What an exciting few weeks it has been!

It seems that I’m a bit behind in blogging, so today I’m here to do a catch-up post and then I can get back to sharing projects and ideas here on my blog. Thanks for spending some time here. xxx

We have just returned from the bi-annual Stampin’ Up! conference which we call OnStage (You can watch THIS HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO to see what it was all about).

This event is held in April and November each year. If you’ve been a regular visitor to my blog you might remember that last November I attended the event over in Salt Lake City (and did a stopover in Hawaii too). This year I stayed a little closer to home and attended the one in Melbourne, Australia with dozens of team members and hundreds of demonstrators from all over the country.

With such a big group we thought it would be fun to extend the weekend by holding a team function on the Sunday. This turned the weekend into something *totally amazing*, but I slept well when it was all over – hehehe. 

CentreStage Leadership Event 

The theme this time was Black & White as we celebrated Stampin’ Up!’s 30th birthday. We did some helpful training and a lot of socialising. Dinner was delicious and so was dessert – an amazing buffet!

I was thrilled to receive a beautiful gift from Stampin’ Up! for being in the Overall Top 10 in Australia. A huge honour to get this lovely leather bag and purse. 

To make it even more exciting, we got a copy of the upcoming Occasions Catalogue which will go live in early January. PLUS we got a copy of the 2019 Sale-a-bration brochure which shows all the items that we can earn for FREE with a qualifying purchase between January and March 2019! 

[Sorry! We can’t share the inside pages of the catalogue yet but if you would like to join Stampin’ Up! you can get your hands on these new products in December.] 

We also heard some VERY exciting news. Stampin’ Up! is introducing CLING STAMPS!

These are actually the same red rubber that we’re used to, but the labels are new and improved. They are super tacky and – as the name suggests – they *reeeeeeally* cling. A lot!

You won’t have any problems keeping them stuck on your block. No need to have clean blocks or add glue to your stamps. They will stick… stick… stick! 

We are also phasing out wood-mounted stamp sets.

Only 4% of stamp sets sold are wood-mount, so the time has come to remove them from our product line so we can all have room for other more popular goodies. Wood mount stamp sets – including background stamps – won’t be in the next annual catalogue in Australia. I used to buy all my background stamps with the wood block, but now that I’m using the Stamparatus it’s clear-mount (or CLING mount) all the way for me!

OnStage

The official part of our convention kicked off on Saturday morning. The queue was already long at 7.20am but we were all excited to be there so it was a happy wait. When we got inside we were greeted with a gorgeous box and inside was our reversible bag, pens, note pads, a stamp set, lucky number badge (for Prize Patrol gifts) and more. 

We heard heartwarming stories of how Stampin’ Up! has enriched so many lives over the past 30 years, just as it has mine over the past 11+ years.

Each year there is a ‘theme song’ which is catchy, inspiring and uplifting. I LOVE this year’s song! Best of all, you can buy this song as a digital download and all money will go towards Autism organisations, including Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia).  

(link to Love, Live & Share It Today video)

Panorama of the Melbourne OnStage crowd (click to enlarge)

We learnt more about the new products that are coming out, and saw a number of fabulous presentations on the big screen and then could have a closer look over on the displays later. 

And did I mention the giveaways? There were plenty including all-attendee giveaways like this one… 

In fact, this is the huge pile of loot that I brought home at the end of the day. (To be honest, I found a few more bits and pieces like the pens and the Greece Incentive Trip pin after I took this photo – oops). 

Team Day

The fun continued after the doors closed at OnStage. 

With the help of my amazing team leaders and upline, we hosted a Post-OnStage Team Event and invited all our team members to attend! Not all could make it of course, but we did have a brilliant day with nearly 70 people. 

We created, ate lots of yummy food, swapped projects, admired the displays, did a little training with our visiting guests (including the Regional Sales Director of Stampin’ Up! from Salt Lake City, Utah and our own Demonstrator Development Manager from Sydney), and everyone received a gift! We also created our own Punch Guide to use as a handy tool when trying to find the right punch to fit stamped images.

All of our attendees received a personalised, lined case [ordered from Emma at Acacia Grey Studio]. 

We finished these off with a some Powder Pink Shimmer ribbon as a zipper pull and sealed the ends to prevent fraying. 

We are already looking forward to our next get-together. In April 2019 we’re off to Auckland, New Zealand for the next OnStage event. Woohoo!!!

Customer Appreciation Event  

We have just finished our last official stamp club/class for the year, so we are finishing off next month with a Christmas party and a free Customer Appreciation event. I’m so excited about this event!

