Stamp with Gail

Finally some Christmas cards!

2011-12-19T01:27:00.008+11:00

Gee I was really struggling time wise this year - somebody please remind me to start them in August next year!!! So this year's aren't very elaborate :-( I did start some colouring on a few but they aren't going to make it. The first card I really like - its a shameless case of another demonstrator, well I used the same stamps and colours, mine is a little simpler - I loved the blushing bride and the soft suede together. This is one of the sets that is on special for December too...

Next I decided that it would be a nice gesture to give cards out to our regular customers at the cafe (again, start in August). The cafe is called Thirty Eight, hence the number on the bauble. To save a little time I used the whisper white note cards and envelopes. I gave one of these out on Friday to a dear elderly lady who comes in every Friday and she couldn't believe I had made it and told me I should do it as a business *g* I bought decorations for the cafe in these colours so it all coordinates.

Then in a mild state of panic tonight when I realised I needed about 45 cards to send out personally and I only had 18 I quickly whipped these up on the same lines as th

e cafe ones - I did 20 in around an hour! I might make some more up in brown shades just to annoy my stamp club ladies lol!

Then I needed to make a couple of tags to go in the mail to put on presents for my nieces and nephew that have been bought by my sister on my behalf. I stamped the image and then swiped over it with a versamark pad and then sprinkled it with the new irridescent ice embossing powder that's in the summer mini catalogue and heated it.

Well wishing you all a happy Christmas and peaceful new year. I am off to Chadstone tomorrow to finish off the last of my shopping and then home to write all those cards out.......

and another one!

2011-12-11T23:59:00.002+11:00

This is the new candy wrapper die from the Summer mini catalogue which runs to the end of March 2012. The die itself is much smaller, you can fit a few chocolates inside though. I extended the die by z folding a piece of cardstock and placing it on the die to lengthen it, very simple and you can fit lots more in - these had a tube of Crabtree and Evelyn hand therapy. I just have to practice the folding and closing of the ends though!

stamp club projects!

2011-12-11T23:39:00.004+11:00

This is what my crazy Friday night stamp club ladies got up to this week! The bags were shown as a demonstration at our recent Stampin' Up! regional training day by my lovely friend Janine Rawlins and 2 of the Friday night ladies who attended asked if we could make them at our next get together. I had never made them but Janine kindly gave me the instructions and off we went or rather off they went as I pretty much left them to it lol! I normally precut and prescore everything for the stamp club projects but as I wanted them to be able to choose colours etc I thought it best to let them make them from scratch, also as I pointed out to them, if I do everything they will never learn anything *g*. We went through the bag step by step and it wasn't too hard, sort of thing once you've done once will be easier next time. We also made 3 very simple cards to go inside the totes. I just used coordinating card and embossed them with the Flower Garden embossing folder which matches the Beyond the Garden DSP which was used for the flower and a strip went on the cards too. The cardstock is from the new In Colour range - just love this year's colours!

While they were busy embellishing away I snuck off to finish off little gifts for them (shh they are getting something else in with their orders but don't tell them!). This is tablet, a Scottish fudge that I make each year at Christmas. It is basically condensed milk and sugar boiled up with butter so very healthy and not something the paediatric dentist my daughter sees would appreciate being given even though she insists he would!

December Frenzy!

2011-12-06T16:43:00.006+11:00

December Frenzy not only describes my life at the moment, but also the awesome special Stampin' Up! have got for you for December! Check it out:

http://www3.stampinup.com/au/ena/8744.asp

Lots of great items at 30 - 50% off including some great Christmas items. It's not too late to start your Christmas cards and projects - believe me!

Here is something you could use for Christmas for giving small gifts or hanging on the tree

It's the petal cone die from Stampin' Up! We made this a few weeks ago at a regular class I have with a lovely group of ladies. We filled them with chocolates. A few different techniques are in there such as the embossed ribbon handle and the ribbon flower using the gorgeous new seam binding - this is the crumb cake (formerly kraft) shade. I love this stuff it is so beautiful to work with, it ties and drapes effortlessly. The box is embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder and lightly sprizted with frost white shimmer paint mixed with rubbing alcohol.

Joining Offer!

2011-09-05T10:54:00.002+10:00

That's right! During September you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for just $169. This kit contains a scaled down version of the full kit but you can still pick and choose the items to suit your own tastes. If you would prefer the full kit you can buy that for a 20% discount. Click here for further details. Remember Stampin' Up! has all kinds of demonstrators, you can join just to buy your supplies at a discount!

2 Days - 4 pages!

2011-08-22T23:23:00.005+10:00

Ok, so this weekend we have got a Stampin' Up! stand at the Paperific show - I will be there on the Saturday if you happen to be visiting...

Anyhow with a soon to be released catalogue (which we will have for sale at the show) it is time to update our display posters. We have got an extra wall this year and Janine thought it would be a good idea to fill this up with scrapbook pages. I'll be in that said I! Well 2 days and 4 pages later I am wondering what I was thinking and I still have my cards to make! So here are my pages, they are pretty simple but remember they took TWO DAYS to complete lol! Please excuse the poor photography taken late at night, propped up against the microwave and in page protectors to protect them from the cat who never misses an opportunity to sit or walk on my newly created projects. You might remember her from a previous blog hop post.....

The first one uses the new In Colour of Island Indigo as the background and do you like the scallopy-circularly border? That's not pre-bought trim - it's a punch!!! Cool hey! And it was easy to use - I was very surprised being a tad border punch challenged. The top strip is another new In Colour - Lucky Limeade and the bottom one is Melon Mambo. The circles used to embellish the top corner of the photo are also cut from the same design. I have also used a piece of the new scalloped dotty ribbon in ta da - chocolate chip! And before you say anything it was part of a bundle I received for free for being a Manager - there was no choice of colour - honest! I never set out to use these colours but quite like the combination.

This next one uses another new colour, Wisteria Wonder (I have got my unopened inkpads sitting next to me so that I get the names right lol!) as well as Calypso Coral - this colour is everywhere in the clothes shops I've noticed for Spring/Summer. I have also used Bring on the Cake DSP and the icecream cones are stamped from a new set called Pennant Parade and cut out with the Pennant punch and the "ice cream" is the icing from the cup cake punch.

The final layout is a double although a bit of it is missing as the microwave wasn't being very cooperative in holding up the pages. I found this one the easiest probably because it has a few photos, I don't normally scrapbook single photos. This uses Pool Party as the base, which is my favourite I think of the new In Colours and more of the Bring on the Cake DSP. The "splashes" are the commas from the Timeless Type Sizzix alphabet. I have used this alphabet on all of the lay outs. Thanks for visiting and don't forget the Last Chance list finishes on 31st August and the new catalogue starts on 1 September - contact me if you would like a copy and remember you can get one for free just by hosting a workshop!

Get 'em before they're gone!

2011-08-01T17:57:00.003+10:00

cough cough - blowing away the dust and cobwebs! So today is the first of August and the retirement list is out! Click here to see the list. Remember that these items are on a first come first served basis and once they're gone they're gone! No stress over getting reinkers for the current In Colours as they are running for another 12 months with another new set of colours being released with the new catalogue (and I LOVE them!). So get in quick and contact me soon if there is anything off the retired set that you would like.

On another note, the 1st August is also the time that we demos get to sneak peek and preorder selected items from the new catalogue! There are some lovely things coming your way :-) One of the new changes is to how the hostess benefits work - now you get even more free stuff and a greater choice of free stamp sets plus there's more but am not sure how much I am allowed to give away so better stop there but contact me to book a workshop/place a qualifying order after 1 Sept to find out!

Back with a rather bright card!

2011-07-07T18:27:00.003+10:00

Hello

Well after 8 or 9 weeks in the cafe I am starting to feel some normalcy (sp) back in my life! I have made a few cards which I'll post over the next few days but will just show you this one now which showcases the Stampin' Up! Icecream Parlour buttons and ribbon which are a gift with purchase with a $100 order throughout July! I have also used the Bigz Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot die to cut the butterfly. You might notice the 3D cut away effect on the wings. This is achieved by recutting the smaller butterfly inside the large one, a technique that Kirsty Young demonstrated at the recent Stampin' Up! convention held here in Melbourne. This is one of the projects we are making tomorrow night with my stamp club - at least they won't complain that it's "not brown again" lol! If you would like to receive this ribbon and button bundle for free please contact me to place your order before the end of July. The end of July is also the finish of the current mini catalogue so if there is anything in there that you would like, or if you would like a free hard copy sending to you, please get in touch!

An Update!

2011-05-01T00:25:00.004+10:00

Hi

Well after a few months I am back! A LOT has been happening over the last couple of months. Myself and my husband are in for a sea change of sorts with having just bought a cafe. This process actually started late last year when we signed up for a franchised cafe, however the opening date kept being put back further each month and we got sick of waiting, especially as my husband had left his job. Our business broker knew of another one that was closer to home, not part of a franchise or in a shopping centre, was less hours and less outgoings and most importantly, it was open! We put the offer on in early March and have done a 2 week trial which once we got over our initial fear (it's very busy!) is actually a lot of fun :-) During this time I've also taken part in two craft shows, Picture to Page and Paperific, left my job at Crabtree and Evelyn (sob!) and I've been back to Perth for a visit as my Dad wasn't well (but he's fine now). That was lovely, so relaxing and my favourite hotel, Observation City on Scarborough Beach had some great deals on so decided to treat myself and the kids and we stayed there for the week - this was the view from my hotel room each morning. Perth was still having quite hot weather so we were able to go to the beach or in the hotel pool every day.

On the Stampin' Up! front, the Autumn Winter mini is out - email me if you'd like a copy mailing out to you. There are some great things in it - lots of vintagey stuff. I have made cards etc (honest!) but not photographed them yet. There is also a cute cupcake set and matching 2 step cupcake punch in the same format as the owl and bird. Not sure why they are called 2 step as it's actually got about 10 pieces to it!

Starting this week (today) and for the rest of May, there is also a Deal of the Week. Check http://www.stampinup.com/ each week - or my business website http://www.gailkirby.stampinup.net/ to find out what each deal is.

We have got our annual Stampin' Up! convention in 12 more sleeps - eek! It's in Melbourne this year and myself and some of my downline that are going are staying in the city in an apartment just because it's a lot of fun to do so! Needless to say, that has gone down really well with DH as we will be new in the cafe and it's during the time that the current owners are still with us. Yes I feel slack but do I care??? lol! We are keeping all the existing staff on and have also put a manager on (as we have no idea what we are doing!) so I'm sure I won't be missed. Think I'll be coming down to earth with a thud on the Sunday afternoon though when I'll no doubt be back in there. This year I am getting an award for reaching my milestone of $100,000 in personal sales. I also got a cash bonus for this and am planning on buying something nice in a shop that starts with a T and everything comes in Baja Breeze coloured boxes.....Thank you so much to all my lovely customers, many who have now become dear friends, over the past 5 years for making this possible :-) Five years ago when I joined Stampin' Up! I had no idea where it would lead, I just love stamping and wanted to get my things cheaper! Of course I have amassed a huge collection of stamps and other products now and after spending 1 1/2 hours tonight looking for a stamp set that I wanted to use in my swaps and knew it had been sitting on the table with my other new stamps I was a bit dismayed when I looked up recent orders and found that I actually don't own the set....oh dear! I have had a lot on my plate lately though! In anticipation of starting on my swaps I decided to re-sort all my cardstock into it's proper tubs. I have a great organisation system for my card - and given that I am not the world's most organised person I am very pleased with myself for devising this system back when I first started. I bought the tubs in Officeworks - they are the Crystal File ones that you can put those metal edged hanging files in but I hate the sound they make when they slide together so I just have mine sitting in expandable wallets - this is great as all the scraps can go back in the same wallet. I have the colour families sorted by the same colour folders ie. the Brights are all in yellow folders, Neutrals in orange, Subtles are turquoise, Regals are dark blue and the In Colours are red. All of these fit into 2 tubs. It makes it very easy when choosing colours and is also an easy way of seeing when you are getting low on a particular colour. I rounded up all my floating packs of c/s and have got an excess of a few of them. Good news is that I am down to only 2 packs of Chocolate Chip now *g* And then someone else took an interest in what I was doing.....the quiet gnawing sounds on the side of the tub gave her away! Doesn't look guilty at all does she?!

Flood Relief

2011-01-14T23:07:00.002+11:00

Hi

I am sure you will all agree how devastating the floods in Queensland have been - and now starting in Victoria. Stampin' Up! tonight have announced that they will donate $2 from every stamp set over $30 sold in Australia and New Zealand between tomorrow, 15 January until 15 February to the SES in Queensland. Please note that the status is being followed by the home office staff in the US and they are getting updates via their own news broadcasts and from our General Manager here and at this stage would not be aware of the new floods in Victoria. Hopefully the floods here will be nowhere close to the Queensland ones. I am sending my prayers tonight for a dear friend and customer who lives in the Horsham area. It shows that you never know what is around the corner. Who would have thought it was not so long ago we were in drought and worrying about water restrictions! Anyway if you would like to help out by purchasing a stamp set and I will take my demonstrator discount off as well so you are getting them 20% cheaper* :-) please contact me before 15th Feb and don't forget that if you order after 25th Jan and spend $100 you will qualify for a free Sale a Bration set too!

Take care and stay safe and dry thosse of you in the flood areas.

x Gail

*20% discount is pre-GST price

A New Year and a New Special

2011-01-01T11:38:00.004+11:00

Hello
Happy 2011 to you all! Today is certainly a lot cooler (by almost half!) in Melbourne compared to yesterday's scorcher. Cooler weather is stamping weather.....or tidying up so you can find things weather in my case!!! I resolve this year to keep my stamping area tidy but we'll see how long that one lasts for! Anyway Stampin' Up! have released a special running from now until 24th January (when SALE A BRATION starts!!!!).

You will receive a FREE package of Heart Treat Cups--a $6.50 value--when you purchase the Sweetheart Stamp Set or Full Heart Punch.
Purchase any of the items below:

Item Page Description Price
121576 38 Sweetheart Wood-Mount
Stamp Set $38.95

120780 38 Sweetheart Clear-Mount
Stamp Set $29.95

119883 147 Full Heart Punch $33.95

Get a free package of Heart Treat Cups, item 120435 as shown on page 122.

Get a head start on those Valentine day cards but the stamps can be used as anytime cards too. Contact me soon to place your order!

Belated Christmas

2010-12-29T22:39:00.007+11:00

Well believe it or not, here's the last of my Christmas cards to post out! They are for my family in the UK and US - plus 1 in NZ. I am not normally this disorganised, they usually receive them at least by Christmas Eve *g* but this year I don't know, maybe because I wasn't sure what to write in the letter that goes with them and I ended up not writing a letter in the end. It is a very simple design and very quick to put together once all the pieces are made up. I have used Chocolate Chip (it just says "me"!) cardstock and ink, Very Vanilla cardstock which was put through the Big Shot in the Vintage wallpaper folder and spritzed with Champagne shimmer paint. I have used the Ornament punch (apparently close to being re-released) and matching stamp set, Fabulous Phrases from the new summer mini catalogue with the word window punch, basic rhinestone jewels and the beautiful whisper white organza ribbon.

