An apple for the teacher? Well, a cherry is close :)

Oh. My. Goodness. !!!
What a week!  During the intensive month of teaching methodology subject we were all placed at a random school for 8 days of "In School Orientation Program".  It's sort of a 'thrown in the deep end' approach, as after the first three days, you are teaching solo (while being observed, and rescued if needed).  I took a Year 8 science class, and a Year 10 class for the last 5  days.  Today, in our Year 10 class doing a genetics unit, every single bench successfully extracted great spool-able globs of gorgeous DNA from wheatgerm.  It was a prac usually done (with less success apparently) with Year 12 Biology, so it was sort of a 'proud mummy' moment watching them get great results.  I ventured outside into the playground with Year 8, looking at the effect of light on grass growth, and it was interesting to see their behaviour and engagement change over the days as they got to know me.
My conclusions:
1. I've never rushed from place to place so much in any job, I was totally whacked by the end of each day!
2. I've never had to cart so much paperwork and books from lab to staffroom and back again, and then to and from home
3. Lesson planning takes hours and hours!  Especially if you make the effort to make their lesson engaging and appealing.
4. It is hard to predict what is going to happen next - there's always something happening to throw a spanner into the lesson plan.  In the space of the 8 days I encountered Year 12 boys dressed in feather angel wings and red satin boxers delivering "Hug-a-grams" on Valentines Day, "mufti-madness", special assemblies, to motivational media presentations and more.
5. Seeing adolescents start to trust you and work for you is worth every bit of the above.  Bribing with lollies and stationery items helps here... ;-)

So, thank your kids teachers!  They sure deserve it.

I have one more week of intensive methodology, and then an exam, and then things will settle to a more 'leisurely' routine.  If you'd like to offer your group of friends for me to practice my newly polished teaching skills on, I'm totally itching to do some Stampin' Up! workshops for Sale-a-bration, I'll even bribe you with lollies!  First to book will get an extra prize from my stash!  Give me a call, 0403 175 790 or send an email and we can compare diaries to find a suitable day and time.

Above is a card I made with the "Button Buddies" stamp set, coloured with markers, and stamped onto a Whisper White panel.  I matted it with Pear Pizzazz, and then Whisper White again, and put it on a background of Riding Hood Red stamped with the sadly retired "Polka Dot" stamp. I used some of the extra wide striped grosgrain as a hanger, and played around with a bit of narrow taffeta Old Olive ribbon to secure a knot at the top.  A sentiment down the bottom from "Just Believe" and it was all done.  If you wanted to dress it up even more, you could add a couple of buttons over the cherries, for a 3D effect.

Have a good weekend everyone, also a reminder that the next Stampin' Crop day is Saturday 25th February, from 10-5, details as usual.  New people always welcome, just call or email as above for more info.

Fancy a Big Shot for $75? Read on to find out how!

It's true! You could even get one for $50 instead. Or, how about FREE, with an extra $10 or more in freebies on top? Stampin' Up! have introduced a fabulous new system of Hostess rewards to replace the previous Levels system. A hostess now earns 'Hostess Dollars' to spend on either specially priced Hostess merchandise, or she can use it towards ANYTHING in the catalogue instead! As before, Hostess Benefits start at an easily achievable $300 in workshop sales, where you receive $50 in hostess dollars. Under the previous system, you earned a choice of Level 1 stamp sets, and $30 to spend in the catty. The new system allows you to choose even the most expensive set in the Hostess section, and still have some left over. That's like getting a Level 3 stamp set! (earned with a $1000 workshop in the old catty) But wait, there's more (again)... When your workshop sales reach $600, you receive $100 to spend, AND your choice of 1 item at HALF PRICE! See, that's where the $49.95 or $75 Big Shots come in - the choice is yours how you spend your Hostess Dollars. Want your Big Shot FREE? Just host a workshop with sales of $1000, and Stampin' Up! will throw in another $10 to spend. Got a Big Shot already? Then you can add some of our fabulous exclusive dies to your collection instead, or the box of Many Marvellous Markers! Or, the ink Inkpad caddy - the choice is yours! A workshop is a great way to get an introduction to stamping, or to learn a new technique or two. It's lots of fun, and as the products sell themselves, there's no need for pushy tactics. Invite some friends around for a few hours of 'me time' and share what you love, with others. Not local to me? You can host a 'Party in a Box' from anywhere in Australia, collecting orders from family and friends by showing the catalogue around. Contact me to find out when you can schedule YOUR event, I look forward to helping you discover your creativity.

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

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.

All About Sale-a-Bration

Sale-a-bration is undoubtedly the BEST time of the year to host a workshop, and also to join up as a demonstrator in my StampInkPaper team.

Here's why:

* For each $100 spent on Stampin' Up! products, you and your guests can choose one of FOUR different, limited edition FREE stamp sets! There is no limit, order $400 worth and collect ALL of them!

* When your Workshop sales reach $600, as the hostess you can choose an extra FREE Sale-a-bration set. Reach $1200 in sales, and you can choose TWO extra sets. All this is on top of the already generous Hostess Benefits, which start at just $300 in Workshop Sales (check out pages 16-23 of the Idea Book and Catalogue to view the exclusive Hostess Sets and Hostess Awards table)

* Join my team as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during Sale-a-bration, and you can select an additional stamp set of your choice valued at up to $79.95 FREE, with your Starter Kit purchase. The Starter Kit is already discounted by around 40% on retail prices, so this deal packs in even more value. You also get an ongoing discount on your Stampin' Up! products, as well as the opportunity to grow your own, flexible, income producing business. Just call me on (02) 9484 9447 to be sent a free, no-obligation information pack, or to chat about what I can offer you.

I'm taking bookings now for Sale-a-bration Workshops, which can be held at your home (within 1 hr travelling time of Cherrybrook) or mine (with a minimum of 5 guests). SAB runs from January 25th to 31st March, 2010, so get your new diaries out and give me a call to arrange a date to suit. Then tell your friends, because everyone LOVES free stamps!

So, what IS a Workshop exactly??

When you book a Workshop with me, I provide you with a free Idea Book and Catalogue valued at $12.95, and a package with everything you need to host a successful workshop, including invitations and guest checklist. On the chosen day, I come to your home, and show you and a group of your friends the range of Stampin' Up! products. Everyone gets hands-on experience with our products by making two different projects, such as cards or a scrapbook page. There is the opportunity to place orders from the catalogue, and the Hostess can select free merchandise and Hostess Stamp sets according to the Sales total reached. There are no high-pressure sales tactics, the products simply sell themselves. It is a great chance to get together with some friends and have some creative fun. Stampin' Up! Workshops are FREE OF CHARGE, and I supply ALL materials and tools required. No elaborate preparations are required on the part of the Hostess, a dining table and light refreshments are all that is needed, everyone will be far to busy creating to notice if you got round to the dusting!

While you are waiting for your Workshop date, make sure to browse the special Inventory Clearance Sale offer - everyone should be clamouring to add at least one alphabet set to their collection for just $38.98 (+p/h) That's HALF PRICE! There is a wide variety of discounted sets and accessories to choose from, click HERE to view the flyer, and if you'd like to be emailed a PDF with scanned images of the stamp sets, just email me. The Inventory Sale runs until January 24th 2010, while stocks last (hurry for best selection!)