Sale-A-Bration Begins Today!

January 24th – March 31st

We wait all year for it and it’s here! Stampin’ Up’s annual Sale-A-Bration (SAB)!

For every $50 purchase, you can choose from anything in the SAB catalog free!*

*If you have not received your copy of the SAB mini catalog and the new Occasions mini catalog in your mailbox from me (and you have ordered from me this year) then the mailman ate it. So just let me know so I can send you another one. If you have not ordered or seen me in the past year and would like to have one, just reply back and tell me! Be sure to include your current mailing address so I can get it to the right place.

          

To download the SAB and Occasions Mini catalog, go here: www.lindaheller.stampinup.net

and click on Products, then Catalogs.

LOTS of freebies for spending with me during SAB but also freebies for having a free workshop or class, too!

Hostess Incentive! When you and your friends invite me over to stamp a few projects (or you come here to my place) and your orders reach $150 collectively, you earn hostess dollars to spend on anything you like

AND this cute shopping bag tote:

 

(tote is not for online orders – call or email me your order so I can get one for you)

When your Workshop gets to $400, you (or the hostess) earns a free bundle of products

from pages 6 & 7 from the SAB catalog that includes this stamp set, full pack of 12×12 paper, ribbon and brads!

    

It’s also a great time to be a hobby or business demonstrator!

Starter Kits are on sale!   Regularly $175, the starter kit is customizable and on special just during SAB for only $125!

As a special gift, SU is giving a free package of Designer paper (reg 9.95) each month for the rest of the year! You only need to pay shipping and you can choose your paper each month.

 There are 2 starter kits, one is the Standard kit with over $300 in supplies and the other is a Digital Kit. Here is a link for an overview of what is in the kits: http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/joining_stampin_up.asp

You can view the Standard Starter Kit Order Form HERE.

You can view the Digital Starter Kit Order Form HERE.  You can print and use it like a worksheet to fill in your choices. If you want to sign up, you can do it on my demo website at www.lindaheller.stampinup.net click on Join Now.

Call or email me and we can chat about it!

Local Stampers! Be sure to check out my class schedule at www.lindaheller.stampinup.net to reserve your seat at some upcoming events

Linda Heller – Ind. Stampin’ Up Demonstrator, Executive

2012 Leadership Swaps

It’s over…sniff. Friends are flying back home today, the displays are packed up and back to work Monday.  For those you who want to see a few non-stamping highlights, Matt updated his page at http://lindastamps.wordpress.com/dh/.

I’ll be staying in San Antonio one more day to play with Deb Valder, Patsy Waggoner, Jan Burnett and our husbands. The guys have had fun visiting touristy locations like the caverns here. Not sure what we should do today but the weather is perfect. Someone mentioned a Segway tour and God help me from falling over or running into a tree on one of those things!

Here are a few swaps I have here in my room. I didn’t swap much this year but unloading my camera now I have 697 pictures!

This is a neat suspension card from Linda Goldhersz, one of my downline here. Not the best pic but the glitter heart is suspended with a fine filament string into Basic Gray card stock.

This beautiful angel wings card was done by Meg Wheeler. Twitterpated paper cut with the new bird die (what is that called? Ugh my memory stinks) she put tabs in the middle so they stand up:

Another one by Linda Goldhersz! Love this cheery gnome card:

Here is a pretty card by My friend Georgia Giguere using the new SAB set:

Rhea Hughes stamped this pretty monochromatic card with Apothecary stamp set:

Dare to Dream card by Susan Nygaard:

Off to see San Antonio!

Linda

2012 Leadership Friday Afternoon

There is a wonderful Hispanic display area here at the convention. The samples are out of this world! For those that do not already know, SU has a good selection of stamp sets available in Spanish also.

These adorable punch art creations were created by Geraldine Andrade and if you google her, she does have a blog I’m told. Really cute lil’ things, aren’t they?

Get out those punches and start playing!

I’m off to an afternoon of classes – we still have our closing session fir more announcements and prizes!
more later- Linda

2012 SU Leadership Friday Am

Good morning!

We had a Texas style meal last night and I’m feeling slow this morning. We went to the Tip Top Cafe, famous for it’d heartstopping Chicken Fried Steak.
It was really good but probably oh so bad!

I wanted to share what I gave my team here at the conference. In the old days, SU gave us these black lanyard pouch badge-holders and they were handy to keep hotel keys, phones, cash etc.

So I asked Heidi LaFountaine (one of my downline who is a great seamstress) to sew some up for me as gifts using our new fabric. The girls loved them!

