ESAD Christmas In July Blog Hop

I hope you’re ready for the ESAD Christmas in July Blog Hop!  I love Christmas and I love that in Australia I get to celebrate it twice :)

You have arrived from Sharlene Torres site (Sharlene is the lovely lady who puts all of the ESAD hops together for us - thank you), but if you haven't, don't worry - a hop is a circle so there is no beginning or end, hop on here and enjoy the ride.  So firstly I need to let you know what ESAD is all about.  Well ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up!

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators.  We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.  So if you are a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.

 

Regulars to my blog will know I am a scrapbooker so whenever we have these hops I use it as an 'excuse' to get another page done LOL.  So this page is of Christmas day in 2006 - I'm still in 'scrapbooking catch-up mode' and when I complete a page like this I am so pleased .... another momentous day captured!

I've used Baja Breeze textured card stock for the base as it matched Olivia's dress perfectly, and Rose Red for the accent colour to match Olivia's PJs. 

The ribbon detail has been made using the double rectangle punch - I've just punched it several times along the bottom edge - just using the edge of the punch as a guide to keep it 'evenly-ished' spaced and then I've threaded a piece of 1/4" Whisper White grosgrain ribbon through.

Stamp sets used are Season of Joy and Punch Pals, which I have stamped using the marker pens in Basic Grey and Rose Red, and I've added some little snowflakes along the top using a Versamark pad.  The Tag and Scallop Circle punches make these really easy little embellishments to make - the flowers of course of hand cut.

The sparkly letters are of course, the Timeless Type Big Shot Alphabet - an absolute must for a scrapbooker ... I love being able to create any title that comes to mind without have to worry that I don't have all the letters.  I've then used the Two Way Glue pen and some Dazzling Diamonds to add some Christmas sparkle.

Journaling has been written freehand with a white Signo pen - I think handwriting is so important on our scrapbooking pages - in years to come my children and grandchildren will have heaps of examples of my handwriting ... so no matter how much you hate your writing ... you just have to include some on a page every so often.  And the Journaling reads:

Big smiles, young faces ...

Skinny 'ribbins' and transfer tattoos ...

Laptop, PSP, camera, fish tanks, Guinness Book of Records and lollies!

So there you have it - hope it inspires you to grab some Christmas photos and record the moment.  Now's the time to hop along to Clare Mcilhatton I've just found her site - yes by linking it here (and spent half an hour just having a little look around - Clare has made some beautiful things) ...

So thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment.

 

SAM Sneek Peek

Are you missing SAM - yes I am, yes I am :)   ... scrapbooking production has dropped off - there are no urgent dates to meet ... but that's okay, behind the scenes we are cooking up a brilliant revamp ... so to just keep you interested here's a little layout from me ...

Hop on over to StampaMemory to see the full story and page.

Come back on Saturday to take part in a Christmas In July blog hop with the ESAD demonstrators ...

Till then 

 

Last but not least - Reason Number Five

To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments ... in this we make a difference.

This is the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart - and how true it is. For me there is no better thing to do than share the craft of creating something that will be treasured - whether it be a card for a friend in need, a birthday card for a family member, a scrapbooking memory for generations to share ... you will always find friends and generate smiles through sharing a craft.

When I hold workshops we often complete a scrapbooking page - and I am often told 'oh I can't do this' or 'I don't know why I came because I am useless at this' or even ... 'I didn't bring any photos cos I know I won't like my page so there was no point' .... and here are the results ....

Yes every page is a winner, every page will be treasured ... 

Pages made at these workshops have been given as gifts, hung on walls and displayed pride of place in someone's home .... 

We can all make something beautiful and worthy of being treasured ... and a workshop or class for me is more about giving than selling ...  

I thank the lovely ladies who attended Tammy Smith's workshop who kindly allowed me to show you their work ... all everso slightly different and all beautiful - and yes some have no photos but that doesn't matter - all the ladies had fun.

