Hi everybody. I used to be the most neurotically organized so on top of my game person. What happened? I'm even late for my own CASEing myself series but I will make up for it. Pinky swear. Give me a few days to update this blog to provide you with brand new links and graphics for your one stop shopping.
Did you know that the brand spankin' new 2014-2015 Idea Book & Catalog was released yesterday?! Super exciting and you can see it all HERE. I love it. Sometimes Stampin' Up! just isn't doing it for me, not on trend; however, the option of products are always timeless and classic. With the annual catalog scaling back a bit and the Holiday, Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Catalogs offering twice of what they normally do, it evens out in the long run so you're always going to get what you want. I am very fussy about my ribbon and when some ribbons retire, like the satin ribbon or the awesome 1-1/4" striped ribbon, I don't like that very much, BUT, they are all back this year! I would have to say that there's only one ribbon I don't really like and that's the 1/4" stitched ribbon and the 1/4" taffetta ribbon. There's something about little ribbon with me I suppose. Beautiful ribbon can make such an impact on your project. I LOVE the new In Color ribbon and colors. The texture with those yummy new colors is a sure winner.
One thing that I always caution all of my customers and friends over is to hold onto your Framelits and the coordinating stamp set. You never know when they will resurrect as another stamp set using the same dies or the previous stamp set being re-released. Framelits are costly to manufacture and you will notice that even in this new catalog, you will see the exact same Framelits in previous catalogs, whether it be an annual catalog, Holiday, Occasions or whatever. Hang onto them.
For everything new that you will read about below, be sure to look at the top of my blog for a tab leading you to that section.
REFER A FRIEND
Refer a friend to any club or event that I hold and you will receive a $25 gift certificate. Your friend must remain an active club member in order for you to receive your gift certificate.
PRODUCT SHARES
Now, I have a few busy weeks ahead of me, but I would like to tell you what you will see ready to pre-order by the 2nd week in June and those are my brand new Product Shares that you are going to LOVE. Great product at a great price that will last you the entire year if you're more of a hobbyist. I will have Product Shares for all catalogs. A full description is forthcoming. I also have many different types of Product Shares too that will fit your need and your budget. All Product Shares must be reserved and again, after my subscribers receive their product share, without a reservation, you may or may not be able to pick yours up, so joining the Product Share Club is definitely the way to go so you are guaranteed your shares every single catalog release, whether it be Sale-A-Bration, Christmas or Occasions. If there's a catalog and you are subscriber, you get yours first. Please read more about my Product Shares by clicking the Product Shares tab at the top of my blog.
CINDY B DESIGNS BOUTIQUE
To cover you for the next few months, once again, my Cindy B Designs Boutique will be restocked. I will have a lot of birthday invitations, vacation and summer related activities, back to school, and then look out for the holidays! Stampin' Up! is offering the 2014 Holiday Catalog one month early this year so that you can have more time to make all of your Christmas presents, gift wraps, tags, home decor, and anything else that you need. I am not big on Valentine's Day since I am single so that one really bums me out. It is not easy being single in a couple-oriented world. It never has been. But, you never know what could happen to me by the time that rolls around for 2015. I could very well have somebody who loves me and that gives me a hope I haven't had for over half of my life, 26 years. That stuff may be the norm for you but it is not for me and I'm very excited! My Product Shares will be for sale right here on my blog and what I make for you will be for sale in my Boutique.
CINDY B DESIGNS CUSTOMER REWARDS
As with any smart businesswoman, I reward my loyal customers. Once a $50 order is placed per year, I do consider you my customer. I do keep my telephone number private and not listed on the internet. If you publish your number on the internet, any Do Not Call lists are void since you are putting yourself out there. I found this out the hard way. It was awful! Here are a few examples of customer rewards.
1. Automatic catalog mailing. You will automatically be put on my list to receive any Stampin' Up! new product release brochure/catalog. No worries there. You will always receive your catalog.
