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Sistahs

I wasn’t going to mention this on my blog as I really just wanted to keep things “status quo” but honestly, I must speak.  Yesterday morning, I was sending a $15  prize to a sistah who won a challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.  She participated in one of our challenges and legitimately won.  Well, dearest Emmabella sent it and it ended up pressing the wrong button.  This wrong button led to over 5000 people receiving this gift voucher in their shopping carts.  I had two options when I saw this happen.  My first option was to send out a broadcast email to everyone telling them that there was a glitch and not to redeem the coupon.  My second option was the route I decided to go.  I decided that I would not take back what I accidentally gave.  How could I?  It isn’t my style.  So after much thought, I decided that the right thing to do would be to honour the voucher to all who received it in error.  This was a potential $50,000 loss but I was prepared to deal with it because I stand behind my errors and was prepared to deal with its repercussions .  Sistahs made decisions whether to redeem or not but I encouraged to redeem because it was already in their shopping baskets and sometimes we all need a little treat especially with the economy going the way it is going etc.. so sometimes there is a meaning for everything.  I firmly believe that.  I have been working since yesterday at 8:00 AM fielding questions, responding to each and every email, discussing matters with people etc.  It has been a lot of work.. honestly.  To make matters worse, there was another glitch with my shipping costs within Canada and overseas citing extremely high rates… This has been fixed (thank goodness) and Canadian rates may change again on Monday as we are trying to get a 55% discount from UPS to pass on to you.  Could matters get a little worse?  YES.  My glitch has been miscontrued by some (very few) as being some sort of “marketing ploy” or “scam” (insert shudder here).. if anyone knows me as I think most sistahs do after the past year and a half together, you know that I am not about that.  I am about honesty and integrity..  I am so hurt by the people who think this way.  I really hope they read my message here and understand what happened.  If i needed to increase sales, TRUST me, I would not give out $15 gift certificates to 5000+ people..

I just wanted to thank those who supported me through this mini crisis and I honestly hope that you at least take advantage of this little Gifty.. honestly.  As I have stated on the boards, this stuff happens (I am sorry but I will NEVAH press that button again..LOL.. I am scared of it).. it was my BOOBOO and I stand by it 100%.

Mwah to da “glitchless” sistahs

Em

Hiya sistahs

you will notice that U.S. customers remain the same in terms of UPS charges (except for PO boxes and APO’s-Canada Post remains).. all overseas and Canadian Customers have Canada Post charges again!  Ups may kick back in next week with better rates!

wanted to keep you posted!

mwah!

Em

What a day sistahs.. evah have one of those?  well I had one today 🙂

We have changed over all our rates to UPS.. we had to automate due to volume and decided to go with UPS as they offered us a great discount which we are offering directly to you sistahs.. it is 52% off published rates!  Now OVERSEAS and CANADA are an issue at the moment.. we are still speaking to UPS and we will offer another viable option as the rates are way to high!  We agree with you.  The U.S. rates are FANTAB but the others are being worked on so please please please bear with us! you will have faster shipping times, FULL trackability and lots of other benefits.. sooo if you are waiting to place an order from Canada or UK, please keep checking.. the issues should be fixed as soon as possible

 mwah! to da understanding sistahs

Em

if anyone is interested just email me!  thank you so much for your support.

We are buried here at DA BELLAS place in orders and snow.. a LETHAL combo.. LOL.  Please understand that we are trying our best to get your goodies out as soon as possible!  We also have a big surprise.. wanna know what it is?  we have been working very diligently with UPS for the last little while and finally signed a contract where we will pass our great discount on to you!  We know how frustrating it is (I am a SHOPPER REMEMBER?? LOL) to order and have the parcel take it’s time in getting there (Canada Post).. so we will be implementing UPS as of next week where you will have COMPLETE trackability, guaranteed services, and short transit times.. HOW GREAT IS DAT??? I am so excited about it.  Can you believe that this excites me? LOL… it’s been a looooooong day sistahs. a looooooong day!

