Thursday, January 30, 2014

Sending good thoughts card

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for reading my blog post on Tuesday. The response and outpouring of support was amazing! I have received messages from family, old friends, new friends and complete strangers. I did not expect that. I am actually not sure what I expected. I kind of just jumped in and wrote. I hoped that people would read it and it would spark a conversation. I hoped, for some, that they would hear me and know that they are not alone. I believe that is exactly what happened. 

So today my card is perfect to show my gratitude ... Sending Good Thoughts Your Way. And that is what I want to do! I want to send warm, loving, healthy and happy thoughts to each of you!



My 2014 stamp clubs kicked off the year with this card. Can you believe that I have 5 monthly stamp clubs again this year! I made many new stampin' friends and reconnected with old ones! I feel like we had not stamped together in ages! It was a great month!!

I wanted to focus on some of the fab new products in our recently launched Occasions Catalogue. It was hard to pick just a few to focus on ... I must say that I love it all. 


Two huge trends this year are Gold and Geometrics. The gold chevron embellishments and the gold sequence are the perfect finishing touches on this card. The greeting is framed with our new On Film die for the big shot. So retro, right?

Thank-you for visiting today! Hope you have a creative day!

xoxo

Krista

Stampin' Supply List:
Paper
Coastal Cabana
So Saffron
Very Vanilla
Basic Black
Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper   132993   $13.50
Foil Sheets, Gold   132622   $5.95

Ink
Baked Brown Sugar
So Saffron

Stamps
Perfect Pennants
    Wood   133227   $36.95
    Clear   133230   $26.95

Accessories
Gold Sequin Trim   132983   $6.50
Gold Baker's Twine   132975   $3.95

Tools
Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine   113439   $122.95
On Film Framelits Dies   132969   $36.95 


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Monday, January 27, 2014

My favorite Sale-a-bration items

Sale-a-bration
Stampin' Up!'s biggest promotion of the year!!!

Customers ~ Earn a FREE limited time product 
from our Sale-a-bration catalogue with every $60 product purchase

Hostesses ~ Earn an extra $40 hostess spending credits 
by having your own qualifying private party during Sale-a-bration 

Join ~ Get an extra $35 free with your starter kit!

So what are my favorite Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration products for 2014??

KITS! Over the last year I have become a huge fan of Stampin' Up! kits. They have been making appearances in many Stampin' Up! publications. They are perfectly packaged with all the goodies you need to make beautiful professionally designed projects ... complete with instructions! I say professionally designed because the pro's at Stampin' Up! designed these just for us! If you lack the kick start, creativity or time ... these kits make crafting simple.

Don't let that fool you though. My personal favorite thing to do with a kit is re-invent it! Like using a banner kit to create cards, using an accessory kit to create a mini album ... 

This week I used the below kit to decorate a mini album cover for my downline meeting on Tuesday night. My team is going to love this project. I will share this project later this week.



My other loves .. Take a peek!




There are 13 products in our 2014 Sale-a-bration brochure. All are only available as a free gift from Stampin' Up! with a $60 product purchase. Want to see the products in person and play with a few? Join me for my open house on February 3, 2014 at 7:00pm. This event is free and I would love to have you join us! Contact me to register.


Thanks for reading! Have a creative day!

Krista

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

What did the fox say?

For a few months I have been involved in a secret sister swap. I have read on Facebook many stampers participate in these. I had never given them a thought until my downline group proposed doing one together. 

The idea is that you draw a secret sisters name at the beginning of the cycle. We are going for a six month run, I believe. Each month you send a card to that sister anonymously. It really is a small commitment ... one card. Just one card!!! At the end you will reveal yourself to your sister. 

My cards have been great! It is so exciting to tear open that card that comes in the mail. This month my secret sister blew it out of the water. I wish I could give her credit for this card ... but I have no idea who it is!!!




It made my day bright and cheery! Do you love it? Do you love this song? Loath it? 

Have you thought about doing a secret sister swap? I could arrange one for my Stampin' Dolce fans!!!

Have a creative day! And remember .... what did the fox say?!

Krista


Stampin' Supply List:
Card Stock:
Early Espresso   119686   $8.50
Whisper White   100730   $9.25
Tangerine Tango   111349   $8.50

Stamps & Ink:
Greeting was printed on a computer. Stamps were not used.

Tools:
Big Shot Machine   113439   $122.95 
Woodgrain Embossing Folder   127821   $9.95
Word Bubbles Framelits Dies   132968   $30.95
Extra-Large Oval Punch   119859   $22.95
Large Oval Punch   119855   $21.95
Owl Builder Punch   118074   $22.95
Modern Label Punch   119849   $22.95
Little Leaves Sizzlits   114511   $6.95

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

My Stampin' journey ... 7 years and counting!

