Here we GROW!!

So - I wanted to share this picture of the Mainstage at Convention this year - it was such a great theme. The Stage had a HUGE grow on it that changed colors every day, and the plants silhouetted on it were added to every day to give the illusion of it growing. What a wonderful convention theme - SU out did themselves. I was so excited when I signed in for convention - as I got an Award for promotions in my downline - how exciting was that!! I didn't even expect it - I received this beautiful pin and great Stamp Set! (Yes, it's the same set I got from Prize Patrol - so Heidi will probably get one of them :) But I'm not complaining - it's nice to be recognized.

So, I guess those of us that went to Convention took the GROW theme literally - since we've gotten back we've added 18 NEW members to the Crazy Stamping Ladies downline - AMAZING!! I do plan on earning the trip to Fiji - and this makes it look like it really could happen. Looking forward to getting to know all these new ladies.

ENJOY some Palm Tree Perks for me to go to Fiji!

I want to go to Fiji!!!

This year's Stampin' Up! incentive trip is taking all qualifying demonstrators to Fiji, and I want to be one of them!! So throughout the next 11 months keep your eyes open for these incredible "palm tree perks" that I will be offering on a regular basis.

These are great deals for you, and will help me on my way to Fiji! Plus - if I make it to Fiji everyone who helped me get there by purchasing products from me this year - will be invited to an all out "Fiji Funtastic" event! You won't want to miss it, so check out the current amazing bundle special I'm offering you of our brand new In color products...

Order the perks "In-color Bundle"*

(colors are-calypso coral, wisteria wonder, pool party, island indigo, and lucky limeaide)
You'll get one package of the In color assorted Card Stock ($6.95 value)
Plus a 2 yard sampler of each of the 5 In color ruffled ribbons ($9.95 value)
(shown in lucky limeaide, but you will receive all of the colors listed above)

Plus, one full package of the In color polka dot brads ($7.95 value)

And you'll get a sampler of one sheet of each color/pattern, (10-12x12 pieces) of the 2011-12 In color designer series paper pack ($5.50 value) All for $25.00 plus shipping & handling and tax. This is a total value of $30.35 (you basically get the paper FREE). So you'll get a savings of over $5.00 on the bundle; and a great sampler of the In-color products! It's the perfect way to try out all the new 2011 in colors. But, be sure to email me right away with your order, as this offer ends Sunday July 31st at 11:00am! All orders must be picked up from my home or an additional shipping cost may apply.
Email me now at - crazystampinglady@gmail.com

*Note - this is a special offered and available from me personally - it is not a Stampin' Up! special.

Convention - Wonderful Prize Patrol

I wanted to share with you the wonderful prize I won at Convention from Prize Patrol - it was this great bundle of products with a long piece of lace ribbon. In the bundle were Perfectly Penned wood set, Under the Big Top DSP, and the Big Top Birthday Quick Accents. It was soooo exciting to win. One other person in our group, Theresa, also won a prize - she had warned us that if she won she was going to be excited - and she was :)
She won a bundle of new Holiday products from the upcoming mini - so I can't show - but it is all very lovely!! Convention is wonderful and if you'd like to join us next year, think about signing up under the wonderful $99 special SU has going right now. Full details are in this post -
http://crazystampinglady.blogspot.com/2011/07/join-my-team-now-and-have-some-fun.html but you only have till Sunday to go to my website - http://www.stampingwithmaureen.stampinup.net/ to sign up under this deal.
In fact check out this video from Shelli Gardner, the founder of Stampin' Up! regarding this deal, and let me know if you have any questions!! ~Maureen

Day at the Park

Last Sunday hubby had the day off, so we picked up Jenee's kiddos and headed to the park. Here are Paisley and Prince climbing on the rocks. Papa, Paisley and Prince having a blast - Prince and Zamarah playing on the slide -And when we were done playing, here we are just resting in the shade and a nice breeze - I love this picture with the kids - it was just a wonderful day!

