changes

I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator more than a year ago for several reasons--mostly because I needed a source for quality 12x12 cardstock, since my area is languishing without a scrapbook store. I have been using Stampin' Up! products for many years so it seemed like a natural fit.

I enjoyed my time as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for the most part but it's become apparent that my time has passed. I appreciate those of you who allowed me to be your demonstrator. Thank you.

A number of factors have led me to this decisions. I confess, I found it frustrating that there was so little focus on paper scrapbooking inside the company of such talented demonstrators. It seems like such a natural fit--but I found it seriously lacking.

With the soon-to-be-released new catalog (June1), there are going to be a significant number of changes--changes that as a demonstrator who was just getting rolling, would require a significant financial re-investment into new product--product that I just purchased one year ago.

When the list of retiring product was released a few weeks ago, I was sad to learn that about 75 percent of the stamps I own were on the list to be retired. Furthermore, every single SU die that I own for the Big Shot is being retired. Every. Single. One. And my collection of cutting dies is not small. :)

I'm happy about the news that Stampin' Up! is reformulating the ink pads from the classic felt pad base to a pad that uses Firm Foam as its base. However, again, I have purchased more than two dozen ink pads in the past year and am not willing to just cast them aside and re-purchase for the sake of selling a different product.

The most disappointing change in Stampin' Up!s product line is the discontinuation of textured cardstock available for purchase in single color packs.

Fortunately, last November, an Archivers, with a wall of beautiful textured cardstock, opened about 15 miles from my house, so all is not lost. :)

Personally, on Feb 20, I broke my knee--a tibial plateau fracture in three places. It was a traumatic event, followed by a major surgery in Miami, Florida, that took my out of my life for an extended period of time. I'm still recovering, almost three months later. While I was out, obviously, my attention to my business suffered a serious blow. I am disappointed that I am not able to continue in this role, however, I am thrilled to know that my friend Holle Wiktorek is available as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator...visit her site here! When I return to shopping with Stampin' Up! (after we've maneuvered through a serious amount of medical expenses related to the surgery), I'll be shopping through Holle's site.

I'm going back to my original blog--I hope you will join me at http://LoveLettersIllustrated.blogspot.com

Happy Stamping!
--Sarah

Black and White Plus One!

This week's challenge over at Robbie's is to create something using Black and White plus one other color. I *love* black and white, especially checked ribbon, so this was "right down my alley".

My "plus one" color is Bashful Blue.

--Sarah

Cruise Scrapbooking with Stampin Up!

Triple Treat Double Take

The Triple Treat flower featured on page  18 of the 2012 catalog is one of the stamps that's included in the Sale-A-Bration special promotions this year. Sale-A-Bration starts tomorrow! Are you familiar with Stampin' Up!s Sale-A-Bration? If not, here's the lowdown:

Starting on January 24, Stampin' Up! offers extra incentives (read: free rewards) to hostesses and customers! Rewards include stamps and embellishments...for hostessing a workshop or for placing an order. For every $50 spent, a special reward is earned. How awesome is that!

There are a few items designated exclusively for Sale-A-Bration (meaning there's no other way to get them) and others are catalog items.

The Triple Treat flower is one of those items from the catalog that you can earn FREE...

Triple Treat is an a la carte stamp (meaning it's not part of a set) and is just one of the stamps that can be used in conjunction with certain punches for oh-so-easy layering. No tedious cutting needed.

The intricate design of the Triple Treat flower stamp is a perfect fit for the Fancy Flower punch, the Five-Petal Flower punch and the 1/2" circle punch, all of which can be seen on pages 210 and 212 of the catalog.

Happy Stampin'!
---Sarah

Project: Life {People} meets Stampin' Up!

The Project: Life concept of scrapbooking has been around for a while, having been made famous by Ali Edwards, Becky Higgins and others, and I gotta say, I think it's awesome, but I've never embraced it because it's such a departure from what I normally do. I'm a 12x12 girl. I'm comfortable with that size canvas and I like having them all the same size. It felt like one more project...and frankly, I have too many going already to start another one.

