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Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday.....


I have a confession. 
I purchased two stamp sets just so I could use this sentiment
"hangin' with my gnomies."
I CASED the layout of this card
but added the girl, the ground, and put in my favorite sentiment.
I need to find many ways to use these two sets.
I am aware that there are those who don't love the gnomes, 
but the sentiments are so fun
I just couldn't resist.

I used:
Paper: Whisper White CS #100730
Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome #126537, Gnomenclature #127059
Ink: Real Red #100052, Pumpkin Pie #105115, Tempting Turquoise #, Soft Suede #120973, Pink Pirouette #120969, Pacific Point #120968, Daffodil Delight #119677, Lucky Limeade #123002, Melon Mambo #121074, StazOn Black #101406
Other: Simply Scored #122334, Dimensionals #104430





Sunday, January 29, 2012

Scrapbooking Sunday with MDS (digital)


LOL! The page is white and it blends in with my blog background.
Just know that there is a two inch white border around the big picture.
This was a very fun and quick page I made.
I added 3 new colors to my collection this weekend.
I think it is fun to scrapbook some of the little things in our lives.
It is silly but I bet my kids will love this page years after I am gone and remember how mama always had 4 or 5 of these in her purse.




Saturday, January 28, 2012

Friday, January 27, 2012

Friday.... more Leadership inspiration...


Shelli made these at leadership. I have a workshop tomorrow and this is the gift I will give guests who bring a friend with them to the workshop.
Isn't so cute?

I used:
Paper: Blushing Bride CS, Twitterpated DSP, First Edition DSP, Whisper White CS, Baja Breeze CS
Other: Framelits Labels Collection, Oval Punch, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, Seam Binding Ribbon, Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestones, CeloBags Lg 




Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thursday Leadership Inspiration





I took 100's of pictures of sample cards while at leadership. Some were obviously a lot of work.
Others were beautiful and fairly easy to reproduce. This is a sweet card. I love the colors and how easy it was to make. The original card used textured soft suede for the card base and I should have as well. That subtle detail really adds a lot to this card. The original also used an antique brad, which I was all out of so I reached into my stash and used this flower instead. It still works well, I think.

I used:
Paper: Soft Suede CS, Very Vanilla CS, Everyday Enchantment DSP 
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Apothecary Art (sentiment)
Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Other: Blossom Punch, Crochet Ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Decorative Label Punch, Stamping Sponges, Glue Dots


Monday, January 23, 2012

Make a Page Monday


Okay, lets have a round of applause for me... I completed my first layout in MDS!
Woo Hoo!
 It was easier than I thought.
I did have some help from Andrea in the home office.
She is fluent in both Photoshop and My Digital Studio and spent time with me helping me understand how MDS works. I am off to make another fun project from MDS.
 Can't wait to show you all!
The papers are all from Sale-A-Bration.




Sunday, January 22, 2012

Leadership Goodies


This was my first Stampin' Up! event and I was blown away at the amount of goodies passed out.
Everyone in attendance received all of the above (except a package of brads that was just for first time attendees). Some even had additional goodies of new product (diagonal score board) and stamp sets handed out by prize patrol over the course of leadership.

Why am I showing you this?
For one, it is amazing!
Two, I hope that it might encourage some of you that want to join or those of you ready to take your business to the next level.

I hope to never miss another leadership.
Not because of the goodies (but seriously that didn't hurt :-)
but the classes were equally amazing.
Before leadership, I wasn't really sure what to do for my downline.
Today, I am ready to empower my downline to get the most of their SU business.

You might be thinking, that is a big change in a few short days, 
and you are right.
That just goes to show what a powerful tool leadership can be for EVERY demonstrator.

This might end up being a lengthy post but I really want to touch on the classes I took.
First, let me tell you the theme for this year is, "My way" meaning -your way.
I couldn't be happier about this year's focus because, I really do SU ....my way.

Additionally, we want to encourage and welcome a new generation of crafters. 
Which leads me to my first class:
Including a New Generation in Your Stamping Business
presented by: Amy Swartz and Paula Critchlow

This new generation falls in the 25-35 age group (generation Y) and they are a very large segment of the population.
How many of the women, age 25-35, identify themselves as creative?  
13.8 MILLION
This age group tends to communicate a bit differently... 
feel free to text an invite to a class or party
tweet about your favorite new product

There was a ton of great information given but I need to keep this short so I will just say
I have a much better idea of how to attract and to show this group of creative women all that Stampin' Up has to offer them.

