The Card Barn Class ~ Macleay Island

Come along and create a fabulous set of cards
in a creative card holder - The Card Barn! *

Date: Saturday 13th June

Time: 2pm - 5pm

Place: My Place ~ 34 President Tce, Macleay Island

Cost: $25

RSVP: 5th June ~ payment is required at time of RSVP

Included will be all the materials and instructions to
create this fabulous card holder
(The Card Barn), plus a set of 10 matching cards & envelopes!
(5 note cards and 5 gift cards with envelopes).

Afternoon tea will also be provided.

What to bring with you: 12" x 12" paper trimmer with a scoring blade (I will have a couple here on the day if you do not have one of your own), Adhesives (double sided tape/sticky strip, snail, dimensionals etc), scissors, and a bone folder.

Special: Order the Cheep Talk Stamp Set from me, featured in this project, on page 98 available for $47.95 before attending the Card Barn Class...
and you can attend at the discounted price of $20

(NOTE: I am looking for a venue to run this on the mainland also on another date, I will keep you posted.)

If coming to my place doesn't suit you... and you just can't wait until I book a mainland date... remember all you need is a minimum group of 4 and

I will bring this class to you!!!!!!!

Arty Farty Tea Party

The girls gathered for what girls love to do best... have tea, coffee, cake, catching up on gossip, prizes... and a bit of craft!!!!

What fun we did have!

Hostess's Maryann & Sonia did a wonderful job co-ordinating this special event to support the Australian Cancer Council's Biggest Morning tea Event on the 28th May.

The guests arrived...

The yummy's were scrumptious...

There were paintings on display, available for sale,

by Maryann's sister who is a fabulous artist...

I had a display of Stampin' Up!

(with some help of some favourites of Liz's handy work also)

And the Stampin' began......

Keeping with the theme of the morning -

Blue and yellow for the Cancer Council

we each got to make this special card.

We made it with a recipe for a cake you can cook in a MUG!

(Also keeping with the Biggest Morning tea theme of course).

The idea came from a similar swap from our convention earlier this month in Canberra.

I think this card would also be great with a

'Get Well' theme on the front

and a recipe for chicken soup.

Thank you to all who came along and supported the morning...

and a huge WELL DONE to Maryann and Sonia.

They have told me $330 was raised for the

Cancer Council from the day.

It was a fabulous idea.

Look forward to next year's Arty Farty Tea Party!

Macleay workshops ~ Foldout Scrapbook Page Card!

For our Friday workshops here on Macleay,

we made the great Foldout Scrapbook Page Card!

Having 8 attend I chose to make this in two different colour combinations and give each person the choice in which colour they would prefer.

Here is Marg & Cherryl at my day-time class with the two different colours.

They turned out absolutely fabulous... and everyone went home smiling!

I love these foldout scrapbook cards, they will make great gifts for friends and family as you can add special photos to share and remember, but be giving a card at the same time. Really a novel idea. Liz even mentioned making them at Christmas time and sending them to special family and friends with photos of the kids etc. Bit different to the usual Chrissy card... What a great idea!

Barb was at my night-time workshop and

chose to make her page for her sister.

I think I will make my next one using

my favourite DS papers 'Sweet Always'

and it's co-ordinating colours!

The Card Barn Class!

Here is the cutest little project I have seen in a while... The Card Barn!

This little barn was shown to us at our last Paper Angels meeting by one of our Paper Angels Bec. She found this project originally designed by Linda Heller and has created a little class with it. Kindly sharing the instructions with other Paper Angel Demonstrators so we can share the class with our customers!

So... I would like to share with you the newest addition to my class list

~ available to book anytime from now...

The Card Barn Class!!!!!

Included will be all the materials and instructions to create this fabulous card holder (The Card Barn), plus a set of 10 matching cards & envelopes!

(5 note cards and 5 gift cards with envelopes).

The cost for this class is $25!

Special: Order the Cheep Talk Stamp Set from me, featured in this project, on page 98 available for $47.95 before attending the Card Barn Class...

and you can attend at the discounted price of $20

Booking this class is easy... Just gather up some friends

(minimum group of 4),
pick a date and who's house the fun will be at,
and I will come to you!

My diary is quickly filling,
so jump on the phone, or email this blog to your Stampin' friends...
then give me a call and book it in!
(Payment for this class would need to be paid 1 week before
to allow for the purchase of materials)

Remember one lucky hostess in April/May/June
will WIN a Fiskars Cutter valued at $39.95
as seen on page 155 of the catalogue...
booking a class like this in your home includes you in the draw.

I will be running this class on the 13th June at my place on Macleay Island... time to be advised. Also looking for a venue on the mainland. I will keep you posted!

