Pillow Gift #3 and #4 in Hawaii

Hello Friends
 

Quilted make-up bag

So Stampin' Up! is continuing to shower us with goodness!

Yesterday they gave us these gorgeous quilted make-up bags.


And today we got something ALL demonstrators love.....BRAND NEW PRODUCT!!  


I have been wanting to start up a scrapbook club, and a Project Life club, and this might just be my motivator.  SU! gave us a Project Life stamp set, the accessory pack, and the coordinating cards.  Can't wait to see all the cute pages I can create with these!  The "This is the Life" might just be featured in a Hawaiian scrapbook....

I also love the tags that have been coming with the gifts.  Cute little coconut embellishments on tags with words of wisdom. 




I didn't realize that in addition to hello and goodbye, aloha means love and affection.   Did you know that?
 

Day 3 tag

Day 4 tag

Stampin' Up! goes out of its way to make us feel special and boy oh boy do they ever do a good job!



Tomorrow morning they are going to allow us to help with a Service Project (packing hygiene kits and lunches to be brought to a Shelter) and let me tell you - I have looked forward to the Service Project ever since they let us help rebuild and clean-up the hospital in Fiji.  Let's face it, we are a very blessed group and the chance to make a difference in the world, even in a small way, is wonderful!!

I am going to see if I can get some pictures ready for you to see later today....my family went on a WONDERFUL catamaran and snorkel adventure today and we got to see and experience some things that totally blew our minds.  If I can get some of the pictures to load properly, I will share them with you too.

Until then, have a wonderful day and God Bless you all!   ~Cynthia   <><

Day 2 - The Pillow Gifts!!

Hello My Friends

Glad you came back!!

You know how Stampin' Up! is always treating us right...right?  Well sometimes they really nail it for us!

Take our pillow gift this evening as an example.....

My family had decided to go to Hanauma Bay to go snorkeling tomorrow, and we were bemoaning the fact that we do not have any sort of a bag to carry our "stuff" in.  No beach bag, no knapsack, no nothing.

In fact, all week while we've been going to the beach, we've brought nothing (except maybe one towel) with us since we've got nowhere to put anything.  And the wind is just a little too brisk to leave anything just sitting exposed on the shore.

Beach Bag and matching, over-sized wallet!!

Well SU! must have known exactly what we needed since tonight this was the gift that they left on our pillow....a marvelous (and sizeable) burlap beach bag!

My kids are happy.  And I am ecstatic!  Not only 'just the thing' to carry all our miscellaneous stuff from now on, but also a gorgeous piece to match the burlap over-sized wallet they sent me with all my travel documents in it.  

And SU! attends to all the little details.  The cute tag on the bag has a lovely little coconut carving on it, along with an invitation to try surfing.  

Pretty nifty since my husband and kids already tried their hand at surfing on Monday morning.  And LOVED IT by the way  (different story, different time, but all 5 of them successfully got up and a few of them had good, long, solid runs!).

At any rate, our Hawaiian adventure continues and thanks to Stampin' Up! we are now completely ready for tomorrow's snorkeling excitement!

Check back later tomorrow night for an update on how that went!  
Until then, have a fantastic day.
And God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia  <><

Day One - Stampin' Up! in Hawaii

Hello My Friends

Well, Stampin' Up! arrived today - in style of course!!  Despite 3 already-wonderful days here at the Sheraton Waikiki, the level of elegance went up today as Stampin' Up! arrived and started treating us like royalty!

We got back to our hotel room to find that a new Aloha-Stampin' Up! plaque had been added to welcome us back to our room each night.

And no Stampin' Up! trip is ever complete without pillow gifts.  We enter our room each evening to find they have blessed us in some way with a gift and tonight might have just been the crowning pillow gift of all (and it's only day 1...).  Scott and I each got an eyeglass case and eyeglass pouch and a voucher to go and pick a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses!!  Scott already picked his.  I'm getting mine tomorrow.  Can you say "totally blessed"??

Early morning tomorrow as Stampin' Up! takes us for a private tour of the Polynesian Cultural Centre.  Gotta sleep now so I can pay attention in the morning.

More news tomorrow about our Hawaiian adventure.  Until then, God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia  <><

Day 3 Founders - the Adventure Continues.....

Hello Friends,               

Day 3 of the Founders Circle Retreat began just a little too early for my liking but at least we got to drive through some very gorgeous landscaping indeed

Early Morning Drive

Gorgeous Landscape

and I got to sit beside Frenchie (France) Martin 

Myself and Frenchie!

and share some laughs and get some terrific business advice form her.  And before you know it, we arrived at our destination:  Kanab!  

Employees Outside to Welcome Us to Kanab

 
The Kanab facility is the place where the stamps, paper and inks are actually made and assembled and every year this is a highlight of the Founders Circle Retreat.  Besides being just plain old cool to be at Kanab, the employees all come outside to welcome us and make us feel like a million dollars.  This year we brought some of our own signs and treats to say thank you to them.  Now *THAT* was cool!

