Where has the year gone???

Oh my - look at this - it is nearly the end of the year, and I'm STILL not up to date with everything!

Finally posted out my Christmas cards this morning - well maybe they are more "Happy New Years" cards now .... and of course, being the most organised person on the planet (NOT!)... well I forgot to take a photo of them to share . Yes slap me around now..... I made just over 100 of them, and I have to say - I HATE production line stuff. The card was really nice, but you know how it is, by the end of it, you are certainly "over it". It was inspired by some gorgeous cards that I've received in the mail this month, namely by Tina and Fleur mostly. Of course all the cards are gorgeous, it's just that I have taken elements from cards from these 2 and combined them - I love being inspired by others work, and the sharing attitude that so many of us have to this business. Oh well I'm sure there will be someone that I've missed, so I'll have to make some more....

But..... the cutting of the pieces was made soooo much easier (and quicker) by my new gadget that arrived last week - yes I am THE Gadget Queen.....
I finally got my DreamKuts!!! I've been umming and ahhing over getting one of these for a few months for some time - but finally found it at a price that I just couldn't refuse (yes I was in the middle of one of my infamous spending sprees too ). BUT oh boy! This baby is wonderful! I can see it being worth its weight in gold to me, not that it's heavy though - its so much fun, quick, simple to use, not to mention accurate! LOVE it......

Another update shortly, just waiting for the camera batteries to charge so I can post some pics of what we've been up to!

We're off to see the....

REGIONALS!!!! The wonderful regionals of OZ!

Ok now I have that song stuck in my head (remind me to share with you later what the final page of DH's PhD thesis said.....) - that's where I'm off to tomorrow, the first ever Sydney Regionals for Stampin' Up! We're the last of them for the year here - they've already had them in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne - looks like they are missing Adelaide, sorry girls - maybe next year

Really looking forward to this, and to meeting up once again with some of my sidelines, cousins and the big bad mumma of us all, Angela. Not to mention meeting some wonderful gals that I haven't had a chance to connect with in real life until now, even though we have shared some great conversations and kindled some wonderful friendships online - it's so exciting to meet people when you're already friends from this wonderful tool we have here!

It IS with some trepidation that I'm heading along though - I was looking forward to a stress-free day of socializing, learning and most of all laughing.... but now I have tons and tons of nerves happening. I've been asked by Stampin' Up! to be one of the 4 local demos to present - on stage! - a WOW..... OMG! I have agonised and agonised for some time over this, but I think - well I hope - that the girls all like what I have come up with. I can't take all the credit though, it was the fabulous Relsi that helped me out here and did a wonderful step by step for a groovy 3D swirly star last weekend - so I'm pinching that (with her blessing of course) and doing it in our wonderful Holiday Thyme papers that we have available until Dec15 - for the fabulous price of $14.50, normally $16.95, for 12 sheets (and click here to get the pattern for the cracker on the flyer!!!). I'm loving myself sick over what I've done though (oops, does that sound like I have a big head - truly I don't), and am thinking it may make a pretty cool class for the first week in December - some Christmas boxes, bows and decorations....stay tuned!

Plus I've been trawling the web for lots and lots of 3D ideas - pretty much anything that can be done in cardstock can also be done in our Double-sided papers since they are of a lovely 'almost cardstock' weight (truth be known they probably are of the same weight as some cardstocks!). I've had lots of fun putting together heaps of samples.... I'll post some pics later over the weekend - it's all packed away at the moment, ready to get going EARLY tomorrow morning!

So if you're reading this and you'll be there tomorrow, please pop over and say "hi!" - I'll be the one that is ghost-white and absolutely terrified....

I have to add though, I can't wait to see what the other Sydney gals do, so really looking forward to it all Lynn, Georgina (a fellow Elite stamper), and the wonderful Leonie (one of my fabulous team members)...... see you all bright and early tomorrow morning - I have to be at Leonie's at 6.30 AM - yes AM! to get to the convention centre by 8am! ACK!

All In The Family

It's been a long time, and I've been trying to write this post for a few weeks - but I have to admit that I tear-up whenever I have started to.

