The Rest of the Eastern Blooms Swaps

Okay, I've decided just to post the rest of the pictures of the swaps I made.

I love this set - it's so versatile and easy to work with!

Eastern Blooms swap

I got this idea from our Idea Book and Catalog. I love the simplicity. It's hard to tell but I used the brushed silver cardstock and it adds a little touch of elegance.

Inspired by my cousin's wedding thank you's

A couple of weeks ago I received a Thank you card from my cousin for the wedding gift I had given. Within a couple of days I was working on some swaps that me and my roomies from convention were doing for one another. I knew I wanted to do something with black and white and remembered the thank you card and just kind of took off with it. Although I don't have a picture of the thank you card to share (which is a bummer, sorry!) here is what I did come up with!

I will post each of the swaps I made individually over the next few days. To see the great swaps I received from my roomies, check out Amy's stampin' blog!

Mr Big Shot, Who do you think you are?

I had my Open House today and although it wasn't quite the turn out I was hoping for, it still went really well and the ladies who did come are excited to get stamping so that's a good thing! One of the things I had out for it was a sign up sheet that I entitled the same as this post - Mr. Big Shot, who do you think you are? (Please tell me you know the song I'm referring to in this title?!) Anyway, here's what the rest of the sign up says:

Okay, you've had a chance to acquaint yourself with the NEW Stampin' Up! (R) Big Shot and NOW you have a dilemma... You WANT IT!! But, how, when it's so expensive and your husband wouldn't approve if you bought it all at once? Well, what about a "payment plan" where you'll be able to get the Big Shot PLUS earn other stuff FREE??!! Sounds good, right, where do you sign up? By signing below you are indicating that you are interested in being in a big shot club for 4 months! Each month you'll spend $50 and with-in 4 months you will have your new big shot ready to play with. Plus, because you'll be earning hostess benefits, you'll be able to pick something from the catalog for free plus get a hostess only stamp set. Now, that's a great plan! There will be four members (although if I have more that puts the price per month less!) and each person will be hostess once. I can't wait until you get your Big-Shot!!

I have three ladies who indicated that they are interested in being in the Big Shot club. So, now all I need is 1 (or more) other person to indicate that they would like to be in the club and we can get it started. YAY!! If this sounds like something you are interested in, please let me know and I'll get you on the list and we'll be able to get things going!

The photos I've included are of the project we did today at my Open House. It features the Big Shot topper, Fall Flair hostess set, plus the new Riding Hood Red In Color! I thought it'd start to get us in the mood for Fall since it is right around the corner!!

RAK from my downline, Amy

I am blessed to have wonderful ladies in my downline. My good friend, Amy, is part of my downline and she sent me some cute stuff! We try to send each other samples of cards/projects we've done and she's been better at it lately than I have but this week in the mail I got another goodie! She took all the pictures she's taken from convention and put them on a cd and had a cute little cover on it (pictured). Along with it she had a cute pop-up kind of card and I was just tickled pink! I love getting stuff in the mail!! On top of all that she did a great roomie gift for us (her roomies) at convention. It's a little purse with matching stationery. You can check out her website for more samples plus the link to where she got the idea! Thank you, Amy, for these wonderful goodies and please know that I have something in the works for you but I don't want to spoil it by putting it on here!

Exciting Stuff In the Stampin' Up! (R) World!

There are so many new and exciting things happening in the world of Stampin' Up! (R) and I'll try and share as much of it with you as I can!!!!!

First, Stampin' Up! (R) has partnered up with Sizzix to create our VERY OWN Big Shot!! Along with that we'll be carrying our own line of exclusive dies that will coordinate with our exclusive stamp sets. Click here to see the complete flyer of all that is available!!! The picture is one I took at convention of the Big Shot with accessories plus a great bag you can get to fit it all!!

The above pictures are just a couple of took of some fun things you can create using the Sizzix!

