Following the Stampin' Up Convention one of my goals was to post a video. I had no idea what I would do a video about or how to go about making a video, or who may want to watch my video, but nonetheless I set out with that goal. So... guess what I did today? Yep, recorded, edited and posted my first video! Wanna see it?

You're already heading for the kitchen for a fork aren't you? 

Here is another look at the cards I made using the bows in the video.

I had a ton of fun making my first video and now that I've done it once it will be easier to do more.
Hopefully, not only do you think I'm a superstar, but that you also go ahead and try making this cute bow then share your projects below :)

Okay okay. I guess I can not just simply post the Scrapbook and Cards Today August Colour Challenge for you to do.  I suppose I will play along too.  Oh oh, don't twist my arm. 
But seriously, I have been sharing the monthly colour challenges, and while I love looking at them I hadn't had the guts to try to make something with the colours that they had put together.
I am getting braver! That is a good thing. 
And I think I picked a good month to start because these are my kind of colours. I gotta have the neutrals but I like the pop of the pool party, pacific point, and gumball green. 
I was all set to go down to my idea studio to make a card (which seems to be a new usual for me) but instead I opened up the new My Digital Studio 2 to play (oh what fun it is) and here is what I created.  

I really like the Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper and can really see how versatile it will be throughout the year, so that was where I started.  I also have seen a ton of cute projects with hexagons and wanted to try it out. The rest just kind of came together.  The pictures are of our family friend Anne who visited us last summer from Finland. She really enjoys art and I hope that she would like this page. 
What do you think of my first attempt at the Colour Challenge? 

I like hearing from you. I like hearing your opinions, likes dislikes, suggestions, and about your life. Really. I do.  That is part of the reason why I have set up a survey to find out more from you.  I would love to have classes that you love and have the at times when you can make it.  If you wouldn't particularly mind spending 2 minutes to fill this out that would be great http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LNTWZ6.  Thanks.

BTW, when you participate you can enter into a draw for a $20 gift certificate.  You have until August 15th at 11:59 to enter. It is so worth your two minutes... believe me.  

Youw ill be happy to know that I did not spend my long weekend in front of my computer entirely, but I did sneak away to play with My Digital Studio 2+.  As mentioned before I tinkered with digital designing last year using Microsoft Publisher...I was able to do some basics and that was fine with me. Though there were some things I would have liked to do, but it just didn't have that capacity.  Now, with My Digital Studio 2 I thought why not give it a test drive.  
As we were camping I did not have any access to tutorials on the web or anything, so my first try out of the gate I created a 12x12 scrapbook page using a designer template and that was really super easy.  Here it is:    

Not too bad, hey?  But then again, using an already designed page makes it pretty difficult to mess it up.  So then I decided to stretch myself a bit and create a 12x12 page from a blank canvas.  MDS 2 is fairly easy to navigate. I found the elements I was looking for quickly and could add and delete them to my layout with the click of a button.  Here is my solo attempt:

What do you think? I was inspired by the background paper with all the &s.  I love that it features pictures of my oldest son and I at different times over last few years.  I really like the overlay, the stamps, the ribbon, actually I really like the whole darn thing :)  I'm looking forward to looking at some of the tutorials and trying even more new cool techniques with the new MDS 2...stay tuned for more soon.

Just a brief post that my new craft room is coming along.  We got the pegboard up last night and organized nearly all of my tools and supplies.  And I moved a bit of furniture.  Today I got a new decorative inspirational element (oh, the suspense). And I finished sanding the new desk - next week I get to start priming - Hurrah!  I've got a creative idea for the outside of my door.  But, I've still got this big blank wall...hmmmm...still thinking on that one.  Will keep you posted on the progress.

For those who have a long weekend (like we do - BC Day) relish it! And post lots of pictures on Facebook tagging friends in other provinces and states (who do not have aforementioned long weekend) just to rub it in :D  LOL LOL LOL! 

So much Stampin' Up news to share with all of you :)

First, the new My Digital Studio 2 and 2+ are now available for download - Yay! Did I mention that you get a GREE 30 day trial - Double Yay!!  I tinkered with digital a bit last summer and really liked it, but haven't kept up with it.  From what I saw of the new MDS 2 at Convention I'm thinking it is going to be awesome.  I plan to download and play over this upcoming August long weekend, then I will hopefully have something to share.  BTW, to go along with the release of MDS 2 we have 31 days of saving with 31% off of 31 digital kits and printing products. What a way to start with digital - woo hoo!

Second, the new Holiday Mini Catalog is available! While at first I did think that it was a little early, I can now see the benefit of planning fall and winter classes now. Yep, while everyone is at the beach I am making snowflakes and dreaming of hot chocolate... well, not quite.  But, the catalog is amazing and has some super cool new products that I can not wait to create with. 

Third, August also boasts a Starter Kit bonus.  When you sign up in August, you not only get $155 worth of ANY PRODUCT you choose for just $125, you also get this sweet and scary Howl-o-Ween Printers Tray PLUS I will add a Christmas theme set to switch out for the next season!!  If you've considered the starter kit (for any of the many very good reasons, like "it's a great value, I love the products, but that's all I want" to "I would like to have a discount on the products that I am going to buy anways" to "This is a fantastic company and a great business opportunity for me and my family"  then give me a shout and we can chat about how Stampin' Up fits with you. 