Circus fun

2010-12-28T19:09:00.008+11:00

Hello, hope you all had a lovely Christmas :-) It is so nice being off work for a few days to just chill out after the busy last couple of weeks. Today we went and saw a movie and then bought some peri peri chicken and gourmet sausages from the butcher on the way back to the car and had an impromptu BBQ when we got home. One of Siobhan's Christmas presents was a hula hoop and as well as being used for its traditional intention, of course you can also have fun teaching your dog circus skills. They also thought about the cat but didn't like their chances. Buffy however, as long as food was involved, was more than happy to be their willing subject. If you enlarge the top photo you will notice the crazed look in her eyes lol!

Hmm, somehow don't think we're quite ready for the agility tests at the Royal Show. Actually come to think of it, pugs aren't usually the featured breed in agility tests - check out the "height" of the hoop!

Mini Back Pack

2010-12-15T23:12:00.004+11:00

Hi

Long time between posts but have been very busy with work and Christmas stuff and think I still need another month let alone 10 days! Haven't even finished my cards yet and have not even been able to get to a post office to buy mailing bags for presents I need to post off - oh the joys. Tomorrow morning one of my lovely stamp club groups wanted to learn how to make the mini back packs that are floating around on the web. No problems said I.....but I guess I should have checked my work roster first lol! So tonight I sat down to make one up for the first time. After my fourth attempt I can tell you I was ready to tell them I was not coming to play tomorrow *pout* but I persevered and am sort of happy with the result. I think it's one of those things that once you make a few they become really easy but I found the instructions I had a little hard to follow - a couple of steps have been repeated and the step by step photographs weren't that easy to see. It is actually quite simple to put together. Hopefully the ladies tomorrow won't have any problems. I have seen a few of these made with patterned paper for the pockets but I tried this and the paper just kept tearing with the scoring and eyelets so I ended up sticking some pieces on the front - it looked very plain without them. I have used Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz c/s with Greenhouse Gala DSP in case you were wondering. I had originally planned to make some packets of fudge up for them to put inside but given the late hour now don't think that's such a great idea lol!

Summer Mini Blog Hop

2010-12-04T10:00:00.004+11:00

Ok, fingers crossed this is showing where it's meant to at the right time! You should have arrived here from Sharlene Torres' blog. For my project I have made a scrapbooking page using the new Presto Patterns Specialty paper. You get 12 sheets of 12 x 12 cardstock - 2 each of 6 different designs in a pack. This paper has got clear resist style images that appear when you sponge, brayer or spritz ink over the top. The designs are all vintage inspired. Here is the before picture of the design I have used. You can just see the image if you turn it in the light.

Next go off to find brayer. Return and remove cat....

Start to brayer ink across page - I have used Melon Mambo

Next I spritzed the page with Frost White shimmer paint mixed with Isocol rubbing alcohol - I love this stuff!

The finished product. It hasn't photographed too well but if you click on it you will be able to see it in greater detail.

I have also used the new square scallop Big Shot die cut out in Daffodil Delight matted behind the photo. This has also been run through the Perfect Polka dots embossing folder (and no I didn't find mine, I bought another one!). The butterflies are cut out with the Beautiful Wings embosslits die in Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry. The large butterflies are mounted on dimensionals and have the rhinestone jewels attached to their centres. The tag is cut from the Lots of Tags sizzlit die and the word is from the new Fabulous Phrases stamp set which is available as wood or clear mount, stamped in Basic Gray ink and punched out with the Word Window punch. Two rhinestone jewels also embellish this.

I hope you have enjoyed my project. It's now time to hop to the next blog:

Nicole Derendorf

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey!

Summer Mini Blog Hop!

2010-12-03T22:58:00.003+11:00

The Summer Mini catalogue is now up and about - click on the picture on my sidebar to view online or you can email me and I will send you a copy. Once again, ESAD are holding a blog hop. What is ESAD? ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up!

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.

So if you are a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group. Thank you to Sharlene for organising the blog hop and for allowing me to be a part of it.

You will be able to view the wonderful creations on the blog hop from 10am EST Saturday 4th December. See you then!

A lovely way of spending a rainy day

2010-11-13T23:38:00.005+11:00

Today was a pretty miserable day weather wise in Melbourne but I didn't notice it at all as I was at the Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar and was having fun and stamping! I also didn't notice it as we were in the new convention centre in the city and the room we were in was below ground and windowless! I made swaps - not as many as I wanted to make but swapped them all quickly and got some great ones back! I made these little die cut flowers on sticks with ladybird chocolates. Very simple - I was worried a bit too simple but I had them packaged in cellophane bags so they looked nicer. They went down well (the chocolate probably had a lot to do with that!) and it's something a little bit different. I used the Blossom Party Originals die with the big shot and I would have run the biggest flower (pumpkin pie) through the perfect polka dots embossing folder as well to give it a bit of texture but I have misplaced it. It showed up again since the last time I lost it but it's gone again - I think because they are clear and not so easy to see. I got some wonderful swaps back - thank you to all the girls who swapped with me :-) I also now have a big wish list of items I didn't know I needed!

Regionals was so great this year! I learnt tons. My head is just buzzing with ideas. It's also lovely catching up with other demonstrators and having a fun day stamping with my team. I also won a stamp set in the first prize patrol! It was a set from the upcoming summer mini catalogue that had just been demonstrated and was not a set I would have bought but all during the demonstration I kept thinking how much I just had to have it and then I won it! Shimmer paint was also the Product of the Day and we were shown a lot of ways to use it. Others had also discovered it's wonderful sparkliness as I had last night and there were lots of "Ooohhh's" from those who hadn't!

I've been stamping!

2010-11-13T23:06:00.005+11:00

Ok, to prove that both my arms have not fallen off and I have actually been doing some stamping I was just going to post up a picture of a card I made for one of the girl's in my team who is celebrating her birthday today. Coral loves owls and this card features an owl and is using a new stamp set out of the upcoming Summer Mini catalogue.....and then I remembered that I don't think we are allowed to post any photos of the new products until 1 December so tune in then! The card was just gorgeous I must add *g* it featured Daffodil Delight from the new Brights family. I would never have imagined that the Brights would become my favourite but they are (and they still go with Chocolate Chip/Early Espresso!!!)

But then I made this card yesterday afternoon in preparation for my Friday night stamp club. I was playing with the new shimmer paint from Stampin' Up! and Wow - I love this stuff! It comes in 3 colours - champagne, platinum and frost white which is the one I used. There are quite a few different ways of using it but I put it into a spray bottle and topped it up with rubbing alcohol and then spritzed it onto cardstock (Baja Breeze) and it gives it a lovely soft shimmery finish. We have downlights and it looked like hundreds of tiny diamonds sparkling. You can see the sparkle a bit better in the close up. I was trying to remember what it reminded me of/where I'd heard that phrase and then it hit me - Edward Cullen's skin when exposed to daylight lol!

I have used the Welcome Christmas stamp set which is one of the sets on special this month. This is the set you can buy in the bundle with the limited edition Christmas Cocoa paper and if you buy these two products in a bundle you get a free roll of ribbon. I also spritzed some Whisper White cardstock and ran that through my Big Shot with the something Christmas/holiday sizzlits die - you know which one I mean! I will look it up, just had very little sleep the last few nights with a very early start this morning so brain is a bit fried atm. Also please excuse the blue smudge - this card was just my prototype - I normally am a much better stamper *g*

Got Ribbon?

2010-10-17T17:03:00.010+11:00

Oh my poor, sad neglected blog! I am going to "try" and post more often and get some cards up (when I actually get around to making some!). The new catalogue is now up and running and I've had a very busy September with workshops and here we are in October with a new special which started yesterday and runs until the end of November. To help you get started on your Christmas cards, Stampin' Up! have bundled some of the popular sets into, well, bundles and with each one you can choose a roll of selected ribbon for free!

So basically, if you buy one of these:

You can choose one of these for free!

You can also qualify for a free roll of ribbon if you host a workshop with $550 sales. Please contact me if you would like to take advantage of any of these specials.

The real red polka dot ribbon was out last year as well and I made this - it was our 2009 Christmas photo of the kids and I put this together to go into a photo frame for my mum. I normally have to contend with the kids pulling faces, looking the wrong way etc but throwing Buffy in tripled this!

Paperific is here again!

2010-08-26T18:37:00.002+10:00

It's on again rain, hail or shine lol! Sorry Naomi couldn't resist! Yes, well hopefully it won't hail this time.... My car is actually at the panel beaters now getting the hail damage fixed. The house husband wasn't too happy as we were expecting it to be written off as it was fairly new, but no, and it's devalued the car! I think the insurance company should rethink their advertising jingle grrr! I digress - back to my Paperific Slave for Life duties. Paperific is on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday 27 - 29th August at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Flemington. Friday and Saturday 9.30am to 5pm and 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday. Parking is $5 or you can catch the train - note that the trains do NOT stop at the showgrounds as the races aren't on, you have to get off at Newmarket Station and then get the No. 57 tram to the door. I know taking directions from me is not always a sensible choice but I am knowledgeable in this instance as it will probably be my mode of transport tomorrow. We have got a Stampin' Up! stand with specials and lots of inspiration plus demos and FREE make and takes. I am helping out with the overall show but will be floating from time to time at the SU stand.

Last Last Chance

2010-08-26T12:21:00.002+10:00

Hi

Long time between posts, quite a bit has been happening but will save that for another day.

With the retirement of the 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea book and catalogue some of the items are not being continued into the following year. You can view these items at http://www.stampinup.com/ or on my website http://www.gailkirby.stampinup.net/. This morning a new list with further reductions was released as below:

Item # Page Description Discount Discounted AUS Price
116342 42 Big Bold Birthday 50% $ 26.98
116408 100 Seeing Spots 50% $ 14.98
116344 121 Big Deal Alphabet 50% $ 38.98
116208 126 In Color card stock (A4) 50% $ 7.25
105538 127 Bold Brights Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 43.46
105537 127 Soft Subtles Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 43.46
105540 127 Rich Regals Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 43.46
105541 127 Many Marvelous Markers 25% $ 175.46
105550 128 Bold Brights Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 31.46
105551 128 Earth Elements Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 31.46
105539 128 Earth Elements Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 43.46
105552 129 Rich Regals Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 31.46
112042 132 Urban Garden Designer Series paper 50% $ 8.48
112041 134 Bella Rose Designer Series paper 50% $ 8.48
107305 152 Oval Large punch 50% $ 15.48
113692 152 Eyelet border punch 50% $ 15.48
109043 152 Scallop Circle punch 50% $ 15.48
113694 152 Heart to Heart punch 50% $ 15.48
112082 152 Wide Oval punch 50% $ 15.48
112091 152 Scallop Edge punch 50% $ 15.48
113693 152 Full Heart punch 50% $ 15.48
104310 155 Crafters' Tool Kit 25% $ 58.46
112004 1-3/4" Circle punch 50% $ 15.48
116629 Butterfly punch 50% $ 15.48

I hope it makes sense, it was in a table, don't know what happened.
As you can see there are some great specials but they are only available until 31 August 2010 or while stocks last so please contact me soon if you would like anything.

I also now have the new catalogues - please contact me if you would like one. They are $10 if you are nearby or $12.95 including postage. Remember you can also earn one for free by hosting a workshop. With everything that's been going on I haven't even had a proper chance to look through mine!

Simple Sympathy

2010-07-05T23:45:00.007+10:00

This is a sympathy card I made today for the husband and children of an old friend who passed away suddenly. I met Barbara when our boys started 4 year old kinder together but we had lost touch somewhat since they left to go to different high schools and I was quite shocked and saddened to hear the news as I only saw her a few months ago and she looked to be in health. I feel so sad for her husband and children and hope they will be ok and get through this. Rest peacefully Barbara I will miss you.

A gift with a matching card!

2010-07-04T12:12:00.004+10:00

One of the best things about making your own cards is that you can make them to suit the recipient and even to match the gift as I have done here for the birthday present I gave my friend Chris on Friday night! Chris has a bit of a tea cup/coffee mug fettish like myself and after recently breaking some cups said she had regretted not buying the set she saw in Victoria's Basement in the QVB when we were in Sydney. I regret not buying a lot of stuff I saw in that place, it was amazing! So I saw these mugs and bought a set of 4 for Chris knowing immediately the card I was going to make to go with them! I used the Cheep Talk stamp set which is on special for 20% off until 31st July. I have used Going Grey textured cardstock, Basic grey cardstock and Whisper White cardstock and Bordering Blue, Going Grey, Basic Grey and Basic Black inkpads plus the 2 step extra large bird punch (all products by Stampin' Up!). Bordering Blue and Going Grey are two of the colours that will be retiring at the end of August as well. See below for the other stamps that are on special this month:

Two Step Stampin' Sale

116386 pg 39 Loads of Love was $39.95 now $31.96
116342 pg 42 Big Bold Birthday** was $53.95 now $43.16
115860 pg 78 A Rose Is a Rose** was $66.95 now $53.56
116332 pg 86 Playful Petals** was $52.95 now $42.36
115770 pg 98 Cheep Talk was $47.95 now $38.36
115946 pg 115 Wonderful Favourites was $39.95 now $31.96
119187 pg 14* Tiny Tags (wood-mount) was $38.95 now $31.16
118592 pg 14* Tiny Tags (clear-mount) was $28.95 now $23.16
119163 pg 31* Cottage Garden (wood-mount) was $32.95 now $26.36
120003 pg 31* Cottage Garden (clear-mount) was $24.95 now $19.96

*From 2010 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue
**Retiring stamp sets!

Contact me before 31st July if you would like any of the above sets. I think I might just head out to the shops this afternoon and buy one of those mugs for myself!

BLING!

2010-06-23T20:58:00.005+10:00

Well this week's deal of the week is all about the bling!

item no 109113 pg 149 Square Ice Rhinestone brads
normally $19.95 now $11.97

item no 109111 pg 149 Circle Ice Rhinestone brads
normally $19.95 now $11.97

item no 109112 pg 149 Square Fire Rhinestone brads
normally $19.95 now $11.97

These brads are encased inside a silver casing but can also be easily removed with a pair of pliers to look more like diamentes.

and a little bit of ribbon:

item no 111848 pg 150 Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
normally $19.95 now $10.97

item no 109050 pg 151 Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
normally $14.95 now $8.97

but hurry! these specials are only available until 30th June 2010. I will be placing an order on 30th at around 9pm so please get in touch if you would like something.

