Day 1: Check-in Day

What's the best thing about Convention? Memento Mall, of course! But before I get to that, here is the bag and the stamp goodies we got this morning.

Since I am a Make & Take helper, I got into Memento Mall early - yay! This year's logo wear:

Lunch bag and insulated cup:

Convention is garden-themed this year, so you'll keep seeing flowers popping up.

Umbrellas:

More recycle bags. I don't understand why ladies need so many bags?!

There is Pocketful of Posies-themed laptop skins and mouse pads. Other business stuff like pen packs, single card holders, workshop pocket board (hard board for writing up orders), Snail leash:

Look what they created with a Stampin' Up deck of playing cards:

And how cute are these garden boots?

And now onto the Kick-Off Party, where we were challenged to bring decorated garden or sun hats. Rosemary and Danette where playing Sudoku or some such game to win prizes. Danette is wearing the sun hat my daughter let me borrow (which she made in preschool - Hi Mrs. Green!).

And here's the three of us roomies.

Here's how I decorated my hat.

By the time I left the Convention Center, I was so loaded down... my original bag, the new bag, my Memento Mall stuff, a pile of stamp sets, my Make & Take packet... geesh! Hubby says, "You signed up for this vacation." It's work, People!

Thanks for stopping by!

On My Way to Convention... And a Web Special!

Today's the day - I'm flying to Salt Lake City today to attend the Stampin' Up Convention. So excited!!! I'll bring you day-by-day updates while I am here.

Unfortunately, I won't be available for personalized service, so instead, a special! Place an online order through my demonstrator website and receive free shipping (10% of merchandise total), only through Sunday, July 17! I cannot reduce your order cost directly, so the free shipping will come in the form of a rebate.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned!

SUOC23 Just For Kids!

Today's Stampin' Up Only Challenge is cards and projects for kids. The "Growing Up" section of the catalog has options for every gender and age group, but I turned to a project that is always a kid favorite, one using Treat Cups. What kid doesn't like candy?

For a colorful kiddo card, I chose a happy and warm color combo, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, and Poppy Parade. I always love matching up a color combo with M&M's. I also created a pull-tab so kids can get to the candy without dismantling the card.

Stamps: Something Sweet; Paper: Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Just Add Cake DSP; Ink: Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait; Accessories: Silver brad, 1-3/4" Circle punch, Tab punch, Scallop Circle #2 die, 3" Circle die, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals, Treat cup.

Thanks for stopping by!

Convention Swaps #3

Here's the third and final swap I put together, and darling hubby helped me with. He's been great with cutting cardstock and running the Big Shot, you know, stuff a man can do. :)

This card uses a few new items from the catalog, the set Up, Up & Away, the set Barnyard Buddies, and the new Striped embossing folder. Check out how nicely the Scallop Dot ribbon fills in for grass!

I had to order extra cardstock, without really having a prototype complete. I wasn't sure if I could pull off the Real Red, although naturally a barn would be red, right? I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I cut out 90 balloons last night while watching the Tour, and I'm starting to get stamper's carpal tunnel. Phew, glad I'm done! Which reminds me, who would schedule Convention during Tour de France? I'm gonna miss the mountain stages... ahhhh! :(

Stamps: Up, Up, & Away, Barnyard Buddies; Paper: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Very Vanilla; Ink: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Old Olive Scallop Dot ribbon, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Cupcake Builder punch, Sponge, Square Lattice embossing folder, Stripes embossing folder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Convention Swaps #2

For the WOW swap, I am doing a single swing card with the reinker spreader technique.

Here's a side view, so you can get a better feel for how it folds.

The flowers are stamped on Shimmery White cardstock, embossed with black embossing powder, and then spritzed with water and painted with reinkers and an aquapainter. I love this technique, but we won't talk about cutting out 100 of these flowers! ;)

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, My Friend, En Francais BG; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush, Whisper White, Shimmery White; Ink: Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush reinker, More Mustard reinker; Accessories: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, 3" Circle die, Scallop #2 die, Big Shot.

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Retired Stamps For Sale - 50% Off!

I'm clearing out the shelves to make room for new goodies. Click here to see a list of stamps for sale, 50% off! Just shoot me an email with any inquiries.

PCS Sneak Peek: Shore Thing & Convention Swaps #1

Now is the time to sign up for this month's issue of Paper Crafter's Sample, a fun, beach- and ocean-themed issue called Shore Thing. Try some of these fun ideas for summer-themed parties or events, including the treasure box template from yesterday's blog hop.

And here is the sneak peek of my project.

Please go to Paper Crafter's Sampler to sign up for exclusive access to the online database. Remember to use code PCSHB, so Melanie knows I sent you.

Now some Convention swaps talk - I signed up for a few swaps. I'm trying not to sign up for too much and get too stressed out... yeah, right!

I'm making 60 of these, a fun, spooky card using bleaching. I think Concord Crush and this new In Color Lucky Limeade is really yummy! DH offered to help so I don't get too stress... I nearly fell off my chair!

Stamps: House of Haunts, Wonderfully Worn BG; Paper: Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Basic Gray, Basic Black; Ink: Concord Crush, Black Stazon; Accessories: Bleach, Blender pen, Silver brads, Black grosgrain ribbon, Decorative Label punch, Spider Web embossing folder, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!