Customer Appreciation 50/50 Board!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm just sitting here reviewing my sales reports for the month of January.  I am THRILLED!  January 2018 has been by FAR the best month I've had in 12 YEARS!!!  No kidding!

To Celebrated I'm doing a Customer Appreciation 50/50 Board.

What's that all about?

Well .... for every $50 product order (pre s/h/gst) you make, your name goes on the board.  Once I have 50 names I do a draw.  Wanna know what the prize is??

How about YOU CHOOSE from one of these AMAZING products???!!!

Want a $136 Big Shot Machine?  No problem!  It's yours!

Want a $146 set of Many Marvellous Markers?  Absolutely!  You've got it!

Want the $130 set of Large Letters Framelits?  Why not!  

YOU pick!  Simple as that!

For EVERY $50 you spend you get your name on the board!  SPend $100, get your name on twoce; spend $150, get your name on three times ... and so on.

So!  Get those wish lists out and send me your orders!  We play until the board is filled - and it half filled already!!

Oh ... don't forget, if you bump your order up to $60 (pre s/h/gst) you also get to choose a FREE Sale-a-brations item!  Sa-WEET!

PS - if you name is drawn you DO need to answer a skill testing question - but don't worry - I'm pretty sure you'll get it right!

** As always, Canadian's can order on-line through my 24/7 store here.  If your order is under $200 make sure you enter the hostess code UN3HCBWU at the checkout for a free gift in the mail from me!

Have a stampy day!

Tam

It's Not About Making Cards!

Happy Sunday!

Wow.  I cannot BELIEVE a week has passed.  I just don't know where the hours GO!  It was a great week and it must be true - time flies when you're having fun!  My week was filled with volunteering, the childrens' activities, coffee dates, work successes ... soooo many fun and fulfilling things!  The week was capped off by one EPIC Ladie's Night.  So.  Much.  Fun!!! ... and it just REALLY drove home to me that "Making Cards is NOT about Making Cards".  It is just so much more ...

Let me explain.

Friday Night I held a "Games Night" with some of my friends.  All but one or two of these fabulous women started out as my Stampin' Up customers.  Over time they have become my very dear friends.  Stamping with them over the months and years has brought us together and strengthened our friendships.  Stamping together has had us spend time together every month or so, sharing stories of our past, sharing stories of our kids, sharing opinions on "everything", sharing laughs and even sharing some tears.  Stamping has simply brought us together.  Stamping is the excuse TO come together.  Oh sure, stamping and creating is FUN .... but it is so much more.

If you stamp alone it is an escape from the pressures of life.  You can sit in a room, let your mind and your creativity wander.  You can express yourself without saying a word.

If you stamp with others it is an escape from the pressures of life.  You can sit in a room, share your thought and feelings with others or just listen and enjoy good company.

Friday Night.  One evening, 8 women, a bunch of appetizers, a White Board and a board game.  We came together on the one day we had the biggest snow fall of the year and driving was terrible.  We came together anyway.  We had THE best night we've had in AGES!!  We were silly, funny, TOTALLY inappropriate and completely relaxed.  We were having fun.

My friends got out of the house for a few hours, we all forgot about work, kids, chores, the "to-do" list, bills... that all went away for a few hours as we laughed, ate, drank ... and stamped.  Yes, we DID make a few cards but really .... it was not about making the cards.  It was about coming together, having fun, bonding and making memories.

Nope.  Making cards is not about making cards.  It is just so much more that that.

Phone a friend.  Get together and stamp.


Tam

DON'T PLACE AN ORDER!!

Happy Sunday!

Today I WANTED to share with you my first Tamara's Paper Trail YOUTUBE video ... alas ... my ongoing fight with technology and the painfully steep learning curve has me wanting to abandon my healthy eating plan and dive head first into a back of chocolate covered marshmallows ... but I won't ... you'll just have to wait another day (or twelve!).  Sigh.  When did everything get so darned complicated???!!!

Instead of my video I'll share my offer to "join the club".  I sent an email out to my customers last week and the offer is open to my Canadian followers too!  Edmonton, Alberta is where I'm located.  Local peep are able to attend my in-home classes - long distance members can join us online!

