Kelly Slattery - Kids, Motherhood and other stuff

More Trendy Trees

We had a fabulous night at Stamp Club last night.

We up-sized one of the make-n-takes from Convention & they turned out great!

We had fun playing with the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get our tree trunks just right ;o) then popped our cards & matching envelopes into a cello bag lined with DSP & punched out a hole with the word window punch to make a little baggie - too cute!

The we played some more with Trendy Trees & re-created another sample from Convention:

The "flame tree" is popped up with a dimensional for an extra bit of oomph - super cute, yes?


Supplies- Trendy Trees Bagged Set:
Stamp Set: Trendy Trees (115896) $37.95
Designer Series Paper: Urban Oasis DSP (113978) $19.95
A4 Card stock: Baja Breeze (116207) $12.50/24pk, , Kiwi Kiss (116204) $12.50/24pk, Whisper White (106549) $16.25/40pk,
Ink: Tangerine Tango (111834) $13.95, Kiwi Kiss (111835) $13.95, Riding Hood Red (111836) $13.95,  Chocolate Chip (100908) $13.95
Other: Envelopes (non Stampin' Up!), Cellophane Bag (102757) $10.25/50pk Baja Breeze 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (111374) $22.95/13.7m
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-Jig (101049) $26.95, Paper Snips (103579) $22.50, Word Window Punch (105090) $35.95

Supplies - Trendy Trees Thanks Card:
Stamp Set: Trendy Trees (115896) $37.95
A4 Card stock: Chocolate Chip (108599) $12.50/24pk, Kiwi Kiss (116204) $12.50/24pk, Whisper White (106549) $16.25/40pk, So Saffron (108611) $12.50/24pk
Ink: Tangerine Tango (111834) $13.95, Kiwi Kiss (111835) $13.95, Riding Hood Red (111836) $13.95,So Saffron (105213) $13.95, Chocolate Chip (100908) $13.95
Other: Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (111375) $22.95/13.7m, Linen Thread (104199) $10.25/13.7m
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-Jig (101049) $26.95, Paper Snips (103579) $22.50, Crop-a-Dile(108362) $64.95

You can order any of these items right now by using the online ordering page

Three More Little Words

Here's another wee card I made while tidying up.

I'm so loving the Bella Rose DSP, at first I thought it was too "pretty" for me, but it's really a versatile range of paper - there's the bold colours of the reds & greens with white - such a fresh looking combo. Then there's the gorgeous pinks, as well as the chocolate chip.

One of the things I find super handy, is that in the catalogue, just above each DSP is the co-ordintaing colours - so you really can't go wrong with your matching - so simple - love it!!

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STAMP SET: Three Little words, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel

INK: Ridinghood Rd, Chocolate Chip

PAPER: Ridinghood Red Textured card stock, Bella Rose DSP

Accessories: Wide Twill Tape, Ridinghood Red Taffeta Ribbon

Some Pun Fun

While tidying up after class I thought I should make use of some off cuts, so created a couple of cards to share with you while I'm away on holiday.

My daughter Taiga has the Pun Fun stamp set & generously allows me to use it from time to time ;o)

It's such an a adorable set, when I first got my hands on it I stamped each image onto water colour paper & had a play, but that's as far as I got - so when my tidy-up mode hit I went to my go-to pile of ready stamped images - do you have one of those?? Things you play with & then they're too good to toss, but you're not quite ready to use them?? I obviously do (and it's growing) anyhoo I grabbed this cute little fella & voila, another card was born :o)

All Products Stampin' Up!
Stamp set: Pun Fun
Paper: Bella Rose DSP, Ridinghood Red tectured card stock, kiwi kiss card stock
Ink:Stazon black,  Basic Grey + aqua painter, stampin write markers, chocolate chip
Other: Twill tape, Rhinestone brad

Three Little Words

Last night I taught a card class using Three Little Words.

