My husband and I returned from our international travels late Thursday night (on July 20th). I meant to share photos here on my blog yesterday of some of the fun, but it's been harder than I thought to "get back into the groove." Jet lag? Catching up? Moving at a vacationer's pace? Not sure why. But I do know that we had a MARVELOUS time, and I'm so excited to share!

We took off on July 8th and traveled literally half-way around the world to Phuket, Thailand for the 2017 Stampin' Up!® incentive trip! And then on July 15th we continued our travels to Germany, staying with my friend, Silvia Werner, and her family, for an extension to our vacation. (Silvia is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator from Germany. We met four years ago in Salt Lake City, Utah during convention and have been good friends ever since).

Even though Germany was the last half of the trip, I thought I'd share a few photos/highlights from there first, along with a project I made at Silvia's house. And then in a couple of days I will share some photos from Thailand.

Silvia's family is amazing! They bent over backwards to make sure we had a good time. Each day was filled with fun experiences including tasty foods, beautiful buildings, and amazing scenery.

Silvia also attended the Thailand incentive trip, but we arrived in Germany before she did. So that gave us a great excuse to visit Maxie Krebs, another German demonstrator friend of mine living near Frankfurt. It was so fun spending a couple hours with her!

She even let me peek into her craft room. (Click on this photo to see the German cardstock color names!).

We had a rental car, so after Maxie led us back to the airport (bless her heart!) to get Silvia, we said good-bye to Maxie, and then we hopped on the Autobahn and took off for Silvia's home.

We were all a little tired from our flights, but not tired enough to nap. So after getting settled in, we went out to eat some real German food. Everyone in Silvia's family speaks English very well. And her oldest daughter did such a great job the whole trip, deciphering items on the menus and ingredients in foods for me so I could avoid gluten and other things to which I am sensitive. Tim on the other hand, tried ALL kinds of traditional German foods (and beer!).

Our guest room was also Silvia's craft room/office area on the top floor of the house, with a beautiful view of Petersberg and beyond.

We looked forward to breakfast each morning because Silvia would put out all sorts of goodies. These were just a few of the things we woke up to each day, but she would also put out cheeses and fruits, lots of other fresh breads, eggs and yogurt (for me!).

On our first full day there (Monday) we explored the charming neighboring town of Fulda.

I loved the fachwerkhaus architecture in many of the buildings!

It was also fun to just shop and see what was in their stores.

Silvia told us that one of the traditions is to give your young children (especially those starting kindergarten) one of these cones filled with school supplies and treats for their first day of school.

The Fulda Cathedral was amazing!

That evening we went out and ate dinner at a beer garden. Tim enjoyed trying lots of different German beers, and this evening just added to this fun experience for him.

On Tuesday we hiked through a forest outside of Petersberg to an old church at the top of a tall hill that had a gorgeous 360 degree view.

We then visited a small airfield in the hills where people flew gliders,

and we browsed the many shops around the airfield.

We finished with one more stop – an old monastery in Bavaria, where they brew their own beer. 

Prost!

On Wednesday we relaxed in the early part of the day. Silvia let me make a fun project in her craft room… a frame showing off the "50 Shades of Stampin' Up!"

And though she already had a couple, she made an extra.

Each of the 49 1" x 1" colors and are on a 9" x 9" cardstock mat (the 50th color) and placed in a Ribba frame from Ikea.

And then she gifted me with even more… a fabulous bag, one of her Thailand swap cards, a German catalog, and a Paper Trimmer with metric measurements!!

I was overjoyed!!

Then it was time to drive to Frankfurt. Silvia had a concert to attend that evening, and it was our time to explore the big city a bit on our own. Plus, we had been invited (by Axel Kramer, the director of the European Stampin' Up! market) while we were in Thailand to stop by and visit the new Stampin' Up! home office that was now located near the airport in Frankfurt.

So of course we did!! And Silvia took her 50 Shades of Stampin' Up! project with the black mat as a gift. It was so exciting to meet the employees and see this beautiful place – still quite small compared to Riverton headquarters in Utah, but I guess so much better and more beautiful than their previous location. I was impressed! And how fun that I can now say I was the first American demonstrator to see it. 😀

Stefan Strumpf, the business development manager for Germany/Austria gave us the tour.

I feel bad that I don't remember everyone's names, but they were all so warm & welcoming to us!

It was fun to see Jasmin Schroeter again. (She was in Thailand with us in charge of the make-n-takes in the Inspiration Room.)

We spent our last evening in the city of Frankfort, seeing old buildings mixed in with the new, visiting some of the shops, having dinner, and people-watching.

We'd love to go back someday soon! Germany was so wonderful!! And we were super blessed to have had this experience.

P.S. – The Holiday Catalog is coming!

Those of us demonstrators who attended the Thailand incentive trip have the fabulous, new Holiday Catalog in our hands! If you wish to receive a complimentary copy in August, please let me know now. Those that ordered at least $75 worth of product from me between March 1, 2017 and July 27, 2017 will get one at no cost. If you didn't order at least $75 worth and you live too far from me to come pick up a copy, then I just ask that you pay the shipping costs. But I'd love to know how many to order, so please let me know if you wish to get one.

Bonus Days!

Purchase $50 worth of product in July to get a coupon for $5 to redeem in August. Yay!! Click here for more details.

• There is no limit to the number of coupons participants can receive per order or throughout the duration of the promotion.
• An email address is required to participate; Bonus Days coupon codes can only be delivered via email.
• All order types qualify for this promotion excluding Starter Kits.

Christmas in July for new demonstrators!

Purchase the Starter Kit in July, join my community of Stampin' Up!® demonstrators (Stampers With ART Stars) for the fun and benefits, AND get the Carols of Christmas stamp set AND an Essentials Gift Pack of Tools for FREE (an extra $72 value)!

• 144804 – Carols of Christmas Stamp Set

Essentials Gift Pack:

• 118485 – D Block (x2)
• 130148 – Grid Paper
• 103579 – Paper Snips
• 104332 – SNAIL Adhesive
• 102300 – Bone Folder

• This offer is good for any recruit who joins during the month of July, including former demonstrators.
• All Starter Kit orders must be submitted by 11:59 PM (MT) on July 31 to be eligible for this promotion.
• Recruits may not exchange their Essential Gift Pack items for other products, including stamp sets.
• Please note: The Essentials Gift Pack will automatically be added to the Starter Kit.

Save

Save

Save

Save