It's All About the Chattanooga SU! Regional

The night before the regional meeting I decided to make something for the demonstrators at my table to reflect the time of year and Chattanooga specifically. So I got busy in the kitchen and made Halloween treats out of Moon Pies (they are made here, you know) for each of them and also had a copy of CityScope magazine at each of their places since each person was from out of town. Everyone seemed to enjoy the gifts. Here's the work in progress.

Can you imagine a room chocked full of stamping addicts? I could even define that better by saying Stampin' Up! stamping addicts. The regional was a half day conference held at the Chattanooga Convention Center this past Friday and Saturday. This regional sold out in two days. I hope that shows SU! the enthusiasm in the southeast region. The information businesswise was extremely helpful,  presentations by demonstrators from this region were original and creative, the "make 'n takes" were exceptional, and the door prizes (I won the first one!) were great and abundant.

 But more important than any of these things, were the demonstrators I met. Even another demonstrator named Billie who just moved to Ooltewah from San Antonio, TX. Five of the demonstrators who live fairly close to me have decided to form a group that will meet at regular intervals in each others studios for a shoebox swap. That could mean many new projects for my stamping peeps. Plus these meetings should help all of us keep our creative juices flowing.

Included in this blog are photos from the event. Lots of creative ideas to work from here. Can you pick out my trade card front from this board? Many of you saw me work on it. Email me your answer...you may just win a stamp set if you're the first to identify the card. Enjoy!

Wreath Class

It takes a lot of paper curls to make this wreath, but we were up to the challenge. We all curled and curled and the results were worth all the paper cuts. Here are photos of a couple of the Christmas wreaths, one with Nancy Oldham and one will Kelly (my daughter) and then the Autumn wreath made by Cara Balthrop and her daughter Maddie. I have a couple of people who haven't made their wreaths yet...those paper strips are still waiting for you!

Paper Wreath Class

Wreath Class and Saturday Play Day

I really missed the boat last Tuesday at the Calendar/Photo Tin class. What was I thinking not taking pictures? Won't make that mistake again. We had a great time and everyone seemed to really like their tins and had plans as to who they would give them to. I really couldn't get over how amazing Maddie and Danielle did. They took my direction and then went over and beyond with their projects. I so wish I had a photo of their tins to show you.

This Tuesday, September 29th is the holiday wreath class. There are six people coming and all are making the holiday wreath but one plus me. Cara and I are making the wreath with the Autumn Days designer series paper. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you here. If you have a bone folder, be sure to bring it with you. I have bandaids for all your thumbs. Don't ask.

Saturday, October 3rd, is the next Play Day. All the invitations have gone out and many of you have already responded. If you plan to come, please notify me so I can have your project kit ready for you. This is a free class. It's all about learning new techniques and using our stamps to make many different things. Then if you like what we do and wanted to order, I'm happy to do that for you.

Here are two of the projects we'll be doing this Saturday. The third project will be a surprise (you need a little surprise every once in a while). The 6" square card and envelope idea I found on the internet and substituted some of the color and stamps. You will love this new technique. It's called direct to paper.

This card uses the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog and the Charming set (for the jewelry we can't get yet) from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I hope you like it.

Here's our three-D project for this month. Just in time for Halloween! This set is in the Holiday Mini. I hope to have some other things made with this set to show you how versatile it is. But the Sweet Treat Cups make this a cinch to put together. I'd really like to get these made for all my Trick or Treaters.

That's all I have to blog about today. It's raining like crazy so I'm going to get back up to my studio and Play!
Merrily stamping in my studio,
Billie

Saturday's Play Day

We had a small group (lots of our stampin' sistahs were traveling for the holiday) so we tried something new this month. We made three projects rather than four, but one project was multi-layered (is that a word?). Then we made a three-D project and finally a multi-purpose card with the "Hello There" stamp set.

The multi-layered card took the most time, but we broke it down into each layer finished that portion of the card and then put it all together. We used the new background Medallion stamp which everyone seemed to like and a hostess set to complete the mountain folded card and then lined the envelope to match. Everyone's card looked fabulous!

On to the three-D project which was a blooming flower in a box birthday cards. Here's a shot of everyone holding their flower box card. We all used the Big Shot to punch our flowers and the box was a Big Shot die, too. All tied up with the pretty polka-dot "in-color" ribbon. Who wouldn't want to get this birthday wish?

Our last project was fairly simple, but we did add a little bling with glue and glitter for just the right look. Here's a shot of (from left) Jan, Lynn, Judy and Carol working hard on their "Hello There" cards.

Until my next post....I'll be merrily stamping in my studio.

Billie

Zoe & the Stampin' Up! Bear

This little adorable bear was available at the national convention and I just had to have one. Zoe, however, took an immediate interest (dislike?) to my new stuffed bear. She'd spend long periods of time staring at it so I finally put the bear on the floor so she could see it. She was nice at first, but that didn't last. What really seemed to be bothering her was that daggum bow in the bear's ear. Once she got that out, she was totally satisfied with the bear being on the shelf.

I wanted to show all my stamping friends this pin made by using the Big Shot to cut out fabric flowers. I used fabric stiffener on each flower and let it dry before putting this pin together. What do you think? You can use the Big Shot to cut paper, thin metal, thin wood in addition to paper. I saw flower fabric pins at Talbott's this week that weren't nearly as pretty for $34! This pin cost less that $7. Just thought you'd like to see how the Big Shot can be used for projects other than paper.

Until my next post....I'm merrily stamping in my studio. See you at Play Day this Saturday.

Billie

This Christmas wreath is made from the Christmas Designer Series Paper Merry Moments. The photo just doesn't do it justice, but I know many of you saw this at the Christmas Open House.





The class for the Tin is Tuesday, September 22 @ 7 p.m. The cost is $15 for supplies only. The class for the Christmas Wreath is Tuesday, September 29 @ 7 p.m. The cost is $17 for supplies only.





This Saturday, September 5th @ 2 p.m. is the FREE "Play Day". Here's our secret...for logging on to my new blog site AND leaving a comment, you will receive a gift at "Play Day". Here is a photo of the projects we'll be making.

Hope to see you here!

Billie

The first post to my new blog spot! At this little spot I hope to post creative ideas to share. Two upcoming classes will be spotlighted today.

This little tin transforms into a magnetic Desk Calendar/Photo Frame. The Night and Day Designer Series Paper is the perfect background for the Crushed Curry ribbon and magnetic cordoroy buttons. Whoever is lucky enough to receive this gift will think of you every time they change the month on the calendar.

Here's how it looks from the front. The flower on the front of the tin is magnetic, too!