Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know that this is the last time I will be posting to this blog. If you haven't moved over to www.tamistamps.com please do quickly! I have been posting there almost every day! There is a lot of cool stuff on there...and I plan on putting even more on there. Thank you for being my loyal customers and see you over at www.tamistamps.com !

Tami

My Blog is MOVING

Hi Everyone!
Thank you so much for your support...I have decided to take my business to the next level and therefore get a new blog/website. Please go to http://www.tamistamps.com/ and subscribe to that blog if you would like to keep getting my blog info. It is still under construction so please excuse the mess. There are so many new things that I can do with my new blog it should be a great upgrade. If you have any suggestions or would like to see anything specific please let me know!

I hope to see you on my other blog!

Tami

Get the 4-1-1: Questions and Answers

Good Morning! I have recently started getting a several email questions about crafting, techniques, stamping, Stampin' Up and many other issues revolving around my business. I am going to start adding them here so that everyone can get the answers (and hopefully come up with more). The questions can be about anything (a technique, a tool, ideas, business opportunities, classes...etc.). If you have questions please email them to tamistamps@gmail.com and I will try to get them loaded and answered as soon as I can. If you would prefer that your name not be listed on the question (I only do first name and last initial) you can just add that to your email and I will NOT put your name on it at all. I value you and your questions :).



The first question is from Kori H: "I have seen so many things about becoming a Stampin' Up Demonstrator in February or March because of Sale-a-bration. Is this really the best time to sign up?"



Answer: Although I love Stampin' Up and would encourage people to sign up any time they are ready--this is a WONDERFUL time to sign up. Not only is the starter kit 15% off but you also get a free stamp set of ANY price (want one of those pricey but needed alphabet sets--YOU CAN GET IT FREE!!! That means you are saving around $100 on top of the huge savings of the starter kit. There are other things for demonstrators right now that are making being a demonstrator even better. As a special thank you to demonstrators Stampin' Up! is offering 20% off all pre-ordered stamp sets. We are about to pre-order from the Occasions Mini. These are just some of the great things about becoming a demonstrator right now.

For those of you who are on the fence like Kori--There is a lot that Stampin' Up! does to help you as a demonstrator (tips, samples, how-to videos...the list goes on), but I will help you as well. Along with my upline and other demos in the Wichita Falls area, we have a monthly Demonstrator meeting to discuss issues and ideas for being a demonstrator. If you would like to check out one of the demonstrator meetings please call or email me. I would love to have you as one of my guests for the event.


If you have a question you would like answered--email me at tamistamps@gmail.com

People & Portrait Photography Quick Tips

People & Portrait Photography Quick Tips--from NationalGeographic.com
If you use objects other than your main subject in the foreground, be careful of placement. You don't want to obscure or detract from your subject. Every time you hold your camera to your eye, look for leading lines, foreground elements, frames—anything you can use to lend dynamism to your image. Photographs are two dimensional but it helps if they look and feel three dimensional. Don't just stand there—sit, squat, lie down. The angle from which you make a photograph can make a dramatic difference. When using an electronic flash indoors, move your subject away from walls to prevent harsh shadows. A piece of very light orange gel over the face of your electronic flash can warm up the light and give it a more pleasing cast.
When you first arrive at a new location, make note of any features that strike you. Try to find ways to incorporate them into your composition. Be careful if you are using a wide-angle lens to photograph a group. The people at the edges may get distorted. If kids want to look through the camera, let them. They will be more relaxed and cooperative. Just watch out for dirty fingers on the lens. Anticipate kids' behavior. If they are playing tag, set up near the base, compose your image, and wait for them to come running in.

The History of Greeting Cards

The History of Greeting Cards(from the Postcard and Greeting Card Museum - www.emotionscards.com)

Sending greeting cards to friends and family is a tradition that goes back about 200 years. They were mostly sent by the elite and wealthy in the early to mid 1800's. Most of the early greeting cards were hand delivered and many were quite expensive, but they soon gained mass popularity with the introduction of the world's first postage stamp issued in 1840 and a few ambitious printer's and manufacturer's perfecting printing methods, hiring artists and designed both elaborate expensive cards as well as simple affordable ones by the 1850's.As you visit our galleries you will see that cards of the past were fine pieces of art. Manufacturer's used quality artists and many of the large manufacturer's held "art" competitions to generate interest and to get new ideas for cards. Some of these competitions awarded as much as $1,000.00 to the winner!The oldest known greeting card in existence is a Valentine made in the 1400's and is in the British Museum. New Year's cards can be dated back to this period as well, but the New Year greeting didn't gain popularity until the late 1700's. The Valentine and Christmas Card were the most popular cards, with Valentine's offering us the most "mechanical", "pop-up" and filigree cards, followed by Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Cards gained their highest popularity in the late 1800's and early 1900's offering us cards with some of the most unusual art. The Victorian age give us the most prolific cards. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, when lovers said or sang their Valentines. Written Valentines began to appear after 1400. Paper Valentines were exchanged in Europe where they were given in place of Valentine gifts. Handmade paper Valentines were especially popular in England. In the mid to early 1800's, Valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured Valentines were black and white pictures painted by workers in a factory. Esther Howland (see below) known as the Mother of the Valentine made fancy Valentines with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". She introduced the Paper Lace Valentine in the mid 1800's. By the end of the 1800's, Valentines were being made entirely by machine.Christmas cards were introduced and popularized by John Calcott Horsley, the artist of what is known as the world's first Christmas Card and Louis Prang, known as the Father of the American Christmas Card.The rest is History. With the exchange of New Year's, Valentine's, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Birthday Cards, just to name a few, there is probably no occasion that doesn't have its own greeting card!