ONE week left for the amazing $99 special

JOIN THE FUN and be a CRAZY STAMPING LADY!!

I want to go to Fiji on the Stampin' Up! Incentive trip - and I need your help. Sign-up now with this amazing incentive, and you'll get even more incentives from me along the way!! Your first BONUS incentive - join me for a FREE Stamp Camp and Welcome Meeting on Saturday, August 13 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM. We'll make some fabulous cards that will coordinate with the Christmas Keepsake box below. All materials and light refreshements provided.

Order your Starter Kit Now
PROMOTION ENDS JULY 31, 2011

Promotion Details: A limited-time $99 Starter Kit ($180 Value--See Kit Contents below!) is the perfect choice for the hobby stamper and lover of Stampin' Up! products. This is an amazing kit!!
• SAVE!!! Enjoy the new Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog using a one-time 30% Off Start Up Discount on product orders of $150 or more (placed within 45 days of start).
• Get 20% off future Stampin' Up! orders, wonderful exclusive resources and the opportunity to pre-order new products.
• Receive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Discounts and Benefits through Dec. 31, 2011 with NO obligation to to purchase anything further or hold a workshop.
• All types of stampers are welcome to my Crazy Stamping Lady group. To see more of what I offer my group click on "Become a Crazy Stamping Lady" at the top of this blog.
• There's no penalty to drop. You keep everything.

• PLUS Get a Christmas Keepsake project kit (example below) absolutely FREE--a $40 value! This exclusive kit contains everything you need to create a beautiful Christmas Keepsake Box to hold your most treasured Christmas memories. It will be available with your first demonstrator order in August and must be redeemed by Sept. 30th. The Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit--a $40 value--contains the following products (quantities are 1 unless otherwise noted). It's included with any $99 Stampin' Up! Starter Kit purchase (only available July 1 - July 30). Keepsake Box Project Kit will be included in the first demonstrator order placed between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, 2011.

•Pines & Poinsettias Set (wood-mount)
•Keepsake box
•Scallop borders (cut from Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die)
◦First Edition Designer Series Paper (3)
◦Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6)
•First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
•Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece*
•Real Red Top Note (cut from Top Note Bigz Die)
•Real Red Decorative Label (cut from Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
•Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
•Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
•Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric*
•Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
•Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
•Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim
•Linen Thread
•Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter
•Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Simply Adorned Bauble
•Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
•Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons*
◦Large Wild Wasabi
◦Small Real Red
•Mini Vintage Tags

Additional Supplies Needed for the Box (you can of course substitute what you have on hand)
•Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
•Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
•Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Marker
•Adhesives
•3/16" Corner Punch
•Scallop Circle Punch
•Paper Cutter
•Paper Snips
•Needle
•Glue gun
*From the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog!

$99 Starter Kit Contents
Contains over $180 in products and business supplies--including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! You CAN substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.

123225 Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*

122740 Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*

102277 Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

105216 Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
103133 Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
119706 Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
101179 Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
107311 Whisper White Note Cards (20)
124339 Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
124142 Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
122129 Blender Pen (1)
118486 Clear-Mount Block C
104332 SNAIL Adhesive
*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Business Supplies
The business supplies in these promotional mini kits will be the same business supplies that are in existing starter kits; no alternative selections can be made for business items.

•Getting Started DVD
•Getting Started Guide
•Guest Invitation Postcards (100)
•2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
•2011 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
•Stampin' Up! logo vinyl
•Décor Elements applicator
•To My Hostess Envelopes (10)
•My Digital Studio Marketing DVD
•Recruit Folders (5)
•Recruit Brochures (20)
•Customer Order Forms (50)
HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE $99 KIT OR JOINING THE CRAZY STAMPING LADIES? JUST EMAIL ME AT CRAZYSTAMPINGLADY@GMAIL.COM
ONCE YOU ARE SIGNED UP AND YOUR KIT COMES WE'LL MEET FOR COFFEE (MY TREAT!) AND DISCUSS THE DETAILS!! IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUN!!

Convention - Amazing Convention!!

