A Gift For You

This is just a small token to show my appreciation for your continued support.

I got this idea from another demonstrator and just had to C.A.S.E it!

Everyone who places a Stampin' Up! order of $50 of merchandise with me from now through the end of the year, will receive this cute little desk calendar as a gift.

This is a 4" x 4" coaster covered with Designer Series Paper with a 2009 Calendar attached.

Thank you all for checking in!

I hope you have a fabulous holiday weekend. My next post will be Tuesday, September 2.

dd

The Fine Print

Stampin' Up! merchandise total must be $50 before tax/shipping. Calendar will be mailed directly to customer upon receiving payment. Colors may vary.

A Busy Play Day

Makayla came over yesterday afternoon to play and spend the night, so I am a little behind in today's post. We have been very busy. In the past 24 hours we have been riding bikes and the scooter, jumping on the trampoline, coloring the driveway with sidewalk chalk, collecting acorns in Grandpa's John Deere cap, of course, Grandpa didn't mind. We have been digging for bugs, building a Hello Kitty puzzle, and a Barbie puzzle, playing Go Diego Go 123 Game, Disney Trivia, and Dora Chutes & Ladders. This is a typical day for Makayla. She is a very busy girl. One of the things that I just love about her, is that she sings or hums constantly while playing. Sometimes she sings real songs, but most of the time she just makes up songs about whatever she is playing. It just makes my heart happy to be with her.

Before our busy play day, I did however, manage to get a couple of cards made. I played some more with my Big Shot. I got another new die. Makayla also learned how to use the Big Shot. She was very impressed, and she could do it by herself. "This is awesome, Nana!" were her exact words. I have to agree, it's a great way to add another dimension to my card making. This is the Bird w/Leaves die. I cut the bird from the patterned paper from the Winter Retreat Simply Scrappin' Kit. The leaves are cut from Bella Rose. The stripe paper is from the Winter Retreat Die Cut Self-Adhesive Shapes. The background leaves are from the Pocket Silhouette set, and were stamped with Versa Mark ink. The saying is from the Upsy Daisy set, stamped in Old Olive, to match the paper. I used a Stampin' Dimensional under the wing of the bird to give it a more 3D look. I threaded Linen Thread through the button from the new Button Bouquet Assortment. The base of the card is Bordering Blue.

This next card is a bit more simple. The patterned paper is from the new Haiku Assortment. I used Pumpkin Pie as the base, and layered So Saffron on top of that. Again, I used the Versa Mark ink to create a subtle background on the top third of the card. The word Celebrate is from the Celebrate Everything set, stamped in Tangerine Tango, one of the new In-Colors. The flower brad is another one of the new Designer Brads. Lovin' the way it coordinates with the pattern in the paper.

I have another little promotion of my own to announce tomorrow. Check back to see what it is.

Until then, enjoy your day!

dd

Brand New Sets 15% Off

Here are two cards featuring stamp sets that are included in the Never-Before Seen Savings Promotion that is going on now through September 30. You receive a 15% discount on select brand new, die-cut stamp sets from the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog--No additional purchase necessary! You can find more detailed information by going to my Stampin' Up! website, or just click on the image on my sidebar.


This card was made using the Pocket Silhouettes set. It is a set of 6 stamps, 4 different flowers, and 2 sayings. It is just so cute and simple--I Love it! I used two of the new In-Colors, Pink Pirouette, and Kiwi Kiss, a very elegant combination, don't you think?

I started out with light pinks on this one, but felt like I needed a more bold contrast. This set is the Upsy Daisy set of 4 stamps. The flowers are all one stamp, and then there are 3 different sentiments. To achieve the faded look on the flowers, I inked the stamp with Pirouette Pink (the lightest pink), and then used Sponge Daubers and Ruby Red Ink to blend the colors. Then I daubbed with the light pink again around the edges of the Top Note die cut shape. Notice the faux stitching around the die cut, those are made when you cut the shape. How cool is that! To create the layering, I just cut another Top Note from Ruby Red cardstock and cut it in half and adhered it to the back. The ribbon is the new Riding Hood Red Taffeta, and the flower brad in the "O", is one of the new Designer Brads from the Flower Assortment. I colored the petals by using my reinkers mixed with Crystal Effects. The printed paper is from DSP Bella Rose.

