Encre, papier, ciseaux

Sealed with a Kiss

Here are a few cards that we made at my Valentine's Class a couple of weeks ago. The cards featured, among other things, one of my favorite set from the Occasions mini, Love By Definition. I was so happy to see this set was available in French. It was a good Valentine replacement for my beloved Love Bandit set from last year.

The first featured a bit of sparkly embossing and gathered ribbon. We stamped the hanging hearts in Real Red Craft ink before embossing it with Iridescent Ice powder, then we added the layered sentiment, using the shimmer paper. I love the look of glitter, but hate having them all over me, so the shimmer paper has been a new favorite. People keep asking if we'll get more colours and I hope we do because this product has been a great addition to our product line!

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Amour par définition (Valentine Defined)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Glimmer paper
Inks: Real Red (Craft)
Punches: Large Oval, Scallop Oval
Accessories: Real Red and Basic Black markers, Iridescent Ice embossing powder,
White envelope, Red satin ribbon, Sticky Strip

 

 

 

 

 

On the second card, I showed how to mat any form of your choice with a scallop border (here, the punched heart). As you can see, we used the First Edition Designer paper (told you I love that paper pack!) but added some colour to it by stamping the foliage in Melon Mambo on it.

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Amour par définition (Valentine Defined)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Grey
Designer paper: First Edition
Inks: Melon Mambo, Versamark
Punches: Full Heart, Dotted Scallop Ribbon
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Black embossing powder, Crimper, Grey satin ribbon

 

 

Finally, the last project was a direct CASE from a birthday card I had received from my good friend Maggie Patterson. I thought it was just so pretty and it's been out on my desk since I received it last September, so I thought I would change the Baja Breeze she had used on hers and changed it to Regal Rose to make it Valentine-y. (Not a word, I know...) She had used Iridescent Ice embossing on her bird, but since I had already done the Iridescent Ice embossing on my previous card, I decided to showcase the shimmer paint instead. I used it on the stamped bird, to color the heart on the sentiment and to spray the Early Espresso background and make it shimmery. The sentiment (from Love By Definition) reads "Kisses" and I think you could change this card to any occasion just by playing with the sentiment. Maggie had used "Best Wishes" from the Oval All set, or you could use the "Mr. & Mrs." from the All Holiday set to change it to a wedding card.

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Déco noble (Notably Ornate)
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Crumb Cake
Inks: Early Espresso, Regal Rose
Punches: Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Small Oval
Big Shot: Finial Press embossing folder
Accessories: Victoria Lace Trim, Vanilla Envelope, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Blending Pen

 

M for Milan

I was teaching a scrapbooking class today and this is one of the projects we made. With the wonderfully extensive Sew Suite line, it's really easy to put together a detailed project in no time.

As you can see, we played with chipboard, Craft ink, embossing, the In Stitches wheel, the Dotted Lines wheel and the Big Shot. And of course, those darling pompoms!

 

 
 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Pattern Pieces, Dotted Lines wheel, In Stitches wheel, Button Button
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise
Designer Papers: Sew Suite
Inks: Versamark, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi
Big Shot: Simple Letters alphabet
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Circle punches,
Pompom trim, Decorative Label punch, Markers

Inkspirations #59 - Die-Hard Fan

  
   
 

 
Although this would make a fabulous card sketch, this week's challenge kept suggesting scrapbook page to me. I don't scrapbook nearly as much as I should, so I didn't even try to resist the urge and I went for it.

The color combo was inspired by clothes I was wearing a couple of weeks ago. It was a cold day, so I had put on my cozy blue-grey sweater and as I was putting on my navy winter coat and red scarf, I thought the three colours looked pretty cool together, so when I came home, I pulled my color wheel out and selected Marina Mist, Real Red and Night of Navy for my project. As I was looking through pictures, I noticed that the color combo would be perfect for the pictures of my brother-in-law, who's a die-hard fan of the Canadiens. The hockey team celebrated their 100th anniversary a couple of years ago and my mom had bought parapharnelia to give to him for Christmas. 

That was a fun page to make, and it came together quite quickly since the ideas all came really fast. I wish it was always like that when I create. The only part that I fiddled with was the title. I wouldn't find a pleasing arrangement for the "pur & dur" part and it took me almost as long to find a way to create the title as it did to put together the rest of the page. The page is a 8x8 layout, and I stamped the background with the C from the Broadsheet Alphabet as a reference to the Canadiens logo.

I put together the page right after coming back from Leadership, where I had received a goodie bag that included Champagne glass glitter, so it was sitting on my work table and I thought I would use it as a frame around my picture mat. I tried it using Sticky strip and I think it looks awesome! I also used some First Edition patterned paper (which as you can see I love and use on a lot of my projects!) around the picture to mimick a journal page, to fit with the 100th anniversary theme. I added ribbon strips in the background held in place with Antique brads to mimick the sketch. I like how it looks like a military jacket - kind of support the masculine feel I was trying to achieve on the page. Finally, my journaling block was created with the Déco noble set, embossed in gold. While it might seem a little strange to stick an ornate vintage element in there, I think it still works with the overall design. Maybe because of the antique wood box set in the picture?

 

  

  
   
Color Combo: Marina Mist + Night of Navy + Real Red + Very Vanilla

 
 

 
 
  

Come join the fun! Here is the LINK to our challenge blog, where you can share a link to your creation, and links to the other DT members' creations:

 

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Kirsty
Lee-Anne
Makeesha
Marisa
Renée

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Broadsheet Alphabet, Calendar Alphabet & Numbers, Déco noble
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Real Red
Designer Papers: First Edition DSP
Inks: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Versamark
Big Shot: Simple Letters Alphabet die
Accessories: Gold embossing powder, Champagne glass glitter, Sticky Strip,
Distressing tool (Cutting kit), Night of Navy marker, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Striped grosgrain ribbons (Marina Mist and Real Red), Antique brads, ½ Circle punch

 

Focus on SAB: Funky Four

I received a new set yesterday (Funky Four, one of the regular catalogue set you can get for free during SAB) and took it out for a spin right away. As I was putting the set together, I noticed that the flower looked a lot like the Ice Cream Parlor buttons and since I needed to make a thank you note, I pulled out the Ice Cream Parlor papers and the Happy For You sentiment set. I guess you could say I made this card entirely out of free stuff! (Not quite, because I provided the cardstock, but the ribbon, the buttons, the Funky Four set, the Happy For You set and the papers were all SAB freebies. Love it!) Can you see why I'm so fond of SAB?

I strongly encourage you to check out the Ice Cream Parlor bundle. Just like the Simply Scrappin' sets, they have everything you need to make quick and cute projects and everything is already coordonated, which takes the guessing time out and saves you time when you want to put a card together in a pinch (just like I did yesterday). Plus, don't these colours instantly put you in a great mood?

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Funky Four, Heureuse pour toi (Happy for You)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo
Designer papers: Ice Cream Parlor
Inks: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point
Punches: 1/2-in. Circle, Scallop Edge, Small Oval
Accessories: Ice Cream Parlor buttons, Ice Cream Parlor ribbon,
Stampin' Dimensionals, White envelope, Markers, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

 

Focus on SAB: Punch Bunch Poppies

This is a card I will be teaching at my SAB class. It was inspired by a sketch I found on Stampin' Addicts. I used the Confetti stamp set to create different backgrounds on each colour panel, and then I used my markers to color the scallop circle from the Punch Bunch set in matching colours. I stamped the poppies a second time on a scrap of cardstock, hand-cut them and popped them up on the scallop circle.

