Tuesday, 17 March 2026

OnStage 2026 Sydney – Was It Worth It?

 

Oh yes… it absolutely was!

Attending Stampin' Up! OnStage 2026 Sydney was a first for me—and I can honestly say I walked away completely inspired, energised, and already looking forward to the next one.

From the moment it began, it was three full days of creativity, connection, and that unmistakable Stampin’ Up! excitement.

A Head Full of Ideas (and a Heart Full of Inspiration)

I came home with my head spinning—in the best possible way.

Not only do I have fresh ideas for using the beautiful Stampin’ Up! products already in my craft room, but I’m also bursting with inspiration for the gorgeous new products that are heading our way soon.

If you’ve ever wondered whether attending an event like this sparks creativity… the answer is a big, resounding yes.

Fan-Girling Moments (Yes… Plural!)

One of the absolute highlights?

Meeting my Stampin’ Up! heroines in person.

Everywhere I turned, there was a familiar face—demonstrators I’ve followed on Facebook and YouTube for years. And yes… I was definitely fan-girling!

I even worked up the courage to say hello to a few—and every single one was kind, welcoming, and happy to chat. That sense of community is something really special.

And I have to tell you… I was so excited I could hardly talk for a few minutes when I met Donna Gray, Chris Andrew and Janelle Russell in person!

They’re from Queensland—two states away from me—so being able to spend a couple of hours chatting, laughing, and learning from these incredible women I’d only ever seen online was just wonderful.

A Very Special Moment

And then came the moment…

I looked up and there she was—Teresa Brown.

Teresa was an accountability buddy of mine for some demonstrator challenges a couple of years ago and while we aren't that far apart, and I quite often drive almost past her house, we had never met in person. It was so special to be able to hug and laugh and talk in-person (are you getting the idea that OnStage is special because of the in-person meet-ups?). I also met the lovely Caz, and while we didn't have long to chat, it was a highlight of OnStage for me.

 A surprise highlight was meeting Kimberley Smith from The Papered Chef. She travelled all the way from the USA to attend OnStage in Sydney!

I first discovered Kimberley through her Brother Scan N Cut videos, then realised she was also a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator—and I’ve followed her ever since.

Meeting her in person in Sydney? Absolutely surreal.

And yes… we swapped!

I now have a Kimberley Smith OnStage swap, and if I had a pool room, that’s exactly where it would go 😉

Three Days with My Team 💕

Another standout was spending three days with my upline Genna Gifford and team.

We laughed, crafted, learned—and most importantly, cheered each other on during recognition sessions.

Stampin’ Up! does such a beautiful job of celebrating their demonstrators’ achievements. Being there to clap, cheer, and celebrate those milestones together was incredibly special.

Recognition, Ribbons & Celebrations

Speaking of recognition…

I proudly collected my achievement ribbons and added them to my lanyard—and I’ll tell you what, I’m already looking forward to adding more each year!

And 2026 made it even more meaningful…

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Stampin’ Up! in the South Pacific, and it was truly an honour to be part of that celebration. The commemorative pin attached to our bags made it even more special.

The Swag Bag (Yes, I’m in Love!)
Let’s talk about the swag…

I am absolutely in love with the beautiful soft blue bag we were given—very close to the new In-Colour Hydrangea Hue (and you know blue is my colour!).

It’s honestly like a Mary Poppins bag—so roomy, with pockets everywhere, and perfect for carrying all the goodies collected over the three days.

The Swapping Frenzy

And then… the swaps!

It was an absolute whirlwind of creativity.

Talented demonstrators swapping handmade cards and 3D projects—it was inspiring, exciting, and just plain fun. I came home with a collection of beautiful, handcrafted projects that I’ll treasure (and draw inspiration from) for a long time.

Sneak Peeks & Pre-Orders

One of the perks of attending OnStage is access to the Product Purchase Premiere—and yes, I placed my order!

That means getting my hands on brand-new products before they’re released to customers in May.

👉 If you’d love early access too, let me know—I’m happy to show you how you can get your hands on the new catalogue goodies ahead of time.

The Big Announcement 🎉

Now this…

This was the moment that had the entire room cheering, screaming, and jumping for joy:

Paper Pumpkin is coming to Australia!

From 1st April, you’ll be able to subscribe and receive your monthly kit right here.

And if you subscribe through my online store, you’ll also be invited to my exclusive Paper Pumpkin Party each month, where we’ll:
Craft the kit together
Create alternative projects
Stretch the kit even further

It’s going to be so much fun—and incredible value too.

Final Thoughts – Was It Worth It?

Without a doubt… yes.

OnStage 2026 was:
Inspiring
Energising
Creative
Community-filled
And just plain fun

I’ve come home motivated, excited, and ready to share everything I’ve learned and discovered with you.

So stay tuned… there is so much more to come!

Want to Join Me? 💗

Shop with me

Join my team

Follow along on Facebook

Monday, 16 March 2026

Paper Pumpkin Is Coming to Australia – Starting April 2026!


