BLAST FROM THE PAST - 2009

Phew it is Out of the Bag - Stampin' Success Feature Guest Artist

The latest issue of Stampin' Success was released on-line today and I'm delighted to share that I was featured as guest artist for the month of August.

My experience:
The hardest thing was keeping my excitement from my Stampin' Up family over the past several months. Who would have thought entering a design challenge (see here) would result in my receiving an e-mail invitation about an opportunity to be guest artist and better yet doing a wedding theme? To be honest with you at first I thought it was a joke. The night before I was saying to a good friend of mine Kim Roberts see her wedding here. How it would be a thrill to get published and the next day I get an e-mail from Kim Jackson at Stampin’ Up. Who would have thought.

How I became a demonstrator:

Like many of you I was tired of going to the local craft store or scrap booking store and spending hours trying to match patterned paper and card stock, ribbons and accessories, even stamps were a huge challenge. Yes I am a scrap booking card making snob. I am very particular when I do my craft art. I want tools and materials that will enhance my creations. So one day I had bought a new scrape booking magazine and was turning the pages and came across an ad for a company called Stampin’ Up, googled it and was instantly sold.

Everything match's from card stock to ink to markers, why even the stamp sets could be intertwined, even better I could order from Canada. So I went to find a demonstrator option on the website, looked through the names of demonstrators in my area and found a new friend and up line Kim Kirkwood. I attended one of her home workshops and that was it, I was sold. I have not looked back since and that's was almost 3 years ago.

What I love to do:

Today I specialize in one of a kind wedding invitations. I love working with brides and making their dreams come true. I offer a full service from designing complete wedding packages.To working with the bride who wants to create their own. I love to create one of kind invitations that express each couples special day.

I love doing workshops, Xmas, Wedding, Showers, Mother's Day just about everything. Currently I am doing a personal challenge called The 7 Day Challenge see here.

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5. Day 6 and 7 are to follow so don't forget to subscribe to my blog today.

My experience:

I am a Creative Art Director for a local high tech company, I manage a team of 4 designers, 1 student photographer and 1 Production Manager. I have been working in the high tech industry now for 12 years now, prior to that I worked full time as a senior graphic designer for our local college and was also continuing education teacher for 2 years.


I am married to a wonderful man who is very supportive of my creativity, we have no children but do have two furry kids, Gadget and Holly. We love to travel, and are hoping to go Ireland next year for our summer vacation.

Our wedding day June 7, 2003.



Thank you:

I would like to thank Kim Jackson Sr. Writer/Editor from Stampin' Up! Kim was so wonderful to work with and truly made this a wonderful experience. From the initial e-mail, to the final product I was honored to be a part of this.

Look for my upcoming demonstrator work shop this coming September see here.

Questions leave me a post and I will answer your questions on my next post.

What a Wonderful Way to Spend a Saturday

Last Saturday was my Demonstrator 2010 Wedding Workshop and boy it was so much fun. My workshop was limited to 8 people, I wanted to ensure that there was enough room for everyone and that I was able to help everyone. I also offered a To-Go Kit for those who could not attend either because they had other plans or because it was to far to travel.

We opened with a brief talk about the designs I did, if there were any challenges that need to be explained, where I got my fonts, envelopes, how I advertised, and what the benefits and prices that I charged. We also went around the group and introduced ourselves, how long we had been demonstrating for and how we were introduced to Stampin' Up. I myself don't like doing this but I think it is a good way to network, break the ice and well frankly get to know people better.

I had 4 tables set-up with 2 people per table, each table had a different design and when you finished one you moved onto the next table.

I offered a homemade lunch that included:

1. Tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and basil with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
2. Home made Chicken Lasagna Alfredo (so yummy)
3. Caesar Salad
4. Desert (chocolate mousse cake)
5. Coffee and Tea

Ending with a chocolate fondue with fresh fruit yummmmmmmm

I would like to thank all the ladies who attended, they were so much fun and even cleaned up everything that all I had to do was take down the table. So sweet! I hope they enjoyed themselves as much as I did.

I would also like to send a special thank you too my wonderful husband who as always lends a hand without any grumbling and is so willing to help no matter what. To Heather who kept me on track, both with cutting and ensuring that everything would be fine and especially for being such a good friend. And last but certainly not least to Chelsey Draycott, who took her Saturday to help me with what every I needed, took the following fantastic shots and was and is the daughter I never had. Your a fantastic young women and I am glad that you are my friend.

For those of you who have order the To-Go the first shipment will be going out this week. An e-mail will be sent indicating that they have been sent if you can send me an e-mail indicating the have been received that would be great and I would also welcome any feedback good or bad.

Here are a few images from the workshop and what we created:

Circle Circus Wedding Invitation

Favour Box Using Pillow Box Die from Stampin' Up

Thank you Card, Save-the-Date and Wedding Invitation


Table number, Place Card, Thank You Card, Wedding Invitation, Favour Box,
Save-the-Date, and Menu Card



Elegant Wedding Invitation using Tiny Tags

Save-the-Date, Favour Box / Table Votive, Place Card and Ceremony Program


Wedding Invitation, Save-the-Date and Menu



Vintage Vogue Wedding Invitation

Wedding Invitation, Wedding Program, Thank You Card, Favour Box, Place Card and Menu



Favour Box, Thank You Card, Wedding Program, Place Card and Wedding Invitation

Wedding Sweet Wedding Invitation

Favour Box, Wedding Invitation and Save-the-Date

Table Number, Thank You Card

This is where I hold my workshops, each Demonstrator got a bag, with all their supplies, a battery tea light and of course chocolate. There were two people per table, to ensure lots of space to spread out.

Jen, Patti and Renee working hard on their invitations.

Renee and I discuss the Stampin' Ups Simply Adorned Jewelry, me thinks Renee might be ordering some on her next order. Sue is working very hard on the Wedding Sweet Invitation and Anna was taking a break from working on the Elegant Wedding Invitation.

Anna showing her beautiful smile looks like she was having a good time!

Pam and Renee are stamping up a storm, Jen is working hard and my proof reader. She was the first to notice that my Wedding Program for the Vintage Vogue Wedding Invitation was upside down, this is what happens when you are putting things together in the wee hours of the morning. That's Patti 's arm her and I were discussing envelopes and the best place to find them for various sizes.

Lunch very yummy

A well deserved break after all their hard work.

If you are interested in ordering a To-Go Kit, please e-mail me at studiono8@hotmail.com, orders will be sent week of Feb 22 or sooner.

Again thank you ladies you were great, and I hope you had a good time!

J

SNEAK PEEK NO. 4 Demonstrator 2010 Wedding Invitation Workshop

Wedding Invitation Design No. 4

When I was first sent this stamp set as one of the two sets that I was asked to use for my article in Stampin' Success August 2009 seen here, I didn't know what I was going to do. But since then I have used this for two weddings, thank you cards. I love its simple, graceful, elegant lines. It screams for you to use simple cream colours, like off whites, beige's etc. but I wanted to make it bold and bright! By doing so I have shown another way it can be used that is different then what was featured in August 2009 Stampin' Success and the Idea book and Catalogue. Once again showing the versatility of Stampin' Ups stamps, paper and inks.

Featured Stamp Set: Wedding Sweet, Sweet Swirls

Featured Colours: Whisper White, Lavender Lace, Versamark TM and Certainly Celery

Learn more about my upcoming workshop here.