Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Start Your Stamping Business On the Right Foot….For Free!

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Yesterday I promised you a special offer if you signed up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator under me!!


John Sanpietro is a certified business coach who has found his niche with stamping business owners (demonstrators). Many of the top demonstrators receiving awards at the recent Stampin' Up! Convention  have received coaching from John and attribute part of their success to his coaching. John recently formed the "Business Stampers Coaching Group" (BSCG) of which I am a member.  It is an online group with a message board where we can share ideas or get coaching help from John on many topics. He provides a monthly coaching call, a weekly audio message, challenges to improve our business and service to our customers, videos…..let's just say, lots of great tips, information, and help for our stamping businesses!

John has allowed us to offer to our downline and to our new recruits a FREE month as a full member of the Business Stampers Coaching Group!  This offer is good through at least Aug. 31 along with the great Starter Kit Offers from Stampin' Up!  I would really love to have you take advantage of both the Stampin' Up! Promotion and John's special offer to give you the best opportunity to start your Stampin' Up! business off on the right foot…..and take it to whatever level of success you would like!  When you have your own business, there are no layoffs and you have a flexible schedule.  Why not earn money from something you enjoy?

Contact me at KSFontinelle@gmail.com and I can answer any questions or mail you more information if you would like!  I always feel this way about Stampin' Up! but especially after attending Convention, I feel anyone would benefit greatly from being a part of Stampin' Up! Please read about becoming a demonstrator HERE.

Start Earning Money for the Holidays….or whatever you need!

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Whether you'd like to have some extra cash for the holidays (which we know will be here before we know it!) or money to help with bills, pay for preschool, buy school supplies, take a vacation, pay that college tuition, or even to buy yourself more stamps, Stampin' Up! is the business to help you achieve your goals!  And your goals can be whatever you want them to be!  This is a low-cost investment for you to achieve your financial freedom, whatever that is for you!  I invite you to take a look at the wonderful opportunity Stampin' Up! has to offer you!  Click HERE.


Until Aug. 31 Stampin' Up! has two options to join!
  • Mini Starter Kit:  Only $85
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For All You Do stamp set
In Color Classic Stampin' Pads (6)
Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
Business forms and tools
  • Standard Starter Kit:  Only $199
 Five stamp sets (you choose!)
A Stampin' Around wheel, handle, and ink cartridge

Stampin' Pastels

Card stock

Eastern Blooms Décor Elements and applicator tool

Five Classic Stampin' Pads

VersaMark Pad

Stampin' Scrub and Mist

Blender pens

SNAIL adhesive

Business forms and tools 

 PLUS until Aug. 31st:  You'll get all six of the new In Color Classic Stampin' Pads and one pack of In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")–a $43 value!


This special offer is ONLY good until Aug. 31, 2009!  Click HERE to read all about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and the opportunity that awaits you!  When you are ready to join, just use my password….karenstamps….and you will become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and member of my team in just minutes!  PLEASE contact me at KSFontinelle@gmail.com if you have questions or want more information!

And tomorrow I will tell you about an extra benefit I can offer you for signing up with me to get your business off to a great start!

August is halfway over already so be sure you don't miss this great deal!
  

Swapping at the Stampin’ Up! Convention

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In my opinion, "swapping" at Convention is one of the really fun things that goes on!  In case you are not familiar, people make just cardfronts, usually, all the same….or at least lots of several different designs, with their name and "recipe" on the back (what stamp set they used, what color inks, paper, accessories) and then you walk around and trade with other demos for what they have made.  This gives you quite a selection of different card ideas, samples of stamp sets that maybe you don't own or more samples of ones you do own, different color combinations, etc.  AND it is an opportunity to meet and talk to other demonstrators as you go around and say "Are you swapping?"  And of course they are!!  Some ladies practically have a storefront of swap choices you can pick from!  But most have maybe two or three different cards to choose from.  Some people also make 3-D swaps, which could be anything but a card….maybe a little box, maybe a notebook, maybe cute packaging for candy.  I didn't get around to making those but I wish I did!  Maybe next year!  And then there are "organized swaps" where you actually sign up in advance to participate and meet at a certain time and place to swap those items.  Some people take a little more time and effort to make something extra special for those swaps.  It is a horrible thing when you finally run out of swaps and have to stop and see others still swapping!  I can't wait for my customers to see these samples and see which ones they really like or what ideas they can get from these swaps!


Here is my pile of swaps I received from my "general" swapping!  It really is so much fun!  Later I'll go through and choose some of my favorites!

