Sydney Convention - Thursday.

A weekend away with my Paper Angel friends,

mixed with Stampin' fever in the air...

what more can a girl want?????

Here are some memories that sum up our first day

as we set off to Sydney ready for Convention 2010.

I had a special surprise as I stepped off the plane when my mum was waiting for me at the airport! Mum was waiting so she could come in the cab with us to our Motel and pay the cab charge.. thanks Mum (and dad of course who also met up with us a little later) xo

Mum and Dad hung out with us for the arvo, and Dad became our tour guide to get to Paddy's Markets (the long way lol) via China Town.

Waiting to check in... Ursula & Ellie

Also waiting... Kate

After a fun afternoon exploring the streets and shops of Sydney,

we gathered together for dinner in Darling Harbour.

Jenny & Gail

Bec

Liz

Melissa

Thanks to Bec, Ursula, and Liz for my special handmade treats. The girls made each of the Paper Angels little pressies for Convention. Bec made us each a Bag Tag. Ursula had Totally Tess with Pony Party wings laser cut as necklaces, and Liz made us each Scissor Charms and wrapped them in cute little Pillow Box's.

Then... one of the unplanned highlights (and not one of the fun ones... funny maybe, but not fun). It was about 1am, we were all tucked in bed ready for our big first day of Convention the next morning... when... the Fire Alarm went off! We all had to evacuate the building and gather in Piermont St in our PJ's! I of course grabbed my camera on my way out the room and took this moment as an opportunity for some great Scrapbooking shots! Luckily it was a false alarm, and we did all get back into our beds about an hour later. Not to get too excited though as we did a repeat of the full ordeal again at 3am! Yep, twice in the one night.

I didn't bother with photos the second time, I was a little less enthusiastic getting out of bed again, but here are some memories I captured the first time around...

Still seeing the humour of being evacuated with hundreds of others in the freezing cold in the streets of Sydney in our Pj's.

Did I mention this was a 13 story building that was fully booked out!

Hanging out with 2 of my roomies Jenny & Gail.

Of course, some of us Paper Angels made sure we got a photo with one of the Fire Fighters... totally blogging and Scrapbooking in mind. lol

And that was our first day... Sydney Convention 2010 xo

IMAGINE a life filled with Inspiration...

WOW... double WOW!

I have just got back from an amazing weekend away in Sydney with my Paper Angel friends at Stampin' Up!'s 2010 Convention. I'm not quite sure if my feet have yet touched the ground, I'm still on a high of Inspiration. We had so much fun, I have seen so many new creative ideas and shared many a laugh while amongst over 400 fellow Stampin' Lovers oops demonstrators! giggle

Should I also mention the 5 free stamp sets I now have to add to my stamp collection that have not yet been released... hee hee hee!

I have squillions of photos to share, so keep tuned over the coming weeks, but there is BIG NEWS to share with you all first that is Super Exciting.

Stampin' Up! announced at Convention that from now until July 31st

you can save 20% on the Starter Kit!

That means you can get over $560 worth of products for only $259...a saving of $65!

What a bargain!

That's the cheapest price for the full Starter Kit that we have ever had here in Australia.

If you have ever IMAGINED being part of the fun of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, now is the time to make that dream real!

Stop now and IMAGINE how much fun you'd have as a demonstrator, sharing your passion for stamping and scrap booking with friends and family.

IMAGINE the satisfaction of introducing someone new to the wonderful joy of Stampin'.

IMAGINE having many new friends you would have

who share the same love of Paper Craft as you!

IMAGINE being able buy all your favourite Stampin' Up! products

at demonstrator price.

IMAGINE earning a little (or a lot) of extra cash.

Best of all IMAGINE coming away with the Paper Angels to Convention next year

and having as much fun as I have just had!

When you join Stampin' Up! you become part of my team The Inspiration Angels and The Paper Angels Group. That gets me excited, how about you? IMAGINE coming along to our monthly Paper Angel Meetings where the Inspiration never ends!

Cottage Wall Card

Without fail I fall in love with the new DS Papers we get each time we get a new Mini, and this time is no different. I'm in LOVE with Cottage Wall in our Autumn Winter Mini.