If you’d like Heidi to make you one for convention, you can email her at heidilala@hotmail.com

Thanks, Heidi!

General session about to start so will keep you posted of any news!

Lund

2012 SU Leadership swaps

More swaps! SU put out clothesline and pins for Occasions mini samples for a contest. There must be 2000+ submissions! I don’t have time to post many but here are a few!

Denise Jorgensen

Lesley Poper did this adorable card with Gnome set! Look at the goodies in the wheel barrow!

Pretty Scrapbook page by Linda Barnes

Judi Sparks

Look at this cute table from Belinda Johnson using the new Tea Shoppe set:

2012 Leadership Thursday am part 2

A few announcements from the main stage this am:

Donna Griffith (Stampin’ Up Demo Traning) just announced a NEW toy! We are introducing the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate!!!! It fits right on top of your existing SImply Scored! 11.95 US and didn’t catch the Canadian price.
Perfect for boxes, envelopes an more!

I’ll post project pics laster today after lunch- cute stuff!

Corey Hancock announced a change in the catalog program. I had typed it out as they gave us info but they asked that we don’t tweet or blog it as All info will be online for demos today or tomorrow! So I backspaced it all out and demos, keep checking the demo website for details. It is awesome and I love the changes!

A few swaps to keep inspiration going:

This Easter card is a digital MDS card by Jan Wakeland That she gave me without getting a card from me in return (she’s so generous like that!)

And this simple cutey by Dee Yates using the new Mixed Bunch and punch from the Occasions Mini catalog

Lunchtime!! More later..
Linda

2012 SU Leadership Thursday am

Good morning!

(this post may only interest demos but I posted a pretty card at the bottom for just the stampers!)

Last night was the Manager’s reception and show. Fun time! Here are a few of the Mangers in our group, Susie, Vil and Tarri holding a tasty drink with fun umbrellas (which makes every drink taste better IMO)

Our general session started this am and is my favorite session. Everyone is gathered in a huge room as we hear company updates and stamping tips and tricks, too!

Shelli Gardner, our founder and CEO, took the stage in her bright, fashionable way:

(if you haven’t guessed, the theme is My Way), celebrating doing business a multitude of ways. As demonstrators we are VERY diverse in ways to do this stamping business so Shelli made it clear that they are embracing all styles!
Workshops, parties, clubs, classes, online or offline… Do it your way!

Our demo Stampin’ Success magazine is getting a makeover! I love it now so can’t wait to see it They are adding a full workshop tutorial in every issue for project ideas. Looks like a great resource! More Step by step instructions for techniques and the covers will change also. Some will be projects, some feature people, some graphic ideas. Changes start this March!

Then she gave everyone a free stamp set from the upcoming Summer mini! It is just gorgeous and called Everything Eleanor. Nothing like giving over 1000
Free stamp sets away to get everyone pumped up!

Taking a break while people walk the stage for promotions…

Here are some of my buds in my row with their new goods:

Here is a pretty swap by Joyce Feraco:

And look at this beauty by Emily Turner, one of managers here:

More later…

2012 Leadership Gifts

When we arrived to our make and takes, there were two gifts at our table!

One is a notebook holder or kindle holder or whatever you want it to be!
One was filled with chocolate!

2012 Leaderships Make and takes

Wow! That’s all I gotta say….

9 projects, jar and 8×10 frame not included In our packets so we can

2012 SU Leadership Check In

Well I made it to San Antonio, Texas to the Stampin’ Up Leadeship convention. It sure is chilly here but lots of activity!

I just picked up my bag and SU didn’t disappoint again this year! Isn’t this the cutest thing? And yes, fabric coming in the Summer mini!

Here is My bud and roomie, Jan Burnett, showing the bag!

Also shown below are 2 of Jan’s swaps -
She is a talented stamper!
I’ll be posting throughout the day so check back. Sometimes posting from my phone is a little wonky, pics do not always come out in correct places but at least you’ll get an idea of how much fun we are having!

Sweet Cake

When I was at the SU Louisville Regionals, there was a display of a new stamp set called Sweet Cake.   It’s now available from the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog that began January 4th. 

I wasn’t sure I liked it when I saw it but I think it could be fun and ‘springy’ with sherbety colors!

It’s also available in Spanish,  Digital images and Decor Elements – you can check out the whole suite here.

