Sunday, January 29, 2012

My First Stampin' Up Leadership Conference

I qualified to attend the Stampin' Up Leadership Conference this year and decided that since it was going to be in San Antonio (a short plane ride from Dallas) that I would attend and pick up some business tips and get back together with my Pals.  I attended the Stampin' Up Convention in 2010 in Salt Lake City and I had a blast!  I was excited to come, but also a little nervous to leave Saige for the first time.  I was mainly nervous that she'd cry a lot and be difficult for my dad and Matt to watch.  However....each night I received a text video of her just laughing up a storm in her highchair (isn't technology amazing?).  It was such a relief.

The opening session was great.  They gave us a free stamp set from the upcoming catalog, large pearls, a MDS content CD, regular pearls, rhinestones, Pool Party ruffled ribbon and a pack of 4 Occasions Mini Catalogs and 4 Sale-A-Bration catalogs (anyone need one?)  They had great announcements about the catalogs and new products.  After a delicious lunch there were breakout sessions.  I attended a session by Brian Pilling (from the Stampin' Up office) on how to Share the Stampin' Up Opportunity.  I saw him present at Convention and enjoyed it so I really wanted to see what he had to say.  He gave me some great ideas on how to share why I love Stampin' Up and how to create opportunities to share my story.  It was a good presentation and I'm glad I was able to get in it.  They tried something new and had several break-out mini sessions in the afternoon by seasoned demonstrators.  I attended one on workshop tips, recruiting, effective business tips and customer service.  I'm hoping to take small nuggets from each presentation and apply them to my business.  It was such a refreshing day and I'm so glad I was able to attend.

Day 2 of Leadership was another great day.  We had two general sessions where we heard presentations on the State of Stampin' Up!  They really are a great company to work for and I feel like they do very ethical business.  We were able to choose our break-out sessions and I attended one on Why Women Buy presented by Carrie Cudney.  I really got a kick out of her "mall map" showing how guys buy (they go in, straight to the store, spend $35 and 15 minutes) versus women (who go in, stop at almost every store, spend $376 and 3 1/2 hours).  It was a really fun session.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Title Benfits session with Bonnie Thurber focused on my current Stampin' Up title.  I always enjoy her presentations and her humor.  (Bonnie, if you're reading this- I'd really like a project sheet for all the great video tutorials that you provide.  Just something with a photo of the project and a list of supplies used.)  They ended the day with a project session with Shellie and I won the prize patrol!  I won the Apothecary Art stamp set and the Labels Framelits!  We all received a pack of the Everyday Vintage Designer Series Paper and the coordinating stamp set.  It was a great way to end the conference!  They always spoil us with goodies.

Overall, I'm so glad I went and I'm looking forward to next year.  Here's a photo of me and my roomies.  I love how Stampin' Up can connect you to fabulous people from around the country.
L to R: Ginger Tiovonen (Montana), Ann Schach (Iowa) and me.


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Pals Valentine Blog Hop

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Love is in the air as the Stampin' Pretty Pals share the love with cards and projects for today's Pals Blog Hop!

You've probably hopped over from Frenchiee Hum at Frenchiee's Spot, I'm stop number 12 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for love themed paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track

My project is the February page of my upcoming Birthday Calendar class.  These calendars are available in the main catalog and allow you to write in birthdays and other special dates so you have them handy each year and don't miss a date (they aren't year specific so they'll last a long time).  I used the I {Heart} Heart set and the new Outlined Occasions Sale-A-Bration stamp set and I stamped them in Rose Red.  I think the I {Heart} Heart stamp set might be one of my favorites in the entire catalog.  I love the clean heart images and how well they layer with one another.  I'll be sure to post photos of the other 11 months after my class.  I hope you'll stop back by to see them!

  1. Linda Fisher at Linda's Stampin Loft
  2. Maggie Mata at MaggieMadeCards
  3. Kim Luithle at Kim's Stampin Stuff
  4. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
  5. Dawn Tidd at My Stampin' Blog
  6. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!
  7. Susan Lankford at Stampin' Crafty Corner
  8. Nina Dee at Deesigns by Nina Dee
  9. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
  10. Cindy Hall at Pretty Impact
  11. Frenchiee Hum at Frenchiee's Spot.
  12. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie's Crafty Corner
  13. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog
  14. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
  15. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
  16. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
  17. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
  18. Amanda Cramer at Mrs. C with Style!
  19. Sandie Conner at Pretty Provisions
  20. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space
  21. Sue Bendinsky at My Color Creations
  22. Leah O'Brien at Leah's Stampin' Corner
  23. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
  24. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
  25. Emily Steggell at Em's Creations
  26. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair!
  27. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
  28. Jessica Ying at YoYoStamping Studio
  29. Leslie Davis at Ellalicious Elements
  30. Joan Norris at My Creative Impressions
  31. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki's Creative Corner
Now hop along for more inspiring ideas from Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog, stop number 13 on the Love Is In The Air Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by! 

Sunday, January 8, 2012

PPA 126- Color Challenge

Today's card is a 1st birthday card for one of Saige's friends.  This will be her 4th birthday party and she's only 9 months old!  I think she has a better social calendar than I do. :)  In all honesty, we've been extremely blessed with a mommy group that formed out of the hospital where she was born.  I think staying home with her would not be nearly as enjoyable if we hadn't met so many great new friends.  Most of her group is girls, but there are a couple of boys and I needed a boy birthday card.  I thought the PPA color challenge was great for a boy birthday card.  Let me know what you think. 
Be sure to stop back by on Tuesday for the Pals Valentine Blog hop.  It's going to be one of the biggest yet!