Things to remember...

Hi Crafters,

As you may know it's the last week for Stampin Up's Buy 3 get 1 free DSP offer. I only just remembered yesterday it's the last week, so don't forget to contact your local demonstrator for this great deal!

Another thing to remember is Fathers Day this Sunday 1st September, so start making those cards!

From the first weekend in September I will start posting the NZSU weekly pics again on a Sunday.  With this being the last week of club rugby I will get the time to manage it then instead of Tuesday.

Well that's all my things to remember for this week, I hope you get those Fathers Days cards made and I would love to see some examples in next week's pics. Below are a few “Man” card ideas from our great local demonstrators...

 

Top Row L-R: Keryn Campbell, Alison Hydes, Janet Mills.

Middle Row L-R: Sally Williams, Paula Dobson, Rhonda Fawcett.

Bottom Row L-R: Helen Williams, Paula Reid, Heather Stewart.

 

Have a great week everyone!

 

Thank you card...

Hi Crafters,

As mentioned a few weeks ago, I was asked by my son's school to be a guest speaker on Professional Photography for their 'Art Attack' week.

Well I ended up speaking for 50 minutes on the subject, even after compressing my speech and making it child friendly. There were 30 pairs of big round focused eyes on me for the whole time and some very keen young photographers. I am pleased to say it went off without a hitch and they were so pleased with me I was one of 3 nominated to received a hand made card along with a Westfield voucher.

It's nice to know that with technology forever evolving, that the good old fashioned card is still around and means so much to the recipient - and I can say when I received mine I was VERY happy!!!

The handmade card the kids made for me.

 



 

So don't think twice about sending a card and make one today, even if it's just to say "Hello" - you never know, you might be the one on the receiving end.

Now onto this weeks pics ... and don't forget if your card is displayed below, let everyone know I loved it and use the "NZSU Pic of the Week" badge...

 

Top Row L-R: Jacinta Argent, Katrina Criglington, Louisa Tc

Middle Row L-R: Rhonda Fawcett, Delys Cram, Barbara Bicknell.

Bottom Row L-R: Paula Dobson, Sharlene Meyer, Angela Palmer.

 

Have a great crafting week!

 

Pic of the week...

Hi Crafters,

Well another busy week filled with sick children, managing a Rugby team and helping out at school.  I'm starting to get craft withdrawal symptoms, consisting of getting butterflies in my tummy when I feel like crafting, thinking of great card ideas and even dreaming of making cards. Do you get those days?

For those of you that have taken a little time for yourself, I applaud you! So why not take a moment so everyone can see your hard work.

From today onwards on this blog if I select your great craft idea and display it on my weekly pics, I want you to display this image on your blog beneath your picture. This is my way of saying "Good job for crafting this week"

 

 

So don't hesitate start crafting today so I can see all those great craft ideas...

 

Now for this weeks pics...

 

 

Top Row L-R: Sharlene Meyer, Alison Hydes, Keryn Campbell.

Middle Row L-R: Louisa TC, Julia Leece, Janet Mills.

Bottom Row L-R: Susan Wong, Debbie Lamb, Paula Reid.

 

Have a great crafting week everyone!

 

How do you prepare for a class?

Hi Crafters,

 

I got asked today to be a Professional Photography guest speaker at my son’s school for “Art Attack Week”. Although very excited and privileged to be asked, it got me thinking about "how do I prepare for this" especially when the target audience are all under 10 years old.

We all tend to do things automatically, often without thinking too much about it. Like taking a picture with a camera, or even making a card. But to explain this to someone can sometimes make you think "how much information is too much"

So when preparing for a Stampin Up party or class I think the same rules apply:

1.      How old are the attendees - kids or adults.

2.      What level of experience do they have.

3.      What skillset do you want to teach them without losing them.

4.      What will keep them interested.

5.      How can you make it fun!

Once you have the first 2 sorted, you can base your class around the next 3.

I've personally taught adults and kids. For kids I just focused on how to punch out on card stock, how to hold a stamp and use a stamp pad - where as for adults, I've taught them how to heat emboss and techniques like ‘rock and roll’. 

I'm going to leave you with this "How do you prepare for your classes"

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Debbie Lamb, Anna Mangnall, Julia Leece

Middle Row L-R: Roz Begbie, Angela Palmer, Delys Cram.

Bottom Row L-R: Keryn Campbell, Jacquelyn Williams, Paula Dobson.

The New Holiday Catalogue is almost here...

