Now that I'm home and about 1/2 way caught up on everything (only 300+ emails to go!), I thought I'd spend the next few days sharing some of my key highlights and memories of my trip to Palm Springs for Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference. Today... we concentrate on the SWAPS!




Swapping has always been a key part of my SU event for me, since I just LOVE to bring back fabulous new ideas to my stamping friends back home, and this time was no exception. Yes, I was still assembling swaps enroute but that just meant I could have MORE lovelies to swap out!


On the Wednesday night, I participated in a giant Shoebox swap at the Hilton Hotel with 47 other participants.

Basically this is where you brought all the supplies to let 24 people make your card, and you had 24 cardfronts already ready to swap. That way, 1/2 the room MAKES your card that night, and the other 24 get the card pre-done, while you go and make 24 cards and get 24 made. Sound complicated? Kind of, but the reality works great and by the end of the night you get 48 cardfronts (having made 24 yourself). Still with me? LOL! Sherrie Robinson organized it and she did a FABulous job -- I had a real blast.


Then of course there were the organized swaps.. the ones you sign up for in advance. I participated in several, ranging from cardfronts, 3-D items, WOW cards and even an "over-the-top" WOW swap, hosted by my good friend Nancy Gauthier.

For instance, here are the 24 little 3x3 card boxes I made for one such swap, and here I am in line swapping them!


And then there's just the madness of free-style swapping... that which happens whenever you get 3 or more stampers congregating together (and it even occurs in airports, let me tell you). This is WAY fun, and kind of frenzied, since you always find just one more person you NEED to swap with, and you inevitably run-out JUST when there's some fabulous card you need to have. That's when your handy camera comes into play, and you can take pictures of people with their swaps!

For instance, here is Chris Shively with one of her swaps, a really cute nugget box that I just had to snap a picture of.

And I love nugget boxes SO much, I'm going to include one in my "Love Potion #9" Valentine's Day stamp camp in February, too. Maybe we could make it out of the new "Berry Bliss" Designer paper, with a tag made from the "Happy Heart Day" set that's on sale right now? Something to think about! Mmmmm.... chocolate.











And here's Peggy Murwin -- I *loved* her swap bag made outy of laminated designer paper and then hole punched down the side, with hemp holding it together.




Tomorrow's post will concentrate on some of the great cards & projects that I saw on the display boards, so let me know you stopped by and I hope to see you here again soon!

HAPPY STAMPING!
- Caroline