Turn your Photos into Cards!

My upline, Carol, lives in Tacoma, Washington - close to where we used to live.  The scenery there is breath taking and I really miss it.  For her convention swaps, she incorporated her photos with her stamps.  I thought that was a unique idea.  It just goes to show, all your cards don't have to be stamped!  Here are the four that she gave to me.

Who knows .... you might see my cat, Sammie on a card one day!!

These are her daughter's cats.

This one really touched me.  This is Mount Rainier - a view I never tired of seeing.  We lived in Gig Harbor which was a peninsula and had to cross over the bridge to get to Tacoma and if the weather was cooperating, we had marvelous views of the mountain like in this picture.

I don't know where she took this picture but I love how she cut it into three pieces.  Don't you love the rusted truck amid all the beautiful flowers?

Framed Art Convention Swap and My Gift

At the Late Night Stamper's event, we did 3D shoebox swaps.  This is the swap I made for my shoebox.  I really enjoy making these framed art samplers.  I bought these little frames at Ikea for a couple of dollars and used all the new In Colors for the punch art.

The first night of Late Night, we exchanged gifts.  My gift came in this darling owl bag along with an owl card and owl candy bar wrap.  Isn't it darling??

And this is the beautiful piece that was inside the Owl Bag.  It is just lovely.  It is on a stained wooden piece that I am thinking may be an old background stamp piece of wood.  I love the pansies in two colors.  This was made by Kay Capps.

Fun at Late Night Stamping Event

Marianne and I went to Salt Lake City several days before convention actually started. The Late Night Stampers group was hosting their Stamp Camp for the 13th year.  I had always heard about it but never attended.  Unfortunately, I think this will be the last year for it.  They booked a block of rooms for the event (and convention) at a discounted rate at the Radisson.  As of May 1 (their cancellation date), they had filled almost all of them but as it got closer to convention, people started canceling.  I think what happens is that demonstrators book several rooms early in the year hoping their friends and down-lines will want them. When that does not happen, they cancel with no cancellation penalty.  So,today we received an email that they were 150 short of the 80% of rooms to fill.  When we were in SLC, the head of the group was told she would have to pay $20,000+ to cover her contract.  I don't know what the total came to after all was said and done but I am sure it was a hefty amount.  I can't imagine coming home to tell my husband I have to cough up that much money!!  The event was a lot of fun and we were busy from 8:30 a.m. until about 7 p.m. at night for 3 days.  We started at 6 p.m. Sunday night with a welcome party where we each took a handmade gift to exchange.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we were busy doing 3D shoebox items, different projects and  winning a bunch of stuff!!

Projects and 3D shoebox 

More 3D shoebox swaps

My nametag

Projects we made

Several times a day, we  got to go to the "Give-Away" table and pick an item for free.  Plus they drew names several times a day for a large prize give-away.  I won the flower Big Shot Die below on the final day!

Just a portion of what I got for free

More of my freebies!

Convention Exhaustion!

 

I got back from Stampin' Up's Inspire, Create, and Share convention Saturday night .... or rather early Sunday morning.  Our plane got in around 11 but by the time we got home, it was after midnight. And almost 2 am before I was asleep.  I have unpacked my craft suitcase today (mind you - unpacked but not put away yet!)  I still need to unpack my clothes suitcase and do laundry,   Unfortunately, we had to leave convention a couple of hours early and missed one of the All Attendees give-aways.  Every day Stampin' Up gave us a freebie!  Plus there were several lucky people who got Prize Patrols .... but not Marianne or myself!  Oh well ... better luck next year!  

CONVENTION!!  Oh my word!  It was a crazy-busy-exhausting-fun-exhilarating week!  And one of the highlights of Convention was doing SWAPS .... lots of swaps! 

I won't be photographing all of them separately, but I will pick out a few to share with you over the next few days.  Here are a few funny ones that I got.

Here is the cover of the new STAMPIN' UP HOLIDAY CATALOG .... WHOO HOO!!  I actually have one of these in my hot little hands that they gave us at Convention.  I'm not allowed to share pictures of the content, but we can sure talk about it!  We were able to purchase a few items from the catalog on cash and carry basis.
First off - if you don't have a Big Shot yet, there is a super special coming for the month of August and you need to save your allowance and get one - because the holiday catalog has so many new Framelits in it, you are going to be cranking away! 

