Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Fun Fall Card - Artisan Design Team Blog Hop

Welcome Artisan Design team hoppers! I am just back from the 2014 Founders Circle retreat! It was a fun filled five days in the sun!

A pic of Shelli Gardner and I in her Kanab apartment.
The Kanab trip was a bucket list moment for me. An unbelievable experience! 
The escape from reality meant that I was in a panic Tuesday when I remembered that I had to create something for the blog hop! Ack! Don't worry my friends, I busted it out!

Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks here in Canada so I thought it was fitting to whip up a cute Thanksgiving card. We are planning an out of town trip for the Thanksgiving long weekend and I wanted to give my Mom a card to tell her how Thankful I am for her!

Hope this cuteness makes up for the simple project this week!

I sprayed the card with Vanilla Smooch Spritz once it was all created.
It reminds me of the crisp, frost filled fall mornings that are ahead!

The Tangerine Tango twine bow here was created by separating the threads from the
chunky White & Tangerine Tango Two-Tone Trim .
I ran the Card Stock through the Big Shot with the Fun Fall Framelits Dies to get the three leaves cut out. Behind that is a piece of Motley Monsters Designer Series Paper.
Does anyone know how to cut out with the Big Shot and Framelits with out getting that hallow frame line around the cut out? I do not mind it here but sometimes it is less desirable.

I know that Lisa Harlow has something amazing for you ... click along and see what she has created.

Thank-you for reading! Have a creative day!

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Founders Circle wrap up

I managed to only blog one night during my Founders Circle retreat. I am home and back into the swing of things but I wanted to share the rest of the Founders Circle excitement with you!

We left off at the end of night 2 with the PJ party and swap night.

Friday was a full day! It was an early morning to catch the bus and head to Kanab to visit the manufacturing facility!! Totally a nerdy bucket list moment for me! As we pulled up to the facility all of the employees were standing outside to greet us! They kept thanking us for all that we do but we had a surprise for them. The demonstrators organized a gratitude shower. As we got off the bus we gave them hand stamped treats and signs that expressed our gratitude for all of their hard work! It was so fun!


Janet Wakeland and Karen Trelfa with Kanab emplyee's

Through these doors walk the very finest stamp manufacturers in the world.


Once inside we split into two groups. Our first activity was a Christmas Project Life Album make and take. Yes, we stamped in the stamp factory! Following that was the big tour! It started with the fascinating demonstration of how they make Photopolymer.

My new friend Tami White and her stamp set! When she achieved 1 Million in sales Stampin' Up! asked her to name this stamp set ... she chose White Christmas! It was coming off of the fabrication line just as we walked by. She was so excited and it was awesome to share that moment with her! 
Next we walked though the making of ink pads and the cutting of card stock. It is more than magical when you realized that people loving make all of these products with their own two hands!

This staff member was clicking each ink pad case together to prep for labels. And to think, I always have trouble popping them back together when the slip out of the track!

Card Stock!!!

The Card Stock arrives at the factory in huge sheets and is then cut to size. My heart skipped a beat at the size of these sheets. I wanted to take them home with me!
Next came the red rubber stamp manufacturing process. We got to watch a stamp set be created that was a sneak peek and will be launched in the spring Occasions catalgoue. At the end of the production line they gave us that stamp set to take home!


Also included in the tour was a visit to Shelli Gardner's apartment above the facility. It was beautiful! My favorite part was that it had children's toys scattered about from her grand kids. It felt so warm and welcoming. Shelli was there to take a photo with, get a hug and have a quick chat with.

After the tour we had a BBQ lunch with the Kanab employees. We then got back on the bus to visit the Stampin' Up! park! Another bucket list!!! Rather than having sand at the park the ground is covered with scrap rubber stamp pieces! Some of the pieces even had images on them that I can remember from years ago!

All of the Canadian Founder Circle achievers at the park.

My new friends Genevieve Ko and Rose Marie Coleman! 


After all of that excitement a nap was in order on the bus ride home! We had a big night ahead and the rest was needed. After dinner we headed out to Tuacahn - an outdoor amphitheater in Utah that is nested in a canyon! We got to see The Wizard of Oz!