We are also making plans for the coming year of classes. If you – or someone you know – would like to join a regular group for creative fun, art therapy and cardmaking, then please get in touch.

Classes are in Creswick, Victoria, which is a pleasant 20 minute drive from Ballarat in central Victoria. We have attendees come from as far as Melbourne and Geelong – so if you don’t mind a drive you are most welcome to join us. This really is a gorgeous part of the world, so if you can find the time to get away from it all once a month, then a day in the ‘country’ with a couple of hours of stamp therapy could be just what the doctor ordered. 

I’m currently building a waitlist of interested people for my 2019 classes and events, so if you would like to be on that list please message me. Existing stamp club members get first option to continue, but I may consider adding an extra class or two if my schedule permits. 

A day in the life…

On the home front, we have had ballet and dance activities galore, plus my big boy turned 18 years old this week AND he finished his last Year 12 exam! Not quite sure where the last decade or so went. It seems like only yesterday he was learning to read and playing with Lego, and now he’s embarking on his own life’s journey. Well I’m proud to say that he’s grown into a lovely young man and I’m excited to see where he’ll go in life. 

Christmas is racing towards us, but it’s definitely not too late to get creative this year.

Would you like to make your own Christmas cards? What about tags, gift packaging, or decorations? Check out all the Christmas products in my online store here> SHOP THE HOLIDAY CATALOGUE.

Handcrafted projects are not only a beautiful way to express our creativity, but they are the perfect way to share a piece of ourselves with those we love. 

COMING SOON: Online Extravaganza

Phew, this has been a big post!

Well, if you’ve stuck with me this long you can be rewarded with a bit of a ‘heads up’.

Stay tuned for an Online Extravaganza from 23-28 November. I’ll share news about that once I know more, so make sure you’ve subscribed to this blog or follow me on Facebook. 

Snowflake Showcase – Available November only

There’s still some time left to get your hands on FIVE new products that are ONLY available in November. Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more. 

1. Happiness Surrounds stamp set. 14 photopolymer stamps suitable for all-year-round use. 
2. Snow is Glistening stamp set. 14 photopolymer stamps with unique detail. 
3. Snowfall Thinlits dies. 20 dies with intricate details. These dies co-ordinate with both the Happiness Surrounds stamp set AND the Snow is Glistening set. 
4. White Velveteen sheets. 2 sheets per pack. They velveteen sheets can be sponged and coloured, and are the perfect ‘feel’ for snow projects. 
5. Snowflake Trinkets. 20 per pack, these embellishments have a low profile and feature a rhinestone embedded in each one. 

Thanks for hanging out with me for a while. Please drop me a line in the comments below to say Hello, and to let me know you were here. 

Happy stamping, 

What were you doing in 1988?

Can you remember the permed hair and shoulder pads? [I was only 15 years old but they were burned in my memory!]

In Australia in 1988 we were listening to ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ by Kylie Minogue (who also happened to win the Gold Logie that year for Neighbours), and every radio station was belting out John Farnham’s ‘Age of Reason’.

On TV we were watching Sale of the Century, Hey Hey It’s Saturday and The Comedy Company. 

Can you believe that was all 30 years ago? 

And back in October 1988, two sisters were creating a new business called Stampin’ Up!. They were sourcing a range of paper crafting products; they were helping others share the art of rubber stamping; and they were bringing people together. They packed orders from their living room with the help of their families.

So much has changed in that time, yet at the heart of things it’s still the same.

24-Hour Birthday Stamp Sale

For ONE DAY ONLY on TUESDAY 23rd OCTOBER you’ll save 15% on select stamp sets!

Time For Tea Photopolymer Stamp Set [147069]	Another Wonderful Year Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146695]	Vertical Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141876]	Best Bunny Photopolymer Stamp Set [147136]
One For All Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146655]	Bubbles & Bubbly Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147383]	You’ve Got Style Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143898]	In Every Season Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146709]
En Route Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146594]	Friendly Expressions Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146673]	One Wild Ride Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141724]	Peaceful Place Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146689]
Apron Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [145835]	Birthday Backgrounds Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146446]	Birthday Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set [141506]	Blow Out The Candles Photopolymer Stamp Set [146420]
Cake Soirée Clear-Mount Stamp Set [145745]	Sweet Baby Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146459]	Labels To Love Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144967]	Beautiful Promenade Photopolymer Stamp Set [146842]
Kindness & Compassion Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146729]	A Big Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set [147377]	Bee Thankful Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146765]	Floral Frames Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146508]
Swirly Frames Photopolymer Stamp Set [146519]	Mediterranean Moments Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143191]	All The Good Things Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146558]	Seize The Day Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146813]
Sweet Storybook Photopolymer Stamp Set [146511]	Better With You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146567]	Pick A Pennant Photopolymer Stamp Set [146499]

There are some absolute beauties in this collection, so now is a great time to grow your collection. 

