Deal of the week - 30% off selected punches

For one week only Stampin Up is taking 30% off four selected punches.

Boho Blossoms 110711
Scallop Square 112081
Trio Flower 109183
Scallop Oval 114889

These punches are usually priced at $30.95, but for one week only you can purchase them for $20.12.
Email me if you would like to order one, but remember it is only till June 8th.

20% off the starter kit

Yep thats right. One of the most exciting things announced at convention is actually for you. For a limited time Stampin Up is taking 20% off the price of the starter kit. It is usually priced at $324, but with this discount it is only $259. So if you have ever given it any thought, now is the time to join. Imagine getting discount supplies for yourself to use, or making money from selling to others. Your friends will love you. I have never met a person yet who is not impressed by our wonderful catalogue. You will also be given the opportunity to earn fantastic trips, next year is in Fiji, but unfortunately they pay for your partner to go along with you!
You'll get the opportunity to attend many training events (mine and others above me, one of the benefits of joining with someone at the bottom!) which are always fun, make new friends, attend wonderful events like convention and receive a monthly newsletter full of tips and tricks you'll love.

This is what you get in the starter kit

2 stamp sets of choice to the value of $58.95 ($117.90)
1 stamp set of choice to the value of $53.95
1 stamp set of choice to the value of $39.95
1 wheel of choice to the value of $11.95
1 wheel handle ($7.50)
1 ink cartridge colour of choice ($9.50)
1 set of stampin pastels($48.95)
1 pack of A4 cardstock of choice ($14.50)
1 pack of whisper white cardstock ($13.50)
1 snail adhesive ($12.95)
1 craft and rubber scissors ($37.95) You'll love these!
1 stampin scrub ($28.95)
1 stampin mist ($7.95)
1 versa mark pad ($13.95)
1 pkt of 3 blender pens ($18.95)
1 black ink pad ($11.95)
4 ink pads of colour of choice ($11.95 ea, total $47.80)
1 box of catalogues
1 pkt of mini catalgues
1 getting started DVD
100 guest invitation postcards
50 order forms
10 hostess order forms
10 recruit brochures
plus other business supplies

As you can see many items are customisable, so you won't end up with stamp sets you already own. You also get an additional 10% off your first order if you place it within 45 days.
I was very hesitant when I joined over 3 years ago. But I can honestly say I have never looked back. It has been the best experience and I have made so many friends from it. Many people think that if they join they will have to do classes like myself. This is totally incorrect. Most demonstrators don't do classes, it is just the way I have chosen to sell the products. I love teaching and meeting new people and it works for me. You are all welcome to do whatever works for you. If you just want to buy products at a discount price for yourself that is fine. If you want to make a career out of it, and many demos do, that is fine too. Stampin Up lets you run your business how you want, and that's just one of the things I love. I would love to discuss this further with you, so if you are interested please contact me so you can take advantage of this great offer.
Thanks for dropping by.
Michelle

Convention

A few days ago I was lucky enough to have attended my first Stampin' Up convention, and I have to say it was amazing. I met so many really beautiful people, learnt so many new tricks, been spoiled with great gifts, had fun stamping, enjoyed fantastic food and I have to say just had a ball. It was really full on, so I was totally exhausted on Sunday, and I had to go to bed the earliest I have in years. The kids were shocked, they have never had to go to bed before without the hall light being on for hours till I retire.

These were the amazing group of women who also attended from the team I am a part of.
They are all so lovely, it was nice to spend more time getting to know them.
And thank you Rachel J for sharing the room with me and putting up with all my chatting to the wee hours of the morning. I had a great time getting to know you better. I still can not believe you had never made a card before joining SU!


This pic is of Shelli up on stage demonstrating Vintage themed projects. She is the founder of Stampin Up and is just the most beautiful woman, inside and out. She is a pleasure to listen to and you just can not help but love her.


So everyone in the room could see, and there were 500 of us, they filmed every move so we could always see clearly what was going on. Some of the projects, I just can not wait to try.