2. Exclusive videos for you that are not shown to the public.
3. An array of clubs to choose from to get the products that you want, such as Hostess Rewards.
4. Free product from me.
5. My Customer Loyalty Rewards program is second to none. I like to keep it simple. For every 6th $150 purchase you make, not only are you eligible for Hostess Benefits, but you can also pick out any bundled set (consisting of a stamp set and Framelits)! That's pretty cool. It's up to you to keep track of your purchases and all purchases must be made online at my store. Again, I can only ship to the United States at this time. You will have 30 days to redeem your Bundle.
CLASS SCHEDULE
I have some great classes scheduled for you here on my blog. The ones on the house will be held here and the fee-based classes will be held at the Cindy B Designs Card Classroom.
1. Our first class will be an Introduction to the 2014-2015 New Catalog products and the beautiful projects that we can make together which I'm tentatively planning in the next couple of weeks by July so you will have time to get your order in and make some fun 4th of July projects for your family gathering or a picnic with friends. You can use anything that you wish to use and what you have on hand.
2. Next up will be my June Summer Camp Class so I'm going to be very busy preparing for that and moving on top of it. Some projects will have SHORT videos and others will be just a little something that you can make. As always, we will have fun!
3. Then, as if I wasn't already overdoing it, I will be holding a Christmas in July Class. This class will heavily feature the new products that will be in the 2014 Holiday Catalog.
PROJECT LIFE
Do you have yours? I have mine and it's awesome! I love the packaging exclusive to Stampin' Up!, although it might hurt my junkin' habit as I would find the coolest vintage containers to house my Project Life in. It looked great but this takes up so much less room and that is something I do not have enough of. Who does? I had enough room when I had a handy husband but he would hang up the organizational stuff for me, not build it. He did build me an awesome light box and the most perfect video set up imaginable that I've been trying to substitute for years now and I got it, finally.
Now that Project Life is in the house at Stampin' Up! Becky Higgins, the creator of Project Life, has collaborated with Stampin' Up! developing exclusive products that stays true to Project Life's awesomely viral, beautiful and easy scrapbooking with the motto of "Create more memories, not take all of your time scrapbooking them." I've always been the traditional scrapbooking kind of gal, but the time issue is a serious one, not to mention the expense. To learn more about Project Life, please watch the video below.
MY DIGITAL STUDIO
Before I move on, I would just like to complain a little bit. I lost 3 hours of this blog post on Monday and now I just lost this entire section losing another 30 minutes. Dear WordPress, please bring back the Auto Save feature and stop putting code in where I don't want or need it making my posts look horrible. Thank you.
Now, we move onto something that I never quite wrapped myself around and even though I am My Digital Studio certified, I just never really embraced it for some reason. I'm old school loving the hands on and what I created. I still write my life down on a calendar. I think that is going to change this year. I've seen other demonstrators work wonders with this software that is so user friendly that even I can do it! Yep, the same woman who took 2-1/2 years to learn how to watermark her pictures.
I can't even begin to tell you the options to this software. You can go hybrid (hello, super clean desk), all My Digital Studio, or whatever you choose to do. It's amazing! Not only does Stampin' Up! product that you see in the catalog(s) released every Tuesday, but there's also brush sets that are exclusive to My Digital Studio. This software is also extremely budget friendly. You can insert your own color into any part of the image, muddy them up, it's all yours. Play around with it and experiment. I know I'm going to! You can also get a free 30-day trial to check MDS out to see if you are going to like it or not. I went to Convention in 2010 and this was right when the software was updated so that you can color in certain portion of the image, i.e., make the stem of a flower green, and I made the coolest Halloween card. I was very proud of myself. I sure do wish I could find that card now. It might be on my Splitcoast Stampers Gallery, so go and check it out. This would be around July/August 2010.
There are My Digital Studio online classes and a website dedicated to My Digital Studio users and those trying to learn the software or want to throw your computer out the window. It's all at MyDigitalStudio.net.
I'm personally really starting to get into the frames and home decor, but you can make pillows, lampshades, towels (seriously) and whatever else your little heart desires! It's the uniqueness and one of a kind items that are getting me hooked.
