The content of this blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of, and content of, the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
Here's a portion of the Yahoo Finance page from last night (and it is still there this morning!) which shows my son's first article to appear there! His article is the one entitled Warren Buffett's Worst Investing Mistakes. He's following in his sister's footsteps writing personal finance articles for Investopedia.com, and sometimes those articles get picked up by Yahoo Finance. It was a very exciting moment for him, and of course for us! I don't know how long that link will work. But here is his article on Investopedia!
Shelli Gardner will appear on NBC's TODAY Show on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009! They say she will be on during the fourth hour of the show (the 10 AM hour on the East Coast). Just to be safe, you probably better watch the whole show!! :) Stampin' Up! contributes to many charitable organizations worldwide, and since 2005 has been participating in the TODAY Show's Annual Holiday Toy and Gift Drive. This year Stampin' Up! will be donating over $150,000 worth of stamping and paper crafting products. You can read about Stampin' Up!'s charitable efforts HERE.
You can see the boxes of stamping supplies being packed for the donation HERE on Shelli's blog! She's planning to make gifts to take to the TODAY Show cast as well! I wonder if they will appreciate how special they are!
This will be a very exciting event for all of Stampin' Up! and we can't wait to see Shelli on the TODAY Show tomorrow! Hope you can watch!
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was born on this date in 1858. In 1902, Roosevelt was helping settle a border dispute between Louisiana and Mississippi and during his free time he went hunting with his aides and some reporters. As he was not having any luck in hunting, his aides found him a bear, but he refused to shoot it. A cartoonist for the Washington Post drew a cartoon of the incident, first drawing a fierce bear but later changing it to a cuddly bear. A store owner in Brooklyn, Morris Michtom, sent a toy bear that his wife had made to Roosevelt, asking if he could name it "Teddy's Bear". The new toys became very popular and the teddy bear craze began.
If you want to celebrate the teddy bear, you need to shop at Stampin' Up! for the Build-A-Bear Workshop Collection! You'll have so much fun creating your own Build-A-Bear projects, cards, and scrapbook pages! In fact, you can create your own bear right on this link! You can click and drag on various clothing and accessories on the bear, even dress him for Halloween! Go check it out!
When it comes to the art and craft of stamping, the theme of this year's national Stampin' Up! convention says it all, says Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of the 20-year-old company.
Card-making, scrapbooking, home decor, gift items, apparel — whatever you do, however you find your creative outlet, she says, your life can be enriched.
Through these crafts, "you create tangible products, but you create something of value on many levels," Gardner says.
"And then you can turn around and share it with others. True inspiration causes you to stop and think, but it also so powerful that it moves you to action," she says. "A lot of fulfillment comes from that."
One of her favorite quotes comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said: "In life, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire."
Through these crafts, she says, "you are able to create the most valuable thing of all — relationships. That's the thing that most of our stampers talk about. Fun and enthusiasm are contagious and meant to be shared."
Stampin' Up! was started in 1988 by Gardner and her sister, LaVonne Crosby, when they got hooked on stamping and looked for a home-based business opportunity that would let them buy and sell rubber stamps. Finding none, they decided to create their own.
Today, there are some 40,000 Stampin' Up! demonstrators worldwide. The products are sold through in-home workshops and demonstrations and (at a slightly higher price) online. Today, the catalog has expanded to include not only stamps but paper, punches, art supplies, die cuts, stencils, home decor products and more.
Some 3,000 of their demonstrators gathered at the Salt Palace recently for the national convention. What is so fun, says Elizabeth Gray, public relations spokesman for Stampin' Up!, is "that they come from all walks of life, all ages, all stages of life. Some do it mostly so they can get their own products at a discount, some own their own businesses, and some even support their families."
At the convention, two new product lines were introduced and will be available this fall. The first is digital crafting software called My Digital Studio, which enables crafters to digitally design scrapbooks, cards and calenders as well as create multimedia outputs such as video, says Brent Steele, vice president for creative services at Stampin' Up!
Digital is becoming an increasing part of the scrapbook and crafting world, says Steele. "It's bringing in a whole new group of crafters: computer geeks, husbands and other men, younger crafters."
A second new line is a partnership with Build-A-Bear Workshop that will allow the Utah-based stamping company to create a collection of stamp sets, designer papers and die cuts built around Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot Bearamy and his furry friends. "I know I will be spending hours playing with my grandchildren, making all kinds of Build-A-Bear creations," Gardner says.
Jill Kocherhans demonstrated a few possibilities, including a gift sack, a little canvas bag for crayons, magnetic paper dolls and a framed picture scene. Some of her projects were made from what was left of the others. "Never throw anything away," is her advice.
"Experiment, and you can often find a new use for it."