July 13 - 16 a group of us "Crazy Stamping" ladies flew to Salt Lake City for the annual convention and what a great time we had - Julie, Christel, Theresa, Heidi, Maria and I all roomed at the same hotel and that meant very little sleep :) The first thing we did as soon as we arrived is SLC and dropped our luggage off was head to the Convention Center and get our bags - we're always excited to see what SU is giving us - and this year they did fantastic. Look at this beautiful bag - it's solid and slight squared off so is perfect for a tote or even lunch. And look at the beautiful embroidery on the front to match our "Grow" theme, and I love the "Grow" tag hanging from the zipper.We all just sat directly down on the floor and went through it - sooooo much fun! Here are Heidi and Maria getting out their nametags, etc. As I mentioned earlier the theme was "Grow" - here is the stage the first day - every day the colors on the stage changed, and additional flowers and foliage were added to the stage. It was amazing and beautiful to watch. The only other "Crazy Stamping" lady to attend was Diane and she was fortunate enough to be a Make and Take helper. Here she is helping out at our session and sharing a laugh with Heidi and Christel.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

First of all, I am so sorry for an entire week with NO posts - YIKES!!! Convention was amazing and I'll be posting some bits on that - but I came home to immediately having to work a couple 12 hour days to get ready for my International Student orientation. Then it was my birthday - then we did a day at Ronald McDonald house - so - finally - here I am :)
I wanted to share some of the beautiful birthday cards I received - this group is from my downline!! This one is from Toni - From Lisa -

From Jeri -

From Sandy -

From Kathy B -

From Karen -

Thank you all - it meant the world to me to get these wonderful cards during such a busy week. Lifted my spirits every day!! You're the best!

Shoebox Swap

Well - It's Sunday if you're reading this the day posted - so we're probably on our way home from Convention - exhausted!!! But I'm sure it was well worth it :) The 405 is supposed to be closed - so our drive from the airport will probably be a long time - but we're going to relax and take it easy till we get home to our own little beds :) Our little demo group did our own shoebox swap while at convention, and here is the card I had them make. I think it turned out really nice. It uses the "Fabulous Florets" stamp set from the Summer mini - colors are Baja Breeze, Early Espresso and Wild Wasabi. Don't they look great together. Here it all is getting ready to get packed for the trip.

We also stamped the envelope and inside of card to match.

I liked it enough that I made several more up for my own use, and I think I'll make a few more in orange tones.

Grandkids - such JOY!

Today I just want to share a few pictures of some of my grandkids. You've seen the Gramma day posts where Kamili and Makai and I painted - so I wanted to show you those finished projects after being fired. Here is the little puppy Kai and I painted -

And here's that cutie pie Kai modeling with it - Here's the "Frankenstein" kitty Kamili and I painted - And my other cutie pie Kamili modeling with it - Finally - I wanted to share this picture of a third cutie pie of mine - Paisley. Paisley has a ton of beautiful, but very frizzy and kinky hair - after a bath before Jenee fixes it, it is just a huge afro. But she spent some time with her Auntie Diana this weekend, who took the time to blow dry, flat iron and curl her hair and this is how it currently looks. Isn't she beautiful. It won't last and she loves it - so Jenee is going to try and do it more often for her. I think she's lovely no matter what. I'm missing all my little kiddos while at Convention - can't wait to get back home and see them.

Conv Hotel Buddy gifts -

Each year when we go to Convention, those of us who go from my downline and stay in the same hotel exchange gifts - it's always fun to see what is created - and I'm sure this year will be no different. So this year I decided to make everyone a photo album - I make my own album for my convention pictures each year - so it made sense. Here they are lined up and ready to go -

And here is a close-up of the front. I used the great "Travel Log" set from the current Summer mini. It didn't make it into the new catalog (but still might next year-as Summer mini sets have come back a year later) - but I still love it! It's perfect for all those summer vacation trips.

Here's the inside - it has the list of the ladies who are going this year in our little group. They can put in their pictures, or their swap cards - or whatever they want. Hope they like them! I'll share what I get when I get home - woo hoo!!

