Today is the big day!

Wheeeee, I'm brimming with excitement, I'm hosting my first card-making workshop tonight!!!  My bags are all packed by the door ready to go and set up at the studio, and the wine is chilling in the fridge, with a big bowl of chocolate nearby.  I have become an independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator!  I spoke very briefly about this in my last post, but now that it is official, here's the lowdown....

Many of my handmade cards are made using products by Stampin' Up!, who have a delightful range of decorative rubber-stamps and card-making/scrapbooking products, that are only sold through an in-home demonstration model.  As I have talked about before, I have always loved papery/stationery type things, and dabbled in making basic scrapbooks of my travels and exciting adventures over the years, but it was only when my first child was born in 2007 that things stepped up a level and a dire addiction to scrapbooking and card-making took form.  Early in 2011 I simultaneously began selling my cards to friends and family members, and I also joined a crafty wee group of ladies who meet monthly for in-home workshops using Stampin' Up! products, and fell in love with their range.

Last month our demonstrator announced that she had other commitments and things going on in 2012, so she wouldn't be able to lead our group any more, leaving a too-good-to-be-missed opportunity for me to join the ranks and fill her shoes.  I filled out all the paperwork to become an Independent Demonstrator and then waited for a couple of long slow weeks to pass before my Starter Kit finally arrived.

So tonight I have my first party.  I have a group of about 12-14 coming to a friend's studio to each make a couple of cards with me - using all my own supplies and stamping products - which they get to keep.  The cost is just $5 for this Make-and-Take project, and then there is a delicious catalogue to browse through and see if there is anything you would like to buy (if you are a crafty type person, I challenge you to come away empty-handed LOL).

I will update again soon with photos of everyone's completed projects!  And hopefully my guests will enjoy themselves and want to come again next month....  I'm thinking Easter Baskets would be a fun project!

Meanwhile, my card-selling and onesie business, Tiny Kiwi, will continue independently of this new venture, so if you would like to have my Stampin' Up! updates in your newfeed please go and 'like' my new business page, Watching Ink Dry.