KMC Stampers Group on Yahoo!

Well, I've gone and thrown more fuel on my calendar fire and decided to start a Yahoo group for Stampin' Up! demonstrators located in the Kaiserslautern Military Community. I know this group will ebb and flow as members PCS in and out of the community but I thought it would be nice to have a forum just for demos in our area. I think there are enough of us in the area that if we banded together to support one another, not only would our businesses be more successful but it would be a great way to meet other demos and possibly draw attention to our orphaned group here in Germany from SU! headquarters to get more support for regional training, etc. We'll see how it goes and how much enthusiasm it draws! I'm excited about getting it going and hopefully there will be enough interest that this can become a real means of support for SU! demos in the area.

Inspire. Create. Share......A lot!

These past few weeks since Joe has returned from Afghanistan have been full, full, full! Enjoying family time, volunteering at the high school, working on various home and crafting projects, and just trying to readjust to having my honey home again have made for a very busy time but all worth it, believe me. With Joe gone for the majority of this year, it made "me" time difficult and Joe has always supported my interests, especially my crafting, because he knows how much it helps to keep me de-stressed with the amount of time he's elsewhere. Well, it was announced in September that U.S. demonstrators stationed with the military overseas were being given the opportunity to attend the first ever European Stampin' Up! Convention and I was just dying to go. It's difficult for U.S. demonstrators overseas not to feel a little estranged from the training and support available to us if we were living in the U.S. (which SU! is improving on all the time so I really shouldn't complain!) so what demonstrator wouldn't want to be a part of a such an amazing event?! Anyway, Joe made sure I paid for my registration as soon as possible and this week was the big event. I am on a euphoric cloud of experience ecstasy and I never want to come down from it!

For those of you not familiar with Stampin' Up!, it was co-founded over 20 years ago by Shelli Gardner and her sister, Vonna. I'm pictured here with Shelli Gardner (eek!), who is as sweet and lovely in person as she is in every photo I've ever seen of her. The European Convention was a PHENOMENAL experience and one that I'm so glad I was there to witness.

Called Paper, Pad, and Marker, this ice breaker event helped me to jump right into the flow of things and start talking to ladies while I made a helpful tool to use in workshops. I was welcomed to the room by none other than Pam Morgan, our Vice President of Demonstrator Relations, who asked for my information to possibly set up an event at Ramstein for military demos living overseas!! I hope that comes to fruition because I am beyond excited that we could have an event for our group.

I met many lovely, friendly women from France, Germany, Great Britain, and Scotland. (Pictured here is a group photo of the demos from the UK) It was amazing to see how the love for crafting and stamping brought all these women together, sharing ideas, inspiring each other, and making new friends. It was a momentous occasion and probably did more to promote international awareness and peace than any meeting of the U.N. has ever done. Maybe if we all got together and crafted, the world would be a more peaceful place :) I felt a little out of place at first since there were only a handful of U.S. demos attending but that didn't last for long as ladies allowed me to sit with them and were welcoming and friendly. One of the things that touched me the most was how many ladies shared swaps with me, even though I didn't have the time to make any before going to convention. I have many, many photos of projects to share but it will take me several days to get them all in order so I'll just past a few for now and then post more as the week progresses. Here's just a few highlights:

What a lovely way to present a box of sweets! Each flower was so detailed and could be a card embellishment all by itself.

One of the highlights of convention is the number of samples available for viewing. How can you not be inspired after viewing so many beautiful cards, scrapbook pages, and 3-D projects?

This paper is no longer available in the U.S. Stampin' Up! catalog but it's still one of my favorite papers. The colors are so bold and what a delightful color combination.

This is a PAPER birdcage! Can you say WOW!! Talk about vision and creativity to create something so intricate. It certainly surpasses anything I've ever thought of creating. I have oodles of photos to share but wanted to share just a few to get you drooling for more. I'm so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to support trips like this to re-charge my creative batteries and enjoy the things that interest me. And I'm beyond thrilled that Stampin' Up! so generously gave me the opportunity to be there for such an exciting event.
Keep on the lookout for more photos this week!

Kreativ-Welt Wiesbaden

This past weekend was the first time I've ever had the opportunity to attend the Kreativ-Welt craft fair in Wiesbaden even though I lived there for three years and I was absolutely AMAZED at the event. It was very well organized and featured almost every kind of craft imaginable: fiber crafting, scrapbooking, rubber stamping, floral arrangements, jewelry making and beading, ceramics, home decor, quilting, felting, sewing, wood working....two floors of crafting goodness right at your fingertips! Of course, I primarily went for the paper crafts but the creative juices were stirred at the variety of other crafts represented. (European flower arranging vendors really sucked me in!) Even IKEA was there, featuring easy and inexpensive projects for decorating your home. I was rather surprised that Stampin' Up! didn't have a booth there since they are trying to build such a strong presence in Europe but Creative Memories had a booth for signing on European consultants, which I wasn't even aware that they were trying to tap into the market here. What's difficult living overseas is the distance between crafting stores, what is offered, and of course, the expense of shopping in euros. In the States you can find a Michael's, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, etc. in almost every major city as well as a few privately owned paper crafting stores but mega stores like that are just not part of mainstream European shopping. In a way, I think they should be just because there's such a desire for crafting products overseas...much evidenced by the number of shoppers at the Kreativ-Welt over the weekend. People actually brought large rolling shopping bags! There were a couple of products that I purchased which would surely be less expensive purchasing through a website in the U.S. but were things I had never seen demo'd and decided the extra cost of purchasing them here was rather gratuitous since it meant that I wouldn't have to wait! The biggest product I wanted to try was Glimmer Mist, a liquid spray which leaves a lovely metallic sheen on your papers and is perfect for distressing. Got a couple of bottles to try for Christmas projects and perhaps I'll have something to show on my blog later. I apologize I don't have any tantalizing pics to show of the event but I had a brain cramp and forgot to bring my camera. Anyway, it's something to look into attending next year if you're living overseas...well worth going to if you're interested in many different kinds of crafts. We had a great time at this event and even the kids got to purchase a few items. Alex put together her own ribbon necklace and Jordan got us hooked on a wooden table-top fussball type game with magnetic figures that we ended up purchasing for home. Of course, I had to bribe Joe with Sushi World to get him to go but he even admitted to enjoying it more than he thought he would. A good way to spend the weekend, I'd say!

Technique Club Project

I did this project today from start to finish and am so proud of myself that I thought I'd post it. Sorry for the terrible lighting but I didn't feel like setting up the light tent and the weather outside is rather dismal for an outdoor photo. I'm sure you get the gist of the project! I'm starting a new Stampin' Up! Technique Club this coming Sunday and this is a variation of the project we will be doing for the first meeting. The idea is to present two or three techniques each meeting for six months, with technique "recipe" cards to go along with the projects. By the end of the six months each club member should have 10 to 12 new techniques for crafting/stamping projects. The box will hold all the technique "recipes", which they can keep on their craft desk to pull from when they need some inspiration. I often create sketches of the projects I'm working on, with dimensions and tips written down as I go. Now I can pull a card from my technique box and sketch my projects, then place them in the box for safekeeping when I'm done!

What a surprise that I used my signature colors to make this project! (not!) I'm preening from my resourcefulness in creating this lovely embellishment. Inspired by Heather Bailey, a fabric designer and inventor, I decided to create my own fabric flower embellishment for the top of the box and I love how it turned out. The fabric is recycled from a pair of curtains I had in my last apartment, plus felt pieces leftover from previous felt projects, a scrap of satin Stampin' Up! ribbon, and a button re-purposed from a stash that came from a tin of buttons that I played with as a child that I believe were my great-grandmother's buttons.

The box purchased for the project contains a heavy duty chipboard egg holder that I trimmed down and covered with matching cardstock. The original project by Nicole Heady uses a piece of foam core board but since that's not an item easily found in Germany, I decided to use the egg insert instead of tossing it. By leaving on the short side flaps, the insert stays upright without having to glue it into the box and gives you the option of moving the insert back and forth

I painted the outside of the box with black acrylic paint, allowed it to dry (about 10 or 15 minutes, which was really fast!), glued the paper to the box with the Mod Podge and then I applied a layer of matte Mod Podge on the outside of the box. I've never used Mod Podge, which is a clear sealer, and it really leaves the project looking professionally finished. Plus if you decide to use this as a recipe box, it protects the outside of the box from spatters. I hope you enjoyed my latest project!

Where'd the time go?

I can't believe I've neglected my blog this long! I have craft giveaways to post, projects to feature and I STILL haven't put any photos on here of our trip to Belgium. We have since been back to Belgium for family camp so there's even more photos from that, the summer is drawing to a close, and now I'm looking at this candid photo I snapped of Alex, wondering, "Where'd the time go?" Well, I can't worry about where the time has gone but I can make the most of what's to come so here's a few highlights:

*First, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the ladies who posted their top ten encouraging things on my last post. I was so encouraged by the things you wrote! It's so easy to focus on the negative in life, something that I've made into a very bad habit. For anyone who didn't participate and you have no idea what I'm talking about, go to the posting prior to this one and click on "comments" just below the post. You'll be greatly encouraged just by reading the comments. Since you ladies have been so patient about waiting to see who won the drawing, I've decided to just go ahead and give each of you a prize. Sometimes it pays when I'm forgetful :) So, Kerry, Tasha, Diane, Jennifer, and Heather, I'll be in touch with each of you about your prize and the best way to get it to you. Thanks for playing along with my challenge!

