h{art} Strings

Opening Session and the midnight oil

It's tough to blog daily when you go to bed at 2 am and are back up at 5 am.  Why was I burning the midnight oil?  I'll show you at the bottom of this post . . .  But I wanted to fill you in on all of the convention activities, so I'll post them over the next couple of days along with my swaps. 

Thursday's Opening Session was an incredible experience.  For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! closed their corporate offices so that all employees from Riverton - plus many from the manufacturing facility in Kanab - could attend convention for the day.  When they opened the doors, every one of those employees (hundreds of them) were standing in line cheering loudly and applauding us.  Honestly, it felt like we were on the red carpet.  It was amazing and heart warming. 

We heard motivational words from our fearless leader, Shelli Gardner, who began with a tear jerker right off the bat.  It's a standing joke about Shelli's crying.  She's just like me:  play a sad song or read a love story and the tears are right there.  We love Shelli. 

One of the things that Shelli announced was a hostess special for August:  if you have a $350 workshop then you will receive an ADDITIONAL $25 in free product!  Woo hoo!  My August hostesses will be so excited - and I still have room on my calendar for another workshop or two if you want to get in on this deal!

 We enjoyed some great stamping demonstrations including some terrific ideas from Jill Kocherhans and Bonnie Thurber.  And then they wrapped it up with a song, of course!  (I love that those Stampin' Up! folks are always bursting into song.  Makes me wonder if working there is just like one big musical!)

And then there's the Prize Patrol.  Oh how we love the Prize Patrol!  Of course Bobbie, Rhonda, and I won a wonderful prize last year (see this post).  And I was thrilled when Michaelynn won a Word Play stamp set.  This is one of my absolute favorites out of the new catalog!  (This was Michaelynn before we totally exhausted her.  Stay tuned for that story!)

In the afternoon we did our make-and-take projects.  Doing make-and-takes at convention always makes me wonder if I am making my customers feel as frantic and rushed.  This year we had 6 projects - some of them a bit involved - and 2 hours to do them.  Needless to say I didn't quite get all of them done.  I'll finish them this week and get them posted.

The day didn't end there.  In the evening we had an Awards Night which celebrated the top achievers with Stampin' Up!  Very impressive!  That was followed by entertainment from Charley Jenkins.  He's been an opener for top country music headliners - and if you like country music then you will need to check him out - he was outstanding!  He and his band entered in their tour bus and then put on a great show.

 So, why the midnight oil?  In addition to the "general" swapping Idid at convention, I signed up for a couple of organized swaps.  One of them I didn't have complete before I left home.  It seemed simple enough . . . they were virtually all assembled, except for one minor but time-consuming detail.

See the birds nest?  I cut out every one of those - about 60 - and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals - and they took a LONG time.  I hope the swappers that got this card can appreciate the details and enjoy it!

Stamps:  Nature's Nest; Matchbox Messages; Occasional Quotes (Level 3 hostess)

Inks:  Marina Mist; Soft Suede

Cardstock:  Naturals White; Marina Mist; Soft Suede; Presto Patterns DSP

Other:  Crystal Effects; Stampin' Dimensionals; Stampin' Sponge; Piercing Tool and Mat Pack; callous on my fingers from cutting out all of those stinkin' nests!

Things I love

I love getting up on the first day of convention activities and feel the excitement and anticipation of all of the other demonstrators.  It gives me a rush.

I love swapping.

I love Memento Mall. 

I love these scrapbook totes and matching computer bags they had at Memento Mall.

 I love salt water taffy.  Yum!

I love these little collapsable garbage containers.  I'm going back to get a couple more.  They store flat and will be wonderful for my stamp camps and classes.

I love Christmas ornaments.  I especially love that the proceeds from this year's Stampin' Up! Christmas ornament goes to the Children's Miracle Network.  (Sorry for the fuzzy pictures.  I don't love that.)

I love our convention bags.  Very cool.

I love that my sister bought so much stuff.  She brought other unsuspecting people into this photo so you would think it was not all hers.

I love the Flower Power gathering that Stampin' Up! threw for us the first night.  I love that even Dale Fillmore, the company president, would dress up for the occasion and pose for a picture with me and this other chick.  He said this was the best part of his job.  I said it was also the best part of my job.  He laughed and was genuinely a nice guy and I loved that.

Oh, yeah.  That other chick in the photo above.  That's my sister.  I love my sister.  Most of the time.  This reminds me of when she was in high school and was especially mean to me.

On the road again

We hit the road early Monday morning to make our annual pilgrimage to "stamping mecca" - aka Stampin' Up!'s convention in Salt Lake City.  Bobbie and Rhonda are once again my partners in crime, and this year one of my downline, Michaelynn Richardson, is going to convention for the first time and will share our room. 