Deal of the week No 3!

2010-06-15T23:27:00.006+10:00

Wow! Organised and Gail Kirby aren't three words that are usually used in the same sentence but look at that - I've got the deal up and it's not quite even the official start time! This week's deal is all about stamp sets - half price stamp sets! We have got:

A Happy Heart - was $41.95 now $20.98

Greetings Eight - was $49.95 now $24.98

Bella's Bloom - was $24.95 now $14.97

Enjoy Every Moment - was $53.95 now $26.98

All Scallops - was $55.95 now $27.98

Contact me before next Tues evening (22nd) if you would like to order any of these sets.

And look! I even have projects using a couple of them:

Here is a sweet treats card using the Happy Heart set

and a card using Enjoy Every Moment with the sweet cuts sticky shapes and glitter

Deal of the Week No 2

2010-06-13T18:22:00.004+10:00

This week's Deal of the Week is a special on selected Designer Papers - these are an absolute bargain!

Item No. 112470
Haiku Designer Series paper was $16.95 now $10.17

Item No. 113976
Pink Flamingo Designer Series paper was $16.95 now $11.02

Item No. 113992
Tea Party Designer Series paper was $16.95 now $10.17

Item No. 113975
Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper was $16.95 now $11.02

Item No. 114037
Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series paper (this is a cardstock weight) was $22.95 now $14.92

These papers are all gorgeous and can be used for cards, scrapbooking pages or 3D items. All are double sided and you get 12 sheets per pack - an absolute bargain!

These are on sale until just before midnight Wed 15th June and I will be placing an order on Tuesday night so if you would like any of these papers please let me know by 7pm on Tuesday night.

The next special then starts on 16th June - check back then or at my Business Website http://www.gailkirby.stampinup.net/ to find out what it is!

WHAT'S NEW????

2010-06-01T00:23:00.003+10:00

Well I am up late just finished putting in orders from a workshop tonight (thanks again Kiersten!) so thought I may as well update the blog given that it's the start of a new month so the broadband should be much faster! I have got photos and updates to still put on about convention which I know you are all dying to read about *g* but I will just let you know the current specials for now. DEAL OF THE WEEK That's right! Each week during June a different special will be offered so you need to check back each Monday either here on on my Demonstrator Business Website http://www.gailkirby.stampinup.net/ (where the lovely Stampin' Up! IT gurus will automatically update my pages for me!!!) to find out what the special is for that week. This week it is 30% off the Scallop Oval (this isn't currently in the main catalogue or the mini, it's on the carry over list), Scallop Square, Boho Blossoms and Trio Flower punches - so instead of $30.95 (plus s&h) you only pay $20.12 (plus s&h).

Another special which is available until 31st July is the starter kit reduced by 20% off. So it will cost $259 instead of $324 and includes $590 of product, most of which you get to choose! Call me if you would like to have a chat about this. You don't have to be a full on demonstrator....some of us just joined because they wanted to buy their products at a discount or are addicted to a certain colour of cardstock....

I will leave you with one convention photo. This is so funny - I had a photo taken at the Manager's reception with Shelli Gardiner and her husband Sterling. They are both so tall and I'm not! Shelli even had her shoes off! Oh well, it's the world I live in with a 6ft 3" husband and 5ft 6" and still growing 13 year old. Sterling is an avid horse lover and he was very impressed by the story of my niece jumping 73cm on her shetland pony lol! OMG the things that come out of my mouth when I am nervous! They are such a lovely couple :-) meeting them is one of the highlights of convention each year.

Off to Convention!

2010-05-19T23:22:00.008+10:00

Woo Hoo! One more sleep! Tomorrow morning I am off to Sydney for the annual Stampin' Up! Convention. Here are my swaps. I had aimed for 100 and have ended up with 74 because it turns out I can't count and two of the sets that I was sure I had 20 of ended up being 16 and 19. Anyway I am looking forward to seeing what I get back in return.

I have also made gift bags for the girls in my team that are going (and 2 GFS wannabes *g*). They are on a Twilight theme. Last year for the convention awards dinner we had Terry's Twilight chocolates which I have been searching high and low trying to find with plans of incorporating them into some classes but they seem to be a catering only product but I found some in Costco! A huge box of 250 to be precise. Put up high on a shelf out of Buffy's way. So I have made up little acetate boxes using the Big Shot pillow box die which I've stamped the swirl out of Vintage Vogue on with black Stazon, filled with the chocolates and then tied with Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon. There is also a Twilight journal (again from Costco) for writing down notes during the sessions, a black velvet pencil from Smiggle, an Edward or Jacob reusable sticker and a pack of apple puree. This of course is to represent the apple of the Twilight theme but not being able to transport fresh fruit interstate I thought these would do lol! Just hope they don't explode during the flight and end up all over my dress for the awards dinner!

Well seems that for once I am going to be able to get a reasonably early (for me) night which is good as we sure don't get much rest while we are there. The sessions are very full on with early starts both days. This year we don't know in advance which stamp sets we will be getting or what will be available to buy in Memento Mall - I am wishing for the Razzle Dazzle print hoodie!

I am so excited! I love convention. This will be my 4th and it seems like yesterday I was getting ready to go to the first one. That one will always be my favourite I think as there were only about 200 of us and we just about all knew each other either in person or from online forums.

Well I will see you when I get back on Sunday afternoon!

x Gail

The REAL Reason Stampin' Up! Introduced Clear Mount Stamps!

2010-04-19T13:14:00.003+10:00

It's because after 13 years I have finally found the perfect way to varnish my wooden blocks! Above are the 6 stamps sets I earnt for FREE (is that a tourtology?) during the recent Sale A Bration promotion. I earnt 3 for my sales and 3 for recruiting. I used to try and varnish all my stamps by putting them out on glad bake and using a paint brush and tin of varnish but it was a bit of a pain - even though is is made easier with the SU blocks being clean (free of rubber) to start with. I found that even though I put glad wrap over the varnish before sealing the tin eventually it would still end up drying out and thus needing another trip out to get some more. On one recent such trip I discovered the spray on varnish so thought I'd try it and it's brilliant! You just spray and then clear the nozzle by spraying the can upside down and it's good to go for the next time.

So first of all you lay out all your stamps on glad bake (outdoors is a sensible choice) and note that I have written underneath the blocks which set they are for to save wasted time in trying to work out which blocks go with each rubber die later. Trust me on this one!!! And then you just spray across all the blocks in one fell swoop. I only varnish the side the rubber goes on, I don't worry about the side the clear label is on. The alphabet set, being double mounted, will need varnishing on both sides. So there you go, very very easy and keeps your stamps looking brand new.

Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue

2010-04-05T14:17:00.003+10:00

Well here it is but be warned, it is very dangerous - I seriously want everything single thing in it! You can go directly to the catalogue online here or if you would like your own free copy mailing to you just let me know! This catalogue is a little thicker than the usual minis and also contains a new level 1 and level 2 hostess set - so what better incentive to book a workshop! As I already own half and then some of the stamps and accessories in the catalogue I can tailor a fantastic workshop for you showing the new products. There are so many new things in the catalogue, such as the Big Shot (renamed the Hot Shot by one of the girls in my team!). Mine is called Barry BTW. For those Sex and the City fans out there I saw on a US blog one of the demos calls her Mr Big lol! We also have the choice of wood or clear mounted stamps (on selected sets). I love the wood mounts but the clear mounts are lovely, take up so less space and the acrylic blocks are wonderful to use being grooved on all 4 sides. The stamps are not polymer, they are the same die cut red rubber and attach with static cling vinyl and you also get an impression of the image to stick on the back so that you can still see exactly where you are positioning the image before you stamp....yet still I managed to get a border stamp crooked! Too lazy to get out the Stampamajig (and yes Chris, I actually do know where it is!). The clear mounts are also around $10 cheaper per set. We have 3 of the current US In Colours - Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede and Melon Mambo which is my favourite! Hands up who thought Soft Suede was?! It's ok, but still does not hold a candle to my beloved Chocolate Chip *g* Anyway I am sure you will not be disappointed with this mini catalogue!

Autumn/Winter Blog Hop

2010-03-31T23:32:00.016+11:00

Good morning and welcome to the ESAD Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue Blog Hop! I don't know why this post is showing as 31st because it is definately 1 April! The catalogue goes live today and runs until 31st August 2010. I hope you enjoy my projects, no need to know what time they were finished *g* they are here, that is all that matters! I just love everything in this catalogue, it was so hard to choose what I was going to do but I really do love the Vintage Vogue stamp set and matching wheel. I also bought my Vintage Vogue set in the new clear mounted format which is brilliant, so easy to store and the new Stampin' Up! clear mount blocks are fantastic to use being grooved on all four sides.
You should have arrived on my blog from Fiona Platzer

I have noticed this morning that blogger seems to playing up and it won't let you click on the photos to enlarge to see the details so I've reloaded a different view of the scrapbook page so that you can see a bit of the effect on the title.

Ok, for my first project I have a card using the Vintage Vogue stamp set and Very Vintage jumbo wheel. This card also uses the new "new" In Colours of Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry and also the Top Note Die cut with the Big Shot. I thought the oversized tea cup I'd been drinking from lent itself to the vintagey/shabby chic feel of this card - until I noticed the coffee stains on it lol! (Well it is quite late/early *g*).

Next I have a 12 x 12 scrapbooking page using a few different techniques and elements. The Very Vintage wheel has been wheeled behind the photo in Versamark (I filled an empty jumbo cartridge with versamark reinker). The title has been done using the Timeless Type chipboard alphabet which in a spur of late night inspiration I decided to run through the Big Shot inside the Perfect Polka Dots textured embossing folder. I then sponged the letters with Close to Cocoa ink to make the detail of the embossed dots stand out. Once again I've used the Top Note die for the journalling card - the stamped sentiment "Life happens love helps" was very appropriate in this photo! I have stamped the flowers from the Vintage Vogue stamp set in Chocolate Chip ink onto Close to Cocoa card, cut them out, set jumbo eyelets in them and adhered them to the page. The ribbon along the bottom is the Chocolate Chip stitched wide grosgrain.

We are again offering Blog Candy for our Blog Hop. What you need to do is complete the blog hop until you get back to me. Once you've visited and commented on every blog then you will need to email Sharlene who will then put your name into the draw for the blog candy. There will be one winner from New Zealand and one winner from Australia. So start hoppin by going to the next blog being Genelle Little

Please note, Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are not eligible to win the Blog Candy.

Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue Blog Hop!

2010-03-30T23:15:00.002+11:00

Hi

Yes myself and some of the other demonstrators on ESAD - Extremely Special Australian Demonstrators (for Stampin' Up!) are doing another Blog Hop! This time it's to showcase products from the new Autumn/Winter mini catalogue which is released on 1 April. There are some gorgeous things in this catalogue - I want everything in it! But I won't spoil the surprise, you can just check back here on 1st April from 7am or it could be 8am...As before there will be a link to the next person's blog and you just need to leave a comment on each blog you visit to be in the running to win some blog candy! (note that other demonstrators are welcome to participate but are not eligible to win the prize). This time there were so many participants that the hop has been sorted into 2 lots - 1st April and 7th April you can go in one or both but it means you won't have to spend a week going through all the blogs lol!

Stamping up a Storm!

2010-03-08T22:45:00.005+11:00

Photos courtesy of Juliana Main

Well! This weekend was the Paperific show held at the Flemington show grounds which just happened to be one of the worst hit areas in the storms that lashed Melbourne on Saturday! Around 3pm, just as I was finishing up my make and take project the rain on the roof suddenly started getting very loud and next thing HAIL was coming down through the roof! Large amounts of rain started coming through - very worrying with all the electrics around, the lights were half off and the evacuation sirens were sounding yet people just wanted to keep on shopping - we papercrafters are a very dedicated lot! We were just as bad racing around getting photos to scrapbook lol! It was pretty scary though, I kept thinking the roof was going to come down from the weight of the hail and water. We evacuated the building and couldn't believe the hail piled up, it looked as if it had been snowing. Getting home was hairy to say the least. The 40 min trip took me 2 hrs and I had to detour several roads, quite a feat for someone with no sense of direction - thank goodness for my Tom Tom! Due to the building being deemed unsafe the show was cancelled for Sunday which was very sad for everyone involved. Returning on Sunday morning I was expecting to find our display boards and 3D items ruined but everything was ok. A lot of cars in the carpark had hail damage, including mine although I didn't even notice it at first. Most are getting written off as not worth repairing not sure about mine. I think it's ok but DH said could be a problem if we wanted to sell it. Thankfully no-one was injured at the show or getting home but things were certainly bleak - even typing this now I am getting sad again. So I'll go and make a cup of tea, turf the pug outside to go to the toilet (wish me luck on that one, she's happily snoring away on the sofa) and say goodnight!

Sweet Treats

2010-03-08T22:13:00.004+11:00

I just remembered I forgot to add pictures of these when I made them. These are cards using the new Sweet Treat cups in the Summer mini catalogue. You punch out a circle with the new 1 3/4" punch, pop in your sweet treat cup, fill it with goodies of choice and then stick it down - the cup has an adhesive lining. Or if you are really clever...and to stop the recipient of the card from tearing your precious artwork to shreds to get to said goodies you can make a little sliding door that opens at the back to get the goodies out. This is what I have done here and I am by no means saying I am clever - it took me demoing these at 4 workshops to finally get it right lol! I also made an easter one which was really sweet, filled with tiny easter eggs. This was after a trip back to the shops to get eggs that fitted inside the cups - der!

Birthday Boy

2010-02-23T22:17:00.003+11:00

Well my little baby boy (who is a whole head taller than me) turned 13 on Friday. He didn't want to have a party this year so we went out to dinner on Friday night and then on Saturday he went to the birthday party of one of his friends. Here is the card I made. It uses the Sanded background stamp, Seaworthy stamp set - it's a surfer BTW, my husband said it looked like someone standing next to a tree??? I guess the image being embossed in white does give it a slightly different look but I thought the white embossing powder went with the whole "sea spray" look and it was quicker than colouring it in as I was trying to finish prepping and packing for a workshop that afternoon at the same time! Despite having had this set for almost a year this was the first time I had used it. It's got some great "male" images, the surfer, a yacht and a speed boat as well as a quote by Oprah Winfrey! I also used Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss and Close to Cocoa cardstock. We all know what colour would have looked better but I am trying to slowly wean myself off it!!!

Great new things in store

2010-02-17T23:16:00.002+11:00

And that is all I am saying at this point in time but there are some very excited demonstrators out there ;-)

Caught in the act!

2010-02-17T22:59:00.005+11:00

Here is Buffy caught out with a piece of Yoyo Yellow cardstock. I guess she likes bright colours! Back to normal and chewing everything in sight after her ordeal with the dark chocolate the other week. I would like to say she will never do that again but I somehow don't think so that dog's stomach will be the death of her. Look at that little face.....so cute like a little baby monkey. I guess it is a face only a mother could love lol!

