Make n Takes

Hi

It is always fun to get to be an attendee at an event, or to attend a team meeting!  My direct recruiter (upline in SU terms) quit a couple of months after I joined.  For a few years in the beginning my 2nd upline lived in Gilbert and I was able to attend her team meetings.  My third upline was her sister-in-law and she lives in New Jersey.  So for a few years that was a great source of friendship and very educational way to learn about SU products, policies and opportunities!
I am the team leader for my INKin' All Night! demonstrator team.  So I am always the one preparing the events and meetings - which I enjoy doing so don't get me wrong, but it sure is refreshing to be able to show up and not do all the work!  I did do some work because I prepared a presentation and display, but still it was a break from my normal routine!

We had a mix of presentations and then had an awesome lunch and spent basically the rest of the day rotating around to complete several different make-n-take projects!

The projects feature new SALE-A-BRATION and OCCASIONS Catalog products!  Let me know if you don't already have a demonstrator that you do business with and I'd be happy to add you to my customer lists and help you with any SU! product needs.  Please send me a message with a full mailing address and your phone & email info - if catalogs are needed please let me know which ones and I'll get them in the mail to you!

Thanks, Happy Stamping!

Rhonda

Hello from WeStamp January Regional

Hello there!

Well today I was a guest presenter at my dear friend Lorri's team meeting that she does quarterly.  It was so fun, she even let me bring a few of my team that were available to go, so we made a fun day of it!

Here's sweet Lorri, welcoming all of us to the day and sharing the agenda!

Look at all of these cute little fun items waiting for us at our table spot!  The theme for her January event was "picnic".  I think she nailed it!  From the tables, the food and the little details too!

And guess who was the first presenter of the morning!  Yup that was a quick few minutes to be ready!!  But I love her and for this presentation I challenged myself to use a product that I normally don't gravitate towards.  So my presentation focus was the Memories & More Cards and I featured the Petal Passion Card pack.

It was so well received what you could do with one card pack and a few colors and repeating the same embellishments!  I am hosting a class in my studio and I'll post the details for that tomorrow!  Actually I had to postpone the class because the M&M Card Pack was temporarily on back order!

And we could participate in an organized swap and she had about 22, so we split into two groups of 11.  And your 12th card goes up on a Swap Display board and she has them vote for Favorite Swap and has a special door prize for the winner!

And the winner was our very own Cindy Sheldon!  She made this card pack for each one of her swaps!  Holy Cow!  Lucky me, I was in the same swap group!

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more fun pics!  One of her team runs a photo booth machine type of set up so we had fun taking a few pics!  And I'll share the make n takes we made as well, so come back for more!

Rhonda

Petal Passion Swaps

Hi!

Sat down today to make some swaps for a friends downline team meeting and training event tomorrow!  I'm a guest presenter for her, so I get to swap with her team gals too!

Ever since my Event Council pals presented this product suite at On Stage back in November I have been wanting this suite and to have some time to play with it!

Here they are, all done and ready to bag up to swap!

Here's the swap card - featuring the Petal Passion DSP which is all Black and White and a variety of patterns!  Stamped Petal Passion floral image and cut out with the coordinating Petals & More Thinlits.  I colored with the new Stampin Blends and of course added some Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to it!

And a close up but it's still hard to see how shimmery they were in person!

Thanks Lorri for having me as a presenter and including me in your team activities!  Stay tuned to see what I presented and my display items!

Rhonda

INKstravaganza, Swaps Part 4

Hi!

Hope you are all doing well and having a great week!  Today brings you two more swap cards that were shared!  I hope you are enjoying seeing what fun we had that day!  I just love my team, they inspire me each and every day - you never know who on which day or what may fuel me, but they do and they probably don't even know it!

Simple and Cute, by Cindy S
lots of layers and texture, simple crisp stamping

Great Christmas Card, by Sheri S2

Watching them enjoy my INKstravaganza days does bring me joy!  It does a heart good to know that you've made someone else feel good and special.  And giving is always a greater feeling than receiving.  Don't get me wrong, I think everyone loves to get a little bit now and then, I mean who doesn't love being spoiled right?  But when you think about what lasts longer, for me at least, giving always trumps receiving.

