I had a blast at yesterday’s Stampin’ Up! Regional Training event in Telford. For those of you who don’t know what it is, it is an event that Stampin’ Up! hold every year for all UK demonstrators. We are all able to get together to swaps ideas, chat and have a day of fun. There is a little bit of business talk too, but even that’s fun. There are separate events held in Germany, France, Holland and Austria too.

The hall at the Telford International Conference Centre was packed with some 350 demonstrators from around the UK.

Getting ready for the start

We had a pretty good view of the stage but there were lots of large screens to watch too so we didn’t miss out on any of the good stuff.

From L to R – Diane, Lucy, Pip and Karen

Two of my travelling companions – Diane and Pip. I’ve known these ladies since I joined Stampin’ Up! back in May 2011, in fact it was my third anniversary five days ago.

From L to R – Kathryn, Helen, Esther and me

My third travelling companion, Esther, is one of my downlines. The other two ladies, Helen and Kathryn are also part of my team. There are now 12 of us in the team but only 4 of us made it to the event – I’m sure that the others are really jealous now that they know what went on.

There’s lots to tell you all about yesterday but unfortunately just not yet in any great detail. We saw sneak peeks of products from the new Annual Catalogue that goes live on 1 July. We were allowed to play with the new 2014-2016 In Colors and also a new Photopolymer Stamp Set. Those coming to class next weekend will be able to see the finished project.

There was a Make & Take for us to do (boxes on the table), but I did a Take & Make as I was too busy chatting to people. I have every intention of having it finished for next weekend.

Kathryn won one the first Prize Patrol and took home a pack of the not even out yet Blendabilites and a very lovely stamp to try them out on. There were three of us on our table (me included) that won the second Prize Patrol and took home some of the new Project Life products. I’m really excited to be able to play with these weeks before all the other UK demos are able to get their hands on them. All of the demonstrators got a pack of the 12″ x 12″ 2014-2016 In Color card stock along with an ink pad and also a reel of ribbon. Not a bad haul!!

The really big news that I can finally reveal was that I was one of the five UK demonstrators asked to be part of the display Design Team. Again I can’t share photo’s as yet except this one!

Those of you stalking the blogs of some of the US demonstrators may be able to guess what I got to play with (and keep) to make my design projects. I have to admit that this is the reason you’ve not seen many posts from me recently. The goodies only arrived two days after I got back from the USA (almost 2 weeks ago) so I did not have much time to design and make the seven projects that I did.

I have to say that it was really interesting getting the projects into and out of the car on Friday (we travelled up the night before) without my three fellow travellers knowing. I was sworn to secrecy until the start of the event yesterday.

I’m saving photos of the swaps for another post, and will share them over a couple of days.