Patty Stamps Q&A

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Hi Stamping and Crafting friends!

 

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Shop Stampin' UP! paper crafting products online with Patty Bennett at www.MyStampOrder.com

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Are you receiving cards and catalogs from me?

 

I'm just checking... If you are one of my online customers and you place orders HERE in my online Stampin' Up! Store, are you receiving:

  • a thank you email
  • a stamped Thank You card in the mail from me
  • and Stampin' Up! catalogs 3x a year from me? 

It is my goal to be of service to all of my customers by answering your questions, providing you with FREE ideas, samples, techniques, video tutorials, and by sending Thank You cards and our annual catalog in May, our Holiday catalog in August and our Occasions catalog in December.  If you are regularly spending at least $50 over the past 6 month period in my online store, I put you on my automatic list to receive the next catalog.  

I am also happy to answer your questions anytime! With over 21 years of experience as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I am proud to say I have helped thousands of customers with their purchases and product questions, as well as sharing thousands of free crafting ideas!

 

Customer thank you cards pattystamps stampin up

 

If by any chance you have selected to check out in my online store as a guest in the past, or you have selected "no contact" with your demonstrator, then by law, I am not allowed to see your name or contact info and you will not be receiving cards and catalogs from me.

If you have placed an order not heard from me, and you think you might have clicked "no contact" with my demonstrator, email me and we'll get it worked out so that I can see your info and send you cards and catalogs.

Stampin' UP! is not allowed, by law, to share your info with me either, if you have elected to check out as a guest or have no contact from your demo.

 

Need a Stampin' Up! catalog? click the contact me button at www.pattystamps.com

 

Do you want to be on my automatic catalog mailing list?

If you want to receive Thank You cards in the mail for your orders, occasional free samples, and Stampin' Up! catalogs 3x a year, you MUST order online with Patty Bennett as your demonstrator (at least $50 in the past 6 months), and be sure you are not checking out as a guest or have not previously requested no contact.

All orders of $50 or more can be logged on your Free Stamps with Patty form (here), so that you can earn $40 in free products!

All orders of $150 or more receive free hostess benefit rewards online.

 

What are my customers saying?

"Your projects are just so nice!! Thank you for sharing. Isn't fall just the best time of year? Thank you for celebrating fall with such beautiful projects, and to top that off you share the how to do it and all types of tips and videos. You are just the best!! Happy fall weekend to you!! Best wishes", K.O.

 

"That was one of the most informative video product demonstrations I've ever watched! Congratulations on how clearly and carefully you were showing products. You are so right that looking through the catalog is fun, but seeing papers and embellishments in your hands makes them "real" somehow. Thanks for a great video." K.L.

 

"You know Patty, I always enjoy your posts. I find them cheerful and they keep me smiling. Thanks for ALWAYS keeping me smiling."  J. H.

 

"Dear Patty,
Thank you for the thank you gifts. I will be working on adding bling to my cards. Your rewards system is certainly the frosting on the cake. I so enjoy your web site with all the tips, ideas and organization skills. Thank you for all your hard work and time you invest in your business. I can tell your heart is in stamping as well."  S.H.

 

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!  I love hearing from you and am so glad I can make a difference in your crafting life!!

patty bennett stampin up demonstrator pattystamps

 

Shop Online Anytime and Earn FREE STAMPS

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Patty's FREE VIDEO tutorials

 


Ask Patty, Answers to your Questions, part 2

Wow... I had such a wonderful time reading through over 200 questions in response to my "Ask Patty" blog post question in THIS POST.

Thank you for your kind words, for your interesting questions and for helping me to get to know you better and to learn what you enjoy about my projects and my blog, and how I can better serve you going forward!\

Part 2

Q&A-ask-patty-bennett-pattystamps

It will take several blog posts for me to answer all the questions, you can see Part 1 HERE, and below are my answers to Part 2 of your questions.

Question: How do you store your Stamps, your Thinlits, your Paper, your scraps, your accessories like doilies and pearls?

Answer:  Several of you asked about storage, so I've lumped them all together in the question above, and you can find answers to my storage solutions here:

  • Stamp sets are on a shelf, punches are in a drawer, paper is stored in the Stamp-n-Storage cubes, to see all of those storage solutions in my stamp loft, CLICK HERE to see that post and craft room tour video
  • Additional paper drawer storage idea: CLICK HERE for Patty's Paper Drawer of Happiness
  • I store my thinlits and framelits on magnetic sheets from Stamp-n-Storage: CLICK HERE to see that post
  • My accessories are stored in a box on my desk: CLICK HERE for that post
  • My scraps are in boxes... no particular order or anything, other than long scrap strips are in one box, small scraps are in one box and rectangular (card front size) scraps are in one box.. the colors are all mixed up ... ya, I know.. don't faint.

 

Question: Do you do home parties, workshops, classes, or just online sales with Stampin' UP!?

