Dec 9, 2018 | 3D samples, Business Opportunity, Stampin' Up!
Time to get the Sunday Swap Share going again, I think! Today I’m sharing a 3D item that was gifted to me by a fellow demonstrator, Gloria Kremer, at the On Stage Event in Orlando. I met Gloria a few events ago, and we’ve managed to catch up with each other at events since then! She made these lovely charms with shrink plastic and beads!
The sentiment is from Stampin’ Up!’s Beautiful You Stamp set – available in clear mount or wood mount. It looks like she punched the shrink plastic with the Pretty Label Punch. Thanks again, Gloria!
Stampin’ Up!’s next big On Stage event is going to be held in Auckland, New Zealand! As always, when the main event is on a different continent (right now it rotates between Europe, North America and the South Pacific Region), there’s smaller events held on the other two continents, with a combination of live presentations and video feed from the main event. In Canada, the two sites will be Quebec City and Vancouver – so covering both coasts! These events are demonstrator-only events – focused on inspiring and informing us creatively and in our businesses….but there’s also a lot of fun and friendship! That’s my favourite part of attending Stampin’ Up! events – seeing so many of my friends that I’ve made over the 16 years I”ve been a demonstrator (I started when I was 10…hahaha), and meeting new friends every time. If you’d like to join my group of demonstrators, known as the “Eh” Team, you can contact me for more information – or check out this page – the shortcut is yamstamps.com/join ! I’m also holding an Information Evening on a semi-regular basis. The next one is January 10th – you can RSVP for this free event! Normally you can get $165 worth of product for just $135 in your starter kit, but January 3 – March 31 during Sale-a-Bration, you can get $225 worth of product for just $135, or for $175 you’ll also get the Demonstrator only Craft & Carry Tote bag! (Can’t wait? Sign up now, get the starter kit and order the tote! Available right now for demonstrators to order – until January 2nd!). I’d love to have you join our group!
Nov 14, 2018 | Business Opportunity, cards, event, Stampin' Up!
Why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator…
Reason 1 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: An excuse to travel! I spent last week in Orlando, Florida at Stampin’ Up!’s On Stage Event. I know, you’re feeling sorry for me already. And OK, not the whole week was actually the event. I spent a couple of days preparing for the event by visiting with fellow demonstrators, visiting the parks of Florida (that would be theme parks…), and taking a bit of down time. (if you follow the YamStamps Instagram or Facebook Page you may have seen proof of that). I have noticed lately that my travel tends to be woven in and around Stampin’ Up! or training opportunities, so it’s a nice way to mix business and pleasure. Also, I need to work on my selfie skills….LOL. Visited Universal (the Harry Potter areas!), The Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas with fellow Canadians (front to back: Gaile, me, Mary Louise, Jasmine, Carrie, Laurie and Debbie – crowded on Main Street but easy to get onto the rides), and Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney if you’ve been there in the past) with my American friends Debbi and Rebecca .
Reason 2 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: Sharing Creativity: One of the things that tends to occur when demonstrators get together – SWAPS. Demonstrators will create multiples of a paper crafting project and then trade with other demonstrators. It’s a great way to get ideas and inspiration (no, we don’t think our designs up on our own all the time!). Sometimes these are organized events – where a specific number and theme are mandated. Other times, “general swaps” occur – demonstrators literally walk around trading their creations. It’s a great way to meet people as well! Here’s a lovely swap that was gifted to me by Mary Louise – even though I didn’t have anything to swap with her (and I cut her off in the photo too LOL)! So I’ll share the wealth here.
She used Winter Woods Bundle (available in a red rubber clear mount stamp bundle or red rubber wood mount stamp bundle) to create this beautiful card. The paler areas on the evergreen tree are actually areas she’s added some Frost White Shimmer Paint (sorry, my photo is not really doing it justice!).
Reason 3 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: friends – old and new! Another thing that happens at Stampin’ Up! Events? Getting together with demonstrator friends! My group of demonstrators is called the “Eh” Team, and there were five of us in total this time that were able to make the big journey south. Amazing that we were able to find each other in a sea of 7000 demonstrators! So here we are as a group (from left to right in the photo: Karen, Arlene, Pamela, Mary and myself). Karen and I also were able to attend Centre Stage, which is an event for demonstrators at a certain level of leadership in their business. We were treated to passes to Epcot (it was the Food & Wine Festival as well!), and a dessert reception.(I still haven’t figured out how to take the selfie and look at the right spot on the phone…). Last photo is a reunion of the 2017-2018 Events Council – we are from all over North America and the last time we all saw each other was a year ago so it was great to meet up again, albeit briefly. Not pictured – SO many other friends that I got to see and hug. It truly was so heartwarming to be able to see so many friends that I often only “see” online.
Reason 4 why I love being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator: Last (for now) but not least – new product! We get so many goodies at Stampin’ Up! events and one of the fun ways to receive something is Prize Patrol. I hit the jackpot! I won a huge sentiment set that I can’t wait to use in upcoming classes. All the prizes were from the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalogues, which will be in effect as of January 3, 2019.
