Being a demo

I just wanted to share a quick word on some of the wonders of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  On the weekend I got to share my love of stamping and creating with a wonderful bunch of women that I have met through my business. Not only did I share my ideas with them they shared their ideas with me.  Last Wednesday evening I got together with other demos from the area at Stampin' Up!'s field training which was another wonderful opportunity to share ideas and learn new things.  But the best thing of all, I got a stamp set as a result of paying for the training but on top of that I had a bonus of winning a stamp set as a door prize.  It was the Butterfly prints set which I love and coordinates with the Butterfly punch.  I have won a stamp set at every Stampin' Up! event I have attended so far.  I can't believe the luck of that because I never win anything.  :-D

Mel

Altered tins

I recently bought some tins and altered them.  They are for use in my workshops.  One is for my lucky door prize forms and the other holds a heap of markers.  At some events I offer a free marker to anyone putting in an order of over $100.  These tins show the versatility of Stampin' Up! products and how to think outside just making cards.

This is my lucky door prize tin.  It is a pretty simple one.  I covered the tin in Kiwi Kiss paper from the Urban Garden pack of Designer Series Paper (IBC page 132, $16.95).  I used the Anywhere Glue Stick (IBC page 154, $7.50 for two) on both the paper and the tin, this meant that I had some "lubrication" to enable me to move the paper around and into the right position before the glue started to stick.  I then put some Sticky Strip (IBC page 154, $12.95) on the top overlap to make sure that the paper was securely held down.  The paper on the lid is from the Kiwi Kiss pack of Patterns Designer Series Paper (IBC page 135, $16.95).  These packs of papers are monochrome meaning that they only have one colour, in this case Kiwi Kiss, and white.  They are really handy for coordinating with other DSPs or just jazzing up a plain card.  The ribbon is from the Pigtails Ribbon Originals (IBC page 150, $27.95).  I love this ribbon it is very cute, I am very into polka dots at the moment.  The reverse side of this ribbon, which you can just see on the left tail of the bow, is white with Kiwi Kiss polka dots, rather than Kiwi with white polka dots so you can easily reverse it for a different look.  The white part of the flower is from the Pretties kit (IBC page 149, $55.95).  This kit contains over 300 pieces including 5 differnt sizes/styles of flowers.  They can be dyed with reinkers or coloured with markers but I left this one white to go with the monochrome colour scheme.  In the center of the flower is one of the Kiwi Kiss die cut flowers from the Blooms Again pack of die cuts (IBC page 144, $16.50) and a Kiwi Kiss Corduroy Button from the Spring Mini Catalogue (page 4, $19.50).  I cut out some reinforces for the holes where the handle goes through from Kiwi Kiss cardstock, using punches.  Firstly I punched a hole using the 1/8 inch hand punch.  Then I punched around that using the 1 inch circle punch. I always find that if I want use the punches to cut "ring" shapes like this it is easiest to start with the smallest shape and work upwards. It gives you a much larger piece to hold and is easier to line up correctly in the larger punch.

So that is my little tin.  As I said very simple but I love it.  Not sure how I am going to take it when the Kiwi Kiss retires next September and I have to redo this tin.  Maybe I can keep it for other things and make another one in one of the new In Colors.  I will post pictures of the other tin soon.

thanks for looking and happy stamping
Mel

Wow, I have been neglecting my blog in favour of my Newsletter. As you can see I have given my blog a new look.  It now looks a lot like my Newsletter with the same graphics and colours being used in both.  If you are interested in subscribing to my news letter which comes out at least monthly with details of the latest specials, classes and a new project or technique featured each month, you can get to the subscribe page here or use the mini form in the column to the right.  All your details are kept secure and can only be accessed by me.  I will never ever sell or give anyone else your details.

This is a set of cards that I actually did at convention.  It is a very cute little idea for a gift.  I love the Funky Forest stamp set (IBC page 99, $31.95) it is a very versatile and unisex set that can be used for just about anything.  There are four cards put into one of the large Cello bags (IBC page130, $9.50 for 50).  There is a piece of the Tangerine Tango Designer Series Patterns paper (IBC page 135, $16.95) cut to fit in the bag.  The Word Window punch (IBC page 153, $30.95) was used to punch a hole through both layers of the Cello bag and through the DSP.  Then a piece of the 1" Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Ribbon (IBC page 150, $19.95) is knotted through the hole.

