Hi My Dear, Virtual Friends:
I'm at the Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City. I have plans to post a new card I made later today or tomorrow morning–stay tuned. I can never stay away from blogging for long!
However, I wanted to share that, aside from anything having to do with my family, I had one of the most amazing nights of my life last night. I was honored by Stampin' Up! at the convention as the #1 Rising Star Demonstrator, invited to their Founder's Circle Retreat in September (I'm ready to be spoiled) and was #24 for the Demonstrator of the Year. I don't get advance notice of this so it was both a surprise and incredibly moving experience.
Obviously, I couldn't have done it without all the support from my blog readers, customers, fellow demos, my fantastic downline, the 
Have you played the latest Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge? CLICK HERE!
That’s fantastic! Congratulations! I stumbled across your blog a few weeks ago and was immediately wowed by your work- I’m not surprised at the recognitions you’ve earned! Again, congrats!!
Congratulations on your achievements! You deserve it!! I love your cards!
Congratulations Mary! The honors come as no surprise and I’m sure SU will be knocking on your door looking for more good ideas and inspiration. After all your loyal readers have been benefiting from your generous sharing for quite some time. And your example of leadership and how to be an upline and demo are wonderful reminders of what SU is all about!
You totally deserve it sister demo! And I’ll bet you filled the stage with your usual class and panache!
Hugs and blessings – Jean Fitch
Hi Mary, I have been following your blog for a while and was very excited to see you on stage at the Awards Night. Congratulations! Well deserved.
Mary! congratulations! We have never met, but when I heard your name announced.. I couldn’t help but cheer! So if you heard some random cheering and didn’t know who it was from.. it was me!
so well deserved. I am inspired by your blog and by your rising star accomplishment! I hope to receive an SU award.. one day!
Elizabeth
CONGRATULATIONS, Mary. You really deserve it. You are great, keep up the good work. Your work is incredible. Very very happy for you. lol
Congrats Mary!!! I have been following your blog for some time now and I would say you TOTALLY deserve those awards!!! You are incredibly talented and sweet to boot!!!
Congratulations, Mary – bask in all the glory! I love your style, and feel very inspired by you, so I am very happy for you.
Congratulations, Mary! It was a pleasure to meet you (although you shouldn’t feel bad if you don’t remember, I’m sure you were overwhelmed with “fans” at convention). All of your recognition was obviously well deserved. God Bless.
Mary,
No surprise to me! Your designs are excellent and you are always posting something great! Thanks for the inspiration and CONGRATS on your accomplishments!
It was so much fun watching you at Convention receive these awards. Very well-deserved!!!
Congratulations Mary! I’ve been following your blog on and off for the past year and you do amazing work. You certainly deserve the honors bestowed upon you at convention. Keep up the great work.
Congratulations Mary! I have been checking in on your site for about the last year and you truly are a RISING STAR! Great job and many wishes for continued success!
Congratulations Mary! From what I know of you via your blog, those awards are very well deserved 🙂 Awesome job!
Sarah
You’ve always been a star to your readers and I’m glad you’re recognized for it. It’s hard to believe what you’ve accomplished in such a short period. We’re so proud of you.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Mary. How exciting for you!
Woo Hoo, Mary, what a well deserved honor!! You continually showcase SU products with such style and a freshness I enjoy so much…as so many others do as well, obviously. Congrats!!!
Congratulations Mary! I can’t say that I am surprised and I certainly agree with the honor they have given you. You inspire me every day with your talent and your vision. My day is not complete without a visit to your blog.
Congrats again!
Traci
Wow! Mary! You totally deserve each and every one of the fabulous recognitions you received, and more! I’m a fellow demo and loyal blog reader and although I don’t comment every day, I’m always amazed by you. You rock!
Adding my congratulations! You are one super talented creator–I’ve CASEd many a creation of yours! Your work is gorgeous! I’m glad that you have earned this honor!
Mary, WOW, Congratulations on all your Honors!! “That’s our gal Mary”. Can’t wait for all your new ideas!
Mary,
Congratulations! I am so happy to hear that you were acknowledged for all your awesome creativity! I enjoy your blog very much. Thanks for sharing with us.
🙂
Miriam
Congratulations, Mary! An honor that is so very deserving!
Congratulations to you Mary. I’ve learned so much from your blog! You greatly deserve each and every honor.
Congratulations, Mary; I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see the pictures!
Mary, This is so well-deserved! You are truly a gem and one of the hardest working people I know. Keep glowing! You always make me feel so proud to be a Pal!
Congratulations! I just found your blog and can readily see why you’re a rising star!
How wonderful Mary, Congrats to you!
Lisa Davis
Congratulations to you Mary! This accolade is well deserved.
~Roberta
congratulations Mary…
and also thanks for all the hard work you do..
Congratulations, Mary. I cannot think of a more deserving individual!
WOW! I am very happy for you! Good work, Mary!
Mary,
Congratulations! I love your designs and find them to be very inspiring.
Meg
Congratulations on a well-deserved honor! I’m not surprised; I know you stand out in your field and that you work very hard at your craft. You are one of those people who use everything God gives you.
I am so happy for you Mary, very well deserved, I too am honored to a “Pal”. Hugs,
I have said all along as I view your blog every day that you are one in a million. I am a strictly SU stamper and you inspire me every day. Your talent is unbelievable and I thank you for sharing it with us. Congratulations on your wonderful and deserved honors. You are special.
This comes as no surprise to me! You deserve the accolades. Keep on keeping on!
CONGRATULATIONS MARY: This is such a well deserved honor. You are trully an inspiration. I can’t wait to see all the pictures and all the new ideas. Enjoy your new found fame.