Always in Pink!

2010-02-17T22:46:00.003+11:00

Here is a card I made for Felicity for her recent birthday. Flick loves pink, although she has started some kind of 12 step program to wean herself off it *g* and is using all kinds of colours now! There is a also a pink present still to be dropped off to go with the card. This card was actually inspired by a pair of pyjamas I saw believe it or not. The pj's were cream with baja breeze little birds all over them and a triangle edged lace trim. I would have done the card in baja breeze but it was for Flick *g* All products by Stampin' Up! I have used the stamp set "Always", Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla and Basic Gray cardstock, Pink Pirouette and Basic Gray inkpads, the eyelet border punch and Basic Gray taffeta ribbon. The birthday greeting is also by SU - ummm don't ask me what it's called! It's a set of 4....stamped up really well which is surprising for a stamp where the rubber image is narrow.

Lost Mojo Challenge

2010-01-27T23:16:00.003+11:00

Here are my cards for the challenge set by Anne-Marie

which was set to bring back lost Mojo's. The rules for this challenge were to use colours in the new Kaleidascope DSP pack with no choc chip allowed :-( so I stuck to the rules and the above are my cards. They have got glitter and crystal effects on them but not sure how sparkly they will show in the photo. I turned the flash off which worked well except that the Tempting Turquoise changed to Bordering Blue! I am happy with them anyway - nice bright summery cards :-)

Helping Haiti

2010-01-26T16:28:00.004+11:00

Help make a difference in the lives of those who continue to suffer from the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January. From now until 28 February 2010, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from the sale of each I {Heart} Hearts stamp set to the Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development fund. The Red Cross is already well established in Haiti and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in need. Stampin' Up!'s Home Office in the US has also bought supplies for and made up 5000 hygiene kits to be sent to Haiti. In order for as many stamp sets to be sold as possible, I am removing my demonstrator discount off the set so it will become $35.15 (plus p/h) instead of $42.95. The hearts in this set match the Stampin' Up! heart punches.

GFS Colour Challenge

2010-01-22T02:31:00.006+11:00

One of the lovely girls in my team, Anne-Marie tonight suggested a Gail Force Stampers challenge of creating a card using some or all of the colours in the Kaleidescope DSP paper in the new Summer mini catalogue. The colours are Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Pink Passion and Pixie Pink. We can use white as a neutral colour and there was a footnote - aimed at myself - saying that Chocolate Chip was not to be used ANYWHERE! Hmph! Anyway I was bringing in the washing a bit later and looked down at the basket and saw some of the colours in the challenge:

So then of course, just to prove a point, I had to add:

Yee Hah!

2010-01-22T01:03:00.008+11:00

Howdy! I am now back from my holiday in Perth. Wouldn't say I've come back exactly relaxed and refreshed....but I am back and would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes - it is really appreciated :-)

A few days after I arrived in Perth my niece had her final riding lesson of the year and the above picture is of her jumping Bella the Shetland pony. I just can't get those Thelwell riding school cartoons out of my head lol! Miss A does very well on Bella and has even set a record of jumping her 70cm which is quite a feat for both a 7yr old and a Shetland pony! When the owner of the riding school saw me and my digital SLR camera her eyes lit up and I found myself as official photographer of the day. I was set up in the ring, right in front of the jumps with an orange witches hat placed next to me with the assuring words that the witches hat would stop the horses from landing on me....oookkkaay!!!!! As you can see from the photo below, they weren't all little Shetlands!

Now you are probably wondering what this post has to do with stamping and it actually is leading somewhere! Until 24th January, Stampin' Up! is having a warehouse sale to try and clear some of the old square cut stamps (the ones you have to trim with scissors) and has some of these on sale. The Wanted stamp set is a horse related sets on the list! Guess what Miss A is getting for her birthday *g* To see the full list go here. Unfortunately the Wild West alphabet has now sold out at the special price as have the Outline Alphabet and the Just Riding (BMX) sets.They are still available though in the new die cut style as well as lots of other great specials on the list so go check it out and contact me if you would like to order anything but remember you only have until 24th January - don't miss out!!!

A photo a day challenge

2010-01-06T14:32:00.002+11:00

Ok so this is my goal for 2010 and look, I don't have any photos to put up lol! Once I finish my first week I will put them up. I have given myself the challenge of taking a photo a day - and so far have kept this up. At the end of the year I will have a whole album completed of random shots of our daily life to look back on. I've always wanted to do this and have been taking random shots for a few years now but haven't done anything with them. I have put the photos into 12 x 12 divided page protectors with a slot for the title showing which week it is, then a space for each photo and then journalling cards along the bottom. It's all very simple with just strips of patterned paper on the cards for embellishment. I know someone who did this last year and she had the week set out over 1 page but I didn't seem to be able to get this to fit so have spread it across 2 pages so each of my layouts will be doubles. At the moment the kids are very excited to see what the "photo of the day" is going to be.....by June I am sure they will be running for cover when they see me with my camera lol! The true addict err...enthusiast that I am, I even went out and bought a very small camera that I can keep in my bag so that I am always ready. I had only bought my big SLR camera with me to Perth and although I do have a small pocket camera back in Melbourne as well I really decided I needed to get this one. It was only a cheap one and may double as a birthday present for DS's birthday in Feb lol!

Happy 2010

2010-01-05T13:04:00.002+11:00

Hi all

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous 2010. I am really hoping 2010 is a much better year. Healthwise, as well as in my own family, I know others who lost family members or became sick. It has been a sad year in that respect.

I haven't been posting as I am currently in Perth, helping to sort out health issues regarding my mum, all of which are not being made any easier by my dad who is in total denial and/or just plain ignorant and stubborn *sigh* I will be back in Melbourne on 19th Jan anyway.

I went to send out my newsletter this morning but there seems to be a glitch in the demo website so won't be able to do it until I get that sorted out - might have to send it out as a postcard. In the meantime, please check out my demonstrator website at www.gailkirby.stampinup.net There is currently a great special on some items the warehouse is trying to clear. Lots of stamp sets at really good prices, the alphabets are a particularly good deal. Then on 25th January Sale A Bration starts. This is where for each $100 order, you will receive a free stamp set! There are 4 to choose from and I've got brochures outlining these if you would like one - please just send me an email and I will get one out to you.....althought the mail does take a little longer from WA *g* Ditto the new summer mini, I also have those ready to go out.

Well that's it for now.

Take care

Gail

Blog Hop update!

2009-12-02T21:04:00.002+11:00

Hi

I have been alerted that some of you "hoppers" out there haven't been able to leave a comment on my blog because you don't have a google/blogger account. I used to have it anyone could comment but the other week got a spam comment so changed it. I have now changed it back so if you missed out please leave a comment - hate you to miss out on a chance on winning that blog candy ;-) Can I also say how lovely it is to read the comments - it really brightens the day!

Welcome to the ESAD Summer Mini Blog Hop!

2009-12-01T00:50:00.010+11:00

Hi!

Welcome to my blog if this is your first visit! If you are following the blog hop you should have arrived here from http://pinkflowersandbling.typepad.com/

Here are the two projects I have made using items from the Summer Mini catalogue. The first project uses the Scissor Circle Plus, which is a fantastic tool for cutting or drawing circles of varying sizes. It is so easy to use. Having just seen New Moon I decided to go for a Twilight theme on this project so I have used Twilight sounding Ghiradhelli chocolates wrapped up inside this cute pouch made by cutting a circle from using the Scissor Circle Plus.

.

Recipe: All materials from Stampin' Up! Basic Grey cardstock, Scissor Circle Plus, Versamark, silver embossing powder,Baroque Motifs stamp set, bone folder, Riding Hood Red tafetta ribbon. If you are local I am having a Summer Mini catalogue launch on Sunday December 13 at 2pm

where you will get to make one of these pouches. Please contact me if you are interested.

The next project uses the Wagon Full of Fun set and the scallop edge note cards - also new in the Summer mini. I have coloured these images onto watercolour paper using my aquapainter and Watercolour Wonder Crayons - too easy! I really love the cupcake - I actually bought the set just for that image lol! The scallop edge note cards come with very vanilla envelopes.

So, that is it from me. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog. The next blog you need to visit is

http://www.astampingjourney.wordpress.com/

Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog and you will go into the draw to win some lovely Stampin' Up! goodies!

Take care

Gail

Summer Mini Blog Hop!

2009-11-29T22:53:00.002+11:00

First of all - Hi Leonie (she's checking my blog!)

On Tuesday 1 December the new Summer Mini catalogue is being released. One of the Stampin' Up! yahoo groups I am on, ESAD (Extremely Special Aussie Demonstrators) will be running a blog hop. Some of the members of this group, myself included, will each feature a project using items from the mini on their blogs with links to follow to visit other blogs. We go live at 6am on Tuesday. Apparently there is a way of setting it to autopost....think I'll just be setting the alarm for 5.45am lol! You need to leave a comment on each blog you visit and if you make it through all of the blogs you will win a prize! Pretty cool and also a great way of seeing different uses for the products. I have no idea what I'm doing yet (I'm KIDDING Leonie *g*) but I am thinking of doing one of my projects with a Twilight theme as I have just gotten back from seeing New Moon with some fellow demonstrators at Gold Class at Crown. Very decadent and I don't think I'll ever be able to go to the normal cinemas again!!! I loved the movie and can see myself swaying from Team Edward onto Team Jacob lol! My sister did warn me about Edward's lipstick (it was to make him look paler apparently) but it looked a bit odd! He looks much better in the Italian scenes without it. Anyway I digress - see you back here on Tuesday!

I Wish Christmas Card Class

2009-11-19T15:23:00.006+11:00

Being very close to December and my total number of Christmas cards made so far totals 4, I have decided to make some cards with the "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' kit. The kit contains 12 x 12 textured cardstock, patterned paper and sheets of die cut stickers. Tons in there. Last year at Regionals we were shown that with just 1/2 a pack you can make tons of Christmas cards and it's a great class to run - lots of fun and everyone makes 20 cards. Right thought I, I'll do that! And I am - only it's 12 months later lol! You will make 20 cards for $25 and still end up with quite a bit of product left over as I am supplying the base cards extra to the kit (and yes of course Chocolate Chip is being used!) so the class cost really is materials only - add in a scrummy supper and it's a bargain! It will be held on Friday 4th December at 7.30pm at my place - email me for further details. If you would like to attend you will need to let me know by Friday 27th Nov so that I can preorder the kits.

Shown above is the half kit and 7 of the 20 cards that you will make.

2009-11-17T22:50:00.012+11:00

Hi

I had a fantastic weekend starting with my wonderful Stamp Club ladies on the Friday night - I always look forward to seeing them. These are the cards we made above.

The tree card has a layer of vellum stamped with snowflakes (the smallest stamp in the Snow Swirled set) using white stazon - this is in the current spring mini which finishes on 30th November and also the Noel greeting from the Many Merry Messages set. I had grand plans to make this card lat year but never got around to it. It is the simplest of cards to make as it is using the Whisper White note cards which come in a pack of 20 precut and scored cards with matching envelopes! To tell the truth, I was actually running quite late in getting organised that night and a few hours before the ladies were due to arrive I was still to even think up the 2nd card yet alone prep for it, so I almost feel like I cheated but they really loved it - especially the simplicity of it.

Then on the weekend I had a great time helping out my good friend Naomi running her new fabulous Paperific business. I was on the door on Saturday and then the registers on Sunday. It was lovely meeting and greeting everyone as they came through but I have been told that next year I am not on the door at all as there is too much opportunity for me to wander off - being locked inside the "office" running the registers is the safest place for me lol! I was let off to get a bit of shopping done and can't wait to have a play with my new toys. I also finished a piece of jewellery off which I had actually bought the products to make it with at Paperific about 3 years ago! I had a refresher demo on what to do, went home and made it and wore it back to the show the following day to show the vendors who were very impressed I might add lol!

Free punch with purchase!

2009-11-08T20:10:00.005+11:00

Hi,

From now until 15th December, order any products totalling $85 from the Christmas Extravaganza brochure, which can be viewed on my Stampin' Up website and receive a free punch! Either the Scallop Square or the Boho Blossoms, both are worth $30.95. The gift giving guide contains some great products that you may have been planning to use for your Christmas cards anyway - I ordered the I Wish Simply Scrapping kit, some Kiwi Kiss cardstock, some Whisper White cardstock, some Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and there you go - free punch! So please go and visit my site and see if there are any goodies on the flyer that you might need/want/like!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T12:09:00.003+11:00

Saw this costume last night and couldn't resist! Can't say the lycra is very flattering on those puggy rolls lol! Siobhan is going out trick or treating later today with her friend and I am going to go along and bring Buffy too - good luck girls in beating her to the treats lol!

Hopefully I will have a couple of cards to post later. Have been laid up with a flu bug for the past week and still not feeling 100%. I thought it was just a little cough and cold but no, can't believe it's hung around so long but I've heard of a few people having a similar thing.

Regionals!

2009-10-18T17:39:00.005+11:00

Wow! 4 posts in one day. I am on a roll lol! This will be the last one for today. Have had a very full on week with stamp clubs, the fundraiser and then yesterday we had our annual Regional Training day for Stampin' Up! or Regionals as we call it. I had to get up at 6am!!!! I never get up at 6am! It was held at the Crown Promenade hotel which is one of the places in the city that I actually do know how to get to! Registration started at 8am with the session starting at 9am and everyone knows you have to get their early to get a good table lol! This year it was just as well as there were so many demonstrators there, it was a great turn out. I still remember the very first one we had in October 2006 when there were about 20 of us! It's always nice to see "the originals" again each year too. This year I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to make any swaps but I ended up making 21 and then another 15 for the girls in my team. I used the set Sip by Sip and the ones for my team had a chocolate on them. I forgot to photograph them but will make a couple more as I owe a few people one and I also like to have copies for my own samples. Can you guess what was the predominant colour??? That's right, Chocolate Chip! I even pulled myself right out of my comfort zone and used Designer Series Paper on them as well. I swapped my cards very quickly and received some beautiful ones in return.

You can actually see mine here on the display board, the one with the cups on it - I made one for SU to keep.

