If you just LOVE all things crafty and colour coordinated - you would love being part of our Stampin' Up demonstrator family.   

There are so many great perks to being part of the team.  Here's just a few:

• Get to see all the new catalogues first.  (I love this one - I'm rather impatient.  :-)   We see the new annual catalogue PDF on March 24th. Join now and that could be you too - wink.)
• The starter kit is a fabulous way to get lots of things from your wish list at a bargain price.  Choose $235 of items and you can pick ANY current products, and you'll pay just $169 with free shipping.  
• You get your products at a discount (minimum 20% off.)  
• You are totally free to pick how you'd like to be part of things - you can just purchase for yourself, or you can share a catalogue with friends and family, or you can grow your own home based craft business.  It is all up to you.  
• If at any time you decide it is not for you anymore then you just return to being a customer.  Too easy.  You don't need to give back your kit and there are no exit fees.  Note: Quarterly minimums apply to remain an active demonstrator.  If you join now you have until the end of June for that first minimum.  
• The demonstrator community is a fun and friendly group to be part of.  Sharing a hobby with others who love their papercrafts makes for extra enjoyment I find.  I LOVE the fab people I've met through Stampin' Up.  

If you do decide you'd love to join as a demonstrator - here's what to do.  

• First up choose a team to join.  When choosing a person to join with (if you don't already have an established relationship) - try to find someone you click with.  Have a think about what sort of support you are after and ask a few questions to see if you think that someone is a good fit for you.  
• If you think you might like to join my team I'd be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you have.  I'd describe myself as a bit of a casual relaxed upline.  I can help you with questions and welcome you to my small friendly team.  I'm here for anyone who would like some extra assistance but I'm also happy to leave people to do their own thing.  We have a small team facebook group to share ideas, a small business builders group for those interested in that side of things and we are part of a larger fab group with lots of fun activities to join such as blog hops, product shares, Artist Trading Card swaps and lots more.  
• Once you're all set and ready to join it is time to make your starter kit list.  Check through the current range and choose products to the value of $235.  (For the starter kit it needs to be this value or lower - you can't go over and pay the difference.  I think the record in my direct team is someone who got it within 60 cents - impressive!)  
• Grab your list, head along to this link and you're on your way.  Join Sue's Team
• If you're up to that step I'll look forward to welcoming you to the team soon.    :-) 

Have a fabulous weekend and I hope there's some craft time in it for you. 

Happy stamping,

Cheers, Sue

Are you keen to buy some great craft supplies for your papercrafting hobby?  Got a big Stampin' Up! wish list?  Looking for scrapbooking or card making supplies?

Here's a great way to save, with some added perks during September.

Get your starter kit before the end of September and for just $169 you will get:

• To choose $235 of products - pick from ANY current items.  What's on your list?  That's a saving of $66. 
• Free shipping on your starter kit
• Sept extra:  Queen Anne's Lace stamp set free (valued at $30)
• Sept extra: So Much Love stamp set free (valued at $35)
• Sept extra: Sheet of sparkly rhinestones free (valued at $8.75)
• Sept extra: Some cardstock pieces to make some cards
• Some extra catalogues if you want to share them with any craft loving friends. 

You'll be able to join in the fun on our friendly team facebook groups where we chat stamping, crafts and heaps more.  We welcome everyone and have a fab mix of happy shoppers who want to stock up with the terrific demo discount (20%) and get an early peek at new catalogues along with people wanting to share a bit of cardmaking fun with others.  You decide what you want to do.  Join now and you can be part of the demo family until the end of January without even placing another order. 

If you've got lots of craft supplies on your list and want to get a stack of value for $169 - make your list of items up to $235 in value then head on over here to join my Think Ink team.  We'd love to welcome you.  Get My Kit Of Goodies

(Note: The form doesn't play well on a tablet, best to use a computer.  Get in touch if I can help with any questions at all.)  

Need some essentials to get started?  Looking for ideas of what to get in your starter kit?   

Here's a couple of videos I put together showing some essential tool kit items plus some great cards you can make with just a few additional supplies. 

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue

Welcome to the latest instalment of Think Ink Team Tidbits where I introduce you to some of our wonderful team full of creative people.  

Today we're saying hello to Rachel Palmieri.  Rachel blogs over at Stampin Pals. 