Answer:  My Stampin' UP! business has evolved over the nearly 21 years I've been a demonstrator.  For the first 18-19 years or so of my Stampin' UP! career, I did roughly 4 to 8 events every month... In Home Classes, Workshops at a hostesses home, Open House events, and events for my Luv 2 Stamp Group.  9 years ago I started this blog, PattyStamps.com merely as a way to share what I was working on, and with the introduction of online ordering  shortly after that, I started to see an increase in online orders based on what I was blogging about, and a decrease in attendance of my events, so I started to concentrate more on blogging, social media posting and YouTube videos.  Over the past 2 years, my business has turned to 98% online sales and a few events for my Luv 2 Stamp Group each year.

So that was the long answer.... the short answer is that NOW my business is all online and I am very thankful for all of my amazing customers now and over the past nearly 21 years!

 

Question: What is your favorite adhesive?

Answer:  I truly love Fast Fuse!!  Stampin' Dimensionals are a total must on almost all projects, and sometimes I use Snail.   You can see my recent post, tips and video about using Fast Fuse Here!

 

Question: Do you do all your own gardening? Does your husband help? What do you grow in your garden?

Answer:  I would say I do about 90% of the work in the garden.. and that mostly consists of watering and occasional fertilizing.  I truly think my garden loves this San Francisco Bay Area climate and I really don't have to do a ton of work.  It is my therapy though.. I love to be outside and yes, I talk to my roses.  You can see my past Garden Posts Here.  I grow mostly roses (I have 10 rose bushes) and also grow LOTS of Alstromeria.. they love this climate and I have lots of different colors because they are such pretty accents in a bouquet.

This is a pretty typical bouquet from my garden:

Patty bouquet roses alstromeria

 

Question: What is your most used Punch?

Answer:  Ok this is pretty difficult to narrow it to one favorite... but I do have about 3 punches that I reach for the most:

  Patty 3 favorite stampin up punches

Question: Will Stampin' UP! offer cut files for e-cutters?

Answer:  When Stampin' UP! offered My Digital Studio (MDS), the svg files were cut files that could be used in e-cutters.  If you have those files, you can use them in your e-cutter.  Other than that, I am not aware of any files that can be used or any plans to offer them.

 

Question: Do you use a Planner?

Answer:  I tried to use an Erin Condren planner a year ago, and that experiment failed.  I have way too much to do each day and that type of planner did not offer me enough room to write everything, so I still had multiple extra to-do lists for each day.  I do use a desktop "At-a-Glance" weekly/monthly calendar that is kind of like a planner.. it is 11x17" and sits next to me on my desk.. I try to write most of my tasks for the day in it and I have a column for what I will blog each day.  I still have multiple to-do lists, but so far this works for me.

Patty planner

 

Question: If I wanted to join, or re-join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator, can I do that? How do I do that?

Answer:  If you are interested in joining the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator, we would love to have you!!  If you already work with a demonstrator, please check with him/her about joining!  If you are one of my customers or don't yet work with a demonstrator I'd be happy to chat with you about the Perks of Joining Stampin' UP! and my Luv 2 Stamp Group team of demonstrators.  If you have previously been a demonstrator, yes, you can rejoin!  This is a great time to join with the extra $30 in free product in your Starter Kit!!  Click to READ MORE.

 


Pattystamps youtube videos Question:
Were you nervous on your first YouTube Video?  and Do you feel like you are talking to yourself on your videos?

Answer:  Honestly I don't specifically remember much about my first video other than trying to figure out how to position the tripod around me.. LOL.. but yes, I was very nervous 7 years ago when I started to make videos.  I would rehearse and rehearse... Now I just turn on the camera and talk.  :)  I love sharing stamping projects via video with you, and wish I had time to create more of them.  If you'd like to see all of my videos on YouTube click here, or you can see a list on my blog here.  Be sure to click "subscribe" on YouTube so you get notified of any new videos I post.

I really don't feel like I'm talking to myself.. I honestly feel like everyone is sitting there watching and I'm just teaching a class.. that feeling must come from about 18 years of teaching stamping classes. :)

 

THANK YOU to everyone who voted in my online Occasions Catalog Survey!!!  After over 300 responses, here are the results of your 5 favorite Occasions catalog bundles.

And the Survey Says........

  Survey pattystamps occasions catalog bundles

 

 Are you surprised by the results?  The only reason I was a bit surprised was I thought that one bundle would be the "run away winner" .. but really, the results are all pretty even!!    It seems that the Botanical Gardens Bundle is the clear winner, but after that, truly almost everything else was fairly close in popularity!!

 

VIEW all of the Occasions Catalog Bundles Here!

 

The Occasions catalog runs through May 31, 2016.  If you don't have one and need one, please let me know so I can send you one.

 

SHOP ONLINE: If you need any Stampin' Up! crafting supplies,  click to go to my online store.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please leave me a comment!