We received a new stamp set and matching wheel (including the handle and ink cartridge) that have not been released yet - they will be in our next mini catalogue and made 4 projects using that set. I am always amazed at the ideas SU come up with, I probably would have overlooked the set but now love it! We have also got some exciting new business tools that will be implemented - can't wait for those! I was overjoyed to see Bonnie Thurber again who had travelled out from the home office in Utah. Unfortunately Bonnie's luggage got delayed :-( Due to this, she was not able to demonstrate her planned projects but did an amazing job of improvising with items she had found in her hotel room - yes, you heard me right! She is such a warm and funny person - her business talks are the best with really useful and sound advice. As well as working for Stampin' Up! she is also a demonstrator herself so has "been there" so to speak and knows the challenges we sometimes face. I met Bonnie at the very first opportunity day in Melbourne on 8th April 2006 (of course I remember the date!) when Stampin' Up! first came to Australia. It was quite surreal as there weren't very many of us there and Shelli Gardner and her husband Sterling were there along with the late Dave Abbott our 1st General Manager, Bonnie and 1 other presenter - I can't really remember who as I was too starstruck at Shelli being there lol! I chatted quite a bit with Bonnie on the day (they were all so open!) and her and Dave sat at our table to do the make and takes. Bonnie also attended the first convention we had in Sydney a year later and after one of her business classes I stayed behind to ask a few questions with some concerns that I had and she gave me some wonderful advice that helped me so much and I definately would not be where I am today with my wonderful growing team of Gail Force Stampers if it were not for her! Yesterday I was so happy to be able to tell her this in person :-)

Out of my comfort zone!

2009-10-18T17:19:00.005+11:00

My friend and downline, Felicity, makes the most gorgeous 3D items - boxes, bags, interactive albums etc. I, however, do not lol! At our WCMD event Flick had set up a table with some of her 3D items on display and a few of my stamp club ladies who happened to be there noticed the stepper (or fantasy keepsake box as it's also known) box and asked if I could show them how to make one - eeeeek!!!! Felicity showed a few of our team how to make them a month or so ago but I decided to bring along some cards to finish off instead so now of course I was wishing I had joined in the class! Anyway, I had a play and I just could not believe how easy it was! So the Stamp Club ladies made them and were very happy with the results! They will be great for putting chocolates or small presents etc in as little gifts for Christmas. Siobhan has discovered that each box is the right size to hold a Littlest Pet Shop toy and was amusing herself by having her dragonfly LPS's flying up to "their bedrooms" where the mummy dragonfly LPS tucked them in and kissed them goodnight! So sweet :-)

and another fundraiser!

2009-10-18T16:08:00.006+11:00

On Wednesday night myself and Chris (against her better judgement!) ran a fund raising cardmaking night for one of my daughter's friends who has type 1 juvenile diabetes. There were 24 ladies, most of whom had NEVER seen stamping before! I certainly created some glitter addicts that night! Everything was covered in glitter by the end. We made 8 cards and only 1 of them was actually 'supposed' to have glitter on it *g* It was a fun night, a bit crazy but a lot of fun :-) and we helped to raise lots of money :-) Myself and Chris each designed 4 cards and the ladies made them all in turn. Here are mine. You can click on the image to make it bigger to see the cards in better detail. I just did this and realised the cupcake one needs to go in a new cello bag - this one (being from my craft show display board) is looking a tad grubby!

Featuring Snow Swirled, Tree Trimmings and Crazy for Cupcakes. There was a 4th card featuring the Great Friend set but that seems to have gone missing...or I could have sent it someone!

WCMD

2009-10-18T15:33:00.008+11:00

Hi

Well first of all just a note to thank the ladies that came along to the World Card Making day that myself, Felicity and Karen ran back on 3rd October - that seems so long ago now! Everyone had a great time and we certainly had fun. We made gorgeous projects and ate yummy food - what's not to love and on top of all that we raised money for a good cause! Thankyou to Felicity and Karen for your help in organising a great day!

Here are some photos (courtesy of Felicity)

Karen telling us a little about the Central Bayside Centre and the types of programs they have for child health and our display table

Me smirking as I yet again entrance another group into the wonders of glitter lol!

The projects that we made - 4 Christmas cards, a handbag card (the pink one) and a gift box (blue)

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY

2009-09-15T17:13:00.002+10:00

World Card Making Day is a day designed to help celebrate the art of making and sending hand made cards. It's a day to get together with friends, have some fun and creativity and come away with some hand made cards or projects that you can send out to people to let them know you are thinking of them.

This is my 3rd year of being involved in WCMD and this year I am doing something a little different and have organised a slightly bigger event with 2 of the girls in my downline, Karen and Felicity. We started planning this last year and decided that we would run the event to benefit the Child Development Services at the Central Bayside Community Centre. The details are:

Saturday 3rd October from 1 pm - 5 pm
Central Bayside Community Centre, 335 Nepean Hwy, Parkdale (enter off Carrier Ave)
Cost $25 per person

You will make 3 stunning projects comprising of a gift box, handbag card and a set of 3 Christmas cards

Afternoon tea, a gift for each attendee and door prizes are included. We will also have a raffle of Stampin' Up! products as well as special offers.

Please RSVP via email or call me on 0402683325 to secure your spot - places are limited!

New found hobbies

2009-09-06T22:18:00.010+10:00

The Peninsula craft fair went very well and we met some lovely visitors to our stand. The show organisers were also fantastic - thanks to Lynne, David and all the volunteers from the Dromana Rotary. We have exhibited at quite a few craft fairs now and we have never had cups of tea served up to us on our stand and we even got a plate of scones this afternoon as well! Very spoilt! Looking forward to next year :-)

So, being me and being at a craft fair, of course I had to go and have a wander. The girls thought I'd be safe as we were the only stamping stand there. I came back with pre-cut quilting squares and some wool! So I am going to make a patchwork quilt! I will add that I have never done patchwork before and don't have a very healthy relationship with my sewing maching but how hard can it be, really *VBG* Seriously though I am attempting something very simple, the squares are all pre-cut, the lady on the stand worked out exactly how many I will need and all I have to do is sew them together...

So onto the wool. I can knit but thought I would still do something simple so I will finish it so bought some beautiful variagrated merino wool. It was on a hank so it needed to be wound into a ball. So I put it onto the back of a chair to wind it but should have known better when Buffy and Charlotte took an interest in what I was doing....

i

Who loves FREE Ribbon??!!!

2009-09-04T15:34:00.009+10:00

Stampin' Up! have got a great special for you this month! From now until

the end of September, simply purchase $100 of product and receive TWO rolls of wide ribbon for free! The Certainly Celery ribbon is the wide grosgrain and the So Saffron is poly twill - neither of these products are normally available to the Australian market. Each roll is 9m long. Beautiful colours for Spring!

Contact me today to place your order!
Ok, I am off to do a bit of tidying in readiness for my wonderful Stamp Club ladies tonight. Have sent DH off to Costco for a tray of their giant cupcakes *g*

Peninsula Craft Expo

2009-09-03T19:42:00.003+10:00

Hi,

This weekend myself and a few of the more local members of Gail Force Stampers will be exhibiting at the inaugral Peninsula Craft Expo which is being held in Mornington and run by the Rotary Club of Dromana. It's on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September from 9am - 4pm each day in the Mornington Peninsular Community Theatre Cnr Wilson Rd and Nepean Hwy, Mornington. Admission is only $5 per person and includes a lucky door prize ticket! On our Stampin' Up! stand we will be having demonstrations and one of our wonderful gift baskets up for grabs if you wish to leave your details with us in our lucky door prize! We will also have some show specials. Come along and say hi if you are planning on going! You can find out more details
here: http://www.peninsulacraftexpo.org.au

No stamping involved!

2009-08-30T17:34:00.006+10:00

Here's a card I made for a party Jackson was off to today. I made it very late last night when I got home from scrapbooking. The last LO I had completed at the crop used these colours and paper so I decided to use these again rather than drag out inks and stamps at that late hour! Very quick to put together and please excuse the blobs of glue. I couldn't find my glue pen and needed something fine tipped so used a clear craft glue.

It doubles as a gift card holder:

Originally the punched out stars on the front of the card were "hollow" (hence needing a fine line of adhesive) which is achieved by first punching with the small size star punch and then punching around that image with the large punch as so:

but then I decided to punch the small stars out again in the same Not Quite Navy c/s as the base card and adhered them to the centres of the outlined stars on dimensionals for a 3D look.

It was a very quick and easy card to put together with the bonus of doubling as the present. I also have to thank Leonie for her suggestion of using the rocket from the Pun Fun set. As cute as it is, being for a 13 yr old I don't think it would have been appropriate somehow lol!

Cheep Talk

2009-08-30T17:23:00.004+10:00

During June and July, Stampin' Up! demonstrators submitting total orders of $600 in sales were able to choose a free stamp set worth $48 and I chose Cheep Talk. This had been on my wish list for a while so what better way to get it than for free! Just one of the perks of being an SU demonstrator *g*

The teacher that both of my children had for grade 1 left last week to have her first baby. Jackson and Siobhan absolutely loved having her and we are sad to see her go - Siobhan kept hoping she would take older grades in the future and she'd be able to have her again! I made this thankyou card for her. The images are coloured direct to rubber using the Stampin' Write markers.

FOILED!

2009-08-24T18:20:00.003+10:00

I love this photo! It was taken at Chesterfield Farm in Scoresby during the last school holidays.

Spring Mini

2009-08-24T17:14:00.008+10:00

Cripes! where does the time go? The Spring mini was out on 1 August and I still have mine all sitting here ready to post out! If you would like a copy just give me a yell and I'll get one in the post to you. I've actually got to duck out now to mail some and it's bucketing down! I somehow don't think I'm going to get Miss Buffy to come with me - she's happily snoring away over the central heating vent lol! It was sunny earlier but they did promise rain and hail later! Gotta love Melbourne weather. The mini catalogue can be viewed here There are some really gorgeous new stamp sets and accessories but hurry they are for a limited time and finish on 30th November!

Touching base

2009-07-19T13:51:00.003+10:00

Hello,

No cards posted as yet - got to photograph them. I have a new car! A 2007 Ford Falcon BF. I know, not my ideal choice, I wanted another Camry but apparently the newer models won't tow a camper trailer - don't ask! The car is actually very easy to drive except that I have to have the seat so far forward to reach the pedals that if the air bag ever goes off it will kill me lol! I was a bit skeptical on the fuel consumption but I drove it out to Hampton Park on Friday and then down to Frankston yesterday and it's hardly made a mark on the guage which is good. I am enjoying some peace and quiet while Nick has taken the kids out today for a drive in the new car to go and look at camper trailers.... I have been sorting out orders that arrived during the week but haven't yet had time to even look at.

Starting Thursday my team and my friend Naomi's team are taking part in the Craft and Quilt Show (Jeff's Shed). So come and say hi if you are there. We will have show specials and showbags as well as round the clock demonstrations. The show is open from 9 am - 5pm each day and until 8pm on Saturday night (that was a fun shift last year - not!). I am only able to be there on the Thursday due to going away on the Scraptacular retreat which I just cannot wait for! Total luxury - no cleaning up after little people or little dogs, beautiful meals that I don't have to cook, non stop scrapping and on tap percolated coffee.....err going on last year's experience I might give the on tap coffee a miss this year! It was delish and I drank so much I couldn't sleep the entire weekend! I can normally drink tea and coffee quite late at night and it never affects me. Maybe red wine might be a better bet this year *g* I am on a mission to get all my photos from our 1995 trip to the US scrapped. The biggest hurdle will be remembering where we were. I was smart enough to keep a trip diary so if I can find that I'll be all set. We went to so many aquariums on that trip if I turf all of those out it will cut the number of photos down by half lol!

It's getting a bit chilly in Melbourne!

2009-07-06T14:01:00.004+10:00

Here's one for a laugh! I put Buffy's new coat on her on Saturday before she went outside to play with the kids. It's very hard to get the coat on when she's trying to chew it at the same time! I think the black is very slimming on her and Siobhan (who's just finished studying dinosaurs at school) said the peaked collar makes her look like a Triceratops lol!

More cupcakes!

2009-07-06T13:54:00.004+10:00

Just having a bit of a play here testing the uploading of photos off my camera onto the new computer - it is so easy! I made cupcakes again for the stamp club ladies on Friday. I made the vanilla cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook and the icing is Betty Crocker's readymade vanilla frosting with just 1 drop of red food colouring to give the lovely pale pink colour. I was very happy with how these turned out but I didn't even get to taste one! The stand is from Robert Gordon Pottery kindly picked up for me by my friends Pauline and Lizzie on their last visit there.

New computer

2009-07-06T13:43:00.003+10:00

DH installed a new computer on the weekend as mine was in it's last throes - ha! he just wanted to be able to play Runescape on it. We have got a 2nd new computer but DS is usually on that playing Runescape. I have been having a play and found these already installed photos. I like this one, can just see a sparkly vampire popping out from behind a tree lol!

Latte anyone?

2009-06-24T21:56:00.003+10:00

I seem to have an obsession with collecting tea and coffee cups. I don't know why. Everytime I see a new design or style I just have to have it. My cupboards are bursting at the seams with mugs and I really don't have the room for new ones. Good thing that DH has a knack for breaking them so I do need to replace them every now and again! Of course, I do have my special ones that are kept up high in a cupboard, strictly off limits to DH and are only brought out when my friends come over!

I saw these latte mugs in House the other week and thought I should buy them in honour of my new coffee machine (the first one recently died). The mugs are by Maxwell and Williams and come in a large range of colours but of course it was easy for me to pick my favourites! Can you guess which one is my very favourite *g*? The colours are Kiwi Kiss/Certainy Celery, Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral and of course, Chocolate Chip! I always smile at how everyday colours are now only known as Stampin' Up! colours!

Creepy!

2009-06-17T23:28:00.003+10:00

Woah! Just went to make a cup of tea and looking out over the back fence to the street I noticed all this thick white fog through the street lights. I grabbed my camera and went out the front and tried to get a photo but the camera wouldn't focus properly. This side is pretty dark around the side where it's more brightly lit might have worked better but it's so creepy out there!!!!

Footnote to the glitter!

2009-06-17T22:55:00.003+10:00

I have just been playing again with my sticky cuts and glitter, finishing off a scrapbook page for display at Paperific. I really didn't want to stick down the sticky cut and then peel it off and pour glitter all over the finished layout because it would just get into everything so I tried peeling off the top layer and dipping that into the glitter then peeling off the backing and sticking the newly pre-glittered object onto the page and it worked!!!! Yay now only my nails have got a little bit of glitter on from where I was peeling the backing off!

Sparkly Night!

2009-06-13T20:27:00.007+10:00

Last night for stamp club, before I served the red velvet cupcakes, we made two cards featuring glitter! I warned the ladies they would go home sparkly and they did! We also learned that the adhesive remover from Stampin' Up! removes any stray specks of glitter from cards! In the close ups of my cards below there is quite a bit of stray glitter, may have to hit them with the adhesive remover!

This first card features the Fifth Avenue Floral set with the large flower glittered (is that such a word?) using heat and stick powder and the green glitter from the Supernova set. It is VERY sparkly IRL! Then, to show the other way of adding glitter to an outline image, the second card uses the Kiwi Kiss ink, versamark and heat and stick powder with the Dazzling Dimonds glitter added to show the Kiwi Kiss ink underneath - this results in a much subtler look - although glitter and subtle aren't usually two words you'd find used in the same sentence lol!

