STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION - MELBOURNE 2011

Hi folks!  I'm back home from Convention, still coming down from the high ... and trying to catch up on sleep!  I had a fabulous time, catching up with lots of dear friends and totally immersing myself in all the excitement.  The enthusiasm of Stampin' Up! staff, and other demonstrators, is so infectious; Convention really is a magic time.  This year we were treated to LOTS of sneak peeks, of new product that will come out in our new catalogue in September ..... but, I won't be sharing them with you until much closer to the time - you'll just have to be patient!  I promise you won't be disappointed.

I would like to share with you, though, a few photos.  I have so many to go through, that it'll take me a little while, but I wanted to show you at least a little of the fun.

My four nights staying in Melbourne were spent sharing an apartment with Sue and Judy.  Both of them gave me lovely gifts.  Judy gave us each a sampler of some gorgeous SU! papers that are not available in Australia (yet ... I'm hopeful they will be).  Sue had made some gorgeous little "Convention Survival Kits" for her team members, and thoughtfully made extras for Judy and me.  Take a look at the cute decorated Mini Lunch Sack, and the contents:

I finally got to meet, in person, my gorgeous friend Nikki.  She is such a creative, warm and funny person; I'm looking forward to more frequent catch-ups with her, now that we know how close to one another we live!  Take a look at this stunning gift she gave me (Chamomile & Grapefruit Soy Melts), presented in a typical Nikki way .....

Is it not divine??!!  Even the paper bag containing my gift was stamped beautifully (it just got a little scrunched in my bag, so a photo wouldn't do it justice).


At Convention, lots of demonstrators attending take part in swapping, of card fronts or other little items made using Stampin' Up! products.  It's a fabulous way to share ideas and techniques, and I have to say that the beauty of the swaps this year just blew me away.  It was pretty cool to share 3 days with 450 creative women!  Here is the swap that I made (only made it to 60 before I was unable to go on - I was thoroughly sick of the sight of it!):

... and here are the swaps I came home with:

All of my class attendees (and anyone else who'd like to come visit!) will get to look through these, to fully appreciate them 'in real life'.

I have lots more to share, but this will have to do, as the first instalment!  It's good to be home (I missed my boys), but I have so many happy memories from this year's Convention.  I look forward to sharing more with you in coming days!