Stellar Stamps

Button, button, who's got the button?

Teammate, Christine Bellow, gave me this adorable card with matching envelope this week. Love it!

All products are Stampin' Up!

An elegant and easy card to make with our Stampin' Up! products

This card by my teammate, Cathy Williams, is 150% my stampin' style. Clean, crisp, simple, elegant.

One of my favorite swaps from convention

There is no name on the back of this card so I can't give credit to the creator but I think this simple card is absolutely gorgeous! Tone on tone is a favorite style of mine.

Stampin' Up! Stamps a Top 10 Tool for 2011

I am excited to announce that Creating Keepsakes magazine has named Stampin' Up!'s wood- and clear-mount rubber stamps as one of its Top 10 Tools for 2011!

While Stampin' Up! has long been recognized in the stamping and crafting industry for producing high-quality rubber stamps and exclusive images in a variety of artistic styles, being recognized by Creating Keepsakes is just another validation that when you choose Stampin' Up! products, you are choosing the best!

 

A stand-up card (sort of like a stand-up guy ;-)

Here's a unique card that was swapped at convention. I wish I could give credit to the demonstrator who made it but the card is a friend's and all I did was take the photo. Isn't it clever though?? The card stands up when fully opened (see last photo). The mechanism to stand it up is simply an extra scalloped circle (see middle photo). I love creativity!

A simple fall card using Stampin' Up!s French Foliage set

This was a convention swap using the very popular French Foliage stamp set (page 115 of our current main catalog).  Clean and simple, don't ya think?

Day 4 of Founders - chapter 2 "Patty and the raft"

While enjoying some chatting and some wine Saturday night at Founder's Circle, along comes Patty Chenail and Dawn Rapsas who had been enjoying the jacuzzi at the hotel. Well, Patty had this cute little inflatable raft that she had friends sign with a Sharpie and she needed to pack it to take back to the east coast so while chatting she begins to deflate it.

Patty and the raft quickly become the highlight of the night.

Hmm... it's not going as quickly as Patty would like so she gives it a little squeeze and next thing you know the woman is a contortionist and we are howling.

Behold Patty and the raft.

No, this photo is not oriented wrong. Patty is horizontal as she squishes the poor defenseless raft while laying on it. All I could see was Patty's head on the other side of the chair that Sharon Armstrong was sitting in.

Apparently, as the raft deflates, air is shooting up Patty's dress and she's enjoying it just a little too much.

When in doubt, hug it to death.

 

For the final squeeze, Sharon back away to avoid getting wet again from the spray off the raft. And, there is a happy ending to this story. Raft is flat as a pancake now and we all about peed our pants!

Day 4 of Stampin' Up!s Founder's Circle

I am typing this just before 2 AM. Spent 3 1/2 hours in the hotel lobby with demo girlfriends, a few bottles of wine and in our jammies just chatting. Have to get to bed but wanted to post some photos. Hope to post more while waiting for my flight in Vegas. I have to have my luggage out my hotel door by 7 AM so, needless to say, gotta get to bed now!

Today was full of Make N Takes, shopping (just discovered my new fav clothing store - Bohme), lunch out then the most hysterical demo event at a golf course that involved playing games at different golf holes and getting from hole to hole via team golf carts. Ok, gotta toot our team's horn here... there were 17 teams of 6 or 7 demos. Our team of 7 took 1st place in the contest! So proud of my Tea Cozies peeps.

Here's my day in a photo nutshell.

 
Two of our Make N Take projects using a new set we received as a gift that will be in a future catalog. Hmmm... what a coinky-dinky, there's a tea theme.

Our final night activity at Coral Canyon golf course. One of the contests was to time one of our teammates eating a giant mashmallow. Missy Shipman wolfed that puppy down in 41 seconds!

This station's moderator was Sara Douglass. She asks our team "who wants to represent your team in blind stamping?" I did not say a word yet I hear 6 other voices yelling "Stella! Stella!" So, Sara blindfolded me and I had to make a card with only my team telling me where to move my hands to stamp and to pick up the items I used. No, Missy, I do not know which one is the "blue ribbon" when my eyes are covered, ha, ha!