Download flyer with prices. 

Visit Online Store – Remember, the sale is on TUESDAY! 

Happy stamping, 

Did you know that Stampin’ Up! demonstrators get a minimum of 20% off all products, even on sale items? Learn more here. 

Welcome to the CASE-ing the Catty Blog Hop! We are up to CTC 197.

This week the CTC Crew are turning to pages 28-35 of the Holiday Catalogue for inspiration. We can use the layout, the colours, the stamps, or any other element as the basis for making another card.

I was drawn to this card on the bottom left corner of page 28 and chose to CASE (Copy And Selectively Edit) it this week.

I changed the size a little, to make it our standard 14.5cm x 10.5cm size. And I swapped the circle for an oval, and added a punched ‘sprig’ of green glitter courtesy of the aptly named Sprig Punch. 

I LOVE this layout.

In fact, this has been one of our class and workshop make & takes throughout September! 

This layout is such a winner, that I recreated it in a few different colour-ways using the Garden Impressions designer series paper.

Colouring Glimmer Paper

The little 1cm x 14.5cm strips of glitter paper above and below the featured panel (14.5cm x 6cm) were the most fun to make. 

We have a few core colours in the current annual Stampin’ Up! catalogue – including gold, rose, silver and ‘sparkle‘. We also have a pack of three gorgeous new colours in the Joyous Noel Glimmer Paper packs: copper, Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide. 

But what if you want a different colour? 

What if you want, say… Daffodil Delight glimmer paper? 

Or Night of Navy glimmer paper? 

Well, my friends, it turns out that it’s pretty easy to make…

You can just colour the Sparkle Glimmer Paper with your Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers! Then just cut off the parts that you need. 

Pretty cool, isn’t it! 

Just make sure you use the side of the wide brush end, so you can keep the tip in pristine condition. 

I trimmed the 1cm coloured portion, and layered it above and below the Garden Impressions paper. 

Ready for more inspiration? 

Check out Sandra’s blog, which is the next ‘hop’ in the blog hop. 

And if you would you like to join us in this week’s CASEing The Catty challenge, just visit the CTC Sunday Challenge closed group on Facebook.

We can’t wait to see what you create.  

Happy stamping, 

It’s so great to be back again with the CASE-ing the Catty crew for this week’s challenge. This week we are turning to pages 142 – 153 of the annual Stampin’ Up! catalogue for inspiration.  

My card was loosely inspired by the Tranquil Tide card on page 142 of the 2018 annual Stampin’ Up! catalogue. You can see it above on the top left.

I moved things around a bit but the general layout was inspired by this card. 

Just to mix things up a bit, I added an unusual insert to make this card a fancy fold.

Well, it’s kind of a fancy fold. You’ll see what I mean…

Firstly, here’s the front: 

And here’s a top view that shows the accordion fold insert:

And opened up, standing: 

How to make an Accordion Insert Card

I had so much fun making this card, and ended up using this design for my 2018 Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip card swap on the recent Alaska Cruise.

Want to have a go at making your own?

Here’s how:

1. Cut your A4 sheet of cardstock at 10cm wide. Leave the cardstock at the full length, which is 29.7cm. 

(I’m from Australia so I’ve started with our A4 standard size cardstock, but the same concept could easily be adapted for US Letter size cardstock). 
2. Score at 14cm, 18cm, 22cm and 26cm. Fold to create an accordion or concertina fold as shown above (ie valley, mountain, valley, mountain)

Optional: stamp to decorate. If you are stamping, it’s best to do that before you’ve stuck anything down. I actually prefer to do the stamping before I’ve even done the scoring, because when you stamp on the score lines the image doesn’t look as good. 

3. Adhere the larger panel to a 14.5cm x 10.5cm panel of cardstock.

Make sure it’s centred so there’s an even 5mm border showing all the way around. 

4. Fold up the panels and adhere another 14.5cm x 10.5cm panel to the top folded panel.

Decorate as desired. I find it easier to embellish the top layer of cardstock before you attach it to the accordion fold insert. 

Nature’s Poem Card front

The front of my card features the Nature’s Poem designer series paper, Velvet Ribbon, Leaves Trinkets, and copper trim. I just love the way the copper trim holds its shape when you stretch it out and pull it. Amazing stuff! It’s a ‘must have’ for your copper embellishment collection. 

(Click image to enlarge)

I hope you like this card and that it inspires you to make one too.  

Next on the blog hop is Judy. You can find her post here. 

Thanks for joining us this week.