As you can guess, the Punch Bunch images all fit with our punches, and it's been the most popular choice with my customers so far. I can see why - it's a fun set to play with!

 

Colour Combo: Bashful Blue + So Saffron + Poppy Parade +
Basic Black + Whisper White

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Perfo à gogo (Punch Bunch), Confetti
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks:  Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Scallop Circle punch, Markers, Poppy Parade ribbon,
Neutral brads, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Inkspirations #58 - Sneak Peek at Upcoming Set

   
 

 
I loved this week's colour challenge the minute I saw it. For some reason, I kept associating it with the new stamp set we were given at Manager's Reception and thinking it would look great on a page about my traveling. Don't ask my why...

So you are getting a sneek peak today. If you've been wondering if there is life after SAB, yes, there is, as we'll be getting a brand-new mini and if the set I received is any indication, it'll be yet another fantastic one!

I wanted to make a page about the various cities I have been to thanks to the SU! events I have attended in the past few years. I had trouble finding pictures that would create a cohesive story so I decided that I would print out a map of the United States and add "pins" next to the cities where I have been and then draw a line between the city and my picture. I first thought of using brads, but then I remembered that we have pins rub-ons in the Sew Suite collection pack!! How perfect!

Behind my printed map, I created a stamped one using the stamp from the Travel Log repeatedly to create a background, then folded the cardstock to create creases like an actual map. I created a frame around the stamped map using the "Adventure" definition from the stamp set, using my Stamp-a-Ma-Jig to line things up. I used another piece from the set to create journaling blocks and write the name of the city shown on the picture and the dates I was there, added a 3/16 brad at the top to hold one end of the linen thread in place and I poked the other end through a hole where the city is on the printed map. I didn't have a picture of Nashville on hand, as I haven't sent those out to the printer yet, so I improvised and used the invitation postcard we had received instead. Turns out the colours are a perfect match to this week's color combo! Don't you just love it when things work out...

You might recognize the background paper as one of the sheets from the Ice Cream Parlor SAB paper pack. I wasn't sure how to go about my title and thought I would just use large bold letters at an angle at the top of the map, but then I remembered I had bought the Plane & Simple stamp set and that I could use the banner from the Cone Box die to create a banner floating behind the plane. I created the stamped title using the Sweet Shoppe Alphabets (Upper and Lower) and the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers.

To finish off the page, I used the other stamps from the set to create little accents. My favorite is the "places I've been, people I've met" block. I stamped and embossed the image three times on various cardstock colours and embossed the images with white, then cut out strips out of different colours for each statement, roughed up the edges and stacked them together. My favorite part is the matching brads! (I have truly learned to love my matchy-matchy accents over the year...) You'll also notice the "Itinerary" ticket, the "Snapshot" box and the row of popped up little traveling images, also all created using the stamp set. Since the Plane & Simple set was out, I also thought to add the compass, which I covered with Crystal Effects to make it look like glass. At the side of each picture, I stamped the little calendar found in the Travel Log set and circled the month and dates of the events on it with a marker.

This turned out to take quite a while longer than I had anticipated, but I do love the result. I'm looking forward to adding a "pin" in San Antonio next year!

  

  
  

 

 

 
 
  

Come join the fun! Here is the LINK to our challenge blog, where you can share a link to your creation, and links to the other DT members' creations:

 

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Kirsty
Lee-Anne
Makeesha
Marisa
Renée

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Travel Log, Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Lower and Upper,
Calendar Alphabet & Numbers, Plane & Simple
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Designer Papers: Ice Cream Parlor DSP
Inks: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Tango Tangerine, Cajun Craze, Versamark
Big Shot: Cone Box die (Banner)
Punches: Corner Rounder, 1/2 Circle, Ticket Corner, Small Scallop Border
Accessories: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Twill, White embossing powder,
Distressing tool (Cutting kit), Stampin' Dimensionals, Linen thread, Sew Suite rub-ons (pins),
Markers, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, library clip, Crystal Effects, 3/16 brads,
Stampin' Dimensionals, Floss, Corduroy brad, Brads

 

Focus on SAB: Ice Cream Parlor Papers and Buttons

I knew the minute I snapped those pictures of my mom eating ice cream that I would be using the Sweet Scoops set to scrap about it. Turns out I never had time to have the pictures printed out while the minicatalogue was still available, so now, it was actually the Ice Cream Parlor papers and accents that became the inspiration behind this page! Not only does the name of the papers totally fits, but the fun, bright colours screamed summer to me.

As you can see, I used all four elements of the Ice Crean Parlor collection: the papers, the sticky die-cuts, the ribbon and the cute buttons. I turned to my beloved Page Maps sketches for inspiration, and I really like how the page ended up.

Have you noticed...

• How I cut out the bottom of the pink page following the scallop pattern?
• How I took a bite out of the ice cream cone using the Scallop Square punch?
• The frame doodled around the orange paper? I used a black marker to draw a square frame, then added white scallops using the white gel pen all around it for a whimsical look.
• How the ribbon knot was woven through the O and how this little was popped up on Dimensionals?
• How I added rhinestones in the middle of the die-cut flowers underneath the title?
• How I used the Rock 'n Roll technique to add shading to the ice cream cones?
• How I added clear-embossing to the ice cream to make it shiny?
• How I gave texture to the ice cream on the left?

 

 

 

Let me add a close-up picture of that one so you can see what I mean. The Sweet Scoops set comes with a texture stamp that allows you to add those lines to the ice cream. I think it is typically meant to be used with the Kissing technique, where you press your two rubber stamps together to add some texture or pattern to an inked image, with or without a second colour of ink. I did something a little different here: I embossed my image with clear powder and added two extra layers of embossing powder. Then, once the third coat was added, I immediately pressed the texture stamp in the melted powder while it was still hot, waited until the powder cooled and then took the stamp off. SO COOL! Click on the picture to make it bigger and see the grooves it created on the ice cream. Love it!

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up Supplies
Stamps: Sweet Scoops, Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Lower
Cardstock: Whisper White
Designer papers: Ice Cream Parlor
Inks: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Peach Passion, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie
Big Shot: Simple Letters alphabet dies, Top note die
Accessories: White floss, Ice Cream Parlor buttons and ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals,
white gel pen, rhinestones, Clear embossing powder, Basic Black Stampin' Write marker

 

On Request

One of my coworker asked for a special oversized card for his mother's 80th birthday. He basically gave me carte blanche and said that he didn't care if the card cost him $25, he wanted something extra nice. I'll admit at first, I was a little intimidated because when someone is willing to be spending the big bucks, you want to present them with something that's unique and up your game. So I waited a little bit and finally decided to bite the bullet yesterday. Once I settled on a stamp set (Inspired by Nature) and papers, the ideas immediately started flowing. Boy, do I wish I could always throw money consideration out the window when creating! It's so liberating...

