Stampin' Up! 2019 Incentive Trip ... Wow. Just Wow!

Well hello and Happy Sunday!

It feels like YEARS since I've posted!  I had every intention of scheduling a few posts for while I was away but ... well ... ya.  Didn't happen.  My "yay-list" was a mile long and, at the end of the day I just didn't *lol*.

Gosh - where do I even START???

Rome.  Greece.  2019 Incentive Trip.  Was it everything I dreamed it would be?  Oh yes.  Was it as amazing as everyone said it would be?  Definitely.  Did I enjoy every minute?  Absolutely ... well, I really could have done without the 30-36 degree sweat-fest and the never ending soggy clothes and damp face but I would do it again in a heartbeat, given half a chance.

It was worth the 18 months of planning, prepping and stamping.  My face hurt from all the smiling.  My heart was SO full with all the friendships that were made and/or strengthened.  It really was the trip of a lifetime and achieving my goal of earning this trip is in the top 3 life-time achievements for me.  Truly.  Words just can't adequately describe my emotions surrounding this.  It has been a 13 year journey of experimentation, dreaming, self discovery, growing ... it is so much more than "I worked hard to earn a trip".   Anyone who has earned one of these trips will understand.  It has changed me in ways I can't describe.

Well!  Enough about THAT, let's see some card projects, right??  (If you want to see pictures from my trip hop over to facebook and find me - my fave pics are there.

Wanna see what I was working on for so long BEFORE my trip??  ... the SWAPS I made?  I was involved in five batches of different swaps.  Each project needed to be different and had different "rules".  Although it was a LOT of work to product 98 projects (five different designs) but I really did enjoy doing it.  I actually LIKE mass producing.  Once I have my design I can sit in front of the telly and crack the off while chipping away at my dozens of recorded Coronation Streets!

The first two are swaps I made for the swap I did with my Canadian "sisters".  The rules for this one were "anything from the current catalogue", had to have at least one layer and one embellishment.

Being pressed for time I headed for my "go-to" layout and made this Christmas card I LOVE with the new stamp set "Rustic Retreat" -

I just couldn't resist the images in this one, although they are smaller than I like.  That is what I love about my "go-to" layout - it allows me to USE smaller images in a way that still put the focus ON the image.

This is a great set for masculine cards as well as Christmas.  Only $33 CDN (plus s/h/gst) - item code 150285.

You can see in this picture that I used the Woodgrain embossing folder to add texture to my banner.

I stamped the cabin and sentiment in Early Espresso ink, and colored the cabin with my blends ... Crumb Cake and Old Olive and added some of our self adhesive backed sequins and some white bakers twine for some added interest.  I love how it turned out.

My second swap uses the Butterfly Wishes stamp set ...

Item code 149346 for $31.00 CDN plus s/h/gst

I stamped the imaged in Blackberry Bliss ... and colored the flowers with my Purple Posy Blend markers.  I stamped the butterfly and fussy cut her twice - once for the entire body and once just the top wings.  I used my rectangle and stitched shapes dies for the layers and sentiment layer.

I would have loved to use my Purple Posy ink pad alas, the quality issues have not yet been resolved.  An ink pad would make life a little easier but I always still have the option of using my marker and/or blends.  Always more than one way to colour/stamp an image, right??

Next up is from the swap I did with Genevieve Ko and other amazing Canadian demonstrators.  This one needed at least TWO layers, an embellishment and couldn't be made with a stamp set that was available in the new catalogue PREORDER (ie anything BUT preorder products).  I chose the Very Versailles set - $31 CDN plus s/h/gst, item 149275.

You'll notice the layout is the same as the Butterfly Wishes card above ... and I once again used Purple Posy as my layer colour, and Smoky Slate as another layer.  The sentiments are stamped in Smoky Slate and Basic Gray ... and used some of the Purple Posy scalloped ribbon under the sentiment.

The last two were for the cruise.  For both, "anything goes", but products had to be current.