WEEKLY DEALS, PROMOTION, CLEARANCE and MORE
Most of today is going to be dedicated to graphic changes for me and then whipping out some cards to continue on with everything that I talked about above.
To check out my Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals, Promotions, Clearance Rack and more, just go to my Stampin' Up! website. I will almost make a blog post for you and newsletter. The newsletter is the best deal so be sure to sign up on the right sidebar. Every time I send you a newsletter, they will next on top of each other, i.e., under the current newsletter you get, you will see the last newsletter that I sent out. It is difficult, okay, let's face the truth, a real pain, to put the same information on 3 different social media avenues and I am on social media overkill. I mean, there really should only be so much social media. It's stressful, at least for me, to keep up with all of it – Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and wherever else you can find me on the right sidebar that says where you can connect with me. Thinking about it gives me anxiety, for reals (that's my queue to watch Nacho Libre tonight). If I put all of that information in 1-2 newsletters a week, it will free up a tremendous amount of time for me so you can see the good stuff – the projects that I make and inspiration. My Stampin' Up! website is super user friendly; again, I can do it, and everything you need is listed there as well, but Stampin' Up! does the hard work for me. I am all about that.
Since Stampin' Up! is an investment for the both of us, I am not beyond showing you projects with product that is "retired." Per Stampin' Up!, a product isn't really retired until the new annual catalog comes out. That's why I say to maybe put them away and keep your Framelits. As you can see, a lot of Sale-A-Bration product rolled over to the new catalog making your investment a good one, and mine! We all have the stamp sets we love and will never get rid of too. I have several of my own.
Anyway, if you have any questions about anything, just shoot me off an email. I'm always here to answer your questions; HOWEVER, I have started to set some personal limits for myself and that is no work on the weekend unless it's a class. There's a high burnout rate in this industry running a business and to be successful. The super successful demo's you see are the ones who work about 60-80 hours a week. I'm not willing to do that. I will learn to work smarter, not harder, and that's the key.
Even better, I won't be wasting hours cleaning up HTML code that I didn't put into my posts so a half a page isn't in between my headers. So frustrating.
To unfrustrate me (is that even a real word?) as I'm typing this, the man in brown came to the door which means I need to hurry this up and check out my new big girl toys!
SUBSCRIBING TO MY BLOG and NEWSLETTER
Please read above and to subscribe, just sign up at the right.
HOSTESS BENEFITS and DISCOUNT CODE
Every week, there is a new hostess code. I will have this on my sidebar with a badge over it saying "Hostess Code." This allows you to become a hostess if you spend $150 and to receive benefits. You will also receive a free little something from me and a handmade card.
WHY YOU WANT TO BECOME A STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR and JOIN MY CREATIVE STAMPERS TEAM!
That's a loaded question! Because I'm pretty cool and fun! Right now, there's a $50 signup promotion going on. You get about $150 in products by becoming a demonstrator right now. Even better, you can customize your own kit. Gone are the days where you are forced to get your 10th package of Whisper White card stock! I'm an awesome upline and love to teach and train you to make the most out of your business, whether it be hobby or career, and I respect both. Everybody is in a different phase of their life right now of whether you are a young mom who wants to get her precious pictures of her babies and other life events into a Project Life album (oh, and there's about 5 Stampin' Up! Project Life Kits.
And this is why now is the perfect time to JOIN MY TEAM!
1. New catalog means new products and with your very first order, you get 30% off of your first order rather than the standard 20%. Take advantage of it.
2. New starter kit is on $50 to join as stated above.
3. The bi-monthly Stampin' Success Magazine exclusive to demonstrators only.
4. Inside information. I can't tell you how valuable this tool is to help plan your orders and classes. There are also examples of Make n' Takes and projects to demonstrate.
5. The Stampin' Connection. This is a website for demonstrators only to share projects and help each other out for advice and uplifting.
6. Monthly meetings and/or Webinar where I demonstrate to you new products and ideas on our private Facebook page. There is a nominal cost associated with this class for the materials that I provide for you.
