Overdue Birthday Gift

A friend of mine had a birthday back in September, every time we got together, I didn't have her birthday gift with me.....Finally, I remembered it.   She loves this gum and they have discontinued it and she hasn't been able to find it ...WHY, cause I bought up all the stores had on the shelves.  hehehe....

I used some Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo colors (which matches the gum packaging)
and the Great Friend and On you Birthday stamp sets and some Pearl jewels....  
 
ENJOY! 

Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale A Bration Goodies have arrived!!!

Mr UPS came by today and brought some goodies from the Occasions Mini and Sale a Bration catalogs.   There are punches, stamps, embossing folders, new BS dies, buttons, ribbons...Oh SO many new things.   I had to restrain myself not to buy it all!!   BUT, I will quote a friend of mine....I want it ALL and I want it now!!!

The mini catalogs and Sale a bration catalogs are in the mail.   If you haven't received yours, let me know and I will get one to you.   

Stamp Clubs start up in just a couple of weeks and I have a few open spots...want to know more???  Leave me a comment here or contact me for all the details.

Want to Get some of these Goodies for FREE, have a party at your house (or mine) and earn some FREE stamps and accessories.    Contact me to schedule your party soon!!  Sale a Bration is a GREAT time to have a party, more FREEBIES for hostesses and customers (and DEMOS too!!!)

A Quick and Easy Christmas card

This card was super easy and quick to make....The card base is Cherry Cobbler 4 1/4 x 11, folded, whisper white - 4 x 5 1/4 and I put it thru the Big Shot using the polka dots embossing folder.   The stamped Image is from Perfect Punches #120516...This set is made up of 6 different greetings in a different punch shape.  We received this set FREE for attending Convention this year.   The stamped image and the scalloped circle layer behind it were made using scraps of cardstock.  I couldn't decide on a ribbon to use, so I dyed the white organza ribbon using a sponge dauber, cherry cobbler ink pad and rubber gloves!!!   It is really easy to dye the ribbon, just a little messy....

ENJOY!

Grandsons Stampin'

Here are some pictures of my grandsons stamping.    They came by after my Mystery Hostess party and wanted to stamp....They were stamping away....then I noticed they were just taking the cardstock for the projects I had and in 2 days there were going to be 5 more people to make those projects.   Oh well, they had a good time.

Here Jacob is showing me the stamp he is using.

And here is Colin, stamping away....They had a great time and I have some artwork to share on my refrigerator.

Some Inspiration

It has been a while and I want to start giving things everyday during the month of December.   SO for December 1st, here are a few inspirations for your Christmas cards...

I have tried to turn the picture, but being computer/photo editing challenged, I cannot get it turned.   This is a pouch of tags most made from the Tags til Christmas stamp set which you can get along with the decorative label punch for an amazing deal....Just one of the bundles you can get until Dec 16th.    And most of these tags I used scraps of cardstock.....You know, all those pieces you have left over after a project that you can't throw away...

Two weeks ago, I had a craft day at my house.....Here is a picture of some of the cards we all were able to get done.

We were able to make more than the one card of each one of these.   A few birthday cards, some Christmas cards and some backgrounds too.

Enjoy!!!

My grandson's birthday card

Back on Sept 26 was my grandson, Colin's 7th birthday.   I made him a card (OF COURSE!!) and never took a picture of it.   Well, tonight I called my daughter and asked her to take a pic of it and send it to me so that I could forward it onto my blog readers.  She did and here it is:
 

The background DSP.....hehehe About 5 or 6 years ago (yes I save everything!) my computer at work started printed all these papers with characters, all different letters and symbols, over and over...SO, I pulled that paper out and matted onto Pacific point card and black mat.  I stamped the robot from Lots of Bots on Whisper white cardstock and colored him with aquapainters and blue and yellow inks.  I added some dazzling diamonds to the balloon - just a little.  Tied a knot with some retired pacific point ribbon

Owls, Owls and more Owls

Here are some bookmarks that I have been making for our Women's Retreat at Church.....There were 4 of us that started covering the composition books with DSP and cutting these cute bookmarks with the Big Shot and the new Owl punch....we finished the composition books and completed 40 bookmarks.    It took me 2 weeks to finish the bookmarks...why, because I kept looking at the box of supplies, but never opening it....Finally, I opened the box on Thursday evening and began punching, punching and more punching....They are all finished..85 of them!!!