Recognize the layout?  Yup - my "go-to" . Free as a bird is STILL in my top fave sets this year, despite using it a LOT and seeing SO many projects with it.  It's just that great!!  Item code 149468 and $30 CDN.  The paper is the Bird Ballad DSP, $15.75, item code 149592

My last project was also for the cruise ... one of the 3-D swaps.  I LOVE this one!  It's a little notecards and envelope holder - it holds 4 notecards and envelopes ...

 These are the notecards inside.

I used the Magnolia Lane Suite of products for everything - the stamp set, paper, ribbon ... all coordinate together - love that!

I'll be doing a live video in the near future on how to make this little holder.  I CASEd the layout from Patty Bennett.  I am starting a new "Check It Out Tuesday" live FB event ... ever Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Mountain Time.  Search Facebook for "Tamara's Paper Trail VIPs" and I'll add you to the group so you can "Check It Out".  I'll be making this project either this Tuesday or next ... we'll see how my time goes!  Its a fun, QUICK project and I'm pretty sure once you make one you'll make LOTS - they're kind of addicting!

 Petal Pink Organdy Ribbon - item 149411 - $11 CDN

 Magnolia Land DSP - Item 149484 - $15.75 CDN

Good Morning Magnolia Bundle - item 151087 - $87.25

So those are my projects for today (only took me 2 hours to finish this post, due to "using a new laptop" technical difficulties - ugh I have a love/hate relationship with getting new technology!).  So I'll leave it there for now!

If you live in Canada and would like to purchase and of the items shown ... or any other current catalogue items I would LOVE to be your demonstrator of choice.  You can shop my store and place your order here.  Orders under $200 that use the hostess code JGYA6YYA before July 30th will receive a thank you in the mail from me.

I'll leave you with my favourite picture from my trip.  This was in Oia, Santorini.  I just adore it ...

Thanks for popping in, I hope you having a FAB summer so far and have yourself a super stampy day!


Tam

Going, Going ....

Happy Friday!

Yes, I know I missed my post Sunday.  Yes,  I know today is Friday ... life has taken over the last few weeks and I'm dancing as fast as I can *lol*.

If you follow me on Facebook (I've said it before, I'll say it again .. you SHOULD follow me on FB - that's my first line of communication on all things stamping!  Check me out at "Tamara's Paper Trail" and "Tamara's Paper Trail VIPs" to stay in the loop!

My latest newsletter will bring you up to date.  Check it out here.  All the links you need to check out the catalogue, place an order and/or buy the starter kit (starting July 1) are in the newsletter.  Click the link over on the Right Hand Side to be ON my newsletter - I'd love to have you!

I'm copying and pasting the Starter Kit deal passage from the newsletter here, as it is TOO GOOD TO PASS UP ON!

You know how I'm always banging on about how great the Starter Kit deal is?  How I'm always trying to save you money on buying great products you want, at a discount?

Ya.

That deal just got a WHOLE lot better.  Not kidding.


Staring July 1, when you buy the Starter Kit you get AN ADDITIONAL $40 in product in the kit for the same $135 price!!!  You get to pick out $205 in product that YOU WANT but you only pay $135 FLAT!!!  That means you are getting $70 in product for FREE! ... plus there is no shipping or GST on that $135, saving you another $31.78.  WHAAAAATTTT?  

What's that?  You don't think that's good enough?

HOW ABOUT A $30 PAPER PUMPKIN KIT THROWN IN AS WELL?? .. with no shipping or gst?

Sorry? You want MORE???  FINE!

HOW ABOUT A $14 COUPON TO BE USED ON AN ORDER YOU PLACE IN AUGUST??

That's insane, right??  But that's the deal!  Seriously!!
 

If you were to order $205 worth of product, plus a Paper Pumpkin kit, through me it would cost you $271.43.
When you order $205 worth of product through the STARTER KIT you only pay $135.
YOU WILL BE SAVING YOURSELF $136.43 ... CRAZY!