I used the Double Emboss Resist technique I have shown you on my Inkspirations challenge sample last week. I really like how the Smooch adds both shine and definition to the flowers. Everything was inked with Crumb Cake ink (which creates a softer inked look than brown ink would) and torn to create a shabby chic look and I used one of the satin ribbon rosettes from the minicatalogue. The sentiment was embossed with copper powder (which we use to have in the catalogue and I still miss dearly) and comes from the Something to Celebrate hostess set from the mini.

Since it's a collective card and many people will sign it, I added a flip portion inside the card so people would have more room to write their messages. The card is a little bigger than usual (4½ x 6-1/4) and I've made the matching envelope using a sheet of patterned paper and the now-retired envelope templates SU! used to carry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Inspiré de la nature (Inspired by Nature), In Stitches wheel,
Quelque chose à célébrer (Something to Celebrate), Jolis mots
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze
Designer papers: Vintage Spring DSP, First Edition DSP
Inks: Versamark, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Rosette, Cone Box die (banner), Copper embossing powder,
Baja Breeze corduroy brad, Rose Red Seam Binding, Distressing Tool (Cutting Kit),
Small Scallop bvorder punch, linen thread, envelope template

 

Be Mine, Valentine

This card was made months ago and never photographed and posted before. The design isn't my own, it was inspired by a project published in a PaperCrafts publication and I adapted it to my Stampin' Up! supplies.

I used the Dot Dot Dot stamp for the bottom of the card, one of the catalogue stamps currently offered as a free Sale-a-Bration item. The blue paper is a piece of Presto Patterns Designer paper that I sponged with Bashful Blue ink to match my project. The little girl is from the Greeting Card Kids set and the "Kisses" sentiment is from the All Holidays set.

 

 

 
Color Combo: Poppy Parade + Bashful Blue + So Saffron +
Basic Black + Whisper White

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Fêtes diverses (All Holidays), Greeting Card Kids, Dot Dot Dot
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, So Saffron, Poppy Parade, watercolor paper
Designer paper: Presto Patterns DSP
Inks: Black StazOn, Bashful Blue, Poppy Parade, So Saffron,
More Mustard, Blush Blossom, River Rock
Accessories: Vintage brads, Aquapainter brush, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge,
Punches (Circle, Corner Rounder)



Heart Pockets

When I placed my Occasions mini preorder, I had a mile-long wish list from it, but really restrained myself to just a few items because I knew I was soon leaving for Leadership and that a) I might do some shopping in Nashville (but we now know that didn't pan out); b) I might win some items during Prize Patrol if I was lucky (that one didn't pan out either) and c) SU! would be presenting us with awesome new ideas on how to use the new supplies from the mini and make us fall in love with them (which sure happened). I got at least one out of three right...

I thought the Cone die was the cutest thing ever but convinced myself I didn't need another box die right now. Then at Leadership, they showed us how to use the die to make not only cone boxes, but also pennant banners and heart-shaped pockets. I was totally sold and the die went on an order as soon as I came back from Nashville.

I had some Valentine jujubes that I wanted to wrap nicely and give away so I tried out the heart-shaped pockets. They're not only cute, but super easy, too. You just cut the two pieces you need for the box like you usually would, but you only fold the tab and not the other side. When you glue the two pieces together, they lie flat and you get a heart. Here, I used the scallop half-circle to add underneath the top part of the heart.

Another really cool part of the die is the banner on it. I know I'll be using that piece a lot because banners are all the rage right now. The tags I used to stamp the Valentine tree and sentiment on were from ooooold tags die-cut sheets that were sold back in the days when we didn't have die-cutting machine to make our own. There was like a thousand little tags in each set so I'll be using those for years to come before I'm all done with them. The tree is from the Love by Definition set and the sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set (so versatile - you can find anything you need in there). I accented one of the hearts on the tree using a clear heart-shaped bitty button threaded with linen thread.

Then, I slipped the jujubes in a cello bag tied with a ribbon and glued the bag in place with a couple of mini-glue dots so that the cello bag wouldn't slip out.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Voeux mignons (Teeny Tiny Wishes), Amour par définition (Love by Definition)
Inks: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
Cardstock: Tastes of Textiles, Cameo Coral
Designer papers: Baja Breeze DSP, Gingembre en fleurs DSP, Au chocolat DSP
Big Shot: Cone Box die-cut
Accessories: Markers, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Bitty Buttons, Linen thread,
Tag die-cuts, Ribbons, Cello bags, Eyelets, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

 

Inkspirations #57 - Vintage Spring

   

 
The card I am sharing today is the project my Club members got to make at our last meeting. So far, this has been a popular one amongst my Occasions Mini samples, so I hope you will enjoy it, too.

I crammed a lot of minicatalogue supplies in there, both because all of the elements from the Vintage Springtime collection work so well together, but also because I am totally in love with the new mini and I wanted to use and show the new stuff to my club members as much as possible.

The main image was created by stamping the little girl in Versamark on the First Edition paper (previously cut out with the Ovals die and Big Shot), then embossed with clear powder and using a sponge to apply Baja Breeze ink all around the image. Then, I spritzed some Log Cabin Smooch Spritz on my image and wiped the extra ink from the embossed design. Since I wiped the image before the spritzed ink was completely dry, it moved the copper ink on the paper and created a darker shadow around the little girl's image, which I really love! The image then became easier to distinguish than with the Baja ink alone. I cut out a second oval out of chipboard and mounted my image on it to make it sturdier (the First Edition paper is quite thin and once you add the embossing and Smooch, it will tend to curl up). I then added a Baja Breeze Retro Rose at the bottom of the image.Those Retro roses are just fabulous. They were the first item on my wish list when I first saw the catalogue and they look even better than I had imaged in person.

Underneath the image, I created a multilayered scallop border, making sure to glue my sentiment tag in-between layers. At the top, I added a piece of sticky strip and then covered it with Champagne glass glitter.

I couldn't help but add stitching all around my background paper, using my unmounted In Stitches wheel again. A seam binding knot decorated with a Big Designer button and a Blushing Bride glimmer brad at the bottom finished the look.

I first hesitated before getting this stamp set in the preorder, not because I don't love it, but because I was trying to stick to a budget, but I am so glad that I went ahead and got it. I've received many beautiful swaps made with this set at Leadership and from the Control Freaks and I cannot wait to play with it some more.

 

  

  
 

 
 
  

Come join the fun! Here is the LINK to our challenge blog, where you can share a link to your creation, and links to the other DT members' creations:

 

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Kirsty
Lee-Anne
Makeesha
Marisa
Renée

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: In Stitches wheel, Bouquet pascal (Easter Blossoms)
Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz
Designer Papers: First Edition, Springtime Vintage
Inks: Versamark, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Big Shot: Ovals die
Punches: Scallop Border, Decorative Label 
Accessories: Big Designer buttons (Springtime Vintage, Rose Red seam binding,
Clear embossing powder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Champagne glass glitter, Sticky strip,
twine, Vintage Flower Adornments, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz,
Distressing tool (Cutting Kit), Glimmer brads (In Color)

 

I (heart) Glitter

This card is actually a half-failed experiment. I say half-failed because, even though the finished card looks nice, the technique I was trying out didn't work out exactly like I had anticipated.

