Your very own Advent Calendar....

Hello there lovely stampers,
Forget those calorie filled advent calendars, Stampin' Up! has made a special one just for you which is calorie free! I just know you're going to love opening up the links to each weeks specials and seeing what goodies are in there for you.
 Now to make things run as smoothly as possible I will put the orders in earlier in the week rather than later. So to avoid disappointment please contact me with your orders as soon as possible, you are able to view all the weeks specials and get your wish lists done and dusted before having to cook the turkey or slice the Christmas cake.
 I would like to put this weeks order in on Sunday night (16th Dec.). I'd hate you to miss out so please be sure to give me a call or write me an email with your list of goodies.
charmaineblack@y7mail.com
0402320779
 Have fun clicking on those dates below....
Inky hugs from......

 

Dates: 14 December, 2012-21 January, 2013 (while supplies last)

Details
We're temporarily taking over a hundred products out of retirement with discounts up to 70 percent off retail-only while supplies last! We'll have four different groups of products on sale during the next month. Here's what's on sale and when:

 

View last year's catalogue to reference information about the products that are on sale:






 

The Fine Print

• You can order these products on any type of order. Feel free to order both Clearance Rack and non-Clearance Rack items on the same order-we're flexible like that.
• There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this special offer-go nuts!
• Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits. Bonus!
• Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last for each time period they're on sale-so don't wait! Sorry, but there are no refunds or exchanges on Clearance Rack items.
• You need to take advantage of this sale before the following times on the last day of each sale period:

Clearance Rack Blitz.....

Hello there Christmas stampers, have I got some good news for you! I know so many of you have looked at the over seas blogs and thought "Why don't we ever see clearance racks over here" Well if you go down to the woods tomorrow, be sure of a big surprise!
 That's right, we are have a sale to beat all sales and it's BEFORE Christmas, take a look at the details below and be sure to pop back in tomorrow to see what goodies are available.

Stampin' Up! are temporarily taking hundreds of products out of retirement with discounts up to 70 percent off retail–only while supplies last! There will be four different groups of products on sale between 14 December – 21 January.

There are the FOUR sale periods:
14-20 December
21 December-3 January
4-10 January
11-21 January

So make sure you check back on 14 December (tomorrow) to see what’s on sale and when!

Take advantage of these amazing bargains on previously retired products , they won't be here for long.
                         Inky hugs from.......

Happy Holidays from Stampin' Up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNX9fa227Pw&feature=youtu.be

just click link above for a smile or two ;-)

Christmas has come early!!!

Hi there, fellow stampers and papercrafters,

Wow! do I have a couple of brilliant offers for you this month. The first one being for hostesses, not only will hostesses who hold a minimum of $650 in party sales during the promotion period from November 1st until December 16th  receive a FREE collection of Classic Stampin Pads*-you  can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals (not neutrals) RRP $79.95.  you will also receive the regular hostess benefits, see offer here  as well...INK-redible!

the second one is for any customer ordering the fabulous Christmas Ornament  Keepsakes bundle.

For the whole month of November you can get a FREE Festive Paper-Piercing Pack RRP $13.95 when you purchase the Ornament Keepsakes Set and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper Bundle. I love this bundle and have used it it in so many ways already, I'll be posting some pictures soon.

If you would like to see these offers on my website please just click the link on the righthand side of my blog or here; http://charmainesinkyhugs.stampinup.net/  you can also contact me for an obligation free chat about holding a workshop/party with some of your friends to enjoy some inky fun together, or perhaps you would like to join one of my upcoming classes. I look forward to hearing from you, lots of inky hugs from....

Drum roll please.......

