No stamps, no ink, talk about a Limited Supply Challenge! Well, we could have used stamps and ink but I went the rub on / patterned paper route. Second time using the rub ons, still not so sure about them....the one shot deal is tough on a perfectionist brain. :)
The LSC was all about one color plus white, not shades of one color, and no other neutral other than white. Celery and white are a fresh, clean combination. I did this card in about 10 minutes before heading out to an awards ceremony down at Brett's school.
Patterned paper is from an ages old mat pak that SU! made available sometime last year, maybe? I can't remember....
The card is pretty self explanatory, stem is pierced with a piercing tool and a foam mat, ribbon is May Arts, White mini brads are from StarlitStudio.
Now to a more serious situation, ever stayed in a relationship longer than you should but haven't the gumption to leave? That's sort of how I am feeling about SU! these days, well, months actually....ever since the Fall/Winter catalog came out last summer I haven't been feeling the love. Not smitten any more. For the past 5 plus, gosh almost 6, years I've anticipated and longed for new product, mini catalog offerings, SAB...oh SAB, I couldn't wait for the sets. Not so much anymore.....it's a tough place to be, SU! is my roots, where I began stamping, but they no longer excite me....I'm not sure what to do about it. I know that there has been a shortage of SU! posts here, which is why some have stopped subscribing, but when you aren't inspired by a product, it's hard to create with them, ykwim?
So, I'm fence sitting for now.
V.~
30 comments:
I'm in pending right now, and I can tell you that I won't be placing an order this month. It makes me kind of sad, but at the same time, I feel like there is too much out there that DOES get me excited, that it's not worth it to spend my money on things that I probably won't use. I'm totally stocked up on paper, ribbon, etc, and I've got a good friend and upline that will continue her demo-ship, so I won't feel completely out of that loop.
Just wanted to let you know you're not the only one! :)
WOW you mean there are others out there that feel that way too?? Part of my problem was my upline was so into SU then when I signed up she sort of went by the way side. She signed up for a home jewlery company and all her time goes to that..We don't even have meetings anymore.. so getting excited about it is really hard.. and the catalogs 2x a year are making it really hard.. I hear ya.. and I am there too..
On the other note.. your card is great!! thanks for sharing!!!
Meeeeee tooooo!! I have been a demo for 3 years or so and I just went into pending and am probably just going to be dropped. I can't see spending $300 a quarter myself anymore and my customers are all out of it too - already have too much stuff they don't use often enough and aren't in love with the new stuff. Besides, the way stamping has been growing and all the new companies out - I am finding plenty from other companies I LOVE. It's too bad SU somehow has missed the boat there! Hang in there - all good things come to an end and this is just one more of them!
Cute card and I totally hear ya on the SU feelings. I was in pending after last quarter but got a customer order to pull me out. I don't do workshops or really actively do anything and I'm finding it harder to find enough to excite me enough to want to spend $300 per quarter on. I'm just going to limp along until my demoship expires. The coordination keeps me but I really don't need anymore SU stamps at this point unless they come up with something really new and exciting.
I know how you feel about letting go, Val. I just finished drafting a resignation email. If I don't cut myself off, I'll keep accepting orders here and there and stay active. Enough already. I want to do things for *me*. . . LOVE ya, girl, and know that you'll make the right choice for YOU. HUGS!
Beautiful card! I love the way you've created this for the challenge. As for the SU stuff, well ... I still like SU but I have not been in it for very long (one year). But, I do have to say that there has not been much that really grabbed me in the past two catties ... the mini is great, SAB was not so hot. I have noticed that your style has changed over the past, so perhaps that could be affecting the way you view the catties? I still love whatever you make, SU or not!!
