Jul 24 2008
Blog Candy and Getting to Know You
Times Up and we already have a winner!!!!
Do to some work commitments I was unable to stamp this morning. 
I really enjoyed last weeks comments letting me know where you are from. Knowing about my readers helps to motivate me to continue sharing with you. My Word! there are a lot of you readers out there! My blog gets around 2,000 to 3,000 clicks a day and there are about 1,300 of you subscribed to this blog by e-mail. The shear numbers freak me out a little, lol.
This week I want all of you to share with me, please what brought you to stamping? In return I have some BLOG CANDY to give you a chance at!
So to enter for a chance to win these 16 Studio G, Series 6 stamp packs with a bonus Valentine pack, please leave me a comment on this post telling me what brought you to stamping. If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click this link to leave a comment on this blog post: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/07/24/blog-candy-and-getting-to-know-you/
I will use a random number generator to pick the winner on the morning of Saturday, July 26th.
I will start by saying, my friend Claire Sharkey asked me to come along with her to a stamping workshop. I didn’t care about rubber stamps and wasn’t all that interested, but I wanted to spend time with my friend, Claire, so I went along. Next thing I know, I’m ordering my very first Stampin’ Up stamp set “Frosty”. That was back in 2001.
I almost felt guilty for stamping at first, because I like to paint with watercolors and pastels and there I was just stamping the images instead of drawing them. But my stamping in time became more artist in nature and more satisfying too. I know you don’t believe it, but I can pretty quickly do a scene now with stamps and ink. Now I say quickly, but quickly to me is 1 hour. I like the creative process and why rush it. 
My paintings with pastel can take me, literally months to complete, so 1 hour to accomplish a scene seems super quick.
Alright, that is my beginning in stamping, what is yours?
502 responses so far
I was a waitress in a restaurant and about 10 ladies came in after a stamp club meeting and they had their cards in binders that they were looking through and wanted me to see what they had made that day. I was so———-amazed that I wanted to make some cards too. They told me about the LSS and how the lady who owned it taught classes. I signed up – took classes – one thing led to another – eventually I went to work at this stamp store and I have been hooked ever since. The stamp store is no longer here, but the friends I made while working there are and we still get together twice a month to stamp something.
Good Morning Michelle
I missed telling you where I lived last time so here goes.
I live in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, about a 35 Min drive from Toronto, or Niagara Falls, for those who don’t know the area.
I started seeing all sorts of homemade cards in stores and I would spend a fortune getting just the right ones for friends and family.
Then A friend and I went to a SU demo last year and it blew me away. I loved how the cards came together. I still have to find my niche I think, because I love so many styles that I get frustrated and leave projects unfinished all the time. I feel it’s people like you and quite a lot of others who show the process and the love for the art that are helping me come out of my shell and experiment more.
Now I have to stop buying and start trying more.
Thanks for all the inspiration.
Happy Thursday
I started off scrapbooking and decided to have a play with foam stamps when they were introduced. From there I have slowly been learning about all the different inks and techniques but still have soooo much more to learn. I just love that stamping can be so versatile and a tool that can be used over and over again!
A coworker hosted a SU! party, which I attended and politely bought a stamp set and ink pad. 6 months later, the stamp set had not been touched, not even mounted. My friend asked to borrow it, mounted the stamps, and made a really cute card with it. This got my interest. Then she began bringing cards she had made to work, and I got hooked. A few months later, I became a SU! demonstrator (2003 I think), and I’ve been lovin’ stampin’ ever since.
wow, I missed telling you where I’m from too but it’s Gilbertsville, PA. That’s east coast PA, NW of Philadelphia.
I began scrapbooking the first time I saw Lisa B selling a scrapbook kit on QVC many years ago. I had fun learning all the techniques along the way and getting to know the owners of my LSS. One day while browsing in that store, I spotted a card displayed on the counter to advertise an upcoming class. I loved the card so much I signed up for the class and have been hooked ever since. My first SU set I bought after that class was “sketch it” and I still have it. I still drift between cardmaking and scrapbooking and love them both, but I think card making is more rewarding because you can actually finish the project in half the time compared to a scrapbook page………..well SOMETIMES I can LOL Some days I tend to get way too involved in details, but it’s all good
TFS this awesome blog candy. I find myself using these G studio stamps quite often lately!
Hi Michelle! I’m in the Flint MI area (transplanted from the Boston MA and Philadelphia PA areas) and was invited to a friend’s home for a Stampin’ Up! party back in 2001. I’d scrapbooked and played with stickers for years prior to that, but hadn’t add much stamping to my albums. I make cards more than scrapbooks lately but generally seem to switch my focus to different pasttimes at different times.
I had been making cards digitally for a few years. A coworker showed me a few cards she made and invited me to a SU party for a Christmas preview approx 3 years ago. I did not buy any stamps at that time, but my sister had a box of SU stamps she purchased but never used. She gave the stamps to me, I began reading and searching web sites and blogs for techniques and began stampin and have not looke back since. I love stamping and cardmaking. Learning new techniques and the ability to use stamps to create a card to give joy or encouragement to someone. Althought there have been times when I have wanted to keep a card because it was so beautiful, yet it eventually would go to someone special.
I only recently started stamping and it was because I was seeing and reading all these wonderful blogs that inspire like yours. Plus, my hubs is a creative guy and he got me into scrapbooking a while back.
I have always dabbled in crafts and love papercrafts in particular, but for the life of me could never understand other people’s addiction to stamps … seemed to me like they were a bit ‘loopy’ to go into raptures over a bit of rubber! Consequently I only owned a few message and text stamps to add greetings to cards.
However, all that has now changed and I’m at serious risk of becoming one of those ‘loopy rubber addicts’ myself.
After joining a couple of craft forums and eventually discovering blogs, I was introduced to a whole new world of inspiration and a spark was lit. Whilst I’m still very much a novice stamper, my collection is growing … I just wish my bank balance could match my new addiction.
Hi Michelle!
What a great story! I first started stamping after winning a contest. I was already scrapbooking and totally despised the idea of stamping at first, then one day I received one of those newsletter emails from Creating Keepsakes and as I was scrolling through it I saw a contest offered by a company called Sugarloaf. So I clicked on it and went ahead and registered. The contest was for 72 sets of See D’s stamps. In a million years I never thought I’d win, but I became intrigued with stamps once I saw their unique system. A few days later I got the email saying I was one of 10 lucky winners in their biggest prize draw ever and I still thought it was just spam type of email. Then I went back to their website where they had the list of winners published and there I was! It started to sink in then – but didn’t fully hit me until UPS brought about 8 boxes full of stamps to my door. 72 sets with 20 or 30 images in each set was a boatload of stamps! I didn’t even own an inkpad!! 3 years later I’m addicted to stamping and now Sugarloaf is Inque Boutique and I’ve never looked back. Shortly after winning I was invited to a workshop by an SU demo through a lady at my hubby’s employer and the rest is history. I started going to workshops to learn how to use stamps and purchasing supplies to go home and use with my See D’s stamps. I just love it now. It doesn’t matter how bad of a mood I am in – if I can take time to stamp, I feel instantly better. Thanks for the opportunity to share my story and for the chance to win more stamps!!
Nevertheless, there I take part promt. I come from Germany and am also very active in a forum. I had started with 3D maps and wanted never to stamp, actually, with him start. But because in this forum always so nice maps were shown and I have noticed, stamp to the imagination no borders this by this are put………… was for me nobody hold more *lach* Daily I learn on top of that and simply have fun in it. Your maps inspire me terrifically, they are so wonderful.
I still wish you a nice day
LG Gitti
Hi – this isn’t an entry for the blog candy as it would be unfair for you to have to post them internationally – but I thought I’d join in anyway.
I do very much enjoy your blog from here in the sunny English countryside.
I was introduced to stamping when I met a new friend via an altered art-type forum I was a member of. She had just moved locally to me and invited me round to her place for a chat and supper.
When I got there I was blown away by all her stamps – she has 1000s!
she gave me a grab bag of rubber to get me started, some old copies of Take Ten, and a couple of lessons, and I was off
Nowadays I use stamping in pretty much everything I do.
Sarah
My stamping beginning parallels yours. I went to a stamping party a friend of mine had. I bought one stamp set and never opened the box. It was a Celtic design.The next year, I was invited again. I bought another stamp set and didn’t open the box either. My friend had another party that year, but this time, something clicked. This was about 2000 or 2001. I’ve been stamping ever since, but would love to get to your level!
Hi Michelle!
I´m Alex from Austria and visit your blog nearly every day because I love your work!
Here is my Story how I started to stamp:
I was invited from a friend for a handicraft afternoon in 2006. After trying the bigshot I sat there and watched her stitching a card. My friend sayd – ‘oh you are finished, but I have some other “work” for you’ and gave me her cute-stamps and some instructions.
I started to stamp and color in the motives and after 2 hours she asked me were I am. I was so fascinated from the work that I forgot everything around me.
One week later my first Stamps arrived.
Everytime I have a bad or stressful day I only need to stamp to get the feeling of this first stamping day.
Greetings Alex
I started with scrapbooking, then card making which has revolved into stamping. I have only been stamping for about the last year on and off. So am fairly new.
It is a fun adventure, lots to learn. I am loving your style the best because it is so much like a painting, and I have always wanted to be an artist. God didn’t give me that talent. However, with your teachings I feel like I kind of am. Thank You.
Sorry for my bad english, i m Alexa from Germany
this is the reason why I seldom comment never or only rare.
Your works inspiered me very often and your name flow through the Bloggers world.
Tahnk you very much vor the beautiful instructions and thanks for the Blog Candy that motivate to wrote a news.