And this, folks, is the reason why we choose to drive:

We calculated that in this SUV are approximately 30 suitcases, bags, and boxes.  Most of which are very heavy.  And if we were to check all of this as luggage with one of the carriers in our friendly skies, we conservatively figured it would cost well over a gazillion dollars (OK, maybe more like $500) in baggage fees.  That is money that could best be spent elsewhere - like on stamps.  This is without Michaelynn and all of her stuff . . . she wasn't brave enough to take the drive with us and instead flew to SLC.

Sparkle and her friends were belted in with their own personal snacks (snacks are a must on a road trip, especially if you are a bear!). 

We got to Utah before dark.

(Confession - I made Bobbie stop in the middle of a construction zone to take this picture.  I told her that if a sheriff showed up, she should tell him I was sick.  They never would have understood how important this photo is to a scrapbooker!)  And after a dinner stop, we arrived in our hotel around 11 pm.  A long and exhausting - but fun - day!  

By going a day early, we had today to relax by the pool

and take Michaelynn (who joined us this morning) to get her own bear.  Bobbie and I have a tradition of getting each of our roomies their very own Stamping Bear.  We take them to the local Build-a-Bear Workshop and let them pick out their bear and then stuff, fluff and dress it.  Michaelynn's new BBF (best bear friend) has been named Buttercup.

Tomorrow . . . excitement, surprises, swapping, and stamping!  And Memento Mall!  And then a fun evening is planned with pictures that - trust me - you won't want to miss!

(PS - Note to mom:  So far Bobbie is being nice to me.  Just thought you would want to know.)

 

Made with love . . .

When you live in the Pacific Northwest, they say that summer begins on July 5th.  We had a rainy, soggy "June-uary" and, sure to tradition, the sun finally made an appearance just before dinner on July 5th.  And it has stayed.  And stayed.  And now we are having sweltering, record-breaking heat.

Last summer, when we had a miserable heat spell, I promised myself that I would not complain about the fall rains or the cold winter.  I think I've done a pretty good job keeping that promise.  Each time I've grown weary of the gray skies, I simply think back to how hot and miserable we'd been, and how much I worried about family, neighbors, and pets in the  heat.  But now, well, if it doesn't cool off soon I am just going to have to break out some cheese to have with my whine.

I really wanted to bake some wonderful, fresh-from-scratch cupcakes for my Stampin' Up! customers at my stamp camps earlier today.  I love my customers.  I really love my customers.  They are the very bestest part of my Stampin' Up! business.  In fact, I love them so much that I decided to turn on the oven in spite of the heat and make these:

Mmmmm!  Yellow cupcakes with soft, scrumptious chocolate buttercream frosting.  Homemade and to die for - as clearly confirmed by the cute little tag!

Stamps:  Homemade

Ink:  Regal Rose

Cardstock:  Basic Black; Whisper White

Accessories:  1-3/4" Circle Punch; 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch

Speaking of customers, I received this darling card from Stephanie Dawson last week at my annual Summer STAMPede.  Stephanie remembered that it was our one-year "stampiversary"!  How thoughtful is that?!  Last July, Stephanie found my contact information through my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website and she started coming to my events and joined one of my stamp clubs soon after.  She is soooo sweet and talented - and I have loved getting to know her over this last year. 

Isn't this card da bomb?  I just love it!  You can see some of Stephanie's creations on her blog at http://dawsondesigns.wordpress.com/.  Thanks so much, Stephanie!

I'm crazy busy getting ready for Stampin' Up!'s convention the week after next.  I'm up to my eyeballs in swaps and can't wait to show them to you shortly!  Stay tuned for those and for my daily reports from stamping mecca!

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .

No, it's not Christmas.  But it is Happy New Year for Stampin' Up!  The new 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog has now been released (click on link on left sidebar to view it) and there are so many exciting new products and stamps!  I've got new catalogs on hand and if you would like a new catalog, just give me a shout out (or if you have another demonstrator you use, be sure to contact them). 

I've been having fun making samples and thought I'd share a couple of my recent swaps with you.

Isn't this just gojus?  How do you like the embossed background?  That's the new Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (item 120175, $7.95).  It turns every project into a masterpiece.  The beautiful hydrangea stamp comes from Because I Care, a new Level 1 hostess set.  If you love it, then just contact me and let me help you earn this set for FREE!  It's very easy!

The scallop rectangle was created using the Scallop Rectangle Clearlit (item #118872, $7.50).  Because this die is clear, you can stamp first and then see through the clearlit to properly position your image. 
 

Because I Care Card: 

Stamps:  Because I Care (Level 1 Hostess Set)

Ink:  Marina Mist

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Marina Mist

Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Scallop Rectangle Clearlit, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals 

I was so excited when we were told that some of the old In Colors would be returning, especially Pink Pirouette which was one of my favs!  

This card uses Artistic Etchings which has several really cool images besides those seen here - a crown, an Eiffel Tower, and  more!   

Amour Card: 

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Medallion

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Curly Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals 

I've got a quiet stamping weekend planned and am looking forward to making swaps for convention and getting ready for my stamp camp next Friday.  I've expedited my first order from the new catalog so that we'll be able to use some of the really cool new stuff right away!