Super fun weekend at the Stampin' Up conference in Las Vegas. There was one closer to me, but I decided I needed to go somewhere WARM, and also snuck in a visit with my Arizona bestie, Kristine and a fantastic day of hiking in Red Rock Canyon, too, which really fed my soul (especially after all the insanity and traffic of the Vegas strip.)
We were really spoiled right off the bat! I qualified to attend the posh CenterStage networking dinner the night before, which comes with early check-in and a chance to pick up all your ribbons and pins and avoid the lines the next day. And of course–gifts! We got a brand new stamp set that will be in the spring mini catalog, along with a business card case that matches the convention backpack (based on new poppy-themed papers from the spring catalog!)
It was great to see old friends and meet new ones. I slept REALLY well that night after hiking all day and partying all evening!
The next day we were up bright and early to find seats and start sample swapping! I'll be sharing photos of my swaps in a later post and maybe do a little slideshow of the really pretty ones I got in return. I just love all the creative ideas.
This is a table ready for fun! Notebooks for writing down business tips and stamping ideas, two Make N Take packets ready for the creative sessions, and a tote full of brand new products to try out. At the end we all got to go around the table and pick items out of the box until they were all gone. BONUS!
Prize Patrol, all-attendee giveaways, motivational topics, photo ops, celebrating being #23 in the United States and #33 globally–it's all awesome, but I have to say one of the very best parts of OnStage is getting the mini catalog early! It's our largest mini EVER and it's just amazing. It makes me want to hurry up and finish my Christmas cards so I can start planning spring stamping classes!
PS–those adorbs meerkats? They're in a set that you can get free during Sale-A-Bration 2020! I'll be sharing all the details closer to January, along with sneaky peekies in my crafting projects.
This weekend I had the honor of being gifted the 2019 Heart of Stampin' Up Award, given out as part of the Make A Difference program. Basically it means my team's chosen service project, Honor Flight, will be highlighted and our fundraiser attended by Sara and Shelli themselves.
It was unexpectedly emotional–I wanted this so badly for my team, who have poured their hearts into making literally thousands of cards for Wisconsin's Honor Flight veterans over the last four years. Many, many thanks to Kathy Van Duser for organizing this giant effort faithfully every month.
I am THRILLED that Honor Flight's worthwhile efforts will be broadcast widely and even more veterans will receive handmade cards with handwritten appreciation and financial assistance for their traveling companions. It's my hope that Honor Flight groups in all fifty States will be assisted by teams of demonstrators who make sure every single vet gets a personal card in their Mail Call.
It was really sweet to hear people cheering for me when my name was announced–but even sweeter to hear the volume of the applause triple when they said it was for Honor Flight! God bless America, land that we love!
I didn't cry until I got off the stage!! WIN!
I've already heard from so many that they want to help–that makes me happy! Don't worry, as soon as the dates are finalized, I'll spread the word on what we need and how you can participate even if you're not local. I'll also have info on how you can start working with Honor Flights and the VA hospitals in your own states, too.
What a weekend! Now I just need to be magically unpacked and caught up so I can get in the stamp room!
Congratulations, Lyssa! I’ve been following your blog for a while, so I am glad you received the Heart of Stampin’ Up! Award! You deserve it!
Thank you for choosing Honor Flight! How very generous of you, and all, to work with that organization. I am not involved with their trips because I don’t I can physically handle it, but I do know of them and think so highly of them – glad others do as well.
Congratulations on your Heart of Stampin’ Up! Award Lyssa. So deserved. I was excited for you when they announced your name in Sydney Onstage. xx
So glad you enjoyed On Stage. Sounds like you were honored for several things. Congratulations. We have been involved in Honor Flight here in VA and my husband was a helper for several. Such an honor. Can’t wait to see all the goodies in the new catalogs.