Stampin' Write Markers Offer Extended

It's the end of another busy week. A good week though! I finished my 2 week uni course for work (and talk about putting in the hours - I'm still in sleep debt!). I also found out I got an HD for my uni Masters course. Woohoo! And yes.... I do study a lot :)



Today was Baby Matthew's first birthday party (and I really have to stop calling him baby I guess). We had family and friends over for a BBQ lunch today and it was fantastic. Good friends, good food, good weather. What more can you ask for in life?



Tomorrow I am going to sit down and catch up on some card making. Big news tomorrow as well - what with the new Summer Mini Catalogue and the Tying up Christmas offer from Stampin' Up! Where do we start! I know with this one!



The Stampin' Write Markers offer from Stampin' Up! for only $4.95 has been so popular that they have extended it for another 2 weeks. So don't miss out on stocking up on your favourite colours.

And speaking of stockings :) They make a great gift to put in your Christmas stocking!

Contact me now!

Welcome back me the stranger that I am! It’s been a hectic week for me! I have been on a course for work putting in 12 hour days at the course and then coming home to put in further study and research (in between reacquainting myself everyday to my family!). The biggest thank you to my Wonderful Husband (WH), my two beautiful boys and my mum who have made it possible for me to do this course. I couldn’t have done it without them – no wonder I love them so much! Unfortunately, I have another week to go ............

What it all means though – is that my craft (oops I mean dining table) is looking rather forlorn and neglected. I can almost blow off the dust and cobwebs! I won’t be looking at it until at least next weekend : (

But ................... (there always has to be a but!). Today is my wedding anniversary. My WH and I have been married for 5 years now and boy have they flown by. In between study and assignments, my WH took me out to a beautiful dinner last night.

The celebrations don’t stop there though! Yesterday was Baby Matthew’s first birthday! Where has that year gone? And yes, you can read between the lines – last year I spent our wedding anniversary in hospital with a new born baby! Baby Matthew is not really a baby any more. He’s crawling like crazy and talking the sweetest baby babble ever!

As time is not in my favour today, I can only show you my card for this week’s Christmas Countdown which relates to using the Solemn Stillness stamp set from Stampin’ Up! for a beautiful but really fast card. Have a go!

I'm Back!

I am back! I just had a lovely flying visit to Melbourne catching up with family and friends. And most importantly seeing my mum again! It had been 8 months since our last visit (she's been living in the Netherlands most of this year!)

On Saturday I unpacked all my things to take to a Stampin' Up! party. It was so nice to sit with family and friends and make cards while being social! Correction! I didn't make cards - I instructed and assisted and watched with awe as everyone made their own interpretations of the example I had given. Isn't it amazing how everyone can use the same set of stamps and make such different and unique cards. I love it!

But I did learn today the hard way of flying with your craft stuff. Now when you buy budget airfares with Tiger or Virgin Blue - you have to pay for luggage! We bought 15kg of luggage allowance however we came in heavier at 19kg. I'm not sure how - seeing as we stayed away from the shops! So we unpacked all the heavy stuff (aka my kit bag full of punches, catalogues etc) as well as a few other heavier items! And voila! We came in at 14kg. But.......

Without even thinking about it, I had my two favourite pairs of Stampin' Up! scissors in my kit bag which was now in our carry on luggage! A big no no!! At the security screening point we of course got pulled up! Anyway, they were so good to us! They told us to pack my scissors in a separate bag and go back to the check in counter and check that bag in! Of course, we had to find a bag! We borrowed Big Boy Luke's backpack for my two pairs of scissors and checked that bag in (weighed 0.7kg)!! Hooray we were still under 15kg! And at $15 per kg extra, didn't want to pay the extra!

What it meant though............ all of Big Boy's Luke's toys, snacks, DVD player, movies and drinks had to go in a plastic bag! Real Class!! But nonetheless! It worked and I got to keep my two pairs of scissors!

But today I updated my Countdown to Christmas page. Luckily it was all pre-prepared......

Enjoy!

Busy Busy!

I've been busy prep-ing for a Make & Take Stampin' Up! Party to be held in Melbourne this weekend.

That's right. Stampin' Up! Demonstrators (aka me) will travel to share the fun of stamping and making beautiful papercraft projects!

Most of the girls coming to this party have never held a rubber stamp in their hands before let alone made a Christmas card - so we'll be starting with the basics! We'll be using the Stampin' Up! Season of Joy set from the 2008 Spring Mini Catalogue. This catalogue runs out this month - which is really sad :(

The Season of Joy set has got to be one of my favourite Christmas sets - ever! Fingers crossed it might make it to the 2009 Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue - unfortunately there are no guarantees. So if you love the Season of Joy set as much as I - don't miss out and order yours now. Just contact me!

This is one of the cards we'll be making - featuring the colours of Certainly Celery. A perfect green for Christmas. With a little bit of stamping, cutting, layering and glitter - we have the perfect Christmas card for beginners and I have to say I really like it!

