Tuesday 31 May 2011

And the winners are......


I have drawn the fundraising raffle, using an online random sequence generator. 

Winning ticket numbers are:

First Prize -  276    Brooke H of Silverwater NSW
Second Prize - 347 Joanne M of Miami QLD
Third Prize - 258 Kirri G of Indooroopilly QLD
Fourth Prize - 80 Veronica M of USA (with nominated Australian address)
Fifth Prize - 526 Michelle B of Wodonga VIC

Congratulations to all the winners, I'll be sending phoning you ASAP.  Congratulations to each and every one of you who bought  a ticket, together we sold 563 tickets, and raised very close to $1000, which goes most of the way to getting Ethan his much needed monitor.  MWAH! to you all!

Friday 27 May 2011

Exciting news for Hostesses!


It's on again, but this time new and improved!

The 'Extra Extra' promotion offers an additional $70 in hostess dollars to spend when the workshop total reaches $450. That's on top of the usual benefits of at least $40 and an exclusive Hostess stamp set. And, the new improved bit is the fact that the $450 total is INCLUSIVE of the shipping and handling charges, making it even easier to attain!

It's on between now and June 30, and I have some dates available for YOUR workshop! Please give me a call to book 02 9484 9447

Just a few days left to get your tickets!


It's nearly time!  Ethan's raffle will be drawn on May 31st, but there's still time to get some tickets and help us get closer to our goal.  Here are the steps again, to make it as easy as possible for you:

1. Make your donation to the following account, $2 a ticket or 6 tickets for $10
 St George  BSB 112879 Acc 456399187 using your surname as a reference

2. Email me - michelle.dyson@bigpond.com  to tell me your name, address, phone number and your donation amount

3. Wait for me to issue tickets - this does take a few days at times, as the funds need time to be cleared into my account, and then I need to record your details.

4.  Stand by to win a great prize!!  And, pat yourself on the back for being a part of something to make such a difference in a little boy's life!  Lots of great prizes, but that's not really the point of the exercise :)

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support!

It's been a long time coming, but worth the wait I hope!!

Keeping this post at the top for easy reference, until the end of the ticket sale period!  There are also a couple of updates, in RED!

Towards the end of last year, I had planned a fundraising raffle for a fellow demonstrator's little boy, Ethan. However, there were already plans underway for a major fundraiser for another special demonstrator baby, Lara, of "We Stamp for Lara" fame, and I decided to postpone my (much smaller) effort so it didn't distract from that event. Then, of course, we have had the most disaster-laden summer I can ever recall, with floods, fires, earthquakes and tsunamis, so that timing didn't seem quite right either. Touch wood, things appear to be settling a little, but in any case I'm going to pop this 'out there' now, and do what I can, with your help for Ethan's worthy cause. Some of my lovely customers have purchased tickets in this raffle already, as I started it with my catalogue launch back in September 2010. In fact, they encouraged me to expand the raffle in an effort to raise as much as possible. So, I announce the new, improved......


Fundraising Raffle for Ethan


One of the nicest things about being a demonstrator is the wonderful friendships that develop between us. We rally together to support many worthy causes, this time to help Ethan.

Ethan is the 6 year old son of Corina Beyer, a Riverina demonstrator. Ethan has Type 1 Diabetes, very difficult to manage in a young child. He has an insulin pump fitted, reducing the burden of multiple daily insulin injections. However, he still requires blood glucose monitoring every 2 hours round the clock, to prevent him from lapsing into a diabetic coma. Imagine the kind of stress this places on a family, if only from lack of unbroken sleep!

Ethan has recently trialled an automated continuous blood glucose monitoring system, which sounds an alarm if his levels fall outside the crucial range. However, the device costs $1250. And, the consumables cost more than $150 per week. Unfortunately, the Diabetes subsidy scheme does not cover this equipment. Your support will help to give Ethan a much more normal life, as well as his family!


Tickets are $2 each, or 6 for $10
Your name and contact number will be recorded against ticket numbers, and you'll receive an email with your ticket numbers once your payment has been received.  Prizes will be drawn using an online random number generator on TUESDAY 31st MAY.

How to purchase tickets?
Please follow these steps:
1. Email me on michelle.dyson@bigpond.com with your name, address, contact number and the number of tickets you would like to purchase.
2. Make a deposit to the following account:  St George BSB: 112879 Acc: 456399187  Name: Michelle Dyson and use your SURNAME as a reference.
3. Receive an email with your ticket numbers and drawing details to keep as your record.
Tickets are generally available to Australian residents only, due to the expense of mailing prizes to international winners, thank you for your understanding.  However, if you are able to arrange payment from an Australian bank account and can nominate an Australian address in the lucky situation of being a winner, I'd be delighted to issue tickets!