Lovley Greetings
Alexa
I was NOT going to start stamping, I had so many crafts I was already accumulating–basketweaving, beading, lots of things. But one thing I wanted to do was to learn how to make paper. After searching long and hard I found a class at all places–Michael’s! It was a two part class, make the paper one week, come back the next week and make a card. The instructor showed us how to make our own stamps from craft foam. Well, great, but I got hooked. I know teach papermaking and have card classes in my house. So, that’s my story, I’m real happy in my craft room. Thanks for your wonderful inspiration. I now think “Zindorf” when I see sunrises, sunsets, silouettes of any kind. I LOVE thinking “Z”!!!!!!!!!!!!
oxoxpeg
Hi Michelle, I am from Dubbo, Australia. I was a scrapbooker and went to a friend of a friends place to scrapbook and she was a SU Demo. She showed me the catalogue and stamped a couple of things while i was there. I asked if I could borrow her catalogue. I fell in love with the products. I had never used a stamp or made a card but by the end of the week I had signed up to be a demonstrator. My Starter Kit was my first purchase of stamps. I then had to learn how to stamp and make cards so I spent many nights blog hoping to learn as much as I could before my first workshop. That was 1 year and 1 month ago and I am so glad I did it.
About 20 years ago I purchased a foam Lady Bug stamp to use on a clay pot for inexpensive gifts. I got real creative and hand drew some of the hilights and background patterns. I’ve always been into “art” from clay, weaving, woodwork (building furniture mostly) and along came scrapbooking in 1996. I loved building stories with paper and stickers but got a little board with it and then I had an epiffany; use rubber stamps instead of those other more bulky embellishments!! BRILLIANT, I’m a smart person! Still thinking about it, another friend who was on my bowling league brought a get well card for everyone to sign that she had made. WOW! I think I actually foamed at the mouth! I said, “will you teach me how?” Turns out, she was a Stampin Up Demo. Not only can she bowl like a bat out of ……, she is an artist too who happens to stamp AND she’s got a very tender, generous, sincere heart. Because of her, I look at things all around me trying to decide how best to emulate what I see using a rubber stamp. Thanks to Jeanne Streiff who’s blog you can also see at http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ a new world opened up to me and I keep trying to capture it by stamping. I love trying all the different techniques from many different blogs but I have to say, Michelle, you are the best! Thanks for the blog candy but I’d look anyway.
Hi Michelle,
I’m Julia from Germany and I have been stamping since 2005. I was active in a creative forum where a group of stampers were showing their cards and other stamped things, so I ordered some stamps and tried it out. And – I love it!
Thank you for your great inspiration blog and for the chance to win such wunderful stamps!
I saw some stamps at Jo-Anns and wondered what they were all about. I decided to buy a book on the craft and that did it. I was hooked. Unfortunately I didn’t know that much and the book only had a small sampling of what to do. I hit the internet and found Stampin’ UP. As they say, the rest is history. I love every minute I can devote to stamping.
My neighbor introduced me to SU! and I was HOOKED!! I used to make fun of people who did stuff like stamp/scrap, but then I tried it and wondered why I hadn’t before!!!
Oh my, I was invited to workshop about rubber stamping. I thought yuk! But it was in the winter and I said okay, I didn’t have anything else to do. But it took the second workshop to hook me. I’ve been a demo ever since. Stampin’ Up! got me…
Love it! I’m from Michigan, and the winter’s can be long, or so they seem, you need something. I’d been a long time crafter and the thought of rubber stamping was out of the question. Wrong! It’s about so much more.
Let me start by saying that I found your blog only about 2 weeks ago and I have come here daily anticipating something amazing- and have yet to feel even an ounce of disapointment.
I started stamping originally about 13 years ago when (stamps were a little primitive and) I was in the 6th grade, being home schooled by my mom. She took me to a home party and several home schoolers decided to make a regular thing out of it for the “socialization”. I went back to public school the following year and forgot all about stamping. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago that I started suffering from anxiety attacks and needed something quiet I could do at night to keep myself busy but not wake my husband, so stamping was my therapy of choice. The good news is he didn’t care too much how much I spent on it since it was keeping me calm and letting him sleep! LOL! I think it was the combination of creating something and knowing that I would be able to give it to someone and hopefully bless them at the same time that made it so appealing. As I’m typing this (and can’t quite believe I’m being so open) I’ve got a new idea for a mini album about my recovery (panic attack free for 8 months now!). Thanks for putting yourself out here and sharing your talent!
I started out with scrapbooking after my mother died because I brought home all the old family photos and I wanted to preserve those photos for my children. Then I decided to make a personal ‘from me to you’ scrapbook for each of my children so I joined a few scrapping boards so I could learn as much as I could about scrapping and discovered all the cool toys available for scrappers. That led to my discovery of the Wishblade. I found the United Kingdom Scrappers board after my sweet hubby bought me the pink Wishblade when it debuted on HSN in March 2007. It was there at UKS that I discovered Penny Black stamps! I fell in love with the PB snowman stamps and got my first stamp (a PB snowman
) and created my first Christmas card. I started collecting Penny Black stamps and now I am hooked on stamps in general, lol! A friend of mine told me about Studio G $ stamps and I started collecting those with Series 11. Ya’ gotta love those $ stamps! I just wish I could have ‘insta-stash’ of all the stamps I would love to own, but I am slowly building my collection. I am so addicted to stamps (sigh).
Initially, it was wedding preparations – I wanted specific wedding stationery, and coudln’t find what I wanted, so went to a Rubber Stamp store, and bought the supplies to do it myself.
I took a bit of a break, and what sucked me in the 2nd time was going to a SU demo. I loved it. That was in NOvember, and it’s kind of exploded from there.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Michelle, I started out making cards with dry embossing. Then I started scrapbooking and through scrapbooking magazines I learned about SU. Everytime a cute/great looking stamp was used it was a SU stamp. Looked it up on the Internet and found loads about stamping, found SCS etc. Now I have quite some stamps, all kinds of brands, I even have some SU stamps. I love using them. I call my craft space my comfy place. Makes me happy even if I only sit there. I love making cards, my mother wants some and my sister wants some. So I make them cards too. Love the whole proces.
Eveline from The Netherlands.
I started out with scrapbooking after many years of doing crafts, art (especially painting) and sewing projects. Because I had so many interests and because of the cost, I didn’t want to get into anything else. My girlfriend Linda wanted me to go to an SU house party, so I went but I had planned not to get involved….*LOL* Well needless to say, I bought some stamps and got immediately hooked by how quickly a project can be completed and look great. I LOVE shopping for supplies and my “play” room is now full of wonderful things to use to create my little masterpieces and is my own little piece of heaven on earth. I also love having friends over to “play” in my room. I have to make myself do some scrapbooking sometimes because I’d rather be trying a new stamping technique! I especially love your ” Zindorf ” style and your tutorials. Such fun!
Take care,
Trish
Moving back home(Ohio) after being gone for 17 yrs, it was hard to get into the groove with friends that hadn’t moved, with kids in H.S made some new friends and got introducted to scrapebooking. Jumped i with both feet and got invited to a stampin up party and the year they came out with the scrapebook catty, I signed up and have probably only scraped 10-15 pages since then. I loved the fact that I could sit down and make a card in such a short time. Now with grandchildren I have started to scrape again, but truely love card making. We have a group of ladies who make cards to send to soldiers to send to their families, have started a card ministry at my church and love looking on line to see what is new. I am addicted to your site. I get up, read my Bible and go to the computer to see what is new on your site. You have enabled my to broaden my horizen. Thank You,Thank You, Thank You. Suzie
Not quite ten years ago a very dear friend of mine invited me to a Stampin’ Up party. She explained to me how she had recently become interested in rubber stamping and scrap booking. I felt bad, but blew her off. My reasoning was what would I scrap book, after all I don’t have any children of my own. Then she became a demonstrator and invited me to another party. I knew I couldn’t blow her off again, so I went, got hooked and have been stamping ever since.
I went to a workshop at a teachers convention and then to my daughters wedding shower and that was that. I just love the creativity and it is so relaxing and rewarding. Thanks for your inspiration
Eileen
I had been doing computer generated cards for years but recently got frustrated because I could not usually find the image I wanted or I did not like how it was layed out. So one day I was cruising through the net and found Splitcoast stampers, and I got hooked into making my own cards, though right now they are not nearly as nice as some of these lady’s. Some of these cards, including yours, is like art work
.
WOW! What a generous bit of candy!
I was brought into stamping by a friend’s Stampin’ Up! party. I was instantly in love. I had always been crafty — but inpatient. I could never knit that entire afghan or patiently quilt. I loved the idea of making something special for someone and seeing the finished product quickly! It wasn’t long before I was scrapbooking and paper crafting everything in site. Ahhh… if only that one demonstrator knew what she had unleashed!
Hi Michelle – A few of my coworkers were into stamping, and while I thought the cards they were making were pretty cool, it wasn’t until I saw “Boatloads of Love” in a SU! catalog last fall that I decided to give it a try. My love of tugboats was all it took! I ordered the stamp set, and the rest is history. Normally, I would buy a craft project and it would never make it out of the bag, but I stamped (and mailed!) almost 80 Christmas cards.
I love checking out the blogs, and yours is one of my favorites! Thanks for sharing your incredible designs with all of us.
Hi Michelle- I was on vacation with my mother and sister in Branson. We ran into a little place that had several little shops. One of the shops was a stamp store. My sister and I Decided to go in and see what it was all about. The owner was a sweet lady and she had all kinds of cards on the wall. She told us how she did some of them and my intrest was sparked. I bought a couple of stamp sets and when I got home I started playing with them right away. I was hooked.
Thank you for the oppertunity to win and thank you for doing all these wonderful tutorials.