Then we made a card again using glitter, but this time with the new Sticky Cuts. These are die cut stickers cut out of the same material as the sticky strip. You get two 12 x 12 sheets full of images for around $16.95 (too lazy to go and find a catalogue!). One set is all alphas and the other one is called Sweet Cuts and has flowers, hearts, trees, butterflies and a few words. We used the flowers in these cards with the centre a different colour of glitter to the main flower. The stem and leaves were cut using the oval punch - a technique I am very pleased to say I discovered all by myself! And I'll bet someone is going to tell me that it is in fact on SCS and I am not as clever as I like to think I am!!!! This set also features the Enjoy Life stamp set. I think it is a very happy card. It certainly cheered me up when I had finished it (at 2am Friday morning!) as I had had something on my mind for the last couple of days and this just took my mind right off it! I am going to send it to my BFF who lives in Perth and has been having a bit of a sad time lately :-( However they have just bought a chihuahua puppy to cheer themselves all up so I thought the "enjoy the little things" was fitting!

Well that is my blogging quota for the week done I think. I don't have to worry so much about the blogging policewoman being on my back these days as she is busy on her virtual farm lol! Wonder if she will read this *g* love ya Kaz! Ok I am off to finish putting my DSP paper swatch books together and watch Sweet Home Alabama - I'm sure there is a Wilson brother in it! I am done cutting cardstock for Paperific at the moment, think I've given myself RSI with the Dreamkutz (I am serious!)

Ciao for now Gail xxx

Cupcakes

2009-06-13T19:53:00.005+10:00

I made these delicious cupcakes yesterday morning to take to a stamping session at a friend's house and the rest to be served that night at my Friday night stamp club session. They are from a new cookbook I bought a few weeks ago called The Hummingbird Bakery cookbook. It's a bakery in London which sells American cakes, cookies and pies. The recipes looked quite delicious and not too hard (read too many ingredients *g*) and so praying that the oven goddess would be kind to me that morning I attempted the Red Velvet Cupcakes. Red Velvet cake is quite an American classic, it's basically a chocolate cake with red food colouring. There is a very funny scene in Steele Magnolias (and Miss Lizzie do you still have my DVD???) where Ouisa (Shirley Maclaine) makes the groom's cake for the wedding out of Red Velvet cake in the shape of an Amadillo, complete with grey icing (they question where on earth you would get grey icing from!) so that when it was cut up and sliced it looked like it was bleeding lol! The cake is amazing to make, the raw cake mix is a stunning deep red colour, I really wished I'd taken some photos but was kind of in a hurry. The icing is a cream cheese one which was also delicious and easy to make. I was very happy with the way they turned out and my guests all seemed to like them!

IT PAYS (more) TO HAVE FUN!

2009-06-08T16:15:00.003+10:00

We all know how much fun a Stampin' Up! workshop is and the wonderful stamps and accessories you can earn for free just by hosting a workshop. Well during June and July hostesses can receive an extra $40 in free merchandise if the workshop sales reach $600! This is on top of the normal hostess benefits so you would get a level 1 or level 2 stamp set and $110 of free products! So grab a few of your fellow craft obsessed friends and contact me now!!!!!

PAPERIFIC!!!!

2009-06-08T15:59:00.003+10:00

It's that time of year folks! The Winter Paperific show is on! Winter is such a fantastic time to do craft when it's too wet and cold to venture outside so come along and stock up on your supplies and/or learn something new! For full details of the show, including instructions on how to get there (very important for some of us lol!) go here:

www.paperific.com.au and click on June show. It is very easy to get to and if you should take anyone's word on that it's mine as I have no sense of direction whatsoever! I will be there on the Stampin' Up! stand and we will have tons of inspiration, demonstrations, FREE make and takes, showbags and some really good show specials. It is always a really great show and by the looks of the other vendors I definately should not be let off the stand alone!!!! Now to get started on my samples and work out what to do for my make and take and demonstration........

Not Stamping Related......

2009-05-20T17:58:00.007+10:00

But you could eat it while you were stamping :-)

DD 7 was a bit grumpy when she came home from school this afternoon so to cheer her up I decided to let her help me to do some baking. As my oven seems to be in permanent "burn" mode, I decided something that involved no baking would be in order. Enter Rice Bubble Treats or LCM's as they are commercially known. If anyone knows what LCM actually stands for I'd love to hear it! I have a proper recipe somewhere but as I know the ingredients knew it couldn't be too hard so guessed the quantities and it turned out fine! I also chucked it all into the one bowl and melted it all in the microwave.

Rice Bubble Treats

Place 60g - 90g of butter into a large microwave bowl with a bag of marshmallows. Heat on med high for 3 - 4 minutes until the marshmallows bubble up and it is all melted. Stir to melt the last remains of the butter and to blend into the melted marshmallows. Stir in 4 cups of rice bubbles and pour into a greased foil or baking paper lined slice baking dish. Sprinkle*** with sprinkles and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares.

***As you can see Siobhan went a little overboard with the sprinkles, it was more like pour not sprinkle - she used 1/2 a jar!

Do you like my new look blog?? The background is courtesy of Aqua Poppy Designs (click on the link at the top to go to the site) and my banner was done by my very talented friend
Chris McLucas I just love it! Thank you so much Chris :-)

May Specials

2009-05-07T21:19:00.008+10:00

Well this month Stampin' Up! has got TWO specials for you. The first is purchase any 3 packs of selected Designer Series paper for $16.95 each (12 sheets, 2 each of 6 double sided papers) and get a 4th pack for free. The papers are as follows:

Item Page Description
112042 132 Urban Garden Designer Series paper
112470 132 Haiku Designer Series paper
113976 132 Pink Flamingo Designer Series paper
112468 132 Sweet Always Designer Series paper
113992 133 Tea Party Designer Series paper
113975 133 Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper
113966 134 Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series paper
112469 134 Holiday Treasures Designer Series paper
112041 134 Bella Rose Designer Series paper
113974 134 Bella Bleu Designer Series paper
113978 135 Urban Oasis Designer Series paper
112461 135 Washington Apple Designer Series paper
112039 135 Windsor Knot Designer Series paper
113980 135 Candy Lane Designer Series paper

I will definately be stocking up! Let's see if I can use them before the catalogue expires lol! Footnote - I have actually used up a smidgen of Urban Garden but will have to wait for a few more days before I can post it onto my blog.

-OOOOOOO-

The second offer is to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator with a special Scrapbooking kit for only $150! The kit includes a Simply Scrapping Kit (your choice), a coordinating inkpad (your choice), a pack of 12 x 12 textured cardstock (your choice), a pair of craft and rubber scissors (you have no choice!) and an alphabet set - of your choice OR any stamp set in the catalogue up to $77.95 so that is very good value. You also get all the business supplies and the normal benefits of being a demonstrator such as the discount on your products, access to the demonstrator website, being able to attend demonstrator only events and you even get to be a member of the Gail Force Stampers! Remember you can join just to buy your supplies at a discount, you don't have to do workshops etc. Contact me today if you would like some more information - kirbygail@hotmail.com or view the sidebar for contact details. What have you got to lose???

Back from Convention!

2009-05-05T20:58:00.018+10:00

Wow! What an amazing weekend I've just had! I attended the 3rd Annual Stampin' Up Australian Convention in Canberra. Myself and 9 of my team flew up to Canberra on Thursday and came back on Sunday. I just love Convention, it is so inspiring and it's wonderful meeting up with other demonstrators. I must say that this year there were so many new faces it was hard finding the old ones! We had classes on business building techniques and demonstrations of new stamping techniques, make and takes, swaps, shopping in Memento Mall, drinking, eating, laughing, not a lot of sleeping got done!

We started off on Day 1(Friday)arriving at the Convention Centre, registered to get our bags including our 2 stamp sets, convention pin, pen, SU lip gloss, catalogue, neck purse with our track details on and I received a pin for my sales award. Some swapping was done but I was itching to get upstairs to Memento Mall where I purchased my beautiful brown SU cardigan! I also bought an umbrella, water bottle, a silver convention charm and a poster. I was more restrained this year than last. I went back the next day to get a few more things but most of it had sold out!

The morning session was opened by Shelli Gardner and was followed by demonstrations from some of the US presenters. Then we broke for lunch and did a bit more swapping.
After lunch we did our make and takes. We had 4 projects to make up in limited time and I always feel pressured at these and never get them finished. I always plan to finish them at home but never seem to do so! This year I am determined!!! Actually they can be my project for tomorrow night when I go to my friend's house for our monthly stamping get together. I left the make and take session early to attend a leadership class. We had a few other classes too and in one of them we were invited to come down to the front and speak to everyone. So, as I thought there might be a free stamp set in it, and cheered on loudly by the rest of the Gail Force Stampers, I bravely made my way down to the front. Talk about scary! I just babbled away and can't really remember what I said but know I probably broke some kind of speed record lol! AND I didn't get a stamp set hrmph!

On the Friday night I was priviledged to attend the Manager's Reception which was just lovely! We were served fruit mocktails and delicious finger food and mingled with Shelli, Aaron and Emma and other demonstrators. We also got a free stamp set! After the reception, my friend Naomi and myself headed off to meet her team and then the rest of my team for dinner. I have got absolutely no sense of direction at all and we took the scenic route from Naomi's hotel back to where we were supposed to be having dinner. The restaurants and my hotel was on London Circuit which is bascially a big circle with the freeway in the middle. We took the wrong way around the circuit and ended up having to walk ACROSS the freeway! Eventually we arrived but I have to admit I was starting to panic a bit. I am also embarrassed to say that we had a brunch in the same area on Sunday morning and in the daylight I realised that on the Friday night we had actually only been about 150m away from where we were meant to be had we set off in the right direction!!!

We went back to the bar for a few drinks in our hotel afterwards and all I will say is what happens on convention stays on convention lol!

We started the next day off with a hearty breakfast in the hotel and then wandered (some of us staggered lol!) to the convention centre. Today was an earlier start and pretty full on with classes non stop all day. The afternoon session was so much fun! Derek, who is a great motivational speaker, had us all up dancing and the session ended with amazing stamping demonstrations by Shelli and Pam - I always learn something new from her, she's amazing and so nice. I gave her one of my swaps as it featured the stamp set she had just demonstrated and she told me she had yet to try the bleach technique! I also won a stamp set in the final prize patrol!! And it was That's Funny - a stamp set I had been wanting to buy! 3 others in my team also won prize patrol sets - a definate record. This year it was done differently by the colour wrist band you had depicting who won instead of names being put up on the screen. They didn't do as many this year - only 3 I think - but more people won.

After the session we then left to get ready for the Awards Dinner. We had a beautiful meal of asian pork and noodle salad, chicken and a citrus tart for dessert. Coffee and tea were served with Terry's "Twilight" chocolates - will keep an eye out for these for a future project I have in mind! After the dinner we moved into the theatre again for the awards ceremony. I won an award for $20,000 in sales and I wasn't as nervous to go up this year!

The next morning we had a brunch for a yahoo group I'm on for Australian demos which was a lot of fun and nice to put faces to names. I was the official photographer and happy to say I didn't manage to chop anyone's heads off! I had a new digital SLR camera I had ordered and only arrived a few days before I left. I hadn't had time to read the manual but one of the offical convention photographers gave me some tips.

So that's it for another year :-( It's always sad leaving but I always come away really inspired with lots of great ideas for classes and workshops buzzing in my head. If you would like to experience a convention why not consider joining? During May you can join with a scrapbooking kit for only $150! Contact me if you would like further details. Now I am off to bed to try and catch up on some of that sleep!!!!

Busy Busy Stamping Stamping

2009-04-24T19:26:00.002+10:00

Well I am getting my swaps done. Have got 60 all finished and sealed up in their cello bags. I want to do another 40 but am doing 20 of each design so have to come up with another 2 designs. Have so many stamps I want to use! How can I choose? I am waiting on a new camera to come in so won't take a photo of my finished ones just yet. I meant to call in to check if it was in tonight when I was at Southland but just got so excited when I found the next seasons of Melrose Place (season 4) and BH90210 (season 6) on the shelves that I forgot all about it! I bought BH90210 and Melrose can wait for Mother's Day :-) I am currently in the middle of season 3 of Melrose and it's gripping stuff! Kimberley has stolen Jo's baby! Will she get it back??? Will Matt's boyfriend move in with him? Will Jane get the money stolen from her business by her Australian fiancee (who also kidnapped Sidney) back? Well I am about to go and find out while I do some more stamping!

What child labour laws???

2009-04-21T17:45:00.005+10:00

Our annual Stampin' Up! convention is being held in Canberra in 10 days time - eek!!! So exciting but I am so behind in making my swaps! I am currently working on a set using a new set Crazy for Cupcakes and I am colouring the images in with the Water Colour Wonder crayons and an aqua painter. I sat down last night to colour some in while I watched TV. I was doing them one section on all the pieces at a time and was up to colouring in the cherries on the top which my daughter (who's 7) asked if she could do. Now the aquapainters can be a bit iffy to use if you aren't used to them, too much pressure can overload the water in the brush end and the cherries are a very small area to colour in and could easily go everywhere so I gave Siobhan one that I had smudged a bit so that she could just do that one and then be happy. She was so careful and attentive colouring them in! She did an amazing job - they were all perfect so I let her finish them for me and we are going to do some more tonight LOL! She actually commented that some of the other colouring (the stuff I did) was out of the lines! Well it was low light and I didn't have my glasses on :-p

What is it with my dogs and SU products??

2009-04-21T17:35:00.004+10:00

Ok, some of you would have heard/read about my previous x/pug Coco chewing up my Close to Cocoa marker. Getting Buffy prenamed with no SU products sounding anything like her name I thought I would be safe....no! So far she has had a chew on packs of cardstock, a stamp set still inside it's plastic container, the glue stick shown in the previous post, she just LOVES the cardboard boxes the orders arrive in and also has chewed on "the mothership" the trolley I take to workshops. On Sunday she came into the kitchen acting as if she had something nasty tasting or sticky inside her mouth she was trying to get rid of. She chews all kinds of things up so I wasn't surprised. I washed her face and gave her some water and she seemed to be ok. Then I went off wondering what she could have gotten hold of this time. Then I saw a new bottle of crystal effects still in it's plastic bag sitting on the sofa. I picked it up and it was sticky! Then I saw the puncture marks..that is what she'd got. Thankfully it's non toxic but I had to go and find a replacement bottle to put it in before it all leaked out and/or dried out.

Finishing off those swaps

2009-04-12T21:35:00.004+10:00

Now all I have to do is glue the project recipes onto the back. Where did I put that glue stick.....?????

