Last guaranteed chance for InColor 08-09

All InColor 08-09 items including reinkers will retire this Sunday, March 1. If InColor items sell out once the retirement list is announced, it's over! But, if you order them before Sunday, Stampin' Up! will arrange for more stock to be shipped from the US if it runs out of stock here.

InColor 08-09

• Blue Bayou
• Groovy Guava
• Purely Pomegranate
• River Rock
• Soft Sky
• Wild Wasabi

So, if you love one or more of these colours, please contact me to order your InColor items today.

InColor items

108638 12 X 12 Cardstock (24)
108694 12 X 12 Textured Cardstock (24)

A4 Cardstock (24)
111860 Blue Bayou
111857 Groovy Guava
111853 Purely Pomegranate
111852 River Rock
111851 Soft Sky
111850 Wild Wasabi

111856 A4 Mixed Cardstock (36)

Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
109060 Blue Bayou
109063 Groovy Guava
109061 Purely Pomegranate
109062 River Rock
109059 Soft Sky
109058 Wild Wasabi

Ink Pad
109013 Blue Bayou
109012 Groovy Guava
109011 Purely Pomegranate
109010 River Rock
109009 Soft Sky
109013 Wild Wasabi

Reinker
109018 Blue Bayou
109012 Groovy Guava
109011 Purely Pomegranate
109010 River Rock
109015 Soft Sky
109020 Wild Wasabi

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
110716 Wild Wasabi

Embossing's a beach!

I've been doing a bucket load of embossing recently as I've been preparing for various embossing technique classes including Cracked Glass and Faux Metal. Until Stampin' Up! Australia introduces Glassy Glaze, I have to stick with its clear embossing powder (EP) for demonstrating the Cracked Glass technique - which means six to eight layers of embossing to achieve the same thickness as a couple of layers of UTEE.

This really isn't a problem - after all, it is kinda fun applying the powder and watching in wonder when it melts under the roar of my heat tool. After the novelty of the first four embosses though, one's mind starts to wander. *apply VersaMark* What should I have for lunch today? *pour EP over project* Had leftovers yesterday...got leftovers today... *tap tap off excess EP* *return excess to container* *fire up heat tool* When this is done, shall I play drums or guitar on Guitar Hero World Tour? This t-shirt I'm wearing REALLY needs washing! Hmmm...wonder what's on TV? Is this the fifth or the sixth layer? *apply heat to project* Oooooh! Shiny! Gah! Hot! Quick! *point heat tool away while simultaneously pouring EP on project* And so it goes...and goes. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz...

Until the moment that I get completely complacent (or comatose - not sure which comes first) and forget to point the heat tool away while attempting to cover the project with a new layer of EP. An instantaneous cloud of EP billows over my workspace, transforming it into a sandy paper beach - even my right arm is encrusted with EP like I had been spending the afternoon making EPcastles. *sigh*

So, the moral of the story is ... nope ... there's none to be had. Bring on Glassy Glaze, Stampin' Up! Australia!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Brown
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
For Father

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory
Not Quite Navy
Old Olive Textured

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Clear Embossing Powder
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Hodgepodge Hardware in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Theatre Ribbon Originals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements, Neutrals

Saying Shi Ying

My sister gave birth to a sweet little baby girl on Valentine's Day and her name is Shi Ying. My sister has let me know that it is "Ying" pronounced in the third tone in Mandarin. The third tone is described as the dipping tone since it starts mid-tone, dips lower and then ends on a rising pitch. Yeah - just like a vocal rollercoaster. Being completely illiterate in any forms of Chinese, I now have to practice saying Ying in the third tone everywhere I go so that I don't call my little niece by the wrong name on our first meeting. Someone else (like her whole kindergarten in a few years' time) will have the dubious honour of doing that!

Regardless, I am ecstatic that my sister and baby Shi Ying are resting well with no complications during the birth other than my sister missing out on the epidural she was hoping for. Ow! Or should that be oooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeee!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Pretty in Pink

Stamp sets:
Nursery Necessities
Short and Sweet

Cardstock:
Metallic Silver
Pretty in Pink
Whisper White

Accessories:
Large Oval Punch
Pink Gingham Ribbon
Slot Punch
Small Oval Punch
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Markers in Soft Subtles


I made this card using my newly hatched up "Pin by a Punch" technique. Actually, it is made using three punches but the name was so neat that I'm pleading artistic licence. I mean, how could I resist a pin pun (however obscure the allusion is to a pinch and a punch)?

Stampin' Up! Bushfire Appeal

From now until the end of March 2009, Stampin' Up! will donate 50% of the retail value of all sales from the following 10 stamp sets to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal. To further encourage the sales of these sets, I'll pass on my instant income to you as a 20% discount for the same period (many thanks to my terrific upline Jayne for this idea).

