Stampin'Up! Swaps ~ part 1

Rounding the corner from last week is a good thing! (and here it is already Tuesday, that week even spilled into this one!) I kind of feel like I squealed around that corner on 2 wheels but I've turned onto a road between some nice green fields, views and room to breathe.  I like to think I better enjoy how busy I am since it's of my own making...but sometimes...
 ~ all that as an excuse to the fact that I had promised pictures of some of my swaps and I'm slow at getting them up...I am so pleased with the lot of them!
From my 3 x 3 swap:

and another fabulous round of Lyssa's Swap. Organized and high expectations makes for some great cards to share:

The little whale is pretty darn popular and super sweet. Seeing all the great cards, had me going back to the catalogue to check him out again. The little Sizzlet is just $9.95 and has the waterspray, a heart, a star, a little fish! and the sweetest anchor, too! Let me know if you need it, like I do!

smiles,
Laurie

Everything Eleanor Tag and Leadership 2013 Highlights: part 4

This is my Over the Top Tag Swap. I had such a fun time building this tag after Christmas. This is a  3 1/2" x 6" Vanilla base that I embossed-resisted with the swirl from Everything Eleanor by misting with River Rock reinker and alcohol in our new little Stampin' Spritzers...and another spritz of our Vanilla Shimmer. I layered and cut and punched and stamped and finished it off with some Victorian ribbon and Vanilla Seam binding accented with my favourite Vintage Faceted Designer Button and a Pearl.

And these are a few of the others I received in the swap. Aren't they wonderful?

Swapping is great and I'm always excited to see what I'll be bringing home to share with my Stamping Gals, here. The sessions, the classes, the give-aways and prizes, the information and exciting announcements are all over the top, but at the heart of it all, what I love about Stampin'Up! is the people. From the Corporate Team through to my newest Stamper who delights in her first card creation and seeing that happy smile as she realizes she can do it!

I look forward to seeing the friends I've made through the years attending Leadership and other events.  

I had such a wonderful time again this year because of these fabulous friendships formed over the years with some awesome Ladies! Emma is one of the sweetest gals and so is Debra, in her jammies in yesterday's picture. I met Gail (another Jammie clad gal) on the plane going down to Palm Springs!

Last year, on the last evening, I met Loree and Brenda. We went two-stepping at a Texas dance bar. I was so happy to run back in to them this year and giggle and share more good times. This is Rich, the President of Stampin'Up! He's one of my favourite people to run into at Leaderships since my first one in St Louis, way back. His vision for the company is extraordinary, his passion: inspiring. I love the talks from stage he has given. He pulls in stories of his family to illustrate his point and they are powerful.
Stampin'Up! has a Statement of the Heart and this year, Leadership 2013, Celebrating 25 Years, was all about Making a Difference. When I started this business 10 years ago, I knew it was different than any other sales company. It's not just about the sale of a stamp set or paper and ink, it's about so much more.

"To LOVE what we do

and SHARE what we love,

 as we help others enjoy CREATIVITY

and worthwhile accomplishments...

in this we make a DIFFERENCE."

 

The closing remarks by Rich crystallized Stampin'Up!'s founding principles and this Statement of the Heart. Putting into focus what is most important and reminding us to go enjoy what we do!

 

smiles,

Laurie



Hearts A Flutter for my Swap and more Highlights!

My swap card for an organized swap. I used the newest stamp set Hearts A Flutter and matching Die. The little borders are each from Border sets. The Needlepoint Border is new in the Spring Catalogue, the hearts are a favourite of mine from the Big Catalogue's Adorning Accents embossing folders. The Chevron Folder is new this year, I used it to tie in the chevron heart stamp from the set...

 

During the Pyjama party we had some great presentations from stage. Fantastic ideas for playing with some of our newest products. Brian Pilling has a wonderful stage presence and his verve for his first ever Pyjama party was fun! Can you imagine?! Boys don't really do sleepovers and Pyjama parties...I'm so glad I'm a girl! Aren't you!
Donna Griffith always shares from her heart while she is creating her wonderful projects on stage. She always has a ready smile and hug when I see her around the events. This year, I loved the sweet story and compliment she gave us all while pulling in one of my favourite symbols...the ampersand (or 'and' symbol, the "&") She spoke of its popularity in recent years, used as an abbreviation but also to indicate 'and more'. She thinks it represents the demonstrators of Stampin'Up! attending Leadership 2013 because of our spirit "and more".

Saturday included two break out classes to get the wheels turning for the coming year of business. Brandi Barnard and Meg Daves shared some concrete ideas on helping me plan more effectively to be a better demo for you in their class Creating Your Blue Print for Success, Leadership 2013.
I also attended Ramping Up Your Social Media Presence with Andrea Withers hosting three demos: Becky Roberts, Catherine Pooler and Diane Dimich. Each presented ideas for posting on Facebook, Blogs and You Tube. I'm inspired to begin making a library of videos!
Any suggestions for some content?

More highlights tomorrow,

smiles,
Laurie

Stampin'Up! Leadership 2013 ~ the Highlights: part 2

After the Pyjama party, a group of us congregated back in my room. Upon checking in the day before I had received a complimentary upgrade to a VIP suite! How exciting and unexpected was that! It was a natural for a gathering place! We giggled and talked for a few more hours. A couple girls pulled out their new Paper Pumpkin starter kits we'd been given in the General Session that afternoon. The Paper Pumpkin is a new Subscription offering each month that will arrive at your door and give you a Magical 30 minute escape of creativity and a beautiful finished project. Some months it will feature cards to mail off to friends, other months some home decor. Check it out at it's website.


