Part 2 of the Scrapbook Class

Today

Could a Sunday morning get any better than this?? Good friends, lots of laughs, delicious tea served in a beautiful tea pot and cup, champagne, & cupcakes. Ahhhhhh. Note to self: Do this more!!!

November Stampin' Up! Specials and Class

I'm so excited to bring you 2 Stampin' Up! promotions this month. This first one is my favourite! From November 10th till the 30th, you can buy the markers individually!!! Normally you can only buy these markers in a set of 12, so here's your chance to grab the colours you love so much! I know I'll be replacing some of the ones I've used the most over the past 2 1/2 years. Don't miss out on this special!! For more details please click on the above link, and please have all orders to me by noon on the 30th.

The next special is the Stampin Up Rub-Ons are 20% off from November 10th -30th. These make great gifts for the stamper and scrapper in your life...including yourself! More details are in the link. So again, please have all orders to me by noon on the 30th.

Just a reminder that the Spring Mini catalogue will be finishing at the end of November. If you don't have a copy of this little beauty, then email me your address and I'll get one in the mail to you. If want to look at it right now, then just click here to view it online. And again, I need to have all orders by noon on the 30th.

Finally I've finished the first of 2 beginner level scrapbook page classes. In this class you'll be making 6 pages, that are 6"x6" in size. In the previous years I have held calendar classes. This will replace that class, but these pages are designed to fit the Stampin Up 6"x6" Desktop Calendar, or they will fit perfectly into a 6"x6" album. Both are wonderful Christmas gifts or just to keep for yourself. To view the remainder of the scrapbook pages, scroll down a bit. The date for this class: Thursday November 27th, starting at 7:30pm. The cost is $30 which includes all materials used to make these 6 pages. You don't need to have your pictures with you on the night, you can always add them after the pages are complete. Places are limited so please contact me ASAP to book your place at my craft table. Another 6 pages will follow in December, so that you'll have enough pages to fill a calendar. class is now full.

Too Cute to Cook

I love shirts with sayings...this is my favourite one I pull out when I want to get out of making dinner.

More Waterfall Cards

I made these waterfall cards for a swap and for my immediate downlines late the other night. You're looking at a sneak peek as to what is coming soon too......for more details on how to make a waterfall card, scroll down to the first one I made as a baby girl card below. I'm loving the groovy gauva and chocolate chip colours together.....let me know what you think!

Upcoming Scrapbook Class

Here is a peek at the upcoming scrapbook class. This is aimed at beginner level but experienced scrappers might enjoy whipping up a few quick pages too. The pages are 6 x 6 size and can be made into a calendar or just inserted into an album. I'm trying to find dates to do this class and it will be in my newsletter later today.

My Owl

I'm totally in love with this owl from the Celebrate Everyday Stamp set. I find I'm using him over and over again for all kinds of different cards. On this one I've paired him with the Artfully Asian Set using watercolour paper. I finished him off with a bit of Crystal Effects on his eyes, but that didn't show up in the photo.

Time to Play

I've had a bit more wind beneath my wings lately, so I've been having tons of fun creating scrapbook pages again. Not that I have never enjoyed creating those, but as you know they're a bit more work than creating cards. So, I just thought I'd share with you what I got up to the other day.
I've always love twill....all colours, all widths and was spoiled for choice while living in Hong Kong. I've got plenty of Stampin' Up's twill in my stash too, so I started to play around it and I'm LOVING the result!

Firstly I dug out some letter stickers and stuck them to to the twill, pressing them down hard so no corners were sticking up. Then I mixed some real red ink refill with some water and brushed my twill with it until it was covered, then left it to dry.





After it was dry, I carefully removed the stickers, and my verse stuck out from the twill beautifully.

I also heat embossed a Jenni Bowlin chipboard butterfly, (which I bought from my dear friend Ainslee at Scrap Junkie) with the Stampin Up En Francais background stamp and inked over top with more real red ink. I added some of Stampin Up's clear buttons and put it together.

The end result! This page design is from one of my scrapbook idols Nia Reddy's pages I saw and sketched down on a scrap piece of paper a couple of years ago. I only just found the sketch tucked away in one of my many idea books.....and I still loved it.

Check This Out!

This FREE online class looks great, too good to keep to myself! I'm SOOOO doing it! "You don’t have to be a scrapbooker, just a person with stories to tell." This class is for everyone! For more info and registration for the class, check out Jessica Spague's website.

Waterfall Card

I've had a few workshop themes lately that involved making cards that were different from the usual fold in half piece of carstock. I've got to say that I've had a TON of fun experimenting with different card folds and gift box ideas. My favourite so far is this Waterfall Card. With my friend Tanya just having her baby, I couldn't wait to try out this card for her! Its a lot easier than it looks! You pull down where the ribbon is, and the card flaps, flip up and over.....and then the card message is hidden under all the flaps. Does that make sense???

