STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION - BRISBANE 2013 - IN A NUTSHELL

I am starting to recover from 5 fun-filled days in Brisbane, that was Convention for this year.  Every year Stampin' Up! puts on a fantastic event, but this year they surpassed all expectations - it was amazing!  Being a Convention attendee in Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary year meant being showered with gifts, and fun times ... I didn't want it to end!  Convention itself was spread over 3 days, but I spent a little extra time in Brisbane with some of the other members of the Just Add Ink Design Team.  Boy, did we laugh.  A lot!

Apart from all the freebies, THE highlight of Convention is the people.  The Stampin' Up! staff, from Australia and New Zealand, and from the Home Office in Utah, put so much time, effort and love into making Convention a super-special time.  Saying goodbye to them at the end was like farewelling much-loved family members.  I love Convention for re-connecting with friends from around Australia and New Zealand .... and I have a few photo collages to share with you.  I normally attend Convention with members of my wider Stampin' Up! team, but this year stayed with the Just Add Ink girls.  I did manage lots of "hellos" and hugs with my other friends, but also managed to not get any photos with them (which wasn't intentional!).


In the top left corner are Nikki and Kim ... top right are Narelle and me.
The bottom photo is of Ruthy, Mae and Jodene.

Next up are pics of the gorgeous "roomie gifts" I received from a few of the girls I shared an apartment with.  They had to settle for my presence, as my gift to them!

More "people" shots.  The top photo is of all of the Just Add Ink team members who were at Convention, along with the ever-gracious, and extremely patient, Shelli and Sterling Gardner.  Shelli is the CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up!, and Sterling is her "sweetheart", who attends Convention when he is able to.  It was great to have them both in Brisbane.

Bottom left is me, with Paula.  Bottom right I'm in between Donna Griffiths, and Bonnie Thurber, from the US Home Office.  Love all these women!!

.... and, to finish up, a few "general" shots.  The top photo is of Donna Griffith on stage, with the 25th anniversary backdrop (so cute).  Bottom left is the obligatory lunch shot!  SU! supplied lunch on two of the three days; the lunch boxes are always a treat.  Bottom right is a photo of the dessert buffet on offer, on awards night.

All in all, it was a wonderful three days.  I am happy to be home with my boys, but must admit I'm already daydreaming about Convention 2014!

STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION SWAP

I've scheduled this post to publish while I am at Stampin' Up!'s Convention in Brisbane.  It's three days of full-on fun, hype and information .... and, best of all, catching up with friends from all around Australia and New Zealand.

I was disinclined to make swaps this year, as I have been feeling even more time-poor (and less organized) than I usually do .... and felt a bit overwhelmed by the fact that there will be close to 700 people attending Convention!!  However, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't take part in the process of swapping with other demonstrators, so I managed to make 50 swaps before leaving Melbourne.  I've gone with a simple (easily replicated) design, using a colour combo suggested by Stampin' Up!s Color Coach - and with a masculine theme, as I know a lot of people like ideas for male cards (and they're my favourite kind to make).  Here's my swap for this year:

 

Stamps: Blue Ribbon, Bring On The Cake, Netting, Candle Crazy Builder Wheel

Card: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Marina Mist

DSP: Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Marina Mist stampin' pads

Other: Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Bitty Banners framelits, sponge daubers

 

 

 

STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION SWAPS

I have scheduled this blog post to publish while I'm away this weekend, attending Stampin' Up! South Pacific's annual Convention.    (Just quietly ..... WOOHOO!!!) This year Convention is being held in Canberra, and there are more than 450 Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around Australia and New Zealand attending.

There are many highlights of Convention, several of which I'll share with you in coming days, with photos.  One of the great parts is 'swapping' with others - we make a card front, or 3-D papercraft item, using Stampin' Up! products, and the idea is to make multiples.  This allows us to swap our creations with others, who in return share their ideas.  I detest making multiples of anything; the mass-production process really detracts from the enjoyment of creating.  However, I broke it down into manageable 'bites' this year, making three different designs.  This allowed me to get to 100 swaps without having a breakdown!  I have gone with tags, rather than cards, this year, and thought I'd share them with you.

My first tag is a very simple one, in soft colours, letting the beautiful Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper do all the 'talking'.  The tag was finished with a coating of Champagne Mist shimmer spray, but unfortunately the sparkle doesn't show in the photo.

Stamps: Clearly For You

Card: Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede stampin' pads

Other: Two Tags die, Modern Label punch, sponge dauber, Basic Pearl, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Subtles Flower brad, Champagne Mist shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray)

Next I designed a masculine tag, and made as many as I could until I ran out of the checked Well Worn Designer Series Paper:

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Short & Sweet

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze

DSP: Well Worn Designer Series Paper

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Two Tags die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tasteful Trim Die, Word Window punch, paper snips, sponge dauber, Blue denim ribbon, Linen Thread, Tombow liquid glue

Lastly, I made a tag using some of the In Colors that will retire when our new catalogue comes out.  I've used Mixed Bunch stamp set, and the inlaid embossing technique:

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz

Ink: Concord Crush and  Pear Pizzazz stampin' pads

Other: Blossom punch, Blossom Petals Builder punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder. 3/4" circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Basic Rhinestone, Concord Crush ribbon, Lucky Limeade baker's twine 

I hope you're having ALMOST as much fun as I am this weekend!  I'll be back soon, to share pics of my few days of excitement.

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!