Heidi Collins
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
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I have been stamping, scrapbooking, and paper crafting for over 20 years, and I love helping others explore the joy of making beautiful projects for themselves and others. This is a hobby that provides an opportunity for creativity while creating connections with others by creating beautiful greeting cards, gorgeous gifts, and memorable scrapbook albums.
I have recently rejoined Stampin’ Up! as an independent demonstrator. I was a demonstrator from 1998-2008 but took some time away as I focused on family and other career opportunities. I am excited to once again be able to share my love of stamping with others. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator! I would be happy to help you with your rubber stamping and paper crafting needs either in person for those who live near my home in Mt. Pleasant, MI or virtually for those throughout the United States. I teach classes in my home; offer personalized classes and demonstrations for you and your friends; offer online classes, demonstrations and events; and have a weekly FREE Mystery Stamping event. Check out my events page to see everything that's going on! |
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Purchase my handmade cardsIn addition to providing card making ideas and inspiration here as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube, I also sell my handmade creations at Made UP North, a café and retail space featuring artists and artisans from northern Michigan. If you're ever in the Roscommon, Michigan area, I hope you'll stop by and see all the fabulous items for sale and pick up a fantastic lunch!
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The very long story of how I got here...
People often ask my how I got into Stampin' Up! in the first place. So, let me take you on a little journey into my past. It started about 26 years ago when my sister-in-law started rubber stamping and helped me make my daughter's baby announcements.
Fast forward a year, she found Stampin' Up! and sent me a catalog as I had moved out of state. At that time I had really gotten into scrapbooking and made regular trips to our local JoAnn's (the only craft store in the small town where I lived in Maine). I pretty much looked at that Stampin' Up! catalog every day, sometimes for hours. I poured over it! It was filled with so many gorgeous samples and cool ideas. I started to think about how I could use stamping in my scrapbooking.
After a few months of this obsessive page turning, I decided to purchase the starter kit - which was not even close to the amazing deal you get today! I thought it would be a great way to meet new people and maybe even pay for my own crafting supplies.
For 10 years, I absolutely loved it, made so many new friends, and had fun creating my own little business. But in 2008, my career goals changed and I headed to grad school.
The next few years were long and challenging. I learned so much, met life-long friends, and watched my kids turn into teenagers and adults. But I missed crafting. Like really missed crafting. I missed being creative and making pretty things with my hands. I used to actually feel a tingling in my hands, an itch to make something.
So, the day after I mailed off the final draft of my thesis, I re-joined Stampin' Up! I wanted so many new stamps and papers to play with and there was a great deal on the starter kit. I thought that I would just grab a bunch of new stuff and maybe buy more for myself at a discount.
I didn't have any plans to teach cardmaking to anyone or to try and sell anything. I'd just finished school, I was looking for jobs that were sure to be time-consuming and overwhelming. There were very few jobs open for my specialty though, and I decided I didn't want to move across the country for a job that would take me away from my family. So, I found myself with extra time on my hands.
I was so excited about the pretty cards that I was making that I started a website and a Facebook group so that I could show them off to others and maybe make some new crafting friends. Then the pandemic hit and I found myself with even more time. I started making videos, sending newsletters, and holding online classes.
It wasn't what I imagined, but I'm so happy to be where I am. I love being able to inspire others to get crafty. I love learning new things for my business. And I really love all the amazing people I have met along the way, like you!
Fast forward a year, she found Stampin' Up! and sent me a catalog as I had moved out of state. At that time I had really gotten into scrapbooking and made regular trips to our local JoAnn's (the only craft store in the small town where I lived in Maine). I pretty much looked at that Stampin' Up! catalog every day, sometimes for hours. I poured over it! It was filled with so many gorgeous samples and cool ideas. I started to think about how I could use stamping in my scrapbooking.
After a few months of this obsessive page turning, I decided to purchase the starter kit - which was not even close to the amazing deal you get today! I thought it would be a great way to meet new people and maybe even pay for my own crafting supplies.
For 10 years, I absolutely loved it, made so many new friends, and had fun creating my own little business. But in 2008, my career goals changed and I headed to grad school.
The next few years were long and challenging. I learned so much, met life-long friends, and watched my kids turn into teenagers and adults. But I missed crafting. Like really missed crafting. I missed being creative and making pretty things with my hands. I used to actually feel a tingling in my hands, an itch to make something.
So, the day after I mailed off the final draft of my thesis, I re-joined Stampin' Up! I wanted so many new stamps and papers to play with and there was a great deal on the starter kit. I thought that I would just grab a bunch of new stuff and maybe buy more for myself at a discount.
I didn't have any plans to teach cardmaking to anyone or to try and sell anything. I'd just finished school, I was looking for jobs that were sure to be time-consuming and overwhelming. There were very few jobs open for my specialty though, and I decided I didn't want to move across the country for a job that would take me away from my family. So, I found myself with extra time on my hands.
I was so excited about the pretty cards that I was making that I started a website and a Facebook group so that I could show them off to others and maybe make some new crafting friends. Then the pandemic hit and I found myself with even more time. I started making videos, sending newsletters, and holding online classes.
It wasn't what I imagined, but I'm so happy to be where I am. I love being able to inspire others to get crafty. I love learning new things for my business. And I really love all the amazing people I have met along the way, like you!