* I love that this class was broken up into sections -the five pillars of leadership!
I love the repetition of this theme and I am glad it was my first class. Because of that emphasis and the benefits of  viewing the class through the 5 pillars, I was able to frame all of the following classes around the same format even if they weren't presented that way.

My next class was:
Getting the Most from Your Title
presented by: Bonnie Thurber


For me, this class probably wasn't the best choice. I have studied what I need to do to maintain my title, and what I need to do to get to the next level.
This class would have been perfect for anyone who may have been comfortable at their level without much thought of promotion, but now want to go to the next level.
Bonnie did a good job of reaching out and sharing, making everyone feel like her friend.
As I sat in this class, I had a little internal conversation, wondering why had God led me to this class.
What was I supposed to get out of it?
I have already set my goals.
I have from the beginning.
I have quarterly goals, 6 month goals, 1 year goals, 2 year goals, and 5 year goals...
As I sat there in my own head, Bonnie said some of my favorite words ever spoken....

She was sharing about a time when she was particularly down and feeling blue.
A friend of hers must have picked up on this and told her:
You can visit pity city
but don't move into the bitter barn.
I love that.
LOVE IT!
I can see myself as an old woman telling those around me....
Thank you, Bonnie!


My next class was:
Retaining and Engaging Your Downline
presented by: Donna Griffith and Patsy Waggoner


This was a gold nugget class for me.
My empty basket is now filled with golden nuggets on the best ways for me to 
celebrate, empower, unite, inspire, and communicate
with my downline.
Not only did Patsy share with us the way she empowers her downline,
but she shared with us her journey and goal setting that helped her really support and engage her downline.
With all of her wonderful information I feel ready to take on the very important task of being a helpful upline.... in my own way.

The last class I took was:
Change Anything - Book Discussion
presented by: Ellen Richardson

While I got fantastic, helpful information in all my classes, this one was my favorite.
This is a life changing book, that will have a ripple effect into your personal life, family life, and of course, your Stampin' Up business.
Ellen Richardson's genuine passion for this is so clear and engaging.
We briefly discussed the book and then we switched gears a bit and moved the general focus of change to the more specific areas of our business.
I loved our group round table discussions. This was by far the most helpful and energizing part.
The things we discussed brought me right back to my previous class of 
Retaining and Engaging Your Downline. 
I wish this had been a 3 hour class. And even at 3 hours it would have flown by and been a wealth of  useful information and solutions. 
I know in the future I will sign up for any class with Ellen Richardson. 

We also had the opportunity to listen to fellow demonstrators present on a variety of topics at 
Share Fair

I was only able to attend 3 of the 15 available:
My sweet upline, Dawn Griffith, talked about her online business:

and here is Dawn snapping a picture of the crowd just before she began:




The other one I popped in on was recruiting with Tami White. 
I was so busy listening to her, I forgot to snap a picture.
She is so fun and energetic it is easy to see why anyone would want to join her team.
She offered some great tips for those of us that have a hard time offering the opportunity to our customers. 


If you are still with me, bless you. Can you tell I didn't like Leadership at all? LOL!

Thank you for letting me go on and on. 
I promise to spend the rest of today working on my regular blog projects so next week we will be back on track.


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Saturday...

I used:
Paper: Whisper White CS #, Twitterpated DSP #, Blushing Bride CS #
Stamps: Have a Seat #
Ink: Basic Grey #
Other: Pleated Satin Ribbon #, Antique Brad #, Dimensionals #




Friday, January 20, 2012

All Good Things Must Come to an End...


Me and Meg
I thought I would be friendless at leadership
Meg befriended me online and gave me her cell
She introduced me to her sweet friends...
Meg is 1 in a million!


Georgia and me
Isn't she so cute? Cute and nice - gotta love that.


Jana also friended me online.
Who knew we would be come fast friends?
She is generous and kind and pretty funny too.


Sue, me, Judy

I LOVE these two ladies.
LOVE them!
Sue is so energetic and fantastic that I just want to squeeze her.
Judy is that perfect balance of sweetness and pure strength.
I am so blessed to have been able to share some time with them.


I never imagined I would meet so many people in 3 short days that I would want to call my friends.
Stampin' Up is an amazing place to work.

More to follow later.