All of the samples I've been sharing with you will be on display at our After Convention Celebration, so you can see them up close and personal.

Have a Great Day!

dd

5 Years and a Card

Remember the other day, when all of the sudden I remembered that it was my 5 year anniversary with Stampin' Up! Well, they didn't forget. I got this in the mail yesterday, with a letter congratulating me for my accomplishments. This is just one of the reasons that I Love this company. They acknowledge each and every demonstrator, whether you are the first Demonstrator to reach One Million dollars in sales (which happened this year), or a Hobby Demonstrator who just loves stamps, to make sure that they know that they are a very important part of the Stampin' Up! family.

Here is my version of a card that Stampin' Up! created and had on the Demonstrator website. I changed the color combination a bit and added some Designer Series Paper that I thought looked really cute with the scallop stamp. The stamp is from the Say It with Scallops set, and the patterned paper is from Bella Rose. Don't you love the addition of the red brad to one of the flowers? Got that idea from SU. I'm also lovin' the Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss combination. That was my idea. The base of the card is Kraft cardstock, stamped with Creamy Caramel using the Canvas background stamp. This card almost has a Christmas feel to it...Ooooh speaking of that, I just received my copy of the Holiday Mini...it is amazing. I say it every time, but Stampin' Up! out does themselves with every new catalog. I actually gasped when I was looking through it for the first time. I can't show you anything yet, but keep checking for some sneak peeks and samples in the next couple of weeks. I will tell you that it is 31 pages! I think mine is already getting worn out from all of the page turning.

Just a quick reminder, that if you are local, and interested in joining in the After Convention Celebration taking place Saturday, September 13, we are taking reservations. You can register by emailing me at DeeLeeD@aol.com. This is a hands-on workshop introducing many of the new products in the 2008 Idea Book & Catalog. We will be completing 5 projects, demonstrating tools and techniques, presenting lots of samples, and we provide lunch. There will also be a raffle for some great prizes. We did this at our last event, and it was really fun. I hope to see you there!

dd

"You" Page

Better late than never...I hope you enjoy this page.

One of the new products in the new catalog is an 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" Chipboard Album. I love this size. You can use one 4 x 6 photo, like I did here, or, several wallet size photos or a 5 x 7 would also work nicely. Notice the scallop edge. This was created by using the new Scallop Edge Punch, another favorite new product. Actually, the stamp set, and almost all of the embellishments used on this page are new! Flight of the Butterfly is a 2-Step set of 10 stamps. It has the solid base for the butterfly, and three different designs to layer. There are also 3 swirly saying stamps, a sentiment and 2 accent stamps. It is a great stamp set, and very versatile. The subtle backgrounds on this page were created by stamping the images with Versa Mark on the cardstock. The flower embellishment is the Extra Large Baja Breeze 5-petal Felt Flower from the Flower Fusion Too Accent & Elements. The button is from the Button Bouquet assortment. The word "you" is chipboard letters from the On Board Loads of Letters. I colored them with a Sponge Dauber using the Whisper White Craft Ink. I have left a space at the bottom of the page for my journaling, which I will do using the Signo White Gel Pen.

Thanks for checking in today!

dd

Wonderful Weekend

Another quick post this morning, then I will share a project with you later this afternoon.

We had a wonderful weekend. We went to a cookout/pool party Saturday evening, and had a great time. The food was great, the people were all really nice, and the swim after dinner was refreshing. Then, yesterday morning we went on a motorcycle ride with some friends. We started out around 8:00am and headed south. We went down past Bloomington, and around Jasper. The country is beautiful down there. It kinda makes you forget you're in Indiana. The winding roads through the countryside that took us through the green hills and valleys was very relaxing. Near the town of Montgomery, we saw several horse-drawn buggies traveling along the roadside. It was a beautiful day, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

I'm off to Jazzercise, then I'll get another project up for you. See you in a bit!

dd

Spooky Spider Decor Elements

Just a quick post today, to show you another fun project that I duplicated from Convention.