I was working with stencils and got this idea in my head that maybe I could use my punches to make a stencil to apply glitter on something. I have seen that in magazines done with lace and the result is pretty cool. So I am trying to think of what kind of plastic I could use to do so and then I thought, "Wax paper!" So I went and punched a heart out of wax paper and used the negative space as a stencil. I cut out a piece of sticky sheet, place my wax paper stencil on it and filled it with red glitter. So far, so good, except that when I tried to pull the wax paper up, it didn't come off as easily as I had first anticipated. Those sticky sheets really hold whatever you put on them! After much struggling, I managed to rip it off, then repeated again for the second heart, fiddled with the wax paper again and once those two hearts were done, I added the pink glitter to fill in the rest of the space.

I wish I could find something that wouldn't stick to the adhesive sheet so much. But then again, you need the stencil to be stuck to the adhesive sheet pretty firmly while pourring the glitter because you don't want it to get under, so that you have a crisp outline to your shape. I am still working on that one in my mind...

The glittered heart piece stayed on my desk for weeks and I finally mounted it unto a card last week. I used a piece of Presto Patterns paper colored with pastels to create my background. I applied Pretty in Pink pastel with a dauber to cover the background and then used a blending pen to deepen the colour on the flourishes with Regal Rose pastel.

The stamped hearts are from the I [heart] hearts set, and I used my Three Hearts punch on them, even though the Wood and Flourish hearts were bigger than the punch.

 

 

 

 

Matériel Stampin' Up!
Stamps: J'aime les coeurs (I {heart} hearts)
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Whsper White
Designer paper: Presto Patterns
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Punches: Heart to Heart, Full Heart
Accessories: Glimmer paper, envelope, red and pink glitter, Sticky sheet,
Wax paper, Blending pen, Stampin' Pastels, Button, Pearl, Red satin ribbon

 

 

Party Hearty

I have been stamping for business all weekend so last evening, I decided I would dedicate a couple of hours to fun stamping. I picked the Mojo Monday sketch (#177) and the Curtain Call challenge (#68) and came up with this baby. No fancy technique, just fun colours and a fun layout. I inked the Something to Celebrate hostess set for the first time (which we received for free at Leadership!) and pulled out the On a Pedestal set, which had not seen ink in a while since I've been so caught up with minicatalogue stamp sets lately. I like the bold look of this stamp set, it's quite different from the usual images I pick for myself, but I do like using it. I guess I should mention that the reason it is so different from what I usually pick out for myself is because SU! sent me this set as an incentive prize, but it's good that they did - it forces me to step out of my comfort zone and have a wider choice of stamp sets to showcase to my customers.

I also hadn't used the Scallop Trim corner in a while (although I do use the border punch all the time), so the square on the sketch made me think it was a good opportunity to pull out the corner punches.

Alright, gotta run - it's bedtime (well, actually, it was bedtime over an hour ago!).

 

 

 
inspiration: Sketch Mojo Monday 177 & Curtain Call challenge 68

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Quelque chose à célébrer (Something to Celebrate), On a Pedestal
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Designer paper: Wild Wasabi
Inks: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Versamark
Accessories: Markers, paper piercer, mat pack, punches (Scallop Trim border and corner,
square, circle), clear embossing powder, rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds glitter,
Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Big Designer button, white floss, glimmer brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

 

Simply Sent Cards

When I went to a team training event, I was handed a folder with samples of items from the then new catalogue, including some Simply Sent cards. I would never have guessed it from the catalogue picture, but did you know that the cards from the Elegant Engravings set have gold detailing on them? Plus, they are made of some high-quality cardstock that you can stamp and watercolor on very nicely. I had been meaning to use the card to make a sample for six months now and I finally did last week when came time to prepare some cards for my downline.

I kept it simple by stamping an image from the For Everything set in Basic grey on the card and watercoloring with a blending pen. I also stamped, colored and cut out the butterfly on a scrap of cardstock, then popped it off on the card. I added a sentiment from the Silhouette Sentiments hostess set, embossed in gold powder, and two pearls on each side of the oval. Finally, I tied a piece of red taffeta ribbon around the card and added a Mustard button on top of it.

Seems like those Simply Sent cards are definitely one of those items that look so much better in person than in the catalogue!

 

 

 
Color Combo: Basic Grey + More Mustard + So Saffron + Riding Hood Red

 

 

Matériel Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Pensées écloses (Silhouette Sentiments), For Everything
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Simply Sent: Elegant Engravings
Inks: Basic Grey, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Versamark
Accessories: Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, Pearls, Blending pen, Gold embossing powder, Button, Gold cord, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

 

Through the Looking Glass

Have you noticed the new beveled windows in the Occasions mini? Those are some really cool accents! They're a great way to highlight something on your card and add some dimension to it. 

I had been given some Simply Sent card samples and I used one of them to make a SAB card using the Bliss set and the beveled windows in question. It made for a really fast card, since all I had to do was stamped the flourish and flower images on my card base, then repeat those two elements on a scrap of white cardstock, add the sentiment in Early Espresso ink and mat the image with the Scallop Rectangle Clearlits die, then use satin ribbon and shimmer brad to keep the frame in place.

TIP: Since this is a one-layer card, if you don't want the brad prongs to show on the inside of the card, add the brads to the ribbon before using mini glue dots to adhere the ribbon in place on the card.

I used a dryed-up blending pen to apply shimmer paint to some of the elements of the card, to dazzle it up a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Joie (Bliss)
Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
Big Shot: Scallop Rectangle Clearlits die
Accessories: Beveled window, Satin ribbon (Chocolate Chip), Shimmer brads (In Colors),
Blending pen, Frost White shimmer paint, Simply Sent card and envelope

 

 

SAB is on!

It's the most wonderful time of the year... or at least my favorite SU! period: Sale-a-Bration! I have not shared much SAb projects so far, but I hope to remedy that in the upcoming weeks. I thought I would start by sharing my Control Freaks swap card now that all of the members of the group have received their swaps back. I have some pretty fantastic samples to share so if you come over for a class or invite me over to your house for a workshop, I'll share those wonderful samples with you.

Now, back to my own sample, I have used the Joie (Bliss) set to make it. It's my personal favorite so far, but I just might change my mind before SAB ends. The starting point for this card was the pompom trim. I knew I wanted to add some to my card, so I selected a color combo that would include Tango Tangerine. After putting together my card, I actually remembered that I had swapped a card with the Control Freaks in those exact same colours (except using Summer Sun instead of Daffodil Delight) back when I joined the group two years ago. What is up with me and that color combo?! Hopefully, no one noticed...

The card also showcases the new Tulip Frame embossing folder. I have to say, those embossing folders are so popular with everyone and usually the reason why a lot of people cave and get a Big Shot. I've had quite a few customers and downline members confide that they got the Big Shot strictly to do some embossing! (Then, of course, once you have the machine, you can't help but try out the dies and fall in love with those, too, but that's another story for another day...)

The edges of the Crumb Cake cardstock were roughed up with the distressing tool from the Cutting Kit, and I used a Tangerine Tango marker and the spritzing tool to add speckles to the cardstock. Then I stamped the flourish in Pacific Point, stamped the sentiment on Tangerine Tango with the same ink colour, punched it out with the Wide oval punch, roughed up the edges as well and added a gold-embossed butterfly in the middle. A row of pompoms finished it off at the bottom.

