Vintage Valentine Class Planner – Dec. 2010

 

Description: 

This month’s projects feature the emboss resist technique, which combined with the I Heart Hearts stamp set, En Français background stamp, basic rhinestones and silver glass glitter create a stunning vintage effect. Pair this with the vibrant colors and patterns of the Sweet and Sour Specialty DP and you’re sure to wow anyone who receives one of these cards!

Highlights:

• Project: 4 standard-sized cards and custom designed Vintage Valentine Portfolio
• Time estimate: 2 – 2½ hours hours including cutting
• Level of difficulty: 2,  this project features the emboss resist technique and involves simple stamping, cutting, sponging and card & box assembly
• Featured products: I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, En Français background stamp, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, Sweet and Sour Specialty DP, Pretty in Pink and Pumpkin Pie ?” Satin ribbons, Silver Glass Glitter, Modern Label punch, Full Heart punch, Heart to Heart punch, Top Note Bigz die, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and Basic Rhinestones

Class Planner Features: 

• Demonstrator planner with a cutting guide for cutting for a CLASS
• Advertising pictures
• Condensed Customer Handout (pdf)
• Detailed (i.e. Class-to-go) customer handout (pdf) – including a cutting guide for 1 project set
• Marketing flyer (in MS Word)
• Blog entry text
• *NEW* - Video featuring the emboss resist technique used on these cards and the option of putting it on your own blog for your customers.

Special Price: $17.95 CAN*

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Candy Cane Christmas Workshop Planner – Nov 2010

Description:

This month’s workshop planner features the Comtempo Christmas stamp set.  If you are looking for value and substance in a Christmas set, then this is the set for you!  With a low price point, and a combination of images and greetings available in the stamp set, you will find this to be perfect for creating cards for everyone on your list, and all while never breaking the bank.

Not sure how to run a workshop, needing a boost or just running out of time? With this planner, we take all the tears and fears out of workshop’s for you. We offer tried, tested and true tips and suggestions for setting up and running your workshop, as well as projects designed to increase your sales. Whatever your needs are, we have tried to meet them. So sit back with a cup of tea, relax and let us do the work for you.

Products Used in Simple Verison:

• Stamps: Contempo Christmas
• Ink: Garden Green Classic ink, Garden Green Stampin’ Write marker, Baja Breeze Classic ink, Early Espresso Stampin’ Write marker
• Paper: Whisper White CS, Baja Breeze CS, Wild Wasabi CS; Candy Cane Christmas DP
• Accessories: bone folder, paper snips, Stamp-a-ma-jig, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, stamping sponges, blender pen, Early Espresso ?” taffeta ribbon, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Color Catcher, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, clear translucent envelopes; Optional: Silver Glass glitter, Crystal Effects, mini glue dots.

The alternate projects use the Winter Post stamp set.

Workshop Planner Features:

• Video Tutorials for all of those techniques or tools which are easier to show than explain. It’s like being with us in our studio as we show you how to better execute the planner for the month. Great for the new demonstrator, or the one who just needs a refresher.
• Three custom designed projects- two cards and one 6″ x 6″ scrapbook page
• Projects offered with simple and stepped up version
• Stepped up Scrapbook page feature. We take your 6″ x 6″ page and show you how to turn it into a 8 1/2″ x 11″ and also into a 12″ x 12″. This way you can show your customers or use it as a Scrapbook class idea.
• Alternate project designs using a different stamp set, DP and color scheme
• Tips on preparing for, setting up and running your workshop
• Step by step photo tutorial for ensuring a clear understanding of all steps associated with projects
• Cost analysis of projects
• Customer Handout
• Customer Shopping Checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so you can make changes to suit your needs
• Demonstrator packing checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so that you can make changes to suit your needs
• American and Canadian Versions for all Qualifying documents
• Advertising photo

Regular Price: $24.95

*Please be sure to check your email after you check out, because you will receive an email with the link to a web page from which you can download all your documents and access the videos.

* International orders accepted. Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Vintage Christmas Class Planner – Nov. 2010

Description: 

The old-fashioned feel of this vintage card set will warm your heart and bring to mind memories of Christmas’ past.  In this class you’ll create these four cards and coordinating vintage card box featuring the Welcome Christmas stamp set and Deck the Halls DP!

