Happy birthday Mum

It's my Mum's 75th birthday in a couple of weeks and I've been working on a present for her using these letters I found in a stationery store down the Gold Coast. I had great fun cutting out the letters with my Sizzlits dies, and using up some sparkly paper I had for the girls' Christmas craft as well as Stampin' Up!'s Glimmer paper in bright red. around the edge of each letter I spelt out a word to describe her, my BF helped me to choose the words and we ended up with Radiant, Indispensable, Treasured and Adored. Anyway, I thought they came out nice, especially the stamped Stazon on the glossy white 't'
You can tell I like black and red at the moment!

Black and red

DH asked me to make a card for his aunt's 70th birthday yesterday. Shes the type of woman who wears her age well but definitely would not like to be reminded of it! I really wanted to use my Glimmer Paper ($8.95 for 2 x 12" sheets), as it is so glamorous and sparkly, and Liz Collett's scrapbook project inspired me to create this card. I used retired newsprint DSP, the Glimmer paper from the new Summer mini catalogue , Full heart and Heart-to-heart punches, the Medium Sizzlits and Simple Letters Alphabet dies for the Big Shot, Riding Hood red ink, Victoria Crochet trim ribbon, Creative Elements and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets. I cut around the heart after I had punched it to create the thin outline frame.


I then decided to make her a present instead of the usual gift card, and took the theme from the card through to a decorated shadow-box frame, I used the letter 'i' from the already cut-out initial that was left over, and the heart from the punch that wasn't used. I also used the Elements of Style stamp set for the sentiment in the frame, and some bling using the Basic Rhinestone Jewels.

Happy birthday Ingrid, we hope you have a great birthday!

Here's a card I recently made for a friend, based on the same theme:

Slack old me

Hello there bloggers, its been such a long time since posting on here, I'd nearly forgotten how to! My new year resolution is to not let that happen again, so here's a little pic of my two beautiful girls at a recent event getting ready for Christmas. Have a lovely time this Christmas all of you fans out there! xxx

1st Tuesday craft class

This Tuesday was 1st Tuesday craft class again, and we had a good time at I Love Coffee at Red Edge (thanks to the lovely staff there).
The girls and I made Tri-fold cards in Elegant Eggplant and Rose Red, with the "Butterfly prints" and "Creative Elements" stamp sets. We used the pale Plum patterned paper from the Subtles pattern stack of DSP. We masked the background image with an oval cut using the large oval punch, then stamped the greeting in the space created. Next time girls, you can have a try at cutting the card elements yourself! Lol.
This is a great card to make once you know how, it always looks harder than it actually is. Thanks for coming today ladies, see you at the third Tuesday craft class at my place this time.
If you would like to come and make something yourself at this small and friendly group, please contact me for more details.

My little Rainbow Puppy

My youngest wanted to be a rainbow dog when she was asked by the Face Painter what she would like to be. I thought this was such a cute photo, and was made to be scrapbooked! I love the new hostess-only Designer Series Paper "Cheerful Treat", and was lucky enough to pre-order some (another benefit of being a Demonstrator!). You can get your own pack by hosting a +$300 workshop or placing an order of your own to the same value, and still have dollars left to buy more gorgeous products!

Paper Angels charity Christmas event

Join Stampin’ Up! Australia for $169

During September, you can join the Stampin’ Up! family as a demonstrator for only $169! Normally $289, this limited-time Mini Starter Kit is the perfect option for those who already love Stampin’ Up! and already own many of Stampin’ Up!’s high-quality products. The mini starter kit enables you to start ordering brand new catalogue items at 20% off, which, if you are anything like me, your wish list will be miles long!

Plus when you join with me as a demonstrator, you are joining the Paper Angels Team, who are friendly and supportive, conducting meetings and sharing projects and ideas electronically if you cannot be with us in person. If you choose to, you can be involved in our charitable endeavors, using our papercraft to help others, such as we do with the Mater Footprints Program.