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Stampin’ Up! Convention Make & Takes

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We got lots of Make & Take projects at Convention plus the four stamp sets and a wheel to do them with!  I'm sure everyone loved getting so many things to stamp, but it was a little too much to do in the time allotted.  However, I didn't mind because after stamping a couple of things, I opted to just save mine to do at home…..and instead I went to stand in line for Memento Mall to open so I could buy my Stampin' Up! Bear!!  So I had the best of both worlds!  The stamp sets we received were:

  • Hello Again  p. 114
  • Sweet Season  p. 29
  • Things I Love  p. 54 
  • Tree Trimmings  p. 28 
  • Retro Remix Stampin' Around wheel p. 114  

Here are the projects: 

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A scrapbook page with some Direct to Paper White Craft ink, a grommet on one of the flowers, and notice a little end of the Modern Label punch sticking up above the bow at the top where the photo would go. (sorry, the photo is a little blurry!)

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Christmas tags made with the Big Shot Two Tags die.  Very cute!  You could slide a candy cane through the folded one.

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The new Treat Boxes, page 159…more like a bag than a box, but very nice.  The ribbon is polka dot on one side and plain on the other.

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Cute little cello bag of 3×3 note cards and envelopes.  Perfect for a little gift!

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Notes out of the bag.

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Cute, cute  little box!  Just two scored pieces of cardstock, glue one flap onto the bottom so it opens.

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The box opened.  The back flap of the top is glued to the bottom left side.

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Kind of a gate fold card where the two front flaps open and a belly band around.

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The card opened.

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Cute and easy card and stamped envelope!  New color Crushed Curry.

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Easy Christmas card, although you have to cut out the ornaments by hand!  Love the new ribbon!

How's that for fun?!  Don't forget about the Specials going on now to become a Demo if you want to go to Convention next August!!  Click on that link or the image on the sidebar of my blog…….then go to my website to join…and use the password "karenstamps" (no quotes).  Or contact me with any questions!

The Stampin’ Up! Convention

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Will I ever get tired of talking about the Stampin' Up! Convention??  I don't think so!! There was so much good information, so many IDEAS, so much fun, so much friendship….even extra treats at lunch!…..popcorn, ice cream, candy!!

Shelli Gardner has a fabulous presentation at Convention!  She literally walked out on stage carrying ALL of these boxes in which she had handmade gifts that are so easy to make.  Who wouldn't want to receive (or make!) one of these gifts?!  Think how much easier your holiday shopping would be if you got started now at your kitchen table or desk, enjoyed what you were doing, and wouldn't have to fight the crowds at the mall come holiday time!  A substantial savings in money for you and a gift with more meaning for the recipient!

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Notice how she just used plain boxes and then tied our Stampin' Up! ribbon around.  She even used the wide twill tape and attached Stampin' Up! buttons, apparently like they do at expensive stores.
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An easy little triange box Shelli made:
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A little lip balm holder:
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A tag:
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A coaster stamped with the new Medallion stamp!
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Earrings made with the metal edge tags!
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More earrings:
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More earrings:
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A beautiful brooch to wear, fabric cut with the Big Shot!  Loved it!
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A headband covered with fabric cut with the Big Shot!
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I think this was a card with a bookmark inside or you could put a gift card:
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Shelli made these with her relatives at a family reunion out of sheet metal, covered with Designer Series Paper…..so they can't be too hard!
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A similar magnetic board but enclosed in a picture frame:
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One of the new magnetic boxes you will find in the Holiday Mini:
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One of the new Simply Adorned Charms that is in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  Shelli made a bunch of these for the "Prize Patrol" to give away, signed on the back!  I dare say it was one of the highlights of Convention, for those who won one.  Unfortunately, it was not me!  They called out "Yellow…. (and I had a yellow wristband!)….Swirls!"  Darn!  So close, yet so far!  But I will be ordering one (or more) because they are beautiful and you can change the artwork inside any time you want.
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Another charm:
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Wedding gifts:
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Back to Convention: More Photos!

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Here are some more random photos from Convention!  I think you can click on the photos to get a larger version.


A magnetic board made with the Build-A-Bear die cuts.  Just use magnetic sheets and make your own paper dolls!
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A display board with red, white, and blue!
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A class about using Decor Elements:
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Ways to use Decor Elements besides on the wall:
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So cute for a child's room!  But I think all of us stampers could use this saying in our craft rooms!
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A beautiful sample on display!!

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Some Build-A-Bear samples:

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An album made with "My Digital Studio", one of the new pieces of jewelry, "Simply Adorned Charms" in the Holiday Mini (wait until you see these in person!), and the calendar in the Holiday Mini:
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Another gorgeous project on display.  Love those display boards!!
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What a cute card!!
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All Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009

That's all for today but I have more!!!