I have loved this set from the moment I first laid eyes on it in the Demonstrator Pre-order...it had me at $28.95 ;o)

I love the variety of phrases that comes with the set:

I love you
i miss you
so very sorry
you, you, you,
thinking of you
thanks so much

And I love the story-book feel of the main sentiment.

Really, you could use the main sentiment & match it to any three words you like inside the card - at Team Training one of the ladies suggested "let's go shopping" as her favourite 3 words LOL.

Last night we created a set of joy fold cards using some of the gorgeous Bella Rose DSP (designer series paper). I Love how they turned out.

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We used the flower image from the stamp set to decorate the envelopes - too cute!

If you'd like to find out about upcoming classes, you can sign up to my newsletter to get all the details or email me for a class list.



Stamp Set: Three Little Words
Paper: Bella Rose, Riding hood Red textured Card stock, Chocolate Chip card stock
Ink: versamark, black embossing powder, chocolate chip, stampin' write markers
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig

A litle bit of Love

Wayne & I celebrated our 6th anniversary on Sunday, actually it nearly slipped by un-noticed, but I sneaked off to the studio to whip up a card before the day was through :o)

It was a nice cruisy day - I'm pretty sure Wayne completely forgot, which is totally forgivable as I only remembered half way through the day ;o)

If you read my newsletter (you can subscribe, up top on the right) , you'll know that I'm enamored with layering stamps at the moment, inspired by Shelli's presentation at Convention.

So, on this card I have used En Francais, then stamped one of the frames from Frames with Flourish, then cut it out.

I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour up the bird on a branch image from Friends 24-7 - I have so much fun colouring this image, and there's something therapeutic about cutting - that stamp set is definitely at the top of the pile this month!

Finally I've taken the I Love You sentiment from A Happy Heart & layered that on with dimensionals, finished it off with a length of ribbon....and voila - one anniversary card in a crunch :o)

Next year I promise to be more organised :o)

Beat The Recession

Do you need some extra money to help pay the bills?

Are you looking at going back to work, but need flexible hours?

Is there talk in your work-place of redundancies & lay-offs?

Stampin' Up! offers a great opportunity for you to earn money during these tough times.

You can find out more about the Stampin' Up! opportunity here.

I would love to have you on my team :o)

Here is an article that has appeared in many US newspapers over the weekend, it highlights how Direct Selling can help you through times when money is tight...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Armies of new Avon ladies, Mary Kay reps and Tupperware sellers are advancing on living rooms across the country, their ranks full of professionals forced to take a second job amid the recession.
Becke Alexander, sales manager for New York-based Avon Products Inc., hears each week from laid-off bankers and stay-at-home moms, but also gainfully employed people worried how long they'll stay that way. All of them are willing to knock on doors, host parties or do whatever else it takes to peddle some makeup.

"'I need money.' That's what I've been hearing since about November," Alexander said. "There are no hobby seekers coming here. It's people with a legitimate need."

Job cuts, shrinking bonuses and scaled-back hours have pushed more people than ever to become direct sales representatives, a phenomenon industry experts say they've seen before.

In the 1990-1991 recession, the number of direct sellers increased 8 percent to 5.1 million Americans. In the 2001 recession, the work force increased to 12.2 million.

And while 2008 figures are not yet available, in 2007 an estimated 15 million people nationwide were in direct sales. Some 58 percent of became reps as a second job, according to the Direct Selling Association, a trade group that represents 200 U.S. companies.

When money began getting tight in Nicole Robinson's household in Garland, Texas, the full-time pharmaceutical sales rep signed up to host Mary Kay parties and give facials, working just six hours to make about $600 a week.

"Costs aren't going down and opportunities are tightening up. Raises and bonuses aren't as big. And I didn't want to ever be in a situation where we were in jeopardy," said Robinson, who joined Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc. in September.

Business declined at the international cell phone company her husband works for, she said, and they wanted to continue their moderate lifestyle and contribute to their children's college funds.

