OnStage excitement!!

I know that I haven't posted in the last week but that's because I was gearing up for and attending Stampin' Up's 30th Anniversary celebration in Orlando, FL!! So this is going to be a long post so that I can really show you at least some of what we got to experience down there.

Wow, what a whirlwind of a weekend! We got to try out lots of new products (and bring some home!!), learn about some exciting new things coming and spend lots of time sharing and swapping cards and other projects. So, are you ready to hear all about it??!! Here we go...

I arrived in Orlando Wednesday afternoon and checked in at the convention center. They gave me a beautiful box filled to the brim with goodies!

Thursday morning they opened up the meeting space and we really saw how many people were there. It was amazing!! Over 6,000 demonstrators from all around the world! It was so encouraging to see that there were so many other people who loved this hobby and these products as much as I do.

First some big news. We learned that Stampin' Up®️ has developed a new type of rubber stamp called Cling Mount that will be completely replacing all Wood Mount and Clear Mount stamps in the next catalog. They will still offer some stamps in Photopolymer as well. These new stamps will be similar to our current Clear Mount stamps, but they have redesigned the labels so that they are the part that is sticky and OH BOY is it sticky!!! No more worries about the stamps falling off of the clear blocks. We got to try out these new stamps and they worked BEAUTIFULLY! You are going to just love them!

Then we all got our first look at the upcoming Occasions catalog and Sale-A-Bration catalog. I'm not allowed to show you the inside, but here's a sneak peek at the beautiful cover! Don't worry, I will share some sneak peeks of samples made with the new products over the next few weeks.

After lunch we had a chance to try out some make and takes using several of the new product suites. Then we had some time to check out the display boards, swap cards with other demonstrators and take pictures at their photobooth spots. We were lucky enough to get a picture with Sara Douglass, the CEO of Stampin' Up®️. She was very friendly and encouraging.

Then we went back in and saw lots more stamping. We got to see more new stamp sets in action and learn about the new #simplestamping campaign they are starting to encourage more people to give stamping a try. We also got a fabulous all-attendee gift of a tool pouch to keep all of our blocks, snips, markers and such handy and contained when we are stamping on the go. Oh and of course there was Prize Patrol!! I won this cute stamp set of birthday sentiments!

After the meetings I showed a few other demonstrators around Universal's Citywalk. After all, when you travel with a travel agent who specializes in family destinations you expect some insider tips, right? :) We hit up all the highlights. We took pictures with the Universal Globe, browsed all the amazing offerings at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen, looked for souvenirs at the Universal store, had bento boxes at Cowfish for dinner and got Voodoo donuts to take back for breakfast. It was a wonderful first day and there was lots more to come. I'll share more about the rest of the convention in my next post so stay tuned and be sure to tune in to my FB page Pixie Pirate Stamps on Wednesday night at 8:30pm EST for a first look at how the new Cling Mount stamps work. You are going to love them! I promise.

A steam punk chocolate factory and restaurant? Sure, why not?!

They make such amazing confections at this place. The designs are just wonderful.

Macarons in every imaginable flavor and lots I had never imagined) peanut butter and jelly macaron anyone?

Spiked milkshakes (and wine) at Cowfish.

Bento box at Cowfish. They said this was a good meal if you weren't too hungry. Umm, it was huge!

The original Voodoo doughnut!

October's Paper Pumpkin - Friends of a Feather

It's that time again! Paper Pumpkin time! I love when my lovely little orange box arrives and I know that I will have a little project waiting for me that I don't have to think about. As much as I enjoy designing cards and other projects there is still something so nice about just spending an hour or so working on something that is all-inclusive and has an instruction sheet so that I can just enjoy the craft without doing too much THINKING. It's even better when I know that the project will be something adorable and Paper Pumpkin never disappoints!

I opened up the box and spread out all of the goodies on my table. Here's what this month's kit included: a Night of Navy ink spot, 4 pre-printed small cards with detailed laser-cut designs on the fronts, 4 crumb cake cards with a pre-cut border along the edge, 8 envelopes with beautiful floral designs on the insides, a stamp set with a feather theme, metallic twine AND shimmery ribbon, sequins, absolutely TONS of die cut leaves and feathers in all several colors, tags and white banners for stamping sentiments. Plus glue dots and dimensionals, of course. Whew! There was a lot to punch out but it was worth the effort with all of those feathers and leafy strips!

They pack so much into such a small box!

Picture from above so that you could see a bit better.

I started by stamping my sentiments. They included two different ones for each sized tag. My favorite of the bunch was "May hope make you feel lighter". I'm always looking for great sentiments for a card for friends going through a tough time and I think that one will be really useful.

For the larger sized cards the next step is to just adhere the feathers in a pattern that you like with the glue dots. They had several colors and sizes of feathers and leaves so you can easily use lots of different combinations. I followed the design on the instructions for the first one because I always like to start off with their way and see how it turns out and then make some adjustments from there.

Next I just layered the sentiment with the floral background on top of the Night of Navy ovals and attached that to the card on top of the feathers. Then you can add a bow with the twine and some sequins wherever you feel like it needs a bit of sparkle!

Doesn't it look great with the envelope? I wish I had a whole pack of paper with that envelope liner's design! 😍

I loved the look of this card! On to the next design though... These cards have a design similar to our Delightfully Detailed laser cut cards and they fold out like this so that you can have the laser cut part showing the purple underneath when the card is closed, but when you open it you have plenty of space for writing.

What it looks like open...

and what it looks like closed.

You just fold the ribbon in half and attach it with the glue dots to the card and then put the Cajun Craze label on top (decorated with more little leaves and sequins of course!).

 Here's what that card looked like with the coordinating envelopes.

I think that these cards are just beautiful and it's nice to have something with fall colors, but a little bit different from the usual leaves and pumpkins. I know that I'm going to love sending out these cards, but do you know what the best part about this kit was?

Just look at all of these leftover pieces!!!

ALL of this was leftover even after I finished making the 8 cards included in the kit!!! There is enough here to easily make lots more cards. I can't wait to start playing around with these. I'll come back and post some of my alternate cards soon.

In the meantime, don't forget that YOU can sign up for one of these fabulous kits for only $19.95 (including s/h) a month. When you subscribe your first box will include a clear block to mount your stamps each month so hang on to that for future projects! If you sign up before November 10th you will get a great holiday themed box next month to help you with your Christmas preparations. Remember that there is never a long term commitment. You can always put your box on hold for a month or cancel at any time. These boxes are a great way to start building up some ink colors and stamp sets and embellishments! Just Click Here to sign up and start crafting!