Highlights:

• Project: 4 standard-sized cards and custom designed Vintage Christmas box
• Time estimate: 1½ – 2 hours hours including cutting
• Level of difficulty: 1,  this project involves simple stamping, cutting, card & Vintage Christmas box assembly
• Featured products: Welcome Christmas stamp set, Deck The Halls DP, Victgoria 5/8″ Crochet Trim, Champagne Glass Glitter, 2 1/2 circle punch, metallic brads, paper-piercing tool and Mat Pack

Class Planner Features: 

• Demonstrator planner with a cutting guide for cutting for a CLASS
• Advertising pictures
• Condensed Customer Handout (pdf)
• Detailed (i.e. Class-to-go) customer handout (pdf) – including a cutting guide for 1 project set
• Marketing flyer (in MS Word)
• Blog entry text

Price: $17.95 CAN

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Autumn Spice Class Planner – October 2010

 

Description: 

The beautiful fall colors of the Autumn Spice DP are an amazing background for the images from the Day of Gratitude stamp set. The eye catching colors just scream autumn! Create these four autumn themed cards and matching acorn card box!

Highlights:

• Project: 4 standard-sized cards and acorn card box
• Time estimate: 1½ – 2 hours hours including cutting
• Level of difficulty: 1,  this project involves simple stamping, cutting, card & card box assembly
• Featured products: Day of Gratitude stamp set, Sanded background stamp, Autumn Spice DP, Old Olive 5/8” Grosgrain ribbon, Early Espresso 5/8” Grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, Scallop Edge border punch, 1 3/4” circle punch, gold brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 2-way glue pen, paper-piercing tool and Mat Pack

Class Planner Features: 

• Demonstrator planner with a cutting guide for cutting for a CLASS
• Advertising pictures
• Condensed Customer Handout (pdf)
• Detailed (i.e. Class-to-go) customer handout (pdf) – including a cutting guide for 1 project set
• Marketing flyer (in MS Word)
• Blog entry text

Special Price: $17.95 CAN*

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Autumn Splendor Workshop Planner – October 2010

Description: 

This fall-inspired stamp set will leave you in awe with the delicate filigree look of its images.  It adds elegance and class to any project.  Whether embossed in gold, or oclored in with delicate washes of russet and gold, you will find yourself creating projects which are the very essence of autumn.

Not sure how to run a workshop, needing a boost or just running out of time?  With this planner, we take all the tears and fears out of workshop’s for you.  We offer tried, tested and true tips and suggestions for setting up and running your workshop, as well as projects designed to increase your sales. Whatever your needs are, we have tried to meet them. So sit back with a cup of tea, relax and let us do the work for you.

Products Used in Simple Verison:

• Stamps: Autumn Splendor, Wonderfully Worn, Thank You Kindly
• Ink: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Cherry Cobber and Cajun Craze Classic inks; VersaMark ink
• Paper: Whisper White CS, Baja Breeze CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Tangerine Tango CS, Early Espresso CS
• Accessories: SNAIL adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, mini glue dots, Early Espresso 5/8″ satin ribbon, gold brads, gold embossing powder, bone folder, paper snips, stamping sponges, stamp-a-ma-jig, aqua painter, blender pen, 3/16″ corner rounder punch, scallop edge punch, log cabin smooch spritz, color catcher, embossing buddy, heat tool, paper-piercing tool, mat pack; Non-SU: acetate, mini spray bottle

The alternate projects use the Serene Snowflake stamp set.

Workshop Planner Features:

• Video Tutorials for all of those techniques or tools which are easier to show than explain.  It’s like being with us in our studio as we show you how to better execute the planner for the month.  Great for the new demonstrator, or the one who just needs a refresher.
• Three custom designed projects- two cards and one 6″ x 6″ scrapbook page
• Projects offered with simple and stepped up version
• Stepped up Scrapbook page feature.  We take your 6″ x 6″ page and show you how to turn it into a 8 1/2″ x 11″ and also into a 12″ x 12″.  This way you can show your customers or use it as a Scrapbook class idea.
• Alternate project designs using a different stamp set, DP and color scheme
• Tips on preparing for, setting up and running your workshop
• Step by step photo tutorial for ensuring a clear understanding of all steps associated with projects
• Cost analysis of projects
• Customer Handout
• Customer Shopping Checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so you can make changes to suit your needs
• Demonstrator packing checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so that you can make changes to suit your needs
• American and Canadian Versions for all Qualifying documents
• Advertising photo

Regular Price: $24.95

*Please be sure to check your email after you check out, because you will receive an email with the link to a web page from which you can download all your documents and access the videos.

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Woodland Walk Workshop Planner – September 2010

Description: 

With a soft elegance and versatility to using different techniques, the Growing Green stamp set lends itself to endless possibilities.

