world card making day 2014

On Saturday, October 4th we celebrated another World Card Making Day! This was our 3rd Annual World Card Making Day event that myself and some of my team of demonstrators (1st year & 2nd year) held together. We had another great turnout of 21 stampers and added one more demonstrator into the mix to join us, so each of the guests made 10 cards (5 card designs, 2 of each design). Each guest came away ready for sending some handmade love in the mail (or hand delivered)...times ten! We had fun raffle prizes and lots of door prizes on the half hour. There was even a small consolation prize for everyone!

Tami, Me, Andrea, Olivia, & Terri ~ team designers

Let's stamp!

The first card is the one I designed for this event. Each stamper was able to choose which sentiment they wanted for their two cards. I had the Petite Pairs stamp set available. The first half of the sentiment fit perfectly on the front of the card next to the flower...

...and then finished off on the inside.

Stamp Sets	Flower Patch, Petite Pairs
Ink	Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Versamark
Paper	Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, In-Color Sequins, Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Ribbon (retired)
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Flower Fair Framelits

These next four cards were created by my fellow demonstrators whom I teamed up with.

 Just a sampling of our fabulous stampers who came to hang out with us for the afternoon!

Raffle Prize Winners!!

My customer and friend Danna hit the jackpot with TWO raffle prize wins! Her sweet baby Jack must have been her lucky charm. ;)

And yummy treats, of course!

Cards for sale!

It was another great event! Mark your calendars for next year ~ October 3, 2015!

2014 Portland Unite & Excite

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Portland Unite & Excite event. These events were held all over the United States during the first couple of weeks in September for demonstrators only. It is a new concept Stampin' Up! is trying with their demonstrators to help bring fellow local demonstrators together to Inspire. Create. Share. Not soon after I had registered for this event, I was contacted by the Portland event coordinator, Barb Brimhall, asking if I would be willing to speak at the event. I was super flattered to be chosen and after thinking it over and realizing that at some point I just need to conquer my fears, I was all in (with some nervousness attached to it, of course!) I knew ahead of time that I would only be speaking a mere 7 minutes and my topic was given to me, so his would be the perfect first opportunity to be able to speak in front of other demonstrators, sharing with enthusiasm about what I love to do!

My Mom & I

{One of my biggest fans...and newest recruit!}

My downlines and sidelines!

Vicki, Kate, Laura, Terri, and myself

A room full of eager demonstrators at the start of the event. (Hi Terri!)

We started out with a Bingo "get to know you" game where we walked around and mingled with other demonstrators trying to learn a little more about each other. We also had the opportunity to take pictures of display boards and swap cards with one another.

Whoever wanted to could bring swaps to trade and each swap was collected to put on the display boards. I didn't bring swaps with me (too much on my mind), but my mom did. I was so proud of her! Her card is the yellow one in the middle using the Bright & Beautiful stamp set.

Barb Brimhall & I at the end of the event. She's just the sweetest (and so funny!) She did a great job coordinating and being hostess for the evening. There were lots of free stamp set giveaways (I got a little something for speaking) and everyone received the Everyday Occasions Card Making Kit at the end of the evening. So fun!!

Just a small sampling of display or swap cards that caught my eye.

Looking forward to the next Unite & Excite!

year end teacher luncheon

Things are super busy around here as I am wrapping up the school year with lots of school volunteer responsibilities, teacher gifts, end of year fun, and four birthday parties for the kids' friends just this week! One of the things I get to help with is the year end teacher luncheon. I partnered with a couple of my neighbors/friends to put on this fun event to bless our teachers. I call the three of us "the dream team" because we each bring something great to the table to get it done...one to help find the caterer (she's a self-proclaimed "foodie") and one who has magic fingers with flowers and an awesome vision for table settings! I come along and fine tune the details and act as a work horse! ;)

Here are just a few things to accent the luncheon tables...

Last day of school for the kids today!!

Summer is HERE!

world card making day 2013

On Saturday, October 5th we celebrated World Card Making Day!! This was the second year that myself and 3 other demonstrators hosted this fun event together. (Click HERE to see last year's event!) And this year, it was another great turn out! There were 22 stampers who came by to enjoy an afternoon of card making with us! Each of us designed a card and the guests made two of each, taking home 8 cards ready to send off to family and friends! This year we tried to take it up a notch and even had raffle prizes!! I am already looking forward to next year!