Personally, I really don't like spiders...but I must say this guy is pretty cute. This is one of the new Decor Elements that will be released in Phase 2 later this Fall. I was going to wait to post this until after I filled it with candy, but I just couldn't wait. Plus, this jar is quite large...it measures about 14" tall and about 8" around. That is going to take a lot of candy. If I filled it now, I would probably have all of it eaten way before Halloween!

Scott doesn't have to work again this weekend so we are going to a cookout at friends tonight. Hope you all enjoy your weekend as well!

dd

Big Shot Samples

BOO!Are these not the most adorable little favor boxes? Perfect for a Halloween Party, or October Birthday! Wouldn't you love to get one of these in your trick-or-treat bag? We live in the country, and even though it has built up quite a bit around us, we don't get too many Trick-or-Treaters. I thought it would be fun to make these for both of them.

This is the new Ghostly Greetings Designer Series Paper, the Baskets & Blooms XL Die, and the Scallop Envelope Bigz Die. The little card in the envelope measures 2" x 3". It is not part of the die. The little favor basket measures almost 3" high, not including the handle, and about 3" across the top.

Here he is...that cute little bird I told you about! I am very pleased with the way this card turned out. I kinda went crazy...I never use this many components on one card. Once I got going I just couldn't stop. Well, where should I start. The bird, and die cut flowers were done using the Birds & Blooms dies. The large pink flower is from the new Flower Fusion Too. Love those colors, Pirouette Pink, Chocolate Chip, and Baja Breeze. The brad in the center of the pink flower is one of the new Filigree Brads...Love those too! The ribbon is the 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain. This width is really growing on me. The striped paper on the bottom, you may recognize from the Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper...soooo glad they kept this one. The printed paper on the top is from the new DSP Haiku. And last but not least, the word "Peace" was done with the Decorative Strip Join in the Cheer die. If you look close, you can see that I tied Linen Thread around the base of the "P". Here is what the whole die looks like:

It is a 12" Border, and I just cut off the word that I wanted to use on the card. When I was almost done with this card, I realized I had not stamped anything! So, I added the little "to you" at the bottom. This is from the Level 2 Hostess Set Occasions Collection.

That's all for today! Gotta save some for tomorrow.

dd

The Best Laid Plans...

I'm sure you all have heard the saying...The best laid plans...Well, yesterday, right as I got settled in to work, Casey called. For those of you who don't know, Casey is my almost 22 year old daughter, Makayla's mom. She is married, her husband is in the Army, and currently serving in Iraq. Everything is fine. We talked for almost an hour. She lives here in town, and we talk almost daily, and sometimes numerous times during the day. Usually she just says what she wants to say, and the conversations last only a couple of minutes. Yesterday, she was in quite the chatty mood, so needless to say, I listened...it was good!



I did however, manage to get a couple of samples done to show you.



These were done using my Big Shot, the Top Note, and Birds & Blooms dies. The Top Note die makes the perfect topper for the small and medium cello bags. Fold it in half as shown here for the small bags, or in half longwise for the medium bags. On the card, I just laid it flat to create the background for the flowers. The flowers are from the Birds & Blooms die. This is a set of 4 dies. Two different flower styles, leaves, and a bird...I'll show you him later...he's so cute! Click on the picture to see more detail.



I made this card with the new Say it with Scallops set. This is the new set that was designed exclusively to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. When you purchase this set, Stampin' Up! donates $2.00 to RMHC. This is also the set that UPS donated and gave to each Demonstrator that attended Convention. How awesome is that! RMHC is such a wonderful charity, and I personally want to help make a difference in the lives of the families who must stay at one of these facilities.

Notice that this set coordinates with the new Scallop Square Punch. I am offering a *special price on that Punch, with each Say it with Scallops set ordered. I am going to give you my discount on the Punch. This punch normally retails for $15.95. When you order the Say it with Scallops stamp set, you can get the coordinating Scallop Square Punch for only $12.76. That's a $3.00 savings for you, and $2.00 from each stamp set will go to RMHC. This is a win win situation for everyone! You save, while making a difference in someone's life. This special will run through December 31. Contact me if you are interested in taking advantage of this special offer.
*This is my personal special, and not offered through Stampin' Up!