This deal is TOO good to pass up! Get the kit in July, save money in August (... which just HAPPENS to be the month we can pre-order from the HOLIDAY catalogue!!)

If you have bought the kit before you KNOW what a great deal it is ... and you KNOW there are no strings attached! ... and yes, you can absolutely buy it again if you have since "dropped".

With all the GREAT new products in the 2019 catalogue ... and all the new STORAGE products ... and the new IN COLOUR ITEMS you will be spoiled for choice for what to GET in your kit! 

The deal starts July 1 ... but I will be heading on holidays so get in touch we me before then with any questions. On July 1 you can order your kit through my link below.

This is an amazing deal My Friends. I hope you take advantage of it.  There truly is no catch and no downside!

Now ... I just thought I'd mention that I won't have posts for the next few weeks HERE, as I'll be on my epic trip of a lifetime!  HOWEVER, I AM scheduling posts on my Facebook pages for while I'm away.  All new cards and videos to show off some of the AWESOME products in the new catalogue.

I won't be posting FROM my holiday - no email and no internet.  Just what the doctor ordered!  I will share ALL the fabulous details when I get back.  Until then, enjoy YOUR summer, Happy Canada Day long weekend and have a super, stampy day!


Tam

SOOOO much shopping!

Happy Sunday ... and Happy Father's Day!

What a beautiful day!  Twenty two degrees today - PERFECT!

So today I have not stamping projects to share with you!  Oh, I've BEEN stamping, I just can't SHARE yet!  I'm working on a total of 98 (yes 98) swaps that have to be done by the end of the week.  I have finished 46 of them so I'm getting there slowly but surely!  I actually love mass producing so I'm happy as a clam ... although it IS doing a number on my back!  On the "plus" side I'm chipping away and my 56 recorded Coronation Street episodes! *lol*

So today I'll just do a quick update on some of the fun from last week.

First up - I help my 2019 Catalogue Launch Class / Open House.  FUN, as always.  Of course I didn't take any pictures of the PRODUCTS, but of my friends and true blue supporters.  My business wouldn't be what it is without my friends and these three are three of the best!  Wanda, Claudine and Carolyn.  Cheers girls!

Next up ... my first baby isn't a baby any more!  Nope - Rebecca finally got behind the wheel of a car for the first time.  Craig took her out to the church parking lot for a few laps.  Next up, driver training!

I must confess ... MOST of last week was spent spending money.  Lots and lots of money!  Yikes!  I'm going to have to sell a LOT more stamp sets next month to pay for all the pretty new things I bought!

When I say I bought a whole new wardrobe I'm not kidding!  EVERYTHING is new ... underwear, bras, shoes, dresses, sorts, tops, jumpsuits ... even glasses and contacts!  Next week it's hair, pedicure, EYELASHES!  Seriously out of control ... but you know what?  I NEVER spend money on myself and I have the BEST husband in the world who doesn't say a thing against it ... in fact he says "you SHOULD!  You deserve to feel beautiful".  I am SO blessed to be his chosen one!

Here are a few of the things I bought ...

 Freaking LOVE this jumpsuit!

 These are some of the items I bought for the refugees in Greece.  Stampin' Up! always does a service project on these incentive trips and they have asked us to bring leggings, shoes, socks, underwear, colouring books, pencil crayons and crayons for all ages.  I'm thrilled to help out the cause.

 Dollarama anyone??  THIS purchase will make be VERY popular on the tours we go on.  Paper fold up fans.  6 for $1.25.  I plan to bring extras on the tours and give them to any of my friends who are melting in lineups!

Lastly, I FINALLY got around to mailing out my June birthday cards, some sympathy cards, some congratulations cards and some Think of You cards.  I HATE when I'm late but better late than never, right?

So this week I'll keep chipping away at my swaps and be the taxi for the girls.  They start exams this week and that means I'm pretty much driving all day, back and forth to the two different schools.  It's ok, though - I planned on that and am happy to have a bit of a break from work.

