This is my little creative get away spot in a very hectic world. I love to stamp, meet other stampers and share my inspirations. So come and, sit for a while, explore my site and leave a comment when you can.
Here's a view of the cards I made for the Late Night Stampers Friday Night 80+1 Swap held at the Radisson Hotel during Convention.
I was inspired to make a pin wheel card after visiting Sheri Wintersteins great blog. Sheri's been hooked on making pinwheels and once I made one I could see why. They are addictive. Sheri was originally inspired by Annette Stewart's blog, Ink, Paper, Scissors Rock! where she demonstrates the Pinwheel technique in a video she created.
I actually made 40 of these using Midnight Muse/Pool Party and Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper. The other 40+1 cards were made with Cajun Craze and Starfruit and Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper.Sorry for the blurry pictures.
I just want to share some more pictures of the great friends I made at convention. Some I knew already like Cheryl and Jenn, while others like Joni, Nikki, Olivia and Sherrill were new to me.
This was taken during one of our Make N' Take sessions. What fun we had. Sorry I don't have a picture of DaVita our Make N' Take Helper, extraordinare. She made it so much fun. Cheryl LeFore and Jennifer from LaQuinta California and Joni Metras from Charlton Massachusetts.
Cheryl Lefore (in white) was the top Artisan Winner at the 2011 SU Convention. She's an amazing artist and I'm blessed to be able to attend her workshops and Stamp Clubs when I'm in California. Jenn (in the orange) is part of her downline. It was really great getting to meet Jenn again. She's always so gracious and sweet. And of course there's Joni and me hamming it up in the Center! What fun!
Here are Nikki Smith and Olivia from Washington State. Nikki just won a fantastic prize box filled with Stampin' Up Goodies. Way to go Nikki. I'm hoping to meet up with both of these gals at the September Regionals in Tacoma Washington! See you there girls!!!
Here I am with Joni Metras. Joni made my Convention adventures so much fun I just know we'll be life-long friends. What a treat it was being able to share the fun of our Make N' Take and Late Night Stamper sessions with her. Hey Joni you're the best!
These were the awesome "Purple Margaritas Joni, Diane and I had in the bar at the Radisson. I had to share this photo with you. These drinks made with Chambord, Tequilla and Lemon were so tasty and refreshing.
This was the night I met Joni at the Late Night Stampers Welcome Soup and Salad Dinner. Sherrill Graff is the gal in the Pink and is the pivotal driving force behind Late Night Stampers!
Here's Sherrill Graff of LNS taking a well deserved break. This session of LNS as well as the Friday night 80+ swap and Soup and Salad dinner were one of the major highlights of my convention attendance. What a great group of women and the talent was amazing! Thanks Sherrill for making LNS pre-convention events possible. The Radisson Hotel where all the LNS events took place is awesome too. Can't say enough about the Soup N' Salad buffets..............the soup was to die for.
Going to Convention for the first time was a really scary thing for me. Sure I was super excited about all the things I would see and do, such as visiting the Riverton Stampin' Up! campus, but I was still worried that I wasn't going with our big "Colourful Impressions" group.
And I wondered if I'd wind up alone and missing out on the fun and companionship of a larger group. Boy was I wrong! Just look at this crowd of stampers on opening day...........no matter what I'd never be alone!
From the moment we headed out on our trip, there was no need to worry about being alone. I was so fortunate to meet up with the nicest group of women I've been with in a long time and I'm sure these gals will be my pals for many years to come.
Adel on Opening Day
I'd previously met Adel Klassen and stamped with her, so it was a given that I'd enjoy her company, but I didn't know just how much I'd learn from her. Adel taught me a lot. She's patient, kind and funny. And big drum roll she taught me how to "text". I also really enjoyed her companions Ann and Connie who accompanied us to Salt Lake City and did touristy things while we were in convention. We shared a nice dinner at the Blue Iguana on Thursday night.
Sue Farrant, Liz Holloway, Linda Yamamoto, Nancy Kier and Diane Dyson in the Green top
The other stampers I met while in the departure lounge in Vancouver airport were Allison, Sue Farrant, Liz Holloway, Linda Yamamoto, Nancy Kier and Diane Dyson. These were all super nice gals and a pleasure to be with.
I had the pleasure of Liz's company on the flight to Salt Lake City, although didn't see her much at convention. This is one savvy lady and stamper, and I'm hoping to keep in touch with her. Make sure you check out Liz's blog Stamper's Plus, she's taking registrations for a "Creative Escape" event in October that's sure to be a blast!
After settling into our respective hotels Adel, Diane and I ate a wonderful meal at the Olive Garden and then did a walkabout at the Convention Center and City Creek Shopping Mall before calling it a day.
Myself, Diane and Adel at the Olive Garden SLC
Adel and Diane at the SLC Salt Palace where the SU Convention is being held.
Adel trying to get a sneak peak but everything's locked up for the night.
The Shilo Hotel was a perfect location situated across the street from the SLC Salt Palace Convention Center where all the events were held.
The theme for Stampin' Up's Convention this week in Salt Lake City was "I am....." and our goal throughout the week was to try to focus on who we are as members of the Stampin' Up family. To celebrate the "I am...." theme and get us off to a flying start on Thursday morning, we were welcomed with this video which set the tone of excitement for the entire three days!
I hope you'll watch it and like it as much as I did. I'm still getting goose bumps evertime I hear it and I've got the tune doing one of those mind worm things in my head!
I've had an amazing week everyone and I want to share some of the reasons for that:
Registration on Wednesday was fun and a complete breeze! Exploring the Salt Palace Convention Center and checking out the Gathering Place and Product Display boards
MDS 2 demonstrations and the ability to play around with this fabulous photo tool
Tour of Riverton and meeting some of Stampin' Ups! incredibly friendly and "eager to please" staff.
Late Night Stamper's Pre-Convention Welcome Soup and Salad Supper followed by patty Hargrove's 10+1 Card Swap
Thursday's Opening General Session was electrifying and full of excitement. Shelley Gardner was a delight! And the warm and wonderful welcome by SU employees brought tears to my eyes.
An amazingly funny key note speaker, Jason Ryan Dorsey kicked off the week with an outstanding presentation on the differences between Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomers. He had us rolling in our seats laughing at ourselves and members of the other groups I can't wait to read his books.
Outstanding classes and make and takes. I attended:
I Am Reaching Out - Emily Montoya
I am Making Money - Pam Morgan
I Am Open for Business - Carrie Cudney
I Am Savvy- Dawn Griffith, Meg Wheeler, Donna Griffith, Laura Mulligan
I Am Doing Business My Way - Bonnie Thurber, Tami White, Ronda Wade
I Am Earning an Incentive Trip - Karen Hauley and Jill Hilliard, Meg Holland and Cynthia Millan
I'm a Pattern Mixing Pro - Carrie Cudney
Incredible displays in the Product Showcase and Display areas
Awards night and all the incredible achievers
10 Years in Recognition for Canadian Demonstrators
Taking my five year pin walk across the stage
Meeting "new" friends and old friends
Having fun
Prize Patrol
Make and Takes and Free Stamp Sets
Did I mention Shopping in Momento Mall
Exciting Announcements regarding:
Release of MDS 2 in August
Changes to DBWS
Fall Regional Event in Tacoma Washington - Sept 29, 2012
Live Stream joining demonstrators around the world
Incentive Trip to Western Caribbean and Getaway Trip to San Diego
Okay I could go on and on, but that's it for this post. Because of technical glitches like "no card reader on this notebook" I'll begin posting convention pictures when aI return to Canada tomorrow. Stay tuned.
The countdown is on! I leave for convention in just five more days! Before I go I thought I'd share a few more sneak peaks of my convention swaps. I hope you enjoy them. Don't worry, I'm doing a full card reveal on Monday the 16th, so be sure to come back and see the finished cards.
Here's a peak at a card I've created for Patty Hargrove's10+1 Full Card Swap Group 2 on Wed July 17, 2012. She's invited me to be captain for Group Two during the swap, and I'm so looking forward to this. What fun!
Patty has worked really hard to pull this swap together and she's done a great job! She's organized five groups of 10 swappers and a "No Show" group for this swap.