That's what I love about being a demonstrator - sharing what I love with others.

Join Stampin' Up! now before the fabulous offer runs out - you only have ten days left :o)  

 

 

Almost there - Reason Number Four and the July Promotion

Just in case you've only just joined me .... this is the fourth post in a string of five reasons to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator.

Would you like to take advantage of all the discounts and incentives that Stampin Up! have to offer?  Well you can!

If you collect customer orders to the value of $300 or more you are treated as the Hostess ... yes ... the hostess, so without having to do very much at all, you can take advantage of the free Hostess Benefit set and free product.  It doesn't take long to gather all the hostess sets and lots of free stuff - I use mine to buy punches.  Oh and of course you still only pay the demonstrator prices for your purchases ... at least 20% off!

You also can take advantage of special offers - so this month's special of 20% off Two Step Stamping Sets means that you as a demonstrator get at least 40% off - that's the customer 20% and your demonstrator 20% ... isn't that great news.

Now I'm not sure that I've shown you the stamps sets for this offer yet ...

During July Stampin' Up Australia are taking 20% off these two step stamp sets.

Here's the details:

Item	Pg	Description	Reg Price	Sale Price
116386	39	Loads of Love	$39.95	$31.96
116342	42	Big Bold Birthday**	$53.95	$43.16
115860	78	A Rose Is a Rose**	$66.95	$53.56
116332	86	Playful Petals**	$52.95	$42.36
115770	98	Cheep Talk	$47.95	$38.36
115946	115	Wonderful Favourites	$39.95	$31.96
119187	14*	Tiny Tags (wood-mount)	$38.95	$31.16
118592	14*	Tiny Tags (clear-mount)	$28.95	$23.16
119163	31*	Cottage Garden (wood-mount	$32.95	$26.36
120003	31*	Cottage Garden (clear-mount)	$24.95	$19.96

*From 2010 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue
**Retiring stamp sets!

What are you waiting for ... $259 gets you a big box of goodies worth over $560 ... if you want to start a business I can show you how ... or if you just want to stamp and scrapbook and get great products that go together and create fantastic projects and use the discounts just for yourself ... then call or email and I'll send you the information that you need ... hurry though ... you only have until 31 July 2010.

Back tomorrow with one last reason ... like you need there to be a fifth reason :)

Nikki

x

Reason Number Three - Be Your Own Boss - and Happy Birthday Ash!

If you have missed reason number one or reason number two to sign up to be a demonstrator this month, catch up by clicking and following the links!

Yes this is one of the things that appealed to me - I could actually start my own buisness and be my own boss - there aren't many businesses out there with a starting price of just $259!

Imagine being your own boss, imagine being able to contribute to the family budget, imagine being able to work around your family commitments ... all very valuable and very worthwhile reasons to consider Stampin' Up! as your next venture.

Being part of a direct sales company gives you unlimited access to so many resources.  

Joining Stampin' Up! will provide you with help and support from me, together with a monthly team meeting where we get to learn new techniques.

Joining Stampin' Up! also means you become part of a much larger team, the Art With Heart Team.  Over 90 demonstrators who all have access to a forum.  Through this forum we take part in monthly challenges, talk business, get excited about future catalogues and generally participate in as many or as few off topic chatters that we wish - its a great resource for ideas and there is always someone on line to help if you an answer or some support.

Stampin' Up! also has an online forum called Stampin' Connections - this platform enables the entire Stampin' Up! community across Australia and New Zealand to access each other - again full of resources and friends.

So if you are tempted call or email - we are on a countdown to the end of July when this offer will finish.

And to finish this post I want to say a very happy birthday to a very special girl, my best friend's daughter is 14 today ... she is one lovely chickerdee and we hope she has a super douper day.

 Back in a day or so with Reason Number Four!

 

Now's the time to become a demonstrator - Reason Number Two!