Second, there are going to be three starter kits options available starting August 11th at just $99! You can choose between the Stamping, Scrapbooking or Home Decor Options! Click here to see the flyer with all the details!! These kits are especially designed for those of you who've been Stampin' Up! (R) customers for years and don't need everything that's usually included with the Standard Starter Kit. OR if you're new to Stampin' Up! (R) and choose to start your Stampin' Up! (R) career with the standard starter kit option, you will be able to choose a stamp set from the Fall-Winter Sampler or Idea Book and catalog FREE!!

Third, starting August 11 (the day the new catalog is available) there is going to be never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary!!!!! Click here to see the stamp sets that are featured!!

Convention was GREAT!!!

Wow time has flown by and it's been a while since I've posted anything. We have finally arrived at our new home in North Dakota and are getting things settled. In the midst of the chaos of boxes, I got to go to Stampin' Up!'s yearly convention in Salt Lake City. It was a great time getting to see friends, downline, uplines, sidelines, etc. plus 6000 of my closest demonstrator friends!! (Plus, I took the opportunity to get my picture with Shelli - the CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up! (R)) There are some exciting things in store on the Stampin' Up! (R) front and I can't wait to share them with you! I've also started a new Stampin' Up! (R) website and you can check it out by clicking here. One of the exciting things coming this fall is the ability for you, my customers, to be able to order directly from my demonstrator website!! How cool is that? Any time, day or night you'll be able to order those supplies you need to make whatever project you might be working on!

So, more about convention. Well, first of all I realized the day before I left that my return ticket was scheduled for Saturday and not Sunday as it was supposed to be. NOT GOOD!!!! My wonderful husband tried to work some things from home for me but the cheapest we could find was a $345 ticket home. Unfortunately, that means I had to keep my original ticket and miss the last day of convention. I must really be in a chaotic state because not only did that happen but one of the days I was there I realized, while walking to the convention center that my engagement ring was not on my finger and I didn't remember taking it off. Well, when I returned to the room that afternoon we searched all over and couldn't find it. My friend, Dana, kept saying, "Joy, you were digging around a lot in your bag this morning, keep looking there." Well, sure enough, there it was in the bottom of my bag! I was so relieved and thankful - thankful not only to have found it but to have such good friends who were just as worried about not being able to find it as I was. THEN, that same night we were at a group meeting and I realized I didn't have my camera that had my ID and credit cards in it. I went back to the room thinking I had left it there but couldn't find it. I went back to the meeting room to find it and it wasn't there. I had to walk back to the convention center and PRAY that someone would be there that could help me. Well, the Lord was listening because I saw one girl coming out from one of the rooms that was on staff and asked her where I might be able to find a lost camera. She asked me what it looked like and if I'd had make and takes that day. I had, indeed, had make and takes and she told me they'd found one in that hall. Well, she walked with me all the way there and helped me to convince security to let us in. We looked all over where she thought it was there but couldn't find it. We then went back across the convention center to the Gathering Place to see if there was a lost and found at the Info Booth. She looked all around for me then came out and said, "Is this is?" I was so excited because, yes, it was!! I gave her a great big hug and thanked her for staying with me and helping me. Even funnier, I was looking at my pictures from convention and came across a picture I hadn't taken - it was the group who found my camera and she's in the picture!!! (The one who helped me is the 2nd one in from the left). The staff at Stampin' Up! (R) truly are amazing and I really do think the Lord was looking out for me because she doesn't normally help in the make and take area but they had needed extra help there that day so she'd come over to help! If that hadn't happened, she wouldn't have known what I was talking about! So, THANK YOU!!!

There was so much that happened at Convention and so much I learned and am excited to start trying to implement in my business but, to be honest, my favorite part was hanging out with my downline and other roomie (Amy's friend that joined us) and sharing ideas and trying to motivate one another. Plus, seeing my uplines Beverly and Mimi and being encouraged by them - especially while out running with them one morning! I hope you'll stay posted for more information about the exciting things going on with Stampin' Up! (R) and if you're up for making some great new friends and being part of a fantastic company - contact me on how to become part of the Stampin' Up! (R) family!