I have been trying to add the individual photos below but they keep turning themselves on the side and then Firefox crashes so I think I will give up on them for the time being.  I will post something more later.

Have a good day and thanks for looking.

Melanie

Hostess tips

Well it has been a while since I have posted. Mostly because with our camera off for repairs I have not had any pics to put up to show you what I have been doing. Hopefully we will pick it up today so I will have new pics to put up soon. In the mean time I thought I would post something that I included in my last newsletter. With the current Stampin' Up! special for hostesses (get an extra $40 to spend on product when your workshop sales reach $600) I sent out some tips on how to host a successful workshop.

• Invite more people than you want to attend. Don't be afraid to invite people because you think they won't be interested they may just have never told you that they have an interest in stamping or paper craft, or they may just be interested in an evening/afternoon out having fun with some friends.
• Give a personal invite, give them a written invitation (I can provide you with Stampin' Up! workshop invitation postcards) in person or give them a call on the phone and follow up with an email.
• Show around the the catalogue. When you book a workshop you will receive a complementary copy of the 2009 Idea book and catalogue as well as a loan copy. Show these around, pass them around at work, playgroups or take them with you when you pick your children up from school. Actually seeing the products and the samples made with them can generate interest where there was none before. It will also provide the opportunity for anyone who can't actually attend the workshop to put in an order if they would like. Please note that orders need to be paid for before I can place them, so cash and cheque payments need to be given to me at the workshop. Credit Card payments are processed when the order is submitted to Stampin' Up!
• Contact your guests a day or two before the workshop to remind them about it and to keep the enthusiasm going.
• Be enthusiastic, if you are excited about the workshop then your guests will get excited too.
• At the workshop maintain your enthusiasm and have fun. Don't stress too much about a clean house, fancy snacks or making everything perfect. Your guests are coming to have some fun with you and the other guests and to do some Stamping.

So that is just some brief tips on how to have a successful workshop. And remember if you aren't happy to have the workshop at your house I am always happy to host it at my house for you.
Have a great weekend and happy stamping
Melanie

These are the cards I have been doing in my workshops during May and June. The butterflies are stamped using the Gradiation technique which provides a blended change of colour from one to another. The first one didn't work so well but still looks great. The back ground is simply pieces of Designer Series Papers (IBC pages 132 - 135, $16.95 - $22.95) layered with some plain co-ordinating cardstock. The greeting is stamped inside a layered cut out made with the large and small oval punches (IBC page 152, $30.95). The stamp sets used were Garden Whimsy (IBC page 85, $45.95) and Basic Phrases (IBC page 117, $58.95).

If you would like to book a workshop feel free to contact me and I can show you how to make this simple but effective card.




This second card is simply the same card in different colours. It has been "stepped up" to give it that bit of extra something. In this case that something is some bling. I used the Sticky Cuts Sweet with the Fine Supernova Glitter (IBC page 145, $17.50 and $26.95 respective) to create the little glitter heart. I stuck this on the a plain piece of Whisper White cardstock cut out and layered it up with some Kiwi Kiss cardstock using the the 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches (IBC page 152, $20.95 and $30.95). I then put this on some of the Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain ribbon (IBC page 150, $19.50 a roll). If you would like to get some of this ribbon in all the In Colors but don't want to spend $117.00 for 6 full rolls of ribbon you will probably never use have a look at my Ribbon Clubs on the bottom right hand side of this page.

All in all these cards are so simple but so effective to make. Thanks for looking.

My class this month is a project class. We will be doing mini scrapbooks. These scrapbooks are so cute and easy to make. They make great gifts for Grandparents or you can give them to friends without photos for them to put their own in.