If you're interested in joining the fun, getting in on the free draws and getting loads of free product please get in touch before January 30th - I have spots available in the 6 and 12 months clubs.

Here is my "email" ...

Earlier this week I sent out my “DON’T PLACE AN ORDER” email encouraging EVERYONE to think about buying the “Try It” kit, as I like to call it.  Whilst I am 100% adamant that the kit is THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK I recognize that many people either don’t want to spend $135 in one chunk and/or they like having a little indulgence every month … but they DO still like free and discounted stuff!

If that describes YOU then THIS is the email you want to pay attention to …you want to join one of my clubs!  

This is the BEST way to get a few items every month, get discounts, free product AND adhere to a budget.

I have THREE clubs for you to choose from this round:

• BRONZE STAR 3-MONTH CLUB
• SILVER STAR 6-MONTH CLUB
• GOLD STAR 12-MONTH CLUB

All three clubs are great.  All of them have discounts and free products.  All of them have perks.  Your monthly commitment and degree of the perks are what vary.

Everyone who joins one of my clubs by January 30th will be in my draw for FREE SALE-A-BRATIONS PRODUCTS … THREE lucky winners will win !

• Bronze Club draw will be for any Level 1 Sale-a-brations set of their choice
• Silver Club draw will be for any TWO Level 1 Sale-a-brations sets of their choice
• Gold Club draw will be the TWO LEVEL 2 SALE-A-BRATIONS SETS!!! (Happy Wishes set and Celebrate You Thinlits!)

***ACK!  MY STRUGGLE WITH TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES!  Getting this any larger is killing me!  I'm hoping you can read it/enlarge it.  If not and you want me to email you the deets just drop me a message! ***

Hope that makes sense!  In a nutshell, the higher your level of commitment month-wise, the lower your dollar commitment per month but the higher your benefits/perks!

• All club members earn free product (minimum $20, $30 or $45) 
• All club members earn free gifts (Inks Pad, Designer Paper, or Stamp Set) 
• All club members get a discount on their purchase during their hostess month (20%, 22% or 25% discount)
• All club members get entries into free draws (one, 3 or 12 months of draws!)
• All club member get Free Catalogues
• All club members get FREE CLASSES while they are actively in a club 
• All club members get a little "Thank You" card or treat in your bag each month

… and all clubs let you buy craft supplies on a budget and length of time you’re comfortable with!

This club is a LOT of fun and I like to treat my "Club Gals" really well.  Of course full clubs means more free product for everyone so I'm hoping to fill all spots before February 14th!

If you are interesting in joining the fun please get in touch with me in the next week or so, or for SURE by January 30th so you can get in on the draws for the SAB products.

Tamara

Like, follow and Get Notifications on my business Facebook page "Tamara’s Paper Trail”

Follow me on Pinterest at @tamaraspapertrail

If you no longer wish to receive my e-mails please reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line

Hudgehugs and Friendship's Sweetest Thoughts

Happy Saturday!

I thought it was high time I stepped away from the "promotions" posts and finally post some PROJECTS!

The ones I'm sharing today were the swaps I created last month that I've been DYING to share.  I love them both so much!

Check them out!

Ska-WHEEELLL!  These are also two of the three cards we created in my classes last week - the third one was the Party Panda crd I shared in a previous post

Does anything look similar on all of these cards?  How about the layout?  Yup - I wanted to do a "one layout 3 ways" theme for my class ad these were what I had come up with.  They all have a banner, a strip of solid card stock and a shape, yet they all have a different "feel" to them.  Coming up with a simple layout is one of my biggest struggles when I sit down to design a card.  This just goes to show that you don't need to reinvent the wheel every time - just have a general template in mind and tweak it as you go! 

Wanna know something funny?  THIS is the card that I used for inspiration ...

Whaaaattt?  *lol* . Yup - I started off trying to CASE this layout and it morphed into my first card ...

(???!!!) and from that card the other two developed.

Funny how the creative mind works, isn't it?  Ok a few deets on the cards, then I'm off to walk my Doodle Dog.

This one is my fave.  I could stare at it all day long!  I used the new Hedgehugs set from the 2018 Occasions catty. $26 CDN Clear; $37 CDN wood.

