#OnStage2025 Day One Raleigh North Carolina

Welcome back to the Tweet Be Happy Blog! Thank you for stopping by. This blog will be broken down into Day One - Day Four…Thursday thru Friday with 2000 + Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators from all over the globe. If you’d like to join me for these conventions JOIN the Tweet Be Happy Team by purchasing the $99 starter kit.  JOIN

Any Stampin' Up! demonstrator could register for #OnStage2025.  The highlight is receiving the new annual catalog plus meeting old and new friends. The four days are filled with non-stop activities, live presentations, make and takes during lunch, and a product parade. Plus opportunities to see and use the new In-Colors.   

My Thursday began by being dropped off at the entrance of the Sheraton Hotel at 7:00 am for an 10:00 am stamping class. When I saw this sign ... I knew I was at the RIGHT place!  I was excited to be in Raleigh, NC. It was like a dream come true! As originally #OnStage2025 sold out within 4 hours of registration and I was on the Wait List.  After two months my spot opened and I quickly registered.  Earlier I had agreed to room with an accountability partner from Ohio.  So, I knew I had a room and roommate right away.     

 

Back to how we flew.  We flew out of the Fort Dodge Regional Airport saving about 2 hours of road travel and my husband was able to take me.  Did you know ... I traveled with my sister who is 15 months younger. Her name is Grandma Cindy who retired June 2024.  Together, two grandmas plan to relax read and travel.  This was going to be our first trip.

 

We have found the very back of the plane is the best place for us to sit.  Usually it is by the stewards area, we can visit with them, get extra coffee, etc.  It's the little perks that count. Also it is quiet, away from others, but yes the walk to the back of the plane can be troublesome.  Avoiding elbows, feet, and many times the overhead compartments are full.  But, still we enjoy it!

We had a two hour lay over in Chicago, found a Chili's Restaurant.  We highly recommend as their menu was delicious, fast, and patrons were friendly.  Of course, whenever we wear our Sisters Travelin shirts, they encourage conversations and sweet comments.  We meet a couple of guys flying to Forest City from Florida (75 miles from our home farming operation) to pickup their RV after being repaired in Forest City.  The other retired gentlemen lived in an Air Stream fulltime.  We had an Aunt and Uncle that owned several Air Streamers! Even belong to an air stream club.  Small world.  Small wonders. Our flights to Raleigh, NC were good.  We were picked up by my nephew's in laws and spent the night with them and then in the morning delivered me to the hotel.  My sister went on to Wallace NC (an hour north) to stay with her family.    

When traveling begin your day with coffee and a sweet treat!  Enjoy every moment.  Enjoy the scenery and people watch.  You just never know what you might see or hear!  Celebrate life well.  Love What You Do! 

Never a stranger when amongst stampers. These ladies were with Anita's team and were having a secret sister exchange.  Their handmade gifts were amazing.  Cheri the gal in the middle with long dark hair is a side line of mine from Florida.  Slowly we started to meet each other for class.  

Meet Anita from Ohio.  Right away when I walked into the hotel lobby. She asked if I was by myself and she said "do you drink coffee?" I told her I was here for an 10 class. She was also! So as she finished her coffee and pastry I indulged in a coffee and a warm chocolate cake muffin. Best coffee buddy ... Day One of #OnStage2025! 

These demonstrators were from Illinois taking the same class.    

Myself, Nancy from Virginia and Cheri from Florida all on ALPOAS Team.  Can you imagine the surprise when I saw them and learned they were also taking the class.  I knew it was going to be a good day and #OnStage2025 had not even began!

If you notice all the yellow?  They are the members of the same team.  Easy to find one another among 2000 plus demos. I believe there were 30 from their team attending.

Diane is one friendly demo from Wisconsin.  Her smile says it all!  She helped set up for the class and trimmed a lot of our cardstock.  She always has the answers to questions.  Diane, it was great catching up with you.  We meet her last year at Houston #OnStage2024.

Before class started and during the class, there were displays of the 18 cards we assembled.  Talk about spring cards, they were happy cards to create.  

Carmen does great videos and I enjoy watching her lives.  She recently had back surgery and was getting around really well.  Wish I remembered the other demo's name.  Please pray for her.  

This class sold out right away. This isn’t part if the official convention, it was pre-convention. Held at the Sheraton. 

Bethany from Ohio a side line demo on the ALPOAS. Poor gal broke her foot about a month before #OnStage2025 and was in a boot.  Bethany did exceptional well navigating the elevators at the convention center.  She's a trooper!

The class kit contained 18 cards. Cardstock was pre-trimmed, embossing done, and we then assembled and put ribbon and gems on each card. Beautiful cards. Great instructions. Thank you Christine and Brandy. 

Four ALPOAS demonstrators and two demonstrators from Illinois. Neighbors through stamping up! 

Our 4 hr class was put on by Christine Bertram and Brandy Cox. Sara Douglas spent an hour visiting with one on one with class participants.  Sara was rehearsing for #OnStage2025 and had a hour open in her schedule.  We were fortunate to get the one on one time with Sara Douglas, CEO of Stampin' Up!.

One of my favorite people Sara Douglas, CEO Stampin’ Up! Very personable. Been their CEO for 10 years. So much like her momma, Shellie Gardner. Both ladies are very special and care for everyone and donate to many projects.  

Photo one of card swaps. 

Photo two of card swaps. 

Card swaps. I made 20 cards for this Class Swap. All participants stood in a line. Then walked down the line and exchanged handmade greeting cards. Each card is unique and inspires creativity.  It is fun to get cards created with stamps sets or bundles I do not have. These are used for class ideas and to showcase at my third Friday of the month classes.  Check my events

Ask me about my story. I'd love to share with you my why! I've became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator March of 2018. Before that I was a scrapbooker and photographer preserving memories besides worked full time as a human resources director at a local financial planning firm.

My Top Reasons I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator:

I enjoy the discount,

Early releases,

Special groups,

Special events,

Team fun,

Always learning,

Fun in life, and

Hands down, the best feature, are the friendships.

Afterwards, I'd love to hear your story, your why! Then, if you want to become a demonstrator, Link to Join Team join my team during Saleabration to earn some fabulous free markers and an exclusive stamp set. Join one of our stamping classes held the third Friday of each month at my home. Where you will assemble two to three cards and meet new and old friends.

Find me on Facebook Tweet Be Happy Business Page where I love to share ideas, share cards, and post my events. Check at least once a week for Stampin' Up! Specials.  We find out about specials 24-48 hours in advance.  Otherwise, they like to surprise us too.   On Line Store open 24/7/365 days. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Ask any questions you may have to tweetbehappy@gmail.com. 

Thank you for stopping by Tweet Be Happy Blog.  Return again to get inspiration, learn a technique, or just to see what this Iowa farm girl is doing.  It may be exciting, or it may be down right relaxing.  Whatever it is, I welcome you to this blog each time.  

Blessings on your day.  Today is a good day for a good day.  Give praises to those that take care of our cooperatives and truckers who deliver our goods. It's a good time to pray and extra prayer for first responders. God Bless your day! Let's stamp! Darla T.