CFC33 A Christmas Tag & Announcement

Here is a really cute Christmas tag that I made for CAS-ual Fridays #33 (CFC33).  The challenge was to use kraft and twine, i.e., wrap it up and of course, you need a tag to wrap anything!

I used 3 sets from a Christian stamp company to make this tag, a coordinating die-cut that I used Stampin' Up! Dimensionals to adhere to the tag, twine, and hand cut the tag myself. I punched a hole at the top and used patterned reinforcements. I ink distressed all edges with light brown ink and used faux pearls as accents. I stamped the music note background with Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake and the Christmas tree wording using Stampin' Up! Early Espresso.  When the tag was completed, I sprayed glimmer mist over the entire tag.

It's difficult to tell in the picture, but on the ornament, I made the ink myself with a mixture of Stampin' Up Champagne Mist (retired) and mixed in a few drops of an Early Espresso reinker blending it with a toothpick. I used a Stampin' Up Dauber to pick up the mixture and apply it to the stamp for a beautiful shimmer. You can make this too by using a reinker and any glimmer mist.

Now, as you've noticed, I have not mentioned any names besides Stampin' Up! I've decided to go back to my roots and become a demonstrator again signing up under Patty Bennett, who is #7 in the company and she lives 30 minutes away. I am so excited to scale back a lot, get out of the publishing rat race, although I still will be published regardless. Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator again will allow me the opportunity to work my business around my schedule and my family, not being at the mercy of magazine calls and deadlines. I might submit to the bimonthly magazines if my schedule allows but will definitely continue to submit to my quarterly magazines as I work very well with the editors and they like my work. I'm just reclaiming my life as I was feeling I was in bondage. For instance, one bimonthly magazine put out a call a few days ago only giving you until January 9 to make your projects, which is the usual 2-1/2 weeks you're allowed with this particular magazine for a big IF and $35. This call came out the first business day the kids were home from school with the deadline being the day the return to school and it made me think of whether or not to blow off my kids for a big IF with the possibility of a few cards getting published netting me under $100. NO. It was not worth my time. I can use that same time and schedule a Stampin' Up! workshop for 2 hours and make 4x the amount of money, have fun with my friends, and my family wouldn't get neglected. It was an easy decision. I've met my publishing goals of having a few covers, being the Guest Artist in one quarterly magazine with another one coming up next year. With Stampin Up!, I will make so much more money, the friendships are priceless, and it works with my schedule, not to mention actually saving a tremendous amount of money because you really do have to have almost everything out there that will boost your chances to get published. Stampin' Up! demonstrators have an incredible amount of talent because while their product is cutting edge, you really have to be creative with it rather than having everything manufactured for you. I'm very happy with my decision to slow down a bit and enjoy life a lot more.

With that being said, this blog will still be active for my projects that do not use Stampin' Up! products as I've made a significant investment in other products that I do love; however, I cannot mention the names of the products or link as that violates the Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator Agreement, and I'm not going there.

In the meantime, Michelle will be revamping this blog and also starting a new blog for me at Cindy Stamps that will specifically showcase my Stampin' Up! projects, specials, promotions, and everything you want to know about our products, as well as a one click link to shop at my online store, which is available for you now to browse. I am so looking forward to demonstrating to my friends and their friends, getting out of the house more, making new friends, and definitely going to Convention in Utah. At my Stampin' Up! website, you can purchase products, set a date and time to book your own workshop, anything and everything is available at your fingertips. I don't have any events booked yet as I just signed up a few days ago but after the first of the year, I'm going to have a full calendar and I invite you to any class or workshop that I hold AND if there's something specific that you want to learn, let me know. We can set up a one-on-one session. Customer service and your satisfaction, and keeping you informed of what is going on with Stampin' Up!, while saving you money is my priority. My customers always have been very important to me and that will never change. Booking workshops are so much fun for you as you will go home with free product and a beautiful gift from me. You will also receive a booking gift at your workshop too!

As a bonus, a few years ago while I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I started a biweekly challenge blog of SUO Challenges. A new challenge is posted every other Tuesday, with one coming up this Tuesday, and I will be rejoining that design team.

Change is good.

New Year. New Priorities. New Goals.

Here is my Christmas Tag that I'd like to share with you. Have a blessed Christmas and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. God bless you.

 

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