WOYWW 669 - Catching up - A bit long!

 Hello, friends!

Just when I think I'm back on track, something knocks me backwards or completely over.

The last week in February, going in to March, Bob and I both got hit with serious stomach flu that took both of us seven full days from when it began to having energy to do anything again. Bob even took a couple extra days off work while I recuperated as I was about two days behind him.  He left on Thursday and I had a full week to try and get back on track before we got 2.5" of snow the following Thursday. By Saturday, most of it was gone and I needed a town run. I managed to slip on 1/4" dusting of snow, onto my back, cracking two ribs and knotting up the muscles. Almost three weeks later and I'm still in recovery mode. I'm not lifting much weight nor bending over to certain points. Bob came home last Wednesday and has been doing most of the heavy stuff. 

I've gone from pain the first week to gradual soreness. Some days more sore than others based on what I attempted to do the previous day. LOL

Okay, that's my catch-up and probably more than you wanted to know. So here's what Bob and I did on Monday...

Filming/ crafting table

Over the past couple of months I've made the decision to stay in as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator at least through June. They have a compliance policy that prevents  me from promoting any other products so no more linking to my favorite on-line store - Spectrum Art Creations - or other companies I might buy from and use in projects. No affiliate links, means I've had to drop the Dear Julie Julie design team - nor can I apply for the Spectrum Art Creations or Graphic 45 design teams - UNTIL I'm done being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. In my opinion, I don't think the 'compliance' rule should apply to those only wanting to be a hobby demonstrator. I wasn't interested in building a business... I just wanted catalogs when they became available as well as knowing when specials rolled out. 

Why am I staying? Because I have 1 downline. Neither of us were ever trained. Unlike me, Rhonda wants to do this as a business so I'm training her. When she's ready to fly solo, I will give up my SU demonstrator status and go back to playing with ALL of my toys.

With that decision, I've moved almost all of my non-Stampin' Up! items out of the way and set this station up strictly for Stampin' Up! supplies - easily in reach for when I'm crafting and doing videos. All of the current ribbons, embellishments, adhesives, tools are in (2) 3-compartment trays along the back of the table.

To keep Tabitha (tabby cat) happy, I've made space for her to get into the window sill without knocking everything over.

I did wind up moving items to the left of the embelishment books (standing up) between them and where you see the scissors. She'd walk up over the magazines but then couldn't get turned around to come back out. LOL What we don't do for our animals!

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.

 Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

CARD CHICKS - February

 Good morning, everyone!

I'm still behind but am gradually catching up. After a serious clean-up of the stamping/ filming corner (Pictures posting tomorrow), I was able to work on Suzy's February card kit for our Card Chicks group on SCS.  

Here's my card:

Aside from the Happy Chocolate Day sentiment, Suzy also provided us with Happy Valentine's Day.

Since I missed that one, I thought I'd have this one prepped and ready to go out in time for National Chocolate Day on July 7th.

The papers were from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).  I matted the pink background onto Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), wrapped the ribbon (from Suzy's stash  then matted everything onto a Polished Pink (Stampin' Up!) card base.

The images were from Deadbeat Designs (now closed). After coloring the candies with Stampin' Blends ( Lt. Flirty Flamingo, Dk. Pink Pirouette, Bronze pluss 100 & 500 Neutrals) I fussy cut them out and mounted on 1.5" squares of Basic White. The dotted pink strip is some of the paper included in the kit. I popped the squares up with dimensionals. The bling on the candies and the sentiment mat are from Gina Marie.

I used Stitched Rectangles (Stampin' Up!) for the sentiment and mat. 

I used the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Seal for the ribbon. That extra weight stuff really holds the ribbon in place!

I'll be back tomorrow to show you the stamping/ filming corner as I return to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. I've missed those girls!

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

SPRING IS IN BLOOM! and It's a Slippery Slope!

 Good morning, everyone!

I totally intended to have a card for you today. However, I managed to slip on some light snow on Saturday and pop a rib. I'm moving slow and am taking lots of reclining/ heating pad/ pain med breaks. 

So here's an SU promotion for you - because Stampin' Up! has graciously done all the image work for me! I know I showed this last week but I've included direct links to all of the bundles on special for 20% off!!! This is the perfect opportunity for you to grab any of your favorites before they're gone!!