Now to finish preparing the kits............

November Special from Stampin' Up! Start Today

It's a big day at Stampin' Up! today.

Today is the start of their two marvellous promotions for the month of November! In case you've forgotten - here's a quick reminder!

Offer 1: Being Single Never Looked So Good!

For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! are giving us the opportunity to purchase their Stampin' Write Markers at a special price of only $4.95 each. This is a wonderful price and the perfect time to get the colours you've always wanted or replace your favourites! Contact me to order yours now. For more details check my News & Events Page.

Offer 2: Rub On Some Happiness!

Get 20% off Rub-On sets exclusive to Stampin' Up! Normally priced at $19.95 for a pack of 2 sheets of Rub-Ons they are priced for November only at $15.96 each.

Homemade Goodies!

Can you believe it's Sunday night already?

And even more so - Can you believe yet another weekend has gone by? No wonder we are counting down to Christmas so fast - 7 weeks to go! I have updated my Countdown to Christmas page - be sure to check it out if you love the Christmas colours of the Poinsettias!
One of the things I love about Christmas - (and believe me there are so many!) is all the home baking and homemade treats. This weekend I tried a new recipe: Brown Sugar Meringues. They are so easy - yet taste so different from "normal" meringues! Homemade treats in beautifully wrapped packages. Perfect for Christmas!

One of my upcoming Countdown to Christmas projects will feature different wrappings, boxes and gift bags. All you need is a bit of creativity, a dash of inspiration, a handful of 'ingredients' and a lot of love!

Ha Ha! LOL! I know :)

Don't forget too - the Stampin' Up! Special Offers of Stampin' Write™ Markers at individual prices of $4.95 and 20% off their exclusive Rub-Ons start tomorrow. Don't miss out on these offers this month!

Here's the recipe if you're wondering...............

Brown Sugar Meringues:
Ingredients (serves 6)

2 egg whites

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp white vinegar

Method:

Preheat oven to 120°C. Cover two oven trays with baking paper and mark with 8cm circles. For meringues, use an electric mixer to beat egg whites to soft peaks. Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar and beat until dissolved. Add rest of sugar and beat until smooth. Gently fold in vinegar and spread to fill the circles. Allow room for spreading. Bake for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours until dry and cooked through. Turn oven off and cool with door ajar. When cool transfer to an airtight container.

Sneak Peek

Isn't it amazing how quickly time can go? Wednesday went in a flash, as did Thursday! And sometimes children just don't give you the chance to sit down at a computer! Baby Matthew is crawling, climbing and into everything, but at the moment he has a persistent cough that just won't go away and is disturbing his normally good sleep patterns (and mine too:). So I thought to myself - that's ok. Friday is a good day to catch up with everything. LOL!!! Maybe it has something to do with my WH (aka Wonderful Husband) working afternoon shifts - but I just didn't get much time to myself!

But that's ok! A bunch of us sat around my dining table last night and made Christmas cards. All we needed was the Christmas music in the background and it could have been December already!!

I have to admit I only played a little while with Christmas cards as I HAVE to get birthday invitations into the mail tomorrow for Baby Matthew's Big First Birthday! I finished the invites today - now must go and put them in envelopes ................

Today I have also been busy working on the Christmas Countdown for tomorrow. Poinsettias are the theme this week. The beautiful red flower that we just have to associate with Christmas. I will give you a sneak peak now.....

Have I got your curiosity now???

Critters!

If you are a web surfer (aka BLOG surfer) like me – you often see ideas and pictures that you try to remember and use for yourself! The official term would be CASE which essentially means (from what I’ve worked out) to Copy Another Stampers Example! I guess imitation is the best form of flattery! Anyway, last week I noticed on the website of http://www.jennioliver.com/ these spooky little spiders she had made for Halloween.

As a non-Halloween fan, I didn’t make anything but I have been thinking and thinking about the theme for Baby Matthew’s first birthday later this month. The invitations are just waiting for my chosen theme. I was going to use the Sail Boat stamp from the Nursery Necessities set but then I got to thinking............... what about bugs and critters???

I don’t have any stamp sets yet that would suit the bugs and critters theme – so I wondered and wondered could I make my own. I didn’t want my critters to be spooky spiders though, so I tried a cute spider and a ladybird instead!

As you can see – they are so simple. You just need cardstock, glue/adhesives, pipe cleaners and a pen (to colour in the eyes or try googly eyes!). I used the colours from Stampin’ Up!’s fantastic colour range of Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White and Night of Navy. What colour combo’s would you use???

Amazing what punches and scissors can do! Definitely takes me away from the baby theme!

Melbourne Cup Day!

It's Melbourne Cup day today and here in Canberra we too have a public holiday and get to join in on the celebrations. No one really knows what the public holiday is for but we join in on the Melbourne Cup fun anyway (and being a born and bred Melbourne girl - you just have to anyway!). This afternoon we went to a friend's house for a Melbourne Cup afternoon tea, complete with nibblies, champers and of course, the Sweeps. Big Boy Luke won the kid's draw and I came third in my draw. We broke even I think :) Have to be happy with that!