We also got a look at the Craft & Carry Tote which is a demonstrator only item. Current demonstrators are able to order this bag until the end of the year only. Not a demonstrator (yet)? Not a problem! You can select this as part of your starter kit right now! Valued at $68, you can select it right now as part of your $165 worth of product for $135 – OR you could select other product in your starter kit and then purchase the bag (before January 2) once you have your demonstrator number! Your other option is to pick one up with your starter kit during Sale-a-Bration in January. There are two starter kit options – the “regular” kit for $135, and the tote kit for $175. During Sale-a-Bration you’ll also get $60 more product of your choice in your kit. Check out my FAQs about joining my team here (or if you like to type, www.yamstamps.com/join).
The next big On Stage event is happening in April in Auckland, New Zealand. While I would LOVE to be able to attend that one…I think I’m going to have to stay a bit closer to home. In Canada, the two local event locations (we get a local event when the main event happens either in the South Pacific or Europe), will be Quebec City and Vancouver. If you would like more information, please contact me, or consider attending my next Information Evening (Thursday December 6, or check the Events Page to see upcoming dates) to find out more about being a demonstrator with my group and find your own reasons why you love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!
Sep 9, 2018 | Business Opportunity, cards, Stampin' Up!
This week’s Sunday Swap share is a celebration of the fact that it’s technically still summer….even though by this point in the month it feels like we are into the next season. However, well will highlight this Tropical Thank You Card and remind ourselves that it is not yet September 23rd…
Kay Smith created this lovely, tropical thank you card! It was created with the Tropical Thinlits dies and coordinating stamp set – Tropical Chic. The set is available in red rubber clear mount or red rubber wood mount, and is also available as part of a discounted bundle (wood mount or clear mount) with the thinlits. On this card, you can see some of the Tropical Escape Designer Series Paper peeking out through the die cut window. Love the coordination of the images and colours. Stampin’ Up! really does a great job of presenting coordinating products in suites so that it’s easy for the crafter to pick up on the colour theme or image theme for their projects. Perfect for a lazy crafter like me. I don’t want to work too hard to come up with something that looks great!
As a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I’m often asked where I get my card ideas. I often get inspiration from the products themselves, but I also get inspiration from other demonstrators! I love participating in card swaps with other demonstrators – we each design one card and make multiples of that card – and in return for participating in the swap, we get a variety of cards back (including our own). It’s great to see how others interpret sets and images, and a great way to expand my sample collection – especially when I don’t actually own that particular stamp set or framelit. Shocking, I know, but I don’t actually own everything in the catalogue!! If you enjoy card making or scrapbooking, consider joining my group of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators – we’re known as the “Eh” Team! You can “support your own crafting habit”, and make a little money as well doing something you love. Please come to my Information Evening on Wednesday, September 12th at 7pm in north Burlington. All that’s required is an RSVP! No cost, no pressure. Come and hear about how being a demonstrator can add a little creativity and income to your life! Maybe you’ll get a tropical thank you card for attending! (or maybe a non-tropical one…since I don’t actually own this set….yet). Hope to see you soon!
Aug 27, 2018 | Business Opportunity, Stampin' Up!
For me, September is a time of new beginnings – just like January! I have always loved the “back to school” and “back to routine” routine…and of course, shopping for back to school supplies. Other than shopping for Stampin’ Up! craft supplies, I think going to an office supply store (in person or online, I’m not picky), is my second favourite shopping option! (please tell me I’m not alone…..). Anyway, around here this upcoming September is feeling a little extra big as my one and only son is heading to university away from home. I know that he’s ready for it and will adapt, but I can confess that I’m a bit of a worrier (which parent isn’t, really?). So with that in mind, I’m prepared to provide support from a distance, and distract myself with things around here! If you are looking for something new to keep yourself occupied, or provide a little extra income, may I suggest the Stampin’ Up! side hustle?! It’s not a new dance….but it could be as fun… and we can keep each other distracted for a while hahaha!
(probably as close as one could get to a Stampin’ Up! side hustle image? Made with the stamp set Beautiful You)
Side hustle is the term for an extra job or occupation – you don’t have to quit everything and embark on a new path, you just add a little something to your current situation. Stampin’ Up! has been my side hustle since before they invented the term! I started just after my maternity leave and continued when I moved across country and started a new job. In the past few years, I’ve chosen to decrease my hours at that job to part time to step back from some of the stresses and pressures in order to try maintain my life balance and happiness. I’m happy that I had this Stampin’ Up! side hustle to support that move.
If you think this might be a good time for your to consider something new, I have a page dedicated to FAQs about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, so you can read that to see if your questions are answered there. I also invite you to come to my next Information Evening, scheduled for Wednesday, September 12th at 7pm here in Burlington (click here to RSVP and get directions). If you don’t live closeby, or can’t make that date, there are options! Contact me and you can join the online version that evening, or we can set a time to chat (in person, online, via emails, whatever your preference). I hope you’ll consider starting a side hustle with my group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators!
Jul 1, 2018 | Business Opportunity, cards, specials, Stampin' Up!
