Mediterranean Achievers Blog Hop.... Med Cruise Highlights!

I've already shown you a few of my recent Mediterranean Cruise photographs, but of course there are so many that I haven't shown you yet!  And this months Achievers Blog Hop provides me with another opportunity to show you some of the AWESOME holiday that we recently enjoyed courtesy of Stampin'Up!  (If you'd like to see some of my other highlight pics you can see them HERE, and HERE)

Firstly I want you to know that this is not just showing off for the sake of showing off!  I completely and honestly believe that ANYONE can achieve these trips with Stampin'Up!  Thats not just words... its the truth. And this is from someone that has earned 9 trips to date.  I remember how it started for me.... I saw other demonstrators getting up on stage to receive the honour of earning the trip, and I thought... if they can do it.... why cant I?  From that moment I decided I wanted to go on trips too, and that was it!

Yes, its work. But when you love what you do, you don't really care. I've always been very determined to earn the trips, and also very sure that I could do it.  A couple of times I had other life stuff going on, and so it took me longer. A couple of times it was down to the wire, and only got there by the skin of my teeth.... but what is cool is that Stampin'Up treat everyone that earns a trip equally. Whether you earn it first, or at the last minute, we all earn the same trip. And other demonstrators cheer you on!  I love the community of demonstrators that I work closely with!

So if you see others going on the trip, and wish it was you... why not???  You just need to be determined AND consistent, but I promise that it can be done.  This time in Europe we had quite a number of first time achievers.... and every time there are new people who make the trip.  Of course, once they've been, and seen how amazing these trips are, they are keen to be there again!  Personally, I don't ever want to miss one!

So this month, seeing as you've already seen many of my "highlights"... I thought I'd show you some Project Life pics that I've been adding to my 2016 album since I returned... of course there are still lots to do, but here are just a few of my favourites :-)  And there are certainly other highlights... but here's just a few! (With one of my personal highlights this year being the fact that Paul and I travelled TOGETHER for the first time... both travelling from the same country!)

Day 1-2... The Trip over and Arriving in Barcelona

Day 5 in Pompeii:

And of course.. PILLOW GIFTS are always a highlight!

Need more motivation?  Click on the links from the other achievers below who have chosen to be part of this month's blog hop!  I know you will enjoy seeing the Mediterranean through their eyes!

Video Tutorial: Making an Elegant card with the Detailed Floral Thinlit dies from Stampin'Up!

How beautiful is the new Floral Boutique Suite from Stampin'Up!  I love it all!  But today I am focussing on the Detailed Floral Thinlit dies...... they are deceptively easy to use, and make you look very clever indeed!

The card you see here is actually super-simple. When I posted it on my Insta account, it got way more "likes" than I usually receive on one of my cards. I think that's because of the gorgeous intricate design. Here I paired it with a Silver Satin ribbon, and that really was all it needed!

If you'd like to see how easy it is to make your own, click on the video link below....

Here are the products from the Floral Boutique suite...


Product List

Detailed Floral Thinlits Dies [141482] $49.00	Floral Phrases Wood-Mount Bundle [142354] $83.50	Floral Phrases Clear-Mount Bundle [142355] $72.00
Floral Boutique Designer Series Paper [141663] $19.25	Floral Boutique Designer Washi Tape [141664] $8.75	Night Of Navy Solid Baker's Twine [141684] $5.25
Floral Phrases Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141764] $44.00	Floral Phrases Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141767] $31.00

How lovely are these framelits from the Flourishing Phrases bundle?

I needed a quick but elegant card this afternoon, and this is what i came up with!  I just knew i would love the framelits from the "Flourishing Phrases" bundle, and i was right!  This is just a piece of silver foil paper cut with 2 of the framelits set, mounted onto a simple card, and a sentiment added. And yet, its beautiful because of that gorgeous curved flourish design. I love it!

Here are the deets if you would like to purchase your own: (of course you are welcome to purchase the framelits on their own if you don't want the bundle!)

Product List

Flourishing Phrases Wood-Mount Bundle [142322] $120.50	Flourishing Phrases Clear-Mount Bundle [142323] $101.50	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock [141419] $14.00
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $12.25	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $7.00	Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits [135707] $41.00
A Little Foxy Designer Series Paper Stack [141637] $17.50	Flourish Thinlits Dies [141478] $49.00

More Stamps Please! An awesome deal for June!

Don't you just love a great deal? I do!

Its no secret that the very best deal with have is the Demonstrator Kit. At only $169 for $235 worth of products of your choice, its a fantastic deal at any time. But right now in June, its an even better bargain.... for only $169 you will receive that same $235 worth of products PLUS you get to choose ANY 2 STAMP SETS on top of the kit, at no extra charge!  Depending on which sets you choose out of our new catalogue, that could be worth quite a lot to you!

Plus when you consider that Stampin'Up allows you to earn extra income doing what you love, and can help you put extra dollars in your pocket... we are talking about something very special.

I can tell you that after nearly 10 years as a demonstrator with Stampin'Up! that they are an awesome company to work for and with.  I love being a demonstrator, and it has brought so much into my life - friends, creativity, travel (just to mention a few) - that I cant imagine my life without it!

If you like the sound of this and would like to find out more please CONTACT ME.  Or perhaps you've been a demonstrator before and have been waiting for the right time to join SU again... well now is the time!

Don't forget that this offer expires at the end of June, so contact me soon!!