I have been painting with acrylics for years. My friend invited me to a SU party. I was only going because she was my friend. I mean “why would I want to spend so much money on just one stamp that could only do one thing”. Painting was much more flexible……Ha! I thought I’d maybe get some backgrounds I could use behind my painted items on a card. Then I thought I’d get stamps for things I couldn’t paint like cars or people. And now, I rarely paint anymore – I’m forgetting how! Thanks for teaching me so much & Thanks for the blog candy.
I think it started in middle school (mid-1970s) in the library. I loved stamping the date due cards. Ink to paper!
And I’ve loved paper since a baby. My mom says that I chewed/ate all the corners of dad’s books in his library (probably teething). I still love paper. Not necessarily to eat….
I played around with some pastels in middle/high school. Loved art class. Taught myself calligraphy (ink on paper) and embroidery (color on fabric — sorta like ink on paper).
So when my sister and I were invited to a Stampin’ Up! party — we went. Partly because we didn’t want to go alone, partly because we weren’t sure what a stamping party was. We were hooked! She became a SU demo, and I supported her habit.
I became a SU! demo last fall, and I’m going to my first convention next week.
My reason to stamp is to make cards. I have saved all the cards I’ve received since the early 1980s. And I love to give cards. It makes me happy, and I hope it makes the recipient happy too.
That’s most of my story. Thanks for wanting to know about us. I love your work and am SO inspired by it. I’ve made a couple of attempts following your tutorials. Not too bad — but I’ve got a LONG way to go!
Thanks a bunch!
Michelle hello! I’m a big admirer of your work. You rock with that brayer. I had eye surgery followed by complications two years ago. I was a lifelong sewer, dollmaker, quilter etc and can still do that but my sight suffered after the procedures and I didn’t have quite the acquity I had always had. Stamping and papercrafting does not require quite as much as the sewing and so I turned to that and have found it extremely rewarding. I’ll never give up sewing but papercrafting has brought so much joy to my life.
Mary
http://www.primitiveseasons.blogspot.com
I’m from NJ.
I was invited to an SU! party by my cake decorating instructor. She just told me it was a small party. So I decided to bring my hubby (fiance) at the time with me. Well there were 10 women and my fiance. And yes he stamped along with us, and since he knew i would be into it he actually encouraged me to buy some extra stuff.
well a few months later i signed up to be a demo!
Michelle,
My friend Ann got me hooked on stamping. My son was about 2. I was frustrated that I could not get any projects finished. It just seemed as if I had only 15 or 20 minutes at a time to do anything that I wanted to do. Ann was a fledgling Stampin Up! demonstrator. She invited me to a workshop. I found I could finish a simple card in 15 or 20 minutes. What a sense of accomplishment–a finished project! My first stamp set was the Water Color Minis. My son is 9, and I haven’t bought a card in years. Of course, I’ve spent much more on stamps, inks, embossing powders, embellishments, the list goes on. I’m learned so much, and continue to enjoy and learn new stamping “stuff” all the time. Thanks for all the great tutorials.
Niki
I had moved away from friends and family. I wanted to “keep in touch” but buying cards for everyone was pretty expensive and time consuming. Unlike making my own! LOL I was traveling almost 50 weeks a year with my job and needed something that I could do while traveling. I found a great stamp store in Folsom, CA, it has since closed, took a class there, and started making cards. I was introduced to Stampin Up in 2003 when I moved to Austin, TX. My cards got a whole lot better with the monthly camps and the techniques from our demonstrator. I discover you, Michelle, a few months ago. My cards have taken another leap since then. I look at the blog everyday and am grateful that you are so generous with you time and share with all of us.
Hi from Normal, Illinois. My sister-in-law sent me stamped cards several years back and I was awed by her creations and the love that went into each one. I was positive I could never do that … yet the whole idea was so exciting! So one day after watching a Carol Duvall show on stamping, I jumped up to try it. Horrible results!! I forgot to write down the recipe and ended up using a watery Elmer’s glue solution to “decoupage” my art. After a few days my husband wondered why there was a stink coming from the dining room table. Turns out the cupful of gloppy glue had soured!! lol I started walking everyday soon after that with an artsy friend who really encouraged me to start making cards again, so that very day we pounded flowers onto fabric and paper. I LOVE nature like you do, and the cards turned out pretty, but needed a sentiment. Since I had seen Wonderful Words in many card magazines, I used the Internet to locate a Stampin’ Up distributor, and hosted a workshop with ten ladies at my house the next week. I got more than a few stamps that day! That was three years ago this August and, now, 600 cards later, and more stamps than the law allows, I am still lovin’ it and still in awe of the process. Thanks for a walk down memory lane and a chance for some sweet candy!!
I am subscribed thru your RSS feed because I don’t want to miss your next work of art. Thanks for inspiring me to try new things! (Whenever I see a sunset/sunrise card I immediately think “Zindorf!) It’s hard to remember your first name is Michelle! Anyhow… I was invited to a Stampin’ Up! party by my Pastor’s wife – I wasn’t all that interested, but came again the next time she asked, something clicked – and as most of your commenters said, “The rest is history!” She is still the demo, but I do the choosing of the cards we’ll be making at our Stamper’s Six club meetings, getting everything ready & showing the ladies how to make them. (I know, I know – I should be a demo – it’s probably just a matter of time) It’s a joke between us now that she should be ashamed of herself… a Pastor’s wife… getting me hooked on stamping. (Especially bad, because she’s also the one who introduced me to SCS)
Over 25 years ago, I visited my sister in California and saw a cute dove stamp that I thought would look nice on a Christmas envelope. Stamping wasn’t big then. Then about 10 years later I was invited to a ‘stamping’ party where the hostess was going to make her wedding invites. The leader explained how we could save money with stamps. HA!!! Well… yes the rest is history. I am still saving money…lol.
What great blog candy. That is simple I use to work with a girlfriend of mine and never even heard of stamping. Then she gave me a beautiful homemade card for my birthday and from then on I was hooked. That was 8 years ago and I have been hooked ever since making over a dozen cards each week… haha… I told my husband that making cards for myself would save us money. Little did he know at the time haha… Love your blog.
Hi Michelle! My story is a bit different. In 1997, my dd had to have major spinal surgery, and was in the ICU for a long time. My Mom stamped, but I never had. Mom put together a CARE package for dd, Mom thought it was something dd could do from bed. Mom showed me how the goodies worked. A heat gun, embossing power, stamps inkpads, and markers. DD could have cared less! But I was stuck 24/7 in the ICU and waiting room. I stamped and colored images for weeks. I still use the heat gun my Mom brought dd!
I came to stamping because I married into a Jewish family! We live in the middle of nowhere Northern Minnesota and I could not find any kind of cards, wrapping paper or gift tags for these crazy new (to me) holidays. A friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up party where I saw some great Jewish themed stamp sets. I also love that I can make Season’s Greetings cards for everyone- I’m just not organized enough to send Hanukah cards to some and Christmas to others. I joined a Stampin’ Hostess Club last year- I love my night out with the girls. The conversations we have when our hands are busy… I am so a Michelle wannabe! I majored in Fine Art Photo in college so was pretty snotty about stamping at first but I love what I can do with it without a darkroom and scary chemicals.
I am from Puerto Rico. I learned scrapbooking while in high school and since then I started loving papercraft (Maybe even before since my dad used to do me a few things in origami when I was a kid). I am quite good at crafts but while adolescent I lost interest and I retook them once I was about to finish the university. By error I ordered some wooden stamps, thinking they were stickers and left them behind except for one or other time when I wanted to use those images. A year ago, I took a card class and got interested (still forgeting those wood stamps I have somewhere at home and just last week I found). Took another class where the demo used stamping in scrapbooking and she had me completely.
I love to scrapbook and to add stamping to it. Now I’m working in creating cards and other altered items as well as paper crafting and ALWAYS look for a way to add some stamping to it!
Back in 1996, a friend I taught with invited me to a “rubber stamp” party. I had NO interest in going (back then, I thought rubber stamps would be those things we stamped on students paper “Nice Work”, “Try Harder”, etc.) I could not imagine how that would be any fun at all, but I really liked Jackie and was afraid no one else would go so I went for the moral support. Over $100 of Stampin’ Up stuff later, I was hooked, decided to have my own party and about 6 after that became a Stampin’ Up demonstrator. I’ve gotten my mom, sister and sister-in-law all hooked as well. We love it!!
Well Miss Card Diva you deseve all this attention since your cards are the BEST..
:)
I used to make my own cards and when I started stamping them it was much easier then doing it all by hand.. I’ll still give the stamps I win to my friend Tonniece, since she is my card Diva
I was invited to a Stampin’ Up demo. I was an active digital artist at the time, and I couldn’t understand why stamp art got so much more respect than digital art. Anuyway, the demo gave us a challenge – she set out several colors and a stamp set, and we had to create our own cards. I was really intrgued by how different everyone’s cards were using the same materials…
I think I have more stamps and inks now than that demo ever did.
I started off with scrapbooking and then a friend of mine was selling all of her stuff that she did not use anymore. I bought it all from her and contacted a consultant for stampin up and have not been able to quit since. I use stamping for birthday cards at our office and I also use it on my scrapbook pages.
Thank you for the chance at the blog candy, keep up the great work on our card designs.
I suppose the shortest and most honest answer to the question “what brought me to stamping” would be the length of time UK citizens spend awaiting surgery on National Health Service waiting lists.
To expand a little – I had Gall Stones and needed my Gall Bladder removed – I was suffering quite a lot with outbreaks of pain from the blasted stones – so when i could not sleep I would turn on the TV in the middle of the night and watch anything while waiting for the pain to go. I became quite knowlegable about such products as the Jack La Lanne Juicer – those 30 minute long informercials can become quite hypnotic at 3am – but I digress! I found a shopping channel called Create and Craft, at first I thought card making was rather an odd hobby – why make them when you can buy them so cheaply? But then I saw a lady called Jayne Nestorenko and the amazing work she does with medallion stamps… I decided I want to make cards like that and started to think quite seriously about giving this rather odd hobby a go……. next I realised Jayne was not the only hugely talented demonstrator on that channel and I became addicted to the work of Glenda Wateworth……. and there you have it… the rest as they say is history.
