Back now - Tech difficulty SOLVED!!!

So it's been a while since I've posted here.. I've had technical problems and had been trying to solve them myself... but nothing was working.. I asked for help.. but it didn't help....  So I gave up for a little while.. then... to my surprise the other day when I signed onto blogger with the thought that I would just ditch the whole idea of ever blogging on here again... and I would start a new blog with a different service.. ....  I found that they have totally changed the way they do things... and it is MUCH easier!!! YEAH!!!!!

So here's to new beginnings... I had about 5 posts from last year in my DRAFTS so I will post them and then I will get onto posting some more current cards and classes... 

YEAH... I'm doing a HAPPY DANCE!!!
Looking forward to sharing more with you all!!!

This Poor neglected Blog!!!!

Life is ALWAYS changing and isn't it GREAT??!!
As you can see this poor blogg of mine has been SADLY neglected.. but with two teenagers.. High school commitments and sports commitments and friends social lives, Church commitments, Choir rehearsals. Craft Classes, Working 3 different jobs, Hubbie commitments.. fixing the house.... taxi Driving....  and fitting all of that around my JOB/HOBBY that I LOVE... (Stampin' UP!!!) Well.. It seems I had to let go of some things.. but I am making a resolution now to make more of an effort to post on here more often!!!

I seem to be able to post onto Face Book quite easily.. so why not just copy and paste onto here??? That shouldn't be too hard right?!!!  lets see how well I can keep up with my resolution....

Well for starters Our new 2016-2017Catalogue is due to come out soon!!!! Wahoooooo.. I can't wait until we can show the GORGEOUS products and projects that are in this catty.. I reccon it is one of THE BEST EVA!!!  I've been a Demo for 9 years now.. and this year we celebrated the10th year of being in the South Pacific.. Australia and New Zealand... and I had a great time this year at the On Stage Event.. As I went to New Zealand with a fellow Creative Angel... (Jen) When it was announced that the New On Stage events would take over from the Convention type events as we knew them.... and then announced that they would be held in several different countries  with a live broadcast from Salt Lake... and Local On Stage presenters in various countries...  We (Jen and I) spoke briefly about how much fun that could be.. and how we would like to go to New Zealand as the New Zealanders have had to come to us for the last 7 years!!! It seemed only fair.. So in the beginning of this year Jen called me and asked if I was serious about going to NZ for the On Stage Event.... HELL YEAH!!!! SO COOL!!!!... Right then and there we decided to make our Dream and wish of going overseas for a Stampin' Up event (and to travel) a REALITY....

A few days after I registered for the event I was contacted by Emma from NZ head office... And she asked me if I would do a 15 min presentation... arrrggghhhh... But I said yes.. what was the worst that could happen??

We had such a  wonderful time... We met so many BEAUTIFUL people.. and were invited and welcomed into a Wonderful NZ team of Demonstrators...  We stayed with the lovely Stephanie and Paula's parents.. We got lifts to places we needed to go and we were looked after so wonderfully...  Stampin' Up! Demos are just like extended family... It's such a wonderful organisation to belong to...  I love it... And NZ it's self is TRULY BEAUTIFUL!!!

There is so much more to tell about our trip toe NZ and the Onstage event... but i must keep it brief at this stage as I don't want to wear myself out on the first blog post for almost 2 years!!! I cant believe it's been that long!!!!!!

So here is a photo or two that I can show from the Onstage event in NZ.... yeah...

Yellow Bear NZ

See the CUTE little Yellow Bear Peeking from behind the On Stage sign???  We were made to feel like one of the family with the Yellow Bear Team!!! XXXOOO

This is how CRAZY we get when we see the NEW CATALOGUE!!!! (The Beautiful Paula... and her new Catalogue....)

Cards Made at Paper Angels Training Meetings

At all of our Paper Angel meetings we make FABULOUS cards.. Here are some that I took photos of in the last year with my Phone.... The clarity is not as good as I would like them to be but they are clear enough to see that we always make BEAUTIFUL cards.. another benefit of being a PAPER ANGEL....

For all the years we have been making cards at our Paper Angels training meetings we have always had difficulty having our time with the only 2 samples between sometimes 20 of us..........
....... Well when we saw one of our pre-baby-boomer generation Angels take a photo of the sample with her phone we were SHOCKED... Why had we not thought of that before?? Shelagh... You are AMAZING!!!! We will never have to WANT for nor FIGHT for the sample again... Massive Props!!!