Ink Pad Assembly

Cardstock Trimming

Cardstock processing

Photopolymer Being Poured

Photopolymer Hanging, Waiting for Quality Control.

We had a chance to witness ink pads being put together, Cardstock being cut to size, Rubber stamps being formed, assembled and trimmed and the most exciting bit of all....we got to see photopolymer being poured and processed to give us the gorgeous stamps we have come to know and love!

Another highlight while at the Kanab facility - getting my photo taken at "the Rock". 

The "Rock" at Kanab (with Cherokee in the background)

That's Cherokee standing behind the Rock.  Cherokee promised to stand there and politely smile for the pictures!   :)

Cooling My Feet in the Rubber Playground!

After a full morning at the Kanab facility, we spent a bit of time at the Kanab Park ...... that's where cast-off trimmed rubber pieces get a second life, acting as playground materials at the park.  

When it is hot outside and you bury your feet deep into sand or in this case, rubber, you'd be amazed how cool the temperature below can feel.


Back to the hotel so we could prepare for an evening session at the outdoor theatre, Tuacahn Amphitheatre.  

Tuacahn - where Theatre comes alive!

Tuacahn at Night

We saw the Wizard of Oz and it was positively brilliant.  

The acoustics were marvelous and the play was absolutely terrific.  What a wonderful way to end our 3rd day at Founders Circle.
But is that all?   No........

Of course - first I have to show you the Pillow Gift!

All of the pillow gifts have been obviously chosen to fit right in with our Retreat theme of "Home for the Holidays" this year.  How delightful then to come back to our rooms after our Tuacahn experience and find this ever-so-cute Christmas-themed throw pillow sitting waiting on the bed.

I can just imagine it now....my kids will fight over who gets to use the pillow at any given time.

Oh well - for now maybe *I* will use the pillow.  Some sleep will be good too since tomorrow is building up to be a full day - just like today.

I hope you are looking forward to a wonderful weekend and that wherever you are, you are surrounded by people who love and appreciate all you are to them.

God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Day 2 Founders - the Swap

Hello my Dear Friends

Note added October 17:  The video to make this swap card can be found HERE:  

As most of you know, one of the most exciting things about Founders is getting to swap cards with the highest achievers in the company.  And although it might take a loooong time to create my card in 113 copies, nothing in the world beats getting that many in retrun when you swap on Thursday night.

Well, I've got to tell you, I spent a fair chunk of time on Thursday putting the front of my swaps onto the card base, then packaging these in little cellophane bags so they could withstand the trip home in 113 different suitcases.  And let me tell you, I was NOT alone!  It was amazing how many people cam with unfinished swaps this year and had to assemble in the gathering space!

My Founders Circle Swap - 2014

At any rate, fellow Canadians and all-round special ladies Gail Lowe and Eldonna Epp spent hours helping me with these 2 tasks until finally, I ended up with a stack of gorgeous cards!  Without the help of these 2 ladies, I would NEVER have gotten done in time!  

Gail Lowe (Left) and Eldonna Epp (Right).  My life-savers!!

And let me tell you, I was THRILLED Thursday night when we swapped with each other and there was a LOT of excitement about my card.  I have already given permission to countless ladies to reproduce my card at parties, workshops and on their blogs.  

Note.  VIDEO to make this card can be found HERE.

Swapping is a LOT of fun.  Somewhat chaotic, yes - but fun nonetheless.  

And after we swapped, Stampin' Up! provided us with milk and cookies as we shared stories and ideas, tips and tricks for running our businesses.

Milk and Cookies for All

Milk and Cookies after the hard work of swapping!

Swapping in our Pjs

More Swaping in our Pjs

And then when we got back to our rooms, we were greeted once again with a pillow gift.  This time, our pillow gift was a classic children's Christmas story, signed by none other than Shelli herself!

Pillow Gift #2 Wrapped in Classic Christmas cloth

Pillow Gift #2 - a Classic

It was a good day.  A VERY good day.  And the trip is only half done!  Tomorrow we get to re-live one of the Founder's Circle highlights - the yearly visit to Kanab where the manufacturing facility is.

Add caption

But I guess I better leave something for tomorrow.  So for tonight I will leave you with just a sneak peak of all my lovely swap cards!

My Fantastic Founders Swap cards - 2014

And wish to you a wonderful evening and a fantastic weekend!   

God Bless,
~Cynthia   <><

Day 1 Founder's Circle - And So It Begins.....

Ok my dear friends....

Close up of Swap card

Arrived Wednesday in St. George, Utah for 5 days of unadulterated pampering and being spoiled.  Stampin' Up! definitely does it right when they lavish love and attention on us!

