Woohoo! Love New Catalogue day!

Click HERE to download or view online

But wait, there's more….

A festive Seasonal Catalogue too!

Click HERE to download or view online

You'll see some fabulous changes. Here are just a few things to look out for:

1. Cheaper Prices! Yes, thanks to the state of the Aussie/US dollar many of our prices have come DOWN. We don't see that happen often these days, do we?

2. More pages! This Annual Catalogue is 40 pages bigger than the last. It's pretty much the same as the Stampin' Up! catalogue offered in other markets (such as the US and Canada) so you'll see a lot of new arrivals for us here in Australia. And as if it couldn't get any better we now have a separate seasonal catalogue – formerly known as a 'mini' catalogue, but there's nothing mini about this one!

3. Bundles save you money! For the first time, when you buy selected matching bundles of products in the catalogue you'll save 15%. So if you buy the stamp sets with matching Framelits, for example, you'll save. It really is FABULOUS. So keep an eye out for the bundles as you're browsing.

Happy reading

* squeal *

www.simonebartrum.com

Some important news for today:

1. Today is the FINAL DAY to order from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. Please email your orders before 10pm today (Friday 31st August 2012).

2. Tomorrow, 1st of September 2012, the NEW Annual Catalogue and NEW (Christmas) Holiday Catalogue will be released. Yay! Check back here tomorrow to view the catalogues online.

3. Want your own copy of the catalogues? Get in touch and we'll arrange the best way to get one in your hands. Catalogues come with an EXCLUSIVE sheet of vouchers, a different one for each month of the catalogue. There are some great not-to-be-missed specials in there!

4. Free this weekend? Come visit me at the huge market night in Bendigo tonight (more info on my Facebook page) or at Paperific in Melbourne on Saturday. We'll have catalogues!!

5. STAMP CLUBS: Our current round of stamp clubs are coming to an end so we'll shortly be opening them up to new members. If you would like to learn more about stamp clubs and how you can earn FREE products in the form of hostess benefits, all while learning new techniques, just ask!

6. NEW LOYALTY CLUB PROGRAM: I'm so excited that my brand new loyalty program will be starting tomorrow! This is something I've been planning for many months – and my valued customers will benefit! This new program is designed to reward those of you who email or phone your orders through to me – now all your purchases will help you earn FREE STAMPS.

7. NEW CLASS SCHEDULE: By popular request I'm now offering regular classes on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1pm – approx. 2.30pm.  Cost is $15 – everything supplied, and will be held in Creswick (near Ballarat, Daylesford). Bookings essential. It's a lovely way to spend an afternoon and you'll get to try out many of our fun new products. And on the 1st Tuesday of each month from November we'll be offering a Framed Art Class. More news to come about this one (believe me, it's a beauty!!!). But for now, here's a little sneak peek.

Pheww! That was a lot to take in. But I know that tomorrow everyone will have their heads stuck in the new catalogue so I had to get my news in first. LOL.

Have a fabulous weekend – the first of Spring! Can't we just feel the change in the air. 🙂

Happy stamping,

With only a few days to go before the new catalogue arrives (ooooh – how exciting) I thought I'd share some more pages from the Days To Remember Calendar. Better do it before all the beautiful Beau Chateau DSP retires!

See more pages here: June's post and July's post.

We might as well go back to the beginning, with January. And also one of my favourite photos in the calendar.

Click to enlarge

Texture was added to the interlocking frames with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.

Champagne Shimmer Paint was brushed onto Soft Suede cardstock, then die cut (when dry!) with the Little Leaves Sizzlits die.

The Days-to-Remember Calendar is on the retiring list for $18.95, so this is your last chance to order it if you'd like to make your own. They really do make a lovely keepsake or special gift.

Have a happy day.

www.simonebartrum.com

Tags: days to remember calendar

Stampin' Up!'s Totally Tools is another stamp set I've had a lot of fun with over the past couple of years. This set could easily become one of those sought after ones that everyone wants. You know the kind, as soon as it's unavailable everyone wants it!  Lucky for you there's still time (but only a few more days because by next Friday they'll be gone for good!)