Last month the General Manager of the Australian branch of Stampin' Up!, Dave Abbott (41), lost his life after a battle with a rare blood disorder. It has hit the Stampin' Up! family quite hard, they are a company that truly values and loves their employees. It has also hit the Australian demos hard since Dave has been there for us since the arrival of SU! to our shores, and he was very much a 'hands-on' manager. I had many opportunities to talk with him, both on the phone and in person and he was always lovely, attentive and caring - with an astonishing memory for details, and always with our (the demos) best interests at heart. He had seemed to be on the mend - managing to be there for our first convention in May just gone, even though he did look frail he always had a smile on his face. And then he and his wife were able to join the 8 lucky (and hard working) Australian demonstrators that earned the Incentive Trip in August - I'm so glad that they were able to spend this time together.

Proving that Stampin' Up! is more than just a company, it truly is a family - they have released a stamp set for this month only here in Aus/NZ called All In The Family. This is already available to our US and Canadian cousins, and will be in our Idea Book & Catalogue next year.
The special thing with this, and with Stampin' Up!, is that they are donating ALL proceeds worldwide from sales of this set during November to a fund set up for Dave's widow Cathy and their 3 young children. That's correct, 100% of the sales worldwide - not just profit, every cent spent on this set will go directly to benefit Dave's family.
Price for our market has been set at $73.95 (plus P&H), but for the month of November I'm offering this set to anyone that would like to purchase it and help out a worthy young family for my demo price of $65 - this includes P&H to anywhere in Australia. Contact me to order this set. If you would prefer to contribute directly to the fund, again email me and I'll send you the details of the account that Stampin' Up! have set up specifically for the "Dave Abbott Family Fund".

Something that Stampin' Up! head office wrote recently regarding this has really resonated with me lately, and I'd like to share it with you:

"At times like this, we are reminded of what truly matters in life-relationships with family, friends, associates, and others who influence us and make us better people. Dave certainly fits that description. He developed many meaningful relationships, with both Stampin' Up! employees and demonstrators, and we are thankful we knew Dave. He will be deeply missed in many ways.

Life is much too short to lose sight of the things that matter most. One of our Eight Principles is balance. When we lose those we love, we are reminded how important it is to live a life with balance, prioritising our demands in a way that preserves time for people and things that bring us the greatest happiness and joy."

So go.... hug your kids and tell your husband/wife/partner that you love them dearly.

Greetings from....

FREEZING Melbourne!!!!

Yes I'm here in frosty Melb having a ball at Paperific and with my' gorge' host Jenni and her ADORABLE family..... this will be a quickie post!

Paperific.... well what can I say? What an awesome vibe and feel - its such a blast! It was sooooooo busy yesterday morning while I was working the make and takes at our Stampin' Up! stand - but I enjoyed every second of it (yes even Claire pointing a camera at me from afar and saying "You're so in your element Tracey!".... because truth be known - I really was!) I LOVE meeting everyone and chatting and playing - what an awesome 'job' it is that I have.....

Quick hello's to the gals that I caught up with on Friday - loved seeing you all again.... so Hi to Maggie, Sandie, LynS, Kerri, JenniH..... not to mention meeting so many dear friends for the first time ever, including Claire, Michelle, Christine..... oh and my TWIN Sarah - what a blast!

Looking forward to tomorrow when I get to be there All DAY - if you're reading this and are there on Sunday - be sure to stop by and say a BIG hi! And so looking forward to chatting more with Kerri and catching up again with Viv, Claire, Michelle and the rest of the SU gals!

Ok time for another wine with Jen and hubby - photos will be happening when I get home (be afraid, be very afraid! LOL)

Paperific!

Yes... come and say Hi to me at Melbourne's Paperific Expo! It's running from Friday Oct 12th, through to Sunday, October 14th.

I'll be there with a great bunch of Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrators, and am so looking forward to catching up with a couple that I've met in real life before and can't wait to see again (Hi Jenni, Kerri, Viv and Fleur), and finally getting a chance to meet some gals that I've developed quite a close and sharing bond with. Details of who and how we'll be there are here!
We'll be having product demos, make and takes (continuously!), catalogue sales, be taking orders, 'show only' specials, plus of course a fabulous display of samples, inspirations, techniques all for you to check out! Not to mention some 'goodie bags' to hand out, PLUS a FANTABULOUS basket full to the BRIM with lots and lots of Stampin' Up! goodies.