The limited-time mini Starter Kit-valued at over $310-comes with the high-quality products listed below – you can also ‘design your own’ mini starter kit, by choosing alternate stamp sets, ink colours, cardstock colours and DSP of equal or lesser value. How neat is that! Business supplies are also included with your Mimi-kit, the same as the normal Starter Kit.

$169 Mini Starter Kit

* Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
* Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
* Basic Black Classic Stampin’ Pad
* Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
* Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad
* Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad
* A4 Smooth Card Stock Assortment
* Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
* Chocolate Chip 1/2″ Scallop Dots Ribbon*
* Notes Cards (20)
* Clear-Mount Block C
* Blender Pen (1)
* SNAIL Adhesive
* Business supplies

*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue

Or, if you want the full Starter Kit, you can get it 20 percent off during September only! That’s over $610 worth of premium Stampin’ Up! products and business supplies for just $231.20! See what’s included in the full Starter Kit here.

Imagine all the benefits!

You can join online now by going to my website, or you can email me at flickandmick@aapt.net.au

The fantastic new catalogue is here!

I can't wait to show you all the fabulous new things in this latest catalogue! There are new stamp sets, new Designer Series Papers, new punches, new colours and more. You can have one of these lovely 169 page glossy catalogue for FREE by hosting a workshop in your own home, or if you don't have a table to seat your guests at, you can always come to mine. Contact me for more details.

New hostess benefits programme

I’m really excited to share with you, Stampin’ Up!s NEW ‘hostess’ benefits. What many people don’t realise is, that if you place a customer order over $300, you will be eligible for these very same benefits. Likewise, when as a demonstrator, I place a $300 order, I also receive the benefits. Sounds very fair doesn’t it BUT WAIT, it gets even better! Stampin’ Up! have recognised that people want more choice, and as such, they have INCREASED the amount of dollars you have to spend when placing a $300+ order/workshop. Full details are in the table below, but as an example, if you place a $300 order, you receive your choice of $50 of product from anywhere in the catalogue! You can choose discounted hostess product featured on pages 8-12 of the NEW Idea Book & Catalogue and/or from the main body of the catalogue.

My favourite way of Sharing Stampin’ Up! is to conduct a FREE workshop for you, because that way I can share ideas and inspiration on how to use the product that you buy! I am not interested in selling product that you do not use – I hope that I can inspire you to enjoy and use your products creatively in a social atmosphere.

Having said that, I do know that some of my customers are unable to host or attend workshops, and in that case, I welcome orders outside of workshops and will do my best to support your purchases with creative ideas on my blog and galleries. I want you to know that if you order $300 of product, you too will receive the ‘hostess benefits’.

Please don't hesitate to contact me about the above, I would love to hear from you!

Stampin' Up! retiring products evening

Well it's nearly that time of year again where we say goodbye to some favourite stamp sets from the Idea Book and Catalogue. This year I'd like to invite my local crafters to my house for the evening to see what stamp sets and other products will not be appearing next year's catty. Bring some cash to buy some of my personal stash of stamps, and you will also be able to order your favourites on the night too.
When: Friday 5th August
Time: 7 until 10 pm
RSVP for more details of venue

Hostess gift?!!

I think this is Layla investigating my latest customer order box, she obviously has good taste!

Gift with Purchase

Here is the latest fabulous promo from Stampin' Up! This month only, you can get a spool of pretty ribbon and a packet of matching buttons for free when you spend $100. I'm pleased to say that mine is on its way, after I broke my Stampin' Scrub and needed to purchase a few other 'essentials'(!) Contact me if there are items you need this month, and you could be getting this pack for free too.

Extra, Extra!

Fabulous new promotion due to start THIS WEEK!

Stampin' Up! Convention 2011

Day 1: listened to inspirational speakers and saw amazing demonstrations today. Also spent a fun time swapping cards with other demos and spending money in memento mall. I bought a gorgeous tote bag to carry all my craft supplies, the design on the outside is from the Greenhouse Gala DSP. We were also given a very bright shoulder bag, useful size and certainly eye-catching! Perfect for Melbourne weather as it has a waterproof coating! Went out for dinner because it was my birthday at an Italian restaurant called Cervo, and it was very nice. Thanks to all the Paper Angels who made it a special day.