7. Be your own best customer!
There are also a ton of perks like trips, Convention, meeting new demonstrators who will quickly become your friends, free big girl toys and my personal favorite? The 20% discount AND being able to order new products ONE MONTH in advance before the public. Here it is June 5 and I already have my new catalog stuff and I didn't place my order until June 2! That's pretty good. I can't wait to run over to my front door and get my knife out and open up some Christmas in the Coutts residence.
Speaking of Coutts, I have an identity crisis, seriously. I've had that name over half of my life and was really going to go back to my maiden name and then now I have this beautiful new grandson who's a little over 3 weeks old and even though he's in New York, the name ties us together in only a way that other grandmother's can understand. I have graphics with both names but think legally, I'm Coutts as I did not check that box to go back to my maiden name when I filed for divorce, but professionally, I'm going to be Cindy B. So much easier.
Now back to the good stuff. To remain active, you only have to spend $300 a quarter a month or $300 every quarter. It's up to you how you want to keep active. We all know we could walk into a craft store and dump $100 easy when all we went there was for a glue gun, seriously. We are not fooling anybody. This also makes me grateful I drive a sedan now rather than an SUV. It keeps me in budget.
I would LOVE to have you join my Creative Stampers team! I founded Stampin' Up! Only Challenges years ago and I'm proud to say that it is now the most popular Stampin' Up! Only challenges out there.
PAPER PUMPKIN and KITS
Paper Pumpkin is this darling little inexpensive kit that arrives to your front door every single month. This kit is for those ladies or gents that say they are too busy, they are not creative, need something in a jiff, whatever the reason may be, the Paper Pumpkin Kit is for you. I subscribe to them and if I want instant gratification without having to think, thanks to the step-by-step instructions, I can make something pretty cool in minutes. Now there are refill kits if you especially liked a particular kit and there hasn't been a kit that I haven't liked, although I do have my super favs, like November 2013. Absolutely swoon worthy!
MONTHLY CARD KIT TO GO
This year, I have gone back to offering my super popular monthly card kits. There will be varying types of subscriptions, all of which are budget friendly. You will supply your own adhesive, trimmer, bone folder, etc., and I will supply the consumables for you, i.e., card stock, designer series paper, embellishments, twine, ribbon, etc. Per Stampin' Up! policy, I cannot provide you with images. These kits are first come, first serve, and once they are out, they are out. There's always a few kits left over after my subscribers get theirs but they do have a tendency to fly off of the shelves.
Just in case you are wondering exactly what my Monthly Card Kit To Go is. This is a monthly subscription made just for you! I've already done all of the hard work so you can just dive in and start to create.
1. Each kit has 8 cards in it that are pre-cut for you using a variety of fun colors for you to make some very awesome cards with for any occasion.
2. You use your own stamps to customize your cards.
3. The cost is $25 and this includes postage and PayPal fees.
4. Due to the Card Kit being cost prohibitive, I am only able to mail to the United States only.
5. All Card Kits are available while supplies last. Once they are gone, they are gone for good. No two kits will ever be duplicated.
6. Card Kits are available on the 10th day of each month and do sell out very fast. The last time I had this program, I had a waiting list. You will definitely want to subscribe today! My monthly subscribers are given priority. At the top of my blog, you will see the tab of Monthly Card Kit To Go, click on this tab to see how you can become a monthly subscriber and click BUY NOW to purchase your Card Kit. If you click to join today, you can have your new Card Kit this time next week! How exciting is that! You will be using all new products. If you are having a problem with PayPal, please email me and I will send you an invoice.
7. When the new Kit is introduced, you will be shown a collage of sneak peeks. You will receive at least 5 or more different Card Kits. You will always have a total of 8 different Card Kits and I work hard at this to make sure you will.
8. Since my subscribers receive their Card Kits first, I will be very busy filling orders. Card Kit Subscribers will be guaranteed a full selection of Card Kits; each subscriber will get one Card Kit for a total of 8 cards. Hand selection of your kit is not an option at this time.
9. If you are not a Card Kit member, think about joining as a subscriber so that you too will receive 8 Kits and no leftovers! 🙂 All kits are beautifully and professionally packed. All Kits include envelopes and pre-cut pieces and accessories/embellishments for you to complete your card(s). Adhesive and general crafting items are not included in your Card Kit.
