My Story : How I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

My Story:

Have you ever wondered how or why someone picked the job that they did? I often do and thought it would be fun to share with all of you how and why I got involved with Stampin' Up! two years ago.

About January 2008, I purchased electronic die cutting machine after seeing an info commercial. I was an avid card maker and knew it was going to be load of fun (and it was). I made hand painted cards, but didn't do any stamping at all except for maybe a black ink dog paw for our dog on any cards we sent out. The dog was definitely part of the family so needed to sign cards too. LOL While I loved the machine, I had some major issues finding quality card stock and had read on a message board that so many only used Stampin' Up! card stock in their machines with great results. I was so tired of buying paper and having in rip or tear when it was cutting that I decided I needed to investigate it in more depth. (this was August 2008)

I remembered that a customer from another business I did had been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator so I set out to find her. I found her on-line, sent her a short note, and asked her contact me. She called me right away and then brought over lots of things for me to try. Even tho I only was interested in the paper, she brought me stamps, ink, and so much more to try. My first order from her was just paper. My husband had just been laid off from work 2 weeks before, so I was really watching every penny.

I started going thru the new catalog she had left me and found more and more products that looked interesting. I talked to my husband in great detail about the possibility of signing up as a demonstrator so that I could get the discount on my products that I wanted. We also agreed that I would have to sell things or earn the $ to buy the products I needed. So becoming a Demonstrator was win/win situation. In the beginning I was just going to do this as a hobby, never imagined doing it as a business. Plus I was just buying mostly paper, no stamps etc.

I signed up in August 2008. I immediately let all my friends and family know that I was a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and was amazed at how many scrapbookers and card makers there were. Soon I had a few customers and that helped me bring in some extra income each month too.

Fast Forward 2 years: I'm now teaching classes/workshops each month ... this month alone I have 4 set up. I was recently promoted to supervisor and have my own team. I'm actively working with others to join my team too. I'm truly seeing an income each month from my business and that is so wonderful in these economic times. It helps to get us thru plus gives me some extra money to buy my craft items too.

A bit of humor ... I'm now an avid stamper too. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself stamping. It is so much fun. A year ago I started my own blog that is loaded with tutorials, photos, product reviews and inspiration

http://www.kreateskards.blogspot.com/

If you are looking for a way to earn extra money, share your passion of crafting with others, and to get your products from Stampin' Up! at a discount; joining Stampin' Up! is a great way to do this. If you currently have a demonstrator, by all means contact them. I would love to talk to any of you interested about joining my team or becoming one of my customers. I truly love what I do, and have so much to share.

E-mail me at marydirector at cox dot net or by clicking the "e-mail me link" at the top of the screen."

Mary
http://marydirector.stampinup.net
Stampin' Up! -- Discover Your Creativity
(On-line ordering now available thru my website)

Create Your Own Ink Pad - Samples

I am always looking for new ideas to pass on to all of you. I got experimenting with a baby wipe and classic ink refills from Stampin' Up! and was able to create my own ink stamp pad. I will post a tutorial later this week to show you how to create your own too, but in the meantime wanted to show you what I created.



I actually made two different stamp pads using 3 colors each. The 2 photos above are close-ups of my stamped images. The photo of the top is a full designer page I created.

In-Colors used: Concord Crush (item 119675), Peach Parfait (item #119673), Blushing Bride (item #119676), Pear Pizzazz (item#119674).

You may order Stampin' Up! products from me 24/7 thru my Stampin' Up! website. Just CLICK HERE, then click on order now to get started.


Mary
http://marydirector.stampinup.net
Stampin' Up! -- Discover Your Creativity
(On-line ordering now available thru my website)

Monday Inspiration: Wood Window Punch/Beautiful Wings Embosslits

On Saturday, Marijo Swartz brought a card to my Stampin' Up! class that was so cute I added it to my blog on Saturday night. Today, I decided that I had to make one myself and also wanted to use the Embosslits called Beautiful Wings, item #118138.

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:
Word Window Punch, item #119857
Beautiful Wings Embosslits, item #118138
Jumbo Brads, item #112533
Early Espresso Classic Ink, item #119670
Glue Dots, item #103683
2 Way Glue Pen, item #100425
Certainly Celery Card Stock, item #105125
Melon Mambo Card Stock, item #115320
Pink Pirouette Card Stock, item #111351
Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set, wood mount, item #115370
Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, item #113439

I did add in a bit of glitter glue to accent the butterflies.
Any of the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set sentiments would work with this flower.


