Congratulations and welcome

I signed up my first recruit on Tuesday night (7 August 2012). How exciting, I'm now a demonstrator group leader...leading a group of one..lol...I guess you have to start somewhere.

But what I wanted to say in this post, was a warm welcome and congratulations to Susan Bradley-Hoy for becoming a new demonstrator and addition to the Stampin' Up! family.  I've known Sue for over 23 years now, worked with her for 20 of those, and I know she's going to be a successful demonstrator.  She's already got her blog post up and she's raring to go.

A. Cath's 70th Birthday Card

Here's a card I made for my favourite aunty who turned 70.

Materials Used:

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Black, Very Vanilla
Inkpads: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip
Brads: Antique Brads
DSP: First Edition and Mocha Morning
Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch, Baroque Motifs, Perfectly Penned
Punch: Blossom, Blossom Bouquet

Say Goodbye...

August is the time we say goodbye to some of our 2011-2012 products to make way for some new products for 2012-2013 of course!!!

There are two retiring product lists:

• Stamps
• Accessories

Retiring stamps and accessories are only available while supplies last. 
Orders will be taken until 31 August. Contact me to place your order now.

Also, the 2010-2012 In Colors of Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade will also be retiring at the end of the month. Can't wait to see what the new In Colors will be.

A Reason to Smile!

During June, you can have the opportunity to earn for FREE or purchase an exclusive stamp set: the Reason to Smile set. This brand new set will only be available during this very special offer!

Get the Reason to Smile Set FREE when you spend $125 on any Stampin' Up! products. Or purchase it at the regular retail price.

Description	Retail Item	Retail Price	Free Item	Price
Reason to Smile Wood-Mount Set	130826	$35.95	131050	$0.00
Reason to Smile Clear-Mount Set	130828	$28.95	131051	$0.00

You can email me to place your orders. Reminder this special ends Saturday 30 June.

Paper Party

For the month of May, Stampin' Up! is having a Paper Party. All you need to do is buy three packs of Designer Series Paper** and you get one for free.

New demonstrators who join Stampin' Up! in May will also get a Free pack of Designer Series Paper every month from June through to december 2012.

Find a Designer Series Paper for every crafting occasion, project and mood in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue and 2012 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.

**Excludes Specialty Designer Series Paper.

The Open Sea

I don't make male cards that often, but here's one I made recently for my Uncle who turned 77 years old.

Materials Used:

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso
Inkpads: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist
Baker's Twine: Cherry Cobbler/White
DSP: Nautical Expedition
Stamp Set: The Open Sea

Oriental Birthday Card

My friend and fellow demonstrator recently celebrated her 40th birthday with a surprise Oriental Birthday party sprung on her by her loving husband, family and lots of friends.  I had such a mental block trying to come up with an appropriate birthday card.  I knew I wanted to make a tri-fold card and it had to be special. Night after night I would sit at my craft table staring at the card and lots of designer paper...what to do??? The night before the party, I came up with the card, which I finished off on the day of the party.  Nothing like leaving it till the last minute. Hope you like it.

The base card was Real Red Stampin' Up! cardstock
I used some red packets which I had on hand and these formed my patterned paper.
To make the card special, I cut out the diamond around the chinese character and attached it to the card with bakers twine so that it could spin. On one side I had the chinese character and on the other I stamped images from the Happy Birthday Wishes hostess set and the Whimsical Words set.
I used the cupcake stamp from the So Cute stamp set to adorn the smaller panels.
The letters and numbers were cut out using a Cricut. and to finish it off a bow was tied using red taffeta ribbon.