Okay! So how much more excitement can a gal handle!? I was asked to feature an 'ASK TAMMY' column over at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog today! What is that, you may ask? Well, its kinda like the old fashion 'Dear Abby' columns. Except its about the GYPSY, not your love life!
I am so honored! Now if you have been following me for awhile, you will have already seen my 'TOP 5 REASONS I LOVE MY GYPSY' video... but I just had to share it with the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE gals! I can't even tell you how many people came up to me in Chicago and told me how much they laughed over that video. Hubby was such a good sport! lol!
But, even more important... I want you all to hop over to the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE bog (HERE) because, they are giving away a GYPSY!! And some cartridges.... and.... the new GYPSY A-Z dvd!! Good luck everyone! I've got my fingers crossed for you!
Wow... back from Chicago and spent Monday catching up on everything! Before I get into the 'meat' of this post... I just want to say THANK YOU not only to ASM Campaigners and Provocraft, but to all the other demonstrators who stopped me and 'thanked' me for my blog! It was so nice to know that so many actually do read my blog and appreciate it! I also want to thank the 'Cricut Mafia' for such a fun weekend... you gals are a hoot! And my forever bff, Angela and new bff, Myrel!
We got a sneak peek at the new Gypsy update that will hopefully be released soon! No date yet... but know this... we saw it working and in action and IT ROCKS! The photos below were taken during our Gypsy training in Chicago (thx Myrel!!) of the gypsy screen that was projected onto a large screen.
FIRST UPDATE: Notice the numbers above and up the side of the virtual 6"x12" mat. They numbered the squares to make it easier for us to place our paper on the mats to coincide with the images on the virtual gypsy mat! LOVE IT!
SECOND UPDATE: Look at the tabs above the screen that are labeled Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3 and Layer 4. Those are now the multiple pages and it is difficult to see in these photos, but there is a little eyeball next to each one that allows you to TURN OFF THE TRANSPARENCY so that you don't all the images on all the mats at one time! REALLY LOVE IT!
THIRD (and most important) UPDATE: We will soon have HIDDEN CONTOUR! It was demonstrated and is so cool! You will be able to toggle through an image to select what you want to hide or use your stylus to choose. Notice the heart above and the center swirls... the middle one has been hidden. NOW DOES THAT ROCK OR WHAT!!
This information was given to the 200 plus demonstrators in the Chicago training and we weren't told that it was top secret or anything. We also do not know for sure if it will be in the next HELLO THURSDAY update or not (got my fingers crossed!). But, I for one, am just tickled pink that it is in the works!
I also wanted to quickly add that for those of you who threw away the cardboard inserts that came in your cricut... (like me)... not to worry! Christy suggested bubble wrap because that's what she does. I have updated that post to answer some of the questions I got concerning traveling with your cricut HERE.
Well, that's it for today! I will be featuring WALK IN MY GARDEN for the rest of the week, because it is the theme for our cricut retreat this weekend! Another sold out retreat, it should be really fun! Oh! And I get my Cricut Cake on Thursday! Can't wait for that!
We've gotten some great feedback on the Angel Policy revision we made last week as it pertains to Cake. It's such great feedback, in fact, that we’d like to do something similar for paper crafters and mixed media artists. Moving forward, we're going to combine cake and other mediums so there's just one Angel Policy for everyone. And at the same time, we’d like to provide a bit more clarity to that policy. This will be the official policy going forward, and while there could be additional adjustments or clarifications from time to time, we don’t anticipate any significant changes in the near future.
This new Angel Policy still does not authorize you to produce and sell individual, unassembled cuts using Cricut products (i.e., mass producing individually-cut letters or shapes to re-sell). It does, however, authorize you to sell up to 10,000 completed projects annually (i.e., cards, scrapbook pages, finished cakes), using cuts made with Cricut products. This revision offers the most flexibility possible to those who wish to create and sell projects made using any of the Provo Craft products, while also protecting the creative ideas and images of the independent artists with whom we work to produce art for our cartridges.