Aren't they Cute???

My Swap from Regionals

I thought I sent this post a couple of weeks ago, but found out that I never finalized the post.   SORRY about that.   I am really struggling with getting organized with my posting.   I know I will get better...
This was my swap from the Baltimore Regionals from last month.  ...How come I forget to keep one for myself... I will try and make another one to share without the glare!   Regionals were AWESOME! Regionals are mini conventions held for Stampin' Up! demonstrators all over the country and this time it was right here in Baltimore! There is stamping, swapping, sharing, demonstrations, make and takes, presentations, door prizes and of course a free stamp set...the set we received free is the - Day of Gratitude from the Holiday mini....We used it to make a bunch of cards for our make and takes....

ENJOY!

Chrstimas Card #4 from SAS

This card was CASEd from Cindy Fodor.  

This card uses Cherry Cobbler for the card base.   I placed the widest side of card in the Petals a Plenty embossing folder, halfway, up to the arrow on the embossing folder.   Then I ran it thru the Big Shot and it embosses so nicely....If it should be crooked ( like mine), don't worry, the ribbon and stamped image covers it......I used a white gel pen to dot the centers of the embossed petals, using a light touch so that it doesn't look stark white, more vanilla to match the color theme.   I stamped the poinsettia branch from the Bells and Boughs stamp set from the Holiday mini, using crumb cake ink.   For the Greeting "Peace on Earth" from the set, Four the Holidays, I used a piece of a sponge and cherry cobbler refill to ink the stamp and stamped over the poinsettia branch and sprinkled clear embossing powder on top, Heat set and your done.   Just assemble.

Christmas Card #3 from SAS

Here is the 3rd card from my SAS, also CASEd from Ronda

This card is on its side, because I forgot to change the direction when I inserted it....BUT maybe that is a good thing.    The card is very vanilla, then a layer of Riding Hood Red.   On a smaller piece of very vanilla, I stamped the holly sprig from the stamp set, Peaceful Season from the Holiday Mini catalog that is a Hostess Level 2 stamp set  and the Merry Christmas from, the stamp set, Bells and Boughs, also from the Holiday mini catalog.    I inked the holly sprig using always artichoke ink pad, the using a Q-tip, I removed the color from the berries, then using the Riding Hood Red marker, colored directly onto the stamp, gave the stamp a good "huff" and stamped the image on the very vanilla panel.  I stamped the Greeting in Riding Hood Red ink.  The tricky part of this card is the punched layer of crumb cake....I punched both sides with the scallop trim border punch.   I put the victorian crochet ribbon thru the punched holes and then tied a knot.  In addition, I added some of this wonderful artichoke seam binding, found on pg 21 of the Holiday Mini.  This is not like the seam binding you use for sewing....It is kind of a cross between silk ribbon and twill...oh so nice..  The cost is great too.   You get 10 yards for $6.95, now add on shipping and tax, it comes to $8.11.   That is 81 cents a yard and you don't have to drive around to a few stores to find something that goes with the cardstock, BECAUSE!!!  all of Stampin' Up!'s ribbons match their cardstock and their inks and their markers, oh and the pastels and don't let me forget watercolor crayons too.  

Any questions about this card or anything Stampin', just ask me......

Christmas Card #2 from SAS

Here is the 2nd card made at my SAS

This one was also CASEd from Ronda Wade.   The card is Very Vanilla with a layer of Cherry Cobbler....Don't you just LOVE that new color.....Baja breeze better watch out!  
I punched out 1 3/8" squares from Jolly Holiday designer series paper and embossed with the dots embossing folder, Old olive cardstock.  Alternating the squares on each row.   Again, using the victorian crochet ribbon and the "Joy at Christmas" from the Perfect punches stamp set from the BIG catalog and stamped in cherry cobbler and punched out with the scallop circle punch...Don't FORGET....always stamp before you punch out...It is so much easier that way.   DONE!!  super simple card, but beautiful


ENJOY!