My Hubbie's DA MAN

My Hubbie is AMAZING!!! He supports my hair brained ideas 110%... all the way.. He always takes an interest in my crafting... even though I am sure he must get bored with it sometimes...

I was a little upset with the fact that everyone kept talking about how hard I am to buy a present for... and Hubbie was quite perplexed as to what he would get me last year for my birthday... as money was tight and he knew I would like expensive things and he would be comfortable and excited to purchase something like a ipad or a new camera or something else techie.. (cause he does techie well)... Anyway one day I cracked it... I said a few stern words and told my whole family that I really wasn't that hard to please.. if they just all (mostly to the children) helped out around the house and cleaned up their messes and made me breckie in bed (on my Birthday) and maybe got to and made some of the things we had been talking about...  like a bedside table and a ribbon rack etc.. well that would be FANTASTIC.... (I had even gone out to IKEA with Master 13 and purchased an old door to attach legs to for a bedside table... and I had purchased from the hardware store some steal rods for the Mr to fix to a ribbon rack.. We had gone to a laser cutting place and gone through their bin of offcuts for the perspex... and I had even handed the materials {several times} to the perspective builders)..... I think the materials all up had cost under $10...

Long story short.. the next couple of weeks were really fantastic... I had a lovely Birthday... and Hubbie went the extra mile and made me this AMAZING +++ ribbon rack!!! I am so spoiled... :)
He even put the Stampin' Up! logo on it and the tag line is on the sides... Lucky me!!!!

I'm still waiting on the bed side table... but you know.. all things come to those who wait.. or go out and do themselves... (building the table is now on MY to do list)

Moral of the story is ... Ask and ye shall receive... 
and the other Moral to the story is... If at first you don't succeed... try try again... (sternly ;P)

Stampin' UP Melbourne Convention - 2011

Well what a FANTASTIC time we had at convention this year!!! I do believe it was the best Convention EVA!!!! Due to the fact that it is now 3 days and also because each day was filled with wonderful inspiring projects and motivational talks which not only apply to our business but on a very personal level they apply to our life as well. Helping one to see how they could make themselves better people.

There were so many fantastic things that happened. Through out the three days we must have had at least over 20 sneak peeks of stamp sets and products that will be in the New Idea Catalogue 2011-2012....  
{As we are not allowed to put them on the net yet... well you won't be seeing them on here for a wile.. HOWEVER I can say that if you would like to see some we even received some of these sets in the Prize patrol and as a special 5th Birthday pressie to all the demos that attended Convention.Come on over and take a look at the new products if you would like to see them or book a workshop and mention that you would like to see them and I could bring them for you to take a look at!!! Oh I can also show you the new years In Colors... whoot whoot!!!}

The theme song this year was AWESOME... But how could you go wrong with changing the lyrics to a Miley Cyrus song? (Party in the USA) in fact it was so catchy that weeks later I still have it going around my head... "Cause we share what we love, we love what we do.. Doesn't get much better... Stampin' UP! together...we share what we love, we love what we do.. Oh life is good... say yeah eh eh eh heeh...Sharing it with the World." (If you want to hear the actual song you can CLICK HERE and see the US Convention Highlights... (ours is not up to see yet) trust me it's catchy!!!) I loved loved loved the dance that the Sydney Staff put together for the opening presentation.  Anna, Jeannette and Clare shook their funky thangs to the grove and Cate even sang the theme song!!! How talented are they??

The thing I loved MOST about Convention this year was all the FUNNY things that happened on stage while people were presenting.

...Aaron.. (Sydney Head Office) Did a whole Break Dance for us. Complete with an impressive back spin... And was mega pooped after it... hehehe.. It was hard for him to catch his breath enough to present to us... (It is a fact we are all getting older... )

...Emma (New Zealand Head Office) Showed us some of the new FABRIC and Fabric adhesive and while demoing with the (stolen from her hotel) Iron how to attach the adhesive to the material she was explaining how very important it is to make sure that you do iron it on the correct side... then she lifted the fabric and the adhesive was all stuck (very well) on the Stampin' Up logo table cloth... heheheh... She also chucked a little bit of a hissy fit when one of her flower appliques would not do what she wanted and ended up chucking it some where behind her in frustration.. It was so funny!!! And so what I do in a workshop if things don't work out.. hehehe... Just like you do with little kids.. Distraction from the immediate always takes off the focus... However when anyone else demonstrated on the same table they all had to mention the mess that was on the cloth.. Each time it received another laugh...