 Here are a few pictures I took that day from the display board, courtesy of Stampin’ Up:

Think about  fun it would be to use the new Vanilla Scented Embossing Powder…

Happy Stampin’!  Linda

 

3D Gift Ideas

Here at the Heller house in New Hampshire, the presents have been unwrapped, batteries placed in the appropriate toys, and lots of  happy, warm memories can fill our scrapbooks.  I was hoping for a little bit of snow falling on me but I see it on my shoes when I walk outside so that’ll have to do.  I love the nippy weather and can wear my fluffy winter coat at least this week and  then back to Florida where it will go back into the closet.

Gift from Debra LaFountaine

Each year my team can participate in a  hand made gift exchange when we get together in December.   It’s optional and almost everyone takes part.  Everyone   stands in a circle while I read my version of  Lefty, the stamping elf.  All kinds of gifts are passed left and right as my story says Left and Right until it stops and the gift in your hand is yours to keep!

Here are a few, but not all, gifts passed that day.  Since most did not put their name on the gifts they passed, most are unknown. (If you made something and are reading this, just email me and I can post your name with it)

 Debra LaFountaine made this magnetic bingo game and fabric pouch!

Gorgeous stamped candle by Terri Tosh

I love this frame and asked Trish Niedergesis to make me one, too!

SEW sweet! stamper unknown

I saw this beauty pass by several times during our left/right poem!  Seamstress/stamper Connie Hobbs

Wanda Smith made an adorable lampshade out of the new Rosette Die!  She said she saw the shape as she was putting her rosette together and discovered a lampshade instead!

Cathy Wirt said she used liquid floor polish, swirled around inside the ornament, to act as a glue for the glitter to stick!  Love it!

 Gorgeous lattice ornament by Emily Turner – I really wanted to take it out of the package to get a good pic but it wasn’t mine so…

stamper unknown – this  ornament is just cute as can be but my pic not so great

 Amanda Hartley – love the extra effort of clear embossed dots on her box!

stamper unknown – nice photo holder with decorated block

 stamper unknown but so cool with all the paper accordian layers!

stamper unknown – love the soda can buckle!

That’s it for today!  Have to pack up the suitcases and start thinking about heading back to the warmer weather in FL!

Linda

Holiday Mini Catalog Carryover Items

It’s FINALLY here – the Stampin’ Up carryover list for the Holiday Mini catalog which ends soon.  I was wondering if the Silver Glimmer paper would be carrying over since everyone loves it and it is! 

The stamps can pop up again in the new catalog (some, but not all) but the Stocking Punch will NOT be in the new catalog so get that before it’s gone for good or pay 4x the price on Ebay later…:)

If there is anything left on your wish list from the Holiday Mini that you didn’t get, email or call me or place your order online before January 3rd.  Here is the list below and if you want to print a copy, click HERE to download the PDF

More Clearance Rack Items added!

Savings Alert!!

December 15, 2011-January 5, 2012
Nearly 200 new Clearance Rack items are being added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail--while supplies last!

Orders must be placed online on my Stampin’ Up store website at www.lindaheller.stampinup.net   Click on the SHOP NOW button upper right corner.  If you need help with ordering online, call or email me.

(To my team and demonstrators:  you can place these on a Demonstrator order that ships directly to you!)

I’m off to shop to see what’s new in there!  See you there!  Linda

Occasions Mini Sneak Peek: Designer Cuts

Hi there!

Today I opened up my box of Occasions Mini pre-order goodies (one of my favorite perks for being a demo is getting things early to play with!)  I don’t want to spoil the surprises for you when you get your mini in the mail but a little peek is fun, right?

I can’t make videos for all the new things until it officially goes LIVE on January 4th but I can make something and take a picture to share!  This one went together in minutes….

Created by Linda Heller (all images copyright Stampin’ Up!)

I’m in LOVE!  These are called  Designer Cuts and they are an item in the Occasions Mini catalog under Cards & Envelopes Set.   The cards are laser cut and I was thrilled to see it was ready to go, which means I didn’t have to poke out all the itty bitty pieces from the cuts.  in Very Vanilla with Blushing Bride envelopes.  I cut the front of the vanilla laser cut card and then cut it down 1/8″ on all sides to adhere it to the front of a Blushing Bride Card. 

The DSP is new also, called Twitterpated, which has this Blushing Bride pattern.   I adhered a 2″ strip across the top .  Then I added the NEW 3/8″ Pleated Satin Ribbon in Blushing Bride (which is so pretty and no bows!!) across the middle. 

The greeting is also a sneak peek from the mini called Loving Thoughts, which has so many pretty sentiments you will use over and over. 

