OnStage Sydney – Wrap Up!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been several months since Mum and I had the incredible opportunity to present at Stampin’ Up!’s OnStage event in Sydney. It’s an experience I’ll treasure forever, and one that I still find myself smiling about whenever I think back on it.

The funny thing is, the whole idea actually started as a bit of a joke.

At a previous OnStage event, our wonderful friend Sharon looked at us and casually said, “You guys could do that.”

Mum and I laughed it off and shrugged our shoulders. Presenting at OnStage felt like something other demonstrators did. It seemed so far out of reach that it was easier to laugh than to seriously imagine it.

But if I’m honest, I think a tiny part of both of us wondered… What if?

What if one day that really could be us standing on stage, sharing our love of crafting and inspiring other demonstrators?

Then, fast forward to December last year.

I was at school, enjoying a quiet recess break, when my phone rang. As soon as I realised why Clare was calling, I may have let out a little squeal of excitement in my classroom! (I’m sure anyone nearby wondered what on earth had happened!)

We had been invited to present at OnStage.

It was one of those moments that doesn’t quite feel real. Equal parts excitement, disbelief and a healthy dose of, “Can we actually do this?”

Then came January… and a rather exciting box of brand-new products.

A quick trip to Mum’s house to open the box together, spread everything across the table and marvel at all the new products. And of course… that unmistakable new paper smell! Every crafter knows exactly what I’m talking about. It never gets old!

Suddenly the reality hit. We weren’t just making projects for ourselves—we were creating projects that would hopefully inspire hundreds of demonstrators.

There was one small problem though…

There were no samples online!

Normally, when a new suite is released, there’s already a wonderful collection of inspiration floating around the internet. This time, we were starting with a completely blank canvas.

So I did what I always do when I need inspiration, I went researching.

I found myself diving deep into everything coastal and lakeside. Beach houses, weathered timber, deck chairs, reeds, waves, driftwood, jetties… anything that captured that relaxed feeling of spending time by the water.

One decision Mum and I made early on was to work completely independently. We wanted to challenge ourselves to develop our own ideas without influencing each other. It meant lots of keeping secrets, avoiding craft-room sneak peeks and resisting the temptation to ask, “What are you making?”

Ironically, when we eventually started sharing our ideas, some of our projects were incredibly similar! I suppose that’s what happens when two people have crafted together for years, we clearly think alike more often than we realise!

Looking back now, those weeks of designing, experimenting and refining were such a fun creative journey. There were certainly projects that worked beautifully… and others that definitely belonged in the “learning experience” category! (My 3D Beach Chair certainly had its fair share of redesigns before I was finally happy with it!)

One of the unexpected highlights of the whole experience was getting to know so many wonderful demonstrators and members of the Stampin’ Up! team from around the world as we prepared for the event.

A very special thank you goes to Ingrid, Jennifer and Charlotte, who were such an incredible support throughout the entire journey. Your encouragement, kindness and willingness to answer questions made the experience even more special.

Before we knew it, it was time to head to Sydney.

I’ll admit… we were both excited and nervous.

From the moment we arrived, though, the Stampin’ Up! staff made us feel so welcome. Every single person we met was kind, encouraging and genuinely wanted us to enjoy the experience.

Then came rehearsal.

The moment Mum and I stepped onto the stage together, all the nerves seemed to disappear. Instead, we found ourselves laughing, smiling and simply having fun sharing the projects we’d spent months creating. It was one of those moments where everything just felt right.

People often ask what I remember most about actually presenting.

The funny thing is… I don’t remember much of what I actually said!

What I do remember is everything that happened around it.

I remember friends cheering us on and even asking us to sign their catalogues (something that still makes me laugh!).

I remember demonstrators we’d never met before coming up afterwards to share stories about their families, their crafting journeys and how our presentation had inspired them.

I remember members of the Stampin’ Up! staff, despite how incredibly busy they were, taking the time to stop, encourage us, congratulate us and make us feel valued.

Most of all, though, I remember sharing the entire experience with Mum.

Crafting has given us so many wonderful memories over the years, but standing together on that stage is one I’ll treasure forever. I don’t for a second take for granted that she is here and that we were able to share this experience together. It is something I will always treasure.

We often get caught up in thinking that crafting is about the cards we make, but sometimes it’s really about the people we make them with.

This experience reminded me of that in the very best way.

To everyone who came to our presentation, stopped to chat afterwards, shared kind words, sent encouraging messages or has continued to support my little corner of the crafting world—thank you.

Your encouragement means more than you know.

And to Mum… thank you for saying “yes” to the adventure. I wouldn’t have wanted to stand on that stage with anyone else. ❤️

A few more memories from an unforgettable weekend…

So until next time!

Jen xx