Convention Swap

Hi there

It has been a while since my last post as I have been working on swaps and other goodies for Convention.  It sounds like I should have made a 100 (like a super efficient friend has done), but I only managed to do 20.  Obviously, I am not cut out for the production line - just as well I don't get paid by the piece in my day job! Now that I am actually at Convention (yay!) I can show you what I have been making.

I have used the fab Framelits Labels to die cut a frame and which has been mounted onto a larger label die cut. As I was cutting out quite a few frames, I found it easier to set the two label dies in position with some sticky tape. Put some more tape on the sticky side so that it doesn't stick to your card stock and it works a treat. Make sure you don't overlap the tape on inner edge of the die as it does leave an  indent mark on your card.  I have used Watercolour Crayons and a blender pen to colour the image. This is a technique I haven't used before with Crayons, but it gives a pastel-type look, I think.  Anyway, here it is.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Bordering on Romance, Petite Pairs, Kindness Matters
Card stock & Papers	Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Vellum Paper
Ink	Early Espresso, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder
Accessories	Basic Pearls
Tools	Finial Press EF, Framelit Labels dies, Big Shot, Large Oval punch, Blender Pen, Watercolour Crayons, Sponge Daubers, Clear EP, Bashful Blue marker, Dimensionals, Heat Gun

I will be back tomorrow to show you how I turned this design into a card for my Convention roomies.

Convention Wrap

Hi there

After a hectic post-Convention week at work, I've finally had time to sit down and have a look through my photos, the pile of swaps I received and other treasures collected at Convention.  My favourite parts of Convention are the sneak peaks at new colours and products; the Workshop Wow's when we see projects and techniques by some very talented Aussie demonstrators and the SU! staff from the US; the free Prize Patrol stamp sets and spending time with other like minded friends!   

We saw lots of fabulous new products that will be coming with the new Idea Book and Catalogue  in September and I was very fortunate to win a new Christmas stamp set in the Prize Patrol. We also got a peak at the 5 new In Colours that will be added to the existing ones in September. We will be able to share some of the sneak peaks with you in August and given how quickly the year is flying, it will be here in no time. 

Here is a photo from the Convention Dinner with my roomies Christine (front) and Sue (behind Christine) and two of Sue's lovely downlines Teena and Toby that I met for the first time at Convention. Check out the fab Melon Mambo tablecloth!

Moving on, I do have a card to share as well.  I spent a lovely afternoon celebrating the 21st birthday of the daughter of a friend that I have known since first moving to Melbourne in 1990.  This is the card I made for Chloe. Can't believe all those years have passed.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Signature Greetings (PTI)
Card stock & Papers	Textured White, Whisper White, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP (Retired), Neutrals Pattern Stack
Ink	Riding Hood Red
Accessories	5/8" Organza Ribbons, Basic Rhinestones
Tools	Timeless Type Junior Alphabet, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Labels 4 Die, Big Shot, Sponge Daubers Dimensionals, Scallop Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch

Have a good week.

 



Convention Swaps

Hi there

I'm currently attending the annual Stampin' Up! Convention, which is being held in Melbourne this year - woohoo!  I'm staying with some friends in an apartment in the city so we don't have to go home and attend to the normal household chores, interrupting the fun and frivolity.

I have been working for a while on my Convention swaps. This is one of the fun parts of Convention to exchange card samples and be inspired by the ideas of others.  I have two designs based on the same stamp set 'Nature Walk', reminiscent of a framed botanical plate. This is a lovely set from the current Autumn/Winter mini catalogue and is a good replacement for my previously favourite and now retired nature set - 'Touch of Nature'. The two designs add a bit of interest into the production line process that is necessary when making a substantial number of the same design.  I managed to produce 20 of each, which is more than enough! 

This is the first of the designs (unfortunately, the lighting on this photo isn't the best), using most of the images from the set. I've used a variety of options including markers direct to the rubber (flower), stamped and coloured with markers (bee), stamped and coloured with watercolour crayons (eggs) and stamped and washed with aqua painter (butterfly). The background is textured Very Vanilla, which I don't usually stamp on, but gives it more of a botanical plate feel. I've spritzed liberally with soft suede to give it the 'aged' look.

