Happy Birthday Clare

Happy Birthday to my lovely sister-in-law Clare - finally you get to join us in the over 40's club ... stop sniggering Chris (that's my little brother so you can just imagine the giggles can't you) ... you're next!

Inspired by a card I received from Claire Daly recently I loved the combination of Rose Red and Kiwi Kiss. I've used the Upsy Daisy stamp set and the markers to create the two colour image, stamped it once and then moved the stamp over a bit and stamped again to get the slightly faded image behind it. Crystal Glaze gives the flowers that shiny look to finish it off.

I do hope that you are having a super day Clare and that you are being throughly spoiled ... only 432 days to endure the ribbing from my brother and he'll be in the club too.

Love to you all Newman clan.

Love Nikki

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Making Merry Monday # 17

Another Winter Post with a beautiful word stamp from the Many Merry Messages set.  Kraft could be the 'new' Old Olive as I love the way this card has turned out.  

I've used some water colour paper and then some Old Olive and Real Red ink with an Aqua Painter to colour in the image.  The ink pads are really versatile if you use them in this way ... whilst the pad is closed you squeeze the box together to push the lid into the ink pad (don't panic the boxes are flexible enough to do this)  ... when you open the ink pad there is a 'pool' of ink inside the lid that you can now pick up with either the Aqua Painter for water colouring or the Blender Pens to make a marker pen ... how cool is that!

Back very soon with birthday news, more cards and evidence that you can turn a 'non-believer' into an addict in just one evening!

Hope you are having a very Merry Monday.

Love Nikki

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Ready For Another Party Hearty?

Yes there is more ... many more in fact!  I often use this design for a quick and easy card ... the squares of Bella Bleu designer series paper are punched using the 1 1/4" square punch and placed equal distance apart onto Kraft cardstock.  

I've then stamped the 'celebrate you' stamp from Party Hearty set with Not Quite Navy ink and then punched it out with the scallop circle punch.  Layers of Kraft, Very Vanilla and Not Quite Navy cardstock with a little inking around the edges with a dauber highlight this stamp and the whole thing has been finished off with a trio of matching brads and a clear button tied with linen thread. 

This is one of my favourites - I really love this paper.  Hope you are inspired to give this really easy design a go ... it would work with circles too!

Happy stampin!

Love Nikki

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Melbourne Regional Training

This was my first Stampin' Up! event and as I stood in a line of approximately 300 or more fellow demonstrators and their guests I knew we were going to have fun.

I've never made swaps for an event like this before ... but I managed to find the time to make 32 and I wish I had made more .... the talent of the Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around Melbourne is just amazing and I am inspired to try so many more techniques.

Here's my swap ... after demonstrating this technique at Craft Expo last week ... it really wasn't hard to decide what to make ...

I've used the Upsy Daisy set with the brayer and some sponging. The colours are Not Quite Navy, So Saffron, Baja Breeze and Basic Black.  

This technique is going to feature in my next newsletter ... if you'd like to find out how to do this easy and very effective technique - just sign up using the link on the side bar on the right.

Back in a day or two with more cards to keep you inspired.

Happy stampin!

Love Nikki

Making Merry Monday # 16

I was wondering last week how many days it was until Christmas .... never actually worked out the exact number - didn't want to scare myself, but I do know that we are already half way through October ... oh heck! 

So there really is no time like the present to make a start on those Christmas cards .... I've 'invested' in a new set 'Winter Post' ... and so yesterday afternoon I whipped up a few cards ... I really love this new oldie worldie set .... that reindeer is just so cute.

I've used, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla for this card .... the ribbon has been 'pleated' using the Sticky Strip double sided extra tacky tape and the Taffeta ribbon and the trees are from the Lovely as a Tree set.  

I've seen this ribbon technique around the net and even tried it once but it didn't work for me, that is until yesterday .... I attended the Melbourne Stampin' Up! Regional Training day which was held in the city - Bonnie Thurber who is the Director of Demonstrator Training residing in Salt Lake City in the US, demonstrated this technique and when I saw the roll of Sticky Strip it all made sense.  If you've never used this tape before ... beware!  It is sooooo sticky ... but then I suppose you've gathered that from it's name :o)  It just grabs the ribbon and holds it in place, so pleating is a breeze.

