Spellbinders, Exposed!

That got your attention! I am finally getting around to posting about the Spellbinders' Design Team Retreat! I have very good reasons for waiting a whole week...first I am knee deep in some projects for Hampton Art Stamps and second, I did not take any decent photos and am having to steal them from my teamies!

I had a fantastic time at the retreat. The fact that my flight was over an hour delayed due to weather not withstanding! Seriously. Bad weather between San Diego and Phoenix? Who knew? I eventually got there safe and sound. It was amazing meeting all of my new teammates! Here is a great Brady Bunch photo collage of the whole crew.

My roommate, Michelle:

My table "roomie" Lesley:

All of the gals were so sweet and so much fun! I loved getting to know everyone. These girls are creative, innovative, funny, and just all around amazing! I am humbled to be counted as part of this team!

As you can see from the photos, Spellbinders out did themselves spoiling us! Not only with craft supplies, but with food! Check out these desserts! Every day, around 4pm a huge tray of fancy desserts was brought in and set before us! And I ate them, yes I did! And I did not gain any weight, in fact lost 1 pound! {I am now down 14 pounds since January!} We were treated to lunch and dinner every day as well. Yum!

We each received so much product to work with! Not only from Spellbinders, but from our amazing stamp partners and cross-promotional partners! Now that I am home, I am having to re-do my craft space to fit it all in! Each gal was able to ship a box home, in addition to what we lugged in our suitcases and carry-on luggage! The manly men from the office came over and took care of that for us!

We were so busy each day taking little mini classes, learning about Spellbinders as a company as well as having training with the various products, and making an off-site visit to the Spellbinders' offices! Where we did indeed see some Top Secret stuff! But my lips are zipped!

We had some fantastic guest instructors: Julianna Hudgins, Julie McGuffee, Michele Emerson-Roberts, and Debbie Olson. I told Debbie That I was going to be star-struck and tell y'all that I ate both breakfast AND lunch with her! I did! Honest! I totally stalked her! I am such a huge fan of her work, and she's such a lovely person! And she is a fellow homeschooler!

I don't want to forget Stacey and Jeff Caron, our fearless leaders, and all of the Spellbinders staff! These folks are beyond amazing. The investment they have made in the twelve of us in mind blowing! I pray that I do not let them down! And an extra-special thank you to the girls who made this event so top-notch: Kim, Cathy, and Beth!
 

Cathy, Debbie, Stacey, Kim, Beth

Now is when I tell you a bit of "bad" news. You see, most of my work for Spellbinders will be earmarked for their various marketing and advertising needs! It will be pretty rare for you to see any of my work here on my blog! Spellbinders has a fantastic Blog Team and a group of Spellbloggers, so make sure to visit the Spellbinders Blog to see what they are up to. From time to time, I may have projects there as well. As soon as I know when and where my projects will be shown, I'll let you know! But, you all know that I use Spellbinders die templates ALL THE TIME, so you will see them on my work. Never fear!

I guess you need some GOOD news as well? Well, feast your eyes on this list of preferred partners and cross-promotional partners! I get to work with all of these products! Can you believe it?! I am well and truly blessed! I am almost beyond words!

Preferred Partner Companies
Donna Salazar, Flourishes, Flower Soft®, Gina K. Designs™, Heartfelt Creations™, JustRite® Stampers, Layers of Color™ Art Stamps, Local King Rubber Stamps, Magenta Stamps, Our Daily Bread Designs, Penny Black® Inc., Quietfire Design, The Rubber Cafe', StampingScrapping™, Technique Tuesday®, Unity Stamp Company, WaltzingMouse, Want2Scrap

Cross Promotional Partners
Anna Griffin®, Bazzill Basics Paper®, Beacon Adhesives, Best Creation Inc., Buttons Galore and More, Caftwork Cards, Canvas Corp., Clearsnap, Cosmic Shimmer, Cosmo Cricket™, Creative Impressions, Eco Green Crafts, Echo Park Paper, Fancy Pants Designs, Flower Soft, GCD Studios, Glue Dots®, Graphic 45, Imaginisce®, Jillibean Soup™, KaiserCraft, My Mind's Eye™, Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker, Scor-Pal®, SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L™, Sparkle N' Sprinkle, Want2Scrap , WorldWin Papers®