love to all

big MWAH’s

Em

Once upon a time there was a a consultant who worked for a Customs Brokerage firm.  She was COMPLETELY un-crafty, was all thumbs, purchased a KAJILLION craft projects which she nevAH finished (know who I am talking about yet?).  She always loved to color and actually purchased her first Mary Engelbright stamp when she was all of eight years of age.  She used to stamp it in purple.  She used to SLAM it into the purple inkpad.  She always wondered why the image was always blurry.  Hmph.  Well, with her unfinished baby rughooking project meant for a child who had just turned nine, off she went to the local store, Cherished Scrapbooks cuz she DECIDED that she didn’t wanna BUY mothers day cards (lack o money and attention-sorry my dear MIL) she wanted to MAKE mother’s day cards (BIIIIIIG MISSSSTAKKKKKEEEEEE).  So she marched in and looked at stamps and picked up a four flower Hero Arts quad stamp and decided that THIS would be the perfect focal point for ALL of my (ahem, I mean HER) cards… She spoke to Dianne the manager there (MWAH! DIANNE) and Dianne referred her to Nicky Manel, a reknowned teacher/mentor in NORTH AMERICA.. Ok, so now I must speak in the first person.. yes, the main character in this tale is ME.. I know you are shocked.  RE-HEALLY shocked.  SO I says to Dianne WHO IS THIS PERSON, AND I NEED A CLASS IMMEDIATELY…. well sistahs, the rest is history.  honestly.

I took my first beginner’s class the following week (was SOOO angry that I had to wait that long… if you know me, you will realize that i have NO patience at all.. but boy was the wait worth it)  I went to the class and the first thing I noticed was how I was an instant MAGNET to Nicky…. I knew right away that she was from Montreal (where I am from), that we knew common people, and that she would be a part of my life FOREVAH.  The class was PHENOM and the rest is history.. The key to Nicky’s class is that the work is done for you.  Her philosophy is that you work/run around all day, her class should be SHEER pleasure and enjoyment.. and actually full of information that will remain with you forevah!  I don’t mean to go on and on and NIcky will probably KILL me for this post but I have to tell you a little bit about Nicky.. the woman who has been with me 100% of the way from the beginning when she would approve drawings, to when I would bring my rubbah to Cherished to cut, to designing cards, to keep me grounded, to teach me everything she knows, to be kind to me, to keep me company etc etc…

Nicky will Reheally kill me when she reads the next part (sorry Nickabella but I think da sistahs should know..LOL!)

Nicky has achieved many accomplishments.  She has been stamping for 9 years and teaching for 8.  She has been published in magazines such as Somerset Studio, Stamper’s Sampler, Take 10, Stamp it, Papercrafts, papercraft essentials in the UK etc.  She has an international selling DVD, “Ink It UP” that she made with Dianne (remember her from above? LOL).  Nicky teaches at Toronto’s largest craft convention “Creativ Festival (no it ISN”T spelled wrong) where her classes are sold out before the tickets are for sale..LOL.  She has made TV appearances showing the art of the craft.  The greatest part about Nicky’s cardmaking in my humble opinion is her “clean and elegant” style.  Nicky’s favorite “embellishments” are glittah (of course), baubles, swarovskis, beautiful ribbon etc.. 

Nicky has two great kids, Wendy and Robbie.  Wendy is a TOTAL sistah.. TOTAL and comes up with the most FABBY ideas too!, a wonderful hubs JOE, and a little teeny tiny Maya (her granddaughter) and another grandbaby on the way!  SOOOO exciting!

oops, the point of this blog entry…LOL.. (i DO have a “digression” problem, don’t I?), is that we have finally booked our 1st class for da sistahs.. it will be called the “Galabella” class where Nicky will teach different layouts, how she comes up with them, colouring techniques and how to use our FABBY embellishments.  We decided that we will keep it very personal where the class will have 6 people.. We will be offering the class twice on Saturday April 5th  (10-12 and 2-4)… spaces are very limited as you see.. I want people to get to know eachother, to be able to talk and essentially it will feel like a ‘ONE ON ONE’.. Nicky of course will be teaching.. I will be hanging out pretending to know what I am talking about.. LOL and just make it a fun place to be!

If you are interested in calling for pricing and reserving a spot, please let us know!  give us a call at 905.763.2355  or email at emily@stampingbella.com and we will give you all the deets!

Mwah to da sistahs who aren’t annoying bragging about OTHAH people 🙂

Em

so here she is.  Ohsoprettybella.. I am in LOVE with her.

hmph.

mwah to da sistahs who also love DA bellas 🙂

Em