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Get double punches on your Northwest Stamper Rewards card all week
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What a busy but great first day here at Convention!  It was all about NEW and the NEW Holiday Catalog!  From the very first session as they revealed the upcoming catalog to fun throughout the day as we learned, stamped, and got new ideas based on some the great stuff coming out in September.

So here is your daily recap!

We started out by checking out the Convention Center and getting the CUTE convention bag this year.  I think it is my favorite yet!

As we were waiting in line, we spotted one of the staff in the blinky sparkly outfits which meant if we said hello and played his game (name the cardstock color) we won prizes!

Of course we rocked it… most of the gals got logo travel purses/badge holders – which they were really excited about, and a few of us got ribbon spools. WINNING!

And btw – doesn’t everyone look great in our team shirts?  This is our Fun n’ Crafty  crew representing at Convention! The bright blue clumps of people made it SOOO much easier to find each other

Finally we were let in and we got to see main stage.  Seriously people, the décor is so fab this year!

They started out with the “Daily Share” which essentially was a 2 hour long new holiday catalog reveal party led by Bonnie Farley, Brian Piling, and Carrie Cudney

I will say though, one of my favorite little clips was of Brian aka “Quick and Easy” trying to go out on the streets with a Quick and Easy Card Project on a cart randomly asking people if they wanted to make a quick project with him.  I’ll say, that man has way more guts than me!

Different this year was that most of the catalog reveal was showing a completed project or two as someone talked about their favorite new item in the catalog or how they would share the catalog with others.  So, mostly, lots of photo ops of cute new stuff.

Like new stamps, red pom pom trim, new festive buttons…. 

New specialty designer papers, new word thinlit dies!!!

And even more dies!  Many of the new stamp sets in the catalog now have coordinating dies so you can easily cut out and create neat layered projects.

There is also a new Precision Plate for the Big Shot that they say will help you eliminate the need for wax paper with your intricate dies.  GREAT concept!  I get to play with it today so I’ll keep you posted on what I discover after playing with it.

Who loves this die?!

And finally we got our copy of the holiday catalog too!

Here is a better picture, with the more important part in focus

Then it was time to head to lunch, classes, and the Gathering Place where there were lots of samples and all the products in the Holiday Catalog on display for us to check out.

Kicked off the party with the Interim CEO Sara Douglas

Even the décor for some of the Make & Takes put you in the festive spirit

PSST – Those deer are from some of our upcoming designer paper!  Love the vintage!

More vintage sneak peeks with this cute tag we made – check out the striped satin ribbon, the santa cut out from patterned paper, and the Pointsettia button!

Then it was back to the Gathering Place for more relaxing and checking out boards.

This is the stamp set and matching framelit that I HAVE TO HAVE!  This WILL be coming to my house in August when I can preorder it.  

New kits were out…totally doing these shaker cards as a class!

And lots more:

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Finally it was time to grab some dinner and then get gussied up for Awards Night and the Roaring 20’s after party.  Monica Van Tassel from our Fun n’ Crafty group was extra crafty and MADE us all feather headbands to wear.  How fun is that??

They kicked off the party with a neat dance show by some local dancers

Then Sara got things started recognizing so many demonstrators for their outstanding achievement this last year.  Let me just say, a lot of people had AMAZING years!

Then it was time to party!

They had food, a live band, and event dance lessons.  Of course, Mom, Beatie, and I had to arrive in style

Then we headed back to our hotel where Liz had brought some wine so we had late night happy hour in her room.  So, more fun socializing and discussing our have-to-haves from the upcoming catalog and preorder!

All in all, a great day!  Make all the better by the wonderful people I was with!  Now off to get going for Day 2! 

I’ll see you over on Facebook for more real time updates throughout the day!