She didn't have time to create…..
She didn't know what to create….
She didn't want to spend a lot of money


then I ARRIVED at her doorstep! I was filled with everything she needed
She created me, she smiled, she pinned me and shared me with all her friends!
If you would like this happy ending too –
Check out the newest stamping adventure by Stampin'Up!  

When ordering it please choose me for your demo. Thanks. Shipments will start mailing in March. Join now to receive your first Starter kit and the surprise package each month thereafter! You'll love it! Go check it out now   www.mypaperpumpkin.com

smiles,
Laurie

Stampin'Up! Leadership 2013 ~ the Highlights: part 1

I have left sunny Florida for our lovely snow covered landscape back here at home.
Last year when Stampin'Up! announced their Orlando location for Leadership 2013,  I excitedly looked forward to adding on a Family vacation to DisneyWorld.
Our vacation was every bit of what we expected and just so much fun! We arrived early evening on Jan 3 and didn't stop our frantic pace at the parks until my family dropped me at the Rosen Centre on their way to the airport, Thursday afternoon, leaving me to get registered and run into so many of my favourite gals from Stampin'Up!
The first night, I attended Manager's Reception at the Harry Potter Wizarding World! 

Shelli greeted us as we entered for a photo op, I noticed this sign behind her and asked if we could pull it into the picture, because I think Great things are on their way!
 The Stampin'Up! special events team deserves 3 Cheers for this amazing event. Tables of food laid out, frothy glasses of Butterbeer to drink. The rides were thrilling and fun, the shops lining the streets were wonderful. As we left the park late that night, Rich Jutkins, our President and COO, presented us with a Butterbeer mug and gift card for a stamp set of our choice.

The next morning began with music, swapping and hugs all around before settling in to listen to Shelli's welcoming comments and then it was off to my first break out class. I attended Meet New People, Find New Faces by Shannon West. It was a good way to start out Leadership 2013. I love how she used the photos of the demos she had interviewed for many of the great ideas she shared. 
Lunch and my organized swaps. The first was a technique swap. My card featured 'faux silk'. I used Tiny Tags and the new stamp set, Collage Curios. A few rhinestones added a bit of bling to my banner.

 

I have to take a picture of my little 3 x 3 card that I swapped, watch for that tomorrow, or later tonight...I love all the little cards I received from the other ladies. So many great ideas for classes coming up. Lots of great images and embellishments from the new Spring catalogue to showcase.
Stampin'Up! is celebrating their 25th Anniversary and they are putting on the Glitz!

I'll be back with more photos of some of the great cards and fun times!

smiles,
Laurie

December 30, 2012

I can't believe I've done it again...let far too long go between blog entries...
It's not like I don't think about posting,  just a couple days ago, I was thinking about an entry I could write while I washing dishes, but didn't get over to the computer. I guess that's the thing, life is busy and this month busier than most in an attempt to accomplish so much.
Cedmeber has come and nearly over, I didn't get it all done (whatever the definition of 'it all' is!) but I was really happy with how content I was with what I did do
...the gingerbread houses, advent calendar, Cary's 12 Beers of Christmas found, gifts wrapped and  under the tree as a surprise a few different mornings to be shaken and squeezed in anticipation, Christmas movies and popcorn nights, baking, Christmas plays attended, concerts, recitals, we even slept under the Christmas tree on the 21st. Sure, there are still some decorations that never came out of their boxes, some baking not completed, and Christmas cards not written (okay, so this, I'm a bit sad about, as I actually have about 20 made from classes I could have addressed and sent off. My excuse there, sadly, was the family photo that needed to be found and printed to enclose...I even purposely posed us in front of a fabulous landscape in Salzburg..but the lighting was all off. I'm planning on writing the letter in the coming week and getting things ready to send off for Valentine's ...or maybe Groundhogs Day! haha)
I wish I'd have shared this song by Amy Grant earlier for you all to enjoy...it's a real favourite of mine. Our piano teacher has 3 beautiful Girls. Sometimes at her Recitals she asks them to sing, as a special treat. They sang this a couple years ago...maybe it's more special to me because of this. Tag it somehow and save it for next year!

I'm busily finishing off Swaps for Stampin'Up! 's Leadership in Florida. I joined 4 different organized swaps. Be sure to pop back by to see all the gorgeous examples I'll have to share!

I do hope you enjoyed your Christmas and the Holidays! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

smiles,
Laurie



    

Gingerbread Creations

Just a quick little note with a few photos of the Gingerbread houses decorated.

 

A couple villages and this sweet Reindeer Farm made by my Littlest. Missing from the photos is the unusual Weasley House my Oldest made from several pieces of 'house'.  Difficult to do it any justice in a photo! The Weasley's from the Harry Potter series are a wonderful family, when Harry first visited their home he's quoted as saying something such as 'the house looked like it was held together with magic' .

The Gingerbread Weasley House defies some laws of gravity as well. Royal Icing is amazing! Quite fun!

 

Tomorrow is 12.12.12. What are you up to to celebrate?!