This is a photo of the embosslits opened up with the cut and embossed butterflies to the side. It is fantastic that you can cut and emboss just by running thru the Big Shot one time. Stampin' Up! sells the Big Shot Die Cut Machine too. It is item #113439.


I used a quarter for comparison of sizes for the embosslits and the butterflies. The embosslits in this photo is closed. Here's and important note about the hinge (shown across the top of the embosslits in this photo):

When you use the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, be sure to run the die through the Big Shot so that the hinge is opposite the Big Shot handle. This will help protect the hinge. Also, make sure that you and your customers are using tab 1 when you use the multipurpose platform. Don't forget to share this information with your customers to prevent their dies from breaking.

This is a close-up of the butterflies to show the embossing on them. You can leave them plain, add glitter, accent with ink on a dauber or highlight the edges using a dauber or sponge with classic ink of your choice.

Hope this blog posting today will inspire you to create a card or work on a scrapbooking page.

The new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog 2010-2011 premiered on July 1st and has been a major hit with my customers. There are so many new products to try. Place your order 24/7 on my Stampin' Up! website by CLICKING HERE then click on Shop Now.


Mary
http://marydirector.stampinup.net
Stampin' Up! -- Discover Your Creativity
(On-line ordering now available thru my website)

Word Window Punch Flower - Punch Art

Isn't this a great card!!!!!! Thank you Marijo Swartz for letting me post it here on my blog.

I had two classes today that I taught. It is always so much fun to get together and share information about Stampin' Up! products and also be able to teach new techniques.

Marijo came to one of my classes today and brought this card to show me. I was so impressed with it, I asked if she minded if I took a photo and posted it on my blog. She agreed it would be fine with her. She used the Stampin' Up! Word Window Punch, item #119857 to create the flower then put a large brad in the center. I counted 15 petals.

The Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set, item #115370, is PERFECT for this type of design and a perfect fit for the Word Window Punch. Marijo used the Thank You from this set for her card.

Thank you Marijo for letting me post your card. Thank you too to all that attended my classes today. I had such fun and can't wait to see you all again in 2 weeks.

Mary
http://marydirector.stampinup.net
Stampin' Up! -- Discover Your Creativity
(On-line ordering now available thru my website)

Petal Card Extra Large Double Punch Ideas and Product Review

Stampin' Up! introduced a brand new paper punch this month that is called Petal Card Extra-Large Double punch. It is item # 119273 for $17.95. This punch needs to be used in the upright position. It does not have a view area on the bottom. Place it flat on the table with card stock in, then press once to cut and then a bit hard to emboss the lines for folds. This punch cuts and embosses .. isn't that GREAT!!!

This punch has caused a great deal of discussion among demonstrators and customers alike. It makes a cute little envelope type card that would hold a 1 inch design inside but what else can we do with it.

I work with it quite a bit yesterday and came up with some ideas. It helped that I also had the Big Shot BigZ Petal Card Die (now retired) and had done a tutorial for that earlier on my blog. Here's the link to that tutorial ... CLICK HERE I realized that whatever was done with the larger version should be able to be done with this version too.

This is a close up of the paper punch.

Tiny box made by gluing 2 of the cut-outs together.

Side view of the tiny box. It hold 1 creme saver.

Here's the miniature version of a 1 inch square box. Decorated with 1 inch designs. Next time will use more adhesive on the designs to have them lay flat. This box will hold 2 lifesavers that are individually wrapped.

Antoher view of the 1 inch box I made and decorated all 4 sides.

This is the tiny petal card you can make. Put in a 1 inch design or greeting in the base when it is opened up.

If you fold two sides, it make a cute heart with an opening. Opening is big enough to hold a quarter.

I used a roll of scotch tape for a size comparison to give you a visual on this.

Another visual, this time with a quarter on the left bottom of the photo.

Looking forward to see what others comes up with. I think it is cute and versatile. I think the boxes and tiny boxes would be hung from a table tree and decorated for different holidays and events.

I also heard discussion of taking the envelope and attaching it to the back of the tooth fairy stamped image (Tooth Fairy, wood mount only, item #119216 $7.95) and putting the child's lost tooth in it. Sounded like a great idea, don't you agree!

Have a great weekend. Remember you can order 24/7 from my Stampin' Up! website by clicking HERE and then click on Shop Now.

Mary
http://marydirector.stampinup.net
Stampin' Up! -- Discover Your Creativity
(On-line ordering now available thru my website)