CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!??!?!?!

Fun convention story...

When you check in online for convention, if you have received an award of any kind (Stampin' Up is FABULOUS about rewarding you for your accomplishments and there are lots of ways you can earn free stamp sets and stuff) it will show up then. It won't tell you what you won, but it just says, "Congratulations you have won an award. Go to the Info booth when you get to convention" or something like that. Anyway...mine said that so of course I went. I wasn't sure exactly what I got, but just figured I met one of the sales or recruiting requirements. Well...I show up and tell them I think I get an award of some kind. Meanwhile, other people were showing up and getting these AMAZING pink purses that I was SO JEALOUS of!! So she gets a stamp set for me and a few pins, and hands me the bag. I was so excited for free stamps, of course. Well...I was about to ask her what the pink bag was for, and she says..."Wait....you want to make sure to get your NEW BAG!!!!!!!!" and then reaches behind a curtain to get one! I FREAK OUT!!!! Totally drop the other bags in my hand, scream, cause quite the scene, and just get so excited that I don't even listen to her. Turns out the bag goes to those in the Founder's Circle. Which is a group of the top 100 demos, the top 15 Rising Stars (which are the demo's that do the best in their first full year as a Stampin' Up demo), and a few other top demos for promotions for their downline. Anyway: it took her a few times telling me that I was IN THE FOUNDER'S CIRCLE!!!!! because I was screaming and freaking out. So....not only do I get this fabulous bag BUT I get a FOUR DAY trip with all the others that won and SHELLI!!!!! (For those of you that don't know, Shelli is the co-founder and owner of Stampin' Up! and kinda my hero! :) ) I LOVE HER!!!! So I am just THRILLED beyond words and kept waiting for them to take it away from me all day saying they made a mistake. Here is the cute bag...

(isn't it GORGEOUS!!!)

Anyway: I didn't know what I had won yet...whether it was Rising Star or Demo of the Year. They have a big Awards Night that you had to go to find out what you won. Well....I was positive it was for Rising Star and I was positive I was #15...that I just slid right in. :) Brian came with me to Awards night (sorry...my husband for those that don't know) and we got to sit in these special "Founder's Circle" seats and everything. We were so close we could see the TelePrompter. So we knew who was being called before they announced it. When they started with the Rising Stars...I knew I was going to be #15. Well....they called that and it wasn't me. Brian got excited...I got nervous thinking they really were making a mistake and I wouldn't ever be called. Then #14 called and Brian was more excited, me more freaked out. #13, #12, #11 called. Same thing. Well....#10 was called and IT WAS ME!!!!! I was SO SO SO excited!!!! THANK YOU STAMPIN' UP!!!!!!

(This is what happens when I leave my husband in charge of the photos! This is me hugging Shelli and meeting Shelli FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!! She said in my ear, "Yeah!!! A Utah girl!!!" :) So in September I get an all expense paid trip to a spa in St. George!!!!!!! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!
Sorry for such a long post, but I am SO SO SO EXCITED!!!!! For those of you that read this whole thing, thanks! :)

Convention Pics....

*** WARNING!!!! Kinda long post! :) ***

Here are some shots from convention. I can't believe it's over. I'm SO SAD!!! It's fun to get back to my family, but it is SUCH a good time that it's sad to say goodbye for a year. Thanks to everyone for making it SO FABULOUS!!!!

