Hey stamping friends! I'm back from my trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, and the most AMAZING Convention! True to their promise, Stampin' Up! continues to surprise and delight us with everything they do, and this year's event was no exception! There's so much to share, so stay tuned this week for all the details!
After spending a couple days early in the week with some of my family living near-by, I met up with Darla Eigenschink and Jodi Geers, two of my Too Cool Demo Team, on opening day!
Here we are in front of some huge flowers that blossomed at the entrances of Main Stage, The Gathering Place (where we eat lunch and see displays), and Momento Mall (where we can shop for exclusive Convention merchandise).
As we walked into the first General Session, we were greeted by all of the Stampin' Up! employees! Dozens of smiling faces lined both sides of the aisle, cheering and giving us high-fives. I love that Stampin' Up! shuts down their corporate office and allows their associates to be a part of this spectacular event for a day. (In the photo, you can see the back of Darla right in front of me, and Jodi, in a Rich Razzleberry shirt, is getting a high five a few people up.)
The theme for this year's Convention was GROW! It was beautiful staging! Not only did the color combinations keep changing, but the foliage projected on the walls was growing! See the leaves poking up behind the "GROW" in the second photo. Impressive!
In keeping with the word "GROW," the Gathering Place and Momento Mall were filled with pots and wheel barrows and ladders and wagons and watering cans, all blooming with gorgeous paper flowers, buds and blooms in all shapes and sizes! Like the over-the-top Sweet Shoppe displays last year, this year's garden theme had just as much color and attention to detail!
Here are just some of the Too Cool flowers we saw, and keep in mind, they were ALL created with the awesome card stock, Designer Papers and accessories that Stampin' Up! carries! (click to enlarge)
These bouquets look so real! Some of the flowers are made from punches, some from dies, and some are hand-cut petals.
These blooms are made with the Flower Folds Die, using buttons for the centers. In the second photo, the buttons are like a shaker underneath a Window Sheet. (That's a little sneak peek hint from the upcoming Holiday Mini! Look for more sneak peeks in red!)
Check out these big planters on the floor with extra-large, accordion-folded, medallion flowers! They used full 12×12" sheets of Designer Series Paper (Flirtatious and Pocket Full of Posies), so these are 2' (that's 2 feet!) wide! What an awesome way to decorate for a special event!
I couldn't believe how many different looks of flowers they could create just by stacking the petals differently, or using different combinations of buttons and brads at the centers, or layering different punches in different colors.
The first picture features Well Worn DSP, the Flower Folds Die and the Blossom Bouquet Punch. The second uses a the beautiful new Spice Cake DSP and Spice Cake Designer Buttons from the Holiday Mini with the Island Floral Die!
Oooh, I like the look of these stacked-petal bows created with the Blossom Party and Fun Flowers dies.
It's hard to tell, but that's a lampshade covered in flowers using more of the Well Worn DSP. Not much light getting through that shade—haha! Fun!
This wagon is hauling a Starter Kit, complete with pots of projects you can create with the Starter Kit supplies! (That's the full Starter Kit, but check out the $99 Starter Kit available through July 31st)
A trellis, covered with paper leaf vines, is blooming with projects made with the Country Club Simply Scrappin' Kit.
A ladder holds some pretty scrapbook frames decorated with the Pocket Full of Posies DSP. It's surrounded by more accordion-folded flowers and card stock grasses.
Hanging above us were showers of flowers draping down from pretty umbrellas. The strands were made from 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon with one zigzag stitch through the center of the ribbon and all of the dangling paper flowers. Another cool idea for easy party decorating!
Wow! Stampin' Up! sure knows how to set the stage for a spectacular event!
There is SO MUCH MORE to share!
2011 Convention Highlights Video!
Catch a glimpse of all the fun, plus hear the new Grow, Grow, Grow Convention theme song! (Can you find me smiling and waving, next to Darla and Jodi at our Awards Night After Party?! I made the video! Woohoo!)
Join The Fun & Come With Me Next Year!
It's the perfect time to sign up with the $99 Starter Kit Promotion! This mini-Starter Kit has $185 worth of new products, plus business materials! It ends on July 31st, so don't delay!
As a new recruit, you'll automatically receive a free Christmas Keepsake Kit (valued at $40).
Plus, if you join my team by July 31st, I'll let you choose a FREE STAMP SET (valued at $25 or less) from the 2011-201220 Idea Book & Catalog, 2011 Summer Mini, or the upcoming 2011 Holiday Mini as my gift to you!
Now is the time! Contact me today!
Angie