Happy New Year!

Wishing you, my friends and family, near and far, all the best for 2008!
I'm off to bed now.....I can't stay awake any longer!
Hugs.....Katie

For my 80's Friends!

Ok, when I saw this t-shirt I just couldn't resist! I won't admit how many times I watched this movie when I was a teenager....but wow...what great memories! My sister and brother in law started singing "When Cameron was in Egypts land....let my Cameron go" when I first appeared with this on.....now that song is stuck in my head. I also wore this to the movies and had a few knowing smiles pass me as I walked around. Such fun!

Men are Just Happier People

Another funny email I received recently.......loved the bathroom one! So true!

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE - What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another petrol station toilet because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress £2000. Tux rental-£100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day holiday requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is £4.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes one colour for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in £20, even though it's only for £32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man will pay £2 for a £1 item he needs.
A woman will pay £1 for a £2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from M&S.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the bins, answer the phone, read a book, and get the post.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favourite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes.
There's no use in two people remembering the same thing .

The Humble Doorknob

Recently my parents home was broken into while they were away overseas. The person responsible for this also broke into several other homes in their suburb on same day. All the breaks ins were linked to this one guy as his "signature" was to take the doorknob. (Idiot!)

Anyway, my brother in law took on the job to secure the house once again by replacing the doorknob. The following paragraph is part of the email he sent to my parents regarding this matter :

"what price range are you looking for? The doorknob I bought today was $48. Do you want me to just by a cheap $25 knob, lock the front screen door and have the girls (meaning myself and my sister) access the house through the laundry room from now on and when you return from your sojourn, you can choose a lock set that represents you as a couple. Speaking for myself, I don't think I could let someone choose a door knob for me. It is the first thing someone touches when they enter your house. It really makes a strong impression. It can say "hi, I am brassy and happy" or "I am rustic with a antique patina" or "I am ultra-modern and minimalist, respect my simplicity." you get my point."

I choked on my breakfast at this point. So now when I go to someones house, I have a second look at their doorknob and think about what it might be saying to me!

Our Resident Lizard

We discovered this little lady living in our backyard last year, but I've never been fast enough with the camera to catch a picture. However, since our tomatoes started to ripen recently, she keeps appearing on the back step, eating whatever stray tomato comes her way. I'm guessing this is a HER as there are 2 baby lizards that sun themselves on the back step as well.

A Modern Gingerbread House

This is the first thing Christopher and I made to kick off the Christmas season this year....a gingerbread house. We have never made one of these before, so it was new to both of us. The gingerbread was already baked so the assembly and the decor was left to us. I let Christopher have free rein with the decoration, and I just added my little bits here and there....like the icicles and the roof icing pattern for example. Notice the pot plants and the mushroom garden in the left pic and the tall orange water tank, (what every Canberra home needs), in the right pic!

Freedom to Create

Recently I needed to create a 5x7 page to add to an album that is being put together for a friend who is about to have her 4th baby. As I made this page, I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom that comes with this hobby. I love that we are not bound by rules. If I want to add a few metal eyelets, then I will, if I want to dig out the sewing machine and do some stitching, then I'll do that too. I scrap based on what inspires me at the moment and what I enjoy using at the time. I've been digging through my old stash lately and have loved pulling out my tried and true favourites. I haven't used eyelets in years, but I think they add so much to such a little project. Each of those little pockets hold a quote/verse on motherhood, marriage and friendship. Anyone about to have their 4th baby needs a little (ok....maybe a lot) of support and encouragement from friends and family!
Stampin Up products used: cardstocks, inks, clear embossing powder, crystal effects, dazzling diamonds, stamp sets Simply Said, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Expressive Flexible Phrases and Classic Alphabet. The patterned paper is LilyKate - Basic Grey.

Summer Mini and Card Class

Well the silly season is in full swing now, and if you're like me you're probably only a short way through your list of things to have ready by December 24th. The Christmas tree is up and the gingerbread house is made, but that's as far as I've achieved.