This post is getting a little long, but I did want to tell you how I got the layers on the scallop square. The stamped image is the actual size of the punch. I then punched out the square 4 more times from the white and chocolate chip cardstock, and offset those squares behind the original one. I hope that makes sense. I will demo this at our After Convention Celebration, so you can actually see what I mean. Click on the photo for closer view.

Okay, so today I'm home alone, no car, house clean, laundry done, better not take the phone off the hook...so let's see what kind of fun things I can create!

dd

Love That "Man In Brown"

It's here! What a lovely sight, two beautiful brown boxes sitting on my front porch when I got home!

My first order from the new catalog! So many new toys...I mean tools for my business. Good thing I planned ahead, and cleaned house and did laundry yesterday, so I can play...I mean get down to work today. I have even planned a fairly simple dinner for this evening, so I have more time to make some samples to share with you.

Do you want to peek inside?

And here's my new Big Shot!

I think I'm going to love this guy! He can cut through 8 pieces of cardstock at one time. Plus, there are about 50 different materials you can cut. Chipboard, Thin Metals, Felt, Fabric, Vinyl, and Heat 'n Shrink Plastic just to name a few. This is going to be so much fun. Better get busy... "working" so I can share some of the fun things with you tomorrow.

Now, to really dig into the box.

dd

Anxiously Awaiting...

Good Morning Everyone!

Today's the day...I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first order from the new Stampin' Up! catalog.

I've got my morning work done, and I'm off to Jazzercise, so when my boxes arrive, I can play! Yes, box(es). I think this is the first time in my 5 years of ordering that they have had to ship in more than 1 box.

Oh my gosh! I just realized that my actual 5 year Anniversary date with SU was last week. Wow how time flies when you're having FUN!

I will post again later today after I get my shipment.

dd

A Note of Thanks Box

Isn't this the cutest little box? This is one of the projects that we made at Convention. Actually, I finally assembled mine today. I didn't put it together at convention, because I was afraid it would get crushed in my overstuffed suitcase on the trip home. It is a little box that is the perfect size to hold the Classic Note Cards. What a fun gift to give to a Bride, a new Mom, or a neighbor that just moved in.

This is the new Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Pink Pirouette Cardstock and Gorgeous Pink 1-1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon. You can learn how to create this box and the adorable Ribbon Rosette when you attend our After Convention

Celebration. This is just one of

the techniques we'll show you during this 5 hour workshop.

Here is the coordinating Note Card. These note cards come 20 in a pack in Whisper White. Just add a couple of simple flowers, and a sentiment, and they're ready to send.

Supplies: Eastern Blooms, Thank You Kindly Stamp Sets

Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

Pink Pirouette Cardstock, Bella Rose DSP

Accessories: Chunky Stampin' Glitter Silver

Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad

Hidden Garden Rub-On

Scallop Edge Punch

See you tomorrow!

dd

Links Working!

Finally!
I'm not completely sure if I did this the way everyone else does, or if it really matters, but now, when you click on the pictures on my sidebar they take you to either the Stampin' Up! website, or more detailed information. I can't tell you how exciting this is to me! I hate to admit how many hours I have worked on this probably extremely easy task to some. I am learning, but still feeling computer challenged, and a bit overwhelmed with all of this technology.

Enjoy!

dd

More Swap Cards

Here are two more really pretty swap cards that I got at Convention. This first one was created by Cathy Maltby from New York. The Close as a Memory set is becoming one of my favorites, it is so elegant, and very versatile. She used the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen to create the faux stitching around the black circle. Then, she punched small holes around the white circle and used black embroidery thread to create the framework around the flowers.


The second card was created by Judi Cayton from Arizona using the Morning Soft set. She did a beautiful job coloring and shading the morning glory flowers and leaves. It is difficult to see here, but she has covered the entire white square with the flowers with glitter. This really adds to the beauty of this card. I also like the Sanded background stamp she used. This is an easy way to add just a slight distressed look to your card stock.



