Tag Archives: Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012

Scrappin’ Inspiration

Posted on by
Reply

I am…inspired to scrap!  Convention is a great place for new ideas and I saw TONS of great scrapbook pages.

One of the projects on my List (admit it, you have one too) is a family history scrapbook.  I loved the combintation of sepia and pink to create this vintage but feminine page.

This has a completely different feeling, but it still has a family archive/vintage feeling.  The buttons holding the banner are a perfect touch.

This is so well done for a baby – sweet but not too sweet!  Easy to adapt to any age – and look at those birds on the wire!  Ah, birds…

I’ve never used this layout – 2/3 photo, 1/3 embellishment and journaling – but it’s bold without having to rely on graphics.  This one is very soft despite the strong block layout.

Inspired to scrap?  I am!

 

Amazing artists

Posted on by
3

Hit the floor running this morning – good way to work in some WW Activity Points, I guess!  So much to do in so many different areas of life.  I guess that’s part of the definition of Woman.

My suitcase is unpacked although most of the Stampin’ Goodness is in heaps on the counters in my studio.  Captain Stupidhead (aka the cat) has wasted no time in telling me how horribly mistreated he was while I was gone, how no one loves him the way that I do, and that the only thing that will make it better will be for me to sit and hold him on my lap and pet him until tomorrow.  Oh well, Pookie, you’ll get over it – I don’t have that kind of time!  I did take him upstairs when I went to bed around 9:30 (BLISS = your OWN bed).  Mr Maui Stamper put Pookie out before he came to bed as the Captain can’t seem to sleep past about 3:30am.  Most annoying.

But you’re not here to hear about the Captain, you want to see Stampin’!  I don’t know if I’ll get organized enough this week to share photos that flow together or tell a story or anything, but I have a few I think you’ll like.  Every year I struggle with what photos to take.  If my photos contain too many objects I never go back and look at them because they are overwhelming.  If I take one project at a time it takes ETERNITY!!  I tried to find a happy medium and will start by showing some of the things that really caught my eye.  I’m not saying I would actually make some of these, just that I admire the artistry and craftsmanship.

Amazing, isn’t it?  I wish there was enough room on the Stampin’ Up! convention display boards to acknowledge each artisti individually.  This was one of those projects that caused me to just stand there and stare.  Here’s a little more detail:

There is a name for this type of paper art but it escapes me – if you know it I would be grateful for your comment. (Ed:  it’s called Iris Fold.  Thank you Kay and Sharri!) If you are the artist or know who she (maybe even he?) is, I would love to give you credit here too!

4 September 2013:  Edited to add…

The artist is Julie Olivier, and her blog is www.madewithpaper.wordpress.com  Go visit her and tell her how fabulous she is!

One more close-up:

Isn’t the detail on this awesome???

Now for a few other 3-D items that were grouped together and also fit into the “awesome” catagory:

I loved this paper topiary.  I made one quite a while ago out of felt but this one has a completely different feeling.  There are so many layers, and the subtle colors give this depth and a lush feeling.  I know it would be a ton of work but I feel an irresistable urge to make one myself.  Stay tuned…

Here’s a “Two-fer” – and I think they’re both beautiful and romantic!  All those pearls…and the glitter on the butterfly.  I really, really, really love Mr Maui Stamper but I wish he didn’t have such a strong dislike of glitter.

Another take on the topiary concept..and seriously, can you believe this artist inked EVERY SINGLE BLOOMIN’ Boho Flower???  At least I think they’re Bohos.  Oh my goodness.  The resemblance to real life Lilacs is amazing, but WOW.

Enough for now, got a Maui Stampers team meeting tomorrow night and we have lots to talk about!!

Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012: It’s a wrap

Posted on by
Reply

My bags are packed, I’m ready to go…

And I have to tell you that having my bags packed – within weight limits – is an absolute miracle.  I’m taking home 7 new stamp sets, oodles of completed projects, loads of swaps, and heaps of Memento Mall swag.  There also might be a little bit of shopping in my suitcase that is unrelated to Stampin’ Up! (just maybe!)