Here's my cute downline, Megan. She stayed with me during convention, and it was fun getting to know her more. She was a FABULOUS help to me (as I tend to get a bit ditzy from the excitement from everything) the whole time. Our new catty!!!! YEAH!!!!!! (I think you can tell from her smile that she's happy! :) ) This was in the morning the first day. Gina, Kristine, me, and Megan (three of my cute downline!) all hanging out waiting to get into the Memento Mall. Megan and I waited in line for THREE HOURS that first morning! It was fun to visit with everyone, look through the catalog, etc, etc...but I couldn't believe how long we had to wait! Of course I had to make it worth it after waiting that long. :) So I got the DARLING project tote, camera bag, Art from the Heart CD, Statement of the Heart stamp with 20th anniversary charm, pens, Key finder key chain thing, and I think that's it. Hmmmm..can't remember what else. I'll try to take a pic of it all later to share, if you really care. :) FABULOUS IDEA! This was on display at the Memento Mall. I LOVE this! Designer Series Paper just rolled together and then put in a cute vase. Tie vase with ribbon, put in flower, and VOILA! Cute display. I loved this!!!Don't be too jealous...but it's KRISTINA!!!! I was SO EXCITED to meet her the FIRST General Session. YEAH!!!! She's so cute. I met her a few time throughout convention, and she's fabulous! Three of my amazing dowline...Gina, Shirley, and Kristine. It was so much fun getting to hang with everyone for four days! On Check-In day some of us from our group went to Gateway Mall (it's an outdoor mall and I LOVE this place!) for lunch. We ended up at Applebee's, and it was a blast. We all walked a bit further than we planned, but it was worth it to have that yummy Oriental Chicken Salad! This is Sherri and Deborah...and they are in my sideline group. (We all come through the same demo up in our "demo genealogy" line. :) ) I met Deborah by chance through splitcoast stampers when we were deciding whether or not to go to Leadership in Palm Springs this Jan. We both ended up going, and we ended up all traveling together...along with my upline, Jill. I'm so glad because it's been great staying in touch afterwards and then hanging out at convention this year too! Hi girls!!!! :)
My amazing upline (and cousin...well...my cousin's wife but I call her cousin :) ), Jill! Isn't she so cute!!!Ahhhh...look at cute Betsy! :) She's my BFF and I'm so excited she was with me at convention this year! :)
YEAH!!!! I WON ANOTHER FREE STAMP SET!!!! They do this "Prize Patrol" thing during the General Sessions. Everyone gets a wristband when they check in. They will flash one up throughout the general sessions and if yours matches, you win whatever they are giving out at the time. You can see on the screen in the background that I won with Blue Checks! It was the LAST one they did! I was thrilled! :) Yeah for free stamps!!!! :)
And here is my group. This was at the end. So sad to be all done. It was so much fun and hope we're all able to make it next year!!!! Thanks for the blast of a time girls!

Convention Gift for my girls...

Well convention is over. I know I have lots to post and new updates to make. So I'm SORRY that I didn't get things posted during convention time. I had a bunch going on during the evenings, and just didn't get much computer time (really any) in. I was up until 2ish every night and back up again at 5ish to get ready for the day. No excuse though...I'm sorry that I didn't update! I will now though! :) Better late than never, right?!

These are the gifts I made for my downline that went to convention. Inside there is an altered notebook, a clear envelope brag book (that I posted earlier on), a candy bar pouch with candy bar inside, and a little bag of taffy. I think they enjoyed it. Each notebook was different. I didn't get a close up of any of them (hint, hint...if any of you girls that got one of these notebooks would like to take one and send it to me...that would be great! :) ) but they each had their initial in the corner. I used the Sticky Cuts letters with the chunky glitter.

A corporate gift...

What does a box full of 100 little bottles of sunscreen in a cello bag, tied together with a little card, a business card, and ribbon look like? Well...look above and you can see a few of them! :) As I've been getting ready for convention, I've also been doing this! My husband manages a team of business bankers, and so I made some of these for one of the people on his team. They are a little gift to leave with some prospective clients. I think they are cute. :) It's a 3x3 card, with Real Red card stock. Then the "you are absolutely fabulous" stamp is embossed with Black emboss powder. So it's really nice looking in person. Then the scallop punch strawberry and voila! Beautiful! :) I have to say...with all the embossing and then coloring and stamping that strawberry...it took quite a bit of time. But it's worth it! I really like them!

CONVENTION TIME!!!!

I can't believe that it's CONVENTION TIME for us Stampin' Up! demos!!!! It is SO EXCITING that I can barely stand it! My life has been CRAZY busy this past little bit with being out of town, and then getting ready for all the FUN!!!!! YEAH!!!!! So I just wanted to say that tomorrow morning is up and at 'em to the convention center I go!!! YEAH! I'll try to keep you updated on things. I will have the NEW CATALOG in my hands in less than 12 hours!!!!!!! I hope I don't have to wait too long in a line to get it!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FABULOUS!!!! Anyway....I hope you can sense my excitement! :) Get ready because here we go!!!!!!!!!..............

Calculating....Stampin' Up! style!!