...Shelly. (CEO Stampin' UP) was talking about how important tweesers were to have in your tool kit.. The convo went a little like this. "You should have them in your tool kit.. You do have them don't you? They are very important. I hope you do have them otherwise you would be growing a lot of hair somewhere?" Barrrh harr harr harr.... Then she realised what she had said and went totally red with embarrassment... Then to bring everyone back and get herself focused she said.. "ok that's enough... We need to focus down here..." (meaning on the project that she was demonstrating but you know those Freudian slips just can not be taken back....)
Shelly also made a "pretend" surprise discovery of Emma's glue covered table cloth and then said that she would not have to worry about her job because you can simply use the adhesive eraser to remove the glue and the cloth is as good as new... heheh.. (I bet Emma Sighed with relief!!!)

... Derick (US Head Office).. Was the commentator of the "win it in a Minute" Challenge Show... Where many demonstrators had to try out the day before by being the fastest to change the top cup to the bottom cup in a stack of cups alternating hands each time... It was hard.. the cups kept sticking together!!! The winners went onto participate in 3 challenges.. 1st one was to roll a whole reel of ribbon onto a pencil the fastest. The second one was MEGA embarrassing!!! Each contestant had a choc chip bickie placed on their forehead and had to maneuver it from the forehead to their mouth using only their facial muscles... What a crack up this one was!!! And it is not flattering being up on the BIG SCREEN whilst doing this one! At least they were not alone.. I was mighty impressed with two of the ladies they had it nailed!!!  And then in the last challenge each contestant was fitted with a box on their bottom and had to shake it til all the wooden blocks came out... The winner was a lovely lady form the Gold Coast... She was fearless and so deserved the shopping spree prize!!!
... Pam and Bonnie were just FANTASTIC again... They really should be stand-up comedians... They are so natural and entertaining as well as inspiring!!!

... The advertisement competition was good too. We were asked to create an Advertisement to encourage people to come to convention. There was only 2 adverts sent in...The winner was presented with a $250 voucher for Stampin Up product (Man I wish we had been a little more organised to create a video.. We did have some great ideas) .

The first one was a group of demonstrators tapping, stamping and shaking brad containers to the beat... Then they formed a conga line and shouted "Convention"... It looked like they had great fun making it...

The winning video was made by one demonstrator who was VERY clever!!! It showed in fast motion her packing for convention... She tossed her clothes into her suit case, then placed her swaps on top.. discovered that she could not shut the case. Then she tossed all the clothes out and put the swaps in with the clothes on top... Then she tossed all the clothes out and placed the Swaps into the case by themselves.... The caption was.... "Convention... you only need the BARE Essentials" the closing shot was of her back and she had bare shoulders and legs with her bag rolling behind her.....
It was so clever.. and my oh my she was very brave!!!

...Next years Intensive trip to Broom was sensationally announced by Aaron and Emma riding in on the stage on real live Camels... To which Shelly felt the need to keep her feet planted but have her upper body lean backwards to avoid the camels coming too close.

Liz's class on creating loyal customers was brilliant and her PowerPoint with scrapbook pages looked BRILLIANT!!! Talk about going the extra mile and making people feel special... Her little thank you cards were a hit too... So much so that Derick said that no one had ever done so much to demonstrate the meaning of going the extra mile for people. And he said that Liz had set a new bench mark.

Because we had the three days at this years convention we had a shoe box swap night... Each of us (PaperANGELS) brought a card to stamp and put together on the Friday night. It was wonderful to chat, laugh and create together. with 15 of us all snug in the one room.

These were the cards we made....

(Photos to come)

This was my card....

And did I mention the display boards of the swaps??? There were HUNDREDS of fantastic cards!!!

(Photos to come)

On the Awards night The food was fantastic... This was our desert... 

It was YUMMY...

Because this year Stampin' UP! Australia was Celebrating their 5th Birthday we had a Card board Birthday cake for all demonstrators to sign.... And of course have some photo opportunities...

