Welcome to a new era for All Things Stampy!
I’ve been quiet on here for too long but that’s about to change. I am starting a brand new chapter in my stamping journey…
But I’m jumping ahead. Let’s rewind back to November 2007 when I became a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator. I was one of the first to join during the UK launch week and I didn’t think beyond getting my hands on the products.
However, I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. I held parties, ran classes, built up a small team and made a lot of wonderful crafty friends. I attended Stampin’ Up!® conventions in London, Paris, Frankfurt and elsewhere (I still think Manchester 2013 was the best!). I created projects for display at events, I “walked the stage”, promoted to Gold, knew the catalogue inside out and could answer almost any question about demonstrator policies.
Fast forward to autumn 2025.
I noticed I wasn’t leaping to unpack my boxes when they arrived. My catalogue wasn’t dog-eared. I no longer knew which products were current or retired.
Was I falling out of love? Or was it just life, which had thrown up a whole raft of challenges? Bereavement, inheriting a dog with severe separation anxiety, illness, injury, health scares and a car crash are the edited lowlights. On the crafting front, not one but three different class venues fell through, then my Facebook page was inexplicably shut down and it took me a week of battling with bots to get it back.
Was the universe telling me to hang up my Stampin’ Up!® apron? Or was I merely craving a simpler life? I couldn’t tell.
However, I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable about supporting a US company in light of world events, and always had a nagging feeling that my purchase of products which were travelling halfway round the world swathed in plastic didn’t sit right with my environmental values.
Still I struggled to make that leap.
I still think the products and coordination are fabulous. I will also always be grateful to SU for giving me a wonderful creative outlet, for enabling me to develop and improve skills in crafting and beyond, and for introducing me to so many fantastic people, many of whom have become firm friends.
If I did walk away, where would I go? After nearly 20 years within a Stampin' Up!® bubble, I had no idea what else was out there. What products would I use?
Reducing my crafting carbon footprint points towards buying British. I don’t want to get overly patriotic about this – I share no values with the “turquoise party” – but I would like to support home-grown creative industries and purchase craft supplies which haven’t travelled so far.
Last time I looked, admittedly in 2007, there was nothing particularly exciting available in the UK. But this summer I started my research into British craft companies in earnest and turned up some real gems. Not all of them manufacture here in the UK, which is a shame, but life is full of compromises and it seems there is a thriving homegrown craft industry out there.
In the past few months I have been buying stamp sets to test from various British companies. I did this while still an active demonstrator, keeping my options open.
Then I noticed something interesting. I started to get excited about crafting again. I couldn’t wait for my new stamps to arrive and to stamp with them as soon as I could.
I mentioned a potential change in direction to some of my regular customers and found it heartwarming to hear they would stick with me, whatever I decided.
So I’ve made the leap.
I have tendered my resignation as a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator and I’m ready to take on the best of the UK craft market. How will this look? I’m not sure yet, but I’m excited to find out – and I hope you are, too.
Q&A
Now you are no longer a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator, are you still going to run classes?
Yes! I fully intend to hold several all-day classes next year, and the monthly WI classes. I am toying with other ideas too, but need to find out what’s viable and what’s allowed.
Why are you leaving Stampin’ Up!®?
There are many reasons but the main ones are that I don’t feel comfortable supporting a US company in the current political climate, and I want to focus on more environmentally friendly products.
So why now?
Selfishly, I suppose the catalyst is a change to the compensation plan, which comes on top of rising prices and reducing sales.
Are you going cold turkey?
No way! I have a class based on Stampin’ Up!® products in November and will continue to use Stampin Up!® consumables – cardstock, paper etc – until my supplies run out.
What stamps will you use in future?
I will aim to focus on British stamp companies, or at least European. Where possible I will use stamps designed and made in the UK, but sometimes they will be designed here and made abroad. Sadly, most dies are made in China. However, this is a great opportunity to support smaller, independent businesses closer to home.
What cardstock will you use?
I will use recycled cardstock where I can. Where it’s not possible, I will source from the UK. However, this will be a very gradual transition as my supply of SU cardstock isn’t running out any time soon!
Will the products be as good?
I am been testing various manufacturers for quality and already ruled a couple out. I won’t do any classes with products that I wouldn’t be happy to use myself.
Will you still be All Things Stampy?
Yes. One of the great things about Stampin’ Up!® not allowing you to use any words like “stampin’ up” in your business name is that no changes are needed if you leave.