Sara said I was super fast and here's my masterpiece.

How many CEO's of international companies do you see manning a station at a game on a golf course? Shelli demonstrates how we are to run a relay with a marshmallow on a golf club.

 

Our team tried to pose for a photo at every hole (we played games at 9 of the course's holes). Our Tea Cozies team included Debbie Moczek, Jan Burnett, Alisha Linn, Missy Shipman, Becky Sutton and Sherri Peters.

Then it was off to dinner with all the demonstrators. Our Tea Cozies team sat together at this gorgeous dinner table.

And these adorable trophies with markers in them were our place settings. This will be the only golf trophy I ever get in my lifetime!

I looked over at a neighboring table and there was my sweet downline, Sarah Wills.

After we left the activity, it was back to the hotel and here's what was waiting for me on my bed. My final pillow gift.

Look at his super cool charm! And see the detail on the tea cup and saucer. Stampin' Up!, you are SO clever and generous!

And so I also had to pack. Chuckle. Why do I always think I'm being soooo smart to bring one suitcase almost empty then always stress while packing as every nook and cranny of the luggage is full? It's a miracle I got it all in. But while packing, I laid out everything that Stampin' Up! gave me this week. Not what I got from Jill Olsen's house but just Stampin' Up! Mama mia... they are crazy generous!

More later... since all this happened before 10 PM and at about 10:30 PM I started texting my demo friends to meet me in the lobby so we could make a dent in the 3 bottle of California wine I brought with me. Yup, that lasted till almost 2 AM. Funny things happened downstairs and I will post more crazy photos of one of us who had us all almost crying with laughter as she deflated a pool raft. Yes, I'm talking about you Patty Chenail.

Stay tuned........

Day 3 of the Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle retreat

Today started bright & early with a 7:50 AM deadline to be ready to leave on the busses to Kanab and our manufacturing facility 90 minutes away. This might be my favorite part of attending Founder's Circle. I absolutely love seeing the faces of the hard-working employees who manufacture the core of our product line - our stamps. And what's really cool is that they tell us that our visit is the highlight of their year. It's a love fest!

We drive up and were surprised to see the entire staff there to greet us with signs saying that they love their demonstrators!

The foyer had a lovely sign for us.

Above the manufacturing plant is the most gorgeous apartment for Shelli and her family when they visit Kanab (it's 312 miles from Salt Lake City).

We weren't allowed to take photos inside the plant where the manufacturing takes place but they have this cool rock marker at the entrance that demonstrators love to have their photo taken in front of. Check out that sky! The day was glorious.

Also, while in the manufacturing plant, we saw them making a set we didn't recognize... hmmm.... yup, it's a set for a future catalog and they gave us each one as a gift! Wish I could tell you more but until I can make a card with the set, I can't tell you what it is. Stay tuned after I get home for a sample or two using this upcoming set.

After seeing the plant we were bussed to a local park for a picnic lunch. Our lunches were waiting for us in our own little picnic basket.

Posing with my friends (from left to right), Ruth, Denise, Sharon and Patty in front of the red rock cliffs above the park.

See the park's playground? Guess what the ground cover is...

...yup, ground up rubber bits that Stampin' Up!s CEO and her husband donated in addition to privately paying to revamp the park a couple years ago.

We stopped to shop for souvenirs at Denny's Wigwam on Route 66 in Kanab. How often do you get a chance to see a real stagecoach up close?

Came back to our hotel where I visited and dined with friends then hung out the rest of the evening. Just returned to my room to find yet another surprise on my bed.

What is it? Something made of fabric.

It's a handmade apron created with our fabric!

With this coordinating brooch pinned on the pocket.

What a great day! Tomorrow, I'll assemble my Make N Take's, try to squeeze in some shopping then we depart at 4 PM for our surprise, closing night activity. Nighty, night....

Live, Laugh & Love

This is another swap card that Cathy showed me from convention made by demonstrator Anna Haase. I love it! It's just my style of clean and simple.

Day 2 of the Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle retreat

The day began with hours of gabbing over breakfast. I sat at a table so long with friend, Angie Juda, that I think the other people at the table changed completely about 3 times. Felt great to just plant myself and catch up with my stampin' buddies.

Next we wandered to the Gathering Place - look how huge this room is... they truck in sofas and decorate the area just for the 5 days we're here.

Then, Angie and I watched Diana Gibbs, the master of watercoloring, do her thing. Demonstrators are so giving and Diana was happy to offer an impromptu tutorial.

Check out some of today's decor and delish delights in the bakery case.

In the corner of the room, I found my teammate Sarah Wills (far right) hanging out with our CEO Shelli Gardner.

At noon, Demonstrator #5 Jill Olsen (#5 as in the 5th person to join Stampin' Up! in 1988) had drivers waiting to take 20 of us in her downline to her home for team bonding.

Jill began by offering us lunch then a demonstration of how to make an apron using our Stampin' Up! fabric and a tea towel of all things (note the apron Jill is wearing). Her two daughters-in-law are her assistants.

Here's Patty Chenail digging in to the salad.

Jill and her daughters-in-law welcome us.

Teaching time.

After Jill finished demonstrating she raffled the 4 aprons she and her assistants were wearing and I won Jill's!

Then sneaky Jill announced that everyone in attendance would receive an apron too! Her assistants brought them out.  So generous!

Next we got to business and went downstairs to Jill's stamping area. This is her work area.

Jill was kind to pose for me.

Jill had 3 Make & Take projects for us to make. All gorgeous!

Jill has 5 "rag doll" cats. I took several photos of her cats but check out the look on this one's face. I think I'm annoying him.

Thank you, Jill, for your warm hospitality!

Fast forward an hour or so and 7 of us went out for Greek food. Here I am with my teammate Sarah Wills. Cheers to Stampin' Up!

We quickly returned to the hotel to put on our pj's for our pajama night and swap. Here I am with dear friends Denise Sullivan (left) and Ruth Bingle (center).

A gift from Stampin' Up! at the pajama party... carrying on the tea theme.

After the swap, I returned to my room to find this on my bed. Hmmm.... what's inside...

 

Guess I'm going to the theater tomorrow night!

And here are all the swaps that I just dumped on the bed. Too tired to look through them but, wow, what a pile!

Tomorrow, a full day at the manufacturing plant in Kanab. It's about a 2-hour drive by bus each way. I love going to Kanab as it's where the company was founded and where I can thank those super hard-working Stampin' Up! employees who create the most beautiful crafting supplies in the world!

My Founder's Circle swap using Christmas Lodge out of the Holiday mini catalog

I'm at our annual Founder's Circle achiever's retreat in Utah for most of this week. Tonight is our pajama party and card swap. There are about 125 of us who earn this trip and we all swap.

I was inspired by a card I saw from my friend Robin Merriman. Robin's card used a different stamp set. She was inspired by yet another stamper and so it goes. Ideas get passed around and lots of times something old is new again. A z-fold card is not a new invention but I haven't made one for a while so when I saw Robin's, it inspired me to use this layout for my swap card.

I never have enough of any one thing for a large swap so I just use what I have. I used 3 different red card stocks and every pearl size from my Basic Pearls. I like using up product!

Here are just a few snapshots of my work in progress and the finished results. Sweet Michael even helped me by Big Shot-ing almost all the card bases!

Lots of bows needed.

Lots of ribbon snippets on my carpet.

The sentiments all stacked and ready for assembly.

And the card bases are ready too. You can see the "z-fold". To make, score at 5.5 and 2.75 then fold to create "z". Then Michael ran them through the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

And here are a few samples. There are several variations as I used 3 different red card stocks (Cherry Cobbler, Riding Hood Red and Real Red) plus 4 different ribbons (seam binding or satin ribbon in both Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler).

Here's how it looks flat.

And here's an overhead view.

Here they all are - 125 of them - in the basket I use for swapping.

The dimensions of the pieces are as follows (and, remember, you can make this card a birthday card, get well, a zillion different ways to interpret this simple z-fold card:

 

• Card base = 4.25 x 11
• Score card base at 5.5 and 2.75
• Very Vanilla insert with tree on it 5.25 x 4
• Sentiment on vanilla 3.75 x 2
• Green base for sentiment 4 x 2.25

Go forth and create! {click on the white button at the right to order 24/7}

Day 1 of the Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle achiever's retreat

The attention to detail is simply beyond compare. Stampin' Up!s event team has created yet another masterpiece all focused on making 5 days absolutely heavenly for about 123 demonstrators from the US and Canada. The setting is St. George, Utah which is just over 110 miles north of Las Vegas. According to Wikipedia, "red bluffs make up the northern part of the city with two peaks covered in lava rock in the city's center." When the sun hits those red bluffs, it is stunning.

I left my home just after 5 AM to catch a flight to Las Vegas. From there, we are whisked away for a 90-minute drive to our temporary home for the week.

We have the whole hotel to ourselves and when we drive up, the fact it's all ours is pretty obvious. Stampin' Up! decorates the hotel with graphic vinyl on the glass and windows along with lots of other customized touches!

There is always a theme and this year's is a vintage, elegant tea time theme. I collect tea pots and love to drink hot tea in the fall and winter so I love it! The door to my hotel room had this personalized decor on it:

Delicious treats are always a hallmark of this event. They set up our gathering place as though it were a bakery and tea shop:

 
Today's specials were 2 different types of cupcakes. They were amazingly scrumptious!

In the afternoon, demonstrator friends Debbie Moczek, Patty Bennett and I helped Angie Juda with her swaps. Seeing my demonstrator girlfriends is the highlight of every Stampin' Up! event for me. The relationships that are formed are priceless and oh so cherished.

I love seeing beloved Stampin' Up! staff such as Bonnie Thurber in the 1st photo and Cori Hancock in the 2nd.

And the grand finale for the day makes me almost speechless (which you all know is a rarity!) - our 1st dinner as a group. Stampin' Up! organizes us in groups and the group I'm in this week for some activities is "The Tea Cozies".  The place settings were tea cups & saucers with roses in them! And the food... super yum!

 

 
We were warmly welcomed by our hostess and corporate CEO and co-founder Shelli Gardner.

The meal was sublime! Yes that's filet mignon... sigh.......

And, of course, dessert.

 
And that's not all! I returned to my hotel room to turn in for the evening and there was a surprise gift on my bed. It's a black box full of supplies to make the Make N Take projects this week.

Due to policy restrictions, I cannot show you all the contents as there are new products in there that will be part of a future mini catalog but I will say that one item does follow our tea theme - yeah!

What a GREAT first day! Can't wait to see what we're doing tomorrow.... nighty, night....

Stampin' Up!s new Stampin' Card Keeper from the Holiday mini catalog

Stampin' Up! released a new Stampin' Card Keeper in our Holiday mini catalog available now. It is  a white paper-covered chipboard box that you can decorate. It fits all our standard sized cards and includes dividers to keep all your themed cards sorted. There's even a pattern for covering the box so you can make yours look like mine below. The silver metal label holder is also included. Cover it with Designer Series Paper or leave it white as mine is. Countless ways to decorate and personalize to your taste.

Box measures 6 x 6.25 x 4.75.

The item # is 124107 and it's priced at $8.95.

Order by clicking on the white button to the right.

A "vintage" Halloween card that is ghastly!

While cleaning an area of my stamping storage, I found this Halloween card that I am guessing I made around 2000 or 2001, more or less. I am sure I was very proud of it at the time. Don't you love those wavy scissors around the black card stock? It is truly hideous but it made me laugh!