I received a very clever House Mouse Christmas card from my sister-in-law way back in 2000. I noticed “Stampa Rosa” on the card, got on the internet, started searching, and WHOAAAA!!!! Hold me back!!! I have been buying and stamping ever since. It helps a lot, too, that it was my husband’s sister who got me started so he has a hard time complaining about the hobby and its costs, LOL!!! !
Omigosh, I can’t remember! I think I got my first alphabet stamp set when I was 8 or 9! The obsession began early for me, LOL!
Thanks for all the inspiration, Michelle!
Even though I have some really old stamps that I used to make gift tags at Christmas, I really became turned on to stamping and making cards through a friend who sold Stampin’ Up. Now I work at a rubber stamp store and teach!! I’ve come a long way, baby. LOL
Great stories everyone.
Mine is very simple… I WAS ENABLED! I have been a scrapbooker for years and constantly go to the message boards. People would show these beautiful cards with stamped images and I wanted to be able to do the same.
I discovered Bella stamps shortly after and then I bought my first House Mouse stamp and Penny Black. I don’t have many stamps, but I truly treasure my little collection.
Many a year ago, I was on a year’s leave to complete a degree, but I had some spare time and wanted to do something different. Use the other side of my brain, so to speak. I went to a beginner’s stamping class and that was it. I was hooked!
I started stamping in college as a part time job with “DOTS”. I was always crafty and it was a nice way to make some extra money that would work well with my class schedule. I have stuck with it now for 13 years and do cards, scrapbooks, and other odds and ends. Not great on my budget but great with my creative outlet.
Oh Michelle, I am so grateful that I found your blog at the beginning of the year and I am one of those you subscribe to getting your blog daily, plus I have your webpage as my homepage!!! I so enjoy reading all your entries and the fact that you stamp, use ink to create your cards! Keep it up, please!!!
I began stamping 11 years ago, like most people, attending a stamping party. The first time I saw embossing, I was hooked, big time. Little did I know that I would be stamping every day and have my own room and a husband who supports and encourages me with my craft!
Have a wonderful few days vacation and then your teaching time. Oh, how I wish I could be there! Thank you, for coming along side everyday with me, for that is what it feels like to me when I read your blog!
Jesse aka Inkyhive
I have sewed, scrapbooked and made cards since I was a child and I scrapbooked my high school trip to Paris in 1972!
I heard about Stampin Up in 1995 when I went into a copy center to buy some colored paper. The manager of the copy paper store and I started talking about how much we love paper….and we became friends. She was in Stampin Up and I became a good customer. I couldn’t be a demonstrator because I had 3 children plus 3 foster children, I home-schooled them and ran my own country painted wood craft show business, had a farm & animals and my plate was full! Then my friend told me she wanted to open a rubber stamp store and I encouraged her for over a year to go for it. She did and it was a huge success, partly due to the amount of product I bought from her! LOL
I think I first did some stamping in about 1983 with my Mom and sister. When I got out of college I may have purchased a few stamps here and there. Then in 2000 when we moved back home to the Black Hills here in South Dakota, I did stamping in a big way as we had a great little shop downtown. It closed, I moved on to scrapbooking. Then, this January I went with my Mom and sister to a Stampin’ Up! retreat and got TOTALLY hooked again! I signed up as a new Demonstrator 4 months later!
I’ve been making cards for years…mostly paper piecing and I really tried to avoid getting stamps. I just knew that I would be addicted…yep. I am.
Hi I’m from Michigan. I had a friend try to get me to try StampinUp’s rubber stamps butI was like no I don’t know anything about using them and its not really for me. Then I was intrigued by talk in an online group about heat embossing. Well I was curious enough to want to try but no idea where to get anything. My dh went out and bought me all the supplies including my first stamps as a surprise. And well…I’ve been hooked on stamps ever since. I laugh now when I think back how I was content in the beginning with just 6 ink colors. lol The next person who mentioned StampinUp sent me a catty and started my madness of a collection I have now. lol Great question!!!
I started NOT wanting to scrapbook. All my pics are already in books…some with better notes than others but I sort of stumbled on it and here I am a few years later. I’ve always been interested in crafts but put them aside when I didn’t feel I had the time. Now I do so I make cards and mini-books.
A girl I worked with stamped every couple months with her friends. She invited me to her house during one of their times. I had one stamp left from making placecards for a banquet. She said bring that and some paper. They let me use their stuff and taught me embossing. That’s all it took, now several thousand stamps later…
I have been making my own greeting cards in some way or form for over 20 years. I could never justify the increasing price of cards… if I could make them! So I did… hand drawn, then adding computer fonts, then a mix of hand drawn and computer… went to my first SU! Party in 2002. I was hooked!! I really didn’t buy that many stamps, but the ideas and the products… OMG! Paper other than white? Brads and ink, markers… the lucky thing is … I can draw and copy, so now my cards are a mix of stamps, hand drawn, stickers, computer generated… and other STUFF. It is so fun to have something created, almost instantly!!
I started out scrapbooking and eventually started playing with stamps and different inks. I am still discovering new things and love it. Thanks for your blog. It’s great!
I was working in a local scrapbook store, and one of the girls there got me interested in stamping. She shared a lot of great techniques for using them, and her cards and pages were always gorgeous, so she inspired me!
Thanks for the chance to win, Michelle.
Kelly in Maryland
I actually was a scrapbooker first and bought a couple of stamps to use on my scrapbook pages for more variety than just stickers and such. Then I attended my first SU workshop and bought a couple of sets. There began my addiction. I started buying stamps right and left, went to conventions and bought tons more, ordered them online, joined stamp-of-the-month groups, and lived and breathed stamps. Started making cards so I could use my stamps more. Now I’m a card fanatic. And a stampaholic. I stamp cards, frames, scrapbooks, journals, you name it. If you stand still long enough, I’ll probably stamp YOU! LOL
I went to a CTMH party at a friends bosses house. Her boss is a single mother of two teenaged daughters and she loves to stamp so I went along just to buy a few things so that the hostess could get some free stuff. Little did I know that my first little purchase would start the “store” in my basement!!
My next door neighbor was always bringing me thank you cards or birthday cards she made. I started getting interested and went to Hobby Lobby and bought a few things and she showed me the basics. She invited me to a SU party and I loved it. I placed an order as often as I could. Then I found SCS and a world of other stamp companies. Stamping relaxes me and it is how I unwind after a days work at my job. I love it. Your cards are fabulous. I enjoy reading your blog dailey.
RETIREMENT brought me to rubber stamping, actually during a trip to CA we happened upon a store that had a small collection of rubber stamps, I purchased my first two–a stamp of OHIO, where i live, and a clarinet because my daughter plays the clarinet. I still own these two stamps but have added ‘too many’ more to my collection over the past ten years. Early in my stamping ‘career’ i made many cards for my college age daughter, which she saved and recently went through the box of ‘old cards’ that i considered pretty good at the time, well, wow, how i’ve improved!
I’m in Arizona.
It’s my mother’s fault!!! that I stamp!!! It really is! Back in 1998, my mother signed herself and me up for a rubber stamping class through the community education classes of one of the school districts here. It’s funny, though, I have 3 sisters and none of them enjoy stamping. My mother passed away in 1999, and now when I stamp, I think of my mother.
Denise
I started stamping about 1 1/2 years ago. My inspiration was a good friend of mine who has stamped for years. I was also green with envy when we received her gorgeous Christmas cards/invitations/etc. I finally signed up for the Introduction to Rubber Stamping class at my local Archiver’s store. I was hooked from then. Soon afterwards my friend invited me to go with her to a stamping convention in Hampton Roads, VA. I came home with so many awesome treasures!! Our bonus room is now my craft room with the majority of supplies being stamping! This year I was introduced to Stampin’ Up!! I am in love!!
I was a scrapbooker, happily making scrapbook pages, when one of my scrapbooking friends started selling Stampin’ Up products and invited me to a party. At first, I was not interested at all. I think I bought a wheel and handle and ink and a baby set since I had just became a grandma. Once I saw how nicely and easily that stamping could be incorporated into scrapbooking …. and how nicely all my scrapbooking supplies could also make cards …. I was hooked!
I love your work and love your blog. I hope to win the blog candy! Thank you, Christina Amador GCBSamador@sbcglobal.net
I had tried stamping years and years ago with just some things I purchased randomly at a craft store. It didn’t go too well. All the cards were so ameteur-ish. Then when a new neighbor moved in next door she said she noticed I liked to craft and invited me to a SU stamp camp. I was hooked……….That was 5 years ago.
Thanks for the chance to win. I look forward to your e-mail tutorials. You make it look so easy. You’re such an inspiration!!
Dorothy
Love your work and blog! Love the goodies you are giving away too! Christina Amador
GCBSamador@sbcglobal.net
Well I missed that too, I was on vacation…anywho….I am from Texas and have been scrapbooking for over 15 years. I went to a Stampin Up show about 8 years ago, and have been doing it ever since!I started blogging last summer, and have been having fun with it. I have always had my hand in some kind of craft, and this stamping and creating is so fun! Thanks for the opportunity
After the birth of my first child, I was with her non-stop. I was relishing in being a new mom and my neighbor, a Stampin Up! demonstrator made me a beautiful card. I fell in love with it and she invited me into her craft room. WHOA! I almost fell out on the floor when I saw it. She had wall to wall stamps. So she invited me to attend one of her stamp classes. I had an absolute blast and got hooked immediately. So hooked that I invited two of my girlfriends to a class and they got the bug and it became a Tuesday night ritual, it was so much fun being with my friends and being creative. I then went on to have two more children and the stamping slowed down some, but I have recently started scrapbooking and card making again. For me it is a necessary stress relief. That was all back in 2002.
