Hellooooooooooooo Out There!

Well, yes, I am still alive for those of you who may be wondering!
We have certainly had a VERY busy couple of months. We have now moved house AGAIN - hopefully this time for a long, long time. We have pretty much set up the 'essentials' - my craft room! and oh a few beds, linen, kitchen and other stuff too (blah blah). However, I don't think we will be truly unpacked and organised for years to come yet!
I managed to fit in a couple of market stalls before Christmas (amongst school presentation days, Christmas Plays, preschool concerts, Ballet concerts, swim parties and cooking and making treats for friends and neighbours) where I was able to meet some delightful locals who are keen to learn or continue this wonderful hobby so close to my heart - PAPERCRAFT!
Here a a couple of items I had for sale at my stall:

Christmas was a frantic frazzle, with a fleeting trip to Sydney to spend time with the rels and back again yesterday.
We have arrived only to find that we have so much to organise and do in the coming few weeks, including a Mini Catalogue Launch / Sale-a-bration party at our new abode for locals - sorry my GORGEOUS Sydney friends and clients, you are welcome to come, but it is a LONG way - I know, believe me!
We will be having a walk through of the Summer Mini and Sale-a-Bration catalogues, complete a make and take and maybe even leave with a little gift! I am sure it will be a HOOT! If you would like to know more about my January Mini Sale-a-Bration, just give me call or send an email to me.
I look forward to sharing some of the fun we have on the day with you in future posts.
Yours in ink,
Joelle

Busy,busy!

Well currently I am packing boxes, getting ready to move yet AGAIN! I have been so busy trying to sort stuff, pack stuff and dare I say it, part with stuff - don't worry, very little papercraft stuff involved so far! (and DEFINATELY no stamp sets are going (at this stage - as much as hubby would like them to!).
Just thought I'd post a pickie of this little cute guy, who somehow got into our kitchen a couple of months ago, isn't he cute?

We have so much gorgeous wildlife up here it is incredible. So far we have seen tree frogs, cane toads (YUCK!), owls (yay!), eagles, possums, wallabies, pademelons, echidnas, dolphins, beautiful native birds and even platypus!!! all in their native environments, yes the Far North Coast is certainly an amazing and beautiful part of  NSW.
 I guess I should add something crafty as well, just to keep all those crafty ones happy. This is one of my giftcard holders, the perfect present for someone you aren't sure what to get. It looks much more personal in one of these rather than just handing the card to the person I think. I have also left room for a personal message inside it. I think a lot of my nieces & nephews will be getting these this year.
I have used Chocolate Chip cardstock & ink, Baja Breeze DSP, celery ribbon (retired) and the On Your Birthday stamp set (page 107 of current catalogue).

Hope you like it.
Yours in ink,
Joelle

Market Items

Well today I thought I'd share a couple of the items I have been selling at my market stall (so far only at Lismore on the first Sunday of the month). I am being a bit sneaky, because I know I said that I wouldn't blab on about Stamp Camp, but I actually did a presentation that incorporated one of the things I developed for my stall (my clocks). I hope you enjoy checking out just some of the items I have made.

        One of my clocks

                      
                                  Money Tins

                     

                                                    Notepads & holders
Anyone seeing a common theme here? Mmmmmmm. . . well other people obviously like owls too, because these have been very popular. I have so many other things too, but it takes so long to upload, that I only have patience for a couple each entry.
Hope you like them. If you're in the area, pop by and say hello to me at the markets!
Joelle

WOO! HOOT!!! Another promotion from Stampin' Up!

They've done it again,  another great offer from Stampin' Up!:

Simply Stockings Promotion!

During October, purchase this pair of coordinating Christmas products early - before the release of the 2011 Summer Mini Catalogue:
• Stitched Stocking Set
• Stocking Tag Punch

It gets even better... Get them both for FREE when you host a $450 workshop OR place a group or individual order for $450!

This stamp set and co-ordinating punch are perfect for making quick tags, cards and gifts for Christmas. View them HERE

If you would like to place an order or buy the stamp set and/or punch, call or just email me.
125798 Stitched Stocking Wood-Mount Set $53.95
123784 Stitched Stocking Clear-Mount Set $42.95
124095 Stocking Tag Punch $33.95

But hurry....this offer is valid from 1st-31st October only!
Claws in ink,
Joelle

Oh My! Three days in a row, unheard of!

Yes, believe it or not I am back! AGAIN. With some more pics. I had such a fabulous time at camp, I have to show you a few more pics, then I'll move on to something else.

Juliette Chapman's gorgeous Owl Earrings - for the punch art Challenge - she actually gave these to me! What a sweetie, thanks Jules!

Heather Partridge's cute reindeer entered in the Christmas Challenge

THE gorgeous, super talented Marelle Taylor - Our Illustrious leader, working hard as always!

There are so many more pics to share, but as the challenges were anonymous, it is hard to know exactly who to credit (unless I already knew, like the ones above).
Next blog entry I promise to not blab on about Stamp Camp (even though it was unreal, and I can't wait until next year's!). So I'll show something new I have been making.
Yours in inky claws,
Joelle

Told you I'd be Back!

Hello again.
As promised I am supplying you with a couple more pics from stamp camp (wish they weren't so slow to upload otherwise I'd include many more). Anyway here they are:

My Name tag (looking a little well-worn), no surprises from me really, owl & bling! - I actually won a prize for this one - Woo Hoo! So exciting! There were so many gorgeous, clever name tags, so I felt really special.