I'll be there demoing and talking on Fri morning, and all day Sunday! I dare say Fri arvo will be spent having a looky-loo and soaking up all the great Paperific atmosphere that I've heard so much about! AND getting to catch up with all my online friends that are located south of the border - I'M SO EXCITED!

Some faux metal

This was such a quick and easy one to put together - and it gave me the chance to play with the faux metal technique - great for quick embellishments on those oh-so-hard masculine cards!

The stamp set used is the hostess set 'Riveting', one of the many benefits of hosting your own real-life or 'virtual' workshop - and this one fits our circle punches perfectly!

All I've done is covered some Very Vanilla cardstock with copper embossing powder and heated. I've done about 5 layers of this and then placed the stamp into the final layer while it was still warm. Lift it up, and voila! a faux metal image to use - punched out using SU! circle punches.

The rest of the card has used a paper from the Recollections pack, more Very Vanilla cardstock, choc chip ink and some grosgrain ribbons. The strip is popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals. All products used are Stampin' Up! and available through me at any time

Spring MINI Catalogue is all systems GO!

Yep dear patient kind wonderful readers - it's HERE! This is the cover for our wonderful Spring mini catalogue that is out - full of lots and lots of yummy stamp sets and accessories...the papers are just divine - and the punches *sigh* they are just SO useful!

If you don't yet have a copy of this and would like me to send you one - just email me, auntytraci@hotmail.com and I'll get one in the post to you that very same day - FREE!

The goodies in here are available for a limited time only - we can order them from now until the end of November - after that - they're gone

*sigh* it's just all so nice, I've had an awful time choosing what to get - I truly do want it all! And I thought I'd decided and then I start cruising blogs and galleries and find soooooo many more ideas for sets that I'm trying to resist!

Isn't she lovely?!

Yep - another 'little' layout from me - I'm actually starting to enjoy this scrapping lark - but shhh, don't tell the other stampers, I'll be voted off the island!


Yep - yet another one of my little cutie.... my poor son, all the pics of him from this age are old film ones, and they aren't very good either...and he's at that really awkward gangly age now, and anytime a camera is pointed at him he 'smiles' this grimace .... so another "rubba muncha" pic it is (I must tell you the story behind that nickname someday!)

The colours in this aren't very true - I'm kinda 'scanner-challenged' so hopefully will be able to take a pic and upload tomorrow that is better. This has been done using the new Office range that is in the MINI catalogue (available Aug1) - the background and torn edge section are from the Notations DS papers, and the "original" stamp is from the Office Accoutrements set - I'm loving these! I've also used a couple of the self adhesive die cuts from the Accents & Elements tin - this has a TON of these in it, and all in a cute little tin as well .

Cardstock colours used are Lavender Lace and So Saffron, the chipboard accents are from the On Board Accents pack in the main IB&C, and the quote on the vellum is from the Friendship Flowers set. And I've discovered the absolute BEST adhesive for vellum - it doesn't show through AT ALL.... it's the SU Anywhere Glue Stick!!! Yep a glue stick - the advantage to this one is its rectangular shape so it gets in all the corners without making a huge mess of your workspace.

And of course it wouldn't be complete without my fave tool of the moment - the snot sucker - oops, the Colour Spritzer! And yep - that's more spritzing that what I would like - but the kids 'helped' me with it, and I just couldn't redo it, especially after all the help that Patrick gave me.

All products used are Stampin' Up! and are available through me, just drop me an email at auntytraci@hotmail.com.

July Stampin' Up! promo

JUST ADD WATER

July's Promotion from Stampin' Up! is a fantastic one - I'm really excited.

For every $50 you spend with me this month, you can get 25% off a colour family of Watercolour Wonder Crayons, or the Watercolour Pencils. This brings the crayons back down to the price they were in the last catalogue, but in the individual colour family tins!

This means the price of the colour family tins of crayons with the discount comes down to $29.21, the neutral crayons to $14.21, and the Watercolour Pencils to $28.46!

