Top 10 Convention Highlights

You'll love today's MDS downloads.  You can see them here!  Washi Tape goes digital!  How fun is that :)  Here's a quick scrapbook page I made after I came home from convention.

The arrow image reminded me of washi tape.  What stamps could you use like washi tape?  Order your supplies here.

Friday, August 16, 7 p.m. Stamp-a-Stack Stamp Camp.   Fifteen card designs will be available for you to create ten cards.   All supplies will be provided except adhesive.  Please bring your own.   Fee:  $20—Stamp Club Members/Demonstrators; $25—Customers/Guests ($5 when you place a $40 the night of the class)  RSVP by August 12 and receive $5 off class.

Convention Day 3

Since we stopped for breakfast this morning on our way into the Convention, we drove right past the Stampin' Up! building.  When we jumped out of the car, we actually saw sheep on the front lawn.  It was pretty funny!  There was a walker walking by so we asked him to take a couple pictures for us :)  This is my first pictures with the rock out front! 

 We got there in time to get close seats again (pretty easy when there are only 3 of you :)  Shelli is always dressed to impress!  Such a classy lady!

 Then we were off to classes, lunch, taking pictures of the display boards, and a more classes.  It was all about the Prize Patrol for us today!

 MJ had a winning wrist band before lunch.

Kathy and I each won during one of the breakout classes!

We ended the general session with more fireworks...two of which were actual booms which scared me pretty bad...hence the bit uneven picture!

 And then...silver confetti raining down on us! :)

 After dinner, we headed to the airport to come home.  I love Convention!  There is always so much inspiration that goes through my mind.  Most of the time I can't wait to get home and put it in to action!  It's just the boost I need to get going again!  Already looking forward to next year's convention the week of July 14....who's coming with me?!?!

Convention Day 2

We started the morning early and with much closer seats for Main Stage.  

There's just something about being at Convention that is so energizing and fun!  And of course it helps when they give all attendee giveaways and announce AWESOME new products!  This year I was selected to be a make & take helper.

I really enjoyed doing this this year.  It felt just like a stamp class in my home helping my four tables with their projects.

We went to a couple classes and then headed back to the Gathering Place to take pictures.  While I was taking pictures, Vicky spotted me (our friends that Megan has introduced us to).  It was so fun to finally catch up with them.  This is one thing that I treasure the most about Convention...seeing friends that I only see once a year!  

Of course, though, it does remind you of those friends that aren't here this year.  After dinner at City Creek, we headed back to Awards Night.  It's fun and amazing to see how well some demos are doing!  They had an amazing after party this year!  It was complete with a live band, acrobats, dancers, food, and free product!

There were also a lot of games set up to win tickets.  We had a lot of fun at the SU! trivia game and playing bingo!

At the end of the night, they drew tickets (you got them from playing the games) for FREE product.  We didn't win...but it was sure fun trying!

Convention Day 1

I had a very early flight this morning.  The improvements at the airport are AWESOME and make the security line move so much faster these days.  After a quick gate change, MJ and I were off and away to SLC.

Kathy picked us up at the airport.  It was so nice not having to worry about a shuttle bus :)  Since we only took carry-ons this time, it was a very fast for us.  We headed to eat breakfast and then decided to head to Park City for a couple hours.  We decided to start our Convention differently this year.  It was a beautiful drive through the canyon with so much green all around.  We got our tickets to ride the Alpine Slide.

 Then we were off on the ski lift to our stop.  Riding up the lift made me want to visit here with my family next time we're in Utah.  They would have so much fun on all of the different activities that are available here!

After we got off the lift, we pulled our carts over to the actual track.

Here we are all ready to take off.

 It was a fun adventure!

 As we were leaving, we had to stop and get a picture of the resort.  The slides are the white squiggles you see on the left side.  Isn't it so green!?!

 After a quick stop to find a sweater or jacket (I left mine at home accidentally), Kathy and MJ dropped me off at the Convention Center.  I've applied to be a make-n-take helper every year, but I haven't ever been chosen until this year.  I had a training class (basically we just made our make-n-takes :) for two hours.  After the class got out, I went down the hall to get in line....and this GIANT line already existed.  It was a little crazy.

 Kathy and MJ hadn't come back yet so I just saved us a spot in line, and they stopped and grabbed us some food.  It wasn't long before we were on our way in!  This was the first year they have the stage covered up so we couldn't see it until the actual show started.  Yes, 5800+ people is a lot!

 We sat a bit farther back than we normally do, but it was an alright seat.  We just happened to be seating by the lawyer for SU!  I had actually met him before when we were in Denver for our 2007 Convention (I remember it very well because it was the year Syd went with me).  Our hotel shuttle left us at the Convention center, and he paid for us all to get back to our hotel.  He even remembered doing that. :)  The opening was AWESOME!  Ryan Innes (from The Voice) was the performer of our Convention theme song this year.  Another added bonus were the fireworks!

 The stage was set with making a difference by having Shelli come out by herself and then being joined by Sterling, then by the girls, then by their husbands, and then by all the grandkids.  It was so cute!  I think very highly of this great family!

One of my favorite parts tonight was a video interview with Shelli and her sister Vanna (co-founders of SU!)  It was fun to hear from both of them.

 One of the special guests tonight was a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records.  We set a record for the most greeting cards sent from one location in 3 hours.  (I think we probably should have also set the record for the longest line to mail greeting cards :)  We waited over an hour to mail our cards! 

Another guest was Ronald McDonald himself.  Stampin' Up! has made a difference with the Ronald McDonald House program through financial donations, as well as, many hours of service donated each year.

