So do you want to know about the Stampin' Up! convention?!

Every year, Stampin' Up! organise a convention for all of their demonstrators. It's for Stampin' Up! Europe so last year was Germany, this year was the UK and next year is in France. It's basically a great time for demonstrators to get together, have a good laugh, make things, learn some business tips and generally have a ball! This year it was held in Addington Palace, Croydon.

On the Thursday night Natalie - my team leader (upline) and Monica who leads another team, held a pre-convention party in our hotel which was great fun! We received these lovely goodie bags filled with things, demonstrators 'swapped', there were some 'make 'n' take' sessions where we made a card and a mini scrapbook page, and there was a raffle. It was hard work so they deserve a lot of thanks - there were over 100 of us just at that! Swaps are where each person makes one item in multiple and they all go round swapping their own for a different item, to give you lots of new inspiration on what to use your stamps for.

Onto the next day and it was two early starts but on registration we were given this 'groovy' bag, with two lovely stamp sets in to use during convention.

Over the two days we had the chance to purchase items from 'Momento Mall' which is Stampin' Up! merchandise such as totes, aprons, rulers, bags etc. This was almost a sell out, there was nothing left at the end! It was decorated lovely.

There are inspiration boards around the venue too, packed full of hundreds of cards and scrapbook pages to give us all inspiration, here are just two made using the party stamp set that we were given in our registration bags.

Aren't they lovely?

On the Friday night came the awards night! This is where everyone gets dressed up and the highest achievers of the demonstrators are awarded for their hard work with various prizes etc, presented by Shelli over from the US, as she founded Stampin' Up!.

Natalie got number 5 top demonstrator of the year as well as other awards, well done Natalie! We had a bumper make n take session during the weekend of different cards and scrapbook pages which was fun. They also do a random 'prize patrol' which is where names flash up on the screen during the event and if yours is there, you win a prize!

This is our 'Stampin' Stars' team!

We finished with a group photo. They announced that next year's convention is in Disneyland Paris! And the only way you can go (and get yourself a permanent 20% discount on Stampin' Up! products!) is to become a demonstrator!