Attention troublemakers (because there's always one...):
Please be assured that I have investigated the procedure for holding this raffle under NSW law, and you can read more for yourself about the conditions and rules here.  No permit is required as the total prize value and method of promoting and drawing fall within the guidelines in the document linked here.  I have also received permission from Stampin' Up! to run the raffle, and they have donated a large box of wonderful goodies which have enabled me to expand the number of prizes.  Due to difficulties other demonstrators have had using Paypal to collect charitable donations, Paypal will generally NOT be accepted as a method of payment for tickets.  If you are overseas, without access to an Australian account, and desperately keen to contribute, contact me via email to see if we can work something out. Funds will be transferred to Ethan's Trust Account in batches, after I process and issue tickets. Further details of the draw timing and location will be provided closer to the date, and observers are welcome to attend.

Now, nitty gritty stuff dealt with, on to the PRIZES!!  I'd like to acknowledge the kind donations from members of my team, other demonstrators and Stampin' Up! Australia.

First Prize:


Prize pack includes: Simply Sent Card kit
Papercrafts Gourmet Book
Simply Scrappin Kit
Butterfly Punch
Days to Remember 12x12 calendar
Selection of ribbon, adhesive, brads, glitter
Stamp Set, cardstock, patterned paper as shown
Valued at  over $400

Second Prize:


Prize pack includes: Simply Sent Card Kit
Simply Scrappin Kit
Designer Series Papers
Cardstock, rub ons, box kit
Blender Pens
Stamp set
Selection of ribbons, glitter, brads
Punch, as shown
Valued at over $300

Third Prize:


Prize pack includes: Simply Sent Card Kit
Simply Scrappin Kit
Designer Series Papers
Cardstock
Stamp Set
Rolls of ribbon, glitter and brads
Plier punch, as shown
Valued at over $250

Fourth Prize


Prize pack includes:  Simply Sent Card kit
Designer Series Paper pack
6x6 patterned paper pad
On Board Chipboard pack
4 rolls ribbon
Glitter, buttons
Stamp Set
Daubers and Sanding block samples, as shown
Valued at over $250
 
Fifth Prize:
Prize pack includes:  Punches Three Gift tin with punch, stamp set and ink spots
Designer Series Paper pack
On Board Chipboard pack
Jumbo roller
Ribbon Rolls
Ink Pad
three markers
adhesive remover, as shown
Valued at over $200

I'll think you'll agree you wouldn't mind winning ANY of these prize packs! 
I look forward to issuing your tickets, and helping a young boy get a bit of his life back!
Many, many thanks for your kindness and generosity, and good luck in the draw!

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Convention, Stampin' Crop and a massive Stampin' Garage Sale!

Oh. My. Goodness!  Wow!  I am back from convention 2011 in Melbourne, and re-immersed in uni, kids and family life.  Sorry for the longer than usual gap between posts, but I have heaps of fun things to show you over the next little while.  If you ever get a chance to go to convention, as a guest or as a demo (in my cute little team of course!), I highly recommend it.  It runs for three days now, and the whole road trip, convention, shopping and more felt like a luxurious break than a conference!  Stampin' Up! events are always great, but this particular convention (my third) was the best yet.  Sneak peeks, prizes, delicious food and great company, what more could you want??  Next year's convention will be held in Canberra from May 31st to June 2nd, so if you're keen to attend, ring me for a chat about becoming a demo yourself.  There is lots more background info in the 'become a demonstrator' page right here on my blog. 

For lots more pics and goss, take a look at Shelli Gardner's blog, So Shelli.  Here's just a couple of my pics, the first of the stupendous Bonnie Thurber cracking us all up with her enthusiasm and great sense of fun.  This is a fascinator, a la Princess Beatrice, made from the scrap strips on Nursery Suite Quick Accents.  There was more, lots more, but I may have been laughing too hard to take a good pic...



Next up is just one of the 10 or so display boards holding the swaps made by the ~500 demos who attended.  I'll be carefully looking at the cards in detail later, but you can also see my own collection if you come along to my Stampin' Crop days, or book a workshop with me!



Onto other stuff!

Firstly, THIS SATURDAY 21st May is my monthly Stampin' Crop Day from 10am -5pm.  The cost for the day is $15 per person, and this includes use of my stamps and tools, casual instruction, bottomless tea and coffee, and a light snack style lunch.  Spaces are limited, and new ladies are always welcome, so give me a call on 9484 9447 to book a place.  Bring along your basic papercraft tools such as trimmer and any projects or ideas you are keen to play with.  It's a great casual crafting day, no pressure, just lots of laughs and great company.

