It's time for Lauren's Sketch Challenge! This week I kind of veered off course....but stuck with some of the layout. I encourage others to do this too....not to "not follow the rules", but use your creativity and get a little inspiration and go with it. I bought a shirt at Gymboree for my little Ava girl the other day and I loved it and thought it would make the perfect card. This is what I came up with. Instead of rectangles I have layered circles.....it's pretty close!!
This post is pretty late....long story, but I didn't get to bed until almost 2:00....that's another story for another day though. Today I did want to mention my disappointment in a very large and reputable stamp company that I have worked for for over 6 years now.....Stampin' Up! They came out with a news "flash" or should I say a requirement of all demonstrators to sign a new agreement that basically in my view takes away our right to free speech. They want us to sign their new agreement stating that we basically have to be exclusive to SU and that we can't use other products and promote them via links to other blogs or companies nor tell about our product via our own blogs, e-mail, twitter, facebook, etc! We also couldn't be on any design teams....i.e. Lauren's My Time Challenges....! Isn't this crazy! To me they are walking on territory that they never should have. I have my own blog, sponsored by Google.....didn't know that they were any way affiliated with Stampin' UP!, but I guess I was wrong. I can't even post here on my own blog about other products because that would steer others toward the competition.
Can you tell I'm a little miffed by their decision?? It's like saying you can only put your kids in Carter's clothing and you can't mix and match because that is just "wrong" or working at Wal-Mart and telling you that you can't shop at Target because that is supporting the competition. I had the upline of my upline and on up send out an e-mail stating that she totally understands where they are coming from and when she hears of her customers going to places like Archivers, she just cringes. I guess some of us live in this shallow little place thinking that SU is the only company out there, but in fact there are a ton of great designers and other companies that offer a great product and I like to dabble in all of them. So as for me, I will be a SU demo until the end of the month and then I'm tossing in the towel. I don't wish anyone to have a bad business, but I hope that the results from this decission effect them in a way that they can understand that they are very wrong on this account and steered off in a very bad direction.
ENOUGH about that. Most of you probably didn't even know that I sold SU......so that is what makes this even more crazy!! Today is Saturday and it looks like it is going to be a nice day outside. I have a gift to make for a friend of mine's little girl tomorrow so I'll need to get busy on that soon. I've been washing baby clothes for our little Kale....so I'm getting ready for his arrival a little at a time. Hope all of you have a great day and be sure to go get some more inspiration from the other gals too!
Lauren Alicia Dana Jen Kendra Kristen Lisa MacKenzie Maria Odette Tamara Tracey Pam
Comments
As for SU! AMEN sister! OMG. A blog friend of mine told me about the decision the other day and I was ticked! I couldn't believe that such a reputable company could be so narrow minded. Like you, I hope that the cause and effect will be unimaginable and they will realize their bad judgment. Unfortunately for them, it may be too late if/when that happens. My fear is that it won't affect their company in the least.
I'm glad I let my demonstrator-ship end a month ago. This obviously doesn't sit well with me and I would have given my notice immediately...like you.
Okay, breathe. Hope you have a great, SAFE, long weekend! I might give you a call one of these days. I'm shopping again this afternoon for last minute school things.
As for SU! I cannot believe it - I buy from SU (or did), Papertrey, Gina K Designs, Verve - all have their place and then, of course I buy things like nesties, dew drops and other embellishments or tools that SU doesn't even sell. They did not think about the impact this would have on them I'm sure - If I had to limit my blog to one company I wouldn't do it. SO - Power to you for standing strong. We'll see if they back down once they begin to see the backlash.
Happy weekend and hope you can sleep better - I had a hard time sleeping the last two months of each pregnancy and ended up sleeping in the recliner :-)
As for Stampin Up. I am almost lost for words.I can't imagine they would think this would be a "good" business decision on their part. I don't plan on spending another dime on their products no matter how much I like them. They will be losing hundreds of dollars from me! I personally use all kinds of products from different companies but always return to SU for products as well. SU simply don't offer everything I need for my card making or scrapbooking. How can they limit Demo's to one company? Makes no sense to me. OK I could on and on about this because it makes me so upset. Thanks for sharing the news!
SU is not the only company to have the DT rule. seems like the more we hold onto just one view the more we lose in creativity. There is enough in the world for ALL companies. I wonder what would happen if we all supported everyone else. Think of the creativeness that would blossom.
I've commented in regards to the big SU disappointment here about four different ways and keep deleting and rewriting....so let's just leave it as its definitely a disappointment...and I'm not even a demo! Sigh.