The classes today were excellent.  I know there are people who come to convention and spend most of their time socializing, networking, (shopping, eating) and doing things besides the classes – but I LOVE the classes.  I am inspired, I am challenged, I am learning new things!

Our final session was memorable for so many reasons.  Dale Hampshire, the manager for the Candian business, showed off some pretty impressive dancing as he entered the stage to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Stampin’ Up! in Canada.  Carrie Cudney showed off some pretty impressive bagpiping (with her “baby” brother) as she entered the stage to demonstrate all sorts of hand-crafted flowers.  Shelli and her daughter Sara revealed the destination for the Grand Vacation 2014 in a hilarious skit with CEO Rich Jutkins.  The location?   A Western Carribbean cruise on the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas.

 

Then Shelli – well, Shelli did what she does best.  She talked about the company and the people – staff and demonstrators – that make Stampin’ Up! what it is. Shelli also gave away stamps – our 2012-2013 Ronald McDonald House benefit set, Moving Forward, as well as the new hostess set for the Holiday Mini catalog, Mixed Medley.  We also earned a fabulous demonstrator-only set, and when you add all of those together with our Make-and-Take sets, it was some pretty impressive loot!


I apologize for the quality of these photos – they’re from my phone, which doesn’t give the best results in the darkened environment of Main Stage.

Time for bed – shoot, I’m always saying that – but it’s an early call in the morning and home to Maui and my boys.

 

 

Look what My Digital Studio can do!!

Posted on by
Reply

Just saw this card and had to take pix!! MDS and the Storytime Suite!! Rock my socks!!

20120721-134723.jpg

20120721-134730.jpg

Convention 2012: Final day

Posted on by
1

Time has flown by! Can’t believe we’re at the end – waiting for the General Closing Session. Great classes today – learned so much from Carrie Cudney in I am Open for Business, got great inspiration in Donna Griffith’s I am Savvy (super projects by Dawn, Meg and Laura) and was so inspired by Pam Morgan in I am Making Money (an yes, I’d you’re wondering, I AM making money!!).

We got our exclusive convention stamp set and had a few minutes for some more project pix. Took a triple espresso to get me going this morning! The barista at Toasters looked worried for me but I assured him I would be ok.

20120721-133757.jpg

20120721-133827.jpg

20120721-133842.jpg
Demos, check in for the live feed at 10am HST!! Can’t wait to hear the big announcements and see what else Shelli and the team have for us!

20120721-134050.jpg

Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012: Day 3

Posted on by
2

Fantastic day – but oh, my feet!

Crystal and I stayed up past 2am last night – that’s only 10pm Hawaii time so it was ok – planning and comparing notes and laughing at the dumbest things.  It was a little grim getting up this morning but we made it to the Opening Session this morning with time to spare.  Found seats with our new friends Tara and Shannon:

Crystal, Anne, Tara and Shannon

The always charming, always stylish Shannon West shared Halloween projects from the new Holiday Mini (live to customers on August 1st!) and she did it in Shannon West Style:

Shannon West sharing Halloween projects and dressed for Trick or Treat!

Sorry, this is shot from the video screen – don’t you LOVE her??

Before she left the stage – and I’ll be sharing some photos of her projects another post – she shared a sneak peak bonus available to new Stampin’ Up! demonstrators in August.  Buy the completely customizable $99 demonstrator kit, get a discount on all your Stampin’ Supplies, and get a kit with everything you need to make this project:

Everything you need to create this project – including the tray – when you buy the completely customizeable demonstrator kit in August! Get your Stampin’ supplies at a discount – come stamp with me!

We had great morning classes – the presentations by the Stampin’ Up! home office have been wonderful.  Brian Pilling did a great job sharing leadership skills in “I am a Leader” and had us all cracking up with his examples of bad leadership style (“I am in charge.  I can do what I want because I learned it.”)