We’ve tried to make this new policy as simple and clear as possible. We hope you’ll be really happy with what it allows you to do. But if there’s any part of this policy that you’re still unclear or unhappy about, please call our customer service department at 1-800-937-7686 and we’ll answer your questions. We also recognize that limiting the sale of completed projects to 10,000 differs from what we shared last week specifically with respect to the use of Cricut Cake. So if you bought Cricut Cake this week and find this revision no longer meets your needs, you can contact Customer Service by April 30, 2010 for a refund.
Okay... so I don't know about you... but, 10,000 cakes in one year are a whole bunch of cakes! Hmmm... let's see, 365 days in a year means that I can make 27.4 cakes everyday of the year and sell them without getting in trouble with Provocraft! Well, I want to meet the person who thinks this is not enough or is not fair! I could be wrong, but I think you would need to be a pretty large operation to produce more than 27 cakes each and every day of the year! JMO!
Hello Everyone! Wow! This weekend is flying by! Today was awesome! Most of the day was focused on the Gypsy. I was fortunate enough to actually help Christy from Provocraft with this session. Ryan introduced us and Christy taught 200 ladies (and 2 guys) while I walked around the ballroom and answered questions. It was so much fun! I really enjoyed being able to help.
Angela is ready with her guide in hand! LOL!
So... what did I learn today? Quite alot actually...
1. I learned that when you change the Gypsy from right-handed to left-handed... the silver zoom and pan buttons that are on the left side of the screen for righties and then move to the right side of the screen for lefties flip purposes also. The top zoom button becomes the the bottom pan button and vice versa. How cool is that!?
2. I learned tons about the YUDU from Christy. She is an awesome instructor and has made around 700 shirts and has THREE YUDU machines! Now, that is some serious screenprinting! I didn't realize all the 3D projects that you could screen print with the YUDU... a gift box, ball cap, pillow, etc!
3. I also learned how to do my reports and paperwork for ASM CAMPAIGNERS.
4. Last, but not least, I learned that squeezing a lemon onto a wasp sting will take the bite out of it! LOL! (more about that later!)
We found out for sure today that we will ALL be demonstrating the CRICUT CAKE machines in Michaels & Joanns stores across the nation starting on May 2nd (Michaels) and May 8th (Joanns). Our Cricut Cake machines along with the four cake cartridges will arrive at our homes this week! Talk about excited! Now, if you are wondering... these machines are not ours to keep. At some point they will be returned back to Provocraft, but we have the opportunity to practice/play and demonstrate them AND get paid to do it! Wow... I am just loving this!
The basic principles are the same for the Cricut Cake as they are for the Cricut Expression, however, we did a little extra studying in our hotel room after class today. We are, after all, demonstrating the machines less than a week from today! Here is my roomie, Angela, studying and texting! Hehee
Of course I was blogging... I just can't help myself :-)
Like I said yesterday, both ASM & Provocraft have treated us like queens this weekend! From the training we received from the PC team to the ASM team chartering 4 buses to take ALL of us to dinner at GINO'S for some wonderful Chicago pizza tonight!
We were excited about Chicago Pizza! A first for us!
Angela & Tammy
Myrel & Susan
This was actually our first time to step outside since leaving our homes on Friday morning to travel here! LOL!
Here are Thomas & Melissa from ASM...
Virgina is the Project Manager that makes all this happen! Not only was she coordinating everything, but she also made sure everyone had pizza and drinks tonight at the restaurant! She just ROCKS!
Even our Market Manager, Suzzane, grabbed a pitcher and helped out!
Here are the 'Chicago Girls' just having a great time at Gino's...
Gino's had graffiti all over their walls... well, all over everything! So, of course we (and by that... I mean, Michelle!) had to leave our 'mark'!
Well, that's all for now! We have 6 hours of classtime tomorrow before we all start heading home! I got a preview of the next Gypsy update, but before I can post it... I have to make sure that it is allowed! I can say... YOUR GONNA LOVE IT! I leave you with this very short (less than a minute!) little video. It's just fun and silly and you will notice at the end that one of our TWO men demonstrators who are also in training for sales, was getting tired of how loud we were! LOL!
