Jun 1, 2012 | Announcements, Events
The new Stampin' Up! Catalogue is now in effect! I love the clean, artistic look of it :) Ordering will not be available until noon Mountain time today, June 1st, but in the meantime, you can still look it over and start making your wish list 😉 Click on the image to download the pdf/reader version, or click on the text link above to go to the fancy flash version.
Of course, there's NOTHING like having the hard copy in your hands, so please RSVP and drop by my Open House TOMORROW from 1-3pm here in Burlington. You'll also have a chance to pick up some retired product, set a date for your own in home class and sign up for upcoming classes and clubs. Plus there's food, did I mention that?! LOL.
Feb 1, 2012 | Announcements, Events
Stampin' Up!'s FREE 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express is now available! This is an ongoing offer so you can take advantage of it at any time! My Digital Studio Express software is a fully functional version of My Digital Studio, but has fewer included images and brushes.
How do you get it?
Go to my online store here and click on the My Digital Studio Express trial. You will need to make a customer account if you haven't already ordered through me. Once you've "purchased" the trial, you can download it from the downloads section of your account, and install it onto your computer.
What do you do once you try it and like it?
Once the 30-day free trial period is over, you can purchase the downloadable (My Digital Express) or disc version (My Digital Studio) of the software through my online store to continue using it. You'll simply open up the trial version you already have on your computer, and will be prompted to enter the product registration key you received after purchasing the software. (You'll receive this key via e-mail if you purchase the downloadable version, and you'll find it along with your shipped software if you purchase the disc version.)
Here's a hint – if you love MDS Express, and want all the great images, brushes and punches you would get in the full version of My Digital Studio right away, the fastest thing to do is:
1) Purchase MDS Express and then
2) Purchase the MDS Express Booster Pack
You'll end up with all the items that you would get in My Digital Studio (plus a few more) and it will all be downloadable and instantly available to you!! Of course, the option to purchase the full version of My Digital Studio is there as well, especially if you like to have disk versions of your software.
Want to try but want some guidance? Attend my FREE MDS101 Class THIS FRIDAY, February 3rd at 7pm here in Burlington ON. Registration required. Bring your laptop and I'll walk you through the download, installation and initial use of My Digital Studio Express! Can't make it Friday? Contact me and I'll keep you in the loop. I plan on offering this class on a semi-regular basis and an online version is in the works! I love the ease of digital crafting and look forward to helping you discover how great it is!
Jan 28, 2012 | Events, TV/Video/Web/Tech
As of February 1st, Stampin' Up! is offering a free 30 day trial of the My Digital Studio Express software! This is a great software program for digital crafting. I love working digitally – for one thing, scrapbooking is much less messy….and let's face it, most of my photos are digital and tend to live on my computer, where noone gets to see them (except me). It's a great way to create a number of cards as well – in the past, I've done my Christmas cards digitally and was able to include a number of photos from the year as a visual collage of my family's year. I'm planning on making a few books up in the near future as well. At left is a tag sample I made quickly using the Springtime DSP, scallop square punch and basic pearls.
If you're interested in trying out this software, please consider joining me at my FREE MDS101 class! The first one will be held on Friday, February 3rd at 7pm here at my place in Burlington. RSVP required. Please bring your laptop if you have one – I will walk you through the download of the software plus the basics of My Digital Studio. You'll leave that evening with your copy of the software plus information to get you started! If you don't have a laptop, you are still welcome to attend and look over my shoulder while we work. I will also be posting an online class in the near future for those of you not close to the Burlington, Ontario area. In the meantime if you want to watch a quick video – check out my video tutorials page. The first video is one that I made using a free template that Stampin' Up! offered for Digital Scrapbooking Day!
Jan 27, 2012 | Big Shot, cards, Events, rubber stamping
They say that one of the best ways to keep sharp is to keep learning new things. At Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference, there were lots of choices in classes to attend to hear about different topics to help demonstrators in their businesses. (Don't worry, there's also a crafty sample at end of this blog post!)