Not sure how to run a workshop, needing a boost or just running out of time?  With this planner, we take all the tears and fears out of workshop’s for you.  We offer tried, tested and true tips and suggestions for setting up and running your workshop, as well as projects designed to increase your sales. Whatever your needs are, we have tried to meet them. So sit back with a cup of tea, relax and let us do the work for you.

Products Used in Simple Verison:

• Stamps: Growing Green, Perfect Punches
• Ink: Jet Black Staz On, Whisper White Craft ink, Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, and Wild Wasabi Classic inks; Garden Green, Pear Pizzaz and Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Write markers 
• Paper: Crumb Cake CS, Garden Green CS, Whisper White CS, Wild Wasabi CS, Woodland Walk DP
• Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Crystal Effects, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Early Espresso 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, bone folder, paper snips, stamping sponges,  Stamp-a-ma-jig, 3/16″ corner punch, blender pen, 2″ x 1 3/8″ oval punch, curly label punch, spiral border punch

The alternate projects use the Autumn Harvest & Grateful Greetings stamp set.

Workshop Planner Features:

• Video Tutorials for all of those techniques or tools which are easier to show than explain.  It’s like being with us in our studio as we show you how to better execute the planner for the month.  Great for the new demonstrator, or the one who just needs a refresher.
• Three custom designed projects- two cards and one 6″ x 6″ scrapbook page
• Projects offered with simple and stepped up version
• Stepped up Scrapbook page feature.  We take your 6″ x 6″ page and show you how to turn it into a 8 1/2″ x 11″ and also into a 12″ x 12″.  This way you can show your customers or use it as a Scrapbook class idea.
• Alternate project designs using a different stamp set, DP and color scheme
• Tips on preparing for, setting up and running your workshop
• Step by step photo tutorial for ensuring a clear understanding of all steps associated with projects
• Cost analysis of projects
• Customer Handout
• Customer Shopping Checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so you can make changes to suit your needs
• Demonstrator packing checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so that you can make changes to suit your needs
• American and Canadian Versions for all Qualifying documents
• Advertising photo

Regular Price: $24.95

*Please be sure to check your email after you check out, because you will receive an email with the link to a web page from which you can download all your documents and access the videos.

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

“You Make Me Smile” Class Planner – September 2010

Description: 

This month’s class features the fun, bright colors and bold patterns of the Play Date Designer Paper and Funky Four stamp set.  In this class you’ll make 4 cards and a fun window portfolio box to put them in.

Highlights:

• Project: 4 standard-sized cards and matching window portfolio
• Time estimate: 1½ – 2 hours hours including cutting
• Level of difficulty: 1,  this project involves simple stamping, cutting, card & card box assembly
• Featured products: Funky Four stamp set, FYI stamp set, Play Date DP, Real Red ?” Taffeta ribbon, 1 ¼” circle punch, silver brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 2-way glue pen, paper-piercing tool and Mat Pack

Class Planner Features: 

• Demonstrator planner with a cutting guide for cutting for a CLASS
• Advertising pictures
• Condensed Customer Handout (pdf)
• Detailed (i.e. Class-to-go) customer handout (pdf) – including a cutting guide for 1 project set
• Marketing flyer (in MS Word)
• Blog entry text

Special Price: $17.95 CAN*

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

“Secrets” to a Successful Stampin’ Up! Business

After I earned Founder’s Circle and the Alaska cruise this year, I was asked to share what I saw as some of my “secrets” to a successful SU business. I decided that these are tips that some of you might find useful so I thought I’d post them here.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to running a successful SU business – one where you can earn a good income and acheive big goals like Founder’s Circle or the incentive trip.  I always find it hard to answer these kinds of questions because for me anyways, there is no one answer.  It’s an approach that I take to my business, a frame of mind I suppose you could say, which then influences the activities that I follow through with to achieve my goals.

I think the biggest and most important thing is to HAVE a goal. In a post to the LNS Demo Only group, Patty Bennett said “Be true to who you are” – that is a very powerful truth.  You have to set your goal for you – it has to mean something to you, be in keeping with your values, and with where you are in life. For example, I set my goals of earning the incentive trip and Founder’s Circle 3 years ago. I earned Bermuda, but then for the next year and a half had to take a step back from my SU business when our life as a family turned upside down (new baby, moving, renovations, moving my grandparents in, my grandmother getting ill and passing away, etc.)  A whole slew of things, all one after the other.  Although it was really hard to put my SU dreams on hold, I needed to focus on my family. Once things settled down, I was able to re-focus on my business.

Once you have your goal, you then have to figure out how you are going to achieve it – you need to break it down.

