I was tempted to call this post Fiddly Farty Flowers - we did these little rose type flowers at my June classes.  (Thank you to Lyn who showed me how to make them.)   I'll have some step by step pics in my July newsletter.  Sign up box at the top right there if you're not on my newsletter list and would like to join.

We had a couple of choices for our card ...   either a simple base like this one .....

Products: Confetti White cardstock base, Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, Leaves Sizzlit, Square Lattice embossing folder, 1" circle punch and one larger circle punch

Or we could add a little stamping, embossing and ribbon to the base like this ......

Products: Naturals Ivory base, Rose Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, leaves are from the bird builder punch, En Francais background stamp, the dotty embossing folder, pleated Blushing Bride ribbon

We had a bit of an 'open pantry' class so the ladies could raid the scraps box and use different colours if they'd like.  I loved this card that Mel put together using colours in the Brights range. The base is Shimmery White and you can just see the sparkle in the picture. 

I'll share our other flowers cards another day.  In July we've got Christmas In July classes happening.  A few spots left on the Tuesday night if you're keen to get an early start on some festive cards.  Details here. 

Today is the last day to get your free Reason To Smile stamp set with an order of $125.  Phone or email your order through before 9pm if you'd like to take up this offer. 

Have a super weekend and happy school holidays to anyone having those.  We're off to a Prep birthday party today so I'd best get gift wrapping! 

Cheers, Sue

Hello, hope you've had a lovely weekend.  Thought I'd share a couple of cards made with the Reason To Smile stamp set.  This set is free this month with an order of $125 or more.  Just a few more days to go on this promotion.

The base is Perfect Plum, and I've watercoloured the panel of watercolour paper with Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum and Real Red.  The Reason To Smile stamp is embossed in black.  I love the detailed images for embossing.

Here's another one - this time I've used Crumb Cake cardstock and some black to highlight.  The crimped piece and the black satin ribbon add a bit of contrast texture.

Phone or email if you'd like to place an order before the end of June to claim your free Reason To Smile stamp set.

CONGRATULATIONS

Newsletter ladies will know we had a hostess share that closed on Friday.  Congratulations to the 3 ladies whose names were drawn out for an item at 50% off - Cecile and Karen got a Simply Scored, and Gail got the Timeless Type alphabet.  Our hostess share ladies all got a Reason to Smile stamp set and $35 of free products.  I hope you have lots of fun with your products ladies.  Thanks for taking part in the hostess share.

Have a super week everyone!  On the count down til school holidays at our place.

Cheers, Sue

Having a very chilled out long weekend here.  The kids and I decided to do some watercolouring yesterday. 

I gave them aquapainters and a few drips of reinker, they picked their stamps and off we set.  Jack painted dinosaurs, Hannah painted flowers and I chose Four Frames.  (Trivia for the day: Found out at convention that this was the highest selling set in Aus/NZ last year.)   

I used Hannah's colours and she chose Real Red, Melon Mambo and Elegant Eggplant.  I sort of mucked up my original plan with my watercolouring (the colour bled out of the frame) so decided to just add a bit more water and go for a wash of colour.  (Tip: I added more colour on the outside of the frame and dragged it in so I had a bit more control.  Well sort of.) 

Was in experimental mode so opted for layering some torn cardstock for the base.

The scrap left once I punched the frame looked interesting so I decided to keep experimenting.  I tore it out and scrunched and sanded a scrap of Elegant Eggplant card to fit under it.  Hannah was using Creative Elements stamp set so I grabbed the butterfly from that and painted some ink on with an aquapainter.  It stamped a little blotchy but I ran a damp aquapainter over the butterfly and that disguised the blotchiness and any white edges.

For my base I used Melon Mambo cardstock and added score lines with my Simply Scored.  I sanded the front so that the score lines would show more and to take the 'crispness' off the base.

Not sure that I actually like the finished results but it was fun to have a play and try something different.  I'd show you the kids' cards but they ducked off half way to make a batch of biscuits so not finished yet.  (Hannah did a SUPER job of making the biscuits all on her own, including getting everything out except for a few things she couldn't reach at the top of the pantry,  using the mixer, following the recipe, measuring and weighing,  involving Jack and muttering the occasional "Seriously Jack" in an exasperated voice when he'd stir the egg with his finger or some such thing.  Ha ha.  She's getting so grown up.  I was very impressed and the biscuits were yummy.  Hmm in fact - might go have one now!) 

Hope you are having a fabulous fun weekend.   (A few spots left for class this week if you'd like some papercrafting fun in your evenings. Details here.)

Cheers, Sue

Something for everyone this month with some great new promotions from Stampin' Up Australia.

During June you'll receive this exclusive 'this month only' stamp set free with an order of $125

or

if you don't have a qualifying order you can purchase it

($35.95 wood mount or $28.95 clear mount.)

Have you got lots on your Autumn Mini or main catalogue wish lists?  This set is great for colouring or for embossing or for lots more.  And free is always nice.  Get in touch before the end of June if you'd like to place an order.

Here's a look at the stamp set. 

Something for hostesses too in June and July.  Extra freebies!!

