Convention Part 4 - Card ideas on display

One of the best of many things about Convention are the demonstrations of cards and projects up on stage.

The demonstrations are mainly done by Stampin up staff :

On Friday morning Shannon West gave us a demo on using the Circle Scissor Plus tool.

She showed us 12 amazing cards to make using circles of cardstock.

There  was a spiral star card and this gorgous heart card that folds into its own envelope. Lolly bag toppers, Princess tiaras, Lady Beetle cards, Foot balls, Male shirt and tie cards and her December circle card had a half circle pocket to hold a CD.

I might have to make this one to send people photos on CDs in.

She also made this really simple punched bird card which I think she was giving out as swaps.

Isnt it perfect in Orchid opulence and Rich Razzleberry.

Bonnie Thurber is just an amazing presenter:

She showed us how to tie a neat knot/bow with ribbon.

She calls it her lazy sister knot - I'll explain later.

Bonnie showed us how to make these gorgous masked Tea cup cards and a little box to put them in. Plus demoed the new kraft cardstock cards (forgotten their name) they are similar to the fresh cut notes we still have. There in the picture above and a cute little bag to put them in too.

Then we got to see the new Big Shot machine in action with the histerically funny Pam Morgan.

She made some gorgous items. Did you know you can cut fabric with this tool?

You can cut up to 8 pieces of fabric at a time. It will cut through nearly anything cardstock and fabric related.

She demoed how to make the Plexi glass sandwhich ... which makes the yummiest projects.

Imagine even quilters will be able to get in on the act and cut out designs....

Can you see this tool on your sewing or crafting table?

My absolute favourite demonstration though was Shelli Gardner's.

She has a gorgous Vintage style and made a heap of projects up on stage.

Then afterwards they are placed up on the display boards outside for everyone to share.

You can click on any of these pictures to enlarge the photo for a closer look.

Enjoy every Moment!!!

Convention part 3 - Card swaps

These are the first four of the swaps that I made, they look pretty simple (I know) I had this idea of a silhouetted bird on its branch at night with stars (or is it snow falling?) framed with the melon mambo base card.

 The others became progressively different ... I added branches in contrasting colours. 

This year I wasn't going to make any swaps, then made ten card fronts in a couple of hours on Friday afternoon... just for the fun of socialising in the morning of Convention.

Somehow I managed to swap my ten card fronts for more than a dozen cards (card makers are just so generous you always get back more than you give and it is so much fun meeting other people).

Truly I am so impressed with the quality of swaps this year...

I have to show you a couple that I particularly loved:

Lisa Jansen's Colour me card with a set of colouring-in pencils inside.

And then there is the gorgeous little top note handbag.

I just had to have one of these in my favourite colours and cottage wall paper.

This card above is from my beautiful team member: Felicity's swap card in chocolate chip and pink pirouette. She has used my favourite stamp sets: En francais and and Vintage vogue and Very vintage wheel.

The Belly band was originally around a block of Lindt chocolate... and the note book is just divine.

I have taken more photos of swaps including this display board but you will have to wait until tomorrow...

Click on the image to enlarge. Enjoy!!!

20% OFF The stampin Up starter Kit - Pay only $259 for $560 worth of product -

Have you been imagining yourself stamping, scrabooking and sharing your passion with others?

Or are you imagining yourself opening your incredibly discounted box of products containing everything you need to start creating beautiful coordinated handmade cards and artistic projects?

All the products in the picture above are included in your starter kit - Everything you need to begin stamping and for an extra $75 you get the scrapbooking add on kit (if you are that way inclined).

All of the inkpads and stampsets are interchangeable (swappable) with similar priced items from the Idea book and catalogue. Click here to see what you get in the standard pack.
This offer is only valid until 31 July, so what are you waiting for? Give me a call  on 0468 877 125 or meet me for a coffee to get your information pack and start stamping.