We had a beautiful weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect. Friday night Scott and I took a motorcycle ride downtown. There was so much going on. We could hear the music from Radio Disney at the Zoo. We could also hear the announcers and the crowd cheer from the game at the Baseball stadium. People filled the sidewalks, all enjoying the gorgeous evening. Saturday we had our garage sale, and Sunday we took a drive, again, just to enjoy the day. We wound up at a huge flea market in Bargersville, In. We stopped and looked around a bit. I just kept thinking, this is just like all of the stuff I just sold (or tried to sell) at our garage sale. Needless to say, I didn't buy anything!

Only 2 more days until the UPS man brings me my goodies.

dd

Happy Saturday

Hello Everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have been dealing with major sinus issues which also cause dizziness issues. It is difficult to work on my computer when the whole room is spinning. I haven't been very productive these past few days. Actually that is not completely true. I have been preparing for the garage sale that we had today with our neighbors. Today was the perfect day. We had a pretty good turn-out, but boy do we have alot of stuff! It's amazing how much stuff accumulates after living in the same house for 18 years, having 3 kids, 2 grand kids, and various hobbies.

I placed my first order from my wishlist from the new catalog. Notice I said first...yes, I had to divide into "can't live without", "have to have now", "need now", and "need very soon" lists. Let's just say that I have already met my minimum for this quarter! I can't wait for the UPS man to come on Wednesday! After he comes, and I have a little time to play, I will share some more samples.

I am in the process of learning how to add more information on the sidebar of my blog. I have the pictures, but I'm feeling a bit computer challenged, because I haven't mastered how to get the links to work. I still need to do a little studying on this one! I hope you are enjoying the information that I am sharing--send a comment to let me know your thoughts.

You can access all of the details from these promotions from the Stampin' Up! website.

I will be back on Monday--I promise!
Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

dd

Where's the Online Catalog?

The new Online Ordering system will take the place of the Online Catalog you're used to seeing. During the interim period between the release of the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog and the release of Online Ordering, the online catalog has been replaced with a PDF version that can be downloaded and viewed. This is a temporary solution that allows online access to the catalog until Online Ordering is available.
Stampin' Up! is working to decrease the document's download time on our end, but because of file size and significant download traffic, it may take some time to download. When you do download the document, make sure to save it to your hard drive so that you do not have to download it again.
Thanks for your patience as we work to bring you a fantastic new Online Ordering system!

An Exciting Day!

Here is a Great picture to give you an idea of how crazy the Convention was! This was taken while we were all waiting to enter our first General Session. 6000 crazy stamping women (I think there were about 30 men) anxiously awaiting the opening of the doors, so we could hear the first exciting announcements that Stampin' Up! had for us.

Finally, the day we've all been waiting for! Starting at noon today we can begin placing orders from the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog.

Just a reminder, if you missed the post earlier, we have had to change the date for our After Convention Celebration. We have a personal conflict with the original date, and have moved this event to Saturday, September 13. Mark your calendars now! You won't want to miss this hands-on workshop, where you will complete several projects using all brand new products! Advance registration is necessary. Plan now to join us for this day of fun and inspiration.

Have a Great Day!

dd

Two More Swaps

I chose these two cards today because they were designed by two different people, yet they are so similar in layout & color. I love them both! They both use the Spiral Punch. One to create a dimensional edge, and one to create the filmstrip look. The Enjoy Every Moment card uses just this one set. Isn't it wonderful when you can create such a beautiful card with just one stamp set! The little flower embellishment was created with the Trio Flower Punch and Pumpkin Pie cardstock.
Colors: Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Kraft


Don't you just love these adorable zoo animals! I think the bright colors chosen really make this card. The animals were stamped on Glossy Cardstock, and punched out using the 1-3/8" Square Punch--the perfect fit to create the filmstrip. The addition of the leaves is also the perfect touch. The leaves are from the Embrace Life stamp set. I can think of a few kids who would love to get this card in the mail.
Cardstock Colors: Only Orange, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink Colors: Lovely Lilac, More Mustard, Only Orange, Green Galore, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black


I hope you are enjoying you weekend.

dd

Swap Cards

Here are 2 of the many beautiful swap cards that I received at Convention. The first one uses the new set Dreams du Jour, and the new In-Color Baja Breeze. This is one of my many new "favorite" sets. She also used the Floral Background which is the perfect combination with this set. The silver dreams embellishment was made by stamping the image on the Brushed Silver cardstock and embossing with Silver Embossing powder. This really gives a nice metallic look.