Dates: 1 June - 31 July 2012

Details: During June and July, hostesses who hold a minimum $650 workshop will receive an additional $90 in hostess FREE merchandise dollars-that's in addition to the $100 they already receive for a $650 workshop!

Party Sales  $650

Hostess Benefits During Special   $190 to spend plus 1 item at 50% off

Party Sales  $800  

Hostess Benefits During Special   $220 to spend plus 2 items at 50% off

Party Sales $1000 

Hostess Benefits During Special $250 to spend plus 3 items at 50% off

Fabulous time to host a card making party at your place.  My June/July calendar is booking quickly so get in touch soon if you'd like to host a fun, relaxed, crafty party.  All your guests will make a card to take home. 

If you're not able to host a workshop - perhaps get together with a couple of friends and combine your orders then share the hostess benefits.  Lots to go round during June and July.

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Wow - just back from a few days away at the Stampin' Up Australia Convention for 2012 and what a fabulous way to recharge the batteries.   Now I know lots of you would love to see some pics and share some of the excitement so I've been busy this morning unloading my camera and phone.   (Much more fun than doing the dishes - ha ha!)

This year the event was held at the Canberra Convention Centre.    

Why do I love going to convention?

So many reasons - here are just a few ......

* Catching up with heaps of  my stamping friends - team mates, Think Ink team members, online friends, demonstrators I've gotten to know over the years and new people I've just met in Canberra.  Talking crafts and stamping and families and inks and life and craft tools and lots more. 

* Getting inspired creatively with all the fabulous presentations, display boards, tool tables - so so so many ideas I've come home busting to try.

* I always come home inspired with ideas for my personal life too - so many of the messages and ideas are relevant to so much more than crafts.  Stampin' Up really do such a wonderful job of encouraging people to reflect and reevaluate and prioritise. 

* The lovely Managers' Reception where we gather and chat with other ladies who are building teams.  Stampin' Up do a great job of spoiling us and making us feel rather special.  This year it was a surprise destination which turned out to be Parliament House - a very picturesque venue for our evening.  Nibblies, chatting, a presentation and we all went home with a beautiful gift - a brand new stamp set and a handcrafted frame.

* Products, products, products.  We always come home with a bunch of goodies.  This year we all got some stamp sets from the upcoming annual catalogue, and some DSP and fabric.  We could shop in Memento Mall for some goodies like bags and tops and umbrellas and what not.  And of course a highlight is always Prize Patrol time.  We all have a little coloured tag and if yours comes up on the screen you win a prize - forthcoming products.  This year the prizes were GORGEOUS.  I was lucky lucky lucky and won a beautiful butterfly stamp set and the brand new diagonal scoring plate.

* Saturday night is always a sparkly affair.  We all dash off after the general session finishes and get dolled up, then head back for a candle lit dinner.   I think SU dinners are about the only place where I don't feel like a complete dill taking a photo of my dinner - ha ha.  With all those scrapbookers and bloggers there was lots of snap snap snapping. 

* I loved sitting with some of my Think Ink team members (and my roomie Miriam.)  We had such a nice evening.  Don't the flowers look nice. 

Think Ink team pic .....

Waving a hi to Judy, Rachel, Toby and Tina - I loved sharing convention with you this year. 

My roomie Miriam - loved our late night chats. 

* Why else is Convention exciting????  The awards night - yay!   Rather sore hands with all the clapping for demonstrators who received sales, team building, leadership and community contribution awards. 

* I was excited to walk up on stage for a sales award, and for making it to 17th in the Australian Top 25 Demonstrator of the Year awards.  Stoked to see my team member Kylie at 23rd place along with a recruiting award (we gave you a big yay Kylie) and my upline Claire at 19th.  My team mates Genna, Kathryn and Elaine received sales awards too.  Lots of clapping for team members and for all our other demonstrator friends too.  I unloaded my camera and got a nice surprise to find a pic of me flitting across the stage - thanks to my friends who snapped that one!  (Was that you Rachel - thank you.)

* Another reason I LOVE convention is that we hear lots of exciting announcements.  I love hearing where the 2013 Convention and Incentive Trip are going to be held.

Care to join us in Brisbane in 2013?  Start saving, join our team - we'd love to have you along for the fun. 

You might possibly have heard the cheer when they announced that the Incentive Trip for 2013 is to .....

(Or the Stampin' Up mothership as one of my friends called it - ha ha, waving a hi Michelle!)

Lots of people setting goals and making plans to qualify for that one I bet.

Here's a little pic of my awards night loot ......  A big thank you to my lovely lovely customers, class gals and team members who helped me get these. 

Now all that was left was to cram everything back into the bags - yeeks! - and head off to the airport.

I had a fabulous time away but it was very nice to get home again to my gorgeous three.  Recharged, revitalised and ready for a new week.  Funny how a few days away helps us all appreciate each other even more.  A big thanks to John and the kids for jiggling and juggling and making it work for me to be away. 

Now I'd best get to those dishes I think!   Hope you've enjoyed a little snapshot of the Stampin' Up Convention 2012.

Cheers, Sue