Hello Everyone! Chicago is great! Of course we haven't left the airport... the hotel we are staying at is actually in the O'Hare airport! There was, however, a group of 30 some odd ladies who rented a limo and took at trip to the Windy City scrapbook store last night... how fun does that sound?! Angela and I stayed in the hotel and had a private watching party of the GYPSY A-Z dvd in our room! That was fun too! But earlier in the evening we inprocessed and got our binders...
...a gypsy to demo with...
And our polo shirts! Thats me, Angela and Myrel getting our shirts and I want to say thank you to Tonia from Provocraft for taking these pictures!
Today was a full day of training. ASM Campaigners & Provocraft have really outdone themselves and treated us like royalty! Everyone got their own hotel room (Angela & requested to room together though... cause that's what bffs do!) and they provided breakfast, lunch and dinner for us today! This morning started with Ryan from Provocraft welcoming us.
Then Christy from Provocraft started our training with the Cricut Expression. Loved it! And I learned a couple of new things... imagine that!
1. While you shouldn't hotswap (take carts in and out while still on) with the original cricut, it will not hurt the cricut expression!
2. Doesn't matter which side of the plastic cover for the sticky mats you use... they are both the same!
3. The PROPER way to transport your cricut is with the blade housing pulled into the center of the cricut and the two cardboard box inserts securely on each side... like this...
UPDATE: Notice that the housing is in the center... power off your cricut and manually move the housing to the center. Take the blade housing out and if you no longer have those cardboard inserts, then just use bubble wrap. This is for a cricut that will be taken on a flight or travels alot like the ones that us demonstrators will be using. Hope that helps!
Here's a quick video telling you what I'm talking about.
We've got another full day of training today and they are taking us all out for Chicago pizza later tonight! Can't wait! I'll be back tomorrow with more on what's going on in Chicago!!
Well... we made it to Chicago! No lost luggage this time! Woot woot!
Checked into the hotel and had a great time at the MEET & GREET! Got to meet sooo many neat people! Tons from the Two Peas website and even more from the Cricut Message Board! (Hi Sara! Hi Mary! Hi Mari!). Had the opportunity to really get to know one of my followers, Susan! She is just the sweetest!!
What an exciting day! We got polo shirts, lots of paperwork and a gypsy... yep I said gypsy... from Provocraft at dinner tonight! Can't wait til tomorrow!
But even more exciting than all that... I got my copy of the GYPSY A-Z!!!!!!! I hits the shelves on May 1st!! Check out this awesome commercial that Sean & Megan from Above Rubies Studio ....
... so exciting!!! You can click HERE for way more information on the GYPSY A-Z ! I just can't tell you how excited I am about this! Sean and Megan have really knocked this one out of the ballpark with the editing and presentation! I was there for the filming and was very pleased with how everything went, but watching the final product just blew me away!! Thanks Sean & Megan for allowing me to take part in this awesome adventure!
I'll be back tomorrow for more updates from Chicago! Happy weekend everyone!
Hello Everyone! Well, today is FAB FRIDAY TV over at the Cuttlebug Challenge and we are featuring shadowboxes this week. Hop on over HERE to see the details on how I made this shadowbox this past weekend.
I love shadowboxes and have made several for gifts and for my own walls. Here are a few of them...
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I am leaving this morning for Chicago for the Cricut Demonstrator training with Provocraft! So so excited! I promise to take pictures and keep everyone posted throughout the weekend on how we are doing!! And I have even MORE exciting news when I get back next week! Take care!
I am so excited about my trip to Chicago this weekend for the Cricut training with Provocraft! Wow... not only will I be training on a product that I just absolutely love, but my bff, Angela is going too! And I've gotten tons of emails and facebook messages that many of my 'cricut' friends are going too! There are threads on the Cricut message board, Two Peas and Scrapbook.com of groups planning pizza parties, trips to the Windy City scrapbook store and more! Two Peas is have a swap... fun stuff! I thought about joining that one, but unless I want to stay up all night (not an unusual thing for me ;-) to do), I figured I just didn't have time. So for those of you who are going to Chicago... here are some links you might be interested in:
I did, however, pack my suitcase last night! Weather looks chilly and wet for the weekend in Chicago, so no capris or sandals. That's okay because I will be inside having fun with the cricut! So many exciting things going on!
