Faux Metal Class

I made these cards at a Faux Metal Class held for a few of my lovely friends during their lunch break. Faux Metal is a really effective technique for stepping up your cards and papercraft projects. This technique takes a little bit of practice to get used to...unless you have been blessed with a third arm!

If you are interested in learning this technique and have at least three friends who would also like to do this with you, I can come to a venue of your choice and do a class with you. It costs $20 per person and all materials for each person to make two cards using this technique will be supplied.

Aft Fest

CraftFest 2009 was great manic fun! We met lots of enthusiastic papercrafters and a few quilters who had their interest piqued on their way to the next fat quarter. We even had a few bead artisans drop by. Our visitors completed around 250 make and takes as mementos of their visit to our stand. Six lucky door prizes were drawn and given away...I mention this because of two serendipitous draws (one involved a little girl drawing her own name out of the bowl *claps excitedly* and another saw a lady bemoaning the fact that she never wins anything witness her name being drawn two minutes later *claps even more excitedly*). I hope that everyone enjoyed our technique demonstrations featuring the beautiful and versatile Embrace Life stamp set which is available until the end of this month through the current Stampin' Up! Australia Summer Mini.

The following card was displayed during my Crayon Resist demonstration so I thought why not post it with its supply list?

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Bashful Blue
Certainly Celery
Chocolate Chip
Tempting Turquoise

Stamp sets:
Embrace Life
En Français background

Cardstock:
Certainly Celery Textured
Glossy White
Whisper White

Accessories:
Chunky Glitter
Paper Snips
Sponge Daubers
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Marker in Old Olive
Tombow Liquid Adhesive
Word Window Punch

I'm now busily adding e-mail addresses to my mailing list to send out my next newsletter by the end of the week. If you visited us and didn't get a chance to fill out a lucky door prize form (or forgot to tick that you are interested in a monthly e-mail), just click on the Sign Me Up! link on the left to be added to my list.

A big wave to my lovely friends and customers for visiting me at the stand *WAVE*

CraftFest, Sydney 2009

This is a bag holding Stampin' Up! goodies for one of the lucky door prizes that we'll be giving away at CraftFest 2009. To know what is in it, enter our lucky door competition. It's free!

If you are coming to CraftFest, we'd love you to visit our stand. We'll be featuring technique demonstrations and doing make & takes. There'll be Pick-A-Prizes for bundle purchases too. We'll also have a large array of projects using Stampin' Up! products - if you are inspired by any of our work, you are most welcome to take pictures. We'd also be happy to answer any questions that you may have about Stampin' Up! products or the company itself. Hope to see you there!

When:	Friday March 6th to Sunday March 8th, 2009
Where:	The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush
Time:	10am - 4.30pm
Admission:	Adult - $15* Seniors, Aged or Disability Pensioners - $13* Children under 5 - Free Children (5 to 16 Years) - $7 Family (2 adults and 2 children) - $35 Group (minimum 10 pre-booked) - $12 each

* If you register as part of the Craft Club, save $1 off the Adult and Seniors, Aged or Disability Pensioners rate.

Simply sending off Simple Delights

I looked at my blog yesterday and realised that it is just a mass of lists! What happened to the crafty stuff?!

I have been really busy preparing for CraftFest 2009 but I wanted to post one of the cards that I made using my favourite Simply Sent kit: Simple Delights. Most of the supplies can be found in the kit excepting the wide satin Chocolate Chip that can be found in Theatre Ribbon Originals and the buckle which is from a tin of Antique Brass Hodgepodge. All three items are retiring *pout* but the good news is that you can save 25% off Simple Delights while it is in stock (now $59.96). Farewell Simple Delights - you were simply delightful.

Anyway, must run to finish a few things including a lucky door prize that will be presented at CraftFest.

Stampin' Up! 2008-2009 Idea Book & Catalogue Retired List

ETA April 1: All retired items are now unavailable.

March signals the end of the current Stampin' Up! Australia Idea Book & Catalogue (IBC). *sniffle* Many products are retired - meaning that they will no longer be sold by SU! in Oz and, if stock runs out during this period, they are gone for good. *wave goodbye*

The full list is available here in alphabetical order of item name or in order of catalogue page number.

