The October Class Schedule is up!

And I also wanted to show you this little card that I made with all my Stamp Club groups in September. I started out by wanting to show the new In-color range, plus introduce the new style inkpads that Stampin'Up has now released. So I made this card to perform both of those functions... plus show off the new Floral Frames Framelits and the matching Daydream Medallions stamp set. The new Elegant Butterfly punch was a little added extra... I love adding little butterflies to all kinds of stuff! They make me happy :-)

I love how all the new colours look together! And I LOVE these frames... I think you will see these show up a lot over the coming months!

I have put up my October class schedule over on the right hand side of this blog.  To book in, simply email me by clicking HERE. I hope to see you at a class soon!

I also took a photo of the card close up so you can see the intricate stamp designs... love it:

The last Launch project - this time with a Christmas feel

So I've been a little slack in blogging this week... but my excellent excuse is that this month has been a bit CRAZY with everyone wanting to get their hands on lots of new stuff! Gotta love new catalogue month! So to say that I have been busy is somewhat of an understatement. Add to that the last week of the school term, classes and stamp clubs and you have a very time indeed.

I wanted to show you the last of my three launch projects. This one was the most simple of the projects that we did.. and yet it got the most "wows".  Everyone loved it! It's my "Christmas Pocket Card" with a tag inside. (The tag is shown below)  I think the snowflake on the front, diecut from our new glimmer paper is what makes it a bit special.  Yes, I know this is Australia, and no, we dont have a cold Christmas here... but this means that we dont get many opportunities to work with Snowflake shapes... and well.. they are so pretty! So I will just go ahead and use it anyway... and hope you will overlook it :-) I've decided to!

Have a lovely weekend!

Betsy's Blossoms and other new stuff :-)

So we are on to Card No. 2 from last weekend's launch events.  This one uses a few of my new favourite things, and I loved the way the birdie from Betsy's Blossoms matches really well with our new Oval Accents Die. I used a little of the "Comfort Cafe" DSP on it too, and another of those new wooden buttons from the Naturals Designer buttons pack. They make really cute little embellishments for scrapbooking or papercrafting.

If you would like more info about anything in this post or on my blog generally please feel free to contact me by clicking HERE. Or to book into a class.

Enjoy this little card, and I'll be back with the last launch project soon. :-)

Flowering Flourishes and Midnight Muse

Do you know what I think is the most frustrating thing about a new catalogue release?  Being the proud new owner of oodles of lovely papercraft products, and not being able to choose what to play with first!  This week I held my catalogue launches for the two new catalogues that we now have. I had plenty of product, but MAJOR indecision about what to create!  Of course it all came together at the end, but in the meantime I was a bit stressed about it all!  Still, its a pretty good problem to have!

So I am going to show you our projects over the next few days, but I thought I would start with my personal favourite. It's interesting that this isn't the one that received the most compliments at the events, but its the one that made me the happiest when I made it. Probably because it uses my favourite colour (blue) and I love the new "Flowering Flourishes" stamp set because it's so easy to use. And how gorgeous is that "Natural Compositions" Specialty paper??  Everyone agreed that it looks soooo much better in real life, and this is definitely a case where the catalogue does not do it justice. I used one of our new Ribbon Slides as an accent on the beautiful Midnight Muse stitched satin ribbon. (I will have a ribbon share of this ribbon going shortly... anyone interested??)  The DSP is from the "Comfort Cafe" paper pack. The base cardstock is of course "Midnight Muse".. one of our gorgeous new in-colours. 

I really loved making this card with my groups this weekend. I hope you guys in blogland enjoy it too xx

Today is a special Day :-)

We all have to start somewhere right??   And for me that starting point was 6 years ago today when I became a Demonstrator with Stampin'Up. If anyone could have told me how it would change my life I wouldn't have believed it. And that is not in any way an overstatement!  My life is different in so many ways now. It hasn't always been an easy journey, and it hasn't always been smooth sailing. It's been a lot of work. But you know what?  I would do it all again. Not a day goes by when I don't think how lucky I am, and how grateful I am for this business.  The meaningful wonderful friendships I have found, the lifestyle we are able to have, the trips I have taken and the creativity I get to tap into are all proof that I made an awesome decision, and then stuck with it to make it happen. I'm so glad I did.

Sure there are lots of things I am still striving for but they are going to happen... because if I keep working consistently then they just will. That's how it works. Right now I am working for the next Incentive Trip to Utah next July... and I am getting really close, so that is really exciting. This is the most exciting one so far for me, and I cant wait to share it with my fellow Demonstrator friends.

When I started I wasn't a great card-maker. But I decided that it didn't matter because I loved it and so that was more important... and you know what?? I was right!  I love that you dont have to be the most brilliant, creative, artistic person out there.. just relax and do what you love, and START.  Getting started... and then keeping going... are the only things that really matter.

