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!")

Some scrapping!

I can share this layout with you all now since the competition I created it for is all done and dusted now!

I made this for the Little Book of Big Memories competition that was running over at The Little Scrapbook Shop.... unfortunately for me I think I was being extremely optimistic about how long it takes me to scrap! The comp involved having to scrap 12 layouts using various brands of products - ie, one brand per layout essentially, the sponsors for the comp - and scrapping some memorable events from 2006 for you. Cath managed to put together some great sponsors and the first prize was a HUGE pack worth $600 . But being the shocker at this scrapping lark that I am, I only managed to complete ONE layout - yep just one and that was even with an extension of time too . But in my defence I think its a kick-ass layout!!! ROFL!

Lots of the girls managed to complete this in time though.... they are all legends if you ask me! The winners were all extremely well deserved though, a huge bunch of fabulously talented scrappers - as well as the major prize, there were 'minor' prizes for each brand too.... you just had to complete all 12 to be in the running for anything

Anyway this was mine, and I have to say I'm really really happy with it. The photo was taken by a good friend of mine, and it just defined the moment that I understood my baby was totally growing up - far too quickly. There is journalling on the back of the layout - I might share it with you someday . The brand used here is Urban Lily with some assorted chipboard from other companies.


Thanks for looking - I have to say this is probably my favourite layout that I've ever done! (I'm really NOT a scrapper !!!)

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!

Catty CASE

OK - I have been quiet - not that that's unusual here, but the good news is I've been creating and playing heaps and heaps!

This was a challenge I was given, to copy a card EXACTLY from the Idea Book and Catalogue, and then to put my own twist on it, and use the same card as inspiration for another! The hardest part about this was finding a card that I had ALL the right goodies for .... I must need more stuff!




The card on the left is exactly the same as the one on p.88 of the catty, and the one on the right is my interpretation. This was a great challenge as sometimes I forget how many great ideas and samples are in our IB&C, and it can make preparing and simply creating so much fun and quick when you need it to be - why re-invent the wheel after all !

If you still need to get a copy of the IB&C just send me an email, leave a comment or give me a call, and I can get one into the post or around to you for $10 (RRP$12.95) - or better yet, host a workshop with me and get one for free!

I have emoticons!

Woohoo - I have emoticons . I love these little suckers and have been trying for ages to see how to get them on here - finally did it with some help from Marelle and her link to here! So expect to see lots more of these here , I tend to go a little overboard with them

Now to find out how to get the dancing bananas here (and yes I am procrastinating)

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!

My news!

My big news….

Well a few of you already know about this, but I had to wait until it was ‘official’ to put it out here for all to see (well for anyone that happens to read this anyway!)…. I have finally quit my job!!!!

Yep, as of Monday just gone I am now officially ‘unemployed’. It was a really hard decision for me to make, but the workplace that I was in was a ‘toxic’ environment with quite a lot of not-so-nice people that really made my time there a living hell. I will miss some people there, I worked there for just on 12 years and have made some very good friends there….but the nastiness had gotten to me so much that I was being physically ill each day before I walked into the lab. As you can imagine this had become very stressful on both me and my family – I tend to take out situations like this on my nearest and dearest, and it truly was taking its toll on both my marriage and my interactions with my children. So as of the end of January I have been on long service leave to work out what was best for us all, and after much soul searching and discussion with my long-suffering husband, we really felt that there was no alternative but for me to leave. We both believe that this was the trigger that started me down the long dark road of depression as well – and there was absolutely no point in me returning to the place just as I’m starting to see that life really isn’t all about black clouds and short tempers.

While this is a very scary time for me (this is the first time since I was 15 that I haven’t had a regular steady job), I’m feeling quite hopeful that there are much better things on the horizon for us all. I’m already starting to regain a loving relationship with my 9 year old son, am enjoying the time I spend with my 2 year old daughter, and am actually talking to my husband – really talking – for the first time in a long time.

And of course this gives me more time, and much more positivity (if that’s a word?) towards my career as a Stampin’ Up! business woman! My head is in such a better place already. The weight has lifted off my chest. I can breathe again.

About time I know!

Thanks for waiting oh-so-patiently for this.....

Anyway here they are - my lovely new BELLAS.....

Aren't they just adorable? I've been resisting these beauties for ages and ages and finally could resist no longer (actually bought them and a whole bunch of other goodies in a huge buying spree a little while ago ).... but absolutely no regrets LOL!

They have all been mounted on EZMount now, and are awaiting some playing.... that may have to wait until I've finished my swaps for convention though - only 7 more sleeps and counting until Oz's very FIRST SU! convention..... I'm so excited about this....

OK, more to come very soon - I promise to be much better once again at this! My mojo seems to be returning a little, and I have some more news to share with you all - but I have to go and get the 2year old menace now, she's awake and calling for attention!

Chat soon

Trace xxx

Watch this space!

Hi all

Sorry I know I've been a bit slack at updating - that black dog has had me good and proper lately. I'm now on different meds so hopefully that will help the problem....

I'm currently charging my camera batteries so that I can upload a photo soon of the wonderful pack of goodies I got in the mail yesterday.... all the way from Canada! Are you intrigued??? I was soooo excited when these arrived..... and yep, they are goodies of the rubber variety (is there anything else worth getting excited over ?)

Will be back posting proper soon I promise... hoping to get into some creating again soon too!

Bye for now
Tracey xxx

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.