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T13:36:00.004+10:00

Hi all,

Hope everyone's having a nice day and not feeling too ill on chocolate! My kids were up bright and early to find the eggs I'd hidden out for them (well out of reach of the dog!). One year when Jackson was about 4, as I was wandering around late at night looking for places to hide them, I decided (as a joke) to put one on the top of the toilet cistern. Jackson just could not believe I'd put one there and then I decided to keep up that tradition and it's now the first place he goes to look lol!

So I had planned to use the break to do some stamping and get my stamping area sorted out (it's a disaster zone once again) but procrastination has gotten the better of me - I have however, sorted out all the DVD's tidily onto a bookcase and watched several episodes of Season 3 of Melrose Place. I now have to pace myself until Season 4 is released. My friend Chris came over yesterday with the plan to get started on our swaps for Convention which is only a few weeks away now. Well...we got started - finishing is another story lol! I just always seem to need that "night before" adrenalin to get me going! Above is one batch that I've finally finished, covering myself and the Pug in pink ultrafine glitter in the process! The outlining with the grey marker was Chris's suggestion and it definately makes it pop. As a swap I am not sure how this will go down, as due to religious beliefs some may not like it and I sincerely hope I don't offend any of my blog readers. I was actually inspired by my daughter's undies that are in this colour scheme with the skulls and hearts on it! As soon as I showed her the finished card she immediately commented on what it looks like lol! The set (Just Jawing $45.95) is good for teenage cards and also features a cluster of stars, a pair of cherries, a flower and a little bow. I could picture some boy cards using the stars by themselves.

New products

2009-04-01T22:57:00.004+11:00

Well after a long day of procrastination (a lot having to do with the fact that I had to wait until 12pm until placing my order from the new catty and kept changing my mind over what I wanted)these are the cards that I finally came up with for Friday night's stamp club (ladies if you are watching, look away lol!). I really love the rooster which is part of the Rustic Rooster set which is a level 2 hostess only set. It stamped up so clearly and it's got really fine detail. I used the cracked glass technique on it, it was quite fun doing the cracking part! The 2nd card which uses Fresh Cuts, is fairly simple with the image stamped in versamark and then So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Blue sponged over the top using the daubers. The choc chip wide grosgrain ribbon is because I just cannot make a card without CC on it somewhere!!!

IT'S HERE!!!!

2009-04-01T22:35:00.012+11:00

Here is the new catalogue! Closely being guarded by Buffy (who was actually having a sneaky chew on the box). You can view the catalogue online here

As promised, it's full of lots of new stamps and accessories, not to mention the new In Colours. As of today you can order from it! I have already placed my order and am now sitting impatiently waiting for it to arrive! The catalogue of course is full of ideas and inspiration so if you would like a copy please let me know. They are $10 if I can deliver it to you/you can collect it or $15 to post. Alternatively you can book a workshop and get one for free or join my stamp club and also get one for free! I am hoping to set up a 2nd group starting in May.

NEW CATALOGUE!!!

2009-03-23T10:41:00.002+11:00

Well there was a reason for the large retirement list this year, it was to bring us more in the line with the US version and they have done just that! I haven't quite received my copies yet (borrowed one off a friend - thanks Flick!)but I should have them this week. If you would like a copy please get in touch, they are $10 if you are near me and I can drop off or you can collect or $15 to post out to you. Once again they are full of inspiring ideas. The new In Colours are gorgeous and they all go with Chocolate Chip......

Now off to tackle the ironing pile and clean up all the paper Buffy has shredded up....oh she is soooo cute! I took her for her first walk last night and it was strange bumping into the usual dog walkers/neighbours who knew Coco and they did a double take when they saw Buffy. Were sad to hear about Coco but also commented on how much calmer Buffy is!

Retiring List

2009-03-23T10:34:00.003+11:00

Well as I promised, and then forgot to post, here is the retiring list. Lots of items have already sold out (remember my warnings to get the reinkers for your In Colours early???!!!!) and there were a few stamp sets which have been really popular as well such as Ahoy Matey. It is always sad to see the retiring list and there were some sets I was just "oh how COULD they" :-( Anyway if you would like something the deadline for ordering is 31st March. Items marked with * is 25% discount ** is 50% discount and *** is 50% of the retail price will be going to the bushfires appeal. Also a reminder that the mini catalogue is also retiring at the end of March.

Sorry for the bad formatting - I just copied it from the website but I am sure it's readable :-)

Page Item # Description Availability
Stamp Sets
125 112229 ABC Images Low
62 108720 Ahoy, Matey Unavailable
75 108722 All I Have Seen Low
40 108728 *All Through the Year
34 108992 *All-Year Fun
110 108734 *Alphabits
48 108738 *Artfully Asian
102 108742 *Background Sampler
53 111229 *Backyard BBQ
86 108740 Bareback Unavailable
51 108744 ***Be Happy
83 108998 Beautiful Life Low
124 108746 Best Friends Alphabet Lower Unavailable
124 108747 Best Friends Alphabet Upper Unavailable
124 108748 Best Friends Numbers Unavailable
88 110250 Big Pieces
51 108753 Birthday Best
79 108755 *Blossoms Abound
80 108756 ***Bodacious Bouquet
81 108757 Bold Butterfly
101 112294 Brocade Basics
65 112376 *Bronc Buster
78 111232 *Bud Basics
58 110255 Bundle of Joy Unavailable
63 108763 By Land Low
116 112326 Calendar Cues
108 108764 *Canvas
94 111234 Carte Postale
115 108765 Cheery Chat Unavaiable
112 108767 Circle of Friendship
30 108768 City of David
102 112272 Classic Backgrounds Low
55 110246 Crab & Company
28 108772 Crazy for Christmas
33 112253 *Dad's Day Low
42 108781 *Eat Cake
106 112300 Elegant Notes Low
116 108785 Everyday Flexible Phrases
58 112391 Everything Baby Low
117 108786 *Expressive Flexible Phrases
79 112310 Fabulous Flowers Low
27 108790 Festive Favorites
40 108805 Figures of Speech
108 108806 *Fine Lace
95 108807 *Finest Flourishes
67 108809 Fishy Friends
107 108811 *Floral
32 112316 Forever in My Heart Low
108 112397 *Friendly
115 111973 ***G'Day Mate
110 108820 Genuine Articles
68 111975 *Go Team
56 108828 *Greetings Galore
92 112306 *Happiness
28 108840 *Holiday Wishes
26 108842 *Hung Up on the Holidays
116 108847 It's a Date
112 112320 It's All Good
111 108849 It's Your Birthday Low
97 108850 Itty Bitty Backgrounds
68 112330 *Just Golf
68 112332 *Just Tennis
31 112216 *Keep Christmas Low
122 111989 *Kia Ora
96 112338 *Labelicious
113 108855 *Lexicon of Love
53 110254 *Like It a Latte
107 108857 Linen Low
88 108860 Little Pieces
76 108864 ***Looks Like Spring
29 112223 *Merry, Merry
77 108874 Mostly Flowers Unavailable
118 108875 Much Appreciated
84 108877 Natural Beauty
90 110243 *Office Accoutrement
107 108884 *On the Spot
108 108887 *Paisley
31 108888 Peaceful Wishes
74 108890 Petal Prints
46 110247 ***Polka Dots & Paisley
47 110248 Polka Dots & Petals Low
38 108894 Pretty Princess
126 108904 *Rough Edges Mini Alphabets
83 108906 *Sassy Stems
32 112362 Sealed with a Kiss
122 112346 Seasonal Wishes
124 112402 Short Order Numbers Unavailable
43 108913 Simple Somethings
29 110244 *Snow Flurries
27 108934 ***Snowflake Spot, The
30 108918 *Solemn Stillness
122 112395 Spring Pictograms
91 108920 *Stamp of Authenticity
65 108921 Starstruck
74 108923 Stipple Rose Unavailable
84 108924 Summer by the Sea
100 112284 *Sweet Sampler
93 108927 *Sweet Shapes
60 112290 *Sweet Thing
49 108929 Symbols of Solicitude Unavailable
43 108930 Tag Time
38 110249 Tagger's Dozen
49 108931 Take Three
75 108937 Touch of Nature
54 108944 Unfrogettable Low
108 108954 *Well-Worn Words
36 112336 Whale Wishes
72 108960 Wild Rose
49 108962 Wishing You the Best
120 108963 Wonderful Words

Stampin' Around Wheels
29 109690 All about Christmas
78 106610 Basics Outline Unavailale
42 107467 Birthday Low
80 107466 Bodacious
81 104156 Flitting By Unavailable
95 108423 Leaves à la Carte
62 107212 Matey's Map Unavailable
47 108980 Petals
104 107464 Rough Texture Low
91 107465 Speckled Low
65 109672 Bronco
54 106662 Daisy Field Unavailable
67 104065 Fishy Unavailable
53 107565 Flip Flops Unavailable
40 107561 Garden Annuals Unavailable
28 103195 Gifts Galore Unavailable
32 109678 Kisses
74 104279 Leaf Prints Unavailable
54 107482 Lily Pad Unavailable
125 109568 My ABCs
55 108978 Sandy Shells
28 101638 Star
154 104061 Star Studded Low

Hostess Sets
24 109812 All about Occasions Bundle
21 112393 Cause for Celebration
18 112261 For a Friend
18 112239 From the Garden
22 112340 In the Spotlight
21 112233 Infinite Goodness
19 112259 Little Bit of Happiness, A
17 112214 Oh, So Lovely
17 112243 Party Punch
19 112245 So Many Sayings
20 111127 Spring Solitude Bundle
23 112263 Time Well Spent

Accessories
Brads, Buttons, Eyelets
145 105320 Basic eyelets Unavailable
147 103977 *Bold Brights buttons
145 100375 Bold Brights I eyelets
147 103981 *Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons Low
147 103978 Earth Elements buttons Low
145 100381 Earth Elements eyelets Unavailable
145 105319 Metallic eyelets
147 105446 Rich Regals buttons Low
145 105316 Rich Regals eyelets Unavailable
147 105445 Soft Subtles buttons Low
145 100378 Soft Subtles I eyelets Unavailable

Designer Series Paper
135 110749 *Berry Bliss Designer Series paper
136 109174 *Brilliant Blue Prints Designer Series paper
134 109149 *Brocade Background Designer Series paper
136 109178 *Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series paper
136 109169 *Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series paper
136 109150 *Dashing Designer Series paper
136 110699 *East Coast Prep Designer Series paper
134 109160 *Fall Flowers Designer Series paper
136 110479 Jersey Shore Designer Series paper
134 109151 *Le Jardin Designer Series paper
135 110748 *Notebook Designer Series paper
136 109176 *Old Olive Prints Designer Series paper
134 109148 *Outlaw Designer Series paper
135 108503 *Petals & Paisleys Designer Series paper
136 109170 *Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series paper Low
136 109167 Rose Red Prints Designer Series paper
136 110698 *Spring Break Designer Series paper
135 110273 *Spring Fling Designer Series paper
NA 106686 **Spring Flowers Designer Series paper
NA 106685 **Spring Showers Designer Series paper
135 110271 *Spring Silhouettes Designer Series paper
135 109157 Wintergreen Designer Series paper

Hodgepodge Hardware
144 105532 Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware Low
144 105531 Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware Low
144 105515 *Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Low

In Color
129 111860 Blue Bayou A4 card stock Low
129 109018 Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109013 *Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109060 *Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111857 Groovy Guava A4 card stock
129 109019 Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109012 *Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109063 *Groovy Guava double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 108638 In Color 12" x 12" card stock Unavailable
129 111856 *In Color A4 card stock
129 108694 *In Color textured 12 "x 12" card stock
129 111853 Purely Pomegranate A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109011 *Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109061 *Purely Pomegranate double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 109017 Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 111852 River Rock A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109016 River Rock Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109010 *River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109062 River Rock double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111851 Soft Sky A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109015 Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109009 *Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109059 *Soft Sky double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
129 111850 Wild Wasabi A4 card stock Unavailable
129 109020 Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Ink refill Unavailable
129 109014 *Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
146 109058 *Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
146 110716 *Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon

Miscellaneous
133 103604 *Days-To-Remember 12" x 12" Wall Calendar
148 103280 Embossing kit Unavailable
133 100900 Gift sacksGift sacks Low
132 106523 Five-in-One Card Cover Envelope Template Low
133 110730 *Pockets & Pieces Office Accents Low

On Board
140 107307 *On Board Accents
141 109181 *On Board Blossoms & Basics
141 109179 *On Board Ginormous Pieces
140 107306 *On Board Simon Lower

Punches
142 104942 1/4" Circle punch
142 104943 *1/4" Square punch
143 104389 Double Circle punch
143 106522 *Spring Flower Bouquet punch
143 112670 Three for You Punch Box

Ribbon
147 109189 *Beachfront Ribbon Originals
147 101259 Black hemp twine Unavailable
146 104830 *Caramel gingham ribbon
147 109187 *District Ribbon Originals
147 109188 *Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals
147 109185 Jersey Ribbon Originals Unavailable
146 104829 *Light Blue gingham ribbon Low
146 104828 *Light Pink gingham ribbon
146 109037 More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
146 104831 *Moss gingham ribbon
147 109184 Sherbet Ribbon Originals
147 109186 Theater Ribbon Originals Unavailable

Rub-Ons
141 110282 *Anchored Rub-Ons
141 110281 *Cherished Memories Rub-Ons
141 110285 *Urban West Rub-Ons

Simply Scrappin'
138 109610 Confetti Simply Scrappin' Unavailable
137 110572 *Crew Kids Boy Simply Scrappin'
138 110567 Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin'
139 109649 Round Up Simply Scrappin'
139 109635 Secret Garden Simply Scrappin'
138 109663 *Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'

Simply Sent
13 112664 *Friendly Notes Simply Sent
12 112666 *Lifelong Notes Simply Sent Low
13 112665 *Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent
14 112667 *Simple Delights Simply Sent
14 112668 *Three Thoughts Simply Sent

Buffy!

2009-03-11T18:06:00.005+11:00

Well here is my big news! This is my new pug Buffy! Isn't she adorable?? She is a 1 yr old rescue dog from a pug rescue service in NSW called Pugadise, run by a wonderful lady called Phoebe Crane. Phoebe breeds her own pugs under her kennel Mopsland and has operated the rescue service for around 10 years. Pugs are very special little dogs but are not for everyone. They need a LOT of attention and need to be inside with people. They follow you everywhere and are the funniest little things. When I was researching a dog before I got Coco I just knew they were the perfect dog for us. We were very lucky to get Buffy and I am just so grateful to Phoebe for allowing us to adopt her because she has certainly filled the void left by our beautiful little Coco. Buffy has settled in and completely made herself at home and loves the kids. She is currently sitting on the couch with them watching the Simpsons. I am getting completely ignored! Just wait until she works out who dishes out the food though lol! Poor Charlotte our cat has run off and is hiding under my bed. Her and Coco were best friends and I am sure later tonight her curiosity will get the better of her and she'll be out playing with her new sister!