I thought I'd give you some Christmas pressie ideas for those of you struggling through your shopping list. The Stampin Up catalogue is FULL of small FUN stocking stuffers, like ink pads, buttons, punches, or ribbon. A Hodge Podge metal embellishments set would look great under the Christmas tree too! If you're still looking for the right gift for YOURSELF or someone you know, have a look at the catalogue (its online if you don't have one) and order something fun. I suggest having all orders to me by the 13th of December, just to make sure your gift arrives before Christmas. Gift vouchers are also available!

Just to entice you a little more is the SUMMER MINI catalogue that has just been released this month. If you'd like a copy of one of these mini catalogues, send me an email with your address and I'll get one in the mail to you. You can view it online as well. In true Stampin Up style, its full of some really pretty stamp sets, new papers and ribbon.

There is a SPECIAL 10% DISCOUNT to those who would like to sign up as a Stampin Up demonstrator, valid until the end of February. I'm also offering a FREE SIMPLY SAID STAMP SET (see previous post below) to anyone who signs up as a demonstrator with me, until the end of December 2007. I'd LOVE to have you join in the fun of being a SU demonstrator and being part of my small team of lovely ladies who love stamping as much as you do. Please give me a call if this is something you'd like to do.

I just want to say my sincere thanks those who participated in the All in the Family campaign last month. You've made this charitable effort a great success. Stampin' Up! worldwide sold 7,538 All in the Family sets. All of the proceeds received from the campaign have gone directly into a fund dedicated to helping Dave Abbot's family. Dave was Stampin Up!'s general
manager who passed away in October due to a rare blood disease. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of Dave's wife and three children during this holiday season.

I have one more Christmas card class to offer those of you who need to get some cards made quickly. Its on Thursday Dec. 13th, starting at 7:30pm. Please come along to my home and make 10 cards, 5 of 2 different styles. With these cards you'll be watercolouring and using the markers. The cost is $20 for the 10 cards & envelopes. All supplies are included in this price.
The colours used in the class may vary from the picture as I'll be using the Holiday Thyme paper which comes in 12 different patterns. Please email or call me if you'd like to book yourself in for this class.

Looking ahead to January & February.....Sale-a-bration is happening again, so look at your diaries and book your workshop!! You don't want to miss out on a gorgeous free stamp set that anyone can have with a $100 order. Its a sale not to be missed!

FREE Simply Said Stamp Set

I forgot to post the 4 projects we made at the Stampin Up event in Sydney the other weekend. So sorry! We made 2 cards, 1 mini scrapbook page and an accordian style card/book. I love how these colours are a bit unusual together, yet so vibrant. We used only the Simply Said stamp set, and one other stamp from the Quick Thinking. I've used these stamps many times in my workshops yet I'd forgotten how many other ways you can use them.
My favourite new technique being: stamp the solid pointed flower and only just lift it off the page before turning it slightly and stamp again on top of the first image. Its the one in the round metal rimmed tag in the bottom left corner of the first photo. So simple yet so pretty....I'll be doing that again!

Sooooooooo....in celebration of this gorgeous stamp set, I'm going to offer a FREE SIMPLY SAID STAMP SET to anyone who signs up as a Stampin' Up demonstrator with me, until the end of December 2007. I'd LOVE to have you join in the fun of being a SU demonstrator and being part of my small team of lovely ladies who love stamping as much as you do.
You remember those new year resolutions you make every year, the ones that involve having more time for yourself to do what you love most......the ones that are usually forgotten by February? Why not make it happen this time??!!? WHY NOT? If you think your "not creative enough", I want you to know that there is a HUGE number of resources available to demonstrators, so there is never a lack of ideas and techniques to learn and show your friends and family. If you're worried about not having time to do workshops around the Christmas/school holiday time, you don't need to worry about that as your first quarterly minimum of $500 isn't due until the end of March, even if you join tomorrow. So, please think about and give me a call. Make YOUR new year one to remember and one to be proud of!!!

Pocket Fun

I've been playing with a stamp set called Pocket Fun as I've needed a few kids cards lately. I was inspired by the Stampin Up design team (what a job!!...There are blokes behind some of the projects in that SU catalogue!!) who were here from the USA last weekend in Sydney. I also have a workshop in December where the theme is children's cards, so I'm experimenting with different looks for that as well. I really liked this one so I'm in the middle of making a dozen of them. I'll move onto a more girly card next to keep in my stash.

