Jennifer Schaerer
I spent the better part of yesterday thinking back on my first year here at Paper Crafts (I know! It’s been a YEAR!), and one of the most satisfying parts of being part of this community is the enthusiasm and support for this oh-so-creative hobby of paper crafting.
And last week my cup, um, overfloweth with enthusiasm when I got to attend the annual convention for Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. Ever seen clips from a Hannah Montana concert? Yeah, it was sorta like that, but with grown women in the audience.
Before the tidal wave of energy arrived
With a theme of Inspire. Create. Share. and some vibrant colors and set design to go with it, there was plenty of all three to go around. The most exciting part was hearing about the new design software being released Fall 2009: My Digital Studio. Let me tell you, this is one powerful and versatile tool, my friends. Keep an eye out for more information when the product is released.
Stampin’ Up! also unveiled its partnership with Build-A-Bear, releasing dies, designer paper and stamp sets that delightfully capture the charm of these furry do-it-yourself critters in paper crafted form.
Kelly Smith, Brittany Beattie, me, Megan Hoeppner and Brenda Peterson “sharing” the fun!
After the general session broke for lunch, we (Kelly Smith, Brenda Peterson, plus our Creating Keepsakes peeps Megan Hoeppner and Brittany Beattie rounded our group) wandered through the lunchroom to see the project displays. I somehow managed to pick up my jaw from the floor and dig out my camera to start manically snapping photos of each color-themed section.
Until my battery died. And I’m not even kidding you.
But I was able to capture a good dozen shots, and I’m here to share the wealth. Get set to scroll through some catchy color combinations and lovely layering ideas. Ready? Go!
The lunch area was packed with hundreds of enthusiastic demonstrators refueling for two more days of Stampin’ Up! fun, so we gave a big inspired sigh and went back to our magazine world for the rest of the day.
Looking forward to another year as enjoyable as the past one,
Jennifer
P.S. I’d love to hear what aspect of paper crafting makes your cup overfloweth with enthusiasm. Leave a comment and I’ll pick two winners to each receive a Stampin’ Up! stamp set. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Friday, August 14.
The chance to be creative (and finish something quickly ;- )
My cup overflows with enthusiasm when I contemplate the endless possibilities paper crafting has to offer–for any occassion, anywhere–I have within my own two hands the possibilty to create!
My cup overflows each moment I get to sit and play with my ‘toys’. I never find it a chore to create and love every piece of it.
My cup overflows with enthusiasm due to the fact that my daughter loves her new preschool so I get 4 hours twice a week in which to crop and stamp!!!! Yippee!!!!!!
Wow this was exciting. I enjoyed all of the fun color combos.
I love the energy and the rush I get from creating!
I love how paper crafting is not limited to just cards or scrapbooking.
The fact that you can do just about anything with paper. I mean, really!
I absolutely LOVE when a creative moment hits, and I know I’ve seen something in a way that is unique and fun!
I am always inspired by paper and especially when I have coordinating ribbon!
Wow, that’s an amazing look at the Stampin’ Up convention. I’m sure inspiration was everywhere. I think what really gets me excited is seeing new ideas in trade publications…especially Paper Crafts. I love to see what’s being done by other people and new ways of seeing things.
I love that even a little purchase can jump start my enthusiasm. A punch, a few sheets of patterned paper, some new little embellishment, etc. It doesn’t always have to be something big.
OMGoodness! Blog hopping has got me off my rocker for inspiration. I didn’t realize until this summer how awesome and creative some women are out there in the blog world. My favorites list is sooooooo long now.
I love how I can lose myself in it and not think about those things that are stressing me. And I love the look on someones face when they open a handmade gift. NOthing inspires like that
What makes my cup overflow? The excitement of how the person who will be receiving the card will react. They will love it…I know they will! That is just the best inspiration ever!
So many toys to bring out the creativity in you! And so many friends to share ideas with. It actually can be overwhelming! Capturing memories via the scrapbook medium allows you to pass along history to your love ones. And at the same time allow you to do your thing! There is never enough time in the day!
New stamps or new ribbon gets my juices flowing. Thanks for the chance to win!
Colors! I just LOVE color and when I see beautiful things made with the many colorful colors in this craft, it just makes my endorphins kick in!
I get inspired looking at blogs but what really inspires me to create is when I find the perfect card sketch and I know exactly what I’m going to do when I see it, what color combos I’m going to use, what embellishments, right down to the sentiment.
Great Post Jennifer
Janet
I would have been right there with you… and all the foot stomping!! Because the week before I was at the CHA Supershow and for me that was foot stompin’ fun!!! I got to meet up with all my friends AND drain my checkbook
But I had a blast
The creating time that I get to spend with all of my supplies, luv that!
