Right now is really the BEST time to join the Stampin’ Up! family.  If you have been thinking about it for a little while, act now and:

• Pay just $289 for the starter kit (total value of the kit is in excess of $725!) – instead of the usual $339
• Add a FREE stamp set of your choice from any of the current catalogues – adding MORE value to the starter kit!

Joining couldn’t be easier – click on my Stampin’ Up! Demostrator Webpage, and click on the “Join Now” button under my contact details, and follow the prompts.  Easy as can be!

And for some added interest – take a look at this video for more Stampin’ Up! opportunities.

Welcome back to all things Stampin’ Up! here at Kelly’s Stampin Spot!  Hope your Christmas and Summer Holidays have been going very well.  My boys are still on holiday, but hubby and I have both gone back to work bit by bit over the last two weeks.  Luckily for me I had some TOIL owing and it means I still get to spend some time at home with the Mr’s – and in my craft space!!

Sale-A-Bration begins today – are you looking forward to it??  Take a look at the brochure to see the fabulous free sets on offer.

Are you new to SAB? Here’s how it works: for every $120 order (excluding shipping) you place, you can choose any free set. Spend $240, choose two sets etc. And for the first time, Stampin’  Up! has added something extra to the free choices: paper, brads and ribbon.  Can you say “YUM!!”??

Hosting a qualifying workshop during this period is also fabulous – in addition to teh normal hostess benefits you’d receive, and any free sets your own order attracts, you get ANOTHER free set of your choice!

Want to become part of the Stampin’ Up! family??  SAB is the BEST time to join!!  Not only do you get a discount on the starter kit, you also get to choose another set – to any value from the Idea Book and Cataglogue – meaning you get an enormous amount of crafting goodies for your buck!

To kick the SAB period off in style, the ESAD demonstrators have put together a fun blog hop using the SAB products.  Sit back and take a look!

Click on the button to get more info on Sale-A-Bration

What is ESAD?

ESAD stands for “Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators” and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin Up demonstrators.

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what we do with each other as demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how, and cyberstamps, and we are always there to help and support each other when it is needed.

So if you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group

You may have come here via Michelle – weren’t her projects fabulous?  If you have started the hope here, keep clicking on the links as you go around all 22 blogs.

I was wanting to use the lovely paper pack in my projects.  I personally think this paper pack is superb – I love the colours used and the patterns.  It’s a really feminine scheme, one that I think adds a vintage charm to any project it is used on – but with such fresh colours.  Love it!!

First up is a card:

As well as the gorgeous SAB paper, I’ve used the lovely limeade ribbon that comes with the ribbon and brad pack (you get two reels of ribbon plus some fabulous brads – all co-ordinating in the 2011-12 In-Colours).  I’ve also used the Pretty Postage stamp set and co-ordinating punches – both available in the Ssummer Mini.

Then I’ve used the Petite Pocket big shot die to create a special envelope.  Inside is a special voucher to thank the recipient for something done for us over the holidays.

Here you get to see one of the designs on the SAB brads – they are all really pretty.  And a great size to make an impact on your projects.

Thanks for visiting here – now head on over to Louise to see what she has put together for you.

December Frenzy is all about bringing you some extra fabulous deals – just in time for Christmas! Go here to see the full list of bargains.  But I can tell you, there is stamp sets, tools, embellishments at up to 50% off. I {heart} December!!

Right, now some details:

• The promotion runs right through until 31 December BUT…. and here’s the thing….

• The SU storeroom in Sydney has a limited number of these awesome items available for this promotion.  Once that number has been exhausted, the products WILL return to normal catalogue price.  Be in quick if something you love is in the discount list! I’m speaking from experience here: last year I missed out on a punch I really wanted and ended up paying full price.  It happens to the best of us!  I’ll say it again – if you want something at these bargain prices, please send your order to me as soon as you can.

• My last order date that I believe will reach me in time before I disappear due to Christmas commitments is 9 December (with an eta at my place 16 Dec).  I can place a Customer Order for you between 10-16 December – and have it shipped to you directly.  That comes with a minimum shipping charge of $9.95.  Have your order to me before 9 December if you want me to include it in a “workshop order”, otherwise please do note the individual shipping cost.
• Between 17 and 27 December, I may or may not be able to collect orders, depending on the internet access I have on those days.  I will therefore be in touch with you if you send an order through during that period ONLY if I am able to.
• I will be able to process orders normally again from 28 December – but you should note that if you are wanting to order any of the December Frenzy items between 28-31 December, at the time of writing this today, I simply can’t tell you what availability will be.

I am recommending that if you see something on the December Frenzy list that you are wanting – get your order in to me now.

Today is no different!  1 December = official start of Summer = Launch day of the Summer Mini Catalogue.

I have to say, this is a mini where there is simply LOTS to be loved – I very rarely go through a mini and leave as many marks behind as things go on my wishlist as I did this time.  I’ve been popping minis in the post to regular customers and hostesses – and I’m happy to add more to the mailing list if you would also like a copy.  Just email me and let me know your details so I can get one out to you.