Project Details
Stamps	Nature Walk, You're a Gem
Card stock & Papers	Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Always  Artichoke
Ink	Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Perfect Plum, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories
Tools	Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Small Oval punch, Stampin’ Write Markers (Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke), Spritzer, Aqua painter, Watercolour Crayons, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

The lighting is better in this photo, showing the lovely tulip frame in Rich Razzleberry.  I love this rich colour.  The oval has been popped up on the En Francais background and the rest is as you see it.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Nature Walk, En Francais
Card stock & Papers	Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Always  Artichoke
Ink	Versamark, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories	1/8” Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls
Tools	Originals Ovals Die, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Stampin’ Write Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke), Spritzer, Aqua painter

I look forward to giving you some more details from Convention next week.

Happy stamping.

 



Convention 2010 Wrap

Hello

I can't believe that it is already a week since the Stampin' Up! Convention.  I have been busy with work since I've been back (and a pesky migraine) so I haven't had the opportunity to tell you about it. In summary, I had a blast - lots of fun, food, friends, new projects, new stamps and a lovely pile of swaps.  What more could a stamper want?  You saw the swaps I made in my previous posts - here is a photo of the swaps I received in return - it doesn't do them justice, but you get the idea. Swapping is great fun and you get lots of great card ideas and there were 3D items as well.

There were about 500 Demos at the Convention, so it was a big gathering.  They are really well organised with great attention to detail.  Here is a photo of the main room where everyone attended the general sessions during the day as well as the final Awards Dinner on Saturday night. In the foreground is one of the 'Art with Heart' team tables with the lovely Sue Madex (bottom left) and her team. This is before the Convention started.

Next is Shelli Gardner, CEO of Stampin' Up! telling her story of how Stampin' Up! came into being. She is a fabulous speaker and incredibly passionate about the company, the products and the future.

Next is a photo of our table members (starting top, L-R) - Christine, myself, Nikki, (front) Miriam and Claire Daly (leader of Art with Heart team).

On Friday night we went out for a casual fish & chip dinner at Darling Harbour.  However, the main event of the evening was dessert at the Lindt Cafe.  I didn't know there is actually one of these cafes in Melbourne as well. Christine, Nikki and I decided to share our desserts and this a photo of them sitting in front of me, prior to being divided up.  They were all really, really yummy!

On Saturday morning we got to do some 'make & takes' using two NEW stamp sets from the 2010-11 Idea Book & Catalogue that will be released on 1 September 2010. Unfortunately, I am unable to show you the stamps or the cards we made, but needless to say we had lots of fun.  In the afternoon Shelli did some stamping, giving us her take on the 'vintage' style. In between we had other team members from the Home Office in the US demonstrating some of the products in the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue. I hope to create some of my own projects based on these ideas in the next few weeks.

On Saturday afternoon, walking back to our apartment I got a call from my friend Karen who had just arrived from Perth to spend the week in Sydney. Not only that, she was staying a short distance away and was able to come over for a cuppa.  This was a wonderful surprise and although we only got to spend a couple of hours, it was lovely to catch up as always. I'm looking forward to Karen coming to visit in Melbourne in July, hopefully.

Saturday night was the Awards & Recognition dinner.  Here is me with my room mates Christine and Nikki in our finery waiting to go into the room.

 

Members of the Art with Heart Team were recognised in various categories of awards.  Sue Madex (striped dress) and Claire Daly (next to her) both achieved the Incentive Trip to Hamilton Island in October. Here they are on stage. They also achieved #15 Demonstrator and #1 Demonstrator of the year respectively - how fantastic is that?

Finally, I have a lovely card to share with you, but not one I have made. This was given to me by my 'roomie' Christine at the beginning of our Convention adventure. It is gorgeous on the outside and matched by the sentiments expressed on the inside - thank you Christine.

The only bad thing is that the time goes so quickly, but the Stampin' Up! Convention is in Melbourne next year and will be a day longer- whoo hoo! Time to start saving ....