But for some reason, recently, I've been coming around to it.

So, a while back I ordered the special sub-divided page protectors from the queen of all scrapbooking and thought at the very least I could use them randomly in my other projects for a little spice. :)

And then I did the first one.

(Insert angellic choir singing)

I like!

I'm not doing the usual Project: Life album...maybe later. My Project: Life-style creations are going to be about the people in our lives. Project: Life {People}

See, there are alot of people in our lives that we don't see often. Our family is spread over several states. Our friends, over several continents.

Even though we don't see them as often as we might like, they are still very important to us and I'd like to document that.

So I suppose that yes, it has turned into a new project on my desk...but it's one I really like. :)

And as a side note, I'm going to make it a Stampin' Up! project.

Project: Life {People} meets Stampin' Up!

Hmmm...this has possibilities. :)

--Sarah

ETA: If you aren't familiar with Project Life as a scrapbooking concept, I encourage you to google Ali Edwards blog, Becky Higgins blog and Project Life. If you participate at Pinterest, you should search for Project Life boards there...when you have lots of time. :) There are many scrapbookers following the simplified PL "way" and writing about it. In a nutshell, PL focuses on recording the stuff of life that the ordinary scrapbooking would (perhaps) overlook. Most scrapbookers focus on events, such as birthday, milestones, trips, and accomplishments. PL helps to include the little, not-so-obvious details of life that are commonly overlooked. PL also takes traditional scrapbooking down a notch by simplifying the approach--most PL users are hyper-focused on the photos and stories. Those funky sub-divided page protectors produced by Becky Higgins take most of the design work out of the picture, so to speak. They make for fast but still fresh creations.

January's Stamp n Scrap

It's that time! My New Year's Resolution--to have more people in my scrap n stamp space, to share more time with friends who love what I love, to enjoy my hobby more, and to be more productive creatively. Tall order, perhaps, but as with every new resolution, it's worth a try, right?

To kick it off right, I'm inviting you to
January's Stamp n Scrap!
Saturday, January 21, 2012!
beginning at 2 PM

Each participant will have the opportunity to create a two page spread with a wintery theme and 2 cards. When the class is done, you are welcome to stay for an evening of scrapbooking and stamping (or whatever kind of craftiness you like)! A light dinner will be served around 6PM and drinks will be available.

Above is a portion of the left page...a sneak peek, of sorts. If you are interested in this class, shoot me an email and I will send you all the details. The cost is $12.

My scrapbooking style is very clean and easy. In my classes, you are encouraged to use my design as a starting point and to create a layout that reflects your own style. Change the title, add more ink, use a different photo array, change the color, stamp more, stamp less...it's all good! :)

Email devendorf@bellsouth.net

Look closely at the image above and you might be able to tell that this layout features Stampin' Up! Glossy paper, (how perfect for snow) the North Frost Decorative Die Strip, the Season's of Friendship stamp set, as well as the Simple Letters alphabet.

Please be sure to bring your choice of adhesive and fine-tipped scissors.

Photos--if you have photos for this layout, feel free to bring them. If not, that's OK too.

For our card creations---when you create cards with me, you will be given the flat (mailable) options as well as the more highly-embellished, not-so-mailable option.

See you soon,
--Sarah

It's a Stampin' Up! Christmas!

There are about two dozen of this card sitting on my desk right now, waiting for the guts to be installed...(the inside message and the photo of my boys) before they can be sent to family and friends. Can I just say how much I enjoy looking at this card. :) It's calm and Christmas-y and has a touch of sparkle.

Lovely as a Tree is a classic stamp set from Stampin' Up!--it has *so* many uses.

There's a serious sale going on at the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack right now...don't miss it! (Some items up to 80% off. Many of the old-style punches included.)

Click Here to go Shopping!

And Merry Christmas!

--Sarah