Happy New Year from Nashville, TN!! I’m here for Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership Training and the first day was a blast. There’s nothing better to clear your head than time away with some girlfriends and let down your hair and laugh. If yesterday is an indication of what is in store for the next few days, the laugh lines on my face are going to get a serious work out!

After a pleasant flight from Tampa on an underbooked flight where I had a whole row to myself, I hooked up with my friend and roomate, Amy Celona, and spent the afternoon relaxing and chatting with other new and old stampin’ friends. Last night, we went out on the town and enjoyed dinner and line dancing downtown at Wild Horse Saloon.

I just want to say thanks to my pals back home who got me so organized and ahead of the game with my swaps for this week, I was able to go out and enjoy myself last night. For this, I will be eternally grateful. Cathy Friday and Retha Haddock, my awesome assistants who make me look so good even when I screw up, and my dedicated downline, Marsha Craig and Cheryl Sanz, you are lifesavers! Your friendships mean the world to me so I wanted you know how much I appreciate you!

We’re taking it easy this morning, getting organized and I thought I would post one of my wow swaps I’ll be trading in a private swap later this week. Isn’t it GORGEOUS?!!

This one was designed with the Petal Cone die. Here’s how I did it:

1. Instead of keeping it 3D, I took one of the cut outs and cut it in half and adhered it so it would become a middle fold card.

2. I then ran the Petal Cone Pink Pirouette pieces through the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder.

3. I decorated it with our exclusive Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit with Pink Pirouette and Whisper White card stock and the Floral Fusion Sizzlit in Pink Pirouette.

4. For just the right final focal point touch, I added an Itty Bitty Punch Pack floral piece in Regal Rose topped with one of our self-stick pearl accents in the middle of the layered flowers.

5. The greeting was stamped in Regal Rose on a slim banner piece that was a part of the Petal Cone die.

It is one of my favorite cards I’ve done in a while! (Well at least until I post my next one that I like almost as well! ha ha ha!)

Tonight, we are off to enjoy a "SURPRISE" Managers Reception event. I’m looking forward to some more fun, even though it is snowing and very, very cold here right now! I can’t wait to get back to the warmth of Florida and share all the wonderful ideas and fun. I’ll try to post more while I’m here so stay tuned!