I used the Delightful Daisy DSP ($14.50 CDN) for the 1/2" x 4" strip and Tranquil Tide for the 1" x 4 1/4" strip, punched with the Triple Banner punch.

I ran the ScallopedOval Framelit through the Big Shot (using Very Vanilla) and THEN stamped the little dudes.  The sentiment (also from the Hedgehug set) is stamped in Old Olive.

I colored the Perfect White Accents with my Dark Crumb Cake Blends marker ($6 CDN) and popped the oval up on dimensionals.

BAM!  Done!

Next up ...

Love this one too!
The stamp set is Friendship's Sweetest Thoughts and it was one of the first sets I was drawn to in the 2018 Occasions catty.  I stamped the image in Archival Black on a 2 3/4" x 3" piece (I think ... gotta go measure it again!).

The colored strip on the left is from the free Bubbles and Fizz DSP you can get from theSale-a-brations borchure with a $60 (CDN) purchase. 

The 5" x 1" strip is Lemon Lime Twist.
The sentiment is stamped in Smoky Slate
I colored the image with my Stampin' Write Markers, shaded the grey areas with my grey watercolor pencil and colored the 3 Perfect White Accents with my Dark Calypso Coral Belnds marker.  The whole shebang is popped up on dimensionals.

Finally the third card ...

That one you can check out here

The cowboy boot card you can check out here

OK - that's it for today - Doodles is staring at me, which means it's time to get this show on the road.  Pop in again soon and have a stampy day!


Tam

DON'T PLACE AN ORDER!!

NOPE.  Don’t do it.  Don’t order any crafting supplies until you seriously consider the chart below.

Seriously.  

Can you spot the difference between the columns? 

Purchased via Me Charming Cafe Bundle                     $56.50 Café Builder Framelits                           Incl Tutti Frutti Washi Tape                     $10.75 Tutti Frutti Adhesive Sequins           $  9.25 Tutti Frutti Designer Stack                $12.50 Tutti Frutti Card Stock                      $10.00 Acetate Boxes                                  $ 8.50 Hold on to Hope Bundle                  $57.50 Cross of Hope Framelits                       Incl Better Together Wood Set               $64.00 Flourishing Phrases Set                  $64.00 TOTAL:  $293.00 ADD Donation to UPS & GOVNT:  $45.42 TOTAL DUE:  $338.42

Purchased via Kit Charming Cafe Bundle                     $56.50 Café Builder Framelits                           Incl Tutti Frutti Washi Tape                     $10.75 Tutti Frutti Adhesive Sequins           $  9.25 Tutti Frutti Designer Stack                $12.50 Tutti Frutti Card Stock                      $10.00 Acetate Boxes                                  $ 8.50 Hold on to Hope Bundle                  $57.50 Cross of Hope Framelits                       Incl Better Together Wood Set               $64.00 Flourishing Phrases Set                  $64.00 TOTAL:  $293.00 ADD Donation to UPS & GOVNT:  $0 TOTAL DUE:  $135.00

Sooooo - did you spot the difference?

Yes, the left column is a list of products that total $293.00

Yes, the right column is an identical list of products that total the same $293.00

The obvious difference

• on the left, when you place an order through me, you will pay $338.42
• on the right, when you place an order for the “Try It” kit, you will pay $135.00
• By ordering the kit you save $203.42

• on the left, when you place an order through me, you will be
• paying Stamping’ Up! $158.00 more than you need to
• AND donating $45.42 to UPS delivery and the Canadian Government for no reason other than ‘cause you’re really swell like that!

Stop and think about that one seriously for a minute …

Order (in this example) $293.00 in product - pay $338.42

OR

Order $293.00 of the exact same product and pay $135.00

So really, the only question is …. How do you get the kit?  Simple …

• Go to www.tamarabertram.stampinup.net
• Click on “Join the Fun” in the top right hand corner
• Click on “Join Now” - the pink bar across the middle of the page
• the system walks you through the process - and you simply add the items you want “to cart”

If you have any questions on WHY you should buy the kit or HOW to buy the kit just call me!  No, there are no requirements, quotas or penalties when you buy the kit.  You can just scoop the deal and run.  If you WANT to save money on future supplies you certainly CAN place orders but there is no obligation to do so.  When I bought MY “Try It” kit (12 years ago this month!!!) I was VERY leary of the deal.  I kept asking “What’s the catch”.  There is none.  Never has been.  You will simply be a good customer of Stampin’ Up! who knows a great deal when they see one.  Period.

