fresh & fun

Beate,

I like this one better as well. I LOVE that image. It’s so gorgeous as is your card. I agree with you on the SU front.

The thing that infuriates me is all the great charity events that take place that SU demos will no longer be able to share. I personally have something I am working on and feel a lot of anger that my efforts to help someone in need will be affected by this new policy. I don’t think SU really thought about how much more than just their little self they are affecting. I have a huge “tantrum” on my blog so there is no hiding how I feel. Regardless I will always be thankful for the knowledge and inspiration you share. So THANK YOU!

Beate-
You have been on my mind the last week with all the changes.

I wish you peace in making your decisions.

You are such an inspiration to many and I’m sure no matter what you decide, you will continue to inspire others.

Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

What a fabulous creation. It is elegant, gorgeous and perfectly done!

Oh Beate, I hear you. I had to come to the conclusion that I could not represent them with integrity anymore, practically or emotionally. This was such a difficult decision. Thinking about you girl as you work through this! Creativity is such a self expression…whatever you chose, I hope the joy it’s meant to have in it for you stays!

And I LOVE what you’ve done with this set Beautiful work as always.

This is so very beautiful, and I love the papers you’ve paired your birds with.

I’ve been thinking of you and the difficult decision you have. Big hugs!!

What a GORGEOUS creation Beate!! Its such a hard decision to make…and so many of us must make it. I personally chose to stay with my DT’s, so I will not be signing the IDA…but I also still LOVE SU! and the company…good luck with your decision! Everything you make, irregardless of the what brand of stamps you use, is AMAZING!!

Thank you for sharing your amazing talent……hugs!

I love your card! and would have hated to see you alter your blog in anyway for something so asinine as that agreement. I was so ready to join the SU team but after that came out I will just stay a customer. It’s not worth 20% to make me not give credit were credit is due… Thank you for all your inspiration with all of your artwork and thank you for your tutorials.. wonderful!
Mandy

beautiful card, as always beate! these colors a delicious! good luck with your decision…i’m still trying to decide too…it’s a hard one! hugs back to you!

Thanks for sharing where you are on your decision with us. I truly hope that you remain a SU demo. I find your SU work and inspiration for me in my demoing.

Blessings,
Julie

p.s. nice card!

Beautiful card, Beate. I can totally understand how you feel about SU. I’ve been a hobby demo for 10 years (no downline). I obviously like their products, but this new policy is just not something I can live with and will we terminating at the end of the month.

Your card is beautiful as always Beate!!! I understand your position completely and whatever you decide,make it the right decision for you. I love your work and will always visit!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Beate you are the voice of calm reasoning and prayerful consideration. I appreciate your open candor about your SU decision. Best of luck to you.

What a beautiful card…all of your cards are amazing! I completely understand what you are going through. It is a very hard decision. It’s a shame SU thought that this was good for the company! There are a lot more negative things being said around the stamping world than good things. I really think this will affect them more than they thought! Personally, I can not sign the agreement. It was easy for me since I just moved and left all my customers at home. But since that’s not a factor for me…I choose creative freedom! SU is only a small part of the stamping world…I have too many non-SU stampers visit me blog…they come for my watercoloring and DT posts, not just for SU! Good luck with your decision!
~Lacey

I feel for you! I have been going through the same decision process and am also leaning toward not continuing as a demo. I just don’t feel so strongly attached to SU exclusively to resign myself to only representing their products. The stamping world is just too big today! I will continue purchasing SU products as a customer because I do indeed like their products, but will keep my personal blog personal, keep stamping and give credit where it should be given.

Beate, I know you will make the best decision for you. It would be a shame for SU to lose you because of their strict IDA when in fact you are really a walking ad for them in every positive way. By showing, so beautifully, how compatible their products are with other companies surely has had a positive effect on their sales across the country because you reach so many people. I have no doubt that when you mention the use of SU papers, inks, stamps, etc in your work that many folks place an order with their demo as soon as possible to try to replicate your beautiful creations. God Bless and help you make the right decision.

Such a pretty card, Beate! I feel for you having to choose between SU and SCS. It’s not an easy decision, but you have to do what’s right for you. Good luck!

