October - November 2010 Classes & meetings

Angel Ave CLASSES

October-

Friday the 29th 2010 .... Owl about Owls 7.30pm… Cost $10

Includes all materials needed to make 3 lovely cards using the owl punch and various other stamping’ UP! equipment. Please BYO basic took kit. Glues scissors etc.

November-

Friday the 12th 2010… Double Spread Birthday Scrap Class + 3 Cards… Cost $15

Make a lovely Double page Spread for a birthday lay out, with pockets for tab journaling and use the BIG SHOT to make your lettering. As well as 3 other (any occasion) cards. Please BYO basic took kit. Glues scissors etc.

Friday the 26th 2010… 4 Cards class… inspiration taken from my last lot of regional swaps… Cost $10

Please BYO basic took kit. Glues scissors etc.

There may be another class with Christmas theme too.. so stay tuned for this one….

I have had a few requests to run classes on other times/days than the Fridays. If you like the sound of the classes that I am running and let me know you would like to come I can advertise for another day/date. Or gather 2 or more friends together and have your very own private class. And if you have requests I am more than happy to accommodate your needs and wishes… Just drop me a line or call me…

PaperANGELS Monthly Training Meeting…. If you are interested in finding out more about our WONDERFUL PaperANGELS group and learning more about paper Crafts.. Come along and be inspired at our monthly meetings… We have a lovely time and have in-house (friendly) competitions and challenges every month between the demonstrators… At the moment the challenge is to design a lovely make n take card that other demos could use at their workshops. And to design a card or scrap page or project that you could demo at a workshop… So this is very practical to help all demonstrators… Even the veterans learn new things!!! At the meetings we always do at least 2 projects and we are inspired by Angels show and tell or experiences with their workshops and classes. We are a very sharing and caring group of demonstrators. It would be lovely to have you join us at our meetings. Cost is $5 which goes to room hire and project material costs. You are welcome to bring a friend if that would make you feel more comfortable. You must let either myself, Liz or Bec know so that we can be sure we have enough project material. BYO basic craft tool kit with glues etc.

As of last month we have started to have training meetings at Angel Ave too.. So if you are interested in coming to these please let me know.

October Angel Ave meeting is Wednesday the 27^th @7.30pm-9pm

October Southside meeting is Saturday the 30^th @ 2.30pm-5pm

November Northside meeting is Monday 15^th @7.30-9pm

November Southside meeting is Wednesday 24^th @ 7.30pm-9pm

November Angel Ave meeting is Saturday 27^th @ 10am-12pm

Southside venue is Wynnum Manly Leagues Club, Kougari Oval, 92 Wondall Rd, Manly West

RSVP to Liz Collett – liz@daniche.com or 0448 896 001

Northside venue is at Rebeccas in Warner .

RSVP stampinwithbec@netspace.net.au or 0403 071 367

Angel Ave venue Rochedale.

RSVP Ursula naturallyu01@hotmail.com or 0410 602 916

1-3/8" Circle Punch Flower

I LOVE the Elegant Soirée Papers..... $16.95 (Page 127 Australia Ideas Catalogue 2010-2011)

I've been wanting to try out this flower embellishment for months.... using the 1-3/8" Circle punch!!!

I am glad that I took that opportunity last week in my scrapbooking class... it is not hard to make just a little fiddly... You fold the circle in 1/2 then in 1/2 again.. then you unfold them and fold the edges around to the center... to create a cone like shape... which is then each petal.. You need 8 of these to create the whole flower...

Now I did not have any buttons to put in the middle of the flower so I took the 1/16" Circle punch and made 2 little holes for the button holes.. then punched it out using the 1/2" Circle Punch... Then using Crystal Effects you can make the button Convex and quite thick with a generous coating... You do need to allow this to dry for an hour or so though placing it on plastic so that if it does stick you can lift it off reasonably easy.... With this technique under your belt if you do not have buttons to match your project there is a way that you can create them yourself....


And I also wanted to try this new technique with ribbon that we learned at Regionals too... You take a single fiber of the satin ribbon and gather it... Then use lots of glue or tie it off so that the gathering is secure... It is a really nice embellishment to add that shabby chic look....

Finally this is the whole page.. It is quite lovely... Very simple... with just a little bit of fussy la la ness....

Love Ursula

Thank You Cards - Booklets

These are something I like to make... They are cards that lots of people can sign and write quite a few things in... I made these for the Queensland Festival Chorus members to say thank you to all those who made our last tour (July 2010) possible... I didn't take photos of all of them unfortunately but at least there are a few.... here...We had such a wonderful successful tour.. What a fantastic memory and legacy we will all have because of this experience!!! You can read one of our reviews here.... It will live on in my memory forever!!!!