For more ideas and inspiration, join me over on Facebook. And to see some of the other Alaska Incentive Trip swaps I made, just scroll back to July 2018 and you’ll see loads of photos from the trip. 

Happy stamping, 

Our amazing adventure with the 2018 Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip is now over (so sad!). The Alaska cruise was an incredible trip. Honestly, one of our all-time favourites. I find myself pausing in mid-sentence having flashbacks of the morning we cruised up to a glacier, with floating icebergs going past the ship. Amazing! And to share this adventure with my hubby and our Stampin’ Up! friends from around the world was just the icing on the cake. 

Thanks to all those who came with me on the trip via Facebook. It was the first time I’ve posted regularly while away on an Incentive Trip and it was so much fun to read your comments and answer your questions while it was all happening.  

Now it’s time to get crafting again! I’ve missed my craft room and can’t wait to get back to it. 

I also have some news to coincide with the start of a new month and new specials from Stampin’ Up!. 

Colour Your Season 

This month a brand new, limited edition stamp set and framelit bundle is available! You can buy the Blended Season stamps on their own, or the Stitched Seasons framelits. But if you buy them together you save 10%. All the prices are shown below. 

There are 12 stamps in this set, but some of them are very big so they had to be split over two stamp cases as you can see above.

Those three large framelits are my favourite of all… they have stitching on the inside and outside of the cut lines, so you can use both the negative and positive part of the die cuts. So clever! They are fabulous for making windows in the front of cards.  

Check them out in the online store

Watercolour Pencils – New Colours! 

Do you love colouring with watercolour pencils?

Well you’re in for a treat, because this month we have a new assortment of gorgeous colours. 

The 10 acid free and lignin free pencils come in the following colours: 

• Balmy Blue
• Cajun Craze
• Cherry Cobbler
• Coastal Cabana
• Crushed Curry
• Flirty Flamingo
• Garden Green
• Gorgeous Grape
• Granny Apple Green
• Night of Navy

Have you tried my favourite watercolour pencil blending technique?

Lay down some colour by scribbling the pencils, then blend with the Wink of Stella brush. Not only does it blend the pencil lines beautifully, but you also get some subtle shimmer from the Wink of Stella. Love it! 

Prices and More Information

Click the image below to enlarge. All the information you need is here, including prices, quantities and item codes. 

BONUS DAYS

If you’ve shopped with me for a while, you might remember the Bonus Days we did back in July 2016 and July 2017. Yippee, we’re doing it again!

How it works: 

1. When you shop this month you’ll earn a $9 voucher for every $90 you spend (before shipping). Spend $180 and you’ll get TWO $9 vouchers. In fact, you can earn as many as you like and you can even give them away as gifts if you want! Pretty cool, huh?
2. You’ll be emailed the voucher codes after placing the order, so just hang on to them in a safe place.
3. In September, redeem your vouchers when shopping in the online store. It’s that easy! 

Also, just letting you know we have a Host Special next month, so get in quick if you’d like to book a cardmaking class. I do workshops pretty much all over Victoria!

Dates are limited, so contact me soon if you’d like to host your own party in September. 

Ordering online? Use Host Code RSHT7A2B if the order is under $250. For orders over $250, you’ll automatically earn $25 in free products so no need to use a host code! 

Happy stamping, 

We are in Seattle at the moment, getting ready for the 2018 Stampin’ Up Incentive Trip. So grateful to be attending our 9th trip – this time a week-long Alaskan Cruise! What a dream come true.

Just letting you know that I’ll be posting on my Stamping with Simone Facebook page while I’m away, so feel free to like and follow that page if you want to see photos of the trip as they happen.

I’ve also got a special Host Code for you to use while I’m away: 9M23XNQM. My shop is open as normal, so if you want to grab some Stampin’ Up! goodies just jump over to my online store and enter host code 9M23XNQM and you could get $25 in Stampin’ Up! shopping vouchers. If your order is over $250 then you won’t need to use the code because you will automatically get $25 in host benefits to spend all by yourself! It’s a great deal.

Also just a quick reminder that we have two great specials on at the moment:

• Buy 3 Get 1 Free papers
• Join now and get 10 free ink pads as a bonus in your Starter Kit

The choice is yours when you join Stampin’ Up! – you can join to make money or join to save money. Or maybe a bit of both! Either way, a special bonus like this one is the perfect time to test the waters and see if being part of Stampin’ Up! is for you. If you decide not to continue, then you’ll stop getting the discount but the kit is still yours to keep. I’ve loved my 10+ years with this wonderful company and still count my blessings that I took the plunge all those years ago.

Happy stamping!

Simone xxx