I’ve always loved collecting stationary and I would always decorate my envelopes when I wrote people. I bought my first rubber stamps in 5th grade and still have them. I bought a couple stamps here and there mostly to decorate envelopes when I wrote home when my husband joined the Air Force and we moved away with our 18 month old at the time.
Then June 2003 while living in Okinawa, Japan a girl invited me to a Stampin Up party, I had never heard of that company and wasn’t sure what to expect. I got there and I was in love, it was right up my alley. I was so overwhelmed by the catalog and she had a huge retiring list and it was just crazy. I finally bought the butterfly wheel, pretty in pink ink cartridge, a handle, and the Kanji set. Then ;ater I called the woman back and bought the catalog and that is where the process began.
I would order sooo much I finally became a demo in March 2005. I have probably over 300 sets, I once had an inventory sheet, but hard drive crashed and I lost it and never made a new one up.
Anyway that is where it all began, my cardmaking has slowed a bit since we have another child who is almost 9 months and into everything
I was introduced to rubber stamping at a stampin up class about 3 years ago. I am a very creative person and collect lots of creative supplies….lol I truly enjoy watching a card come together and the joy someone expresses when receiving it.
About 2 weeks after my mom died a friend of mine ask me to go somewhere with her and it was a Stampin’ Up! meeting to form a club. She had been in it the year before and they were going to restart it. We did a small make and take and I fell in love with it. I have not stoped stamping from that day. I think it was as much as an outlet for me to keep my mind on other things and not the loss that I had. And boy does it work. I love it and have no plans of ever stopping…. Looking forward to the birth of my first Granddaughter in Oct. (Madelyn Brooke) Can’t wait to put her in a Scrapbook………………
I unwillingly went to a coworker’s wife’s SU! workshop and had a plan for fake phone calls and EVERYTHING to be able to leave early. And then it happened. My now beloved upline made a card with DD Daisy, a bag with the Posy and Vine wheels in Pink Passion and Green Galore. It was like someone slipping a drug in my drink. I spent $175, had my own $1300 workshop and then signed up!! That was in 2001. At convention next week I will get my award for $100,000 in career sales with Stampin’ Up! and I honestly think I love stamping more every day. I wish I could do it full time. The best part though- the friends I’ve made, my wonderful upline (I work for her husband now) and all my internet friends that I feel like I know and love, like you Michelle!!
My mother in law went to a SU gathering and bought me a stamp set and a couple ink pads for my birthday one year (I remember thinking – what the heck – I have to put the stamps together??). It sat untouched for years. Then my co-worker and very good friend took me to a stamp party and I had a blast. I am now a stamp addict. I seem to do much better buying product than setting aside time to stamp (too many hobbies not enough time – I love fiber arts too). I know this is a problem and I am working on it. I no longer buy cards and am learning great techniques for products I already have. Your blog is wonderful inspiration.
I only had one rubber stamp in my possession and that one said “Paid in Full” until my daughter decided she needed to become a Stampin Up Demo and she asked me to “partner” with her. I couldn’t be a joint demo but I could be a supportive Mom so I said I would. I attended the Stamp Camps with her, inviting my friends from work to help fill her table. Luckily, they were already into stamping so it made for a good start for her. I loved the projects and wanting to help my daughter reach her goals, I also started purchasing the products. I was making the birthday cards for my department at work so the first sets I ordered were always Birthday oriented but as my interest in the craft has grown, I have expanded my collection to include other themes as well as other brands of stamps.
Well, my daughter is still a demo, although not as into it as I hoped she would be and I am hooked. Maybe someday, I will become a demo if only just to feed my addicton.
My story begins with a friend giving me a fold out mini album and instructions on how to make it. My craft room did not exist then, I had not ventured that way. I made it with construction paper, glue stick, exacto knife, and sharpie markers. The rest is history and now I am a Demonstrator totally addicted to papercrafting. The start was 2003 and 5 years later I share my obsession with others and truly enjoy every moment of it.
I wanted to do an album for my mother because she was facing surgery and getting older and I just wanted to do it. I started with a scrapbook of our Mother’s Day church Banquet and then went to Poquoson, VA (I live in MD) to visit some friends. She was scrapping and had a Close To My Heard idea book. I LOVED the stamps in the book. I went home with her book and ordered some things, then I emailed a consultant I found on the consultant locator and told her I wanted to sign up to be a consultant. I had never been a consultant for anything before, but love the product and signed up. I love stamping images on the pages and I’ve branched out into making cards.
http://www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com
when I was 10 yrs ld my mother ran a rubberstamp business mostly for business back then ( it was 1980) I would watch and help her with the mounting and we did laminating and engraving etc. was great fun then when i was in highschool she started her own custom rubberstamp business and I sold at the school and drew the designs then she wasnt able to take care of it and I was not at home ( had kids and moved away) if i had known i would have kept the business I would have adored making them now. I still have a 20 year old bottle of Gold EP from stewart superior back when you used a heat press to emboss stationary. and yes it still works like charm . I am still a beginner tho even tho i have done intermediate and advanced things as I am constantly learning new things and have to start all over thank you for giving me that challenging experience every day!
Hi Michelle…I’m from BC, Canada and I just have to say how much I enjoy visiting your blog and not just because of the candy, lol. You have an incredible talent. I have tried your method, but let me just say, they don’t look like your creations! I was introduced by my dearest friend who wanted to show me something “neat” She had made a bookmark that was embossed and stamped. This was one of the most creative bookmarks that I have ever seen. She had also made a few gift tags and I thought to myself…I can make those, meaning the gift tags. 12 years and thousands of dollars later, I’m hooked! Thanks for all the inspiring ideas you have shown us!!
Hi Michelle:
I’m from Castro Valley, California, which is in the S.F. Bay area. I started stamping about 5 years ago, mainly because a group of girlfriends wanted to get together every month and exchange homemade cards. I must say that I kind of lost interest in stamping after awhile, and then I saw how you and other talented artists expanded on the art of stamping on Splitcoast. I have always loved drawing and watercoloring and when I brought that into my stamping creations, they took on a new life and interest for me. The cards I created were more a part of my personality and artistic ability. Of course, that means that I spend far longer on a card than I used to, but they mean more to me and I hope they also mean more to those I give them to. Thank you, Michelle, for inspiring me every single day.
Wendy Gorton
My DIL became a SU Demo. Initially, I just wanted to help her. Then I found SCS and the PIF thread and I’m BIG TIME addicted. Thanks for all the tutorials you offer to help us…they’re wonderful!
Hi, Michelle,
I went to an SU workshop with my daughter just to see what it was about. I liked what I saw but didn’t see it as something I would do very often. After a second workshop, my daughter talked me into stamping with her weekly. I became hooked! I’ve been stamping for over 12 years now!
Hi Michelle! I’m Ally from Ontario, Canada and I just love your blog… super, duper inspirational! I got it to stamping through my love of scrapbooking. I have become so addicted to stamping that I have so many acrylic sets that I am unable to store them all in the space I have now. I just love the little Studio G sets … so cute…. love their images and their sentiments! I am stamp obsessed to say the least! I look forward to your next stampy creation!
let me start of with…WOW 2-3 thousand is something to be so proud of!! congrats!!!! your work is amazing!!
why i started stamping………..i started stamping because i fell in love with clear stamps (see thru, storage, portability) and i started with scrapbooking and now make cards and other altered items. i love stamping and cutting out the images to make my own embellisments for my pages. the whole inking/disstressing/stamping/etc thing is facinating to me because it allows me to make my own papers the way “I” want to and my pages will ALWAYS be different from others.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSPIRATION!!
Michelle, I am from Warner Robins, Ga and I first started scrapping in 2001, then in 2004, I was invited to a SU party and I have not stopped since then. I became a demo in Nov. 2006 and absolutely love stamping. I have so enjoyed your blog because of your artistic talent that brings your cards to life! I love them and look forward to seeing your work everyday. Thanks so much for the chance to win blog stuff!
Pinky
My married daughter enjoys stamping. She introduced me to it. It give me a way to spent alot of time with here.
I needed a birthday card and was out looking when I passed a store that had rubber stamps and supplies in it. they also had card examples and I was hooked!
Sheri
Michelle, thanks for sharing – your talent is amazing and I look forward to seeing your blog each day. I have always been into creating – thanks to a mother who taught and encouraged me. As for stamping, my daughter gave me a stamp and some ink for Christmas in 1996 and that’s all it took.
Hey, Michelle! I’m actually a new subscriber to your blog, and I have been so impressed by your style and artwork from day one! I was not a crafty person until I got married, and my mother-in-law–who is my best friend and confidante–was into EVERYTHING…quilting, stamping, photography, Bible study, Stained glass…you name it…she did it. Anywho…she taught me some basics of stamping and I played with it a little bit while living in Germany for the military, but didn’t really “get” into it.
When we came back stateside, I couldn’t believe the different things available for scrapbooking and all these cute embelishments and stuff. Stamping had grown to a phenomenon! The things these artists were creating!
I still didn’t get into it until a few years ago. I decided I wanted to know some of these new techniques…while giving a jewelry show I learned that one of my customers was a SU! demo. I decided to book a workshop and invited my closest friends. The rest is history…I had so much fun and now had a demonstrator at my disposal too! I think I hosted 3 workshops before I finally decided to sign up myself. I’ve been making cards ever since as a hobbyist. My latest project will be birth announcements for my first nephew due in October….FUN FUN FUN!
