Nov 21, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Hi everyone,
It’s a late post I’m doing today, but it still counts as another day where I have blogged, so I’m really just keeping you on your toes as to what time my posts appear!
The reason for the late post today is that I wanted to show you a gift I made for my wonderful hostess this afternoon, but I couldn’t do that and spoil the surprise for Mandy. So I’m sure you’ll forgive me!
As those of you who have hosted a workshop or class for me before will know, I love to make little gifts to thank you for hosting, on top of your free catalogue that you receive from me as part of your hostess pack when you confirm a date for your party. With my husband supporting my habit of collecting cute jars and tins to decorate, these little gifts are often 3D items, filled with some form of chocolate usually! As far as I’m concerned, workshops aren’t complete without a little chocolate in there somewhere…
Today’s hostess gift to Mandy was no exception. I used the fabulous Punch Pals stamp set (why didn’t I buy this one earlier and make Christmas cards with it I wonder?!) to decorate this cute little jar. The patterned paper is the Ski Slope DSP yet again, and I used the Real Red 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon to embellish the jar. I added some stamped images to the top of the jar as well as one side (which happens to hide the join in the paper, so there isn’t a “bad” side to this project at all!). The punches I used were the Scallop Circle and 1-1/4″ circle. And then I filled it with some mini chocolate bars. Yum! Jars like this would make great little gifts for workmates and friends this Christmas.
Thanks to Mandy for a lovely afternoon with her and her friends, I think from their reaction to the projects we made today, they enjoyed their little bit of creative time with me. I love to see the reactions I get when I introduce people to stamping for the first time, I really enjoyed myself too! And a big thanks to Mandy’s husband Russell for coming to my rescue and changing my flat tyre (which I hadn’t even noticed was flat!). I might be a quite independent woman but I was definitely happy to accept his help with that one!
If you’d like for me to make a gift for you like this one I made for Mandy, contact me now (
click here) to book your early 2010 workshops!
I’ll be back to show you the projects we made today, over the next few days. Sorry, I’m being a tease and not revealing them all in one go!
Nov 19, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Morning everyone!
Very quick post today as I’m in a wee bit of a rush! I thought I’d share this really cute little Christmas ornament with you. This was unbelievably quick and easy to make, but so effective, and a great way to use up those scraps of designer series paper you’ve been hoarding!
The designer of this project, called a Double Ball Ornament, is the fabulous Carol Dunstan who is from Australia and was asked to write a tutorial for it for Splitcoast. Way to go Carol! To see her original sample and find out how to make these, click
here.
You’ll need a hatpin and bead(s) from the Pretties kit as well as some ribbon and a paper piercing tool to make this. No adhesive whatsover!! I’ve used some of my favourite Ski Slope Designer Series paper and whisper white 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon for mine. Oh how I’ll miss this paper when it’s gone – just 10 more days to order it!
Have a happy day! (It is Friday, after all, the weekend is nearly here!)
Nov 18, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Hi everyone,
Today I thought I’d tell you about what else I offer in my wonderful “second job” as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.
I’m often asked if I have products that people can buy when they come to my home to attend a class or workshop. For the most part, the answer is no. We sell products to order, as one of Stampin’ Up!’s policies is that we are strictly forbidden to sell from stock. Of course, I have lots of cardstock and things here because I can often use several packs at a time when I’m preparing for a large event, but I cannot sell that to you when you attend a class. The reason for this policy is that Stampin’ Up! have a 90 day guarantee that products are free from manufacturing faults, and that starts from the shipping date. So if I was to sell you something from my “stash”, the chances are it’s been sitting there for a while, so probably outside of the 90 days. It’s fairly rare, but occasionally there are issues that I have to log with Stampin’ Up!, and if that happens, you ideally want to be protected by the 90 day policy.
Having said that, there are times when I DO have product available to purchase when you attend a class at my home. These are retired items, which won’t be going into a main catalogue. If you would like to see what I have available right now, check out the list here or use the link on my sidebar. You can order these by e-mail too, you don’t have to attend a class to earn the chance to purchase them!