I have some very exciting news to share with you today…

 

Paper Pumpkin is finally arriving in Australia — and it launches on 1st April 2026!

 

If you’ve ever watched Paper Pumpkin unboxings online and wished we could join in here in Australia, that wish is about to come true. Stampin’ Up! is bringing their hugely popular monthly crafting subscription to Australian crafters, and I could not be more excited.

 

What Is Paper Pumpkin?

Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription papercrafting kit delivered straight to your door.

 

Each kit is beautifully coordinated and includes everything you need to create stunning handmade projects. Depending on the month, that might include:

• Handmade cards

• Gift packaging

• Tags or small paper projects

• Exclusive stamps

• Ink spots

• Pre-cut pieces and embellishments

 

The best part? You don’t need a huge craft stash to get started. Everything is designed to work together so you can simply open the box and begin creating.

 

It’s perfect whether you are:

  • A beginner who wants a simple way to start crafting
  • A busy crafter who loves quick projects
  • A Stampin’ Up! fan who enjoys exclusive products and beautiful surprises

 

Why I’m So Excited

One of the things I love most about Paper Pumpkin is that it makes creativity incredibly easy.

 

You get the fun of opening a surprise crafting box every month, and the projects are designed to be quick, relaxing, and satisfying to complete.

 

For many crafters around the world, Paper Pumpkin has become a monthly creative ritual — a little pocket of crafting time just for themselves.

 

And now Australian crafters get to join the fun.

 

What Happens Next?

Paper Pumpkin officially launches in Australia on 1st April 2026, and I’ll be sharing more details very soon, including:

• How the subscription works

• What the first Australian kit will include

• When you can subscribe

• Special launch events and craft-alongs

I’m also planning some Paper Pumpkin Craft Along sessions and unboxings, so we can enjoy the kits together.

 

Want to Be the First to Know?

If you’d like to be among the first to hear all the details when subscriptions open, keep an eye on the blog and my social media.

 

I’ll be sharing updates, sneak peeks, and everything you need to know to join in.

 

One thing is certain…

 

April 2026 is going to be a very exciting month for Australian papercrafters.

 

Stay tuned — more Paper Pumpkin news coming soon!

 

Happy crafting,

Cath

Monday, 9 March 2026

Cut It • Craft It • Use It Zero-Scrap Challenge! (December 2025 Paper Crafting Challenge)

 Are you ready for a fun, motivating, and budget-friendly papercrafting challenge to finish the year strong? Welcome to the One Pack, Zero Waste DSP Challenge, running all throughout December at Stampin’ Among the Gum Trees. If you love cardmaking, scrapbooking, and turning pretty paper into beautiful gifts, this is the challenge for you.

Designer Series Paper is one of the most loved and most hoarded crafting supplies. We all do it — we buy a gorgeous pack, use a couple of sheets, cut a few pieces for a project… and then it sits on the shelf because we don’t want to “waste” the pretty patterns. The irony? Those leftover bits and half-used packs often don’t get used at all. This challenge flips that thinking on its head.

We’ll take ONE full pack of Designer Series Paper and for 31 creative, inspiring days use every single piece. Nothing goes in the bin. Nothing hides in a drawer. No scraps leftover. Every sheet gets turned into cards, tags, boxes, treat bags, scrapbook layouts, gift packaging, and even small embellishments. You’ll be shocked at how much you can make from one pack when you approach your crafting intentionally.

The challenge begins on 1st December, and the first thing you need to do is vote for the DSP pack we’ll be using as a group. Once voting closes, I’ll post cutting templates, project ideas, sketches, and tutorials throughout the month to keep you inspired and motivated. Whether you like clean and simple designs, scrap-busting layouts, or 3D projects, you’ll find plenty of ideas to keep your creativity flowing.

One of the biggest benefits of the challenge is learning how to maximise your paper. You’ll learn smart cutting strategies that reduce waste, ways to use leftover strips on cards, ideas for layering, and tips for turning even the tiniest off-cuts into embellishments and labels. The goal isn't just to use one pack — it’s to teach you a set of skills you’ll use all year long.

This challenge is perfect if you're:
• wanting to use up your stash before the new mini catalogue arrives
• looking for a daily creative prompt
• hoping to save money by using what you already have
• needing Christmas cards, tags and gift packaging
• wanting to build a card stash for birthdays, thank yous and occasions
• or just wanting to craft with a supportive creative community.

Join me on our YouTube channel every day at 2.30pm to see how I'm using up the whole pack of 12 sheets of 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper!


The jump over to our Stampin' Among the Gum Trees Facebook group to share your makes, track your progress, and cheer each other on. The Stampin’ Among the Gum Trees community is friendly, encouraging, and full of ideas — the perfect place to craft through December.

Let’s finish 2025 feeling inspired, organised and creative… one beautiful sheet of Designer Series Paper at a time.