Stencil thief

[Sherry]

I did a party last night.  A real nice and busy one with gracious hosts.  Here's a blue power ranger one boy requested.




Here's a Clash the clown bird mask





Then the adults discovered the tattoo stencils and I was swamped the rest of the night with glitter tattoos.



In fact, it was like a mob.  I had to have my host shut the line down at my end time, because they were all arguing over who I was to do next and I didn't have time to do all that were vying for a turn.  As I was packing up, one lady came over, grabbed a handful of my stencils, asked if she could take them and before I could answer, she took them.     I'm not sure what she's going to do with them without the body glue or glitter.  I'd heard of this happening to someone else, but this was a first for me.

Other than that little incident, it was a great party and the people who hired me were so kind and appreciative.  A pretty good night.

[jubob]

  omg Sherry that is terrible cheeky ***

[twinkletattoos]

oh-m-gee...people are so rude. I get so frustrated when people don't realize that you are on a time frame. I went over on one of my birthday parties last week, but the host actually came over and asked me if it was okay and ended up paying me extra for my time...looks like she might have actually read the contract.

I've felt mobbed at my last few events too. It is very overwhelming and it really is the parents who are the worst. I had to change up the way my stencils are displayed.

I have 2 binders with trading card sheets to hold my stencils. In my original "look book" I had one of each stencil and then in my "work book" I carry 5-10 of each design to match the other book. I found that some of the kids wouldn't necessarily steal the stencil, but they would take them out and put them in different spots. I didn't want to take this chance anymore especially since I get so busy that I don't have time to keep an eye on my look book...so before my last party I placed the stencils on my copy machine and made copy sheets to match my work book and placed them in regular ole sheet protectors. This worked very well for me all last weekend. Only problem I had last party was the way I was positioned when the kids weren't looking fast enough the parents would try to take my work book to peek at. I kindly asked the parents to please use the other book and then placed the work book on my lap for the rest of the party. I feel like I have to protect my stencils like they are gold.

[Glitterfly Faces]

Do people not realize we pay for those stencils?  I had a mother steal my stencils for her kids b/c she did not want to wait the 20 min. in my line.  How frickin rude.
Would someone steal a hamburger from a food stand?  Etc.   I woulda wanted to slap her. 
I was so mad when the mother did it to me.  I actually called her out infront of all the other parents and asked what she planned on doing with my supplies.  She hummed and said "apply them I guess."  What do I need to do them at home?
So....I reambled off the list of expensive supplies and then gave her the safety speach about not using proper supplies.  She huffed at me and walked away....still with my stencils.  WTF?  That is stealing.

[Sherry]

It's so odd that someone would do this.  When I picture myself in that position, I can't imagine touching their stuff, let alone taking it!  Yes, cheeky for sure.

I feel I have to guard my book at many events and will put it under the table, between me and the table.  The combo of my body blocking it and it being hard to see under the table seems to work the best, but I've still had people reach in there to try and grab it. 

I need to get organized with my stencils.  I just lay them out on the table for people to choose their own.  I'll be too busy this week, because I'm working our Vacation Bible School all week, but will put this on my to do list for next week.  I like the idea of making up books.  I think copying will save me from any possible stencils theifs.     Thanks for sharing!

[twink-elle]

I had someone walk away with my baby wipes on Saturday, I'm hoping it was just an oversight but I do watch my paint as closely as I can hoping I don't ever lose any to sticky fingers. Little fingers are always touching, sometimes knocking things over, wonder where they learn it from???..eh??

[Glitterfly Faces]

Sherry, after this incident I recreated a new system for my stencils.
I photocopied each stencil and laminated each of them.  I velcroed them to a plexiglass board and then numbered each one.
I got show size boxes with index cards.  Then made a tab numbered with each corresponding stencil on my board.  Kind of a filing system.  So, when a stencil is out, I can pull that one form my display board.  And when someone wants one, they tell me the number, I flip to that card and those designs are all in that spot.

The worst they can do is steal a photocopy of a stencil.  I also replace a photocopy for a real stencil finished with glitter so they can see samples.  Maybe 5-6 out of a board of 50. 

This really helped me at the last large festival.  Super organized.

[AMAZINGface]

So sorry for the thievery, all. 
My paints and my stencils, glue and glitters are my 'bread and butter' and I try to keep close track of them.  I agree with Glitterfly Faces:  I have made a laminated and numbered board.  They tell me which one they want and I get it out.  I keep CD envelopes and a CD case in the same numbered order as the laminated board.  In fact, I made two.  One stands as a sign board without numbers and one can be passed around like an 11X17 poster.  I keep half of my glitters as duplicates at home in case of wind or accidental spills and never have all my stuff with me.  I'd be out of business if I lost it all!

Hope this helps!!! and sorry for the loss of your stuff.  Da noive a sum peepl!

[Sherry]

Nice Kim.  Sounds like a great system and easy to understand!  I've heard people discuss their systems for stencils before, but ended up not knowing exactly how that works.  I think it may be because I'm more of a visual person.  Thanks.

Love your setup Amazingface... so professional.  I'm wondering where you get your tablecloth?

[AMAZINGface]

Sherry, I get my tablecloths from Wal-Mart fabric dept. at 1 or $2/yard!  Found some of the best fabrics there and I often sew some sort of sculpted edge on it.  Made the flowers for my sons wedding a few years back.  At this particular event in the pic I was  going for a sophisticated look as I was doing glitter tatts and selling glitter kits.  Pah.  I got mostly kids that day!  Oh, well!