 Hello fellow stampers and papercrafters,  I have some good news for you all today.
I would like to begin with a special thank you to the wonderful company of Stampin'Up! For their amazing generosity and support of our fund raisers every year, as without them these fun filled events would never get off the ground. Of course a huge THANK-YOU to YOU all the attendees and raffle ticket purchasers who make it all worthwhile and keep us smiling throughout the day.
I know you are as excited as me to find out the results of our wonderful day of stamping and sharing our stories of survival and how this horrible disease has touched so many lives, leaving devastation in it's wake.
Well with your help we have raised....Drum roll please.....$2195.59  which we can now send off to help fund much needed research and education through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
 THANK YOU again for all your support and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. I promise to put up some great photos as soon as my dear hubby connects up my new computer ;-) .
 Love and thanks to you all from ....

Breast cancer foundation fund raiser raffle tickets..

 Hello fellow stampers and paper crafters , as many of you know I hold a fund raiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation every year and this year's event is being held this Saturday.

My dear friend and downline Ann and I have just finished cutting kits for all the wonderful people coming along to the Stamp-a-stack for a Season this Saturday and as part of the afternoon there will be lots of games, prizes, raffles etc  to help raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to help with the research, support and education that it provides.

Regarding the raffle I have checked with our states gaming laws and I am allowed to sell tickets for it up to 8 days prior to the drawing of it (you can read the appropriate document here), I have written permission from the NBCF to raise funds for them and also from Stampin’ Up! Australia who have donated the most massive box of goodies to raffle off……so that means that anyone in Australia can buy tickets and I will happily mail you the prize(s) if you win (overseas readers – I can’t mail the parcel overseas, however if you have an Australian mailing address I am happy to send it there). So no excuses for those who have said they have prior commitments this weekend and can’t come along and enjoy the day with us.

Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 they are on sale online from now until midnight WST on Friday November 2nd. The raffle draw will be draw on Saturday afternoon during the event itself.

How to purchase tickets:

1. You can email me charmaineblack@y7mail.com with your name, contact details and number of tickets you would like to purchase.

2. Make a deposit into the Bank West bank account BSB: 306-087 Account: 0388652 under name Charmaine Black. Please leave your SURNAME as reference for me.

3. You will receive a confirmation email from me with your ticket numbers for your reference as soon as your payment shows in my account.

Frist prize is over $365 worth of Stampin’ Up! merchandise – including an 8″x8″ album and refills, watercolour crayons, designer series paper, rub-ons, chipboard, hodgepodge hardware, ribbon, pastels, Simply Scrappin’ Kit and much more.

Second prize is valued at over $250 and contains buttons, designer series paper, ribbon, accent elements, rub-ons and much more.

Third prize is valued at over $200 and contains designer series paper, ribbon, rub-ons, watercolour crayons and much more.

Progressive Scrap Page...

 I had the pleasure of doing a workshop/party for a lovely hostess last week and she had chosen the theme of scrapbooking. Now a 12''x 12''page is a bit much to do for a make and take at a party so I did a six by six inch page and then showed all the attendees how to make it into an A4 page and then how to make that into a 12''x 12'' page.
 I had wanted to have a go at this concept for a while but never had the opportunity to do it, so I really enjoyed having a go at this myself. I knew all the attendees made 12'' x 12'' pages as a rule and would be interested to see how they could take their finished 6''x 6'' home and alter it to make it fit their books.
Here is how it turned out..

 This is the 6''x6'', the embellished panel on the left of the picture pulls out for journalling to go on, it's then hidden behind the photo. We did a page like this at convention last year.

This is the A4, so the 6'' x 6'' has been placed onto the A4 page and I added some some more photos as well as the Heading which was made with my favourite Stampin'Up! alphabet "Lovely Letters", the flourishes are from another Stampin'Up! set called "Everything Eleanor"

 And this is the completed 12'' x 12'' I love how the pictures tell a story and the finished 12''x 12 " page has had a few more photos as well as some more journalling added to it. The true friend saying on the initial picture is from the set called "World treasures"and you will remember it from my Dazzling Lights technique when I used the Peacock from it. I also used the border stamp from that set too. The colours of the card stock used are the new in-colour Gumball green, Not quite Navy, Crumb cake and a little Cherry Cobbler.