Stamp Set	Page	Item Number	RRP	Appeal price
Baroque Motifs	98	112380	39.95	31.96
Be Happy*	51	108744	39.95	31.96
Bodacious Bouquet*	80	108756	58.95	47.16
G'day Mate*	115	111973	35.95	28.76
Live Your Dream	**3	114261	55.95	44.76
Looks Like Spring*	76	108864	58.95	47.16
Polka Dots & Paisley*	46	110247	35.95	28.76
Priceless	105	112312	48.95	39.16
Seeing Spots	89	108909	29.95	23.96
The Snowflake Spot*	27	108934	39.95	31.96

* Retiring at the end of March 2009 so available only while stocks last.
** All page numbers refer to 2008-9 Idea Book & Catalogue except for Live Your Dream which appears in the Summer Mini Catalogue.

If you have been eyeing some of these sets, now is this the best time to get them since you:
1. will be donating to the bushfire appeal
2. will be saving 20% off the regular price
3. can earn free Sale-A-Bration stamp sets for every $100 spent on product until the end of February
4. will have the best chance of securing the sets that are retiring before the retirement list comes out in March.

Of course, who needs any more motivation that point 1, right?

In gratitude and guilt

In Australia, we've had a compelling lesson in the fragility of existence. The bushfires in Victoria have claimed many lives, 173 people confirmed dead so far, and many homes. I am sure that those who survive the ordeal will eventually recover because, even though our time here is arbitrary, our ability to endure is immense.

As witnesses to scenes of grief and ruin, we have asked each other how we could help and have acted in concert with the response. It is heartening to know that we will still look out for each other in tough economic times.

As someone who is well removed from the flames and those affected by them, I'm stuck strangely between gratitude and guilt. Feeling gratitude for all that I have and guilty that I haven't lost it all. It seems to be the only homage that I can make to those who have lost everything.

I've got no projects that would be appropriate to post but this page features my nephew Shi Wei - I am so grateful that he is still around. Stay safe.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Pretty in Pink
Wild Wasabi

Stamps:
Jumbo Outline Alpha

Paper:
Afternoon Tea DSP
Ginger Blossom DSP
Pumpkin Pie Prints DSP
Vellum CS
Whisper White CS
Wild Wasabi Textured CS

Accessories:
Anchored Rub-Ons
Flower Fusion
On Board Blossoms & Basics
Paper Snips
Photo Corners Punch
Rhinestone Circle Brads in Ice
Round Tab Punch
Sanding Block
Scallop Edge Punch
Silver Brads
Simply Scrappin' Kit Winter Bright
Stampin' Write Journaller
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
White Gel Pen

Embellishmenthoarderism

My name is Lin Mei and I am an embellishmenthoarderholic.

I'd join Embellishmenthoarderholics Anonymous but they are so anonymous that I can't locate them. Nope - not listed in the Yellow Pages, not hiding in the local Rotary Club, not even a single match returned by Google. I tried looking for them in craft forums but, to be honest, it's like looking for an AA meeting in a bar. After hearing about everyone's rave reviews of the happy hour jumbo eyelets and the amazing buzz you get from your fourth shot of Flower Fusion, it's enough to drive anyone to drink and submit that hundredth online order!

And then the waiting begins...all the items in my stash suddenly lose their lustre because something newer and shinier and eminently more desirable is heading my way. But I try to persevere with the next project to take the edge off. But that is when the real problem emerges. What can I use? Do I dare to use two out of the three 4 cm felt flowers that I have in Old Olive - what if I need two for a scrapbook page without which rhythm would be completely impossible? Should I dip into my collection of Rich Regal brads? I only have the 200 (and that is approximately!) in their unopened container - what if they are retired soon? Could I even imagine life without Rose Red round bits of metal? Aaaarrgghh!

Anyway, I came up with an idea to use some of my embellishments - I've altered my 2009 diary so that these embellishments can accompany me wherever I go. Also, most of the embellishments have been attached through brads ... which means that in a craft emergency, I always have the option of looting this diary! Ingenious, no?! Reusing the rub-on could prove tricky, however.

I was really happy that I got to use the boing¹ in the elasticized ribbon from my precious pack of Theatre Ribbon Originals. It holds my diary closed and can be used as a bookmark in a pinch.
Stampin' Supplies
Paper:
Bali Breeze DSP

Accessories:
Circle Rhinestone Brads in Fire, Ice
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Flower Fusion
Scallop Edge Punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
Theatre Ribbon Originals
White Gel Pen

The second photo was supposed to be an arty shot of the cover but as you can see the focus was not quite at the front of the picture. I'd take another shot but I am waiting for the parcel guy and that requires my full attention...*runs off to check the front door in case the order has arrived*

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1. boing: elasticity. Derived from the imagined sound of pulling something rubbery