Stampin’ Up! Convention swaps, awards and lots of fun……

I just got back from the Stampin’ Up! European convention and it was a wonderful weekend filled with amazing people and so much fun!
We really did have a blast!  We travelled by Eurostar, it was the first time I have been on the Eurostar and I would definitely recommend it.  It was 2 hours from St Pancreas to the centre of Brussels, easy, clean, efficient and a very relaxing way to travel!

Whilst we were on board I was super anxious as my son was taking his driving test, I’m gutted to say he failed and it was hard not being there with him but his Dad was and I am delighted to report he has another one soon, so keep everything crossed 🙂

We stayed at a beautiful Sofitel hotel in the centre of Brussels and within hours or arriving we had our very first waffle! It was so light, nothing like the waffles I had before!

It was then a quick wash and brush up as I was headed to the Silver 2 reception to spend the evening with my fellow demos who were at the title of Silver 2 and above.  I had organised a gift for all my silver 2 downline to thank them for all their enthusiasm and hard work over the last year and I was so excited to give it to them, that is what was in the pretty packaged packages shared on my blog before I left…. and this is what what inside………

 

At Stampin Up events we made card swaps and it can be a bit cumbersome to carry them around and accept the swaps back in return and so I sourced a perfect swap bag which was comfortable to hold, sturdy enough to hold your cards and folds flat for travel.  Of course it had to have our name on as there were about 14 of us with these bags and I also wanted them to have something unique and with some Pink to reflect our team name the ‘Pinkies’.

They loved them, it was the highlight of my night to see them all opening them and using them over the weekend…

We also got spoiled too with some lovely gifts from Stampin’ Up!

This was a notebook and pen set to commemorate the evening and look at how pretty it was wrapped! After a fun time at the reception was wandered in the Grand Place for a nightcap, it was so warm in Brussels and we sat outside and shared our excitement for the next day…

This is most of our team of Pinkies, not all direct to me and a mix of demos from the UK and the Netherlands but we are a big supportive team and our team motto is ‘a good pinkie never leaves a man behind…’ I am so proud of this group of women, they are bright, enthusiastic and such a caring supportive group and I loved spending time with them, albeit far too brief.

We had classes and presentations, one of the classes was from our very only Pinkie, the very talented Caroline Hallett, she was so inspirational, funny and so confident especially as she was presenting to 600 people!!

There were displays and inspiration, just look at this wonderful Christmas table display made by Lisa Cornwall also a fellow Pinkie…

Two of our team also won the design contest!  They made such beautiful projects and each country had a winner and a runner up.  Helene den Breejan won for the Netherlands and Lisa Cornwall won for the UK group! Pop along to their blogs by clicking the links to see what they made!

This is my haul of Stampin’ Up product given to me for attending convention! I will be having a giveaway on my blog and my business facebook page to be sure to check back and enter to get a chance to win!

My teamies also lavished me with gifts which was totally unexpected but a lovely surprise, I need to report that the godiva box of choccies is now empty!!

 

Here are some of my favourite swaps, but come back tomorrow to see a video of all the swaps I received….

 

 

On Friday evening we had the awards night.  It is a special time to celebrate people achievements over the last year.  We all get dressed up and have our moment on stage and so many of my team had a walk across the stage this year, I am so proud of them and it made my night to see their excitement. The ladies below were recognised for sales over £10,000……

 

This awesome group of women reached Rising Star, an achievement for new demonstrators in their first full year with Stampin Up.  Two of our team Janneke de Jong and Sam Donald were recognised in this category and Sam Donald (aka Pootles) won this category three times over!! WOW just WOW!!

 

 

I was recognised in the top 5 of the UK for leadership.  This award recognises your downline/team who have promoted to Bronze 3+.  I was honoured to grace the stage with all these ladies and to be able to call them friends.

 

The photo below are the Top 5 recruiters in the UK.  Again some wonderful ladies and friends and Sam blew us all away with her figures for this award.  I am so proud of her….

 

 

Below are the top 5 achievers for sales in the UK, Sam is not in this picture as we were all waiting for her to join us on stage as she had the top sales of over £50,000.  Julie took a selfie on stage whilst we waited…

 

 

And we also had to walk the stage for earning the incentive trip to Madeira in 2015, here I am with some of my team, I cannot wait to holiday with them next year!

 

This lady stole the show, Sam Donald from Pootles.  She showed us all what is possible with hard work and determination and not only am I lucky enough to have her in my team but to call her a friend…

We had a team photo whilst we were all in our glad rags…

After awards night there was music, dancing and general frivolity including some silly photo opportunities….

 

 

 

 

And on the last morning before heading back we celebrated with a Champagne breakfast, what a way to finish a fantastic time at convention!

And since I have been home I have had the chance to reflect and set some new goals.  I dug out all the badges I have received since becoming a demo back in 2007 and it was great fun to see how far I have come and how my business and confidence have grown.

 

So why not join me on this amazing journey, you can join Stampin Up and my team and enjoy being part of something amazing!