Monday, January 30, 2012

Well...it has been ALMOST a month since I last posted...but I have a good reason...MAYBE...but before I get into all of that...I will show you my class projects for this week...then I am gonna get REALLY long winded...



Okay here goes...get your reading glasses on...

I got really BUSY getting ready for Leadership...I did lots of swaps...and man did I have a FABULOUS trip down to San Antonio (Jan 17th - Jan 21st)...here is a recap of my adventures...


Tuesday
…got bumped from the Grand Hyatt to the Hyatt Regency due to them over booking the Hotel…I know…How does that sound Fabulous…but…we ended up with that nights stay FREE and ½ off the rest of the nights that we were there, FREE Parking ($25.00 per day), FREE Internet and FREE access to the Grand Club which served, Breakfast, Snacks, Cocktails and Desserts throughout the day…so we were really spoiled by the time we left…OH and the Hyatt Regency was RIGHT ON the Riverwalk and ½ block from the Alamo so we got our sight-seeing out of the way!

Wednesday…moved from the Hyatt Regency back to the Grand Hyatt and checked into Leadership…got our CUTE, CUTE bags and then headed back to the hotel to drop off our stuff and went off to breakfast at Cracker Barrel…once we got back we went over to the Convention Center and got our stamps and our make n take packets. We had a cute surprise at our table…a matching little portfolio to our bag, it can hold a notebook and the current mini…We didn’t do much stamping, but when do I ever at an event…Once that was over we went up and had some snacks at the Grand Club and then got ready for Managers Reception. The entertainment was okay, a bit strange for Texas, but entertaining none the less and then once it was over…we all filed out and received a new stamp set that will be in the new catalog in June…it’s a really cute floral set called Bright Blossoms that matches the fabric on our bags…

Thursday…First thing we went up to the Grand Club for Breakfast and I had forgotten to put my jewelry on, and I feel naked without it, so I was heading back to the room after we ate and I was stopped by my friend Dee who I had met last year at Leadership in Nashville…she had met a lady named Meredith on the elevator who was in charge of an event for the Help a Hero Organization…she needed bodies to attend a VIP reception that night and so we were invited…They were going to be giving 10 houses away to Wounded Warriors…on the FINALE episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with Ty and his Design Team…so of course we ditched our last class and went to the Reception…we saw Ty , Design Team and got to hear Lee Greenwood sing Proud to be an American…there were only 200 people at this event and it was cool…then they took us over to the Riverwalk where they were doing the actual home giveaways…we were seated in the Reserved seating area in the third row…it was a long night of filming, but I got my 15 minutes of fame, and we didn’t get back to the hotel until after 11pm, but it was SO worth it…I had never done anything like that before and I know I will never again…so be watching for that final episode, it will air sometime in December

Friday…I said when we got up…what Fabulous thing will happen to us today…as everyday had been good so far…got to Leadership as this was the ACTUAL last day of classes and Leadership…we had General Session in the morning and then Lunch, Suzie (my upline) won one of the Card Contests so she received a prize then we headed off to a class then back to General Session where I won Prize Patrol…I won the Apothecary Art stamp set and the matching Framelit dies…of course those were some things that I HAD to have so they are already in my collection, but they were FREEBIES none the less…Here we are with yet ANOTHER FREEBIE...this was an All Attendee Giveaway of the Everything Eleanor stamp set and the new Large Basic Pearls....

Saturday…was bittersweet as I had to say good-bye to Suzie and Brenda as they weren’t staying for the Regional, but of course I did since I was already there…they are hoping for one closer to them later in the Spring…as they only announced Regional’s through March…Back to the Convention Center…we started in General Session it was the largest Regional that SU! Has ever done there were 1400 people there…more than were at Leadership…then we broke up…some did Make-n-Takes and some stayed in Main Stage for a presentation…then we had lunch and swapped places…at the end of the day we all got back together in Main Stage and I won Prize Patrol again…I couldn’t believe it…ANOTHER fabulous perk…I won the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set out of the mini…

I ended up with SO MUCH FREE Stuff here is a complete list:

Bright Blossoms Stamp Set (will be in new catalog)

Loving Thoughts Stamp Set (for Leadership Make N Takes)

Mixed Bouquet (for Leadership Make N Takes)

Lucky Limeade Baker’s Twine (Make-N-Takes)

½ pack of Twitterpated DSP (Make-n-Takes)

Brights Designer Buttons (Make-N-Takes)

Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit with Pink Rhinestones (Make-N-Takes)

Large Pearl Basic Jewels (All Attendee Giveaway)

Everything Eleanor Stamp Set (All Attendee Giveaway – will be available in the new catalog)

Everyday Enchantment DSP (All Attendee Giveaway)

Fresh Vintage Stamp Set (All Attendee Giveaway)

One Big Sale-A-Bration CD (All Attendee Giveaway)

Basic Rhinestones (All Attendee Giveaway)

Basic Pearls (All Attendee Giveaway)

On Board 5X5 Art Journal (All Attendee Giveaway)

Pool Party Ruffles Ribbon (All Attendee Giveaway)

Apothecary Art and matching Label Framelit Dies (Leadership Prize Patrol)

Rue Des Fleurs Stamp Set (Regional Prize Patrol)

Okay…I think that was all we got…when I got home on Sunday…the first thing I did was unpack and put stuff away…I knew if I didn’t do it then it would been days or maybe even weeks before I got it done…so stuff is a bit scattered…as you can see we got A LOT of FREEBIES…makes me excited to go to Convention…and it’s 6 months away…

Then...Once I got home...I got SICK...yep I think sitting out on the RiverWalk, hootin' and hollerin' did me NO GOOD...I got a scratchy throat and then it turned into chest congestion and shortness of breath...FINALLY went to the Dr. on Friday and he sent me to the ER...so that is where I spent my Friday night...but I am on the mend now and starting to feel LOTS BETTER...which is a good thing since I had my FIRST REAL workshop since moving back to Texas on Saturday...I hope everyone had a good time...I know I did...met some new friends and even booked another workshop...YAY...

But I guess I better close this post for now...I have chatted your ears off and I know I have other things that need to be done this morning...

Happy Stampin'

Twila


Monday, January 2, 2012

Jan 2, 2012

Well...a second day in a row...cannot qualify as a "roll" yet...but I am on my way...let me tell you...today...I DID NOT want to get out of bed...

I woke up at 7:30 which is later than normal for me...as I have been sleeping in these last couple of weeks that the kids have been out of school...and let me tell you...they are going to have a RUDE awakening tomorrow when I have to PRY them out of bed O'Stupid Early...to get them out the door...and SO AM I...but then once they are gone...I can go back to bed...I probably won't...but the option to do it is what is nice...

BUT, this morning...I did get up and got straight into the Studio...I have been working on my cards for class this week and playing with all of my NEW GOODIES...out of the Occassions Mini...y'all can start ordering out of it tomorrow...and let me tell you...it has some FABULOUS stuff in it! Here is a card that I will be teaching this week...


Can't wait to show people how to use the new Framelits in different ways...and those new Hat Pins...LOVE THEM!

Hope everyone has a Happy Monday...Happy Stampin'
Twila

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Hello...

Hello...Hello...Hello...


...Yep...it has been MONTHS since I posted here...but life has been busy...I haven't stopped stamping or teaching classes, but this blog has taken a back seat...but hey, it's a NEW YEAR and I want to start off this year differently...I have stamped lots for classes, but not TOO much for myself...and I NEVER send cards anymore...not to ANYONE...I didn't even send Christmas Cards AGAIN this year...that's TWO years in a row...and that HAS to change...I LOVE this hobby and I NEED to get back to WHY I LOVE IT...The SOCIAL ASPECT...

As some of you know...I WAS a Military Wife...my husband Kirk was in the Air Force and he retired just over a year ago...Now...I LOVED that life and I have found that I am having a bit of a hard struggle adapting to the "real world"...People...it's HARD to make new friends in the REAL WORLD...in the Military and around bases, people come and go, filter in and out and it was easy to meet new people and make new friends...friends that I still have years later...that I appreciate and LOVE...but of course...they are NOT here...not right down the street...do you know I don't know my neighbors...have no idea who they are...TOTALLY not use to that...they never come out of their house...SO...This year...I want to CONNECT...Connect to new friends and Reconnect with old ones...that is my Goal...a little at a time...Meet People...Make New FRIENDS and RECONNECT with my old ones...

You see...I have ALWAYS been a SOCIAL person...I LOVE to have people over, entertain, and especially have friends over to stamp and scrapbook...so that is a GOAL of mine this year...get back to the SOCIAL aspect of stamping and meeting people...back to doing Workshops so that I can make NEW friends...

WISH ME LUCK in 2012...
Twila