Tuesday 20 November 2012

Celebrating five years with SU!

Congratulations to me!


Today is a very special day – do you know what it is?

It’s my Stampin’ Up!® anniversary! I can hardly believe that I joined SU five years ago today – the past five years have flown by and now I can’t imagine life without Stampin’ Up!®

Stampin’ Up!® is also celebrating five years in Europe – yes, I joined in the first week... becoming an “early adopter” for the first time in my life. I had been waiting for that moment for so long that I didn’t give it a second thought. It was only once my Starter Kit had arrived that I realised I was too scared to hold any workshops (see item 3, below).

Five things I’ve done in the past five years:

  1. Made loads of crafting friends
  2. Experienced the excitement of Stampin’ Up! events, including training sessions, leadership events and three Conventions
  3. Overcome what I thought was an insurmountable fear of public speaking
  4. Vastly increased my stamping stash (oops)
  5. Made so many crafty U-turns that I feel dizzy! 
Oh no, five isn’t enough, here are five more! I’ve also...

  1. Promoted several times
  2. Stayed in swanky hotels
  3. Been on the Eurostar for the first time
  4. Flown (almost) alone for the first time
  5. Walked across the stage at Convention! 
There will be more excitement to come for sure as I continue to spread the word about SU and help others to unlock their creativity and to increase their own circles of crafty friends.

Meanwhile, if you’re a long-term SU fan, you’ll probably remember the early days of SU in Europe and appreciate just how far we’ve come. Here are a couple of facts and figures from Convention, showing our amazing growth!

Catalogue size
2007-08 Idea Book & Catalogue = 96 pages
2012-13 Annual Catalogue = 204 pages!

We had a pretty small range of stamps, very few ribbons and, imagine it... no Big Shot, Simply Scored, clear-mount stamps, no individual reinkers, and, brace yourself... no Cherry Cobbler!

Now, of course, we pretty much have it all – did you know that we now offer 1,463 products in our two current catalogues?

Convention attendance
First Convention, Frankfurt 2009 = 135 demonstrators
Fourth Convention, Mainz 2012 = 829 demonstrators!

Word spreads you see. Convention is an unforgettable experience and, once word gets out, people join SU just so that they can come along. And then they get so fired up with enthusiasm so that they stay!

In Europe, there are now 3,360 demonstrators... an increase of 51% on last year! Which is pretty amazing... and only set to get even better. Austria currently has 42 demonstrators and the Netherlands has  63... just watch those figures grow!

The card I've shown was made by my friend Kelly - let's pretend she made it to congratulate me on my fifth anniversary! 

Stamps: Make a Cake, Itty Bitty Banners
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals
Accessories: Bitty Banner Framelits, Rhinestones

All products by Stampin' Up!®

4 comments:

  1. Congratulations Helen, thanks to you I now have loads of lovely craft stash but I do have to blame you for the strain on my finances!! lol

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  2. Congratulations!! and to think it all started with ? :) I LOL'd at the "no Cherry Cobbler" - my FAV SU colour!!

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  3. Congrstulations Helen. Amazing 5 years, I bet it has flown.

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  4. Well I've spent an amazing 18 months with you and my life has changed I class you Helen as one as my BFF so thank you xx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.

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