Well, Doodles isn't going to walk himself and I have to go visit Pa in a bit so off I go.  Whatever you get up to today I hope you get to spend time with your Dad, if you are blessed to still have him with you and/or nearby.  Have a great, stampy day!

Tam

Magnolia Lane Awesomeness

Happy Sunday!

What a gorgeous morning it is here in Edmonton, Alberta!  We have had a a number of cold, rainy days lately (like SNOW in some places cold ... in JUNE!) so today is a nice change.  Now don't get me wrong - you KNOW I love me some rain! ... and last week was PERFECT weather for me, as I needed to hit the basement to prep for my classes and open house.  No complaints HERE!

I flew a *little* too close to the sun for my liking last week, though.  When I had planned my "Swag Included Magnolia Lane" class I didn't realize the new catalogue went live JUNE 4TH, not June 1st.  Ack!  Luckily the universe was on my side and my expedited order came 1 day early, rather than 5 hours too late. Phew!

I also left DESIGNING to the last minute (not my fault!  Between ME going to physio, Alicia going to physio, Craig's dad still in the hospital and trying to spend a FEW hours with the family creating got put on the back burner!) . No worries!  When I start getting stressed I just remind myself that it always works out in the end (somehow!) and, as always, I got 'er done :)

These are the projects we made in class.  They are all SUPER quick and easy ... yet lovely.  They area all made using products JUST from the Magnolia Lane suite of products.

 You can't see it but the white layer is embossed with the Subtles embossing folder.  The flower is coloured with the Petal Pink and Old Olive blends and the sentiment/flower are in Early Espresso.

The Magnolia Lane DSP is . 3.5" x 3/4" strip and the leaves are cut out with the coordinating dies, using the new Old Olive coloured vellum.  LOVE that stuff!

The layer of Petal Pink card stock is and 4 1/2" plus 2 ticks x 3 1/4" plus 2 ticks  - the white layer is 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

 This one is just a standard card version of the notecard I posted last week.  Stamped in Sahara Sand and the leaves are painted with a QTip and our Champagne Mist Simmer paint

The layer of Sahara Sand card stock is and 4 1/2" plus 2 ticks x 3 1/4" plus 2 ticks  - the white layer is 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

This one was cased from Linda Dalke.  It's embossed with gold Embossing Powder, then painted with white craft ink, and sponged with Petal Pink ink.  SO striking!

The layer of Early Espresso card stock is and 4 3/4" plus 2 ticks x 3 1/2" plus 2 ticks  - the white layer is 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"

This one didn't make the cut.  Too "something" for my liking but fun to play with all the same.

So my Open House was yesterday.  It's always so fun to have aLL the new products set out to look at.  Thanks to everyone who came!

I wanted to spotlight an item that is easily overlooked in the catalogue - our new shimmer embossing powders!  There is black and white and the are SO pretty!  My prediction is the white will go into backorder come fall, as we all stock up for our Christmas cards!

I'll leave you with a picture of the Happy Mail I received this week.  Yup, a card from Mr. Dan.  He got our box of cards and, as always, sent us a thank you card.  It's amazing how one little card can brighten someones day so much.  I challenge YOU to send a card today.  Challenge accepted?

Thanks for popping in - I hope you have a super stampy Sunday!

Tam

2019 DSP & RIBBON SHARES ARE HERE!

WHO WANTS DSP?

WHO WANTS RIBBON?

WHO WANTS BOTH?

My Ribbon and DSP Shares are here!

Here are your options:

1. Standard DSP share - 96 sheets of 6" x 6" sheets $45

2. Specialty DSP share - 36 sheets of 6" x 6" sheets $20

3. Standard and Specialty Bonus - buy option 1 AND options 2 and get a bonus 6 sheets of 6" x 6" sheets of the Noble Peacock Foil (SO pretty!)