Holiday Thyme

Just wanted to show you what I've been making with the gorgeous Stampin Up Holiday Thyme Designer Paper that is only available till December 15th. Its so easy to throw a card together with these papers as they match well with the popular christmas colours. Click on the photo if you want to see them a bit bigger.

Card Swap

Just came back from Sydney where I attended a Stampin Up conference. There were about 100 demonstrators from around NSW/ACT who attended. LOTS of card swaps were happening amongst us demonstrators, which is such a fun way to get new ideas. Here's the card I made to swap. I used the Holiday Thyme paper that is only available until December 15th, All Year Fun and All Year Cheer 1 stamp sets and lots of watercolouring and sponging....with some faux stitching on the boarders.

I went to Sydney with my friend and downline, Tanya. Here is a pic of her gorgeous card, which is also a sneak peak to what is coming soon. I had a great weekend with Tanya & her family. Before heading home on Sunday, we visited the Taronga Zoo. I've never been there before and was blown away by its location, which held some amazing views of Sydney. I took tons of pics which I hope to put into a mini album one day....after I do the mini album of my HK/London/Paris trip and all the other projects I dream of doing and hopefully acheiving in the coming months.

Calendar Time

Last weekend was my calendar class. This class is not for the faint hearted as its a lot of work.....everybody was finished by midnight.....which I think is a little earlier than last year's calendar. I always use the 6x6 desktop size for this Christmas gift....and all products are from Stampin Up. Here are some of the supplies we used: Petals & Pailseys Designer paper and matching cardstock, circle, spiral and corner rounder punches, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Expressive Flexible Phrases, Lexicon of Love and Polka Dots and Petals, and Collage Alphabet stamp sets, silver brads and chipboard.

Ahoy Matey!

Christopher received this birthday invitation in the mail yesterday.....simply gorgeous! Makes me want to buy this set now. Wonder if I can convince Christopher to have ANOTHER Pirate birthday party next year? This invite was made by my friend Gab and she used the Ahoy Matey set with the Jumbo Matey's Map wheel. LOVE it!

Stampin' Up November Promotions and Newsletter

I'm really excited to tell you that Stampin' Up has 2 promotions this month, one is designed to assist in your preparations for the Christmas season and the other is to help a family who has just lost their dad/husband. Sadly, the Australian General Manager for Stampin Up, David Abbott, died a couple weeks ago due to a rare blood disease. I was lucky enough to have met him a few times and even stamped with him once and I was very impressed at how much he knew about stamping, for a bloke! He was very active in training us new demonstrators last year and taught us fun techniques that I have since passed on to you. Stampin' Up has set up a fund for his beautiful family and if you purchase this super cute "All in the Family" stamp set, EVERY cent goes to his family. My special offer to you this month is that if you want to purchase this set of 28 stamps, you'll only need to pay the demonstrator price, which is 20% off the full price. ($59.15 + shipping & handling) Please have all orders to me by November 29th. The All in the Family stamp set will be available in the 2008-2009 Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalogue, but it will be at its regular price of $73.95.


If you have used the "In Colours" this year then you'll LOVE the Holiday Thyme Designer Paper that is only available this month and until December 15th. Its full of the Cranberry Crisp and True Thyme colours with splashes of Bashful Blue. I've ordered some for myself, and will put some cards together to offer you ideas as well as a card class. I'll send you another email once I've had a chance to play!!

Just a reminder that the SPRING MINI Catalogue expires at the end of November, so please have all orders to me by November 29th. I'm sure there will be something you'd like to put under the Christmas tree for yourself this year!

And.....Its NOT too late to book a Christmas card workshop! I still have a few dates available, so give me a call and let's see what we can work out for you and your friends!

Happy Halloween

I know that Halloween isn't really celebrated in Australia, but its a day that Christopher & I like to enjoy in our own little way. Last year I made his class at school "grub cakes", cupcakes with gummy worms coming out of the dirt (cookie crumbs). This year its spiders!

Garden Gnomes

While visiting Floriade recently, Christopher and I viewed the entries in the Garden Gnome competiton. Christopher was so inspired by these gnomes that as soon as we arrived home, he dug out his clay and made half a dozen mini gnomes to live in our tomato plants. Each gnome has a different personality and a different plant to take care of. Our tomato plants are growing really well, so obviously the gnomes are doing a great job!