CHALLENGE!!!!

Good Evening Readers.....I am putting out a challenge to all the readers of this blog..   Make a hand stamped card - fall theme and send it to me.   I will have a non stamper choose the winner and the winner will get to pick a goodie from my "OOPS" Basket....These items are stamp sets or accessories that were ordered and never used.  Some are new and current, other items are retired.    The winning entry will be featured on this blog and all the cards entered will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House - Baltimore.   There are no rules...just handmade by you and a fall theme.  Do not sign the inside of the cards since they will be used by the guests at RMDH.   I will supply the envelopes for the cards.

Challenge deadline:   Nov15th.    Mail challenge entries to:  Carol Valentine, 4519 Salem Bottom Rd, Westminster, MD 21157.

Here are some of the guests at Ronald McDonald House - Baltimore this past summer....They told me they were going home to Malaysia last week after spending 4 months here in Baltimore.     

SO THIS CHALLENGE IS A WIN WIN FOR ALL.  

ENJOY!

My Mom's creation

Here is a picture of a card my Mom made:

The card is Cherry Cobbler (hard to see, sorry...), the mat is River Rock and the dictionary is from Newsprint DSP #117166, pg 175 and put one of those adorable Antique Brads #117273, pg 187.  She stamped the flower from Happiness Shared #120534, pg 100, in Sahara Sand ink and colored it in with Stampin' Pastels #120962, pg 194 and cut it out with the Paper snips #103579, pg 199.   My Mom said before purchasing these AMAZING  scissors, she could never cut out anything...because her arthritic fingers could not fit in the scissors for her to use!!!   I love how the dictionary page is about flowers and she used a flower as the stamped layered image....WAY TO GO MOM!!!

Christmas Card Stamp a Stack

Over the last month, I have held a few Christmas card Stamp a stacks, (SAS).   These SAS are always a big HIT.   Some people come and make the cards and then duplicate them to send to all of their friends and family.   Some make the cards and it gets them inspired to create more Christmas cards.

The cards this year were inspired, OK, CASEd from fellow demonstrators, Ronda Wade and Cindy Fodor.   I kept them simple this year and I think my gals liked them better this way....No extra postage needed to mail these cards....

Isn't this beautiful???  It is one of my favorites....  Stamp set:  Gifts of Christmas, and Heard from the Heart..My favorite color....Baja Breeze...I also used basic gray ink for the verse and I sponged around the vanilla and baja breeze cardstock to help it stand out from the vanilla card. 
The SAS takes about 2 hrs to make all 16 cards, 4 different cards, 4 of each card.   The cost is $25 and it includes a roll of victorian crochet ribbon that you use on all of the cards and keep whatever you have leftover...   I am having the 3rd SAS on Nov 6th starting at 9am.   I have 2 spots open if you want to join in on the fun.    Contact me for more information.    I will send pictures of the other cards later this week.

ENJOY!!!

Stampin' Halloween Treats

Two of my customers/friends made some Halloween treats for me to take to Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore where I volunteer once a month.   Oh, they loved them.

These cute witches were made by Maria Flashman and filled with candy corn packages

These items were made by Joan Mougey...There are lollipop holders, and chocolates hidden among the ghosts and goblins..  All so different, but very cute......

Happy Halloween!!!

Stampin' Up! Halloween Greetings

Halloween Greetings to Everyone.   This is my Halloween Card!!!   I used the Stampin' Up! set - Wicked Cool, the new embossing folder from the Holiday Mini- Spider web, and the black lace trim, also from the mini.   The punch I used for the witches boot is the 1 3/4 circle punch...the boots just fit.   I put some rhinestones on the top of the boots and I used my 1" circle punch and have the message, have a wicked Halloween, also from the set Wicked Cool.

