To help me out now, I've borrowed a few photos (thanks to Josee!) to share and you'll have more stamping ideas than you know what to do with!  I love getting to see so many of my stamping friends when I go to various Stampin' Up events, but here's just a few of my favorite people...

My travel buddy Roxie and my wonderful upline Josee.

 Me and my good friend Ronda Wade

All of these pictures are all taken on our boat cruise through downtown San Antonio. I LOVED this city and can't wait to go back - so much history!

Stampers on the Loose - Tamie, Donna, Ronda, Me, Lisa, Kari, Roxie and Jo

The boat ride was one of many highlights of our trip, including our team dinner at Pat O'Briens. I had been to the New Orleans location a few years ago, and I'm happy to report this visit was much more tame! And one of the biggest highlights for me are always the displays that Stampin' Up puts together. I've put together a photo album for you of the displays highlighting the Occasions Mini! Love them! 

Comment below to tell me what your favorites are!

How it works is simple...each month for four months (Feb, Mar, April & May) you'll come and make 12 birthday cards (3 each of 4 designs). Each month we'll do feminine, masculine and kids cards so you are ready for anyone's birthday!

Your class fee each month is $40 (payable in advance) and included in that fee is $15 of product which includes your 12 envelopes and an accessory such as a roll of ribbon, package of brads, etc. You can either attend classes as your schedule permits OR better yet, join for all four classes and you'll get a special bonus of a Birthday Card organizer to keep everyone's birthday straight and have cards ready to go!

Here's a peek at the birthday card organizer - a $22 value which you'll get for free when you sign up for four months.

The organizer has a pocket for each month that has a perpetual calendar so you can use it year after year, and then on the backside you have room to store some birthday cards.  Here's the pocket:

Date: Third Sunday of the month, 1st session on Feb 19th

Time: 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Maggie's Stamping Studio, South Mountain

Click here to sign up now for Birthday Club!

Note: If you can't come one month, I will stamp your cards for you and if the weather totally sucks during the winter, we will schedule a make up class.

Sundays don't work for you but you are interested? Let me know and if there's enough interest I'll add another day/time to the calendar. Just send me an email.

Here's a super clean and simple card featuring the fun Outlined Occasions stamp set that you can earn for FREE during Sale-A-Bration. That's right totally free with a $60 or more purchase!

This card came together quickly using the heart pattened paper from the Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper Package along with some Island Indigo ink and cardstock as well as Whisper White Cardstock.  The greeting is stamped and then punched with the Decorative Label punch.  The addition of Island Indigo ruffled ribbon pulls it all together. 

Want to earn this stamp set for free?  Then hop on over to my online store to shop til you drop.

Don't forget to take my customer survey and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate (closes Friday Jan 27th).  - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G7ZBHV8.

Stamp in Person - Local customer in eastern Ontario click here for the class schedule.

Stamp from Home - Join Stamps 2 Go or Markers 2 Go and get the stamping fun sent to your door!

Shop - Shop online 24.7 from anywhere in Canada. Get the monthly Inspiration in your Inbox class with a purchase of $50 or more!

The card above features multiple Sale-A-Bration goodies including the Fresh Vintage stamp set and the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, as well as the Brad and Ribbon Package.  And the greeting comes from the Elementary Elegance stamp set. Phew, that's quite the list. The card was inspired by one created by one of Stampin' Up's artisan award winners, Jennifer Picard.  I love how you can take the concept of a card and make it your own.  She's a very talented stamper, and all-round lovely person, so hop on over to check out her creations!

This year's Sale-A-Bration book features a line of exclusive products including stamps, paper and a package of cute ribbon and brads, as well as some favorites from the Idea Book including stamps, Big Shot accessories and more. You can check the whole thing out by clicking here. And if you are in Canada and would like a copy mailed to you - pop me an email at maggie@ilovepapercrafts.com.

More Sale-A-Bration goodness to follow. Don't forget to take my customer survey and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate (closes Friday Jan 27th).  - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G7ZBHV8.

Stamp in Person - Local customer in eastern Ontario click here for the class schedule.

Stamp from Home - Join Stamps 2 Go or Markers 2 Go and get the stamping fun sent to your door!

