Northwest Stamper

Category: Events

  • Stampin’ Up Convention 2013–Day 1

    Whew!  Turns out when you are sharing a convention hall with 6,000 of your friends, the lines get really long! I knew it was going to be a busy day, but I wasn’t prepared for how much longer everything takes when you have so many people there. 

    But we had a lot of fun, saw some great inspiration, traded a ton of cute swaps, got freebies, and wore ourselves out. Smile 

    I thought I would share the highlights of the day so even if you weren’t able to be there in person, you could get a feel for what it’s like.  Then if you want to see lots of details, I’ll be posting all my pictures to my Facebook page over the next few days. 

    Wandering Salt Lake City

    This year I have a number of members of my Fun n’ Crafty stampers group join me at convention, and so I created a packing list checklist and shared it with everyone before we left.  I thought it would be really handy to use while packing for convention, and it was…. but who was the smarty pants who forgot her notebook and water bottle.  YUP! That was me.  So as we wandered downtown while I picked up those items, it was really cool to see Stampin’ Up! logos everywhere!

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    Visiting the Home Office

    I always like to visit the home office in Riverton each year.  They bus us out there and we get to see what the offices are like and chat with staffers and demonstrator support.  It looks like a FUN place to work!

    This is the entryway:

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    And if you can see the people behind the banners, that is the line to get in to the Legacy Museum – a really cool room where some of the setups that are used as the photographed settings for the catalogs as well as tons of samples, history (the first catalog is on display!), and inspiration!  For example:

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    (PS – If you have your holiday catalog, this table and place settings should look familiar! Winking smile)

    Opening Session

    Finally by 4:30 everyone was lined up around the block and starting to pile in to the general session stage to get ready for opening session.  It was a fun look back over the last 25 years of SU history and then a talk about the theme this year “Be the Difference”. 

    Here is my group waiting for session to start

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    We all got cute bags with lots of goodies inside!

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    And of course there was lots of demonstrations and inspiration on stage!

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    Opening Night Social

    Then the night ended with lots of partying and more demonstrations, kareoke, a service project, and lots of swapping!  The lights were low and the room was packed so I didn’t get as many pictures last night.  But lots more coming today (and I have more pictures from day 1 I’ll be posting on Facebook later today)!

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    Whew!

    Alright, now off to day 2!  Share more soon!

    spaced shop now sig bar

  • It’s Stampin’ Up! Convention Time!!

    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.

    salt lake city sunset

    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:

    Convention 2013 Radisson hotel room

    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. Smile

    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!

    convention 2013 name tag and lanyard

    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

    stampin up convention 2013 flower shop swap

    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

    stampin up convention 2013 christmas swap 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.

    Stampin up convention 2013 survival kit

    • 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!

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  • Another Print Poetry Idea

    Today is the LAST DAY to RSVP for our Print Poetry stamp camp or sign up for a kit in the mail.  So, I thought I’d share one of the cards we created as an idea for the event but ultimately didn’t make the cut for the class this time (though I know I’ll be using the design in the future!)

    This uses the Lacy and Lovely stamp set plus the Print Poetry designer paper and notecards & envelope set.  It is super fast to make and cute to boot!

    One tip for this card is that for the doily image, I stamped in Crumb Cake ink on a piece of scratch paper first and then stamped on my card.  This gives you a lighter image so that the sentiment can really stand out.

    Want to make more cute cards like this?

    Sign up for the Print Poetry stamp camp or kit in the mail!  You will be able to get the instructions after today, but this is the last day to RSVP for kitsRefer a friend and get a bonus in your box!

    Get everything you need to create 6 cards and a box to store them in, plus instructions so you can make them again and again with different papers and stamps!

    Print Poetry Stamp Camp

    Get all the details here

     

    To Order Stampin’ Up! Products Anytime, click here!

  • Announcing: Print Poetry Stamp Camp & Class by Mail!

    I recently had the idea to put on a joint stamp camp with a couple of the fabulous gals in my Fun n’ Crafty team.  So, we got together, designed some projects, figured out the details, and now I’m super excited to share what we created with you!

