Going, Going, Gone.....

Yes it is that time of year again where Stampin' Up! release the retiring list of products to make way for new and exciting ones in the new Catalogue (which starts on the 1st September)
Please click on the link below to view the retiring lists
Retiring Lists

You may notice all the stamp pads are retiring.  The reason for this is because we are getting a new firm foam pad.  They will essentially look the same with all the current benefits, but the actual pad is a firm foam (all reports from US demos is very positive about the new stamp pads).

The products on the retiring list are only available while stocks last or until the 31st August so if there is something you want before it's gone contact me ASAP to place an order.

Next comes the exciting launch of our new Annual Catalogue and the Holiday Catalogue!!!
This year both these catalogues will commence on the 1st September.
I will be holding a Catalogue Launch Party on Saturday 15th September so keep an eye out for more details very soon.  If you are interested in attending please let me know so I can start planning.

A bit off track

My challenge started really well, but I have now gone a little off track...The cards I am posting today were not part of my challenge....


The first one may look familiar as I used the same layout as the "Paige - All in the Family" card and changed to suit a 5 year old boy.

Stamp Sets: Make a monster and Look Who's Turning
Cardstock: So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White and Just Add Cake DSP.

For some reason I have very few boys cards in my stack so when Hamish is invited to a party I need to make a card quickly so this next card was "thrown" together and I have decided with my challenge to try and do a few more boys cards so I am more organised..............

Stamp Set: Up, Up and Away
Cardstock: Real Red, Tempting Torquoise, Whisper White and Big Top Birthday DSP

I am continuing with my challenge so there will be more cards to show very soon.

There is lots happening in Stampin' Up! over the next few months....One of the really exciting things is an event run by Stampin' Up! in Melbourne on Saturday 4th August.  It is going to be a fun day of stamping and is open to demonstrators and customers so if you are interested in playing with some fantastic products and learning new techniques keep an eye out for more information about this great day or contact me

Aviary and Baroque Motifs

So far so good.  I am continuing with the challenge I set myself and really enjoying it.
These are the next 2 stamp sets on my long list.  Again I have started with a case from the current catalogue and then made 2 more of my own design.

Aviary stamp set.

Baroque Motifs stamp set.

I have already done the next stamp set which is Build a Blossom, but I haven't yet taken photos of the cards, so check back soon to see them and hopefully Butterfly Prints will be completed soon also.

Challenge Started

It feels good to make a start on a challenge, I'm sure it will feel even better when I finish it.
The task I set for myself was to use every stamp set I own in the current catalogue and make 3 cards with it.  First of all I needed to sort out my stamp sets and decide how to tackle this challenge.  I decided to go in alphabetical order so today I have All In The Family and Artistic Etchings.

When I looked at the stamp sets I decided I would try and do some catalogue caseing as each year I love the examples in the catalogue, but rarely do I actually case them so, the first card is a case from page 57.

The next two cards I used my children as the inspiration.  I have used the DSP Just Add Cake on the All In The Family cards.

Artistic Etchings was one of those sets I just had to have as soon as I saw it and I have used it quite a lot.  This card is again a catalogue case, this one is from page 97.

I thought the Simply Scrappin Kit Tickets and Tags would go really well with this set and I am pleased with the result.

Now one without the Eiffel Tower!! When I finished this one it seemed like a great male card so I added the Happy Father's Day sentiment.

That's all for today, hopefully I will keep up with the challenge and have more to post very soon.  I think Aviary is next on the list.

Can it really be that long ago....

It really has been a long time since I posted on my blog.......So I guess this is my come back post!!!
Life has been busy with the last 12 months a bit of a blurr, but I feel I am finally finding the balance again! And that balance includes some time for stamping - yeah!!!!!

While my stamping time has been limited I have found time to do a few things since my last post, including 2 wonderful stampathons (one in Oct 2011 and the other April 2012).  Both days were lots of fun and full of creativity. I will also show you some cards I have made recently.

But first the reason I have started blogging again.
Today I realised that the current Stampin' Up! catalogue will finish in a few months sooooooooooooo I have set myself a challenge.............................................
My challenge is this...to use every stamp set I own in the current catalogue.  To do this I have decided to make at least 3 cards with each set, and blog them!
Since I only decided this today I haven't got anything to blog yet so here are some of the cards I have made since my last post in September.

 This one was for my Aunty's 70th Birthday.  She is a fantastic card maker herself so it was a challenge to make something special for her.  This is actually a case from the catalogue (pg 102). The DSP is from this years Sale-a-bration.

 The stamp set in this one is from Sale-a-bration also.

My niece turned 13 in January and this is the card I made for her.

The next 3 were made for 3 of Paige's friends who all turned 10 recently.

So as you can see I have done some stamping, just been slack blogging about it.  But stay tuned as I promise to blog about my challenge.......

New Catalogue

Wow how exciting is September!! The new 2011 -2012 Ideas Book and Catalogue has been launched and it is full of wonderful new stamps and products. One of the many new things is fabric. Yes that's right we now have a fabric range that coordinates with other Stampin' Up! products. To view the new catalogue on line click on the image on the side of my blog. If you would like your very own copy then please contact me for details.

Another very exciting change in the new catalogue is the hostess benefits. There has been an overhaul of the hostess benefits and you now have a lot more flexibility with hostess dollars and the chance to earn products at 50% off, so if you are interested in earning hostess dollars contact me to learn how.

Also in September Stampin' Up! have a fantastic Mini Starter Kit promotion, where you can join the Stampin' Up! family for only $169 and enjoy all the wonderful benefits of being a demonstrator - see flyer on side of my blog. And if you would like more details feel free to contact me.

My order of new goodies hasn't arrived yet (I was expecting it today, but no luck - fingers crossed for tomorrow), but I have two projects I made with sneak peak products. My plan is to have time this coming weekend to play with new stuff (including fabric) so there will be more projects to show soon.

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade, Sincere Saluations
Cardstock: 2011-2013 In colors (Indigo Island, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder) Whisper White
Ink: 2011-2013 In colors
Accessories: Lattice embossing folder, Petitie Pennants Builder Punch

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade
Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Petitie Pennants Builder Punch, On Board Merry Medley, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Basic Pearls.

My Husband's Birthday

Well for the couple of weeks leading up to Andrew's 40th Birthday he was a little, shall we say "in denial"...So I decided not to put a big 40 on the front of his card, but I couldn't resist making it look "aged". Since we had already celebrated Birthdays in Port Douglas the actual day of his birthday was some what low key (just the way he wanted!). We had a most pleasant afternoon with a long lunch at Jack Rabbit Winery. The kids had a great time running around while we enjoyed delicious food and wine on a rare sunny winters day!!

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Sentiments and Woodgrain (difficult to see in photo - background on Early Espresso)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Early Espresso
Ink and Markers: Early Espresso and Old Olive, Tea Stain (from disressing kit).
Accesories: Distressing kit, Satin Ribbon, Brad, Oval and Word Window Punches.