What a great opportunity to get started on having some great colouring fun!

Contact me at auntytraci@hotmail.com, or leave a comment if you'd like some more information about this, or the Stampin' Up! opportunity. My newsletter will be coming out shortly too - so keep an eye on your inbox

Some cards

A girlfriend asked me to make her some thank you cards for an event she was attending over in the US - as usual I left it until the VERY last minute to get them done (yep, 10pm the night before she was flying out very early ). Since she's now been and gone and come home (Hi Karen - hope you had a ball!)... I figure I can show them on here now.

This was my very first attempt at a one-sheet-wonder - making 10 cards from one A4 stamped sheet of paper as the focal point on the cards! Wowee, what fun are these! I can see me making more of these - and smell a class in the making too .

Now I know this set is retired - but I really wanted to have one last splurge with it before I bite the bullet and sell it off on evil-bay! I think I shed tears when Toile Blossoms was on the retiring list here - I'd only had it for a couple of months so it has barely seen ink


This has used a simple colour scheme of Whisper White, Basic Black, with a hint of Bravo Burgundy - I think they came up OK! If you'd like a closer look leave me a comment and I'll post them all individually (have to get DS an after school 'snack' right now!). Oh and I had lots of fun playing with my new toy on these too - the Colour Spritzer (also affectionately known as the "snot sucker!")

Male cards - UGH!

Do you find cards for men and boys hard to make? I have to say I certainly do, and once again I had to do a card for a boy. Not having a lot of cute sets at the moment (hoping to rectify that soon - Ahoy Matey seems to be growing on me ) its really hard to come up with something at times.

I had to do a card for a party my son was going to - and finally found some inspiration using It's Your Birthday - when in doubt reach for a saying and a background. A bit of piercing, some brads and the good old slit punch and I reckon it came up OK - what do you think?

All products used are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise stated.
Cardstock: Confetti White, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive
Ink: More Mustard, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Stamps used: It's Your Birthday, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and Print Pattern
Accessories: Natural Twine, Earth Elements Brads, Crafters Tool Kit, and Slit punch

Make Your Mark

That's the name of our new June promotion - and I have to say it's a goodie!

Here's the pertinent information!

Stampin’ Up!’s® odourless, dual-tipped Stampin’ Write® markers help you make your mark – and make it perfectly!

Designed especially for crafting, you won’t have to worry about colouring inside the lines with those smelly, awkward Year 3 markers.

Stampin’ Write markers

" Use archival safe water-based dye ink

" Have both a fine-point tip for writing and flexible brush for inking

" Come in four colour-family packs in Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colours for flawless coordination

" Are ideal for omitting portions of a stamped image or for using multiple colours on a single image

Colour, stamp, spritz and journal your projects with one trouble-free product. With such beautiful results, you’ll want to show all your projects off in your home….

30% off a selected stamp set with purchase of Stampin’ Write markers! (Until June 30)

With each purchase of Stampin’ Write markers you can get 30% the price of 4 selected stamp sets – Greetings Galore (RRP $57.95, down to $40.57), Eat Cake (RRP $49.95, down to $34.97), All The Best(RRP $39.95, down to $27.97), and Heartfelt Thanks (RRP $57.95, down to $40.57)

Special Available until June 30, 2007

I reckon this is a great promotion - so please just send me an email, or phone to place your order or book a workshop for me to come and show you some wonderful techniques using the markers!

Just a quickie....

... before I head off to bed. Have been busy cleaning and creating lately..... I think the meds are finally starting to work and I'm feeling more human and 'normal' again now - hurrah for that!

This one is a bit of a cheat - since it was one of the make and takes that we did at convention - but I just wanted to share it with you all - I love the photo that I found to pop on it - aren't they just so cute? Shame it doesn't stay like that, they're normal siblings now - annoying each other etc etc....but I still manage to find some sweet moments like this even now, and it does make my heart melt when they so obviously love each other. Especially when I see Patrick being patient and loving with her, despite the fact that 2 year old sisters can be extremely annoying to a 9 year old boy! ;)

Ok thats enough 'warm fuzzies' for now - off to bed with me!

Isn't she gorgeous!