Notice the flower at left? I stamped the flower image from the Bliss set and didn't want to handcut all of those flowers out (handcutting the butterflies out was enough for one evening), so I used the Boho Blossom punch instead (although not on the sample you see in my pic - this one is my original version and was handcut). It's not an exact perfect match, but close enough to do a cute job. And I know how much you all love matching stamped images to your punches! (I know I do!)

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Joie (Bliss)
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Crumb Cake, Tangerine Tango
Inks: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Versamark, Daffodil Delight
Punches: Wide Oval, Corner Rounder, Spirals,
Big Shot: Tulip Frame embossing folder
Accessories: Cutting Kit (distressing tool), Tangerine pompom trim,
Gold embossing powder,Tangerine Tango marker, Spritzing tool,
Gold brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

Inkspirations #56 - Fabric Fun

   
 

 
So I had worked ahead of time with challenges last fall and used this color combo on a Christmas card. But then we shuffled things around a little bit and when I looked at the schedule and saw that this would be posting in February, suddenly, the Christmas card seemed pretty out of season. Those colours are just lovely together anyway, so I didn't mind working with them again for this card I'm sharing today.

I pulled out the Candy Cane Christmas fabrics (which are still available, by the way, as I just found out this week) to make a "yo-yo," something that has apparently been around forever but that I had never seen or tried before and was taught how to do by Carrie Cudney at Leadership. Instructions are SO simple: Cut out a circle out of fabric (I used my Scallop Circle die and Big Shot), weave some thread all around the circle and pull tight. You get the pretty gathered circle flower you see on my card! (Here's a tutorial I found online to learn how to make one.)

To hide the seam in the middle, I stamped and embossed an image from the Button Button set and embossed with clear powder twice (on Cherry Cobbler and on Baja Breeze cardstock) and punched the button and the middle out, then layered the two colors and added a Bitty button in the centre.

I also inked the Printemps en fleur hostess set for the first time, even though I received it in early November (uninked rubber - shame on me, I know! - but I was kind of focused on Christmas cards at that moment). I used the polka dots for the background, the large stem on the Baja Breeze cardstock and the thin stem on my main image. I also pulled the sentiment from that same set and punched it with the Large Oval punch. I've been seeing a lot of card where people will layer white on white and I really like the effect, so I decided to go for it here.

At the bottom of the card, I knotted some black lace I had left from the Holidays mini and sponged a flower cut out of the First Edition designer paper (left from the simple flower cards I've done last week) with Baja Breeze ink before adding it around the lace knot and gluing anothr Bitty button in place in the middle of the lace knot.

 

  

  

 
 
  

Here is the LINK to our challenge blog, where you can share a link to your creation, and links to the other DT members' creations:

 

Brandi
Carrie
Helen
Ilina
Kirsty
Lee-Anne
Makeesha
Marisa
Renée

 

It's been so exciting to see so many of you take part in the weekly challenges. I want to thank you for stopping by every week and spoiling us with your wonderful creations! I look forward to seeing many more this year!  

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Printemps en fleur (hostess), Buttons Buttons
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Basic Black
Inks: Versamark, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze
Punches: Large Oval, Circle
Accessories: Candy Cane Christmas fabric, Bitty buttons,
Black lace, Stampin' Dimensionals, mini glue dots, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig

 

Leadership, chapeaux de cowboy et virus virulents...

*English version HERE*

 

Attendiez-vous impatiemment mon résumé de ma semaine à Nashville? J'avais plein de bonnes intentions, mais comme je suis revenue avec une grippe de cowboy, les quintes de toux, les kleenex, les sommeils prolongés et le manque d'énergie ont pris le dessus sur tout le reste. Mais il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire, alors voici des photos de mon voyage au Tennessee.

Pour une fois, j'ai réussi à faire l'aller-retour en avion sans problème. Je me considère particulièrement chanceuse parce qu'il y avait plusieurs tempêtes aux États-Unis et bien des voyageuses ont connu des ennuis, dont mes trois amies qui venaient me rejoindre à partir d'Ottawa. Leur vol a été annulé à Chicago et elles ont dû faire une nouvelle réservation avec une autre compagnie aérienne. Elles sont finalement arrivées à Nashville à 3 h du matin et sans bagages!

À mon arrivée à Nashville, je n'ai pu m'empêcher de remarquer le choix peu orthodoxe de chaises le long des carrousels à bagages. Pouvez-vous croire qu'ils ont des chaises berçantes dans l'aéroport? Ça, c'est en plus du chansonnier qui jouait de la musique country dans le bar de l'aéroport. Ça n'a pas pris deux minutes après être sortie de l'avion pour entendre ma première chanson country...

 

 

J'ai eu de la compagnie en m'en venant. À Toronto, j'ai croisé Caroline LeBel et sa recrue Christyne. Elles étaient en attente pour embarquer sur le même vol que moi. Nous avons aussi rencontré deux autres démonstratrices canadiennes qui s'en allaient également au Leadership, dont l'une était assise à mes côtés dans l'avion! Tammy et moi avons donc jasé ensemble tout le long, ce qui a rendu le vol d'autant plus agréable. C'est son amie Ellen, qui nous a rejoint à l'aéorport de Nashville, qui est assise dans la chaise avec moi sur la photo.

  

Mercredi, nous nous sommes levées tard, nous sommes allées dîner à un resto près de l'hôtel, puis nous avons ramassé nos bagages pour changer d'hôtel (il n'y avait plus de place au Gaylord le premier soir) et nous sommes rendues au Gaylord Opryland.  J'avais vu des photos sur Internet, mais ça vaut quand même le coup d'oeil en vrai. L'endroit est vraiment incroyable! C'est tellement grand, cela me fait un peu penser au West Edmonton Mall, puisque c'est une ville intérieure. Le toit est entièrement vitré et on y retrouve à l'intérieur des arbres, des plantes, des fontaines, une rivière et même des bateaux... On dirait qu'on prend une marche à l'extérieur une belle journée d'été. C'est sans contredit le plus bel endroit que SU! a réservé jusqu'à maintenant pour un événement et je suis bien contente d'avoir eu la chance de voir cet endroit en personne. Ça nous a pris un bon 15 minutes avant d'arriver à trouver le hall d'entrée de l'hôtel (imaginez!) et une fois à la réception, ils nous ont remis une carte pour arriver à se retrouver dans l'hôtel et surtout, arriver à trouver notre chambre. Voici quelques-unes de mes photos favorites de l'endroit.

 

 

Le hall d'entrée de l'hôtel

 

 

 

 

 
Les balcons des chambres haut de gamme (pas les nôtres, non...)

 

 

 

 
Un des restaurants

 

 
Encore des chaises berçantes!

 

 
Un magnifique coin pour les cérémonies de mariage

 

 

 
La section du centre de convention

 

 
Le tour de bateau

 

 Une des trois piscines (les deux autres sont à l'extérieur)

 

 Le centre de condition physique

 

 Le Spa (remarquez le nom français!)

 

 

Après avoir trouvé notre chambre, l'attente pour les bagages a commencé. La compagnie aérienne avait retrouvé la valise de Maggie et promis qu'elle arriverait à l'hôtel dans l'après-midi. Une fois que le livreur a appelé et promis que la valise arriverait dans l'heure, nous sommes allées nous asseoir dans l'entrée de l'hôtel pour l'attendre.

J'en mettrais bien une comme ça dans mon salon...