Hi Crafters,

Haven't we been spoiled for choice, this month we got to introduce the New 2013-2014 catalogue with lots of new and exciting products. And now we've been given the Holiday Catalogue to view before sales become available in September, with more exciting goodies.

If you are anything like me, my list on the Annual catalogue was looking long, but add the Holiday Catalogue and it has extended by about a page...whoops sorry my lovely Husband I might have to look at getting some more goodies.

I hope you enjoyed the last few weeks of Demonstrator interviews, It's always good seeing how other demonstrators run their business and what they love the most about Stampin Up.

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Delys Cram, Janet Mills, Sharon de Vos

Middle Row L-R: Tee-Jay Horrell, Sally Williams, Angela Palmer.

Bottom Row L-R: Debbie Lamb, Roz Begbie, Paula Reid.

 

I hope you all have a creative week.

 

 

Week 4: Interview with a Demonstrator

Hi Crafters,

Well this is the last week of my "interview with a demonstrator" series, and I've been lucky to have 4 lovely ladies agree to answer my questions about them.

This week I've gone back to the South Island, Dunedin to be exact and managed to score the lovely Karen Lister for an interview...

Interview with Karen Lister

 

1.       How long have you been a Stampin Up Demonstrator?

I have signed up twice, since 2008 in total. First under Shelley Stewart and then when her and her up line Sharlene Torres left I was an orphan so resigned under Julia leece.

2.       What part of the South Island do you live?

I live in the mighty Dunedin.

3.       What was your main reasons for becoming a Stampin Up Demonstrator?

My wish list was over a page long.

4.       Who introduced you to Stampin Up?

I went to a card night with my Mum in Invercargill at her local shop. After that I came back and googled  stamping and card making and found Shelley Stewart who threw my first party. I signed up then.

5.       How do you like to best market your product?

I am not really a business demo, and my down line Karen Hobbs and I run regular classes.

6.       Want is your favourite all time Stampin Up Product?

The stamps, especially quirky ones like sparkly and bright.

7.       What is your favourite class technique?

Vintage style cards with lots of ripping and layering

8.       What is your top 10 Stampin Up Products and why?

Catalogue for inspiration, wood mounted stamps because they just feel nice, using strawberry slush ink sounds yummy and looks nice. Big Shot why wouldn't you knurgle something given the chance. Card stock because it all matches so well, tombow glue so quick for a demo, punches because my kids get just as much fun out of them as I do, linen thread so versatile dress up or down, chalkboard framelits how fabulous for quick tags, butterfly embosslits who knew you could make so many out of such little scraps of paper.

9.       What is the most amount of cards you've made in one day!

Not too many, probably around 20


10.   Lastly what was your funniest Stampin Up moment you can remember.

Having my dad suggest I should make a punch art baby head to fit on a particular stamp in the new catalogue.

If you want to know more about Karen and her business you can contact her at...
moggymarx.WordPress.com


Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Sally Williams, Lisa Bullock, Paula Dobson.

Middle Row L-R: Alison Hydes, Rhonda Fawcett, Judy Beetson.

Bottom Row L-R: Julia Leece, Janet Mills, Debbie Lamb.

 

Have a great week everyone...

 

 

 

Week 3: Interview with a Demonstrator

Hi Crafters,

Were up to week 3 of my interviews and this week I've come back to the North Island and found a great demonstrator in Wellington.

Some of you might know her as the administrator of the NZSU for 2011, but we know her as the lovely Keryn Campbell.

Below she took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for me, this is her interview...

Interview with Keryn Campbell

 

 

1. How long have you been a Stampin Up Demonstrator?

6 years on Tuesday (16th July)

 

2. What made you decided to become one?

I'd seen Stampin' Up!® in an American Stamping Magazine and knew they were coming to New Zealand but had forgotten about it until a friend (now my downline) showed me a catalogue.  It was the perfect time for a new business for me as my youngest son was at Kindy.

 

 

3. What is the biggest class number you have demonstrated for?

From Memory 22ish.

 

        4. What other craft based things do you enjoy.

         knitting, cross-stitch and other needlework.   I don't have  a lot of time for those anymore.

 

5. What Stampin Up Product new or past do you use the most, you can name up to 3?

 Big Shot, Desktop Trimmer, Stampin' Scrub

 

6. What was your favourite class and why? 

My favourite classes are always for my Stamp Club ladies. 

 

7. Name your top 5 Stampin Up products in order, and what makes them the top.

Stampin' Scrub - just love being able to change ink colours so quickly, snail adhesive - no need to remove tape, stamping sponges - fabulous finishing touch, Big Shot - so many different ways to cut, emboss & texture, MDS - Just the best thing ever for business flyers and marketing tools. 

