Stampin’ Up UK Convention 2010

Oh my goodness where do I begin???

I have had the most wonderful whirlwind of a weekend ever and am only just coming back down to earth.  You may need to sit down, I know I did, I actually won 'Demonstrator of the ear', I was #1 – little old me??  I kept asking if they were sure and if they needed to do a re-count. 

Monica Gale was #3 demo of the year and Amanda Fowler was #2.  They are both the most gracious and kind ladies and I was lucky enough to spend some time with them in Monaco earlier this year.  They both have HUGE teams and incredible sales and they have both been so lovely to me.  I will not even try and fill Monica's shoes (partly because she has the most pretty girly shoes 🙂 and partly because I would not even be able to.

I have the most amazing team of 58 ladies and gentleman and it is thanks to their hardwork and enthusiasm that I did so well in the leadership category.

Without my wonderful and loyal customers I would not have been in the Top 3 for sales, I cannot thank you all enough.

I honestly never imagined when I purchased the Stampin Up starter kit that this could have ever happened.  I only joined as I wanted to purchase so many things and the starter kit was the best deal to enable me to do that.  That was 3 short years ago!  I seriously adore this company, its products and the demonstrators.  I NEVER have that Monday morning feeling and I consider myself so lucky to be able to be a demonstrator and earn some money doing something I love.

OK I am over with the Gwyneth Paltrow style  speech now so I will now tell you all about convention and what we got up to – but before I go did I say how thankful I am 🙂

Here are my swaps –

Little vellum bags made using the vellum cardstock from Stampin Up, stamped with the snowflake stamp from Serene Snowflakes in White Staz On, sealed with the crimper and a Christmas Bauble stamped from  the Delightful Decorations Set and tied with silver elastic cord and filled with mint imperials.

These are little chocolates wrapped in Soft Suede Cardstock and covered using the Designer Series Patterns Paper in Brights which is my absolute current favourite.  Loads of double sided paper in a paper pack in all the brights colours.  I then finished off the front by embossing in gold the Cute by the Inch Hostess Set – why not join one of my hostess clubs to earn the hostess benefits??

And these pads were covered with the Designer Series Patterns Pack too and I stamped tehe razzle dazzle stamp in black on the front and back and finished off with the Cute by the Inch stamp and a sparkly rhinestone.  I also made one using the friendly words wheel stamp, I will post a photo of that style once I get a chance to take a photo.

I also took part in a business swap where 10 demo's swapped items that would help with their business.  I made a patterned paper sampler, the photo below is very orange and so scroll down to the bottom of this post to see a better post.  I will tell you how you can get your own later in the post too.

This was a small group of my team that met on the Thursday evening and had dinner together.  Some of us had not even met before so it was a great chance to spend some time together. From left to right Nicky, Jane, Stacey, May, Barney, Marguerite, Vicky, Me, Jenny and Sarah – we had such a laugh……

The very funny and very talented Julie Kettlewell who did an amazing presentation, Chris the cameraman was a great side kick for us both and we both used him as out straight man…..

This is me doing my presentation to over 200 UK ladies – crikey I was petrified but my hands did not shake too much thank goodness, Chris the cameraman was so funny and this photo cracks me up as I am wondering what I said to make his face have this expression!  You can see the little scrapbook house projects on the left of the table, more photo's below –

This is a close up of the Little Scrapbook House I made using the new Quick Accents which are only £7.50 per pack.

And this is the inside – these are photo's of my son as a baby and he is now 14.  I LOVE embarassing my kids and spent weeks teasing him that he was going to be on the big screens for all to see…..

I am offering this class to all my customers, everyone will receive all the supplies needed to make their own Mini Scrapbook House Album and I will take through step by step to complete your project and all you need to bring along are the photo's or add them later.  There are three different styles of Quick Accents so you can choose which one suits your photo's best.  Contact me to book a date.

Here they are made in the other styles of Quick Accents

And here are some cards and scrapbook pages made using the quick accents and Nursery Suite Patterned Papers

This is Amanda and Charlotte doing their presentation

Shelli Gardener the co-founder of Stampin' Up

This is some of our team glammed up for the Awards Dinner.  There were 20 of us from my team and it was impossible to all sit together which was a shame, here is my table of girlies….

and my table with catherine in….

The table of Pink Ladies next to us…..

Sandie and Jenny

Marguerite, Nicky and Vicky the numbers girls…..

I love this photo, Peg was surprised and delighted to be in the Top 25 demo's in the UK and she was placed #24 and I managed to get her name on the screen at the same time – well done Peg!

I have to say that Carole came #14th in the UK too but I dont have a photo so if anyone does have a photo I would love a copy please – fantastic acheivement Carole – so proud of you.

I did not take this photo, thank you for whoever did but I copied if from Amanda's blog as it the only one I have.

This is what Nicky won during Prize Patrol – I am a sucker for a beautifully wrapped gift

And most of the Pink Ladies that came along to convention

And finally – I promised a better photo of the patterned paper swatch.  Its still not a great photo as it had begun to get dark by the time I was ready to take a photo and upload but I think it shows how lovely all the latest papers are from Stampin Up. 

I am giving away a free patterned paper sampler to anyone signing up to become a StampinUp demonstrator with me.  It is such a useful tool and it is the perfect size to take around to workshops. I would love you to join my team and you may even fancy coming along to the next years convention which is being held in Disneyland Paris next November.

So many of you have been in touch about this paper sampler so I will be loading a video tutorial in the next few days showing how to make one.

I will also be loading more photo's of the sample boards from convention and also all my prizes and certificates so hope to see you back here really soon.

Thanks again……