Wow! What a Birthday!

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I got the best surprise yesterday for my birthday when my brother called from Kansas and said he might be flying to Houston that evening on business.  We haven't seen each other  in a couple of years and he rarely gets to fly to Houston, so that he was coming to Houston, much less on my birthday, was a pretty big treat!  He did just barely make it in by evening, and then we went out to his and my favorite restaurant for him to have dinner and me to have a second dinner I guess!  He even brought along handmade birthday cards from my nieces and nephews!  I was so impressed with how "fancy" they made the cards!  Their mom said on the phone that they love the stamped cards I send them so now they make fancy cards also!  They used decorative scissors and had belly bands around them or around the envelopes, glued on borders, and lovely little notes! Here's a photo of the cards and handmade envelopes!

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So never underestimate the power of a handmade card, whether you are giving or receiving!

If you enjoy a good ESP story….this was weird!  At dinner my husband, brother and I were talking about amusement parks and roller coasters.  I asked my brother if he liked roller coasters.  He said yes, he loved them (crazy fool!).  As soon as he said that, I remembered that one time as teenagers in St. Louis, I went with him, his best friend next door Ronnie, and Ronnie's girlfriend (and later wife) Patty to Six Flags.  They wanted to ride the new wooden roller coaster, the Screamin' Eagle I think, and I DID NOT but I stood in line with them for 45 minutes just to wait with them.  By the time we finally got to the head of the line, I decided I should go ahead and ride it and I did.  As soon as we got off, they wanted to ride it again and we stood in the long line again……and again.  Now last night I literally barely had those words out of my mouth when my brother's cell phone rang…..it was his friend Ronnie!!  How weird is that?!  Ronnie calls him now and then but not real often so for him to call like one minute after I was talking about him was really unbelievable!

So this morning I have just taken my brother back to the airport and gotten to board some rich person's private jet that he is going to fly back to Montana after maintenance here.  It's nice to see how the "other half" lives!  And I came home to a beautiful bouquet of birthday flowers on the porch from my upline/best friend!

I'll get back to Stampin' Up! Convention news and photos later!

More About Convention!

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I'm starting to feel like I can hardly believe I was there at the Stampin' Up! Convention!

Here is Shelli Gardner on stage.  Notice the cool lighting with all the circles!  The colors and patterns would change!
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Brent Steele did a presentation about the new "My Digital Studio"….a scrapbooking and card making software program, Mac and PC compatible.  You will love all the things you can do and make with it!!  Can't wait until it comes out!  This is a family album he made and had printed using templates in the program.
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A Build-A-Bear Card made by Jill Kocherhans before announcing that we could all purchase our own Stampin' Up! bear in Memento Mall.  Watch for new Build-A-Bear stamps and Big Shot dies in the upcoming Holiday Mini!!
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Here are just a few of the display boards!  This is one of  my favorite parts…the ideas, the ideas!!!!!
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And the evening entertainment was the group Tonic Sol Fa!  They were very talented and "picked on" Shelli's son-in-law in the audience, who got up and led a Conga line around the room!  It was very funny!
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What a fun-packed and inspiring day!

Back Home from the Stampin’ Up! Convention

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I got home safe and sound last night from Salt Lake City with all swaps, stamp sets and goodies intact!  Now where do I even start to tell you about Convention??  I'm thinking that there is not really a way to explain it in words to someone who hasn't been there to capture the excitement and inspiration and just good old fun and friendship that exists at a Stampin' Up! Convention!  If you are a demonstrator and you have never gone, you really need to experience it AT LEAST once! And if you are not a demonstrator, please consider signing up so you can go next year!  You might as well sign up right away because there is a fantastic recruiting special going on right now.  Click HERE to read what all you get, whether you want to join for just $85 or if you want the full Starter Kit plus extra goodies on the special!


Guess how many pictures I took???  1692!!!!  And I'm sure it wasn't enough! Thank goodness for digital cameras!   But I will start with one of the most important things at Convention:  The Build-a-Bear Stampin' Up! Bear!!! Here is my bear we were able to purchase plus the tote bags they were selling in Memento Mall.  If you look at the bottom of the bear's foot, you will see the SU emblem!  And everyone loved the paw print stamp it came with which says, "Life Without Stamps…Unbearable". 


