Convention Product Display Boards plus a sneak peek

At the Stampin’ Up! Convention there are always lots of display boards.  I think this year there were more than ever before.  So many that I didn’t even have time to look at most of them.  Part of the displays include Product Display Boards – these always showcase products from the catalog in a fun way – here are some from this year –

accessoriesAccessories – including Designer Series paper, Ribbons, Candy Dots, buttons and more.

color-coordination Color Coordination – this is one of the best things about Stampin’ Up! products – the color coordination!  And look how pretty when they are displayed on a board like this.

Kits-this-thatKits and This & That – fun new product lines in the catalog.

stampsStamps – new stamp sets are in every catalog.  You can choose wood mount or clear mount plus we now have the photopolymer sets too.  And the new stamp cases for the wood mount sets are awesome!  I have been adding a package or two to every order so I can move my existing sets from the old boxes to the new ones.

toolsTools – lots of tools and the newest one is the Magnetic Platform for the Big Shot.  It is so popular that what Stampin’ Up! predicted would be a 13 week supply sold out in only 3 weeks!!  So if you are wondering why you don’t have yours or why you can’t order it right now that is the reason.  They are filling all the backs orders as they get in a new supply and plan to be caught up hopefully in a month or so.  I’m thinking wow – I wonder if it will be the #1 selling item for this year?

And now for a NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Yes this was a surprise new product that they showed us at convention and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.  It is an Envelope Punch Board – I can’t show you what it looks like yet – but this is what you can make.

66 Different Sizes of Envelopes!

envelope-punch-boardI don’t know the exact date yet but when it is available I’ll let you know.

Have a great day!

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Simply Pressed Clay Buttons

Have you tried the new Simply Pressed Clay molds from Stampin’ Up! yet?  I love them!

The set comes with two molds – one is Buttons and one is Blossoms – each one has three different designs on it.  You use them with the Simply Pressed Clay – which is white molding clay.   Look at this cute card that I made using the Buttons.

clay-flowers

I really love this card!  I made it as a swap card for our STARZ retreat prior to convention.  And also used it for my stamp clubs in July.  I colored the white clay using my reinker bottles – I made Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo clay and molded them into the button molds.  Here are a few tips that I discovered while I worked with the clay and the molds.

  • I pulled off a small amount of clay, stuck it in a small ziploc bag, added drops of reinker.  Close the bag and knead the clay until the color is distributed.  I wrote on the bag what color it was and kept it sealed until I was ready to use it. Alternately you could put gloves on your hands and knead the color in that way – you don’t want the ink all over your hands.
  • The molds use far less clay than you think.  I found it was better to fill each section of the mold with just enough clay to create a flat back – and don’t go over the edges – if you do then you’ll need to cut that away later.  Especially with the buttons so that you can mold the holes you want just enough to fit inside.
  • You can use the embossing buddy to add a little powder in the molds to help the clay release.  But I prefer to use the freezer.  Put the clay in the mold and then stick in the freezer for 10 -15 minutes pop out and set aside to dry completely over night.  I actually found that when the mold was already cold it took less time in the freezer.
  • I accidentally left one of my bags of colored clay slightly unsealed – which caused it to dry out just a bit – I decided to try to mold it anyway – and it actually molded very well and popped right out of the mold.
  • Once you have your shape you do want to let it dry completely – I left mine to air dry over night.
  • You could also create the shapes in white and then color with markers or the spritzer, a sponge or dab into the ink pad – this will add some variations of color.

That’s just a few ideas for you when using the clay.

If you want a little more detail on my card here you go –

  • Card base is Chocolate Chip.  I did add a layer of whisper white on the inside so it would be easier to read the message you add to the inside of the card.
  • On the front is a layer of Whisper White.  Stamp greeting in Chocolate Chip ink on front.  I stamped the stem from Field Flowers in Pear Pizzazz ink on the card.
  • Add stitching around the stem – I used the Paper Piercer, mat and template to add 6 holes – 3 on each side of the stem.  Then string the Early Espresso Baker’s Twine through and tie in a bow.stitched-flower-stem
  • Punch flowers using the Pansy Punch from Gingham Garden Designer Series paper.  Curl the petals with a bone folder and add to the stem with mini glue dots.
  • Add the clay buttons to the centers of the flower.  I used the Multi-purpose liquid glue and made sure the buttons were dry before adding them.

 

This is one of my favorite cards.  Thanks for stopping by today.

You can buy the Simply Pressed Clay and Molds in my online store – CLICK HERE – along with all the other products I used on this card.