Before I get into the fun stuff – the pictures!! – let me tell you a bit about ESAD.

ESAD stands for “Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators” and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin Up demonstrators.

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what we do with each other as demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how, and cyberstamps, and we are always there to help and support each other when it is needed.

So if you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group

Now on with the show!

You’ve hopefully come via Sharlene Meyer.  I bet you just LOVED what Sharlene did with the Spice Cake fabric – isn’t that fabric divine??!!  Once you have finished looking here, you continue along the hop by clicking on the next link.  And if you get lost along the way, you can always come back here and click away via the list at the bottom of this post.

To begin with I decided to use the Fabulous Florets set.  I was lucky enough to win this set during prize patrol at the Stampin’ Up! Day Out back in August  – and yet this is the first time the set has seen ink.  Madness!!!  I was inspired by the card showcasing this set that you can see in the mini.  The lovely bright, summery colours are really fun to use with this set. Definitely feeling summery here!!

See those fun matching pearls I’ve used with the sentiment?  No, we haven’t got coloured pearls making an appearance.  Well, not really…. you can do this yourself!  I’ve taken my Island Indigo marker and simply coloured the pearls using that!  Instant match!!

And because I loved using some of this in-colour … and because my friend Donna had shown me how to make a chocolate holder using the Two Tags die, I just had to give that a go too.  With the Stylish Star – a fun A la Carte stamp you’ll find in the mini.  I love this wee star – it is definitely stylish!!

By making another score line about 5mm from the score line made by the die, you can create enough of a little pocket to slip in a mini Whittaker’s or Cadbury bar.  Perfect little treat holder if you are making a ton of teachers gifts!  To finish this, I’ve use the totally awesome and supurb velvet ribbon.  This just begs to be touched! And the jewelery tag punches have been tied using our new white Baker’s Twine.  Yeah – velvet ribbon AND Baker’s Twine.  LOVING it!!

Ok, so I’m going to drool over some more of these goodies in the mini.  You can do the same by heading over to Ann Gerlach and see what she has done with the sunning Nautical Suite.  I tell you, we are sooo spoiled for choice!!

Thanks for popping by!

1. Michelle Halling
2. Tayna Bell
3. Yvonne Walker
4. Tracey Old
5. Keryn Campbell
6. Sherylee Tutt
7. Nicole Derendorf
8. Corina Beyer
9.  Sharlene Meyer
10. Kelly Nelson you are here now
11. Ann Gerlach
12. Jane Norrish
13. Richelle Fletcher
14. Jacinta Argent
15. Nicky Adamson
16. Pauline Bennetts Barns
17. Elizabeth Dyson
18. Monique Fielder
19. Ruth Clarke
20. Joanne Kechagias
21. Christie Kunkel
22. Felicity Fernandez
23.Jenny Hayward
24. Theresa “Tess” Schirmer
25. Andrea Buckland

I still have quite a few cards and gifts to organise, but luckily, I’m feeling more on top of it this year than I was last year.  One teenage nephew at university is all I am being troubled by at the moment.  Well, him and the little teacher’s gifts I need to be sorting out.  Starting with the piano teacher – who I need to have something sorted by 2.30 tomorrow.  I seriously hope inspiration comes tonight!!

I have a card at least – these lovely little narrow cards were super easy and fun to make.  I used them for a card group swap a couple of weeks ago and the ladies there loved it as well.

One of my favourite sets is the main set I’ve used – Season of Joy – soo many options for beautiful cards with the stamps in that set.  The sentiment is from Contempo Christmas.  I seriously love the font mix with this sentiment.  The Decorative Label punch provides a lovely, modern mat by framing just two sides.  Texture has been added to the Old Olive base thanks to the Colour Spritzer.

Still, it’s nice to get a start and build on my foundation pages so they aren’t so much of a blank canvas!

Here’s a glimpse:

Dec 1: Likely to have the tree and the decorations.  Or at least some of them.  Thursday is a busy afterschool day in our house but 1 Dec is the day I like to get the decorating started.  I’ve used a Window Sheet, cut to 8×4 inches, one of the border strips from the Letters to Santa Quick Accents pack, backed it with some punched Cherry Cobbler (LOVE that colour!!), there’s the new large scallop circle punch on the back side, with the Silver Glimmer Paper (Summer Mini) die cut 1.

The border and scallop circle were placed on the back to hide any unsightly adhesive showing through the window sheets.  Oh, and you can see the inside of my cover (I’ve just realised, I’ve not downloaded the pics of the cover – I’m thrilled with out that turned out so I must do that!). The paper I’ve used on my covers was the gorgeous flocked and embossed paper from the special DSP Christmas pack in 2010 – so that’s retired.  But getting used for the first time by me just now!!

Did you notice this sparkly on the Window Sheet??  I’ve heat embossed the swirl from Baroque Motifs, using Iridescent Ice embossing Powder (Summer Mini – I tell you, it’s an AWEsome mini!).  Cannot tell you how thrilled I am that I can heat emboss on the Window sheets!!