Well, that's a lot of new news.  Take a minute. if you need to. Absorb it.  It's all good. Now go get you're FREE MDS download.  What are you waiting for?  Click the link!  HERE IT IS AGAIN! CLICK IT! ;)

Like many other creative individuals out there, I sometimes take my skills out of the craft room and utilize them in other places.  I have been known to work with wood in times past; for example, for my wedding my Mom and I built a cedar arbour.  BTW, my Mom is always involved in my wood projects because she's "the one with all the tools."  This time it is a desk, a cute desk, that my Mom could see had lots of possibility.  While my Mom will tell you she isn't crafty or creative, she does see see opportunities where others do not, and she will strive to make those opportunities become realities. Yeah, she's a really neat lady... one of my most favourite in the world, in fact ;) 

So, there is this desk, this cute desk, and just as I began polishing the opportunity into reality I realized that I best take a "before picture." Here they are:

I had already taken the knobs off, they were round brass with faux wood centres (Blech!) But isn't it cute? You may be wondering if this is relevant to a stamping, card-making, scrapbooking blog. Here are my reasonings 1. It is a crafty project, 2. When it is finished and beautiful it will be my new craft desk, 3. I saw a stunning little writing desk at Stampin' Up headquarters when I was there which inspired me to model the finishing of this desk. 

After three and a half hours of sanding this is what I accomplished:

I hope you can see the difference... I sure could.  The nicks and dings were all ironed out and it was smooth and soft.  I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.  I have to pick up some new sandpaper this week and then I'll get back after it again.  There will be a few more posts soon (I'm sure) before the reality is real. 

Things may seem a bit quiet now that all the Convention excitement has slowed down, but in actuality I think it is the calm before the storm.  I have been making plans like crazy - working on new promotions, classes, opportunities, workshops, and more for the fall and winter. 
If you have a class idea, or would like to know more about a technique, or have friends that you would love to connect with over a super fun evening, or anything else - Let me know because I would love to meet up and find out how I can make your crafting dreams a reality :)   

The last day of I am's... First session was I am Making Money by Pam Morgan . Hmmm, definitely want to be taking that one. She highlighted several demonstrators who are doing business in many ways and shared some of their top tips. One of my favourites was to focus on my strengths. I like having the permission to do things in a different way than others. 

Next I heaed to another session with Emily Montoya titled, I am starting out.  I have to say that I really like her. She is an engaging speaker with a great sense of humour and a giving spirit.  She likened doing Stampin' Up as a business to playing a game, in that both have rules, strategies, and rewards - such a neat way of looking at it. 

The last session of the day was with Brian Pilling (the only session I attended with a male presenter) titled I am a leader. Only what he really wanted to call it was I am a bad leader as it discussed how to not be a bad leader.  This was JAM PACKED with info that I will be looking into in more depth because it's good to have these strategies in LIFE. 

In the last general session I thought I better take a picture of the crowd and the big Convention room for you to see what it was like. 

And this isn't all of it, obviously there are many more to the left and to the right as well.  I was on the top of the bleachers in the middle left, but there were  bleachers all to the left and right of me too.  Just HUGE! And everyone is so happy and excited, dancing, and it's like a huge party with 3500 of your closest friends.  Amzing!

During the last general session we found out that the next Grand Vacation getaway is 2014 is going to be............................drum roll please........................... A Western Carribean Cruise!!!!
That's worth working for I'd say. 
As well, everyone was was given a couple of stamp sets...so cool.  Here we are with our brand new Ronald McDonald House Charity set, Moving Forward.  Look for this to be used in my upcoming classes. 

Speaking of moving forward, I definitely feel like this Convention has inspired me to move forward with my business and has given me much more than a suitcase full of ideas, inspiration, and product. It has also given me new friends, and many memories to keep forever.

My first session today was I am earning an incentive trip with Karen Hauley.  Some of you may know that my leader, Desiree Spenst, earned the last two years' incentive trips. This year her family travelled (all expenses paid) to Walt Disney World Florida.  Next spring her husband and her will be travelling to Fiji!  Amazing! I love that Stampin' Up recognizes in such a huge way the work and accomplishments of the demonstrators.  The main idea from this session was to introduce what you do everywhere you go.  Oh, and I made up a new quote  
    "A goal shouold scare you a little, and scare you a lot"  
                                                                            --Amanda Turner
The original was "A goal should scare you a little, and excite you a lot" but our team has decided to adopt mine. When I think about the big goals I am setting for myself this year it scares me and then when I really think about them it scares me more.  LOL!  We'll be finding out tomorrow where the next Grand Vacation Incentive trip will be for next year. 
                                                                   Where do you think it will be??

The second session was with Jill Leigh called I am a first-time recruiter...which I am.  There were SO many ideas shared in this workshop...too many to list.  The main thing was to offer the opportunity to everyone, you never know who may be interested in joining Stampin' Up and earning all the wonderful rewards.  

The last session of today was I am Reaching Out with Emily Montoya and it was about how to reach out to those in Generation Y.  Even though I am a Gen Y I haven't had the experiences of many of those in my generation, so it was really interesting and reflective.  Many ideas around comunication and tools for effective communication - like texting. 

This evening the rest of my friends went to an additional optional class, but I had opted out and instead went for dinner at Squatters (the oldest brewery in SLC) with my family who lives in Salt Lake City.  I don't get to see them as much as I would have like, so we really enoyed our chances to visit, catch up, reminisce, and of course, eat. :)