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But let's go back to the day we arrived!  We drove straight to Riverton to tour the Home Office!  What a thrill!  The building is beyond beautiful and the employees we spoke with all so welcoming!
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The first SU catalog on display:
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One of the little rooms of ideas:
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The Creative Ideas Room….who wouldn't be creative in this atmosphere?! And there even is a piano!!
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The walls in the back room…dry erase board!  Demos wrote various messages and suggestions!
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Demo Support….where our phone calls go!
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Attention to detail…..look at the signs they had on the tables in the Atrium area:
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And finally we made it back to Salt Lake City to the Convention Center to pick up our bag and goodies and shop at Memento Mall!  Here's the bag we received which came with a new catalog and Holiday Mini, a pen, and a magnetic Convention"pin" (the three squares of colors) which I attached inside my badge holder.  I brought along an older one on which I could attach my pins, etc.
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Stampin’ Up! Stamps Earn Readers’ Choice

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Stampin' Up! has announced with pleasure that their stamps were the Readers' Choice winner by the readers of Scrapbooks, etc. in the stamps category!!  They also received recognition in the following categories:  card stock, eyelets, ribbon, markers, and ink.

This is the first year Scrapbooks, etc. has held a Readers' Choice award. For more information, see the August/September issue of Scrapbooks, etc. (pages 34-38).

 

Convention Gifts

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When I found these notebooks in the Dollar section of the craft store I knew I could make them into a nice gift!  One for me and one for my downline Linda going to Convention with me!  And an RSVP pen lined with designer paper to match!  The background butterfly is made with the Big Shot.  The sparkly one is punched with the Butterfly Punch from a Sticky Sheet and then glitter applied!  Very fun!  Love that Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper, can you tell??

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More Convention Swap Cards

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This is a 4×4 card using the stamp set "Eight Great Greetings".  Since I was using pieces of the Razzleberry Lemonade Paper I had a choice of card stock colors and combinations.  This card has Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay.  I used the new Modern Label Punch as well as the old reliable Word Window Punch.

And here is another swap card for my SUDSOL group.  We're meeting at lunch at Convention to swap!  I'm excited to meet many of the ladies whose names I see on my emails.  It is a group for demonstrators where you can get good business help and information.  If you are a demo, you should take advantage of the free trial membership! Click on the logo over in the sidebar or click HERE.  I've been a member all my years as a demonstrator!

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This card uses the new Big Shot Lattice Die and the new Butterfly Punch…and a Rhinestone Brad!

If you need to shop for anything while I am gone you can shop online HERE any time or send me an email at KSFontinelle@gmail.com.

Circle Circus Convention Swap

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Here is one of my Stampin' Up! Convention swap cards.  A long time ago I did a black and white swap where obviously we only used black and white.  That has always stuck with me as a very simple and sometimes elegant way to stamp.  This card is stamped on Glossy White cardstock with Black Stazon ink.  You just have to be a little careful as the glossy paper is slippery!  The "medallion" is stamped by coloring on the stamp with various markers.  This was too time-consuming for making 40 swap cards copying this design, so for those I used the Baby Wipe Technique as seen in this post.   I've been using the Rhinestone Brads a lot also.

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Going to the Stampin’ Up! Convention!!

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Today is traveling day to the Stampin' Up! Convention!!  When we arrive in Salt Lake City we will drive to Riverton, Utah, the headquarters of Stampin' Up!  We will get to tour the Atrium, the Legacy Museum, the Distribution Center, the Ideas Room, and Demonstrator Support.  The Atrium area is two-stories and serves as the main entrance and reception area.  The Legacy Museum shows the history of Stampin' Up! from its beginning in Shelli's home!  The Distribution Center is where the stamps are brought from the Kanab, UT manufacturing plant and from where everything is shipped as the orders come in.  Demonstrator Support are the wonderful people who answer the phones….they're so nice and helpful it's always a pleasure to "have to" call Stampin' Up!  The Ideas Room is where the creative juices flow.  I can't wait to see for myself!

We also get to check-in at the Convention Center and receive our bag filled with goodies and stamp sets for our Make & Takes from Stampin' Up! and begin swapping and visiting with all the other demonstrators who are there!

 

Bag Tag for Stampin’ Up! Convention

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Here’s sort of a sneak peek!  This is a tag I made to put on whatever bag Stampin’ Up! gives us at Convention!  With thousands of the same bag, it’s nice to have something different on yours to identify it.  I was going to use some other DSP, but could not resist using the bright and colorful Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper…and a chipboard letter from Onboard Timeless Type.  It’s so easy to cover the chipboard letter using our Stampin’ Up! Glue Stick.  Just place the paper over the chipboard and then trim away with your scissors.  On the back of my tag I put the Convention logo and my contact information in case the bag gets lost….heaven forbid!  The  plastic holder is called a Badge Holder and you can buy them in a package at an office supply store.

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