I spent some time reading what others had said.... When I write on a card or on something that is going to stand the test of time or be a keep sake I always try to write something meaningful.... So while I collected my thoughts and took a brief moment to contemplate what I was writing Liz asked me to pretend to take a bite out of the cake... "Because..." Liz Said... (Quote) "I knew if I asked you to do it you would." Isn't it good to be dependable??? hehe

Liz took some more pictures of me writing on the cake and also took a photo of what I wrote...

Felicity, Bec and Liz all got to do the walk across the stage this year for their Stampin Up mile stones.. Congratulations ladies!!!

Then  came time for the announcement of the "Heart of Stampin' UP! award..." As Shelly read out some of the letters that were sent in we all listened carefully to see if we could place some of achievements and services to someone we knew. Then Shelly said something to the effect of... "This person is a member of the Queensland Performing Arts Choir... " It took me a little while to register this... And then I recognised it as the QPAC Choir... Which I always call it.... Then I got excited and said... "oh really there is another member here?.... I wonder where she is... I haven't met her yet!"  to which I was very "blondly" and innocently looking around to find the other member that I hadn't recognised yet...  Then Shelly went on.. "this demonstrator participated in collecting Cards for troupes.... "nah... I didn't do that..." was my response.. Then Shelly said... "this demonstrator organised a fundraising event which was called "The Arty Farty Tea Party".... This time the penny dropped and I realised that she was talking about me and my sneaky PaperANGEL team members had nominated me for the Heart of Stampin UP award.... And I was being awarded with it... The tears flowed... and anything else that Shelly said after that was not really heard... I was so touched and honored and majorly humbled that nothing else registered... Tears were flowing and I believe I may have even emotionally sucked in some air and quivered my lip making a strange sound... I do remember laughing at the mention that "the demonstrator made elaborate eye patches with the Big Shot...." What a night!!! I was so humbled... And felt somewhat undeserving... But loved oh so much... How does one relay the emotional feelings, eloquently  and sufficiently to allow others to even partly understand the things that flow through ones mind??? There really are no words... But to express my gratitude... Gratitude of belonging to a wonderful team that sincerely love and care for each other. That are there for you when times are troubled. That build you up when you are down... That Love you in spite of your constant foot and mouth disease... That laugh hysterically with you (or sometimes at you) and cry with you when you are touched by love or compassion. That hold you hand and encircle you in their loving arms when times are tough. That inspire you to be better than you were before... That bring out the very best in you both personally and creatively... That are willing to share their all with you... Family, Friends, Homes, Time, Love, Laughter, Creative inspirations and so much more... How blessed I am to be a part of a wonderful company... Stampin' UP!... To have met such wonderful people and to have them play a very important part in my life!!! I would hate to think how big the hole in my life would be with out these wonderful individuals and how if I was not a Stampin' UP! demonstrator I would never have met any of them.... Stampin' UP! has undoubtedly blessed my life with Purpose, Creativity, Friendship, Senility, Opportunity and so much more!!!

Imagine being a part of a fantastic loving team....
What a BRILLIANT time we all had.... There were so many other fantastic things that happened at convention... We've all come home armed with inspiring projects... New products.. New friendships... And totally invigorated and ready to get stuck into our Stampin' Up business weather it is a hobby or working towards a full time business...

Imagine coming with us to next years convention in Canberra and sharing this experience with us!!! 

Imagine receiving enough inspiration for a whole years worth of projects...

It is all within your grasp...

Imagine coming with us to Regionals... November the 5th

 Itching to share this ALL with you!!!!
 Love Ursula

Easter Class - 2011

 

This is what was created for my Easter class... 3 cute little bunnies on a card with fluffy tails.. Inspiration for this one was from the internet somewhere... I remember seeing it ages ago.... on several blogs...  Also we made this FANTASTIC little basket - template was given to me from Fiona (KENG craft group)... Aaron was a dear once again and used his engineering skills to draw it up for me so that I could easily print it out onto the card stock... His quote was... "I knew I studied for a reason.. It's good to see that I can use my skills to help you craft!"... He loves it... Helping me is a pleasure ^_^ ... He is a perfectionist too!!! And that makes all his templates work.. PERFECTLY!!!!  Once this one was cut out we stamped with the wood-grain background stamp to give it a more authentic pick-nick basket kind of look. The white bunnies tail was coloured by using corresponding chalks or ink pads... (HiNT - If you do use ink pads be sure to give it time to dry as it does not stick well if it is not dry.. and it falls off and it makes a dirty mark on the bunnies bottom.. which does not look too good... If you get my drift??? I have one card here that looks very Australian Sheep looking... :)

Eye Patch - Fashion Statement #3

Palsy of 6th Nerve in the right eye looks like this..... It turns inwards causing double vision.



