We have just returned from an *~AMAZING~* 5 days in Brisbane for the South Pacific Stampin’ Up! Convention 2013.

My very first convention was in Brisbane about five years ago. I loved it so much that I haven’t missed one since!

So much has changed in the past five years (my toddler back then is now a big school girl!) but one thing hasn’t changed: I still love to create. And our annual Convention really is a celebration of that… along with 700 others who feel the same way!

How do you sum up Convention in just six words?

Inspiration

friendship

fun

creativity

community

celebration

In fact, I would say this is the best Convention I’ve ever been to! I’ve come home with more ideas than ever and am itching to get back in my craft room.

Here are some highlights. **More pics & deets on my Facebook page.

We are hitting the ground running… at the end of THIS WEEK the Retiring Products List will be out! Wooohoooo!!

This is an exciting time of year. It’s our last chance to get our hands on products that won’t be available for much longer. AND it means a brand new catalogue is just around the corner.

$$ SAVING TIP: Don’t forget this is also your last chance to get 15% off the awesome ‘Epic Day’ This & That bundle. I used mine in Brisbane and I have to say it was the BEST and most enjoyable way of ‘memory keeping’ for a very busy few days! Ends 30th MAY.  Order yours here.

Happy stamping,

Wow – what an amazing start to August! Sooo much excitement with the huge Retired List sale and sneak peeks of upcoming catalogues.

I ALWAYS love being a demonstrator, but at times like these I know I HAVE TO be one!

AusPost delivered some lovely BIG boxes filled with the yummiest new products and new catalogues – the best ever! Getting new stuff early is definitely yet another perk to being a demonstrator.

I have to share a couple more happy snaps from last weekend's Heartfelt Stampin' Event in Melbourne.

This was probably one of my favourite projects of the day. Kathryn Ruddick's gorgeous scrap page (thanks for letting me share this here Kathryn).

Stunning.

And this card by Andrea Stork totally blew me away. * Sigh *. Such creativity.

Juliana Main was demo'ing all the WOW things you can do with a certain type of new and ama-a-a-a-zing cardstock (you'll find out on 1st Sept!)… very cool.

And, finally, here's another project I showed during my Gift Wrapping & Packaging presentation:

Early Espresso tulle flower with Vintage brad, and pop-up tag

Almost 20 items have sold out already from this month's huge 'Retiring Products' sale. But the great news is there are still plenty of bargains to be had.

My newsletter subscribers would have seen my version of the Retiring List Highlights – which included some of the biggest discounts on the most loved products. [Subscribe here]

But seriously… 75% off the Candy Cane Christmas designer fabric?  Was $19.95 now $4.95. Oh my. I LOVE this fabric.

Same deal for the gorgeous Deck The Halls designer fabric.

Embellished Deck The Halls tea towel made by fellow team member Lorinda. Click to enlarge.

This makes me fall in love with the Deck The Halls fabric all over again.

Ok, this turned into an epic post! Thanks for sticking with me… feel free to make my day by leaving a comment  🙂

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and happy stamping,

Stampin' Up! came to town on the weekend. Yay!

It was the first ever 'Heartfelt Stampin' Event' in Australia and was a FUN, innovative and relaxed day of inspiration and ideas at Melbourne's Exhibition & Convention Centre.

We've had Regional demonstrator Training Days for about 6 years now, but this year Stampin' Up! decided to shake things up a bit and open it to all friends of SU: customers, demonstrators… anyone!

There were mirrored booths where we could watch amazing creations take shape before our eyes…

'Product Playground' (love that name!) where we could get our hands on some of the brand NEW yummy surprises coming to our catalogues….

And inspiration boards and stage presentations…

Above: Felicity Fernandez's mini 'Burberry' bags. Check out more of her stunning creations here.

Above: Pam Jorgensen's heartfelt 'Friends' frame

And all attendees got their hands on the brand NEW catalogues that will go live next month. You could hear the squeals of excitement!!!

This year I was invited to do one of the stage presentations… and I chose one of my all-time favourite topics: Packaging and Wrapping Ideas. I was VERY lucky to get my hands on some of the new products last week and spent time totally lost in my own little world, creating and crafting. And making a big mess!

Here's a little peek at one of my projects… will post more photos soon.

Triple stack of Kraft boxes, wrapped in Espresso tulle dotted with adhesive pearls

I'll talk more about the new goodies after 1st of September when both the new Annual Catalogue and festive Holiday Catalogue go live… but for now, a special thanks to all those who helped make the Melbourne 'Heartfelt Event' such a great day. And big inky hugs for my guests and stamp club friends who came along for the day. xx

UPDATE: Looking for some great bargains on the Retiring List? Some items 75% off!!! Click here for links, and for the up-to-date list of sold out items visit my Facebook page.

Happy stamping,