8/22/2017

My Story Update!

Today is my 17th anniversary with Stampin' Up! Wow, 17. Not sure how that is possible! I originally wrote this story in 2010. I've updated the ending, but here is my Stampin' Up! story:

I wanted to take a minute and tell you all the story of how I came to be a Stampin' Up!® demonstrator and why I continue to enjoy it.

I got started stamping back in 1999 with a friend. We were both stay home Moms who met through a Moms Club in Lincoln. We only lived about a block apart and had boys of compatible ages. Well, the older two were compatible, the younger two were like oil and water, but that kept it interesting! She was a demo and after I attended a workshop for a mutual friend I was hooked. I remember the first thing I stamped were bagalope valentines for my son's preschool class.

We spent alot of time after that in her basement stamping while the boys played. I built up my basic supplies buying from her. When she had to move away in 2000 I knew I had to become a part of the SU!® family. I signed up in August 2000. We lived in Lincoln at the time and I started by hosting a workshop for neighbors and friends and booked a few workshops. I settled in to doing monthly Stamp Camps (4 projects for a flat fee) and the occasional workshop. Things changed after moving to the country and I was my own best customer for quite a while.

Stamping has always been my sanity though in a busy world and that holds true today. A year or so after moving to the country in 2004 I started attending a stamp group and things started rolling again. A few workshops were booked and a club was started. While I still don't do a lot of workshops I have a great base of customers all of whom I consider friends. My stamping club become my closest group of friends. I started doing Open Houses here that were a blast! Lots of work, but a blast! Nothing better than a group of stamping friends creating and sharing!!

In 2013 things changed. Some moved away, other life events happened and changes were made. The club group disbanded but we are all still friends at heart. The Open Houses stopped because of too many other things happening in my life. I took several years off and didn't stamp much at all. Only the occasional card happened, and a workshop or two. This year (2017) I felt it "missing" from my life and I've made an effort of late to get back in the stamp room. Creativity feels good and takes away the stresses of every day life!

Recently, someone called asking for "thinking of you cards". It felt so good to go through the stash in my room and pick cards for her-especially knowing the situation and friend she wants to send them too!

Stampin' Up!® is a flexible business; it can be whatever each independent demonstrator wants it to be. I've been able to build wonderful friendships doing something I love through many changes in my life. Today, on my 17th anniversary, I can't imagine not having had SU!® in my life!

To LOVE what we do
and SHARE what we love,
as we help others enjoy CREATIVITY
and worthwhile accomplishments...
in this we make a DIFFERENCE!
-Stampin' Up!® Statement of the Heart©

Thanks to you all for the last 17 years! Great times have been had, great friendships established! Creating with friends is the BEST!! We've learned from each other and it doesn't get better than that!! 

Please let me know if I can help with your creativity!!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Jennifer, I've always enjoyed your Open Houses and have admired your wonderful card ideas. It's great to see you back creating and sharing. Thanks for being a part of my inspiration with Stamping' Up products!
Pat Hier