One of the largest companies in the paper crafting industry is Stampin’ Up! Known for their top quality rubber stamps featuring hundreds of designs in different styles, Stampin’ Up! products have been a staple for rubber stampers and scrapbookers alike. But they aren’t just a rubber stamping company.

Over the last couple years with the increase in popularity of paper scrapbooking, their product line has expanded to include designer papers that coordinate with their standard 48 colors and current stamp designs. They offer scrapbook kits that include pre-adheased die cuts, making scrapbooking a snap. Their embellishments have been hot items, including designer ribbon, brads, chipboard, and hardware. Their latest products feature rub-ons and die cutting tools, every scrapbooker’s dream. For the last two years they have introduced temporary “In Colors” to their line to provide added variety.

Stampin’ Up! has strived to stay at the cutting edge of current trends and provide quality products for paper crafters. Even their retired items, that have been discontinued to make room for the new products, are hot sellers on Ebay.

Operating under a direct sales business model, Stampin’ Up! products have been sold by independent demonstrators who conduct in house workshops by demonstrating the different product features and latest project trends. Guests get to sample the cool tools by creating a make and take project, usually a hand made card, to get a taste of how fun and easy stamping can be.

Today, Stampin’ Up! has launched their new service to order products directly online, making it easier for customers to get the products they want at their convenience. This new offer is not designed to detract from the relational aspect that has been the core foundation for most active demonstrators. Customers will need to order directly from their demonstrator’s website where they will also have access to her current events and projects.

Regular readers have noticed Scrap-n-Craft was down for a little over a week. We changed hosting companies, and in the process found out that Scrap-n-Craft’s database was wiped out. Some of the posts will be available to repost, but, you may still find a few error pages until we can get some of these posts back. You may also notice some of these posts may not ever be reposted, simply because they are nowhere to be found.

This is a really great time to start fresh and make the necessary changes that comes with growing and evolving. One part of this process will be to add more information on my coaching program and the information and programs that I rely on to help make my sites and clients sites traffic generators and places that readers want to bookmark to come back to. You will see over the next year, links to some of the best places on the web, and those that will enable you to have not only a web presence, but one that will bring traffic and sales.

If you have any suggestions or if you would like to ask a question, please feel free to comment or email info at Scrap-n-Craft.com.

Wouldn’t we all like even just a little fame? If I were not thinking of a particular subject, I would probably not hesitate to say NO! I don’t want to be a movie star or a singer…I don’t want that kind of Fame.

However, I wouldn’t mind it if someone happened by and knew me by name because of some scrapbook page I had created or some spectacular craft that I had done. Why is it different? Because, I feel like that if I were known by my peers, who would also be crafters, scrapbookers or hobby enthusiasts, that I would feel more connected and less worried about the crazies that follow the movie stars…

Paparazzi? Heck ya!! Bring on all those crazy scrapbooker’s and crafters! Those are my kind of fans!

Recently, over at Scrap-n-Craft.com, an article was posted about the subject of the Scrapbooking Contests, and how they come once a year, and it seems that some of those who seem the likely winner…are not…they are overlooked. This subject is near and dear to my heart, not because I have entered any of those contests, but because I have close friends who have tried year after year, and although I cannot say that every single one of them deserved to be the winner every year, there was at least one of them that should have been at least one time.

Listen in to the show and voice your opinions too!

Anissa

In today’s contemporary times, it is important to keep our spiritual side. Scrapbooking allows us to keep a record of our spirituality, shows God’s presence in our lives, and documents the religious milestones we have achieved.

Religious symbols are easy to find without going to a specialty religious store. The diversity found in scrapbooking supplies are endless and appeal to a wide variety of people, including many forms of Christianity. Items of different religious events are easily found, as well. From LDS (or Mormon) to Catholicism, Judaism, and other religious faiths, the world of scrapbooking offers a faith-and-history based documentation process.

Wholesomeness is a wonderful value the Mormon or LDS foundation in scrapbooking has attained. This achievement continues to allow religious scrapbookers to show their spiritual side and preserve the memories for future generations to come.

Each religion has different milestones to preserve. It is common for religions to form a scrapbooking club to preserve memories and history together. It is also common for members of different faiths to work side by side, sharing ideas and supplies, all with the same goal… to share their lives with God and show others, as well.

We all know Footprints in the Sand (http://www.wowzone.com/fprints.htm - gives 3 versions), the poem telling of God’s journey with you through life. While we don’t know who the author truly is, we can still benefit from the beauty of this beloved poem. This is a great “journaling” of one’s life… you just add the pictures. You will have instant beauty and spirituality, as it (the poem) applies to everyone.

Michelle McVaney, of BellaOnline, has a wonderful version of how-to begin Faithbooking. Her first step is to “gather your stones” (check out http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25817.asp). She attributes much of God to other events as well, such as birthdays and other prayers that God has answered. I believe you will also find inspiration in her writing and begin to “gather” your own stones, beginning your own Faithbook… It could be the beginning to your own journey. If you weren’t spiritual before, it could be surprising to you how much of what you do really is (spiritual)!

How do you know where to find Design Team Calls?

* Look through Magaziness, Newsletters, E-mails
* Google Search
* Use outdated sites….CobWeb sites
* Visit up-to-date sites that publish Design Calls

There are many other ways, like going to all the different forums and looking them up one by one. This may be the route to go if you are only interested in getting on one team in particular, but, if you just want to try your luck or get your feet wet on a design team and then get picky you should have a plan.

What should that plan be? Know what you are good at, know your style, know your limitations and challenge yourself to not set limits that stifle your growth. I have been doing research for years on scrapbooking and home business tips among other things, and one thing I know from personal experience and from watching friends to design for the top scrapbooking companies, is that you really need to organize yourself, and be willing to pull a few all nighters if needs be.

I have hired design team members, hired writers, artists, and been these people myself…I have been the writer, been the design team member, and artist. I have also hired and congratulated many of women who have aspired to the same goals.