Not long now! Last order going in this Sunday evening

There's only a few days left to order from the Autumn/Winter Mini (official close date is Next Tuesday 31st July).
I'm back at uni on Monday until late, so in case I forget to put the order in, I'm playing it safe and placing my final order on Sunday night.  (Although of course if you ring me with a last minute $650 order to catch the end of the extra benefits promo, I won't be turning you away!)

Some items we are pretty sure will reappear, but others will be gone for good.  I know I need to get more of the luscious pleated satin ribbon, because of the retiring colours we know it won't be back :(

Let me know, and check your stocks of colours about to leave us - reinkers and markers especially
Have a wonderful weekend, I am planning on squeezing in a bit of relaxing before it all begins again for my FINAL semester at uni on Monday!

Housekeeping and Customer Lists

Further to yesterday's post on the newsletter, and on clearing our my own inbox this morning of clutter I regrettably don't have the time to read, I have had a major clear out of my customer database.  Now that I have been a demo almost 5 years, there are a lot of people who may no longer be interested or who have another preferred demo.  There have been merged customer lists, and a change from Constant Contact to my Demonstrator website emails, times and hobbies change and that's OK!  There were also quite a few 'opt-outs' which means the Demonstrator Website does not send on newsletters to those email addresses.  For a while there, it was quite easy to accidentally unsubscribe, so if you would still like to receive my emails, it's easy to re-subscribe again, by clicking this link.  I guess if you don't want the monthly-ish email, you won't miss it, but if you do, you're most welcome to re-sign.  Thanks for visiting, it was nice 'knowing' you, one day maybe we'll meet again...

Do you receive my newsletter?

I've just sent out a newsletter, which is something I do pretty much every month, with the odd extra when there is an announcement or promotion to let you know about.


If you already think you're on my mailing list, but don't seem to have received one this evening, you might like to check your 'junk' email box, and add my email address to your contacts to ensure you see it in a timely way!  With just 10 days left on the mini, I'd hate for you to find it next time you get around to decluttering your inbox!


If you don't currently subscribe but would like to, try clicking this link to sign up.


Here's the latest newsletter if you'd like a peek first:
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Hi everyone,

I hope this newsletter finds you all well, and with enough time to squeeze in a little creativity.  I've been really busy at my current school practicum position, but making a little "me" time for putting a different kind of ink to paper has been important for maintaining my sanity!

Time has been slipping away this year, and I wanted to send out a reminder that the current Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue ends in just 10 days, 31st July 2012.  Please take the time to have a browse through again (either your hard copy or online) to make sure you don't miss out on anything you're keen on.  Retired mini items are notoriously difficult to locate second hand.

We're also running out of time for a couple of very important purchases:

In Colors from 2010-12 are retiring come 31st August, and if stocks are low, supply cannot be guaranteed until that date.

Retiring colours are:

Poppy Parade

Concord Crush

Peach Parfait

Blushing Bride

Pear Pizzazz

If you have the inkpad, a refill at just $5.95 will keep it juicy for many years to come.  In Colors are also available as a 5 pack of markers for $27.95.  Cardstock is available in textured 12x12, smooth 12x12, and A4 in single colours and assortment packs.

Individual Markers

It's not official, but I also want to give everyone the heads up that most individual markers will NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE for purchase after the current catalogue.  Colour family packs and the Big Box will be available, but only the "Getting Started" colours will be available to buy individually (assuming we follow the US catalogue just released).

Please check your markers, both thin and thick tips, for worn or fluffy nibs and dryness.  To decide, take your least favourite and squiggle some lines with each tip on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, then test your other colours to see how they measure up.  Your favourites might be showing some wear, and if they aren't on the Getting Started list it's time to buy a replacement to keep in reserve.   If you've been collecting colour families over time, save the Getting Started colours for now, and concentrate on the ones that won't be available much longer as singles.

How can I order??

If you'd like to place an order, you can contact me by phone (02) 9484 9447, or email at michelle.dyson@bigpond.com with your list.  Every order of $60 or more placed after this email and before 12 noon July 31st will receive a free copy of the 2012-13 Annual Catalogue when it becomes available.

Tips for the month:

Taming of the Scraps:  I've started using a glass bowl on my stamping desk to catch and keep all the little ribbon snips and extra punches from a cardmaking session.  When I need a quick card, I can pull out a piece and create a card using it as the inspiration base.  And it has the effect of keeping my desk and floor looking neater!