Speaking of exciting things.... Don't forget about the CRICUT CAKE GIVEAWAY! You don't want to miss out on this opportunity! So hop on over to the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE blog because we are GIVING ONE AWAY THIS MONTH!
We are calling it the RED VELVET GIVEAWAY! The Cuttlebug Challenge team is so EXCITED to announce that we will be giving away one of the brand new CRICUT CAKE machines! It's our biggest giveaway of the year!
Grand Prize Winner: Cricut Cake and Tie the knot Cartridge
Donated by our sponsor Provo Craft
2nd Prize Winner: PAISLEY cartridge AND the new ELEGANT CAKE cartridge signed by Jinger Adams (that's who is with me in the photo below)
Donated by our sponsor Provo Craft
3rd Prize Winner: The exclusive PINK JOURNEY and STRAIGHT FROM THE NEST Cartridges
Donated by PaperPhenomenom
5th Prize Winner: Teresa Collins Paper Pack Donated by Celebrity Guest Designer for the month of June, Teresa Collins
If you haven't seen the new CRICUT CAKE in action... then watch this video of JOSH (not Jon!) from Provocraft demonstrate the Cricut Cake for me at Winter CHA! It's gonna be such a fun machine to have!!
What a cool machine! You don't have to be a baker or even a cake decorator to produce beautiful desserts now thanks to Cricut Cake! Here are some samples from the Gala I attended at CHA:
Can you say "YUM"?!
Tomorrow, I will be over at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog with this week's FAB FRIDAY TV! See you there, cause you are going to die when you see the shadow box I made this week! It's my favorite project so far!!
Hello Everyone! Wow, what a busy week I had!! I was neck deep in getting ready for my WILD ABOUT U Cricut Retreat when all of a sudden I decided to apply (and got) a part time job as a demonstrator for Provocraft! There was tons of paperwork, notarized I-9 and yes, a drug test to be done... but I also got all this done too:
WELCOME TREATS
Everyone got black & zebra cardstock from GLITZ, a little black bucket filled with several goodies and a nametag made from PLANTIN SCHOOLBOOK.
I am guest designer over at THE BUG BYTES today. I made a video on how to make these nametags with either the cricut OR the gypsy... and yes, those with the baby bug can make this project too! Click HERE to see it!
Water Bottle Flavor Pouches
Made with the TAGS, BAGS, BOXES & MORE cartridge (you better get it before they run out... it's retiring!). I used the door hanger image (7") with the mirror image feature. Folded it in half to form the pocket.
Cut 2"x10" strips of coordinating cardstock to wrap around the water bottles.
Cuttlebugged the pink cardstock with the PAISLEY embossing folder... love that one!
Welded the word WILD using the DON JUAN font on my Gypsy.
And that cute little strawberry is from HELLO KITTY GREETINGS!
The flavor pouch tucked inside is a Crystal Light WILD Strawberry that is good for ENERGY! Perfect for all my guests at a cricut retreat. These were waiting on their desks when they woke up on Saturday morning.
Speaking of those guests... please say "HELLO" to one of the best groups I have ever had the pleasure to crop with!
and of course, my crazy bff... Angela (Creative Critter) Firefly
Thanks for stopping by today! You know I appreciate each and every one of you! I got several emails from those of you who have applied for the PC Demonstrator Job (CONGRATULATIONS!) and I promise to answer everyone today... I'm still playing 'catch up' on my very long to-do list! Thanks for understanding! I am so excited about the training in Chicago! But, before I can loose all control, I must get ready for my FAB FRIDAY TV post over on the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE BLOG among all the posts I have planned for my own personal blog! Okay... okay... it's gonna be another busy week! So, what's new? :-)