Next week marks my 7th Anniversary with Stampin' Up! To celebrate Stampin' Up! Canada sent me a congratulatory card! It was so nice to receive it in the mail and be recognised!

The personal touches were so cute! Check out the stamped inside and back ...



I remember the day I purchased the Starter Kit and said YES! to the Stampin' Up! experience. I was on maternity leave with our first daughter. She was born in October 2006 and it was January 2007. I was tired of being home with her allllllll day. Often referring to each day as groundhogs day. The same thing day in and day out. I just wanted a little bit of socialisation. 
A picture of me and my little girl in January of 2007
... the start of my Stampin' career!

The other large contributing factor was that maternity leave left me on a fixed income and my husband put me on a tight crafting budget! I had been a loyal Stampin' Up! customer for some time. Our decision was a $25 purchase each month ... WAY below my regular spending habits!

I went o my up-lines Sale-a-bration open house just for a night out. When she explained the extra bonus for becoming a demonstrator during Sale-a-bration, I listened a little bit closer. When she then told me that my first purchase was 30% off (or income), I sat a little closer to the edge of my seat. When she said she was going to draw for free product as a gift for signing up, I jumped at the chance to join. 

When I came home I hold my husband it was just for a deal ... I was not going to be a demonstrating demonstrator. Well you all know how that worked out for me!! That week I joined a new moms group. When we did introductions and said a little bit about ourselves I learnt that almost everyone in the group liked scrapbooking, crafting or making cards. A total ah-ha moment! Between that moment and the next meeting the following week, I gathered some project samples and made flyers for an open house. I invited all of my new mom friends, family and dropped invites in all of my neighbors mail boxes.

My open house was a huge success! I made enough to pay for my starter kit! (and back then the kit was way more money!!). I also had enough interest to start my first Stampin' monthly club! So much for not being a demonstrating demonstrator, right?

Over the first few years I did one or two clubs, a few classes and the odd party. I am not sure if I made any money. I was in it for the fun and to make time for myself to work on projects I loved. When we welcomed our third child in 2010 my Stampin' business was growing and growing. That year I achieved my first incentive trip to Disney World! It was so exciting for us! 

By the fall of 2011 my husband and I had decided that my place was best at home with the kids. I did not return to my career as an Architectural Project Manager. I increased my events and put more effort into my Stampin' business.

Now here we are, in 2014! Stampin' is a huge part of my life! My daughter wants to be a Stampin' Upper when she grows up. I have a groove with my business and have found a great balance. I love being the Mom that gets to drive the kids to and from school and be here in the afternoons for snacks and snuggles. 
working on a blog post with my littlest babe by my side!

watching Ellen after school and getting those snuggles
with my second & third born!
My oldest babe ... less pictures of this princess.
She does not like getting her picture taken!
 I am one of the lucky ones that gets to do what they love! Thanks for reading about my Stampin' Story! It was a fun walk down memory lane for me!

Krista Frattin




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Friday, January 17, 2014

Leadership 2014 - Managers' Reception adventure!

I got home to Edmonton on Sunday night. I was so excited to get hugs and kisses from my family. I missed them so much over the short five days I spent in Houston at Stampin' Up!'s 2014 Leadership Conference.

I took Monday to be a Mom and spend lots of time snuggling my babes. Tuesday I was right back at work with an event Tuesday night. It has been a month since my last event and I was so happy to get back to Stampin'! I met some great new Stampin' friends this week as my Stamp Clubs started up. It reminds me how much I love to share Stampin' Up!. I still have two spots open in my Wednesday Stamp Club if you are looking for a night out once a month to create cards or scrapbook layouts.

Last night after Zumba I sorted through all my photos from Houston. We had so much fun! I loaded some to my Facebook Business Page.  I blogged through out the event but missed sharing the Managers' Reception. That was a late night and I was simply just too tired! If you want to check out my other three blog posts just keep reading below in the feed.

Managers' Reception is an evening of eats, treats, excitement and the royal treatment! Based on my sales and team leadership I earned my way into this event. I am happy to say that I have attended Managers' Reception for four years now! Each year it just gets better and better. Stampin' Up! spoils us and the attention to details are amazing.

This year we loaded on buses to Houston's Downtown Aquarium. The venue was closed down for our private event. We walked off the buses to Stampin' Up! staff cheering and congratulating us. At the entrance to the Aquarium they had dancers on stilts greeting us. 