From Brian’s class we went to Karen Hauley’s “I am earning an Incentive Trip” panel.  We were ALL EARS as we listened to three successful demonstrators share their tips – but before they started, Karen shared her personal “I am” story.  She  told us of getting that dreaded telephone call from her doctor and showed us her new favorite tee “Of course they’re FAKE; my real ones tried to KILL me”!  A sense of humor is essential in life, but as Karen told us, she’s a survivor!

We took a break for lunch and spent some time looking at the AMAZING project samples.

Stampers to the right of me, cards and projects to the left of me…as far as the eye can see!

I have a lot of project photos and will do my best to share as many as possible over the next few days!

After lunch it was back to Shannon West – the QUEEN of FUN.  Who else could run the I am having FUN class?  She had us dancing in the aisles, sharing what was on our nightstands (talk about an ice breaker!) and laughing at her Back-Street-Boys-Groupie stories.  Her message was a simple and to the point – keep it fun!

Our final session of the day was Main Stage presentations.  The highlight was Shelli’s stamping presentation, and everyone’s favorite project was her gorgeous altered book.  Because of the personal nature of the book she said she wouldn’t display it in the Demonstrator Resource Center, so I took photos from the video screens.  It’s similar to a Smash Book, if you’re familiar with that concept, but she designed it as a creative journal:

This is the cover – complete with a tulle rosette (tulle ribbon coming in that Holiday Mini!) She covered an old book in gesso and then inked, spritzed, and stamped it to get that shabby chic look.  This photo doesn’t do it justice.

Shelli shared a few of her interior pages with us – and I’m telling you, she moves her hands around a LOT when she is showing a project!  I think 75% of my photos have one of her hands blurring through the middle.

She took her photo from our Convention workbook (a masterpiece in and of itself) and added it to a page.  Her personal style is as distinct as she is, and it’s always fun to see what her projects look like!

Try as I might, I couldn’t get a decent photo of this page – she was so exited about it her hands were flying!  She cut out the largest heart framelit and used it to mask the right hand page, then spritzed like made to get this look.  I loved how she took advantage of the written page and how she allowed the elements to layer – the book was very chunky.

There’s so much more to share – I would use the word SATURATED right now to describe how I feel.  I’ll leave you with a few final thoughts:

  • Stampin’ Up! is an amazing company that puts service to both demonstrators and customers as a top priority
  • Our experience at convention is colored in every way, shape and form by the people and relationships we encounter all day and well into the night – these are lifetime friends
  • There is more creativity in this Convention Center than I have ever seen in one place at one time
  • Shannon West has it right – We ARE fun!

Tomorrow is the last day – we are going to bed before 2am tonight!

Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012 Day 2 Wrap-up

Posted on by
6

Every once in a while my tendency for exuberance pays off:

My brand new, exclusive, Limited Edition MDS2 tee!

We had great sessions today – I was inspired by Tami White in “I Am…Doing Business My Way” with Bonnie Thurber from the Stampin’ Up! head office.  Crystal and I found a little time to browse some of the displays and see some new projects, and this afternoon we participated in an enormous swap.  Here’s the card I brought to the dance:

WOW Swap Summer Silhouette Stampin Up Convention 2012

I used the Summer Silhouette set which is quickly becoming my favorite – and would you look at how all of the different elements coordinate?  That’s why I am such a Stampin’ Up! fan!  I have seen so many gorgeous cards and project ideas in my first 24 hours – it will be a busy fall!

Today at the morning session the company recognized demonstrators celebrating 5, 10, 15 and 20 years.  I celebrated 5 years last August and this was my chance to walk across the stage.  I was a little naughty, though, because the two women in front of me needed a little extra time down the steps and I kinda photo-bombed their picture:

Photobomb!

Loved my own moment in the spotlight – can you tell?

Celebrating 5 years at Stampin’ Up!