OK yes I am a tragic - but this is about the best photo I got snapped.... isn't she just gorgeous! For those that don't know (is there anyone out there now that doesn't know who this beautiful creature is?) - this is the one and only Shelli Gardner! And this was definitely one of the highlights of an absolutely fantastic weekend - meeting and chatting to Shelli. I just can't believe that she is so down to earth, caring and most of all just a genuine lovely person. She is soooo sweet. And just simply stunning too.... hard to believe this woman is both a busy CEO and a grandmother to many - she truly is an inspiration.....

OK more pics later - but I just HAD to get this one up there LOL!

Smart Start!

Stampin' Up! May promotion

It’s a fantastic one if you’ve been considering joining our demonstrator family, as the starter kit is reduced in price to $299.00, for a kit valued at about $585.00! It’s awesome value, and you can customise your kit, changing stamp sets for any of equal of lesser value, and even changing the colour selections! Stampin' Up! has all sorts of demonstrators. From people joining to make the most of the discounts for themselves and friends, to people looking to fund their own hobby budget/addiction, to people looking to add a bit more to the family budget, or saving for a particular goal, to people running it as a business.

This is the promo that I signed up under too – a whole year ago! Oh my goodness, I just can’t believe how quickly that time has flown. I would never have dreamt 12 months ago that I’d be in the position I am now – this is truly the most amazing and gratifying thing that I have ever done. It may sound corny – but it truly has changed my life, and made so many of my relationships grow, both old and new.

If you’d like a closer look at the flyer, let me know and I’ll email one to you. I’m always happy to answer any other questions you might have about becoming a demonstrator too! Seriously though – if you have been ‘on the fence’ or considering signing up, now is the time – why wait??? It is an amazing job, I just love going to work now – I still can’t believe that I’m getting paid to have this much fun!

To be eligible to receive the discounted kit price, your Demontrator Agreement forms and Starter Kit order forms need to be at head office by 5.30pm on the 31st May.

Oh MY!

Oh my!

What an exciting, fun and tiring couple of days and nights that was!

Convention is just the most amazing thing I've ever experienced - I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it now (how embarrassment!). It was so cool to meet people that I've 'known' for a couple of years online but never met in real life.... and to catch up again with other friends that I haven't seen in ages.

It was such a blast! I really don't have the words at the moment to describe it all...maybe that's the sleep deprivation starting to affect me, I don't really function all that well after 3 hours sleep for 3 nights in a row! LOL! My party started on Thurs night when Carol, Jenni and Kerri arrived from various parts of the country..... they were my house guests for convention - and I have to say I had an absolute blast catching up with them all, and having a few drinks and chatting and laughing. Then my downlines Leonie and Sharon (our extremely patient 'vengabus' driver) arrived on Friday morning to take us into Sydney... well Leonie was here on Thurs night too for a drink and a giggle and a natter, and was back again on Fri for the convention fun!

Shelli Gardner!!! Well what can I say about this amazing woman - she is just sooooo beautiful, generous, gracious and motivational. I feel so blessed to have been able to hear her speak, and meet her and give her a hug. Pics later (when I can find my camera!)

AND - I was sharing my house with 2 of the TOP 25 demos in Australia!!!!! Jenni and Kerri were absolutely gobsmacked to find out at check-in that they were part of this select and amazing group..... and so deserved. Actually, 5 of the top25 were part of my uplines group - including #3 Jayne Mercer. Congrats to Jayne, Alisa, Angela, Kerri and Jenni - you are all beautiful and inspirational women and I am so pleased to count you as friends!

Swapping was frantic and fun - and heaps and heaps of great ideas have been generously given to me by fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators. This is such a lovely community to be part of, freely sharing ideas and inspiration would have to be something quite unique in a business, stampers and crafters in general seem to have the most amazing generosity of spirit, and to have the biggest 'hearts' I have ever seen.

Well thats enough for the moment - some updates with pics will be forthcoming either later tonight or tomorrow - I have to go and STAMP!

I'm so excited....

... and I just can't hide it..... I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

Yep, the very first Australian Stampin' Up! convention starts TOMORROW.... and I really am SO EXCITED (can ya tell!).