So who's Bonnie Thurber, well if I can find Bonnie's blog I will let you know because you just have to 'meet' this most amazing lady.  Having travelled all the way from the US for the Stampin' Up! Regionals she managed to arrive in Melbourne minus her luggage!  Poor love, inside her luggage was not only all the usual 'stuff' that ladies just need to travel with ... but her samples that she was going to demonstrate to us.  

As I sat making four brilliant projects with my new free stamp set and roller from the soon to be released Summer Mini, I was keeping an eye on this lady who seemed to be quite busy herself with her card and snail trail.  Little did I know just how talented Bonnie is ... she managed to rustle up three samples using just what she could find around the room and the contents of her bathroom goodie basket!  Little bags and boxes and a great demo of how to pleat your ribbon onto a card.  Just amazing - Bonnie is a demonstrator herself so she understands Stampin' Up! from both sides of the coin ... her business tips were extremely helpful - she was entertaining and happy to answer all of our questions ... an absolute pleasure to meet.

Back tomorrow with more news from the Regionals and my swap.

Happy stampin

Love Nikki

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Upsy Daisy Birthdays

When I flicked through the new catalogue in August this was one of the first stamp sets that caught my eye immediately ... I love it.  Every time I see it used I want to pull it out and stamp.  

This is a card that we made at one of the classes in September (sorry classes will resume again in late October I promise) ... and I have used Ruby Red and Kiwi Kiss and the pastels for the flowers. The eyelet punch at the bottom adds a bit of interest and the scallop oval punch is still a firm favourite.

Which reminds me .... the Spring Mini will finish at the end of November which means you won't be able to buy the scallop oval punch after that date ... here's hoping that it makes it into the new Ideas Book and Catalogue that will be published in August 2010.  So if it is on your wish list, indeed if anything in the Spring Mini is on your wish list, then make sure you place your order before 30 November so that you are not disappointed.

Happy Stampin.

Love Nikki

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CraftExpo Wrap Up

A big hello to all those that are exploring this site for the first time ... it was fantastic to share the day with so many craft enthusiasts .... CraftExpo was amazing ... such a shame I didn't get a chance to shop myself ... we were so busy from the moment the door opened until the last die hard shoppers were thrown out at 4.30pm.

Here's the stand with all the beautiful and inspiring ideas from the team of girls who took part in CraftExpo.  And that's Sue Bayliss and Ange Dickens who were my team mates for the day.  Check out their sites as they are both such talented ladies.

And here are the three of us .... stupid grins as it was the end of the day and we were completely worn out!

I loved meeting everyone ... and especially loved the demonstrating ... poor Sue had to nag me for her turn .... I gave all of my finished samples away so I'll whistle up another one and post it here during the week for you all to see.

Really looking forward to Paperific now ... we will be demonstrating and doing Make and Takes ... very exciting indeed! 

Happy stampin

Love Nikki

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Colour Selector

I've been trying for a little while now to work out how to get this very useful colour selection tool onto my website for you - and I think I've done it!

Over on the right is a new button with a link away from this site to a fantastic resource.  I use this tool often to help me to find just the right colour combination. 

Now as it is an American tool it does have a few colours noted that aren't available in Australia; ie Crushed Curry (such a cool colour perhaps it will be available here soon) but the good news is that it does include our in-colours too.

As the instructions state at the bottom, you just choose the colours you want to work with, click on them so that the colours pop up in one of the square on the top right and either click search or continue to choose other colours - the more colours you have in the top boxes the less combinations the computer will generate.

I love it and use it often ... really good if you know that you want to make a card from Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette for instance but can't decide on a third or fourth colour.

Happy clicking and let me know if you find this new tool useful too.