It is funny you mentioned this. I am in pending right now and see no way to even think about spending the $300 I need to get out. Even though it feels kinda sad, (I have a 7000 demo id) I am also feeling a little relieved. I can still get stuff from my upline. I will always use their cs. I am not so much feeling it anymore after 11 years. I have gotten excited about a few other companies. I guess maybe our styles change. I wonder how many demo's they are going to be losing this quarter with the economy like it is. Good luck in whatever you do. Your stuff rocks and I am a huge fan.
Interesting comments! I resigned from SU in February, and signed up with TAC because I love their philosophy, their minimums and their unmounted stamps. I just couldn't totally let go of the newsletters and opportunities that a bigger company can offer, but at $100 every 4 months I still ahve $$ to spend on some of the other cool stuff out there. Once you're on a design team or two, I think you start to see SU's minimums as a "burden" rather than it being exciting. It was a really, really hard decision for me, so I know what you're going through. I'm positive you'll make a great choice!! :)
I LOVE A Muse Artstamps, American Art Stamp, Artful Stamper, Hero Arts, Inkadinkadoo, PAPERTREYink, Savvy Stamps, Stampendous ... and yes, Stampin' Up! ... and that's just to name a few companies I mainly scope out. Maybe I'm fickle but I say stamp with what motivates you at the moment ... and just go with the flow and see where that leads you!
LOVE your stuff, Val!
- SueB
I'm also in pending right now and have decided that I'll just let it go. I like so many other stamps out there better than those SU has to offer. I had the same trouble last quarter coming up with $300 and I truly have everything I need from there (except the Embossing Buddy) which I was going to order :-) It feels really sad to me too, but I don't anxiously await the catalog, minis, celebration sets anymore either. Glad I'm not alone.
I was feeling the same way this spring/summer, so I let my demoship lapse. Good luck with your decision.
Smiles,
Anne
Yep, know that feeling all to well!!
You rock and whatever you use you will continue to rock with it!!
I don't even know how you would find time to use them with all the fabulous things you do!!!
best of luck to you!
Great job of the limited supply challenge. Love all the green!!!! Joan
Val, this is gorgeous!!!!
Love your celery card - I never use that pad of paper! I am another "fence sitter"...I did make the minimum before the last week in March, but don't see it happening in June. Life marches on, and we may march in different directions.
I'm not a SU Demo but I know how your feeling. I felt the same way with Creative Memories. I just couldn't justify the cost for a boring product when there are so many awesome things out there. I love SU and I will always look but I also am inspired by the other companies. I loved your card and I enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing and I think you will have a following not matter what you do. Cynthia
I know what you mean, Val. I, too, have been contemplating my future with SU after 3 years of being a demo. The Fall/Winter catalog did nothing for me but luckily I found some things I loved in the Spring/Summer catalog, mostly patterned paper. I just feel myself drawn towards other stamp companies but I love being "in the know" with SU. *sigh* Good luck to you, whatever you decide! I won't stop subscribing, promise ;-)
Obviously many of us demos feel the same way. A customer order pulled me out of letting myself go pending.
I love the quality of the stamps. I love the company itself. I even love cutting out our stamps. The designs? BORING and repetitive. I've written to them, pleading for better designs, and yet the same doodle designs and silhouettes things show up catty after catty.
I AM finding things buried in the catty that are underappreciated, like Riot of Petals and Bursting with Joy, but overall, the "thrill is gone" from the designs. I pray they see the error of their ways with the NEXT catty, or they can kiss me goodbye too. What a shame!
Val- Your creations are beautiful, and I will continue to subscribe whatever you decide. You have to do what's best for you. I am a SU! demo, but only for 1 1/2 years. It's all still great for me. :) Plus, I can't afford to buy everything I see so that helps. LOL Good luck with your decision! I will be admiring your work no matter what!
Big hugs!
Elizabeth H.