When you try to focus on the outside.. Your eye just wont move... But hay it's a cool party trick.. It really groses some people out... I love it.. It is definitely one advantage to having this problem...



This is what I am seeing at the moment... It is quite annoying.. but when I cover the right eye... I can see much better.. Judgment is still a little bit weird and I am still getting used to the one eyed-ness of it all..... However all is well if I just take it slowly..... then my "disability" is no were near as noticeable to either myself or others.. I can like fool myself that there is nothing wrong....

When there is more detail and colour that I have to take in then it gets very confusing... Like yesterday Master 8 ran through a solid object... I told him he has super powers... He was stoked with that.. and then on his way back to the play ground he ran into the building I said he ran through... Hehehehe.. Little joker!!!

Sometimes it gets on top of me... And I get annoyed, frustrated and MAD!!! Yesterday was one of those days for me.... I had a very very low day... Feeling EXTREMELY sorry for myself. Feeling icky... Ugly ... and YUCK and trapped, because of having to wear eye patches which limits my social life, and eye/brain stimulation... It gets awfully tiring having just the one eye to process everything.. I find sometimes my brain will not shut off at night time and it takes me HOURS to fall asleep.... Ever since I can remember no matter what was going on in my life I have always been able to fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.... (Much to the disgust of my husband... Who has NEVER had this pleasure.....) So back to the point... Yesterday I was just down right bummed!!!

With new resolve this morning I arose with a goal in mind.. I have had a design for a new eye patch in my mind for a long time and after I prepared for this afternoons workshop I decided to get the creative juices flowing and make a LOVELY eye patch to make me feel more BEAUTIFUL!!!!! ( I recently saw "Burlesque" and LOVED LOVED LOVED the costumes... Nothing beats lace, feathers, glitter, bling, trimmings and a whole lot of Lovely feminine decorations... This movie was some of my inspiration)

This is what I came up with...I am so LOVING my Big Shot for making the base of the eye patches!!! It work a treat!!! Black and white is always clasic!!! I definately feel more lovely today with my new eye patch!!!

If you would like to know how to make your own please call me and we can have a class... It would be fun to get others involved in my "NEW" obsession... heheh

Love Ursula

Eye Patch - Fashion Statement #2

Heading to the Theater I needed something a little blingy!!! So this is the eye patch I made out of Sculpey and Diamonties... PERRRRRTY!!!
I'm going to have a WICKED time... heheheh

Unfortunately it takes a little longer to make things with just one eye... and having only one eye makes you quite tired!!! So I did not get to make the GREEN eye patch (for Wicked) that I wanted to ... However I am sure my design that I have been dreaming of over the past few days will come to fruition soon!!!! Stay tuned...
Love Ursula

Eye Patch - Fashion Statement

On Monday this week I was feeling a little dizzy...I thought this was due to not taking my medication on Sunday night because I ran out of my prescription medication... So I made an appointment to get a new script on Monday afternoon.... When I got home I decided to have a lay down... It came time to pick up the children from school and I felt really dizzy and was kind of seeing everything with a bit of a 3D shadow... By 6pm that night I was seeing everything in definite double... So I called the after hours Dr... And she told me to go straight to the Hospital... I was a little naughty here and though, "well.. It can't be that bad cause I have no other symptoms with it".. So I just want to go to bed.... Plus if I went to the hospital at night time no one would be able to see me with an eye problem til the next day anyway... (This I know because of all the experience my Hubbie and I have had with Hospitals!!! )

So anyway... long story short after 2 days at the hospital and many many test later it seems I have "sixth nerve Palsy"..... Which means that the nerve that is responaable for the horazontal movement of my eye is pressured some how in my head and I have limited movement of my eye... It turns inward towards my nose and I am seeing DDDDOOOUUUUBBBBLLLLEEE!!! Fun stuff... So now that they gave me a semi diagnosis (still more testing to go.. and a Nuro Sergen consult)... I know that I am going to be wearing an eye patch for some time... (My friend Google suggests from 6 to 12 months...) I decided that I needed to turn my craft skills on for making a FASHION Statement eye patch or two!!!

