This week’s excitement has been 26 years in the making. If you are reading this post then you have been an integral part of my journey in some way and I am so humbled and grateful for you. Whether you have ordered papercrafting supplies, joined my demonstrator team, liked & shared a social media post, attended a class, watched a Papercrafting Playdate, hosted a party in your home, or messaged me encouraging words, YOU have helped me with this achievement. Here is what I REALLY think about it:

Never, ever, EVER did I think I would be the person writing the words, “I’ve sold one million dollars in paper products!”. When I became a Stampin’ Up!™ Demonstrator in 2000 my only goal was to get a discount on my card making supplies and potentially sell enough to buy those supplies with what I earned. It wasn’t too long into that decision that I discovered a real love for teaching people to make cards. What started as my first scary party (that my sister hosted for me) turned into a monthly class and four parties a month. Quickly I learned that people LOVE to get together with purpose and to be creative. It’s like the best positive energy you can manufacture! And kinda, sorta, just like that, an unexpected career was born. It is now twenty-six years later and guess what? I STILL LOVE to make cards and explore the simple art of stamps, ink, and paper.

If you know me at all, you have heard me mention how I’m not too great with numbers and math. I’m not joking. It is quite remarkable (and amusing to me) that my unexpected career turned out to actually be a job in sales. What I know how to do really well is design projects that people like to make, set up stamping situations for creative success, and break down the creative process into small steps to help others learn how to do it. What I’ve had to work hard at is budgeting & bookkeeping –shudder– (thankfully there are people to help me with that stuff!). I wish I had kept better track of my “numbers” over the years so that I could tell you exactly how I have achieved this career milestone of reaching one million dollars in sales*. For instance, how many cards have been created, how many parties have been hosted, how many classes planned & given, how many friendships started, how many stamp sets purchased, how many tables set up & down, how many pieces of cardstock have been cut, how many packages of DSP have been poured over, how many cutting blades have expired, how many events have been attended, how many card swaps have been produced, and how many miles have been driven to meet up with card makers. The short answers are innumerable across the board! But whatever time, energy, perspiration, and love I have poured into my business has come back to me a thousand times more (and THAT math is solid!!!).

As I reflect on my journey as a demonstrator, one thing stands out very clearly. It is all about relationships with people. Can you ever meet too many amazing people? What an honor, joy, and privilege it is to get to know more souls on this planet.  People and their lives create the inspiration and energy needed to provide the perspective and purpose needed to navigate this world (because life is hard most of the time). In the beginning of my demonstrator career twenty-six years ago I was invited into stamper’s physical homes, crafted at their kitchen tables, met their friends and families, and ate the most delicious food. In a city where I didn’t have any extended family, these folks became friends who felt like aunts and cousins to me. When these same stampers would come to my house for classes it was like a family reunion every time. They watched my kids grow up, and I got to be a part of their lives as well. It was never just about making cards. 

Fast forward to the past few years, and my business looks completely different. The classes I provide are virtual and online. This shift has allowed me to get to know stampers around the world who also allow me into their homes, albeit through their screens and at all hours of the day (without snacks). The relationships and friendships grow in a different way, but are still at the core of what this creative business is all about. Do I wish all my new virtual friends could come over to my house and stamp? Absolutely 100%. But at the end of the day my main goal is exactly the same – to teach others how to use stamps, ink, and paper to make handmade cards, and empower them to explore creativity.

Very few really amazing things in life happen because of only one person. We are built to work together. Despite the hard work and persistence I have brought to my Stampin’ Up! business, I would not be achieving any milestones without help from other people. My family has been in constant support of my at-home business providing physical labor and emotional encouragement year after year. The demonstrators who helped get me started, answering a million questions and listening to my brainstorms were critical for me having success early on. ALL the friends who offered to host parties as I was learning how to organize group crafting opportunities are saints! My demonstrator besties who have joined me in business ventures and attended events with me have been the main reason I could never give up when things got hard. Those precious hands who have helped me cut paper, make kits, put on labels, and clean up after classes are so important. The encouragement I’ve received from other stampers through emails, comments, and messages reminds me daily why I do what I do and why it is important. If I have made any contribution to the paper crafting community in my business journey it is only because I’ve been surrounded by REALLY incredible support, and my heart is thankful for every single person along the way.

*I’m so happy to be recognized for being the 101st demonstrator to reach a one million career-to-date sales milestone! It’s an extremely rare accomplishment achieved by fewer than 1% of demonstrators. The achievements published here are not representative of typical Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. The level of sales needed to achieve this result requires significant work and is accomplished by a substantially small percentage of demonstrators.

Celebration Flowers & Card from Stampin’ Up!

Oh my goodness…the card is incredible!

The folks who work at Stampin’ Up! are very special. The team that is in charge of celebrating demonstrator achievements is extra special in my opinion. A few months back as I was approaching this one million in sales milestone the team contacted me with some requests. One thing I had to do was answer a bunch of questions so that an article about me could be published within demonstrator website (see below for article). The second thing I “had” to do was tell the concept art department what products I was currently loving and what would I like them to use in creating a card for me? WOW. Here was my answer (are you surprised by my favorite things?):

“My favorite things in the world (paper crafting-wise) are:

• Pockets
• Tags
• Office supplies
• Butterflies
• Watercoloring
• Collage stamping
• Creating backgrounds with stamped images

Bottom line = I will absolutely love ANY card you make!” -Robin

The art department certainly delivered a card that has completely blown my mind and made me weep with joy because of its perfect, glorious details. I can’t stop looking at it. I am so overwhelmed with its perfection. I feel seen and loved.

This card has so many incredible layers and details – let me try to describe it for you. It starts with square envelope wrapped with a belly band. The envelope measures 6-3/4″ x 6-3/4″ x 1/2″ and inside is what can only be described as a 6-1/2″ square trifold mini album with a pocket and hidden message section. Every section of this card is decorated with focal point clusters that make my heart sing!

I couldn’t have received any thing more beautiful and inspiring than this card from Stampin’ Up!’s art department. It makes me want to get off this laptop and go stamp some stuff!

I hope you enjoyed hearing my thoughts on this milestone, and seeing my congratulations card. I love that you are part of this journey with me.

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