My Stampin' Up! story started over 26 years ago, when a "kindred spirit" friend shared a hand-stamped Christmas card with me one Christmas.  Of course, I was intrigued beyond the normal curiosity.....I just had to find out how it was done.  Once my friend gave me the contact information for the demonstrator who shared rubber stamping with her, I contacted the demonstrator (Janet) who was kind enough to mail me a catalog.  The catalog (which was from 1997-1998) just about blew me away (and it was nothing like today's catalog!).  I couldn't believe that all that artwork could be made into rubber and stamped on paper for me to play with!!!  (since I can't draw a stick figure!)

Needless to say, I was completely hooked once I had Janet demonstrate at my own home workshop.  I could see me doing what she was doing....so I signed up in Dec. 1997.  I didn't get started too quickly.  As a matter of fact, it was almost 10 months until I demonstrated at my first hostess's workshop.  But I started getting more shows booked and I began teaching monthly classes on a regular basis.   As my business grew over the next few years, I was able to earn 3 incentive trips and lots of free stamps/gifts.  But even more important were the friendships I was making and the wonderful people I was meeting.  I even got to travel a good bit when I went to the SU annual conventions and leadership conferences which were held in various cities throughout the continental US. 

Unfortunately in 2006, I had to slow down with my SU business because of family health issues and some other family circumstances.  It was not easy to "let go", but I simply didn't have the capacity to keep up with it all and my family comes first.  That is what's so great about SU - even though I took some "time off" from actively demonstrating, it was easy enough for me to keep up with the quarterly minimums to remain as an "active" demonstrator.  What I thought might be a year or two that I would need to "back off" a little, stretched to over 15 years, sadly.  However, I never lost my desire stay with SU because I love the company (with THE best customer service) and their products!

I'm happy to say that I am now able to pick up the pace again.  I am currently preparing my crafting space to once again teach classes and I'm trying to learn technology to reach people outside of my local area.  I will be posting any event I'm ready to schedule on my calendar on this site and you can follow me on Facebook as "Carol's Recreated Heart". If you are interested in knowing more about stamping and creating with SU and you don't currently have a demonstrator you work with, please reach out to me. 

I can honestly tell you that because of Stampin' Up!, I have grown personally in ways that I had never imagined.  The friendships that I've made (and cherish) would not have been possible without Stampin' Up! in my life.  I'm so blessed to be part of such a great company.  I do hope to be sharing some time creating with you in the near future!

May today be an absolutely splendid day for you and yours!!
Carol