Maria.
Congratulations!! You deserve it! Have fun at the retreat and can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Congratulations on all your great accomplishments.
Great to see you on stage.
Congratulations Mary!!!! It was an honor to stand on that stage with you!!!! Can’t wait for Founder’s Circle!
Add my congratulations to all the others! I love your blog and am so happy you choose to share your talent with us. THANKS. Mary Jo
Congratulations Mary, on all of your wonderful accomplishments. It is a great honor that you now live in Tucson.
A huge congratulations Mary. You definitely deserve it. Looking forward to the pictures.
That’s wonderful news, congratulations you so deserve it!
Hugs
Angie
We are so proud of you. You definitely deserve it. I see your name a lot on other blogs. You are someone that gets CASEd a lot. Thank you so much for what you do.
Carey
Congrats! That is an awesome accomplishment… so glad to hear! You deserve it!
You go Mary you so deserve it!!!
~Jeanette
CONGRATS – That is so exciting!!! You deserve it!
Congrats!
woo hoo! congratulations!! xo
Congrats! Very exciting!!
I am proud to be a Pal! You deserve it – you have worked hard! Congrats to a wonderful person!
Oh, Mary,
I am so very happy for you! These are certainly well-deserved awards. Your blogging and cards are incredible…I always look forward to reading the descriptions/directions that you post. While I am not one of your Stampin’ Pals, I am most definitely one of your adoring fans. It is obvious from comments your customers post that you take care of their needs, encourage, teach, and challenge them. Congratulations! Keep up the great work!
Geez, Mary! I’ve been WAITING for you to post this so I could say CONGRATULATIONS! You are so awesome, it’s not much of a surprise to hear the news, lol! Way to go!
~Hugs, Betsy
FANTASTIC!!! Don’t you love surprises like that? So glad Stampin Up can appreciate professionalism and talent such as yours! (I know we all do!). Oh do wrap up and enjoy this moment, what a beautiful memory!! SO, so, so HAPPY for you and PROUD of you!!!!
Mary, a thousand and one congratulations! But then again, I’ve always known there was something noteworthy about you and your talent!!!!! I am so proud to be a subscriber to your blog!
Congrats!! Well deserved! 🙂
congrats!! well done girlie! have a great time!!
Oh what fun news this is! Congrats on this accomplishment! Your work is always fabulous, so I’m not surprised to hear this! Have fun at the covention!
WOW! #1 Rising Star…how awesome!!Congratulations, Mary!! So happy for you. 🙂 You are so talented – thank you for sharing that talent with all of us and continually inspiring us. Can’t wait to see your photos & sneak peeks!
NONE of those honors surprise me, Mary! You are so awesome, and really admire you as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator! CONGRATULATIONS!!! So very happy for you!
Congratulations! I always enjoy seeing all the beautiful cards that you create.
Congrats, Mary! I’m not a bit surprised! So happy for you! May you bask in the real-deserved recognition! Hugs to you!
Congratulations, Mary!!! It is a well deserved honor and I’m so thrilled for you! Can’t wait to see the pictures and hear more about your night in the spotlight. Congratulations to one of the best SU demos I’ve ever known and a sweet woman to boot!
Congrats Mary! You absolutely deserve it with that fabulous customer service you give and all the great ideas you share! Enjoy the time and I can’t wait to see more pictures…..
Congratulations! I love your blog and can imagine how great it would be to work with you!
I’m not surprised at all. You are an inspiration, Mary. Enjoy the rewards for all your hard work. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with all of us!
Congratulations Mary!!! You deserve it.
God bless
Giovana
Congratulations, this is wonderful news, you enjoy..
Congratulations on being the #1 Rising Star Mary! I’ve just recently found your blog through a stamping friend, and have loved everything I see! Congrats again, and enjoy being pampered on your retreat!
Congratulations! very excited for you! Can’t wait to see photos.
Marta
Wonderful news! Can’t wait to meet you in person in St George 🙂
Congratulations Mary. You are quite a remarkable leader and the recognition is well deserved and am happy to have you as my upline.
Congratulations!!! How exciting!
Mary…. this is fabulous. Heartiest congratulations on such well deserved recognition for all that you do. WTG!
jaydee
Congratulations…you deserve it!! I am looking forward to seeing your new blog posts.
Cindy
Mary-I’m not psychic but I could have told you!! you surely deserve this- congratulations
Sue Bee
Wow! Great news! You most definitely deserve that and more! Congratulations!
All I have to say is that I am not a bit surprised. It’s apparent that you richly deserve this and more. Your talant absolutely amazes me. I read every word of your blog everyday and disappointed when you take a day off to be with your family. I have learned so much from your tips. You are the best in my book. Have a blast in Utah and relish in your fame 🙂
Congrats Mary! Way to go!!!! You rock!!!
Fantastic! Multi-congrats!
Congrats Mary – I am not surprised, but I am thrilled for you, I had a feeling that SU had their eye on you!!!
This certainly has been a very full and surprise filled year for you
Can’t wait for the pics – again congrats you so deserve this
Judy
congratulations mary, some very well deserved honors. i continue to enjoy your blog and gaining inspiration from you and your work. keep up the good work and congratulations again!!
Mary –
WOW! What a wonderful surprise… CONGRATS… I am so happy for you and can’t wait for the sneak peeks. 🙂
Wow, Mary! Congratulations on your amazing achievement. No one deserves such accolades as much as you do.
Now, go celebrate!
CONGRATULATIONS Mary! That is awesome news. Can’t wait to see the photos and the new ideas as well!!!
Major congratulations!! That’s wonderful news — continue enjoying the adventures….