So…keep up the good work…keep us looking…you are so gifted, and I so appreciate your willingness to share with all us strangers.
I started scrapbooking about 10 years ago and used to get so tired of buying letter stickers. I always had tons left over that I never used for anything. Anyhow I ran into a fun lady at a craft fair from Stampin Up and she had a special on Alphabet stamps. Little did I know a knew stamping addiction had just started. I now make way more cards than scrapbook. I am still trying to find an even balance but it is all fun.
June Susmarski
ps thanks for the chance for the new stamps
Hi Michelle….
I came to stamping by way of scrapbooking. Have always done crafts, from a very early age, starting with sewing and then moving from basket making to quilting to…..well….as you can see I was always open to new crafts. Well…I joined a monthly scrapbooking group at a local craft store and one of the teachers at the store needed people for their first stamp class……and the rest is history……I am still a scrapbooker, but am definitely a ‘committed’ stamp…….’committed’ as in addicted….lol.
Hi Michelle, msut have missed the other chat. I”m Wanda from Greensboro, NC and love your ideas. I got into su from being at a yard sale of a demo’s. Signed up immediately for a party at my house – had 25 people to come. Then the next month, I signed up as a demo (got one color family of pads free). I got into stamping to make my own cards as I love sending cards to cheer people. But I don’t get to send many, so think it’s time to give up the demo’ship (i’m a hobbyist anyway). But just this week, I plan on casing at least 2 of your cards. I’m the one on SCS that you left a message on for my running horse last week or week before.
thanks for sharing your ideas, and continue to share with us.
My best friend from high school was a Stampin up demonstrator. I went to visit her one weekend and she taught me how to stamp. The way I figure it, she owes me about $3,000.00 dollars–all so I could save some money to make cards for my friends and family. But I truly enjoy doing it and would love to win some blog candy to add to my addiction, I mean hobby.
Hi Michelle,
I got started stamping when my sister in law invited me to a stamping party. I had never done anything like it and had a great time. I haven’t stopped stamping since.
Since I have found your blog I finally found a use for my brayer too!! Keep up the beautiful work!
This is so much fun Michelle. It’s neat to read how others got introduced to stamping. (And BTW I am formerly from BC, Canada!) I was taken to my first SU party by a neighbour. All I bought were some stampin’ spots, and I had no idea that you could use rubber stamps for anything artistic. I’m always into a craft of somekind, so this really piqued my interest. Before you know it I had a party, spent a few hundred dollars on stuff and became a SU Demo. That was just a short 31 months ago. Now I have branched out from SU, and finding your blog was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I love your style. I think I’m here to stay – I love stamping and card making so much and I love trying out new techniques also. Finding Technique Junkies was like walking through an open door on so many marvelous techniques and mediums. Stamp on ladies!!!
Hi Michelle,
This is Brenda from Sugar Land, Texas. I got started stamping in a similar manner to you. A friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up workshop. I didn’t have a clue about any of it…but I think I spent $200 because I had to have it all! My talents are not as advanced as yours but it’s still a fun hobby. I love it when non-stampers see a card I made and they are SOOOO impressed!! But little do they know how easy it was! Fun!
Hello. My name is also Michelle, and I really love your blog. I love to stamp, and your imagination and talent inspire me to try things I’ve never done before. I came to stamping because of my daughter. She insisted I go to scrapbooking classes with her a few years ago. I went for two years, but I didn’t really enjoy it, and I kept going to do some mother/daughter stuff with her. In class, all I wanted to do was cut and paste, and make pretty, but the teacher/demo insisted on me sorting pictures, deciding what to do with them, and then journalling. Then I found a card-making group, and when I joined, I ddn’t have to sort pictures anymore! Shortly after, the leader of the group had a Stampin’Up! party, and I met the most amazing demo, and an addiction was created. I learned so much from her! She also set me onto Splitcoast Stampers, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have been amking cards for two years now, and there was no looking back. Stamping has taken over pretty much all my free time, and I want to improve my cards, and increase my scope. Your blog and designs help me do that. Thank you.
I had been making my own cards for years, using die cuts, computer images and sentiments, ribbons, and patterned paper. I had a couple of stamps but didn’t really know what to do with them. Then my co-worker invited me to a SU! stamp camp that her daughter was hosting in 2003 and I been hooked ever since. (I swear I buy more from my demo then she buys herself.) I get such enjoyment stamping, it just fits my creative niche. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration you give us daily.
I did not let you know where I am from. I am from Sunbury, Pennsylvania. One of my friends invited me to house for a party and decided to buy one stamp set, a black stamp pad and some markers to color the images. I chose a stamp set that I could use for different occassions. Needless to say I enjoyed myself tremendously at the party and couldn’t wait to get my order. When it arrived I started to make cards and really got hooked on it. I just love making cards and now I have started doing scrapbook pages. I love the versatility of stamps and love coming up with new card designs. Thanks for another chance and the blog candy.
4 years ago, while staying at our condo in Venice, Florida, a friend of mine asked me “have you ever stamped before”? I responded “is that some kind of a dance”? She laughed and invited me to a one-day workshop. From that day on I’ve been hooked!!! I now know it isn’t a dance, but I dance around each and every time I create something with my very own hands:-) Thanks for allowing me to share this silly but true story and also for the opportunity for a chance to win your blog candy.
I live in Monkton, MD. It is a few mile’s south of the PA border. Originally from Illinois. Back In 1992 or thereabout, we were having a house warming party with friend’s The subdivision behind us was all huge expensive home’s. One of then was having a sorta open house where different vendor’s were in each room selling their good’s. One was the Goose Barn. A wonderful stamp store. I was totally there for hour’s. I was hooked. Becky, the owner, would have parties in the barn. Like Tupperware but stamp’s. I went to a Convention in Carson with Becky in 1992. It was my first convention and totally overwhelming. The last stamp I bought was of a lady sitting down with her leg’s crosed and she uis rubbing her feet. That was how I felt whene the day was over. I still have that stamp. I can’t even give a store bought card as people are offended that I did not make them a card. I kinda like that. It is a great therapy for me now.
I orginally started in scrapbooking back in 1997. I loved it then and still love it today. I still scrapbook quite often. Then a friend had a SU party in 1998 and I bought a stamp set at the party because I felt I had to. But it was still sometime before I really got into stamping. I loved making cards, just didn’t stamp them that much. Then about 2 years ago the stamping bug hit me. I have been hooked ever since. I have learned a lot of techniques, but my cards have really started showing some pizzazz since following your blogs. I have been learning things about a bit of ink and a stamp set that I didn’t know you could do.
Needless to say, our office/craftroom is mainly a craftroom now. Hubby is always looking for ways to improve and make things easier for me. And I proudly show off all my stamps, ink and projects now. And it is great in my scrapbooking also.
Thanks for a chance to win the blog candy. I have never gotten to try to Studio G stamps yet, but sure am wanting to. They look awesome.
Kim
Hi Michelle…I have some friends that were getting together to stamp once a month. After hearing them talk about there time together and seeing some of their creations, I wanted to join. That was about three years ago. We still get together to stamp and of course we have our trips to Archivers, Hobby Lobby…etc. By the way, one of my friends is a SU demo. We are her best customers!
Pam
I bought a few stamps because I liked the picture on the front. Didn’t get the results I wanted so I stopped stamping. Then a coworker who knows I like crafts asked me to join a workshop with her. So I joined. During this workshop we learned how to make the most gorgeous card I’d ever seen and I’ve been hooked ever since.
My neighbor was a stampin up demo and she invited me up to her house to stamp. Well , that was the start of it. Now another friend and I go to conventions all over.
We have a ball. The last one we went to was in Springfield Mass. We stay the weekend so we can go both days and see all the new stuff.
She comes to my house once a week and we get out our stamps and we play. I then send the cards I’ve made to my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
They enjoy getting the cards.
Joan
My start in stamping occurred when I became disabled from a work related injury. I was a nurse most of my life and was at a loss as what to do. My best friend of over 35 years was a SU demonstrator and she suggested stamping cards. I purchased some things from her….actually a whole box full….brought it home from Ohio and never used it. Took me two years to open that box again and once I did I have NEVER looked back. I AM ADDICTED SO BADLY NOW!!!!!!!!! But I love it and all these blogs are so great to get my creative juices flowing. Never bored now and I have made so many friends due to SU. Thanks for asking us. evette
I started stamping when I my husband and I were visting a small Amish town not far from our house. We were just walking around the town, mostly looking at antiques when we came across a rubber stamp store. We decided to go in and the women who owned the store demo’d a couple stamps for me and showed me how to emboss and to color them. I was hooked. I couldn’t believe how easy it looked and the beautiful cards I could make. I bought a few stamps that day and went home and created a few cards. I visited that store LOTS more times as I really started to love stamping and my hobby just grew and grew and grew…..
Thank you for giving us a chance to share our stories and to win the blog candy! I look forward to your blog every day!
Kathy
I started scrapbooking in 2000 after my daughter presented us with triplets. A few friends who were also scrapbooking tried to get me interested in stamping. “Oh no, I don’t need one more hobby.” Six weeks later after going to a Close to My Heart party justt to shut them up – I was hooked. Now I have to struggle to find time to scrapbook beacuse I’m always busy stamping. This spring I decided to join into the http://www.cardsforheroes.org project and I’m having a ball doing it.
I walked into a stamp store………..it was that simple……..the owner took the time and patience to sit down with me and show me how to use markers on a pear stamp. The image was beautiful…..I still have it. Shading was remarkable and the glossy paper made it pop.
hooked from then on…………
Kathy L……
I came to stamping by way of Daisy Girl Scouts! My girls were in the troop and a mother was selling D.O.T.S. which is now Close to My Heart. I came, I stamped, I stayed! That was over 15 years ago and I’m still here.
