Constantly Stamping

Artisan Swaps - Part 1

WOW, it has been an interesting week to say the least. I had a list of all kinds of things that I wanted to get done and ended up in the bed for several days with a bad case of vertigo. Thankfully, I feel much better (as long as I don't bend over) and I was even able to help with the ABC fundraiser on Saturday...which went very well, I might add.

The artisans are working hard to pull together a blog hop. Some of us don't actively blog, so it has been a bit of a challenge, but I think it is safe to announce that our 2011 Artisan Award Winner Blog Hop will begin this Wednesday, August 3rd. You definitely need to check back often as each of us will share a different project each day for ten straight days...that's 100 incredible projects (cards, scrapbook pages, and 3D's). This is definitely something you want to check out! I saw the projects first hand at convention, but I am still excited to read a little bit about each one and maybe even hear a few interesting stories along the way.

I promised that I would share some of the swaps I received from some of these talented gals at convention, so I thought I would be very appropriate to share one or two of them each day leading up to the blog hop and then I will show the rest after the blog hop ends...it's sort of like a blog hop bonus!

Let's start with the swap I received from three-time Artisan Award winner, Summer Stone. Summer is amazing and absolutely one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Here's an interesting tidbit...did you know that Summer is a scientist? I know...unbelievable! She has managed to combine her love of crafting with her intellect as a scientist and does research for a baking magazine. She told me how she tests a recipe by baking it several times at different temperatures (or some other variable) and then writes a research articleabout the results. She also loves to decorate cakes and she is evidently very good at it because it keeps her very busy. I thought it was very appropritate that her card features a cupcake.

One of the things that Summer shared with us at the dinner is that most of her stamp projects are actually formulas/recipes. For example, she might choose three colors, two patterns, one texture, plus a focal image. Honestly, I think that we have all done something similar, I just have never really thought about it being a recipe. I actually see a lot of people who will take a sketch challenge and combine it with a color challenge, and sometimes some other challenge and come up with some pretty amazing projects. Well, whatever she is doing, it is obviously working!

 

Artisan Award Swap - No Sew Flip Flops

For the past several posts I have been sharing with you about my convention experience. Near the end of our dinner at Bambara, we had an Artisan swap. Don't worry, we made extras for everyone (except the husbands). I haven't had time to photograph everything yet, but I do want to show you the gift I made for everyone. These are flip flops covered with the designer fabric. You may be asking "how did she do that?", so let me just tell you a little bit about how I made them.

First, I started with flip flops that I purchased from the craft store. I tried more expensive brands, but they were extremely difficult to work with, so in this case, "the cheaper...the better". I used jewelery needle-nose pliers and working from the bottom side I carefully removed the straps from the soles. The brand of shoes I used had the size marked on the bottom of one of the straps and L or R on the other strap for which shoe it was for. This came in very handy later when I was reassembling the shoes.

I used iron-on fabric adhesive and ironed it to the wrong side (back) of the fabric.  I placed the soles of the shoes face down onto the wrong side of the fabric and traced an outline of each shoe plus about 3/8" allowance for each shoe. If there isn't a nap (obvious pattern) to the fabric then you can get about 4-5 pairs of shoes out of one fat quarter. In this picture I managed to squeeze one small pair, three medium pairs, and one large pair of flip flops onto one fat quarter. (When I make these for a stamp camp, I will cut my fabric into four equal pieces just to make things a lot easier.)

After I trimmed out all the pieces, I removed the paper backing and placed the piece of fabric on the top of the corresponding shoe. Carefully iron the fabric to the shoe following the directions on the adhesive. (NOTE: At this point your family will probably walk into the room and think that you have totally lost your mind!) There will probably also be the slight smell of burning rubber, but if you don't have your iron set too high (mine was on the "cotton" setting), then I doubt that you will actually melt the rubber on the soles...but be careful just the same.

