My Sweet Stampin Spot

Better Photos = Better Scrapbook Pages

Follow these simple tips from ehow.com for properly lighting your photos and your scrapbooks will look even better!

Proper lighting is one of the most crucial elements of a good picture, yet is one of the most commonly overlooked. Follow these simple steps to make sure your pics impress.

Step 1 -
Determine the "dominant light source." An easy way to do this is to look at the shadows in the area - they will point away from the dominant light source. If there are multiple light sources, the dominant one will create the darkest shadows.

Step 2 -
Decide what type of shot you're after. Usually you'll be wanting a fully-lit shot of your subject with as little shadow as possible.

Step 3 -
If you're going for a normal, well-lit photo, shoot away from the light source. This will eliminate harsh shadows and make sure your subject is lit up in your pic.


Other Tips -

• Don't rely on the flash! Most digital cameras have an automatic flash that's there to "fill" in bad lighting situations. Problem is, it's usually a pretty harsh light, and can wind up reflecting off your subject and making them look washed out. If there's enough light in the area and you're following these steps, turn the flash off!
• If you're outside during the day, the dominant light source is easy to find - not much is going to outshine that big light in the sky. Shoot away from the sun whenever possible.
• Don't stifle your creativity. Odds are you've got over a hundred shots to waste on that camera of yours - use them. This is simply how to properly light a photo - sometimes improper shots can accidentally wow everyone with your artistic ability!

Spring Stamp A Stack

Spring Stamp A Stack    Get connected! My Stamp A Stack will take the stress out of sending personally handmade cards to your friends and family. This event is perfect for all levels of stampers - no experience necessary! Come and make 16 cards - 4 each of 4 designs. All supplies are pre-cut and ready to be stamped and assembled by you.

Saturday April 18   10am-12pm OR 4pm-6pm OR To Go Packet        RSVP with payment by Wednesday April 8 Cash, Check, Paypal, Credit/Debit by phone   Payment is non-refundable after April 8, if you are unable to attend you will receive your supplies in a To Go packet.   Location: 150 Bentcreek Dr.   Hostess Appreciation    Book a Stampin' Up!  Workshop during the Stamp A Stack and receive one free package of 8 ½ x 11 cardstock, your choice of color, with your workshop! You will also receive the Spring/Summer  Idea Book & Catalog FREE!

Doctor's Bag Now Available

From the Stampin Up! Home Office:

Doctor's Bag Now Available
March 19, 2009

We are pleased to announce that we have turned on item number 113474 for the Doctor's Bag and item number 113482 for the Special Edition Starter Kit with Bag. We have filled all backorders for these items, and have sufficient inventories to fill incoming orders. You can now order these products.

Thank you for your patience as we worked with our vendor and manufacturer to resolve quality issues and receive replacements for defective products.

Easter Basket

This is my version of a cute Easter Basket created with the Stampin' Up! exclusive Top Note Die and my Sizzix Big Shot. I've seen several versions on splitcoaststampers that use paper weaving. I didn't want that fuss so I used textured cardstock to get the woven look. I added sponging in Close to Cocoa ink to bring out the look of the texture. The 2 Top Note diecuts are glued to a cut down craft bag with Tombo Multi Adhesive. The bunny was created entirely from Stampin' Up! punches.

 

Supplies:
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Close to Cocoa textured, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray
Accessories: Top Note Die, Big Shot, Flower Brads, Linen Thread, Tombo Multi, Dimensionals, Scallop Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, 1/2" circle punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Word Window Punch, White Gel Pen, Sponge

Beaded Pen Tutorial

My first tutorial! This pen was created for this month's Hostess Club - we are focusing on 3-D projects. This tutorial shows how to use the newly available Sticky Pages from Stampin' Up to create a Beaded Pen. I knew the Sticky Pages would work so much better than the traditional method of using strips of the regular Sticky Strip. I was actually quite hesitant to create my first beaded pen. I thought they would be really uncomfortable to write with - but I was wrong! They are surprisingly comfortable and oh so pretty. Thanks Andrea for giving me the nudge to make my first one last year!

Supplies:
Pen - I used Pentel RSVP pens found at my local discount store
Designer Paper - 1 1/4" x 3 1/4" (Raspberry Tart used here)
Sticky Strip- 3 1/4" strip
Sticky Pages - 1 3/8 x 3 1/4"
Microbeads
Powder Pal Tray
Copy paper
Ribbon, optional (Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain and Pink Taffeta used here)

Remove the cap from the pen so it's easier to work with. Cut 1 length of Sticky Strip to 3 1/4" and attach to the shaft of the pen, rubbing it on well.

