What I Love About Stampin' Up!

Today I'm going to start by showing you one of the projects from my Open House last week.  I'm gettin' a little flack for being a tease and only showing you a small part of the project!!!  *wink*

It's a fun magnet!  You see it here stuck to the bar at my desk that holds some little shelves and tins where I store all kinds of things that I need right in front of me when I craft (things like adhesive, scissors, my clear blocks, etc)!

Last week, my friends Allison and Kristine both blogged about what they love about Stampin' Up! and that got me thinking.  What do I love about Stampin' Up!?

Allison talked about how she loves that all our products coordinate together so beautifully.  She's right...that's a fabulous reason to love Stampin' Up! and one of the reasons why I started using the product.

Kristine talked about the relationships and friends she has made.  She is also right.  The relationships and friendships I have made through Stampin' Up! are so special.  In fact, one of my closest friends is a friend I made through Stampin' Up!...we talk almost everyday and I never would have met her if it wasn't for Stampin' Up!.  In addition to her, I have made countless more friends (both in my classes and clubs as well as my demonstrator friends) that are a direct result of me joining Stampin' Up!. 

One of the great things that Stampin' Up! has done for me, is boost my confidence.  Those who know me well, know that I'm kinda shy and pretty quiet.  However, most people who meet me at workshops and events would have no clue!  When I talk about Stampin' Up! I almost become a different person...well, at least you see a different side of me!

But, I think the thing I love best about Stampin' Up! is that Stampin' Up! gives me the opportunity to change people's lives.  I know, it sounds a little hokey, but it's true.  I'm addicted to the feeling I get when I give someone a special card or handmade gift...especially when it's an unexpected card or gift!  I'm also addicted to seeing the look on someone's face when they open a card I've made just for them.  It's great!  And, this is what leads me to my project for today!  Check it out...

Isn't it fabulous?!?  It's a little outside my normal stampin' comfort zone, but I had an idea last night and after my club girls left I sat down to make that idea into reality...and it turned out they way it looked in my head (I *heart* when that happens!!!).  As I was making this, I knew exactly who I was going to give it to and I knew she would love it!  So do you want to see what's inside?

A set of four magnets made just like the Open House project.  I went with the Elegant Soiree DSP for this project and decorated the magnets with punched flowers, butterflies, pearls and words that fit my friend to the "t"!  Here's a closer look at each of the magnets.

I love, love, love the way the box turned out!  I started with a Bitty Box, cut from Crumb Cake cardstock.  I stamped it with the Sanded background (Crumb Cake ink), the En Francais background (Early Espresso sponged onto the stamp), butterflies from the Clearly For You set (Baja Breeze ink) and sponged with Early Espresso ink on all the edges.

The top is my favorite part of the whole project and has a lot going on, so rather than me trying to explain it all, I will just show you!

Well, there you go!  I am thrilled with how this project turned out and I was so excited to give it to my friend.  Oh yeah...the look on her face was great when I gave it to her!!!

So what do you love about Stampin' Up!?  Could Stampin' Up! fill a void in your life?  If you want more information about it, please let me know and we can talk about you becoming a demonstrator on my team of fabulous ladies!

Have an inspired day!