Two items that have been reduced by 50% to $5.98 are the Spring Flowers and Spring Showers Designer Series Paper sets that didn't appear in the IBC. Since there are quite a few items are being sold at 25% off interspersed in the retired list, I've collated them in a table for quick reference:

IB&C Page	Name	Item Number	Reduced Price	Stock Level
Stamp Sets
40	All Through the Year	108728	$25.46
34	All Year Fun	108992	$43.46
110	Alphabits	108734	$22.46
48	Artfully Asian	108738	$34.46
102	Background Sampler	108742	$22.46
53	Backyard BBQ	111229	$32.96
65	Bronc Buster	112376	$26.96
78	Bud Basics	111232	$25.46
108	Canvas	108764	$25.46
33	Dad's Day	112253	$32.96	Low
42	Eat Cake	108781	$36.71
117	Expressive Flexible Phrases	108786	$59.96
108	Fine Lace	108806	$25.46
95	Finest Flourishes	108807	$26.96
107	Floral	108811	$25.46
108	Fine Lace	108806	$25.46
108	Friendly	112397	$25.46
68	Go Team	111975	$25.46
56	Greetings Galore	108828	$44.21
92	Happiness	112306	$25.46
28	Holiday Wishes	108840	$34.46
26	Hung Up on the Holidays	108842	$22.46
68	Just Golf	112330	$18.71
68	Just Tennis	112332	$18.71
31	Keep Christmas	112216	$28.46	Low
122	Kia Ora	111989	$23.21
96	Labelicious	112338	$29.96
113	Lexicon of Love	108855	$22.46
53	Like It a Latte	110254	$35.21
29	Merry, Merry	112223	$34.46
90	Office Accoutrement	110243	$45.71
107	On the Spot	108884	$25.46
108	Paisley	108887	$25.46
126	Rough Edges Mini Alphabets	108904	$29.96
83	Sassy Stems	108906	$26.96
29	Snow Flurries	110244	$15.71
30	Solemn Stillness	108918	$44.21
91	Stamp of Authenticity	108920	$45.71
100	Sweet Sampler	112284	$22.46
93	Sweet Shapes	108927	$36.71
60	Sweet Thing	112290	$22.46
108	Well Worn Words	108954	$25.46
Buttons
147	Bold Brights buttons	103977	$10.13
147	Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons	103981	$10.13	Gone
Designer Series Paper
135	Berry Bliss Designer Series paper	110749	$8.96
136	Brilliant Blue Prints Designer Series paper	109174	$8.96
134	Brocade Background Designer Series paper	109149	$8.96
136	Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series paper	109178	$8.96
136	Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Series paper	109169	$8.96
134	Dashing Designer Series paper	109150	$8.96
136	East Coast Prep Designer Series paper	110699	$8.96
134	Fall Flowers Designer Series paper	109160	$8.96
134	Le Jardin Designer Series paper	109151	$8.96	Gone
135	Notebook Designer Series paper	110748	$8.96
136	Old Olive Prints Designer Series paper	109176	$8.96
134	Outlaw Designer Series paper	109148	$8.96
135	Petals & Paisleys Designer Series paper	108503	$8.96
136	Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series paper	109170	$8.96	Gone
136	Spring Break Designer Series paper	110698	$8.96
135	Spring Fling Designer Series paper	110273	$8.96
135	Spring Silhouettes Designer Series paper	110271	$8.96
Hodgepodge Hardware
135	Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware	105515	$39.71	Gone
In Color
129	Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Pad	109013	$7.46
146	Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	109060	$12.71
129	Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Pad	109012	$7.46
146	Groovy Guava double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	109063	$12.71
129	In Color A4 card stock	111856	$10.88
129	In Color textured 12"x 12" card stock	108694	$16.46
129	Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Pad	109011	$7.46
146	Purely Pomegranate double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	109061	$12.71
129	River Rock Classic Stampin' Pad	109010	$7.46
129	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	109009	$7.46
146	Soft Sky double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	109059	$12.71
129	Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad	109014	$7.46
146	Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	109058	$12.71
146	Wild Wasabi striped grosgrain ribbon	110716	$11.21
Miscellaneous
133	Days-To-Remember 12" x 12" Wall Calendar	103604	$15.71
133	Pockets & Pieces Office Accents	110730	$12.71	Low
On Board
140	On Board Accents	107307	$15.71
141	On Board Blossoms & Basics	109181	$20.96
141	On Board Ginormous Pieces	109179	$20.96
140	On Board Simon Lower	107306	$15.71
Punches
142	1/4" Square punch	104943	$8.63
142	Spring Flower Bouquet punch	106522	$23.21
Ribbon
147	Beachfront Ribbon Originals	109189	$17.96
146	Caramel gingham ribbon	104830	$9.71
147	District Ribbon Originals	109187	$17.96
147	FairyTale Ribbon Originals	109188	$17.96
146	Light Blue gingham ribbon	104829	$9.71	Low
146	Light Pink gingham ribbon	104828	$9.71
146	Moss gingham ribbon	104831	$9.71
Rub-Ons
141	Anchored Rub-Ons	110282	$14.96
141	Cherished Memories Rub-Ons	110281	$14.96
141	Urban West Rub-Ons	110285	$14.96
Simply Scrappin'
137	Crew Kids Boy Simply Scrappin'	110572	$27.71
138	Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'	109663	$27.71
Simply Sent
13	Friendly Notes Simply Sent	112664	$76.46
12	Lifelong Notes Simply Sent	112666	$59.96	Low
13	Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent	112665	$76.46
14	Simple Delights Simply Sent	112667	$59.96
14	Three Thoughts Simply Sent	112668	$59.96