Last calls for the Floral Boutique Class

I still have a couple of spots left in my Floral Boutique classes this week.  I have several spots available in the Tuesday evening class, and just 1 or 2 spots left in the Wednesday daytime class. Here are the details:

Floral Boutique Suite
Dates:
Tuesday 21st June @ 7.30pm
or 
Wednesday 22nd June @ 11am

Cost is $25 OR if you purchase the Floral Boutique bundle then your class is free.  Classes are held on the Central Coast, NSW. 

Click HERE to RSVP!

MKPLSU June Blog Share - Hello Lovely Project Life Kit

I've been so excited about the new catalogue Project Life Kits!  I love them all, but have to say that my early favourite is the beautiful "Hello Lovely" card kit and co-ordinating Accessory pack.

Here are the cards:

and the accessory kit:

The cards in this kit are simply gorgeous! They feature hand-painted designs in soft colours that are easy to work with.  I found they worked particularly well with outdoor shots.  So they were a great choice for many of my recent European trip photos.  I also added some small pieces from the matching accessory kit, and a touch of gold glimmer here and there to highlight some of the photos.

Even though I didn't want to come back from this years Stampin'Up incentive trip, one thing I WAS looking forward to was being able to document the trip with Project Life.  For this post I chose to document part of the day the ship docked at Naples, Italy.   We spent that day with several UK demonstrator friends (Amanda Fowler, Liz Shannon and Pip Todman - plus their husbands) as we explored Pompeii, and then the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius.  It was truly an amazing day, and I was so grateful to Amanda for organising the excursion.  It was an honour to be along for the ride!

Certainly the memories will last a lifetime, and I am so glad to have these photos to document the occasion.  You'll be seeing some more Project Life pages of our trip, so make sure you check back to see what else we got up to. :-)

In the meantime, we have some other amazing inspiration from the MKPLSU design team.  Click on their names below to see what they have done with the "Hello Lovely" kit this month!  I think you'll be impressed!!!

Sandra Korten - The Netherlands

Delys Cram - New Zealand

Julie Kettlewell - UK

Anna Pickering - UK

Constanze Wirtz - Germany

Caroline Van der Straaten - The Netherlands

Tina Gillespie - Australia

Janet Wakeland - USA

Another Catalogue Launch creation with Flourishing Phrases

Ready for another peek at the Catalogue Launch projects??  As I have mentioned previously, I simply adore the Flourishing Phrases Bundle.... both the stamps and the framelits are just gorgeous!  This time I've used "Mint Macaron" and Gold (with just a touch of the new "Dapper Denim") to create a soft but elegant card.

If you'd like to come along to the Catalogue Launch it is being held today (June 18th) at 2pm. There are still some spots left and you are very welcome to attend! Cost is $20 and you will make several projects, plus enjoy prizes, giveaways and afternoon tea as well as great company (Im just a little biased!).  Click HERE to RSVP and let me know you'll be joining us! 

Here is a look at the products I've used to create this card:

Product List

Flourishing Phrases Wood-Mount Bundle [142322] $120.50	Flourishing Phrases Clear-Mount Bundle [142323] $101.50	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock [138344] $14.00
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [138326] $11.50	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock [141419] $14.00	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] $11.50
Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock [106550] $15.75	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $58.00	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $7.00
Gold 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Natural Trim [141484] $12.25	Metallic Enamel Shapes [141678] $12.25

TGIF Challenge card - Moroccan Nights stamps and matching DSP!

Its been quite a while since I entered a challenge and I came across this one on Instagram and thought I'd give it a go.  I simply adore the new Moroccan Nights stamp set and matching Moroccan Designer Series Paper.... it is completely divine. The patterns carry me away to dreams of mosaics and tiles and pots.  Just so lovely to work with!

Here is the sketch that I used to design this card:

To see more cards using this sketch (or to find more challenges) visit the TGIF challenge site HERE.

This card is one of the creations we will be making at my NEW CATALOGUE LAUNCH on Saturday 18th June @ 2pm.  To book yourself a spot at the launch click HERE and let me know! For more information about the launch click HERE.

Still spots left for my New Catalogue Launch on Saturday!

If you would like to see what's new in the world of Stampin'Up (and there is a LOT!) then you will really enjoy my New Catalogue Launch this coming Saturday afternoon.  We will be making several projects with brand new products and there will also be prizes, giveaways and of course afternoon tea and good company!  And of course you'll get a new catalogue of your very own :-)

Here are the details....

Saturday 18th June
2 - 4ish
at My house on the Central Coast (address details supplied on booking)
All materials supplied
Cost is $20.

If you'd like to be part of it, just RSVP by clicking HERE.  Numbers are limited so make sure you let me know as soon as you can.

(Ps... Today's card is one I made at a workshop last weekend with the Foxy Friends stamp set... isn't it cute??)

The set I HAD to have... Flourishing Phrases from Stampin'Up!

Each time Stampin'Up! release a new catalogue I go through and look to see which sets and products I love. And each time some become favourites almost immediately.  I try to split my catalogue purchases between what I think my customers will love (and what will sell) and what I love just for me.  And today you get to see my No. 1 "must have" set.

You see, I am a sucker for flourishes. In fact there are a couple of beautiful flourish images in the new catalogue. But today I am showing off the one i was most drawn to... its called "Flourishing Phrases" and both the stamps and framelits immediately appealed to me.  It's one of the more expensive bundles in the catalogue but I didn't let that phase me LOL. Nope I just knew I needed to own it.  But the fact that I got most of it paid for with Hostess Benefits made it a no brainer :-)

Above you see the first card I made with it. Looking forward to making many many more :-)

Product List

Flourishing Phrases Wood-Mount Bundle [142322] $120.50

Flourishing Phrases Clear-Mount Bundle [142323] $101.50