Stampin' Retreat 2011 - Totally Neat!

We had the most amazing three days at Tinaroo, stamping, scrapping, folding, gluing and laughing our way through a huge number of projects and hours.  From the minute I got off the Gillies Range I was relaxed and geared for a terrific retreat. . . and I was not disappointed.

The stash bags were well received and people raved over the beautiful Mocca Morning specialty DSP.  I also included some soft suede cardstock to accompany the stunning mocca tones.  The galz also got some Paisley Petals DSP and matching cherry cobbler and marina mist cardstock and some beautiful old olive striped grosgrain and taffeta ribbons.  I wanted to personalise this year's stash bags so I made CD tins (with note pads and pens) in every one's favourite colours using the newly released DSPs - Flirtatious, Beau Chateau, Domestic Goddess and Timeless Portrait - I tried to make every one of them unique.

As per usual the attendees got a new stamp set - this year it was the Language of Friendship as I was taken by the sentiment, "the language of Friendship is not words but meanings" - Henry David Thoreau which I think sums up so many of my Stampin' Up! experiences.  I also made two cards to accompany this set so that the girls would have some ideas on how to use the stamps when they get home.

This year I also included a few other items for project ideas - a cylinder shaped tin of wafer biscuits which was great for covering, a coffee mug and name badges.  And of course Jodie contributed her neat catalogue tabs with the different sections printed on co-ordinating cardstock to make the catalogue easy to navigate and her wiggles wipes. . . man we are going to be lost when she runs out of those!

Saturday night awards night was as always a good laugh.  Sandra my out going BFF for 2010 was sad to relinquish her title (I am sure), but I have faith that Paula will endeavour to fill her shoes. . . I loved my Shannean the Queen certificate and gifts. . .

Sunset on Saturday evening

One of the highlights of the Retreat was the fundraising we did for Sharon Cohrs charity Climbing for a Cause - we raised $600 from a raffle - the main prize being the much coveted Greenhouse Gala tote bag which was exclusively available to Stampin' Up! Convention attendees, a beautiful bespoke necklace created by Leah one of our talented stampers and a bundle of new stamp sets and a re-cycleable shopping bag in perfect plum.  In addition to the raffle Lee-Anne from Scraptherapy committed to donating 20% of her sales for the weekend to Sharon as well and amazingly that amount was $250!  A sensational effort and something more towards breast cancer research and cures.

Sunday afternoon saw the girls whizzing around cleaning up and packing me away so that I wouldn't be too exhausted when I got home. . . they are amazing women, whom I feel proud to call my friends.  So it's all over for another year and I think that we have at least 32 girls who are vying for a space in next years Retreat. . . good thing that I have started planning already!

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Shanni