If you've been a blog follower of mine for a while you might remember these little tools…

You can take a trip down memory lane and see how they were made by clicking HERE.

Last Days reminder: Contact me to place your Retiring Products order by Friday 31st August. I'll do my absolute best to secure everything on your list, but please note that products are selling out fast.

Happy stamping,

Tags: fathers day, retiring list 2012, totally tools

Welcome and thanks for visiting.

Today I have a nifty ribbon and envelope trick to share with you. We've used it here on a gift voucher envelope.

[Did you know that one of the popular services I offer is personalised Gift Vouchers? For more info on these, see the bottom of this post.]

Voucher envelope is made from another lovely print in the Timeless Portrait DSP pack.

Yummy tied ribbons and lovely bows look great but can be a pain to untie and redo.

Especially if you're taking the contents in and out every few minutes to admire!

Today's trick is more like a creative workaround. It gives the illusion that the ribbon is wrapped all around the envelope, but in fact one end is open  for easy access! 

To do this, simply cut the ribbon a few centimetres longer than needed. Neatly tuck the ribbon ends inside the opening on the front and back, and adhere inside. Attach a 'faux bow' to the front.  As a result, the voucher (or card) can be removed without the need to untie ribbon!

Click to enlarge

Here is a similar way of adding ribbon to the front of a pillow box:

Have fun with this, and let me know what you think. Any questions or comments? Just click on the comments link below.

Gift Vouchers are great to get…

Do you have a birthday coming up? Anniversary?

A Stampin' Up! shopping spree in the form of a Gift Voucher might be just the thing to make you smile on your special day.

– Choose what you want.

– Take your time (vouchers valid for a full 12 months, so you can wait for the next new catalogue… or shop right now!)

…And also great to give.

Do you have a special friend who loves to craft?

One-of-a-kind decorated envelopes and gift vouchers are all part of my service. 

– Save time. No need to go to the shops, fight traffic or battle the queues. Just fill out this form and I'll do all the work.

– Save money.  Includes free postage of the voucher to anywhere in Australia.

Perfect for Christmas too (let your KK know)!

Just contact Simone, or order vouchers online by completing THIS FORM.

Happy stamping,

Tags: gift voucher, ribbon, stampin' up!

Today's share project is a decorated picture frame with an embellished insert panel.

Read on for a quick tutorial.

This project was the basis of a class I taught last month at Melbourne's Craft & Quilt Fair. My first foray into craft show classes!

How To:

1. Remove back of picture frame, and cut Designer Series Paper (DSP) to fit the size of your frame.

2. Embellish DSP as desired – we used Basic Jewel Rhinestones so it was very 'blingy' in real life. 

3. Stamp images from Pennant Parade (p37 Aus/NZ Idea Book & Catalogue), and punch with the Pennant Builder punch. Layer, and join pennant pieces with Bakers Twine.

4. Tie or adhere banner into position. Our frame had a gap of approx 2cm between the back and the glass, so we had plenty of room for raised embellishments and lots of Dimensionals. Remember to take into account how much space you have behind the glass before sticking everything down.

5. Adhere DSP panel to back of frame (to stop it sagging behind the glass) and reassemble frame.

6. Decorate outer frame with paper flowers, rosettes or punched shapes. We put tiny adhesive-backed rhinestones in the centre of our flowers – for added sparkle!

TIP: This project is a great way to use beautiful papers with large, bold images, such as those found in Timeless Portrait.

Remember that all the Designer Series Papers in the current catalogue are retiring at the end of the month, so this is your last chance to get them. 

Well, craft fair season is well and truly upon us here in Victoria.

A big hello to all the lovely crafters I met last month at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Melbourne, and in only TWO WEEKS we'll be at Paperific!

I'll be there on SATURDAY 1st of SEPT. Come and say hello!

Happy stamping,

Tags: gift, picture frame, timeless portrait