A FEW MORE SWAPS FROM STAMPIN' UP CONVENTION!!

Today is my first day in a week that I have been up and moving for 7 hours straight!!!  It probably won't last for more than an hour longer, but it feels so good just feeling almost normal again.  My poison ivy is still with me, but it now has a friend to keep it company:  upper-respiratory infection (I think or hope).  Yes, I am going to break down and call the doctor tomorrow to see what the heck is going on with my body.  I feel blessed that I was able to have a couple of days last week to go camping with some of my family.  I hadn't seen a couple of them in over 10 years so it was especially fun to catch up on their lives and families.  In my post last week I mentioned that my grand-daughter was riding with me to the campground to make sure I didn't get lost.  Well I ended up letting her drive, and we had the most awesome adventure -- we only had to turn around 5 times on the way there and twice on the way back!!!  Everybody kept calling us from the campground wanting to know what was taking us so long and to give us directions.  But none of that worked because it is a little hard to give directions when you don't know where you are to start them.  I finally figured out that my GPS was programmed to take back roads and we were trying to take the highways -- that is why it kept telling us to make U-Turns.  Also good that our destination was only 2 hrs. away and it only took us about 3.5 hrs. -- so we did good!!!

Because I haven't opened any of my new Stampin' Up Product and have been sick all week, I am showing a few more swap cards and some camping pictures.


Love all the texture on this, by Marjie Shulsinger (www.stampoutloud.com)

I can see that I really need to purchase this stamp set!!  By Donna Sheehan.



My son-in-law, Ethan, sitting by the campfire (dinner is cooking) with my niece's husband on the right.  I slept in my Blazer behind the screened tent (on a very comfy air bed mattress and sleeping bag).

Breakfast:  Sausage, bacon, potatoes already cooked on fire and scrambled eggs keeping warm.  There was tons other food but I was headed to the showers and didn't look under the tin foil.  That is my water warming up on the side for my tea!!

Getting ready to go to the beach!!  My grand-daughter Emily (who drove me to campground), my great-grandson Kail (her son), and my great-niece Layla.

Some of the campers!!  (My daughter Tricia trying to get her butt warm by the campfire, my other daughter Deborah is sitting in chair on the left, and my sister-in-law Allyson in the middle.

Hurry up Mom!!  I want to go swimming!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have some new creations the next time I post!!

Until next time,
Sandi
"My grace is sufficient for you,  for power is made perfect in weakness."  -- 2 Corinthians 12:9

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS: STAMPIN' UP!!

Back from Convention and finally got all my bags unpacked, laundry done, and house back in order -- in less than a week!!!  This is an all-time record for me.  It usually takes me 2 days just to start thinking about it.  So today I spent the day packing up again and writing lists so I can go camping tomorrow.  Unlike my friend Ronda Wade, when I go camping we cook over the open fire or Coleman stove, sleep in sleeping bags (me on the ground I think as I didn't pack my tent), and play board games all day long.

I'm really not recovered from my poison ivy, as it has now spread over my entire body; but I am on medication now and the weather has been cooler so that helps when your body is itching from the heat.  I'm also only going camping for 3 days (most are there now).  I think my daughter, Tricia, told her daughter (my granddaughter, Emily) to ride with me as she called late tonight saying she needed a ride all of a sudden.  Everybody in the family knows I get lost just going to town (6 miles away), so they don't trust me to drive by myself.  I just laugh because I never get lost, just temporally can't find my destination!  I definitely have gotten my money's worth out of my compass in my car.  I have a GPS, but the lady always tells me the wrong directions -- however, she does do a good job telling me what lane to get in.

Today I want to show you all the goodies I got at Convention.  Stampin' Up just showered us with gifts this year.  Wow, over $200 in free product/gifts, and then on top of that I won a $100 Stampin' Up shopping spree!!!  I had so much fun looking through the new Holiday Mini Catalog to order my free stuff yesterday (demonstrators get to order early).  This is just one reason why you need to sign up as a demonstrator (call me and I will tell you even better reasons).  I also have a few swaps to show you that I received at Convention.  Enjoy!!

Our Convention bag/backpack we received this year (upper right corner) is awesome -- top quality!!!  So many features and so many zippers!!!  Memento Mall Strawberry Slush Hoodie (upper left), RubberQueen T-Shirt (lower-left), and Convention T-Shirt (lower right).

Convention Goodies!!  (can't show you all the stamp sets because they aren't for sale yet).

Everybody received a free Paper Pumpkin Kit, the 25-Year Stampin' Up silver pen was in our Convention bag, and the charm bracelets and key chain from Memento Mall. 



My new friend, Kelly Mayou, gave me this cute 3-D box with a little Keurig® hot chocolate mix inserted. 

Isn't it just the cat's meow!!!

This swap was done by my friend Eleanor Faught (another RubberQueen) -- so cute!!

Another cute one!!  No name on the back.

Another RubberQueen and friend, Melissa Roberts, made this sweet card -- I love it and will be CASEing this for a class!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"Every day is a gift, Lord, each moment a treasure,
Give us eyes to see beauty, hours to hug pleasure."

-- Fred Bauer

2013 STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION: DAY 3

Well the party is over!!!  One of the most awesome conventions I have ever attended.  Every day was a new party, new product, awesome demonstrations, so many prizes, so much excitement, so many friends that I haven't seen in a year, and so many new friends!! 