The instructions on how to make this type of card are here.

October Stampin Up Special & Newsletter

October is here and Stampin' Up! is bringing you a fabulous Birthday Promotion. When you spend $20 on regular catalogue merchandise, you receive any of the stamps sets below with a 20% discount. Birthday cards are one of the most popular reasons for sending a card; everyone needs a birthday set (or two!) to be ready for the occasion. There is no limit to the number of sets you can purchase below after you have found your initial $20 to spend from the main catalogue. You can view the details of this promotion when you click here, and please have all orders to me by noon on October 31st.


Another special is valid FROM OCTOBER 4-11th only, you can purchase the Simply Sent kits at 20% off! (You can see these kits on pages 12-14 in the main catalogue). This is a great time to buy them for your stamping friend or family for Christmas or just to treat yourself! This is a fantastic deal, so please have your orders to me by noon on the 11th.

I have another Christmas card class to offer you, but before I give you the details, I just want to say how much I've enjoyed catching up with so many of you in these classes. Its such a fun night for me to have you over. There is usually LOTS of good conversation and laughs. And please know that what is said at my craft table - STAYS at my craft table!!!
I'm holding this class on Saturday October 25th and Thursday October 30th. Both classes start at 7:30pm and you'll be making 10 cards, 5 each of the 2 designs below. The cost is $20, which includes the envelopes and all supplies used in this class. Please email or call me to book your place in either of these classes.

Class update: Both classes are now full. I'm trying to organise another night for this class. Let me know if you're interested!

I'm still planning on holding a couple 6x6 scrapbook page classes for those of you who are interested in putting together a calendar or just to have some beautiful memories on some pages. I'm a bit behind in preparing these as I my usually quiet social life has been bombarded with visitors. My lovely sister and her kids were here for the last week of term and part of
the school holidays, and now my best friend from Hong Kong has arrived with her kids for the remainder of the holidays....with my son's birthday squeezed into the middle of that. So please know I haven't forgotten about this class, I'm just taking a little longer to get it ready. If this is something you are interested in doing, would you mind letting me know. It would just help me to know if I need to prepare for a full class or just for a few people. Thank you!

Congratulations Tanya!

My lovely friend and downline, Tanya, had a beautiful baby girl 3 weeks ago. Her name is Georgia. I've only just got to meet her yesterday and have a cuddle. I was one of the lucky ones who saw her awake. Apparently she is a fabulous sleeper! (lucky for some) Welcome Georgia and congratulations Brenden & Tanya! Post edited on 3 October.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day dad! I sent my dad the second card for Father's Day and the top card I put together for a workshop. I bought the Dad's Day stamp set months ago, hoping that I'd be ready for Father's day this year. The details of card follows:

Card #1: Dad's Day stamp set, Bravo Burgandy, Handsome Hunter inks and Bravo Burgandy, Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow & Naturals Ivory cardstock. Also the Rough Texture wheel with Bravo Burgandy ink was used and the brads and ribbon slide was from the HodgePodge Hardware. Card based on a sketch I have - one of my favourite and most versatile ones. I used this gorgeous colour combination for my Christmas cards last year.

Card #2: Dad's Day stamp set and Sanded background stamp, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss and Night of Navy inks. Mellow Moss, Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla and Kraft cardstock. Hat pin and beads are from the Pretties Kit. Ribbon is the Kraft Taffeta and Moss Gingham. Based on another fun card sketch.

Stampin' Up! September Special and More Christmas Card Classes

Happy Spring everyone!
It's so nice to feel the warmer weather again! I love the feeling of new beginnings that spring brings us each year. My camera and I need to get out more and capture some of the beauties before they're gone.

To launch you into spring, Stampin' Up! has a special called "Free Wheelin". When you purchase a preselected stamp set, you'll receive the coordinating wheel for FREE. There are 6 preselected stamp sets in this special, and they're all gorgeous! You can see what stamp sets they are and more details about this special when you click this link. If you want to add some free wheels to your supply, then please have all orders to me by September 30.

The August Christmas card classes were tons of fun and it was a great way to catch up with so many of you. I've put together another Christmas card class to keep the momentum up for the approaching season. The dates for this class are Thursday September 18th, starting at 7:30pm, and Saturday September 20th, also starting at 7:30pm. In this class you'll make 10 cards, 5 of each design. As you might be able to see in the close up picture, you'll be doing some gold embossing (the Season's Greetings/trees card), followed by some fun shading with the Stampin' Up! Pastels. Embossing is really easy, so please don't be deterred by that word. This would be a great opportunity for you to try it out! On the 2nd card (the pine cone/branch card) you'll be layering with colours as well as using the Stampin' Write Markers. The cost is $20 which includes all supplies used in the class, including envelopes (which you can stamp to match your card). Please email or call me soon to book your seat for either class.

Please keep in mind that I can run classes for your group of friends and for craft groups that can't make it to my pre scheduled class times. Just contact me and we'll work something out for your group.

The Spring Mini Catalogue has been a HUGE hit Australia wide. If you haven't checked it out yet, have a look online or email me your address and I'll pop one in the mail to you. The mini is valid until the end of November.

My Journaling Journey

I'm doing an online journaling workshop everyday this month with Big Picture Scrapbooking.com. LOVING IT! Journaling is something I've always struggled with. I've kept gratitude journals and "daily dialogue" journals on and off for 10 years as writing has helped me through painful & lonely times and through the changes in my life. I recently read through my old journals and was encouraged at how far I'd come in those 10 years, and yet in other ways, how SO very far I have to go. I could tell when I was having a bad day as the only things I could be grateful for were my baby's smile, our health and good weather. Not that those things aren't important, because I'm still extremely grateful for each of those things. Although now....I LOVE wet, cold miserable winter days that keep me inside a warm, comfortable house.

I've been given so many opportunities to see the beauty and the horrors in this world. I have some photographs to assist in the memories, but most of the stories are stuck inside my mind as I don't feel I can do the stories justice on paper. Hence my decision to do the journaling workshop! I receive journaling prompts each day, which I write about, while learning about excerpt journaling and vignette journaling. Its only the first week and I can't wait to receive my email about my next writing assignment. Todays journalling prompt was "the back door". Lots to write about there!

As demonstrators, we are regularly given stamping ideas from the head office in Sydney and in America. Its a valuable tool in helping us get ideas of what we can show our customers and in planning our workshops. The above card is one of those cards they gave us and its using Circle of Friendship stamp set, which I don't have. The style and simplicity of this card grabbed me though. I just thought I'd share what I came up with using this as a template, and several of my stamp sets. (stamp sets are Priceless, Seeing Spots, Boho Backgrounds and Big Bold Birthday)

Away with the Birds

This is the bird I mentioned in my newsletter below. It's part of the Always stamp set in the Spring Mini. Pretty isn't it?! Well....this bird just said "emboss me", so thats what I did in a few different ways. The green bird in the middle/top is first inked in old olive, then rock-n-rolled in taken with teal and stamped on whisper white. I then stamped over the top, using the stamp-a-ma-jig with Versamark and heat set it with clear embossing powder. The 2 other white birds sitting in the middle were just stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder. The last bird on the lower right was first stamped in soft sky, then again with Versamark and heat embossed with several layers of clear embossing powder. I liked the way they all turned out. I'll have to play some more and show you pictures of the finished card.

August Classes and The Spring Mini Has Arrived!

I've got some winter cheer to share with you. Check out Stampin'Up!'s new Spring Mini Catalogue! It's full of new & beautiful stamps, paper, ribbon and accessories. I have so many favourites in this mini (the Always set with a gorgeous bird and beautiful heart and the Celebrate Everyday set has the cutest Owl!) so choosing what I REALLYwanted was difficult. A bonus with all the stamp sets in this mini is that they are all die cut, which means there is no cutting needed. You just pop them out, stick them to the correct wooden blocks and apply the sticker.....too easy!! Check it out for yourself when you click on the link above or send me an email with your address and I'll pop the mini in the mail to you.

I've got a class to offer you and this time its more of a Stamp-a-Stack (SAS) rather than concentrating on a new technique (although I'm sure you'll learn something with these cards). With Christmas sneaking up on us, I've put together a class using 2 NEW Christmas stamp sets (as well as some of the new Designer Series Paper, Holiday Harmony) from the above mentioned Spring Mini Catalogue. As I'm quite booked up with workshops on weekends, and due to the numbers interested in getting started on Christmas cards, I'm offering this class on 2 different evenings, Thursday August 14th and Thursday August 28th. Both classes will start at 7:30 PM. In this class you'll make 10 cards, 5 of each design. The cost is $20 and that includes all materials used and envelopes. If you're interested in attending either night, email or call me to book your place ASAP.
(Update 6/8/08: both classes are now full. Will post on here if any spaces become available, so please check back or let me know if you're interested in attending)

The Stampin' Up! Promotion this month is the New Demonstrator Starter Kit price being reduced to $299, but only until August 15th. Remember, you can customise this starter kit to suit your style. Click the link for more details and please call me if you're interested in joining my lovely team of ladies who love stamping as much as you do!

Looking ahead: There will be another 2 Christmas card classes in September, with 2 new cards to make, just to keep your card supply growing. There will also be 6x6 scrapbook page classes coming in October and November. This will replace the previous years Calendar class, as you can make the 6x6 scrapbook pages and attach them to a calendar yourself and give as a Christmas present, or keep them for you to enjoy.

If you're interested in hosting your own Christmas workshop and jump starting you and your friends into the crazy season, then contact me soon as dates are filling up fast!!