After every demonstration they would put the samples on large boards for us to inspect close up. Unfortunately, most of the samples were made using new stamps and supplies from the yet to be released catalogue, so I am unable to share them with you. But watch out, I am just loving the new sets I have seen so far.
When we checked in, we were presented with a great bag especially designed for convention, filled with goodies. Two brand new stamp sets, brand new rub ons, cap, pen and a lanyard. I was totally impressed, then at the conclusion of our last session, Shelli presented us all with yet another brand new set. To say everyone in the room was pretty happy, is a bit of an understatement. Then later that night I was lucky enough to be presented with yet another set for an award. Now I'll just have to be patient, and sit on them till September before I show you all.


This is the swap I made for convention. I have never swapped before, because I did not realise just how much fun it is. I now have a basket of amazing work from demonstrators all over the country and even some from New Zealand. It is so much fun to look through them and be inspired from all the talent that is out there.
Now I'll just have to start saving up so I can go to convention next year.

Inklings Blog Hop

Welcome to The INKlings' Team's first ever blog hop. You may have arrived here from Carolyn Campbell-McLeans blog or just be visiting my blog, whichever way once you've checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member.
What style of card do we frequently get asked for inspiration for? More often than not it's masculine cards, be it little boys or grandfathers everyone seems to struggle with cards for the males in ou lives. So as a team we thought we'd help you out by providing you with 20 team members' fantastic blogs that you can hop through and get lots of fantastic ideas from.
Want to win some Blog Candy? Simply leave a comment on each blog and then email Michelle Dyson at michelle.dyson@bigpond.com and let her know you've done so and you'll be in the running for a fantastic prize of 20 handmade cards plus other goodies. Sorry Blog Candy prize not available to SU demonstrators.

I am going to start this post with first admitting that I actually like making male cards. I think they are a great excuse to really play with texture and hardware.

This is a card I made this morning using my brand new stamp set Owl Together Now. I think this will make a great card for my husband from the kids and I. I used dry embossing with the Big Shot, heat embossing, grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, brads and faux stitching all to add texture and interest. The twig is a real one from the garden, hey, it saved time cutting one out!

That little linen bow does double duty, it actually holds the twig to the paper.

I used all the retiring blues on this card. Boy I am going to miss them!

This is a quick card I made last night. And I have to confess I forgot just how hard black is to photograph!

I stamped the Sanded background stamp in versamark and clear embossed for some texture, and also added some brads, used stampin' dimensionals, faux stitching and ribbon for texture. I think this card would work well for a teenage boy.

I hope you can just see the background in this pic. The patterned paper is from the Urban Oasis pack. The stamp is from the Starring You set.

This is another card I made last night. Does it look familiar? It's a direct case from the one in the catalogue. I have always loved this card and thought what better time than to whip one up. This was actually the first card I made last night, just to get the creative juices flowing and give me some time to think up some other designs.

I even got out my Color Spritzer Tool for this card. (Note to self - must use this more often, it creates a great effect.)

Don't you just love those clips. I think they are so incredibly cute and add such a wonderful element to any project.

Well that's all from me. Next stop on the INKlings' Team Blog is Clare at http://craftycowcreations.blogspot.com/ Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy. If you have never left a comment before, it's really easy, just click on the word comment below this entry and leave your email and a comment. Good luck.

Sunny Days class on Sat 15th and Wed 19th May

I have really enjoyed making the samples for the next class - can you tell?
If you would like to attend on either the Saturday or Wednesday, it will work just a little differently from usual. The Saturday class will run from 10.30am till 2pm and the Wednesday
class from 10am till 1.30pm and in this time you can make as many (or as little) cards as you like from the kit. I will provide all the extras you need, like ribbon, brads etc and you are welcome to take home anything you don't use on the day. I think the cards would make a lovely set to give as a gift, and there are enough supplies to possibly make enough for two sets. Everything pictured above is made out of one half kit and I still have lots left.

I thought I would give you a better pic of some of the cards.


I have used some die cut felt to add texture, as well as dry embossing and crimping.



The card in the top left has a pocket, great for a gift card and a nail file gift - just something a little different. Recognise the bottom card, it's cased from the catalogue (I just loved it, so had to make it up).


You can also make this cute little bag up with matching gift cards and envelopes. I made six cards to fit nicely inside my bag. This would also make a great gift.