Canberra Great Strides Walkathon for CF

Christopher and I are walking in the Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis Walkathon this Sunday October 21st, around Lake Ginninderra. This walk is being held nationally to raise money for CF. I have come to learn about CF through our dear friends Gab, Anthony and their son Conor who has CF. We'd love to have as many people join in the walkathon so please come and join us on Sunday morning. If you can't make it and would still like to contribute, there is a donation page set up that generates tax deductable receipts when you click on Conor's name above.

Just want to add a note that $11,000 was raised on this day for CF. YAY!!
Thanks everyone who helped make this day a lot of fun and such a success. See you next year!

A Plug for an old Friend

This movie, The Seeker came out in Australia on October 4th. I haven't been to see the movie yet as its been school holidays, but with Christopher back at school tomorrow, it's at the top of my to-do list. The director, David Cunningham, is an old friend of mine from waaaaaaay back when we were teenagers living in Kona, Hawaii. The last time we caught up with each other was in Singapore about 16 years ago when we were both travelling through Asia. He was just beginning his studies in the film industry. David had such big dreams then, and its just so cool to see where his dreams have taken him. If you saw "The Path to 9/11" last year on TV, (around the September 11th anniversary time) that was his work as well. I wish him all the best with this movie and look forward to seeing what else he directs in the future.

To Do

I was inspired to jazz up my work area with these wooden letters the other day. You can buy these letters in plain white at a gorgeous shop called The Style Emporium in Gold Creek Village, Canberra. As my file folders and binders on my computer desk are orange and red, I stuck to these colours as I altered these simple little words. I really like the way they look now. The message on the "o" is: Do more than exist, LIVE. Do more than touch, FEEL. Do more than look, OBSERVE. Do more than read, ABSORB. A great message to read daily.

October Stampin Up Special & Newsletter

I visited Floriade last week and I ooooohed and aaaaahed over all the beautiful colours of the flowers this year. The reds, pinks and yellows were so pretty together. My favourite combination was this one: Purple, white and green. I had a Christmas workshop on the following day and decided to use this colour combination for a Christmas card. I used Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. It was a pretty card and I liked that it was a little different from the usual green and red colours associated with Christmas. Another place I look to for new colour combos, besides the Stampin Up Colour Coach, is children's clothing. Check out my son's t-shirt and the card I made in the same colours. I'd LOVE to see what colour combinations you come up when you make a card, so take a picture and email it to me!

Please have a look this Stampin Up special for October. When you purchase the "Looks Like Spring" stamp set (page 67 in the catalogue) and the coordinating Spring Bouquet Flower punch (page 140) then you receive the matching Spring Showers or Spring Flowers Designer Series Double Sided Paper (page 133) for FREE (valued at $16.95). You can see 2 examples on the left using these 3 products together. This is a beautiful combination to purchase for yourself or for someone you know for Christmas. If you'd like to take advantage of this special, please have your order to me by October 30th.

I uploaded 250+ photos last week to Snapfish to have printed out. I'm eagerly awaiting their delivery as I can then put together the calendar class. (not using all those photos obviously!) For those of you planning on doing the calendar class, now is the time to go through your own photos and choose one (approx size 4x6) for each month of the year and have them printed off and ready.
In the meantime though, for those of you who are finding it hard to sit down and get started on your Christmas cards, I have an evening to offer you to jump start your card stack. On Saturday October 20th, starting at 7pm, you can come to my home and make 10 cards, 5 of 2 different kinds. One of the cards you'll combine 3 different stamp sets and add a little bling by simply using Dazzling Diamonds, and the other card you'll be able to use the Poinsettia Wheel that was available in last year's spring mini catalogue. Its a favourite of mine and it will get a lot of use this year. You can view these 2 cards if you scroll down to "Upcoming Christmas Card Class" below. The cost is $20 which includes the price of all materials used as well as envelopes (which can be stamped as well, if desired!). My table can only hold 6 people, so please send me an email or call me to book your place.

Let me know if you'd like to host your own Christmas workshop to help you and your friends get started on this years cards, and of course for you to take advantage of those fantastic hostess benefits!