Gee I'm Slack!

2009-03-09T19:10:00.002+11:00

And I can see Karen nodding in agreement lol!

Well a fair bit has been happening, I've been quite busy with classes, working and life in general. I have some very exciting news (well I think so!) to post along with pictures on Wednesday *g* Not stamping related but will provide years of scrapbooking fodder I'm sure! It has also made my birthday complete *VBG* Some of you can probably guess what it is.

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a lovely day with breakfast in bed and chocolates and presents from DH and the kids. Then I was completely spoilt by the ladies in my downline with cards, chocolates, flowers, presents and Felicity (whose house we raided for a stamping session last night) even had a birthday cake for me with my name on it! Thank you again for organising that Flick. I didn't seem to get a lot done, had no idea what to bring with me. I had planned on starting on my convention swaps but everything I went to grab was retired :-( See further down/up for the retired list - it's not pretty!!!

VICTORIAN BUSH FIRES APPEAL

2009-02-12T22:33:00.002+11:00

What a horrific week we have had in Victoria. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the people who have lost homes or loved ones. I am not near the affected areas, nor have any family or friends in the areas either but it is just so devastating. The news coverage of it is constant and the number of lives lost goes up daily. The stories are horrific. I used to live in a cyclone area of Western Australia and I have been through cyclones and seen roofs, pieces of wood and metal and other debris flying around the sky as if they were feathers. Imagine this, but with these same objects on fire. On Saturday afternoon I came out of an indoor swimming pool where my daughter had been at a birthday party and we stayed on as it was such a hot day (46.4 degrees). The sky was dark and an extremely strong wind was blowing, I felt as if I had to fight just to stay grounded. It reminded me so much of the time just before a cyclone was going to hit.

It is very sad but at the same time there is hope as stories of survival emerge and everyone is rallying around to do what they can to help. To raise money I am running some Stamp a Stacks at my house. The cost will be $20 pp which includes all the materials to make 10 cards with refreshments included. The dates are:

Wed 18th Feb at 10.00am
Sun 22nd Feb at 1.00pm
Tues 24th Feb at 7.30pm

The entire $20 will be going to the appeal. I am hoping to have around 30 people in total which will raise $600.

Today Stampin' Up! announced it's fund raising drive. 50% of the retail cost of the following sets of stamps will be going to the fund. On top of this, I will be taking my 20% commission off the price as well. You can either use this discount to buy the set cheaper or I will send it to the appeal. The sets are as follows:

Looks Like Spring* $58.95 you pay $47.16
The Snowflake Spot* $39.95 you pay $31.96
Bodacious Bouquet* $58.95 you pay $47.16
Polka Dots and Paisley* $35.95 you pay $28.76
G'Day Mate* $35.95 you pay $28.76
Be Happy* (sob!) $39.95 you pay $31.96
Priceless $48.95 you pay $39.16
Seeing Spots $29.95 you pay $23.96
Baroque Motifs $39.95 you pay $31.96
Live Your Dream (from current summer mini) $55.95 you pay $44.76

Sets with the asterisks are going to be retired at the end of the current catalogue so they may go quickly.

Hand me my scarf and mittens!

2009-01-31T18:43:00.003+11:00

Thank goodness it is a bit cooler today - a chilly 37 lol! Yesterday was 45.1 and the 2 previous days were around 44. Even sitting inside with the airconditioning didn't help. A lot of areas lost power, including Crown casino which had to be evacuated, there were fires and lots of trains were cancelled so I am very thankful that all I had to worry about was sitting at home trying to stay cool. I really feel for the poor commuters stuck in the city trying to get home. It used to happen occasionally when I lived in Perth and worked in the city but it was a pretty rare event. Yesterday I was meant to be doing the prep for my workshop today and I just couldn't get around to doing it but then by 8pm last night it was much cooler outside and by 10pm it was cooling down inside and I had a whole new burst of energy and stayed up until after 2am stamping, it was wonderful - I was so inspired! Sure made a big mess though lol! I always seem to find that inspiration hits me late at night no matter how much beforehand I try to start planning it just never seems to come together until the night before. I think it's the quietness and I can just think better. For as long as I've been stamping I've always had a cat join me in my late night stamping adventures and Charlotte is no different. She likes to sit on the table next to me and play with strips of cut cardstock she fishes out of my scrap bowl. I will be back to post some projects we made today :)

Wouldn't this be nice!

2009-01-28T23:45:00.006+11:00

Melbourne is in the middle of a heatwave. 5 days straight of temps around 40 degrees or higher which is just about unheard of. We usually get 1 or 2 days and then it's back to the woolly jumpers! How nice to be a penguin in the new Antartic display at Melbourne Aquarium where it's a chilly -10 degrees (or something like that) and they even have a snow machine. The King Penguins are really something - they just love to pose for the cameras and the Gentoos, when not diving and splashing around in their pool (an activity which seems to be beneath the Kings!) waddle around all day following the visitors to get a better look at them! Any ex-pat UK'ers out there, they are also selling Penguin biscuits in the aquarium cafes!

Wish I'd packed some brads

2009-01-28T23:15:00.004+11:00

Every year when we go away on holiday I am usually up until 2am or so trying to decide what stamping and scrapbooking supplies I will need. As we go camping, most sane people would realise that not a lot of craft would likely get done. I don't fall into that category! In the past I have actually got a little done by setting myself up inside the middle part of the 3 room tent while DH has taken the kids out fishing to one of the lakes. This year I didn't get any done while camping but we had 2 nights in a local motel and one afternoon when it was quite hot I stayed in and stamped! Above is what I achieved....if only I'd packed some brads!!!! The two stamp sets shown are part of the Sale A Bration stamps that you can earn for free just by placing an order of $100.

Checking in

2009-01-28T22:44:00.004+11:00

Well I am back from 10 days in the Grampians. It was a lovely break and in light of losing Coco, was nice to get away. It was hard at first having so much spare time, she was constantly in my thoughts but towards the end I realised that it probably would have happened sooner or later regardless of whether or not DH (called something else for quite a while) let her out before checking the gates were closed and she should have come back to him when he called her. Not sure if we will get another one or not. The kids are begging but for now it's nice to just have a bit of a break - she was pretty full on. We have considered getting another burmese cat instead but we'll see. I do miss having Coco around. Charlotte the cat isn't too bad, she does walk around maiowing looking for her but I think is also revelling in the ability to lie peacefully on the floor without being body slammed by an 11kg pug! I know exactly how that feels when she slammed into my head a couple of years ago when I was lying on the floor with a torch looking for a stamp they'd knocked under a bookcase during one of their midnight chases! Projected light in any form drove her crazy - there is even a You Tube video online of someone doing "pug bowling" with their pug and they have set up bowling pins, polished the floor and shone a torch beam along the floor and the dog chases the beam and knocks down the pins! The kids had been planning to try this out with Coco but unfortunately didn't get the chance. I would also like to thank everyone who has sent me their kind words and thoughts and I have even received a few beautiful hand stamped (of course!) sympathy cards. I really appreciate everyone's kindness :-)

Sad start to the year

2009-01-11T23:17:00.005+11:00

I am still trying to come to terms with this, but today I lost my beautiful little dog Coco. She was hit by a car this afternoon and died from her injuries. They say that losing a pet is one of the highest forms of grief and in the past I've lost pets and been sad but nothing like this. I could barely allow my husband to bury her, it felt like I was burying a child. I got Coco when she was 8 weeks old and she would have turned 3 at the end of this month. She was a house dog and followed me everywhere, as pugs do. She was my constant shadow. She could be a little horror but as she was getting older was starting to turn into a really lovely dog. I will just miss her so much. She is buried near Jessica (our burmese who died in May last year) with a new bone that I had bought for her the other day but hadn't yet given to her. The next few weeks are going to be very hard :-(

Adventures in Ikea

2008-12-29T22:51:00.005+11:00

I had been meaning to put a photo of this up ages ago. When we bought this house it meant that I lost my study/craft room and hence my "work area" is in the dining room part of the combined formal lounge/dining room. It is always an absolute disaster, I just have too much stuff and no where to put it :-( I found this unit in the Ikea catalogue and one sunny Sunday afternoon after a visit to view the new penguin display at Melbourne Aquarium (hence the penguin inside the unit) we headed off to Richmond to brave the monstrous Ikea building. Why oh why did they have to close the Moorabbin store??? I normally would not have gone out there but I was really desperate. My cabinet is called a Vaanna unit and I think was designed for a bedroom. Here it is almost finished, I had planned to move it into it's permanent spot to be assembled but quite a lot of it had to be done with the unit lying on its side. The open shelves at the top actually have 16 compartments that are interchangable (they are held in with little pegs) and they slope down (or not) so that you can see the contents of each shelf. The drawers are really deep and huge and it's just perfect for my purposes. I've only got 2 of the drawers in at this stage. In fact, I have spent time looking for things that I have finally found already put away inside the cabinet! All my punches and ribbons are in the top drawer. I put the cabinet together 90% by myself and I am very proud of me! I had to stop until DH got home as it needed to be put right way up again and as you can see from where it stands next to the door frame, it's quite tall....and I'm not! I don't know that I got the drawers on properly though as they sometimes stick....also 2 out of the 3 have got the inside liners facing the wrong way ie. chipboard showing instead of white side. I even moved it into the space in the craft area by myself which with being on carpet was quite a feat! It also only just fit into the space between the wall and the table. Just hope it's secure, it does wobble a bit.....I think I'm going to have to attach it to the wall. It's great though, I've got spaces for everything now and the height of each compartment is adjustable. I've got my Sizzix sidekick and dies out of another cupboard and sitting in the new one so hopefully they may get used now that I can see them! I've also got photos sitting read on a shelf and near finished LOs so I can just grab those if I am looking for something quick to do. I must say it's nice to get stuff off the floor but I still have quite a bit to do before the room's completely organised.

Xmas pressies

2008-12-29T22:40:00.004+11:00

A few of my Stampin' Up! team, Gail Force Stampers, and our respective children went out to dinner last week to celebrate Christmas. We had a lovely time, unfortunately a few of the girls were sick so it was just a small group that went along. Above is a photo of some of the gifts I had made for the girls. They contain a boxed hand cream and were very easy to make, using a 1/3rd of a sheet of patterned paper (Stampin' Up! Holiday Harmony DS paper (from the 08 spring mini), some cardstock, a cello bag and ribbon).

MIA

2008-12-29T21:31:00.004+11:00

Well I have been missing in action for a while. I, like quite a few of my friends, have been holed up in Forks, Washington! Yes I too have succumbed to the "Twilight" series of books by Stephenie Meyer. I was warned they were addictive and nothing else would get done and I have to say that Christmas nearly didn't get done! I just love these books and have nearly finished the 3rd one, Eclipse and still have Breaking Dawn to buy - probably tomorrow. They are all really thick books and one of them I read 3/4 of in one sitting. I have also seen the movie and plan on seeing it again. I am not lying when I say Christmas very nearly didn't get done - in fact it only really got 2/3 rds done which I do feel a little bad about now :-( The tree didn't go up (I bought a tiny fibre optic one instead), the house decorations didn't go up (I actually only found them this morning). I did get my cards made and posted off, albeit on 22nd Dec.... I just seemed to run out of time this year. Next year I am making a game plan and starting in November! Working extra days during December didn't help but there was also tons of stuff going on with DS finishing primary school and preparing for high school. We were out most nights of the week and I was working during the day. DS's last day of primary school was very sad. I'll still be there with DD so it wasn't too bad for me, but some of those kids and mums I've known since kindy and prep and will probably never see again. Those 7 years have just totally flown (and I am still yet to scrap a single one of them!). I was also busy making a keepsake album for DD's teacher. Myself and another mum did one last year for their prep teacher but this year I decided to keep it a little simpler and bound together 6 x 6 page protectors covered in chipboard and held together with binder rings (ring are thanks to Pauline - see link on sidebar, cannot remember how to link in post!). For each child there was a page with a photo of them and their name and then another page with a drawing and a few lines about what they liked about their teacher. Very simple and I thought I had given everyone plenty of time to get the info back to me. 3 weeks after the deadline closed and 2 weeks before the end of school I was still waiting on about half the class...talk about stress. A few parents never even got their info back to me at all which is a shame but at least I was able to get a photo of their child in. I ended up taking my Kodak printer dock camera to school and took photos of the missing kids - I got them all on the way back from art which was a bonus. A few of us went out to dinner to hand the album to the teacher, which I finished at about 1.30pm on the same day. She loved it so it was all worth it and I loved doing it but it will be a long time before I take on something like this again!

Checking in!

2008-11-16T18:39:00.002+11:00

Hello,

Ok, only about 2 weeks since last post, I am getting a little better! Yesterday I finally had a Friday off, after about 5 months, so was able to go to the Friday crop at Scraptacular, my "happy place". I only managed to get one LO done but I shopped for supplies for quite a few more pages so that I can get them done at home on my next few Friday's off until the next time a Friday crop is on. Before the crop I went out to buy tickets for Chris Isaak's concert in March next year. There weren't any good seats left but a few more closer down (ie. from Y row to U row) came up and then the booking officer saw that the tour promoters had put on another show and I got FRONT ROW SEATS!!!! YAY!!! I am so excited, myself and DH both love Chris Isaak. DS said he didn't want to go and DD wanted to know what sort of concert we were all going to - ha! In their dreams! This is a night out for US!
I will be back with photos of my first lot of Stamp a Stack cards.

The Single Best Thing

2008-11-03T21:54:00.002+11:00

About the Stampin' Write markers is that they come in a beautiful range of colours that coordinate perfectly with our cardstock, inks and ribbons and from 10 - 30th November you will be able to purchase them in single colours for $4.95 each! Of course I will be taking this opportunity to purchase a replacement for my Close to Cocoa marker that got a bit too close to my dog Coco when she was a puppy! I can't believe that out of the whole pack, the only one she got was her namesake.

Also during the same period, if you place an order of $20 you will be able to buy a pack of our beautiful rub ons for a 20% discount. These normally cost $19.95 per pack but will be $15.96. I love rub ons and the Stampin' Up! ones are great value because as well as getting a ton of images on each sheet, each pack contains one sheet of black and one sheet of white rub ons - absolutely fantastic value!

Summer is on it's way!

2008-11-03T21:45:00.003+11:00

But you'd never guess it if you live in Melbourne! We are back to sub-arctic conditions again. You can never pack away your winter woolies.
Anyway, on 1st December the new Summer mini catalogue will be out and ready to order from. As demonstrators we have received our advance copy and have even been able to order some products in readiness for our December workshops! I have ordered quite a few goodies out of this catalogue so anyone booking a workshop with me in December will have quite a bit to chose from as far as project go! Closer to the date I will be allowed to mail out copies of the mini so if you would like one just send me an email and I'll get one out to you.