 

Nous avions rendez-vous à 17 h 15 au centre de convention pour le Manager's Reception et la valise était censée être livrée au plus tard à 16 h 40, alors cela devait nous laisser juste assez de temps pour se changer et courir jusqu'au point de rencontre. Sauf qu'à 16 h 55, la valise n'était toujours pas là! Je me suis rendue seule à la chambre pour aller me changer, et Maggie est arrivée derrière cinq minutes après et en deux temps, trois mouvements, on était changées et prêtes à partir. Nous avons donc dévalé les marches jusqu'au centre de convention, où nous sommes arrivées juste à temps pour recevoir notre cadeau...

 

  

 

Comment vous me trouvez avec mon chapeau de cowgirl? Vous remarquerez que le chapeau a été décoré par SU! avec du ruban grosgrain Pépite de chocolat et nos attaches parisiennes décoratives! Vous remarquerez aussi que j'avais apporté ma chemise à carreaux pour l'occasion... (Yout ce qui nous avait été dit au sujet de la soirée est qu'on sortait en ville.)

Notre grande sortie était donc au...

 

 Wildhorse Saloon

 où nous sommes allées...

 
faire de la danse en ligne!

 

Nous avons aussi eu droit à un excellent souper accompagné d'un spectacle de musique (country, il va sans dire), puis après le repas a débuté le cours de danse en ligne. C'était quelque chose à voir, plus d'une centaine de démonstratrices avec leurs chapeaux identiques en train d'essayer de suivre les pas sans piler sur les pieds des autres!

On a pris quelques photos avec les statues de chevaux avant notre départ. J'en ai photographié deux, mais il y en avait plusieurs différentes disposées un peu partout dans le bar.

 

 

 
Roxane, Maggie et moi

 

 
Ma fabuleuse marraine SU! Marlayne et moi

 

 

 

 

 
Centre-ville de Nashville, à l'extérieur du Wildhorse Saloon

 

  
Un cadeau nous attendait à notre retour...

 

Il était encore tôt à notre retour alors nous sommes arrêtées au pub irlandais pour un verre. Disons que les chapeaux n'ont pas passé inaperçu... Un groupe d'hommes à la table à côté de la nôtre est venu nous demander pourquoi nous portions toutes des chapeaux identiques. Évidemment, le problème avec les chapeaux, c'est qu'une fois qu'on se l'est mis sur la tête, il faut vivre avec ensuite, parce que ce n'est pas très cute lorsqu'on l'enlève et qu'on a la chevelure aplatie!

 

 Suivez les indications!

 

Le matin suivant, SU! nous a accueilli avec du jus et des bagels avant le début de nos cours. Le premier cours à l'horaire portait sur des conseils à retenir pour notre activité SU!, et la compagnie avait invité Maggie et moi à faire une présentation de dix minutes sur un sujet donné. Mon sujet était la rétention de filiation, un sujet pas très populaire, si j'en juge par le fait que les démonstratrices passaient tout droit devant ma table sans choisir de s'y arrêter. Qu'à cela ne tienne, celles qui ont assisté à ma présentation m'ont dit par la suite qu'elles avaient bien apprécié mes trucs. Pendant l'après-midi, nous avons eu notre première session générale et nous avons entendu parler des changements apportés au Plan de carrière de SU! En résumé, je peux vous dire que si c'était intéressant d'être démonstratrice auparavant, ça l'est encore plus maintenant! Encore plus de primes, avantages et incitatifs!!

 

Le souper a été fourni par SU!, puis nous avons eu droit à une soirée par la suite. On nous a remis des boîtes contenant du matériel sans suite et on nous a demandé de créer chacune une carte qui serait remise à la fondation des manoirs Ronald McDonald. Il fallait également créer une carte de groupe qui serait entrée dans un concours de design (pour lequel nous n'avons malheureusement pas gagné). Puis, nous sommes allées au Memento Mall pour un peu de magasinage et je suis tombée en amour avec les cadres disposés sur les tables :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Et quoi de mieux pour finir la journée qu'un verre de lait avec des biscuits?

 

SU! s'est encore dépassé avec les échantillons cetet année. Celui-ci a particulièrement attiré notre attention. Arrivez-vous à déchiffrer l'image?

  

 

 Et si on se recule un peu, ça vous aide?

 

Eh oui, c'est le portrait de Shelli, créé entièrement avec des attaches parisiennes chatoyantes! On avait de la difficulté à déceler l'image en personne, jusqu'à ce qu'on photographie le tout et qu'on regarde la photo, où soudain, le portrait apparaissait très clairement. Futés petits employés de Stampin' Up!...



 
Une clé faite avec les grigris en clés



Des bouquets insérés dans la nouvelle découpe de Boîte en cône...




Une petite robe d'enfant cousue par la talentueuse Melanie Hopes



 
Un bouquet de mariage fait avec les roses en ruban du minicatalogue

 

 
Un très joli tableau avec les grigris Couronne

 

Ouf, pouvez-vous imaginer le prix de celle-là?!

 

Depuis le début de la semaine que je toussotais, mais je pensais que cela venait de l'air sec qui m'asséchait la gorge. Pas vraiment... Rendu au vendredi, le nez et la gorge se sont mis tous deux de la partie et j'ai bien vu que je me tapais un autre rhume. J'ai donc été plus occupée à me moucher et déballer des pastilles qu'à prendre des photos et des notes pendant la journée du vendredi, ce qui fait que mes photos sont rares cette journée-là.

En voici une prise lorsque l'on a reçu un paquet-cadeau en fin de journée. Remarquez le beau nez rouge?

 

 

 

Et ma photo traditionnelle sur la scène avec le thème de l'événement en arrière-fond :

 

 

J'ai vu ce cadre dans l'une des salles de bain de l'hôtel et de je n'ai pas pu m'empêcher de remarquer la ressemblance troublante avec notre découpe Treillis! 

 

 

Nous avons soupé en équipe au luxurieux restaurant Cascades, puis sommes retournées à la course au centre de convention pour notre séance de projets à emporter. SU! s'est vraiment surpassé cette année et nous a gâté en incluant des bijoux dans notre trousse! De tous les événements auxquels j'ai assisté, ce sont vraiment mes projets préférés à ce jour. Nous avons décoré un collier et fait trois encarts pour aller à l'intérieur, fait une magnifique broche en tissu, deux cartes et un porte-carnet de notes avec un boîtier à DVD. Bien que les projets étaient vraiment à mon goût, j'ai à peine étampé parce que je me sentais faible et fiévreuse, alors j'ai seulement fait ma carte et préparé les morceaux pour la broche. (Le reste a été terminé à mon retour à la maison.)

 

 

 
De gauche à droite : Marlayne, Martine, moi-même, Jacynthe (haut),
Maggie (bas ), Roxane, Tracie et Manon

Mes amies sont sorties ensemble pour un verre en fin de soirée, mais même si j'aurais aimé passer notre dernière soirée ensemble avec elles, j'ai dû me résigner à m'acheter une bouteille de Nyquil au magasin du resort et aller me coucher. Nous avions prévu faire un tour guidé de la ville en autobus le lendemain et aller au centre commercial pendant l'après-midi. J'avais hâte car je m'étais gardé un petit budget pour le magasinage et je savais aussi que le centre où nous allions avait un magasin Anthropologie. Cependant, quand je me suis réveillée samedi matin, je ne me sentais pas terriblement mieux, mais comme j'étais déterminée à voir la ville pendant que j'y étais, j'ai avalé mes pilules et mon sirop et je suis partie avec les filles.