 

Remove the red liner from the Sticky Strip. The next step is attaching the Designer Paper - you want to start your first edge in the middle of the Sticky Strip. Rub the edge of the paper well into the Sticky Strip. Then roll the paper around the pen and press the other edge of the paper into the exposed half of Sticky Strip. The paper will overlap a tiny bit.

 

Now you are going to attach your piece of Sticky Page around the pen. Stagger the seam away from the paper seam. (I cut my piece of Sticky Page using my Fiskars paper trimmer with no problems.)

 

Pour a generous amount of Microbeads into your Powder Pal tray. Remove the red liner from the Sticky Page piece. Place the pen into the tray and roll around in the beads until it's well covered.

I like to use a piece of copy paper on top of the pen as I roll. This keeps the beads from sticking to my hands. It also prevents the oils from your hands from getting on the beads, which can keep them from sticking well. You can remove the pen from the tray and roll inside your folded piece of copy paper to press the beads into the Sticky piece better. Continue to press more beads in until the pen is covered.

 

Finish it off with a bit of ribbon on the cap and you have yourself a gorgeous beaded pen!

 

Variations: You can add fine glitter to the pen to fill in the spaces between the beads. Dazzling Diamonds will give a great sparkle. Feel free to experiment with colored fine glitters and/or colored Microbeads also. Colored microbeads are available as part of the Bead Duos.

I hope you've enjoyed my tutorial. I'd love to hear what you think of it. I'd appreciate any comments you might have so I can make the next one even better.  

Three Easy Payments for the Starter Kit is Here!

Dates: March 13-April 30, 2009

Some potential recruits might consider the up-front cost of signing up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator a financial barrier. In an effort to remove this possible barrier for your recruits, we're trying out the Three Easy Payments option.

The Three Easy Payments option allows a recruit to make a partial initial Starter Kit payment and still receive the Starter Kit right away in order to get her business up and running.

Act now to take advantage of both the Sale-A-Bration Starter Kit discount and the Three Easy Payments option! That's two great financial benefits on top of an additional stamp set free from the current catalog.

How it Works

1. At the time a recruit signs up, she fills out her Starter Kit form and other paperwork as usual, but must also write "Three Easy Payments option" at the top of each form. (Please note that the Three Easy Payments option is not available through the Online Independent Demonstrator Application. Recruits who wish to take advantage of the offer must submit their paperwork by mail to Demonstrator Support.)
2. The recruit must also complete a separate Three Easy Payments form , available for download from the Customer and Demonstrator Web Sites.
3. Using the credit card information provided on her Three Easy Payments form, Stampin' Up! charges the initial Starter Kit payment (see the table below for a breakdown of payments) on the day paperwork is processed and sends the recruit her the Starter Kit.
4. On or around the 15th day of the two months following the month Stampin' Up! received her paperwork, Stampin' Up! will charge the subsequent payments using the same credit card information provided on the Three Easy Payments form, and the Starter Kit will be paid in full. Stampin' Up! will only accept the same credit card for all three payments, as provided on the Three Easy Payments form. Checks or money orders will not be accepted.

Details and Restrictions

• To qualify for the Three Easy Payments option on the discounted Sale-A-Bration Starter Kit price of $169, Starter Kit paperwork and an accompanying Three Easy Payments form must be received by Stampin' Up! (not postmarked) on or before March 31, 2009. Paperwork received after this time will be processed for the regular Starter Kit price of $199.
• After Sale-A-Bration, to qualify for the Three Easy Payments option on the regular Starter Kit price of $199, Starter Kit paperwork and an accompanying Three Easy Payments form must be received by Stampin' Up! (not postmarked) on or before April 30, 2009. Any Three Easy Payments forms received after this time will not be processed. Demonstrator Support will contact the recruit to determine how she would like to proceed.
• Any applicable state taxes will be charged with the first Starter Kit payment. (The full amount of taxes applicable to the total Starter Kit amount will be added to the first payment. No taxes will be applied to the second and third payments.)
• For recruits who wish to add the Stampin' Memories Starter Kit add-on for $50.00, this full amount (including any applicable taxes for the add-on) will be added to their initial Starter Kit payment. 
• Any commissions for the demonstrator will be held until the final Starter Kit payment is successfully completed. At that point, Stampin' Up! will release commissions to the demonstrator. In the event that the second or third payment is unsuccessful, Stampin' Up! will satisfy the payment from the demonstrator's commissions and if necessary continue to hold commissions until the full Starter Kit payment is satisfied. Any remaining funds will then be released to the demonstrator.
• The Three Easy Payments option is not available through the Online Independent Demonstrator Application. Recruits who wish to take advantage of the offer must submit their paperwork by mail to Demonstrator Support.
• Recruits participating in a regional seminar recruiting promotion are not eligible for the Three Easy Payments option.