I hope you enjoyed this page and how it was put together,please click on the photos for enlarged pictures. I'd love to know if you have a go at this concept and show me your finished projects. Take care and thanks for stopping by, lots of inky hugs from...

I Dig You !

Hi there fellow paper crafters, I have been having fun doing a few party/ workshops for some friends and thought you might like to see some of the samples I made using the I Dig You set. I was asked by my client if she could have a children's birthday card theme at her party, she also asked if it could include diggers so I did my best to oblige and this is what I came up with...

I used the new Core'dinations card stock found in the current holiday catalogue on page 6 with this one, it's great to tear as it shows a different colour inside and it's also brilliant to use with our embossing folders because you can sand back the embossed image to show the inside colour of the card stock.

 I just used the "Dirt"stamp for the dirt in this one but cut the tipper truck's body and raised it on dimensionals, I also used our Scor it tool to give it some ripples and make it look like metal.

This is the inside of the card below and was the one everyone made for their make and take at the party. I used one of the stamps from the "Bring on the cake"set which is great for kids birthdays as you can just colour in the number and circle the appropriate abbreviation to go with it.

 This is the make and take card everyone made and was inspired by a card I had seen on SCS by Tayransom.

This card was also inspired by one I had seen on SCS by Wendybell.

 I had to make one for the girls too and this is my personal favourite :-) I used the "Itty Bitty" stamps and matching punches for the flowers. I also added a few pearls to pretty it up :-)

I hope you like them, thanks for stopping by and please come and visit again.
Lots of inky hugs from .......

FREE Ribbons for October!

It's a fine time to be filling your wish list, if ribbons are your weakness then October is your month.  – for every $60 you order you can choose one of the new 2012-2014 in-colour stitched satin ribbons, normally $15.95 for FREE. there is no limit so if you spend $120.00 you can choose two spools of ribbon and so on. If you are a Hostess for the month of October and your party sales reach $300 of product, not only would you get all 5 colours FREE, but you would also receive the hostess benefits for holding a party – that’s over $125 in FREE  merchandise for you to get creative with!

Choose from the following ribbons:

126848  Gumball Green 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon

126847  Midnight Muse 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon

126844  Primrose Petals 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon

126845  Raspberry Ripple 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon

126846  Summer Starfruit 1cm Stitched Satin Ribbon

Let me help you plan a get together with some friends to take advantage of this great offer, or just contact me to place an order of your own which can be delivered straight to your door.

Inky hugs from....

Dazzling Technique Video Tutorial

This is a short video on how to do the Dazzling Lights Technique which I demonstrated at the Perth Heartfelt Event this year. I have had several requests to this video so I appreciate all the encouragement and patience you have shown me. I'm sorry it wasn't  up sooner but with a wedding last week and my husband being very unwell and hospitalised I have had a few other things on my mind.
 I hope to make some more technique videos in the future, please keep in mind this is my very first attempt and it was made on my phone in one take. So be kind inky people! I hope this encourages you all to have a go at getting ink and glitter on your hands.

A couple more from Regional Convention...

I know the picture quality isn't the best, but I had to just take a couple of quick ones with my phone before they were whisked away. The beautiful peacock is from the new set called "World Treasures", I'm sure you will be seeing a lot more from this set as I really like it.

 I love these colours, Pool party and Midnight muse.

I hope you like them, lots of inky hugs from....

Excitement Day!!!!!

Well the catalogues have landed, that's right you read that correctly "CatalogueS" there are two of them to fill your eyes with delight ;-) The good news doesn't stop there, you'll be pleased to know that your dollar will now buy you even more goodies due to a lot of our products having had a price reduction.

As always you will find the catalogues in my side bar on the right hand side along with the link to just click on to see them online, but as it's their first day out, I'm going to give them to you right here too.....