 After the Main Stage presentation, the Gathering Place was opened.  Stampin' Up! really goes all out in the form of decorations!

 This year we also did a service project.  We made 2,000 birthday kits for Primary Children's hospital.  It felt so good to be a part of something so great!

 Here's a picture of the card counter shortly after I deposited my card I sent (Mom, enjoy your birthday card!).

We did set the record...the final count was actually just under 3,000.  Some cards were disqualified because of the specific regulations that had been set...but it was something fun to be a part of!  It was a late night but a fun one.  On the drive to Kathy's house, I don't think MJ or I said a word.  We were exhausted!

Convention 2012...I am!

I just returned home last night from an amazing four days in SLC at our annual SU! Convention!

This year was a quiet year with just MJ and me going this year.  The deciding factor for me actually attending this year is that because I promoted to Manager this past SU! year, I had my Convention fee waived this year.  Can't pass that up :)  Here are our adorable bags we got this.  I'll definitely be re-using this bag as a purse!

After visiting Memento Mall, we went and did our Make-and-Takes.  Look how clean the table is before we started....

 Here's what it looked like about halfway through our projects...

Pictures of the projects will be posted soon :)

We took a few pictures before heading back to our hotel for a few minutes.

We finally ate lunch/dinner at about 3:30 p.m. at the Cheesecake Factory which is new with the new City Creek Mall.  (we spent a lot of time at the new mall in our free time :)  Thursday began the fun....it's always exciting when you walk into the Convention Center and you see thousands of demonstrators crowding the halls!  MJ added the text to this fun picture SU! posted :)  Perfect match to our theme.

The stage was so very fun this year.

Our guest speaker was hilarious!  He specifically spoke about how to reach out to the GenY generation.  Which is kind of funny to me because according to my birth year I actually fit into that generation.  He had some great tips...most of them were social media related.  We did a social media test where we took pictures of him and then friended him on FB by text all at the same time.  It was pretty cool :)  BTW, if you haven't friended my demo page on FB, you can do so by texting the number 32665 and then in the message typing Fan stampnscrap.jenn  

He had some very specific information that I found that not only applied to my SU! business but also to my personal life.  It was fun to be able to use his talk in both worlds :)

The first day of Convention is always a great day to swap.  These are my swaps from this year (which you should have seen posts about already :).

After a quick dinner at Chick-Fil-A, we attended the awards night.  Of course, we had to take our picture on the red carpet before entering  :)

We thought it was kind of funny that the weekend getaway will be held in San Diego.  Maybe we'll just catch up with our friends somewhere around town while they are here :)

 Then we attended the after party.  It's always fun to see how much dancing goes on at these things.  MJ and I are definitely are the younger side at this event so it makes it even better to people watch :)

 We finally caught up with Vickie and Latisha at the after party...just had to see Latisha dancing :)  I love SU! events because even though we only see these ladies once a year, it's SO fun to see each other EVERY year.  Vickie celebrated her 15-year anniversary as a demo at convention this year!

 These are the fun desserts they serve us :)

 When we got in the elevator, we happened to get in the elevator with Megan (one of the Gardner daughter's) and her husband.  We also had ridden down the elevator with her that morning.  She started up a conversation with us.  It was fun that she had remembered us from that morning.  Friday we started with another general session.  We just happened to get seats behind our new friends.  Just in case you haven't been to convention before, we're on the 2nd row...center section just behind the entire Gardner family :)  It didn't take long for our new friend, Megan, to wave to us.

We took a picture with here...she was very kind to us and talked us a bit here and there as we saw her the rest of the convention.

The fun part of this picture was after her husband took a picture with MJ's phone, he pulled out his phone and took a picture of us as well with Megan.  :)

Of course, we had to take a few pictures on the stage :)

After a few breakout classes and lunch, we had another general session.  This time we didn't get very close seating but it worked okay this time around.  I did get to walk officially on stage this year for reaching $100,000 in total sales since I began.  I reached this back in August (and was so close to it last year when I went to Convention)...so now that it was a official I had to walk on stage :)

 Of course, we headed back to the mall, and I happened to snap a quick picture of the temple.  It's beautiful!  I giggled a little when I noticed that Tiffany's is located on the 2nd floor of the mall and has windows that look out towards the temple.  Very SMART on their part :)

 That night we attended an amazing class.  So many new techniques and ideas to share!  Can't wait!

I'll post this project when I finish.  We had to take such good notes we didn't have enough time to stamp in between presenters :)  On Saturday as we were sitting waiting for the last General Session to start, I realized that we hadn't even taken a picture of the two of today.  So a quick snap shot :)  Second row from the front again for us!   It's much easier to get seats for just 2 of us...although, we would have loved to have our usual crowd with us this year!

 Stampin' Up! live streamed the first bit of General Session for the demonstrators that couldn't make it.  After paying the Richtar in stamps, we found out that the Grand Vacation is a global event for all of the markets of SU! on a Western Caribbean Cruise!  Guess where we have been talking about cruising next?!?!?  Hmmm, now how can I sell $40,000 in 12 months?! :)

 One of the best parts of SU! is they are so giving!  All of the demonstrators received the Ronald McDonald stamp set from the catalog.

 We also received a hostess stamp set from the Holiday Catalog.  Look at all that excitement.

Convention is ALWAYS a blast!  After the session ended, our upline picked us for dinner.  It was fun telling Kathy the condensed version of convention.  She then took us to the airport to head home.

Who's coming with me to Convention July 18-20, 2013, for the 25th anniversary of Stampin' Up!?  You know it will be BIG!!!  Watch for more posts about Convention 2012 coming soon! :)