Shop - Shop online 24.7 from anywhere in Canada. Get the monthly Inspiration in your Inbox class with a purchase of $50 or more!

Here's another Mixed Bunch card...and yes, I am addicted! This is one I created for both my team swap and an organized swap at Leadership. I am so excited that I got to participate in the swap organized by Lyssa, a US-based demonstrator. This swap features cards with a certain level of quality, which is what I like to see in my own creations, so I'm sure I'll have some lovely cards back. Lyssa, the swap organizer is an immensely talented stamper, so if you want to hop on over to her blog, Song of My Heart Stampers I'm sure you'll get lots of inspiration.

This card has a few little twists that step it up a bit - including the embossed flower which is done with the Irridescent Ice embossing powder, the In Color brad and the scallop ribbon which helps to anchor everything.  It goes to show that a card doesn't have to have 12 layers to be a winner - plus, who wants to pay postage on that? Lol - my quest to create one stamp cards continues! :)

Have a great weekend,

Maggie

Stamp in Person - Local customer in eastern Ontario click here for the class schedule.

Stamp from Home - Join Stamps 2 Go or Markers 2 Go and get the stamping fun sent to your door!

Shop - Shop online 24.7 from anywhere in Canada. Get the monthly Inspiration in your Inbox class with a purchase of $50 or more!

Today's the first day of the Stampin' Up Leadership Conference in San Antonio...well sort of.  During the day is a "free" day, and then in the evening is our manager's reception.  Every year they treat us to something different, and this year, we are seeing the Acrobats of Hebei China Perform. I am sure it wil be spectacular...although I keep having flashes of watching "Circus with the Stars" as a child.  Lol - talk about a blast from the past!   During the day I am hoping to hit San Antonio's Riverwalk and the Alamo (history geeky girl alert). 

Enough chit chat, here's one of my swap cards for Leadership this year. This card features Mixed Bunch and the coordinating Blossom Punch. The striped paper along the bottom is from the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper in the Occasions Mini, which is versatile and the pictures in the catalog don't do it justice! Check out another Mixed Bunch card here.

Check back tomorrow for more swap cards to inspire you!

Stamp in Person - Local customer in eastern Ontario click here for the class schedule.

Stamp from Home - Join Stamps 2 Go or Markers 2 Go and get the stamping fun sent to your door!

Shop - Shop online 24.7 from anywhere in Canada. Get the monthly Inspiration in your Inbox class with a purchase of $50 or more!

In the February Stamps 2 Go kit, you'll get the Sweet Cake Stamp Set, matching accessories from the Sweet Shop product suite, and three finished sample cards mailed to your door anywhere in Canada. Plus, you'll get an exclusive technique video and handout via email to show you the tips and tricks from your sample cards. 

Sign up before January 25th for the rest of 2012 at the 2011 rate of $35 per month.  Plus, you'll receive a stamp set of your choice up to $22.95 in value just for joining, and then a bonus set at the end of your subscription ($24.95 in value) in December. 

Click here to register now.

With your monthly subscription you'll receive:

• The stamp set of the month (you can substitute if you already have this set or simply want another)
• Three finished sample cards featuring the Stamp Set of the Month
• A full-color handout by email with instructions on how to make the sample cards
• The package delivered to your door anywhere in Canada via Canada Post

Have questions? Learn more about Stamps 2 Go!

Sounds good? Register now.

Here's a quick and easy card featuring the Label Framelits, which have quickly become my new stamping best buddies!  Seriously...where have you been all my life? 

There's lots of layers on this card with the embossed background (Elegant Lines embossing folder), and then the two label framelits and the middle portion of the stamped focal point which was punched with the 1 inch circle punch and popped up. Basic pearls pull the whole card together for a simple, elegant look.

Enjoy - check back tomorrow for my first of three swap cards that I'm swapping with other demonstrators at this week's Leadership conference in San Antonio!

Stamp in Person - Local customer in eastern Ontario click here for the class schedule.

Stamp from Home - Join Stamps 2 Go or Markers 2 Go and get the stamping fun sent to your door!

Shop - Shop online 24.7 from anywhere in Canada. Get the monthly Inspiration in your Inbox class with a purchase of $50 or more!