I'm really lucky this year - it's being held here in sunny Sydney, and I have 3 other demonstrators about to descend on me to spend the time here in my humble abode - it's gunna be SO much fun. I can't wait to meet demos that I've only chatted to online, some of whom I've known online since before Stampin' Up! It will also be absolutely awesome to catch up again with some others that I have met once or twice... it's just gunna be a blast!

And you know what? Shelli!!! (founder of SU!) will be here too.... I so can't wait to see her and hear her speak, I truly think this is one of those things that you just have to experience - and it all starts tomorrow. WOOHOO!

We also get some fabbo training from SU! naturally - and atttend a stack of classes about our businesses, and get heaps of hints and tips - see lots of new samples, swap with other wonderful demos.... oh and the best bit - FREE STAMPS to play with on Saturday! How awesome is this company? (that's rhetorical - it's the BEST company!)

Oh and an awards dinner too! This is a chock full couple of days I'd say!

Anyway best get going - cooking dinner for the hoards that are about to descend here (and I need to check that the wine and bubbly are chilling nicely!)

Will chat again soon - and hopefully have lots of news and photos to share too!

Stampin' Up!® NEW catalogues

They’re here! They’re here! (yes I am a little excited!)

I finally have boxes of the brand spanking new 2007-2008 Australian/NZ Idea Book and Catalogue from Stampin’ Up!® – and they’re just gorgeous. (Thank you to the wonderful Jayne who helped me out with a photo today - my camera and the light just weren't playing nicely....)

If you want to get your own copy of this little baby – full of lots and lots of new stamp sets (over 120 NEW ones), cardstock, inkpads and accessories, not to mention the 335 new samples and ideas throughout the book, just drop me a line. All my existing customers ordering one before the 20th April can have one for $10 (RRP $12.95). After this date I’m going to have to include the cost of postage in the price, and since it is so much bigger Australia Post is classing it as a small parcel – this means it will cost $6.70 to post in NSW and $9 anywhere else in the country.

So please just let me know that you want one (and who wouldn’t? - it is GORGEOUS!) and I’ll pop it in the post that same day for you. I can accept payment by direct deposit and credit card for fast postage. Don’t forget – there is over 300 brand new samples and ideas in the book too, it is such a great resource that readers of Creating Keepsakes have just voted the US version as the best Idea Book for 2007. Of course it is also available to view online from April 2 - but who can wait until then???

Free stamps - for Stampin' Up! New Zealand

In case you haven’t already heard , Stampin’ Up!® is spreading its wings to New Zealand starting next month! What a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand stampers and scrappers to get in right at the very start of this exciting venture. It’s been a huge success here in Australia and this will surely be repeated across the Tasman in NZ. Stampin’ Up!® has announced a referral program for Australian demonstrators and prospective New Zealand demonstrators, whereby anybody signing up in New Zealand that has been referred by an existing Australian demonstrator will receive an extra FREE stamp set of their choice (valued up to $79.95) in addition to the fabulous value of their starter kit. The referring demonstrator (me hopefully !!) also receives a free set for sending the referral, and FREE stamps are always welcome!

If you or anybody you know in New Zealand is interested in this fantastic ground floor opportunity with Stampin’ Up!® and would like to get in on the FREE STAMPS action, email me now! Completed paperwork must be with the Australian Stampin’ Up!® office no later than 9 April. If you have any questions about it all, please feel free to contact me for more information.

Seriously – it is so much fun, and the ideal time to start your Stampin’ Up!® business – it has been SO successful over here and I’m loving being in it so early, has made for a very exciting (and busy) year.

And the winner is.....

OMG how slack am I? (no answers from the peanut gallery please - thanks Jenni and Leonie!)

I finally got around to drawing the winner from my little SAB set contest - thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments, hints and tips - I really look forward to getting moving on all these. It also made me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that someone out there IS reading me LOL.....

Anyway without further ado.... the winner is...

TASH ALLEN

Please contact me Tash with your details and which set you'd like at auntytraci@hotmail.com

Keep reading everyone - more updates to follow soon - I'm really trying to get on top of this blogging and business thing... life has been a bit hectic lately and will be filling you all in on that soon too!

Cheers
Tracey