So please come along and make your personal selection of cards.

Dates: Saturday 15th and Wednesday 19th

Cost: $30

Bring: Trimmer and a sandwich if you like. A camera if you want to photograph any cards you don't have time to make.

RSVP: ASAP, especially for the Wednesday class so I have time to purchase enough kits.

All welcome, it's a great class for beginners. Email me if you would like to attend.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all. I hope you have all had a splendid day.

I spent the day with my Mum and my sister and had a relaxing lunch followed by a very 'special show' put on my kids and nieces. I was told it was a special Mothers Day treat and you don't just get this everyday you know! It was pretty funny and gave us all a laugh.

This is the card I ended up making for Mum. I left it till the last minute, as usual, so it did not end up quite as I expected, but they rarely do. The letters were made by cutting out four of each letter on the Big Shot and then sticking them together - one on top of the other. I then coated them in Gold Ink. They looked exactly like chipboard letters when I had finished and had lots of dimension, and only a fraction of the cost! The colours I used were melon mambo, soft suede, pink pirouette and naturals ivory cardstock. I even managed to get a quick inside made for the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Flowery sponging class on Wed 5th may and Sat 8th may

I love the shops at this time of year. The shop displays are so pretty and feminine, and of course everything is focused on Mother's Day. It's the only time I ever bother to read junk mail!
So with this in mind I designed this collection of cards with a very flowery theme, perfect for all the special women in your lives, be they mothers, daughters, sisters or friends. They all use lots of sponging, a technique I always embrace.


The first card uses lots of masking with the sponging to create an almost one layer card. Now you won't see that often on my blog.


This card uses the emboss resist technique to create the simple graphic. We will also colour the flowers ourselves to co-ordinate with the ink and cardstock.


This card is a little more time consuming, but you'll feel like an artist after you create your very own designer paper. We'll also make our own ribbon for this card.
The greeting can be changed to 'Happy Mother's Day' if you still need a card for Sunday.

The two step bird punch will again get a work out on this card. That punch is just so useful!



And last but not least some apricot flowers and embossing will make up this card. There is also a selection of different greetings to choose from.

Dates: Wed 5th May at 10am and Sat 8th May at 10.30am
Cost: $25
No need to bring anything to this class, all will be supplied.
RSVP: ASAP (Sorry I am so late posting this)

Card in a box day continued

I have been incredibly busy this week preparing for the Mother's Day market tomorrow at St Ives, so sorry that I have not posted these sooner, but here they are.
The card above is the one I brought along to the day. I kept it very simple since I knew we had to make a lot of cards on the day.


This card by Rachel Capps is just beautiful. I love the colours, in fact I copied them for the class last week. Just wish I had inked the stamp up alittle more! Oh well..


This card by the lovely Michelle Knight is so pretty. Pink is so Michelle. It's such a cute use of the scallop envelope, and who knew the Cottage Garden flower stamp fitted so well in our five petal flower punch..... Well I didn't!


This card was designed by Angela Parker, whom alot of you know from the Saturday classes. such a great use of the chalks. I always love chalking, ......should do it way more often.

This card was designed by Jenny Blanch, a new member of my team, and one of the worlds nicest people. Love the colours - the new melon mambo and certainly celery. Just looks so fresh and happy.

This card was made by Cathy Knight. Cathy had only joined Stampin Up a few days before this event, so I was so impressed by this effort. I love the black inked card edges, and the use of the ribbon. Very clever.

This card was designed by Donna Orthorp. It's an easel card using the beautiful new papers from the Autumn mini. I have been giving easel cards out frequently to family members lately. It's nice to do something a little different from the norm.

This card was designed by Joanna Wassens. Wouldn't this make a great card for a young boy!

Joanna, like myself has two boys, and is probably having to make lots of boy cards for all the parties they seem to get invited to almost every weekend.

I just love the Timeless Type alphabet die, such a classic font, that goes with almost anything and a very handy size. And love the new storage boxes!

This card was designed by the always lovely Rachel Jackson. Notice the razzlebury ribbon is using the plain side, not the spotted side. Its great the ribbon can be so versatile.

I will be sharing a room with Rachel at convention later this month....can't wait. It should be a fabulous time.