This card was also one of the cards we made at my Fall Fest class. and speaking of fall....I just love Fall.....NOT!!   Well, I really am learning to like it, I just don't like what comes next and that is what fall always reminds me....it's going to get cold......and I don't like the cold at all!!!  Today, Rodney and I went for a drive into Pennsylvania to check out the leaves.....I tried to take some pictures on the drive...They are not the greatest and I have seen some gorgeous trees right around home...So here is one picture from today..

Well, maybe in the next couple of days, I will take some pictures of trees around my home to share.

Enjoy!!! 

Stampin' Up! Baltimore Regional Convention

I attended an awesome Regional Convention yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center.   I was SO dissappointed when Bonnie Thurber walked on the stage and told us that Shelli was not there....BUT, within in minutes that dissappointed feeling was replaced with laughter and the beginning of a FUN FUN day.  

Swapping, stamping, stamping and more stamping.    There were some workshop wows.   great demos and lots of fellowship.  

I will try and upload some pictures of my favorite swaps later this week.

Fall is here...I can't believe it already October.....Last week I held a Fall Fest card night.   Here is the Halloween card we made.  

The card uses the new Spider Web embossing folder and black lace ribbon, both from the Holiday mini....Wicked cool stamp set  and some rhinestone bling from the Big catalog,  I used pear pizzazz cardstock and put it in the Big Shot with the web embossing folder and then swiped the white ink pad over to, trying to just get ink on the embossed webbing (but got some on the edges)....I taped the ribbon to the back of the punched circle image of the witch's shoes and put on the front of the card using our fantatic dimensionals.....the best there is.   I punched a hole in the front of the card and using the new clear rubber stamps, I was able to see exactly where I was placing the greeting....A real quick and easy card.

This next card uses the French Foliage stamp set in the Holiday mini:

I stamped the leaf images in cajun craze, old olive and more mustard on the front of the card.  I sponged the edges of the entire card and cajun craze cardstock with cajun craze ink first, then early espresso ink.   I punched out the new XL decorative label punch in early espresso cardstock and stamp the greeting...Happy Thanksgiving.   Again, I used our dimensionals - they are the best.  The easiest to remove from their sheet and no waste...
And here is the cute treat holder

I used the smaller of the 2 tags bigshot die and stamped the image with the Batty for You stamp set.   Added some chocolate....Viola`....Super super simple

More 3x3 Swap cards

These next two cards were also from the 3x3 swap at convention.

WOW this picture is a little off center.....kinda like me...

The card of the left uses white and bashful blue...this is such a simple card, I love it. 

and the Level 2 set Punched Posies from the Summer mini, the new 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, scallop circle punch, 1/2" circle punch a white brad and perfect polka dots embossing folder.  This card was made by Linda Aarhus.

The card on the right uses baja breeze and confetti white cardstocks,  Herb expressions and Sincere salutations stamp sets, marina mist 1/4" grossgrain ribbon and looks like baja breeze, marina mist and certainly celery inks.  This card was made by a fellow Marylander, Robbie Rubala.

Swap cards from convention

These cards are from a 3 x 3 swap at convention...each demonstrator who signed up to participate in the swap had to make 81 of their cards.   I love this size card and they are great for attaching to a gift, placing the 3x3 card on a standard size card, putting your tip for your server at a restaurant or just to give a to someone to brighten their day....

Both of these cards used white cardstock as the main color.   The card on the left, used plenty of accessories -- BIG SHOT, perfect details texturz plate, flower daisies #2 die, modern label punch, word window punch, ticket corner punch, (looks like sliver fox smooch pearlized accent ink), jumbo brads, dimensionals.  WOW that is 9 accesories packed into this tiny 3x3 card...GORGEOUS...Made by ?? there was no name in this card, so I cannot give credit to the person who made it.   Do you know who?   Let me know so I can share with everyone.

