Convention Day 1, part 2 Memento Mall

This is the ID bag we were given, it held out entry card with our name and the track we were on, it folds in half, on the backside it two zipper sections so you can put your credit card and money in it or your keys. I love these bags, they must be an American thing because I got one last year on the Tim Holtz cruise.

This is the goodie bag we got, its like a satchel and holds quite a bit.

This is what was inside, a pen with CELEBRATE printed on it in blue, 

a chapstick with Stampin' Up printed on it and one of our stamps, a CELEBRATE pin.

This is my stash including swap cards I got, I managed to make 120, I was up until midnight and had to get up at 5am and sat in the car outside the convention centre finishing them off LOL, 

I will never do that again.

This is the umbrella at Memento mall, if you like it phone whoever you know who is at convention and ask them to buy you one, it cost $19.95 and has the Fifth Avenue Floral and a rose design on it.

Water bottle only in pink for $11.95, 

DSP swatch which measures 3"x 3" $31.95, 

Memo Pad this was smaller than I expected, the papers measure 3"x 3" $11.95

and the whole pad is 3.75 "x 4.5", 

Pencil case in green only measure 8.5"x 4" $9.95

Keychain pocket calculator measures 2"x 2.75"$9.95 (and it works)

These cute little pens come 3 in a packet $7.95 I think

There was a pink apron for $39.95 I think and the brown cardi you all saw at sneak peak. A green shirt and a blue shirt which I didn't get any of the clothes except the brown cardi as it had elbow length sleeves and is great for those autumn or spring days, I took a thick jacket and had to strip off and wear the brown cardi which comes down to my hips.

...............coming up cardes and layouts that were sent into head office for convention display

Convention Day 1, part 1

WOW is all I can say about my first Australian Convention held right here in my home state of Canberra. All the hype that everyone has been sharing that have attended a convention, is to be believed by being there in person. I am so glad I went.

You check in and get your goodies bag and a catalogue and programme and award badge if you qualified.

This is the billboard advertising the conference, it gave me goosebumps seeing it up there, 

can you tell I'm proud to be associated with this company!

Ellen Vest, Bridget Larsen (Me), my upline Leilani Sugay waiting to get in

Ros Vest and her group (I was a ring in)

Leilani and I in front of the stage

The programme brochure

Aaron was first up or was that last, anyway he did his speel and tried to get some response from us (we were all cold, it was foggy in Canberra today, they took the sun they gave us yesterday away), so at the end of his speech he did a little dance and boy did he get us all laughing.

Shelli on stage, she doesn't look old enough to be a grandma with 17 grandkids. She just looks gorgeous, see what stamping does for you.?

There were slides to accompany Shelli's address, we got to see Stampin' Up headquarters and all the areas and the beautiful building that was built on 55 acres and the building looks timeless and magnificent, this sent goosebumps through me. She praised us demonstrators and let us know how precious and like family we are are (more goosebumps). Then I can't remember what else she said LOL.

Then we got a demonstration from Shannon West from the home office who is also a demonstrator, she showed us 2 step stamping and using the aqua brush to give that water colour look using stamp pad and markers very cool especially when the in colours do not have markers.

We got Jill Kocherhans from the home office doing the next demonstration, she is so funny and good at what she does.

Since last convention Australia has had 990 new demonstrators and 1778 active demonstrators. New Zealand has 251 demonstrators to date.

We have these little wrist tags that were colour and design coded and twice they chose a design and colour and if you had that you stood up and danced around to some catchy music and got a stamp set.

..........coming up MEMENTO MALL

Convention Downunder 1-2 May 2009

This will be my first Stampin' Up Convention I am attending this weekend, I can't wait! It is being held right here in Canberra my current home city.

There is so much excitement with all the convention attendees it's not funny. I attended Regionals in Melbourne last year and was totally enthralled and I know if that was anything to go by that convention will be even better.

Canberra is not a big city, unlike Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, we only have around 350,000 residents and it's a privilege to have it here.

I have been crafting madly to try and make my goal of 200 swaps cards, I am only up to 88 as of yesterday LOL, do you think I can make it?

So I will be reporting about convention on Friday so come back and drool to your hears content, I will be taking my camera and taking pictures of everything I can.

Have a great day!!!