Stamps can be used on paper, cloth, wood and other materials. Die cuts can be created out of fabric ironed on to fusible web that in turn can be ironed on to other fabrics, or out of magnetic sheets, or cardstock and other things available at any craft store, she says. All it takes is imagination, inspiration and creativity.
That's one thing that Sheila Paul, a demonstrator from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, loves about it all. "You can incorporate so many different crafts into what you do; they all cross the lines these days."
Her daughter, Heather, "is in it for the photography. I love to do portfolios and wedding albums."
There's something that everyone can do, says Trina Boyd, also from Edmonton. "I love it when people say, 'Oh, I can't do it; I'm not creative at all.' I sit down with them and pretty soon, they are saying, 'Oh, this is easy. I could do this at home.' "
Cynthia Ritzman, from Ontario, Calif., was in a painting group with some friends, and "one member of the group started stamping. I thought, 'Why do I need another hobby?' But we saw the fun she was having and we all gave in and started stamping. Now that's all we do."
It's like the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Stamp," jokes Trina Lopez. "You never know where you'll go, but you know you'll have fun."
That's the thing that Ritzman loves most. "You get to have a fun, relaxing time together. If you're not friends to start, you will be soon. You will find people to share your life."
It can be "completely addicting," warns Sharon Maxwell, of Marshall, Minn., with a grin. "Maybe we need a Stampers Anonymous." On the other hand, she says, "I love it. It's a great way to spend time with your best friends, doing something you can all enjoy."
The theme does say it all, adds her friend, Carol Jones, Oreana, Ill. "It's so rewarding to see someone's eyes light up because of something they've made. You both feed good. It's inspiring. It's creative. And it's just plain fun."
Stampin' Up! has announced with pleasure that their stamps were the Readers' Choice winner by the readers of Scrapbooks, etc. in the stamps category!! They also received recognition in the following categories: card stock, eyelets, ribbon, markers, and ink.
This is the first year Scrapbooks, etc. has held a Readers' Choice award. For more information, see the August/September issue of Scrapbooks, etc. (pages 34-38).
Today is traveling day to the Stampin' Up! Convention!! When we arrive in Salt Lake City we will drive to Riverton,Utah, the headquarters of Stampin' Up! We will get to tour the Atrium, the Legacy Museum, the Distribution Center, the Ideas Room, and Demonstrator Support. The Atrium area is two-stories and serves as the main entrance and reception area. The Legacy Museum shows the history of Stampin' Up! from its beginning in Shelli's home! The Distribution Center is where the stamps are brought from the Kanab, UT manufacturing plant and from where everything is shipped as the orders come in. Demonstrator Support are the wonderful people who answer the phones....they're so nice and helpful it's always a pleasure to "have to" call Stampin' Up! The Ideas Room is where the creative juices flow. I can't wait to see for myself!
We also get to check-in at the Convention Center and receive our bag filled with goodies and stamp sets for our Make & Takes from Stampin' Up! and begin swapping and visiting with all the other demonstrators who are there!
Here's an article about photographing fireworks that might be helpful to you photographers out there! Hope you make some great scrapbook pages!
This is from PCWorld by Dave Johnson.
How to Photograph Fireworks
For the photographer, winter certainly has its share of iconic subjects, such as Christmas trees, snowmen, and icicles hanging from a roof. But there's nothing quite like the excitement of shooting summertime fireworks. Done right, fireworks photos are dynamic and colorful, and they convey a sense of action better than almost any other kind of still image. Read on to learn how to capture some exciting fireworks photos of your own this summer. (Photo by foxypar4.)
(Almost) Any Camera Will Do... Though photos of fireworks look impressive, you don't need specialized gear to get good results. You can use almost any digital camera to capture fireworks, as long as it offers either some degree of manual exposure control (so that you can dial in the right ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings) or a fireworks scene mode designed to do the work for you.
Even compact digital cameras can meet the challenge. The Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR shown here, for example, hits the sweet spot for portability and simplicity--it's a superb compact point-and-shoot that, when set to fireworks mode and stabilized to minimize image shake, can take some excellent fireworks shots.
...But a Digital SLR Is Best
Compact cameras eschew features for portability, however. If you like to tinker with your exposure settings, consider an advanced point-and-shoot like the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. It has a convenient swiveling LCD for shooting unusual angles, such as over the top of a crowd or low down on the ground. A wealth of exposure options let you dial in the one-touch fireworks mode or take more control with shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure settings.
If you have a choice, though, I recommend enlisting a true digital SLR. Digital SLRs tend to generate less noise in the lengthy exposures you'll need to capture fireworks, and they have advanced features such as manual exposure control and external shutter release to minimize shake when you're taking the photo. The Nikon D90 (pictured here), for example, is a favorite not just because it was the first digital SLR to incorporate high-definition video recording, but also because it provides excellent image quality, Live View mode, and face detection for those times when you’re not shooting fireworks.
