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Interview with Alisa Tilsner, a stamping crafter and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.Are you involved in a stamping or papercraft group? And if so what activities do you do as a group?The only group I'm with is a group at a local church craft group called Linc'n'Learn. I currently teach stamping there. What other interests do you have (besides stamping)? I have done quilting and knitting, and enjoy reading when I get some spare time away from the kids. Can you describe your workspace? I'm lucky enough to have a entire room to myself. I try not to let the room get untidy as I find that if my desk is covered I have a hard time creating. How much time per week do you spend crafting? I probably spend about 15 hours a week stamping, but this includes teaching and preparing for workshops too. What benefits have you found the internet has for your work? The internet is great for business. I have a blog on the internet and it allows people from all over to come and see my work. If they are interested in Stampin' Up! they can email me. The internet also keeps us all closer together. 
What basic materials, and/ or tools, would someone need to buy to get started in stamping as a hobby?To start stamping I generally suggest a black inkpad, white cardstock, a selection of colour cardstock, colouring tools or coloured inkpads, and of course some stamps :) What are two craft tools that you could not live without? A really good paper trimmer, and my stampin scrub - stamp cleaner. Are particular types of paper more suited to making stamping?Any types of cardstock will do, I prefer the Stampin' Up! Whisper white for stamping on as it's lovely and smooth. Textured card is also great to give more depth and interest to your cards. I really like the card with the plum coloured flower on your website (under Monochromatic Petal Prints). Can you outline the general process behind making something like that? This card uses two stamps sets, a background stamp called "french script' and a two step stamping set called 'petal prints'. The cardstock used is called Perfect Plum and Pale Plum. First I stamped French Script on the base of the card using Perfect Plum ink and then using a sponge, I sponged Perfect Plum ink around the edges of the card. A strip of Pale Plum has been stamped with the Leaf Stamp from Petal Prints in Perfect Plum and then sponged around the edges. The main flower image uses two flower stamps from Petal Prints. The bold flower was inked up with Perfect Plum, stamped first onto scrap paper, then onto white card (this makes the image lighter). I then stamped the open Flower stamp over the top - hence two step stamping. The flower was then layered onto Perfect Plum and Pale Plum, and then onto the card front. Just for a little extra something, I have a paper piercing tool to prick a pattern in the corners of the card. How long would you typically spend working on a card like that? A card like this would probably take about 20 mins.  Are there any business problems that you consider are unique to an art or craft business? Only that there is never enough time in the day. Tell us about Stampin Up, what is it all about? Stampin' Up! is a direct sales company that originated in the States. It then expanded into Canada, and has now reach Australia. Stampin' Up! is still very new to Australia, having only opened in April. I joined the company on the day it opened here. The main thing I found unique to Stampin' Up! was the way their stamps are packaged and sold. All stamps come in a set, usually containing between 4 and 12 stamps (alphabets and word stamps have up to 56). The stamps are all designed to work with other and are in correct proportion to each other. (There is nothing worse than trying to put a bee near a flower that is far too big for the flower). The stamps also come unmounted, with woodblock, and sticker. Assembling the stamps are extremely easy, and packaging them this way, reduces the cost of them. Stampin' Up! also has a unique colour family, their entire range of inkpads, cardstock, colouring mediums, and embellishments are all the same colours. It makes it very difficult to create a 'bad' card. Everything just goes. Stampin' Up! is also exclusive, you cannot purchase any of their products in a store, or online, they are only available through a demonstrator. The company is great, there is so much demonstrator support. The ladies in Head Office are always ready to help in any way they can, and have a lot of time for you. There is a fantastic new demonstrator promotion running during October 2006, feel free to email me for more information. I've been having a great time with Stampin' Up!
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