Next – we all need boxes for the holidays right? – can you say GIFT BOX PUNCH BOARD – WHOO HOO….. I bought one and will be using it this week!!

From cute, to elegant, to little towns, single stamps to use your Blendies on, stars (when you get that Big Shot Special, make sure you get the Stars bundle)…snowmen, Santas, and ENDLESS WISHES is in the catalog – so no “while supplies last” this time, although it might go on backorder because everyone wants it,  It was offered last year in December as a photopolymer set and is a great one!

Ok, back to the catalog, beautiful new designer paper, some very cool embellishments, a new Flipcard Framelit (snowflake shape!), new embossing folders, beautiful new ribbon and packaging is back…beautiful paper, all kinds of new boxes and bags, and stamp sets to create adorable tags…..

And the really good news – they took the layout of the catalog back to the old one, where the beautiful samples created by the Stampin Up Artists, are right beside the stamp sets!

Convention Gift

Convention time is getting close.  Marianne and I fly to Salt Lake City on Saturday .... EARLY!!  We have a 7 AM flight which means we have to be at the airport by 6 AM which means we'll have to leave home around 5:30 which means we'll have to be getting up at .... oh I can't even think about it!!  I am going to spend Friday night at Marianne's so that will cut a little bit of time for me.  Luckily, our first planned event is not until Sunday at 6 so we will have plenty of time to take it easy and rest.  We got this flight because it was cheaper than flying Sunday to Sunday.  I am almost all packed.  Today I will do a few last minute things, wash a load of clothes (so I'll have clean clothes when I return!)

Sunday night will be the Late Night Stampers Meet & Greet party.  We are supposed to take a handmade gift to exchange with someone (with the supply cost $5 or less).  Here is what I am taking:

 This is the front.  I bought the frame at Ikea's for about a dollar.  The DSP in the background is from the Moonlight paper stack.  I created and printed the rest of the pieces from My Digital Studio.

I decided I needed something for the back so I stamped the Hardwood stamp for the background.  The Blended Bloom flower is stamped with Momento Ink and colored with Blendabilities.

Exciting new products are in the Stampin' Up store!!  NEW arrivals include a fun Christmas stamp set that will be available in the new Holiday Mini Catalog BUT it is available to you NOW!!  Get a heard start on your Christmas cards!!

Halloween Canvas

Carrie Cudney taught a class during convention where she showed some samples of mixed media art that she created using Stampin' Up products and DSP.  These were photos I took of Carrie's samples. They were done on a 6" canvas but she made into the ghost into a card also, They were just too cute not to share.  I plan on getting some canvas-es (??) and making my own soon!

Convention Name Badge Holder

Marianne made these wonderful Name Badge Holders for us for convention.  They were a big hit.  I can't tell you how many people commented on them and took pictures.  I told Marianne that she could have paid her way if she'd made a bunch of them and brought to convention and sold them.  She took a few orders while there.  Now she just needs to find the time to sew them!  They were great for us to hang on our necks with all our stuff in them and not have to carry a purse.

Front view of badge holder - even a zipper in the bottom pocket!

Back view - plenty of pockets

I took a few pictures of Sammie this week trying to help me!!

Convention Pics

I have been so exhausted this week.  I guess my body is still trying to get back to Eastern Standard Time vs. Mountain Time.  I ok until about 4-5:00 and then I'm making friends with my couch for a while.  I haven't even felt like stamping.  I've got all my new stamps put together just waiting.  But, I've also had Stamp Club on Tuesday and Thursday so I haven't had a lot of extra time to stamp ... maybe this weekend.

Today is my mom's 85th birthday!  We're going to take her out tomorrow night to celebrate.

I've been working on trying to label all the pictures Marianne and I took last week.  Wow!  What a job!!  But, in the meantime, I want to share a few of the display boards at convention with all the wonderful cards and projects.

Convention Samples

I thought I'd share a few of the great display cards I took pictures of at convention.  There were so many great ideas!  I have been working on trying to get my pictures in some kind of order so I can refer to them during the year.  It's proving to be quite a task!!  I'm about half way through.