So at risk of my own embarrassment I thought you might like to see how far I've come... here are the first cards I ever made with my Demonstrator kit. My kit arrived and I couldnt wait to open it and this is what I made:

Wow! Look at all those (many now retired) Bold Brights!!  Those of you who know my more recent work would know that Bold Brights are probably my least favourite colour scheme... although I have been using them more since the "Colour Renovation" last year. But I didnt know which colours I liked, or which stamp sets, and so I just went with the default kit because I had no idea!  So Bold Brights it was, and the stamp set was "Greetings Galore".  I have to say I am a bit jealous of the girls who join now because they get to pick whatever they want in their kits! Back then we were a bit more restricted.

So as you can see, we all start somewhere!  :-)  It's a work in progress.

That's the golden rule of doing anything though... never give up :-)  Dream big, and then go out and make those dreams come true!

Papaya Collage... keeping it simple

I really do prefer simple cards.. without a lot of layering or fancy cutting. Although I like those too! But here is a card that is really just stamping and not too much else. Quick and easy.  I seem to be drawn of late to cards that have more of a "collage feel"... so you dont need to worry too much about exact placement or measuring.. you just relax and stamp! 

This is the new Papaya Collage stamp set from our new catalogue. I used black ink with a new In-color.. "Primrose Petals" and I like the way they look together. The button is also a new release.. these are the "Naturals Designer Buttons".. cute huh?  The one here is the smallest size, but you'll be seeing lots of the 3 different sizes on my creations because I really love them.

Enjoy the card xx

Introducing the In-Color Range for 2012-2014

here they are!  I thought it would be fun to make a card that as its' sole purpose was to show you the new colour range. In order from the front-to-back they are:  Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse.  I love the way they all look together. :-)

The other things to note is that our various coloured inks (including these ones) now come in the NEW STYLE inkpads... a completely different feel to the old inks. They are quite wet, so you dont need to press hard, or repeatedly tap. But the great thing about them is how clear the images stamp with these new inks!  I think it will take me a little while to fully get used to them, but I'm already enjoying those clearer images.

If you would like to see more of the new pads, and the new colours, please come along to one of my launches this coming weekend. There are two - Saturday evening for the night-owls (7.30pm 8th September) at the Girl Guide Hall at Niagara Park. Or Sunday afternoon at 2pm 9th September at my home.. I can give you the address when you book in if you havent been before. At time of writing this I still have a couple of spots available on the Saturday night, and a couple more on the Sunday afternoon. The cost to attend either launch is $20.. please email me by clicking HERE if you would like to join us.

Here is the full card which also shows off the matching Stitched Satin ribbons that go with our new In-color range. It's lovely to work with. I am doing a share of this ribbon, so if you would like to get your hands on some of each colour please contact me, or tell me at launch. You'll get a quarter roll of each of the 5 colours, for a cost of $20.95. This is a great way to sample each of the colours!

 Sometimes the simple cards are my favourites. These flowers are from the new "Betsy's Blossoms" stamp set, and the sentiment is from "Curly Cute".

Dont forget I've put up September Christmas Stamp-a-Stack dates, so if this is your thing email me xx

New Catalogues, New products, New Launches... getting the idea?

September is a big month for us SU girls, and not just because its the beginning of Spring and we can finally say ta-ta to Winter.  We've just had the most beautiful weekend here on the Sunny Central Coast and I got to spend it with my beautiful kids.. :-)  We are all looking forward to the warmer weather, and its lovely to see the flowers coming out and the world to me feels like it's waking up.

And of course September means a brand new catalogue... well actually TWO brand new catalogues!  As if one wasnt exciting enough!  I cant wait to show you lots of exciting new products.. but if you want to get a better look for yourself, then click HERE to view the catalogues online. Or for your very own copy just contact me. The annual Catalogue will be only $5 to purchase from me, or if you need it mailed to you, I will charge you a total of $10 to help cover postage.  This year's main catalogue is a LOT bigger than the previous catalogues, so I know its going to be a good read for you all! And then we also have our brand new Holiday Catalogue - full of Christmas and seasonal products.  This one will run from now until the end of January 2013, so it is more limited edition, but that one is a full size catalogue that is 40 pages of yummy stuff!

Want to see it all upclose and have a play?  I have TWO product launches to be held next week... there is a Saturday evening launch (8th September) at 7.30pm, and right now I have 3 spaces left available. Or for those that would prefer I have a second launch scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2pm (9th September).  The cost of the launches is $20, and you will make 3 gorgeous projects, receive both catalogues, refreshments and prizes. Launches are always fun affairs with everyone getting their hands on what is new and experiencing it for themselves. For more details or to book in please email me by clicking HERE.

I would love to see you at a launch... but if you cant make one then think about having your very own preview at your place with a few friends.  It really is that easy.. I'll bring everything. You just put the kettle on and buy a packet of Tim Tams. :-) (And yes, you still get a free catalogue for hosting a workshop or party)  I'll be back soon with new projects to show you. 


Happy New Catalogue!