Sunday, July 29, 2012

Stampin' Up Convention 2012 Inspiration!

Holy Buckets! I've been home for a week from my 1st EVER SU CONVENTION, and I still have stars in my eyes! To make the trip, five of my new best friends and I roadtripped from Minnesota all the way to beautiful Salt Lake city. What can I say? We had a wonderful time and learned a ton. Here are some of the cool ideas I took away from each of my sessions:

Jill Leigh "I Am a First Time Recruiter" 
 * Show Stampin' Connection during your workshops! Genius.
 * Actually read the Demo Manual. Hmm...I've definitely been a slacker on that account.

Shannon West "I Am Having Fun"
  * Use Icebreakers during classes/workshops - What's on your nightstand? We may not want to know, but tell us anyway.:)
  * Use each of the 5 senses to entice customers...Best Takeaway? Shannon's Apple Dip Recipe (8oz
      Cream Cheese, 1/2 cup brown sugar, dash of vanilla, and something crunchy.) Yummers.
PS. Love that she admitted to attending all those Boy-band Concerts!

Emily Montoya - "I Am Starting Out"
  * Set a goal as in "I want to promote by December."
  * Volume Rebates... good info - did not know much about those or the overrides.

Bonnie Thurber "I Am Doing Business My Way"
  * How to manage card classes the most efficiently. I start a new club this month! Yay!
  * Coach your hostess so she can encourage her friends to help her get free stuff.

Donna Griffith - "I Am Saavy "
  * So many great practical ideas...where do I start? Fabric bags, ribbon strip backgrounds, baby    headbands, gift card holders, place cards, you name it!

Christmas Tree Framed

Hey folks, I've been in a Christmas mood ever since getting the new-soon-to-be-released Stampin' Up Mini Catalog. You will just swoon when you see it if you haven't yet. There are so many cool bundles and elements to use! So... I did my new blog test post with the Frosty Friends stamp, but I am also IN LOVE with the new Christmas DSP and one of the frame ideas that pops up in the catty on p. 18. Here is my case of it:


Okay, so I did order the new paper and the scrappin' kit, but I didn't get the Christmas tree stamp set yet, so I had to improvise using an oldie-but-goodie retired set. It works, don't you think? Now, if you are like me, you love all the detail in stamps like this, but maybe don't love all the coloring unless you have oodles of time. I had two kids begging me to go swimming this afternoon, so I cut some corners. Shh. Don't tell.
  Here's how to make this lovely framed project:
1. Get a black frame. This one is a frugal 8.5 x 11 that came with a paper matte already.
2. Cut outer matte the width you like from Candlelight Christmas DSP. Mine is about 1.5"
3. Place matte onto Real Red CS backing.
4. Stamp tree image onto Very Vanilla CS using versamark & emboss it using black embossing powder---- cut image out.
5. Cut Very Vanilla CS piece for behind tree and emboss with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder; layer this on top of some Champagne Glimmer paper. Center & attach to Real Red CS.
6. Cut strip of DSP to go under tree & sentiment and attach. Use a sticker strip from the new Merry Moments Simply Scrapping Kit to adhere across the middle.
7. Use dimensionals to adhere tree image to center.
8. Stamp sentiment and punch out with decorative label punch. Use same punch to punch out two labels from glimmer paper. Cut these in half and attach to back of sentiment to create "glitter frame."
Voila! Now you've got some Stampin' Up to hang up in your house!

Some challenges I would like to enter this for:


Christmas Wall Art

I can't believe it, but I am starting a new blog. I've been wanting to do this for awhile but you know how life and fear gets in the way of starting new things...so here goes! For my first post, I am showcasing a framed stamp I made from Stampin' Up's new Holiday Catalog coming Aug.1 Check it!
Want to make one? Here's how you do it:
1. Get frame. I got this from my local dollar store. It is a pretty champagne color. Take all the "insides" out from the frame and wrap some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twin around the top, but don't tie yet.
2. Die cut or punch out some cute snowflakes and adhere to top of twine; leave ends out and tie on glittery diamond.
3. Stamp snowmen image and use blender pen with Pool Party, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Certainly Celery Ink to color in/around image. For extra glitz, spray with champagne shimmer mist mixed with rubbing alcohol.
4. Adhere snowmen image to Crumb Cake matte and then back that up to some new Champagne glitter paper. Last, adhere to some new Holiday DSP and insert into frame. Awesomeness!