In Color 2011-2012 and a wonderful friend

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I became a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for a lot of reasons.  One of the best reasons was a woman who has become a wonderful friend – Crystal Kondo.  She came by just before my Open House and brought gifts – she always brings gifts.  This time she brought me 5 cards made with the 5 In Colors for 2011-2012, each paired with Crumb Cake card stock, and each made with the Hostess stamp set Simply Soft:

Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder

Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder

Crumb Cake and Pool Party

Crumb Cake and Pool Party

Crumb Cake and Lucky Limeade

Crumb Cake and Lucky Limeade

Crumb Cake and Island Indigo

Crumb Cake and Island Indigo

 

Crumb Cake and Calypso Coral

Crumb Cake and Calypso Coral

I just LOVE that girl.  And oh my goodness, does she make me laugh!  But that’s another story for another day.

Put a little ink in your day

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Cheryl participated in a 3×3 card swap at Convention.  I’ve always liked that gift card size (and yes, we DO have envelopes – $7.50 for 40 Whisper White envelopes, #107309) but the quality of her swaps was mind boggling!  How could you get so much bang for the buck in such a tiny format?  I decided to put a little effort into finding out:

BFF It's Your Day 3x3

  • BFF and It’s Your Day stamp sets
  • Whisper White card stock
  • Riding Hood Red and Pear Pizazz Classic Ink Pads
  • Heart to Heart punch
  • Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon
  • Rhinestone Jewels
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dots

The heart in the BFF set isn’t the exact shape of the hearts in the punch, but the middle-sized punch shape fits in the stamped image.  Everyone knows punching is preferable to hand cutting!!  And that little bit of ribbon is just folded in half with a mini glue dot sandwiched in the middle, and then stuck onto the card with another MGD (ha, and no, I was NOT drinking beer!)  The Stampin’ Dimensional does double duty; it gives the heart a little lift, and it creates a little space for the ribbon.

Making this card gave my heart a little lift too.  How about putting a little ink in your day today?

Just right

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I love over-the-top, More Is More cards, but there’s something to be said for simplicity:

Easy Events in Calypso Coral

  • Easy Events Stamp set
  • Very Vanilla and Pear Pizazz card stock
  • In Color Designer Series Patterns Paper
  • Chocolate Chip Classic ink pad
  • Pear Pizazz and Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Big Shot and Framed Tulips Textured Embossing Folder
  • Rhinestone Jewels
  • Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots ribbon

Easy Events was one of the many (7) free stamp sets I brought home from Convention.  I have to be completely honest – when I read the announcement that it was one of the Convention sets I thought I wouldn’t use it.  It seemed too simplistic, too (dare I say it??) beginner.   I know.  Stampin’ Snobbery at its worst.

I have reformed my thinking.

I really like the images in this set, and the sentiments – included with the images for quick and easy stampin’ – are just right, Goldilocks.  Not too silly, not too sweet, not too stuffy, but just right.  Add a little bit of bling, a little bit of Big Shot Embossin’, and you have a card that is…well, I think it’s just right!

 

Catching my breath

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I’m home, and as much as I loved Every Last Minute of convention, I am very glad to be home.  I was so seriously sleep deprived in Salt Lake!  Between the 4 hour time difference, our breakneck pace every day, and my inability to quiet the chaos in my head at bedtime I just didn’t get enough sleep.  Sunday night I dropped gratefully into bed just after 10pm and slept blissfully through until 7am Monday.

But I would do it again in a heartbeat.

It’s the relationships.  Yes, we saw loads of new products, fabulous displays, and great project ideas.  Yes, the training was fantastic – I’m always so impressed at how Stampin’ Up! creates classes that provide insight to such a broad spectrum of demonstrators, from those just beginning to those who have been running a full-time business for years.

It’s the people that make Convention so spectacular.  I loved meeting people face to face that I’d only corresponded with by email, connecting (after about 47 text messages across the Opening Party) with friends I’d made through blogging, running into friends from past conventions and sharing the experience with the Maui Girls that travelled together to Salt Lake.  (Blue Frosting:  Need I say more?)  Stampin’ Up! is an exceptional company with a focus on personal values as well as quality in product, and when you assemble a group of people who are associated with Stampin’ Up! you have an exceptional group.

Would you like to see just a few photos from the Product Garden?