Using ‘Heat & Stick Powder’

You can use Heat & Stick Powder to apply
Stampin' Glitter to your stamped images with precision!

1) Stamp your image with VersaMark ink.
2) Apply ‘Heat & Stick Powder’ to the inked image. Shake off excess powder and funnel back into the container.
3) Heat image with the heat tool just until the powder turns to liquid.
DO NOT OVERHEAT.
4) Pour glitter onto the inked image, making sure that the image is completely coated. Shake off excess glitter and funnel back into its container.
5) Heat again briefly to set.
NOTE: fold your drop sheet before starting to make a funnel for pouring your powder/glitter back into their containers.

Heat & Stick Powder can be found on page 145 and is available for $8.50

A Heat Tool is required for the use of Heat & Stick Powder.

The Heat Tool can be found on page 154 and is available for $49.95

The ‘Wipe Swipe’

A quick way to turn a plain white piece of card

into a WOW!!!!!

1) Select 2, 3, or 4 ink refill colours
2) Squeeze a few drops of ink on a baby wipe
3) Repeat this with all colours chosen
4) Gently swipe the wipe over your card stock to create a colourful background.

The key to this is choosing the right colour combinations. If you use too many colours you might end up with a not-so-nice muddy brown.

You will never come up with the same result twice!

Re-inkers can be found on pages 126-129 available for $5.95 each.

I have used Crystal Effects on the glasses to make them look 3D ( like glass)

Crystal Effects can be found on Page 154 for $11.95

Colour Spritzing!

Achieve spectacular effects using a

Stampin' Write marker with the convenient

Spritzer Tool.

1) Place a Stampin’ Write Marker into the tool so the tip goes just past the end of the spritzer tool and secure into place.
NOTE: The brush end of your marker should be the end facing the end of the spritzer tool.
2) Squeeze the end of the spritzer so that air blows onto the marker tip, blowing mists of ink from the marker.
3) Test the results you will get on some scrap paper, try at different distances from the paper and different angles until you achieve the results you want.
4) Use the Colour Spritzer Tool to mist colour onto your project.

The Colour Spritzer Tool can be found on Page 156 available for $24.95.
Stampin' Write marker's sold separately.

Technique File

Creating a technique file is fun!

It makes a great resource, and allows you to experiment with your craft by using products you may never have used before, using them in ways you may not have used them,

or ever imagined using them!

Let me share with you my technique file!

I have made each of these techniques as a file system on a ring. Each file is 7cm x 10cm. (This size makes them easy to re-create as a gift card if you desire.) On the back of each file card I have printed the instructions. The ring I have used opens up easily and I can select my chosen card and have it by my side to remind me how the technique is done.

Click on the links below to be directed to each file...

* Colour Spritzing

* The 'Wipe Swipe'

* Using 'Heat & Stick Powder'

* Basic Masking

* Heat Embossing

* Poppin' Pastels

* Rock & Roll

* Create your own Brads

Experiment away, and remember craft is about relaxing and creating,

letting your mind go free.

Enjoy playing around with new techniques!!!!!!

Don't hesitate to call me if you get stuck or have any questions..... I can come over and share a technique or two that you may have spotted here, with you and some friends over a coffee!

Is your wish list as long as your arm?

Have you thought about having a Workshop,

and getting lots of goodies for FREE?!

Workshops are hands-on fun for you and your friends

to discover what Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Over a couple of hours at your home, I demonstrate different techniques and products. There's plenty of time to try out the products yourself and complete a make-and-take project.

As the hostess of a workshop you'll receive, absolutely FREE,

the lovely Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue

full of ideas for cards and scrapbooks.

(if you already have the Catalogue, you can choose a

FREE Stampin' Pad instead!

-Be a regular host and build up your Stampin' Pad collection!)

You can also earn free stamp sets, available only to hostesses, and free Stampin' Up! products of your own choice, based on the sales of your workshop.

Contact me now to book your own workshop and join in all the fun!

Window Dressing

I have been itching to make a card with the

'Window Dressing' Stamp Set...

and today I scratched the itch!

Whoa La... this was the end result! I am pretty happy with this one if I do say so myself.

We had a new lady, Linda, join us at club night last night,

and she makes some wonderful 3D cards...

this inspired me today to make a 3D card using the

'Window Dressing' Set.

(Although it is much more 3D in real life than the photo shows, sorry.)

The window has clear acetate inside it to look like glass and is mounted with dimensionals. The curtain rod is a wooden skewer coloured with basic brown ink. I had seen an idea similar on Split Coast and adjusted it to suit my own taste. I created the background behind the cat on gloss with a brayer and Pumpkin Pie ink. The silhouette of the tree is from the 'Cheep Talk' set and stamped in Basic Black. I sat the cat on a piece of Certainly Celery Card which I sponged Old Olive ink onto to make look like grass, and layerd this over the bottom of my sunset background.