Stabilize Your Camera
The most important rule for shooting fireworks: Use a slow shutter speed so that you can record those dramatic, colorful light trails as they explode through the sky. But no matter whether you're using a point-and-shoot or a high-end digital SLR, you'll need some sort of support to capture a sharp image, free from the blur that results when you hold a camera in your hands.
A simple, inexpensive, and lightweight tripod is all you need. Keep the tripod head loose so that you can quickly move it around to frame the exploding fireworks, while the tripod legs prevent jiggling.
If you don't want to haul even a compact tripod around, consider using a monopod--since it has just one leg instead of three, it won't be as steady as a tripod, but it can be a reasonable compromise. You could also prop your camera on a solid surface. Some photographers like gadgets such as The Pod (essentially a bean bag with a tripod mount in the top) for steadying the camera on rocks, fences, and other platforms.
Hands Off
You should also avoid touching the camera when the exposure starts, so you don't jiggle it and blur the photo. You could try to use the camera's self-timer to trigger the exposure, but you would have to trigger your exposure in advance to anticipate the best fireworks moment. A better solution is to invest in a wireless remote or a shutter release cable, both of which let you take the photo without touching the camera.
Go Automatic
If your compact camera or advanced point-and-shoot has a fireworks mode, enable it. This mode automatically adjusts the camera's settings for a nighttime exposure. Want to know what's going on behind the scenes? On most cameras, the fireworks mode will turn the flash off, set focus to infinity, disable exposure compensation, and lower the ISO. For the most part, I find that a preset fireworks mode achieves good results for simple shots.
No Fireworks Mode? No Problem
Some point-and-shoots that lack a fireworks mode may still permit you to adjust the settings. Here are some good settings to try, if your camera allows. Low ISO: Set the camera to its lowest ISO setting to minimize digital noise. Focus on infinity: Turn off automatic focus and set the camera's focus to infinity so that it doesn't search helplessly for a subject in the dark. Don't have a manual focus control? Use the camera's landscape mode, which also sets the focus to infinity; the low light will encourage the camera to shoot at a slow shutter speed and capture the light trails. Set the aperture: Dial in an f/stop somewhere between f/8 and f/16. That will help prevent overexposing the scene and avoid light "blooms" coming from the explosions in the sky. Slow down the shutter: Pick a value between 1 second and 16 seconds for your shutter speed. The longer the exposure, the more fireworks you'll capture in the same frame, and the longer your light trails will be. For really long exposures try covering the lens with your hand or the lens cap between bursts to avoid overexposing the picture. (Photo by Howard Meyer.)
Shooting With a Digital SLR
If you have a digital SLR, you'll have an easier time--and more options--when setting up your camera for fireworks.
In a nutshell, you'll want to dial in the lowest ISO, throw the camera into full manual mode, choose a small aperture opening (try starting at f/8), and pick a slow shutter speed with an exposure time of between 1 and 4 seconds. After you take your first few pictures, review them to see if you're getting realistic color. If the bright blue, orange, and red fireworks all look kind of white, you should use the same exposure time but close the aperture a bit and try again. That means changing your f/8 setting to f/11 or perhaps f/16. If the fireworks are too dim, open the aperture to f/5.6 or f/4.
Most SLRs have a bulb mode that leaves the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter release, giving you total control over the exposure. When the fireworks launch, press the shutter release to start the exposure. Hold the button down until after the fireworks have bloomed, several seconds later. If you go for superlong exposures, you should cover the lens between fireworks.
Get a Wide Angle on the Scene
While you might be tempted to zoom in to get close-ups of the action, I recommend that you use the wider end of your lens's range--or, if you're using a digital SLR, switch to your wide-angle lens. You'll be able to capture more fireworks in a shot and even frame the action against a skyline or other recognizable objects in the foreground.
Of course, you can experiment by changing your zoom range throughout the evening. Just remember that if you zoom in too tightly, you'll have trouble knowing exactly when and where the fireworks are going to do their thing, and you'll end up missing the action. (Photo by stage88.)
Experimentation Is Key
As you prepare for summer fireworks, remember that capturing the action is often more art than science. Experiment with a range of shutter speeds and aperture settings over the course of the event. If the weather is uncooperative, take advantage by incorporating umbrella-covered spectators into the scene. And don't forget that your photo editing program's cropping tool can sometimes bring a distant fireworks blast front and center, turning a mediocre shot into a keeper.
Check the new postage! Do you know postage rates went up starting today, May 11th? Before you mail your beautiful handmade cards check the new postage rates:
Letters
Weight Not Over
Price
1 ounce
$0.44
2 ounces
$0.61
3 ounces
$0.78
3.5 ounces
$0.95
For all the information, check the United States Postal Service website HERE.