Today was especially awesome for me because I was one of 25 attendees to win a $100 shopping spree from only playing one game last night at the 25 Year Celebration Party!!!  WOO HOO!!!!  Can't wait to get home so I can shop through the catalogs.  Everybody at convention won a prize patrol, everybody received a prize every day at General Session, and then there were more prizes handed out at the Opening Social and Celebration Party!!  We work for the best direct sales company there is, so get on board and join my team -- you will never regret it, I promise!!

Today I want to show you pictures of Shelli's presentation projects and some of the projects on the boards:

Shelli's projects -- so beautiful in person.  Sorry I couldn't get pictures of the fronts, but they were on the display board like this.

Another project done by Shelli.

Projects using the new Undefined Stamp Carving Kit (we all received this kit to make our own stamps).

Sorry I don't know who did the rest of these pictures as they were on the display board.

Swap card I thought was beautiful.

Another Swap card I thought was beautiful.

And one last Swap card I thought was beautiful (I'll show more later).

We surely have very talented demonstrator artists -- so many beautiful projects.

Well, I have about 4 hours before I have to get up to go to the airport and still have to shower and pack, so until next time, Sandi

2013 STAMPIN' UP CONVENTION (CONTINUED)

Another awesome day here at convention!!  I won prize patrol right of the bat -- which totally surprised me!!  Awesome demonstrations of our new product (wait until you see the new stuff!!).  Played with our new "UNDEFINED" stamp carving kit -- way too cool!!  Everybody attending convention received one to play with, and everybody at home can start ordering now!!

But really, really most awesome new tool coming out in August will be the new envelope maker!!!  This will fly off the rack immediately, so get yours first before it is on back order.  I love, love, love it!!!

It is 1 A.M. in the morning (Saturday), and I'm really getting tired so this is going to be another short post as I have to get up no later than 6 a.m.  Here are a few more pictures of the home office.  Right-click on the pictures and select "open in new tab/window" if you want to see close-up.

Notice the rosette circles on the mantel -- adorable!!

I would love to have everything in this room!!!

These are made with designer paper and are huge hanging down from the ceiling.

Come back tomorrow for more pictures -- I will have pictures of what Shelli created on stage!!

Until next time,
Sandi

2013 STAMPIN' UP CONVENTION: RIVERTON TOUR

Good morning from Salt Lake City!!  I have 5 minutes before Lynn and I leave for Friday sessions, so thought I would hurry and post some pictures from Stampin' Up's Riverton tour yesterday.  I will post more tonight.

Lynn and Eleanor out front of the entrance.

Atrium inside.

So beautiful in person -- all Stampin' Up cardstock!!

And of course I love this!!!

Front of the office building.

Gorgeous in person -- stained glass technique!!

Gotta leave -- so sorry this is so short.  I promise there will be more!!

Until next time,
Sandi

IS IT CHRISTMAS YET???

Thank goodness I have an excuse to sit down!!!  Been cleaning non-stop since yesterday at 5:30 a.m. (except that 4 hr. nap last night), and still can't say I have one room completely done.  But only a couple more windows to clean, and then things will go a lot faster.  If I only had to clean the glass, it would take no time at all -- but then I have to wash all the trim, then I move on to the walls, by then the floor has gotten dirty, and I have to polish all the furniture around the window.  I actually spent 4 hours purging my files yesterday and filing new stuff that I have had sitting for 3 months back in the folders.  (I went over to do my first window and decided I couldn't wash the window until I cleaned off my desk -- you know how that goes!!)  I'm thinking that maybe it is time for me to hire somebody to clean my house once a week.  I know my mom had somebody when she was my age (or maybe younger), so why should I feel guilty??  But then I don't know if I could handle it after doing it myself all these years.  My dear husband hires somebody to do all of his work, but then he ends up standing there watching them the whole time -- so what is the point???  I'd love to hear your reason why I should or shouldn't hire somebody -- maybe it will help me decide.

Okay, my break is just about over, so I need to tell you about the cards I'm posting today.  The first four cards (Christmas) were done for Ronda's RubberQueen meeting on Tuesday.  I won a jar of the Peppermint Embossing Powder the month before, so I was to bring 4 samples using the product to this month's meeting.  Of course I forgot until the last minute, but came up with these really quick cards.

Scentsational Season Stamp Set with Peppermint Embossing Powder.

Another Scentsational Season Stamp Set with Peppermint Embossing Powder on Glossy White Card Stock.

No Peeking Stamp Set with Peppermint Embossing Powder and Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.

And lookie what is inside!!

Another card using No Peeking Stamp Set, Peppermint Embossing Powder, and Baja Breeze Classic Ink brayed over the top of Very Vanilla Card Stock (Emboss Resist Technique).

One of the make'n takes from Convention 2012.  The bottom-right panel is a little mini album -- so very cute!!

Another make'n take from Convention 2012.

Well my break time is over, and I have a few more chores I want to complete before I get comfy for the night.  Hopefully I will get time to post again before my company gets here next week.

Until then,
Sandi
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."  -- II Corinthians 5:7
Lord, give me the courage to walk out in faith to answer Your call.