Nikki

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Making Merry Monday # 15

I was a little worried last night that I didn't have anything to show you today ... I don't think you've seen this one have you?

It's a complete CASE from the packaging you receive the I Wish Scrap booking Kit in .... (CASE = Copy and Share Everything or Copy and Selectively Edit) but in this case is it completely 'not' my idea :o) 

I was completely stumped for ideas when I made this card and hadn't been a demonstrator for very long and so didn't have very many products.  I was so pleased with this card ... so very simple, that's the beauty of the scrap booking kits.

And the reason why I didn't have anything to show you?  Well this weekend I was with the Art With Heart Team at CraftExpo - we had a ball but it was exhausting.  I'll post some photos in the week of the Saturday team ... but for now ...

Merry Monday and happy stampin

Love Nikki

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Craft Expo 8 - 11 October - Now On!

If you love crafts, and lets face it if you didn't you wouldn't be reading my blog would you, then you simply have to come along to the newest craft show in Melbourne.

Starting tomorrow and running all the way though to Sunday, CraftExpo promises to be a real treat.  Check out all the details here for ticket info and location.

Make sure you pop by and say hi!  We will be demonstrating lots of products and there are heaps of examples on display. I'm there on Saturday but if you are visiting another day do say hello to the lovely ladies from the Art with Heart Team.  

If you can't get there ... don't panic I'll make sure I take lots of photos and show you next week just how beautiful our stand was.

Happy stampin

Love Nikki

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Another Party Hearty

And another Party Hearty gem .... this time a girlie birthday card made with Pink Pirouette, Chocolate chip and Regal Rose.  Cup cakes are very now aren't they.  I've stamped them twice, once in the Choc Chip and then again in the Pink Pirouette.  I've then cut out the top of the cake and used the Stampin Dimensionals to lift it up off the card ... of course Dazzling Diamonds just finish it off.

The paper is from the Hostess Level 1 free gift ... Patterns Pack II - 60 sheets of 6 x 6 paper ... very handy - check it out on Page 18 of the catalogue.

As it's Wednesday today some of the Art with Heart team have been setting up the stand at Craft Expo ... show opens tomorrow and is on until Sunday - don't forget to come along and say hi.

Happy Stampin.

Nikki

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Making Merry Monday # 14

Okay, I know, so it's Old Olive ... but it is a new stamp set - lol

I've been making heaps of cards using Party Hearty this past week as this is my contribution to the forthcoming Craft Expo which starts this Thursday and I thought this was a cool idea for a Christmas card with a non-festive set.  I've seen it done somewhere but I can't remember where (if you know can you let me know so that I can organise a link here - thank you).

So the card is Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red with some of the I Wish DSP, a large brad and some in colour ribbon.  I've used the marker pens to get the two colours on the image ... this would make for a very quick card if you need to make a lot of them.

As we head into October and daylight savings many of us are beginning to think of presents and cards for Christmas, so if you've been playing along with the Making Merry Monday you should have quite a nice stash of cards organised ... if not ... then there is no time like the present to make a start ... come on a couple of cards a week and you'll soon have them finished.

And don't forget, if you are heading to CraftExpo this week be sure to drop by and say hi.

Happy stampin

Love Nikki

x

World Card Making Day 2009

Yes there is such a thing ... and card makers all around the world are taking part. Now a quick history lesson .... 

World Card Making Day began in 2006 as National Card Making Day. Founded by a paper crafts magazine in the US, it was aimed at bringing card makers together at the beginning of the busiest card-making season of the year, it was first held on October 7, 2006. 

Due to its popularity, it is ow in its fourth year, World Card Making Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in October. It's a day for the card-making community to unite and celebrate the connection and creativity that is the heart of card making.

To celebrate Stampin' Up! are offering a special for the month of October.  From 1 - 31 October 2009, you will receive a 20% discount off either Wow Flowers or Starring You stamp sets when you purchase Rock Star or Flower Power Simply Sent ® Card Elements kits. 