Fridays gifts!
Saturday was a quiet day at the pool. I made even more friends and had the best time relaxing, laughing and sharing. The joke of the day was my cheap Old Navy bathing suit. The pink die was bleeding everywhere. Needless to say that suit found its way into the trash!


Saturday night was our final event. Stampin' Up! organized us into three teams and got us to decorate Christmas trees for the Festival of Tree's! The tree's will be auctioned off this winter and the funds will be donated to charity.


My team - the Very Merry's ... we were on the tree decorating committee.
Maggie Patterson, Tami White, Aly Schilling, Krista Frattin,
Mary Fish, Sarah Willis and Debbie Moczek.
The entire team together ... these other amazing ladies hand made the decorations you see!

Our team tree!
 

We moved from the tree decorating event to Christmas dinner. Prior to dinner we played the White Elephant Gift Exchange game! Stampin' Up! purchased and wrapped the gifts for us to exchange. Let me tell you - they were very "unique" gifts! It has us laughing until my cheeks hurt!


The white elephant gifts on the table.

Mary Fish was so excited to receive this Hot Dog slicer! 

I received cozy slippers that not only have a fashionable flair - but they act as floor dusters too!

Saturdays gifts!
Sadly Sunday it all came to an end. We woke up early to come home. I am so grateful that I had this experience. I made many new friends and learned so many valuable things for my business. I am extremely grateful to my husband for the support so that I could take 5 days away! I am also grateful for each of my customers and my team members. There business and support made dreams that I did not even know that I had come true. Love to you all!

Have a creative day!

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Founders Circle update

It is hard to believe that two days have passed here in St. George, Utah at Founders Circle. I have been busy soaking it up that I keep forgetting to take photographs.

My time has been very relaxing. I have literally slept and ate my way through the two days. Stampin' Up! is spoiling us at every chance they get. Man, I thought we got a lot of gifts on the incentive trips. I may have to go and buy a new suitcase!

When we arrived at the hotel the entrance was decorated for the Holidays ... this years theme. I had no idea that Stampin' Up! took over this hotel for the week! It is madness!!

Our luggage was whisked away for us and we were directed to the gathering place.
Here we can meet other demonstrators and Stampin' Up! staff all week long.
We got our name tag and these year books. Such a great idea for a newbie like me to
get to know everyone!

The gathering place was complete with the most de-lish ginger snaps and sugar cookies!


Every Stampin' event has candy - lots of candy. These dishes are constantly refilled.
So you can not even eat your way through thinking that when it is gone it is gone.

Every room was room is decorated with this fabric festive banner.
My room has a large king bed! It is so lonely here! I never am a lone in a hotel!
On Stampin' trips I am with my sisters (well, sisters from another mister).
On family trips I am with the chaos that a family of 5 brings.

I had a quick moment to freshen up after arriving and then we met for a group activity.
Keeping with the Holiday theme, we did gingerbread houses! 
The "Very Merry" team and our house!

Next was the welcome dinner with my Very Merry team. It was awesome to get to know new friends and shop talk a little bit! 



day 1 presents!

I think I got to bed at 1:30 and had the worst sleep. So many business conversations left my head swimming. I slept in today and had a late breakfast followed by 4 hours at the pool.

I came inside early afternoon for a candy fill up. This time they had mugs for us to fill with candy and some amazing snacks!


Mid day snacks




We left the hotel tonight for dinner out and then returned for a PJ party to swap all of our 113 cards!!!!!!!!!!

The longest line every of demonstrators. You walk the line and swap! It was so fun!



A PJ party is not complete with out cookies and milk!

My new friend Rose! Another Canadian, and Albertan, and first time achiever!

Another new friend Kay!

Brian and I met on the cruise in May. I was so excited to see him and be a first timer together!
day 2 gifts!
Tomorrow is the Kanab tour (the stamp manufacturing plant). Buses leave at 7:30 am so I had better call it a night!!

Have a creative day!

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