Why I Love Being a Stampin' Up Demonstrator

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are enjoying beautiful Spring weather this fine Tuesday. Well, it has been a very busy week since I last posted and I apologize for not sharing with you this past week. With my kids being on Spring Break, it was nice to be able to spend some time with them before the crazy final stretch of school starts again. Someone told me we have 9 weeks of school left until Summer Break, yikes! That means all the end of school year activities will soon start and then there are preparations for teacher gifts. OMG, I am tired just thinking about it!
Which brings me to the title of today's post. I am so thankful that I discovered the opportunity to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator and that I get to do something that I love and still be there for my family when they need me. I have been able make my own decisions as to what kind of demonstrator I want to be and have the flexibility to change to meet the needs of my family and myself.
When I first signed up in September, 2008, I was a "Hobby Demonstrator", taking advantage of the discounts and benefits Stampin' Up provides their demonstrators, for myself and my own personal needs. Over time, as my children have grown up and our family has changed, I have had more time to explore and develop my own business and share it with friends.
I love being able to teach classes and share with my customers the latest techniques I have learned and to inspire them with ideas that they can shape and develop for their own projects. It makes me so happy when I see the joy on someone's face when they realize they have created a card or project that they thought they couldn't possibly make, at a workshop or party. As much as I love creating for myself, I love sharing with others the joy of stamping and creating with others so much more.
One of my favorite things to do is spend time with my two daughters creating cards and projects with them and getting inspired by their wonderful ideas. Children don't have any preconceived ideas as to what colors should be used together or how things should be done and because of that, they create the most incredible things that make me go WOW!  They don't have any fear of "What if this doesn't look right", they just love to see what something will look like if they try something. Some of my best inspirations have come from my creative sessions with my daughters.
I often have people look at the things I create and ask me "Where did you learn how to do that?" or "how did you come up with that idea?" and I tell them it's simple. Being a demonstrator has provided me with an unlimited supply of ideas and techniques that helps me to learn and grow as a demonstrator everyday. Stampin' Up offers wonderful resources to its demonstrators to help teach us and inspire us so that we can continue to provide great ideas and projects to our customers. Plus, Stampin' Up demonstrators are some of the most kind, generous and sharing people I know and they often share their ideas and techniques with the rest of us on various demonstrator groups so that we all benefit.
So as I prepare to go and pick up my children from school, I say a prayer of thanks that I am lucky enough to have found an opportunity to have the best of both worlds. If you would like to learn more about being a Stampin' Up demonstrator (whether you just want to support your hobby or you wish to build your own business), please visit my website:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/triciabutts/startyourownbusiness
or contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
With Sale-a-bration almost over, now is a great time to join Stampin' Up and save 15% off your Starter Kit. You can choose from the Standard Starter Kit or the Digital+ Starter Kit. Plus, you will also get to choose a free stamp set of your choice (up to $47.95 value). 
But hurry, Sale-a-bration ends March 31st.

Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Late Night Stampers: The Best Group on the Web

Happy Tuesday Everyone,
Well, it is a cold and wet day here in Northglenn and the snow is supposed to be not far away. On days like this, I like to plan out some projects and get creative. But somedays, I just seem to hit a roadblock. Do you know what I mean?
When this happens to me, I visit my favorite inspirational group on the internet: Late Night Stampers Yahoo group. This group was created by a wonderful lady, Sherrill Graff, who has been a demonstrator with Stampin' Up since 1991. She decided she wanted to share her ideas, experience and love of stamping and Stampin' Up with as many people as possible.
Her group is not just for SU demonstrators but for anyone who loves rubber stamping, scrapbooking, card making, paper crafting and creating or would like to but don't know where to start. It is a wonderful, friendly, caring and sharing group that is open to everyone who would love to be a part of this special community.
This is a great place if you are looking for new ideas, help with a problem, a place to share your creations as well as offering support and fellowship.
So, how do you become a member? It is very simple. Just click Here and it will take you to the website. Click Join this Group and follow the simple directions. Please tell Sherrill I sent you so she will know how you found her group.

This group is free to join and there are no rules as to how often you need to post or participate. This is a friendly, no stress group that welcomes everyone and once you become a member, I think you will discover how much fun it is and before long you will be joining in on the fun too.

Hope to see you soon.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

February and the Roller Coaster Week that Was!

Hi Everyone,
Well February has gotten off to an interesting start with the first week being very much like a roller coaster ride. Now I am not much of a fan of roller coasters, so you will understand what I mean when I say that I hope I don't have another week like that one.

On a high note, I did get to attend the Stampin' Up Regional Seminar in Fort Collins on Friday afternoon and what can I say but, Oh My Gosh!  It was the most amazing, fantastic event I have been to and the people there were just so kind, generous and friendly and the energy in the room was electric. It really made me so glad to be a Stampin' Up Demonstrator. With all the ideas and inspiration shared in that one afternoon, I feel inspired to create all kinds of projects for the upcoming weeks and months.  Just one slight problem: the time to do it. I will have to work on that because I really want to get to work on my wish list of projects that I have sitting on my desk. I will be sharing photos with you as I work my way through my wish list.

Thank you to everyone who sent me well wishes while I was sick last week and I hope that all of that is behind me. While I will still have to have an MRI in the future, both my Doctor and I are hoping that it will just be a routine thing that will confirm his diagnosis and eliminate any other possibilities.  I do have a new appreciation for life and the simplest of things that I am able to do each day that I wasn't able to for that short time. Life truly is precious and I am planning on making the most of each day.

Have a great Sunday everyone and a wonderful week.  Don't forget, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Stamping Hugs,
Tricia Butts

P.S. It is not too late to order your supplies for Valentine's Day but you will have to hurry. Place your order online at my website or contact me to place your order with me. I will be happy to help you.