Happy Anniversary to me

I am celebrating my 22nd anniversary with Stampin’ Up! today. It has been an amazing 22 years.

How much things cost in 1996:
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 2.93%; Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 6448; Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 8.25%; Average Cost of new house $118,200.00; Average Income per year $36,300.00; Average Monthly Rent $554.00; Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.22; US Postage Stamp 32 cents; Average cost of new car $16,300.00; Loaf of Bread $1.15; Minimum Hourly Wage Raised To $5.15.

In 1996 my first Stampin’ Up! catalog looked like this. Here is the cover and a few pages from inside.

I went to my first ever Stampin’ Up! workshop on January 11th, 1996. I was invited by another preschool mom. Her party was in the morning while the kids were in school. My kids were: Aaron 5, Kristopher 4, and Ryan 2. I had always wanted to learn to stamp (bucket list). So I jumped at the chance to learn. I went to the workshop and Ruth taught us how to stamp. She said that if we wanted a free catalog we should book a workshop. I jumped at the chance. I had my party scheduled for February 2nd. I ordered a few stamps and an ink pad. At the time the cheapest stamps sets were red rubber mounted on foam. There was a glossy white sticker on the top to show what the stamp was. There were no trimmed edges. If you caught a corner with your ink, which happened all of the time, you just had to live with it.
I went home that night and couldn’t sleep. I kept imagining all of the things I could do and teach if I had my own business. I was so excited! I woke up the next morning and called Ruth. I told her to cancel my workshop. I wanted to sign up (to be a demonstrator). I signed up for a $300.00 kit. At that time you couldn’t pick what you got in your kit. I wish I still had the list. It took a month to get it. I was so excited when I finally got it that I put everything together (even the wood mounted stamps) without trimming them. I had a whole set of “Button Bear” stamps that never got the edges trimmed off.

When I got my kit I asked 3 friends to host parties for me. At my first party I had about 15 guests. Back in the day if I could stamp an image in the middle of a glossy piece of cardstock without catching an edge or making it smear, I thought I was a rockstar! I-had-never-stamped-before! I sat in front of these 15 people and closed my eyes for a split second and prayed. “Please God let me know more than they do!” And I went for it. I don’t remember how it turned out, but 22 years later I am still here, doing what I love and most of the time stamping without a smudge. This opportunity has allowed me more time with my kids and family. Kids are now 27,26,24 and 17. I have been on about 10 Stampin’ Up! incentive trips, and have made many, many friends. I have been to most conventions in the past 22 years. I have spoken at and hosted a few events for Stampin’ Up!. I have been honored to be on the Global Events Council. I have an amazing team. They continue to be my best friends. I am truly blessed to be doing what I love and to be stamping with all of you. Thank you all for the last 22 years. I look forward to 22 more years or more with all of you and my Stampin’ Up! business.