Stampin' Up! Garden Chairs

This was one of my favorite vignettes.  Stampin’ Up! does a fabulous job of showcasing product, and our theme this year was Grow so the displays had a garden theme.  I love the butterflies (Decor Elements, of course) on the chairs.

Stampin' Up! Flirtatious Product Garden

The Flirtatious product display was so beautiful and feminine.  Take a close look at those big fanned flowers, because they were made with a FANTASTIC new product being introduced in the Holiday Mini catalog on September 1.  Get ready to sell your old scoring tool, because Simply Scored is the Rolls Royce of tools and it is priced at only $29.95.  We made flowers like this and it was a snap!

Stampin' Up! Berry Blossoms Product Garden

It’s hard to take in all of the detail here, but my favorite is the flower pots covered with Designer Series Paper.  The creative team at Stampin’ Up! blew our socks off!

One final photo…a very proud moment for me.  I walked across the stage with a group of women who have inspired and mentored me this past year.  We were all recognized for our achievements in sharing the business opportunity with others, and it was one of my most memorable events of convention:Stampin' Up! Recognition March for Recruiting

Would you like to join me at convention next year?  I’d love to tell you more.  Anyone can be a Maui Stamper, and right now there’s a fabulous $99 opportunity available through Stampin’ Up!  Email me, leave a comment, or shine the secret symbol up in the sky and I’ll get in my Stampermobile and be there in a flash!

 

A swap in Blue and Green

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Swap number two:  SURPRISE!  Blue and Green!  (I KNOW!!)

Florets 2011 swap

  • Fancy Florets and Four Frames stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Pool Party and Island Indigo Card stock
  • Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade Classic ink pads
  • Pool Party Stampin’ Write marker
  • Pear Pizazz Seam binding and Linen Thread
  • Boho Blossom, Decorative Label and Bitty Bits punches

The first time I used this design and color collage , I trimmed the edge.  It was a Very Long Edge.  The more I thought about doing that 65 times, the more I thought I needed another design.  There was still quite a bit of work involved in masking all these panels in order to get the Designer Series Paper effect, but it was much easier than hand trimming all of those edges.  A girl has to draw the line somewhere.

Don’t you love that e.e.cummings quote?

A note to the WOW swappers:  if you received one of these cards and it didn’t look exactly like this, please accept my heartfelt apologies.  I ran out of Pear Pizazz Seam Binding and was scrambling for a substitute.  (There were 2 rolls of Pear Pizazz seam binding with my name on them on a Fedex truck someplace in Honolulu; the nerve of Fedex.  They could have gotten it to me on Friday if they had REALLY tried.)  Some cards got 1/4 inch Old Olive grosgrain, and other had the retired 3/8 inch Old Olive taffeta.  To make the card current, the Designer Label should lift off pretty easily and you can remove the old ribbon and add in the new.

Heading home

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I’m heading back home from Convention today, and it’s time I shared my swaps.  I made two different cards for a WOW swap and this is the first of the two:

Christmas Pennant Tree Swap 2011

  • Pennant Parade and Snow Swirled stamp set
  • Whisper White, Pear Pizazz and Cherry Cobbler card stock
  • Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
  • Petite Pennants Builder punch; Medium Jewelry tag punch
  • Early Espresso Baker’s twine; Cherry Cobbler seam binding
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder
  • Rhinestone jewels

I was initially afraid this card didn’t qualify as a WOW swap, but two things changed my mind.  The first was the reaction I got from a group of demos (OK, they’re my friends and of course they’re biased) and the second was how many steps it took to make 65 of these!  I love detail, and I’m not willing to compromise once I’ve found a design I love, so I stamped and punched, and assembled and tied little knots, and ran cardstock through the Big Shot, and layered and embellished until I was cross-eyed.  I confess that I don’t enjoy production in quantity, but once a year for convention I make an exception because of the wonderful swaps I bring home in exchange.

My card as I swapped it used the Sassy Sparkles wheel.  I know it seems a little early to think of Christmas (and it gives me a little feeling of panic to realize we’re halfway through JULY) but crafters think ahead.  With the amount of work this card took, I have a funny feeling it won’t make it into the final voting round for my family card this year!  Back to the drawing board…and the year is still young.

 

And now for something completely different…

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How about a little Vintage Style?

Creative Elements Cherry Cobbler

  • Creative Elements and My Friend stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake card stock
  • First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper
  • Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
  • Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Love this First Edition paper!  Fun and easy to work with – it’s very smooth and light-weight and takes to tearing and crumpling quite well.  It’s become something of a “go-to” paper in my stash because it blends in with everything…sort of the Little Black Dress of papercrafting.  I just have to remember to pair it with Very Vanilla instead of Whisper White.  You would think that would be obvious.