MAHLER 2: RESURRECTION - Singapore & Queensland Festival Choruses
Orchestra of the Music Makers - Chan Tze Law, Conductor

Esplanade Concert Hall Saturday (10 July 2010)

Stampin' UP! Brisbane Regionals 2010 Swaps

These are the swaps that I received... I was a little sad that I did not swap all I had made.. but when you are to be a presenter at a training meeting you help to set the rooms up, the make n take boxes, Put up the display boards and help register other Stampin' UP! Demos as they arrive for the day... .. so we worked our little hearts out.. but it was fun.... and not with out it's rewards.... :)

Who Who.. says the owl is not cute???? He seemed to feature on quite a few cards.. Looks like he is quite popular!!! and I am loving the butterfly die cuts for the big shot!!!! I so have to get me some of them!!!!!!!
Black White and Red... seems to be quite popular too.. but isn't it a beautiful and sophisticated colour combo???I love it when you get something that is a little different or with a little treat in it... the white top not at the back has a bit of nougat in it... I love the little tea cup.. it is made on the bigshot with the pillow box... how cute is that??? In the little gift card there was a little surprise of loads of circle punched out confetti.. heheh... It was funny when someone open it and it all spill everywhere. And the Red, White and Eggplant is a bookmark that covers the corner of the pages in your book.... A neat idea...

I am loving this natural colour combo of the colours in the Elegant Soirée Papers $16.95 (Page 127 Australia Ideas Catalogue 2010-2011) (Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake,
Very Vanilla, Basic Gray)


And these ones are lovely too...

I love the colour combo on this card.. It is not a colour combo that I would have put together but it really works... and I really like it.. bright and festive.. Just the way Christmas should be!!!

Again thanks to all those who swapped with me... there really is some great ideas here...

Happy creating...

Stampin UP! Brisbane Regionals Training 2010

What a great time we had at regionals this year... It's again always wonderful receiving swaps..
Thank you again to all who swapped with me... I only wish I had more time to do so because I came home with only half the amount swapped..... BECAUSE.....

I had an new experience this year.... It all started when I was contacted from head office and asked a week before regionals if I would be able to do a Workshop WOW... a presentation space had become available and someone suggested that I might be able to do something... Oh my GOODNESS!!!! The Pressure... What do you teach a room full of wonderfully creative and talented women and a few men???? While I stressed for a day or 2 about what I would teach.... I finished off my swaps.... Being that my time slot was a mere 5 minutes to present something of worth... Well it was not that I was worried about the talking... I could do that in a pinch.. but I really wanted to do something that might be of use to our demonstrators... After discussing my ideas with Liz we came to the conclusion that what I had done for my swaps was original and put a bit of a slant on something that most people might already know about... but just takes it that one step further into the creative realms...

So with that in mind I opened my presentation with the line.... "Hello everyone.. Today I am going to teach you all something that every crafter needs to have in their crafting diet.... How to de-stress and break up the fibers... ".. This was supposed to receive a decent amount of laughter.. but I fear people may have been asleep... or maybe my delivery was poor.. or too quick... anyway with no laughter forthcoming I decided to chuck a mini wobbly and pout and say "That was supposed to be funny... You were supposed to laugh...." Then came a few very forced laughs... Phew.. Thank goodness...
I then proceeded with my first demo of "how you can break up the fibers with a bone folder to create a flower with the scallop circle punch.... but if one was being "lazy" (what I meant to say was productive and time conscious....) you can use your crimper to break up the fibers in the card stock to pull the layers apart.."
While turning the handle of the crimper I made a creaky noise of the paper going backwards and forwards.. This did get laughs... and it was totally unintentional.... But apparently a highlight... heheh
(I didn't take a photo of this project.. but it is similar to ones I have made in the past..you can look at in on This blog Link)

Then I went on to say that just because you have broken the fibers in the paper you do not have to separate it totally.. you can separate portions of your embellishments to create more dimension and texture in your projects...

I held up this butterfly card and said in your workshop you could have your customers simply punch out the butterflies but in your demo you could show how you have stepped it up with distressing and breaking up the fibers and putting a bit of bling on to dress it up a little...

I also showed my Swap card... the top one.. because it used the partial distressing and breaking up fibers technique...

This little project... Which was designed a week before regionls.... in the absence of customers at a display that Kate and I were doing.... (Apparently we should get board more often!! heheh)


And lastly a Scrapbook page where the leaves on the vine were distressed...