That’s it for now - stay tuned for my next post which will be on joining one of my clubs.  It’s for those who say “I don’t HAVE $135 to buy the kit but I still want craft stuff … and free stuff”.

Tamara

*** PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE IS FOR CANADIANS IN ALBERTA ONLY.  OTHER PROVINCES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT COSTS/TAXES APPLIED ***

Lots of Happy Card Kit by Stampin' Up!

Happy Friday!

I had a chance to put together this fun kit this week.  If you love coloring THIS is the kit for you!

Check it out, stay warm and have a stampy Friday!


Tam

Stampin' Up!'s 2018 Occasions Catalog Designer Series Paper

Isn't it all GORGEOUS???  Want it all???  Have no fear!  My 2018 Occasions Catalogue Designer Series Paper Share is here!

There are 7 patterned packs as well as a STUNNING glimmer pack on offer.  Ordering a pack of all 8 papers would cost you $144.98.  Yes, they're gorgeous, but that's a LOT of money ... and a LOT of paper!  I have a better idea - a 6" x 6" sampler of each of the papers ... and for only $45!

You'll get 114 sheets of 6" x 6" papers for just $45 flat (for local, Edmonton peeps - $60for long distance Canadians to cover the additional shipping cost)

All papers will be 6" x 6" in size and you will receive at least 2 samples of each design (since our papers are double sided you need to have BOTH sides, right?)

EVERYONE WHO PURCHASES A SHARE WILL BE ENTERED INTO MY DRAW FOR A FREE "HEARTFELT BLOOMS" CLEAR SET (which can normally only be earned with a minimum $60 product purchase!)

Here are all the papers you will receive:

24 Sheets of Picture Perfect Party DSP Stack

12 Sheets of Sweet Soiree DSP

12 Sheets of Painted with Love SpecialtyDSP

12 Sheets of Petal Passion DSP

12 Sheets of Myths and Magic Specialty DSP

24 Sheets of Tutti Fruiti DSP Stack

12 Sheets of True Gentleman DSP

6 Sheets of Myths and Magic Glimmer Paper

Make sure you message me by 7:00 pm MT next Friday, January 12th to get in on the draw!

Bundle up out there, Edmontonians - a balmy -33 with the wind!  Have a stampy day :)


Tam

Party Pandas - FREE Sale-a-bration Set!

Happy Tuesday!

It's class day today - Yay!  I haven't help a "proper", traditional card making class since November and I've missed it!  I had a lot of fun using all my new toys to come up with three projects to share.  All three of them use the same general layout/design, but with new stamp sets, designer papers and Sale-a-brations items.  "One Design Three Ways".  I wanted to highlight how easy it is to take a simple design and use whatever products/stamp sets you've got on hand to come up with a fresh, new card.

This is the first one (I'll share the others once my swaps have been received by my friends)

It uses the new FREE (with a minimum $60 CDN purchase) Party Pandas Sale-a-brations set.  These little cuties make a quick and easy birthday card for kids OR adults!

The card base is Whisper White, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
The Real Red strip is 1/2" x 4 1/4"
The Designer Paper is the new Petal Passion DSP in the 2018 Occasions Catalogue, at 1" x 4"
I used the Starburst Punch (new in the 2017-2018 Annual Ctalogue - just got his one - HOW did I not notice it before???) for the Panda and then the 2 1/2" punch (also new in the annual catalogue) for the Basic Black layer. 
The panda is stamped on the card base and then again on scrap and punched out, and then popped up on dimensionals. 
The balloon is colored with my Real Red marker, and a rhinestone finishes it off.
** Top Tip - given that the panda has a lot of solid black areas on his body it can be difficult to get a strong, saturated, crisp black image.  You have to make sure your ink pad is nice and juicy ... orrrrrrrrrrrr .... use your Stamparatus so you can reink and restamp the image as many times as you need to in order to get that perfect image!

I know most of you don't have the Stamparatus yet - only members of the design team have them now, but hopefully you got in on the first reservation window and will have yours soon!  It really is a great tool to have on hand for solid images like this panda!