Here's what I came up with using the Big Shot Circle Die cut today... It was a hit at church.... heheh
I am dreaming up more designs every night.. I believe I may have a large wardrobe of fashionable eye patches soon!!! Why not make an annoying situation fun I say!!! I may even find others out there who would love to make a fashion statement too with their one-eyed-ness!!! Hope this inspires you and gives you some more great project ideas you can use your BIG Shot for.. Happy Crafting!!!
Love Ursula

Harry Potter Sweets... With Stampin UP!

This week we had a girly day out to GOLD class movies... just to spoil ourselves before the onslaught of the madness of kids on School holidays and Christmas.. I got this FANTASTIC idea for a party bag from some of my friends on Facebook.. They have done Twilight and Harry Potter treat bags.. and man they have been really Awesome.. some people are just soooooo creative!!! .... so I wanted to try doing some myself.. and WOW Stampin Up does make them look really professional!!! How much FUN!!!!

I Googled Harry Potter Candy images and came up with some of the candy that gets a mention in the books and the movies... Above I have the Honeydukes Chocolate Frogs... and wouldn't you know it Elegant Eggplant went BRILLIANTLY with the label.... Which we had to do a little remaking cause the best image we could find was a little blurry... So saffron was close to the Goldy colour so I used a little strip on the side of the box and punched it with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.. How AWESOMELY did it go with the look of the label??? It really finished off the box quite well!!! We had 5 different flavored Fredo Frogs in the box... Yum Yum!!!

The Jelly Slugs label went PERFECTLY with Pacific Point card stock.. And I used my Big Shot to punch out a bag topper..... Of course I could not find anything that looked like a slug sooooo I put a few snakes in the bag.... Close enough....


Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans..... This label went perfectly with Elegant Eggplant again.... I put some mini Jelly Beans in this bag... and man Were they SWEET!!!!


I put all out treats in a lovely bag and presented them to the girls just before going into the movies... It was a hoot.. and made it all the more special!!! I also printed out a label for some Butter Beer... in the photo it looks a little bad cause the condensation got to it but when I dried it off and put it in the fridge overnight it dried right out and the crinkled label looked quite authentic... I really wanted to have a bottle of Ginger Beer for this one but the shop was out of them.. so I went for good old lemon lime and bitters....

I printed all the labels on sticky photo paper to make it REALLY easy to stick on each item...

Fantastic Memories..... Thanks girls for sharing it with me!!!

11/7/15
Here are the labels and Pattern for the Frog box... If you would like to make them yourselves...
This has been a very popular request over the years.. hope these images help;)... If I knew how to attach a PDF I would attach the original docs... one day I may learn... xxx ENJOY!!!

Love Ursula

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. ;)

Stampin UP! Convention 2010 - Day minus 1

It all started off when I got in the car at 7am ready to go.. I had my halo on the passenger seat, my youngest sat in the passenger seat to say good bye to me.. and then he got really sad and showed me toe broken head band.... OH no.....I was really disappointed!!! I have to wear my head band.. what will I do?? I called Liz to see if one of her daughters had a head band and if she could get out a hot glue gun so I could fix my halo... :(.... They thought I was crazy... Oh well... The girls didn't have a headband so we packed the glue gun, some scissors, felt and the broken halo... NOT in our carry on luggage of course... As guns and scissors are not allowed. hehehe

Well you could really tell that convention this year was going to be a cracker from the get go... Ellie, Kate, Leonie and I met at Liz's to drive to the airport together on Thursday morning... (With Convention due to start on the Friday) What a great car trip it was!!!

We were reminiscing about last years convention and how we realised at Convention that the laser cutter had made a spelling mistake on the perspex keyrings that we got made for Leonie's team gift... It said paperANGLES.. (not paperANGELS).. Kate pipes up with the comment... "I'm the Obtuse ANGEL" Man that had me cracking up!!! and right from then the wise cracks started flowing...