The theme for the Founder's Circle Retreat this year is called "Home For the Holidays" and since I am a Christmas junkie, I was excited like you wouldn't believe!  My swap card (the one I hinted at in my last post) was created with this theme in mind.  The close-up I showed you reminds me of wonderfully gingerbread-y type cookies.  It is, of course, merely cardstock that has been sponged, then coated with Irridescent Ice embossing powder.  As you can see from the next shot, it really is just cardstock.

More of my Founders Swap Card

At any rate - after a long day of travel we arrived at the hotel.  This hotel is completely taken over by us for the next 5 days and is transformed into a holiday lodge for our Retreat.

Right from the time we arrived, we were brought into the Holiday atmosphere (despite the 35 degree weather) with all the beautiful decor and attention to detail.

Each of our room dorrs were decorated with a lovely vintage wall-hanging that has the 12 Days of Christmas depicted on it.

And after *everyone* had arrived.....we built gingerbread houses together as an Ice-Breaker mixer event.  We were each presented with a "Participation prize" and it turned out to be a fabulous set of little gift bags and a Tag-A-Bag kit to turn them into cute little presents..  Then of course, it was time for a beautiful and elegant meal together.

We were given a wonderful "holiday-themed" meal of Ham and potatoes with a rich and delicious spiced bread pudding to eat for dessert.

And then....
And then...
And then.....

Wrapped Up Pillow Gift #1

One of the most exciting things about any Stampin' Up! trip -- the Pillow Gifts!

Look at the cute linen this gift is wrapped in!

There is nothing so exciting (for a demonstrator at least) as getting new product.  Wonderful new toys to play with and create with.  And when I returned to my room that first evening, this is what I found propped up on my pillow......

This wrapping just keeps getting cuter!

 It was so pretty I didn't even want to unwrap it!  And I have to show you the gorgeous piece of material it was wrapped up in!  How cute is that!!??

And inside all of this..a FANTASTIC photopolymer stamp set with 33 stamps (!!!!) and a set of framelits - ALL from the upcoming Occasions Catalogue.

Stamp set and framelits as a gift - woo hoo!

I have to tell you, if this is any indication of the products that will be in the Spring catalogue, I am very, very excited indeed.

Alas, all good things must come to an end and I actually *DID* go to sleep on evening #1, despite my level of excitement!

What's more, I got over 9 hours of sleep!  THAT never happens!

Well rested and ready to begin day #2.  That's how I felt.  Tune in later for the day 2 update.  

For now, I wish you all a wonderful day and a great weekend coming up.  
God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

World Card-Making Day Event

Hey there friends

What a WONDERFUL weekend so far!!

Friday from 5 pm -midnight, and Saturday from 9-5, I was joined by a number of my friends for a World Card-Making Day event.  I ended my weekend pretty tired...but with a smile from ear-to-ear.  It just doesn't get any better than to spend time getting inky with great friends.  (Some of Yola's delicious gourmet cupcakes didn't hurt either!!)

At any rate, although my friends did not sleep over at the church hall where the event was held, I did make and give them "pillow gifts" so they would, hopefully, recognize and realize how much I appreciate them!  What do you think of these little angel ornaments I made for them?  Pretty cute huh?

If I get a chance this week, I'll let you know exactly how these little beauties were made.   Until then, I do hope you all enjoyed a spectacular weekend!  And I hope your World Card-Making Day this year was grand.  Mark it on your calendars now - Friday and Saturday, Oct 3 and 4, 2014.  World Card-Making Event number 2!

And don't forget about my birthday week special offer.   You have until midnight tonight to submit an order with me (>$60) and I will pay the shipping and handling.  That's right - my birthday gift to you is FREE SHIPPING on qualifying orders.  But hurry.  My birthday week is over today so contact me now!


Enjoy your Monday.  Have a super week and God Bless,
~Cynthia   <><

San Diego Getaway Pillow Gifts

No Stampin' Up! trip would be complete without the ever-present pillow gifts.  And let me tell you -- NOTHING is as exciting as coming back to your room each night to find a little something extra waiting for you.

Interesting Box

Gorgeous Pitcher

The first night we arrived at our room to find a large and interesting-looking box...and inside we found this gorgeous hand-crafted Mexican pitcher.

The second day we all got treated to Trolley tours of San Diego so that was our "pillow gift".  A little hard to wrap, but a wonderful gift nonetheless.

And tonight....well tonight we returned to our room to find the quintessential box of "crack".  

Box of "crack"

Stampin crack that is!  A stamp set, THREE ink pads, hexagon punch, embellishments and Designer Series Paper....could a girl get more of what she loves??  

And as icing on the cake, this is NOT a stamp set that I already own.  Yee haw.  Love me that Stampin' Crack!!

Now I just have to make sure I can get everything home on the plane tomorrow!

Which reminds me - time to pack then get to sleep.  Morning wake-up is going to come awfully early so I better get to work.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone and I'll "see you" when I get back!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><