Create a Cupcake - "Step it Up"

I have been missing in action for a while, I have been very busy with work as we are having many changes at work and I have been finding it so challenging so I have decided to step down from being Practice Manager. I am currently training the new lady and have another three weeks work before I am having an extended break for six weeks which will include a trip to the Kimberley's in Western Australia ... and yes I am counting down the days. I will then return to work as a receptionist so I will be able to go home without any worries - well that's my plan!

Well back to stamping, I have been holding my classes each month and they have been very well attended so I have been stamping but not as much as I would have liked. Today I am sharing with you a card that I maded in two of my classes in April which features the Build a Cupcake punch from the mini catalogue. As I had punched out too many circles I decided to recreate the card with some added detail, which I have discovered from various blogs that they say it is "stepped up".

Stamp Set: Create a Cupcake

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Marina Mist
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Build a Cupcake Extra-Large Punch

Stampin' Up! Convention Dinner and Awards

At long last I have time to share with you the Stampin' Up! Convention Awards and Dinner photos, and wow it was a fantastic evening. We all got dressed up in our finest clothes and enjoyed a fun filled time with delicious food and wonderful entertainment.

Here are my extended family SU team members, uplines and sidelines and fellow lovers of creating. Here we have standing from the left, Me, Elaine Hannam, Kerry, Kristine Giampietro, Claire Daly, Jodie Dart and seated Marlene Robins and Fiona Ryan.

Standing from the left Kathryn Ruddick, Rachel Woollard, Di Dunk, and seated Ros Davidson, Tanja and Lily Westwood, Genna Gifford, Teena Pillar and Alisha Watson

Standing from the left Nicole Nation, Toby, Sue Madex, Tina Gillespie and Nikki Sadler and seated Christine Blain and Judy May.

One of the Stampin' Up! traditions that I have learnt from the previous Convention is everyone needs to share with their blog readers the food - what a yummy meal we had.

Entree - Tortelloni of wild mushrooms with braised lentils and white truffle oil

Main Course - Pot-roasted Gippsland lamb with sage gnocchi, green peas, pancetta and citrus gremolata

Dessert - White chocolate and raspberry baked cheesecake with a fresh berry compote
(The chocolate 5 was in celebration of Stampin' Up! being in Australia/New Zealand for 5 years.)

Now it was time to move into the awards presentation theatre room where Shelli Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up! introduced the fun and exciting Awards.

Shelli Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!

Emma and Aaron announcing the Incentive Trip to...(drum roll)...can you guess from the camels?

Yes you could be off to Broome in the top of Western Australia (just where I am holidaying in five weeks time). The incentive trip is not on my agenda but go girls that have Stampin' Up! as a professional career.

Regionals were also announced for the year with Adelaide being on 17 September.

Here are some of the Top 25 Stampin' Up! Demonstrators in Australia

(not a good photo, so hard to get them all in - I think I am missing the top few).

The last announcement for the evening was we are off to Canberra for Convention 2012, hopefully all going well I will be able to spend three days with all my lovely friends.

A Flower for All Season - JAI 69

I have had the stamp set, A Flower for All Season, for sometime and it has never seen any ink so I was looking for a design for my Stampin' Up! Class yesterday when I went to the Idea Book and Catalogue for some inspiration and did a little case job on this one, just with a change of colour combination. Don't forget to check out your catalogue as it has some wonderful creations that you can recreate in a matter of minutes if you are lacking your mojo.

This set is very inexpensive at only $24.95 which gives you four different images. I stamped my images in Chocolate Chip (as I find Basic Black too stark) and then used lots of yellows, oranges and reds in the markers. It was great to see all the different colour combinations from the 7 ladies that attended my class.

I just noticed that the Just Add Ink Challenge this week is Just Add Fussing Cutting so I thought it would also qualify for this one.

