Just a Little Ink - Amy Taylor - justalittleink.com

  The picture above shows all that I either received for free, got back in swaps, or purchased from the memento mall at Stampin' Up!'s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. We received a little bag with something inside at each make & take session (a spool of ribbon, rhinestone brads, the new dalia flowers).  Each person attending the after party received a gold & silver pen (available in the Holiday Catalog).  In addition to the 3 stamp sets that everyone received in their convention bags (Daydream Medallion, You're Amazing & Affection Collection), we received the Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp set, Moving Forward, and the Holiday Catalog Hostess set, Mixed Medley.  Finally, if you attended all your classes, you received an exclusive stamp set called I Am... In Memento Mall, there were incentive stamp sets to purchase, garden flags, cookie stamps, pens, wish list paper pads, hammers (yes, hammers with decorated handles), t...

Above is a quick snapshot of the items that were in a gift exchange that I participated in at  SU! Convention.  We were asked to make a 3-D item (or a decorated gift box), a card with an envelope, a gift card holder all put into a decorated gift bag.  After making the gift card holder, I loved using the Summer Smooches designer series paper and decided to make everything using this paper. This gift bag base is one I found at a local discount store, and they came in packages of 3.  Hmmm, will have to make a couple more.  I added a fabric strip cut using the Tasteful Trim die cut, added circles of fabric and a designer series paper strip.  To give a finishing touch, I added fabric strips to the handles. Here is the 3-D item I came up with.  If you've been to my blog before, you've seen the smaller desktop calendar I made that had interchangeable seasons and a year calendar that was attached with small paper clips.   Thi...

I titled this one "Don't fall off your chair" because I'm posting twice in one day!  Yikes!  It's been a long time since that's happened. I wanted to share with you a sneak peek from the Holiday catalog and  one of the cards I did for convention swaps.  This little guy was a big hit! The stamp set is Googly Ghouls, #128060 [wood mount], $16.95 or #128063 [clear mount], $12.95. There are even sticky-baked "goggly" eyes called Googlies that you can buy #127539, $2.50 for a sheet of 50 that works just ever so slick for embellishment. Love the layout which is super simple and so adaptable to other stamp sets, colors, papers, and embellishments.

I wish I had a picture of myself to share with you tonight to show you just how exhausted I am.  No complaints though.  It's been a GREAT convention. The day started off with checking out of the hotel, and then straight to break-out classes.  Again, I started with make and takes.  Then off to my first class, I Am Making Money, let by Pam Morgan.  I always enjoy Pam's classes as they are so informative.  This one was no different and shared information about the bonus options every demonstrator can receive. Then it was off to my last class, I Am Reaching Out, led by Emily Montoya.  It was to help us better understand Gen Y.  So much of convention was, but it was great to have a class that gave us some hands-on ideas. And, then it was time for the closing session.  Do you see my friend Kathy in the photo above?  She was a lucky gal, and got to go onto the stage (she was called and asked before convention if she would do that, but ...

Just a little sneak peak of one of the projects we saw in the great class, I Am Savy where some great demonstrators, Donna Griffith (pictured here), Laura Mulligan and Meg Wheeler showed some great "wow" projects.  More to share with all of you! Then if was off to eat a bite and then take more pictures of all the great samples before a gift exchange. 

Today started with some stamping in our general session!  Yeah!  Can't wait to share some of these ideas with you.  Then it was off for more classes to inspire and educate.  First make & takes, then off to I Am Having Fun where Shannon West gave us some great ideas as well as shared ideas from other demonstrators on this topic.

I didn't get a chance to finish my posting from yesterday.  I mentioned last night about the first class, but the second class was I am Open for Business by Carrie Cudney.  It was a good reminder, and I'll be doing my best to be posting more here and through Twitter too.  If you don't follow me on Twitter, click on the link on the right side of my blog to do so. The entire group went to dinner at Christopher's Steak for a really nice dinner.  You can see us all in the picture below.  Then it was off for the awards night and entertainment.   This next picture is of my good friend Kathy Howes.  She sure did make things fun!   Well.....until the next post.

Today was opening day for Convention (yesterday was check-in, swapping and an extra class). It's always so great and energizing as Stampin' Up! has all their employees there to give "hi-fives" to every demonstrator that comes in the door.  Today was also the day that they recognize milestone achievements; 5, 10, 15 and 20 years.  I had the privilege of walking across the stage to recognize my 10 years with Stampin' Up!  Pictured with me are Janet and Kelli who also walked across the stage with me. I attended a great class, I Am Doing Business "My Way",  where top demonstrator's, Tami White and Rhonda Wade shared tips that have worked for them.  And, we had the annual awards and after party too.

  Well, here are my traveling companions.  This was taken at the airport before we went through security. What a great first day we had.  All that said even though the flight was rather bumpy and we experienced a bit of nausea, and Mary and I didn't eat dinner until about 10 o'clock in the evening due to some taking the campus tour to view the Stampin' Up! facilities and a class that some of us took this evening.  Can't wait for tomorrow! Open, open, open.......

  It's been a buys July with getting ready for Stampin' Up!'s annual convention.  So, I've been busy creating swaps to take with me.  Anyway, here are the projects that we did at my July stamp club.  They all use the stamp set, Reason to Smile, which is only available through the month of July for $5 (a $20.95 value) with a $50 purchase.   This first project was one that Stampin' Up! shared with demonstrator's and I substituted a paper ribbon made using the dotted scallop ribbon punch.  The milk carton die for the Sizzix Big-Shot makes this a super quick and easy project.  Just imagine getting one of these cute boxes with a pair of earrings in it!    This next project is one that I cased from Mary Fish .  She has such great simply elegant designs.  The only thing I changed was to use a Vintage brad instead of a button and left off some other brads.   Finally, this card is one I came up wit...

Do you need a reason to smile? Well, now through July 31st, you have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive stamp set, available only through this special offer! Get the Reason to Smile set (up to $20.95 value) for just $5 when you spend $50 on any Stampin' Up! products. Description $5 Item Price Reason to Smile Wood-Mount Set 131274* $5.00 Reason to Smile Clear-Mount Set 131275* $5.00 Give me a call, send me an e-mail or simply go to my Stampin' Up! website to place an order.