This is a quote I saw somewhere, and I think it is one we should all print out and hang in our stamping area. I think worrying about whether or not we can produce a fantastically creative masterpiece of a scrapbook page is what keeps a lot of us from even starting. We think it has to look like a sample we saw in a magazine and if we can't produce that, well, then we shouldn't even bother. Not everyone even likes the very busy, "cluttered" style of some scrapbook pages featured in magazines, so don't feel that yours can't be something very simple....just the photo, some journaling, maybe a little stamping along a border or a strip of designer paper. It's even a good idea to just start with a small scrapbook page, 6x6 for example, or even a card size, and then build up from there. That often gets you started and more ideas will come as you work. Make it easy on yourself!
Be sure to check out the May scrapbooking specials from Stampin' Up!
When you find a pattern that you like for a project, do you usually place it on your cardstock, trace around it, and then cut it out? Here is a way to make that process easier! This was a tip in our demonstrator magazine, "Stampin' Success" and is a way I have been using patterns.
1. Print your pattern, but rather than cutting it out and tracing around it, just lightly adhere the whole pattern page to the cardstock you will be using. Dotto is good for this or if you must use tape, stick it first onto your clothing to take off some of the "sticky" and then use it. Adhere it also within the pattern area so it won't move as you cut.
2. Cut out both the pattern and the cardstock at the same time.
3. Leaving the pattern on, score both sheets if you need to using your bone folder or other scoring tool.
That's it! Take the pattern off carefully and your project is ready to assemble!
Sign up to be a Demonstrator and get the "Stampin' Success" magazine FREE every month (let me tell you how we all look forward to receiving our magazines!) as well as access to a special pattern and template area on the Stampin' Up! website on the "Demo side"!
Here is an excerpt of an article about crafting and the economy that I found interesting:
Crafting: A Silver Lining In A Tough Economy
by Laura Tiffany, Entrepreneur.com
In economic times like these, the urge to hunker down in your house, limit spending and jump off the merry-go-round of shopping, credit and consumerism can be strong. And one way for people to step outside the system, if just for a few hours a week, is crafting. Rather than being a consumer, a crafter becomes a manufacturer; the end result of a night on the couch isn't three hours of empty Tivo space, but a scarf, toy or handmade holiday ornament that one can give away, keep or sell.
While data are still being compiled for 2008, the Craft and Hobby Association reported that in 2007, craft sales in 39 categories reached nearly $32 billion, and nearly 57 percent of U.S. households engage in crafting. Online handmade goods site Etsy.com reported $88 million in sales in 2008, a significant increase over 2007 sales of $26 million. With 1.9 million members and more than 200,000 sellers, Etsy enjoyed $9.9 million in sales in January alone.
Like most retail sectors, it's likely that craft sales may decrease in the coming months. But all signs point to more and more people diving into this market, both as consumers of supplies and handmade gifts, and as entrepreneurs selling their own items and supplies.
At the January CHA show, spirits were high as manufacturers and retailers recognized that the economic climate creates more folks ready to put needle to fabric and stamp to paper to join a crafting revolution that's been in the works for more than a decade.
Some of the big crafting trends present at the show, which featured more than 900 exhibitors, include:
Scrapbooking. This is the most robust craft category that CHA tracks, and scrapbooking companies had by far the strongest presence at the show. While paper still rules scrapbookers' supply cabinets, many crafters are taking skills such as stamping, painting and decoupage into other media for jewelry making--like sandwiching tiny art between glass slides for a pendant or stamping blank wooden bangles.
Crafts for kids. Kid-specific kits and products are hotter than ever, even in this tough economy. "Unfortunately, the schools cut a lot of creative areas, so it's up to the parents to do it at home. And I really think [crafts have] become an important part of the American family," says Jenny Lowe, design director of Moorestown, N.J.-based Sbar's Inc., a 50-year-old supplier of family-friendly crafts that has lived through its share of recessions. "Kids are just so eager to accomplish something. And let's face it--crafting gets them away from the computer."
Some companies foresee growth in this area because of parents wanting to craft with their kids. Parents can purchase a $15 kit and have a fun evening at home, rather than pay $50 to take the family to the movies. There are also ancillary customers, such as church camps and Scout troops. And of course, there's always the need for kids' birthday gifts, too.
Tough times tend to spur creativity. As an entrepreneur, there are few better ways to channel your creativity than in a crafts business. Whether you start to find your artistic voice or you do it to sell personalized gifts, crafting makes the most out of your creativity--as an artist and as an entrepreneur.
******************
And what better way to become an entrepreneur in a crafts business than to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator! It's a great company on so many levels and you will meet the best people. Read all about it HERE. You can sign up online on my website (contact me for the password!) and IMMEDIATELY be a demonstrator! Or if you prefer the "Three Easy Payment Plan" on the Starter Kit that Stampin' Up! is offering right now through April 30, 2009, you can mail in your application. Just click on the link to read about this new payment plan.
