This past Saturday was the most fun I have had at a stamping event for quite a while. Don’t get me wrong, I always have fun at stamping events. But on Saturday I had a blast. I hosted my first annual team and hostess thank you party. I wanted to properly thank those people who are really helping me expand my business, and what better way to do so than with a fun party?!
We started the morning with food…
drink…
a make and take project…
and massages. (Sorry no pics of this. I thought that was creepy!)
All of that got us warmed up for some fun stamping challenges. These are great stamping game ideas for any of you who host events or just want something fun and crafty to do with friends.
For the first game, I provided each guest with four colors of cardstock (whisper white, basic black, soft suede and tangerine tango) and access to my fall stamp sets, punches, die sets, ink pads and paper scraps. Using those materials, they were simply asked to create a card. I thought it would be neat to see the different things people would come up with when they had access to the same materials. Here are the cards they created.
Didn’t they turn out gorgeous? It seemed that the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set was a very popular choice. It’s a popular choice of my own which is why it’s my Stamp Set of the Month for September.
For the next stamping challenge, I gave each guest a 4 x 5 1/4″ piece of white cardstock, to serve as the base for a card front. Their job was to add something to the cardstock to begin making a card. That person only did one step, then we passed our piece of cardstock to a neighbor to do the next step. We continued on until each guest had a part in creating each of the following cards. Here are two of my favorites that we created.
Didn’t they turn out amazing?? See all the cards that we created here. I think it’s really neat knowing that none of us would have ever created any of these cards on our own, but as a group we came up with some pretty awesome ideas.
I had one more game in store. You know the Left Right Game that is often played at Christmas parties to exchange gifts? We did the same thing with stamping prizes instead of gifts! I passed out stamp sets, paper packs, tools and embellishments and each guest chose one to start with. I read a story about my trip to the Stampin’ Up! Convention last month. Each time I said ‘right,’ everyone passed their prizes to the person on their right, and each time I said ‘left,’ everyone passed their prizes to the person on their left. The prize they had at the end of the story was the one they got to take home with them. If you would like to read my (based on a true story) story, I have included it below.
That was basically the end of my first hostess and team party. I passed out goodie bags that included a handmade card, a decorated mini notebook, an Ink Spot ink pad, and some delicious fudge I had made.
I thanked everyone for supporting my business and they thanked me because they had a great time. I even got asked if we could do this every Saturday! Sounds good to me!
Here is my (true) story that I used for the Left Right Game.
The day had finally arrived. I was headed to Salt Lake City! I grabbed my suitcase and headed right out the door. I headed up Johnsville Rd., made a right onto I-70, and was on my way. I was so excited. I had heard so many wonderful things about convention, I just couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about.
My first flight was from Columbus to Detroit. When I arrived at my departure gate at the Detroit airport I saw a pack of girls that just had to be Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. I sat down beside them and said “Stampin’ Up?” I was right, they were demonstrators headed to convention like me. Then I realized, sitting on my left was Dawn Griffith, one of the million dollar achievers. I played it cool, I didn’t act like I was in the presence of a celebrity. We boarded the plane and sitting beside me, on my left was another Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. We yakked each others ears off the entire 4 ½ hour flight. We left nothing out of our conversation. We even got a dirty look from the lady in front of us. Apparently our excitement was not contagious. I think she was just jealous because no one had ever introduced her to stamping, and she felt left out.
That evening I got settled into my hotel room and all ready for the big excitement to start the next day. I got up early, grabbed a bite to eat and left the hotel, excited to get my first taste of convention. I quickly realized that all those demonstrators who had told me wonderful things about convention were right. I entered the convention center and saw hundreds of demonstrators, talking, chatting, laughing, hugging, and swapping cards of course. I got in line to pick up my goodie bag and right away was greeted on the right and left by the big dogs of Stampin’ Up! – the people that make all the decisions! I got my goodie bag and opened it hoping to see the new catalog. Oh darnit, they left it out! I guess they were building the suspense even more, so I would have to wait a little longer.
The three days of convention flew right by. I got to see the new catalog, new products in the catalog, and tons of project ideas for those products. I was excited to see the Basic Black and Basic Gray ink pads and refills made it into the holiday catalog, because they were left out of the annual catalog. I got to hear from extremely successful demonstrators on ideas they use in their businesses, and learn about improving specific areas of my classes and events. I even got to walk right up there on stage and receive my Rising Star Award. The interim CEO Sara Douglass, daughter of founder and CEO Shelli Gardner even gave me a hug! Oh, and don’t worry. It may sound like they left out the most important thing from convention, but they didn’t. We did get to do some stamping.
One of my favorite parts of convention was the feeling I got each time I walked into the hall where the general sessions were held, and joined thousands of other demonstrators, from full time demonstrators who have assistants working for them to the much more common, hobby demonstator who just wants a discount on her products, who all love the same thing I do. Each time I walked into that room, I was reminded how right of a decision it was that I signed up to be a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.
The last day of convention came, and when it was over it was time to head back home. I left behind some great new friends, but hopefully it won’t be long before I hop back on a plane and head right back to another convention. Seated on my left on the plane ride home, this time, was not a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, so I had a chance to rest, relax, and reflect on my experience. Again, it was clear to me, that becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator was one of the most right decisions I have ever made.
If you have ever considered signing up as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I would love to talk to you about the opportunity. I would really love to invite you to my team and hostess party next year, so either 1. host a party for me (in person, catalog shows, and virtual parties all count) or 2. sign up as a demonstrator on my team. Contact me for either opportunity!
If you need to place an order, visit my online store here and use hostess code 6RFN3PMW to receive a free gift!
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