Thursday, July 29, 2010

Stampin' Up! Convention - Day 2 Thursday, July 22, 2010

Day 2 of convention started out very early with the Running of the Stampers!! My friend Amanda had the great idea to have us dress like we were running with the bulls, so we played along and had a great time with it (even if I did feel like a crazy pizza delivery guy - guess that is my New Yorker showing through.) Dina fit right in with her Canadian lei/headband that she made using the Big Shot and the Island Floral die. It was so awesome. Maybe I'll make some for my girls for our trip to Hawaii in a few weeks.


Moving right along, we had an opening ceremony complete with our own Stampin' Up! theme song modeled after Miley Cyrus' song Party in the USA. Shelli Gardner came out and spoke to us about enjoying the FULL demonstrator experience (fun, creativity, flexibility and control, rewards and recognition and finally relationships). She is a very inspiring and motivational speaker.

We also had some Stampin' Up! staff as well as demonstrator presentations. Here are some things I learned:



This was called a 'circle' card. I know what you're thinking....its not a circle....and you're right. It is circular in its 'style' however. This card is meant for you to recycle by reusing. Inside the card they attached one of our mini square envelopes (3-1/8th x 3-1/8th) with the flap cut off. They put a few 3x3 pieces of cardstock and held them together with a piece from our Clips Assortment. This enables someone to write a note to thier friend and the friend can then save that note and reuse the card by writing a note on another piece of cardstock and passing the card along. What a 'green' idea.

For me, this next idea from Diana Gibbs, is one of my Ah-Haaaa moments. I love the idea of using one of our Clear Mount Blocks as a palate, for so many reasons. I love showing people how to use the Watercolor Crayons but passing them around to each person to use at a Make and Take can be time consuming. This way several people can use the crayons at once directly from the Clear Mount Block. Thanks for sharing that idea Diana!!


This next idea was shown to us by Stampin' Up! employee Bonnie Thurber. She is fantastically funny, very talented and is such a joy to watch. She taught us how to make this Party in a Box. It is a cardstock box that comes with a few invitations and envelopes, cupcake wrappers made with the Big Shot and Perfect Setting die, and handmade coordinating party toothpicks. Its held together with a bellyband and ribbon decoration. Another great thing about this box is that when you've used up all the party supplies, you can reuse the box for giving away cookies or some other delicious treat. Yummy!!!

I had to share this idea from Heather Summers as well because I LOVE thinking outside the box and figuring out other uses for our products. You might not see it at first, but the tulips on this card were made with our new two-step owl punch. The petals are the owl turned upside down. The green cardstock below the petals was made with the owl's vest and the leaves are trimmed from the owl's body. You might not be able to see it in this photo, but the flower vase is the ornament punch turned upside down and the letters 'ick' were spotlighted by using the jewelry tag punch. Very creative!!



I could show you photos of demonstrations all day but I'm sure you'd get bored.....Nah...I know you wouldn't get bored, but I've got to move on. If you'd like to come to Convention next July or the Leadership Conference with me, let me know and we can chat about how you can sign up to be a demonstrator with my team. Or if you want more information RSVP to attend one of my opportunity nights. A link to my calendar is located on the front page of my blog.

So, the evening event was the Awards Night. A few of my friends were told that they achieved the Founders Circle (which means you are one of the top 100 demonstrators in the company) but they aren't told where they rank in that top 100 until their names are announced at the award ceremony.

This is my wonderful friend Mandy Grant, who was in the top 100 for the first time. She was so nervous and I have to admit I was nervous right along with her. I'm so proud to say that she is demo #57 (out of something like 40,000+ demonstrators)!! Congrats Mandy!!

Another good friend, Stella MacKay, not only made it to Demo # 43, she was also asked to sit on the Advisory Board (a group of 8 demonstrators chosen to assist the company with decisions that affect demonstrators as a whole). Congrats to Stella!! I'm so so so happy for you.

Below is a new friend that just moved to this area about a month ago. She has moved several times over the course of her Stampin' Up! career and has to keep rebuilding her business. She does it very well and this year was awarded the #1 Demonstrator of the Year!! Congrats to Kimberly. Well Done!!


And last but certainly not least. I'm so happy for my friend Robin Merriman who was asked to return to the Advisory Board for a second term. They surely know her value to the company and to the demonstrators. I'm so happy for you Robin. Congratulations!!


I'm going to finish my daily posts with a few cards that stuck in my mind from today (in no particular order). Again, I don't know who made these cards so if they are yours please let me know and I will give you credit here.

This one uses Circle Circus and the reverse spotlighting technique. I love how the pumpkin cardstock pops out from behind.


This is a great card for any black tie event. The hearts cut with the Full Heart punch are such a nice way to represent love and its just fantastic the way they represent a tuxedo and wedding dress as well.


I really liked the way this stamping friend used the jewelry tag punch for the fence post and the Big Shot machine and Little Leaves Sizzlits die. But most of all I enjoyed the yellow ribbon tied 'round the old oak tree. This is a very thoughtful and creative way to tell our military members that we miss them and love them.


This cake was on the Stampin' Up! Artisan Awards display. Can you believe this delicious looking treat is made of paper? Check out those flowers!



I'll end with a nice, simple, stylish Thank You card made with our So Many Thanks stamp from the a la carte section of our Idea Book and Catalog. This stamper also used the Big Shot and the Finial Press Embossing Folder. If you didn't know by now, I can tell you that I'm a Big Shot junkie and this creation is just beautiful!!

Hope you have a fantastic day full of stamping mojo!
Rose-Ellen

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Convention - Day 1 Flower Power Party and Card Samples

Hi there My Stamping Friends,

Convention Day 1 finished off with a groovy Flower Power Party that Stampin' Up! hosted. Here are a few shots so you can feel like you were there right along with us. If you want to attend convention next year, join my team and we can travel together or meet up there.

This is a shot of just a few of the people that were celebrating with us that night. The costumes ran the gammut as you can tell.


Here are Lyn and Janna; demo friends from home.



This is a shot of me, Dale and Tim from the Corporate Team, and of course Dina Anker.



Julie and I enjoying some hula-hoop action. Julie is actually a very good hoola-hooper (is that a verb??).
I even got to take a photo with Shelli and Sterling. They are sooooo groovy!!



At the end of my convention notes, I'm going to post a few of the cards I saw on the sample boards. I don't know who stamped them, so if they are yours just let me know and I'll give you credit.
I love the background masking on this one.


Check out this top note ribbon quilt card. Very Cool!!


I LOVE the rain on this card. What a great addition.


Clean, simple and quick. Very much my style.



Someone spent a lot of time cutting out these monkey and hanging them on vines made of ribbon. I just love it.

Hope you have a great Stampin' Day,
Rose-Ellen

Convention Day 1 - Wed July 21, 2010

YAHOO!!! I made it to Salt Lake City, UT last night for the annual Stampin' Up! convention and after very little sleep I was up bright and early to get in line to pick up my convention bag and hit the Momento Mall for some exclusive Stampin' Up goodies. I saw lots of my friends in line and got to catch up with a bunch of people I haven't seen in a while.





Dina AnkerLyn Collins and Janna Unterzuber
Kristyne BrandtLinda Heller and her friends (sorry I didn't catch your names)
And of course, Stella MacKay

Once we got inside we saw what the bags looked like this year. They feel like they are made with rainslicker fabric so I won't feel uncomfortable putting my fantastic bag to use when its drizzling.

After a little shopping at Momento Mall I got to take a peek at the demonstrator idea area. This year Stampin' Up! called it the Sweet Shoppe I beleive and it was AMAZING!! All of these confections were made with Stampin' Up! products. The brownies were paper, the cupcakes were adorned with pearls and rhinestones, the lollipops were dipped in dazzling diamonds, the candy buttons were glitter brads (hint hint) and the rolls of candy were actually buttons....I could go on and on. It was just amazing!!

I don't want to risk losing this post so I'll create another post with a few card samples from the boards and some photos from the groovy Flower Power party.
Hope you're having a great day too!
Rose-Ellen

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Guess there is a limit...

..to the amount of characters that I can post via text message (I'll be more concise next time so hey don't get truncated again) but there is apparently no limit to the photos that I can take while I'm at Convention2010. I'll definately post more when I get back to the hotel.

Don't forget that you can follow me on Twitter @REEastman. I can post photos there and you can join for FREE!

Have a great day!
Rose-Ellen
r!
Rose-Ellen
icker fabric. Sooooo cool.

Do you want to see constant updates? follow me on Twitter @REEastman . It's so easy to join and it's FREE too.

Until late

The t-shirts are so cute and come in cherry cobbler and regal rose. The orange bag is the bag we received for attending convention and feels like rainsl
Hi there My Stamping Friends,

Dina made it into momento mall first and came out to show us some of the goodies.

Having a great time....

...checking out all the yummy looking paper confections at the
Stampin' Up! Convention. Yes, these ARE made of paper!! I'll post more
photos when I get back to the hotel.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

NEW CATALOGS ARE HERE plus Color Renovation - Retrofit Kits

Hi there My Stamping Friends,


THE NEW CATALOG IS HERE!! WAHOO!! If you've reserved a copy with me or if you are one of my club members, or an upcoming hostess, you can contact me to arrange to get the new catalog in your hot little hands. Meanwhile I'll be posting information about my New Catalog Open House. At that time, you can come by to get your catalog, check out some new products from the catalog, purchase some of my retired stamp sets, chat with other stampers about your favorite new items in the catalog, nibble on some appetizers, enjoy a beverage, see some upcoming projects, join a stamp club (I have a few openings), schedule a date to hostess your own event, and complete a Make & Take.


I don't have any creations to post today because I'm just getting back into town from a wonderful mini vacation with my darlin hubby and our girls. We visited my sister and her family and my Dad and had a fantastic time!! However, I am going to stamp for a while tonight so I'll have some items to post over the next few days so keep checking back (or click on the button to follow me). Oh, I don't think I've mentioned it, but I'm posting things on Twitter too. You can follow me there @ REEastman


So, on to my other news.......Do you have lots of Stampin' Up! colors and want to update your Stampin' Write markers, Watercolor Crayons, Stampin' Pastels, Ink Pads and Cardstock without having to buy a complete new set? Here is your opportunity! Stampin' Up! is offering Color Renovation Color Kits. You can update your colors without having to purchase a whole new set of markers, crayons, pastels, etc. Check out the flyer below and contact me if I can answer any questions for you.


We're having record high temperatures in my area. Hope you're staying cool where you are!

Rose-Ellen