Great celery card~~
I know what you mean about SU! I have been a SU demo for 7 years now.. I will stay current because overall I love their products. The papers, ink, etc are very convienent and great quality. I like many of the stamp designs but, I do think the stamp designs need to be fresher and I was thinking the other day that they REALLY need to be putting new stamps out each month. The switching to only 2 mini's per year was a HUGE mistake, IMHO! (even with the 2 big catties a year)
I hope the new catty brings some freshness and excitement!
I know my $$ has been spread out and I am loving Papertrey and Lockhart products!
Good luck with your decision! I will keep on checking out your awesome creations! You are inspiring no matter what brand you are using! :)
Wow, there are a lot of us feeling the same way about Stampin' Up. I, too, started stamping through SU, but I am not buying many stamps from them anymore. Mostly because I have become so addicted to stamping that I mostly buy unmounteds or clear now. I simply don't have the room to store all those wood stamps. I can't seem to part with any of my older ones either. I have started using the new Thin EZMount on my SU orders which helps with the storage, but I still am not overly impressed with their selection lately. (I know that some of you are gasping at the thought of not mounting my SU sets on the wood.) I still buy the inks and paper since that is where I started and I have all of the inks other than a couple of the newer replacement colors. I wish they would get on board with the option to purchase unmounted. I think more people would buy or come back to them. I know I would because the price would come down, too. I think that they are just too pricey when I want to purchase I have way too many other choices out there to choose from that don't cost so much. Sorry SU but you need to think about some changes. Just my opinion.
I totally feel your apathy, Val! I joined SU almost 3 years ago and am finding that the designs aren't really doing alot for me these days. Also, I am really finding my card designs are changing and they aren't very "demonstratable", and it is just hard for me to get back into that groove. I will be with the company for awhile longer, and will always use their card stock and inks, but I like having other options for my stamping dollars to go to as well.
I promise I will keep my subscription with you, I love your designs! Keep up the great work, you inspire so many of us!
I agree totally! I'm not a demo, just a customer, but I keep looking through the older catalogs and the stamps are so great! The current catalog, mini and SAB. . . not so much! Please consider sending an email to SU with a link to all these comments. They may appreciate seeing all this honest feedback in one place!
I love your card. You have such crisp clean designs.
Great card! I definitely hear where you're coming from on SU - I was a demo for 5 years and let it go last year. It's a big, BIG stamping world :)
Val, I have been a fan of yours for a few years now. Love your work, whether it's SU stuff or not,doesn't matter. I dropped last fall. Really for the same reasons as you said, SU stuff wasn't exciting me anymore. Also felt like Jenn, I wanted to stamp for me not customers. The one thing being a demo did allow me to do was aquire a ton of supplies. Now I can even buy pretty ribbon that I know isn't going to retire!
I don't read your blog for the SU stuff. I just like your designs. I am an SU customer, and the stamps are really pathetic. I only order punches, cardstock and ink now, which are always great! I couldn't find ONE THING i liked in SAB this year. i am not an artist, but when i look at something and think, "oh, i could do that", then it's not going to make me buy it.
Keep up the good work, no matter what products you use. and thanks for the blog.
Shala
Val-
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, we will all be here waiting anxiously to see your creations!
I am also on the fence about keeping up my demoship. There is just SO much out there that excites me that sticking with SU because it is 'safe' isn't working anymore.
I think the discount is the hardest part to give up! LOL!
Best of luck with your decision!
Make the best decision for yourself. What makes you the happiest? I find that even as a demo I have to take a break from the "customer routine" once in awhile and just stamp for myself. It reminds me why I started stamping in the first place! Your creations are beautiful no matter what products you use.
It's funny all these people are saying the same thing. I should have become a demo, but didn't want to find a customer base, and couldn't afford to pay my own minimums. So I just PURCHASED and purchased and purchased. It's been a great 4 years, but my excitement dropped off in the fall, and even the new catty doesn't inspire me. I used to want EVERYTHING in every mini, now I just don't care. I'm obsessed with PapertreyInk and even though I'm still in a monthly club with SU, I would rather spend the money on PTI.
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