Our journey to Salt Lake was perfect! Every little detail was as it should be – such a blessing. We arrive with plenty of time to get settled and rest up before our first session. We were even able to check into our lovely room early!!!

Once settled we were able to go pick up our convention goodies! I always love that part, it ‘s like Christmas in July. We got the c-u-t-e-s-t little, red bag.  Isn’t it darling?

We got three awesome new stamp sets along with all of our make and take supplies.   This week was filled with shopping, eating out at yummy restaurants, fellowship and everything Stampin’ Up!

A few of the highlights of this convention: The new Holiday Catalog!!!!!  It is chalk full of some really fun and exciting stuff.   I cannot wait to share all of it with my stamping buddies.  I also got really jazzed about  Project Life by Stampin’ Up!  Until hearing about it this week, I was very disconnected about the whole concept of it, but after seeing it demonstrated, explained and even getting my hands on it, I am sold.   I am planning to get my hands on it and even challenge some of you to take a challenge with me.  Are you interested?   I hope you are, it will be so much fun!    Also congrats to my awesome up-line, Jen Jacobsen who is just a SU Rockstar and got lots of awards and is once again in the top 100 demonstrators in Stampin’ UP!

I love the Prize Patrol Stamp Set and Die Cuts that I got, it was so exciting!!  Prize Patrol also gave out a DSP that I have been wanting along with two other stamp sets that I am excited to use.  I am so excited to play with all of my new goodies.

All trips need an adventure, right?  Well this trip even had a little bit of that.   When Hayden (birthday boy) found out I was going to be in Salt Lake he asked me if I could check out a record store there that he had heard about.   I truly did not think it would be possible, nor was I sure if it would be worth it.  I was proven wrong in both instances.

So, I get directions from the front desk for this record store, they made it sound like it was not too far and they failed to mention that it was not a great part of town.   Luckily my friend Stefani offered to come with me.  I am ever so thankful that she did.   I probably would have gotten lost if I had gone on my own and it would have been pretty scary for me to ride that train alone.  There were several unsavory characters on board.  =)

Stef and I  ride the train as far as it will go and then we have to walk the rest of the way.  It was about 6:00 PM and it was still 96 degrees out.  We saw a few things along the way that made us realize we are not in our little bubble any more.  We make it to Randy’s Records and I find two great vinyls that my birthday boy had on his wish list. S C O R E!!   While I was wrapping things up Stef called a cab for us.   I was so thankful to not have to go back the way that we came.   It was a funny little journey, one that I will never forget and I hope that my birthday boy will always appreciate.

If you know me at all, you know how hard it is for me to be away from my family. This year was no exception and probably was even a bit harder for this girl. Why? You may or may not wonder, but I am gonna tell you. Ha! This particular trip always falls on two very special birthdays. That of my first born and that of my best friend. Do you know the sadness and guilt that comes along with that alone? Well take that and add that it was my baby boy’s 13th birthday!! Yep! His momma was absent for his 13th birthday! What momma could be so remiss?

The beautiful thing is that my boys love me so big that they graciously gave me their blessing. God has a way of working all things out for the good.

Shortly after all the flights were booked, the convention fee’s paid etc. I remembered that we had planned a special 13th birthday date with our son. We had planned to take him to his first concert!  You can guess the sheer horror when I realized this concert – that never made it on our family calendar- was now on the same date that I actually flew out of Colorado?  Oh the turmoil and grief I put myself through, how selfish of me to forget. Once again. God showed up, once again my boys poured out their grace. I so did not deserve it.

Once again, all things worked out beautifully.

God gave me peace to live in the moment. To enjoy the place that he had me in. Although I occasionally wondered what Hayden was experiencing the evening of the concert and how Kip was doing with three teenage boys at a rock concert, I was able to just find contentment in what I was experiencing.

The boys had a fabulous time, it was as magical as I had hoped it would be, Hayden went to see Journey, one of the very first groups I saw in concert. He loved it just as much as I loved it 25 years ago.  <3

I’m Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I’ll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you’ll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone can enjoy!

Get Started

It’s so easy to get started. Contact me, Jen Jacobsen, and I will get you all signed up! Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

The very first Paper Pumpkin will arrive on your doorstep starting in March-if you sign up before March 10.

So here’s the nitty gritty:

• Each month Stampin’ Up! will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• Stampin’ Up! will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let’s say you sign up on May 10th, we’ll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we’ll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, Stampin’ Up! will offer a Try-It kit if you’d like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.
• Mom’s these are also great projects to do with your kids. Please contact me if you are interested, thank you!

If you would like to come to my February or March Stamp Club as a guest please contact me ASAP so I can make sure I have supplies prepped for you to stamp with us!  If you place a qualifying order your guest fee of $7 is waived.  Remember this is a fabulous time to stock up on cardstock, ribbon and inks, spend $50 and pick a free item out of the Sale-a-brations Catalog.

Would love to have you join us for Stamp Club:

Thursday February 9th 12:30-2:30   This date is subject to change

Wednesday March 13th 12:30 – 2:30

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/kimberlyrussell

Recently, I was asked by Gillian’ s ballet teacher, who is opening up a brand new studio to make the signs for the rooms. Thanks to a sweet friend who suggested me, I think I know who you are!

Anyway, it took me a few weeks to really get a vision of what I wanted to accomplish and what I was going to use to make them.  Believe it or not, plan A  worked as I planned.  It went so incredibly smooth and I absolutely love then end result.  I hope that Tina loves them as well.

I have to share that while I was making them, my sweet little family really honored my with their encouragement.  I heard Kip talking with them and hearing the sweetest comments about how amazing mom is!  I pray that all moms are as blessed as I am and that their family shows their love and appreciation for them.  I know that one of my love languages is words of affirmation, I am so glad that my family knows how to love on their momma!!!!

From October 16th through December 16th take advantage of these specially priced bundles.

Create beautiful cards, packaging and Cherished Keepsakes for those special people in your life.

I do not mean to be redundant or annoying, but sometimes something is in your face and you just can’t help but appreciate it. This week it happens to be witnessing the love our family has for each other and how well we know each other. I cannot say that ‘gift giving/receiving” is my main love language….but I sure do love it!

My dear sweet husband had me anticipating a surprise for about two weeks. I thought I was gonna bust. I think he tells me that he has ordered something for me just to torture me. I have to say that it was totally worth the wait.

This filled my cup. To have someone truly know you and love you so much that they search out something they know you want but wouldn’t get for yourself. You see, I love organizational tools, but all of the ones that I love are so pricey that I rarely indulge myself. I also love that my stamping corner is in the main living area. However, that can also be a challenge because it is our main living area. I try very hard to keep it neat but sometimes that just doesn’t happen. My desire was to bring in a bit of functional decor to the shelves. My surprise accomplished just that. Kip sought out some decorative boxes I had my eye on for this area and I have to say it looks so much neater.

Well, I did survive and it did arrive today!!! Oooh…gotta go run and look at it all again!!!