Last updated: March 31st, 2009 10:01pm AEDT

Low Availability Items

Stamp Sets
112229 ABC Images
108722 All I Have Seen
108998 Beautiful Life
112272 Classic Backgrounds
112253 Dad's Day
112300 Elegant Notes
112391 Everything Baby
112310 Fabulous Flowers
112316 Forever in My Heart
112216 Keep Christmas
108857 Linen
110248 Polka Dots & Petals
108944 Unfrogettable

Wheels
104061 Star Studded

Buttons
103978 Earth Elements buttons
105446 Rich Regal Buttons

Hodgepodge Hardware
105532 Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware

In Color
111860 Blue Bayou A4 card stock

Miscellaneous
100900 Gift sacks
110730 Pockets & Pieces Office Accents

Ribbons
104829 Light Blue Gingham Ribbon

Simply Sent
112666 Lifelong Notes Simply Sent

Sold Out Items

Stamp Sets
108720 Ahoy, Matey
108740 Bareback
108746 Best Friends Alphabet Lower
108747 Best Friends Alphabet Upper
108748 Best Friend Numbers
110255 Bundle of Joy
108763 By Land
108765 Cheery Chat
108849 It's Your Birthday
108874 Mostly Flowers
112402 Short Order Numbers
108923 Stipple Rose
108929 Symbols of Solicitude

Wheels
106610 Basics Outline
107467 Birthday
106662 Daisy Field
104065 Fishy
107565 Flip Flops
104156 Flitting By
107561 Garden Annuals
103195 Gifts Galore
104279 Leaf Prints
107482 Lily Pad
107212 Matey's Map
107464 Rough Texture
107465 Speckled

Brads and Eyelets
105320 Basic Eyelets
100381 Earth Elements Eyelets
105316 Rich Regal Eyelets
100378 Soft Subtle Eyelets

Buttons
103981 Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons
105445 Soft Subtle buttons

Designer Series Paper
109151 Le Jardin Designer Series paper
109170 Pumpkin Pie Prints Designer Series paper

Hodgepodge Hardware
105531 Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware
105515 Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware

In Color
109018 Blue Bayou Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
108638 In Color 12"x 12" card stock
109019 Groovy Guava Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
111853 Purely Pomegranate A4 Card Stock
109017 Purely Pomegranate Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
111852 River Rock A4 Card Stock
109016 River Rock Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
111851 Soft Sky A4 Card Stock
109015 Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink Refill
111850 Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock
109020 Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

Miscellaneous
103280 Embossing kit
106523 Five-In-One Card Cover Envelope Template

Ribbons
101259 Black Hemp Twine
109185 Jersey Ribbon Originals
109186 Theater Ribbon Originals

Simply Scrappin' Kits
109610 Confetti Simply Scrappin'

REally TIRED

I've stayed up way past my bedtime and even the bedtimes of my family in another timezone to examine the freshly released Stampin' Up! Australia's 2008-2009 Idea Book & Catalogue Retired List. It is a LONG one!

I wasn't expecting there to be any promotions in March due to the retired list based on last year's experience but it turns out that I was dead wrong. Stampin' Up! have reduced the prices of some retired stamp sets and accessories by 25% (and a couple of DSPs by 50% - see Catalogue Write-ins). To take advantage of these, though, the items must be in stock when your order is submitted by me to Stampin' Up! So, please check the list and order as early as you can for the best chance to secure the retired items that you want. Stampin' Up! Australia may add or remove items from the list.

A quick snippet of the list of items reduced by 25% (I will add the rest later when my eyes stop twitching from fatigue):

Page in IB&C	Name	Item Number	Reduced Price
40	All Through the Year	108728	$25.46
34	All Year Fun	108992	$43.46
110	Alphabits	108734	$22.46
48	Artfully Asian	108738	$34.46
102	Background Sampler	108742	$22.46
53	Backyard BBQ	111229	$32.96
65	Bronc Buster	112376	$26.96
78	Bud Basics	111232	$25.46
108	Canvas	108764	$25.46
33	Dad's Day	112253	$32.96
42	Eat Cake	108781	$36.71
117	Expressive Flexible Phrases	108786	$59.96
108	Fine Lace	108806	$25.46
95	Finest Flourishes	108807	$26.96
107	Floral	108811	$25.46
108	Fine Lace	108806	$25.46
108	Friendly	112397	$25.46

Will resume this tomorrow later today...If you can't wait, please download the PDF which is available in alphabetical order of name (handy if there is something that you know you want to check) or by catalogue page number (good for going through with your Idea Book & Catalogue in hand).