The second card was made using the Happiness Background stamp. I love the bright colors she chose. There are a couple of different techniques you could use to achieve this look. You could use your Stampin' Write Markers, and color directly on each strip of the stamp, or you could stamp the entire stamp in each of the colors desired, and cut the strips, and layer them. The friendship embellishment was stamped with the Think Happy Thoughts set. The flower is cut out by hand and adhered with a dimensional.

Classic Inks: Taken with Teal, Rose Red, Old Olive & Pumpkin Pie

I'll pick a couple of more cards to share with you tomorrow.

Have a Great Weekend!

dd

BIG DATE CHANGE

Due to a Personal Conflict

We have to Change the Date of Our

After Convention Celebration.

We had previously scheduled this event for Saturday, August 23. We now have a personal obligation on this date, and have to move our event to Saturday, September 13. We will be mailing out a flyer with the date change and further details.

This event is a hands-on workshop where you will complete 5 projects using brand new products from the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog. The cost is $25.00 due at registration. You can register by sending me a comment to this post, emailing me at DeeLeeD@aol.com, or the good old fashioned way...the telephone.

This may actually work out better. Because of the delay in being able to order from the new catalog, we were really pushing ourselves to get everything ordered and all of the samples made that we wanted to share with you at this event. Now, we know that we can make this event even better than ever! Plan on joining us for this Day of Inspiration...you won't be disappointed!

I hope this works for all of you. We are extremely anxious to share all of the new and exciting products Stampin' Up! has to offer this fall.

Thanks for understanding!

dd

Big Shot Die Cutting Machine

This isn't the best picture, I took it from my computer screen. My convention bag, with this flyer inside was in Loretta's suitcase, and somehow her suitcase didn't make it back to Indy! Hopefully the airline will find it and deliver it to her soon. Anyway...

Stampin' Up! has teamed up with Sizzix to offer a multi-purpose die cutting system--The Big Shot!

With the Big Shot, you can create die cuts with any of our exclusive dies which coordinate with Stampin' Up! products, or any Sizzix dies that you may already own. Plus, it's compatible with other dies in the market.

Oh, the possibilities!

These new items will be available to order beginning August 11.
Until tomorrow--

dd

BTW Loretta got her luggage!

Distribution Center

This is the Distribution Center. It was amazingly clean! Shelli strives on making SU a pleasant place to work. She had the entire warehouse painted white and had skylights installed to make the area brighter. Music is also played in the warehouse each day. Here is where they hand pick and prepare thousands of orders to ship every day. We were able to see the boxes moving along the conveyor belts and even peek inside as they passed. When Stampin' Up first started 20 years ago, they would ship a few hundred orders each day. Now that they have moved to this incredible facility, they ship on average over 4,000 orders per day. This average more than triples during the Sale-a-Bration period. They pride themselves on accuracy. In my 5 years with Stampin' Up!, I have only experienced one error with an order, but a simple phone call, and the problem was taken care of immediately. I'm sure the Distribution Center is going to be swamped with after Convention orders! I know I have my Wish List ready!

Remember, the new catalog goes into effect August 11, 2008.

See you tomorrow for a "BIG" announcement!

dd

They're Here!

I just got home from running errands, and on my front porch was my box of new Catalogs! So...if you have notified me of your interest, I will be calling you to set up a time when I can deliver your copy. Please note that the first day that I can place orders is August 11. This gives you a couple of days to look through and decide what you absolutely have to have right now!

I will let you know that Stampin' Up! is running a special promotion, August 11-September 30. "Never-Before-Seen Stamps, Never-Before-Seen Savings". You will be able to find more information about this special on the Stampin' Up! website on August 11.

For now, get those Wish Lists going...maybe the stamp sets you can't live without will be on the list of 10 sets that are included in this Never-Before-Seen Savings.