Our keynote speaker this morning was Jason Ryan Dorsey from the Center for Generational Kinetics.  He got us all thinking about the differences between Gen X, Gen Y and the Boomers – who each group is and why they are that way.  What an insightful and entertaining preesntation!  His observations were spot on as Crystal and I represent Gen Y and the Boomers respectively – and there was a lot of laughter in the General Session as he told us some rather painful truths!  I’m looking at my peers, friends, family and acquaintances in a whole new way.

Holly Linford from Stampin’ Up! did a great presentation on the enhancements coming August 1st to MDS2 for our final session at Convention this afternoon.  This is digital scrapbooking at a brand new level!

There’s so much more to share – new merchandise at Memento Mall, MDS2, projects and friends old and new (and no, this is not a Gen Y/Boomer thing!!)  I want to leave you with one last thing.  This is how we started our morning, and when you listen to this I think it gives you a pretty good idea of the kind of fun that Stampin’ Up! brings to the table.

Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012: Swap Update

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve got a couple of quick swap pix to share this morning – should have more to share tonight!

 

Swapping today on the convention floor and in elevators, hallways, classrooms, restaurant waiting lines, any kind of line, really!

 

Cased myself – LOVE this Happy Hour stamp set – you’ll be seeing it again!
Hope on over to Crystal’s blog for a peek at some of her swaps!

Stampin’ Up! Convention 2012: Wednesday

Posted on by
2

WOW.

I’ve been here before, but every time it’s new, exciting, inspiring and FUN.  This year is no different – Crystal and I arrived Tuesday morning on the red eye from Maui.  We were hoping for a nap at our hotel but there wasn’t a room available, so we did what any self-respecting female would do:  We headed over to the new City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake City for some retail therapy.  Names have been changed to protect the innocent, but I guarantee you a good time was had by all.  Today was different.  Today was Stampin’ Up! ALL DAY!

How about some photos??  Be kind, please don’t copy and paste as I don’t have my watermark software on my new laptop yet.  You are welcome to link to my blog from yours!

Crystal at the counter full of new stamp sets checking into her very FIRST convention after 7 years as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!!! Is she happy or what??

Our new convention bag – and our new convention stamp sets for our Make and Take projects!

The swapping was fast and furious! We were in line for our awards 🙂

After 7 years as a demonstrator, Crystal finally got her “My First Convention” pin!!

Crystal in Memento Mall with a special new toy – I got one too – but you’l have to wait to see it!

One of the display boards at Memento Mall – so many cute things to choose from!!

Our Make-and-Take table all ready for us – it’s so much fun to be the ones who get to sit and play and let someone else do all the planning and preparation!!

Look how nicely our Make and Take table was set up!

All I can say is you need to be here. There’s a lot of time between now and Convention 2013 to prepare, plan and save!! And 2013 will be the 25th Anniversary Convention so you KNOW it’s gonna be awesome!

There are two things in Salt Lake that create adjustment “issues” for me.  One is the very dry air, which makes my hair fly around every which way like a posessed demon.  The second is the fact that we are much farther north of the equator than we are at home, and the sun doesn’t go down until nearly 9pm.  This has caused us to underestimate the time in the afternoon and evening by laughable amounts, and when you are running on no sleep, lots of caffeine and a serious case of the giggles, it’s possible that people might look at you and wonder if you weren’t quite all right.  Not that this happened to Crystal and I, of course.

Anyway, by the time we ate dinner and got into our room last night it was very late.  We got settled and hit the sheets, and despite remaining a bit short on sleep we were up and running first thing this morning to get our new convention bags and hit Memento Mall.  Good stuff, my friends, good stuff!  We spent the afternoon making our Make-and-Takes (Stampin’ Up! has AWESOME projects every year, and this one is no exception).  By 5pm we had socialized and bit and were starving, so we headed out for a bite to eat…but it was quick, because at 7pm we were back for more serious crafting!  That project isn’t completely assembled because it has to get home on the plane first – I’ll show you next week.