Melbourne Regional Seminar

Yesterday over 100 Stampin' Up! demonstrators congregated at the Melbourne Convention Centre for our regional training seminar. These days are invaluable as a way to learn new techniques and business information as well as mingle with other demonstrators (usually from our own state, but often from interstate as well).

At the seminar we listened to various speakers and watched demonstrations from both local and international guests. We also got to make some projects ourselves, using stamp sets and cardstock packets which were included in our admission price. I wish I could show you what we made, but until December 1 I can't reveal the stamp set we used, because it isn't available until that date through the Summer Mini Catalogue.

So watch this space for more information on that.

Another feature of these get togethers is something that the stamping world (not just Stampin' Up!) has been doing for some time - swaps. It's not mandatory, but many demonstrators make card fronts specially to swap with other demonstrators - it is a good way to see new and different techniques and styles and to build up our sample boards and boxes so customers can see more than just the things we personally create.

I was lucky enough to swap with some very talented ladies (and one gentleman - waves to Martyn!) and would like to share a picture of the results with you.

Many thanks to (in no particular order): Felicity Gray, Gail Kirby, Janine Rawlins, Sheila Chilingsworth, Melanie Dunstan, Caville Ogden, Jo Eades, Christine Healey, Jenny Myerscough, Bron Alleyn, Nikki Holmes, Danielle Scholz, Bec Guerra, Jacinta Ryan, Bridget Larsen, Teresa Brown, Melissa Roos, Martyn Munro

There were of course many others swapping, sadly I wasn't quick enough and came home with a few of my own.

It was a great day, and a reminder about just why I do what I do - not only is it a lot of fun to create your own little works of art, it is even more fun to share it with other people who "get" the whole thing.

If you would like to join the fun, why not email me to find out more about joining my little team? We'd love to have you along!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Thoughts on a Craft Show

Well, we made it through the four days at the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre over the weekend. I worked on the stand both Friday and Saturday, and by the end of the two days I was exhausted (however it took me a good couple of hours to come down after I got hom Saturday night!). The show was open for late-night crafters on the Saturday, until 8pm which might have been a little late for most people as the crowds died right back after about 6pm.

Our stand looked great, and we attracted a lot of comments on the gorgeous samples we had on the walls. Note to self ... next time use a stronger tape to attach samples to the craft card that we used for the posters - turns out my use of pieces of rolled up sticky tape wasn't such a good idea, luckily the lovely Mel from the stand next door let me have a roll of double sided tape to get us out of that situation.

Sadly I forgot my camera so I have no photos to share with you ... darn it ...

A big thanks to Naomi, Janine, Christine, Gail, Melissa, Coral and my talented downline Anne-Marie, as well as the girls who worked "behind the scenes" to create the samples, posters, and handouts for the day. Let's hope that it was all worth it!

Craft and Quilt Fair in Melbourne this weekend

Just a quick plug for this show, seeing as how I will be working there this Friday and Saturday! The Craft & Quilt fair is on at Jeff's Shed (aka the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 2 Clarendon Street, Southbank) from Thursday July 24 through to Sunday July 27, and a few of my fellow demonstrators will be running a Stampin' Up! stand in "Papercraft Alley" (I believe it's Stand P06).

For more details on the show visit their website.

So if you're planning on visiting the show feel free to visit - I believe we will have a gorgeous display of handmade cards (as usual *g*) so drop past and say Hi!

Fun with punches

Now, I didn't make this, although I think some of my punches were used in its construction, but I have been given permission to post it and I have to because it's just so darn sweet!

Last week, a few of us got together at a friend's house because ... well, it's school holidays and it's nice for the kids to have someone new to argue with. So while nine kids sat in the lounge with the Wii, the grownups played with their own toys in the kitchen.

Originally we were making punchie owls (like this one here - how clever is that!?), which is a hoot (pun intended - couldn't resist it *g*). Then things started to get a bit silly and this little cutie was the result.

She is made using Stampin' Up!s Round Tab Punch, scallop Punch and Word Window Punch along with an assortment of circle punches. I think the MaryJanes are a particularly nice touch LOL.

So a big HI to Pauline and thanks for letting me post this so everyone can see how clever you are (if they didn't already know).

Frustration!

I have just spent the long weekend without a computer, and I honestly didn't realise how much I rely on it to keep me busy and amused! The rotten thing died at 5:35pm on Friday, and after taking it into the shop Saturday morning I was told it wouldn't be ready till at least this afternoon (Tuesday).

You would think that would give me ample time to play with my stamp supplies and make some fabulous works of art, wouldn't you?

Nup. Not one moment was spent stamping.

I spent the weekend reading, watching DVDs with the kids and knitting a scarf for Miss Nine (I promised her a scarf like the one I made myself a couple of years ago, out of fluffy feathery wool with a beaded fringe). Without the distractions of the computer I have nearly finished the knitting! And we got to watch some episodes of Scrubs and Arrested Development, plus Spiderman (the first movie - Miss Nine hadn't seen it), the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie and Muppet Treasure Island (we're having a Muppets revival in our house - you forget over the years just how funny they were!).

That's a lot of DVDs *g*.

Hopefully I will have my compter back today (probably with another new hard drive) and can return to normal programming. Just not looking forward to the bill *groan*.