More Appreciation

If you're reading this Wed. morning when it was first posted - know that SIX of us from my downline group are currently headed to SU Convention in Salt Lake City - WOO, HOO!! I'm posting this ahead of time, but there is a good chance that I didn't sleep at all last night. We needed to leave from my daughter's house at 3:45 AM to be on time for our flight - so why sleep :)

So here are a few more pics from my Downline Appreciation Day - but first I was appreciated :) - Karen brought me this lovely bouquet of flowers - thanks Karen - that was very sweet!! Kathy also brought a bottle of Moscato - that must have been good and was thoroughly enjoyed, cuz when I went to get some - it was all gone :( Thanks Kathy - that was very sweet of you also!Here is a little "thank you" gift that greeted each of the ladies when they arrived at their seats. I know they all have a use for mini glue dots - who wouldn't?!?Here are Lisa and Kathy enjoying the day - and here are Lyn and Karen. Karen was kind enough to demonstrate how she unmounts her roller stamps from the wheels and uses them on clear blocks. It was a great demo, thanks for sharing - there are several wheels I think I'll do this with.

Finally - this picture was actually from last month's meeting, but since I couldn't show the catalog yet I had to wait to post. These three lucky ladies (Heidi, Lyn and Diane), won a brand new catalog for their team winning the "How Well do you KNOW Maureen" contest. They had to answer 10 questions I asked related to me, stamping and the new catalog - way to go ladies!!

CONVENTION here we come....

So it's 2:30 AM and I'm at Heidi's - she's resting a bit, so I'm blog surfing. At 3:15 AM Julie is picking us up and we're headed to Theresa's and Heidi will drive Theresa's vehicle over to get Christel, and then we'll head to Long Beach where we'll catch a Delta flight for Salt Lake City where we'll meet Maria - and then the FUN begins!!! That's right - it's time for the 2011 Stampin' Up! convention and we are going to have a ball. The schedule is jam packed and we'll be exhausted - but it will be worth it!!! We'll do our best to post all the "happenings" so check back often over the next few days!!!
~Maureen

Downline Appreciation Lunch

Last Saturday, I had my first annual "1st Downline" Appreciation lunch and it was such a nice time. We started the day with light refreshments and a short meeting. The ladies were greeted by this sign when the came in. Here's a close-up of Tess - isn't she cute! I had it sitting up on an easel - and can use it for all my upcoming event.

After our meeting - the Ladies each got to make their own as a project that they can use in their own businesses. They got to pick the color of DSP they wanted to accent it with - perfect use for those tiny patterns in our DSP packets. Here are Heidi and Julie working on theirs -

Sandy and Maria working on theirs - and a close-up of Lisa's Tess. This is such a great group of ladies - I hope they know how much they mean to me. I think it was a fun and useful project - and I hope they enjoyed it!

My "Gramma" Day with Makai

So recently I had my "Gramma" day with Makai - we had such a good time. We started out with breakfast with Makai, me and "Papa". My hubby is always jealous of me having a day with the kids, as he as to work, but this time he was off work and joined us for part of it. And because Kamili really wanted time with Papa too - we started the day at "Eggs and Things", all four of us, but of course - I forgot to get a picture :( Then we dropped Kamili off at her home, and Papa off at ours and Kai and I headed to the Mall. Here she is riding in the little toy rides. Next we headed over to the Paint A Dream store - she wanted to paint a puppy dog to go with Kamili's kitty from last month.

Here she is with her puppy "Clyde" just like her real puppy -

After painting we headed to ths store for a little shopping, then lunch at McDonald's. (her choice of course.) Then to our house where we watched Pocohontas (her fav), and sat and cuddled and played.

Finally we stopped by the Frozen Yougurt place to pick up yougurt and Gummy Bears for her and brother and sis. So very much fun!! Kai is a bundle of energy and a ton of laughs - she had me in stitches most of the day. Love you Kai, Kai!!