Anyhow, I have loved the time spent reminiscing about this fun day and seeing it play out not only through pictures but in my mind!  So proud of those team members that earned it for the 1st time, way to go girls!!  And to my consistent achievers, I am equally as proud of you for what you do every day, every month and every quarter to be consistently giving of yourself to your business too!  I wish success to all of my team members, in whatever your personal goals may be!  Just be happy, just keep stamping!!

with love, hugs
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Swaps Part 3

Hello,

Welcome back and today I have a couple more cards to share with you from our swaps!  I put these two together because they are sweet and dear gals, and I was SO HAPPY that Kristen decided to participate in our swap long distance that I am sharing her card today with her stampin momma Diana's card.

Here we go!

this beautiful card is from Kristen
I love this adorable sweet little winter scene in our DSP
topped off with some background stamping and glitter to bring it to life

this wonderful creation is by Diana (and Sara Douglass)
Di received this swap at Founders Circle from Sara (Interim CEO
and Shelli's daughter) and loved it so much to share it with us

So there you have it and there's 2 more for tomorrow, so stop by again!

Hugs
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Swaps Part 2

Hi!
Today will be quick, just a reminder that we have our ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA sale going on this week, Nov 23-30 -- with Flash Sale #2 on the final day for a few more great steals!  You can find the details in my prior post here.  Thanks for shopping with me if you don't already have a demonstrator that you currently work with, I appreciate your business and the chance to serve you.

So on with the SWAPS, that's what you're really here for, right!

Okay so today will feature one of my favorite little sets in the Holiday Mini, did you guess it?  SNOW PLACE and the coordinating SNOW FRIENDS framelits!

The festive little guy is from Stacey B (and her lil helper Jacob!)
LOVE all the pieces in the set and the Real Red Pom Pom trim ear muffs!

this was my swap card, love love love snowmen!  my favorite!

My card was inspired by Amy S and this adorable lovely project I found online or via Pinterest - too cute not to show you!  I just took her layout and idea and made my own version of it using Stampin' Up! products and made it into a card vs a gift sack!  And look how stinking cute it would be on our white polka dot glassine bags!  I do love her version too, so it's your BONUS idea for today!

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Swaps Part 1

Hi there!!

Well we are nearing the close of this fun wonderful event.  I so enjoy hosting for them, I will have to put my thinking cap on to see how the new Career & Compensation Plan changes my team recognition event!

There's one thing you can always count on when we gather, a swap is a must!  There were 10 achievers and even the long distance can send in swaps if they want to participate and this time Kristen I from my home state of MI did!!  It's always optional but I hope they feel kind of special that it's only open to them on this special day.

Here we go, as Diana would tell me, space them out!  I'm like the WORST at sharing 1 a day ... so here goes, a couple or a few but not all of them!  (love ya Di!)

In the spirit of it being FALL and THANKSGIVING and all ... we will start with those!!

This adorable acorn card by Lori B
I love how it all ties together, definitely THANKFUL for my team!

lovely swap from Jan J - it's one of my favorites, so much texture
and color and i love the leaves laying over the front flap of the card

Stay tuned, check back and see ya tomorrow!
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Make n Takes!

Hi
Well I am not sure what happened (I'm thinking I hit save and not publish) but here are the cards that the girls got to make that day.  They each received the WILD ABOUT FLOWERS stamp set to use and keep as a gift from me.  I always try to search for a few favorites and trying to pick a set that's versatile and hoping they don't already all own!!  Anyhow here are the projects that I prepared, a few inspired by others and tweaked a bit and even some of my own inspiration!

