Utah is like the mecca of scrapbooking and paper crafting companies. Seriously, I would like to spend two weeks there, and just go from manufacturer to manufacturer, and visit them all. It was a definite highlight of the trip, to visit three amazing companies. Our first visit was at We R Memory Keepers. We toured their facility, and had a little lesson on some of their latest tools and products. Then we got to eat delicious cookies, and do a make-n-take. They even sent us home with goodies!!! (Have you seen their new 6x6 washi adhesive sheets? Quite cool!) WRMK has a new logo, which I am loving. (The group shot shows the old logo, and the tag and box show the new circular shaped logo.)
Our second visit was to Stampin' Up. Holy guacamole. . .talk about an amazing building, and amamazing setting.
{the view from the front of Stampin' Up!}
I LOVE this wall decor. This is a stamped image that was enlarged, and cut out of fabric, attached to canvases. Can you IMAGINE how much work that was!?
I had to take this pic for my mom. . .she's a Close To My Heart consultant, so she's pretty much competition with SU. ;) giggle giggle!
At Stampin' Up, we toured their GIGANTIC warehouse and facilities, and got to play with some BRAND NEW product that hasn't yet been released!
Our last visit, on our last morning in Utah, was to American Crafts. WOW. I had NO idea that American Crafts produced some of the products they do! We got to see how they make pens and markers. . . I LOVE learning how things are made, and this was totally fascinating to me.
{Boxes and boxes of beautiful pens!}
{Learning about how pens are made}
And while we were in town, we also got a tour of THE Paper Crafts offices. (Also the home of Creating Keepsakes, plus the events team that puts on scrappy, crafty fun all over the country!)
{This is the cute eat-play-work room.}
I probably have a few more pictures, . . .but I'll share it another day. Thanks again to all the GTG's and editors who shared pictures with me! We all had our phones Instagramming away the whole week!
xoxo
It feels a little overwhelming to try and recap my time in Utah. I'll do my best, but it will probably be totally disorganized, and it will include quite a lot of random thoughts and memories. . . . are you ready?
I left for Utah on my birthday, and my anniversary. I was so happy to celebrate with my family the day before. This was the FIRST time I had ever flown or traveled any distance on my OWN. Completely by myself. It was sort of fun, although sort of stressful to be responsible for myself! It was kind of nice to not have to worry about entertaining kids on the plane. No crayons rolling on the floor, or sippy cups spilling in my lap.
I met up with the first four of the GTG's at the hotel, (Kimberly arrived shortly after I did) and it was a super fun moment, to walk in and see them sitting there in the lobby. There were many hugs, but I had that slightly awkward feeling of "I just met you, even though I sort of feel like I know you, and this is so overwhelming, I don't really know what to say!" That all ended very quickly though!!!! I went up to my room, to find a dozen roses waiting for me, sent from my husband! (He gained major husband-points from the other girls, and from me! What a gem!)
Soon, Jennifer (PC's editor in chief) came and picked us up and took us to her house, where her family graciously sacrificed her home for most of our meetings and brainstorming sessions. She had it stocked with candy, and soda to help us work hard!
The rest of the day, and much of the next day was filled with a recap of the past year's issues, plus brainstorming for the coming year. {Eeeks, I have to tell you, I am SUPER excited about all there is to come!} I really loved learning a lot more about the magazine industry, and seeing how things roll behind the scenes. I have a much better understanding of each editor's job, and how the whole team works together to form a cohesive unit. It's pretty awesome what the team of Paper Craft's staff accomplishes together!!! I am so honored to be a small part of it!
{See? We WORKED!}
{Birthday cupcakes! Heather's birthday was two days before mine!}
So here are a few pictures of me and all my new-old friends. . .many of them I already considered friends, but man, to HUG them and see their sweet faces in person, and TALK to each of them, was so good for my heart!!!!!
{Susan Opel}
{Heather Campbell}
{being goofy with Teri Anderson. . .the girl NEVER makes a normal smiley face for the camera!}
{Kimberly Crawford}
{Coffee run with Jennifer Schaerer}
{the sweetest sweetheart. . .Cath Edvalson}
I'll take a break and come back in a day or two and share some more pictures!!! We visited some great companies in Utah, did some shopping, and had some serious FUN!!! {Oh. . .and we ATE. and ATE. and ATE!}
{Big thanks to all my partners in crime who shared pics with me!!!!!}
Hey there friends! I have two cards for you today, but I realized I still owe this little blog some pictures and a recap of my trip to Utah, with the Paper Crafts magazine chicks. I'll get right on that, I promise. The days have been whizzing by since I got home, and I've neglected the old blog.
But right now, quickly, while the kids are happily playing with army men AND dinosaurs on the kitchen floor, let's get through these to cards, before the army men and dinos start flying across the room. Shall we?
Next up, Lawn Fawn! I used Daphne's Closet 6x6 paper on this card, along with Quinn's ABCs dies. There is a great accompanying stamp set too, but I used simply the dies for this - and I kind of love it! This is my FIRST set of alphabet dies, and I have a feeling they will be getting a LOT LOT LOT of use!
I created both of these cards on Brilliant White cardstock, from Discount Cardstock. It's my go-to white cardstock. It holds ink well, and it folds nicely. It's one of my favorites!
Okay, my promise to you - many goofy photos from ed board in Utah. Coming soon. xoxo
I have a quick card for you today, as I am busy recovering from an incredibly fun and productive week, planning, working, and playing with the Paper Crafts editors and Go-to Gals!! I am officially EXHAUSTED! I'll be back in a few days with pictures and fun from my trip. (Although I think there are about a million floating around Facebook and Instagram, if you can't wait!)
I created this card with two great stamp sets from Avery Elle. Handwritten Notes is a brand new set, just released. It is awesome! Talk about a quick and easy card - even for ME, and my easy-peasy tendencies, this is REALLY quick and REALLY easy. I used beautiful bright Memento inks, from Tsukeniko, and the flower stamps, also from Avery Elle, is from Petals and Stems,
I'll see you in a few days, sweet crafty friends!! xoxo
Happy May 1st! Although I am in Utah as you read this, working hard and having fun with the Paper Crafts magazine editors, and Go-to Gals, I'd like to share the brand new stamps from The Stamps of Life! The May set has some of my favorite new sentiments, and I am OBSESSED with the fun, friendly font! Hello, My Friend is from the new set, called phone4you, paired with some of my favorite flower stamps, from mums2stamp.
But I know, what you reallllly want to see is more of the cute new stamp set!!!! First off, just the outlines, of this ADORABLE phone. It is going to be SUCH a great addition to my stash, especially for cards for my girlfriends! I added some jewels to the dial, which adds a funky fun touch.
Ever since I got a polka-dotted embossing folder, I am pretty much using it on EVERYTHING. embossed polka-dots are the very best addition to any kind of card. I'm convinced of it! (And the dotted folder comes in a two-pack with a flowered one that is just as adorable!) There's an important trick to remember, when you want to put a sentiment right onto an embossed surface. . . and I tend to not plan ahead often enough, so I end up redoing things a lot - STAMP FIRST, EMBOSS SECOND. Repeat after me (and I'll repeat after myself) STAMP FIRST, EMBOSS SECOND. When will I learn!????
Be sure to head over to the TSOL gallery - the design team will have tons of great inspiration for you to see!!! I'll be excited to look at it, when I return home from Utah tomorrow!
PS - don't forget about the giveaway, on THIS post. you can comment once per day for a chance to WIN!
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