I know it might seem strange, but a highlight of the Founder's Circle retreat each year is the tour we take of the Stampin' Up manufacturing facility. Here is where stamps are born and dreams come true! Last year I got to take a tray full of stamps literally from the rubber sheets to the ovens, the die-cutting and all the way through to packing and labelling. We aren't allowed to take photos of the process, of course, but I wish I could show it to you because I will never forget it that experience! This year we watched them assemble ink pads from the blank Firm Foam pads through the gigantic ink barrels and mixers, and gluing and lid assembly all the way to shrink-wrapping. Then I got to make an ink refill from start to finish. It was so cool! Just think, someone is going to get a Garden Green reinker that *I* made!
After we tour the facility, Shelli graciously welcomes us into her apartment there for photo ops. I always love seeing her fabulous Shelli-chic decorating style in person. I missed the pink laundry room last time we were there! So adorable. I really like how she has the old kitchen canisters to hide away the stain removers and detergents and stuff. I think even I would be happy to do laundry in a room like this!
Next we had the pleasant surprise of having a wonderful picnic lunch with the employees. It was a standout amongst so many highlights of the trip. It is just an awesome time when you have enthusiastic demonstrators meeting the people who work so hard behind the scenes to make sure we have the quality and quantities of products we need. Everyone always remarks on how happy they are! They are truly thrilled to work there, and I was thrilled to have the privilege to meet them and be able to thank them. I hope they felt half as appreciated as we felt by the time we left!
Wouldn't it be cool to go to work in a place like that, with these kinds of views every day? Wow! Kanab is a ways away from St. George, and very remote–in fact, you have to dip down into Arizona and then come back up into Utah to get around the gorgeous and rugged mountains. It is super funny to watch your phone try to figure out what time it is when you are in three states within a very short period of time. Next time I come–if I manage to earn a spot next year!–I am bringing a MAP so I can figure out where we are! I am my father's daughter–always gotta KNOW what mountain I am looking at!
Oh, this was cool–I have seen pictures of the original Stampin' Up facilities, but never seen them in person. The buildings are now used as a recycling plant, but they have left the Stampin' Up sign and the original Western-themed facade, which I felt was a great testimony to how the community feels about this awesome company.
So we spent a lot of time on the bus this year, but the Events Team always makes it super fun by having door prizes, all-attendee giveaways (!!!), question and answer times, and an enormous basket of snacks. On the way back from our river rafting trip, we watched a movie, and then because it was so dark, someone said we should share ghost stories. We all laughed and decided to share hostess horror stories instead! You would not BELIEVE some of the things some demonstrators have had to put up with! I was soooo happy I really didn't have anything that compared to those! Don't worry, no names were shared…
I already posted about the AMAZING Colorado River rafting trip here… I am behind and slightly out of order (but you knew that.) Stay tuned for photos of the Camelback mountain hiking trip and my adventures in ziplining!! What a fabulous trip!
Awesome lyssa, what a great opportunity u had! Looks so exciting!! No picture showed up for the pink laundry room tho.
Rachel, it’s so cute you probably didn’t recognize it as a laundry room : ) It is the third picture down, right under the one with Shelli and I together.