Another beauty, Beate!!! Wonderful colors and I love this stained glass technique. I must give it a try!!! I have this image you know…lol!!! Great work!!! I am fond of square cards, myself…5.5 comfort zone!!!

What you have said today re the SU! changes makes perfect sense and it is how I feel too. We don’t know if the same changes are coming our way here in Australia…I guess they will. I hope SU! will bend a little on them before then…my fingers are crossed:)

I’ve never sold SU or anything else, so I think I have an unbiased opinion. I think SU is making a mistake because, from what I see in the blogging world, none of the MOST creative people limit themself to one company. My guess is SU is going to lose a lot of their most creative demonstrators. Whatever you decide, I hope you stay with SCS (which it sounds like you will) because you are one of those “most creative people” and I love your cards and your tutorials.

Having never been any kind of stamping demo, I thought share my two cents. Personally, I think it’s ridiculous for SU to ask this of its demonstrators, but again, it’s just my opinion. I began stamping with SU and only bought their stuff for a while, but then I began seeing many other wonderful products offered by other companies. I still love their products, but it’s rare that I use products from only one company on anything that I create. In any case, you are a woman of integrity and I agree with you that it’s only respectful to give credit where it is due.

PS: I like this card better, too. It’s another beautiful creation!

I think I like this one better too! It’s a beuatiful card!
Best wishes in your desicion. Its not an easy one for most of us I think.

I just read Sherry Cheever…her one door is closing and opening again with a new adventure. That’s what live is…an adventure. Like a novel, even they have villans…boogey men…things that go bump in the night…carry on my dear…one door is closing, but look at the one that is ajar…

Another beautiful card Beate! I love visiting your blog for ideas and inspiration - your site is bookmarked in my favourites! That is a shame about SU. I am an SU demo on Australia and had not heard of this new agreement. I do hope it doesn’t happen here! Whatever decision you make - it will be the right one for you. Good luck with whatever you decide

I really enjoy your work and your blog, get many great ideas, tips, and the tutorials are great. Creativity takes many different paths, hard to be creative when you are stifled by rules. If you see a product and want to include it into your design that should be the thing to do. Gives me a really bad image of SU. Hope it all works out for you, the product is great and what you share with us is great1

I appreciate your comments on your status with SU. I just became a demo 3 months ago. I also have a personal blog that is new and not frequently visited by anyone but me…..but I just don’t think I can give up the right to post what ever I want on it. I hope they will change their minds. Love your work!

Beate, this card is beautiful! I love all that colour!!
Sorry that you are still in limbo about what you are going to do. It was an easy decision for me because I don’t have many customers and my one downline is leaving too…lol
I wish you luck and will be thinking of you while you come to a final decision…sending big hugs!

I do not envy you the task of figuring out this mess with SU!. I don’t understand their rule- I think it will end up hurting them more than helping them. I had considered becoming a demonstrator when I got back to the States in a few months, but there is no way I’m going to stop using and posting other companies. This is the exact reason why I quit Creative Memories a few years ago. I just don’t want anyone or anything to limit of creative freedom. I hope SU! will reconsider!

Oh, and your card is gorgeous!!

Gorgeous card as always Beate. Thanks for posting your thinking on the SU thing too. It will be a tremendous loss for them if they don’t change that policy soon. They are losing some of their best demos. Hugs with your decision.

Dear Beate,
I am a SU Demo over in Australia and in a way we are not affected by the new USA agreement (as yet)… I realize that some tough decisions lie ahead for a lot of people and I for one would like to take the opportunity to thank you for all your wonderful contributions that you have made in the way of beautiful cards and other creations / amazing tutorials and the fact that you have shared them so freely with all of us.

Whichever way you decide to go, I wish you well in making the right decision and also send you a big cyber hug for your wonderful inventive tutorials which are simply the best out there! thank you from the heart!
Angie xx

Being on the outside and looking in (I’m not a demo just a customer as there are too many other companies with wonderful things to offer) I think SU’s decision is going to turn into a tsunami of departing demos for them…. Such a shame as they have marvelous products.