Find it here:  Stampin Pals.

She is on the design team for CASEing the catty.  Every Sunday they hold a blog hop with designs CASEd from our beautiful Stampin' Up catalogues.  A great site to visit if you're after some creative inspiration for your week. 

Here's a couple of Rachel's recent cards.  Aren't they beautiful. 

Link: Details on this card

Link:  Details on this card

Link: Details on this card

Rachel holds classes in South Morang, Melbourne if you're keen to learn some card making skills, or get together with others for some creative fun.  You can find the details here:   Rachel's Classes

Keep an eye out this year as we feature some more of the Think Ink team.

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

We're kicking off a new feature here on Madex Creations blog.  I've got a wonderful team full of creative people and thought I'd introduce you to a few of them.  So watch out for Think Ink Team Tidbits where you can meet some of the crew. 

To kick things off today we're featuring the talented June Kempster from Sand June Crafts. 

You can read all about June on her about page over on her blog.  Click here:  Sand June Crafts

June creates from her home on the gorgeous King Island.   

Here are just two of her recent creations.  Aren't they lovely.

Link: Details on this card

Link: Details and step by step tutorial pics on this card

June has some wonderful video tutorials if you would love to see how to do great techniques.  You can find them here:  June's Videos

I hope you enjoyed visiting with June from Sand June Crafts, another of the creative team members from Think Ink.

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Over on my brand new team facebook group page we've had a bit of a party weekend with challenges and prizes and lots of fun.

One of the creative challenges was to make a card inspired by this painting (from Hannah's bedroom.) 

I decided to try cutting one of the big butterflies from watercolour paper.  Then I selected some reinkers (inspired by some of the colours in the print.)  So Saffron, Lost Lagoon, Cajun Craze, Blackberry Bliss and a touch of Basic Black.  I sprayed the butterfly with water and dripped reinkers. 

Once I'd dripped lots of colour I sprayed it again with water.  (I have an empty Stampin' Mist bottle that I've filled with water and clearly labelled so I don't mix it up.)

Now leave it to dry. 

In the meantime I quite liked the leftover blobs of watery ink.  I decided to pop a piece of naturals white cardstock under my damp inky base paper and press. 

I added some stamping using the Butterfly Basics stamp set.  I REALLY love the netting stamp from this set and the dashed border too.  I used the greeting from this set as well. 

I really love this card.  Can't wait to try it in some more colours. 

Tip:  Use lots of the lighter colours and only the TINIEST bit of the darker ones - the dark ones really take over. 

I enjoy cards where they turn out differently each time and there's an element of random in how they end up looking. 

Happy creating.

Cheers, Sue

If you're shopping for the products used in this card, here's the links:

I've got another couple of congratulations cards to share with you today now that they've arrived in the post to my team members.  (Isn't it lovely to celebrate achievements.) 

For today's card I've used the technique of masking with some of our beautiful big background stamps.  Here are a few tips and step by steps.

I tore a piece of regular paper (grabbed from the printer) and made sure it was just bigger than my 'Congrats' greeting stamp.  Place this over your cardstock then stamp your background stamp firmly.  Now remove the piece of masking scrap paper. 

Our new photopolymer stamps make it easy to line up the greeting to fit into the masked area.

To finish the card I trimmed this panel, added a matting layer and attached to my base card.  Some rhinestones and sequins for some finishing touches. 

Here's another version this time with the stylish Hardwood background stamp.

This technique/card design would be handy for any large greetings. 

Happy card making.

Cheers, Sue

Here are a few of the products featured if you're shopping from home:

I Love Lace Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$30.95

Hardwood Wood Stamp Set

$30.95

Bravo Photopolymer Stamp Set

$44.95

Frosted Sequins

$8.95

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

$13.95

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

 

Table by StampinBuddy.

 

There were 17 Think Inkers having fun at the Stampin' Up Australia/NZ convention this year - our largest group to date.   Here's a look at the team gifts I made.  A little notebook to jot down some convention inspiration - with an added panel made with MDS and printed up on printer paper.  I wrapped it around and attached it with some washi tape.

Here's a few pics of we Think Ink girls and friends enjoying convention.  If you'd like to join the fun - next year we're off to the Gold Coast for the 2015 Inspire Create Share event.  Should be exciting!

