I’ve been getting super excited over the last week as convention approached and I started getting exciting wondering what amazing ideas I’d see, what new products would be revealed, and have a chance to hang out and reconnect with some wonderful people.

As I do each year I’ll be posting live updates to my Facebook page (as long as my battery holds out each day) and I’ll give you the full scoop and pictures each night here on the blog.  So even if you can’t be here in person, you can still participate in the excitement and get a feel for it with me.

Travelling to Salt Lake City!

So, today was my traveling day and I was very lucky to have 4 members of my group plus a great stamping friend traveling with me from Seattle to Salt Lake City.  We hopped on our plane last night and were treated to the most amazing sunset as we came in to land in SLC.

We got our bags and a shuttle and headed to our homebase for the weekend – the Radisson at the convention center.  Check out the cool wall art about the nice beds:

And while I should really be sleeping in that bed right now (since breakfast comes waaay to early in the morning), I thought I’d show you some of the other fun things I brought with me to kick things off.

1.  My nametag & convention buttons!

My first year at convention, I saw people with their lanyards full of pins and buttons and I realized that many people collect their convention pins and acheivement pins on their lanyard and I set out to start collecting mine.  It’s taken me 5 years, but I love that it is getting more full.  I know… its silly, but sometimes the little things make it more fun!

Plus with 6,000 demos in attendance, they are checking badges this year and so I got to make it fun to look at!

2.  Swaps!!

What would a Stampin’ Up! event be without swaps?  I started out with making a ton of this Flower/Doily card… it was fun and easy to make a bunch.  But when I was done, I had made 76 cards and I decided a few days ago that a few more wouldn’t hurt and so I made the Christmas cards as well.

Flower Shop Doily Card

I used the new Flower Shop bundle to create the cute flowers and then just accented with one of the Whisper White doilies.

I decided I needed a few more swaps and I thought of this fun way to use the new Christmas Collectibles stamp set.
(psst – sneak peek alert!  New holiday catalog goodies including the new stamp set, punch, and embossing folder.)

Christmas Collectibles Ornament Card

3.  Fun n’ Crafty group gifts!

And finally, I put together a little Convention Survival Kit for everyone in my group since it was the first convention for many of them.  Some people have the tradition of downline gifts and roommate gifts… I just was excited to have so many downline and friends going with me I wanted to put a little something together for them.

• I figured a few emergency snacks and mints would be nice.
• Wet wipes for cleaning up after snacks or when you are stamping during make & takes and need a little extra clean up power.
• Some tissue, because there is always some touching story or presentation that gets the whole room crying!
• Chapstick – I swear, I always forget this and buy a new stick every year when I am here!
• Band-aids were supposed to be in the bag, especially for when you are walking all day and your shoes start rubbing
• …and of course a cute bag they can reuse each day to easily find their essentials.

Today they get their handmade gift from me… but I’ll save that surprise for my next blog post!  Ooh, I can’t wait to give everyone theirs!

So, today will be a day full of Stampin’ Up! home office tours, swapping, opening session, and a big party afterwards!  I’ll post as I go on my Facebook page and then back here later for the full report.

I’m so excited!

Now for a few hours sleep while I can….7:15am comes too early!