Work your business consistently.  I put time into my business consistently 5 days a week. I try not to work weekends because that is a commitment I made to my husband – that weekends would be family time.

Love what you do. Don’t try to fit yourself or your business into somebody else’s mold. Just because someone says “you should be doing this for your business”  doesn’t mean you have to, if you really hate doing it.  There are many paths to a successful business – you have to find the one that works for you.

Use your business as a means for blessing others. I look at my business as my ministry. I look for ways that I can use my business to touch other’s lives.  It may be through sharing and inspiring, it may be through gifting those that are struggling or less fortunate with SU products (I often donate product to local charities and organizations), it may be through providing employment. 

Value your time and your expertise. Charge what you are worth. If you want to make money through your SU business then you need to start thinking like a business person. I see way too many demos that undervalue what they have to offer, and undercharge for their classes and events.

Make your choices in terms of what is good, better, best.  There are a lot of good things that we can do for our business, but, in reality we don’t have enough time to do everything.  So when I think about what I am going to invest my time in, I think about which of my choices will yeild the best returns for my business. 

Anyways, there is lots more, but I think these are some of the key things that I do.

 

Customer Care Corner: Do we give enough to our customers?

In this era of “gifts with purchase”, people – and I’m sure many of us included – have gotten used to being rewarded in some form or another for our purchases.  So much so, that more often than not it’s something we come to expect. 

One of the things that I love to do is to shop online for art & papercrafting materials…I admit it, it’s a bit of an addiction LOL.  Most of the time, when I open up my much-anticipated package, there’s a thank you note and often a small gift.  Sometimes it’s a yard of ribbon, sometimes it’s a package of embellishments, sometimes it’s a small stamp….and I’m always pleasantly surprised.  One day though, I remember opening up a package from a sizeable order I had placed, and there was…nothing!  I searched through the box wondering if I had somehow overlooked it, but nope, that was not the case.  I remember feeling quite let down.  Thoughts such as “They could have at least included a little thank you note”, or “They obviously don’t appreciate the fact that I chose to spend my hard earned money on them” ran through my head. I even went so far as to contemplate not ordering from them again.  

Is that fair?  No.  And in fact, as I realized what I was thinking, initially, I wasn’t proud of myself.  After all, why should we have to reward people for their purchases?  As I got to thinking about it more though, I realized two things.  The first is that as a society, it’s something we’ve gotten conditioned to…it’s started to become the norm.  The second thing though, is that as I examined my feelings I realized that when a company expresses it’s appreciation to me for choosing them out of the multitude of companies I could have purchased from, it makes me feel special and valued.  Is it wrong to want to feel like you are valued as a customer.  Personally, I would have to say absolutely not.

THAT is why if you were to ask me, I would say that as a business (which is what I consider my Stampin’ Up! demonstratorship to be), it is important to look for ways to show our appreciation to our customers on a consistent basis.  So what does it mean to show appreciation?  Does it mean you’re going to have to give away the farm, or dip into your profits?  Thankfully the answer is no.  The key is to keep in mind that it’s the gesture that has meaning, not so much WHAT it is. 

Some ways I try to make my customers feel valued and special:

• for my online orders, they receive a personal email from me thanking them for their purchase.
• all customers get a little thank you note in their orders, or if it’s an online order, mailed to them.
• I monitor the delivery of their shipment (for online orders) and within a few days of them receiving their order they get an email making sure everything was okay.
• For individual customer orders which I package up myself, I may staple a little ziploc baggie to their thank you note which contains with a yard of ribbon or a few embellishments.  Sometimes I might break up the extra sale-a-bration or hostess sets I earn and give them one stamp.
• For online orders greater than $50, I may give them a free pdf tutorial

I think the most important thing to keep in mind when deciding what you are going to do to show your appreciation to your customers, is that it is the gesture that’s important.  Don’t make the mistake of giving away too much off the bat, because you’re going to set a precedent that you’ll then have to keep living up to.

What about you?  What are some of the ways YOU try and make your customers feel special?  Please share.

 

 

What have you done for your business today?

You’ve probably heard it before: a key ingredient to growing and maintaining a strong and healthy Stampin’ Up! business is consistency.  Yet for the vast majority of us, we have so much going on in our daily lives, so many demands on our time,  that it can be easy to let other things take precedent.  It can be a real conundrum can’t it? 

