As you may know, I attended Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership Conference in sunny Orlando this past weekend. What an incredible experience! I’ve got stories to tell, pictures to share and new products/concepts to tell you about. Grab your coffee and get comfortable because I am going to chat your ears off. [Since you are reading this, I guess I should say “I am going to write your eyes off” but that sounds so much more painful!]. Here we go!
What is Stampin’ Up! Leadership? Every year, Stampin’ Up! hosts a wonderful conference for its North American demonstrators (U.S. and Canada). The Conference focuses on the business side of things. From what I understood, there would be some light crafting and a lot of productive business sessions – marketing your business, planning your workshops, reaching new customers. That’s exactly what I got … AND MORE! I am blown away by my experience – I won’t ruin your morning by jabbering on about all the business stuff. I am going to share some of the fun stuff, including some wonderful announcements by Stampin’ Up!
I Had Fun with Friends. You may know that I am a member of Mary Fish’s Stampin’ Pretty Pals group. It’s a large group of amazing demonstrators from all over the country, and many of us were there to learn and grow. Here’s a small group of us, hanging out in the conference center, waiting for the doors to open. You can see my head popping out above the others – you know how people carry crazy umbrellas or shiny things on a funky pole when gathering with a small crowd in a large crowd? I was the funky pole for the weekend – our group was always easy to find.
And here are a few of generations of great stampers. I’m on the left, followed by my upline Pam Morris (you’ve read about her and seen her amazing projects on my blog), her upline Mary Fish (of course you know her) and one of my great downlines Chris Martel.
Our group had a great time. We sat together during general sessions. We attended training classes with one another. We ate amazing food together. We laughed a lot.
Crazy! I Have Fans. I am still in shock over the number of people who approached me at Leadership to say they read my silly blog. For real?! Some stumbled into me, and others sought me out. I am so grateful to have reached so many wonderful and talented people. It means the world to me to be recognized and thanked. Crazy to me, but wonderful. 🙂
I Won Lots of Free Stuff. To keep the general sessions alive, Stampin’ Up! offered attendees lots of free products. We were there to talk business, but I will never turn down free stuff – even if it’s filled with glitter. 🙂 Most giveaways were delivered to randomly selected groups (identified by shapes and colors on our badges), but some were for everyone. In honor of Stampin’ Up!’s 25th anniversary, they even gave away 25 passes to the Annual Conference. Here’s a photo of Pam and me (perhaps my favorite photo of the weekend…or of all time), as we tried to be happy for all the winners while she and I were not winning:
Don’t we look so gracious? But then things turned around, and we started getting stuff. Here are a few pictures of me playing excited for the camera when I won stuff, followed by a list of the things I now own – thanks to Stampin’ Up!:
I walked away from these sessions with the following things that I will love and cherish forever (or until they are used in beautiful projects for you):
- Silver Glimmer Paper
- Parker’s Patterns Designer Series Paper
- Just Thinking Stamp
- Oh, Hello Stamp Set
- Silver Designer Buttons
- Tea Time Trinkets
- Designer Builder Brads
- The Paper Pumpkin Starter Kit (see below)
- The Paper Pumpkin Monthly Kit (see below)
- Dude, You’re Welcome
- Sketched Birthday Stamp Set (from Upcoming 2013-2014 Catalog)
Stampin’ Up!’s New Promotions. We were introduced to some really great new products and programs that are really, really great! Here are two of them THAT ROLL OUT STARTING TODAY:
The Paper Pumpkin. The Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription program that Stampin’ Up! will be rolling out in March. It’s awesome! We received two kits. The kits will include everything you need to complete a specific project (except scissors and adhesive) – stamps, papers, stickers, ribbon. For as long as you subscribe, you receive your kit monthly. The kits are will give you a quick and fun project each month. To learn more or to subscribe, go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com. You’ll have to fill out your mailing information and credit card information (separate process from your other Stampin’ Up! orders) If you are my customer, be sure to select me when you sign up. Please send me an email to let me know that you’ve signed up (I’m not sure I’ll, otherwise, know). I’ll be sharing my Paper Pumpkin kits with you later this week.
Dude, You’re Welcome. So, you aren’t able to get the man in your life to make you a birthday or Valentine’s Day card? Stampin’ Up! has made that easy on him with this new kit available starting today. Take a look at this promotional video:
Wouldn’t it be awesome if one of Stampin’ Up!’s male demos sold a whole bunch of these kits? It feels right to me. 🙂 I’ll be sharing some projects with this kit tomorrow – I was one of only a handful of demonstrators who walked away with this kit, so I’m fortunate to play with it before anyone can order it. Questions? Please let me know!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Added Bonus. During my flight to Orlando, my suitcase was damaged – thank you, baggage handling. The zipper was completely busted. Just thought you’d like to see it on my flight back to Atlanta:
I always look forward to reading your blog in my tea break at work! (today I have home made Broccoli & Stilton soup btw).
Love the pics 🙂
Love, love, love meeting so many new demonstrators (you being one of them when you saved my life as I tripped over my own feet with excitement) from all over the country and then some! So now I’m one of your fans as well! Happy Stampin’ Brian and looking forward to seeing more of your creations and hearing about those adventures. You are terrific!
Brian,
Just love reading your blog, you put a smile on my face every time!! I was glad we ran into each other in the elevator on Sunday morning. I am looking forward to your venture with Ann, can’t wait to see the cards.
Welcome Home! What a great time you and your group had! Thanks for sharing the love!