Notice the new ribbon on the bottom? Chocolate Chip is one of the new colours this year in the 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbons, and don't you love the gorgeous 'Sweet Always' Designer Series Papers I have used? There is only 12 days left to order this paper and other

DS Papers while on special for May

at equivalent to 25% off!

I liked this way of using the window looking out rather than in, to allow for creating the view to be just as it is at sunset looking out the window.

Keep watching my blog... as time allows, I plan on making more cards to share with you and keep you "Inspired!"

Foldout Scrapbook Page Class!

Check out this gorgeous little foldout scrapbook that we made at

Convention in Canberra earlier this month...

I love it!

I am betting you do too!

Well you don't just have to admire it here on my blog...

you can make it if you like...

I am offering this Foldout Scrapbook Project as a class for only $15.

If you can gather up some friends (minimum group of 4),

pick a date and who's house the fun will be at,

I will come to you and teach you how to make it.

Included will be all materials and instructions

to complete your little book,

and the main ingredient... a whole lot of crafty fun!

My diary is quickly filling,

so jump on the phone, or email this blog to your Stampin' friends...

then give me a call and book it in!

Keep an eye out for any hostess bonus's I am offering... booking a class like this in your home entitles you to these as well!

Angel Baby Ashton's 1st Birthday xo

Today was a day very different to the same time last week, when I was celebrating the wonderful life of my biggest boy's 9th birthday. Today, I reflected on the life that never got to be of my youngest baby Ashton, in whom entered this world 12 months ago with a plan given to him different than what we had wished for... the plan to rest alongside his brothers Billy & Zac in an eternal life as an Angel Baby.

Through remembrance we can begin to heal...

Today, we remembered Ashton.

You are an angel baby,

that much I know is true.

I didn't want an angel,

I only wanted you.

My heart today is broken,

I know that won't ever change.

Never able to hold you tight,

or kiss away the pain

I know you are around me,

in my dreams I always see,

your precious little smiling face,

looking right down on me.

I know that you are waiting,

with your brothers and little friends,

for the day that will one day come,

that will never have an end.

I will save you lots of kisses,

and heaps of cuddles too,

because you are an angel baby,

that much I know is true. xo

Baby Ashton Conyers 14.05.08 born sleeping

An Angel in the book of life wrote down our baby's birth, and whispered as he closed the book, too beautiful for this earth xo

Promotion to Senior Supervisor ~ New Group Name

I am very excited to announce that in April

I was promoted to Senior Supervisor... YEY!

This has given me the opportunity to have my own group name

for our little (but quickly growing) group...

now to be known as

'Inspiration Angels'

Of course we are always part of the Paper Angels Group,

but we are the Inspirational ones!!!

Thank you to my special 'Inspiration Angels' team members, wonderful customers, Paper Angel buddies, family, friends, and of course the beautiful Liz (Paper Angels team leader) for all your support in allowing me to get to where I am today! xo

Little Handbag ~ A gift you can go shopping with!

We all love to go shopping...

and we all love gifts...

but sometimes it's hard to find that perfect gift at the shops...

well I have that perfect gift for you, so look no further!

The best bit is when you get it...

you still get to shop!!!!

If your hubby, kids, friends, parents, neighbours, workmates etc are wondering what to buy for you, for that next special occasion... send them my way, I have the cutest little handbag for you and tucked inside will be a voucher to buy yourself some Stampin' Up! goodies...

Now I know you would love that!!!!!

But, lets make this just as easy for you. Have you got a friend, child, parent, neighbour, workmate, (okay or maybe a hubby) who loves to stamp and scrap as much as you? Well I'm sure they would love a little handbag with a voucher inside too!

This is one of my adorable little gift voucher handbags

(colours can be personalised at time of ordering)

Vouchers can be made for any amount required, but must be paid for at time of purchase and are redeemable only through myself for Stampin' Up Products from current catalogues during the voucher's valid dates.

Vouchers for $100 or more will come with a complimentary idea book & catalogue, or choice of a Stampin' Pad. Vouchers will be made valid for 6 months from the time of purchase.

To order please contact me by emailing leoniec77@hotmail.com or phoning 07-34095101

Happy Mother's Day

As the sun rises... my thoughts are firstly of my mum and how lucky I am to have such a beautiful mother, so caring and loving... and although I love her everyday,

I love her even more today!

Wishing you mum...

a very special and happy Mother's Day xo

Then I have my kids... I am a mother too I remind myself...

How lucky am I to be a mum.

Keagan my amazing boy ~

never a day goes by he doesn't surprise me with his wit.

Elana my little princess ~

everyday she makes me smile.

My three boys in heaven ~

looking over mummy and sending butterfly kisses everyday.