As we got out of the car and started taking our luggage out.. Leonie profusely apologises for the loudness of her suitcase.. She had a flat spot in one of the wheels on her bag... and she wasn't half wrong when she said it was LOUD.. but to make matters worse she decided to run with it to make it LOUDER.. and the poor man in front of us tried to hurry up.. He was running from the psycho, laughing hyena, ladies... Another man came to catch the elevator down with us.. he took one look at us and decided it would be better to wait for the next one.... (Mind you he had a RATHER Large instrument with him and with all of us and our luggage in the Lift .. well there really was no room for him!!!) The poor man that Leonie chased was in the elevator with us.. and he could not leave fast enough.. although i did notice some little smirks from him.. It's moments like these I am glad for good Peripheral vision... it makes one less conscious of how ridiculous you look when you can see someone smiling, he was... thankfully enjoying the happy banter of some crazy crafting women...

As we are walking the construction fenced path way to the airport the man who took the 2nd elevator some how got in front of us.... Leonie with the noisy bag was following him.... as we walked we noticed a sulfur like smell... Leonie so graciously said something to the effect of who f.... ed... (passed wind) ... which I had to respond a little sarcastically.. "now ladies.... Come on a little decorum please... Behave... like ladies.. Yeah???" Lucky he laughed.. and didn't turn around and go all up in our faces or something...

As we headed towards the security scanning.. there was many stories of how some individuals ALWAYS beep through the metal detector... And others (cause they are cute) get picked for the drug detection.... I said, "I don't usually beep and have never been drug tested..." Well that was my first mistake... I had to go through the metal detector 3 times.. after removing glasses and my headband... I was asked to take off my shoes for the third run through... man.. I was sure there was no metal in my shoes!!! but you know what???? there is a big metal rod that strengthens the sole of the shoe.... And because I was so defiant that there was none in my shoes the man on the scanner had to PROVE it to me!!! Who knew??? Then we made our way to the escalators... only Ellie got pulled up to do the drug testing... so we stood there and watched Ellie get scanned over... Leonie said to me... "You know why we didn't get picked??? Cause we are too loud... We'd be hopeless drug smugglers... Everyone would know." We made quite a few cracks at Ellie... And after that we commented on how cute the officer was... heheeh.. Definitely is a "fun" girls weekend!!!!

We sat down and had a little something for breakfast.. those of us who had not had time to have some.... I was fine.. had me some porridge in the morning at about 6ish... Then we had some time to fill so of course we had to do a little window shopping at the airport while we waited for the plane... Thankfully we were quite responsible.. as we were totally conscious that we needed to save our money for Momento Mall at Convention... :)

We met Bec, Melissa and 2 other paperANGELS... While we waited for our plane.. Thankfully we were headed to Sydney on the Thursday...(Day B4 Convention) So when we were made aware the plane was delayed (like LOTS) we were not too stressed that we would not get to our apartment at the planed time.

Kate thought she would carry on the Pig theme for me.... of last year by getting me these Peggy Pig & Pals lollies... heheh.. Oh she is so funny!!!

Once we finally got on the plane.. The air-hostess did the normal display of flight safety features & procedures.. and surprisingly enough we stopped talking and laughing long enough to pay attention to her... As she made her way back through us rambunctious lot.. she comment to us... in a little bit of a whisper... "It will be easy for you guys to find the exit... Just listen for the loud screaming... That will be me...." heheheh... It was a good flight.. there was a moment of turbulence.. everyone seemed to be comfortable with flying.. Except Liz... Bec said that she was a little white knuckled on take off and landing.... Poor love.. While Bec and I kind of like the turbulence.. It's like a roller coaster ride... Wahoo!!! Oh and our plane was HUGE!!! It was 7 seats wide.... with 2 isles!!!

Leonie & her BEAUTIFUL Mum

We had a lovely surprise at the airport.. Leonie's Mum met us at the gate... Leonie was planing on meeting up with her later but Mum; on learning that the plane was delayed decided to surprise us & Sent Dad ahead while she waited for us at the airport.... We managed to fit 9 of us into a Maxi Taxi with all of our luggage... Our driver was really good at stacking the luggage up!!!

After we booked in and got our room keys we took our luggage up... Then we hit the shops!!!! With Leonie's Dad as tour guide... He took us the LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGG way.. but I am sure after sitting down for quite some time that day we needed the exercise!!! That's what I had to keep telling myself anyway... As my closed in shoes that I very rarely wear rubbed huge blisters onto both of my tender heals!!!