 

8. What is the best Stampin Up tip you've been given and by whom.

Among others 'it's not only OK but almost necessary to make mistakes when you're demoing' - it was a long time ago but I think it was my Upline Sharlene.

 

9. What is your favourite technique? 

Sponging.

 

10. Lastly what was your funniest Stampin Up moment you can remember.

I'm sure there have been funny moments but right now my mind is blank.

 

If you want to know more about Keryn Campbell or would like to attend her classes please contact her at:

 

• For Stampin' Up!® product, classes and business opportunity information visit : http://keryn_campbell.stampinup.net
• Like My Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/KerynsCards
• Follow me on Twitter : http://twitter.com/Keryn_Campbell
• DBWS : http://keryn_campbell.stampinup.net

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Paula Reid, Alison Hydes, Karen Lister.

Middle Row L-R: Judy Beetson, Jacquelyn Williams, Delys Cram.

Bottom Row L-R: Keryn Campbell, Karen Rogers, Lisa Bullock.

 

Have a great week everyone!!

 



Week 2 : Interview with a Demonstrator

Hi All Crafters,

Well it's week two of the Stampin Up Demonstrator interviews and this week I contacted one of our lovely ladies in the South Island, Lisa Bullock from Canterbury!

Lisa has passed on some of her skills with answering some questions for me, below is her interview...

Interview with Lisa Bullock

 

 

 

1. How long have you been a Stampin Up Demonstrator?

 Since May 2009

2. What made you decided to become one?

 I wanted to make my hobby work for me so I started selling the products I love so they could PAY for the ones I wanted

3. What makes Stampin Up product different from others?

Great quality stamps, you don't appreciate them fully until you use a non SU stamp and see the difference. I love the colour coordination of the products too, Cardstock, inkpads, markers plus ribbon, buttons and all the other lovelies.  

4. What is your Favourite, wouldn't be without Stampin Up Product new or past?

 Anyone who knows me knows I love my punches - ALL of them. They are such a versatile product and can be put together to make new pictures too

5. What was your favourite class and why?

 My favourite classes are kids ones. You can guarantee that even when you give the children all the same supplies that not one of them will come out with a card the same as yours. They don't seem to have the same need to follow the "rules" as adults do when creating. 

6. If you got asked to take 7 things along to a blind demonstration what would you take and why?

 Whisper White A5 folded into Cardbases (back to basics, you can show lots of different ways to do one layer cards), Coordinating ink pads, Post it notes (for sponging or creating a frame), Stampin' Sponges (lots of fun effects there), A stamp set like the new Wetlands one because it has useful sentiments and images, Stazon ink pad (waterproof!! great for line images and sentiments ), Aquapainter (another way to colour line images). These are all good basic products which you can do lots with.

7. What is your best Stampin Up tip?

 Play! Experiment, think outside the box. Not only will you become really familiar with your product but you will discover lots of different ways to use it and be able to share that with your friends and customers. People love to get more bang for their buck so show them how to get the most from their products.

8. What is your favourite technique?

 I'm not big on Techniques but I do like to learn new ones. The last one was Whitewash Effect where you use slightly watered down Whisper White Craft ink to "white wash" colour onto a White embossed line image. Allow to dry thoroughly then use watercolour pencils or markers to colour it in. I do love sponged effects too.

9. Lastly what was your funniest Stampin Up moment you can remember.

 Funniest Moment! No this is serious business. I always have a lot of fun with my ladies and I have met some fabulous people through Stampin' Up! which I would never have met otherwise but no "one" funny moment comes to mind

 

If you want to know more about Lisa, please contact her at:

 

Blog : http://daffyscrapper.wordpress.com/

DBSW: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lisabullock/

 

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

 

 

Top Row L-R: Ann Wills, Sharlene Meyer, Julia Leece

Middle Row L-R: Jenny Humphreys, Sally Stuart, Sally Williams.

Bottom Row L-R: Rhonda Fawcett, Susan Wong, Anna Mangnall

 

Have a fantastic week everyone.

 

 

 



Week 1 Interview with a Demonstrator

Hi Crafters,

Seeing today is the official launch of the new 2013-2014 Annual Stampin' Up! Catalogue, I thought I'd take this time to interview a few of our fantastic Demonstrators. It's always nice to get to know our team.

Each week over the next 4 weeks I'll interview one demonstrator. This week I fired some questions to the lovely Ann Wills my fantastic up line. She lives in Auckland on the North Shore and below is her interview...