Here is a close up of the delicate card details:

Oh, forgot to tell you about the big pearls, too!  Those are new!

Must go unpack the rest of my goodies so happy stamping!

Linda

Local Card Buffet & Updates

Hi all! 

I have 4 updates for you today.   For local floridian stampers,  I have our annual Card Buffet Stamp a Stack coming up this weekend (December 4th, afternoon)  and we have seats still open!  If you are on my email list for local classes, you should have received it but if you didn’t, drop me an email and I will resend to you.

The Card Buffet is fun because YOU choose which designs you’d like to make from our 8 choices, along with how many of each you’d like to make.  Then I cut up your personalized package and have it ready for you when you arrive.   This is one of the easy designs I have planned:

To see the other classes on my December schedule including my annual 6xt6 Year In The Life album, visit my calendar of events at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lindaheller/

Update #2!

If you are a Stamping School member, you should be enjoying our new site! (if you haven’t seen it, check it out – I think it’s a fun website!)

We worked hard this past year to completely rebuild and make some major changes, including being Ipad, Iphone and Droid friendly.   We hope you like it and we are coming up on our 5 year anniversary already and just expanded into our 15th country!  Matt’s just as excited and loves to answer the phone anytime he can to chat with members.

We often get asked “Can I see what’s inside Stamping School before I join?”  Since we keep the projects exclusive and off the public view, it’s tough to give potential members a peek before signing up for a full year for $35.

We have a fix for that!  You can now enroll for a one month membership for only $5 .   Try us out and enjoy it for 30 days.  If  you like what you learn, join us for the year!  Just look for the One Month Trial Membership in the  shopping cart.

Update #3!

Stampin’ Up’s annual Sale-A-Bration is just around the corner,  January 24th – March 31st!  It’s the biggest Gift With Purchase that SU has each year and we all look forward to it.  Along with that, the new Occasions Mini Catalog will be out January 1st!  Wait til you SEE the new ACCESSORIES!!!  Seriously fun stuff.  As demonstrators, we can preorder during December and all I can say is that I’m going to be putting in a mongo big order since there are so many things to love in it. 

If you have ordered from me in the past year, you get one in the mail automagically.  If you are needing a nice demonstrator and don’t have one already to send you one, fill out this form on my website here  (you may have to click on Contact Me, upper right corner)  so I have your mailing address or email me at lindastamps@cfl.rr.com

Update #4! (last but still important…)

Only ONE MORE DAY to get great deals on SU goodies!    Go HERE!

That’s it for now!  Thanks for tuning in and happy stamping!

Linda

Big Deals!

Hi Stampin’ Friends!  Stampin’ Up has released their huge  Online Extravaganza with deals up to 60 % off!  With the exception of 2 items (see below)  the sale runs 10 days, until November 30th.

Click on my photo below if you want to go directly to my store on my website!

 

 Matt and I are in Tryon, NC and it is just gorgeous here!  Our friend Eric brought a wireless router for us so I am able to go online (so I can shop, too!) and check my email.  No phone service though but we’ll go into town once a day to check messages. 

 Click HERE to view everything on sale! Lots of items up to 50% off and 2 items (fabric) at 60% off!

MDS/Digital Crafters – you will want to see all the items on sale, too!

For SAVINGS Today Only!

2 of their top selling items on sale for your shopping pleasure for 24 hours only!  November 21st until 11:59 tonight (mountain time) 

  20% off the new Simply Scored, which is a must have in my book, and  the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps! 

If you missed my post on the Simply Scored, you can read all about it here. 

I’ve had a lot of fun playing with these cookie stamps!

My first batch was a disaster of sorts as I ignored the directions and bought some premade cookie dough from the refrigerated section of Publix.    Those apparently have too much of something that makes them rise (yes, all you cooks out there are trying to tell me what that is but I can’t hear you ) so my designs disappeared as they baked. 

My 2nd batch wasn’t actually mine but I loaned my cookie stamps to Paula, who baked up some with her customer and presented me a plateful upon returning the stamps. YUM!  She actually followed the recipe inside.

My 3rd batch was at a wonderful hostess home, Ann and MJ, who made up gobs of dough for all the guests to stamp their cookies!  (She rolled the shortbread in sugar first – definitely my favorite!)

With snowflakes, hearts and pumpkin faces, they are great for all year! 

They didn’t make it into the Holiday Mini catalog but you can still order them or I can order them for you – just give me a jingle!  Linda

This video is by Stampin’ Up featuring Shelli’s Daughter, Sara, stamping cookies:

Here is what Stampin’ Up says: “Take your love of stamping into the kitchen! Create fun and tasty stamped cookies for any occasion. Fit a silicone stamp over the bottom of wooden handle and press into dough—it’s that easy! Let the kids help! Food-safe, easy-to-clean and dishwasher safe. Each set includes 3 silicone stamps, 1 handle, and 2 great cookie recipes.”

 Ok, get shopping!  Email me your order if you’d rather not order online.  I’ll place it for you asap.  My November gift I told you about is still in effect

Linda

linda@stampingschool.com or Lindastamps@cfl.rr.com

 

Free Class and Stocking Stuffers!

Attn  Local Stampers:  Free class at the Maitland Library!   We are so lucky to have community programs at our local libraries.   They have people come in and teach all types of classes for every type of interest!  I’m bringing 3 projects Wednesday night and if you are local and would like to attend, please call Melissa at (407) 647-7700 by Tuesday! To see all the wonderful programs the Maitland Library offers, visit Here!

Now for the Clearance Rack Stocking Stuffers!

If you have not checked it out lately, there are some great deals!  You do need to order online on my SU website – I cannot order them for you – but they are worth it to go online and add them to your cart and check out on your own. (if you haven’t done it before, you will need to set up a username and password with your info but hen you will have it) 

  There is a minimum shipping of 6.95 for purchases under $69 so keep that in mind as you probably don’t want to order just a $2 item and pay that extra fee.

This time of the year is great to pick up these stocking stuffers for you or your favorite crafter! 

As an extra holiday bonus from me, anyone who places a $40 or more order online this month, I’ll send you your choice of Pearls, Rhinestones or Shaker Frames by mail!  Of course you don’t have to order all clearance items – any online order of $40 or more qualifies.

You can find the Clearance Rack items on my Stampin’ Up website HERE and click on Shop Now.

Here are just a FEW of my favorites that I found rummaging around in there:

Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons  Item # 114344 ( 24 Count )

Normally 9.99 in the catalog last year and now…2.99!  We still carry the Baja Breeze so you probably already have some card stock and ink just waiting for these soft brads to embellish your next project.

Candy Cane Rub-Ons  Item #120990  $3.19!  If you want to create super quick tags this year, grab these rubons and  White card stock and you are ready to go!

■ 4 sheets total: 2 sheets each of 2 designs
■ 6” x 6”
■ Coordinates with Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series paper
■ Coordinates with Real Red, Garden Green, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Chat Room Rub-Ons Item # 117199 

I couldn’t get enough of these when they were in the catalog and even now I use them for my personal cards.  I love, love the white greetings and just rub-on the card with the stick (included) and off you go!
Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (Bulk) 115989

This was one of my favorite packs of DSP!  It still coordinates with Cheep Talk stamp set.  It’s just happy paper and for only 3.99 now it can make you happy, too!

Star Designer Brads 112572  $1.49! (seriously??)    16 Ct

Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware comes in this great tin and used to be around $30 but now only…$12.99!    Over 100 pieces and 100 brads.  comesin Silver (# 111325) and Vanilla (#12454)  as shown here. 

And last but never least, Build A Brads.  Why SU retired them is bewildering as I think they are timeless and so practical!  Use your 1/2″ circle punch for any patterned or solid paper and you have a customized brad.  LOVE these!

Pewter Build A Brads # 109128  Now only 3.99 for 24!

There’s a lot more in store for you in the store!  check it out and remember my extra gift to you if you place an order online!  Linda

KY Regionals

Hi!  I had a blast in Louisville, KY at the Stampin’ Up Regionals!  I presented 2x and it went pretty well.  My stomach was doing flip flops since it was supposed to be a 30 min workshop presentation and I’m not used to doing that in front of 500 people.  So I forgot a few things but I had fun and working with the SU team there was wonderful.  I was able to spend time with good friends and stamping, a few of my favorite things!

A few highlights from the Regional:

  I won’t share too much since there is one more regional in January in TX and I don’t want to ruin surprises for those who are going.

Julie Davison demonstrated the Faux Tile technique and here are 2 of her samples:

Mary Brown had a booth to show how she ties her bows with brads:

Megan Wheeler did a GREAT presentation on how she’s been doing workshops lately.  Here are her projects:

This is a terrible pic but Bonnie Thurber made some cute and easy tags with the Felt accents  in the Holiday Mini catalog

June Dunn showed her technique for tying bows – love these cards, June!

These next few cards were on display and I don’t know who stamped them so if it was you, let me know and I’ll credit you.  I just liked them so thought I’d share!

(flames from the SU Bird punch – clever!)

That’s all for now!  Don’t forget that there are only a few days left of the FREE Big Shot with Starter Kit!  SU has extended it until November 11th!

Linda

Stampcation Inspiration

Hi stampin’ friends!

It’s been a busy month after Stampcation, which was AMAZING!  The presentations were awesome with demonstrators up on a stage showing their WOWS and I loved the sound of 100 stampers cheering throughout the weekend! 

Our theme was Releasing Your Inner Artist so the displays were themed around art and color vignettes throughout the room.   I’ll share a few photos with you… 

Shantaie Fowler is my friend and Stampcation partner. She is really the creative force behind the amazing, over the top  displays.  We have learned that we excel creatively when bouncing ideas off of each other so  it’s a perfect match.  Here she is hanging the paper lemons on the tree for the yellow display area.

Of course we couldn’t pull it off without help!  Matt, Toni, Penny, Dave,  Megan, and Nate were on the scene to haul in displays  (from our rented trucks LOL) and help pull it all together.

My amazing, glass half full guy, Matt!  At the control panels controlling audio, microphones, projectors, visual slides, video….quite the job well done!

Shantaie’s creation using the SU fabric, Beau Chateau on her apron for the pink vignette area.   Isn’t she fabulous?!  Shantaie is quite the seamstress as well as papercrafter.

We had this great area for a photo opportunity with stamped mustaches and a big frame!  It seemed to be a big hit and saw people there all weekend!

The 8 presenters were amazing! Nance Lempinen-Leedy did a great demo on the insides of cards.  I loved this card she did for fall…

Lots of swapping!  4 Line swaps for card fronts, 1 3D line swap and then a big shoe box swap!  Here are a few of those:

She used the stocking hanger loop in the stamp set to make hoof prints!!  We were all roaring at her creativity!

This one is stamped by  Connie Hobbs – I loved it and using the Marina Mist patterned paper with the Frostwood Lodge paper looked so fresh and bright!

The scrapbookers were out in force, too!  I took this pic because of the table….where did they find room to scrap?  LOL

Really a great time!

By the way, the month is ticking away for the FREE BIG SHOT promotion!  If you want to sign up as a business or hobby demonstrator, get in touch with me before the end of October!!

Linda

Stampin’ Vignettes

The Stampin’ Up events team loves to create these little vignettes around their theme. For the Founder’s Trip last weekend, I took a few snapshots of little ‘moments’ scattered around the hospitality areas, bookcases and displays.

I love the covered books with our designer paper!

The paper shreds in the glass bottles…

Pretty paper flowers

 

I have a watering can off my porch I need to cover with DSP and bring inside!

 

Founders Saturday: Golf?

 After a day of shopping, talking, eating,  more talking and more eating, we got ready for our surprise night out.  Stampin’ Up arranges something wonderful on our last night and we don’t know what it is until we arrive! 

Backing up a bit, SU started something new last year to help us get to know eachother.  When we arrive, our nametags have a special team name on it and we are to find our 6 other team members.  Our  team was called the White Gloves!  So Janet Wakeland (one of our white glovers)  in all her “resourcefullness” ,  brought us all white gloves and pearls!  So if you see white gloves in the pictures later, you will know why.  We had dinner together that first night.

Since the theme this year is Tea Party (and I don’t think I posted our dinner pictures from that first night where we all had a tea cup with roses at our place setting so I’ll insert a quick pic here)

So when the bus arrived to take us to our secret location, the White Gloves were to get on the same bus to go to an activity.  We pulled into the golf course and wondered if we would be golfing but of course, SU had another idea for us. 

Good grief, what do they have in store for us?

Our team of 7 had 4 golf carts, a map and a bottle of water and off we went!

We had the BEST time working through crazy games and challenges as we sped through the golf course!

The view was incredible as we drove around the course!

Fellow White Glovers, Patty Bennett and Janet Wakeland

I love this picture of Jan Wakeland with our shadows cheering her on!There were bunnies everywhere! (and we didn't hit one, but we missed a few by a hare..)

We decided that we would just use a few cameras and share pictures so we didn’t have to have other teams wait on us.  So I don’t have our group pics to show you yet!  My White Gloves team:  Patty Bennett, Judy Garza, Kristin Kortonick, Janet Wakeland, Patty  Chenail, and Cindy Baughman.  We laughed a lot and although we didn’t win, we had a blast!

There were bunnies everywhere! (and we didn't hit one, but we missed a few by a hare..)

Shelli was running the marshmallow relay, where we had to balanced a marshmallow on a golf club, run around the flag and bag without dropping itThere were bunnies everywhere! (and we didn't hit one, but we missed a few by a hare..)

A roadrunner!!

 

 

After we made it through all the challenges, we sat down to a lovely dinner: At our dinner table, we had a trophy filled with markers!

Our centerpiece with our team name….

And after full tummys and a bus ride back to our hotel, we ran up to our rooms to see what SU left us as our last pillow gift! 

 

It was a sparkly fob of sorts to hang on our purse or whatever we might want to use it for!  It has a tea cup with an FC and Founder’s Circle 2011 on the bottom:

Thanks for following along my trip!

Linda

Pillow Gift

After we came back from the Little Mermaid production (which was SO good and clever the way they turned it into an ‘under the sea’ story) we found another pillow gift in our rooms!

This Apron was tucked inside a sizzlet box. Someone sewed our Beau Chateau fabric into this sweet thing! Maybe I’ll wear it at my next class instead of using it for cooking. (matt would think he was Ward and I was June…)

By now you are probably ready for some stamped inspiration, right? Here are just a few of the swaps from our line swap here at Founders:

Jan Burnett, using Button Buddies set with 3 buttons and 3 pearls (yup, she made 125 of them!) Love the Marina Mist, white and black combo!

Laura Milligan made the Crumb Cake card with the Pine Cones- really great layout for your holiday cards!

And the only other Floridian here, my friend Debbie Moczek, made the River Rock and Artichoke bell card. I haven’t used my scallop corner punch in ages but I will now because of her card!

Ok, go stamp something!

Linda

Tuacahn

Last night we found another gift in our room! A big popcorn tub, movie candy and tickets to The Little Mermaid production!

The Tuacahn is outdoor theater with the mountains behind the stage! It’s just gorgeous and the weather is perfectly cool and breezy.

The theater doesn’t allow photos during the show but here are a few before the show.

Kanab Tour Day!

Today we hopped on buses for a 2 hour ride to Kanab, where Stampin’ Up has their manufacturing plant. (different from their distribution bldg)
it’s a little bit top secret and no cameras allowed but we were split up in groups of 9 or 10 for private tours. As many times as I have been able to visit, I still see new things and amazed at how clean it is!

The bus ride is so much more fun with friends. Thanks to Stella for helping the time go by quickly with great conversation!

as we arrived, all the employees were waving and holding welcome signs!
We watched to whole process to make our stamps, from the graphics to the label making, the Die Knife Design that creates the dies to cut our rubber so we don’t have to anymore (yay!) to the burn room (hot hot!) and then the packaging. A whole lotta love goes into making our stamps. we had a Q&A with the Mgmt team of production.

we even got a new stamp set fresh off the line!

Next stop was at Kanab City Park!
SU recycles all the rubber and donates it to this park for the playground.

we had lunch (see Patsy below with our cute new lunch baskets!) and played in the rubber! Lunch was wonderful and complete with a pretty napkin in our basket.

PJ’s and Swaps!

The tables have been littered with swaps since I have arrived. I think 1/2 of us didn’t quite finish since we needed to stamp 125 card fronts!
I had some help today (thank you Karen, Deb and Kristin) gluing mine together. So our labor of love comes down to this great night when we put on our Jammies, form a line an swap.

Before the swap, we got our brains in gear with a business share and soaked in all those tips from the Top 100 demonstrators. I can hardly write fast enough!

pics below are my highlights from the night from great friends (Deb, Patsy and Jan, you guys are the best) amazing cake and my bag FULL of swaps!

The bird swap is Shelli’s swap and she was sitting at the end of the line, signing her card for each person. (and the crown was a gift for her upcoming 50 bday)

The beautiful notebook and pen were gifts tonight from SU also, coordinating with our new stamp set. (I can’t write in it yet- too pretty!

Hope you find time to stamp today!!
Linda

Make and Takes!

The stamping projects are one of the fun things here onthe Founders Trip. I don’t stamp well under pressure at big events like our annual convention but in this atmosphere, it is so relaxing with friends and chocolate!

These projects are made with some new things coming out later! I can’t show you the stamp set but you will see some fun new accessories if you look closely! The little tag pulls out of a note card that is glued around the edges to make a pocket card. The scallops are part of banner project. If you look at the pic with the whole display board, it makes more sense.

I made it!

After a long, bumpy plane ride and a nice one hour smooth plane ride and a
bus trip…I’m here!

Here are a few of my sights so far:

Heading to St George!

Hi all! I’ve been wanting to post for a week but things kept falling in my path and at the end of the night, I’d sigh and say “tomorrow!”.

I’m flying out way too early this am for the Stampin’ Up Founder’s Circle achiever’s trip. I feel so lucky to be in the top 100 again and will share pics with you while I’m there of what we are doing. You guys helped me get here and I appreciate your orders and the success of the demonstrators on my team with their promotions!

Local Customers- I’ll be resuming my technique classes starting Sept 29th.

I’m on the plane now and working on my 125 swaps if room allows. maybe I can get this lady next to me to glue for me LOL

Linda

Holiday Mini and My Favorite New Thing…

It’s finally September 1st and I’ve been just itching to post the Holiday Mini Catalog on my blog!  I had great intentions to wake up at 2 am to write this post as soon as Stampin’ Up loaded all the documents for us.  BUT I have a vicious cold and took some of that lovely nighttime medicine and that’s all I remember….until 8 am this morning!

If you are a customer of mine, you should have received a copy of the mini in your mailbox.  If you didn’t, maybe it got lost, the mailman ate it or your address changed.  Drop me a line and I have extras here on hand that I can mail to you.

If you’d like to view the Holiday Mini Catalog online, click HERE.

Do you like to know the supplies to make the projects in the Holiday Mini such as ink colors, stamp sets, etc?  I have the Stampin’ Supplies list HERE for you to print or save on your computer.

Of course all the catalogs and supplies are always up on my Demonstrator Website 24/7!  www.lindaheller.stampinup.net  You can shop there online

What is my FAVORITE THING in the Holiday Mini?   There are many wonderful things in there but ONE is a must have if you are a paper crafter.   We have waited a long time for this beauty, our  Simply Scored!

Here is what SU says about the Simply Scored:

“Take the chore out of scoring! The Simply Scored Scoring Tool’s base fits paper or card stock up to 12″ x 12″ and features score tracks every 1/8″. Features two easy-to-read rulers (with inch markings down to 1/8″) along top and left side for perfect scoring. (One standard left-to-right ruler and one zero center ruler.) Includes three markers and stylus. Bottom of base has non-marking and nonskid feet to secure it on your work areach Base measures Approximately
15-1/8″ x 13-1/4″ x 1″.     29.95      Item # 122334

I will be honest and say that I have compared it side by side, right next to the ‘martha’ brand scoring board.  I wanted to see which one was better.

Here is my Stampbusters evaluation:  M’s is white and to my eyes, harder to read the numbers.  It has score lines at every 1/8″ just like ours. (which is SO important for all projects to have those increments).  It has a storage area at the top end just like ours. It has numbers running down the side, just like ours, which should be mandatory on all of them!  They both have a zero center ruler, which is helpful for some projects.

Here is where the differences start to come in.   M’s has a triangle tool and we don’t.  Not a huge deal, I can get a triangle tool ruler anywhere but it would have been nice to have it.

M’s has a plastic bone folder rather than a metal stylus like ours. (ours does come with the metal stylus it when you buy it)  My first scoring board (called itself a pal but it wasn’t much of one with it’s ambiguous measurements)  came with a plastic bone folder tool for scoring.  After a few months of using it, it had worn away and created a big dent.   We papercrafters do a lot of scoring so it has to hold up!  The Simply Scored comes with a nice metal stylus, rubbery not slippery handle, and the ends have 2 sizes for your scoring needs.

The other advantage the Simply Scored has 3 place markers that come with it!  I am loving these markers because it is easy to lose your place with so many little lines.  Ever score a piece of card stock and realize you were off the track?  Now I just leave one at the 4-1/4 and one at the 5-1/2 and it’s so easy to see.     If I’m preparing a bunch of tri-fold cards, I can move the markers to those exact measurements and zip through a project!

If you are still scoring your projects on the old fiskars track with a butter knife or scoring blade, you just have to get one of these.  No more lifting up the track each time you need to score one piece of paper.

If you are a member of Stamping School, I’ll be doing a video on my new favorite thing this weekend!

And by the way, some of you have been asking questions about the new Stamping School that will be going LIVE soon.  Yes, we are hoping for a September release date and are in the testing stages now.  Y’all are going to love it!  Ipad and Iphone users will be able to watch all videos, too!  I’ll keep you posted.

Linda