This is the scrapbook folded up. The ribbon just slips over the top. The one I saw made at convention just had a piece of designer series paper inside the frame on the front but I wanted to use all three of these gorgeous photos so I picked one that was mostly a silhouette for the front. I used the Sweet Always Designer Series paper (IBC page 132, $16.95) throughout the album and just picked up the colours from that.
The front and back covers of the album are pieces from the On Board Essentials (IBC page 147, $23.95) covered with the DSP on both sides. The colours from the DSP I used, Regal Rose and Pumpkin Pie went well with the clothes in the photos. On the cover I used some of the Flower Fusion (IBC page 144, $29.95) and a Rhinestone Fire Circle Brad (IBC page 149, $19.95) for the little flower on the front. The leaf is from the Planter box Rub-ons (IBC page 139, $19.95) on Pumpkin Pie card stock and cut out. The ribbon is just a piece of the Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

This is the scrap book folded out. Inside has two trimmed down photos. The verse is one I found on the Internet , edited and printed out on some vellum Card stock (IBC page 130, $12.50). I love to use the vellum for this sort of thing as it allows the colour of the card stock behind to show through. I also used some of the Planter Box Rub-ons on it as embellishments. I punched some pieces of the Sweet Always DSP and put them behind the photos as faux photo corners. I was pleased with that, it gives the photos some framing without obscuring any of the photo. The flower is another of the Planer Box Rub-ons on Pumpkin Pie Card stock cut out with one of the white Button Latte (IBC page 151, $15.50) in the center to finish it off. The leaves were put straight onto the Regal Rose card stock that is the body of the album. The only stamping was the saying that is cut out and put under the second photo. It is from the Stem Sayings stamp set (IBC page 96, $39.95) and says "i made a wish and you came true!" which was perfect for how I feel about my daughter.

The back isn't pictured here but it is the circle frame piece from the On Board Essentials just covered in the same strip paper from the Sweet Always DSP as used for the photo corners with a piece of pumpkin pie in the center. I added one of the spare flowers I had made from the Planter Box Rub-ons on Regal Rose card stock in one corner just to finish it off.

I was really pleased with this little scrapbook and I can't wait to see what people attending my class this month come up with for them selves. If you are interested in attending the class please feel free to contact me.

Finally photos

Well after some work figuring how to use the digital SLR here are some photos.

This first one is one of the Make and Take projects that we did at convention. I didn't actually get to finish this one on the day but I was so enthusiastic after everything we learned at convention I came home on the Friday night and finished everything.

This one is very simple but is so cute. It is simply a piece of Tangerine Tango Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut to size to fit inside one of the medium sized cellophane bags. You put it into the bag and use the word window punch to cut a slot through all three layers. Then you make the little love note cards. Each one has a different tree from the Trendy Trees set (IBC Page 99, $31.95 plus P&H) set stamped on it with one of the greetings from the same set. They are on Baja Breeze texture card stock cards.

This is such a simple thing to do but makes such an effective little gift. I am going to use things like this as hostess gifts from now on.


Now this is a card I made for my Mum to give her partner for his 60th birthday this week. I used the set that I won at convention, That's Funny (IBC page 55, $41.95). I needed to make it fairly masculine so I used a piece of the DSP Urban Oasis (IBC page 135, $16.95 for 12 sheets). These papers are on special this month, May '09, buy three packs and get a forth for free. I used the colours from the paper for the rest of the card, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Basic Black and Basic Gray. A bit of Kiwi Kiss ribbon and one of the Kiwi Kiss buttons from the Button Bouquet (IBC page 151, $15.50) finished it off. I did think of "Stepping it up" as we were shown at convention a few times but Mum didn't think any "bling" would suit him. So I left it fairly plain. I am pretty pleased with the results.

Well given the hour I think I need to do some tidying up and head to bed but I will be putting more photos up shortly.

The day after SU Convention 09

Well this is my first Blog. It is Sunday morning after convention. Oh Boy do I feel tired. I got home last night and collapsed into bed. But I had a great time at convention and can't wait for convention in Sydney next year. I am so glad it is in Sydney, only two hours up the road and very achievable for a Canberra local like me.

I was so impressed by Convention. The quality of the presentations, classes and information provided. It has got me all fired up to get moving and become more than "just" a hobby demo. So my goals for this month are to get organised for the two workshops I have coming up this month and next. To get organised for the classes I have been thinking about running for the past 6 months and to get moving on promoting my business.

Right now I need to go and spend some time with my family and, hopefully, getting some housework done but once the kids are in bed tonight I am going to be getting stuck into organisation mode!

Mel