I fully agree with giving credit where credit is due and it is a bit narrow minded and short sighted to think that SU has all the products anyone would ever need or want, never mind the opportunity for people to be on Design Teams, submit for publications etc. and be able to share that news/joy with the followers of their blogs. If that is their goal, they are going to have to increase their catty products big time to achieve this. The real shame is they are going to lose a lot of publicity on blogs where cards are posted using SU and other products. I have often seen a card created by someone and a SU image or other SU product has caught my eye and made me think “Hmm, I really like that and think I want to buy it”.

The “If you don’t want to play then I’m going to take my ball and go home” attitude is going to hurt them more than help them, I’m afraid. I’m sure many a demo are having to make some heart wrenching decisions and I so appreciate your desire to do what is right. I LOVE your work on/for SCS. I have learned SO much, and would hate to see you leave. You touch so many through this site and your blog — we love you (((hugs))).

Beate, you could not have said it better,thanks for choosing creative freedom. We, your adoring public want to know all the details on your projects and we want you to keep making the beautiful art pieces that you do so well.

I hope you’ll contine with SU - you are so creative and such a help to demos like me.

Just so you know, we are still allowed to give credit to other companies’ products, just not allowed to provide links to sites where one could purchase those products. And while SU would *prefer* that you say, for example, “binding machine” rather than “Bind-it-all,” that’s not what you *must* do.

Whatever you decide, I’ll still be visiting your blog regularly! Best wishes.

As I was introduced to stamping 4 - 5 years ago. I have come to reach farther with my stamping because of people like YOU and so many other Stampin’ Up demonstrators I have come to keep an eye out for…daily through blogging!! Thank you so very much and my thought are with you as you continue to ponder this huge decision.

Your card can cross many different thoughts…awesome Beate…as usual!

Beate:
Please don’t limit yourself to just one company. I love your creations! The use of various products from different companies only enhances the result, in my opinion. Thank you for the tutorials, too. They’re very helpful!

Hi Beate, I LOVE your work!

I’m not a SU! demo, just a customer. This IDA even has me bugged. SU! is not only going to lose a lot of demos, but they are going to lose business from people like me.

When I blog hop, I can tell who is a SU! demo; it’s obvious! The fact that a particular demo uses and credits other companies, doesn’t remove the fact that SU! is being used and promoted on that blog. My own demo doesn’t blog, so I love having people like yourself so I can get previews of upcoming products. I hope SU! changes their policy. Best wishes!

Beautiful card, Beate! I’m sorry that you are forced to make this decision. Hugs!

Beate, as usual your tutorial and card are fantastic. I love coming to your blog to see your latest work and am so thankful to you for your hard work in putting together the tutorials. I’m not a demo, never have been, and now never will be. I am very disheartened with SU for forcing this ridiculous on their demos. How absolutely childish to say the least on their behalf. I have been using stamping up for over 10 years, I love their products, but at the same time know there are other choices out there. In the past SU has received the vast majority of my stamping budget. Because of this ridiculous rule that is going to change and SU is going to be the one to suffer. I have loved what they have, but they don’t have enough to keep me a one company shopper and have forcing their demos to make these heart wrenching decisions, I am choosing to boycott their products. I know I will miss their stamps, but my conscience will not allow me to sit by and silently watch them force this on their demos. Beate….I know you will make the right decision for YOU and the rest of us, your followers. And just know, it is SU who has brought this down upon themselves. Well they are sitting their watching their sales go down month after month they will have no one to blame but their selfish selves.

Again, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us. I know how much I appreciate you.

Hugs,
Sue

Beate, My letter to stampin up will express my concern that we will be losing fabulous inspiration from people like you. I love your work and am so glad you are back. I will be signing the IDA, but I do not have much on my blog besides SU… But I love allllll the work you do regardless of the products. Hope that SU meets your needs!

Beate, I think your decision is going to be so much harder to make for the reasons you stated. I just hope you will continue your wonderful blog which has been such a joy to see and such an inspiration too! I hope you realize how very much you are appreciated!

This is a truly beautiful card Beate! I know the decision you are working through is a difficult one for you and I’m sure you will do what is best for you. I love reading your blog full of ideas, tutorials and you always list your products - you are such an inspiration to so many!! Thank you!