Being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is so rewarding. Not only do I get to be creative every day, I also get to be a creative coach, offering fresh project ideas and encouragement to my customers and friends.
For me, helping someone create that perfect project for a special occasion is gratifying. After all, creating cards, scrapbook pages, and gift items is about more than just stamps and ink — it’s about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love.
For me, helping someone create that perfect project for a special occasion is gratifying. After all, creating cards, scrapbook pages, and gift items is about more than just stamps and ink — it’s about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love.
June 19 - Our new jumbo grommets are so much fun. I found that the pointy flower from the Baja Flower punch fits perfectly behind the jumbo grommets for a fun color center. Try it!
Feb. 10 - Cut small strips from your excess rubber and use just the foam layer to build up a support beside long skinny stamps eliminating the wobblies. This is handy for stems or long phrases.
Jan. 3, 2009 - Didn't quite get those Christmas Cards made this time? Set yourself a goal and make a few every month (or every time you get your stamps out). Then you'll be ready next year!
Dec. 15 - Mass Production. If you are stamping your own Christmas cards, make a prototype then cut all your cardstock and set up a production/assembly line. Maybe your husband, kids or friends would be willing to stamp or glue or glitter! We have a family tradition of watching a holiday movie, eating popcorn and addressing, signing, putting on postage and sealing/ the envelopes together.
Oct. 10 - Efficiency – Do you make one card at a time? Or Two? Or Four? To make a card, you cut a piece of cardstock in half. To make a front accent image, you cut a piece of cardstock in four pieces or more. You’ve taken the time to pick just the right color combination and accessories. Why not stamp two or more images and make a couple more cards at the same time. They don’t all have to look alike, but you’ve done half the work already.
Don’t stamp the sentiment or inside words until you need it. That way you’ll have cards on hand for the nearly forgotten birthday or an instant thank-you note.
June 29 - Masking.
Create the illusion of depth by masking your images. First stamp the image you want in the foreground on your cardstock. Then stamp it again on a Post-it note and cut it out. Place the post it note right over the first image. Now stamp surrounding images overlapping the first. They will appear behind it. See my Creative Projects gallery for an example!
June 2 - Crop-a-Dile: What a versatile tool! Punch 1/8" holes and 3/16" holes. Use the A1 setting to set Jumbo Eyelets. Use the C3 setting to set regular eyelets. Dry emboss 1/8" raised dots with the A1 setting direct to cardstock! Need help figuring it out -- that’s what I’m here for. Just ask!
Try this: Set a jumbo eyelet all by itself and string through some ribbon for do-it-yourself hardware!
May 15 - Storage ideas for your stamp sets.
*Photocopy sticker page and put copy inside box to help remember which stamps belong in the set.
*Take name of stamp set off sticker sheet and put on end of box. I take a piece of white paper and tape behind the name so it is easier to see. Others use a white sticky label to print set name and make easier to read.
*If you are not concerned with keeping track of what set a stamp is from, several of my customers divide up their sets by holiday/type/occasion. For instance, all the "Thank You" words go together. All the Birthday images go together, etc.
*I put the label for Background (large) stamps right on the wood block and store them standing up (without box).
*If you have storage ideas, let me know and I’ll share them with everyone!
April 24 - Stampin’ Scrub: Our Stampin’ Mist and Stampin’ Scrub are the best way to keep your stamps clean and ready to play. After a few days of stamping (or less if you’ve stamped a lot) your scrub pads will be full of ink. To clean, simply rinse under the faucet, tap out the excess water (I rub with my fingers) and let stand open overnight to drain and dry. For heavy use, use a tiny amount of mild soap and rinse well.
March 31 - Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive. Read about these many great features:
*Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive is both a permanent and non-permanent adhesive. If adhered immediately it is a permanent adhesive. If allowed to set a couple of minutes before adhering it is then temporary.
*It will hold your layers no matter how thick they get. Also, your cards stay "soft" unlike glue sticks which turns layered cards into rock-hard Frisbees.
*It lasts SO long. Just the tiniest bead of glue about 1/4 inch from the edges and your cards will hold forever!"