Our oh-so-cute tickets to the event



Walking through the doors wait staff offered us "themed" appetizers and beverages (yes that means sea food!). We went to watch the white tigers get fed. They were behind a wall of glass but I could not help the thought that I wanted to hug them. They sure looked cute and snugly!



The event was unscheduled and we were free to wander the venue and take it in. My roomie Kelly is a ride girl. You may remember me telling stories of last years Managers' Reception in Harry Potter world when she got me on two rides! (I am so not a ride girl). I like to be in control (if you know me, that does not surprise you). We did the farris wheel ... that I can handle because I know what to expect. It was so beautiful to see downtown Houston. 





We stumbled across more beverages and tent with sliders and dessert! Yum! You could choose a beef, chicken or lobster slider ... plus all the fixin's. My favorite food is a cheeseburger so I was in heaven!




A ride on the carousal had me sitting next to Shelli Gardner and her husband Sterling! I made it into the Stampin' Up! highlight video here! Check it out!




After watching Kelly ride the "drop ride thing" a few times I had a moment of bravery ... and got on myself. Not gonna lie. I was a wee bit scared getting strapped in. We started to climb and I realised I am not afraid of heights. It was a beautiful view! The dropping was nothing. I had so much fun! In fact, when the ride ended I would not take my seat belt off and I rode three times back to back! 


My bravery did not stop there. Next we wandered into the Sting Ray pool. They offered us a tray of bait to feed them. I felt like it was a once in a lifetime experience and I did not want to miss it. I had to take a few deep breaths just to touch the bait. I was sweating and my adrenaline was pumping. Don't laugh at me!!






To finish the experience we were allowed to pet them. And I did! It was exciting to do something out of my comfort zone. My cheeks hurt from laughing and screaming at the sting rays. It was an event highlight. 

The train at the Aquarium tours the property and then parks under the shark tank. There is a 5" thick glass arch above you and you can see all the sharks swimming. They taught us about the sharks. It was so cool! 




Late in the night we found a restaurant upstairs with piles food. Kelly was happy to find the oyster bar! I was happy to find the dessert table! Karolina enjoyed the mashed potato bar. They had white and sweet potatoes and everything you could imagine to add to them (even somethings that you could not imagine!). On a hot skillet they added your toppings and mixed them. Like Marble Slab but for potatoes! 






Stampin' Up! had divers in the tanks holding Stampin' Up! signs for a perfect photo op!



As the park closed and we left for the night, Stampin' Up! gave us a stamp set and a t-shirt to remember our exciting adventure!



It was a night to remember and I am so grateful to work for a company that appreciates us and celebrates us. Thank-you Stampin' Up!

Hope you enjoyed the details .. There are a lot more photographs on my Facebook business page. You should hop over there and check them out!

Have a creative day friends!

Krista Frattin
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Saturday, January 11, 2014

Leadership highlights - day 3

It's a wrap. Today we finished our 2014 Stampin' Up! Leadership conference. What an amazing experience we have had in Houston over the last three days. I have more photos to share and will get another blog post up when I'm home in Edmonton.

This morning was a late start with general session at 10:30am. What a refreshing schedule change! During this session we watched Stampin' Up staff play a Stampin' game show! It was so funny and down right Stampin' nerdy! I loved it! An all attendee give away gave us a free sneak peek stamp set from the new catalogue that will be released in June! 

After lunch we had a closing session that did not disappoint!! It started with Pam Morgan telling us that Convention will be in Salt Lake on July 17-19, 2014! It will be called "Inspire. Create. Share." The city of Salt Lake is always so excited to host us that they sent us salt water taffy!


A major announcement followed. Are you sitting down!?!?!?! Anyone who signs up to join my team from July 1, 2013 until registration closes for convention in July of 2014 will get their conference registration FREE!! Yes, free!! It is so fun and inspiring to attend this event! You just have to come with me!

Last, Shelli Gardner stamped on stage and shared some great projects and techniques. The final treat was another all attendee give away! I have so many stamp sets to bring home!!!! 

To wrap up the day we went with great friends for dinner. We sat for hours eating, talking, laughing and celebrating. It's always hard to say good-bye to everyone. But we know we will be together again in July! 

I can say this was my favorite trip so far! We have cried, laughed until we cried, stamped, shared and relaxed! It was perfect. Thank-you to Stampin' Up! for loving us so much and spoiling us. We are so lucky to have each other and to work for a company like this. Kelly Olson (my roomie and Stampin' bestie) said it best tonight ... "I wish the real world was like Stampin' Up!".

I am so excited to travel home tomorrow to hug my husband and my kids. I facetimed them tonight and my heart ached to kiss them all. I always get home sick on the last day!! 

Goodnight Houston!! Have a creative day friends!! 

Krista 


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