Why I Won't be a Stampin Up Demonstrator... (and bonus card!)

Why won't I be a Stampin Up Demonstrator? Even though I enjoy using their products? Well, there's a very good reason... let me tell you why.

Also, Stampin Up Mini Haul and a card made featuring Hero Arts Winter Folk Animals set!

SUPPLIES IN THIS CARD:
(some links may be affiliate links)

STANDARD SUPPLIES:
These are supplies I always have on hand and use for almost all of my cardmaking.

TOOLS:
• Platinum Die Cutting Machine

• Spellbinders Betterpress System

• Scor-Buddy & Bone Folder

• Fiskars Spring Loaded Scissors

• Tim Holtz Glass Mat

• Heat Tool for Embossing

• Sidekick Cutting Machine

INKS
• Hero ArtsBlack Ink (Safe for Copic and Watercolor)

• Versamark Clear Embossing Ink

• Versafine Black Embossing Ink

• Distress Blending Inks

ADHESIVES:
• Art Glitter Glue (The BEST!)

• Low Tack Purple Tape

• Foam Tape

PAPER:
• Neenah Solar White 110lb

• Betterpress Cotton Paper

•Crane’s Cotton Paper

STORAGE:
• 7.5x5.5 Storage Sleeve
• 9.5x7 Storage Sleeve
• Magnetic Sheets for Dies
• Marker and Colored Pencil Case

COLORING MATERIALS:
•Arteza Watercolor Brush Markers
•Ohuhu Alcohol Markers
•Copic Alcohol Markers
•Watercolors
•Silver Watercolor Brush
•Watercolor Pencils
•Prismacolor Colored Pencils
•Metallic Gel Pens

MISCELLANEOUS:
•Sparkle Embossing Powder

•Clear Embossing Powder

•Glossy Accents

•Other Embossing Powders

•Gems

Wink of Stella

• A2 Rectangle Dies

• Black Fineliner Pens

Affiliate Links used at no cost to you

[Fifi_Is_My_Name-O]

I just wanted to clarify something you brought up regarding using other products. You can use other products, you just can't market, sell or promote them if they compete with a similar SU product.

For example, before SU came out with their line of Blends alcohol markers many demos had Copics (or other brands) of alcohol markers in their craft room stash so, at that time, it was ok to mention it if you were using a Copic. By the time that Blends came out, there were a lot of demos that had already invested a lot of money into Copic (or other) alcohol markers. That did not mean that a demo couldn't use their Copics for projects, they just weren't allowed to mention the brand and instead had to mention and promote the use of Blends. They were allowed to say something like "I had these non-Blends markers (that I'm' using) for many years but SU now has a great line of Blends alcohol markers including this color that will perfectly match everything..." blah blah blah... while using their Copic marker on a project. I read this in an FAQ on the demo website when Blends came out...

Same thing with the Misti (I hate that company) and the Stamparatus. Many demos already had the Misti, although the Stamparatus was way better (thanks a lot My Sweet Petunia for killing all the better products than yours by burying them with lawsuits, you stink). It was still ok to use the Misti in your demonstration so long as you didn't say its name and instead mentioned and promoted the Stamparatus.

I use Tombo glue sometimes (there are good uses for it) but the majority of the time I use Bearly Art glue. It's ok for me to use it, I just can't' point it out or say that I'm using it or mention its name, and instead, If I talk about glue, I am supposed to recommend using Tombo. It sucks.

I also use adhesive-backed magnetic sheets that I get on Amazon for storing dies. It is ok for me mention the brand and where I get them because SU doesn't sell anything like them.

But there are many demos (some million dollar sellers) that have links on their blogs for non-SU products that don't compete with SU products. So that must be ok (so long as SU has nothing like the product)... but that is a head scratcher because I just looked at the website of a million dollar seller who has a link to Stamp n Storage which has products that directly compete with several SU products, so I'm not sure how that is allowed (and it's not the first time I've seen a demo blog link to Stamp n Storage).

I've been a SU demo for 11 years and I'm getting disillusioned with them lately as their prices have gotten way too high and the quality of many products and their packaging has gone down. Let me use Blends again for an example... they are $5 each except that you have to buy them in pairs (one Light and one Dark of the same color) for $10. So if your "Light" marker dries up you have to spend $10 for a new one because you have to buy the Light and Dark together as a pair, even if your existing Dark marker is going strong... and I've had at least 4 of the Blends markers separate where the tip piece pulled apart from the barrel when trying to remove the cap. When this happens, of course it dries up, sooner rather than later.

Blends are so cheaply and poorly made that I no longer (in good conscience) can recommend them; instead I just say "SU makes a set of Blends in this color" as I use my Copic marker (which I now buy to replace the Blends as they dry up)... Besides the poor quality and the high price to replace one Blends marker, there are no replacement nibs nor can you refill them. For all those reasons I've actually only recently turned to Copic markers which are so much better and, in the long run, way less expensive than Blends. I also like the idea of less plastic going in landfills.

My other biggest gripes with SU are their ridiculous shipping fees. They need to get with the program and offer free shipping on orders with a minimum ($50 I feel is adequate) like the rest of the crafting companies... they also need to do something about their horrible "new" stamp pads which are hard to open and give you no room to grab them when opening and closing them so that you end up with ink on your hands which then often ends up somewhere on your project where you don't want it...

...and my absolute biggest gripe is the break-neck pace at which they retire products forcing demos to buy buy buy, making us their best customers. It makes it hard to make a profit If we are trying to run a business and keep products in stock that our customers can purchase... their inventory is set up so that they win and the smaller business demo (as opposed to the hobby demo) loses. They will continue selling products to us in "Presale" knowing there will not be enough inventory left for our customers to buy the products, leaving us with unsellable products. It's infuriating. They are definitely not the same company they were 10 years ago, corporate greed seems to have set in...

I will say what I do like is the quality of their paper and the fact that everything coordinates so well. I also think that the quality of their stamps is very good compared to a lot of others... But they've pulled enough greedy shenanigans that I'm seriously thinking of quitting. I'm getting so fed up. If you made it this far, thanks for listening to me rant, lol!

[ninaladybirdcards]

I was a demonstrator with Stampin up but stopped buying new Stampin up products when I found out that I could not use discontinued products, to me that is a waste of money having to buy new products every three months. I love the products I have and continue to use them all the time.

[sallygreiner]

I totally agree with you. I was at a Stamping Up party several years ago and mentioned to another party-goer that I had a Silhouette Cameo. The demonstrator (who I’d never met before) jumped all over me and told me I was not allowed to discuss this at “her” party. I was shocked and embarrassed and later I was angry.

[mariannesalisbury]

I agree! Good for you for taking a stand. I love to papercraft and I use a wide variety of craft products to accomplish my craft. Most great quality and a lot less expensive then Stamping Up

[shiba_inu_mom]

I am with you on that. After 5 years beeing a demo I also opted to been drop out by not bringing the quarterly minimum. They are not only outdated regarding competitiveness and collaboration but also lack innovation and freshness to me - I simply couldn't find that many products and designs to be willing to spend so much more money on( as in comparison with other brands). And my few customers saw it the same way. I was relieved to be finally "free" to use whatever I like and I shut down my channel (all my old demo videos are now set to private). Also the kind of "bubble" those fellow demontrator (around your team and others) create, did really somewhat "brainwash" me for a decent amount of time, that it's only ok to use current products (especially for your bring alongs at events). Also in workshops your customer expect you to have many different new items to try. In the end I felt like I'm pressured into crafting with items I don't like that much any more and kind of lost the joy and got into a creative burn out. It's really a sad ending to my SU journey I began with so much enthusiasm for the products and people. I only have contact with a few of them and they are also not "hardcore SU fan girls" they enjoy (silently in private ofc.) other products too.

[StampwithJoy]

Hey sweetie, I'm a hobby SU demonstrator and I use any items I want on my channel, SU tried to tell me that I wasn't allowed to use other products, I told them it is My channel not theirs and I am still a hobby demonstrator, I use them for the 25% discount and they have left me alone. It's your channel my lovely don't let them dictate what you can and can't use, hope this helps. My channel name is Stamp with Joy x x

[PNWGirl-cd]

Lovely card- thanks for the inspiration. I really like how so many companies support one another and work together. Wish they all did!

[ruthvanmackelenberg]

I was a demo for about 6 months but had to give it up. I didn’t understand why I was not able to use other products. I have a craft room full of “contraband “. That was what my upline actually called it. Much happier using anything I like.

[SantaFeLady]

Good for you! Who needs this kind of control in their lives? And like you said, it's not even like you would be an employee! Being told what we can and cannot use when we CREATE something is awful! ❤

[cindyellis]

This is a really beautiful card. I never would have thought to use these images like this. You are so right about Stampin Up. I don’t even buy much from them any longer as I feel their designs are a bit too simple and way over priced.

[deniselewis]

What a great idea of using the foam cut out with the dies. I would have never thought of that, but I love it!

[SusanYoung-wv]

I think Stamping Up sees the writing on the wall. The products are way too expensive and other companies are much more inventive, inclusive, and affordable. I make it a personal practice to avoid MLMs and though you can buy the products directly, they seem like a company I like to avoid, so I do.

[EileenJOfficial]

I was a Stampinup demonstrator a 5 years. I totally agree with you. I have a currently dormant channel. Stampinmama, I was miserable, being restricted to what I could show on my videos. I'm not that kind of crafter. I like mixing things up. Maybe I will show crafts again on my channel. I'm just enjoying being free crafting again after a 3yr break focusing on my kids.

[Valentina-Steinway]

And since the daughter of the owners is indicted for murder in the first degree,
they should worry more about that situation then what we do with our supplies.

[sandycottonjones]

I just gave up my 20+ years as a hobby demonstrator. I've lost my mojo, and can't make myself walk into my craftroom because the products I purchased like an addict are EVERYWHERE. For everything in the current catalog, I have 2 or 3 similar items.

[Avinmor]

I love that card and your color selection! What a wonderful stamp set. Thank you for sharing. Blessings!

[suzerolfe]

Stephanie I totally agree with you. That is the major reason why I too won’t become an SU demonstrator. I enjoy making cards but also want to use the many other products from other companies as well. There should not be a restriction on using other vendor products, perhaps more cardmakers would become an SU demonstrator.

[annlauzon]

I agree with you completely...I was a hobbist demo for over 5 yrs, mainly because I love their cardstock... I still buy it and a few other things mainly because I only have Michaels here where I live in Canada, and they only carry 65 and 110 lb. card. Another thing, I love making 6x6 and 5x7 cards with lots of Wow to them, not those piddley little A2 cards .

[hangingoutwithnanajacobson]

Gorgeous card, love it even though I never would have thought to make one myself.❤❤

[mary-car]

I have this stamp and punch and I love it! I’ve even made the little one into berry cluster with my scissors and markers 😉. My sister is who I purchase from she is just a hobbyist and uses lots of other brands (but doesn’t do videos) Perhaps you can find a crafty friend who lives nearby who can sign up and then you two can order together 😊 I echo what a lot of other folks say about shipping fees, and product availability and retiring things sooo fast. That’s why I’d never sign up. But I have my sister so I get the best of both worlds 😊