The card on the right uses Saraha Sand textured cardstock and Whisper white cardstock, part of the card is embossed with the petals a plenty embossing folder and big shot and gold lame` smooch pearlized accent ink on the centers of the petals, a simple knot tied in daffodil delight 1/4" grossgrain ribbon....

This card was made by Lorene Inouye-Salvo.

Now remember the makers of these cards made 81 of each of their cards!!!   WOW !!!

Club Cards

Each month a group of women come to my home and make some cards.   Sometimes it is a new technique, sometimes a new stamp set, new accessory or using a product we haven't used in a long time.   This month, we got a head start on our Christmas cards. as well as doing 2 techniques we haven't done in a while. 

This first card  was really simple and uses the technique "thumping" ... 

Thumpin' is really easy...First ink you stamp with desired color using an ink pad, get a marker in a darker color, using the brush end, thump the end of the marker onto the inked stamp... I also went around the outside of the flower with that marker to darken the edges and used a marker to ink the stem and leaves.  "Huff" on your stamp to remoisten the inks and stamp onto your cardstock...VIOLA` -- your done.

Stamp set:  Because I care, Level 1 Hostess Set

Colors:  regal rose, melon mambo, old olive, basic black, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  paper piercer, mat pack, gold brads

The 2nd card is a Christmas card

This card uses one of my favorite techniques, Emboss resist.   Very vanilla cardstock is used and vanilla craft ink, emobossed with clear embossing powder.   Take inks and rub with sponges in a circular motion until your desired effect is complete.   Wipe image with paper towel to remove any ink.  The embossed image
resists the ink you apply over it.

Stamp set:   Come to Bethlehem, pg 43 of the catalog

Colors:   Night of navy, bashful blue, Very Vanilla

Accessories:   BS,  mover and shapers die, modern label punch, petals a plenty embossing folder,

night of navy 1/4" grossgrain ribbon, dimensionals, clear embossing powder, heat tool and sponges.

Top Note Cards

August has been a busy month.   and I am sorry I have not posted more often.... no excuses, just that I am sorry I haven't posted.

These 2 cards I made using the top note die and the Big Shot.   Did you know that the Top Note die is the No. 1 die that Stammpin' Up! sells?   So far, 30,000 have been sold.!!!  Do you have one??   I know it the the number 1 die that I use.   

Some other Big Shot SU! Facts....   The #1 BS item sold by SU! is the Beautiful Wings Embosslet - to date 41,000 have been sold.   The #2 BS item sold is the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder with 37,000 of those being sold and the #3 item is the Top Note Die.

OK.....Onto the cards.


This card I made for some Thank You's for people who came to my Baptism last week. They are all written and mailed and probably received, and it has only been 5 days!!!

   First, I cut a Top Note from a piece of chipboard (actually from a backing of a pad of paper.  Next, I took the "frame" from the top note die and used some Dotto to adhere it to the Very Vanilla cardstock.   Next I got out my Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue inks and my sponges and sponged the colors.   I took the palm tree using markers directly to the rubber.   

Stamp Sets:   Plant Hope- p 119, Thank You Kindly-p 158

Colors:  Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Night of Navy and Very Vanilla

Accessories:   BIG SHOT, Top Note Die, Hemp twine, markers, sponges and snail adhesive 

*********************************************

My next card is a Birthday card for a friend, this card I actually used the top note die...This card was inspired by Jeanne Nielsen.

  This card was so simple and I used the Top note and stamped directly onto it.   I inked up the stamps from Watercolor Trio (Summer Mini - available only until Aug 31st) and then took a Q-tip and took the color off of the flowers and added Cherry cobbler with the marker.  stamped a few times before reinnking the stamp.

I tied a ribbon (retired black organdy) using  tied a ribbon (retired black organdy) using Lee Conrey's  bowmaker and attached it to the back of the top note stamped image.

Stamp Set:   Watercolor Trio

Colors:  Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black

Accessories:   Big Shot, Top Note die, BS Finial Press Embossing Folder, ribbon, snail adhesive.

Have a Great Weekend and Stamp something for someone!!!!