And at the end I added that we need to become more like little children and not over analise what we do... We need to relax and become more free with our creativity.... That way we will come up with some wonderful ideas.. Just play and have fun... Then there is no limit to your creativity!!!

Liz and Bec Presented at this regional also... and despite how nervous we all felt our presentations went quite well...

The other presentation highlights for me was a fantastic paper rose made from a circle punch... Some wonderful water colouring techniques... The shimmer paints and how to use them... and then some other way to use all your inkers and change colours etc...

I am hanging out to try some of these techniques and products and to recreate some of the wonderful swaps that I received at Regionals.... It's all so exciting!!!

Convention 2010 - Sydney - Swaps Convo

I've been wanting to write a Blog entry for weeks now.. but have been lacking in time... Before Regional Training was coming up I wanted to share a funny conversation I had via email with another Demonstrator reguarding swaps....

One of the very exciting things of Conventions and Regional trainings is the swapping that takes place over the duration of these meetings... All the demonstrators make something like a card front to swap with other demonstrators.. This is not only a great way to meet other demonstrators but gives you so many inspirational projects to take home and try out or demo to your own customers.. Whilst we do thank each and everyone we swap with at the time of the exchange some peopel take the time out to thank individuals for these swaps.... something that I unfortunately often tend to do on my blog. But Carolyn took the time to individually thank me and I was really touched by her personal attention. It makes you feel really apprecciated.

Anyway we had this fantastically funny email exchange... And I just wanted to share it with you all.. I hope you get a laugh out of it.. Cause I sure did whilst writing it....

From: Carolyn
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 11:32 PM

Hi Ursula,

I just wanted to drop you a quick email to say thank you for your lovely Convention swap.

I've finally had time to sit down and have a good look at all of my bounty and I can see how much work you put into your bookmark. I'm learning so much from all of the swaps I've received. I hope you liked my earrings.

I'd like to invite you to be my friend on Facebook. It's a great way of keeping up with what everyone is up to. Find me at 'Carolyn Bennie Ink - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator'

Cheers,
Carolyn

On 02/06/2010, at 11:15 PM, Ursula wrote:

Hi Carolyn.... I LOVED your earrings!!! I always try to do something left of center for convention.. and love to try and do something you can wear... I make beaded costume jewellery too so it is great to combine the 2.. and it NEVER fails to impress!!!
I have not yet had a chance to email and thank all the people who swapped with me... I love the ideas too... and am sure we will all be inspired for the whole year with our "bounty"as you so eloquently put it!!!!! It truly is a treasure!!! Makes you just want to roll around in them like you’re in mountains of money.. & giggle hysterically!!! ..... but shush... that's our dirty little secret.. cause someone may think I am a bit of a loony if that cat gets out of the bag!!! OK??? Mum's the word.... hehehehe
Would love to be your friend on FB... and visa versa.. I also like to have friends on FB.. hehe.. we are just crafting.... FB.. Stampin' Connections junkies!!! CAN'T get ENOUGH!!!
Thanks for thanking me for my swap... Thank you for yours too!!! LOVED them!!! I will wear them with PRIDE!!! oh and by the way they were so well presented.. I was impressed!!! Very professional!!!
Muwah.. and take care...

Ursula



From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 12:08 AM

Thanks for your thanks about my thanks Ursula. You've made me laugh. How much coffee have you had tonight??? And where can I get that brand?

I'm off to roll around in my swaps....

XX Carolyn


On 03/06/2010, at 7:29 AM, Ursula James wrote:

oh no no Coffee for me. Don't drink it.. and that is a good thing I think.... heheh..
I've just finished watching an episode of Glee, one of The Ultimate High school musical and 2 of TRAUMA... I am pumped to sing and dance my way to a bloody emergency... the adrenaline is a pumping... some guy in trauma had his arm ripped off by a concrete mincer and another guy got impaled on a concrete reo barb, some kids blew up a bird bath on Halloween and some gay bar went up in phosphorous smoke from the amazing piro techniques show on the night of their Halloween party... Another restaurant blew up in a cooking fat fire... The ambo got trashed by an old man with a base ball bat who was disgruntled because of how much he got charged for a trip in one... with his neck brace on... Um what else happened... heaps.... It's a great series.. and really does make the adrenaline pump.. and makes me SQUIRM.... but after a good nights sleep I think I am a little more settled... maybe...
Hope you had fun rolling in your swaps... heheh... That is quite funny.. I may just have to blog that... so my dirty little secret will be out.... hehe.
Have a great day... no more rolling in swaps ok.. cause it can be addictive too.... plus it could be a bit dangerous... a brad in the bottom is not nice...
Ursula


From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 8:23 AM

I didn't realize you have to be naked to roll in your swaps!! I've been doing it all wrong. Off to do it again. ;)

Mayor's Gala Ball - Masquerade Ball 2010

I was able to assist Councillor Lisa Bradly by personalising a mask to match her gown for the Mayor's Gala Ball recently. It was a lovely thing to do and I believe Lisa said it was quite a conversational piece... Lisa was kind enough to send me a photo from the night... and I believe there is hearsay that Lisa (& her mask) may even have a cameo role in one of our local papers...