Our very wide, striped Grosgrain ribbon all ruched onto another piece of Window Sheet.  I used some Sticky Strip to hold my quick ruching in place before running a line of zig-zag through the middle.

I’m planning on just sprinkling the Window Sheet separators through the album as the fancy strikes me – hence no numbers or decoration beyond a bit of fabric on most of the ones I have prepared today.

Now, this date I KNOW what is happening.  This is the last day of term for the Mr’s.  (I know – early, huh??!)  So there is bound to be something going in about that.  I’ve heat embossed my ornament stamp: versamark ink, Marina Mist ink, stamped the design, Iridescent Ice again.  While I love to be able to emboss in any colour this way, I do notice that it creates a paler version of the original ink.  I’m OK with this.

“Happy Holidays” is from Many Merry Messages – but fits perfectly for the fact school hols start on this date!  To get the Early Espresso on the Window sheet, I’ve heat embossed it again – but this time with just the clear embossing powder.  This really lets me move beyond the Stazon white or black options!  But you might see some examples of that a little later…!

You might have noticed that on the bottom of the printed overlays I’ve inserted strips of DSP.  There is also a few pages with coordinating cardstock colours punched with the lacy ribbon border punch.  This fits perfectly!  I’ve cut or punched a bunch of those strips so that when it comes to putting it together, I can just pull out a prepared strip that will work best with the photos.

I’m looking forward to showing you the end result now!  You might get a few peeks as I finish further preparation   Leave a message to tell me what you think!

Oh – and if you would like to order any of these products for your own December Daily, please email me your order asap.  I will be placing my final order to guarantee delivery to you before Christmas on Friday 9 December.

When I first started to think about it, my mind went straight to Christmas – but there’s a huuuge amount of Christmas cards out there at the moment (definitely that time of year!).  So I wondered what else I could come up with.  In the end, I went with thoughts of another holiday.  One that isn’t celebrated here in New Zealand or Australia at all.  However, around this time of year on many of the blogs I visit, there is a focus on Thanksgiving – and in particular, gratitude and being thankful.  It’s a sentiment that I would like to take time to recognise and acknowledge more widely myself, and so, the theme idea for my first challenge is “Giving thanks”.

Plenty of sparkle with Concord Crush, Vanilla Smooth and Iridescent Ice embossing powder… yum!!  (Two super yummy things coming out in the Summer mini on 1 December - have you got yours??)

Would love to see you play along – leave me a link to your example of Giving Thanks in the comments below.

Can you see a peek of something red and white?  Yes!!  Stampin’ Up! has got Baker’s Twine!!  Oh how I love that for a simple, fun thread to add to cards and scrapbook pages!  You’ll find it in our upcoming Summer mini catalogue.  Would you like your own copy of the catalogue?  Email me – or leave a comment below with your email address so I can get your details off you.  I’ll be popping these lovely new mini’s in the post beginning next week.

To begin with, I have purchased Ali’s December Daily Overlays.  Yes, I could have made these up myself in something like Word or PSE …. but time is precious and this was an already invented wheel.  I recoloured these to match Cherry Cobbler (RGB codes: 154,48,52).  That might give you a hint to the colours I will be using in this project!  I have then printed these out onto our fabulous Confetti White  cardstock.

Why this and not Whisper White?  Well, to be honest, I would LOVE to have printed on textured Whisper White… but we don’t have that in A4 size.  And the Confetti White has the weight behind it to support the added items that will end up being attached.  Plus, it has smatterings of colour that I think will add some really neat visual interest and texture to each page.  I’ve chosen to print out the 6×8.5 that Ali used for the overlays – this prints out nicely on an A4 – and means I don’t have to work out re-sizing.  The Confetti White comes in a pack of 40, so it’s a great choice to use.

I’m expecting my Summer Mini pre-order to arrive in the next day or two.  Then you’ll start seeing some more dressed up foundation pages as I prepare for December.  Think red, silver, sparkle, and texture…. Can you guess what products I might be using….??

During the month of November, you can purchase these select Big Shot dies for 10% less:

You don’t have a big shot?

Try the Big Shot exclusive bundle… normally the cost of this bundle would be $224.40, but for November only, pay just $201.96 and receive:

• The Big Shot die-cutting machine itself PLUS
• Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die
• Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Nice!  Want to make sure you get some Big Shot goodies under  your tree in time for Christmas?  Email your order to be to be sure I get it before the end of November – last day for this promotion is November 30.

Don’t forget that the with the Big Shot you can cut and emboss cardstock and paper.  But did you know, you can also cut all sorts of other items depending on the die you use?  Try chipboard, vinyl, fabric, tin…. are just a few examples.  And embossing can also be done on fabric, ribbon, tin, plastic……  Would you like to see how to emboss on fabric or other material?  Email me now to book one of the last workshop dates I have for 2011 – or book in a date in February 2012!