Right - on with my day.  Today's mission is to come up with a Designer Series Paper Share too offer.  Stay warm - and have a stampy day!


Tam

Charming Café Bundle by Stampin' Up!

Happy Sunday!

Yay for FINALLY getting into the Craft Cave yesterday!  Given the number of hours I was in there I would have thought I'd create a lot more but I took it slow and steady and enjoyed the process - something I have't done in a very long time!  It really is SO therapeutic!  I'm usually so rushed when coming up with projects.  Being stressed and under a time constraint does NOT help get the creative juices flowing.  Yesterday was lovely.  I used sets I WANTED to use, not ones I felt I NEEDED to use, if that makes sense.

First up was the Charming Cafe set and framelits.  Now this one I REALLY sat on the fence on.  It's $56.50 CDN for the bundle, which is not a small bit of change post-Christmas and I DID wonder if it was a bit of a one trick pony ... so I thought I'd see.  I challenged myself to make three projects with it.  Yup - mission accomplished.  I'm now crushing on this set and realize it can (and WILL) be used often for quick and easy cards, as WELL as intricate, time consuming works of art.

Check out the first one I made, primarily CASEd from the 2018 Occasions Catalogue.  It's a tri-fold card.

The base is cut from a piece of 10 1/2" x 5 1/2" Crumb Cake paper, scored at 3 1/2" and 7".  The Designer Paper on the front comes from the new Tutti Frutti Designer Series Paper Stack (2018 Occasions catty).  Before I made the card I watched two videos - I watched the Stampin' Up! video first and then one by fellow UK demonstrator, Gaynor Boyce.  I've posted the videos below.  Watch the for tips and tricks to save you time and confusion.  The first time you use the framelits (particularly for the tri-fold card) will be the hardest/most time consuming.  It took me about 45 minutes to make mine ... but I was watching the videos at the same time.  The next time I use it, it will be much faster.  Learning curve, and all that!

After spending so much time on one card I wanted something QUICK!  I just love the little table and chairs and they fit PERFECTLY on the new Narrow Notecards and Envelopes (page 19 of the 2018 Occasions Catty - $10.75 CDN for 20).

BAM!  5 notecards, all in different colors, that I'll use for a little hostess or teacher gift. I LOVE these and they only took about 10 minutes to whip up!

Finally, I wanted a third project that was somewhere in between the time consuming one and the quick one.  I had a bunch of extra pieces on my desk ... and a Z-Fold card base I had been playing with on another project and all that turned into this ...

Cute!  Do you have a stamp set on your shelf that you haven't used yet?  I challenge you to take it out and make THREE projects with it.  It's fun to push yourself and the results are usually pretty stinkin' cute!

Off I go to start my day.  Have a stampy Sunday!


Tam

3 MONTH MINI CLUB!!

JOIN MY MINI CLUB - ONLY 3 SPOTS AVAILABLE!

If you are in the Edmonton area, want at least 3 of the FABULOUS Level 1 Sale-a-bration items and like discounts and free stuff then this mini club is for you!

WHAT YOU DO:

- make a minimum $60 purchase in January, February and March

WHAT YOU GET:
- at least $180 worth of merchandise (*lol*)
- 20% off your purchase in one of those 3 months
- a chance to win the Beautiful Peacock Sale-a-bration stamp set (1 in 3 chance of winning!)
- a discount on my classes in January, February and March
- a thank you card or treat in with your order each month

Who's in???  Message me now!

Working with Brusho by Stampin' Up!

Happy Friday!

Another early morning for me.  It seems thats the only time I can get things done, with the kids home.  Yes, they are 12 and 14 now and although I don't have to entertain them any more (*sniff) I DO still get interrupted (a LOT!) with this and that ... and take them places.  Yesterday was Grandma's, today is West Edmonton Mall.  Actually, I've been wanting to hit the mall for about 6 months now ... not to SHOP but to go to the Apple Store to get my laptop cleaned up!  It's been REALLY slow lately and as of last week I can't send emails from it.  Sigh.  Technology.  I have a love/hate relationship with it!