Convention announcement: 20% off the Starter Kit

One of the most exciting announcements during this year's Stampin' Up! Convention is a special for all our stampin'up customers ... that's you!
Shelli announced that from now until July 31st 2010, you can join Stampin' Up! and purchase the starter kit for only $259!!
Normally the starter kit is $325 (which is actually $560 worth of product and business supplies).
Just for a moment -
Imagine being able buy all of these amazing stampin up products at demonstrator price (that is having 20% off all your purchases all of the time).
Imagine getting your products shipped direct to your door, within a couple of days of placing your order, whenever you want,
Imagine getting to see the new catalogues, news and products atleast a month in advance, before anyone else,
Imagine attending Team training sessions with other passionate demonstrators and stampers regularly,
and having access to the demonstrator website, new releases, templates and card making ideas at your fingertips 24 hours a day and the support of the stampin' up Australia Team there to help you when ever you need it?
Imagine earning a little (or a lot) of extra cash to contribute to your family income or just feed your stamping habit for free.
Can you imagine any or all of these exciting ideas being real?
Give me a call or email me nerida_carter@hotmail.com and we can talk about this amazing stampin' up offer: seriously, there are no risks to this offer, if you decide that you don't want to continue at any time, you get to keep all of the products at the discount price - there are no costs for starting a stampin'up business.
Click HERE to view the Starter Kit Flyer or click on the side bar under: Starter kit for $259!

Convention 2010 - Part 2 ...

Another morning dawns at Darling Harbour Convention centre. We have classes and technique demonstrations. We review the year just gone to find that the most popular stampset was from Saleabration - Whimsical words and that March 2010 was our largest month ever (we personally have helped to pull the Australian economy out of recession with 260,000 stampsets sold).
--- just call me photographer of the stars. These three demos were awarded demos of the year:

Linda Higgins (no.11), Claire Daly (no. 1) and Vanessa Webb (no. 5).

The awards night Dinner was a huge event and look at the beautiful table setting we were greeted with - candles and tulips in a glass vase.

We were entertained by Fijian dancers and live music over dinner.

And I will leave you with ... dessert: a lemon lime berry tart.

Enjoy!!!

Stampin' Up Convention 2010

Where do I start? On the 6.20am train from Niagara Park ... and arriving at Darling Harbour before 8.30am!
I met Linda outside Memento Hall, I hadn't even registered yet.

My swaps (all ten of them) were exchanged in a matter of minutes, may I say the swap cards were amazing this year! I'll put up a photo of these a little later.
Here is Shelli (Cofounder and CEO) up on stage in the main auditorium welcoming her 460 + guests to convention 2010 this year:

Our convention bag contained a badge like the image on stage: Inspire, Create, Share and two new stampsets from the next catalogue (due 1st september) and we saw a quick flash of the front page of the new catalogue the colours and samples look fabulous.

 And here are some of the lovely women I shared convention with this year:

Thats me (on the left), Linda, Felicity, Penny, Denise and Gemma having lunch together at our table.

We had so much fun especially during our Make and Take session. Four exciting projects using new stampsets and rub ons and new ribbons too!

Here I am with fellow demo Penny, fueled up on coffee and chocolate - Thats the main stage behind us...

At night we visited a wonderfully delicious Thai Restaurant and watched fireworks from the balcony. I just love fireworks. They're always so exciting... I never quite found out what the fireworks were for but perhaps they were just glad to see us.

The restaurant had this amazing chandelier in the shape of a horse ...

And it being my second SU convention I finally got to meet Shelli and have the obligatory:

 "photo with Shelli moment."

 She is certainly a very gracious and thoughtful person. I particularly like her vintage style cards that she demonstrated up on stage - I am going to be reproducing them to share with you in a very short time.   

Scrapbooking in the month of May

I mentioned that it is International scrapbooking month didn't I?
Here is a 6"x6" scrap page that we did at the lovely Telita's place a short while ago.

I have used the vibrant but Autumnal "Pumpkin Pie" smooth cardstock.

Did you know you can now buy it in 20 sheet packs in the single colour of your choice ?

(20 sheets in a package $14.50)

The stampset we used is Nature's nest (not officially retired ... because it may come back in the main catalogue in September who knows).

 

The Turtle has been "paper pieced" which simply means I stamped the turtle image onto a piece of patterned paper and cut him out.