This is a Paperbag Album made by a German demonstrator, Jenni Pauli.  Her blog is in my sidebar.

This card I saw when we toured the home office.  It uses the Morning Post Alphabet.

This was one of Shelli's 25 projects that she shared with us.  I love the snowman!  If you do too, you can check him out on page 25 of the Holiday catalog

This butterfly is just gorgeous!  Another one of Shelli's projects using the Swallowtail stamp.

Some of the cards I captured on one of the display boards.  A lot of good ideas here!



Isn't the display board great? 

Well the toothpicks that are holding my eyes open are poking me.  Think I am going to make my way upstairs to bed!!  Stamp club is tomorrow and I have a lot to do.

Convention Video

Here's a video from the Opening Night ceremony.  You can see how heart warming this company is and how much they make you feel like you are a part of their family. I hope you take a few minutes... to watch this to get a feel of what Stampin' Up! is really all about.... it's so much more than stamps.  It is Being the Difference, making incredible friends and spreading wonderful creativity around the world.

Look for Marianne and I dancing with our bags in the first part of the video!!




Here is a picture of some of the things I came home with.

Back from Convention!!

I'm home!!  It will be good to sleep in my own bed tonight.  I'm not saying the hotel bed was bad - it was actually quite comfy but by being in my bed tonight, I won't have to get up tomorrow at the crack of dawn!!!  Just hope my body understands that and lets me sleep.  Our flight left Salt Lake this a.m. at 7:30.  We had a 2 hour lay-over in Detroit- enough time to grab some lunch and charge our laptops.  Then boarded our flight to Greensboro.  That plane was reallllllly small - 2 seats on one side and 1 on the other.  As we were approaching the Greensboro airport, there were storms in the area so the pilot made a few circles.  The storms were not moving so we headed north and landed in Richmond, VA to refuel.  Then back to Greensboro - luckily that was only about a 30 minute or less trip.  Then we got our bags and drove home and met our hubbies for dinner.  I haven't even unpacked - tomorrow
will be plenty of time to do that!!

Here's a little thumbnail of our convention highlights:

The first general session began Thursday night with an emotional, heartfelt welcome by CEO and cofounder, Shelli Gardner, who was thrilled to kick off Stampin' Up!'s historic 25th anniversary party by welcoming demonstrators from all over the globe--some of whom joined the event via a live streaming broadcast on YouTube.

Shelli began the session by sharing how Stampin' Up! started--with her sister, Vonna--and the incredible way it went from a small start-up based in Shelli's living room to a multimillion dollar business spanning the globe. As Shelli said, "It all began with a genuine desire to meet our needs and offer the same opportunity for others . . . whether those needs were social, financial, creative . . . [or the need for] recognition."

From the very beginning, Stampin' Up! was founded to make a difference--and it has--including their philanthropic Make a Difference program. Over the years, Stampin' Up! has raised money and donated to many worthwhile causes worldwide. Shelli was especially happy to announce during this session that Stampin' Up! is now a global sponsor of Ronald McDonald House Charities. (Ronald McDonald himself made an appearance, to the delight of all!)  Marianne and I have decided to look into doing something with Charlotte's Ronald McDonald House.

Shelli also spent a few moments distinguishing between making a difference and being the difference. Shelli explained: "Making a Difference looks back at our history--the things we've done and the legacy we've created as a Stampin' Up! family. Be the Difference, on the other hand, embodies where we are right now and where we are going. Moving forward, how are we as a group and each of us individually going to be the difference?" Over the next few days, Shelli said that we would explore the possibilities together--how we can make--and be--the difference in peoples' lives.

Pam Morgan, vice president of demonstrator and employee development, followed Shelli with a fun stamping presentation. She gave tips on gorgeous cards demonstrators could make using the free stamp sets they received at convention.  We got Gorgeous Grunge, Tag It, and Hello Lovely and at the end of the session, they gave us all another set, Tags for You from the Holiday Catalog.

After the session, we participated in an Opening Social which included a Guinness World Records challenge--with the goal to send as many cards from a single location as possible. We also had the opportunity to put together special birthday kits for children who are patients at Primary Children's Medical Center.