{Me, Tami, Andrea, & Terri}

These first two cards are the ones that I designed. They are a CASE from cards I found on Pinterest HERE, HERE, and HERE. Not sure whose card came first! ;)

 

The next three cards were created by my fellow demonstrators.

 Some snapshots of our fun afternoon together!

 

My daughter & her friend, Elaina ~ such cute girls!

Raffle prize winners!

 

 

And treats!

 

My husband gave my daughter money so she could attend with her friend and her mom. She LOVES stamping with her mama and I love having her around! I'm training her young! ;)

 

Mark your calendar for next year - Saturday, October 4th, 2014!

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Hope you can come on back tomorrow for the monthly Stylin' Stampin' Squad Blog Hop!!

sale-a-brate our downline!

My direct upline (and friend), Andrea, and I co-hosted a special "Sale-a-Bration" of our own last Sunday and had each of our downline (and their downline) over for a fun afternoon of fun, stamping, and ice cream sundaes! Both Andrea and I have been blessed with a great group of women to be able to share our passion with. We started out with just the two of us and over the last (almost) 4 years for me (and I think 5 years for Andrea) we have grown into a steadily growing group of Stampin' Up! addicts! *wink*

Andrea and I both decided we would try to shower our downline with some gifts, so we both came up with a couple of goodies to share...

I made these picture/card holders from jumbo clothespins. They have the first initial of each of the gals in our group. The DSP is from the Spring Catalog (Sunshine & Sprinkles).

Andrea made everyone these cute Paper Snips holders from different kinds of Stampin' Up! fabric (I have been wanting one of these!) and she also put together a little product sampler from the Spring Catalog. Such a fun gift to have...not only to use if you wanted to, but to share with your customers if you don't always buy everything, so they can see it all in person.

We started off the meeting with a "Random Act of Cards". Andrea gave everyone a card insert and gave us time to write to someone "just because" (no birthdays or for any particular reason). We were then supposed to take it home and send a card off in the mail.

After that, we played a memory game (forgot to take a picture of all of the action!) I set this tray in the middle of the table and the ladies had 1 minute to look at all of the Stampin' Up! goodies. I then took the tray away and they had 2 minutes to write down as many things they could from memory...extra points for details! (Doesn't this remind you of a baby shower game?!)

 Whoever had the most points at the end won this little treat I made! It uses the Petite Pockets Die, Happy Heart single stamp (promotion now ended), and a doily from the Spring Catalog.

Next we played Stampin' Up! Trivia (so bummed I didn't get a picture of this in action either!!). Andrea had come up with a list of questions for the ladies which covered a lot of the "business topics". Each of the ladies held a stamp and whoever was the first one to "stamp" it onto the table got to answer the question. If she was correct, Andrea gave them a Sale-A-Bration button. Whoever had the most buttons in the end won a prize that Andrea had brought (again, no picture...ugh!!) They all got to keep their buttons! It actually was a really fun way to get some business talk added in without going on and on and on.

Then came our swap cards!! Everyone was encouraged to bring a swap card that used products from either the Sale-A-Bration brochure and/or the Spring Catalog. It was so fun to see the many ideas the ladies came up with. Swapping cards has always been a favorite of mine!

Andrea's downline

Laura Howell

Jen Nyburg

 

 Jessica Parrack

 

 Lois Costine - her mom!

 

 

My downline

Terri Takashige

 

 

 Tami Gaumer

 

 

 Andrea and I had each planned a make n take as our swap card.

This is mine using SAB products (I also shared this card yesterday).

My AWESOME upline and her make n take "swap" card...

 

 SUPER CUTE chalkboard technique card...too fun!

The ladies hard at work...

After make n takes, we had ice cream sundaes to enjoy! More taking pictures of samples, chatting, sharing ideas, etc. Such a fun afternoon with some inspiring and great women!

This is a picture of everyone who was able to make it. Unfortunately we were still missing a handful of ladies...hope to see them at the next one!

Have you thought about joining Stampin' Up!? NOW is a great time!! During Sale-A-Bration (through March 22nd), you will get an extra 25% in your starter kit! That's $156.50 product for only $99!! Contact me for more details or if you have any questions. Whether you live far away or right around the corner, anyone can be on our team!! We'd love to have you join us!

*Last call for the ribbon holder giveaway!! It ends TONIGHT (Wednesday, January 23rd). Leave a comment on THIS POST to enter to win a free Ribbon Roll Control ribbon holder.**