Negatives can be positive!:  When you make a die cut shape, take a look at the negative shape before tossing to the scraps bin.  Could it be trimmed to make it into a window layer for a card front?  Or could you use it as a mask/template to add dimension to a single layer card by sponging ink around the opening.

take care, stay warm!

Michelle

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Of course it looks a little prettier and more interesting when you get the real deal, with clickable images and links to the latest promotion and product info:

In other excellent news, the Dandelion anti-bullying project has reached the funding target, thanks so much for your support!  The incentives for donating are now a certaintly, so if you're keen to get some lovely goodies and support this great cause, you can visit the Kickstarter project via the link in the post below.  Over funding of the project just means it will be able to be extened into more formats and be even more widely available to the kids who need it so much.  Thanks!

Triple Treat flower and Dandelion Project needs your support!

Here are two cards that I made having chosen a colour combination inspired by the delicious "Cheerful Treat" Hostess Designer Series Paper.  I used the Triple Treat flower stamp, from the a la carte collection (see it on page 14 of the catalogue, #125040 just $16.95!).  As the name suggests, this stamp can be used with (or without!) three different punches for quick easy cards - 5 petal flower, Fancy Flower and 1/2" circle punch.  It also suits the "Rock and Roll" technique for adding a darker colour around the outside of the stamp for a two-tone effect, or you can use markers to colour different sections of the stamp.    There's some sewing, some distressing and some yum Concord Crush poly twill ribbon.  Concord will be leaving us come September 1, and it is a quite unique dark purple/blue, which looks stunning with Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade and lots more - make sure to stock up (and get a reinker for your pad!) before it's gone...  act now!

Speaking of 'act now', here's a totally non-stamping related plug for a cause about which I am most passionate - bullying.  More precisely, it's a support and anti-bullying digital book being planned.  It's a unique idea, with obvious appeal to children, presented in an accessible digital format.
The "Dandelion - Bullying is for People with no Imagination" project is currently listed on "Kickstarter", with 10 days to go to reach the funding target.  There is a short video with information by the creator, access it via the widget below and lots of options to help - every dollar counts!  I'm sure as a community of very imaginative people we can get them over the line and feel proud to have contributed a little to a big cause.



Please help if you can, and spread the word so we can help make this project come to life!

Not a card, but a very PINK cake!

After the circus themed wedding cake, I was under instruction from my little girl to make a "9 inch cake with 5" top layer mud cake with pink icing and flowers" for her birthday back in April.  Well, I wasn't planning on making a multi-tiered masterpiece, but the other bits were fairly easy to achieve! Under the Buttercream 'dirty icing'/crumb coat there is a rich, dense chocolate mud cake.

 Next we have a pink fondant layer, very pink!  Probably a hang-over from the circus cake that was very brightly coloured, I dolloped in a generous blob of paste colour, then realised that it was probably a bit toooo much!  Never mind, when you are 7, 'Pinkie Pie Pink' is about as good as it gets! There are a few lumps and bumps in this, but I was without my cake smoother tools so I was still fairly pleased with how it turned out.  I used a magic plastic mat set to roll the fondant, so it wasn't super thick. 

 Decoration is fun when you have a cricut cake machine!  I intended to use this with paper, but had no idea that cutting icing would be as fun and easy as it is, so it is yet to see anything non-edible!  Very green icing this time, rolled onto the cutting mat, ready to go into the machine.

 Here are the first two layers of the design, they are cut separately and then added together.

 Here is the finished cake, with some (wonky) swirls around the sides.  It is much harder to position things vertically than on the top surface!

The birthday girls, with some of Grandma's macarons for more yummy treats.  Next cake will probably be for Master 10 turning 11 - I wonder what the request will be??!!

Today's Goodies! Want some? Read on...

Here's a pic of the collection of items I have created for today's Party at Vanessa's.  The two cards at top and right are our Make and Takes, and the lower card and treat tube are demonstrations and will be gifts for lucky attendees, amongst other stuff.

Vanessa's friends will be learning a few new techniques and will each get to take home at least 2 completed cards.  Sound like fun?  Want goodies for yourself?  I can show your friends how to make beautiful cards at your own Stampin' Party - within ~ 1hr travel time from Cherrybrook, North Western Sydney.  Call me, 9484 9447 or email to book your date - Extra Hostess dollars promotion runs until 31st July - best time to book for maximum goodies!

Best finish packing!