  Above: Juliette's beautiful Tealight Holder presentation

 Above: Cathy's cute punch art Geisha doll presentation
Believe it or not there's so much more. But that's just a taste of my weekend of Stamp Heaven!
Promise to blog again soon.
Joelle

Well I am back! (At long last)

FINALLY I am back on my Blog! I haven't forgotten about it, in fact I have felt guilty about not blogging since my last blog! I have had an extremely hectic couple of months, between packing, moving, very ill children and illness myself, life has been rather awful.
So I have LOTS of catching up to do. I am planning to 'catch up' over a number of blog posts so let me start with a very happy event, STAMP CAMP!!!!
Towards the end of August I attended STAMP CAMP in the beautiful Hunter Valley of New South Wales. My AMAZING and GORGEOUS upline; Marelle Taylor has organised Stamp Camp for the past 3 years and every year I have come back more inspired by the many talented people we have in our team and friends too! Over 30 people attended camp in all and although it poured torentially most of the time (what better weather for stamping?!) we all had an absolute ball.
So  let me show you a few pics to whet your appetite:

  

   Above: Our 'office' for the weekend!

Below: Some of the hardworking papercraft ladies and our AMAZING workspace

     Marelle was absolutely fabulous (as usual!) She had organised challenges, shoebox swaps (along with other terrific team members), presentations from other team members (including moi! - I was a complete goose as usual, but most of the team are pretty used to that!)
There were amazing prizes and even visits from the 'Stamp Fairy', believe me life back home was a bit of a drag after the little pressies from her each day!
I will be back in a couple of days I hope with more pics from camp (including some of my entries etc in the challenges).
Yours in ink,
Joelle

Market Day!

Well I have just finished another long day at the market in Lismore. Wow, what a wonderful day! I met so many lovely people who either have a passion for stamping and papercrafts like me or genuinely appreciate the hard work that goes into handmade crafts. I had a VERY exciting visit from the gorgeous Ruth Bishop, one of my fabulous Stampers Anonymous Team members. It was so lovely to see her and I appreciate her stopping in whilst on her holiday from her home in Sydney. 
I am hoping to travel to some more local markets soon - just have to save up for an outdoor gazebo!

I have included this photo of one of my market cards - using one of my ABSOLUTE favourite punches - the owl punch, Riding Hood Red cardstock & ink, 2009-2010 Designer series Papers, Old olive cardstock, Little leaves Sizzlit die, Top Note Die and Well Scripted stamp set.
Hope you like these little cuties as much as I do.

My Latest Workshop

Hello there again. Yesterday I ran a workshop for a lovely group of ladies. The hostess held it outside on her deck and had decorated and catered beautifully with a french style afternoon tea. Gorgeous comfy lounges draped with quilts she had made herself and lovely lace style tablecloths made an afternoon enjoyable for all those who attended. The hostess had requested that the make-and-take be in the brights used in the current promotion that finishes today. Those colours were Melon Mambo, Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight. So adding in some Old Olive (one of my all time favourites) the Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder, Mat Pack, White Gel pen, Paper Piercer, Blender pen, Eyelet Border punch and Whisper White cardstock for the ladies to make.

Ouch!

Well we have not had the best of times in the past couple of days, my littlest one broke her arm yesterday playing at playgroup, so she is feeling very sore and sorry (and we are too - for her!). So not such great news today, of course I had to take a pickie (for the scrapbook), she has a very sad face on, poor little chickie. I bought her a couple of little bling charms from Lincraft  to add to her necklace which cheered her up a little. Poor chickie chick. Her brothers have been very good with her, though fighting over who would take in the x-rays for show and tell!
Joelle

Just a bit excited!

Being new to an area isn't easy, especially when you are not 'at work' as such talking to 'real' grown ups on a daily basis. So when a LOVELY friend from playgroup invited me to her house for a sewing night once a week, I jumped at the chance. I have just arrived home and the 'Mojo' is going rather crazy! I am attempting to make a bunting sign for my market stall! I'll keep you posted on how it all goes, who knows, I might even post a pickie if it turns out O.K. Thanks Fiona for a lovely night.
Joelle

Wooooo Hoooooo!

I am finally set up with my own blog again! Mmmmmmmmmm............... working out all this techno stuff has been rather 'challenging' to say the least! Anyway I have finally done it (I think - fingers crossed!) Life on the Far North Coast has certainly been busy and it doesn't look like slowing down any time soon. I am still busy running my little darlings around to everywhere and everything they 'need' to do. Thank goodness the holidays are over ( I NEVER thought I would be one of 'those' parents who would say that, but now I completely understand why parents would harass me in shopping centres and other places as to when school would return - I am a trained teacher for those who do not know me well).

Well I have actually had some 'crafting mojo' happening lately, the problem is I have not had enough time to myself (what's that? I hear many of you say.) to actually carry out the hundreds of ideas and inspirations gathering in my head. I have now decided it is wise (hoot, hoot) to write these ideas and inspirations down and hopefully one day they might actually come to fruition - we can only hope!
My market stall in Lismore on the first Sunday of each month is managing to keep me busy and it is so wonderful to meet so many lovely people who are like myself, addicted to crafts, especially papercrafts.
I am hoping that my next post will feature some of my work ( if I can work out how to attach it! LOL)
Joelle