 

Convention Make & Takes

These are pictures of some of the Make and Takes from Convention.....

These are some cute 3 x 3 cards and a "holder" for them made from one of our small open end envelopes #107286  and the stamp is one of the a` la carte stamps located in the front of the catalog, pg 18.   This stamp I received free in my Convention bag for attending convention....# 120173, the cards are 3 x 3 and there are 3 cards and 3 envelopes that fit into the holder.  We inked up the stamp with markers to get the different colors for all the different THANKS. 

This card was also one of the make and takes from convention....Notice the image above my card ???  that is the card we were supposed to make, but, I wasn't reading and following the instructions and before I knew it, I had a card that was horizontal instead of vertical, then I placed me image in a different place, and I made the little tag for the card (like in the sample), but then decided I wasn't going to use it.   That is why stamping is SO MUCH FUN.   Everyone is creative, everyone can be given the same items, cardstock, inks, stamps and embellishments along with a picture of what the final card "should" look like.....AND when everyone is done, there are so many versions to the card and none of them is wrong.   Even if you "mess up", you can always change it, hide the mistake behind an embellishment, ribbon or stamped image.   So, try it....you'll like it I am sure!!!

How to Use the Embosslits Dies in the Big Shot

When using the embosslit dies in your Big Shot, place the "This side down" on the cutting plate with the cardstock or paper in the die (no other items, chipboard, cork, metal, etc.) with the hinge of the embosslit opposite the handle and cutting plate on top and try using no tabs on the multipurpose platform.   See picture below:

It is hard to see in this picture, but the handle is on the right hand side of the picture, and the hinge is on the left side.... This will prevent breakage of either/and the embosslit and your Big Shot machine.

Any questions?????  Contact me...

CONVENTION HILIGHTS

Convention Highlights.......


OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!   Today was the last day of convention....Boo Hoo....BUT it was the best yet.

I took hundreds of pictures, yep hundreds....Here is one of me standing in front of one of the display boards with our Orange convention bag we receive free and filled with stamps and other goodies when we get to convention.  The package sticking up in my bag is a package of Play Date accents (pg 176 of the catalog) that I won for spinning a carnival wheel....

 All the cards on these display boards were sent in by fellow demonstrators each month over the past year for various contests.   Each board is a different base color and there are cards, scrapbook pages and 3D items on display.   Thousands of items on display as well as displays of the cards and items demonstrated throughout the 3 days of convention. 

I met with Shelli, instead of eating lunch.....She signed my book and the back of my t shirt and had my picture taken with her.   I also talked with her about the Ronald McDonald House and my experiences volunteering there.    I showed her the card I was given by two girls last month....SHE LOVED IT.

     Shelli and I

They announced that Regionals was going to be held in Baltimore, Maryland....Oct 1 and 2nd.   So if you are thinking of becoming a demonstrator.... NOW THE TIME!!!!  

At the end of today's convention Shelli said, sometimes we give away free product.....Well, how about the Hostess Level 2 set from the Holiday Mini (that we have seen used many times), AND Holiday DSP, AND coordinating ink pad AND chunky glitter.....Of course the place went wild.....Confetti dropped from the ceiling and everyone was screaming and cheering and applauding.  The Prize patrol came out handing out the Holiday bundles for us.  IT WAS AWESOME!!    What an AWESOME COMPANY!!!

LOOK

I can't wait to start using some of these new toys.  Heading home tomorrow after a magical week in Salt Lake City with Pre convention stamp camp, stamp camp with CSI NY (Cards stock  stamps and Ink), An Evening to Remember with Linda Hansen and Jaron Winder, and the wonderful, awesome, fantastic Convention, Shelli, Brent Steele, Pam Morgan, Carrie Cudney, Spencer Willis, the many stamping friends I haven't seen in a year, the new stamping friends I met and so much more.  Can you tell I have had a good time?????

More Convention Hilights

Yesterday was my Birthday and I had a Fantastic Day....General session in the early morning and I had participated in SU's Recruit Crew over the past several months and one of the perks......We we escorted into seating before they opened the doors, so I was sitting pretty close to see all the action.  