My store link

I ordered the mini Stamp n Cut. The platform is a bit wider than the sidekick but not as big as the Big Stamp n Cut or the Big Shot. I'm looking forward to using it in upcoming projects. In the mean time, here's a video:

Remember, the mini Stamp n Cut as well as 12 great stamp/ die bundles are 20% off through the end of the month. 

Click on the links below to be taken to the item in my shop!

Mini Stamp n Cut & Embossing Machine

Garden Wishes Bundle 

Art Gallery Bundle 

Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle

Quiet Meadow Bundle

Pansy Patch Bundle

Beauty of Friendship Bundle

Hydrangea Haven Bundle 

Seascape Bundle

What's Cookin' Bundle

Wild Cats Bundle

Welcoming Window Bundle

Sweet as a Peach Bundle

All Squared Away

I'm off to recline with the heating pad. 

As always, if you have any questions, please email me - KellyH (at) artlover (dot) com 

Creative Blessings

~Kelly

STAMPIN' UP! AND CHANGES TO MY BLOG

 Good morning, everyone!

I know it's been awhile. I had to take some time to decide which direction I needed to go. Namely, was I staying with Stampin' Up! or would I be leaving my demo status behind to 'broaden my creativity'.

By the time I got direction, Bob and I came down with a horrendous stomach flu that lasted 7 days... as in a good 3-4 or truly being sick then another 3 days to gain strength to do anything again. Bob even took a couple extra days before going back to work.. something he NEVER does. He went bck to work on Thursday, and me being a day behind him, was Friday before I felt up to leaving the house. 

If you've not heard, Stampin' Up! is really enforcing the 'compliance' issue.... meaning we can't use affiliate links, be on other design teams, or promote other companies in any way. Our focus has to be solely on Stampin' Up! Now, I can see where they are coming from but I also don't think that should apply to Hobby Dems... those of us who just join for the product discount... not to build a business. 

I spend a lot of time and money with Spectrum Art Creations. I've done haul videos and shown what I make with some of the things I've purchased. I always link back to their website. Sadly, I can't do that any longer. Oh... I'm still buying! LOL I just can't link to their store or YouTube channel.

I was also on the Design Team for Dear Julie Julie. I love a lot of her digitals and was finally getting back on track with featuring items I made with them each week. I've had to drop my design team status.

Don't get me wrong!  If you want to do Stampin' Up! as a business... then this is a great company and I'll help anyone I can build their business. But if you just want the discount, as long as you have a contract with Stampin' Up! you can't promote other companies/ products. 

I've also heard the questions - how does 'so and so' get away with it. I can't answer that question and it's none of my bees wax. I can only answer about ME.

Okay... so "why did you make the choice to stay with Stampin' Up!"?  might be the question I'm hearing?

First and foremost, I do love Stampin' Up! product. Do I intend to make it a career? No... more like a side hustle and for the 25% discount on the products I love.  I also have 1 team member in my downline. Rhonda DOES want to make this a business. If I drop, she will no longer have someone in her corner to help train her. Mind you, I've learned a lot from her, too. Neither of us were trained by the upline I signed under. 

So, I'm giving this a year. I'm training Rhonda while training myself and giving Stampin' Up! a fair shake. Really walk the business. 

I've set up my demonstrator website - or DBWS - with Stampin' Up! This will allow me to direct-link products and promotions directly to my account so that potential customers won't have to search for me.  You'll find my website HERE

I have a calendar set up so you'll know when I'm posting here and/ or to YouTube. You'll also find my group on FB. I'm trying to get better about posting to FB though I still don't like the platform. 

I was supposed to have a card on YouTube today but I'm fighting with iMovie about uploading videos. I hope to have that fixed in the next day or two.

In the meantime, Stampin' Up! has an awesome special going on!  20% off select product bundles as well as the Mini Stamp n Cut embossing machine! I have a couple of the sets and just ordered a couple more as well as the Stamp n Cut. Y'all know I love my Tim Holtz sidekick but the mini Stamp n Cut is just a bit wider ... closer to a 2.5" plate I believe.  I'll be doing a video - hopefully tomorrow, showing the flyer. In the mean time, if you'd like a copy emailed to you, just leave me a comment with your email address down below. 

That's where I'm at for now.  I'll be back tomorrow to fill you in on the 'direction' my business will be taking. I'm not just about cards! Wait til you see...  in the mean time...

Creative Blessings

~Kelly