Die-cutting and some punching is provided for you. Border punching is not. I will do any embossing that is required to make the card unless the stamping is done first. I take pride in the Card Kits that I sell and it shows.
Per Stampin' Up! policy, I am not allowed to send you any images. As always, when I made my Card Kits, I make them with great interest to you and the recipient thereby taking into consideration the images and/or sentiments I use to make each Card Kit so that it is easily substituted. You can always shop my online store 24/7 to purchase anything you would like.
10. As this Card Kit is geared more toward the semi-advanced crafter, detailed instructions are not supplied. However a video is included and a link to each Card Kit will be provided to you via email. Protect your investment and do not share this video link with anybody. In doing so, you forfeit your membership and there will be no refund. When you sign up for any of my clubs offered, there will be a box for you to check acknowledging that you agree to keep all of my intellectual property confidential. Also, do not be intimated by the word "semi-advanced." All that really means is that you can look at your Card Kit and know you really don't need any examples. Since I provide a video for you, you can follow along too. I will send you copies of the finished card with your Kit.
11. All Class Kits and any other club or program mentioned are non-refundable. I am hoping that once things settle down a bit and I get a better head count as to how many members I have in each club, PDFs and pictures can be provided. Videos are just so much faster for me at the current time and they are also very beneficial to you as you will have lifetime access.
NEW STAMPIN' UP! BLENDABILITIES (Alcohol Markers)
A brand new card and video tutorial is coming your way using the brand new and highly anticipated Stampin' Up! Blendabilities! I've always said that the perfect alcohol marker for me would be a marker that had a brush tip on one end and a nib tip on the other. Ladies, I have found my perfect marker! I can't wait to open a package up and show you what these darlings are all about!
These markers are due to be released late June or early July; however, as a demonstrator, you can purchase them right now as part of your starter kit! I am also certified by another alcohol marker company so these are a breeze. They say that red is the hardest color to do. I can do a real mean red and I am going to show you exactly how you can too!
MONTHLY CHALLENGE
On the first Saturday of every month, I have a challenge for you and for my downline, the Creative Stampers. This is where we all participate in the challenge showing you are examples for the challenge and you could win a $25 gift certificate to my online store to spend in any way that you wish! Create to win!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To the right of this blog post, you will see where I'm at on social media. I'm awful about pinning things. However, Stampin' Up! is not so be sure to check out their boards on Pinterest. There are some absolutely beautiful pins you can't miss out on. You can see all of my tutorials and cards I've made for you at Cindy B TV.
Last, but certainly not least, in my blog posts, like this one, I will be adding links at the bottom of each blog post so you can click right to where you want to go. I'm also in the process of building up my InLinkz for Stampin' Up! products so that means several weeks of slow posting, but I will keep trying.
CASEing MYSELF CONTINUED
I like to have a lot of miniseries on my blog for you. All of my tutorial videos are on the sidebar too. Right now, I'm CASEing myself and below are my cards for you.
Today's card is, of course, a baby card, using some very nontraditional colors. Stampin' Up! has broken out of the pink and blue baby mold to bring us a brand new designer series paper called Lullaby. This new paper has the luscious colors of Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Hello Honey (new In Color), Pistachio Pudding and Whisper White. I used the brand new Something for Baby stamp set and coordinating Baby's First Framelits Dies. The rest of the supplies will be listed below and with a new catalog, that means building a brand new list too. I sure do wish InLinkz and Stampin' Up! could collaborate on something together. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators and customers would be most appreciative. That has honestly been my holdup now for getting cards up and done is building that list. One card can take hours, especially with new products.
Below is the card that I chose to CASE of myself. I kept the sketch pretty much the same and changed colors and images. It's a great sketch and I love how my puppy went so well with the patterned paper.
And here is my new baby card.
On a personal note, do I use Stampin' Up! all of the time? No, I don't. But, I sure do enjoy their products!
Thank you so very much for stopping by to visit me today and God bless you.
Isaiah 1:18.
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