The Mayoress Committee raised $40,000 for charities at last years Mayor's Gala Ball.

Congratulations on such a fantastic job! I am sure that this years was just as successful!!

Stampin' UP! Colour Renovation Kits

You might be wondering the best way to update

your existing Stampin' Up! products with all the new colours.

Like me Take advantage of the - Colour Kits!


In Color Kit (121703)
5 Inkpads and 20 sheets of A4 cardstock

in Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait,

Poppy Parade, Concord Crush
$56.95 ($73.70 value) SAVE $16.75

New Colour Kit (121702)
6 Inkpads and 24 sheets of A4 cardstock

in Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake,

Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Marina Mist
$65.95 ($85.65 value) SAVE $19.70

There are also Kits for markers, Pastels and Crayons.

See the complete offering on the flyer HERE

September - October Angel Ave Classes

Announcing SEPTEMBER ... OCTOBER Classes

Wed 1st ... September... 2010 Idea Book & Catalogue Launch - ANGEL AVE - 7Pm... COST $10.. includes you own copy of the NEW CATALOGUE make n Takes and a great time!!!

Sat 11th... September... Candle Stamping... 1pm Angel Ave... COST (TBC)
Come along and learn how you can incorporate your stamping with home Decor by decorating and stamping on a candle or two.

Fri 17th... September... Stamp n Stack... Christmas Theme.. with NEW CATALOGUE items... 7pm Angel Ave.. COST $15
Come along and make 8 Christmas Themed cards along with 8 matching envelopes.

Fri 15th... October... Scrapbooking... 7.30pm.. Angel Ave.. COST (TBC)
Create simply stunning layouts with only a few products. (Scrapping on a budget... but not skimping on BEAUTY!!!)

Remember if you would like to learn something I am happy to set up a private class anytime for you and one or 2 friends... Or book a workshop to recieve a NEW CATALOGUE and some fantastic Hostess rewards.... There are NEW ones in this NEW CATALOGUE!!!

I'm Excited that in September Stampin' UP! is holding our Brisbane Regional training... So I am sure I will be very inspired to teach you more things... With the NEW CATALOGUE items... On that note... I guess I need to start thinking about some swaps.. It's not that far off!!! Argh...

Please do call or email me to book in for a class... Looking forward to being CRAFTY with you!!!
Love Ursula

My Wish for you

I've been having a bit of a hard time of late... and I really needed to get some positive, happy vibes flowing... I've heard that if you are having trouble and not getting what you need from others you need to look within and be your own fulfillment so to speak... Usually I can do this. However I found I needed some extra help.. so I asked a wise friend... and I found this lovely poem (via Google..... my wise friend... heheh) last week written by John O'Donahoe... It had no title.. but when I read it I titled it "My Wish for you" I am going to paste it up in my bedroom so that I can read it every day and night... It will be my positive Affirmations for a little while... While I really need them...
I also photoshoped the background by overlaying loads of wonderful pictures of music etc...
You can do this kind of thing for scrapbooking digitally too...
Hope you like it as much as I do... the words are DIVINE!!! Who wouldn't want to wish that everyone could have these blessings in their lives!!

Love Ursula

(double click on the image to enlarge)

Artisticly Helping along a TRUE Happy Ending!!!

Daryl is a dear (old.. heheh) friend of mine and he is sooooooooooo talented!!! He is a movie producer... And his BEAUTIFUL Fiance is Erin... and she is a megga talented artist as well.. the found love half way across the world... and it really is a fairy tale romance...

Daryl has entered the Doritos competition to share his talent and maybe to win the prize money which would go to their wedding and bringing his 4 kids from Australia to the USA for the wedding....

Please vote.... You are allowed to vote 5 times a day... then in the last run only once a day... Let's do all that we can to help someones dreams come true.. these guys deserve it!!! Especially hte HAPPY ENDING!!!!

Please Vote for Daryl Young's Video http://doritos.com.au/#/gallery/week-8/id/1988
Add it to your FaceBook profile or email it to your friends to vote also... Share the love!!! With all as they have shared their romance with us!!!

