Wow! I'm totally blown away with the lovely emails and messages I received after my last post. Thank you so much for the love and support and most of all friendship.

I think I'm more shocked than anybody that I've actually earned the Stampin' Up! Incentive Trip! If you're not sure what this is all about, this is how Stampin' Up! explains it…

Every year, Stampin' Up! rewards the achievements of qualifying demonstrators with an amazing trip to an extraordinary locale where attendees participate in fun activities, relax in luxury, and – of course – stamp!

When I joined as a demonstrator just on 2 1/2 years ago I really only planned to buy at a discount and make cards as a hobby. I had heard about the Incentive Trip and was in awe of the achievers when I attended my first Convention in Brisbane in 2008. It seemed a world away from where I was.

Well, fast forward 2 years and here I am, still pinching myself. It just goes to show that ANYone can do this!

I can only say how incredibly blessed and grateful I am to have an AMAZING team who are now very special friends, some of the most wonderful and creative customers (aka stamping friends) and an incredibly supportive family. And, I'm so grateful to be working for (can I really call it 'work'?) a company that is so generous.

*big hugs*

On to today's project… I'm excited to share this box set of cards made using the 2U Card Elements & More set (p142 IB&C) which I was recently given as a gift.

I loved working with this kit. Everything is included to make the sample project (the carousel card at the top of this post) but you can still change things around to make unique projects by adding some extra cardstock for example. Isn't it great how everything co-ordinates? I used some extra Ruby Red cardstock and DSP to make the box to hold the cards, and textured Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise cardstock for the square card below.

Don't forget we only have just over a week left of Sale-a-bration. We're in the final days of Stampin' Up!'s big FREE STAMPS giveaway, but it's not too late to claim your free set (or get another one!). And if you've been thinking about joining up, I'd love to have a chat  with you about how it can fit in with your life. Until the end of March, you can choose an extra stamp set (to $79.95 value) with the already great value starter kit!

Happy stamping,

Today I'm doing the big Happy Dance!

After three long years and some blood, sweat and tears I have
FINALLY….

can you guess, can you guess????

FINALLY….

to keep you in suspense just a minute more, here's an original card I made to celebrate

LOL!

I've FINALLY….

finished my first proper quilt!

Ok so maybe that bit of news wasn't very exciting, but it is to me *LOL* and I just had to share it!

I enrolled in a patchwork and quilting course a few months after we left Melbourne and moved to regional Victoria, mainly so I could get out of the house and do something different (I was pregnant at the time). I learnt how to hand-piece a sampler quilt, and this week I finally finished hand-quilting it! No work of art, that's for sure, but you've got to start somewhere!

Our group of Creswick Quilters are holding our first ever Quilt Show this weekend in the Bill Huntley room at John Curtin Aged Care, Creswick. It's for a great cause, as all proceeds go to the hospital. I'll be there on Saturday if you want to drop by and have a giggle at us. Phew, soooo glad I finished mine in time!

Now let me see, there was some more news…. now what was it?

oh THAT's right….

did I mention that I earned the Stampin' Up! Incentive Trip to Hamilton Island this week?

*giggle*

Thank you Stampin' Up!

I'll have a lot more to say on that on Sunday after the quilt show is over 🙂

Here is our beautifully decorated stand at Paperific (lets call this the 'before' photo), where a group of us worked together over the weekend to share the love of Stampin' Up! We met some wonderful people who love this amazing hobby as much as we do, and some who are discovering it for the first time…. yes, we heard lots of 'ooohs' and 'ahhhhs'.

If you are visiting this site after meeting us at Paperific… welcome, and thanks for dropping by! And if you were one of the unlucky ones who were in the building when the freaky storm hit on Saturday, my commiserations! At about 3.30pm the heavens opened with the worst hailstorm in 40 years here in Melbourne, Victoria. Yes, it really was hailing INSIDE the exhibition building at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Flemington.

Hailing inside. Photos courtesy of Juliana Main

Before long, the evac siren was sounding, the main lights went out and water was coming inside from all directions!

Raining inside. Photos courtesy of Juliana Main.

Hailstones at the door

Melbourne was hit badly, with many of us finding dented cars and worse! But, you know what? It was great to see so many acts of kindness and generosity during the whole episode, with strangers looking out for each other.

Even though our papers were dampened, our spirits certainly were not! We even had a few good laughs as we watched someone completing their Make & Takes on another stand before they were ready to evacuate! Papercrafters sure are a hardy bunch. LOL

Here is the simple little Make & Take that I did before all the dramas started. This card demonstrates our beautifully coordinating stamps and punches, and uses the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set from the Summer Mini catalogue and the Heart to Heart punch. The sentiment is the Sale-a-bration set Whimsical Words. Participants also stamped the matching envelope.

On display was another way to use the same punch (CASE source: the very talented  Ilina Crouse).

This card above was also one of our stamp club projects last month, just in time for Valentines Day.

The Summer mini catalogue is in its final weeks – with items available until the 31st of March. Let me know if you'd like the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set or any other item before it's too late! Don't forget, purchases before the end of March help you qualify for FREE STAMPS with Sale-a-bration!

Happy stamping,