Le tour était bien intéressant. Nous avons parlé de l'innondation qu'ils ont connu l'an dernier et des dégâts laissés derrière, nous avons vu le "Batman Building", le centre-ville de Nashville, le Country Music Hall of Fame, le Ryman Auditorium et nous sommes arrêtés au bar Legends Corner, mais ma partie favorite du tour a été le Pathway of History au Bicentenial Park. Le long du parc, la ville a construit un mur en granite de 400 pieds de long sur lequel est gravé tous les événements importants de l'histoire de Nashville. Le mur est brisé à la date de la guerre civile pour représenter l'état du pays dans ces années. Quelle façon unique de préserver l'histoire d'une ville! Au bout du mur, on retrouve douze clochers autour d'une cercle contenant trois étoiles (le centre du drapeau du Tennessee), et les cloches jouent un air de musique à toutes les heures.

 

 

 

 

 

Un autre édifice qui a retenu mon attention est la réplique exacte et à l'échelle du Parthénon de Grèce. Plutôt étrange comme choix pour Nashville! À mon retour, j'ai fait une petite recherche sur Google pour en savoir plus et j'ai découvert que comme Nashville était surnommée "Athènes du Sud", lors d'un expo en 1897, la ville a fait construire des reproductions de bâtiments historiques. Seul le Parthénon a été conservé par la suite. J'aurais bien aimé aller fureter à l'intérieur, mais nous sommes seulement arrêté en face le temps de prendre quelques photos.

 

 

 

 

 
Le Batman Building

 

 
Une statue dans l'entrée du Ryman Auditorium

 

Le Country Music Hall of Fame

 

 

À la fin des 3½ heures, mes médicaments avaient cessé de faire effet et je ne m'endurais plus. À notre retour à l'hôtel, j'ai dîné en vitesse avec les filles, demandé ma facture, je suis montée à la chambre et j'ai dormi 6 h en ligne! Inutile de dire que le magasinage a pris le bord... À mon réveil, il était 20 h et les filles venaient de revenir de leur expédition de magasinage, alors nous avons commandé de la nourriture à la chambre et nous avons mangé ensemble en écoutant (et en commentant) Miss America et en regardant les cartes que nous avions reçu en échange pendant la semaine. Nous sommes ensuite retournées à la chambre et j'ai dormi comme une bûche de minuit jusqu'à 11 h le lendemain. Mon vol était seulement en fin de journée, alors j'ai fait mes bagages, je suis allée les laisser en consigne à la réception et je me suis promenée dans l'hôtel pour prendre des photos. Vers le milieu de l'après-midi, j'ai croisé d'autres filles de mon équipe qui étaient sur le même vol de retour que moi, alors nous avons passé du temps à l'aéroport ensemble en attendant notre vol. Disons que je les ai surtout écoutées parce que rendu au dimanche, ma voix avait décidé de prendre congé et c'était l'extinction complète! Mieux que ça, cela a pris une semaine avant que ma voix commence à revenir! Vraiment pas pratique pour passer les douanes, parler au chauffeur de taxi ou même retourner ses appels après trois semaines de vacances au bureau! Laissez-moi vous dire que la grippe de cowboy de Nashville frappe fort en torpinouche!

 

SU! nous a annoncé à quel endroit se tiendrait le prochain Leadership et je suis très excitée à l'idée de retourner dans un endroit chaud en janvier prochain : San Antonio, au Texas!! J'ai déjà hâte... 

 

Leadership, Cowboy Hats and Virulent Viruses...

So maybe some of you have been hoping for a summary like I usually post when coming back from a SU! event. It wasn't for lack of good intentions, but I was feeling so sick when I came back from Nashville that between the coughing, blowing my nose, work and sleep, there just wasn't much time or energy left for blogging. But I guess it's never too late to catch up with my blogging, is it?

So for once, the traveling went without a glitch. We were delayed for half an hour in Montréal but that hardly counts. I am especially grateful to have made it to Nashville without a problem because not everyone was that lucky. My demo friends who were coming in from Ottawa and meeting me there got stuck in Chicago due to bad weather and had to rebook through a second airline. Not only did they got to the hotel at 3 a.m., but they also did with no luggage in tow!

I had to laugh when I saw the chairs by the luggage carousel. Can you believe they are rocking chairs? We were also greeted by country music right out of the gate, as there was a singer stringing his guitar and singing at the airport pub. I hadn't even changed the time on my watch that I had already heard my very first country music song in Nashville!

 

 

I had some company on the way - I ran into Caroline LeBel and her downline Christyne at the airport. They were on standby hoping to catch the same flight I was on, and they did. We also ran into two other Canadian demos heading to Leadership as well, one of which happened to be sitting with me on the plane! We chatted the whole way and it made the flight super enjoyable! (Hi, Tammy!) This is Tammy's friend Ellen, which we met up with at the airport, sitting on the rocking chair with me in the picture.

 

On Wednesday, we got up late, grabbed a dirt-cheap but tasty lunch at a nearby restaurant and then switched hotels. The Gaylord Opryland was completely booked on Tuesday so we had to stay at the Fairfield Inn on the first night. The hotel shuttle took us to the Opryland and we got our first glance at the resort... I had seen pictures of the venue online and I knew the place was grand, but it is still something that has to be experienced. It reminds me of the West Edmonton Mall, because it is a city within a building. The place is HUGE and entirely decorated as if you were walking outside. There's plants, trees, water fountains, a river and boats... The whole place is incredible and I was so grateful that we got to experience this resort thanks to SU! The whole place is so huge, it took us a good 15 minutes to find the lobby (if you can imagine) and when we did, they actually gave us a map to make our way around the place. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the place so you can see for yourselves.

 
 The lobby

 
 

 

 

 

 
The balconies of the pricier rooms (no, we did not have one!)

 

 

 

 
One of the restaurants

 

 
What's up with the white rocking chairs everywhere?

 

 
Can you imagine getting married there?

 

 

 
The Convention Centre section

 

 
The boat tour

 

 One of the three pools (the other two are outdoors)

 

 The Fitness Centre

 

 The Spa (look at that - French name with accents in the right place and all!)

 

 

After we checked in, the waiting for the "delayed luggage" (that's what the airline calls it) began. They had promised it would be delivered in the afternoon, so once we got the call that the luggage would be coming within the hour, we settled in at the lobby to wait for it.

LOVE the chair! Wouldn't those colors make a great color combo?
(Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron & Rich Razzleberry)
Gotta include it on a project...

 

We were scheduled to leave for Manager's Reception at 5:15 p.m. and the luggage was supposed to get here at 4:40 p.m. at the latest, which should have given us just enough time to run to the room and change before leaving. Except that at 4:55 p.m., the luggage still wasn't there! I left for the room without Maggie to change and she barged in five minutes later with her bag flying being her and she got changed in like two minutes flat. Then we dashed to the convention centre and got there just in time to get our little gift...

  

 

Swanky, huh? You'll notice that the cowboy hats were adorned with Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and our decorative brads! You'll also noticed I had packed my Guess plaid shirt to wear on our night out on the town (which is all we were told about the event).