A New Scrap Junkie

Congrats to Ainslee who just moved her business, Scrap Junkie, from her home to a beautiful shop on the lakefront in Gungahlin, Canberra.

You can find Scrap Junkie at:

The Waterfront

59a Strayleaf Crescent

Gungahlin ACT 2912

Birthday Time

Its was my son's 9th birthday today. Nine is great age to be. I love that Christopher still likes to hold my hand when we go for a walk. Love that he still wants lots of cuddles when he wakes up in the morning. Love that he secretly blows me a kiss (in front of his friends!) when I drop him at school each day. Love that he now teaches me how to do things on the computer. Love everything about this little guy. So lucky he's mine!
Here's a picture of the invites I made for his science themed party. Christopher's mind never stops creating, building, planning and dreaming up things to make, so we decided on a science theme so that his friends could enjoy making some different things too. The kids started off playing in Moon Sand, a sand that can be molded like playdough, and it never dries out. Great stuff! Then we made lava lamps, slime and set off a home made volcano. Tons of fun and the kids liked it too. I made the cake into the shape of a test tube and filled it with blue jelly. I had only just cleaned up from this party when Christopher, bless him, brought up the topic of what he'd like to do at his 10th birthday party........sigh.....

Katrina, making this cake with the jelly brought back memories of making a cake with you for Joel's 4th or 5th birthday where we used blue jelly and put a couple Wiggles figurines into a Lego boat and half buried some plastic fish in the jelly, then sprinkled cookie crumbs around the edges to look like sand. How cool was that! Wish I got a picture of it!

A pic from the Wedding

Ok Tanya, this one is for you. I've just been emailed a picture of myself, my sister and my neice at my brother's wedding. The pictures of us from my camera didn't turn out very well as I handed my camera over to someone with chronic camera shake.
Tanya is one of my "downlines" from Stampin Up. She has become a dear friend in such a short time, and is a constant source of inspiration for me.

I had Thailand on my mind today since hearing about the plane crash in Phuket. We've been lucky enough to have visited there a couple of times and have had wonderful holidays there. I'm really feeling for the families who have lost the people they love and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

I got out some photos last night of our times in Phuket and decided to scrap a few of them. This page was fun. I saw a class that Ainslee recently offered at Scrap Junkie about using beads on your pages. So I created my own chipboard accent, painted it then covered in Stampin Up Crystal Effects, sprinkled it with beads and tiny sea shells and even a starfish. I love the way it looks. I also painted my Making Memories chipboard alphabet, then covered them in sand and Crystal Effects again for a shiny finish. If you click on the photos, you'll see them closer up.

Colours

I've got to say that I think Australia has the BLUEST sky in the world. Its just beautiful! But....I think the UK holds the record for the GREENEST grass. I had forgotten how green, green can be.

Upcoming Christmas Card Class

I've had my head down putting together a class to help you all get started on your Christmas Cards for this year. I'm really trying to be organised and have my own done BEFORE December arrives. I'll advertise this upcoming class in my next newletter, when I have dates finalised. Its a class where you can make 5 of each of the cards showing. I'll then create another class where you can make another 5 of 2 different cards. But for now I'm concentrating on my son's 9th birthday party which is in 2 weeks. We've decided on a Science theme, so I'm busy planning science experiments for the kids to do....such as making slime and making a volcano with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda lava. I'll look for a lab coat and some wild hair that I could wear so that I look the part of a Mad Scientist or even a Potions Master (hehehe....aka....Severus Snape...although I'd need greasy black hair for that!) Just for a laugh, check out this amazing layout....especially if you're a HP fan.

A Layout from the HK Class

Just thought I'd show you one of the layouts I put together for the class I taught in Hong Kong. It had to be a stamp free page, as I couldn't take along my stamps. With all the shopping I wanted to do while I was there, the stamps would have added to the weight and taken up some very valuable space in my suitcase! I found it challenging to put my stamps aside and create something without them. Now that I'm home though, I'll probably add something with my stamps. It just seems a little naked without them!

It was a lot of fun teaching this class.....thanks Ange for organising it....and thanks again to Ange, Heidi, Merridy, Emma, Paula and Carla for giving me such a fun evening with you all! Love you ladies!