I hope you enjoy this fun little stamp set!

layout inspired by Sarah Sagert

Rhonda's personal creation!

combined a couple of ideas from Pinterest,
one by Debra Burgin, the other artist unknown

layout inspired by Pinterest but I turned it on its side,
artist unknown

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll be sharing the swap cards from INKstravaganza tomorrow and the next day and that'll bring this event to a close!  Truly hope you have enjoyed the tour!

Happy Stamping!
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Rd#3, Play Time!

Hi and thanks for coming back!

I hope you are enjoying the tour of my latest INKstravaganza Downline Recognition event held in October.  Giving you a glimpse of what I have been up to but hadn't blogged about ... now playing catch up to fill y'all in.  When they arrive I do a short little 'blurb' of recognition, congratulating each of them on what they did to earn the day, present them with Fresh Flowers that sit at their table space while stamping and visiting throughout the day.  Isn't it amazing how fresh flowers can really brighten up a room, and I want my studio classroom to feel different on recognition day vs any normal day.

Then we usually do our swap (and I'll share those another day) and head out to lunch at one of my local favorite little neighborhood spots, The Perfect Pear Bistro!  It's become a favorite and they look forward to it too!  So far, we have gone there all 3 times!

Here's the local gals enjoying lunch, my treat!

L to R:  Jan, Sheri, Lori, Jacque, me, Diana, Cindy and Stacey
wish that Diane, Kristen and Susan lived local too

 After lunch we head back to the studio and I put them to work!  Oh wait, I meand they get to stamp, this event they received a stamp set and made 4 cards featuring that set!  I pamper them by trying to fill their treat cups with snacks and mostly I think they love handing me their ribbon and say "can you tie my bow?" ... and I do it for them!  They get to know each other stamping and visiting and can browse the studio looking at my displays.

tried to get a group shot in action

someone was out of their seat in that last picture

Diana and Jacque

Lori and Jan

Cindy and Sheri (who didn't want her picture taken!)

and sweet Stacey who was seated next to me so she got a solo shot!

Stop by tomorrow and I'll share with you the 4 cards that they made!  And the day after, I'll share the swap cards!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs

Rhonda

INKstravaganza Round 3

Hello!

I thought I would take a few days this week to share with you the fun we had at my third INKstravaganza Event.  This is something I host for the members of my Stampin' Up! "INKin' All Night!" team that achieved certain things during a 6 month period of time, so twice a year we gather to share and celebrate their successes.

I treat them to a day in my studio classroom, all set up pretty with linens and fresh flowers and treat them to lots of pampering!  I want them to know how proud I am of them and to walk away feeling special!

Here's the entry area and set up for this round, celebrated Oct 18th, 2015.  I hope you enjoy!  During the week please come back by as I'll share the pics of the treats I prepared for them to take home and they also enjoyed a stamp set and some make-n-takes as we always stamp together too!

Here's my front entry porch as they arrive!

From the dining room looking into my studio classroom

Fresh Flowers on the studio tables,
they each took home 3 lovely sunflowers

Here's looking into the dining room area, set up with treats and take home goodies!
Usually I have a lot of displays set up, although some but fewer this time due to being sick

Fresh Flowers in the Treats and Take Home Goodies area to tie it all together!
And these beauties stayed in my house to enjoy all week! 

Just a peek at some of the treats out for them to snack on during the day
Lots of candies and my favorite PayDay snack & best home-made Caramel Corn
and .. pumpkin store bought cookies (atleast they were cute & yummy)

Thanks for coming by today, I appreciate it!  I know I have been not-so-good at being daily with my blogging but I am setting once again new goals to blog at least every other day, and daily if I can!  I have lots to share but sometimes honestly I will admit, I don't think anyone's out there reading it so I play the lazy card and don't get my rear in gear to upload and edit the photos and write a little something!  I will commit to trying again - so leave me a comment, let me know you're here and if you like something!

Have a great day!
Rhonda

Tax Day ProCRAFTination!

Hi there!

Is it your favorite day?  TAX Day in the USA...  Are you one that has been done and already received and spent your refund (I hope anyway) or are you like me and dragging your feet because it's just so easy to put off doing them?