We watched some awesome demonstrations by SU staff members, Brent Steele and Pam Morgan using some new items from the upcoming Holiday Mini!!!! OMG were they awesome...

Took hundreds of pictures of cards on display at convention.....

Here is a picture of Linda and I.

In the evening, we attended a special event....An evening to Remember, with Linda Hansen.   She used to work at Stampin' Up! and was one of my favorite Convention/Regionals presenter.   It was held in the beautiful John Smith Building on the 9th floor!   The food was fantastic and of course we even did some stampin'.   Linda was a gracious hostess and even JaronWinder was there and he sang a song.   It was awesome. 

                                                                      Jaron and I

Carol and I went upstairs to the top floor where there is a rooftop garden restaurant  that is open... It was spectacular.   There were fellow demonstrators from Hanover  having dinner and we stopped to talk a few mins, they sang Happy Birthday to me.   FUN  FUN  We decided to take some pictures up on the top floor, then walk down a few blocks to a local Pub to meet some friends from NY and Idaho at a Pub.    While walking down the street, about 20 demos (that I didn't know) started singing Happy Birthday to me....FUN FUN FUN....Looking out the East window on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Building!!!!

Convention Hilights......

More highlights from CONVENTION, Salt Lake City, Utah....

This was a table with about 100 cards and 3d projects made during the shoe box swap....The swap was divided up into tables of 7 people and everyone at the table making one of each of the projects, so you came away with 6 projects.   WOW, what fun it was and this was the pre convention events!!!!

This picture gives just a glimpse of swapping at convention.....just a glimpse, the room is filled with thousands of demonstrators and most are swapping!!!!

I went to the back of the General session seating area and took this picture, trying to show you what it is like...BUT there is NO WAY I can show you how it feels.

Stampin' Up! closed their offices today, well I mean yesterday....They had almost all of the employees here at Convention, so they can experience Convention.....When we were walking down the hallway to the large gathering room, we kept hearing clapping and cheering and we didn't know what it was until we actually started to enter the room.   Everyone from the Home Office was standing on either side of the doorway, cheering and clapping for all of us as we entered.   What a Welcome!!!   What a Company!!!

Just before the Opening Ceremonies of convention started, I took this picture...most of the SU staff.

I WISH YOU ALL COULD BE HERE TOO!!!

Tomorrow, oh I mean today is my birthday and what could be better than being here at convention!!!, stamping, meeting friends I have made over the years at convention and meeting new friends too.

 

Convention Hghilights

Today is the official start of convention and hundreds, OK maybe a few thousand demonstrators are already at Convention center waiting for the doors to open!!! 

Last night, SU! had a fun 60's night....Lots of hippies, peace signs, long hair and Afros.   Check out Shelli and Sterling

There were demonstrations by some very talented demonstrators, prizes given by SU! of stamp sets, ribbon and more.   Hula hoop contest, twister contests, face painting and more.    It is so much fun here and I am so excited for the beginning of convention to start.

Below is a picture of one of the displays....and no that is not real chocolates....but they sure look good enough to eat!

This display was set up like a sweet shop.   These "candies" were made out of card stock, ribbons and pearls.  Don't they look Yummy!

Here is another display of Christmas items.  

Well it is off to Convention.....I will post some pictures of swap cards later today....

Late Night Stampers Pre convention Events

These ladies are all part of the HUGE family of Late Night Stampers and today was our Stamp Camp. Here is Lee Conrey, Carole'Anne Sluchinski and Sandi MacIver showing off their project. There were 8 projects in all and they were all fantastic. If was fun meeting these ladies after "talking" online with them. Tomorrow starts Convention with Convention bag pick up and frantic swapping will start. Meeting all these stampers from all over the country and stamping together is one of the best things about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator...

FUN AT RONALD McDONALD HOUSE

Here are some more pictures from my visit to Ronald McDonald house. I think they all had a good time!   Moms and Kids getting together, creating and having fun.