(Pam)- Marilyn, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions so we all can get to know you. Can you tell me a little about yourself and family.
{Marilyn} Don and I have a “blended” family with his two children (that I adopted) and my two children. This means that we had “The Girls,” Emily and Sheri, and “The Kids,” Sarah and Ben. They are all grown now and I am a grandma to 6 beautiful children who are growing way too fast.
Don and I live in a woods, on top of a mountain in the Ozarks of north-central Arkansas. We are only a little over an hour from Branson, Mo. Access to Bull Shoals Lake is only a mile from us and the area is beautiful. We moved here about 9 years ago and we both love to watch the wildlife that comes up in the yard. This place inspires me!
I worked in Special Education at our local school until I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 years ago. I lost my job since I could no longer lift the children into and out of their wheelchairs. I decided to go back to college when I was fighting my way through chemo-brain. I decided two things-one was to fight to think my way through that fog and that I should get credit for that fight and the second was that if I had any plans to live my dreams, I had better get with the program! Selling Stampin’ Up is helping me attain my goals.
(Pam) Why are you a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator?
{Marilyn} There are several reasons I became a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up. I was looking for a business that would allow my physical good and bad days to be handled without added stress while helping me attain my creative goals. I needed a job that would not add to health problems, but alleviate them!
I am a natural teacher. My life has been devoted to that in one way or another. This allows me to teach creative projects and encourage and cheer you on to meeting and exceeding your own goals.
Money is a factor in almost every facet of our lives. I don’t like money, but that is how we operate in this world, so we all need some. I don’t have to be rich (which is a good thing since I am so far from that) but I would like to have some money to pay to publish that children’s book I talked about before. When you put that together with the price of craft supplies these days, this was a good fit for me! I love what I do!
(Pam) What is your favorite Stampin’ product?
{Marilyn} That question is harder to answer that you might imagine. There are a few products that I use every day-the paper trimmer, the paper snips, the scoring tool and the envelope punch board.
There are a blue million paper cutters on the market and I own several of them, but I will say that Stampin’ Up’s Trimmer is the BEST ONE I HAVE EVER USED. I would tell you that whether I sold Stampin’ Up or not. Its versatility beats anything out there in my opinion.
I have found that when folding paper/cardstock the scoring tool is a must have product. I would encourage anyone who considers making more than one paper project to own this tool. It makes folding a quick and easy job rather that a frustration with every fold.
The paper snips are extremely sharp and must be kept away for small children or those who have trouble respecting the damage they can do! That being said, they are a valuable tool and I use mine constantly.
The envelope punch board is a relatively new tool on the market. Stampin’ Up has teamed up with We Are Memory Keepers to provide this product. If you have purchased one at Michaels or wherever, it is the same product. Learning what it can do, falls under the Stampin’ Up demonstrator’s perfect job, though. It sounds like it can make envelopes, but…oh it can do much more! We will be looking at that during the party!
(Pam) I heard that you are an artist as well. Can you tell us a little about that and some of the awards you won?
{Marilyn} My hands were originally trained to paint. I know that sounds crazy, but my brush could do things that my pencil could not! Once I began to study and “see” my subject matter, I began to train my pencils, markers and many other tools to be able to do similar quality work. I love color!
I have won several ribbons at county fairs and state fairs. I do believe, however, that my most exciting award was won a couple years ago when I entered the American Cancer Society’s More Birthdays Contest. The first two rounds were public votes and the final award was judged by the society judges themselves. I won the first place award in the art division. You may have heard the music winner sing/play on TV commercials. My entry was on the ACS website for a year with my name right in there with the Cake Boss, famous musicians and many other famous people! I was excited!
(Pam) What other creative ventures are you involved in?
{Marilyn} Creative ventures are all around at my house! At the present time, I am making mini albums. These albums are similar to those made by other book makers, with one exception-art. I hand paint/draw at least some of the embellishments that go into each book. I include hand-stamped images, hand-colored images and hand-made flowers, but each book has at least two or three pieces of free-hand painted images that work with the theme of the book.
I am offering classes in the creation of these books as well. I show how to make a book, how to select embellishments for them and show you how to add your personal touch to these heirloom books. They are worth far more than the sum of their individual components, I assure you!
(Pam) Can you tell us how someone would become a Stampin’ demonstrator/consultant?
{Marilyn} We are always looking for recruits who want to run a business that is exciting and rewarding. To become an Independent Stampin’ Up Demonstrator, you need commitment, a few ideas and $99 plus tax to purchase your kit. These kits consist of $125 in products that you select yourself, and paperwork and catalogs you need to begin.
This is a very rewarding experience and well worth the time commitment needed to make it work. If it is something you think you might like, talk to me about it. You don’t have to come up with every project idea yourself. We are here to help you!
(Pam) Is there a special deal to sign up right now?
{Marilyn} During Sale-A-Bration there is a special promotion where you can order $150 instead of $125 worth of merchandise for the same low start-up price. I don’t know of any other business where you pay so little to begin a business!
Sale-a-Bration ends March 31, so this offer ends very soon!
(Pam) Please tell us some of the specials for the Sale-a-bration that ends 3/31
{Marilyn} During the Sale-a-Bration promotion, customers receive free merchandise from a special products list for EVERY $50 spent. So, anyone can get this, not just hostesses and you can qualify for more than one! There is a wide variety of products to select from and you can see this list at www.shopwithmarilyn.com. They are listed under Sale-a-Bration!
Be sure to check out the weekly deals and clearance rack items, too!
(Pam) If you could change one thing about your creative career, what would it be?
{Marilyn} The one thing I would change is that I would have found the nerve to start sooner! Creativity is within us. It appears in many ways, but it is there. We do have to cultivate it and train it, but it can be powerful in allowing us to meet the needs of our families and allowing the personal time so many of us need and lack. There are great benefits to loving your job and allowing the creative person inside you speak boldly!
THANK YOU MARILYN, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LET US GET TO KNOW YOU!!
See you all at the party: https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftinwithmarilyn/ 9p est Sunday 3/30!