April Meeting - you can't put THAT through a Big Shot!

For the April meeting, we played another rousing round of "What's in the Box?". This time I'd brought in some older stamps I could part with, and offered them for sale at pocket money prices. I went home a bit lighter, and with money in my pocket. Others got some quality stuff they were really going to enjoy, so that's all good.

Here's what I like to see, a nice busy crowd. About 13 attendees this month I think ... just right.

Remember this stamp from last month? I'd bought it at Paperific and showed it off later in the day. Well, Ingrid liked the set so much, she tracked it down and bought it too. Bunky the Art Sparrow travels on to a new owner!

Oooh, shiny ... what's this pretty thing?

Oh, I see ... flattened out soft drink tin, cut out, run through the Big Shot with an embossing folder, and then coloured with alcohol-based markers. This looks promising...

March Meeting - on a Paperific day!

Stamp Club fell on the same weekend as Paperific this month. Well, Paperific and I go way back, so I had to go and enjoy the day.

Here's how my day went - I left home nice and early. I stopped at the local scout hall, where there was a big Trash and Treasure sale (also a good thing to do). Then I scooted all the way to the Showgrounds to enjoy Paperific (arrived just before going in time too). And then, I scooped up all my new goodies, and crossed town again to get to SERS. A tad late, but nobody minded, I hope.

As a result, I had the fun of playing with all my new goodies at stamp club! This unmounted stamp from Hampton Art is one of my newies. It's a variation of an older stamp I've owned for years - the older one is called "Bunky the Art Sparrow", and he often serves as my mascot.

Cathy was rusting some pretty things - wire lizards, faces and such. This metal coating is one part of the process.

Remember I'd said I started the day at a Trash and Treasure sale? Here's something I bought - a bag of mixed toys, including MERMAID PONIES! One thing lead to another ...

... and before long we were rusting a pony! This plastic may not have been primed so well - there is a special primer for plastic - so next time we will do an even better job.


















Then Cathy got a bit giddy with the metal coating - here she is trying to rust a banana!

Oh, wait, that may have just been an accident.

Anne had brought along some prepared stamped and punched shapes, and was assembling with them. She'd packed them in a pretty tin, and the whole thing was so lovely I had to have a closer look!

Maria was constructing these cards with just punched circles - pretty!

And here's what I made with my new stamps. Yay, Bunky!

So it ended up being a small group, but as merry as ever. See ya next month!

February meeting - the hot, hot day!

The February SERS meeting took place on a super hot day - 37 degrees! People asked if we would go ahead in the heat, but I said yes.

Turned out, the meeting room at Mount St is lovely and cool on a hot day (the hallway was quite hot, but the room itself was fine). We turned on all the fans, and it was great. So, let's remember, SERS can cope with heat any time!

I knew nobody would want heavy snacks, though, so I packed delicious fruit and chilled drinks, along with the usual tea and coffee. Here's the three bottles with stamped tags - water, iced tea, and lemon lime and bitters. Yumm!
















Ingrid was doing beautiful work with a small watercolour painting she had done - a bunch of kumquats. Dare I say it, better than any stamp!















Liz Z came along - hadn't seen her in yonks! She's on the left, next to Cathy. Liz was working on a drawing, and Cathy was refurbishing an older African doll, and using it as inspiration for a new one.











Louise and Maria making things - Maria and I agreed that if you can only have one punch, you should have a couple of square ones.

And here's a distinguished visitor, Miriam Makeba, appearing in doll form. She's Cathy's entry in a doll swap, about to be sent away to a new owner.

So what WAS in the box?

 We just had the January SERS meeting, and as well as a fun afternoon of chatting and crafting, there were GOODIES to be had!

A generous benefactor had donated some back copies of magazines, good ones from Stampington (and don't we all know that publisher well!). Five boxes full, in fact. She instructed that they should be given away to willing readers. So that's what I did.

I opened the boxes and called the ladies over. There was no pushing or shoving, but everyone ended up with an armful of excellent magazines. Here's Pat flipping through a Take Ten.

And here's the whole gang in a not-at-all-posed scene, enjoying their new bounty.

Did you miss the meeting? Don't worry, there's still some stuff in the box! I'll bring it next time.

Welcome to 2012 - what's in the box?

It's a new year for SERS, and we are ready for the January meeting. Well, I am. Three teenagers at home getting a bit tired of holidays - of course I want an afternoon out!

Actually it's been a fantastic month full of swimming, bike riding, movies, creativity and food! So the batteries are all charged for another stamping hit.

And the next SERS meeting is THIS WEEKEND, 28 January 2012, at the usual location (see this - our details haven't changed).

So I ask you, WHAT is in the BOX?  I have five of these boxes at home, and the contents (thanks to a generous benefactor) are going to be up for grabs. That's right, I'm totally letting you take stuff out and take it home.

Anyway, see you at SERS, and don't forget to wear your stamping shoes!

Merry Christmas from SERS!

We just had the SERS Christmas party for 2011 - at Cathy's place, as is traditional.

Cathy has this FABulous canvas at her place - she made it, of course. A fun afternoon with a packet of crayons, some glue, and a hair dryer!

Louise, Cathy and Nan shared a chat - Nan had a terrific anecdote about when she almost met Rudolf Nureyev!

 Michelle and Chris did Christmassy projects and had some laughs...

Thanks Cathy for hosting us!

Anne made us all pretty gift boxes with treats inside!


















We did our mostly annual Ornament Swap - Nan took home a beaded ornament by Louise.

Christmas party coming up!

As we have for the last few years, we have a Christmas party coming up. It's on 10 December at 1pm, at Cathy's place, same as last year. Ask if you need the address!

We've decided to have an ornament swap. It's something we did in past years, and it was fun!

So make an ornament (yes, MAKE) using whatever method you like. No, we're not going to fuss about it needing stamping in it - if you're in a beading mood, go for it! And seriously, if life is too stressful right now, don't let lack of an ornament stop you coming.

No idea yet what I will make, but there's days yet!

The other special thing to bring is a plate of something to share.

We like our party to be an arty party, and Cathy's house is at least half art studio (at least it is when we all arrive), so bring a project to do - I'm finishing my Christmas cards there.

And if you read this, be a love and pass the info on to any other local stampers who look like they'd enjoy an afternoon of gossip and giggles!

Oh, and that photo is my cute kids (back when they were cute).