Last week I traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Million Sales Retreat. This was a long time in coming as I actually hit One Million Dollars in Career Sales in Nov. of 2020! Due to Covid, this trip was delayed! Well, let me just say it was well worth the wait!
I got to take my dear friends, Sandra and Rene’ along as my guests! They are not only wonderful friends, but also help me with all parts of my business! I couldn’t do what I do without them! It was actually my husband’s suggestion to take them – instead of him! What a sweetheart he is, right?
In this photo, we are on the plane – first class (wow) – and we are so excited! Salt Lake CIty HERE WE COME!
We arrived safe and sound and headed with all of the Achievers and their guests to a yummy dinner at a place called From Scratch. Everything was delicious – and made “from scratch” – and the yummy foods continued throughout the entire time we were there!
We stayed at the Grand America hotel – which was gorgeous! When we checked into our room, there was a box of treats for us – and a beautiful hand stamped card to welcome us. The card used the same products – Peony Garden Suite- that were used to create the over the top card I received in the mail from Sara and Shelli when I hit my Million Career Sales!
Look at ALL the detail – oh I love this so much!
We gathered first thing Thursday morning for a delicious Breakfast Buffet and then headed to headquarters in Riverton. Such a treat to visit with all of the Achievers and their guests – and of course Shelli and Sara make it extra special! There are 17 Achievers at the retreat.
We were taken up to Riverton by bus and when we arrived, there was a group of Stampin’ Up! employees ready to great us! They called each Acheiver out one at a time – I was the second one called – and I can’t even describe how emotional this was! I was greeted by my Demonstrator Development Manager- Kate Spackman. She and I had a phone call several months ago and we just clicked! I love her and was thrilled to meet her in person and have her been the one to welcome me!
She presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and two Million Dollar stamps – of course all presented beautifully! Each Achiever had their own bouquet – based on a survey we took where we shared what our favorite flowers were.
To say the least, it was very emotional! To do something that I love so much, and to receive this over the top recognition was just overwhelming – in a good way!
To share this moment with Sandra and Rene’ was amazing as well! And sweet Luce – adorable woman I got to work with when I served on the Events Council – so wonderful to see her!
We were given some official name tags – so fun!!!
We spent the rest of the day meeting with Stampin’ Up! employees from different departments – we got to go to the “pick line” where orders are picked for shipment, meet with the Catalog team, toured the newly updated Legacy Room and of course the best part was just visiting with the other Acheivers, and all the wonderful Stampin’ Up! staff- all are wonderful and so welcoming!
Since I have been a demonstrator for so long, and have had the opportunity to work with some of the staff – either on a council or when I presented, it was so wonderful to see some of them again! Since we haven’t been holding in person events for several years, it was so good to give some hugs to them!
I got to meet Kathy Pitt in person – she is the super talented artist that I worked with in creating my own stamp set that will be in an upcoming catalog!
No detail was spared – even the water bottles were fancy!
My heart is so full! Truly my cup overflows! But there’s more! We headed back to the hotel to find another gift -beautifully packaged as is the Stampin’ Up! way!
Truly a day to cherish! Come back tomorrow – I have a lot more to share!
Disclaimer: The claims published here are not representative of the typical Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. The level of sales required to achieve this result is accomplished by less than .001 percent of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators.
Yesterday I did a Facebook Live on my I’d Rather Bee Stampin’ page. I created three cards – the first was super simple – then i stepped it up a bit for my second card, and then the final card was really stepped up! I think there are times when we need a quick, simple card, and so the first two cards fit that need!
I used the HoneyBee Home Bundle from the January – June Mini Catalog – no surprise that it is a favorite of mine from this catalog! I love both the bee images and the word fonts.
The first card – so very simple- just uses a Basic White Notecard & Envelope – I stamped a bee with Tuxedo Black Ink onto a die cut Hexagon from the Beautiful Shapes dies. I stamped my words, added a bit of gingham ribbon and a rhinestone and the card was complete!
The second card I created was the same as the first – with just a few more elements. I cropped a larger hexagon from the Beautiful Shapes dies out of Vellum, and embossed it with the Hive Embossing Folder. I found a white sprig from the Honeybee Blooms Dies literally laying on my desk and decided to add it to this card – just for a little more added texture. Simple card just taken up a bit!
The third card I made is clearly more stepped up – this is a Tent Card layout – I love to create these and yes, they will fit into a regular envelope!
The base of this card is 2 1/2″ x 11″ – scored at 5 1/2″. I added more products and layers to this card – the Heart & Home DSP – this particular pattern I used reminds me of Shiplap that is so popular now in Home Decor!
Also used are the Heart & Home Doilies ( I flipped one over and used the back side rather than the colored front), a large label from the Hippo and Friends dies, the beautiful Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon and the Classic Matte Dots. I cut a few “sprigs” with the Honeybee Blooms dies and added them in- I used both Smoky Slate and Vellum Layering Designs.
Here is the recording of today’s Facebook Live: Whether you are watching the replay or the recording via my youtube channel, please leave a comment and subscribe! Your name will be entered for a drawing of the cards I create – winners get a card mailed to them!
Yesterday for my weekly Facebook Live, I showed two different stamp sets – with very different looks! First, I used the Nuts About Squirrel Stamp Set has won my heart over! These squirrels are just too cute!
Here’s what Stampin’ Up! has to say about this stamp set: Are you nuts about stamping? We are, too! And it’s easy to go nuts with the Nuts about Squirrels Stamp Set. This set features two cheeky squirrels that will look adorable scampering across any of your projects. Create a scene using the acorns, leaves, and tree branch. Mix and match the greetings with the images to create cards for birthdays, get well, and thinking of you.
You can watch the Facebook Live Replay on Facebook by clicking on the image below.
My card design featured a fun fold – with a pull out feature. For the card base, you will need two sheets of 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 Granny Apple Green. You will need to use a paper trimmer to “angle” the edges – you can watch my FB Live recording to see how I did it.
After cutting and attaching the two panels of Granny Green cardstock together, I then decorated the two triangles. I used the wonderful Cork Specialty Paper – if you haven’t used it yet, you need to get some in your hands ASAP! You can stamp on it for a rustic look – as I did. I used a pretty pattern from the Beauty of the Earth DSP for the other triangle.
Here’s the card with the insert positioned in the card base.
The next card I created features the Christmas Cloche bundle. It is a darling set – and you know I love anything with birds! I wanted to make a card with this bundle as I am featuring it in my October Class to Go – this is an additional idea to the cards in my class. Registration for my class closes this Friday, Oct. 15th. You can contact me via email for a registration link. Don’t miss out on this great class! The bundle is so versatile – it can be used to create Shaker Cards as well!
For this card, I used a card base of Soft Succulent, and then used a small strip of Basic White cardstock and the Cloche dies to crop out the cloche. I used the Wintry Embossing folder to add a snowy/wintry look. I used the Cloche dies to crop the trees as well as the birds and the snowy landscape placed inside the cloche. The thin panel of Crumb Cake cardstock is also cropped from the Cloche dies.
I finished the card with a stamped greeting and a bit of Baker’s Twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack.
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The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of Laura Milligan as a Stampin’ Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!