Being a mother is such a wonderful privilege.

But not all mothers have children... as I learned from Shelly Gardner (co founder & CEO of Stampin' Up!) from her write up in our May Impressions newsletter...

A mother is someone who cares for and protects...

some one who acts maternally toward others.

The desire to care for and nurture others

isn't dependent on a wedding ring or the

experience of rearing children.

Women who mother are mother's too!

So I wish... all of my special friends...

all who have cared for me through times

I have needed mothering ~ A very special mothers day to you all,

and I thank you for being there when I have needed you.

Mothers day brings an extra special time of year to put your heart into making something special that says I love you mum ~ thanks ~ you mean the world to me.

I cased this card for mother's day from the current Idea Book and Catalogue pg 95. I think it suits what my mum means to me... everything!

When Elana saw me making this card... she asked

"mummy, can I please make a card with you for muddas day tomorrow too?"

Craft is such a wonderful and fun thing to do to spend time with your kids, and they are never to young to express creativity. I certainly learnt from spending time with my little girl today that even at 3 she has her mind set on what she likes to make and just might be showing signs of following in my footsteps when it comes to 'Paper Craft!'

With the freedom to choose what stamps to use, colours, cutting, sticking her cards together, and only a little bit of guidance from mummy... Elana set off to work and the result was amazing.

Nothing is more special than a gift that is handmade and

a handmade gift comes from the heart...

I can't share just yet the gift I made my own mum,

as she has not received it yet

and I don't want to spoil the surprise if she sees this blog...

but I share with you the gift I made for Mark's mum.

Happy Mother's day to all... enjoy your day! xoxo

Keagan's 9th Birthday!

Wow... my boy is 9 today!

Of course it was mentioned by Keagan as he went to bed last night that he couldn't wait to see what card mummy had made him for his birthday! (very cute of him)


Whoops... with convention etc, I hadn't quite had the chance yet to make him one, but I was not going to let that slip by, so at 10:30 last night I set to work... this was the result...

I know I have used a couple of retired Stampin' Up! products, but for a quick card, I am sure you could adapt this layout with current SU products too.

Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet, Crab & Company (retired) ~ DS Papers: Afternoon tea (retired) ~ Card: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Whisper White. ~ Ink: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi (retired), Groovy Guava (retired), Bashful Blue. ~ Tools: Blender pens, 1 3/8" square punch, snail, snips, & dimensionals.

I have a card to make for Keagan's friend Kiera, also born the same day (oh that's right... today), so I will see if I can come up with a girl version...

Keagan was so excited about his Birthday presents this morning, he begged not to go to school. But off he went with plans to invite a friend over after school to play his new game... oh dear...

Happy 9th Birthday Keagan!

Mummy loves you xoxo

Now's the time... you would be mad to miss this!

What if I told you that you can join a
Special Stampers Club?

If you join this club, you get access to a website with tons of inspiration, an online forum of other friendly stampers, monthly group gatherings sharing ideas and creating make & takes, full-colour monthly newsletters with new techniques and project ideas, 20% and more off all your stamping supplies (30% off in your first order), access to my library (and Liz's HUGE library) of stamps and tools, meet new friends, be part of a group who support special charities such as the Mater Mother's Bereavement Program, quarterly stampin' events, plus you can attend all my classes for half price!

Would this interest you?

What if I told you you could join for as little as $150 and as well as all the bonuses of being apart of this special stampers club listed above, you would receive over $180 of product upon joining?

Well you can!

In celebration of National Scrap booking Month,

you can join Stampin' Up! for only $150

with the limited-time Scrap booking Starter Kit.

This is available for the month of May only.

The Scrap booking Starter Kit contains the following:

Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set* $77.95

Simply Scrappin' Petal Party $36.95

Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12") $21.95

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad $11.95

Craft & Rubber Scissors $37.95

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $77.95 value.

Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items.
The Scrap booking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit.

Did you know that there are many different types of
Stampin' Up! demonstrators?

Many join to receive a minimum of 20% discount on their own products. Others join to sell to friends and family to fund their own spending on Stampin' Up! products. Others, like myself, choose to become a demonstrator as a business opportunity and run workshops and classes.

If you've ever considered joining Stampin' Up! to receive the benefits of a great discount of all those items on your Stampin' wish list, or maybe you've had the itch to run some workshops and create a fun business... May is the month to join!

You don't have to meet any sales requirements until the end of September, and then it's a very manageable $550 (incl. GST) retail per quarter. If you decide you no longer want to be a member of this wonderful Stampin' Club there's no penalty, nothing to pay back, you get to keep everything, and simply go back to being a customer.

What are you waiting for?? You have absolutely nothing to lose.

Send me an email now, and I'd love to help you join my team!