Congratulations to Kylie - our superstar team member who was walked the stage many times on awards night.  She was 1st in Australia for both recruiting and leadership, and 3rd for sales.  What a stellar year.  We're all very proud of her. 

I was excited to receive awards for sales, recruiting and leadership and have a few stage walks during convention - always lovely to come home with some pins to show the kids.  Thanks to all my customers, class ladies and fabulous team who help me get these. 

Couple of busy days ahead but I hope to pop back in soon to share a few more bits of convention excitement.

Cheers, Sue

Yep we're still congratulating!  It has been an exciting month on the team. Here's another variation on the cards I've shared over the last week.

This card features Smoky Slate and Pool Party embossing powders - yum! Don't you just love coloured embossing powders.  I stamped the lanterns in cherry cobbler and sahara sand.

I like the narrow silver ribbon too for a touch of shine. 

Occasions catalogue: Page 23

Here it is online: Silver 1/8" Ribbon $8.95 for 9 metres.

Reminder: Two more weeks left of Saleabration where you can choose a freebie for spending $90, 2 free items if you spend $180 and so on.  Get in touch or click the shop online button top left if you'd like to grab yourself some free products. 

One of my team mates and friends Nikki (find her blog here) was telling me that this year whenever she's making a card she's aiming to make an extra one or two the same to build up her collection.  So handy to have some all set to go when you hit a busy patch on the calendar.  I think I might do the same.  That's it for variations on this design but I'll be back with something else soon.  Having a creative patch lately and really enjoying my card making and scrapbooking time.  Nice way to wind down after a busy week.

Happy creating!

Cheers, Sue

Another variation on the congratulations card I shared the other day.  This one is on a crumb cake base.  The lace ribbon is a nice one to add in with a little feature bundle of ribbons.

While we're talking about congratulating team members - If you're looking for a home based business, perhaps Stampin' Up is for you.  I've loved combining it with being a stay at home mum, and now with being a part time primary school teacher.  I find it very flexible and it has been truly rewarding - in helping to pay the bills and even providing a couple of holidays for John and I, in creative terms as I've built up my craft stash and techniques, but mostly in friendships as I've met some really lovely people through my 6 years as a demonstrator.  Get in touch if you'd like some more info and perhaps we can be congratulating you in a year or two! 

I loved getting reaquainted with my embossing products while I made these congrats cards.  I haven't embossed in ages - I'm sure there were cobwebs on my gear!  Such a lovely addition to a card though so well worth getting the heat gun out.  Here's the rich, gorgeous Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.

Do you love embossing?  I seem to manage to get it everywhere but I do love it. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

We've had lots of excitement lately in my Stampin' Up team with some girls who've worked to achieved big promotions.  Perfect time to sit down and make some congratulations cards. 

I loved the Happy Congratulations set in the Occasions catalogue so this was a nice opportunity to give it a run. 

A few years ago at our Stampin' Up convention I learnt a trick from one of the demonstrator presenters (now who was that - I forget, if you know leave a comment and I'll link!)  It was a nice way to use ribbon scraps as a feature on a card.  Just lay some lengths together and tie them with a longer piece. 

Storing and Using Scraps Tip:  Ever since I've been saving my ribbon offcuts in a basket in a drawer and every now and then I grab a bundle that seem to work together and add them to a creation.

Products Featured:

Happy Congratulations Stamp Set

Occasions Catalogue: Page 37

Wood $28.95   Clear  $22.95

A set of 4 stamps - very elegant. 

Check it out more closely here. 

Gold Sequin Trim

Occasions Catalogue: Page 23

$8.95

Feel like a bit of sparkle, perhaps a touch of disco?

Quite loving this sparkly sequin trim.  Right here. 

Other products:  Cherry Cobbler base, Crumb Cake panel, Fresh Prints DSP stack for the patterned paper piece, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Gold and Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powders, Heat Gun, Very Vanilla for the tag, and some ribbons.

Got anyone to congratulate this month?  I made 3 cards using the same design but different colours so I've got a couple of other variations to share in the coming weeks - stay tuned. 

And since I do really love a good inspirational quote, maybe I'll finish off with one I saved this week.  Do you have any favourite quotes?  I've always loved collecting ones that speak to me.

Have a great week and happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue