Embellish

Christmas Club registration begins today!

 

YAY! It’s time to register for “Christmas Club 2012!”

This is the perfect, short-term club commitment for anyone who wants to send handmade Christmas cards but doesn’t feel like they have the time.  We will be meeting once a month during August, September, October and November to create 12 Christmas cards each month—4 each of three designs—for a grand total of 48 beautiful holiday cards at the end of the four sessions.

 The cards will be able to be more advanced than the ones we do in one big long day at my annual Stamp A Stack, because we’ll be able to take a little more time with them. So be prepared for some more advanced techniques, fun folds, and lots of Christmas bling! I will be designing a variety of styles and color schemes so there will be something for everyone.

 We will be using AMAZING new products from the 2012 Holiday Catalog! Holy cow is there some cool stuff in there, like Core’dinations cardstock, new embossing folders and Big Shot dies, new papers, and of course, lots and lots of new stamp sets! And don’t worry—YES, I bought the mitten punch and coordinating stamp set!!

Our club sessions will be on the third Monday night of the month. The dates are August 20^th, September 17^th, October 15^th, and November 19th.   Cost is just $15 per person per month for the four month commitment. If you pay in full at the first meeting, I will throw in a package of envelopes totally free and you can stamp those to match each month.

 NEW THIS YEAR! Add $20 to your registration check and I will bring you a SNAIL adhesive and three refills, so you don’t even have to remember to bring your adhesive—how awesome is that??

 If you’d like to join me in being prepared in advance this year for the holidays, be all done with your cards by Thanksgiving, and have a fun night out once a month, call or email me today to reserve your spot! (920) 261-3962

 PS--PLEASE FORWARD THIS LINK TO YOUR FRIENDS and share on Facebook!! If one of them RSVP’s, I will have a gift for you both at the first club! : )

 PSS—if you have a prior commitment for one of the sessions, but still really want to participate, let me know! we can also work something out by mail if you are not local to me.

 PSST—need more than 48 Christmas cards total? Consider signing up for two spots! You won’t be able to get them all finished in one session, but you could do all the stamping and prep work and then assemble at home at your leisure.

Purple inspiration from Convention 2012

So many things I want to try! As I look through these photos from the displays at Convention 2012, I am making a list--a long one--of new techniques, color combos and layouts I want to play with. I can't wait for the fall 10-10-10 event... stay tuned for details on that!

Wow... Stampin' Up demonstrators are one talented bunch!

Revenge of the Princesses

What do you get when you cross the two passions of the pint-sized in our house? Why, Sith Lords from Star Wars meet the entire troop of Disney Princesses, of course!

Only my eight-year-old could have created this (she's obviously both talented and disturbed). Take a moment to full appreciate what all is included here. The central figure with the evil grin and red lightning crackling from her fingers is CInderella, and to her left is Aurora. Above them, from left to right in varying stages of red-eyed Dark-Force-induced fury are Rapunzel (and her hair), Pocahontas (and her hair) and the formerly favorite Ariel (in her mermaid incarnation). Snow White's got catching up to do, but she wields a nasty light saber in Belle's direction, which Belle masterfully blocks. And finally, at the top of the picture, Mulan enters with a flying judo-kick, intent on clobbering someone just off stage.

So what do you think? Is therapy in order, or is my daughter just really, really creative (and weird. Weird is a given.)?

What a night! Convention 2012 awards

(Above, l-r: Susan Campfield, Brenda Marshall, Rachel Tessman, me) This year once more I had the privilege of sitting in the reserved seating section for awards night at Cnvention 2012. Thanks to my fabulously awesome friends and the successes acheived by my team, I was named to the Top 100 Demonstrators of the Year and will be going on the exclusive Founder's Circle retreat in September again! To give you some perspective, there are around 40,000 demonstrators. I still have to pinch myself to think I am in the top 1,000 let alone the top 100!!

If you remember, last year I ranked 83rd out of 100. Unfortunately, they quit ranking them, so I have no idea if I bettered that or not. It was extremely anti-climactic! But it was still a really fun evening and I loved the Founder's Circle purse they gave us. And I will give my opinion on the countdown to SU, because they are a company that really does listen. I adore working for them! Best job EVAH!!

The girls and I headed to PF Chang's for a quick yummy dinner beforehand, which I guess is our Awards Night tradition! We neglected to get a group photo, though. In fact, we wound up with only ONE group photo taken on the first day of Convention. And none of the After Party!! Phooey!! They even had a red carpet photo opp place set up for us.

Above: Cristy Butzen, Kristin Chowanec, me. Below: me, France Martin).

Love these ladies!! They accept no excuses. They just go out and make their dreams happen. Still can't believe I am one of them!! They are some of the most positive and inspirational people I have ever met--with the ONLY exception being the Stampin' Up team!

(Above, l-r: Stella Mac Kay, Denise Sullivan, me) Everyone looked so nice! I love dressing up. And no, that is not my $15 dress I mentioned on Facebook. I ended up deciding to go for COLOR and wearing this green Grecian-inspired dress that just makes me happy. Unfortunately it also makes me look extra chunky... oop!! Time to lose a few pounds before the next photo opp!

(Top: Georgia Giguere, me. Above, l-r: Brenda Marshall, Tiffany Bauer, me, Robin Merriman) It was Royal Blue night.... obviously I didn't get the memo! We had lots of laughs. I can't wait to hang out with these incredible people in September. I got all registered yesterday!!

One of the biggest highlights of the night was sitting next to my beautiful friend Desiree (above) as she earned #2 in promotions for Canada AND was selected to a seat on the Advisory Board, a super exclusive year-long committee of top demonstrators who help Stampin' Up hash out things before they make changes to different parts of the program. What an honor! We also got to be recognized onstage for earning the 2013 Grand Vacation to Fiji (WHOO HOO!). During the march they played the highlight video from the 2012 Disney incentive trip, so I got to see pictures of my kids and my momma on the jumbtron once I made it back to my seat. I missed them so much!! Those sweeties had roses and hand-drawn cards waiting for me when I got in from the airport on Sunday afternoon.

What an inspiring night! Stampin' Up sure does know how to make their demonstrators feel special and appreciated. I never EVER dreamed this would be my life, but I'm so thankful and grateful for it!

Amazing paper dollhouse project

I could not believe my eyes when I saw the detail and scope of this project on display at Convention 2012. Holy cow!! That is a lot of work. If you know the name of the demonstrator who created it, please leave a comment and I will add their name to this post-- ETA: Suzanne Johnson is the artist. Thanks to those who made sure credit is given where due! 

Enjoy these cute pictures of the five interior rooms!

incredible cuteness from Convention, continued!

Some more inspiration for you today... these are projects that just really popped out at me as I strolled through the displays. I heard there were more than 75 boards just in this one section--WOW! Here's a photo I took early one morning of one of the aisles, when the area was not as crowded as normal.

Always fun spotting one of your own! At the bottom corner in Pool Party is my gatefold punch window card, and two cards above that is my Pretty in Pink Large Doily and Paper Daisy card, which many of you might recognize.

incredible cuteness from Convention 2012!

Just a bunch of random inspiration from demonstrators all over North America, from Convention 2012. I seriously could have drooled over these display boards for days, but at least I managed to snap a couple hundred MB worth of pictures to bring home and drool over later!

Many many many more photos to come! I have to go prep for club tonight! Can't wait for my first post-convention event. I LOVE MY JOB!

NEW! Scrapbooking Summer School

(note: this post will stay at the top of my blog until August 1st. Please scroll down for more recent posts! Thanks.)

Treat yourself to one last fun thing just for you before the busy fall picks back up!

 Each intensive class will be jam-packed with fresh design ideas, upcycling/repurposing items from around the house, ways to incorporate ribbons and fibers, creative headline and journaling techniques, layouts for multiple photos on a single page, even organization hints, and of course, all the latest scrapbooking products from Stampin’ Up! We’ll be creating finished pages and page elements from the time we sit down to the time my husband kicks you out! Each attendee will also get a layout binder with copies of everything we’ve utilized, which you’ll be able to add to as you get inspiration from other sources down the road.

 But here’s the kicker! We take scrapping seriously around here! There will be homework. Every week you’ll be given a product and instructions to go home and create a page or layout using it, to be brought back the following week. By the end of the month, you’ll have created over 20 different pages in total, AND there’s a bonus, too!

 Create a total of 31 pages in the 31 days of August—the ones we make in class and the ones you do on your own in between—and you’ll receive a free package of Designer Series paper PLUS have your favorite page or spread featured on the Song of My Heart Stampers blog, where it will be seen by hundreds of papercrafters world-wide, every day. I hope you will read the details and decide to join us!

 Scrapbooking Summer School

four Thursday nights in August—August 2, 9, 16, 23^rd

from  6:30-9:30 p.m. at Lyssa’s house in Watertown, WI

Cost: just $50 for all four classes if you register by August 1st

Includes all projects, the layout inspiration notebook, lots of free product, bonus items, and exclusive special offers just for attendees.  

Add $20 if you would like to pre-order a SNAIL adhesive runner and three refills, which I will keep for you if you’d like so you literally don't have to remember to bring anything along.

 RSVP by August 1^st by emailing or calling (920) 261-3962

TWO SPOTS LEFT as of July 31st. Space is limited! Don’t wait! Please spread the word by forwarding this page to your scrapper friends and family—thanks!

 Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek

 www.songofmyheartstampers.com

[email protected]

Not local to me? Or can't attend those dates? Sign up to receive your projects through the mail! Email me for details on shipping and how you can participate even though we're not close by.

Beau Chateau sweetness

So far, I've just been hitting the highlights of Convention 2012, and haven't had time to share some of the fabulous inspiration from that event. So before I go head off to unpack and be productive today, here's some Beau Chateau love from the display boards. I know many of my customer friends ordered this gorgeous paper or bought it as a download for My Digital Studio, so enjoy the beautiful vintage inspiration and soft colors on these amazing demonstrator-submitted works of art! That's my teacup card second up from my shoulder in this photo!

What a week! Convention 2012 final day

What a fabulous cap-off Saturday was to our Convention 2012 week!! Here we all are getting a free stamp set to help us go out and sell the cute set that benefits the Ronald Mc Donald House Charities. Three dollars from every set sold go straight to RMDH! Check it out on the back inside cover of the new catalog.

Cristy's not in this photo because she was a lucky ducky and won one of only five backstage passes for the closing session! I can't wait to see her faboooolus exclusive photos! What a year for our team.

So happy I got a picture with Brian Pilling and a chance to tell him how life-changing his classes have been for me. This year I went to his "I Am... A Leader" class and learned soooo much. I hope this guy writes a book someday!! I always book his classes FIRST when I am registering for leadership conference or convention!

You cannot imagine the buzz inside the room as Stampin' Up did their first ever global live-streaming to give demonstrators around the world a taste of what a general session at convention is like!! We were so pumped!! I can't remember EVER cheering that loud, and yet the crowd was so loud I couldn't even hear myself. It was incredibly awesome. 

Our fantastic Sara Douglass was understandably nervous but did a great job during the live stream. Her projects from the upcoming Holiday catalog (going live on August 1st) were super cute!! I am always so impressed when the corporate team and presenters and even Shelli's family know your name when they see you, after months, with 3500 other demos there!! They must have some sort of secret yearbook or technique to refresh their memories : )

Here's one of my famous food pics : ) I know you all have been waiting for it! I have a new fave restaurant--Biaggi's!! YUMMM-O!! Get the Chicken Piedmontese if you go!! Penni was thrilled with the huge gluten-free menu, and drinks were on the house because of Stampin' Up. Love to see the restaurants and hotels with big signs welcoming us to Salt Lake City. Speaks so well of the company's reputation that the city is so happy to see us and throw in all kinds of extras like free breakfast tickets, discounted shuttle services, and even special coupon booklets.

LOL... Penni's got crazy eyes in this photo. She was such a hoot to room with. Well, except for the chainsaw snoring. JUST KIDDING!! We also all got another free stamp set right in the closing minutes--Mixed Medleys, which goes with the new small scallop circle punch in the 2012 Holiday catalog. I think that's the set out of the couple hundred dollars' worth of freebies that I brought home, that I am going to use FIRST! Right after I nap... lol!

Oh my goodness, just too much fun.... but my personal favorite part of the day was getting to find out WHEN and WHERE the next Grand Vacation is--WHERE is a Western Caribbean cruise, with ports of call in Jamaica, Haiti and Cozumel, Mexico!! Holy cow!! I'm so excited. I am going to try to earn enough in addition to take the kids along with Mike and I. Yes, that's the WHEN--when is the day AFTER graduation week in 2014, so Mike will be able to come!!! It will be the kids' first time at the ocean and their first time out of the United States. I am soooooo happy and thankful to Stampin' Up for providing the opportunity to earn this trip for my family!

What a day! Convention day two

Yesterday was just a fabulously fun day to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator! I had the most fun running into old/new friends, friends I've known "forever" in cyberspace, and meeting new ones at every turn. We're sure a friendly bunch!And man, can we ever STAMP!!

There is so much inspiration here, it is just mind-boggling! I'll be posting more photos of the projects, but I just have to share this adorable Mickey Mouse ears card for my kids' sake. They ate a LOT of those ice cream bars at Disney this past spring! And right below it is a card you might recognize--one of mine! I was honored to have seven cards on the display boards.

Something super fun yesterday was getting to see the work of several weeks' email conversation with presenter Emily Montoya up on the jumbotron (sorry it's blurry!). She used several quotes of mine along with my picture and a screen shot of my blog header, which I made with My Digital Studio. I felt like a rockstar after that class had been through several runs and lots of people recognized me in the hallways!

The main stage presentations have been so incredibly awesome! The business things are just SPOT on, and we have had the BEST stamping segments, with all kinds of new products from the Holiday Mini. There have been exciting announcements like the fact that we are getting the Keep Calm and Carry On stamp set back out of copyright limbo (!!!) and that the new MDS 2 is coming out August 1st!! I'm soooo excited!! 

More in a bit! I'm putting off telling you about Awards Night because I didn't get any good photos, but I wil put out the word and see if anyone can help me out. Stay tuned for more convention fun! And seriously--think about joining us next year!

What a day (so far)! Convention day three

Yes, I'm aware I skipped Convention Day Two! I will blog about that in a bit. I'm all mixed up... but you knew that! Just wanted to throw some photos at you so you can all be flamingly jealous that you are not here! I have 20 minutes of free time, so here goes!!!! Glad this photo of Kristin and I turned out--the lighting is really weird up by the Main Stage.

Carla won a door prize this morning! I won the first one yesterday, too. I need a bigger suitcase : )

Snagged a pic with the lovely and talented Carrie Cudney! We look like Fire & Ice in this photo!

Met some demo friends on the stage while walking for promotion awards this morning! Did you know that I have a program for my downline members to EARN their way to convention for free? Just think, this time next year you could be a demo yourself and having the time of your life! Ask me today about Convention Club!

I was a wee bit late with the photo for this shot, but Penni got to walk the stage for her award this morning and was helped down the stairs by none other than Sean Douglass, one of Shelli's sons in law! We were so proud of our Penni! I hope some of the other team members got a better photo.

Ok, I have to scoot off to my big organized Splitcoast Stampers swap. I am excited and nervous that it all goes well. 120 ladies is a lot to manage! Wish me luck! And I promise I'll be back to blog about Day Two and Awards Night as soon as I get some down time to rest me tootsies.

What a day! Convention day one

Goodness! What a day it has been. I have already gotten so much out of convention, I could go home today and be happy. We have had a marvellous first day--we picked up our bags, got our award notices (!!!!), went shopping, ate waaaaay too much good food, shopped for our kids, toured the headquarters, took tons of photos, and even went to classes tonight after dinner.

Free Designer Series Fabric with every Memento Mall order today : ) Just more random awesomeness!

I have given so many hugs today!! It's been so good to see everyone from past conventions and incentive trips, and meet stampers in person that I know from online. This is me and my friend Mindy from Splitcoast Stampers. And it's been a ball seeing my first-timer team members just wide-eyed and flipping out over how awesome it is! Here I am in the gorgeous atrium of the Stampin' Up headquarters in Riverton.

Hmm.... wonder what's in that bag from the DIsney store?? Not telling, but it will delight the heart of my little girl! Missing my family, but looking forward to another fabulous day tomorrow.

I'm totally pooped already and it's only Day One! Time to hit the hay and get our beauty sleep for tomorrow. It will be a long day of classes, swapping, general sessions and the Awards Night to cap it all off. Stay tuned for more fabulous news and photos tomorrow!

Founder's Circle 2012!!

Yayayayayayayay I made it!! Thank you so much to my fabulous customer friends and team members who have made this and all my other Stampin' dreams possible.

By the time you read this...

I will have given these to my convention buddies, so I don't have to worry you will spill the beans! I went simple this year with my pillow gifts because I'd already given each of them a fabric bag tag. I hope they enjoy the little desktop photo frames... maybe they'll even use them for a photo they take this week at Convention 2012!

Since I had some lovely scraps left over, I made a few of these cards to swap. Swapping is my favorite convention activity! Seriously, people sign up to be demonstrators just so they can go to convention for the ideas! Watch my blog the next few days and I'll just bet you'll be able to envision yourself here next year for the awesome 25th anniversary convention!

Doilies and tulle

Every so often I get the urge to stamp with bleach. This time I tried it on Rich Razzleberry cardstock, which faded out to a really cool color somewhere between Crumb Cake and Pink Pirouette! So I used Pink Pirouette for the sentiment (from Layered Labels) and I brought out the Crumb Cake with a piece of the new scalloped tulle ribbon from the upcoming 2012 Holiday Catalog. I just love that stuff! I couldn't resist making a batch of 20 of these to swap at convention.

That's it from me today. I am finishing packing, grocery shopping, making a master list for Mike, and playing with my kids before we leave for convention tomorrow. Would appreciate prayer for journeying mercies for myself, Penni, Carla, Cristy, Kristin and Lynn! Super excited to both have a giant slumber party with these fun ladies as well as be there as they get to experience their first convention.

Stay tuned for many marvelous photos! And if you need anything while I am gone, feel free to email me (no cell calls, please, but you can text me). I will be checking in every evening to keep tabs on your needs. My assistant is going with me this year, so I'll have to do my own work! What's up with that? : ) 

Ribbit: frog talk for "s'up?"

I just love this card. I've probably been working on swaps too long right now. I am done with everything I HAVE to make for convention, but I keep having ideas and getting distracted by my scraps. I need to quit creating and start packing! WHOO HOOO!!!

I think the thing I'm most excited about is getting to find out where the next incentive trip will be. What could they do that would possibly top Fiji? I have all kinds of suggestions--maybe they'll have a drop box! Where would you want to go on someone else's dime?

Trendy Summer Starfruit page

This is the other page I did with the WNNC at last night's event. I am so pleased they loved this page as much as I did! The Summer Starfruit cardstock and patterned polka-dot paper (from the Patio Party collection) just totally make this page, I think. I started with a page from First Edition specialty papers, and cut 9x9 square Very Vanilla cardstock mat for my photo mats, which are 4x4 Basic Gray. Then I off-set the square slightly on the page and added the two rectangle bursts of color on the left hand side.

The guests were able to create a totally custom page by using different stamps from the Family Reunion stamp set. It's a must-have for scrappers, in my opinion!

Summer Starfruit has matching ribbon in the satin stitched pattern, and the AH-DOR-A-BELL new In Color Dahlia embellishments, which made the perfect center for a flower made with the Boho Blossoms punch. Basic Gray also now comes in the new single-stiched narrow grosgrain ribbon. I am soooo happy I just had a ribbon share, so I have all these fun colors to play with! Let me know if you missed out in participating last month, and if there is enough interest I will host another one!

One page four ways (and two cards)

I had a lot of fun last night teaching the Watertown Newcomers & Neighbors Club a couple of easy scrapbook layouts. I hope they came away feeling like scrapbooking is really very do-able--you don't need a lot of fancy doo-dads to start turning your pile of photos into something beautiful!

Had a couple of extra kits leftover at the end of the evening, so I made up some additional pages using all the same supplies, to show you a couple of different ways to place pennants on a page and a card. TIP: The trick is to group them rather than spacing them evenly, and use varying widths and lengths and even materials.

Here is a facing page I made to be a double-page spread with the original scrapbook page.

Here's a little different way to do the original page, and then the next one is the vertical version of the page. Those little pennant thingys are addictive! I like this last one best.

And then, while I was unpacking my kit this morning, I was inspired all over again by those pretty Designer Series Paper scraps (these are all from the Summer Smooches DSP). So I made some quick swap cards for convention next week. Since my sewing machine was out, I added some fun crazy stitching to these.

Lots of cute things you can make with just little odds and ends of patterned paper. Don't throw out your scraps without trying this fun technique! Pennants are really in right now.

Simply Summer

Our demonstrator get together this month featured a swap with a general "summer" theme. If it says summer to you, you can use it. I always think of little girls in pretty sundresses and white daisies when I think of summer, so that's where I started for a slightly simpler version of this card.

I added a fabric spiral flower onto this one, made with the new Jumbo Sticky Rounds that are in the upcoming 2012 Holiday Catalog. It is SO much easier to make spiral flowers from ribbon or torn fabric like I used here (Designer Essentials Fabric pack) with the new jumbo rounds. And of course, they're another one of those flowers that are quite addictive once you learn how, so you'd better plan on buying two packs of the rounds when they come out August 1st!

I had one strip of this fabric left and one random swap card leftover, so I used an actual needle and thread (I know, GASP, right?) and made a gathered flower and sewed a button on for this one. Come to think of it, I need to go add some thread to the middle of the smaller button on the daisy, too, because it looks goofy to have one with thread and one without. Does stuff like that bother you? It does me!