So ... I did a Facebook Live video last night.  Wow.  It is VERY scattered!!  I guess being awake since 4 am really sucked my concentration out of me by 7:00 pm - sheesh!  If you are interested in seeing some of the new products "live" hop on over to Facebook and search for my business page "Tamara's Paper Trail".  In that video I mention the new Brusho products .... but in my squirrel moment I only just mentioned it ... I didn't even open it *lol*.  Sigh.  So!  Check out THIS video to see what it is all about!

I'm off to find some coffee and start my day.  Whatever you get up to I hope it's a stampy one!


Tam

Mixed Medallions Card Kit by Stampin' Up!

Happy Thursday!

Ready for a peek at another GREAT Sale-a-brations item?  This is the first one I ordered ... and I *may* have ordered three *lol*.

Y'all know how much I love my kits!  This one is SO quick and easy to whip up - you don't even have to do any stamping!  It's free with a $60 CDN purchase. 

As always, Canadian shoppers who place an on-line order here and enter the hostess code 7Z3DSDYT at the checkout will receive a gift in the mail from me! (make sure you have given permission to Stampin' Up! to give me your name and address so I know who ordered!)

Have a stampy day!


Tam

2018 Occasions and 2018 Sale-a-brations!

Happy Sale-a-brations Starts Today Day!  Whoot!

It's ALL SYSTEMS GO with the 2018 Occasions Catalogue and the 2018 Sae-a-brations promotion now in full swing (ska-wheeeeeellll!)

Canadian on-line shoppers, you can shop 24/7 anywhere in Canada through my store and have your items shipped directly to your door - shopping with no pants required! *lol*

Access my store here

Remember, orders can earn yo free items from the SAB brochure (click on the picture over on the right hand side bar to see the 11 Level 1 offerings (free with every $60 spent) and the two Level 2 offerings (free with every $120 spent).  There are some AMAZING products in both the Occasions and SAB catalogues.  It is EASY to spend $60 (ask me how I know!!!! lol)

Orders under $200 who enter the hostess code VE7XJTCT at the checkout will receive a gift in the mail from me! (Orders over $200 - DON'T enter the hostess code - scoop the 10% free spending for yourself!!)

You're gunna love the offerings this round - whoot!

Heartfelt Blooms Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Happy Tuesday!

Want to see another FREE Sale-a-brations Level 1 item?  This beautiful stamp set is free with a $60 CDN purchase, starting January 3rd, 2018

You can shop 24/7 though my on-line store here.  Canadian shoppers who use the hostess code *** at the checkout will receive a gift in the mail from me.

Thanks for popping in.  Have a stampy day!


Tam

Amazing You Stamp Set and Celebrate You Thinlits by Stampin' Up!

Happy New Year!

We had a fun day yesterday, despite the -43 degree (with windchill) weather!  After a relaxed morning the four of us headed out to an Escape Room - so much fun!  No, we weren't successful but we got PRETTY close.  I think we solved 7 of the 9 mysteries and, truth be told, once they explained the remaining two I don't think we would have been successful unless we had about another 20 minutes!  This is the third room I've done and it really does force you to think outside the box!  Rebecca is by far the best in that regard.  Heck, half the time she's chipping away at one of the clues and I have NO idea what she's doing! *lol*.

After the fun we headed to Mom and Dad's for a delicious roast beef dinner.  We all overate and pretty much crawled away from the table hee hee.  Yes, new day, new year, new eating plan! 

I'm up early today hoping to keep chipping away at the HUGE to-do- list I have.  All my tasks are quite time consuming - hours for each one.  One step at a time - I'll get there!

Meanwhile, I have another video to share.   The annual Sale-a-brations promotion starts in just TWO days - whoot!

This year SU has changed it up a bit.  There are TWO earning thresholds for free stuff.  The normal $60 price point (for every $60 you spend you can choose a Level 1 free item) and a $120 price point (when you spend $120 you can either choose TWO Level 1 items or ONE Level 2 item).  Spending $180?  You can pick one Level 2 and a Level 1 or three Level 1 sets.  It's up to you! 

The video shows the Amazing You Stamp Set and coordinating thinlits.  They are a MUST HAVE!

Check it out, Happy New Year and stay tuned for my upcoming classes, clubs and projects.

Have a stampy day!


Tam