Stampin' with Kristin: I {heart} Stampin' Up!

With each incentive that I earn, I love Stampin' Up! more and more. I hadn't given it too much thought, but why wouldn't Stampin' Up! send us luggage tags and our travel documents for the Founder's Circle in a matching pouch??? When we earn the cruise, that's what they do! This trip is harder to earn that the cruise, why wouldn't they!?!?!?

It was a couple of weeks ago when I was sharing some of my favorite blogs about previous Founder's Circle Retreats, that I noticed Patty Bennett had posted pictures of her travel documents from last year. I immediately burst into tears! I realized then that I should start stalking my UPS man (or FedEx - that's how the documents have come in the past).

A Yahoo Group has been created for all 135 of us who have been invited to share our excitement and plan outings. It's been fun to experience the excitement with veteran achievers and newbies (like me). I don't join in on many conversations, but I do enjoy watching the discussions. Well, yesterday someone posted that they heard that Stampin' Up! was shipping out the travel documents!!! I wasn't really expecting to receive them until tomorrow. BUT THEN....I saw Diana Gibbs post on Facebook earlier today that hers arrived TODAY. I was instantly jealous because I had to work today. AND, Diana lives in Arizona - so much closer to SU. But then I figured SU is good and usually ships them so we all receive them together. So, I drove home as FAST as I could. Unfortunately, I had to stop by the grocery store for dinner first. When I FINALLY got home, I flew in the front door, screamed at Mike - "Did the UPS man come?", threw the groceries on the kitchen table, and ran to the back porch. I have a WONDERFUL UPS man who delivers my packages to my screened in back porch since I don't have a covered front porch. I always know when he's on vacation - my packages are on my front porch. ANYWAY...I got to the door and noticed something taped to my window. My heart sunk. I thought - oh no, SU required a signature and I wasn't home. But then I remembered Stephanie stopped by and bought a catalog from me. The envelope was from her. And there, sitting on top of a box of pre-ordered Holiday Mini goodies, was that fabulous envelope.

I ran back into my classroom, cleared off the table with one swoop of my arm (like in the movies), and gently placed my precious UPS envelope on the table to start taking pictures so you could all see what I got to experience. Granted, through posts to the Yahoo Group and Facebook, I had a pretty good idea what to expect when I opened it. So....here we go...

Isn't it nice that UPS is using a reusable envelope!?!? Granted, the way mine got ripped open, I don't think it's reusable anymore!!!

I heard rumors that the pouch matched our Founder's bags. So, I was a little surprised that it was plain outside.

Then I realized that the printed fabric must be INSIDE!!!

And, here it is, all un-stuffed, our agenda, plane tickets, contact info to leave back home, and a couple of adorable luggage tags! I no longer have a shortage of luggage tags!!! SU always provides two per person for every incentive trip!!! Only two weeks and a day until I leave!!!! It doesn't quite feel real yet. Maybe when I'm standing barefoot in the rubber in Kanab it will finally sink in!!! (Stay tuned to see what I mean!)