News from Convention 2008 - 20th Anniversary

The Stampin' UP! 20th Anniversary 2008 Convention was held in Salt Lake City at the Salt Plaza Convention Center.







At Convention 2008 on Friday, August 1, Shelli Gardner, CEO and co-founder, announced Stampin' UP!s partnership with Sizzix, and the launch of the Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! die cutting machine. This exciting new product cuts through multiple layers and materials to create beautiful die cuts for all kinds of projects. Also introduced is a line of Stampin' Up! exclusive dies. The Big Shot will be available to order on September 2nd, so make sure to mark your calendar to order your Big Shot. There will be select sizzix die cuts and exclusive die cuts available with the Big Shot. Stampin’ Up will also be coming out with even more die cuts in the future.



When we went to lunch on July 31st in the gathering room, to our surprise each table had a plate of these wonderful cupcakes. Not only were they pretty, they were very yummy! That's a chocolate waffer on the top.



Decor Elements Phase 2 - We got to see some of the new Decor Elements that will be available this fall. In addition to new images, phase 2 will also offer new colors. Many of the new images are holiday related and will be available to customers beginning October 1st. Here's some sneak peeks.







24/7 online ordering. Starting this Fall customers can order Stampin'Up! product directly online. Just think, when you wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea to stamp that special project, and you want to place your order right away before you forget, you can go online and place that order immediately. More information to come.

Celebrando Creatividad, a catalog supplement featuring spanish language stamp sets is now available. You can view it from the side-bar.

Country Living partnership - For the second year Stampin'Up! will partner with Country Living magazine to offer an exclusive holiday kit. The kit will include stamps, designer paper, and accessories; and will be featured in a 21 page spread in the magazine's December issue. Watch for it on the newstand. I'll be scheduling a class in the near future incorporating this kit. Keep checking my events on my Stampin' UP! website.

My Camera Died...The Blue Screen of Death, Oh My!

Yes, I've been missing in action since I returned home from convention. The worst fear I had before leaving convention was that my camera would die. Since I was having problems getting clear photos, 1 out of every 5, I thought it was the photographer's (my) problem and not the camera. So I purchased the 82 page manual for my camera and read it on the flight to SLC. I learned quite a bit about my camera, lots of features I didn't know I had, but I really couldn't find out what I was doing wrong. On opening day of convention my camera started making some sluggish sounds, and then the "blue screen of death", a "d" and a bunch of numbers on the screen. So I have no photos from convention to share with you. However, I have some good friends who took photos and I'm going to grab some and post them on my blog in the next few days.

WOW Flowers

I thought I was done yesterday with my swaps for convention, but I couldn't resist today playing with the new In Colors. I love these colors together. I made a dozen of these cards to add to my swaps.
Stamps: Wow Flowers (new in the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog)
CS: Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Rich Regal Brads, Punches: 1/16", 1", 1 3/8" & Scallop Circles, Scallop Edge, Boho Blossoms

Lovely as a Tree - Faux Tile Technique

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Wow Flowers (will be in the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog)
CS: Barely Banana, Garden Green, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: Barely Banana, Basic Black, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Garden Green, Rose Red, VersaMark
Accessories: Window Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Snail Adhesive, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponges, Bone Folder, ruler
I scored the Whisper White card stock every 1/2" diagonally in both directions to create the faux tile. I stamped the trees and then punched out a 1 1/4" circle from a piece of scrap paper to make the mask around the sun and sponged inside the circle with Barely Banana ink to create the sun . I then used the 1 1/4" circle and masked the sun so I could sponge the colors around the sun. When I was done sponging the card, I put VersaMark all over the image and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. Unfortunately, this scan does not show how the card shines. You just can't beat a hand-held card.

Lovely as a Tree

I used paint chips to stamp the trees using Craft Basic Black ink and clear embossing powder. When the cards were complete I thought it needed a little bling, so I used a 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Had I thought about this while stamping the trees, I would have substituted the clear embossing powder with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. It would have been easier and not quite as messy. The card on the left was made with Tempting Turquoise and Taken with Teal cardstock. The card on the right is Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant. My photos don't do them justice. Maybe it's the photographer that doesn't know how to take pictures. I sure could use some photo tips or enroll in a photography class.

Other supplies used: Basic Black and Whisper White card stock,
Classic Basic Black ink, Crop-a-dile, Tempting Turquoise and Silver brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive. I will be trading these cards at convention next week.

Below is another card I've been playing with. I like the design, but not the colors. So back to the stamp room I go to play some more. If I'm pleased with the results, I'll be bringing some of these to trade also.
Technique: Faux Tile

I scanned the two photos at the top and they are below. Look what a difference in color and detail it makes. Now I'm really worried about my camera, as it's the only one I have and am taking it to convention. I certainly hope my photos come out better than the ones I take at home.

25% Discount on Selected Retiring Accessories

July 21st through August 10th or while supplies last, Stampin' UP! is offering a 25% discount on selected retiring accessories. Check here to view the list or see the link on the side bar. Contact me and I will help you with your order.

Stitched Exotics

I'm on a roll today. This is another one of my convention swaps. I used various patterns from the Old Olive Prints Designer Series Papers on the cards. I love these colors together. I chose this combination from the Color Coach as I did for my other swaps. What a great tool!
Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Heard from the Heart (will be in the Fall/Winter Catalog)
CS: Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Whisper White
Ink: Classic Basic Black, More Mustard, Old Olive, Craft Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Old Olive Designer Paper, Crystal Clear Embossing Powder, 1/4" Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Earth Elements Buttons, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Snips, Heat Tool, Ticket Corner Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig