Q & A

Time for another Q & A session—these are questions that you asked in May. Hope it’s fun reading!

I’d love to see photos of your stamp studio.

My stamp studio was actually one of several creative places featured in the premier issue of Where Women Create, a magazine that hit newsstands in Fall 2008. The issue itself is sold out, but you can see a sneak peek of the article here. (insert link:http://www.stampington.com/html/woman_create_winter_09.html#peekinside)

How did you assemble your memory boards?

I’ve tried several things and found that foam core works best. (We tried cardboard, but it wasn’t very stable.) I cut the foam core to the size I want, put a layer of batting on top, and then the fabric. I use duct tape to adhere the fabric securely in place on the back of the board (it doesn’t look very pretty, but it sticks nicely), and then I hand stitch the buttons in place on the front where the ribbons intersect.

Where did you get the crystals that you used on your jewelry?

Those were just crystals I had from an old antique chandelier. I pick crystals up when I’m antiquing—they’re usually only 50 cents or $1. You can find glass ones, plastic ones, all kinds of varieties. They come in handy all the time!

What size frame did you use for the Friend artwork in the Shelli Signature Collection blog?

It was an 8 x 10 frame.

You always look so great! How do you stay in such great shape?

I don’t know that I’m in such great shape (but thanks!). I do exercise whenever I can. I love yoga, and when I can’t do that, I fast walk (jogging is too hard on my back and knees) on a treadmill or around the neighborhood.

I also watch what I eat. I love to eat, and I can’t imagine giving up sweets and treats—life is too short! So I concentrate on portion size, keeping everything small. It’s all about quantity!

I also almost always put on make-up and do my hair, even if I’m just going to be hanging out around the house or outside gardening. My mother and grandmother taught me that when I was growing up—to always look my best, even when I wasn’t going anywhere special. I stick pretty close to the philosophy.

Do you have a pattern for the doily that is under the vase in the photo that you showed on the “Country BBQ” blog?

Unfortunately no. I didn’t make that.  I have more doilies than I can count; again, I pick those up when I’m antiquing. Most of them are tea-stained and worn, which I love!

What photo software do you use?

I’ve answered this before; click here to read that response.

Do you have a digital scrapbooking update?

All I can say is that those who are coming to convention will find out more about this very fun, exciting product!

I have a demonstrator, but she doesn’t hold any events. Is it offensive to find another demonstrator?

In a perfect world, all our demonstrators would be holding all kinds of workshops and events. (smile) We encourage our demonstrators to hold regular events, but they are in charge of their own businesses. That flexibility is one of the significant advantages Stampin’ Up! offers its demonstrators, but it also means that demonstrators offer a wide range of events.

I would hope that you’d contact your demonstrator first and express your interest in attending any events she holds. Let her know you’re looking for her help. If she chooses not to schedule an event, of course you need to find support where you can, and I’m sure she’ll understand that. I certainly do.

There were several IT questions, including the following:

When I pull up your website, the text runs over the header. Can you fix that?

We occasionally hear this comment, and every time we do, we have several people call up the site, and it pulls up fine. The problem seems to be related to the browser, and we can’t control that. I’m so sorry. You may want to see if there is an updated version of the browser you are using, and that might correct the problem.

When your blog shows up in reader, it is titled “Blog,” not “SoShelli.” Could you fix that?

Our IT gurus have changed it. It should now show up as "SoShelli blog."

Would you consider changing your blog from summary feed to full feed so that I can see the pictures in Google Reader?

We researched this before starting the blog and found that it’s more common to have the summary feed. Of course, there are those who like the full feed better; it's one of those subjective things. After discussing this with our IT gurus, we decided to keep it as it is for now. But thank you for your suggestion!

Comments

[Lorien Clark]

Regarding the text running over the header... The problem is with a smaller monitor. I have a small monitor at work and experience that issue. On my monitor at home it is fine. I am running the same browser in both places. I hope that helps!

[Lorien Clark]

Oh I also should mention that the link from the SU! site to your blog for the Country BBQ kit is a bad link. Says it can't find the page. The link I am referring to is on this page of the SU! Website http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/14888.asp

[Sharon Bridwell]

Can I just say I'm so excited that we will hear more about the Digital Scrapbooking program at convention...woohoo!!!

[Pat Breitels]

Recently I was browsing through some older catalogs and I was wondering what do you do with the stamp sets that are not sold or are left over. Do you ever offer those to demonstrators to purchase. If so how can do we find this info. I was just wondering what became of them.

[SHH]

Thank you so much for always taking the time to answer questions that your readers ask. That's very thoughtful of you!
Just a little hint to the readers, regarding the question about "text running over the header".. I have found that if this is happening on the computer I am using that if I click the current month link on left that that will fix the problem for me. (Sorry for my poor sentence structure.)

[Christina]

Thanks for answering all of our questions. I love reading your Q & A blogs even thought I have never asked a question...so here is my first question: Everytime I add things to my cart on the online store, my cart gets dumped within maybe 20 minutes. A lot of stores out there will save your cart for days or weeks before dumping it. Is this something Stampin Up can change about the website?

[Bunny Cates]

Hi Shelli!

Great Q&A's today!

Just a quick note about the TEXT over run and the header...

it is a CSS issue, and they can correct this alignment via your CSS which will make it display properly with cross browser compatibility. With the availablity of variety of browsers now (Chrome, FF, IE, Opera, Maxon, Safari) using W3C Compliant code is almost a MUST! If they will update your css within the W3C specifications, using primarily HTML 4.01 Strict code it should resolve ALL issues. Subsiquently adding the code to force IE7 compatibility into your header will resolve any but all issues with specific to IE 8 and subsiquant upgrades.

Hope that helps! And wow, do I sound like a super NERD! lol!!!!

Love you and your blog!
Bunny Cates,
Stampin' Up! Demo from KY!!! :o)

[Sue Smith]

Happy Stampin' Up! New Year Shelli! I am thankful every day for finding SU.

[Sue Smith]

Happy Stampin' Up! New Year Shelli! I am thankful every day for finding SU.

[KT]

I just looked through the new SU catalog online - it is DEVINE! I do have one suggestion regarding each section page - e.g. the OCCASIONS, GROWING UP, etc. pages. These pages only contain the title and a background design. I'd love to see a contest held to let SU customers submit their creations using SU stamps found in each section - with winning submissions published on the corresponding section pages in an upcoming SU catalog. This would give customers even more ideas for using your fab products (thereby increasing sales) -- AND who doesn't LOVE a contest?! I will also submit this idea to my wonderful SU Demonstrator - Brenda Keenan.

[bettyannmanghi]

happy 4th of july Shelli!
thank-you for all you and your family and staff at SU! do to inpire us
i am talking about business and life
love reading your blog
so do my customers
enjoy your life and work
i do too now that i am a su! demo
wait i was already enjoying my life but now i am enjoying my work as well
it's not easy but it's satisfying and quite exciting to be involved as a demo with Stampin'Up!
i am so proud to be a part of a company with such high standards, good quality, great values and a leader like you
keep the faith, betty

[Jennifer Greeley]

Thank you so much for including how you made the memory boards. I just love them!

[Kim McAlister]

Thank you for sharing with us. you inspire me with your passion for excellence and your devotion to God and family.Thank you for sharing your stamp studio.Thank you for creating this wonderful company and maintaining a high standard of excellence and principles.

[Jacki McHale]

Hi Shelli!

Thanks for sharing all you do! Happy New SU! Year!!
My question for the next round of Q & A would be your pictures. A few of us have noticed that you and your family have quite the nack for posing just perfect for your pictures. My friend thought that you always had a professional photographer with you (I think your son-in-law is one) I said some people are just really photogenic.
So the question is... Are you followed by your own hired paparazzi? Or are you all just camera happy?

THanks!

Jacki McHale

[Samantha Pizano]

Hello Shelli you might not remember me but you changed my and my family's life, My dad always told me there are angles in this world that help one's in need, and he says you're on of them. =) I want to wish you first and foremost of all a Happy Valentine's Day. I am Samantha Pizano the daughter of Apolonio Pizano, about 8 years ago he started at the company and had worked with the company and had helped it grow for as long as I can remember. You had helped my family in time of need when my mother had passed 3 years ago in December, I also remember when i had met you when I was little, now i'm all grown and going to a university! woooo! I just got accepted to UVU and my twin to U of U, Hooray! =) I was wondering if you could contact me to chat some more, I would like to thank you for everything you have done, and talk about a most upsetting situation that happened in my family not to long ago if it's not to much to ask. I am grateful to have had met a person like you and known there are few people so kind as you, Thank you. Hope to hear from you soon.