*It stays stuck. You can use it to attach heavy layers to cards and they’ll stay on. You can use it to attach the half pearls in the Pretties kit or buttons or chipboard
*Substitute it for Velcro when you need a card closure. Apply a dot the size you want, let dry. You have a tacky dot to hold it closed! Does not dry clear, so you can see it, too.
Feb. 10 - Cut small strips from your excess rubber and use just the foam layer to build up a support beside long skinny stamps eliminating the wobblies. This is handy for stems or long phrases.
Jan. 3, 2009 - Didn't quite get those Christmas Cards made this time? Set yourself a goal and make a few every month (or every time you get your stamps out). Then you'll be ready next year!
Dec. 15 - Mass Production. If you are stamping your own Christmas cards, make a prototype then cut all your cardstock and set up a production/assembly line. Maybe your husband, kids or friends would be willing to stamp or glue or glitter! We have a family tradition of watching a holiday movie, eating popcorn and addressing, signing, putting on postage and sealing/ the envelopes together.
Oct. 10 - Efficiency – Do you make one card at a time? Or Two? Or Four? To make a card, you cut a piece of cardstock in half. To make a front accent image, you cut a piece of cardstock in four pieces or more. You’ve taken the time to pick just the right color combination and accessories. Why not stamp two or more images and make a couple more cards at the same time. They don’t all have to look alike, but you’ve done half the work already.
Don’t stamp the sentiment or inside words until you need it. That way you’ll have cards on hand for the nearly forgotten birthday or an instant thank-you note.
June 29 - Masking.
Create the illusion of depth by masking your images. First stamp the image you want in the foreground on your cardstock. Then stamp it again on a Post-it note and cut it out. Place the post it note right over the first image. Now stamp surrounding images overlapping the first. They will appear behind it. See my Creative Projects gallery for an example!
June 2 - Crop-a-Dile: What a versatile tool! Punch 1/8" holes and 3/16" holes. Use the A1 setting to set Jumbo Eyelets. Use the C3 setting to set regular eyelets. Dry emboss 1/8" raised dots with the A1 setting direct to cardstock! Need help figuring it out -- that’s what I’m here for. Just ask!
Try this: Set a jumbo eyelet all by itself and string through some ribbon for do-it-yourself hardware!
May 15 - Storage ideas for your stamp sets.
*Photocopy sticker page and put copy inside box to help remember which stamps belong in the set.
*Take name of stamp set off sticker sheet and put on end of box. I take a piece of white paper and tape behind the name so it is easier to see. Others use a white sticky label to print set name and make easier to read.
*If you are not concerned with keeping track of what set a stamp is from, several of my customers divide up their sets by holiday/type/occasion. For instance, all the "Thank You" words go together. All the Birthday images go together, etc.
*I put the label for Background (large) stamps right on the wood block and store them standing up (without box).
*If you have storage ideas, let me know and I’ll share them with everyone!
April 24 - Stampin’ Scrub: Our Stampin’ Mist and Stampin’ Scrub are the best way to keep your stamps clean and ready to play. After a few days of stamping (or less if you’ve stamped a lot) your scrub pads will be full of ink. To clean, simply rinse under the faucet, tap out the excess water (I rub with my fingers) and let stand open overnight to drain and dry. For heavy use, use a tiny amount of mild soap and rinse well.
March 31 - Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive. Read about these many great features:
*Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive is both a permanent and non-permanent adhesive. If adhered immediately it is a permanent adhesive. If allowed to set a couple of minutes before adhering it is then temporary.
*It will hold your layers no matter how thick they get. Also, your cards stay "soft" unlike glue sticks which turns layered cards into rock-hard Frisbees.
*It lasts SO long. Just the tiniest bead of glue about 1/4 inch from the edges and your cards will hold forever!"
*It stays stuck. You can use it to attach heavy layers to cards and they’ll stay on. You can use it to attach the half pearls in the Pretties kit or buttons or chipboard
*Substitute it for Velcro when you need a card closure. Apply a dot the size you want, let dry. You have a tacky dot to hold it closed! Does not dry clear, so you can see it, too.