4. Ribbon share - 2 yards of 10 ribbons for $30

5. Gotta have it ALL, Ribbon and both DSP shares - $95 - you get the BONUS 6 sheets of 6" x 6" sheets of Noble Peacock Foil AND a FULL pack of the new Shimmer Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper. That is over $24 in bonus items when you "get it all"

Who's in?

(I can mail your shares within Canada at an additional $16 charge)

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The NEW 2019 Catalogue is HERE!!

*** HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW CATALOGUE YET? ***

PLEASE! Do NOT PLACE A LARGE ORDER WITH ME! You'll pay too much!

If you have flipped through the catalogue and have items that add up to $120 or more do NOT place that order! INSTEAD, get the items you want in the Starter Kit! On a $120 order you will get to pick out $45more in product and pay LESS than if you order through me!

I'M SERIOUS!

A $120 order would cost you $138.60 with the s/h/gst.

A $165 Starter Kit would cost you $135 flat - no s/h/gst.

If you WANT to pay more to line the pockets of the tax man and UPS then go ahead and place that order ... but if you want more product for less money message me - I can hook you up!

No strings. No obligations. No pressure. No kidding. Save some money on some awesome new products.

Check out the new catalogue by clicking on the picture of the catalogue over on the right hand side.

Have a stampy day!


Tam

Everything is Rosy. BUSY, but Rosy!

Happy Sunday!

So I *may* be 9 hours behind today but better late than never, right?  Why so behind?  Last week was a HUGE week with SO much work, that I decided to take Friday off. Yup.  Sure did.  In fact, the whole FAMILY took the day off so we could decompress, destress, hang out together and remember what we all LOOK like!

Life gets SO busy for families these days.  It's HARD to get four people with VERY different schedules to connect for more than 5 minutes a day!  We are usually VERY good at LEAST at having dinner together.  Alas, with Craig working late last week and/or him often heading straight from work to the hospital to visit his dad, meals have been pretty few and far between!

Thursday night I made the executive decision to call Friday off "due to lack of interest" and we headed to see Aladdin for an afternoon Matinee.  It was a GREAT day out and we promised to do it more often!

 Now .... what had ME so busy last week?

I was blessed to be able to attend the NAIT (our College of Technology) Wellbeing Day and to stamp with 35 staff members.  I spent the week prepping marketing material, thank you cards and kits.  Aside from the 35 NAIT staff I also had to prep 9 kits for my Robinhood ladies, for the volunteer work I do there every month.  Not gunna lie.  Pretty "done" with this particular Paper Pumpkin kit! lol

The event went really well, thanks to the help of my friends Nicole and Tracey.  We celebrated with lunch ... and a cool foofy drink ... afterwards.  Job well done!

It was lovely taking Friday off but it was back to business (well, I SAY business but it really was more FUN than business!) on Saturday with my Everything is Rosy All Day Event.  It was a great, RELAXING day, filled with crafting, friends and food (MESSY fun!)

 Look at the great projects my ladies made!

I spent Saturday night watching a movie with Alicia (for your film studies class) ... and then 2 or 3 episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race ('cause we're going to the show in October and apparently I *need* to watch all 11 seasons before then!) ... and then a movie with Craig.  Of course I HAVE to multitask so throughout the day I finished off 26 card swaps!  Twenty Six down, 72 to go!

Oh!  I almost forgot!!  Friday was a VERY exciting and emotional day for me as my official documents for my trip to Greece arrived!  Yes, THANK YOU STAMPIN' UP! for the all expense paid cruise for TWO to the Greek Isles!!  If you want to see a 52 year old woman cry for 13 minutes, hop over to my business Facebook Page, Tamara's Paper Trail, and watch my video of me opening the documents.  Hee hee.  I'm such a big baby!

So this week I'm up to my eyeballs with appointments (still going to the gym, physio and helping out with MIL appointments amongst other things) AND with my New Catalogue Launch Class and Open House on the weekend.   It will be another busy one .. but that's how I like it.  Gives me a reason to put pants on in the morning!

Right - guess I should go check on dinner.  Hope you had a stampy weekend!


Tam