Claire Daly - Stampin Up Demonstrator in Melbourne, Australia

Some scrapbooking and some tangerine loveliness from Christine ....

I have been spending some time this weekend updating some photo albums and posting some of them in my sidebar to enable easier searching through my past creations. In the process I came across some layouts that I haven't shared on my blog, so here they are!

This one was of our summer holiday at Tootgarook last year. The picture opens out to include some more photos and lots of journaling.

 

 

This next one is a snapshot of three different days at the same church, St Andrews Uniting Church in St Georges Terrace Perth. The top photo is my Mum and Dad and after their wedding in 1954. The second photo is my sister Debbie and my Dad at her wedding in 1976, and the bottom photo is my own wedding in March 1997.

 

This one is for my All About Me album, and is just a little story about how I NEED my me time, and peace and quiet.

 

My lovely friend (and now Stampin' Up! downline) Christine popped over Saturday and made me laugh and rescued me with a desperately needed craft supply. She bought some of here creations with her which NEARLY make me love orange! Aren't her cards gorgeous? Just love the combination of the Old Olive stems and Kiwi Kiss reeds in this Inspired by Nature card. It really shows the depth don't you think?

 

There's also this lovely Choc Chip, Tangerine Tango and Kiwi Kiss Fifth Avenue Floral card.

 

Christine has been lucky enough to recently score a custom built craft room (sooooooo jealous) so if you are in the Mt Evelyn area, give her a call. Christine can be contacted via her blog.

Be back soon, have a happy and creative week and don't forget to check out my updated galleries. Yes I am now very aware I need to make more baby, kids and male cards. I think I have enough floral ones to last me a few years!!

Claire xx

Circle Circus ....

Needed some bright and happy cards and reached for the versatile Stampin' Up! Circle Circus again. I am loving how easy it is to combine the various patterns in this set. This is also one of my favourite colour combinations Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and RoseRed.

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

• Stamps: Circle Circus, Basic Phrases, Sanded Background (left card)
• Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, More Mustard, Whisper White
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, More Mustard
• Punches: Word Window (left card), Large Oval (right card)
• Accessories: Rose Red 1" stitched ribbon (left card), Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain, Flower Fusion, Flower Fusion Too, Earth Elements Brads, Vintage Brads

Hope you are having a lovely creative and happy week!

Claire

Bloomin' Beautiful and another guest stamper ....

Last night my four favourite stamping buddies came over for an impromptu night of stamping as Paul has gone away with some mates on a golf weekend. The boys got to sleep in the lounge and we sat and stamped and laughed until the week hours. Was lots of fun. Josh (7) has got to know these friends so well and gets very excited when they come over to stamp. Last night he even wanted to do a pass the parcel game for them which was very cute! While he was at school I packaged up some treat bags with each of the girls favourite colour combination and Josh wrapped them all up and ran the game (with his own singing, not taped music). It was priceless.

Here's the one card I managed to come up with for the whole night. In fact the Basic Gray base was already stamped and embossed, so I didn't do much at all in over 5 hours. I did have lots of fun chatting though :)

The base is stamped with the retired Linen background and clear embossed with Baroque Motifs. The flower from Stampin' Up! Bloomin' Beautiful is watercoloured using the ink pads (Pink Passion and Old Olive) and then raised up with Dimensionals and Crystal Effects added. The greeting (from Basic Phrases) is embossed in white. Here's a side on view.

Each of the girls made some beautiful creations. Judy and Christine have both recently signed up as demonstrators and have started their own blogs. Leanne is really getting into card making and bought along a gorgeous monochromatic Friends 24/7 card but I didn't get a picture. Next time!

Kerry is our bright colour stamper and always makes the most lovely creations. She would have signed up too, but already has her online stamping business called Scrapinabox. She made the most gorgeous card using Raspberry tart and the Embrace Life stamp set which she has white embossed onto the patterned paper. I asked her if I could borrow it for a guest stamper spot. Isn't it GORGEOUS?

 

These girls are so much fun, and I am so grateful they are so tolerant of my sometimes crazy boys. We are going away for a Christmas in July weekend of stamping in a couple of months. How much fun will that be. Here's a picture of Leanne and Kerri playing pass the parcel last night.