Then for detail I used my stampin' write marker (in pumpkn pie) to watercolour his tummy, claws, eyes, tail and some spots on his shell.

He looks rather cute on the pumpkin pie grosgrain ribbon.

The photo is of darling Jess at her favourite spot in the Japanese Gardens.

Other stamps used: Vintage Labels (SAB), Frames with a flourish.

Ink: Black stazon and Riding hood red for the background.

Eyelet border punch on the basic black cardstock.

Inspiration: The black, red and orange colour scheme came from pillows in an Autumn furniture catalogue.

While I'm away ...

I thought I'd schedule a few blog posts just so that you would'nt miss me too much ... while I am away.

And also because I know that when I get back I will be so busy with new ideas that these cards will be so yesterday that you will probably never see them.

This card features one of the latest (and my most favouite) in-colours:  Rich Razzleberry.

Ribbon, ink and cardstock. 

The stampsets are Vintage Vogue (patterning on the bird), very vintage wheel, Heard from the Heart.
It makes a quick little gift card: punching out a contrasting or complimentary coloured bird using the Extra large 2-step Bird punch.
These new style punches are amazing: they have a larger cutting surface and sleek body and give much better cutting precision and leverage, than the previous style.
You can also use the different elements of this two step punch to make flowers and leaves and best of all the punch stores away so much easier because it can be locked down flat (there's a little button underneath). And I know I can do with as much storage space I can get.

This birdy - She looks so cute in patterned paper and combined with olive green cardstock for the wing and branch.

A Wicked Birthday card

When a friend turns 50 its a pretty special event. I made this card for her.

The theme for the party was based on the musical "Wicked".

The colours in the stage show are white, black and green.

So that gave me my colours: Old Olive, whisper white and Basic Black.

The story is from the Wizard of Oz before Dorothy arrives to start her journey home.

Hence the Sparkly red shoe in the bottom Left hand corner. I just cut it out of a scrap of Real Red cardstock, used some two way glue pen and a sprinkle of Dazzling Diamonds and instant Wicked witch of the west / Dorothy shoes.

I took photos - but to protect the wicked, and the good...

Here's my Wicked card recipe:

Cardstock: Old Olive, Basic Black, real red,

white Velum cardstock.

Patterned paper: Old Olive

Ink: Whisper white craft.

Stampsets: Happy Everything, Upsy daisy (for birthday).

Tools: Big shot machine,

Die cuts: Top note, Timeless Type alphabet, spotted embossing folder.

Two way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals.

Enjoy!!!

Medallions in Close to Cocoa and Creamy caramel

The Medallion stamp is a new stamp from the Autumn min catalogue that I just can not do without now. There are lots of techniqaues you can do with it.

This is a version of the Kissing technique. To me it looks a bit like carved wood work. Not that I intended it to look like that. In stamping there are always happy surprises.

Here is a close up of the caramel coloured impression with the close to cocoa wheeled image over the top of it. Thats all I did. Inked the rubber up with caramel ink then wheeled my "very vintage" wheel over the rubber in close to cocoa ink and stamped it on whisper white cardstock.

The sentiment is stamped on a Big shot Lots of Tags die cut, sponged around the edges and raised on dimensional adhesive. The sumptuous ribbon is chocolate chip tafetta.

I made a second version of this card:

(as you do when you are enjoying yourself).

With the happy birthday from Teeny Tiny sentiments stampset.

And attached it to another of the "lots of tags" die cut shapes.

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Medallion ($33.95)

Teeny tiny sentiments ($46.95 in clear mount)

Cardstock: Whisper white, close to cocoa.

Ink: Creamy caramel, close to cocoa.

Tools: Big shot machine, Sizzlits - Lots of tags die cut ($39.95)

Word window punch, sponge, Tafetta ribbon and chocolate chip textured cardstock, cotton thread.

I am packing my bag...

I am packing a few of my favourite crafting tools and my good shoes because tomorrow is the Stampin' Up Convention. We are spending two days at Darling Harbour stamping, learning and celebrating another year of stampin' up in Australia.