NEED A CATALOG?: Please allow me to send you one if you don't already have a demonstrator!  Leave me a comment or send me an email; [email protected]

patty bennett stampin up demonstrator pattystamps

 

Shop Online Anytime and Earn FREE STAMPS

Sign Up for my Customer  Newsletter

SHOP: Clearance Rack - Weekly Deals - Promotions

Patty's FREE VIDEO tutorials

 

 

 


Ask Patty, Answers to your Questions, part 1

 

Wow... I had THE BEST TIME reading through over 200 questions in response to my "Ask Patty" blog post question in THIS POST.

Thank you for your kind words, for your interesting questions and for helping me to get to know you better and to learn what you enjoy about my projects and my blog, and how I can better serve you going forward!

Q&A-ask-patty-bennett-pattystamps

It will take several blog posts for me to answer all the questions, so here is Part 1! :)

Question: Do you stamp everyday? How long do you stamp each day? How long do you devote to your business each day? Do you have hired help?

Answer:  I decided to lump all those related questions together, as they were all the most asked questions! 

  • No, I do not get to stamp every day (I know... sadness!!), but when I do stamp it's usually for at least 4 hours at a time, and sometimes more. 
  • A normal day for me is devoting about 12 hours to my business - and most of it is computer work, answering questions from demonstrators and customers, editing photos of my projects, blogging, posting to social media, creating or editing videos.  I do work 7 days a week most weeks, but have been trying to take some evenings or weekend days off here and there.
  • I do have a couple of demonstrators in my downline that I hire for a few hours a month to help with things like sending out birthday greetings to the Luv 2 Stamp Group, or helping on our exclusive facebook group.  I used to hire our son to help me with catalogs and mailings and sometimes selling retired stamps, but he has been working full time for over a year now, so it's basically just me.  I do my best to keep up with it all, and the house and garden.. luckily we enjoy going out to eat and I hate to cook.. so we do that quite often and for me that allows more hours in the day to work.

 

Question: What is your favorite Stamp Set of all time?  What is your favorite Stampin' UP! Color of all time? What is your favorite current Bundle?  What is your least favorite color? Favorite Non-Stampin' UP! tool? What is your favorite DSP?  

Answer:

  • Favorite Stamp set of all time: wow.. that's hard.. but I really think it has to be Architectural Elements (bet you didn't see that coming, did you?)
  • Favorite Color of all time: Probably Cherry Cobbler, but Calypso Coral is a really close 2nd and a few years ago I would have told you I could never live without Ballet Blue!
  • Favorite current bundle: Botanical Blooms
  • Least favorite color: from the past it would be Luscious Lime, but currently it's Mint Macaron (don't shoot me!) :)
  • Favorite Non-Stampin' UP! tool:  My Carl Cutter!!
  • Favorite DSP: it seems to be the current floral DSP at the time.. right now it's Birthday Bouquet and Botanical Gardens

 

Question: As a successful Stampin' UP! demonstrator, do you get all of the new Stampin' UP! sets for free with each catalog?

Answer:  No, but, as a million $$ achiever, I was given a very generous shopping spree, and all demonstrators earn "Flex Points" to spend however we wish, and you can cash them in for shopping sprees in the catalog!

 

Question: When will we get to see the stamp set you designed as part of your million $$ trip?

Answer:  The official answer is that it will be in the annual catalog in June 2017, however, I'm trying to convince Stampin' UP! to release it as a limited edition this coming Sept. and Oct. and then also the following June in the annual catalog... hint: it's a cancer awareness/ribbon set. :)

 

Question: When is your Birthday?

Answer: May 28

 

Question: How many cards do you stamp a week and what do you do with all the cards you make?

Answer:  I create and mail an average of 40 cards per week to send as customer Thank You cards, plus extras for the Luv 2 Stamp Group and family and friends, so, I use every single card I create!

 

Question: Where do you get your inspiration for your stamped projects? and do you use sketches?

Answer:  My favorite places for inspiration are: Pinterest, Instagram, the Stampin' Up! Catalog, my garden, and color combinations or memories from our travels.  I tried using sketches but I found it stressful .. silly, huh?  I just prefer creating whatever comes to mind.  You can see past sketch challenges I participated in here.

 

Question: What is your favorite Color Combo?

Answer:  I have a few:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Future  Q&A topics will include:

  • questions about Project Life
  • questions about videos
  • questions about storage in my craft room
  • questions on techniques and products
  • questions about my business and being a demonstrator

So stay tuned.. I'll try to do one Q&A post a week to finish covering the 200+ questions :)

 

SHOP ONLINE: If you need any Stampin' Up! crafting supplies,  click to go to my online store.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please leave me a comment!

NEED A CATALOG?: Please allow me to send you one if you don't already have a demonstrator!  Leave me a comment or send me an email; [email protected]

patty bennett stampin up demonstrator pattystamps

 

Shop Online Anytime and Earn FREE STAMPS

Sign Up for my Customer  Newsletter

SHOP: Clearance Rack - Weekly Deals - Promotions

Patty's FREE VIDEO tutorials