      

Quiet night at home tonight so hoping to have some more creations to share in the morning. Let's see if I can manage more than 1 card in 5 hours!

Hope you are having a great weekend,

Claire xx

Introducing Di Gill in Blackburn ...

On Monday one of my downlines popped in for some one on one support and she also bought along some of her latest creations. Wow she had some gorgeous cards, and this is just a tiny sample. I was particularly impressed with the way Di uses colour. She has a great eye for colour combinations and she was telling me she used to work in design involving colour in a previous job.

Check out these lovely creations she let me 'borrow':

 

 

Di holds a monthly stamping get together for customers and will soon be starting classes. She is also available for workshops, so if you are in the Blackburn area or happy to travel,Di would love to hear from you. You can contact her by email and check out lots more creations on her blog. I know you'll love being inspired by Di :)

Back with some creations of my own tomorrow. Hope you are all warm, well and happy,

Claire xx

Bella's Bloom and Bella's Border ....

This was one of the beautiful sets I was given as part of the incentive program with Stampin' Up! last year. It was on my wish list as soon as I opened the catalogue, so it was lovely to get it for free. Stampin' Up! are a very generous company and there are so many opportunities to earn free stamps as being a demonstrator).

My first card on the left is cased straight from the catalogue on page 143. I changes the stamp set, used Baja Breeze instead of Bashful Blue and added the small flower to the background. The other colours are Kraft, Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip. The flower image has been stamped off once to give a softer look. Whenever I use a dark colour for a card base, I like to stamp an inside section for the handwritten note. I like to keep this pretty simple, but coordinating with the card front. Here's a close up of this card and the inside as well.

 

 

For the next card I used the coordinating stampin' around wheel Bella's Border. I love this border wheel. It has such a shabby chic feel, so I distressed the edges to follow that look. The greeting was made using a combination of the Word Window (cut in half and stretched out under the greeting), the 1 3/8 circle punch and the Designer label Punch. Other than that it's just some stamping of the small flower in Versamark, and some Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, which is one of the swaps I have available this month (more information below). Here's a closer view of the card and the inside of this one.

 

 

This Months Kit - buy just the instructions for $25. Available until May 31st.

The instructions for theBeautiful Bella 6 projects featuring Stampin Up Friends 24/7 stamp set and Bella Rose Designer Series Paperare ready to be emailed to anyone wanting to either buy the kit (and get the instructions free) including the products, or just buy the instructions for $25.00.Demonstrators are welcome to purchase. These can also be emailed worldwide). Here's a sneak peek of the projects, lots of shabby vintage loveliness!

 

To view the product contents and buy the kit, visit the kits page.

To buy just the instruction for $25.00, pay via credit card using the PayPal button below or you can also pay via direct deposit (email me for details). These instructions are an email PDF file.

Product Shares

Would you like to stock up on some gorgeous Stampin' Up! ribbons that coordinate beautifully with our papers and cardstock? If you participate in a ribbon share, you can get lots of different colours for around the price of 1-2 rolls of ribbon. For example you could have all these gorgeous soft Taffeta colours:

You can read all about the ribbon shares available and how to get your name on the list on my ribbon share page.

Hope you have a lovely week. Until next time, happy creating!

Claire xx

Circle Circus ....

Love this set Circle Circus we received as part of our Stampin' Up! Convention registration. I see so many possibilities with it for kids cards, male cards, with circle punches, in scrapbooking, layered and on and on. Here's what I came up with at my monthly girlfriends stamping night last night:

  

The raised circle on the left and the greeting are embossed in white (how cool is embossing - I still get excited every time I do it!). I have also used lots of punch combinations - 1 1/4, 1 3/8, scalloped circle, 3/4 inch and scalloped edge. Lots of dimensionals too - here's a side view.

 

Recipe:

• Stamps: Circle Circus, Basic Phrases
• Cardstock: Whisper White and three of the new Incolours: Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss
• Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Versamark
• Punches: Word Window, Scalloped edge, Scalloped circle, 1 and 3/8" circle, 1 and 1/4" circle, 3/4" circle
• Accessories: White embossing powder, Rhinestone Brads (Fire and Ice), Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon

Had a lovely night last night with my stamping friends. We had roses and champagne and chocolate along with lots of hugs and laughs to celebrate friendship and a great past year. If it wasn't for being a demonstrator I never would have met these lovely women who have become such great friends and share my passion for stamping. Thanks Stampin' Up! I'm excited to say that two have joined up - one thanks to this months great $150 joining special.