Day 2: had a hilarious morning in the general session with some of the presenters getting their make and takes wrong and turned it into a comedy show! (Don't think Emma will be ironing anything for a while!) Got myself a prize on prize patrol of Nature Walk stamp set and co-ordinating DSP. Legged it in my lunch break to the MCG and Rod Laver Arena for a look and to get Mike some souvenirs. Got motivated in speaker sessions in the afternoon, then stamped all evening with our team making swaps.

Day 3: Had seminars in the morning, then had the last general session in the afternoon, where Emma and Aaron arrived on stage on camels to announce that incentive trip will be in Broome next year! Saw some gorgeous works of (stamping) art, and was inspired and motivated by the speakers again – so enthusiastic about getting back to building my business now. And we got some amazing free stuff, can't tell you what yet, we've been sworn to secrecy, but it's lovely. Last day blues, still the awards night will be fab with a lovely dinner and friends for company...

Awards night: Bit chilly walking back to the convention centre (I'm not going to miss that hike) in our glad rags, but tables looked lovely and the food was delicious. It took ages to serve everyone, and we had to swig our coffees to go into the auditorium for the awards session but good fun none the less. They began with the $20k awards, and I got to walk on stage for the first time (even though I got this award last year we were away in England). Thanks Anna for taking the photo. Then watched everyone else get their deserved awards before news that Ursula, one of our Paper Angels team, won the Heart of Stampin' Up! award! Well done Ursula, you deserved it.

Craft retreat projects

Sharon's

Elisa's

Neda's

Rachelle's

Sylvia's

Craft retreat 2011 part 2

As you can see we had lots of fun on Saturday doing what we all love best - paper crafting! Most of us brought shoe box swaps for others to do, and that was pretty successful. I must admit though that I didn't get an awful lot else done as the swaps were so lovely I had to make them all!

Meegan was happy she got to make loads of cards for all the men in her life,

Sharon was just happy to have completed something, lol!

I don't know if Teresa was about to hit Neda with that Stamping Around Wheel, or if she was just giving it to her...

Neda, Elaine and Elisa all hard at work.



The obligatory group photo, thanks girls for a fab weekend.

Craft retreat 2011

Well we had a fantastic time, and I can't believe it's been a week already since we were away down the coast at Coolangatta for a weekend of paper-crafting. I loaded the XL-7 to the brim with all my stuff, and just had room for Sylvia, who said "never mind, some of this won't be returning so we'll have more space on the return journey". We arrived just after 11am on Friday, missing our turning because we were talking so much, and had to double back through Twin Towns. We re-arranged the tables and had two cups of tea before we were satisfied that everyone had enough space to craft in! Next to arrive was Elaine but not until later in the day, closely followed by Teresa and Sharon. Elisa, Rachelle and Neda got there just before dark, luckily Rachelle knew the way.

We decided to go out for dinner along the main drag in Cooly. We went to the Ruby Thai restaurant, and had a nice meal there. Mine was a bit too spicy and I ended up forgetting what the dish contained because all I could taste was chili. But it was fun to get together with everyone.

I had arranged a couple of competitions for a bit of fun, and so that evening when we got back we had a memory game where you had to look at things on a tray and then remember what they were after they were covered up. Meegan did very well, closely followed by Sylvia and Sharon I think (sorry if my memory isn't that great - I would have failed miserably at that game!) Meegan won a stamp set and the others won scrapping goodies.

Saturday was a glorious day compared to Friday's rainy clouds. Meegan and I got up for some exercise on the beach at 6am, and after a leisurely breakfast we got into some crafting. Most of the girls had made a project kit for others to make, and so there were six projects to choose from (I'll post pictures when Blogger stops mucking me around!)

More to follow...