So order one of these two kits:

Item	Page	Description	Price
112028	140	Flower Power Card Elements	$30.95
112021	141	Rock Star Card Elements	$30.95

And get the coordinating stamp set for 20% off!

Item	Page	Description	Sale Price
116779	140	Wow Flowers	$19.96
116777	141	Starring You	$19.96

These kits help you to put cards together quickly, they include everything you need to create at least nine cards. Photos and project instructions are included. 

Call or email if you'd like to order either (or both) of these kits ... I'm thinking it would be good for a Christmas present for someone who wants to make cards but doesn't know where to begin ... 

Happy World Card Making Day

Love Nikki

x

Class Kits

Coming very soon ... complete class kits which you can purchase with or without stamp sets .... watch this space for something exciting and inspiring.

Do You Want To Make A Difference? Become a Demonstrator!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Stampin' Up! are offering a great way that YOU can make a difference by becoming a demonstrator.

For every Demonstrator that joins between now and the end of December, Stampin' Up! will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia.

And there is even more good news ... as well as receiving a fantastic starter kit worth $560 for just $324 you will also receive a free pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper and a Pretty In Pink ink pad, total value $28.90 ... so that's almost $600 worth of product for $324 ... that's almost half price!

I spent ages deciding would I, wouldn't I, before I said 'oh what the heck ... what other business could I start up with $324?'  I work all day helping to run someone else's business and know that the time to start doing something for myself is now.  

So I took the plunge and I haven't looked back.  I also knew that if I didn't meet the sales quotas or changed my mind within a couple of months, I didn't have to worry ...  there's no obligation to purchase ever again.  Of course there are incentives to purchase such as additional discounts on your first order but if you don't want to do demonstrations or host a website or blog, that's fine - you run your business how and when you want - it's even okay to just buy for yourself and never sell to anyone else ... the choice is yours.  

If you'd like to know what I can do to help you to start your own business and to be successful just email or call and I will send you the recruitment information by post - there's no obligation and if you are pondering there's no better time to join than when Stampin' Up! is offering a promotion!

Of course, joining Team Inky gives you instant access to the team forum which offers great tutorials, ideas, and much more ... and all for free.  I am a member of a much larger team, with over 90 other demonstrators there is always someone to give you advice and support. 

So why October and not December?  

• New demonstrators are given a full six months to meet their sales target of $500


• Sales are always higher during the last three months of the year as everyone is making Christmas cards and presents


• The annual Saleabration event takes place in January -  which is always a winner!

So email me today (click on the link at the top right hand corner) if you'd like some more information.  Join today and help Stampin' Up! to make a difference.

Happy Stampin

Love

Nikki

x

 

Party Hearty Galore

I've been enjoying a great week off work and spending lots of time with the kids.  After yesterday's roller blading they wanted to go to the movies today ... and KP thought it would be really exciting if they went in on their own!  I 'sort of' suggested it ... okay  I confess I wholly suggested it ... but I have a list of things I need to achieve before the week is out and we are already half way through and not a lot has been ticked off!  So off they went ... and I scooted around Southland crossing things off my list :o)

One of the other things on my list for this week is to prepare some samples for the upcoming Craft Expo which starts next Thursday ... my task is to use the stamp set Party Hearty ... so a dozen or so cards later I think I am almost done; although I have an idea for a scrapbooking page also so perhaps I'll make a start on that tomorrow.

So here is one of my samples ... Old Olive, Basic Grey and Regal Rose .... the whole stamp set works with all of the circle punches in one way or another ... and the scallop circle fits perfectly within the letters of the Celebrate You stamp ... very clever!  The little sparkle is actually a pink square fire rhinestone brad ... looks purple in the photo doesn't it.

As I mentioned, Craft Expo starts next week .... details can be found here.  I'll be on the stand on Saturday so if you are visiting on that day be sure to say hello and check out my other Party Hearty samples and all the other gorgeous things from the Art with Heart Stampin Team.

Be sure to check back this week for more exciting offers from Stampin' Up for October ... there's no end to their special offers just now is there.

Til next time, happy stampin

Love Nikki

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