Back at it!

I'm FINALLY back to stamping after several very frustrating post-convention days!  I came home with so many ideas and have just had too much going on to act on any of them until yesterday.  So, the first thing I did?  Put my Make-n-Takes together, of course!  Check it out...

One of several Convention Make-n-Takes featuring the Gorgeous Grunge and Hello Lovely stamp sets.

I have been dying to get my hands on the Gorgeous Grunge and Hello Lovely stamp sets since I first saw them in the catalogue!  I waited because I knew we were getting them at Convention, but it sure wasn't easy!  I've been making very good use of both since, as you'll see over the next few weeks ;)
In addition to the stamped images, I also love the colour scheme on this card.  They aren't colours I would have ever thought to combine:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Old Olice and Calypso Coral.  I really love the way they all work together...so much so I used the same combo on another project I'll show you tomorrow.  Till then, have a wonderful Friday...and a great weekend!

Convention Wrap-up and home again!

Well, I am back home, safe and sound.  I know I still owe you one  more day of convention fun,  so here is my take on the last day.
We started with the opening General Session with some great project ideas for modern memory keeping from Bonnie Thurber.  Not only is Bonnie super creative, but she is also a riot!  There were lots of laughs to start the day.  Of course, there  were more prize patrols...lots of happy winners!  Then it was off to break out classes for the afternoon.  I attended three very informative classes which offered many ideas to incorporate into my business.  The final general session was bitter-sweet, as we celebrated a wonderful couple of days, but also had to say good-bye to new friends.  Our  team wrapped up the week with a lovely dinner at the Olive Garden.
As I started packing, I laid out all off the free stuff I received over the two+ days of convention.  Check it out...

More than $200 in free product, not to mention that fabulous bag that I received at convenion!

This was so worth the investment to attend!  I'm so glad I went, but am so happy to be home!!  Now to get busy on all of the great ideas I got!!  Stay tuned...

Convention Day 2

What an amazing day!!  It all started with the first General Session.  I'll let the pictures do the talking...check it out:  (apologies for the over-sized, unedited photos...I can't seem to edit them in the app I am using...I'll fix 'em when I get home)

I won the very first Prize Patrol of the day!!  The new Christmas Collectibles stamp set and coordinating punch...woohoo!

We were treated to demonstrations by our very own Shelli Gardiner.  Shelli showed, believe it or not, 25 projects!!  Many of them used brand new, not-yet-released products called Thinlets.  These dies are TO DIE FOR, and my friend and Downline, Laura Bart, won a set...she was just a little excited!

 I can't show you the actual product but here are a few photos of projects Shelli demonstrated:

The next new product was the Envelope board punch. This thing is amazing!  It makes 72 different sizes of envelops in seconds!  Here is a shot of the display board:

The final new product announcement of the day is the one I am most excited about.  It is called Undefined and it is a kit to design and carve your very own rubber stamps!!  Talk about cool!!  The ultimate in creativity...design the perfect stamp for your project, make the stamp and then use it on the project!  So can't wait to get my hands on this one!

Then it was time to recognize those who had earned the Incentive trip this year. My upline, Jamilla Ivits, centre, was one of them!  On the right is Natasha Byrne and on the left is Denise Donald.  Congratulations, ladies!!

The afternoon was spent at the Expo, a Selection of classes, training, make-n-takes and more.  I spent a bit of time in the Recognition Room, which was a space reserved for those of use who earned annual awards to get a break from the crowds and have a quiet drink, put our feet up and chat.  

While there Sherril Graff, centre, one of Stampin' Up's longest serving demonstrators came by to say hi and have a photo op.

Jamilla and I celebrating our successes...both of us had our best years ever!

Then I headed off to lunch.  Along the way I passed the Make-n-Take area.  Imagine setting all of this up for your next class...

Unbelievable!!

Recently I had a huge compliment paid to me by Karen Burniston, designer of the Pop-n-Cuts die system and the Dress Up and Deco Labels framelits (two of my fav's)!  She emailed to tell me she had seen my work on Pinterest and loved it!  I was blown away and told her as much and she was very gracious in emailing me back and forth several times.  She invited me to stop by and say hello to her while I was at Convention, so I did...

Karen in action during her demonstration.

Karen greeted me with a big hug and paused for a photo...what a kind thing to do!


The rest of the afternoon was spent in various classes and chatting with demonstrators from around the world.  Then it was time for Awards Night...

Jamilla and I all dressed up...don't see this very often!

Awards night was well done and (blessedly) short...just an hour and a half and we were off to the 25th anniversary party!  There was a fabulous 80's cover band, yummy desserts, more free stuff (new washi tape from the upcoming Holiday Catty), circus performers, party games and more.  So very much fun!!

It was an exhausting but very fun day!!  Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!

Convention is open!

What a fun and busy day it was!!  We started our day on the very first bus to the Stampin' Up head office in Riverton, which is about half an hour south of Salt Lake City.  The tour was terrific...how I wish I could work in that beautiful facility!  Check it out...

On the bus

In the Atrium at head office

Lower level in the atrium...lovely water feature...very relaxing place to distress after a tough day at work!

Holiday display in the Legacy Room

Thanksgiving table setting, also in the Legacy Room.  These products are all from the upcoming Holiday Catalogue!

The Distribution Centre...just look at all those stamps!!

Then we were back to SLC for some more shopping and a relaxing lunch.  I had a swap that afternoon as well...photos of those later :)

Then it was time for the opening General Session.  What an atmosphere!  Here are some pics...

Panoramic shot of the entire hall.  6000 demonstrators and head office staff all partying it up...what an great experience!

Brian Pilling (one of the head office corporate types) leading a bunch of demos in a line dance!

The opening convention theme song was wonderfully performed and accompanieD by pyrotechnics!

Our convention bags were the first all-attendee give-away!  They are gorgeous!!  And filled with three stamp sets, make-n-take kits, catalogues, commemorative swag...such fun!  We also watched a demonstration by Pam Morgan who did 5 projects featuring this year's Making a Difference set:  Tag It, which we all got for free!  

Be fore she was done, Pam announced two prize patrols (didn't win either of those...but there's still lots of time!). And then Shelli announced another all-attendee giveaway...the Tags 4 You set from the new Holiday Catalogue...yippee!

The evening ended with the opening of the Gathering Place with a live band Karaoke, tons of displays a world record set for the most greeting cards sent from a single location and so much more.  I'll post more photos tomorrow...the crowds were so big it was difficult to get good pics.  See you then!

Pre-convention Fun!!

Today was a great day in Salt Lake City!  My Downline, Laura, arrived this morning and she immediately wanted to do some shopping so we headed back over to City Creek Place.  What a beautiful mall that is!!  Here is a photo of some of the fountains...

 

We also stopped for a photo op in front of Temple Square...

  

After a quick lunch we headed back to the hotel to freshen up and then were off to the convention centre for my first swap.  This one was a double scrapbook layout swap that was such fun!  There were so many amazingly creative layouts...I'll post photos when I get home and can properly photograph them.

Then we were off to yet another swap and mingle event where we made four cute projects, feasted on an incredible candy buffet and met demonstrators from as far away as Australia!!

Now we are settling in for the night after a busy but fun-filled day.  The REAL fun begins tomorrow, as we will be on the first bus at 8:00 am to Riverton to tour the Stampin' Up home office.  We are both VERY excited to visit there!  Convention officially opens tomorrow at 5:00, so I'll have lots to share tomorrow night about the opening events.  Stay tuned....