For 2014, I made New Years resolutions and, for the first time, I think, stuck to them. I participated in 2 spring and 3 winter fairs, recorded my first 4 youtube videos, and have begun to decorate all envelopes when I make a card. For 2015, my resolutions will be to maintain having one Craft Night and one card class a month, participating in craft fairs, and developing the IN Stampers team. So this vacation, I have been reflecting on the Top 10 Reasons I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. If you love crafts, especially paper crafts, I will bet some of these reasons might apply to you too: |
Whenever I have a friend get married or get sick or graduate or anything else, I am thankful I can go downstairs (or send my husband) to pick out a card in my inventory, rather than running to the grocery. I love how scrapbooking helps me remember life's big moments and card making helps me show that I care.
9. Being involved in a "business" removes the guilt when buying things.
If I were a customer placing large orders every other month, I know I would feel guilty that our money could be spent in other ways. But with my own bank account and a minimum of 20% off all orders, my business helps support my "habit." And SU makes it easy for you to be a business demonstrator or hobby demonstrator (which means you never need to sell a thing)!
8. Crafts provide me a schedule of times to hang out with old and new friends.
I love having days on the calendar slated to get away and be creative. And I love how I have met so many people here in Indiana who I get to hang out with and talk, and eat, and craft with! I am so excited to start meeting regularly with the IN Stampers team, now 6 of us. If you are interested in checking out what we do, you are welcome to attend!
7. Stampin' Up! puts me in a box, but a big box.
This month, I have made many trips to Michaels and Hobby Lobby, most to no avail. I love having craft stores available to me, but nothing beats having supplies at my fingertips. We all know the Annual Catalog is huge, but I love having so many options to choose from (and never need to leave the house), but not feeling like I need to have everything in the catalog to make a card or have a class.
6. Being a demonstrator forces me to push my limits of creativity.
I never used to call myself a crafty person, and now I do. It is a skill that everyone can learn. Now, I am pushing myself outside my traditional scrapbooking and card making walls and trying Project Life, making treats, and getting into decorative packaging.
5. I love being able to share and teach what I love!
As a former teacher, I like how having card classes can be similar in regards to preparation, and the teaching can be inspiring when seeing people complete the finished product they didn't know they could make! Plus, I am forced to try new things that I know those who come to classes will also want to try.
4. I love how this hobby will last through old age.
When I first started this, most of the people I was crafting with were my mom's age. I loved that! I love being around elders and thinking about how this hobby will follow me through retirement! My upline has been a demonstrator for 18 years and doesn't seem to be tired of it at all!
3. I have a continual excitement of a red Paper Pumpkin in my mailbox.
At first, I only signed up for Paper Pumpkin, the monthly craft subscription, to be able to show it to customers. But now, they have stepped up the kits and I find myself checking the calendar to see how close it is till my box ships on the 10th of each month. Then, I stalk the Paper Pumpkin youtube channel to see when the video is published to catch the kit in action. I am convinced in the 30 minute monthly paper escape!
2. I love the opportunity to attend events!
In the summer of 2013, I got to attend my first SU Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a friend. I had never been to Utah before and loved the opportunity to travel. Last month, SU had its first event in Indianapolis and it was fun to get ladies together for dinner and then head to the catalog premiere at the movie theater. Now, I am heading to Florida later this month to meet up with another friend and attend the SU Leadership conference. Fun in the sun!
1. And the top reason: FREE stuff!
As a demonstrator, there are always ways to earn free stuff. Last month, I earned about $200 in free product! Now, I am focusing on earning free Sale-a-bration products, the huge annual sale which lasts 4 months for demonstrators! Ask me more!
If being a demonstrator, either for a hobby or a business, interests you, I would love to talk to you more and answer any questions you have! You will love every minute of it! Happy new year!