One class I attended was "Why Women Buy" presented by Carrie Cudney who highlighted habits and trends amongst female purchasers vs. male purchasers. A slide she used to show some differences cracked me up: 
The theory is that the female is looking for "the" perfect pair of pants, while often men will settle for "a" pair of pants; the female is often also shopping for other things and other people at the same time, therefore needs to look around at more stores!
Now, for those of you who have attended workshops or classes with me previously, there's no need to fear that I'll become a hard sell, marketing machine now – I'll just be working harder to help you find "the" solution for your crafting needs (vs. "a" solution!!).
I also attended a class on "Coaching For Performance" by Natalie White and Jim Pitt, which concentrated on how to help others come up with goals and plans to meet them. I do try to do this with demonstrators who are signed up with me, but this was a more organized/formal way of approaching it. I will also be doing this for myself to help me focus on my goals and the plans to reach those goals!
"Retaining and Engaging Your Downline" by Donna Griffith and Patsy Waggoner (a US Stampin' Up! demonstrator) provided some practical tips to keep my team of demonstrators active and acknowledged, so that they can continue to reap the benefits of having a source of income plus a creative outlet. I plan on using some of these ideas at my upcoming demonstrator meetings and throughout the year!
Of course, we also receive lots of crafty inspiration and ideas too! Here's more samples using the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit (guess what was on my order that just went in for Sale-a-Bration?! LOL). I love the framed artwork – so simple but so effective and perfect for any time of year – not just Valentine's Day.
My next card class is on Wednesday, February 1st at 7pm here in Burlington and the theme is "Love"-ly cards. We'll be doing a card suitable for Valentine's Day, but all four cards will be designed to be given to someone you care about at any time of year! Cost is $20 and includes all supplies including adhesive and envelopes. Please contact me to register. Space is limited.
Jan 25, 2012 | Events
I had a blast in San Antonio at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference. One of the best things was getting together with demonstrator friends from across Canada and the USA. There's always lots of laughter and lots of great inspiration and ideas shared.
Here's a few neat samples from one of the displays featuring the Dresden Designs die – used for quilting plus for paper crafting as well! I did try my hand at quilting while I was living in BC….let's just say that while I enjoyed it, I wasn't that proficient….but I think the die would make quilting this pattern SO much easier and faster to put together! I love the cute tree that they made from Designer Series Paper.
We enjoy crafting as much as our customers do, and the make and takes are always eagerly anticipated. We received two sets when we arrived (well, among other things we received!) and we used these for our projects. Here are my friends Christina, Sue and Liz working hard….
okay, well perhaps not THAT hard…
This is the cute bag that our Leadership items were in – designed by a new friend, Mel – so creative! The bottom portion is reversible!!
I always come back from demonstrator events feeling re-energized (well, after I catch up on my sleep!!! LOL). I just need more time to process everything and follow-through on some new plans and ideas! (don't worry, I'll keep you posted).
I will have more photos to share in the next few days. Oh, did I mention that a few of us got to attend part of the filming for the final episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition???!!!! 😉 stay tuned for more details
Jan 20, 2012 | cards, Events
So it's been an AMAZING time so far at Leadership Conference – and we really only had our first full day of activities today! Lots of goodies (stamps, accessories, digital artwork…), lots of information and lots of inspiration….all this with lots of great friends! I am so lucky to have Stampin' Up! as an outlet and income source. I'll have lots of great stuff to share with you over the next while! Here's a cute sample shared at one of the display booths: 
Tonight we had a bizarre stroke of luck as well, as we were invited to fill out the crowd as Extreme Home Makeover taped part of their last episode (ever) here in San Antonio - got to see Ty Pennington close up, all the designers, plus got to hear Lee Greenwood and (some of) the Ten Tenors sing.
Tomorrow brings the last full day of Leadership activities, but we still have the Regional Training Event to attend on Saturday – lots of fun still to come!