Interview with Ann Wills

"Firstly Thank you Ann for taking the time to answer my questions"...

 

 

1.       How long have you been aware of the Stampin Up products?

"5 years"

2.       Who introduced you to Stampin Up.

"I went to a workshop that Jacque Williams did for Julia Leece before she signed up"

3.       When did you become a Stampin Up Demonstrator.

"April 2009"

4.       What made you decide to be a demonstrator?

"I wanted EVERYTHING in the catalogue so I thought I had better sign up so I could at least get a discount"        

5.       If you had 5 minutes to collect as many Stampin Up supplies for a rush event to help support another demonstrator, what would you collect and why?

               "Big Shot, handbag die, & an embossing folder.

               Card Stock - Whisper White & a couple of coordinating colours.

               Matching ink pads or markers; Wheel with Versa Mark cartridge.

               Embossing Powder & Heat Gun.

               Stamp Set, Paper Trimmer, adhesives, Dazzling Diamonds"

              "With this selection I would use the BS to cut out a mini handbag which I would then use 

              the wheel on it & heat emboss for my workshop Wow. Then the customers would make a

              simple card using the other products" 

 

      6.     What current Stampin Up tool or stamp set would you never live without?

                "Big Shot & I suspect the magnetic platform when I get it"

7.       What is the best Stampin Up tip you have.

                "Always demonstrate the more expensive stamp sets as what you demonstrate is

                what sells, hence the reason I always demo the BS & heat embossing"

8.       What is your favourite technique.

                "That’s a hard one, I love them all!  Faux Embossing is great for a workshop as it is quick

                & easy, it does work better if you have 2 of the same stamp to save having to clean it

                when you go from Whisper White Craft to the other colour"

9.       Lastly, tell us what your favourite class was and why?

                "Polished Stone.  Everyone had fun & the results are always amazing plus no two cards

                are ever the same"

 If you'd like to know more about Ann and her business please visit her sites below. She is available on both DBWS and her very own blog, which is linked to NZSU.

 

 

Ann Wills DBWS address:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/annwills

Ann Wills Blog address:
http://superstamper.blogspot.co.nz/

Now onto this weeks pics...

 

Top Row L-R: Alison Hydes, Sharon de Vos, Paula Reid

Middle Row L-R: Paula Dobson, Jacquelyn Williams, Angela Palmer.

Bottom Row L-R: Julia Leece, Katrina Criglington, Heather Stewart.

 Have a great week everyone!

 

 

Prepping tips week 3

Hi Crafters,

Sorry for the late post this week, I ended up spending two days in bed recovering from a cold. I'm now up and awake and ready to continue on from last week's tips...

Over the last few weeks I have discussed making sure your equipment is running well for taking pictures, making sure your monitor is looking good, and now I'll cover how to get those pictures looking great!.

Some factors may affect your image colour. These could be the lighting used, the overall image colour, or even the flash distance. If any of these factors have effected your image you will need to apply changes and the best way to explain this is to show you.

Using the sample image from last week, I have changed the contrast and brightness along with the colours. The picture will show how colour and contrast/brightness changes will effect your image. Using your selected programme i.e. Microsoft Paint / Photoshop apply the changes as explained below.

When adjusting colours remember this rule; The opposite to Cyan is Red, the opposite to Magenta is Green and the opposite to Yellow is Blue.

So if your image is too yellow, you'll need to add in some blue or if your image is too magenta add in some green and so on. I find the hardest colour to identify is Blue and Magenta, they look very similar, if your unsure hold a piece of white paper against your monitor or the print as per below, this will give you a better idea of the colour.

You image may need to be adjusted in more than one colour, for example you may need to add red and remove magenta, so you will need to add red and add green (green being the opposite to Magenta).

I'm not expecting you to understand this straight away, it took me 10 years of industry experience to have this knowledge, so hopefully with the basic information you can play with your images and see how it works in your own time. Ow but remember to "SAVE AS" and change the file name or you will wright over the original image.

   What adjustments can do to your image.

 

Hold  piece of white paper against it to see what colour it looks like.

 

 

Example of colour and contrast change

 

The Image on the right is to dark, flat and red. while the image on the left has been adjusted to look cleaner and the card looks white.

 

 

 

If you have any questions about these facts or you want to know more please feel free to contact me.

 

No onto the pics for this week...

 

 

Top Row L-R: Angela Palmer, Sharlene Meyer, Rhonda Fawcett.

Middle Row L-R: Roz Begbie, Vanesaa Baker, Lisa Bullock.

Bottom Row L-R: Paula Dobson, Judy Beetson, Ann Wills.