I tweaked this card a little bit and am taking a few to Salt Lake City for convention to swap.  Convention will be a fresh experience for me this year as I’m sharing it with some of the Maui Stampers team.  The first time I attended, I roomed with a wonderful Canadian demonstrator (Hi Wendy!) that I met through another Canadian demonstrator who came to one of my classes when she was on Maui (Hi Jane!)  I felt like an honorary Canadian that week, and they showed a rookie the ropes of Convention.  Last year Robbie and I took our 60’s gig on the road and had a blast, and we came back and did our best to motivate (is jealousy a motivator??) our teammates to join us.  I’m looking forward to sharing this experience, and to meeting new friends and re-connecting with others.

 

 

and you’re not here at Convention because…

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If you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator you NEED to be at Convention.  The energy is incredible, the displays are eye-popping, the classes are very informative, the relationships are affirming, and we are raking in the FREE STUFF!!  Plan on being here next year!

I’m just sayin’…

I won prize patrol yesterday (YES!!) and Cheryl won today:

Cheryl won prize patrol!

Isn’t that a fabulous jacket?  We convinced her to get it – the rest of us couldn’t wear that color EVER but she looks great!

We have seen some fabulous projects, including all the new Holiday Mini product available starting September 1.  If you love Halloween, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even all three, this mini will knock your socks off.  I like Halloween well enough, but I could become a super-Halloween-fan like Robbie with enough projects like this:

Pick Your Poison

If I tried to tell you about all of the wonderful experiences I had today with the most caring, funny, talented, creative, incredible Stampin’ Up! demonstrators you have ever met I would be here until tomorrow, and I’m much too tired tonight for that.  Just trust me when I say these experiences have touched me in ways I couldn’t imagine.  If you’re not here because you’re not a demonstrator, maybe it’s time you gave it serious thought.  It’s only $99 this month – visit my Online Store for details.

One last photo – I got an award for recruiting this year – my first Stampin’ Up! award.  I was so proud to be recognized on stage, and I was especially proud to be able to walk across with Janet Wakeland, who has mentored me this past year:

Stampin' Up! Convention 2011

Finding the right words

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Sympathy cards are a challenge for me.  It’s hard to get just the right balance, much less put into words those feelings that are really wordless.  There have been a couple of difficult losses in our community recently, and each called for something unique.  I made this card for a family who lost a brilliant, compassionate, loving husband and father after a long battle with leukemia:

Creative Elements Sympathy

  • Teeny Tiny Wishes and Creative Elements stamp sets
  • River Rock, Soft Suede, Naturals Ivory and Calypso Coral card stock
  • Paisley Prints Designer Series Paper
  • Soft Suede and Calypso Coral Classic ink pads
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • 1 1/4 inch square punch

I chose these bold colors to convey life and vibrancy.  I’ve experienced my share of loss, and in for me it’s the emotion, not the words that convey sympathy.  When you can share in person, you can say so much with touch – a hug, a squeeze of the hand – and the wordless communication in your eyes.  I won’t be able to see my friends in person, and I hope this small token of my love brings some comfort to them.

Trend watch

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Have you noticed a lot of pennants lately?  Me too…

Wish Big Pennants So Saffron

  • Pennant Parade and Word Play stamp sets
  • Whisper White, So Saffron, Garden Green and Pool Party card stock
  • Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper
  • Garden Green, So Saffron and Pool Party Classic ink pads
  • Petite Pennants Builder and Scallop Edge punches
  • Silver brads
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Truth?  Those brads were supposed to be the new silver mini brads, but my order didn’t arrive in time and OH BY THE WAY I AM IN SALT LAKE CITY!!!

And why would I be in Salt Lake City, you ask?  Well, just in case you’ve been out of the country for an extended period of time…

it’s the Stampin’ Up! Annual Convention!!

Nothin’ in the world like it…throngs of demonstrators gathering to learn and share (and eat a lot of chocolate, truth be told) and have a whole lotta fun.  It has become my annual treat to myself – a chance to energize my business, reconnect with old friends and make some new ones, and feel like a kid again.  If you’d like to be here next year, check out that little button at the top of the right hand side bar and learn about the $99 Demonstrator kit available only for the month of July.