And, starting this Saturday, guests at my Stampin' Crop day will get first dibs on purchasing items from my mega-clear out Stampin' GARAGE SALE!  I have heaps and heaps of stamp sets, and have finally decided to part with my retired inkpads, markers, reinkers and cardstock.  I'm still clearing out my studio, so there will undoubtedly be more to add!  After Saturday, I'll be loading stuff onto Ebay, and will share a link here once there is stuff to browse.

There is a new batch of discounted goodies available for "Deal of the Week", check out the list here for deals on ribbon and rhinestone brads!


Um, what else??  OH!!!  Grab those diaries ladies, because it's time to host a workshop with me!  You'll see some great new products, innovative ways to use them, share a happy few hours with some friends, and, best of all, earn lots and lots of  free stuff!  There's a special new promotion running between Monday May 23rd to Thursday 30th June, called "Extra Extra".  For a workshop reaching $450 or more in sales, (INCLUDING shipping!!) you will receive your usual Hostess Benefits of dollars to spend in the catalogue, and exclusive Hostess stamp sets.  But, then you will receive an ADDITIONAL $70 to spend in the catalogue!

so, say your workshop sales including the postage and handling amount reach $465.  As you can see from the table here you earn a level 1 hostess set and $40 as your usual entitlements, but during this promotion you will have a total of $110 to spend!  How cool is that?  Please give me a call or contact me via email, I am able to offer catalogue parties as well as traditional in-home workshops, so you needn't be nearby.  I do have uni assignment and exam commitments in June, so please be quick for best choice of dates and times.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Deals of the Week are here

Are you ready for some weekly surprises? You may have seen the ad in the May issue of your favourite crafting magazine letting you know that throughout the month of May, Stampin' Up! are bringing you a new deal on our exclusive products every week! Check our website (or subscribe to this blog to receive updates as I post them) every Wednesday in May, and get up to 40 percent off a selection of incredible products from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue!


There are no limits to the number of Deals of the Week you can purchase and no minimum purchase is required.* Now is your time to stock up on your favourite products!

Be sure to hurry and purchase each week's deals early on so you don't miss out! When the new week's deals start up each Wednesday at midnight, the last week's deals are over . . . forever!

The first week's deals you get a few extra days, here's the posting schedule for easy reference:

•Week 1 Deals -  Sunday, 1 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET) 


•Week 2 Deals - Wednesday, 11 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)

•Week 3 Deals -  Wednesday, 18 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)

•Week 4 Deals - Wednesday, 25 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)
 
This week's deals:


*There is no limit to the number of Deals of the Week items you may purchase. However, if we run low on product we will return the product to full catalogue price before the end of the week. If this happens, it will be announced on the Stampin' Up! website homepage.


 I do recommend getting in quick for these deals, as they are also available to demonstrators.  If you're keen to get an additional 20% minimum off the sale prices, please give me a call to receive a no-obligation info pack on becoming a demonstrator yourself!  Demonstrators also get an opportunity to order all the deals still available during the last week of May, just another one of the many perks :)

Sunday 1 May 2011

Tickets anyone?? anyone?? Unfinished Business

Another super quick one (yes, supposed to be working on assignment for "Mathematics in Schools" right now).  So, in the spirit of "unfinished business", here is a card I don't think is quite finished.  While working on it at the e2c retreat, I thought it needed some pieces cut from the "Pattern Pieces" stamp from the Autumn/Winter Mini, to go with the buttons and "Tasteful Trim" Bigz XL die.  But, I didn't have that stamp with me, and so it remains, perhaps not quite complete.  Not unlike a certain maths assignment...

Colours are Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Whisper White.  I used the "Button Button" set to stamp some, and the embosslit die to match to make some 3D textured buttons.  The Tasteful trim pieces were run through the Square Lattice embossing folder, and I added some machine stitching and crimping.  When I get to it, I plan to play around with some vellum stamped pieces from the Pattern Pieces background, to make it look something like my floor when I sew (infrequently these days!)

Hope you like!  Finished or not!  Somehow, I suspect my maths lecturer will not appreciate an unfinished assignment, so must get back to it.

 However, you can keep me in the loop with Stampin' Up! by participating in my raffle for Ethan - tickets are on sale now, just $10 for 6 tickets, great prizes are shown down below - click on the pics to see bigger images.  Help me spread the word and get ticket sales going again after the easter break by linking to the post at the top - many thanks!!

 Instructions for entering the raffle are all there listed, and I look forward to sending the next installment of funds raised to Corina!