Aren't they just gorgeous! If you would like to get your hands on a hard copy of these, please don't hesitate to contact me via my Stampin'' Up! web site  HERE  which is also located on the right hand side. I am also holding a catalogue launch day on the 8th of September and you can come and join in the fun of making three great projects using newly released products, all while sharing light refreshments and chatting with friends. Oh and of course listening  for your name to be called out for numerous door prizes and raffles.
 I have some more exciting news coming up about some product shares that you may like to join in with. You can get your hands on all the papers and ribbons at a fraction of the price buy joining in on a share.

An Interlude..

Hello there paper crafters, I thought you may like to see a couple of cards I made a while ago for some friends, so while I am still going to upload more from the Dazzling Lights technique and of course the instructions. These pictures are just an interlude to keep you entertained in the mean time ;-) Enjoy.

Inky hugs from .......              

Planets not in alignment......

Hello again papercrafters, I am sorry to say that the planets were unable to align tonight and there will be no video as without help I can't mange on my own, I'm afraid I'm not particularly clever when it comes to technology. I will however try my best to perhaps take photos of the "Dazzling Lights" technique along with written instructions for you to see. I will endeavour to upload these in the morning.
 In the meantime I hope you like this picture of another card using this technique.
             Lots of inky hugs from......

Perth Regional Stampin'Up! Heartfelt event.

I know you're going to fall off your chair again, but it's a chance I'm willing to take ;-)I had an absolute ball last weekend at the Stampin'Up! Perth regional Heartfelt convention. I met up with many old and some new friends, we were all inspired and amazed by all the wonderful talent on display.I was lucky enough to be chosen to do a Wow! this year, so I decided to do a technique which has been around for many a year using  different mediums, I chose to do the one that glitters most and I called it "Dazzlin'Lights"I made several cards using this technique and these are a couple of them, feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge them. I will upload some more tonight.I will also upload the instructions for this technique and if my hubby is willing to help me I will make a video of how to do it, as it is really a visual thing to be honest. 

Because of the glittery effect it is also very hard to capture that through a photo but I think you'll get the general idea. If you were at the event and were one of the many people standing around my presentation booth, thank you so much for your lovely comments and encouragement. Stay tuned for more pictures and news tonight. take care and stay inky ;-) lots of inky hugs from......

2011-2012 Stampin'Up! Retirement lists are here....

Retirement lists...Be Quick!

I know it's a sad time of year when we see some of our favourite sets and products disappear, but think of all the lovely new items that they are making way for in our fabulous new catalogue to be released on the 1st of September ;-) Don't despair you can download the lists from HERE and check off all your must haves before their gone to stamp retirement villages for a much need rest :-) Have fun making those lists, lots of inky hugs from....

Pearls and Lace Scrapbook class.

I finally got my blog working again, so I thought you might like to see the Scrapbooking class I taught yesterday with my gorgeous group "Saturday Stars" We did a double page layout which I entitled "Pearls and Lace" I used all Stampin'Up! products to put together this shabby chic look and I must say I'm quite proud of it. The bird used here is from the Bird and blossoms die which is now retired , I used Blushing Bride card stock and over stamped it with Crumb cake ink using the stamp set called French Foliage from the current catalogue. The Butterfly is from using the butterfly punch and I used Soft suede, Rose Red and Blushing Bride ink to sponge on the colour, then a Soft Suede pen to draw on the spots etc. The pretty journalling feature is from using the stamp set called Apothecary Art which is available from our gorgeous current Autumn/Winter mini catalogue, on page 19, I have cut the border and the stamped image using the matching Framelits dies called Labels collection, found on page 18 of the same mini catalogue. The scalloped circle die was used to border the circle which I cut out using the circle cutter also found in our current catalogue on page 149 in the accessories and more section. The lacey border you can see that is under the photo frame was made by stamping the beautiful Medalion stamp in two colours and making a collar, this is a great technique and is in one of the classes I teach in card making. The image below is of bunting which was made using the stamp set "Pennant Parade", these are easily cut out using the matching punch called "Petite Pennants builder punch" I used Linen thread to join all the flags together and used basic pearls to dangle from the thread, thanks to a wonderful tip from Teresa Dabrowski at convention this year. She showed us how to put the pearls back to back over the thread to make little jewels. These swing loosely from the birds beak. You can also see the same little pearls in the centre of the itty bitty punched out flowers which sit in the middle of each flag. I hope you like these pages and if you would like to have some inky fun of your own making these or perhaps a card class please feel free to contact me to arrange a date for a get together.

