First...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

Wishing all of you a very HAPPY and HEALTHY 2009!

 Did my blog title catch you a little off guard? well... it's true.. sort of. This is my final blog entry HERE on www.stampinwithallison.com.

I have a lot of news... 

Last year Stampin up finally opened the door for demonstrators to sell personally made items. Ones like you see at my etsy store. since then I have been selling at various fairs, bazaars and local stores as well as online. That takes a bulk of my time. I also realize that in home workshops (while fun for a girls night "in") have been taking a significant amount of time away from my family in the evenings. Therefore I will be offering daytime workshops and perhaps just a few evening ones.

 I will always stand behind Stampin' Ups products. they are of the highest quality. Especially the card stock , the tools and of course... their rubber stamps. Nothing out there gives a better, more crisp image the deeply etched SU stamps.  They continue to evolve the designs and images to fit today's styles.

That said... I realize that over time I have collected almost every Stampin Up item (stamps and accesories!).  And
I find myself purchasing a lot of non SU items. So I am starting a whole new blog for all my projects that are and are not strictly Stampin Up! I will continue to update new tutorials on this site as I learn new techniques... and I am also going to work on my STAMPIN UP only site . That is the site where you can view company projects, purchase SU directly 24/7, check out my classes... basically everything you have here. 

Another reason for the change in direction...  the last few years I have supported a variety of charities and local service projects. For some I have asked for your help (THANK YOU!). Of note we have donated over 500 greeting cards in 1 year to the local Cancer therapy Center and have sent over 400 cards over seas to our military soldiers for their use!  We have also sent supplies (magazines, food, clothing and more) to those in the military as well! Thank you to all who helped support the missions. 

This year I am committing to a one year service project - to Build a House for a single mom or widow in Haiti. The charity is: DOUBLE HARVEST - Benevolent Housing Project. You can view the info at www.doubleharvest.org. I will do my best to raise $3000 to build a home (and more if i can) by selling handmade items on a dedicated etsy store I have set up - www.buildingdreams.etsy.com. I will sell my own handmade items as well as other artists items. 100% of the profit from these sales will be directly donated to this charity.  $3000 is enough to pay for labor and build a home that someone DESPERATELY needs. (can you believe that?!?) (If you are an artist that would like to donate for this cause, please email me... I will contact you directly! THANK YOU SO MUCH!)

I have really spent a good deal of time examining my current business and debating the different directions.... but I  think this is how I am evolving and I welcome the change! 

So I invite you to take this new journey with me. Visit me on my new blog, www.openhandcreations.blogspot.com and  perhaps together we can change lives (both our own and those around us!). I'll see you there!!!

-Allison

Q&A:

Q: will I still be able to access tutorials on this site?

    A: YES! I will leave this site up as well as add new tutorials as I learn new techniques. As long as you sign up for individual updates to specific parts of this website, you will be alerted when I do add new postings.

Q: Can I still purchase Stampin Up! items thru you?

    A: YES! I will hold on to my demonstratorship as long as I meet the minimum quarterly numbers. You will be able to purchase items by contacting me or directly 24/7 on my Stampin UP DBWS . Here you will also be able to view my class offerings, all SU promo info and Stampin up company info as well!

Q: Will the Artist Trading card link still be current?

    A: YES! I will continue to update ATC info here on this site. I will also have a link from my blog as well.

Q: I pre-purchased a $5 - 2009 Spring /Summer Catalog from you. Will I still receive my copy?

    A: YES.. of course. If you preordered the catty, I have you down. I will contact you directly when it becomes available. You can still purchase your items thru me whenever you wish!

LIST OF LINKS:

MY NEW BLOG: www.openhandcreations.blogspot.com

STAMPIN UP DBWS (my SU site): www.allisonlee.stampinup.net 

Papercrafts by Allison online store: www.allisonpapercrafts.etsy.com 

Building Dreams online charity store: www.buildingdreams.etsy.com 

MoonflowerArt BLOG: www.moonflowerart.blogspot.com 

Moonflower Art online Store: www.moonflowerart.etsy.com