This is a full card swap. Each card must have at least 2-3 layers and one or more embellishments. Only new stamp sets from the 2012/2013 Idea Book and Catalogue will be allowed and the list is fantastic. I can't wait to post pictures of the swap and card samples. I know you're going to love them!
Before I go on, I just wanted to say that for her "first time ever organizing a swap", Patty deserves a really big round of applause! Being the Swap Organizer requires a lot of energy and organization and she's really worked on this one. She's provided us with regular updates on who's participating the sets being used, as well as instructions we'll need once we're at Convention. She's even collected all our phone numbers so we can be in touch before the session if anyone's late or whatever. It's so exciting I just can't wait!.
Click on this link to check out Patty's wonderful blog. She's already posted pictures of some of her completed swaps she's and they look fabulous. Great ideas here folks!
Okay here's a peak at my second swap:
This is also for Patty Hargrove's 10+1 Full Card Swap- "No Show" List on Wed July 17, 2012. This is an overflow group Patti set up just in case someone didn't show up for the swap. She calls us her "Angels in the Wings". I guess it's appropriate I have wings on my card! There are now seven of us in this group, and if none of the groups are shorted we'll be swapping amongst ourselves. What fun!
And, last but not least, here's my third and final peak:
These cards are for the Late Night Stampers 80+1 Swap on Friday July 20, 2012. That's right 80+1. This is a dinner event and will be one of the big highlights for the week. I can't wait to see all the commotion as everyone gets together to swap!
I had fun making these little birdies and you'll be surprised when you see them on the card. One thing I can tell you is that after doing 80+ of these little suckers I was sure glad I own Stampin' Ups! Bird Builder punch! LOL. I simply couldn't imagine fussy cutting all these.
They say all good things must come to an end, and for my husband and I one of our favourite weekly get together places has done just that. For several years now we've met with friends on Wednesday mornings for a wonderful and inexpensive breakfast get together at the Skillet Restaurant. Unfortunately as of this week, the Skillet which is located in Zellers in Langley is no more. This store is being taken over by "Target" in the coming months and the restaurant is not part of the renovations. All of the restaurant staff will be looking for new work.
What a great little place this has been for us and for many other seniors in the Langley and surrounding district. We had our regular table and each week as we were getting seated we'd see familiar faces. The breakfast special of two eggs (any style), 2 sausage links or 2 pieces of bacon, and two pieces of toast for $3.95 was always fabulous. Our servers, Sandi, Dolly, Crystal, Janet and Krista were also fabulous. For us, the Skillet was like Cheers.....everyone knew our names, and our orders.
This past Wednesday we went for our last time and it was really sad. We met our friends and over our last breakfast we shared our memories and stories about our experiences at the Skillet. Fortunately we were able to say good bye to all the great gals who served us so well over the years and to mark the occasion I made some thank you cards to let them know just how special they were to us.
Here's a picture of some of the cards I made for this occasion. I used a retired Stampin' Up set called Tart and Tangy that was my "to go to" summer stamp set for a while. I was very sad when it was retired and I've been reluctant to give it up, but like I said before "all good things must come to an end", and so it is with this set.
I actually made five cards but had two of them sealed in the envelopes before I remembered to take a picture of them. The missing cards had a similar layout but the had a green apple on one and cherries on the other.
In this closeup you may be able to see that the orange has a high glossy finish on it. To get this effect I used a Stampin' Up! product called "Crystal Effects". This is a very inexpensive and simple way to take a good card up a "notch" to a WOW card. If you'd like to know more about Crystal Effects and its many uses please contact me. I'd be happy to provide some information on this great product.
Although the Tart N' Tangy set is no longer available, another set called "Fruit and Flowers" on page 82 of the 2012-2013 Idea Book and Catalogue would have worked just as well.
In fact, 3 of the stamps in the "Fruit and Flowers" stamp set are very similar to the Strawberry, Cherry and Apple featured above. As a bonus you also get six additional stamps with this set so you could recreate the flower patterns from the DSP I used. What great value, nine stamps in total for $19.95 for the Clear Mount(122607) and/or $25.95 for the Wood Mount (122605) versions. Hope you check this set out.
Okay well that's it for today and my old time ramblings. Get stamping!