Anyhow, spreading the LOVE some more this week to our amazing super stars in the Support Services departments ... thank you for all you do!

Hand stamped and swapped by one of my team members at our Feb Shoe Box Swap meeting!  Love the simplicity of this layout so much!  

Happy Tax Day ... and enjoy your Procrastination CRAFTing style!

Rhonda

Sweet Sweet Demo Support

Hi!
Have you ever worked with a group of people that can make or break your day?  Isn't it wonderful when you receive great customer service?  Isn't it great when you can make their day by saying Thank You?

At Stampin' Up! corporate offices we have a crew of people that work in our Customer Service & Demonstrator Services department and they are simply amazing!  They take our calls, listen, log and diligently try to make the best of every situation that they can to help us make it right.  It's not always easy and especially this year with the Blendabilities manufacturing issue & the West Coast dock strike which has caused a tremendous amount of product delays and shortages which result in back orders or worse, having to place certain products on a non-order status.  The call volume they are handling has certainly increased!

So to say thank you to them, I am sharing a couple of cards from my teams February Shoe Box swap meeting that I don't think I have shared on my blog yet.  THANK YOU to our amazing Support Service team members!!  #weloveDS  #stampinup

Thanks for stopping by today!

Rhonda

INKstravaganza Treats!

Hi!

Today I have for you a few of the TREATS that I made for the girls to enjoy!  Part of my day is all about pampering them and sending them home with little treats to remind them of my appreciation, it is such a fun little thing that I love to do!  To be honest, I think they enjoy it too!  I am such a crazy nut, I go to a candy store in a nearby town and try to buy candies that coordinate with my color theme and given it was April, not too much chocolate this time since you never know if it'll be a warm spring day.  Warning ... not much peach/coral/poppy colored candy out there!  But I managed to find some that I made work for the day!  All of it is out for them to nibble on and then I fill one of their take home treats with some for later!

Passion Fruit Iced Tea and Raspberry Lemonade

Little candies in our 1x8 cello bags cut in 1/2 and tied off with ribbons!
this idea was shared by Becky Roberts over at Inking Idaho!

Had to settle for store bought since my former downline that makes THE BEST
caramel corn was out of town!  It was YUMMY too, I snagged a nibble or two

 

Look at these adorable cookies I had made! I asked for Owls and sent her a piece of the DSP I was working with and she made them with my color theme!  This is her picture for her business page that she sent me of my order, so check her out on Facebook at The Cookie Loft Girls if you need some darling custom cookies!

This was a little "candy cracker" filled with hard candies, it was made with the envelope punch board and a fun little tip to punch the flower from the Vellum with a dot in the center - easy peasy!

The little coffee cups were filled with the round hard candies you saw earlier.  I used the FREE Pattern from Deb Valder and the cups are available through The Webstaurant Store (order cups & lids!).  Idea CASEd from Sharon C from Pinterest.  And the Vellum Striped little treat is the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlit Die, filled with Lindor Lindt Truffle chocolate candies.

Well congratulations if you made it this far!  It turned into a longer post than anticipated!

Come back for more!
Rhonda

INKstravaganza Swaps!

Hello again!

So glad that you are stopping by today since I'll be sharing LOTS of LOVE and INSPIRATION with you!  At my team meetings we have an organized swap every month, and this month's theme was using Occasions Mini Catalog products!  We are at the 1/2 way point in this catalog so it's a great time to get some fresh new samples to share with customers during April and May!

Quickly I am going to post the swaps from that day!  Please know if something looks familiar, then it might ve been CASEd from another awesome demonstrator sharing her art for inspiration!  However they came to be, these are the AWESOME cards that were shared and swapped at my INKstravaganza event!

swapped by Cindy

swapped by Lori

swapped by Val

swapped by Diana

swapped by Rhonda
(modified CASE from Kimberly Van Diepen)

swapped by Marjori

swapped by Kristen

Come on back tomorrow for more!
Happy Easter!
Rhonda