 

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Flower Shop meets Tape It

One of the fun things about convention – well most any Stampin’ Up! event – is the swapping!  This year I did a few organized swaps – that is where a group of people get together and swap amongst themselves.  And I did some general swapping – that is where you make whatever  you want and just swap ideas with whomever you run into.  I want to share my creations with you and here is the first one.

godiva-card-swapThis card was for an organized swap with a group of ladies called the GoDiva’s and we swap with each other throughout the year at events and through the mail.  I decided to do this quick easy card.  Here are the details on it:

  • Daffodil Delight card base
  • Layer of Whisper White card stock – stamped with Tape It set – stamp one in Daffodil Delight and all the others in Smoky Slate
  • Stamp a greeting on the Daffodil tape – I used “hello” from A Dozen Thoughts set – this photo only has one hello but on my swap cards I actually stamped twice so they all say “hello hello”.
  • Stamp a flower from Flower Shop in Daffodil Delight ink on Daffodil Delight card stock and punch out with the coordinating Pansy punch.  In the center add a silver mini brad.  Then add the flower to the card with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
  • It is quick and easy to make a bunch of these.

Here is a photo of the GoDiva’s swap group from Convention.  The picture is from Robin Merriman and she is the organizer of this group.  Thanks for letting me be part of the group!

go divasI am on the left side – second from the left – second row.

Here are a few more pictures from Thursday –

Convention Theme - Be the Difference

Convention Theme – Be the Difference

 

t-shirt pick up

t-shirt pick up

 

lots of people already and it was early in the morning before things were even close to getting started

lots of people already and it was early in the morning before things were even close to getting started

 

We found Sandy Rule - Sandy, Cindy, Monika

We found Sandy Rule – Sandy, Cindy, Monika

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

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Stampin’ Up! Home Office

It was fun to arrive in Salt Lake City and see all the flags along the streets welcoming the Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators –

slc-signs

Many shops & restaurants also had welcome signs – I just didn’t get any pictures of those.  On our first day in the city – Thursday – we went on a tour of the Stampin’ Up! corporate office which included a visit to the Stampin’ Up! rock –

corp-office

Stampin’ Up! Corporate Headquarters in Riverton, Utah

SU-rock

Stampin’ Up! rock – Diane Squires, me (Monika) and Cindy Schuster

I have been to the home office in prior years and when we got inside the building – Oh My!  – it was packed with demonstrators – there was a hug line that wrapped around the whole interior of the building waiting to tour through the Legacy Room – we opted not to wait in the line.  So we toured the rest of the building – the inspiration and idea rooms, the warehouse and demonstrator support.

This is where your Stampin' Up! orders start - with a box and a label and then they take a ride through the warehouse on a conveyor belt.

This is where your Stampin’ Up! orders start – with a box and a label and then they take a ride through the warehouse on a conveyor belt.

 

racks of Stampin' Up! products as far as I could see - waiting to be picked and placed into boxes and sent to your door!

racks of Stampin’ Up! products as far as I could see – waiting to be picked and placed into boxes and sent to your door!

 

I have pictures on my camera (those are downloaded now to my computer), and on my iphone, plus pictures to grab from friends – so I’ll be posting more as I get everything organized and edited.  This was just a start.

Have a great day!

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I’m back from the Stampin’ Up! Convention

I’m home – actually got home Sunday evening.  After a full week of creative fun with friends from all over the country my body is exhausted and my brain is full of new inspiration and ideas.  I spent Monday doing not much – it was actually my anniversary – 24 years – and I made an anniversary card for Greg – I really love how it turned out.  He brought roses home for me – just not because he remembered our anniversary 🙁 – but just because he loves me :).  We went out to a nice dinner and that was all we did for our anniversary.  Now to plan the 25th and a trip to Alaska – that is the plan anyway – now that I know when Convention is – well at least what week it will be – I can plan that trip for next summer. Look at the beautiful roses –

roses

And here is the Anniversary Card that I made for Greg –

seriously-love-you

Here are some quick notes about this card –

  • Cherry Cobbler for the card base
  • A piece of Marina Mist Designer paper from the Polka Dot Parade pack (don’t forget there is sale this month on designer paper)
  • The arrow strip is from the Modern Medley Designer Paper pack – I cut out just a strip of the arrows and then colored in between the arrows with Stampin’ Write Markers – Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler
  • A strip of Silver Glimmer paper
  • A circle of Very Vanilla punched with the 2-1/2″ Circle punch, stamped and pierced – first stamp “Love you” from Seasonal Sayings stamp set in Marina Mist on Very Vanilla card stock – punch out; stamp again in Cherry Cobbler and cut out the “you” into a banner; and punch out the little heart with the little circle in the Cupcake Builder punch; use the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Pierce Mat, and Paper Piercing tool to pierce the circle.
  • Stamp “Seriously” in Cherry Cobbler ink on Very Vanilla card stock – the stamp is from one of the monthly Paper Pumpkin kits (there are some great stamps in these kits and a sign up special right now too – ask me about it); cut out with the Chalk Talk Framelit label and the Big Shot – line up on one side – cut and then line up the other side to make the shorter label when you cut a second time.
  • Attach everything to the card base – designer papers, glitter paper – flat with adhesive, the circle with dimensionals and the punched/cut pieces with dimensionals
  • Finish the card by adding the little heart clip (or an arrow which is current) tied with some Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine.

Greg didn’t remember it was our anniversary until he read the card which says – happy anniversary on the inside – but he did bring me flowers.

Happy Stamping!  I’ll be sharing convention pictures and more so be sure to come back again!

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