Convention 2013 - The Beginning

Hello, Friends!

I have been home from convention for a week now, but am just now getting the opportunity to share my convention fun with all of you.

I left Seattle for Salt Lake City on Wednesday.  I was up all night Tuesday finishing up swaps and roomie gifts.  When I arrived in SLC, I was happy to find that all of my luggage arrived safely with me, with only a minor rummage from TSA.   I met my first new friends at the airport.  There were SO MANY demonstrators there, and they happened to also be looking for their luggage, and waiting for shuttles.  Stampin' Up! demonstrators are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

I was very impressed with the DoubleTree as soon as we pulled up.  Our shuttle driver, Boyd was so kind and friendly.  The staff was eager to help make your stay better.  I didn't have much time to look around though.  I was able to drop off my bags, and pack my shoebox for a swap I was signed up for across the street at the Little America hotel.  I wasn't as impressed with that venue, but once again met nice new demonstrator friends.  We made seven beautiful projects - but my favorite is this one, designed by Rose Castillo.  

On Thursday, I had to be at the Salt Palace bright and early for my 8am Riverton Tour.  Thankfully, one of my new friends Jill was also taking the tour at the same time, so we decided to go together.

Here we are on the bus, headed to Riverton.

We were so excited, we took a picture with the sign.  LOL  See that carry-on bag on the left?  That is my bag with my organized swaps for Thursday.  Aye Aye Aye!  It was a pain pulling that thing around everywhere, but the swaps I got back were so worth it.  

I love that they decorated the home office for our visit!

This is one of the walls in the museum.  I just love it!

There is an idea room in the home office that is floor to ceiling whiteboards on three walls.  During home office tours we are encouraged to write messages there for Shelli.  This was my message.

We are allowed to walk through demonstrator support on the tour.  I loved this little guy sitting on one of the desks.

Here I am, with one of the two giant, beautiful rocks that can be seen from the road.

After we were shuttled back to the Salt Palace, it was time to start my swaps.  I will post more about the swaps later. 

We had our opening General Session that evening, followed by an Opening Social.  Our theme song for this year was sung by one of the contestants from The Voice.  Ronald Mcdonald made an appearance to announce that Stampin' Up! is now a global sponsor of the Ronald Mcdonald House.  We have been a sponsor in the USA for about 10 years already.  We were given our convention bags, and the first couple prize patrols happened.

There was lots of great fun to be had at the Opening Social party.  We could take pictures with Ronald, sing karaoke, check out the different labs going on, and/or help to set a new world record.  Stampin' Up! set the record for the most greeting cards mailed from a single location at one time.  It was so exciting!  We had a representative from the Guinness Book of World records there to make it official.  I believe the final count was somewhere near 2,500.   The USPS was also there to sell stamps to those of us who forgot them.  So many of us demos took a photo with the mail man too.

I don't think he was planning on 5,500 + women all wanting to take a photo with him that night.  LOL

At the Social Media lab, they had this fun photo opp.  :)

I was surprised at how many brave demos got up there and sang karaoke!  They all sounded pretty good!  Lots of fun!

So, there you have it.  That is a whirlwind wrap up of the beginning of convention.  I'd love to have you join me there next year!  If you think this sounds like fun, send me a message, and we'll chat.