Today I decided to try the collage style card that I made earlier last week, but in pinks for a baby girl (and yes a friend had a baby girl last week - I told you there was something in the air!). I used pinks and greens, the Nursery Necessities set from Stampin' Up! and embellishments. I think I like the boy card with the blues better but maybe, just maybe, I am getting used to living in a household full of men!

I will post all the colours and details on the Gallery page - so you can see what I've used.
Tomorrow will be a reality check though - back to work after having a long weekend (5 days off in fact!) but I got the Please Come (invitation set) from Stampin' Up! today. Just in time to make birthday invitations for Baby Matthew's first birthday. So I will still get to play this week!

ps: I couldn't upload the picture properly (it kept rotating sideways) .... to see the picture, check out my Stamp with Me website at www.stampwithme.com.au and go to the Gallery page!

Hooray!

Hooray! I submitted my assignment. I have freedom again! Well, for a little while anyway! Only two more units to go and then I have my Masters finished. An accomplishment that will be!

Today I went with Big Boy Luke on a preschool excursion. Gosh we had fun but I am so tired now :) I had a group of 5 very active young boys to look after. They certainly got their money's worth out of me! I've had to put up my feet all afternoon. But the upshot is, I have not been anywhere near my craft table - imagine that!

So instead I'll make the announcement of the second offer from Stampin' Up! for the month of November! Stampin' Up! are continuing their 20th birthday celebrations into November. If you spend $20 on regular catalogue purchases - you can also receive 20% off their fantastic range of rub-ons. Have you used rub-on's before? They are perfect for adding sentiments and little pictures. They are completely versatile too! They don't just go on paper, you can even put them on glass - they just need a dry, flat and clean surface. Decorate glass tea light holders for the perfect accessory for your candles.

So pick up your Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue and your 2008 Spring Mini Catalogue to see what's on offer. As always, contact me if you would like to make a purchase from Stampin' Up! of $20 or more so you too can take advantage of the 20% discount on rub-ons!

Countdown to Christmas - 8 weeks to go!

We had a very quiet day at home today. Baby Matthew and I were a coughing and spluttering mess while Big Boy Luke (BBL) was so good and patient with the two of us :) I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family (and before you ask my wonderful husband (WH) was sleeping - he's worked nightshift). As soon as WH woke up, I then went back to bed for a couple of hours!

During all of this, BBL and I made another batch of choc-chip biscuits (still haven't found the recipe I'm looking for therefore this is all considered a trial!) and then we both sat on at my craft table, oops I mean dining table. I was cutting out my stamps from the Stampin' Up! Solemn Stillness set when BBL worked out that he could peel them off (like stickers) and stick them onto wooden blocks. He was so proud - but now I have crooked stamps. I have fixed them as best as I could - but I might have to do some major surgery with them. I didn't have the heart to tell BBL as he sat there with one of my Stampin' Up! Classic ink pads, stamping away. These ink pads are just perfect for the kids - they are the right size for them to ink up the stamps (especially the larger stamps) although I now have ink over the wooden block parts. Never mind :) BBL enjoyed himself and all that matters.

I have just updated my Countdown to Christmas page - be sure to have a look. One of the cards didn't fit (there are limits on the document size I can upload), so here it is........

Both BBL and I sat down and made triangle Christmas Tree cards. These are so easy to make with the kids. They can cut their own trees, decorate with glitter and stickers or beads as much as they please. Here's my version ..... Maybe BBL will let me show his card down the track! Just have to wait for all that glitter glue to dry first!

It's November already!

It's November! Our family is not into Halloween but we had 2 lots of kids at the doors in various ghoulish costues (luckily we had a lollipop stash on stand by!) but October 31 really marks for me the last weeks of the year as we head down the Christmas path! I love Christmas and this time of the year always makes me smile. I've started buying Christmas goodies in my grocery shop to spread the cost as well as put toys and gifts on layby or into my hiding place (sshh don't tell anyone).

But before we get lost in the craziness (but fun) of Christmas - we have so much to do in November!

This month is Baby Matthew's first birthday (I must make those invitations soon) and our wedding anniversary (5 great years). Two great events I must start thinking about :)
November is a busy month @ Stamp with Me too! Stampin' Up! have great offers this month. The first one I can tell you about is the Stampin' Write™ Markers promotion. Between 10 - 30 November you can get your favourite markers individually at $4.95 each. It's such a great way to stock up on your favourite colours without buying the whole set! Click here for the flyer and be sure to contact me to get your favourite Stampin' Write™ Markers!

I have also had a sneak peek at upcoming offers this month as well as the Summer Mini Catalogue. I can't wait until the moment I can tell you and share all the wonderful things. Patience is supposed to be a virtue but I think it's going to get the best of me in the meantime!