{Spring Break Page}

Due to personal guilt (motivation) and customer demand, I am now hurdling my fear of scrapbooking! My honest reaction is that I find scrapbooking intensely satisfying and thoroughly enjoying it!! Thanks for the kick in the pants, everyone!

I will hold a scrapbooking page class the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30. Cost is $10; prestamped kits are $10 and don't inlcude the 12x12 sheet as it costs $4 to post. I figured it was cheaper for you to buy a mixed pack of 12x12 yourself than to pay for postage one by one.

When I sat down to do this page, I had all the colours, the layout, and the stamps all set out and a plan in my head of exactly what I would do. I set the timer for 1 hour so I could finish it and then go pick feijoa's with my girls. Well, four hours later . . . . this is what I ended up with. Different colours, different stamps, and a modified layout. I'm sure this happens to all scrappers. . . call it creative process.

This layout uses the Wanted set, one that I love. It's so versatile, with masculine and cute possibilities. I thought it was just the thing for the photo with my three babies in jeans.

Now the next step I need to take is get all of my photos out of boxes and FIND and ORGANIZE! I know I'm not the only one with piles of photos . . .

{Simple Petal Prints}

Last night I had the opportunity to share my passion for stamping and papercrafts with a lovely group of ladies at church. We had a nice lesson about visiting and caring for those around us, and then ended the evening making a couple of projects that could be used as gifts for those whom we visit.

The birthday bagalope was a quick and easy project made from one simple envelope. And then I did this more mature card. I kept it very simple as most had never stamped before. And everyone was successful, even the lady who forgot the stamp part and tried to make her images by just putting the ink pad on top of her card! And I hope she's not reading this!! :)

Petal Prints is a must-have for those who enjoy making truly sophisticated projects.

{In the Spotlight}

Well this may turn out to be one of my favorite sets! I had a little play with it when designing this card and was really pleased.

This particular sample is not what I would consider up to scratch, but I had extemely limited time that day and couldn't redo. Lucky for me my ladies are sympathetic and very creative - I just give them a general idea, the tools, and they can run with it.

It may not show in the photo very well, but the images are all sparkled up. If you want to know how I got that "cool" multi-toned look on the red, email me! And I'll pretend it wasn't a mistake.

Love the new sentiments set!

In the Spotlight Free with qualifying workshop

{Froggy Pop-Up}

I thought this one was different from the first, but when I worked it out, it was just a different version of the same thing! Oh, well, the ladies got to solidify how this template worked then.

This frog set is the perfect one for pop-up cards, so I had to use it somehow. I kept the designs simple so we could focus on the template. And kid cards may as well be quick and easy anyhow.

So I learned some great watercolour techniques this last weekend at convention . . . . this is not an example of that! That's still to come.

I was really sad when the little background sets were discontinued in March, but I think I like this new set even better!!

Unfrogettable stamp set

Sprinkles stamp set for the background

{Convention 2008!}

We had lots of fun for the 2008 Stampin Up Convention in Brisbane last weekend! Perhaps you have already read highlights from other blogs - I've had a super hectic week and am just now sitting down to the computer. Ah, why do we do these things to ourselves?

My personal highlight of the weekend was the time I got to spend with Shelli Gardner and her sweet mother. I know the reason they have been so successful - they are top-quality women who have integrity through and through. They see the big picture, the grand picture of life, and take their roles in life in divine perspective. What an inspiration of humanity they are. I am proud to be a part of their company.

I had the honour of being asked to represent New Zealand in giving a presentation of Wow techniques to the convention. I found it rather amusing when several Australian girls told me I had a very unusual Kiwi accent!

We learned so much over the weekend, both creatively and business-wise. My team and I earned some awards, flowers, and cash prizes, but really, the most important thing to share with the world is how much I love the creative people in my life - both my team members and my customers. These are the reasons I keep going, keep working, and stay inspired.

Thank you all for being part of my life.

{Happy Birthday}

Happy first Birthday to Stampin Up! We had our birthday party tonight. We made two birthday cards, had cake, and a silly party game.

Congratulations Karen for winning our scavenger hunt!

So my girls have to go to bed before class starts. And I thought it would have been rather mean of me to ask them to decorate this birthday cake and then not let them have a piece. But I should have taken the picture before they had their share; didn't think of it.

Just for Anne I made a mocha cake using coffee essence. thanks again, Rachael, for that little treasure. Now, can you round me up some pizza essence?

{Garden Whimsy}

So it might have been a stretch to call this a birthday card, but it was good enough! This card was *strongly* inspired by my all-time favorite artist, kelly Lunceford. She's just incredible. Of course I don't have all the goodies she does in the USA, so I fiddled and came up with this anyway.

Garden Whimsy is a new set this year for us, and I do like it. Everyone just fell in love with it tonight. Except maybe Tui.

I never did sell her the chicken set, either.

Did you see the price of the designer series papers in the catalogue?

{Eat Cake}

This is one we did about a year ago, but I love it. And most everyone who's made this card loves it. Aren't we lucky to have such a company with such gorgeous colours?!

This stamp set, Eat Cake, is such a great one to use. Many of the images use the two step stamping, making it easy to creat multi-coloured images without colouring!

Now all three of my girls were born about the same time of year, and I would think with three girls I would be making items like this. But no, my little one can't decide if she wants a bug party or a pirate one . . .