Stamp Set: A Flower for All Season, Trenty Trees

Card: Pumpkin Pie, Wild W, Whisper White

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Lots of Markers in Yellow, Orange and Reds

Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Deals of the Week - Final Week

Here are the last week of surprises?

There are no limits to the number of Deals of the Week you can purchase and no minimum purchase is required.* Now is your time to stock up on your favourite products!

Be sure to hurry as stock is limited and purchase each week's deals early on so you don't miss out! When the new week's deals start up each Wednesday at midnight, the last week's deals are over . . . forever!

Item Page Description Regular Price Sale Price

113838 62 Right on Track Stampin' Around Wheel $11.95 NOW $8.37

115619 68 Retro Remix Stampin Around Wheel $11.95 NOW $8.37

119975 134 Vintage Type Rub-Ons $15.95 NOW $11.17

118760 134 Play Date Rub-Ons $16.95 NOW $11.87

Stampin' Up! Convention

I have had a busy week since I arrived back from the Stampin' Up! Convention in Melbourne on Monday but I have finally found a few minutes to share with you a few photos and highlights on the three fun filled days.

Going through all my photos I realised that we had so many sneak peaks of new stamps set that will only will be released in the new Idea Book and Catalogue so I can not share with you all these. There were many wow demonstrations and wow they were, I have already cased a card for my card class this Saturday.

All 450 Demonstrators were very spoilt as we received 3 stamp sets and Simply Sent pack and I also won a Christmas stamp set and the Framed Tulips Textured Impression Embossing Folder in the Prize Patrol which I was so excited to receive.

Yes that is me with the most sort after photos of the Convention with
Shelli Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!

Shannon West showing us some wonderful Christmas ideas
(sorry can not show these as they feature a new stamp set).

Lyn Fox participating in the Minute It To Win It game show.

During Friday we participated in the make 'n takes and here are the ladies that I stamped with Rachel Woollard, Kristine Giampietro, Alisha Watson, Ros Davidson, Teena Pillar and
Genna Gifford.

More of my Stamping friends Judy May, Christine Blain, Toby, Nikki Sadler,
Sue Madex, Nicole Nation and Tina Gillespie.

Jodene, Wendy Hodkinson, Me, Kristine Giampietro and Christine Blain.

Bonnie from the Stampin' Up Home Office in the US showing
us the benefits of the Colour Coach.

Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up! CEO and Co-Founder inspiring us all.

I did not do any swaps this year but some of my very special friends gave me
some very treasured ones, this one is from Felicity Fernandez.

One of the very talent Designers on UStamp with Dawn and Friends, Tanya Bell (on the left - who made the beautiful broach below) with Shelli Gardner and one of her friends.

I will back again when I have a few more free moments with more photos from the Saturday Dinner and Awards evening.

Deal of the Week 3 - Embellishments

Are you ready for the third week of surprises?

And wow this weeks are all beautiful embellishments

There are no limits to the number of Deals of the Week you can purchase and no minimum purchase is required.* Now is your time to stock up on your favourite products!

Be sure to hurry as stock is limited and purchase each week's deals early on so you don't miss out! When the new week's deals start up each Wednesday at midnight, the last week's deals are over . . . forever!

Item Page Description Regular Price Sale Price

119750 137 Daffodil Delight 5/8'' (1.6 cm) Satin Ribbon $16.95 NOW $11.87

(13.7m per roll which is only 86c per metre)

119963 137 Certainly Celery 3/8'' (1 cm) Taffeta Ribbon $12.95 NOW $9.07

(9.14m per roll which is only 99c per metre)

Add a bit of sparkle to any project!

109112 139 Square Fire Rhinestone Brads $19.95 NOW $13.97

(80 brads per packet - 4 colours in pink, red pumpkin, yellow and in 2 sizes = 18c per brad)

109113 139 Square Ice Rhinestone Brads $19.95 NOW $13.97

(80 brads per packet - 4 colours in lilac, light blue,turquoise and green and in 2 sizes

= 18c per brad)