I was one of the people who approached you. I love your blog! I learn a lot from it and I like the masculine take you give. Don’t ver stop blogging, please.
Great post!
Welcome back home, Brian. What a great time you had, but how can you not, when you are in such amazing company. Love all those pictures, specially the one where you are jumping for joy after receiving your silver glimmer paper. This picture is worth a million words.
Your suitcase looks hilarious, seeing it reminded me of a Samsonite comercial back in the late 70s or early 80s, (you were probably a little kid way back then) were they gave a suitcase ot a big gorilla in a cage and he was throwing it around and jumping on it just to demonstrate how durable they were. Yours looks like it went to hell and back, my dear. I hope non of your SU goodies or your personal items got damaged.
Thank you for sharing all of those fun photos…. This was like watching the morning after Golden Globe Awards . I am excited to hear more and see more from your trip . I have to tell you I would have loved to have been a stow away (just for Harry Potter World alone ) . Probably would have not been too cool seeing how your suitcase was damaged (so sorry) I saw Mary`s pictures this morning also. We all love seeing what you did, what you ate, who you met… oh, and btw am I the only one that is rude enough to ask what you and Ann have been up to lately? just asking????
Glad you had a blast! Love the photo of you and your famous upline Pam Morris. It’s classic. I’ve always felt that way when my name wasn’t drawn for a prize but never expressed it. 🙂 Hope your suitcase made it home in one piece. Sounds like you better start shopping for one before convention!
Hey Brian
I didn’t meet you at leadership, but I did see you there! I found your blog…and subscribed! Looking forward to seeing it in my inbox!
Awesome pictures Brian…..Just wish you could look a tiny bit happier when you win a prize. LOVE the collections of goodies you went home with……HOW FUN! But on the other hand….Your Suitcase…..what a mess. You have to love love love that they taped it up for you. Glad you had a fabulous time at leadership and I’ll be seeing you at convention this year!
It was nice meeting you Brian. Love your blog. Love it!
I’ve been fortunate to ‘stumble’ into you on the Internet and I’m so glad that I did. I thoroughly enjoy your style, your enthusiasm, your talent, and the inspiration I receive from you with my morning coffee. I especially love your sense of humor!
I’m so glad you had a fabulous time at Leadership! Your suitcase on the other hand did not!
Dude! Thanks so much for sharing your great adventure!
Boy, those photos sure do reveal how much fun you all were having. Stampin’ Up seems to treat it’s family of demonstrators right. So much fun, so much to learn, so little time! Glad you got to go Brian, I’m sure it was a fantastic experience. AND, thanks for sharing it with us.
Yay! Looks like you had a great time. Exciting that you won that glitter paper…I mean, you love glitter so much. Right?
What a fun post. These pictures really capture the excitement of the event and you make it so much better with your antics! Can’t wait till Convention!!!
Leadership was great and for me, one of the top reasons was meeting you Brian! Ans, watching your face when you won silver “glimmer” paper – all that glitter in one place! Hugs to you My Friend!
Tingeofgingertingeofgingertingeofginger.com
Brian, I saw you many times in Orlando (who could miss you, you stand head and shoulders above the rest), but circumstances always prevented me from being able, in person, to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog and love your sense of humour! Hopefully, I will get the chance at Convention.
I am somewhat new to Stampin Up and appreciate your explanation of what Leadership Conference is.
Brian you always make me smile-thanks for sharing the pictures–& glad you had such a great time!
you never cease to make me laugh. I cannot thank you enough for that. So excited about the new kits. Reading this makes me look very forward to Convention!
OMG! Best Post of the day!! LOVE your enthusiasm! Welcome Back!
So sorry you did not enjoy yourself at Leadership – along with the rest of the ladies and gents in the group….you are such a Hoot! How nice that you were the team’s Totem Pole…the most handsome and best one any group could have!!! OMG about your suit case…did you loose anything!??! That was a real topper to your fab trip…so sorry!
It was so awesome to meet you at Leadership! – Your swatch books were waiting for me when I got home – absolutely love them…thanks so much for taking the time putting them together!!
Welcome back from Florida and I can see you had an amazing time! Great photos, TFS! Love your Paper Players card, too. Great CAS use of the colors.
Welcome Back Brian or should we call you legs (yep,I saw the jammie shot that was so cute). You all looked like you were having so much fun! Can’t wait to see what all you create with all that loot. So sorry about your luggage though! That was pitiful, but at least it did make it back with you!
What a hoot! Even though your baggage was damaged your memories will last forever. All the goodies, food and spending time with friends, boy I am jealous. Good times. Welcome back home.
Oops, can’t forget to mention your promotion to Senior Supervisor. CONGRATULATIONS!
Of course you have fans, Brian! I have to send you the photos from Convention…please remind me. I took some fun shots of you (well, “flat Brian”) with Ann and Ginger. They are totally blog-worthy! Looks like a fun time! 🙂
Hi Brian! I am also one of those who sought you out, so glad you are tall! It was a pleasure to meet you! What a great time we all had!
It was so great to meet you at Leadership Brian!! I didn’t realize you had a blog, so I am adding you to my Google Reader (sorry, I know that messes up the blog stats, and it also means I rarely leave comments :S) I see your suitcase did NOT survive the return trip, much as you had anticipated – at least they taped it up! Did all your freebies make it home with you?
I look very much forward to Convention when we will meet again!! And swap!! 🙂
You are hilarious! I always enjoy when I come to visit. Your personality comes through and you are so charming.
Have a great day!