Ros Davidson, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, Melbourne, Australia

Making Merry Monday #18

Edited to add: To purchase the pdf file, click here

Last card for this months MMM. PDF instructions file will be available to purchase from tomorrow.

Weekend overview

Friday night, I hosted a stall at our kinder's ladies night in. In preparation for the stall, I whipped up samples for upcoming classes. To see class descriptions and times, click here.

Saturday morning, I stayed home, nice and warm while hubby took Josh to Auskick... Something I think will be happening every second week. I freeze at Auskick (even though I am in the car watching) and the kids have a ball (including my non Auskickers).

Sunday we headed over to my mum's house for a late lunch (well it was really a "Linner" as I didn't have to cook dinner either). We had an scrumptious webber with my sister, step sister, step brother and their partners. My kids played so well with my step sisters children and it was a lovely relaxed afternoon. Only thing missing was my brother and his family. Thanks mum for a lovely afternoon. Hubby wasn't complaining either as he has leftover webber for dinner at work (he didn't come over as it was his "night time.")

Sadly, my handbag camera was at home and I didn't any photos on Sunday. I think my mum did until her camera decided to play funny buggers!

Sketch Friday Frenzy #2

Friday again and time for our 2nd Friday frenzy sketch. Today's sketch is designed by Tammy Baldwin.

For those that aren't regular readers of my blog, I have recently returned home from Stampin' Up! convention in Sydney. Shelli Gardner(CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up!) did a presentation on stage focusing on "vintage elements" (which is so Shelli).

For this card, I was channeling my inner Shelli Gardner and going with the vintage vibe. I'd also like to thank Judy May for inspiring me for the build a brad/punched circle idea.

Close up of the build a brad/punched circles

 

Remember to stop by and check out everyone else's take using the sketch.

Angela Walters

Brenda Taylor

Connie Smith

Donna Schneidtmiller

Kathryne Knowles

Kelli Waters

Kim Innis

Marisol Gutierrez

Melinda Couden

Nancy Legate

Pam Browne

Sherry Yeager

Tami Black

Tammy Baldwin

Tina Taves 

Materials list:
Stamps: Friends 24/7, think happy thoughts, en francais
Ink: Basic black, perfect plum, so saffron, sahara sand
Cardstock: Whisper white, perfect plum, so saffron, pale plum
Punches: 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, 3/4" circle, 1/2" circle
Accessories: Build a brad - antique brass, stampin' write markers - pale plum, perfect plum, mellow moss, close to cocoa, 1/4" elegant eggplant grosgrain ribbon, colour spritzer tool
Other: Old book paper

I'll miss you

Drew's kinder teacher, Angela had her last session teaching at our kinder today. Angela has taught 3 of my 4 kids. Drew (obviously), Nikki, last year at kinder and Josh, at childcare. We are sad to see her go but we know that she is doing what is best for her.

I couldn't let her go without making a card for her. I had Drew write (or copy rather) "I'll miss you" and it became the basis of my card front. The card front was also inspired by a make n take from convention in Sydney. Sadly, I can't show you the card until the new catalogue is released in September.

Inside the card

Last of all, some proof it is actually a spinner card!

Materials list:
Stamps: Outlined for fun
Inkpads: Tempting turquoise, summer sun, real red, sahara sand, versamark, green galore
Cardstock: Tempting turquoise, summer sun, real red, kraft, basic black, whisper white, green galore
Accessories: Black embossing powder, on board essentials (chipboard), brads

Late Making Merry Monday #17

Edited to add: To purchase the pdf file, click here

Apologises for the late MMM. I was so tired yesterday from my trip to Sydney I had a 3 hour nap (can that still be called a nap?) and then I went to bed early last night as well.

No more fussing about, my 17th MMM card.

Convention overview

Convention in Sydney was a blast. We had amusing things from me sitting on the airport conveyor belt for luggage to pick up the wheel to Tanja's baggage, taxi drivers that asked us as passengers directions for around Sydney (total what the!) and other things that I can't even think of as I type this. It was lovely to catch up with members from the greater Art with Heart team and put names to faces of those I hadn't met but have spent hours chatting to on our team forum.

My upline, Claire Daly was named #1 demonstrator of the year, fellow team members and Stamp-a-memory chicks, Sue Madex was #15 demonstrator of the year and Miriam Thomas was the #1 rising star of the year.