Start at one end and work your way to the other end so that you won't have any air pockets form. After the shoes have cooled completely, make sure that there aren't any bubbles or places you missed with the iron. You can re-heat the area, carefully lift it while it is still warm, and smooth out any bubbles that may have formed. You may want to use an oven mit to protect your hand. If you are happy with the results, then use an exacto knife to cut a small "X" over the strap holes so that you can add the straps back on. I worked from the bottom and pulled the straps down through the holes so that I didn't loosen any of the fabric. Once you have the straps back on, make sure that none of the fabric came loose. If you need to repair a section, then carefully hold the straps out of the way so they don't come in contact with the iron and then re-press any sections that need to be repaired.

Now that everything is back together, turn the shoes over and use your scissors to trim away the excess fabric. Be sure to hold the straps out of the way so that you don't accidentally cut them. Then use a Crop-a-dile to punch a hole on both sides of the toe strap. Insert ribbon and tie on a big pretty bow.

 
Here is a picture I took in my hotel room of all the shoes I decorated for the swap. I was concerned all the bows would get squished, so I few in early so that I could sit in my room and tie on all the bows. Sorry about the quality of the photos...my hotel room didn't have enough light.

That's basically all there is to it. This project was so much fun and the WOW factor was off the chart. I would have loved to added more bling, but I just didn't have time. Just think of making a dress for your little princess AND matching shoes...HOW FUN! I can't wait to see some of the cute projects you come up with.

Next time I will try to show you the swaps I received from the other Artisans.

Artisan Award Dinner

One of the best things about the entire convention this year was being invited to attend the Artisan Award dinner. This was a private dinner for the Artisan Award winners and a few VIP's from the home office. We all met in the lobby of the Convention Center and walked over to Hotel Monaco's Bambara Restaurant about a block away. We took a brief moment to have our picture taken together before heading out.

 
Standing (Left to Right): Amy Yingling (SU concept artist and Art Dept. Manager), Jenn Picard, Sandra Farrell, Amy Swartz (VP of Sales and Marketing-yes, she's expecting a baby girl), Heather Summers, Heather Klump, Heidi King, Cheryl LeFore, Melody Hyde (SU concept artist), and Laura Mellinger. Seated/Knealing (Left to Right): Summer Stone, Connie Collins (that's me!), Heather Summers, and Shelli Gardner (Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!). Not pictured are Amy Swartz's husband and Shelli's husband, Sterling.

When we arrived at the restaurant there were handcrafted place cards, menus, and a very special gift awaiting each of us. (My little gift bag got a little beat up on the flight home.) Here's a closer look at the menu and that gorgeous paper flower. The person who made these must have spent hours on them. (Be sure to click on the photos to get a closer look...they are amazing.) You can only imagine that I just about fainted with excitement when I found out I was seated next to Shelli. I don't know how I got that honor, but let me tell you, I was thrilled.

During the appetizer Shelli asked us each to tell a little about ourselves and our Artisan Award experience. That's about the time the tears began to flow. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room by the time the main course arrived. Each story was so inspiring and time after time we heard how much hard work, dedication, and determination went into winning the award. Amy Yingling, Melody Hyde, Amy Swartz, Shelli, and even Sterling also shared what it was like to be a part of such a wonderful company like Stampin' Up!

As the evening drew to a close, Shelli asked us all to open our gift bags. Look at what was inside...a custom Artisan Award stamp for each of the winners! I have to admit, I heard that last year's winners received one just like this, but I was afraid to get my hopes up. At the end of the evening we had organized an Artisan Award swap. The concept artists asked if they could join the swap, to which we gleefully said "YES". We had already planned on making enough swaps for each other as well as Melody, Amy, Amy, and Shelli...but it was a super thrill to get a swap from the concept artists as well. We also included a swap for Laura Thomas (Shelli's personal assistant). Laura did a fabulous job of organizing the dinner, so we wanted to do something special for her as well.

Here's one last picture to share...this is me with Shelli Gardner. Shelli is such a wonderful lady and so genuinely sweet. I know that I have said this over and over, but it was such a thrill to get to know her better.

That's all for now. Next time I will share all about the swap and maybe even show you a few pictures (wink).

After Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Please Note: This post will remain at the top of my blog for several days. Please scroll down to see more current posts.

Most of us have known at least one person who has been affected by breast cancer. When I met my BFF, Nancy, she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I am pleased to say that Nancy has been cancer free for ten years, but she has made some difficult lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet and a regular exercise routine. Nancy remembers what it is like to fight for her life and she has dedicated herself to helping other women who are facing the same struggles. That's one of the reasons she is now the ABC (After Breast Cancer) Program Coordinator for three Middle Tennessee YMCAs. The ABC program helps women who have survived breast cancer regain their physical health though an exercise program designed specifically for their needs, dietary counseling, and emotional support.

A few months ago Stampin' Up! released a new stamp set, Strength and Hope, where $2 from every set goes to breast cancer research. That's a great start, but Nancy wanted to do more. That's why she asked me to help her organize a series of fundraisers to raise enough money to cover the cost for one woman to complete the ABC program. The cost of the program is around $1,000, so we have our work cut out for us...but it is definitely worth the challenge.

  
On Saturday, July 30th, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, we are holding our first ABC fundraiser at the Christ Church YMCA, located at 15354 Old Hickory Blvd. in Nashville. Each participant will receive a wood-mounted Strength & Hope stamp set and complete some really over-the-top projects. We will make a fun purse and coordinating note cards, plus stamp a tile coaster and a fabulous silk scarf. The cost of the event is $50 per person. There will be door prizes, snacks, free neck massages and more. Space is limited at this event, so contact Nancy right away to reserve your spot. Her phone number at work is (615) 373-2900 ext 72123, or email her at nbrown@ymcamidtn.org. I hope to see you there! 

Awards Night at Convention

 
In my last post I promised I would talk about Awards Night at convention. I honestly have to say that it felt like I had won an Academy Award. Isn't this picture amazing? I did a screen capture from the convention video and saved it to my computer. Here's the line-up from left to right: Heather Summers, Heather Stevens, Laura Mellinger, Heather Klump, Cheryl LeFore, Heidi King, Sandra Farrell, Jenn Picard, Connie Collins (me), Shelli Gardner (Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!), and Summer Stone (three-time Artisan Award Winner). Each of these gals are incredibly talented stampers/crafters. I feel totally honored and blessed to be chosen as one of this year's Artisan Award winners along side these amazing women.

As our name was announced we walked up on stage, received a lovely flower bouquet, and had a group photo taken by the SU photographer. When we exited the stage we were each greeted by a Stampin' Up! employee who presented us with a custom engraved charm bracelet commerating the occassion.

Now I have to back up and tell you a funny little story. The past two years SU announced the names of the Artisan Award finalists before announcing the winners. It is such an honor to make it to this level and I congratulate all those who achieved finalist. This year, however, they included the names of the winners on the finalist list. Of course, that makes perfect sense...you have to be a finalist before you can be selected as a winner...but they have never done it that way before. You can imagine how confused we all were to have our names listed as finalists. It was even more uncomfortable for me because they read the list in alphabetical order and I was the first winner to have their name listed. I was a little hesitant at first (thinking they had made some type of mistake) but I finally decided to stand. I found out later that the other gals were just as confused as I was. The other funny thing that happened during this awkward moment was that the cameraman left the camera on some of us a very long time. My good friends, Jenn Picard and Sandra Farrell, were on camera for what seemed like an eternity...to the point that it was comical. At one point I thought that maybe I had dreamed up the phone call and the display board...maybe I wasn't a winner at all. Then, as they called the winners to the stage, my name was listed last. I was soooooo relieved to find out that I wasn't hallucinating after all.

After the awards ceremony we were all invited to attend an "after party". It was so much fun. This is me with my BFF and 1st level downline, Nancy Brown. Nancy wasn't even planning on attending convention this year, but after hearing that I had won, she quickly changed her mind. I can't tell you how much it meant to have her there every step of the way. I love you, Nancy!

Well, that's all I have have for now. Next time I will tell you about our special Artisan Award dinner.

