Founder's Circle 2015 Retreat Highlights

It's been almost a month since I returned home from Utah, where I gathered with other Top 100 Demonstrators from the United  States and Top 15 in Canada for the very last Founder's Circle Retreat. Some of you have asked why this is the last one. Stampin' Up! recently changed the compensation plan for demonstrators and this is one of the programs that is changing.

When I think back to the retreat and what I will miss most. It is undoubtedly the time I get to spend with my demonstrator friends. It is such a recharge to be able to talk and network with my peers who are dealing with the same struggles and growing pains that I experience in my own business. So for one last time, I took advantage of every minute with these incredible ladies.


I went a couple days early -- straight from my trip to New York. In addition to working on my swaps, I went shopping, hiking at Zion National Park, and saw Sister Act at Tuachan Amphitheatre. (It drizzled the entire second act!)

 Zion National Park

Sister Act at Tuachan

  

Welcome Dinner by the pool

We were spoiled with different treats in the Gathering Place every day! And of course, we got to "Toss for Prize" each day too!

I love the chance to break out of my comfort zone and do something I don't get to do at home. This year, I went zip-lining! It was a short excursion with three friends, but so much fun! Check out this video to see our thrilling adventure!

One of the highlights of these trips is always a chance to visit Kanab, Utah -- the "birthplace" of Stampin' Up! It's at least a 90 minute bus ride each way from St. George, but worth the drive! The Events staff  has a huge basket of snacks for us and we play Bingo to win prizes from the catalog!

Stampin' Up! Manufacturing Plant in Kanab, Utah

"helping" to make stamps! I used the die-cutting machine.

During our tour of the manufacturing plant, we got to see how rubber stamps and photopolymer stamps are made. See more pictures from last year's tour here.

Of course, we got to take home lots of goodies! A free stamp set, a package of cardstock, and an ink pad!

In addition to touring the private apartment, we got to make a card and enjoyed lunch with the employees. I love the attention to every little detail! The Stampin' Up! Events staff is amazing!

After lunch, we stop at the community park in Kanab, where scraps of rubber cover the ground around the playground.

Visiting the "rubber park" in Kanab

How can I forget about all the pillow gifts?! It was so fun to come back to my room each night to find a surprise on the bed. The first night was brand new product from the upcoming Occasions Catalog. Check it out here.

The new product was for our make and take projects in the Gathering Place. I skipped the stamping and just visited with friends and played cards. But there was plenty of finished projects around us to inspire us.

 

The week went fast, as it always does. Our final event was a dinner and an encore performance by the St. George Musical Theater of one of my favorite musicals ever: West Side Story. The performance was incredible! Thinking about it again as I type this, I still wish I could go back and see it again! The theater was set up "in the round" so it was very intimate. It was the perfect way to end the retreat.

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!  
 

NEW! Holiday Catalog

View PDF | Product Videos |  Shop Online
 

Use Hostess Code DPVFEZBK to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Learn More

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me,  your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

Flurry of Wishes Corner Flip Card + Video Tutorial

I just realized that I never shared my Founder's Circle swap card! I made 110 of these Flurry of Wishes Corner Flip Cards to trade at the Founder's Circle Retreat in St. George, Utah last month. Here's a picture of me and my friend Kay Cogbill, all lined up and ready to swap in the hallway at the retreat. (Watch my next post for more pictures from the retreat!)

Usually, I get my cards done before I even leave, but this year was so hectic that I brought pre-cut cardstock and made them ALL while I was in Utah! Whew! Thank you to everyone who helped me with all the gluing and dimensionals and rhinestones! Here's the card:

Inside

Stay tuned for more Flurry of Wishes card ideas! This is the stamp set that I am featuring in October for my Stamp of the Month Club.

Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make the Corner Flip Card. It's super easy! All you need is a Paper Trimmer and a Bone Folder. You can use any stamp set you have to decorate and embellish this fun fold card! Prefer a Printable Tutorial? Download it for FREE:

Corner Flip Card Printable Tutorial (.pdf)

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Flurry of Wishes stamp set, Pool Party ink & cardstock, Lost Lagoon ink & cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Snow Flurry Punch, Iced Rhinestones, Bone Folder, Stampin' Trimmer, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!  
 

NEW! Holiday Catalog

View PDF | Product Videos |  Shop Online
 

Use Hostess Code DPVFEZBK to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Learn More

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me,  your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

VIDEO: Halloween Pillow Box Treat + Witch's Hat Clip Tutorial

I adore this cute little Witch's Hat clip that Janet Baker put on her Founder's Circle swap and I wanted to recreate it on another project. So I designed a simple open top treat box for my Stamp Club last month. We used the new Square Pillow Box Thinlit dies from the Holiday Catalog and cut off one end so that it would be open. The hat clips on to the open box. Make sure to watch my video tutorial below to see every step of this project so you can make your own at home!

Here's a close-up photo of the hat to show the detail, including the mini clothespin inside.

Watch my video tutorial to see every step of this project so you can make your own at home:

Note: The Spider Web Doilies are currently on backorder and will not ship until after Halloween. A good substitute would be the Tea Lace Paper Doilies (#129399) dyed with a Basic Black ink pad.

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Six Saying stamp set, Basic Black ink, Whisper White cardstock, Pumpkin Pie cardstock, Happy Haunting Designer Paper, Black Glimmer Paper, Square Pillow Box Thinlit Dies, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Tree Punch, Bow Builder Punch, Triple Banner Punch, Spider Web Doilies (or Tea Lace Doilies), Mini Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Fast Fuse

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!  
 

NEW! Holiday Catalog

View PDF | Product Videos |  Shop Online
 

Use Hostess Code DPVFEZBK to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Learn More

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me,  your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

Occasions Catalog SNEAK PEEK + 5 Samples: Birthday Blooms

Today was Day 2 of the Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Retreat. I went zip-lining this morning and the finished my 110 swaps in time for dinner. We made it back just in time for the Share & Swap Event. I'll share some more pictures later, but first I wanted to share a picture of our first pillow gift: some sneak peek products from the Occasions Catalog that will launch in January 2016. Check out this new stamp set and designer paper:

Birthday Bouquet Designer Paper + Birthday Blooms Stamp Set

Check out the projects on display in the Hospitality Room! There are gorgeous!

 

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!  
 

NEW! Holiday Catalog

View PDF | Product Videos |  Shop Online
 

Use Hostess Code KKF4VJVN to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Learn More

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me,  your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!