Thank you.... Below is some of the attention their romance has received!!!!

our story was featured on a software developments website, as their software was a part of our "getting together"

full story here
http://zaxwerks.com/blog/2010/03/10/proanimator-helped-my-love-life

Facinator - Fire Engin Red Deluxe #2

Yes you have seen one like this before... I made the original for clients fancy Dress party... I borrowed it back from my client and had it on display at our Singapore Tour Fundraiser function recently. One of my fellow Choir members fell in LOVE with it and insisted that I create her very own to match the dress she was wearing on the night...

And thus Fire Engine Red Deluxe #2 was brought to life.... How well does Fiona wear it???


Photo of Fiona to come soon....

Table Decorations - Star of the Night

Gail wanted me to create some table decorations for her Daughter's special occasion... The theme was purple silver and stars.... in the center of each I needed to make a photo holder spring... so that each table could have back to back photos so all the guest could see them...

These were fun to create... However just having the big stars by them selves... well it seemed a little incomplete to me so I had the idea of shooting stars which I then created with the spray of the three small stars.. Cool hay??

Hope the function is a great SUCCESS Gail!!!

Love Ursula

Wedding Boquet of Feathers

Chloe was my bride with a difference... she really wanted a bouquet with out using flowers... She loves feathers, the whimsical & graceful way they move.... She really wanted a bouquet that would not die. And it was a must to incorporate some butterflies as part of the theme...

This was a challenge for me at first as I had no idea how I would construct such a magnificent vision that was in her head... However as most artist.. I tackled it with the "I CAN DO IT" attitude... With no particular finished picture in my mind I went to and started to create a MASTER Piece.... one small piece at a time...

This divine BOUTIQUE bouquet is definitely a one of a kind... And is such an amazing dream and idea that I am very grateful Chloe came to me to make it a reality!!!!


Corey (the Groom) needed a matching button hole... complete with butterfly and feathers...




And their BEAUTIFUL little baby had to have a matching wedding party head band too....

Chloe's Bridesmaids needed a similar style of bouquet but not as full and with some lovely crystal and black feathers.
And some lovely hair pieces complete with feathers and crystals....







Both Mum's had a lovely wrist corsage of white roses each...





And the Groomsmen and Dads had white roses and Chloe's Dad wanted a red rose to match his red tie....

Bookings are closing very soon for our much anticipated Christmas Card Workshops. Whilst there are still limited places available, we need to close off bookings, so that we can ensure that the materials that we need to order for you arrive in time. I thought I would take the opportunity to remind you of all the fabulous reasons that you will want to come to one of these events.

1.
Number one reason to come to the Christmas Card Workshops
is the wonderful, creative & fun PEOPLE that you will find there.

2.
The PROJECTS have been designed to be elegant, simple & repeatable,
using a great stash of Stampin' Up! papers, dies, tools, ribbon & bling.

3.
If you have been to a Christmas Card Workshop, you will know we always have
great prizes. This year Stampin' Up! have been extremely generous in their support
and we have well over $1000 of product to give away at each event. Pictured below
are the RAFFLE PRIZES for the Coorparoo Event.

The proceeds from these fabulous raffle prizes ensures we continue to support the Mater Mothers Bereavement Footprints Programme.

4.
There is always a great supply of DISPLAY PROJECTS that you are welcome to photograph.

5.
The CARD COMPETITION costs 50 cents per card to enter. We would like to see Christmas Cards created primarily with Stampin' Up! Product. Participants in the Workshop will then
vote and 3 lucky winners will share in $250 in prizes!

6.
Of course, we always have a lovely AFTERNOON TEA to enjoy together.

7.
This year we will have a special box at all our Christmas Workshops. We will be collecting Christmas Card Donations for our Australian Troops serving overseas as part of a
'CARDS FOR TROOPS' program. These cards will ensure soldiers are able to send a card home at Christmas to their loved ones. This project is being coordinated for the Paper Angels by the lovely Anna Wheaton who is in turn helping 2 NSW Stampin Up Demonstrators who initiated this idea. So please, do bring along any cards you did not use from last year and we ask please if you can provide envelopes with the cards.

8.
We will have SPOT PRIZES during the course of the day

9.
COLOR INSTRUCTIONS will ensure you can recreate
your favourite workshop projects at home

10.
Get your CREATIVE MOJO working

NEWS FLASH
Due to popular demand, please contact me as a matter of urgency by phone or email

Sunday 18th July | Pine Rivers | Pine Rivers Bowls Club
Saturday 31st July | Rochedale | Springwood Bowls Club
Sunday 1st August | Wellington Point | Redlands Sporting Club