You inspire me to keep at it and thanks for the opportunity to win some blog candy. I really appreciate it!
A friend had given me a couple of handmade cards that piqued my curiosity. When I found out she was in a monthly SU club, I asked if I might order “a stamp” when they order. Within a couple of months they asked me to join! At my first meeting we went around the table answering the question, “How many stamps do you own?” I could not believe that some of those girls owned hundreds of stamps! And now, 10 years later…
What fun reading to learn of everyone’s stamping beginnings. Mine began back around 1987 when my son wanted to have a campout in the backyard for his birthday party. We found a tree line stamp (which I still have), a birthday invitation stamp, some ink and cardstock and we went to town making those little party invitations together. Those were my first stamps and while my “style” of card making has changed greatly over the past 20+ years, the fun hasn’t changed a bit. I still love getting inky!
Jennifer
I started stamping about 10 years ago when I tired of the same old look in my scrapbooks, I have been working at my LSS for about 3 years, which has both scrapbooking and stamping. I have recently put actual 12×12′s on the shelf and been making chipboard, cd case, etc of every kind for family and friends. I just would rather do things for my mom’s who are in thier late 70′s that they can sit out and brag on their grand children now. In the begining I just stamped titles and backgrounds, now the whole projects are stamp art!
Michelle, Jacksonville, FL
I have been into painting ceramics and doing some needlepoint for a long time and I have loved to color since I can remember using whatever it is I have at hand. I initially decided that I wanted to get into scrapbooking as the amount of pictures I have is horendous but I was trying to find something that could be used repeatedly in different ways. My friend suggested trying stamping and well 3 years later I am still going and I laugh continuously when I enter my bedroom closet as there sits my horendous supply of photographs still waiting to be scrapbooked.
My business is ceramic painting and making the bisqueware. 2 years ago I was at a craft show saw someone making a lovely card. It was my friends birthday a few weeks from then and thought “how lovely to do a card for her” Bought my first stamp, went home and was totally befuddled as I didn’t have all the goodies, but had some coloured pencils and bits and pieces. Was very impressed with my first effort. So now I just can’t find enough hours in the day to carry on with my new “hobby” and from a shoebos full of card goodies have progressed somewhat.
I’ve always been creative some way or another. I’m not sure how I got to SU but I asked for a local demo to send me a catalog. She dropped one off at my work and I was mesmerized by all the stamps and creativity right at my fingertips in the catalog. I like to stamp, it has beome a more solid hobby. And I’ve truly enjoyed your website. Your techniques are amazing and very easy to understand and follow!! Thanks for all the sharing.
Hi Michelle! You asked, so here is my long and winding road to SCS.
I have always loved all things Victorian and aboUT 20 some years ago I stumbled upon some beautiful rubber stamps images by PSX, and also found a stamping group that met in the community room of a local grocery store. I enjoyed stamping however never got very good at it because I did not have any mastering of techniques. (For example I would stamp and emboss on dark cardstock and wonder why it did not look nice). And then the throes of single parenthood took hold of my life and I put everything up in attic. I think in the back of my mind I knew that this would become a passion for me, just not at that time in my life!!
Fast forward to six years ago, my friend Daryl invited me to a Stampin Up party. I bought ,my first set, Antique Collectibles, (remember I love Victoriana), and my creativity and passion was reignited. My children are now 31 and 28 and out of the house, and I am an empty nester who stamps EVERy DAY!! I love SCS, I love the community that has taught me so so much, and you are a big part of that. I would come across your images in the daily challenge uuploads and literally suck in my breath, and would think “this ZINDORF person really makes this medium SING, and what the heck IS a Zinndorf???” Of course I know know you are Michelle, and really appreciate your generous sharing of your tecniques. Thanks so much for being YOU! HUGS, Nancyruth (self ordained president of the Zindorf Fan Club!!!)
My employee, Sharon, was a stamper. The first time she brought some of her cards in I was amazed at her work. So I began to look for a local stamp store and found one nearby. WOW! Excitement set in and I went wild and spent too much. I signed up for the classes and then I saw the Stampscape cards. OMG! I was hooked. That was in 2002 I think. I sure hope my husband never asks me for my inventory sheet. He will drop dead if he ever saw how much I’ve spent on this craft since 2002. I won’t even total the worksheets up anymore. I did once. That was two years ago. I could probably by a car by now. I love seeing your work as you have given me a new and different inspiration to add to my cards. Thank you so much I LOVE IT!
Couple years ago, my dear friend Caroline, gave me her handmade Christmas card, I thought it would be great idea to exchange handmade cards with my 2 firends, and we start to make 2-3 card to exchange for Christmas and Easter, one year I made some card for my mom too, and she really like them, I was looking for some inspiration in magazines, you know I’m from Poland, few years ago it was VERY rare to get magazines about crafts or any nice paper etc. now it’s changing but still we have very little shops which provide stamps or papers. I order German magazine, and I was amazed by different technics, I saw beautiful card with stamped image:) wow!I was surfing the Internet to get know more about stamping and discover many websites:) my first stamps I bought in December 2007, since that time I learn much and try to make nice cards:)
I was working as an aide with a young teacher who had recently moved to the state and didn’t know alot of people. We became great friends and my daughter and I spent many Saturdays with her. Then one day she introduced us to stamping and scrapbooking and that was it. We started making our Saturdays stamping/scrapbooking day. Then at the end of the year she moved back home to Connecticut and left my daughter to take off from there. It has been several years now and I love it even more. It allows me to release my creative energy and it also gives me something that my daughter and I (now a teenager) can still do together and enjoy. I do so appreciate my friend introducing me to papercrafting, and I still miss her terribly.
Carolyn Sharkas
ceashark@aol.com
In 2005, I was attending a huge scrapbooking weekend event where they had “classes”. Christine Whited (from Cincinnati) had all these inexperienced scrappers making adorable cards…and she made it seem easy. I found out later she was studying to be a Math teacher (which is what I was). I believe it helped her give the kind of clear instructions we needed. My first purchase? The demo kit! Well, I had to have it all!
I was invited to an SU party in my neighborhood. Since you “have” to go to these things I went but with no expectations. Boy was I surprised by how much fun I had. I ordered 2 wheels with ink cartridges because I was a bit afraid of the stamps. Somehow the fear subsided and I became addicted. Hundreds of stamp sets later I had to give myself an entire stamp ROOM. If there were a 12-step program for stampers I’d be the first to join. But I don’t think I’ll ever kick the habit. There are very few stamps I don’t want and there are absolutely no techniques I don’t want to learn. I just wish I’d found stamping sooner. By the way, I live on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV so I’m always surrounded by inspiration but I get excited each time I see your blog in my email. You are my inspiration now. Please keep the beautiful work coming.
Michelle, I was down in the dumps… needing some motivation — some eye candy… and I stumbled along to your blog.
Your art is stunning and your step by step tutorials are wonderful. You saw my take on your “wanted” card (you’re too kind with your compliments to me on that one).
You are an inspiration to me (and certainly to others as well).
I would love to win but mainly to tell you thank you!! I know it takes a lot of time to put those tutorials together. Thank you so much.
~Kim D in FL
Hello from Columbus, Ohio home of the Buckeyes.
I stay at home and care for my 84 year old mother, and getting more bored as the days went buy. I decided I needed something to fill the time, so I bought a few stamps, pads and paper, looked up card making on the internet and gave it a try. I’m now into my 15th swap in the last 4 months. Lovin every minute.
In 1997 I was a a flea market, and there was a Stampin Up gal there. She was letting people make their own Christmas card, she gave a choice of two styles, and had everything ready……it was so much fun, I was totally hooked, and have been every since.
I am a scrapper. I started making cards with my scraps. Then I joined an on line card making group. After seeing all they could do with stamps, I decided it was time to try it out. I have been stamping ever since.
My daughter showed me cards she made at a SU class! I was into scrapbooking before, but I don’t think I did 1 page since then! Only cards!!!
Thanks for your tutorials, they are sooooooo great!
I wanted very badly to create a handmade card for my 4-year-old grandson, so I started looking for ideas in scrapbooking magazines, cruising Michael’s and Ben Franklin’s and finally stumbling into the local stamp store where they offered classes in card making. Wow!! I was hooked! I progressed from taking classes to teaching classes and now I am a demonstrator for TAC. I have my very own small stamp/paper store right here in my little room. LOL! I just have to say I absolutely love all your creations and I look forward to every new post. I think you should create a book using every one of your tutorials. With the colors you use and your designs, it could easily be a “coffee table” book. Thank you for sharing so generously.
Karen
karen_l@bresnan.net
Hi from Farmington, MN. I started stamping about 10 years ago with my 5 yr-old daughter. We attended a Stampin’ Up party and it was all down hill from there!! LOL! I have a whole room for stamping now and I just love creating and sharing cards and gifts. Your blog has definitely been an inspiration. I get an email each day, so I can keep up with all your projects. Thanks for putting all the efforts you do into sharing this hobby with all of us.
Rene’
thanks for the chance to win Michele
I started stamping when I started to do Artist trading cards… Stamping really adds variety to these small works of art
Lillian
Hey Michelle, every year at work I would host a cookie exchange and we would do some sort of craft – usually paint related since I am a decorative painter. I asked a card-making, scrapbooker friend to come show us to make a card, she declined but suggested a mutual friend who was a SU demonstrator. It was awesome and I was hooked. We live in a small isolated community so I went looking around the net for other stamping scrapping stuff and found Close to my Heart and immediately signed up to be a consultant. Love all aspects of this art and the ability to share our stuff with others. Thanks for the time you take for the rest of us!1
Sandra
Michelle,
I’ve been making cards for about 4 years, usually at the last minute. I wish I could get into the scrapbookking thing. I don’t think I take very good pictures and trying to figure out how to put them on the computer is another mind boggleing operation. Maybe I’ll try to get a computer program to help with that. For now I’ll just keep doing the card thing.