With the amazing special you may not need convincing that this is the right time and the right decision for you .... but just in case you haven't made your mind up I have started a list of 5 Great Reasons to Join. The first reason is here ... and here's the second ..

 DISCOUNTS!

Now that got your attention didn't it!  Yes it is true you can join just for the discounts.  Stampin' Up! embraces both business builders and hobbyists so if you have a healthy wishlist and just love all that is Stampin' Up! this is a great reason to join.  

 

• Every demonstrator receives 20% off their purchases - more if you build a downline.  


• Receive 30% off your first order of $300 or more plus qualify for hostess benefits.  


• Imagine being able to view and order select new stamps and products one month in advance of  catalogue releases!  


• There's no obligation to sell or hold workshops and no penalty if you decide to drop.  You keep all your goodies. 


• To remain active, $500 in total retail sales is required per quarter.  This includes your own purchases and customer sales (based on retail prices). 


• Join now!  The end of the first full quarter isn't until the end of December.  You would be guaranteed discounts and benefits until then. During my first six months I earned six free stamp sets of my choice ... and there is an ability to earn 15 sets if you choose to ... it really is doable.


• If your total sales reach $500 by 31 December, you remain active through to 31st March 2011.

If you are sitting there thinking this could be for me - then call or email me for a demonstrator information pack.  There's no obligation to sign up - it's just an information pack that outlines all you need to know to make an informed decision.

And for those of you who come here for some crafty inspiration ... here's a card I rustled up using the ChalkBoard technique .... want to learn how to do this?  Then book a workshop and I'll show you how!

 

Pop back soon for reason number three.

 

 

 

  
 

JOIN STAMPIN UP NOW

 

SPECIAL PRICE $259

KIT VALUE $529

MUST JOIN BEFORE 31 JULY 2010

Click here for more details!

Have you ever thought about joining Stampin' Up! and becoming a Demo?

If you have then the time is NOW!  

With the fantastic offer of 20% discount off the Starter Kit there is no better time to join (price is now $259 with a kit value of $529 ... for more details click here) .... and I was reflecting on my year as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to share with you my story and why I joined.  

So starting today I'll list my five top reasons for joining .... starting with a New Year's resolution!

FRIENDSHIP AND CAMARADERIE

I'm a 'reflect on the past and plan for the future' type of girl and this has to happen in the first week of every year - so it was January 2009 when I was reflecting on the fact that as a defence wife who has done her fair share of moving around the world, I really only had a pocketful of friends here in Melbourne.  So my New Year's resolution was to move out of my comfort zone and meet some new poeple  .... and if those friends could have the same crafting addiction as me ...even better.

I'd already found Stampin' Up! in late 2008 but it hadn't clicked that this was going to be the key.  Fast forward five months and Convention 2009.  I, probably like you, stalked the blogs of Stampin' Up! demonstrators waiting for every snippet of information I could - I looked at the photos of all those women in one place stamping, scrapbooking and having fun - I wanted to be a part of that.  

It was only because I like a bargain ... did it finally click that Stampin' Up! was waiting for me.  I joined up at the end of May 2009 with the scrapbooking deal ...and I haven't looked back.

I've met some of the lovely people, many I can call a friend, be they demonstrators within the Art with Heart Team like Christine Blain, Sue Madex, Kylie Bertucci and Judy May; to my upline Claire Daly and my very own downline, Kimmy, Leanne and Aris; to other demonstrators further afield such as Tracey Hanshaw and Karen Cummings - we are all linked by our passion for creating.

The Art With Heart Team Girls

And of course, I've met heaps of new customers and class mates.  My pocketful of friends has now grown to a huge bagful - and that really does make me smile.

So if you are thinking about joining up and are looking for reasons to make that jump right now - have a think about all the lovely people out there having fun socialising and inspiring each other every day ... wouldn't you want to be a part of that?  

I know I did - and I am so pleased that I made that leap.

Call or email me now and I'll send an information pack straight out to you ... you only have a couple more weeks to take advantage of this special offer!