Gotta run, time for school pickup. Then I think I will veg on the couch with Josh for a few hours. I've worked really heard getting through a backlog of stuff today, and have been trying to reach out to work on something really hard emotionally as well. I feel good for making a start with that but it's exhausting IYKWIM? Time for chocolate and some cuddles!

Claire xx

 

A Rose is a Rose and some Mothers Day bling ...

Time for a card don't you think? I haven't had a chance to whip up anything new since convention (but I am so inspired it's just a matter of finding time!). I can show you a couple of projects I demonstrated last month at various events though.

 

This is a fold out card (just slide the band off to open the card) for Mothers Day. It features the lovely A Rose is a Rose set (perfect for 2 step stamping) and the Bella Rose Designer Series paper, and Pink Pirouette prints paper and striped grosgrain ribbon I have embossed the greeting from Occasional Greetings in White, and then used Dazzling Diamonds on the darker part of the rose (I stamped first in Versamark, then Riding Hood Red, then stamped using the Stampamajig. I then sprinkled Heat and Stick powder, heated, added the Dazzling Diamonds and heated again. The background is just done with a small flower in Riding Hood Red on Riding Hood Red cardstock. The Eyelet Border Punch has been used on one end of the card.

 

This one uses Inspired by Nature a lovely silhouette set. I have used the reeds on the kraft cardstock (just stamped in Versamark), and then used daubers to colour the flower. I started by inking up the image with Pink Pirouette, and then daubed on Rose Red ink and finally some Bravo Burgundy. I then breathed on it to re-moisten and stamped. To get the glitter effect, I just added some random Dazzling Diamonds using a Two Way Glue Pen. The border has been made with the Eyelet Border Punch.

I hope these projects inspire you. I hope to find some time tonight to load up more photos from convention. Thanks for the lovely emails, phone calls and messages I have been receiving. You sure know how to make a girl feel great!

Chat soon,

Claire xx

2009 Stampin' Up! Convention Dinner and Awards Night ....

After day 2, we were treated to a fabulous 3 course meal. This is a great opportunity to socialise with other demonstrators, the Stampin' Up! staff and our fabulous team. They went to lots of trouble to make the room look fabulous with flowers on each table. The food was YUMMO. We had an asian bbq pork and noodle entree, followed by an amazing chicken dish and then these scrummy citrus tarts. I felt very spoilt!

 

 

After the meal we moved into the theatre with the stage for the awards ceremony. This turned out to be a really emotional overwhelming night for me, and there were lots of hugs and tears and OMG's! I was named the 3rd place Demonstrator of the Year for Australia (and 1st place for Victoria) behind Ngaire Anderson and Alisa Tilsner. Vanessa Webb and Angela Sargeant came in 4th and 5th. It was incredible for me to be recognised up there on stage with those amazing demonstrators, and to be hugged by some special demonstrator friends. Talk about overwhelming!

 

  

I also was incredible placed 1st place in Australia in recruiting, which this year recognised those leaders who not only recruit, but then work with their recruits to get them off to a great start in Stampin' Up! I love leading and mentoring my team so that was very special to me. Stampin' Up! also rewarded me with Tiffany & Co bracelet (OMG moment there).

I was also rapt to be up there with Yvonne Campell and my lovely Perth friend Sarah Klass who has a heart of gold and who I love to bits.  That's her second from right. That's Emma (NZ Manager) on her right, Yvonne between Sarah and I, and Shelli Gardner (Cofounder and CEO) and Aaron Scott (Australian Manager) on my left. In addition I won awards for sales, leadership and for reaching the 2009 Incentive Trip to Noosa in August (31 demonstrators from Australia and new Zealand  going this year).