I think the biggest problem often stems from the fact that whenever we sit down to try and tackle a business-related task, it seems so big and overwhelming, and it seems to require so much time.  Which is why we often resort to procrastination.  We tell ourselves, “I just don’t have time to prep for that workshop right now”, or “I just don’t have time to make follow-up calls to my customers”.  So we decide to wait until we actually have a chunk of time in which to do it.  The problem of course is that that free chunk of time rarely shows itself.  Next thing we know, it’s been several months since the trade show and we still haven’t made our follow up calls to the leads we got.  And “well, we can’t possibly call now” we tell ourselves.  Before you know it, the money you invested in the trade show is wasted.  Maybe it’s not a trade show, maybe it’s contacts you got at an event you hosted, or a workshop you did. Either way, it’s business opportunities lost. Does this scenario sound familiar? 

So how do we get a handle on this and stop the vicious cycle?  The best way to break this cycle is to train yourself to do 1 thing for your business every day.  It could be one phone call.  Make one card.  Put together one hostess packet.  Send out 1 thank you card….

Just one SMALL action everyday is all it takes to get you started on the path to consistency.  What you’ll often find is, that that simple act will help get you into a business mindset, and will lead to more.  And if it doesn’t on a particular day, then you can still rest easy knowing one more thing on your to do list has been crossed off.

Artistic Etchings Workshop Planner – August 2010

Description: 

Elegant and beautiful, this month’s stamp set is perfect for creating collage style or travel-themed projects.  Whether you want to go Vintage Chic, or Artistic Travel, this is the set for you.  Each design is well executed and timeless, perfect for year round use!

Not sure how to run a workshop, needing a boost or just running out of time?  With this planner, we take all the tears and fears out of workshop’s for you.  We offer tried, tested and true tips and suggestions for setting up and running your workshop, as well as projects designed to increase your sales. Whatever your needs are, we have tried to meet them. So sit back with a cup of tea, relax and let us do the work for you.

Products Used in Simple Verison:

• Stamps: Artistic Etchings
• Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz Classic inks; Early Espresso, Old Olive and Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write markers
• Paper: Early Espresso CS, Very Vanilla CS, Blushing Bride CS, Pear Pizzazz CS, Newsprint DP
• Accessories: Snail Adhesive, mini glue dots, 2-way glue pen, Early Espresso 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon, silver brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 5-petal flower punch, bone folder, paper snips, stamping sponges, paper-piercing tool, Mat Pack, Stamp-a-ma-jig

The alternate projects use the Just Believe stamp set.

Workshop Planner Features:

• Video Tutorials for all of those techniques or tools which are easier to show than explain.  It’s like being with us in our studio as we show you how to better execute the planner for the month.  Great for the new demonstrator, or the one who just needs a refresher.
• Three custom designed projects- two cards and one 6″ x 6″ scrapbook page
• Projects offered with simple and stepped up version
• Stepped up Scrapbook page feature.  We take your 6″ x 6″ page and show you how to turn it into a 8 1/2″ x 11″ and also into a 12″ x 12″.  This way you can show your customers or use it as a Scrapbook class idea.
• Alternate project designs using a different stamp set, DP and color scheme
• Tips on preparing for, setting up and running your workshop
• Step by step photo tutorial for ensuring a clear understanding of all steps associated with projects
• Cost analysis of projects
• Customer Handout
• Customer Shopping Checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so you can make changes to suit your needs
• Demonstrator packing checklist offered in both PDF format as well as MS word format so that you can make changes to suit your needs
• American and Canadian Versions for all Qualifying documents
• Advertising photo

Regular Price: $24.95

*Please be sure to check your email after you check out, because you will receive an email with the link to a web page from which you can download all your documents and access the videos.

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

Greenhouse Gala Class Planner – August 2010

Description: 

Bright colors, bold patterns & a vintage texture create an eye-catching combination that is sure to elicit a “wow” from everyone who sees it. In this class your customers will use the Greenhouse Gala DP, Friends Never Fade Stamp Set & Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions folder to create these four gorgeous cards along with a coordinating window card box to gift them in.

Highlights:

• Project: 4 standard-sized cards and matching card box
• Time estimate: 2 – 2 ½ hours including cutting
• Level of difficulty: 1,  this project involves simple stamping, cutting, card & card box assembly
• Featured products: Greenhouse Gala DP, Friends Never Fade & Thank You Kindly stamp set, Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Scallop Edge border punch

Class Planner Features: 

• Demonstrator planner with a cutting guide for cutting for a CLASS
• Advertising pictures
• Condensed Customer Handout (pdf)
• Detailed (i.e. Class-to-go) customer handout (pdf) – including a cutting guide for 1 project set
• Marketing flyer (in MS Word)
• Blog entry text

Special Price: $17.95 CAN*

* International orders accepted.  Paypal or your credit card company will do the currency conversion for you.

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