Curvy Keepsake Surprise!

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I celebrated my 10th birthday/anniversary as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator this week & the class of women that I teach card techniques to, happened to be on the actual day!!

So imagine my surprise when I arrived to find this little treasure on the table, for me!!

I have always liked the Curvy Keepsake thinlits, (now retired), and teamed with these colours, it is just gorgeous!!

Deborah, who made this for me actually looked up the colour combination of a 10 year anniversary & now we all know that blue and silver is it!!

And a touch of bling adds to the special-ness, (cos that is 'totally' a word!)

I must say that the Lindt chocolates that were in this couldn't be photographed....ummm, they are otherwise disposed...ie: enjoyed and eaten!!

Thanks Deborah, I really appreciate this little surprise & this treat will take pride of place on my shelves in my stamping room :)

Stay warm during the Melbourne cold spell...brrrrr... Jo.

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!

Today is the beginning of the 10th year of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!! A-MAZ-NG!!

I would never have realised how many experiences, interactions, friends and projects I would have made when I was signing that paperwork, with Mel as my Up-Line.

Here we are in 2014, with Shelli, the CEO of Stampin' Up!, (in the middle). Mel has always been the person I could turn to when unsure of a market I wanted to do, a card layout or a business idea. Her honesty has helped me get through to 10 years!!

But above that, we have become firm friends!! We have weathered the storms of family illnesses, life's challenges, deaths & things that we could only get through BECAUSE of each other... I am forever grateful for her friendship...

As a thankyou to just some of the people that have supported, listened & guided my throughout my 10 years, I decided to make 40 cards of 2 designs, to send out.

This took some time to work out who I would like to send a card to, hunt around for their address, make the cards and then write in them before placing them into the letterbox...but I loved it!!

And  I also wanted the smile of receiving a card, to carry along the way through the post buildings, postmen or women, so I made 40 envelopes from various DSP sheets and labelled them.

I will share the cards that I made to send out, later in the week, as I'd like the recipients to enjoy the experience of opening their envelope without having seen the design here - so come back, please ")

I'm still growing in every way: business, personally, tutorial wise, presentation of my projects, everything...and Im okay with that, but the tribe that has carried my along the way have been incredible!! They certainly deserved recognition!!

I am so grateful for every interaction, late night conversation, swapping of card fronts, stamping idea or business pointers that anyone has offered me - I only hope that I gave some of it back.

Thanks for celebrating with me, I cant wait to see what the next year brings for me...

Keep smiling & stamping, Jo

Getting Together...

Last Friday I was lucky enough to travel out to Ballan, a beautiful part of Victoria, to share the day with Alison. We've known each other for a while, but haven't managed to get to each other's home for a stamp...?

Her home was in the middle of this gorgeous little town & the rain that fell during the day only added to the atmosphere of being all snuggly & warm while sharing ideas about SU! products and the new catalogue!!

Most of Australia has been in a draught for a long time, so the rain is absolutely welcome - I just didn't like the aquaplaning that occurred a couple of times as I drove the 35 minutes to Alison's home...eeek!!

Throughout the day we shared thoughts of the retiring stamp sets that are leaving us and of course, the new crisp catalogue that is just gorgeous!!

We eventually began to work with the new stamp sets, the new In-Colours & embellishments that we are able to purchase BEFORE the catalogue goes live, just one of the perks of being a SU! demonstrator!! 

To show off the new In-Colours of Rococo Rose, Terracotta Tile, Pretty Peacock, Seaside Spray & Purple Posy cardstock, it was Alison's idea to make a bookmark to hand out.

How good do they look :)

This helped us to settle in, to work with the Magnolia Lane & Woven Threads DSP & a few of the stamp sets. We used Good Morning Magnolia, Above The Clouds & the new Story Label punch.

You are just going to love them, there is such a range of themes & occasions throughout the catalogue - there is so much to drool over!!

I truly loved spending time with Alison, her husband, Tod and Poppy, their mini Schnauzer. 

Thanks for opening your house for me, Alison, I promise I will be back xxx

Happy Birthday to me!!

It's my birthday, my 10th Stampin' Up! birthday this month, actually!!

I can't tell you how happy, blessed & grateful I am to be celebrating 10 year of fun, giggles, unreserved support, tears, hugs and of course, Stamping!!

I have learnt how to create items for an order, produce products that people want to buy & cards that make others want to create - all because of the people that are also involved with Stampin' Up!

So this month will see me showing you various items, photos, moments & products that have come about because of my decision to sign up as a demonstrator, choosing Mel as my Up-Line.

This is Mel, she immediately became so much more than an Up-Line. We now are an important part of each lives and families.

Over the years we have seen such a change in stamps, their images, the way they are made and the quality of the image they produce!

The one on the left is the first catalogue I was actively apart of & soon we are welcoming the 2019-2020 one & it's just stunning!!

 

Come back in a couple of days to see what my next post will be about - maybe some of my sadder attempts at making a card, some memories that make me smile & other goodies,

Jo x

Learning The Reflective Technique.

As promised earlier this week, I am sharing how to do the Reflective Technique.

It's quite easy, but feel free to make the same amount of mistakes that I made, so I dont feel so bad, ok?

I used it to make this card, which I taught to my fortnightly class last week. And they enjoyed it - even though I left the acetate at home, oops!! I keep my Project Recipe in those clear document holders, so I cut one of those and we could continue with the project!!

So in order for you to do this technique, it's easiest to follow Maree's video, (she is a fellow Australian Stampin' Up! Demonstrator too!!)

I love her clear video, not just of the actual technique, but the relaxed way she teaches & shows off the various products!!

Thanks Maree, I'll be looking at more of your videos and work in the future :)

Keep Stampin' everyone, I can't wait to see what you have made...