I was so pleased to have a large contingent of my team there this year, because the recognition should be as much for them as me. It isn't possible to be successful in Stampin' Up! without a hard working and supportive team and my girls are THE BEST! They share and laugh and support each other and me, and get together often socially to develop and strengthen the relationships we have. That is the hugest reward for me, having these lovely ladies in my life. Thankyou to each and everyone of you for the great people you are and also for making a fuss of me with the champagne celebration after the awards ceremony! Mwah. I have to also make mention of the others in my team who won sales awards: Ros Oakes, Sue Madex, Di Gill and Kathryn Lowe. All but Di made it to Canberra and it was a proud Mum moment to see them walk accross stage!

Hope you enjoyed the updates from convention. Of course you could always join in the fun next year by becoming a demonstrator in my team for just $150 during May.I'd love to hear from you from anywhere in Australia and to mentor and support you, no matter where you wanted to take your Stampin' up! journey.

Back to Melbourne tomorrow, and back to inspiring, creating and sharing with you all,'

Claire

xx

Convention Day 2 round up ....

A little later than planned but here I am with a day 2 update! To sum up day 2 I would say it was all about the stamping and sharing of ideas. We were very lucky  to have the incredibly talented Australian and New Zealand Demonstrators Marelle Taylor, Makeesha Byl, Nicki Tidbold, Ngaire Anderson and Michelle Habib present practical sessions on stage. It was fascinating to watch them stamp and share ideas and they were so inspiring! Here's a pic of my gorgeous friend Nikki wowing us with her mail themed projects. You must check out her blog:

 

 

Here's a beautiful handbag showed to us  by Michelle Habil. You must check out Michelles blog too.

 

I just love this layout shown to us by the lovely Shannon, one of the US staff (that's her on the right).

  

The highlight of the stamping sessions for me though, had to be seeing Shelli Gardner the CEO making these lovely projects and laughing her way through them. I just LOVE her vintage style and the way she has put these projects together!

 

   

Here's some of my team, followed by Sue Madex who was very excited to win a free stamp set in Prize Patrol (they gave away HEAPS of free stamp sets - Stampin' Up! are so generous):

  

It was a fabulous day and a great lead intoi a fabulous night which is coming in my next post about the dinner and awards night.

I've taken HEAPS of friend and project board photos, so I will uplaod then to my photo gallery when I get back Monday so I don't blow my wireless account budget!

I just wanted to sum up by saying Stampin' Up! is a fabulous, generous and high quality company. The products are such great quality, but what I've sen this weekend has reinforced for my that the great products and great demonstrator opportunity is backed up by a fabulous supportive company who have a passion for sharing and making peoples lives enjoyable. I am very proud to be one of their demonstrators and to be able to mentor my fabulous team. Thanks Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! Convention 2009 - Hello from Day 1 in chilly Canberra

Hello lovelies. Here we are in Canberra for the Stampin' Up! Convention. We arrived yesterday and spent the afternoon and evening catching up and chilling out (and in my case finishing swaps). Today we hadDay 1 of Convention today, which is always lots of fun catching up with fellow Demonstrators from around Australia. Lots of swapping and hugging and squealing and that was before we even started. It is always fabulous to see Shelli and all the staff from the US and Australia as well. We have a great group of demonstrators here from our team this year, and even one of my stamp club ladies as a guest. Here's the girls arriving at the National Convention Centre this morning:

When we checked in we got our yummy convention bags with the new Circle Circus and Trendy Trees sets in them - woohoo. It was a bit embarrassing this year as they yelled out whenever an Incentive Trip winner registered!

 

Next it was hugging and catching sight of all my lovely friends from around Australis. Stampin' Up! has some of the loveliest people as demonstrators and in 2 short years I have developed some wonderful friendships, so it's always great to catch up in person.

Next it was up the stairs to Momento Mall where we get to purchase logo items for our business and pleasure.

 

In between all this there was LOTS of swapping going on! Look at all the fabulous cards I have to bring along to workshops to show you when I get back:

 

Here's the two swap cards I made:

 

 

We had presentations and make and takes today (with the fabulous prize patrol!) snd then at the end of the day we had a Managers Reception to mingle and chat with Shelli and the other US and Australian staff. Chatting to them is always one of the convention highlights for me!

I'm having an early night tonight, so I'm ready to go again in the morning. It's been a busy couple of nights (so excuse the typos). Also some of my favourite demonstrators are presenting tomorrow and I don't want to miss a thing! Have a great weekend and I'll be back again tomorrow,

Claire xx