Turns out we went to the...

 

 Wildhorse Saloon

 for some...

 
Line dancing!

We had dinner with a show (country music - what else!) and then we were asked to go on the dance floor for a line dancing lesson. That was quite the scene, a hundred of us in our matching hats trying to learn the steps without stepping on anybody else's toes! We had a great time, and we took some pictures with the horse statues on the way out. I only snapped pictures with two of them, but they are all over the bar and each one is different.

 

 
Roxane, Maggie and I

 

 
My wonderful upline Marlayne and I

 

 
My date is quite the stallion!

 

 

 
Downtown Nashville, outside the Wildhorse Saloon

 

  
The complimentary stamp set we got on the way back...
(What a great way to end the night!)

 

It was still early when we came back so we stopped at the Irish Pub for a drink. Our matching hats didn't go unnoticed - some of the guys that had attended an auto part convention held right before ours came over to ask what the matching hats were all about. Problem with wearing a hat is that you have to commit to it the rest of the evening or else you're stuck with hat hair!

 

 
Just follow the sign!

 

The next morning, we had bagels and juice for breakfast at the gathering place, then classes throughout morning. The first class was Business tips, and SU! had asked a number of demonstrators to do little ten-minute presentations on a certain subject. Maggie and I were both asked to be table leaders, and my subject was Team Retention. Not a popular subject, as most demos would just walk by my table without stopping, but those that did sit down for the presentation seemed to enjoy the tips I had to share. Then, during the afternoon, we had our first General Session and heard all about the exciting changes that had been made to the Career Plan. I am telling you, if being a SU! demo was exciting before, it is becoming even more exciting now! All I can say to summarize the changes is, More perks!!!

We had dinner, curtesy of SU!, then a stamping party afterwards. We were given boxes with supplies in them, then asked to create cards for the Ronald McDonald charity with it, then a group card to enter in a design contest. We gave it our best shot, but unfortunately, our card didn't make Top 3. Then, we went to Memento Mall for a little shopping and I fell in love with the beautiful frames displayed in there:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And what better snacking combo than cookie and milk to end the day?

 

SU! had outdone itself with the display this year. This particular frame really caught everyone's attention. Can you guess what it depicts?

  

 

 

 

What if we step back a little bit, can you see it better now?

 

It's Shelli's portrait! The funny thing is that it was hard at first to see it, but then we would go and take a picture of it and from behind the camera, Shelli's face would appear very clearly! Clever, clever SU! employees....




Look at that key made with our key charms...






Or those bouquets coming out of our new Cone Box die...




Or that baby dress sewn by seamstress extraordinaire Melanie Hopes



 
Or that amazing wedding bouquet done with the ribbon flowers sold in the mini

 

 
And that amazing design which you can easily reproduce at home -
if you are willing to splurge on the $36 worth of Crown charms...

 

 
I haven't done the math for this one, but I can only guess...

 

 So I had been coughing a little bit for a day now and I had written it off to what I call the "Salt Lake City effect," a.k.a. very dry weather that gives you a dry cough and bloody nose. Turns out it wasn't the SLC effect, as I found out when I woke up on Friday with a very sore throat and a runny nose. So on Friday, I spent most of my time popping cough drops and blowing my nose instead of taking notes and pictures. I remember most of what was said, but do not have an awful lot of pictures to show for it.

Here's one taken when we were all given a gift to bring back with us home. Notice the red nose?

 

 

 

And the traditional picture of me on stage (showing this year's theme: +One):

 

 

I saw this frame in one of the hotel halls. Doesn't the pattern look exactly like our Lattice die?!? 

 

 

We went out for a quick team dinner at the luxurious Cascades restaurant, then rushed back to the Convention centre for our Make & Take evening. I have to say that those were the best M&Ts I had ever made at an event. And we got so spoiled! SU! included some jewelry in the kit this year, so we got to make a gorgeous necklace along with two additional inserts, a fabulous fabric brooch, two cards and a DVD box notepad holder. Despite the really cool projects, I was feeling so congested and tired that I had trouble thinking straight and putting my projects together. I prepared the layers for the flower brooch, then put it aside to dry and worked on the card and afterwards, just gave up entirely because even reaching for the supplies in the middle of the table felt like too much of an effort. (Pathetic, I know!)

 

 
From left to right: Marlayne, Martine, Me'self, Jacynthe (top),
Maggie (bottom), Roxane, Tracie and Manon

My friends met up for one last get-together after the M&T session, but I bought a bottle of Nyquil at one of the resort's stores and went straight to bed. We had planned to go on a bus tour of Nashville the next morning and then head to the shopping centre in the afternoon. I was excited about it because the shopping mall had an Anthropologie store that I wanted to check out and I kept some Christmas money aside for some shopping while in Nashville. I got up on Saturday still feeling quite congested and loopy, but I was determined to visit Nashville while I was there.

The tour was quite interesting. We talked about the flood and the damage it left behind, saw the Batman Tower, Downtown Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and stopped at the Legends Corner bar, but my favorite part of the tour was the Pathway of History at the Bicentenial Park. It's a 400 ft long granite wall on which history tidbits have been etched. The wall is broken where the civil war happened, to reflect the state of the country at this time. What a cool way for a city to preserve its history! Then, at the end, you find twelve bell towers around the Court of three stars, which represents the centre of the flag of Tennessee. The bells play a song every hour.

 

 

 

Another building that piqued my interest was the exact replica of the Parthenon found near the Bicentenial Park. I wasn't sure why a reproduction of the famous building had been built there, but it was very impressive to see. A quick Google search told me that Nashville is called the Athens of the South, which in turn led to the building of ancient originals for the 1897 fair. The Parthenon, though, is the only one that was an exact reproduction and the only one kept by Nashville afterwards. I wish we could have stopped and gone inside, but we only stopped for a minute to take pictures.

 

 

 
The Batman Building

 

 
A statue at the Ryman Auditorium

 

 
The Country Music Hall of Fame

 

By the end of the 3½ hours tour, my medication had run out and I was feeling so miserable and feverish that I was counting the minutes until we got back to the hotel. When we did, I grabbed a quick lunch with the girls, then asked for the bill and retreated to my room, where I proceeded to sleep for almost six hours straight. By then, it was 8 p.m. so needless to say, no shopping for me that day! The girls had just come back from their shopping expedition when I woke up, so we ordered room service while watching Miss America and looking at each other's swap cards. Then, we went back to the room and I slept like a log from midnight until 11 a.m. the next day. My flight was leaving late that day, so I packed my bags and left them at the front desk, had lunch and then wandered around the resort taking pictures of the place. At 2 p.m., I ran into some sidelines from Newfoundland (Paula and Kristen) who were on the same flight as I was so we hung out together at the airport and chatted. Well, I tried to, at least, because by then, my voice had completely left the building. And better yet, it took a whole week before it came back to almost normal. Very annoying! But I got back home safely and on time on Sunday and spent the next day sleeping since I was still feeling sick. I'm tellin' ya, that cowboy flu I caught in Nashville hit me like a ton of bricks!

 

Saved the best for last: next year's destination for Leadership has been announced... It'll be held in sunny San Antonio, Texas!! I'm already excited and looking forward to it!