"We were looking for a plan B for our family to make additional income," she said. "We really didn't want to participate in the recession."
Rhonda Shasteen, chief marketing director for Mary Kay, said the Addison, Texas-based company saw traffic on its Web site increase by 108 percent in March, when the company began airing television ads to attract new sales reps.

The sales force grew 22 percent from January to March, compared with the same period last year. The privately owned company wouldn't say whether its profits also increased during that period.

Orlando, Fla.-based Tupperware Brands said globally it's making more money and has more people selling its products, spokeswoman Nora Alonso said.

Direct sales reps can earn commissions between 25 to 50 percent of retail sales, and some companies will also pay for recruiting a new sales person. Direct sellers also can earn rewards, too, including jewelry, handbags, furniture, appliances, cars and vacations.

There can be expenses. It costs about $10 to get the Avon starter kit of products and brochures, and some companies require the sales people to purchase products wholesale and then resell them. Mary Kay consultants purchase mascara for $7.50; the company recommends they sell it for twice that.

Companies that are members of the Direct Selling Association are required to have buyback programs where they refund at least 90 percent of costs to sales representatives who get stuck with products.

During stronger economies, people usually take on direct sales jobs so they can have money for leisure spending, said Larry Chonko, business ethics professor at The University of Texas at Arlington.

"Times are tough as we know and there is an absolute need for extra income," Chonko said. "Direct sales is not recession-proof, but it is the kind of business that even in a recession you can make success of it. And if you create a solid foundation now, then just wait until the economy comes out of the down cycle and goes into an up cycle."

Melanie Lyke, 29, of Thompson's Station, Tenn., began working as an Avon independent sales rep in November to supplement her income after a slowdown in the family's company, which makes training and demo videos for corporations.

"This is a great solution for people in need because I work at my own pace," Lyke said. "All you need is a clear goal and be determined to reach it."

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Fabulous Weekend

I'm feeling revitalised & energised after a weekend of Stampiness :o)

On Saturday we had team training & it was wonderful to meet up with team members from all over the country.

I think it is awesome that people travelled all the way up from the South Island to share the day with us & it was truly a treat to get to know these ladies better.

Denise, Leanne & I had the privilege of being asked to present some of the things we learned at Convention & I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of each presentation...ahhhhh it was just like being back in Canberra ;o)  

 

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Afterward training we went out for dinner to a Thai Restaurant:

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It was great to spend time with these lovely ladies and I had the pleasure of Sandra's navigating skills & company for the evening...we eventually found our way home and woke to a delicious brekky of Eggs Benedict from my wonderful husband (if you're reading -  thanks babe!)

After my delicious brekky & saying farewell to my lovely guest I put together the final details for my  FABULOUS Afternoon Tea Party.

We had a such a fun afternoon creating together, getting all crafty & inky - it was wonderful!!

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It's so awesome to see Mother's and daughters working together to create a project. I absolutely adore being able to offer this service  - it's so rewarding to be part of something so wonderful. If you would like to find out when the next event is just email me.

I hope you have had a fantastic weekend & have a wonderfull week ahead :o)

NEW Promotion for June & July

June/July Promotion

Available 1st June - 31st July 2009

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Stampin' Up! has an awesome promotion running for June & July!

Do you have a wish list the size of Texas??

Here is a fabulous way to get some items off your list & into your stash.

By hosting a workshop with $700 in sales you'll receive an EXTRA $50 in free product!

Now, typically a $700 workshop gets you your choice of an exclusive Hostess Stamp Set from Level one OR Level 2 PLUS $80 in FREE merchandise...but with this generous promotion you can bump your FREEBIES up to $130 in products (and of course you still get to choose your Hostess Stamp Set).

So, do you need...

some more inks??

some ribbons??

some more stamp sets??

more Designer Series Paper??

more card stock??

some markers??

some embellishments??

You can get these for free just by having fun with your friends.

You can use this form to help you with your guest list.

Now, give me a call & we'll schedule your workshop!!

ph: 09 265 0555 or 027 252 9794
email: kelly@kellystamps.co.nz