I am taking my camera, phone and the barest of essentials so I can come home fully laden up with new ideas and excitement for projects to share with you. You can book a workshop with me as soon as I get back if you like and get the latest ideas from the Stampin' up team. We usually get a brand new stampset in our registration satchel, free gifts, lots of surprises and door prizes.
Please, come back and check my blog on Monday, or maybe Tuesday ('cause I might have to sleep off the excitement for a day or so) before I upload some gorgous photos of what we did.
Enjoy!!!

Elite Challenges for May ....

I have completed another challenge set by the Carol from over at the Elite Challenges site.
If you are at all like me you love a challenge. Sometimes it does you good to be pushed into a task that makes you uncomfortable, just so that you can feel proud of yourself when you finish a project that you set out to do.
This months stamp set challenge is to use the Medallion stamp.

The second challenge is to use the colours:
Rich Razzleberry, Baja breeze, Not quite Navy and Almost artichoke- eek!!

And, the third challenge is to CASE the card layout on page 18 of the Autumn Winter Mini.

My apologies the photo is a little dark on the Rich Razzleberry cardstock ... but you get the idea.

And I didn't complete the second part of the challenge because I just couldn't think how to add Almost Artichoke to the card without making it look like an add on, or a sore thumb.

The technique used on the medallion stamp is the kissing technique. Pretty effect with these coluours don't you think?

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Medallion $33.95

Teeeny Tiny sentiments $46.95

Tiny Tags $28.95

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Not quite Navy

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper white, Not quite Navy.

Accessories: Polka Dot ribbon - razzleberry.

Corner rounder and Medium jewellery tag punch.

Quilting with the Big shot - Top note template.

Quilting with paper ... or should I call that Faux-Quilting?

Fake it until you make it they say...  I will be faking it for quite a while, since I have no intention of making a quilt in the near future. Just cards and scrapbooking at this stage.

Isn't this just a gorgous technique to put on a card?

How is it done?
The squares are cut out from patterned paper
 ( I've used the Cottage Wall double sided paper punched out with my large square punch).

I've glued 12 squares onto cardstock and run it through my fabulous Big shot machine with the Top-note template that cuts and embosses the "stitching" around the edge, at the same time.

Now it just comes down to decorating and accessorising the quilted sauare:

The little bird is punched out of the same paper and she is holding the tag below.

Just for you ... raised on dimensional adhesives for height and the button is from the in-colour Designer button collection holding down a white tafetta ribbon (attached with my favourite mini glue dots).

The base card is Orchid opulence (one of my favourite purples).

Enjoy!!!

May is "Big shot Bundle" Scrapbooking month

Have you heard that May is Scrapbooking month?
I know there is a month for everything ... well this is one month you don't want to miss!
Its Mother's day this weekend - and so as a gift to all the mum's out there I want to offer something special.

The photo above is the box that came to my place with my BIG SHOT machine inside.

I want you to share the same excitement as I am enjoying so I have put together three Special May bundles.

Bundle 1. Big shot and Tags.

Big shot machine:     $179.95

(includes standard cutting pads and multipurpose platform)

Sizzlet 4-Pack lots of tags Dies  $39.95

plus shipping/postage 5%          $11

Total value:                             $230.90

May bundle special no 1. = $210.00

Bundle 2. Big shot, Top note and embossing folders.

Big shot die cut machine:     $179.95

Stampin up top note             $42.95

Polka Dot embossing folder  $15.95

Manhattan flower emb folder $15.95

Pillow box OR scallop circle $37.95

Sizzlit die - buttons                 $9.95

plus shipping 5%                   $15.15

Total value                          $318.85

May bundle Special No 2.  = $290

Bundle 3. Big shot and Alphabet.

Big shot die cut machine:      $179.95

Timeless type Alphabet dies $139.95

includes upper case, lower case, shapes and numbers.

plus Shipping  5%                  $16

Total value                         $335.90

May bundle special no 3. = $304

Email me at nerida_carter@hotmail.com or 0468 877 125 to place your order. This offer is exclusive to Stamping joy customers only.