Olivia's birthday

I had to pull my finger our and get her invitations done as time was ticking, so I came up with this really simple card design - I had seen this type of thing done at convention, but I tweeked it with her photo in the owl's nest, and text added from the computer. I used the 'Woodgrain' and "fox and Friends' stamp sets, with the large scallop circle and large circle punches. The toppers for the party bags were along the same lines, but I used the owl from the Sale-a-Bration set 'Punch Bunch' instead.

spend/host/join

Why not earn some FREE stamp sets this month and through to the end of March by spending $100 on products from the Idea Book and Catalogue (IB&C) or the Summer mini catalogue?

or host your own workshop and also get FREE stamp sets with qualifying sales levels?

or you could join my team and earn a FREE stamp set from the IB&C up to $79.95 from Stampin' Up!. Get 20% off your own purchases and 20% commission from sales you make as a demonstrator, this could fund your craft hobby or build a successful, fun business. You can choose how far to take your love of paper craft.

ADDED VALUE!
Not only will you get to choose your FREE stamp set up to $79.95 from Stampin' Up!, but I will also give you a FREE punch of your choice up to the value of $33.95 when you sign up during Sale-a-Bration!

valentines day card and gift box

This little gift box and card were made at last Tuesday's craft class, and went down a treat! I love the envelope for the card, made using a C6 envelope that is cut and then corrugated to create a pouch. The box is made from Riding Hood Red card stock, and contains a coffee sachet wrapped in ribbon. The sentiment reads, "Love you a Latte" from the Pun Fun stamp set. I decorated the box and envelope/card with "Hello Again" stamp set and "Retro Remix standard wheel. The DSP is some left over from last year, the "Washington Apple" pack. Hope Mike likes it on the 14th!

embossed butterflies

I've been meaning to scrap this photo for the last four years!! It was at Liv's first birthday. That's what I love about scrapbooking, you don't have to be obsessive about it, just wait until the right papers and images come along that match your photo. I love this DSP from Stampin' Up!, its called "Blueberry Crisp" and blends well with Marina Mist card stock. The butterflies are cut from the exclusive Big Shot die "Beautiful Butterflies", and the stamped butterfly image is from the new Sale-a-bration set "Bliss". I stamped the flower image from "RazzleDazzle" in Whisper White, and embossed it with a mixture of white embossing powder and turquoise glitter, which is a bit hard to see but looks really pretty. You can get a FREE sale-a-bration set by spending $100, and if you have a qualifying workshop too you can get extra free sets. Check out the link to my web page to find out more.

Pretty Punched Posie

Here is my gorgeous girl posing with the Punched Posie hostess stamp set! This set is designed to co ordinate with a variety of punches from the Idea Book and Catalogue, and also includes a butterfly stamp (not shown). I used Poppy Parade, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist card stock with the matching ink pads to create this simple 8" scrap page. I still have to add a title to the page, but I'm still thinking about that! The centre of the yellow flower is created by stamping in a different colour and punching with the larger flower from the triple flower punch. If you host a workshop and have over $600 in sales, this set can be yours for FREE.

Feeling summery in all this rain

Had a great time with my ladies at craft class on Tuesday making this box and matching gift cards. The DSP is the new Island Oasis from the Summer mini catalogue, isn't it bright and sunny? Just what we needed with all the rain lately! If you'd like to learn how to make these cards or a similar project, why not book your own workshop? It's free and is a chance to get together with friends and get creative. You could get money to spend in the 2010/11 catalogue (and the Summer mini catalogue too), and get free stamp sets only available to hostesses! Please contact me for more information at flickandmick@aapt.net.au

Treats for your Sweets

'Sweet treat cups' make any card look extra fabulous, and now you can get the heart shaped ones FREE with any qualifying purchase of the Sweetheart stamp set and/or the Full heart punch! You can make your valentine cards with an extra sweet something this year, and heart shapes are a winner on many types of cards as there will always be a reason to send love to someone, no matter what the occasion. But be quick this offer only lasts until January 24th! Contact me here and follow the links to the 'promotions' or 'contact me' pages to place your order...