Well I made it back from Salt Lake City, Utah where I attended the 2010 Stampin’ Up! Convention.  What an experience that was!

The first day was filled with swapping and shopping the Memento Mall.  Check out these serious swappers.  I just showed up with my 100 swaps and thought I was doing good, lol.   Some of the convention attendees brought 100’s of swaps and were still swapping at the end of convention.  Mine were all swapped the very first day and I didn’t wear it on my head or anything.  🙂

Me being a virgin convention goer, I did not know what to expect.    I went to pick up my convention bag, which was a totally cool retro looking large bag that was filled with stamps and other goodies.  Next, off to Memento Mall, where I purchased way more stuff than could possibly fit into my luggage for the return trip.    After that I was off to the Award Booth.  I knew I was up for an award, but what award I hadn’t a clue.   The ladies at the award booth started putting stamp sets in a stack for me.  One set, two sets, three sets, four sets!  I was in heaven.  They then asked if I needed a bag for them and then presented me with a Founders Circle Bag.  When I caught sight of that bag I screamed and laughed and cried all at once, lol.    The bag represents that you earned a trip to St. George, Utah to hang out with Stampin’ Up’s CEO, Shelli and are part of the top 100 Demonstrators of the year.  They don’t tell you where you fall out in the 100 until awards night.  Now that I was all teary eyed they took my photo.  I cannot even guess what that will look like.

The evening was totally topped off with a great Flower Power Party.   Much of the crowd was decked out in their finest hippy gear.  I thought this ladies outfit was a real winner.

The party was in full swing with 60’s rock playing, hula hoops, twister and such going on when I snapped this pic of one of my down line, Melba Beisley, love ya Melba.

Also during the party you could catch fabulous stamping presentations.

  This is my up line, Karen Barber showing how to do some of her out of this world creating!

Day 2

Main Stage presentations and over the top teaching.   But wait it was awards night!

Now if you know me, you know that I am not about recognition.  But I was so excited to see where I fell out in the top 100 Demos of the Year that I could not sleep at all the night before.   So, there I was at the Awards Presentation barely able to sit in my seat.  Thank goodness I sat next to a friendly face, Kristin Kortonick.  Awards start and I was amazed at the numbers the terrific Demos were putting up for recruiting, promotions etc.  Then came the Rising Star awards for the top 15 American First Year Demos.   I didn’t think I was eligible for the award so I just sat there while they called number 14 through the 2nd Rising Stars.  Next to my complete shock, and I mean shock!  I heard and the NUMBER 1 RISING STAR FROM WEST ALEXANDRIA, OHIO, MICHELLE ZINDORF!  Holy Cow!  I’m surprised I made it up the steps to the stage I was so shocked.  Got to hug Shelli and have my pic taken with her on stage.  Received a cash award and a Tiffany & Co. Star Necklace.  Maybe I should pay a bit more attention to what the qualifications are for awards, lol.  

Rising Star photo

Judy Garza #70 Demo of the Year and Myself #36.

Next, awards for the top 100 demonstrators of the year.   Now Kristin was sitting by me pretty much hyperventilating since she also was up for one of the top 1o0 spots.  She was just too darn cute and totally excited.   They gave out the awards beginning with 100 to 91, Kristin and I were still in are seats, then 90 through 81, not us, 80 through 71, not us, 70 through 61, not us, 60 through 51, not us, 50 through 41, still not us.  Now by this time Kristin could hardly contain herself, so much so that I totally forgot I was up for this award and I was only listening for her name, lol.   They got to 36 and announced me!  Woohoo!  How totally wonderful that is to be 36 as Demo of the Year.  But wait, Kristin hadn’t been called yet.  Kristin Kortonick, congratulations for being NUMBER 30!!!!  YOU ROCK FRIEND!   Kristin is on the right side in this photo.  🙂

Awards night for me was hard to beat, but there was still two days left of convention and it was all a stampers dream.    Stamping and friends, you can’t beat it!  Stampin’ Up’s convention is a class act! 

I got to walk on stage to be recognized for a couple of other acheivements, 60K in sales and also for recruiting.   I swiped these pics from Patty Bennet’s blog.

I’m the one on the right in these pics.

My Up Lines and friends, Karen Barber and Tina Rosenkrans.  Check it out, new samples sheets of the new Stampin’ Up! color line.

Dinner out with new and old friends.  Italian Anyone!

A moment of time with Shelli.  Here is Shelli with two of my down line, Melba Beisley and Jennifer Fulton.  What a wonderful  and classy person Shelli is to come out and spend a moment with convention goers. 

Sad to see it all end.  Now it is time to plan for next year!  Hope to see you all there.

Hugs,

Michelle