 

Making Merry Monday

I got a bit inky making this one!  In fact I made 11 of them for a team swap so I was very inky indeed! 

Using the Tiny Tags and Tiny Tag punch these cards were quick to make.  Colours are Baja Breeze and Confetti White card stock with Basic Grey.  The little snowflake is from the Winter Post set.

Back this week with news of a special offer.

 

Just Riding

Just a quick one from me today ... work is a little hectic shall we say ... but nothing new there really - just ten and eleven hour days are eating into my crafting time which isn't good at all .... in fact it's eating into my whole life but there is light at the end of the tunnel and so I know it won't last long.

Here's a card I made last weekend for one of Kieran's best friends.  using the Just Riding set and some torn paper and sponges this was very quick to make.  I have seen this image somewhere about a year ago (if you know where I saw it let me know so that I can give credit where credit is due please)  ... and I would have liked to use the brayer but I have misplaced it .... I have put it somewhere safe and now I can't find it!  But anyway, the sponge did the trick.

The little sentiment 'way 2 go' is from the new Level 1 hostess set that is only available until the end of August ... if you want to know how you can get your own set just give me a call or email.

Have a lovely day .... back on Monday with Making Merry Monday and I am going to set some time aside this weekend to rustle up a few more things to share with you.

 

Making Merry Monday is BACK!

Oh yes, after a little break .... I am back in full Christmas card making swing again (and supporting the Cards for the Troops campaign) .... and to help with my inspiration for a layout I used the latest challenge over at Just Add Ink.

The first of the two cards I made using the sketch from the JAI girls is made with Melon Mambo and Elegant Eggplant.  I've used the beautiful tree from the Lovely as a Tree set and embossed it in silver.  I ran a two way glue pen around the edge of the top note die cut and added some dazzling diamonds and finished it off with the little post mark image from the Winter Post set.

The background is the snowflake from the Winter Post set too - I used a Versamark ink pad first but then thought I would add some snowflakes in craft white ink also.

And this is the second version ... my tree looks a little crooked doesn't it but it isn't I promise :)  This is a Rich Razzleberry and Kraft version.

July is such a good time to make a start on your cards .... just one a week will give you a great start - and whilst you're making one you might as well make two!

 
 
 

Art With Heart Team Blog Hop - Christmas in July

Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Blog Hop! Who are the Art with Heart team? Lead by Claire Daly, there are over 90 demonstrators across Australia ... if you want to be come part of this great team just email me for more details. There's a special on just now for joining demos .... check it out here. 

You may have just come from Kristine Thompson's blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post. There are over 10 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email me, Nikki at nikki@inkyart.com.au, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy. There is a deadline of 72 hours to leave your comments and only non SU demos are eligible to win the candy - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments please. 

So on with my contribution ...

 I've created a double page spread using Whisper White and I created the background using the Lovely As A Tree stamp set to create the border along the bottom and the snowflake from the Winter Post set to create the border along the top.

(Sorry about the flash in the photos), here's a close up on the first page - can you see all the Dazzling Diamonds ... I was very sparkly I can tell you ... but Christmas isn't Christmas without a bit of sparkle is it!  I just ran a Two Way Glue pen here and there and then sprinkled the super fine glitter all over.

The numbers are from the OnBoard Timeless set - coloured in with Old Olive marker and then covered with Crystal Effects and more Dazzling Diamonds.

And the second page.  I've used a piece of Holiday Treasures and some felt flowers - you can find these on page 144 of the catalogue.   

Well, that’s all from me. Now you’re off to enjoy the beautiful creations of Erica Boxall, a very special lady who is very creative.

And don't forget to enter the draw for some candy.

 

 

Porsche Boxsters and Stars!

Check out my latest page over at Stampamemory

 Come back tomorrow for another Art With Heart Team blog hop - Christmas In July .... gotta love that in this cold wintery weather!