Nutz about Stamping

10 Ways to find time to Paper Craft!

Do you love crafting as much as I do but often hear yourself complain about not finding the time to use all the supplies you have purchased?

Well here are some great time-saving tips I have compiled to share with you:

 1. Schedule time - if you wait for the right time to come your way it will never happen. Analyze a day in your life and you will be surprised how much free time you actually have beyond family and work obligations. One year I got up a half hour earlier each morning and had a quiet time stamping before I went to work. Now that my son is in college I can schedule stamp time in the evening several times a week.

2. Put down that remote - this relates back to #1. You will get so much more out of life if you step away from the TV and scrapbook or stamp. I listed to music while I stamp which adds to my feeling of relaxation. Can't miss your favorite shows? Then schedule a night of scrapbooking/stamping on the other nights in the week. Trust me - you will feel much more accomplished if you give put down that remote.

3. Put down that computer mouse: how many hours do you spend/waste online looking for beautiful card ideas? You have the ability to create your own so just do it!

4. Sign up for a class - perhaps you just need some scrapbooking or card-making stimulation so take a class and get that needed inspiration and layout ideas. Click here to see my Calendar of Events 

5. Here's a great idea I saw online - Each one teach one! The converse is also true: where we teach, we learn. Mentor a new scrapper or rubber stamper and share your skills. In the process, you'll make time for paper crafting in an atmosphere of companionship and energy.

6. Chunk the process (not chuck, chunk!) - If you are making a bunch of cards, break the process into manageable steps (chunks) and do a step a night.

7. Stay organized: find a spot for your supplies and keep them there. It can be downright discouraging to not find product you need when you are crafting and depressing to buy product only to realize you already own it!

8. Use a tool caddy: Keep your most-used products close at hand in a table-top storage caddy. This will save you valuable time when crafting.

9. Use a wish list: As you craft, keep a running wish list at your side so when you begin to run low on card stock or other accessories you can replace them on your next order. Better yet - share your wish list with friends and family during this holiday season!

10. Love your Crock Pot - this valuable kitchen appliance can save you tons of time yet provide delicious and nutritious meals for your family.

11. Bonus tip (found online): Make it routine! Organized homes run on the basis of daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal routines--but more important, routines save time each day. Develop daily and weekly chore lists to speed the work of cleaning house. If you're not "always cleaning", you can be scrapping and rubber stamping! 

Do you have additional time-saving tips? Please share them with us using the "Comments" button below!

Customer Queries

When I am at a class or workshop I often tell my guests about the joys of being a demonstrator. It is interesting to see the responses I get when I bring this up - from complete terror and head-shaking, to smiles, to question mark faces, to sparks of interest.

A common question I get asked is: Do I have to do what you do?

Answer: No. There are different types of demonstrators. Let me share with you the different types and then give you some more information about what I think you should consider:

Stampin’ Up needs all kinds of Demonstrators…

Do you see yourself as one of these

Kinds of Demonstrators?

1.    DISCOUNT PURCHASER: Likes the idea of being able to purchase stamps for personal use at a minimum 20% discount. Occasionally sells to family, friends & neighbors.

2.    SHORT-TERM DEMONSTRATORS: Sells stamps for a short period of time to fulfill a need or goal. Wants to earn a specified amount of money or stamps. Stops selling when the goal is met.

3.    SEASONAL DEMONSTRATOR: Works hard during the holiday season: September, October and November to earn “seasonal money”. Minimum orders & sales during the rest of the year. Teachers are also sometimes “seasonal demonstrators” selling during the summer months then cutting back during the school year.

4.    HOBBY DEMONSTRATORS: Loves stamping & doing demonstrations. Likes earning extra money to support hobby. Loves sharing with other ‘stampers”, learning new techniques & tips. Doesn’t want hobby to become “work”.

5.    CAREER DEMONSTRATOR: Views Stampin’ Up! as a viable income with long-term career potential. A career that is also fun! Pursues management & wants to advance up the career ladder. Loves attending Stampin’ Up! functions, has developed close social relationships within the business. Works at her business in a consistent & outgoing manner, just like a “real job”.

 There is no RIGHT or WRONG reason to become a Demonstrator. There is room & a need for ALL types of Demonstrators.

I LOVE being a demonstrator and all it has brought to my life, including you! If any of these ideas appeal to you, email me at terri@nutzaboutstamping.com for more information. If you are serious about starting and growing your own business, consider become a Career Demonstrator and reap the many benefits!I provide extensive training and support to my entire team. And don't forget the Stampin' UP! special offer to anyone who joins as a demonstrator by May 31st.

Happy stampin'!

Terri Walker

 

Stampin' Up! Opportunity Night

Would you like a relaxed fun event to learn some information about about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? Well, save the date:

 

Opportunity Night

Date: Monday, January 18, 2010

Place: Terri's Stampin' Spot (my home)

Time: 7:00 pm

And don't worry, I am not going to chase you around my stamping table like a lunatic waving the demonstrator agreement and a pen. This evening is simply informational. It is your chance to learn about the business opportunity and ask me any questions you have about the business. We will play a game for product prizes, chat about what being a demonstrator is like, and do some stamping too of course! And that's it, plain and simple. So bring a friend and we'll have a fun evening together (did I mention prizes?).

Customer Queries

Welcome to a brand new blog category - my customer questions. I realized yesterday that many of you ask very similar questions and that perhaps I should post my answers for all of you to see (in case you were too shy to ask!).

Candace asks: I started scrapbooking with just photos and cardstock, but I'm easing into new types of embellishments for my pages. I love brads and I love ribbon. I usually run ribbon over the ends of the pages and secure it with a brad at each end and have at least one photo/embellishment over top of the middle.  Any other suggestions?  What adhesive works best for ribbon?  Also, I'd like to start adding buttons; any suggestions on the best ways to use & secure them?  Thanks!

Answer: I love ribbon on a scrapbook page too and often use it as an embellishment when all else fails. Ribbon can be attached in a variety of ways; use short pulls on your Snail adhesive, use Mini Glue Dots placed evenly along your ribbon strip, even Sticky Strip works well.

When adding buttons you can literally sew the button to the page using the needles found in the Crafter's Tool Kit along with natural hemp, or pull out those handy Mini Glue Dots and add one behind each button for a quick and easy fail-proof adhesive. If you want a bigger lift off the scrapbook page, try a Stampin' Dimensional.

 

As you look through the catalog, do you have questions you would like answers for? Email them to me at terri@nutzaboutstamping.com. Or better yet, post them in the comments section below this blog posting and I will address them soon.