Check out the Big Shot Video!!!

As I've mentioned to most of you, Stampin' Up! has started posting videos to the demonstrator's website. These videos are available to you as a customer! The video they just posted is all about the Big Shot. You know how much I love the Big Shot now you can see why! Check it out today.

http://tamiimlay.stampinup.net/

Successful Catalog Extravaganza!!!!

If you didn't make the open house you missed a good time. I had 2 projects for everyone to make and lots of door prizes (everyone got something). As a special gift everyone who came got a free Idea Book and Catalog (a $10 value). I still have a few left--contact me if you are interested! The thank you card (above) uses the New Sweet Stem stamp set along with the coordinating Raspberry Tart designer series paper! The Embrace Life scrapbook page (below)uses the Sunshine Garden Simply Scrappin' Kit! I still have a few project kits available if you would like to make them! I want to thank everyone who came! You really made it a great day. I have already placed the order so in about 2 weeks everyone will get their goodies.

Postponing Catalog Extravaganza

I am so sorry everyone but I have to postpone my open house. I have a little one with bronchitis and I can't hold the open house this weekend. I've changed the date to 7 Feb (it sounds far away but it is only 2 weeks!). Please RSVP again if you are able to come so I can make enough projects for everyone. I'm doubling the door prizes and there will be 2 projects to do instead of 1. Check out my website for more details!

Want a catalog sooner??? Give me a call or email me!

Thanks for understanding!

New Catalogs are HERE!!!

I just got a package of the NEW Catalogs! Contact me today to get your copy. I can't put any pictures up until the 18th...but you can see them in person! Want a free catalog? Sign up for Stampers 6 or host a party!

Tami's Stampin' Essentials Tool Box

I got so tired of looking for all my essential tools for my scrapbooking/card making so I decide to put them all in one place. I used rubons from Stampin' Up! to decorate my box and then added all of my tools. You would not believe how many things fit in this box. I have 2 more of these boxes if you are interested in making one yourself (contact me for info) I will also make a ready made tool kit for you if you like(you can select which tools you want from a list). What tools should ever scrapper have? This one has: small ruler, stampin' scrub, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots, stamp-a-ma-jig, pencil, pen, Stampin' Up classic black ink, "Hand Stamped by" stamp, aqua painter, blender pens, dry embossing tool, glue sticks, tombo multi glue, sanding block, paper snips, bone folder, punch pal, card stock ring, sticky strip, stipple brush, Stampin' Up Cutter Kit, Layering tool and a sponge. YES ALL THIS FIT with room to spare.

Baby Shower Card

Cards can be so expensive! That's one of the MANY reasons I started making my own with Stampin' Up! In just a few minutes you can create a unique handmade card that people love getting--because they know it comes from the heart! You don't have to make elaborate cards--some of the simplest cards are the best. Here is one I made for a baby shower for a friend. In care it isn't obvious with the color scheme she's having a boy.

In this card I used the Celebrate Everything stamp set, Punches Three Stamp set (only 13 more days to get this hostess stamp!!!), Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, and Kiwi Kiss cardstock, silver brads, Rood Garden self-adhesive diecut set, wide oval punch and some black embossing powder. This card took me about 15 mins to design and put together.

Magnetic Bookmarks

Today was my first day dropping off Isaac at Parent's Day Out. I think this was the best 5 hours I've had in a long time. Don't get me wrong--I love my little boy (and I did miss him), but he got to play with kids his own age (and start to learn about sharing) AND I got to do whatever I wanted to do for 5 hours. Today I made these adorable bookmarks. They took me about an hour to do (but that was design time too). After you get started you can knock a bunch of these out for gifts, to hand out as valentines, to use with all your books and such. The unique part of these bookmarks is that they are magnetic. Each side sandwiches the page you want to save and they stick together to make sure they stay in place.

The Details:

Stamps: Sweetest Stems (from the NEW 2009 Idea Book and Catalog!!)

Paper: Basic Black Cardstock

Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper (DSP)(from the New 2009 Idea Book and Catalog!!)

Kiwi Kiss Cardstock

Riding Hood Red Cardstock

Pink Pirouette Cardstock

Accessories: 1 3/8" Square punch, 1 1/4" Square punch, Ticket Corner punch, and Sweetest Stem Sizzix Embosslit (exclusively Stampin' Up), magnets

Techniques: Stampin' Up! Big Shot

For more information on how to make these please email me!