That piece of paper that just ‘grabs’ you, the inspirational creation on someone’s blog, the trends highlighted over at Moxie Fab, the occasions to celebrate and memories to record.
Papercrafting in general is theraputic to me. As the mother of five kids (2 of which are 3 1/2 yr old autistic twins), papercrafting is seriously what keeps me from just yanking my hair out somedays and other days, it takes me from headache, grouchy mode straight into relaxed, chilled mode just by making a card or LO. Sometimes just looking back at old LO’s I’ve made makes me happy. And it makes it all worth it because all of my children look at my scrapbooks ALL the time.
It’s when my card makes someone feel special, encouraged or down right happy! That is why I enjoy paper crafting.
I love that one piece of paper can be used in so many different ways. Each person has their own sense of style and I love looking at what people come up with using the same type of stuff.
I love the new papers, embellishments and new stamp sets.
I get excited and happy when my friends are amazed over something I created. I have to get my happys where I can, LOL. Thanks, ms.cheryl
I love love love getting scrappy goodies in the mail! Sure, it’s fun to shop for new products in the stores too, but there’s something about getting a little package of paper goodness (and yes, scrap mags count too!) direct to your doorstep that’s never fails to excite me.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I love having something to show after I spend time creating…
Creating with friends always makes me feel enthusiatic and inspired. There’s just something about creating with friends who “get” your addiction that keeps the ideas coming thick and fast!
The biggest thing that inspires me to craft cards is the happiness it brings to people to recieve a hand made card. Well, of course, I also love the colors of the paper, the satisfaction of creating, the tons of beautiful products, the gorgeous card inspirations of others….
Oh la la Stampin’ Up! Gotta Have. I love the stuff. Addiction bad!
My Stampin’ Up demonstrator, Beth Daniels, has the unique ability to present adorable, lovely projects that look professionally designed. She is able to break down the steps of the projects so that my finished product is something that I look forward to sharing with family and friends. While creating these beautiful projects, I enjoy visiting with friends. My enthusiasm is fueled by Beth’s enthusiasm as a Stampin’ Up demonstrator.
I love being able to create unique and truly personalized cards for my friends and family!! The papers, stamps, inks, markers, embellishments, punches, etc. all help to add just the right touch for each card!! The entire process makes me feel so happy inside!
I love watching the trends in paper crafting. They’re so fun!
I think the best part for me is being able to create something special for someone, to coordinate with their favorite colors, or things they like, or hobbies they enjoy. I like to make cards to send off to friends randomly too, always fun
Thanks for sharing a peek of convention!
I was in Michaels craft store today, and I actually watched the clerk open the first box of new embellishments for Halloween. I was so excited. Of course I had to buy something. All the way home I was thinking what I was going to create using my new product.
For me the excitment is seeing all the ideas sharded on the internet. And when a certian design catch my eyes I will go to great lenght to make the project.
creating something for someone means i went the extra mile & that means a lot to me.
Just simply sitting down with a sketch and some stamps in hand is all I need to brighten my day!
The best part for me is the blog hopping and the endless inspiration that blogs offer….LOVE them so much.
love the projects. thanks for sharing.
It’s funny to me, but my inspiration and new addiction in paper crafting comes from my blog and the friendships I’ve made through it. I do challenges and post and comment on others blogs all so that I can get a little critique from other fabulous paper crafters – those that know the time it takes to make something from the heart. Thanks for sharing – looks like it was a blast!
Although I love looking at all the new products available and browsing through web sites and magazines for inspiration–nothing does it for me as much as getting down to busines in my craft space–I can barely curb my enthusiasm.
Seeing a new paper line and matching embellishments makes me ready to craft. I am a paper person.
Looking at other’s inspiring designs gets me going in my scrapbook room. Just looking at all those samples that you shared makes me want to get my housework done and get into my craft room.
Whenever I see a stamp that I *LOVE* I get super excited and just know that I *MUST* have it! There are some designs that speak to me (especially birdie images) and so I love to ‘play’ with those images because it’s like I’m including a piece of me in my creation! =)
Oh, and pretty papers (as I call them) get me super excited, too! Especially whenever I see new lines from my favourite paper co’s!!! I like to fram some of my current faves and put them on the wall for instant artwork which can be easily changed!
New stamp images and paper lines jump start my creativity!!!
I love stickers,but I’m getting really into stamps now. Stamps give me so much inspiration, they help to get my mind flowing, and some of them are just tooo cute.
thanks for sharing and a chance to win
I told my husband the other day give me a few pieces of paper and a few supplies and you’d be amazed what I can come up with and he just sweetly smiled…