More Convention Highlights

In my last post I mentioned that I was invited to attend Becky Roberts downline meeting on Wednesday afternoon. We swapped cards (I showed you my swap already) and then we swapped 3D's. Here is what I made to swap with Becky's gals. They are tissue covers made with Stampin' Up! designer fabric. I found the pattern on the Stitch/Craft Creations blog and then altered it a little bit. My dimensions were 6"H x 8"W for the liner and 6" x 6" for the outside. A lot of people have asked me how I got the ribbon on the opening of the cover, so I will just briefly share that I used some fusible tape from the fabric store and ironed 6" strips of ribbon to the ends of the 6" x 8" fabric liner. The bow on the outside is just tied around to to make it more attractive as a gift and is removable (or you can just slip it to the side while you remove the tissues). I had to take these pictures in the hotel room, so the bright sunlight from the window cast a hard shadow. It doesn't show in this photo, but I put a little tag on each swap that said "God Bless You". I used the word stamp from the "Crosses of Hope" stamp set.

One of the best things about convention for any demonstrator is the opportunity to meet up with good friends. This sweet lady is Phyllis Strickland. Phyllis started sending me the sweetest emails about a year ago. She encouraged me to submit my work to magazines and has just been such a blessing to me. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to finally meet her in real life. She is so precious to me! Thank you for your support, Phyllis!

Now on to the Artisan Award experience. I have to tell you that when I walked around the corner and saw my Artisan Award display for the very first time, it totally knocked the breath right out of me and I began to cry. There are no words to describe that incredible feeling of accomplishment and for the very first time, it felt "real". After I boo-hooed for a couple of minutes, my dearest friend and downline, Nancy Brown, snapped a photo of me while I stood in front of my board. I know it is difficult to see the projects in this picture...but rest assured, we are putting together an Artisan Award blog hop for sometime in the near future. That way you will be able to get a closer look at each project as well as the supplies used and possibly some insight into how each project was made. I will let you know when we have a date set for the blog hop, so be sure to check back often.

Wonderful Week at Stampin' Up! Convention 2011

I returned from Stampin' Up! Convention late Sunday evening, I have so much to share that I am sure it will take several days of posting. I don't really know where to begin, so I will start at the beginning and work my way through the my incredible adventure. Since I haven't shown you any projects in a few weeks, I thought I would start off with one of my swap cards. I was invited to attend Becky Robert's downline meeting and participate in a swap with her attending downline members. Becky and I got to know each other a few years ago when we both were part of the Catty Cruise Blog Hop and have been friends ever since. This is the card that I swapped at the meeting.

Stamp Sets: Thank You Kindly; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Always Artichoke; Patterns DSP; Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron; Accessories: Scallop Square, Scallop Circle, Clear Circle & Blossom Party Dies; Scallop Oval, Large Oval, & Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punches, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder; Subtles Designer Buttons; Bakers Twine.

Here's a picture of me and Becky. Many of you will recognize Becky from her blog (Inking Idaho). She is so incredibly talented and just a wonderful, sweet person. I can't tell you how honored I am to have her as a friend.

 

Becky also invited the beautiful and talented Lorri Heiling (Confessions of a Stamping Addict) to her meeting. It was such a thrill to finally meet her. She is very good friends with my cyber friend, Nancy Riley and it was wonderful to finally have a chance to meet Lorri in real life.

 

Another highlight of Becky's meeting was the opportunity to meet the lovely and talented Dianna Gibbs (Stamping With Di). I met Di two years ago at convention, but she didn't recognize me until I told her my name. Dianna has won the Artisan Award more times than I can count, so it was such a thrill when she knew who I was. She is so down-to-earth and genuinely sweet person.

That's all for now. I will have lots more to tell and I have another swap project to share with you tomorrow, so be sure to check back.

Headed to Convention

I don't really have anything to to share today. I am headed out to Salt Lake City for the week for Stampin' Up! convention. I won't be posting this week, but I will have tons to share with you when I get back. Be sure to check back on July 18th.