Highdesert Stamper – Artistic Inkspirations

I have lots of scraps I save in little boxes like this.

I save all the “punchable” sized scraps from all my cards and projects….especially if I have been using designer papers and the spritzing sprays. They make really glitzy scraps to use. Then I start punching them out, putting birds and leaves in one box, flowers and other little pieces in a box, Owl pieces in a separate box, and larger pieces in the largest box. Then when I need to make something that calls for one of these scrap figures.. I just go to the boxes, dump them out and see what colors I have already made up ready to use!! I had to make a quickie little calendar for a friend so I went through the boxes and found some pretty little birds and butterflies, and even a flower cut from a scrap of the Greenhouse Gala designer paper. So here’s my scrap calendar that some lucky customer/friend of mine is getting in the mail this week!!

One of the Canadian stampers did a video on how to make these little birds by coloring different colors on vanilla cardstock. You can see the video here.. on Maria’s Utbue video here.

I for one had not colored on the vanilla or white cardstock, I’ve always just cut out different colored scraps to make the birds, then sponged their wings and bodies for more definition and accent. I will be trying some new “colored birds” using Maria’s teaching this week.. We get Rocky Mountain Blue Birds and lots of Stellar Jays here in New Mexico. They look a bit different than regular Blue Jays and Blue Birds. So maybe I can capture their colors on paper!! So check back later this week for the Creative-Sketches challenge on Thursday, and any other day I may have the birds made!!

I offer different classes to stampers in the local area. Many are more difficult than others. I was talking to one lady and she was considering buying all the products needed to do the class, for her daughter. I started asking about products she did or did not have and would have to order. When the list got over $75, she said, oh, that would be way too expensive. So I decided to do an analysis of the class and give an example of what it costs us as Demonstrators to put on a class for all our friends and customers. It will shock you I’m sure. Though if you are a demo reading this, and you’ve NEVER added up all the items needed, you may be surprised and be inspired to price your specialty classes at a higher cost, since you are the one putting up all the equipment, space, supplies, and TEACHING knowledge.

• So here’s a summary list for my next class I am giving in January 2011. This class was designed by Andrea Walford in Canada. I get a lot of tutorials from her. You can find a link on my  web page here and purchase your own, but be sure to call me to order all the goodies!!
• She always gives us a suggested price to charge for the class, which I think are way under-priced when you compare them to places in stores that teach EASIER classes for higher prices.  Of course many of you have some of the basic equipment, scissors, paper cutters, adhesive of one kind or another, tote to carry all your “stuff” in, etc.

Now when you look at the prices I have listed (a summary for each category), these prices DO NOT include shipping and tax, which we have to charge the customer.Regular stores have an overhead on maintaining their buildings, utilities, paying their employees, etc. They also buy their products wholesale at a 50% discount of the retail price of the products. I know, I used to work in a store and helped mark items for sale.  Everything was marked up double the wholesale price to the store owner.  That’s why many stores will offer 40%, 50%, or even a 75% sale to get you in the door, hoping you will buy much more at retail price.

Vintage Valentine Class

• Stamp sets used : 3 total cost $73.85

• Cardstock, envelopes and specialty papers: 5 items $40.85

• Inks/inkpads used in stamping: 6 inks/pads $37.25

• Adhesives: 5 items $37.05

• Ribbons and other: 6 items $36.70

• Punches, bigshot, and other tools required: 16 items: $315.25

Now all this adds up to $541.15  that the instructor has to have just to teach this class!!

This does not include all the hours of prep-time to get the samples created, the students packets ready, and make sure all the directions do work the way they say.

Next time you attend a class, or register for one and it costs you less than $75 for the class….be thankful!!!  If you’d like to have the tutorial for the above stamp class FREE, all you need to do is place an online order of $50 or more from me and I will give you a tutorial of your choice!! But remember, there’s all those other things you may need to complete the class!!

I know there are a lot of Altered Artists and Scrapbook enthusiasts who attend retreats where specialty classes are taught, many over a weekend or several days. Some of these retreats and get-a-ways cost several hundred dollars… BEFORE adding in any of the special classes taught at the retreat/convention. Please consider this when signing up for a class and thinking the price at $25, $35, $45, or $50+ is high… you’re really getting a bargain!!

So if you are in the Albuquerque area and would like to attend classes, please give me a call, or email me for more information.  I do offer private classes for those who are “stamping challenged”.

I told you yesterday I couldn’t decide which card to make… so made a couple. Here is my 2nd card I made using the sketch and Dry embossing from this week’s Creative-Sketches challenge.

Here’s the sketch:

and here is my OTHER version of this sketch…..blue, blue, blue!!!

This is what you do when you have various pieces of scraps from other projects all over your stamping table…..

here are some close ups……of the flowers and embossed piece under the flowers…

and another of the bottom… I just started distressing and started to throw this card away…(maybe you think I should have….)

but figured I could make something of it… what do you think??

Supplies Used in this card: Stamp sets: Baroque Motif; Vintage Vogue, FYI;

— Cardstock: Baja breeze, marina mist, whisper white, Elegant Soire dsp; Inks: Night of navy, baja breeze;

– Accessories: Bone folder to make score lines on card; lattice embossing folder, modern label punch, word window punch, sponges, DTP inking; distressing tool for paper edges; cosmo glitter and tombow multipurpose glue; dimensionals

I have another card I was working on when I made these two (sort of got on a roll finishing up cards…it had been laying in a folder, for … maybe a yr??), so I will post my “finish up that card” project later this weekend. So come back and see what else I came up with??

Thanks for stopping by…….until the next time…. GO CREATE!!!