During the Opening Social, we enjoyed Learning Labs, including a Social Media Lab, a Recruiting Lab, a Booking Lab, and a Paper Pumpkin Lab.  Finally, the karaoke stage was a big hit--where demonstrators showed off their musical talent (not us though!!)
What a fabulous first day of convention! 

Day 2 kicked off early Friday morning with thousands of demonstrators thronging the Salt Palace Convention Center for one of the biggest events Stampin' Up! has ever held--celebrating its twenty-fifth year anniversary in fabulous style!   It was almost a stampede when they opened the doors and 5,800 people rushed in to find a seat!!

This year Stampin' Up! also welcomed demonstrators from all parts of the globe--some of whom joined us on their way to Grand Vacation 2013 in Park City, Utah.

The Friday morning general session began with Sara Douglass reminiscing about the first convention she ever attended in 1993, when she was twelve years old. Growing up as she did--with Stampin' Up! being such a big part of her life--Stampin' Up! conventions just seemed "like a family reunion--a very LARGE family reunion," said Sara. "Who else can say they have 50,000 family members spread around the world?"

Stampin' Start achievers were honored in the Friday AM session, as were annual personal sales award achievers, recruiting and leadership achievers, and Getaway and Grand Vacation earners.

Shelli Gardner followed Sara with a stamping presentation featuring 25 projects (for 25 years)! She introduced two new products and demonstrated exciting, innovative ways to use these fun new products.  (Details coming soon!!)

Shannon West also introduced two new products - one of them being the new Undefined Stamp Carving Kit and she showed us her fun stamps--which she carved herself using the new kit!  (Again, more details later.)

The General Session ended around 11 a.m. and we had time for lunch, make and takes, mini classes, new product demos, etc.  It was such fun!  Marianne and I took over 500 pictures!  So we had to make a run back to our hotel and charge our phones/cameras for about an hour before heading back for Awards Night.  Due to changes in recognition, Friday evening's Awards Night was short and sweet but just as fabulous.  This year's Awards Night achievers were also presented with gorgeous Hawaiian leis--and little did they know--those flowers were a hint of good things to come! Scott Nielsen announced that for North American and South Pacific markets, Grand Vacation 2015 will be held in Oahu, Hawaii.
Awards Night was followed by a truly exciting 25-Year Celebration which included aerial ballet, photo ops, live music, interactive activities, and delicious refreshments.

Day Two of Convention 2013 could not have been more exciting. 

Here is one of the cards I took for swaps with Sketched Birthdays.  I was in need of a new birthday stamp set and really like this one.  I used all the new In Colors on the card.  But this set has so many possibilities!!



 OK - I am falling asleep at the keyboard!  This gal is going to bed!!  Night!

We are in Salt Lake City!!

We are in Salt Lake City!  We got to our hotel room about 1 a.m (3 a.m. EST though!) and in the bed by 1:30.  But we were both so keyed up, it took a while to fall asleep and of course, my body woke up at 6:30 since it thought it was 8:30!!  Hitting the bed pretty soon tonight for our full day tomorrow.  But thought I'd share a few pictures from our day.  We went to the Mormon Tabernacle today.  All I can say is WOW!  Words can't describe how beautiful that place is.  Of course, we could not go into the Temple but were able to go inside the other buildings.  We listened to an organ recital in the tabernacle that was just wonderful. 

We won't be doing any pub hopping here though.  We arrived to dinner about an hour early (didn't realize there had been a last minute change in our reservations) so decided to find someplace to have a drink.  We ended up at the Macaroni Grill's bar.  The bartender brought us a menu.  We told her no, we just wanted a glass of wine.  Well .... it is a Utah LAW that you have to order food in order for them to serve you alcohol!!  She recommended a $3 small bowl of olives!!  Marianne told her she didn't like olives but that was ok - I would eat them.  The bartender said to her - you will have an olive, won't you (or else she wouldn't get her beer!!)  So funny!

At Grreensboro airport trying to get organized!!

Mormon Temple

NC Demo swapping group



 And to give you a good laugh -----



Marianne found her some glasses!!