We (Heart) Our Hostesses...

Details: During June and July, hostesses who hold a minimum $650 workshop will receive an additional $90 in hostess FREE merchandise dollars-that's in addition to the $100 they already receive for a $650 workshop!

Wanna see what I got up to on Saturday with my colouring buddies???...

Hi there,

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Easter season with your loved ones. We had a great family get together yesterday and I cooked up a storm for them all to eat in between chocolate!

On Saturday I went to my colouring class with my friends and we all made this lovely card.

Hope you like it, I certainly had fun making her. :-)

Easter blessings from...

Hi Again,

Hello out there in Blog land, I know I said I would be blogging again and I didn't follow through with it. I'm sure those of you who know me will give me forgiveness and those who don't...Well I hope you understand how life gets in the way of things sometimes ;-)
I was about to upload a whole heap of cards that I have made recently and I seemed to have lost them in cyberspace somewhere, so I will get hubby to relocate said pictures and upload some pretties for your perusal soon. Take care and hang in there friends .....

Get back on your Chair!

OK, now get back on your chair! Grab a cuppa this might be a long one......
I know it must be a HUGE shock to see a post on this blog after sooooo very long, believe me there were certainly times when I didn't think there would ever be another one too. Most of you who are close to me know all the very heart wrenching reasons for my long absence from both the blogging world as well as the crafting world, not to mention my home in Australia!
Well I promise not to bore you all with details but lets just say I sure do hope for a better year this year.
The last post I made on here was of my gorgeous photos of my mum and dad, well unfortunately I had to return to England and was there for quite a few months nursing my mother through terminal cancer, she actually came through all the treatmeant really well and the Dr's were amazed at her tenacity and bravery. The Dr's ok-ed it for me to return to my family in OZ and said she would be fine for quite some months before becoming sick again. Unfortunately not long after my return my mother passed away peacefully in my fathers arms due to heart failure. It was a true blessing to all of us that she went while still being her normal self, not debilitated by the cancer in any way, she was up in her village shopping and chatting with all the locals that very day and everyone said she looked so well and happy.
Of course my dear dad has been left without his life partner and misses her terribly as we all do, we had a wonderful send off for mum and the little church was packed with friends and family from all corners of the world, this again was such a blessing to see all the lives she had touched while being on this earth.
To top things off, the day my mother passed my beautiful furry friend of thirteen years Coubah also had to be put to sleep. So a double whammy and more tears than I thought my body could hold. I know he is in heaven with mum having walkies with no pain and keeping mum company.
The day after I returned home from England I was sitting next to my darling daughters hospital bed side once again, she had to have another op and is now home making the most of school holidays before returning next week to work.
The day after her op, we noticed our other dog who was only nine had gone blind over night, so off to the vets again and unfortunately more bad news...he was diagnosed with canine diabetes and it was so severe that he also had to be put to sleep, apparently it is common in male poodles between the ages of seven and nine, he was a poodle mix and nine. So Whiddy is now with his mate playing in heaven too.
As you can imagine we were more than ready to begin this new year and start a new page in our lives. My crafting mojo went on vacation somewhere and forgot to come home, so I'm hoping that with some help from all the new products in my hobby room that hadn't even been opened from the new and exciting catalogue and of course now the release of the new SALE-A-BRATION catalogue today, I will be posting some new cards and projects for you to look at.
Thank you to all who have sent condolences and beautiful cards, thank you for all the many prayers that have been sent up for my family over the past year and of course THANK YOU for all your support and patience.
Please find all the new catalogues in my side bar on the righthand side, if you would like to see a hard copy feel free to contact me and I will be happy to send you one.