If you'd like to see what's included in the kit, click on the Specials tab at the top of this page. If you'd like to know more about my story and how I became a demonstrator, just click on the About Me tab. To learn more about the benefits of being a demonstrator click on the Join Stampin' Up! tab. And yes, it's true… you don't have to do workshops if you don't want to! I'd love to chat to you about joining our team, so don't hesitate to drop me a line with your phone number and I'll call you right back.

Check back tomorrow for a slideshow of cards featuring Hostess Sets.

Happy stamping,

One of the REALLY fun things about getting together with hundreds of other demonstrators at Stampin' Up! events is swapping sample cards. If you've been to one of my classes or workshops you'll have seen the box of swaps that I carry around with me, full of gorgeous card samples. Today I'm sharing the cards I made to swap with other demo's at last week's Convention, and information on how you could join me to make some too!

These dresses were created with the Big Shot and the scallop circle die. I've seen these on various online places for a while now, and love how it demonstrates yet again the versatility of the Big Shot and dies. Do you want to make a dress card? Come to my Big Shot Class on May 28th and make it – along with a selection of other great projects, I have just one or two spots left. You'll also get the chance to see all my new sample cards from Convention.

This pocket card is another swap, and features the lovely Vintage Vogue stamp set and Very Vintage wheel. The pocket is in Bravo Burgundy, one of our continuing colours.

And here is a fun treat idea, a different kind of pocket card. You could easily tuck in a sachet of hot chocolate, a card, packet of seeds, or anything at all really. (I used some of the chocolates that my kids brought home as a school fundraiser).

(Thanks to Connie Babbert for the inspiration behind the Freddo pocket) – this is another of our Big Shot Class projects

And finally here we have some little pocket journal books made from one piece of 12×12 paper, and bound with the Bind-It-All. For great instructions on making these, click Vicki Hook's instructions HERE.

Happy stamping,

Saturday felt like one big party: we had a birthday celebration in our group (Happy birthday Tracy), the final day of Convention and then finished up with the annual Awards Night. Great food, wonderful company and what a bang to end our amazing time in Sydney.

Stampin' Up! made every demonstrator feel like a star on arrival with a red carpet and our own very own paparazzi. It was so funny!

The main convention room that we'd been sitting in hours earlier for our sessions had been transformed. There was even a live band, and the tables had the most amazing centrepieces…

There is something very special about seeing your own downline friends be recognised for their achievements, and I was absolutely honoured (and a little emotional LOL) to celebrate the following:

• Tracy Penn, Sales Award   (Berwick, Vic)
• Juliana Main, Sales Award (Barham/Deniliquin, NSW)
• Maureen Crameri, Sales Award, Recruiting Award, Incentive Trip Achiever, Demonstrator of the Year (Camperdown, Vic)

And to top off an amazing year, Maureen was awarded the 14th placed Demonstrator of the Year! Congratulations Maureen (oh don't let me get emotional again!), Tracy and Juliana. You are amazing women with immeasurable talents.

Juliana, Melissa, Rebecca, Maureen, Tracy, Maree, Lorinda, me (second from right), Elissa

I couldn't let the girls have all the fun and all the stamps so managed to cross the stage without tripping over (pheww) for:

- Sales Award
- Recruiting Award
- Leadership Award
- Incentive Trip Achiever
- 16th placed Australian Demonstrator of the Year 
- 2nd placed Leadership Award winner 

I'm sitting here looking at the most amazing Burberry bag that Stampin' Up! gave me for being in the top 3 for the Leadership award, still pinching myself. It's kind of hard to know what to say (still a bit speechless) except a genuine thank you for the great group of friends that I call my downline, my customers and stamping friends, and of course thank you to Stampin' Up! (*sniff sniff*).

Tomorrow we'll be back to our regular programming. I can't wait to show you the swaps I received and all the other ideas.