We went to Paddy's Market.. Via China Town..... Oh my goodness.. How good is Paddy's Markets???? And let me tell you we really had to contain ourselves!!!! there was some great things there.. I had to buy something for my boys... You know a gift for when I came home.... My Dad used to always do that for me and it made it fun when he went away.... And really wanted to buy my friend from Choir (Mark) a fantastic Shirt.... He has some precious shirts with obnoxiously funny wording on them.. I knew he would LOVE these.. They were PRICELESS!! But I just could not decide... Plus I am sure that I have not seen his whole collection yet!!! I really should have called him and asked him if he wanted me to pick up some for him... Bummer :(.. oh well next time... Oh and I bought a pink headband so I could fix my halo!!! Yeah

Then we went back to our apartment to get a little warmer and beautified (fix my halo) and headed to Darling Harbor to have dinner... & meet up with other PaperANGELS that were staying at different hotels etc... Dinner was at the Watershed Bar which was just outside the Convention Centre... It was lovely food and VERY generous helpings!!! While we were there we gave out some little gifts to each other... It's become a bit of a tradition amongst us Angels.... Just a little something that doesn't cost too much... It makes convention a little more memorable.

(I've copied and pasted some of Leonie's Photos cause they were good!!! hope she doesn't mind...)

Jenny & Gail

Bec

Liz

Melissa

And because Leonie's photo of our PaperANGELS convention special memorabilia is sooooooooo good I have put that photo in too.... She's just Awesome with her photography...
My gift from Liz.. the little pillow box was the same anyway.. the only thing that was different was that my Bag Tag has a U on it.. cause it is mine.. heheh

Liz made some lovely scissor charms for each of us... (they were in the pillow box)... Her friend Olga made the glass beads.. and each one was very exclusive and BEAUTIFUL!!!! Bec made some bag tags for each of us... and I got some perspex Tote-ally Tess with Pony Party wings cut out to create an exclusive ANGEL necklace...

Bec and Liz went on to the Managers meeting while the rest of us finished off dinner. Then we made our way back to our apartment.. Where Melissa, Kate and I had a wonderfully Deep and Meaningful Educational talk ;P.... (Melissa Kate Bec and I were roomies...) We were stoked about the apartments as they were self contained, and had beds enough for each of us to have our own bed. And we were stoked that there was 2 bathrooms.. because with 4 women in the same apartment we knew one would never be enough!!!

When Bec came home we talked with her for a little and heard all about the managers meeting.. Checked out the HUGE HOT CHOCOLATE MUG they each received.. and then at about 12am we decided it was time to go to bed....

That was supposed to be the end of that day.. so to speak... BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!

We were rudely awakened by an alarm sounding at 1am.... There was no announcement telling us what it was for.. or what we should do.. so we decided on our own... (cause we are a smart lot!!!) that perhaps we should evacuate.... we grabbed what we thought was important and headed down the fire escape... Of course my wallet, Phone and Camera was the most important to me!!!

I just had to capture some of it on film.... WE all look so stunning in the middle of the night....

It was good to see that I was not the only crazy woman (scrapper) that grabbed her camera.... Leonie had grabbed hers as well!!!

So did Gail as you can see from this photo below...

Leonie's photo of us happy evacuees!!!

After deeming the alarm a "false" alarm we were told that we could make our way back to our apartments.. Of course when a Fireman crossed paths with us we could not pass up the photo opp... Good on Leonie for being so uninhibited!!! It makes for VERY memorable times indeed...

Again from Leonie's Fabulous collection of Photos!!!
Me thinks the Oaks apartments may be next to go in the real-estate window!!! heheh...
Oh look I grabbed my appointment diary too... With out it I am totally LOST! heheh

Now can you picture this over one thousand people (probably close to 2 thousand) going back to their apartments.. no stairwells opened.... 3 Archaic Elevators that only hold max 15 (small) people and over 12 floors.. How long did it take us... who knows??!!!! Thankfully Leonie being the helpful Mum that she is organised the staff and told them what to do to make it flow better!!! "go open the fire doors... And let the people with children take the elevators and go first!" She is a gem.. Everyone appreciated her forth rightness!!!

So that was the end of the day..........

NOT!!!!

We were woken up AGAIN at 3am by another alarm.... EEEERRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!! Not happy Jan... It's not so funny or novel the 2nd time!!!... (I am sure the 2nd time that a lot of people chose to stay in their apartments... REALLY glad it was another false alarm!!!) After being woken up twice I knew we were going to be sooooooooooooo hammered at Convention.. I hoped we could keep our eyes open long enough to be inspired!!!