Stampin' Up! Leadership 2013 - Teachers & Friends

Before Manager's Reception, we loaded bags for local teachers in a school district that could use help.  There were long rows of boxes full of retired items and we put one of each item in the tote bags.  At the end of the row were tags for us to write messages to the teachers and sign our name.  Then, we tied the tags on and employees packed them all on an 18 wheeler to deliver.

 

 

After this is when the Manager's and above were treated to Harry Potter World.  Here's a few more photos from that night.

 

I am a huge Harry Potter fan, so I was so excited for this opportunity to have the park to ourselves!

Happy Stampin'

Leadership 2013 - Stampin' Up! Invades Orlando

The first day was checking in, picking up materials, and Manager's Reception.  This year was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios.  They had a red carpet for us and tons of food as we came in.  They also had Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Pear Cider & Lemonade drinks for us to taste free.  I had the frozen Butterbeer slush...yummy.  I didn't think I'd like the Pumpkin juice, but it was great.

I rode the dragon roller coasters full of loops and corkscrews too.  I rode both versions back to back since we had the park to ourselves!

I also rode the flying ride through the castle...very dizzy after that one...once was enough.  Also, there were cool visual effects throughout the castle on the way to getting on the ride.  After that, I shopped for wands and goodies at Honey Dukes.  Loved the Owl Post too.

More soon!  We had such a great time!

December Stamp Nights - Love is in the Air!

Well, better late than never...hee hee. I'm still catching up from the holidays and my day job isn't helping either (accounting...ugh!). Here's the projects I designed for my stamp nights last month. The first one is this Love card using the Affection Collection stamp set.

Sets/Tools:
Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder with Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations card stock
Sanding Block
En Francais background stamp
Affection Collection stamp set
Basics Glimmer brad
Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon
Stampin' Sponge
XL Oval punch

Colors:
Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Whisper White

This Snowglobe tag was our second project. I stamped the snowmen with Staz-On Jet Black on Whisper White. The new formula can smear on Whisper White, so it's best to use Staz-On especially when water-coloring or coloring with markers anyway.

Sets/Tools:
Circle Treat Cups
1 ¾" Circle Punch
Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack
Frosty Friends stamp
¼" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon - Early Espresso
Stampin' Write Markers
Stampin' Sponge

Colors:
Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory

Our technique this month was the Ribbon Flower. They're so fun to make and everyone is unique depending on how you pleat and gather the ribbon.

Sets/Tools:
First Edition Specialty paper
Full Heart Punch
Single Stamp - Love Heart
Daydream Medallions
Natural Composition Specialty paper
Chevron embossing folder
Stampin' Sponge (yes, I love sponging!)
Antique Brads
Pretty in Pink Scallop Dots Ribbon

Colors:
Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Here's the Technique Journal page.

The Spring Catalog is here! View online by clicking "Catalogs" on my side bar. There's also a Valentine promotion to tide you over until Sale-a-Bration starts. All online orders through me receive credit on your Online Shopper's Reward Card. Start your card today!

Happy Stampin'

A Christmas Puzzle for My Daughter

My daughter loves going to the A-Kon convention here in Dallas every year.  For those of you that don’t know what this is, it’s a convention based around Japanese Anime (animation).   Last year was going to be extra special with hotel reservations and being there all weekend, but it just wasn’t in the cards last year, so I fixed that this year.  I bought tickets and booked the hotel room online for a Christmas gift for her, but how was I going to wrap email confirmations and make it look good???

Then, I figured some kind of scrapbooking was in order, and I thought, why not make a puzzle?  So, I pulled out some retired Asian looking designer paper and made a background.  Then, using Mod Podge, I glued more of the designer paper on the cardboard backing that comes with the paper and used my Big Shot to die cut letters to spell out “AKON & HOTEL”.

I thought it was too easy, but it did take her a while to figure it.  The first try she came up with “HALO & TOKEN” which was wild that that even worked out.  She was absolutely thrilled when she solved it…I got huge hugs and the look on her face as she figured it out was priceless.  We will go right before she graduates and she can also invite one or two friends to come along.  I plan to craft in the hotel room, so I also scored a weekend of crafting without too many disruptions!

Happy Stampin’

Hanukkah Celebrations - Happy Hanukkah

We get to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah at our house...twice the fun.  My husband grew up celebrating Hanukkah with his adopted parents and that tradition has continued with our kids getting multiple holidays every year.  So, our family always has a Menorah on our mantle right under our wreath, and we also used to play the dreidel game when the kids were younger.  When my husband and I were dating as teenagers, I asked him to teach me the Hebrew prayer said as you light the candles, and I have never forgotten it.  It's fun to me because it's in another language.

Anyway, I always buy Stampin' Up!'s Hanukkah set each year to have more options for Hanukkah cards and tags.  Here's what I made this year with the Hanukkah Celebrations stamp set (the star piecing design is copied from the sample in the catalog).  I used Midnight Muse and Marina Mist.  I also used Illuminate ink on the star of David card and tags and used the Gold Stampin' Dazzle marker for the candle flames...just colored them on right over the Midnight Muse ink.

Happy Holidays ~ whichever ones they may be!