I am still pinching myself!
I just got back from attending the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
All I can say is OH. MY. GOSH!
The place is absolutely fantastic. It has 4000 rooms and is more than huge. Everything is under one roof...restaurants, shopping, bars, atrium with lush foliage, boat rides, entertainment and convention halls.
It is unbelievable that just nine months ago the place was under water. If I didn't know that had happened, I never would have suspected it. They have done an amazing job of restoring it. Here are a couple of youtube videos that say it much better than I can.
God Bless you, Nashville!
Following a map on the way to our room,(yes! they give you a map when you check in. It is
THAT big!), I had to turn around and take a picture of how pretty this was.
We had breakfast one early morning at this little restaurant.
I had to take a picture of this creation in the middle of the lobby for my daughter, Megan, who is an artist. I knew she would appreciate it.
Once I saw the banjos up above on this stained glass dome, I was reminded that, yes, we were in Nashville.
I wish you could hear how lovely this little waterfall sounded. I could have sat there all day.
Did I tell you this place was big? This is a mansion in the middle of one of the areas. A MANSION!
While we were there, they were in the process of taking down the Christmas decorations, which were beautiful, and putting up Mardi Gras decorations.
How could you not love this?
Yes, those are little hot air balloons hanging from the ceiling in the distance.
If you are the Gaylord Resort, you have to have BIG Christmas trees!
These were
B I G!
More waterfalls.
Oops, added this picture twice, but since we are here, notice the hanging strings of lights? They are lit at night and are just breathtaking.
Told ya!
I learned so much at this Leadership conference, but these two women were why I had so much fun.
Julie Kasper, on the right, is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I took in every little tidbit of advice she had. Her beautiful laugh, was infectious. You just want to be around her!
On the left, is my precious sister, Penny Thomas. She is my best friend and I just can't imagine attending without her. We 'get' each other, and finish each other's sentences. We can give each other a look and not need to say a word. What a treat to do what I love best, with one of my favorite people in the world!
Wouldn't you like to go to fabulous places like this too? Join my team and let's do it together!
This little candy pocket was made using the Petal Card Punch. I punched two pieces using the Real Red Card Stock. Then folded two sides at the scored marks, (the punch scores it for you!), to make a heart shape with both punched pieces. I trimmed those side pieces so it would be flat and adhered them together. Punched a hole on each side for the ribbon. To make it frilly, I crimped two scalloped edges to fit inside. 
Following a map on the way to our room,(yes! they give you a map when you check in. It is THAT big!), I had to turn around and take a picture of how pretty this was.
We had breakfast one early morning at this little restaurant.
I had to take a picture of this creation in the middle of the lobby for my daughter, Megan, who is an artist. I knew she would appreciate it.
Once I saw the banjos up above on this stained glass dome, I was reminded that, yes, we were in Nashville.
I wish you could hear how lovely this little waterfall sounded. I could have sat there all day.
Did I tell you this place was big? This is a mansion in the middle of one of the areas. A MANSION!
While we were there, they were in the process of taking down the Christmas decorations, which were beautiful, and putting up Mardi Gras decorations.
How could you not love this?
Yes, those are little hot air balloons hanging from the ceiling in the distance.
If you are the Gaylord Resort, you have to have BIG Christmas trees! 
More waterfalls.
Oops, added this picture twice, but since we are here, notice the hanging strings of lights? They are lit at night and are just breathtaking.
Told ya!
I learned so much at this Leadership conference, but these two women were why I had so much fun. 
I think the tiny roses are just as cute as the boxes. 
The flowers are from the Upsy-Daisy stamp set and using Baja Blue and River Rock markers, (try that combo together, it's really pretty), I stamped off once so as not to take away from the sentiment stamped in Basic Black. The Sentiment, "To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." - Henry David Thoreau, is from the retired, (sorry), set called The Art of Life. I love the saying and it just seemed to fit. The base is Soft Suede. My friend, Christine, said the colors remind her of the beach. Very soft and calming.
This is the calendar I made for my downline. This little lady is from the stamp set called Tote-ally Tess. It includes all kinds of 'tools' we stampers use everyday, such a wheel, snips, etc. Tess is holding a popped-up heart stamp, ready for her Stamp Camp! I believe I stole this idea from Dawn Olchefske, (www.dostamping.typepad.com), who is a fabulous stamper. The little calendars are from http://www.stamponthis.com/.
What a great idea, a New Year's card! 
Judy Sumner
Penny Thomas. 
Jayne Singleton
Becca Sadler
Susanne Jeffery
Patty Schnell 
Yep, those are my little, sand-covered, pudgy toes on the beach of Princess Cays in the Turks and Cacaos Islands. Rough, huh? I was actually sipping a margarita and enjoying the view of our ship, the Crown Princess. Ahhhhhh......
What a pretty little 'package' for a gift card.
This is my kind of Christmas tree! No dropped needles. 
My sister, Penny Thomas, (please visit her blog, she is an awesome stamper! http://www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com/), gave me this idea, back in the spring, using the Mini Milk Carton die, #117310. I thought it would be fun to 'winterize' it. Punch a 1 1/4" circle #119861, on one of the sides, insert a battery operated votive and add a pretty roof. The holly and cardinal are from the Two-Step Bird Punch, #117191. The Designer Paper roof is 'Deck the Halls', #120810, with the scalloped edge punch, #119882. Makes it looks so cozy inside.
This little Santa is fat enough for you to put goodies inside him. He is a triangle shape and would look pretty on the tree as an ornament too. His face is fashioned from various punches, and is quick to put together. I stole this from my friend, Judy Sumner, who gave me this shape as a witches' hat on Halloween. Love it! His nose and cheeks are 'flushed' because he's been putting packages in his sleigh,
I named this camp, Anything But a Card....I kinda lied. This is actually a card, but since it has a job, I couldn't pass it up. Have you ever made a 'Slider' Card with the Word Window #119857Punch? This is along that same line. I saw a beautiful card made by a fellow stamper and friend, Kirsteen Gill, http://www.creatinwithkirsteen.com/ using the stamp set Bells & Boughs #120831, focusing on the bells. She used the 3/4" Circle Punch #119873, pennies, and Dimensionals #104430. The bells seem to be ringing when you hold the card. I just loved it and reduced it for my gift card holder.
Isn't this cute? It's a little triangle that keeps Kisses snugly inside. How nice would this be to find on your desk at work, or to give to that someone you want to show appreciation, maybe a waitress, barista, or hairstylist? 
Not sure where I saw this idea. Probably on our fantastic demonstrator website. 
Rudolph has gone Top Note vintage this year. 
