What do you get when you put over 100 Stampin’ Up! demonstrators in a gorgeous room on the University of Illinois campus for a Saturday full of Holiday Catalog stamping fun? You get Vacation Stamping School – actually, the 14th Annual Vacation Stamping School!
The time flies when you’re having fun, right? Well both the past 14 years of VSS (previously known as Spring Into Stamping when it was held in April) have flown by – along with the 17 years that I’ve been a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up!. And having helped to organize this event with Mary Ellen Stites and Julie Davison for all these years, well, it’s been a privilege. Because getting together is pretty much a Stampin’ Family Reunion at this point! (check out a few of the past events)
We gather from around the country – 12 states represented this year – and spend the day stamping, laughing together and gathering ideas that we can take home and use with our stampers.
The fabulous Terri Gaines came from Minnesota to be our key note speaker – and she wow’d us with her ideas on the upcoming Let it Snow Suite from the Holiday Catalog. I can’t wait to create some of the projects she shared!
We had business tips given in 3 simple steps for all kinds of topics by amazing presenters – including this kick-off topic from demonstrator Laura Borchert, who joined our Stampin’ Up! family back when she was 18 years old. Laura’s a LovenStampfuls demonstrator who has earned many incentive trips in the last few years, and she announced this weekend that she’s earned the next trip and will be going to Maui with us next summer!
The facility this year was absolutely perfect – lots of space, great light and amazing visibility – we had 4 giant screens to showcase the stamping demonstrations!
One of my favorite features of Vacation Stamping School is the demonstrator fair. For this portion of the event, we have fantastic, talented demonstrators who put together display tables and teach a specific technique or highlight a suite from the upcoming catalog.
From top to bottom: Rachel Chamberlain and her Still Scenes Snow Globe projects, Karla Endris and her feature of the Hatching Technique with the Harvest Hellos and Come to Gather Suite, Shirley Casey with the Let It Snow Suite, Linda Yearsley with tips on 3D embossing, Ramona Simpson with the Feels Like Frost suite, Mary McNeely with Flip n Fold Cards, Sandy Jacobson with the Watercolor Tissue technique and Cheryl Soerenson with ideas for frames.
I did a short and sweet Facebook Live video on location on Saturday, in case you’d like to check that out!
(click the video snapshot to go check out the Facebook Live video!)
Wow! It was a great day and I didn’t get pictures of everyone who presented, but Betsy Crider, one of our LovenStampfuls demonstrators from Pennsylvania, kept us entertained with her business tips presentation. Don’t worry, our love for stamping can overcome our Penn State – U of Illinois rivalry!
We also had a visitor from the Stampin’ Up! home office in Riverton, Utah. Jen Campbell talked about the catalog design process and shared some insights into some of the upcoming Holiday Catalog suites. We were excited to have her join our event!
Finally at the end of the day, I can always say that we love being together and love sharing ideas – because we truly love what we do as demonstrators. It’s a privilege to work with these amazing and accomplished women!
And I’m always happy to grow our stamping family. If you haven’t ever considered joining my LovenStampfuls family of demonstrators, well, why haven’t you?? The perks, discount, chance to share ideas – all are great reasons to join. (learn more!) But my favorite reason is that you’re part of a family of stamping sisters (and brothers), spread all across the country and even the world.
I hope you’ll consider joining us next year for the 15th Annual Vacation Stamping School – I know I can’t wait to see you there!
Happy Stamping!
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