Don't forget that the Big Shot Class is THIS FRIDAY. Let me know if you'd like to join us for some crafting fun.

Happy stamping,

I forgot to mention that there is a jazz festival on in Sydney at the moment, so last night when our group ate dinner by the water we were treated to music and a fireworks display!

This morning we were up bright and early for an 8.30am start. It was a great morning. We rotated through three different classes and learnt lots of fab ideas and saw some beautiful projects. Oh my goodness, so much inspiration! I just want to go home and start creating! Well, not just yet.

We had another yummy lunch, followed by the afternoon session.

Today we spent some time learning about the Big Shot and all that you can do with it (thanks to Pam Morgan's fantastic presentation). I can't wait to make some of those projects next weekend at our Big Shot class.

We also watched Shelli Gardner's gorgeous interpretation of the vintage look – "Vintage Shelli 2010".

One of the fun things at Convention is Prize Patrol. This is kind of like a lucky door prize with FREE stamps, and stacks of them are given away each day at Convention. Elissa from our group won the Tiny Tags set yesterday. Yay Elissa!!

And how cool is this? At the end of the session today we ALL got a free set!!! I can't show you it yet because it won't be available until the new catalogue comes out, but just know that there were lots of excited people in Sydney at that moment!

Here are a couple more projects to share with you.

There are so many more to share but they'll have to keep.

We finished up with the Awards dinner and an afterparty but I'll be back to tell you all about that another time (once the excitement has settled a bit and I've caught up on some sleep). LOL.

Happy stamping,

Would you believe it if I say WOW what a day? Our first full day here at Convention was fantastic. We got to the Sydney Convention Centre at about 8am to register and then collected our Convention bags which were filled with goodies such as NEW stamp sets, rubons, a Stampin' Up! cap, pen, and other fun treats. I was shocked – to say the least – to learn that I am one of the top 25 Demonstrators in Australia! I knew our little team was getting lots of awards this year but that one was totally unexpected! The best news is that Maureen, my gorgeous downline, will also be recognised as a Demonstrator of the Year at our Awards night on Saturday. WooHoo Maureen!!

After registering, we swapped cards and chatted with other demonstrators and then went  shopping at Memento Mall. This is a room filled with gorgeous exclusive Stampin' Up! merchandise like drink bottles, pens, shirts, even beach towels! I have NO idea how all my stuff is going to fit in the suitcase, and I strongly suspect I'll be over the weight limit allowed on the plane. LOL. Nah, we'll manage.

The general session in the morning was interesting and entertaining, and we learned a lot about some exciting things that will be happening in the future.

Wonderful news:  until the end of July 2010 you can join Stampin' Up! for only $259 - which represents a 20% reduction in the Starter Kit price.

This is amazing value when you consider that the kit is valued at nearly $600. Not only that, you'll be invited to our bi-annual whole team stamping day on 3rd of July, which is kind of like our very own mini convention. It's the best fun, with fellow demonstrators coming from far and wide to stamp, eat and chat together.  

We had a yummy lunch and a little more Memento Mall shopping before spending a couple of hours stamping. Could it get any better than this?

Cards on display

Till tomorrow,

What a great day. We are now in Sydney for the start of our annual Stampin' Up! convention.

We have just returned from the Managers Reception and a party with the girls in our group. I just had to show you some photos from the night where we chatted with the wonderful people who make this company tick. We were treated to yummy desserts and a delicious hot chocolate that was served in a gorgeous Stampin' Up! mug. How excited were we to be given our very own mug to take home at the end of the function! And inside was the matching stamp called "Share A Cup" (how appropriate) from the Autumn-Winter mini catalogue.

Sharing a Cup and a chat with Shelli Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up!

Our beautiful take-home gift (on the other side is the Stampin' Up! logo)

We ended up having a pyjama party in one of the apartments and laughing and giggling until our cheeks hurt.

Early start tomorrow so that's it for me tonight.

Happy stamping,