I am itching for some new Designer Series Paper in the new catalog coming in August, but loving the new Bella Rose paper they showed us demo's early. :) I didn't totally love it when I saw it at first, but a big fan now! SO MUCH FUN! Anyway: back to task at hand...I actually went to Staples today (and ran into my cousin/upline that is in town for family and convention!!!!! Hi Jill!!!!!!!) and saw these amazing calculators when I was checking out. I thought I had seen someone alter these with Stampin' Up's paper online somewhere before, so I had to buy some. :) I can't remember exactly whose I saw first...but when I searched today I found these done by Nancy. So cute! And I wasn't sure if Stampin' Up's punches would fit this exactly, but turns out THEY DO! I used the 1 3/8" punch for the circle keypad, and then the 1/4" punch for the little circle keys. Then the small oval punch for the display. ***Note: the small oval wasn't quite exact. So I just lined it up once and punched, and then moved a little and lined it up to punch the rest out. Easy peasy. I am thinking I better run back and get more. So no one go to the Layton Staples here in Utah and steal them from me, ok?! :) Oh...they are $0.99 each, by the way. TOO MUCH FUN! Here they are with some of the Bella Rose paper:
***Side note: does the name BELLA Rose paper remind anyone else of anything?!? Maybe something that is being released August 2nd?! Yes...yes...I can't get Stampin' Up's convention out of my mind, but I also can't get THAT out of my mind either!!! :)

This is a clear envelope brag book/scrapbook. I found one of these on the blog of a group I belong to, Utah Divas International, on this post. Courtney was the one that made this one. Anyway...once I saw them I KNEW I had to make one. TOO CUTE! So I made one while I was on vacation. They really are a lot of fun to make! So give it a shot yourself!

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment, Heard from the Heart (upcoming in August!)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red (both upcoming in August!), and Chocolate Chip
Card Stock: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red (both upcoming in August!), Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White
Accessories: Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Silver Brads, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Pretties Kit (for the clear rhinestone brads that are holding the book together), clear envelopes, Linen Thread, Sticky Strip


This is the book opened. I just simply cut some card stock in coordinating colors and put them in the sleeves created by the clear envelopes. Easy to add photos by just cutting the photo to size (the card stock is cut to a standard card size...4-1/4 x 5-1/2). Super fun to make! Enjoy!

Sorry!

I apologize for my absence! Things got kinda busy at the end of my trip and then ever since I've been home since Saturday night, they have been even busier! But I'm going to post a few new things in a minute to make up for it! :) Hope everyone has been doing great!

By the way...Stampin' Up's CONVENTION is THIS WEEK!! Starts on Wednesday, and I can't wait!!! There are lots of fun things planned, and I know a few surprises along the way. I will try to update during convention. I only live like 20 minutes from the convention center where it will be, so I will be coming home each night. (And my fabulous downline, Megan, is staying with me so YEAH! More stamping fun at night as well...I'm sure!!! :) ) So I will try to post new things along the way. I can't WAIT!!! It's the kickoff to Stampin' Up's 20th YEAR CELEBRATION. FUN!!! FUN!!!! I'm seriously so excited.

Off to upload some photos of a few things I've worked on...

Stand Up Pop Up Card...

So I have seen a few of these cards throughout the years, but have never made one. I decide to change that and make one! This is what I came up with. Here are a few more pictures of different views. The first one is the card closed. It actually will fit in a standard envelope. And then the second one is just a different view of it standing up. These are fun to make. If you want to try one yourself, I used the instructions found here. Enjoy!

Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red

Card Stock: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" Circle Punch, silver brads

Possible Convention Swap...

So I was trying to come up with a swap today to make for convention. It's NEXT WEEK! I can't believe it. Time is just flying by. I am so excited to come, but then I also don't want it to. Because then it means summer is almost over. But I can't wait to see all the fun things they have planned, get the new catalog, etc, etc. Anyway: back to my dilemma. I'm not sure this is cute enough. Thoughts on this card?!? The Pink Pirouette heart is up on dimensionals and I wanted the Certainly Celery ribbon in there as a pop of color. So...let me know what you would change and if you think I should produce some of these for swaps. Thanks! :) (And I know there are a few mistakes. I didn't want to redo it so they just are what they are. If I do this for a swap...I will make them perfect. :) )

Stamps: Always
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper