the blog title at the top of the page). The card featured at the top of this post is one of the projects you will make in the Black Magic class. I love this technique! I will be running this class twice this month - once as a day class and once as a night class - Tuesday 8th February @ 7.30pm and Thursday 17th February @ 11am. I run classes from my home on the Central Coast and am happy to supply my address when you book in. Everything is provided so you dont need to bring anything with you, and the cost is $15.

I hope you can make it.. check out the other classes over the right.

Getting ready....

...for SAB (Sale-a-Bration) which begins this week! Tuesday 25th January is the first day of this amazing promotion.... and I cant wait to show you the stamp sets that you can earn for free. I have been busy booking in workshops and at this point I do have some dates left before the end of March, so please contact me at lindastamps@bigpond.com if you would like to get yours in during the promotion dates.

So whats the big deal about SAB? Well, I guess that it's our biggest promotion because there is something for everyone... whether you be a customer, hostess or even interested in the Demonstrator kit. For EVERY customer order over $100, you will automatically receive your choice of one of 4 different stamp sets. The sets this year are lovely, and I wanted to show you my personal favourite so far... the card you see here is made with the set "Bliss". There are two versions of the same card.. which one do you prefer?? Butterflies are always big with me, so this stamp set was an immediate winner. So as a customer that spends $100 in one transaction, this is one of the choices. As a hostess, if your workshop reaches $600 or more, then you can also receive an additional set for that. And if you've been eyeing off the demonstrator kit, then this is a great time to jump in and grab it... you will also receive ANY stamp of your choice from ANY of our catalogues... and that is ANY value! And with the newly configured and reduced Demonstrator kit.. do you really need more motivation?

So... I would love to work with you at your own Stampin'Up workshop... there are always so many benefits, but at this time of year, it's even more rewarding. Dont forget my class schedule will also be resuming in February, so stay tuned!

Australia Flood Appeal - making your stamp purchases count

We have all been horrified by watching the flooding that has devastated (at time of writing) 75% of Queensland. For those reading who are overseas, Queensland covers a huge area on the North-eastern coast and inland of Australia. The stories of loss and sometimes heroism are coming through every day, and the tragedy just seems to go on and on. Some towns are now cleaning up, whilst others are still bracing themselves for more damage. (And as Queensland suffers, now parts of Victoria are also flooding... what a crazy country we live in!)

As part of their community spirit - something of which I have always been very proud - Stampin' Up! are assisting in this cause. For every Stamp Set that you purchase that has a retail value of $30 or more SU will donate $2 to the State Emergency Services in Queensland. (This donation will be made throughout New Zealand and Australia, so talk about it with your demonstrator if you already have one.) The appeal runs from January 15th until February 15th 2011. Here's the way it was written on our SU demonstrator website today:

"As flood waters continue to inundate Australia in what has been described as the worst flooding in 37 years, we express our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones and homes and to those whose lives have been changed forever. We, like so many of you, feel a compelling need to lend support to all those who have been affected.

Stampin' Up! demonstrators have a long history of making a difference in the lives of others--especially when disaster strikes and the need is greatest. Nearly two years ago, we watched another tragedy unfold in Australia. Our hearts were touched as demonstrators, customers and friends joined together in support of the Bushfire Appeal. We've done it before and we can certainly do it again!

Please join with us by supporting the Australia Flood Appeal--a cause in which Stampin' Up! will donate $2 AUD of the retail value of sales from any stamp set (with a retail value of $30 or more) sold in Australia and New Zealand from 15 January through 15 February to the State Emergency Services in Queensland."

So if there is a stamp set that you have had your eye on, now is a great time to grab it.. you will also be contributing to a great cause!

Reminder... Sweethearts class on Saturday 15th... places still available

Just a quick reminder about the Sweethearts class tomorrow... I do still have places left at this point. Cost is $20 and you will make the projects that I showed in the last post... click here to see them again.

I will be returning to normal class schedules once the kids are back at school at the beginning of February. So stay tuned for more class info coming up.

Enjoy xx

Sweet & Sour Sweethearts Class this Saturday

Hello everyone... I was looking at my schedule and realized that I have a bit of child-free time this coming weekend. I was kind of thinking out loud when I mentioned at Monday's stamp club event that I might think about holding a class on Saturday. Two of my stamp club girls signed up on the spot, which kind of cemented my idea.

So... I am running my Sweet and Sour Sweethearts class this Saturday at 2pm. The cost is $20 and you will make the 3 projects you see at the top of this post (although it is possible that you may find different confectionery options!). I hold classes in my home on the Central Coast, so I can give you my actual address when you book in. I have spaces available at the time that I am writing this, so if you would like to come along, please just email me at lindastamps@bigpond.com.

My apologies that the quality of the photos is not absolutely fantastic, but the light here has been pretty ordinary this past week. But I can assure you that the projects look even better in real life. And at least you get the idea!

Hope to see you here!

Here are some close ups for you....

Playing around with the Sweet Treat Cups

As promised I am back to show you what I've been up to with my Sweet Treat Cups... so easy, and so fun!

I had a lovely group of friends drop in this week to make cards with me (and eat and talk!). We played around with these and I will show you some other things we came up with over the coming days.

To make this one is super simple. I cut the Top Note shape with my Big Shot Machine, then punched the heart shape with the Full Heart Punch. Of course the treat cups fit perfectly :-) so you just fill them with your item of choice (I used Skittles, but you can use whatever suits) and then mounted them on DSP and added some ribbon. The stamped image around the heart is from the Sweetheart stamp set (also included in the promotion). To see more promotion details please click here. If you wish to place an order please email me at lindastamps@bigpond.com or call me on 0412 375 552. I can have your order sent anywhere in Australia for a small postage charge.

Enjoy the card, and I'll be back with more soon.

Happy New Year!... and a Sweet Promotion

Happy New Year to everyone!

Wow.. the Christmas crazy is over for another year. As usual, I didn't get all my cards out that I wanted to. I did do some, so that's better than the previous year! It's not making the cards that is an issue... I do that all year, and so by the time that Christmas rolls around I have plenty. No, the issue is actually sitting down to write on them, address and stamp the envelopes, and get them in the mail!!! Do you know that I sent my last batch of cards the week AFTER Christmas! So typical of me. So there are still some cards I hope to get to, but now they will be appreciation/new year cards, rather than Christmas. You can send thank yous anytime right??? Sigh. My apologies if you sent me a card and I didnt reply :-(... maybe I'll get them all done next year. Decided to stop beating myself up about it, and move on!

So we have a cute new promotion to help us bide our time waiting for Sale-A-Bration to arrive (which incidentally begins officially on the 25th January). But the Sweethearts promo is here right now! If you buy either the Sweethearts stamp set, or the Full Heart punch, you will receive a pack of Sweet Treat Cups at no charge. (Buy both and you will receive 2 packs). See the pic above for a few ideas you can do with them... and I might even post a few creations I have made with them in the coming days. I do love Sweet treat cups - in the past I have mainly used the round ones, but these heart ones are so cute!

By the way if you would like to book your Sale-A-Bration workshop... I am running out of dates quickly! Sale-A-Bration runs from the 25th January to the end of March, and it is the best time of year to host a workshop, make a purchase (stamp rewards for every $100+ order!) and to join SU as a demonstrator... because the rewards are better at this time of year than any other! Contact me via my email at lindastamps@bigpond.com if you would like to book your workshop in. I conduct workshops in your home and you get to make beautiful creations and enjoy time together creating. I run these workshops anywhere from the Central Coast to Sydney and north to Newcastle. Just let me know where you are. If I am unable to assist you I can put you in touch with someone who can!

Finally I wanted to announce a winner from my little Penguin card comp... its Jess! Jess, if you would like to confirm your address by emailing me at lindastamps@bigpond.com then I can send you your very own penguin :-)

Enjoy!