Just some notes I took at convention and wanted to share...

- Whimsical words (sale-a-bration stamp set) was the most popular stamp set of the year (April 2009 - March 2010)

- 260,823 stamp sets were sold in the year

- Australia has 2,105 demonstators (and room for so many more!)

- Stampin' Up! paid $1.13m in commissions in the last year and donated $250,000 in products

From May 21st till July 31st, Stampin' Up! are offering 20% off the starter kit price bringing the cost down to $259. If you want to receive loads of product at a fabulous price (the stamps alone are valued at over $220), contact mefor more information about becoming a demonstrator.

Just want to leave you with a photo of some of my roomies. Photo taken Saturday night at dinner where we had a fabulous 3 course meal and was entertained by some musicans and Fijian dancers.

L-R: Jo Sherry, me, Genna Gifford, Tanja Westwood

Convention Swaps

I am not home yet, still living it up in Sydney where Stampin' Up's! annual convention was held this year. None the less, I'd like to share my swaps with you.

I made flower lollipops this year.

Side view (just to prove there is a lollipop in there) *smirk*

Materials list:
Stamps: Sanded
Inkpad: Really rust, real read, bashful blue, pumpkin pie, old olive
Cardstock: Really rust, real read, bashful blue, pumpkin pie, old olive
Punches: 1 3/4", 1 3/8", 1 1/4", 1", 3/4", 1/2" circles
Accessories: Die cut blooms, brads, stampin' dimensionals, 1/4" old olive grosgrain ribbon
Other: Lollipops

Sketch Friday Frenzy #1

I am part of a team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all over the US, Canada and me in Australia that are creating a card each Friday based on a original sketches designed by our team members. Today is our first sketch and each Friday a new card will be uploaded at 8pm (EST, Melbourne, Australia time).

My card is for my daughters 6th birthday. I ran out of time to make one for my other daughters birthday last month so I am getting super organised this time as Nikki's birthday is in October. It is hard to see but on the bravo burgundy strip, it does does magical birthday wishes just after the "6".

I made my own background paper with re inkers and glossy cardstock and water.

Here's our first sketch designed by Melinda Couden

My take on it!

Since I had some leftover handmade paper, I decorated the inside also.

Remember to stop by and check out everyone else's take using the sketch.

Angela Walters

Brenda Taylor

Connie Smith

Donna Schneidtmiller

Kathryne Knowles

Kelli Waters

Kim Innis

Marisol Gutierrez

Melinda Couden

Nancy Legate

Pam Browne

Sherry Yeager

Tami Black

Tammy Baldwin

Tina Taves

Materials list:
Stamps: Pony party
Inkpads: Lovely lilac, almost amethyst, versamark
Cardstock: Lovely lilac, almost amethyst, bravo burgundy, watercolour paper, elegant eggplant
Accessories: Timeless type die cut alphabet, watercolour wonder crayons, black embossing powder, re-inkers - lovely lilac, pale plum, lavender lace

Off to convention I go...

By the time you are reading this, I will be well on my way to Sydney for the annual Stampin' Up! convention. I am super excited as I love being inspired and hanging out with so many fellow demonstrators. Last year, I had a blast (even though I was sick), Stampin' Up! spoiled us with goodies and an awesome Saturday night dinner and I get a break from my kids.

I will be posting a picture of my swaps in a few days. Look out for my very first Sketch Friday Frenzy tomorrow from 8pm Melbourne time.

Lost teeth and a burnt hand

Not a good start to a Tuesday morning, hubby wakes me up early after arriving home from work early with a burnt hand. Had to go to the hospital at 2am this morning and has mild to deep burns on his right hand. Yes, of course, it is his RIGHT hand. Perfect timing with me going away to Sydney on Thursday and him finding it hard to drive the car with his bandaged club hand...

 

 
In other news, the tooth fairy has been super busy in our house over the weekend. On Saturday, Josh lost his 3rd tooth (bottom left) and on Sunday, Nikki lost her first TWO teeth (bottom front). I actually pulled Nikki's teeth out as they were hanging on by a thread and one had a new teeth coming up from behind already. Super cute with the way Nikki is talking at the moment with a slight lisp for losing both teeth at the same time.

Swaps are finished and ready for Sydney and ready for convention. Pity, I'm not... LOL, still have washing, packing etc, to do.