Here's my latest card, guess what DS papers I have used for this one? lol

Stamps: Best Yet (level 1 hostess)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Card: Cottage Wall DS, Whisper White, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence

Accessories: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools: Paper Trimmer, Wide Oval Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals.

Beautiful Blog Award

During the week I got a wonderful surprise when I opened an email telling me I had been given a Beautiful Blog Award.

A warm thank you to Angie Brown for her selecting my blog to award. Angie herself has an adorable blog full of Great Inspiration and Beautiful Paper Craft work. Check it out here.

Here is my award...

There are so many lovely blogs out there, the challenge now is to narrow it down to only ten that I can pass this special award on to...

I'd like to share this award with 10 ladies who's blogs I follow regularly. I get lots of my Inspiration from their Beautiful Blogs, so I find it fitting that they be awarded with a Beautiful Blog Award from me. I encourage you to check out Angie's blog and each of these below, they really are very talented ladies.

1. Andrea Karadimos - Stamp My Day

2. Marelle Taylor - thINKspot

3. Adele Khoo - Stampin Bliss

4. Linda Craven - Craven time to Stamp

5. Miriam - Creations by Miriam

6. Claire Daly - Art with Heart

7. Liz Collett - Craft Classroom

8. Ursula James - Stampin with U

9. Teneale Williams - Teneale Williams

10. Kim Gavarra - Stamp with Kim

I'm sure some of these ladies have had this award already, but they deserve it many many times for their beautiful blogs.

I'm also supposed to share with you 10 things about me, here goes...

1. I love Paper Craft! *surprise hey!*

2. My other favourite hobby is photography

3. I have 2 kids that fill my days with love and laughter

4. My other job is selling cars

5. I spend 24-7 with my man, we work together! *hmmm, yes I am brave*

6. I love Chocolate

7. My life would be lost without my friends

8. I'd love to be a fashion queen, but i'm far from it!

9. I was a perfectionist, but i'm getting better! ;-)

10. Oh yeah, I live on an Island. Doh!

I love my MUM xo

Of course everyone has the BEST mum in the whole wide world... but really, what better way to let her know that than to make her a card from the heart!

Here is the card I made for my mum this mother's day...

Card: Not Quite Navy, Bella Bleu DS, Cardboard Box (scrap).

Accessories: Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad - Ice Circles

Tools: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Timeless Type Alphabets Sizzlits Dies, Scallop Edge Punch, Adhesives including Dimensionals

Is this the part where I say "Look Mum, NO Stamps!" lol

The Top Note feature on the front is made with an old scrap from a cardboard box, like a cereal box etc. Stick the DS over this in the pattern you want then put the whole lot through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die. When that's done, add your letters and ribbon/embellishment, and adhere to the front of the card with Dimensionals.

I won't claim full fame to this card though, it was inspired by this card that Liz demonstrated at our meeting...

Thanks Liz for your wonderful Inspiration.

Happy Mothers Day to all the beautiful women out there!

Make it your day to relax and let the kids and the men do all the work!!!!!!

I'm planning on locking myself in my craft room... *giggle*

Love you mum xoxo

Fox & Friends Waterfall Card

Waterfall cards are always a great novelty to make, and this one was 'fun' to the max!

This card was our make-and-take at Di's house a few weeks ago. I believe since then, Di has made so many waterfall cards, she's lost count! lol

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Best Yet (level 1 hostess)

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Washington Apple DS

Accessories: Soft Subtles Brads, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, Jumbo Eyelet

Tools: Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade, Piercer (for brads), Crop-a-Dile, Adhesives including Sticky Strip.

I'm sure it will give delight to the little someone who this card is given to xo

Birthday Wishes for a girl who's 5!

Here's a Birthday card I made this weekend for Elana's friend Isla who is now 5!

Stamps: Pony Party (Autumn Winter Mini)

Ink: Black StayzOn, Rose Red & Pretty in Pink ( to water colour with)

Card: Watercolour Paper, Raspberry Tart DS, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink.

Accessories: Fine Supernova Glitter, Eyelets

Tools: Crop-A-Dile, Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits (no. 5), Aqua Painter, Adhesives incl Dimensionals & 2Way Glue Pen.

I can see this cute little stamp set, Pony Party, getting a good workout having a little girl around the house and a party or 2 in the near future!