*The first week of October I will be hosting a Christmas swap, with the location to be determined. I'm looking at a couple of locations, one of which might entail a small fee for each person participating in the swap. Be on the lookout for an Evite from me with all the details but go ahead and reserve the first Saturday in October for the swap. (I know, for those of us who are local it's Homburg flea market day but surely you can make it to the swap after shopping!)

*Lastly, is anyone in Ramstein looking to join a stamp club? I'm starting two new technique clubs in September, one hosted on the first Tuesday of each month and the other to be hosted on the third Sunday. Both are a six month commitment, with a $25.00 minimum order each month, and will feature two techniques per month with a technique box created in the first meeting to house all your new ideas. I've got a little bit of space in each one so let me know if you're interested!

This isn't a terribly exciting post so thanks for subjecting yourself to all my announcements. Hopefully I'll have some pics and projects for you this week. Until next time!

To Spiral Up or Down? That is the question....

In perusing photos from past trips, I found this terrific photo I took of the spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum which got me thinking about my latest downward spiral into the summer doldrums. How can one have summer doldrums? Well, we've had weird, ookie (that is a technical term...honest!) weather this summer, the hubby is still gone, and I have also been location bound for far too long. You see, I'm a wanderer: I love to travel and see new things. My father warned my husband shortly after getting married that I have always been a busy, on-the-go type person and that he'd better get used to it. Joe hasn't always embraced this part of my personality but for the most part, he goes along with it. If nothing else, it has proven to be a blessing for a family that moves a lot! Getting back to my downward spiral, I find that I get a little depressed if I can't get out and DO things, like travel. Between Alex's summer job, Jordan's summer enrichment program, and now dealing with the aftermath of Jordan's surgery, it has been difficult for us to get out and about for the past few weeks. Don't get me wrong: I don't begrudge the kids the opportunities they've had this summer and I'm thankful that Jordan's surgery has been a success but I'm starting to get a little stir crazy! I said all that to say that I decided to keep on the positive side and create a list of ten things that make me happy (not in order of importance):

1. Cows! Mooooooo!

2. My children

3. Grape Bubble Yum

4. Upcoming Family Camp in Belgium (travel! yippee)

5. Jokes

6. Living in Europe

7. Joy in knowing that God never gives up on me, despite myself

8. A wonderful, sexy, fantabulous husband who loves me, despite myself :)

9. Chasing Mr. Bubbles around the coffee table (Bubbles is a West Highland terrier owned by Alex's clarinet instructor...he occasionally enjoys sticking his face up into the bell of Alex's clarinet while she is playing. What a hoot!)

10. The friends and family who have encouraged me while Joe is gone

How can I not feel better after compiling this list? So I've elected to "spiral up" instead of down and be thankful. To spread the wealth of happiness, I've decided to have a few giveaways this week! Free crafting goodies will make all the crafters in my life happy, right? So here's what you need to do: respond to this post (click on the word "comments" directly below this post) and in your post, I want you to give me a list of the ten things that make you happy. All comments need to be posted on my blog by this coming Friday, July 31st. On August 1st, Joe will have been gone for four months so beginning that day I will draw one winner each day for four days. Think how much better you'll feel for writing down your list of "happy things" and know that you might win free crafting goodies at the same time! For you non-crafters, if you want to play along, I'd love to read about your ten happy things as well. Hope to see your posts soon!

Milk Made with Pizazz!

Being a cow fan, I couldn't resist ordering Lauren Meader's latest Papertrey Ink. Timeless Template called "Milk Made". How can you not love this adorable carrier and matching milk cartons? Combine this terrific template with Stampin' Up!'s new In Color papers and you just can't deny the cuteness factor. Hopefully my Sunday Stamp Club enjoyed this project yesterday because there is alot of cutting and scoring but I think the finished product makes it all worthwhile. If you're interested in purchasing the template for this project, visit Papertrey Ink.'s website for information on how to download instructions. For $5.00, you receive 18 color pages of design information, plus template download information for both large and small size cartons and carriers. You can find even more template ideas by visiting Lauren's blog. Thanks for checking out my latest posting!

Supplies: SU! Petal Pizzaz stamps, SU! Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, SU! Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry and Whisper White cardstock, SU! Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry, and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink, SU! Crushed Curry polka dot grosgrain ribbon, SU! Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" and Scallop Border punches, Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo and Giga Circle and Scallop circle punches, pink cotton twine, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Scor-Pal, Crop-A-Dile, piercing tool, SU! rhinestone brads, SU! vellum cardstock