Happy Canada Day! I will be spending part of my day watching the Burlington Teen Tour Band perform in the heat…and then try to cool off by hiding in air conditioned areas or a pool until the temperature hopefully drops a bit…
If you are beating the heat for a while by staying in air conditioned rooms and maybe surfing the internet, surf these specials that Stampin’ Up! is offering in July! Shop and save or sign up and save this month with some colourful specials!
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, July is a GREAT time to join! Colourful Special #1 – Select $165 product for just $135, AND get a full set of ink pads in your choice of colour family! Click on the image, or go to www.yamstamps.com/join for more information about becoming a demonstrator with my group, known as the “Eh” Team! If you have any questions, please contact me and we can chat – online, on the phone or in person! OR – if you’re ready for a fun new “side hustle” and want to jump right in, you can sign up with me HERE. Get your new venture off to a colourful special start!
Colourful Special #2 – Buy three, get one free Designer Series Paper offer! Purchase any three of these DSPs and select a fourth one for free! Click on the individual image to see the paper in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada Store, or go here to see all the Designer Series Paper (please note that only the ones shown below are included in this special). While these two specials are both running in July, they cannot be combined. Best option if you want to take advantage of both deals? Sign up as a demonstrator in July, get your free set of ink pads, then on your first demonstrator order, buy 3 get 1 free of the qualifying Designer Series Papers! Contact me for more information or if you need assistance placing your order. Happy shopping!
Animal Expedition
Best Route
Garden Impressions 6×6
Nature’s Poem
Petal Promenade
Tranquil Textures
Tropical Escape 6×6
Twinkle Twinkle
Under the Mistletoe
Wood Textures
Apr 14, 2018 | 3D samples, Business Opportunity, event, Events, Stampin' Up!
Sharing a bit more from Stampin’ Up!’s On Stage event in London Ontario last weekend. It was so much fun! This was my final official event as a member of the Events Council, and what a way to go out! I heard so many people say that they thought this was one of the best events they’d attended! (Though in all honesty, it kind of feels that way every time we go to an event run by Stampin’ Up! haha). The photo above is the gifts that I managed to get together for members of my demonstrator group, known as the “Eh” Team. They are boxed note pads, decorated with products from the Share What You Love suite. Demonstrators are able to order these products now (well, not the note pads…I already had those), and ordering will be available to everyone come May – with exclusive bundles at that time before they are available as part of the new Annual Catalogue! I think my favourite thing in this suite is the Share What You Love Designer Series Paper – it’s extra thick, and you get twice as much as in a regular package – plus it’s got a Pearlized coating on most of the sheets – you can kind of see the sheen on the flower images on a couple of the boxes above.
Here’s Leanne & I at the 80’s themed Centre Stage Event….my big hair did not keep its vertical height, sadly….This leaders’ event was the night before the On Stage Event, and it was a lovely dinner and information session, with great giveaways as well! (oh, and that’s a genuine LLBean sweater from the appropriate decade….).
What’s an 80’s party without jelly bracelets (and bright coloured pin?!) Thanks to Donna Griffiths who spread joy to the Events Council members across North America with these fun gifts! Thanks also to Stampin’ Up! for the gorgeous lanyard they gave to Council members (you can kind of see mine in the photo below). I love that even though we were spread out over North America, it was still a feeling of a shared event. I am thankful that I was able to serve with these special ladies!
Above – a picture of the “Eh” Team members who were able to attend the On Stage Event in London – Anne, Leanne, me, Arlene and Gail. So much fun….all of these ladies also helped behind the scenes. HUGE thanks to Anne, Arlene, and Gail whose hard work above and beyond allowed the SU staffers to get sleep the night before the event. I presented during the event (check the YamStamps Instagram feed for my Britney mic photo!) and apparently stayed within my time limit, mic issues not withstanding (I managed to dislodge the Britney mic and had to adjust it before continuing…oops).
Thanks to Leanne for grabbing this photo during my presentation. I will say that presenting at the events has been a good growth experience, and lots of fun in the end. A little stressful initially, I won’t lie…but the room is full of supportive friends, and I got in all the required information…I think….haha!! One of the things I mentioned during my presentation – how much I love being a demonstrator, mostly for the inspiring and creative people that have been brought into my life because of it – and you see a few of them in photos in this post and elsewhere on the YamStamps Blog.
One final picture of everyone behind the scenes after loading one of the pallets. (I stole this picture from our fearless leader, Gennie…) – left to right – me, Kim, Gennie, Carrie, Valerie, Monica, Kathy (designer of that gorgeous Designer Series Paper!), Greg, Josh, Brett and Mike. The SU Staffers get sent out to all the events to help in front and behind the scenes – then go back to their “day jobs” in Marketing, Design, Transportation, IT, Demo Support, HR…you get the idea (I know I’ve also missed some of the departments…LOL). Such a great crowd to work with. Seriously. I would do this again in a heartbeat. The next On Stage Event is going to be a big one – Orlando, Florida in November, celebrating 30 years of Stampin’ Up! Can’t wait! If you’re interested in attending this event, contact me for more information about joining my team of demonstrators!