    Print Poetry Stamp Camp

    April 20th, 2013  –  3:30pm at Roundtable Pizza in Overlake
    (15025 NE 24th St, Redmond, WA 98052)

    This is going to be an awesome event as not only will there be fun people to chat and craft with, but everyone who attends will receive:

    • A full pack of Print Poetry designer series paper (that is 48 double sided sheets)
    • A full pack of In Color Dahlia embellishments
    • A pack of 20 notecards & envelopes
    • Additional materials as needed to complete the cards and box
    • Printed instructions for 6 cards plus a card holder box
    • Entry into the multiple doorprizes drawn that day!Bring a friend and receive 2 additional doorprize entries!

    You will use those supplies to complete all of the projects in one afternoon.  That is $21 worth of product plus lots of extras (including supplies for at least 14 more cards) and doorprizes for only $30.

    This is a great way to get some new ideas for how to use your patterned paper that I know you have lying around at home! Plus with the instructions you can make more of your favorites without having to think or try to figure out the measurements!

    Class by mail options is available too!

    Can’t make it to the class?  Get the kit by mail and grab some friends and have your own crafty afternoon!

    Class by mail kit will include:

    • A full pack of Print Poetry designer series paper (that is 48 double sided sheets)
    • A full pack of In Color Dahlia embellishments
    • A pack of 20 notecards & envelopes
    • Cut cardstock as needed to complete the cards and box
    • Emailed instructions for 6 cards plus a card holder box
    • Shipping anywhere within the USRefer a friend who orders the kit by mail and receive a free pack of Stampin’ Dimensionals in your kit for each friend referred!

    Need just the instructions?  I have that option too!

    I just love this paper and these ideas for creating with any paper you have at home.  I hope you are able to try it out and enjoy it too!

    Space is Limited!

    Your pre-payment holds your spot and payment for both the in-person event and the class by mail options must be received by April 14th at midnight.

    Print Poetry Stamp Camp

    I can’t wait to share this with you soon!

     

    To Order Stampin’ Up! Products Anytime, click here!

    Don’t miss your chance!
    Get your choice $156 worth of products for only $99 when you join my Fun n’ Crafty group of demonstrators by March 31st!   Learn more here.

  • Convention 2012 Display Boards!

    One of the big reasons to go to convention is to see all the tons of amazing samples and displays.  They have huge boards that are organized by common colors (so you get a rainbow effect as you walk along the boards), by artisan award finalists, and boards full of samples using the stamp sets we are given at convention.  That is a lot of samples!!

    So, to help you get started with some new ideas here are some of the display boards to give you lots and LOTS of ideas!

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    Whew!  So are you feeling inspired yet?  I told you there are so many amazing ideas there.  I decided this year that I’m going to pick a few of my favorites and use them in my classes and for blog posts of the coming year.  So, thank you to everyone who contributed to these boards for sharing the amazing ideas!

    So, I’d love to hear… leave a comment here or on my facebook page with with cards from the boards are your favorites!

    To Order Stampin’ Up! Products Anytime, click here!

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  • Convention Week Kickoff!

    Today my family catches a train back to Seattle from Portland.  We’ve had a great trip and now I have a day and a half and then its off to Salt Lake City!  That’s right, it’s Stampin’ Up! Convention Week!

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    I will have posts scheduled to go up this week while I’m away but as I have time, I’ll try to share pictures here on my blog.  If you are interested in more up-to-the-minute details from convention, make sure you are a fan of my Facebook page as I’ll be able to post more frequently there as I see or hear exciting stuff!

    In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to have some special promotions while I’m gone.  So, if you want to take advantage of the Convention Week excitement – here are some deals for you:

    1.  FREE INK PAD – Place an order through me (via email or phone) that is over $50 before shipping and tax and receive a new firm-foam ink pad of your choice for free!  Email me at jennifer@nwstamper.com to let me know what pad you want!

    2.  WIN A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE – Everyone who places any order this week – whether online, by email, or phone – will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate!  I’ll draw on Monday July 23rd; so check out the amazing inspiration from Convention and then pick your favorites for free!

    I’m also hoping there will be a new demonstrator sign-up promotion come out during convention, so if you have been thinking about joining Stampin’ Up!, let me know and I can keep you posted as I hear of anything coming down the pipe while I’m at convention.

    I am SO EXCITED and can’t wait to see all the amazing ideas and inspiration in Salt Lake and then share them will all of you.  This is what we saw in the last couple of years… who knows what we will see this year!


     

    To Order Stampin’ Up! Products Anytime, click here!

    Are you earning your Northwest Stamper Rewards? Every order gets you closer to your FREE stamp set! Click here to learn more!