As a Manager with a wonderful team, I also have lots to offer to new Demonstrators who join me, but that would make for a very long post, so I’ll focus on what else I offer to customers, for today! Personalised classes, free workshops, large crafting events like our Extravaganzas, handmade items sold at my events, a little something attached to every order for your inspiration, friendly service, and did I mention gift vouchers? If there’s a crafter in your life who would enjoy shopping from the catalogue (or if you’d like to drop a hint to your nearest and dearest for one yourself, after all, Christmas is coming!), I can offer a gift voucher for any amount you care to spend! Please note that purchasers / recipients of gift vouchers must be resident in NZ, as we cannot sell inter-country.
Do ask if you would like to know more! And if there’s something you’d like me to offer that I didn’t mention, post a comment here and I’ll do my best to accomodate you!
Nov 17, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Morning everyone!
Did you miss me yesterday? Things are pretty full-on for me at work and with my stamping right now so I decided that I could afford a teeny break from blogging. So my record is 15 days in a row. I’m quite proud of myself for that little accomplishment. Not bad for a technophobe really!
Today I want to share with you a cute little purse that I’ve made out of Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, which is in the Spring Mini. I bought this paper during our pre-order month back in July and I’ve mostly only drooled over it, having only used it for a couple of projects. I’m kicking myself now, because isn’t it just gorgeous? I should have used it a lot more, and now we’re about to farewell it!
This little purse is made using a template that Stampin’ Up! made available to Demonstrators, it’s one of the fabulous resources we have access to. One of the many benefits of being a Demonstrator! (Did I mention that we get to see what’s coming up, in advance sometimes? You’re going to love the Summer mini!)
The really nice thing about this DSP is that it’s thick, like cardstock. So when you use it for making 3D items, it holds it’s shape really well once you’ve folded it. Often, little purses like this one can seem so flimsy if made using ordinary patterned paper – but not this one! There’s no way the handle is falling over on this purse, unless I happen to accidentally sit on it or something!
It’s a little hard to see in the photo but around the front flap of the purse I’ve added a scalloped edge. I cut a piece of the DSP and used the Scallop Edge punch on it, then used my scissors to snip a few key bits so I could angle it around the curve.
I’ve used one of the Baja Breeze corduroy buttons as the “closure” on this purse, although actually it’s held closed using velcro. With linen thread tied on, it is for decoration – much like a real-life purse can be! These buttons are also sailing off into the sunset at the end of this month, so don’t forget to order them if you want them for your craft collection!
Please
contact me if you have any questions about this project, or want to know about the other advantages of becoming a Demonstrator. I’d love to welcome you to my wonderful team!
Nov 15, 2009 | Uncategorized |
Hi everyone,
Just a quick announcement today. Some of you may have noticed that I’ve made a few changes to my sidebar in the last week or so, and one of those changes was to update information on my classes. Now, not all of my workshops / classes are mentioned in this section of my blog. I do conduct workshops and classes on request at the homes of my customers, so because those are private classes, I don’t always list them here. (If you’d like to book a workshop or an exclusive class just for you and your friends, I’m taking bookings now for the New Year).
However, I do want to point out an exciting event that I am planning which you are welcome to book in for – for the first time ever, I’m holding a Launch Party at my home! We have a fabulous new Summer Mini Catalogue which will be available on December 1st, so I’m holding my party as soon as I’m able to, after it opens (given my day job!). Come and visit me in Botany Downs, Auckland, on the afternoon of December 5th – there will be free Make n Takes, new tools to try out, a complimentary copy of the Summer mini with all orders placed on the day, loads of inspiration, drinks & nibbles and the odd prize or two made by me…
In my view this is the best mini catalogue we’ve had so far! Drop in any time between 1-5pm, but you must RSVP by November 30th so I can prepare your make n takes kit. Please E-mail me for more details and to book in! As I’m holding this event over 4 hours, so you can pop in for a quick visit or stay longer as you prefer, I am hoping I won’t need to put a limit on the numbers, but don’t take too long to book in, just in case!