I simply must tell you all about some of the classes I took at Leadership.




Friday...


I used:
Paper: Twitterpated DSP #, Whisper White CS #, Basic Grey CS #
Stamps: Have a Seat #
Ink: Basic Grey #
Other: Satin Ribbon #, Antique Brads #, Dimensionals #




Thursday, January 19, 2012

Rubbing Elbows with Stampin' Up! Celebs


Me and Dawn Griffith (my sweet upline)


Holy smokes that is me with Shelli!!!
I have to tell a quick story...it was late afternoon things were slowing down, I made a quick call home to check on my kids. Joel, my 6 year old, answered the phone for the first time. I was very impressed with his skill in answering and was in the middle of telling him so, when I spotted Shelli alone.
I told Joel I had to go, hung up, and ran over to get a quick pic with Shelli.
I called Joel back.
He didn't care. LOL


Julie is so smart and so generous. I sat with her and Georgia, and Meg at our make & takes on Wednesday.
I need to get a picture with Georgia & Meg!
Julie was so gracious with my 1000 questions.
In case you don't know Julie, turn to the back of your catalog and you will see her pretty face there!





Thursday....


I used:
Paper: Very Vanilla CS #, Lucky Limeade CS #
Stamps: Blessings from Heaven #
Ink: Lucky Limeade #






Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday.... LEADERSHIP!


Over the next few days I will post cards I made to swap at Leadership.
Woo Hoo!
I used:
Paper: Whisper White CS #100730, Twitterpated DSP #125406, Basic Grey CS #121044
Stamps: Oval All #113790
Ink: Basic Grey #120966, Lucky Limeade #123002
Other: Satin Ribbon #124326, Scallop Oval Punch #119856, Oval Punch #119855




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Mojo Monday #224



It has been a while since I played Mojo Monday. I have missed it. I like this sketch and think there will be tons of great inspiration with this one. If you click on the sketch above it will take you directly to Mojo Monday site, and you can have a great time looking at all of the creations.
Maybe I should call today Inspiration Monday. :-)

I used:
Paper: Whisper White CS #100730, Basic Grey CS #121044, Blushing Bride CS #119796, Twitterpated DSP #125406, Patterns DSP Stack Subtles #117152
Stamps: Blessings from Heaven #123052
Ink: Basic Grey #120966, Blushing Bride #119801
Other: Scallop Circle Punch #118874, Mat Pack #105826, Pleated Satin Ribbon #125570




Sunday, January 15, 2012

Colour Q Challenge #119


This was a difficult color combo for me. I am pleased with the outcome. I have to say, that is what I love most about the colour Q challenge... just when I think I can't do it, I manage to make a card. And sometimes I even like them. :-)

I used:
Paper: Whisper White CS #100730, Basic Grey CS #121044, Patterns DSP Stack Subtles #117152, Domestic Goddess DSP #122355
Stamps: Field Flowers #122762
Ink: Pretty in Pink #101301, Pumpkin Pie #105216, Basic Grey #109120, Melon Mambo #115656
Other: Oval Punch #119859, Mini Library Clips #109857, Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon #119253, Dimensionals #104430




Saturday, January 14, 2012

Step It UP! #59 Best Friends Forever




STEP #1 CARD:


I used:
Paper: Pacific Point CS #111350, Whisper White CS #100730
Stamps: Best Friends Forever #122807, Four Frames #123442
Ink: Pacific Point #111837, Old Olive #102277 & #100079
Other: Dimensionals #104430

STEP #2 CARD:

I used:
Paper: Pacific Point CS #111350, Whisper White CS #100730, Crumb Cake CS #120953
Stamps: Best Friends Forever #122807, Four Frames #123442
Ink: Pacific Point #111837, Old Olive #102277 & #100079, Baja Breeze #111833
Other: Dimensionals #104430, Satin Ribbon #117292, Stamping Sponges #101610


STEP #3 CARD:


I used:
Paper: Pacific Point CS #111350, Whisper White CS #100730, Crumb Cake CS #120953, Old Olive CS #100702
Stamps: Best Friends Forever #122807, Four Frames #123442
Ink: Pacific Point #111837, Old Olive #102277 & #100079, Baja Breeze #111833, Sahara Sand #105208, Early Espresso #119670
Other: Dimensionals #104430, Satin Ribbon #117292, Stamping Sponges #101610, Distressing Tool #106958