My First 30 Years as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

My first 30 years as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator contained a lot of trial and effort and learning experiences. Although I had LOTS of wood mounted rubber stamps that I’d purchased over the years from big expos, mine weren’t from Stampin’ Up! and they certainly didn’t work with each other. Like hardly at all did they coordinate. But I kept on purchasing and wanting more.

Then, in April 1996, I got invited to a ‘stamping party’ across the street from our home in San Jose CA. I was excited (more toys) and stunned. The stamps coordinated with each other! What a concept for an uneducated stamper. I joined the Stampin’ Up! family the next week. April 16, 1996. Just a few months later I attended my first Stampin’ Up! Convention. In San Diego CA. Wearing a costume of sorts. Many attendees were in costumes and our group was definitely one of them. I can’t put my hands on any photos from the event unfortunately. (Maybe I’ll clean out/organize that corner of our garage by this time next year and find some!)

I added a downline (Hi Dannie) a short time after I signed up. Very slowly I added a few more stampers to my ‘family’. I held classes in my home and in the homes of interested friends. A $300 minimum in my personal purchases was required every quarter. OK, that worked. I was definitely my best customer!! And I’m still here today, with 9 wonderful gals in my downline. My goal wasn’t to make a financial killing but more to create a way to share a fun craft with friends, acquire more stamps (haha!) and help put something other than junk in a person’s mailbox. I feel quite successful.

We left San Jose and moved to Mi Wuk Village, near Sonora CA, about 15 miles “up the hill” at about 4500′ elevation. Shortly after moving there full time I asked if I could offer a stamping class at our little local library. Not that long ago our library was home for one of our fire engines! Yes was the reply and I offered monthly classes for around ten years. We usually had 6-10 participants. Always fun of course. Our postmaster, Cathy, 3rd from the left, was one of the ‘my’ stampers.

At the very end of 2019 we moved to Boise, Idaho where Russ “wouldn’t have so much work to do in the surrounding forest!” Right away I asked our Community Center gurus if I could offer a stamping class. How about 2 stamping classes each month? And the rest is history at the Avimor Community center. Community Center Stamping, 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month, $15 each class, 2 cards, all supplies provided. We even managed — by popular demand — to continue our classes during Covid by using more tables and sitting farther apart and adapting some of the ways of sharing products. No one got Covid during that year.

Several years later I started a monthly class at the small local Potter Wines, about 10 miles from where I lived. Success again for several years until it was time for the winery to close.

In the meantime I offered a Christmas Card Buffet every August – November at my home. Participants made 4 cards on each second Wednesday of the month, 2 each of 2 cards or 4 each of 1 card. That helps the ‘how to assemble this card curve’. I create an original group of 8 cards for our August gathering and then each following month added 4 more cards. Guests pre-select their choices, I prepare their individual packets along with a step by step instructions sheet and then they’re ready to go. We enjoy Christmas music and treats while stamping. The (old) orange totes each hold all of the ingredients for one card. My cat Fred is checking things out!

On the first Monday of each month, at my home, up to 8 stampers gather to do a Mystery Stamping class. I provide the supplies, pre-cut. And then I give directions, one by one, for putting those supplies together. There is no sample to look at. And ‘mum’ is the word for elaborating on each direction. Participants interpret the directions as they will. It’s really fun and usually each person’s card is slightly different from the next. It’s a wonderful fun challenge that everyone enjoys. Class fee is $5.

And finally (for now anyway), on the last Monday of the month we gather for a Kit Together. This is where each participant assembles a KIT from Stampin’ Up!, usually a Paper Pumpkin Kit which comes out monthly. We never know what the Paper Pumpkin kit is going to be—but inside the 6-1/2″ x 10″ box is everything you’ll need to put it all together, from glue/adhesive to layers of product/card stock to ribbon or anything else necessary. If the participants want they can alternatively order a Kit from Stampin’ Up! and assemble it. Either I order their kits or participants can individually order their own kits. Class fee is the price of the kit of choice.

So each month starts and end with somewhat of a mystery project and in between are project with instructions. Supplies are always included and pre-cut. If you’re wondering about fees:

–Mystery Stamping (one card) is $5

–1st and 3rd Thursday is $15, all supplies provided and pre-cut

–2nd Wednesday, August – November, $25, all supplies provided and pre-cut

–Kit Together, last Monday of the month: cost of the individual kit (including tax, shipping, etc)

And that’s how I run my business! There is an occasional special class here and there which keeps me on my toes (if I’m not already!)