Also, just a reminder that our After Convention Celebration is Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 10-3. This is a hands-on workshop where you will complete several projects with new products from the 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog.

Okay, sorry, this was just supposed to be a quick post to let you know the catalogs have arrived. I just get so excited, I can't stop.

Thanks for checking in!

dd

Riverton Campus

How would you like to go to work here every day? Well, if you were employed at Stampin' Up! this is what you would see. I am not surprised that they would have such an amazing facility. When you walk in the front door you are greeted with this 3 story atrium designed with a 2 story red rock waterfall, and beautiful plant life. This is actually where the staff comes to enjoy their lunches and breaks. Then there is the Legacy Museum where you can see through picture displays how Stampin' Up! evolved, and see beautifully stamped Definitely Decorative displays. We actually got to walk through Demonstrator Support and see them in action, answering phones with questions from fellow Demonstrators. Then there was the Ideas Room. This room included giant bean bags chairs, a ping pong table, and a conference table for brainstorming sessions. Another part of this room was an area with floor-to-ceiling whiteboard walls. These walls were covered with well wishes to the SU staff from those of us who visited. It was fun to see all of the heart-felt thanks from Demonstrators all across the country, Canada, and even Australia and New Zealand.

I noticed on one of the boards, it looked like they had been brainstorming ideas for the holidays. I don't know if we'll see this, but it was suggested to bring in velvet ribbon. What a great idea!

We also got to see the Distribution Center. Check back tomorrow, it too is Amazing!

dd

Free Stamps!

One of the many highlights of attending Convention is the FREE stamps! When we checked in and received our convention bag--another highlight--inside we found our new spiral bound 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog, and 3 stamp sets that we would use for the Make & Takes. The fourth set shown here is the "Say it with Scallops" set. Each year Stampin' Up! designs an exclusive stamp set to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. When you purchase this set, SU donates $2.00 to RMHC. With the help of Demonstrators and you, our Customers, SU has contributed nearly $700,000 to date. Ronald McDonald actually visited us during Convention, and SU presented him with this years' generous donation. This was one of the happy tears moments. On the last day, Shelli was on stage speaking when the doorbell rang, and in walked our favorite "Man in Brown"...the UPS man. You can imagine the cheers. He was carrying a large Stampin' Up! box, and said that he had a delivery. He said that he was a bit confused, because the box was addressed to EVERYONE! Of course, we all screamed with excitement. There were actually fireworks, and tons of confetti shot through the air as the UPS Truck drove on stage and several "men in brown" began passing out the "Say it with Scallops" set to all of us. Shelli then announced that UPS had donated these sets to present to us...another happy tears moment, and cheers and standing ovation, in honor of UPS and their generosity.

If you'll notice, the "Say it with Scallops" set is square scallops...yes...it coordinates with the new Square Scallop Punch! That is only one of the new punches you'll find in the new 2008 Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog.

Check back tomorrow, for more fun from Convention 2008!

dd

I'm Back

I'm back from Convention. Excited and exhausted!

We attended 3 General Sessions, 6 Classes, did 8 Make-n-Takes, Swapped 220 cards, toured the Riverton Campus, went to a Pajama/Karaoke/Birthday Party, attended a WOW Demonstration, walked 4 blocks to the Mall and back, rode the Trax system to see a little more of Salt Lake City, toured Temple Square, Cheered...a lot!, Laughed...a-lot!, Cried...happy tears, slept...a little, and had an absolutely incredible time!

I apologize for not posting while I was gone. I lugged my laptop, and my BIG camera to SLC, but could not get the wireless connection to work. Here is the cover of the new Catalog! It is so pretty...it even has a scalloped edge! If you like the cover, you are sure to enjoy the contents. I don't know how they do it, but every year, Stampin' Up! out does themselves. You'll know what I mean when you open yours. Their samples are beautiful, they have added tips & techniques throughout, and listed page numbers, etc., for finding coordinating products. I should be receiving my shipment of new catalogs shortly. If you would like to reserve your copy, just send me an email stating so, and I will contact you as soon as I receive them.

Keep checking this week for more highlights from Convention.

Have a fabulous week!

dd