What a fun weekend! The NEW 2016 Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Catalog products were revealed at the Stampin' Up! OnStage Live event in Brussels, Belgium and also revealed via "live streaming" at the OnStage Local events in other areas around the world. I just returned from the Stampin' Up! OnStage Local event held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And I can now officially share all my photos – sneak peeks at new products included!!

Milwaukee is only about a 6-hour drive from where I live, so several of us in Minnesota went by cars to save on airfare. I rode with my teammates Cheryl Lee, Tricia Josephs and Denise Henke.

We got there early enough so I could get to my 4 PM rehearsal in time. (I was a presenter!) And at 6:30, demonstrators who held certain leadership titles were treated to a special exclusive dinner & training during CenterStage. The tables were beautifully set.

And we each received this gorgeous organizer tote.

(It was filled with a few surprises, too!)

Here is who I sat with…Cheryl Lee, Carol Rosengren, Charlotte Parcels, Susan Campfield and Karie Beglau. Karie had a selfie stick that she put into my hands. I think I did pretty well using one for the first time ever.

Can you believe this beautiful gluten-free dessert!? And it tasted great, too.

Brandi Barnard led a training session for us after dinner based on John C. Maxwell's book, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions. And the words she shared really helped turn my nerves into excitement and positive energy for my presentation that next day.

Saturday was the official OnStage Local event – a full day of new product unveilings, Stampin' Up! news and announcements, prizes, gifts, laughter, and trainings. Here I am with the Stampfield Stars team – my upline, sidelines, and downline. Top row: Carole Garrison, Pauline Bergler, Terri Phelps, Sue Dyas, Brenda Georgi, Vicki Bibeau, Denise Henke, Anita Dickson, Lori Nelson, Cheryl Lee and Tricia Josephs. Bottom row: me, Linda Larson, Tim Georgi, Susan Campfield and Carol Rosengren.

(Two other members of our team attended the Dallas OnStage…Richard CoVarn and Gloria Muñoz. We missed them.)

I had arrived early that morning to help check in Big Shot machines that were brought by several of the attendees. So I saved a spot for my roommates, Tricia Josephs & Terri Phelps. When I joined them, I was excited that my friend, Amy Rich was also at our table with us! (She is such a sweetie.)

Scott Nielsen was our MC and kept us laughing through the day with his jokes (and mistakes). 😉

There were two live streamed sessions that came to us straight from Brussels, Belgium (where the main OnStage event was taking place). Many new products were unveiled. Here are a few finished samples from the demonstrations shown.

Sara Douglass spoke from the heart. She fills her mother's shoes so very well. You can tell she loves this company. (Shelli is currently away on a mission trip.)

When the live streaming from Brussels wasn't going on, we had our own Product Suite live demonstrations from fellow demonstrators Glenda Travelstead (shown below), Terri Gaines…

…BJ Peters (shown here), and Karie Beglau.

We also had more training by Brandi Barnard who was accompanied by Terri Gaines.

During lunch time and after receiving our own copies of the 2016 Occasions and Sale-a-Bration Catalogs, the sneak peek displays in the back of the room were unveiled. Yippee!!! So fun to see everything up close! The products in the upcoming catalogs are fabulous!

I didn't take pictures of many things because I was quite nervous and distracted. I still hadn't gotten my time on stage yet. In fact, I couldn't even eat lunch. So I was hungry AND nervous.

But check out these fun new dies!

And though I don't drink much tea or coffee, I am absolutely enthralled with these tiny charms. They will definitely be one of my first purchases (along with their matching stamp set, dies and designer papers)!!

I also found on display these great cards designed by Terri Gaines made with the new Going Place ensemble of products.

Here I am with my super great roommates at the photo booth. (Thank you, Terri and Tricia for being so easy going and for helping me in so many ways!)

These were the make-n-takes we made during the event. (Check out that heart die!)

Finally around 4 PM it came time for my presentation!

I didn't realize this until later, but our Milwaukee event had close to 700 demonstrators in attendance. AND we were the largest attended event globally! That means I spoke to a larger group than the one in Brussels! Wow.

Those of you who follow my blog are probably not surprised that my presentation was about our wonderful Paper Pumpkin kits. I was nervous, but calmed down once I was up there speaking about my favorite product. And guess what?!…

It went well! Yea!!

Lunch (though late for me) sure was yummy.

The event ended around 6:15 PM. We learned so much and my team LOVED that every one of us won a prize and received so many gifts.

Here is a photo I found on Brandi's Facebook page (thanks Brandi!) of the Stampin' Up! team that was there with us in Milwaukee. (From the back…Neil, Erica, Sarah, Scott, Terri, Brandi, Cindy and Justin.

The fun didn't end for our group. That evening we participated in a "shoebox swap." (This is an event where everyone that attends brings a card and the supplies and tools to make it. Then we rotate from spot to spot making each other's cards.)

People were telling me not to stand on my chair, but look at this photo of the fun we were having. (In this photo are Carol, Tim, Cheryl and Ruth.)

Yea! A selfie with Brenda and Tim!

I slept well that night! And our drive home the next day was very enjoyable. The four from our vehicle and Brenda, Tim, Terri P and Vicki met up for brunch at the Manna Cafe & Bakery in Madison. YUM! The weather was great. And then the remainder of the trip home was filled with great conversation.

And look what was awaiting me at home!

Today I spread out most of the goodies that I got from Stampin' Up! We really were spoiled!

 P.S.  Be sure to check out the Retiring 2015 Holiday Catalog Products Before They Are Gone!!