ReluctantFarmChick.com

Stop it – I told you I was going to post some stamping.  Here’s a card I made for Prince Farming for our Anniversary – way back when I started blogging (okay,  not THAT far back – it was July of this year). 

This card is a departure from the norm because a) it’s fairly plain and simple, b) there’s no paper involved and c) there’s only one layer and NO ribbon.  I also don’t normally use metal hinges to create the spine of a card. It is within acceptable norms, because a) I used stamps and ink;  b) There is one layer;  c) it is embellished (hardware); and d) it is embossed (a process through which color crystals, adhered to a surface with embossing ink, are heated / melted, giving a "raised" impression of the stamped image).

This card was copied "verbatim" (as far as my memory serves) from a card I saw demonstrated by Brent Steele on the Stampin’Up! Bermuda cruise (April ’08).  So it also meets my normal criteria because it is "cased" (copied and shared) as are all of my creative endeavors. 

Cutting the sheet metal was a bit of a stretch because I was trying to keep it a surprise for Prince Farming, and I couldn’t find the right tool (it was way down in the shed – HE knew where it was, but I couldn’t find it in any of the tool boxes here at the house).  I ended up heating it up (with my heat-gun) and then trying to snip through it with something he brought home from the hospital (why they need industrial-looking snips, I’m not sure.  They definitely WEREN’T suited to what I was cutting, but they did work).  Then I had to file the edges so no fingers got sliced.   And I used a "Crop-a-dile" to make the holes for the hinges/brads and to make the "shot marks" through the road sign (that’s what signs look like around here – why do people shoot signs?).  I also distressed it with my little pliers – just for effect (and to copy Brent’s card).

I think this card was a good choice for my first real "card" share because I’m feeling rather manly with all the farm work I’ve been doing for the past week.  Hay is almost done (just needs to be hauled to the barn).  My life is going to settle down a bit now that it’s done.  Besides, my kids are leaving for Outdoor School for a week.  My plan is to dig out my stamp room.  If that happens, I’ll show you before/after shots next week. 

Happy Stamping Sunday!

Stampin’Up! is an amazing company.  The vision, mission, and implementation of their ideas is totally inspiring.  While at convention, demonstrators had the opportunity to visit the home office.  This is a fairly new building that includes the corporate office and distribution center.  Walking in to the building is breath-taking.  Shelly has brought the outside in with the atrium garden and water feature.

This is taken from the top floor, looking down three stories.  The natural light is gorgeous, and the sound of running water is relaxing.  I would love to work in this building.  It seems like everyone who works here totally loves it.

Stampin’Up! really made us feel welcome by decorating with the convention theme banners – not only at the convention center and at the home office, but also through-out Salt Lake City (outside on the electrical poles and columns etc. around the Salt Palace).

Of course anywhere you have something stamping-related with a group of Stampin’Up! demonstrators, there will be a line.  Here we go again. . . this time waiting to get in to the Legacy Museum.

The Legacy Museum is an area where there are pictures and flash-backs from years past in Stampin’Up! life.  It’s amazing to see the difference between old Stampin’Up! catalogs and the current ones.  The art work and ideas have developed and become trend-setting (vs. trend-following).  There are amazing stamped art and home-decor ideas in the museum as well.  Each time I’ve visited the museum there have been different ideas that have been updated.  They can come and practice decorating in my home any time.  I’ll have to post some pictures of the home-decor ideas in another post.

This is one of the Demonstrator Services cubicles.  We got to walk through the call center to get a feel for the work environment.  I’m amazed at the positive attitude that Stampin’Up! staff consistently exhibits.  I know that working in the home office is a great opportunity – and people who work there totally know how blessed they are (based on what they say and how they interact with the demonstrators.) 

We got a birds-eye glimpse of the distribution center.  This is a state-of-the-art facility that is totally mechanized.  One of the things we learned at convention is that compared to 10 years ago, Stampin’Up! ships 100,000 more orders per day (during peak Sale-A-Bration promotion) with 40 fewer staff.  That’s just amazing!  The work environment in here is also great.  There is natural light (sky-lights) and music piped in.  It is amazing to see the whole thing work. Order accuracy is incredible, because after an order is entered (by a demonstrator), the system knows exactly how much that order will weigh, so when the order is completely picked the box will go over a scale to check for accuracy. 

 Salt Lake City – HERE I AM!! (will insert picture later).  It’s HOT but not as humid as home.  There are 5,600 crazy people registered to be at this convention, at least 75% of them were at the Salt Palace, standing in line before 8:30am.  They are INSANE (I can say that, because I was there to see them standing in line). 

The attraction?  Getting the new (and can I add totally cool, amazing, and stylish) convention bag (shoulder bag – not the normal backpack) with the . . . .<<<drum roll>>>> new Stampin’Up! Idea Book & Catalog.  Not to mention the three new stamp sets (one awesome, one good, and one okay). 

That was ONE line.  THEN there were people in another line to buy STUFF (these people know how to market: Supply/demand – limited edition – can only purchase these here and now etc).  In the past "Momento Mall" has run out of some supplies, which makes those things even more desireable to everyone else (actually – more desireable to the people who got to buy them too).  Last year (I think) they ran out of . . . don’t know what they were . . . maybe rings with ribbon samples on them? . . . And I didn’t get any.  I’ll bet there are 60 bazilion of those rings lying in people’s stamp rooms collecting dust.  They’re totally useless now because all that ribbon is probably retired already.  And so it goes, year after year.  But this year they have a very practical (and cute, organizational <<read "essential">>) project tote with pockets for cards, scissors, ink pads, and every other conceivable supply you’ll need for a stamping project.  And it’s CUTE.  And PRACTICAL.  And everyone NEEDS one.  NOW.  Those twenty old junky bags from previous conventions, leadership events, and manager’s retreats are totally useless and impractical.  Don’t you agree that everyone NEEDS one of these?

It comes with a very cute camera bag – of course my camera won’t fit in there – but Prince Farming’s probably will.  Or maybe I"ll need a new camera?  Oh – the possibilities. . .

Of course I couldn’t buy just ONE because what would happen if they RUN OUT??!?!?!? Oh, NO!!!

That’s because I’m such a good friend (read "sucker").  See, Louise will definitely need one.  As will Amber.  And we don’t want them to be disappointed now, do we?

Not sure what it is about girls and bags.  As if a convention bag and a tote aren’t enough, the prize for being in the top 100 consultants in the company ("Founder’s Circle") is. . . <<<<drum roll again>>>>……

A VERY desireable and amazingly incredible PINK LEATHER BAG.  And my client patient friend techno-geek resource person Amy was the proud (and emotional) recipient of one of these very limited edition specimens.  CONGRATULATIONS AMY! 

So the Bag got a bag.  yadda yadda yadda.  Unfortunately, along with the bag, she gets an all-expenses trip for a week to a spa in Utah somewhere.  And since she HATES to be touched (no touchy) – I’ll have to take her place.  Someone’s got to do it.  And she owes me for her amazing success.  She couldn’t have done it without me.  It’s my wisdom, coaching, persuasive cheerleading that has talked her off the ledge on multiple occassions to get her that stupid bag.  So the trip is MINE I tell you.  SHE OWES ME. (We’ll just forget about that minor detail of her taking me on two Stampin’ cruises in the past.  I don’t remember Mexico OR Bermuda.)

I’ll let you know how that turns out.  In the mean time, Amy wins as most stylish bag lady.