Payments Breakdown for the Sale-A-Bration Starter Kit Price (March 13-31, 2009) Starter Kit Payment  Payment Charged*  Payment with Stampin' Memories Add-On*  Payment 1 (charged at time kit is entered)   $56.34 (+ sales tax) $106.34 (+ sales tax)  Payment 2 (charged around April 15th)   $56.33  $56.33  Payment 3 (charged around May 15th)  $56.33 $56.33   Total Payment   $169.00  $219.00 *Payments indicated are for the cost of the Starter Kit, and, if selected, the Stampin' Memories add-on, including shipping. They do not include and any applicable state taxes. (Please note that any applicable taxes for the total amount of the Starter Kit and, if selected, Stampin' Memories add-on, price will be added to the first payment.) Payments Breakdown for the Regular Starter Kit Price (April 1-30, 2009)  Starter Kit Payment  Payment Charged*  Payment with Stampin' Memories Add-On*  Payment 1 (charged at time kit is entered) $66.34 (+ sales tax)  $116.34 (+ sales tax)  Payment 2 (charged around May 15th)  $66.33 $66.33  Payment 3 (charged around June 15th)   $66.33  $66.33  Total Payment     $199.00    $249.00  *Payments indicated are for the cost of the Starter Kit and, if selected, the Stampin' Memories add-on, including shipping. They do not include any applicable state taxes. (Please note that any applicable taxes for the total amount of the Starter Kit and, if selected, Stampin' Memories add-on, price will be added to the first payment.) Contact me today to get your paperwork started and join my Stampin' Up! team!

Q & A

Ever wonder....Anything about stamping, scrapping, or Stampin' Up! products? Let me help you learn more about papercrafting and answer those questions you might have. Email me your questions at kwilliams@mysweetstampinspot.com and you could be featured on my new weekly Q & A. For security reasons, I will only use first names. If you wish to remain anonymous, simply note that in your email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Occassions Mini Sneak Peak for Customers

The following products will be available for customer purchase beginning March 1. Although the Occasions Mini Catalog is not available to customers until April 1, we wanted to give your customers time to create their Easter projects using our adorable new Easter stamp sets and accessories.

See the Sneak Peak by CLICKING HERE

Item	Description	Retail Price
113196	An Egg-cellent Easter	$21.95
113262	Wagon Full of Fun	$34.95
113822	Eight Great Greetings	$27.95
115421	Ocho saludos geniales  (Spanish Eight Great Greetings)	$27.95
114643	Huit souhaits sympas   (French Eight Great Greetings)	$27.95
113833	Egg Hunt Stampin' Around wheel	$6.50

Three Easy Payments Starter Kit Option Coming Soon

From the Stampin' Up! Home Office:

During economically challenging times, most of us tighten our budgets. Some expenditures that were once comfortable might now stretch a budget thin. We don't want anyone's efforts to budget wisely to become a barrier to joining Stampin' Up, especially considering the wonderful benefits--personal and economical--being a demonstrator can bring. This is why we're working on a Three Easy Payments option for the Starter Kit. For a limited time, with a partial initial payment, a new recruit can receive her Starter Kit and get her business running. Two subsequent monthly payments take care of the rest.
 
We'll follow up with details soon, but let prospective recruits who are concerned about the up-front cost to sign up know this option is coming before the end of Sale-A-Bration. It could make all the difference for both of you!

Anyone interested in joining my team can do so on my website at www.kwilliams.stampinup.net. Click on the Join Now button and use the password kwilliams.

 

Best Time to Buy the BIG SHOT!

  

Order the BIG SHOT starter kit during SALE-A-BRATION and
receive all of the following extras:

4--Sale-a-bration items FREE ($60 value)
1--level one Hostess Stamp Set FREE ($20 value)
$20 in Catalog merchandise for FREE
FREE pack of Assorted Cardstock
Order on-line order soon and also get a FREE catalog!

That's $115 worth of products for FREE plus a $20 savings on the kit verses individual prices.

TO ORDER ON-LINE:

Just go to my Stampin' Up! website at:
www.kwilliams.stampinup.net

and click on the SHOP NOW button.  Follow the instructions for setting up an account, then enter the item code:  116314 for the Big Shot Starter Kit.

Make sure to also choose a pack of assorted 8.5 x 11 cardstock for free. You will pay for it up front (this will insure that you get the $20 in free hostess merchandise). I will reimburse you the cost of the extra cardstock - Your bonus for trying out the online ordering system!
 
If you have any problems, email me and I will step you through!