I just recently subscribed to your blog. You are sooooo talented. Thanks for all of the great inspiration.
Jan
I am from Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
I was introduced to stamping by chance. My sister was a 4-H advisor and the group that my nieces belong to (a horse group) was having a holiday bazaar for a fundraiser. We saw these cute cards and inquired about them. Come to find out, the other 4-H advisor stamped them using Equestrian Dream and Brushstroke Horses and told us all about it! Well, being artsy myself, I didn’t wait for an invitation, I asked when the next party was and invited myself! I am so glad I did! Once a month, this group was rotating houses with the SU demonstrator. So, of course I had to invite my friend and so my friend, sister, niece and myself started stamping!
Michelle,
My name is Donna Coffman, I am from Chippewa Lake, Ohio.
My passion for stamping has evolved slowly over the span of about 5 years, I went to a party hosted by a friend and it was Celebration, so we all booked parties from one another and had all this stamping stuff and no idea what to do with it, because the demonstrator was to far away to do any more shows for us.
Fast foward to about a year and half ago I met a lady and she knew a demonstrator and invited to me to a 10 for $15.00 card class, she made it look like I could actually do this thing called stamping, I booked her for a show then a card club of my own. With all the resoures and lovely sharing people who have blogs I am learning by leaps and bounds, I can’t keep my hands off of cardstock or designer paper. The demonstrator who inspired me to stamp is cutting back and wanting me to join up. But I am AFRAID, such a small word and yet so powerful. Anyway enough about me I love all your ideas and thank you so much.
I first started to stamp after a birthay gift I received 4 years ago. Now, I can’t stop stampin and scrapbookin, I take a lot of pictures so, for me, it’s a beautful way to put them to there best and to leave something to my boys in the future. I attended a Stampin’up party two years ago and loved it!!! I now have my stampin, creative room and I coud’nt leave without it, I love it !! I don’t by cards anymore, I make them. And I make a lot of projects other than pages, I love to explore things. I love your work, it’s gorgeous!! Please, don’t stop !!
Carole
hi Michelle;
My son worked for JoAnns and once a year they let the employees fill a box about 3 feet high and 3 feet around with all the vendors samples, etc. for 15 or 20 dollars.
he came in with 400 stamps! needless to say, not all to my taste, but hey, as my grandfather always told me. “when they give, you take, when they hit, you run”
that was the beginning. I bought a Rubber Stamper magazine and saw a card i just had to make. i found a S.U. demo, who turned out to be a great friend, and she found me the set on e-bay…she used to have workshops and i so enjoyed them.that was at least 5 years ago and my how my “stash” has grown. it’s good therapy, and your cards just inspire me so. thanks for all your hard work.
Sandra Stamper
I started stamping this time because I was looking thru blogs to find altered items to make for christmas presents last year… you can’t find 3-d or altered items without finding stamping items… so I got enticed and then hooked!!! I had given away all my stamping stuff and had to start new..LOL… I guess that should teach me!
I never intended to start stamping–I already had enough time and $$ invested in cross-stitch and photography hobbies. Going to stamp workshops was just a good way to eliminate the problem of not seeing my best friend, Cindy, often enough. We started going once a month and I would have to read the instructions twice and watch her pretty thoroughly before I would even try to stamp…Well, here we are a year later and I’ve converted an entire room in my home to accomodate all of my hobbies–with my stamping supplies taking up the majority of the space! I’m still learning and trying to move beyond basic stamping & coloring which is how I found your website–your tutorials are fantastic! One of these days, I may even work up the courage to try one of them!
I saw some women at work stamping and coloring. I thought “that is ridiculous, grow up”. One day I needed to make a sign for my cubicle door, and it occurred to me the sign needed a little decoration. I went to one of those stampers to borrow a stamp. She gave me an SU black ink pad and a retired Hawaii set. I used that, and then went back and said “do you have any other colors of ink?”
Doomed. She had a catalog. I spent about $500 and thought “great, I’ll save a bunch of money making my own cards instead of buying them”. So it works out I think that given the money I’ve spent on collecting (which I find as much fun as stamping) that each card I’ve made has cost me about $125. I can barely fit in my little house anymore. I love this hobby!
Once upon a time… I went to a women’s retreat. A couple of the gals worked at a craft store and were stamping nuts. They brought a ton of stuff to share during free time. I told them that I am craft illiterate. This apparently challenged them before I knew what happened to me I was seeing how different embossing powders made various inks look different! It was a slow start because I very definitely had limited supplies being a single mom. Now it’s about 15 years later and I’m married and my husband made me a craft room! And I’m living Happily Ever After!
I started stamping about 4 years ago when I was finally wrangled into going to a SU party with all of the dietitians at the hospital that I work at (one of the dietitians is a demonstrator). I had previously thought they were all silly for stamping and blah, blah, blah! Now, I’m the one that is crazy about stamping, have my own blog, spend way too much money etc! Too funny! I don’t get a ton of time to play, but I sure spend a lot of time blurfing! Ha! Thanks for the chance!
)
Wow another wonderful giveaway you are doing that is just great that you do this! I just love your site and all the inspiration you give us I look forward everyday to see your beautiful creations!!!!
Jen
My story starts with Pergamano many years ago. A friend from Holland showed me some of her Pergamano cards and I instantly fell in love with them. She taught me how and I spent the next several years perfecting my skill. Each card takes me easily a week to complete with all the lace. Then one day we were at the county fair and I ran into a SU booth. Loved some of the designs, hosted a party, and have stamped ever since. Stamped cards are much faster to make. My first SU party was 12 years ago! You have gien me another plateau to achieve! Thank you.
BettyAnn
Firstly, thanks for providing such great inspiration. I live in Chatham, Ontario – about an hour east of Detroit, MI. We love Ohio – it being the home of Cedar Point!! (Where we were last week!!)
I started stamping because my 8 year old daughter wanted stamps and stamping stuff for her 9th birthday. I had always seen stamps – and thought it was the stupidest thing my daughter could want (was I ever wrong). What was wrong with all the gazillion hobbies that I was already into!
I signed her up to take some classes with me at a local stamp store. OMG!! I was amazed at the quality of the cards in the store – and the ease with which one could put together such a beautiful product. Brooke stayed hooked on stamping for about 6 months. That was about 4 years ago. Me – I’m hooked for life. I make cards for friends and sell cards at my husband’s business – to me it is very rewarding to make what I like – and discover that others like it as well. Stamping also eased the way to new friendships. My very best friend is so extremely talented and fast. My other very best friend is “so precise” and I love that we can spend evenings stamping and drinking wine together. It is so very bonding for us. I have also made great friendships over the internet – at the random stores I buy from – with some of the “artists” in the business. There is “kinship” in the stamping world that is better than any other “craft” or “hobby” I’ve ever been into (except maybe boating!!!)
People say that kids are expensive. I have 3 in University and 1 in the 10th Grade. When they see how much my stamps cost and look at the room my husband redesigned for me to work in they do some griping. I let them know that I’m not spending their tuition – only their inheritance. Brooke has asked to be left all my stamping products in her inheritance (E-Bay – here she comes!)
Thanks to you for sharing your inspirations so very generously (and what may be just a bit sad is that I have just about every stamp that you have used – maybe I’m spending tuition as well – oh well – I am happy).
I am from Missouri.
My daughter was in to scrapbooking and kept wanting me to try it. When I took early retirement a few years ago I decided to try. Now I am hooked. Love scrapbooking pictures of my grandchildren and really enjoy cardmaking. I love your blog–your work is beautiful. I have gotten many inspiring ideas from you. Thanks.
We put a playroom in the basement for my (then) young daughter. I wanted to keep the room bright with it being in the basement so I painted the walls white. I let my daughter pick out a border and she chose cats playing in buckets of paint. It needed something more so in a craft store one day, trying to get ideas, I spotted the stamping section and strolled on over. I saw a cat’s paw print stamp and thought, “Cat’s playing in paint track paint all over!” and bought it and ink pads to match the colors of paint in the border.
I got home and stamped cat paw prints all over those walls and have been hooked since then.
I have always been into some kind of crafts. My niece was telling me about this party called SU and she loved it. So I told her she would have to show me this one day. I can’t draw at all, so stamping an image…sound way to cool. So when we went to visit the family one summer, I told her that we were not coming unless she showed us how to stamp. So of course she did, and I was totally hooked on it. She started a obession in my life, but it is totally a good one. I think! When we got home, my DH took me to Hobby Lobby and he was throwing more in the cart then I did. About 2 months after that I went to my first SU party and now I saw broke! Go figure! LOL
I love your blog, cuz your projects are so awesome. I love your creative style and your projects are so inspiring. Everyone I see I have to try this one. You are truly amazing and so sweet to share with us in blogland. I just wished I lived close enough to play with you.
Thanks for a chance at this sweet candy giveaway. Pick ME ME ME!!! I will give all these stamps a loving home and feed them regularly with their favorite food….INK INK INK and more INK! Have a great and creative day.
I am so glad I found stamping! I went to a little scrapbook convention in my husband’s home town for something to do. I sat down to creat a make-n-take at the Close To My Heart booth and I fell in love with stamping! I have been addicted ever since!
Hi Michelle
Love your blog and all your tutorials. It was in the back of my mind that you were an artist before you started stamping and now I’m glad I know. Your work is amazing!
I started stamping in March 2004. I was at a scrapbook class and someone mentioned Stampin’ Up! I had never heard of such a company nor knew anything about stamping. I looked up “Stampin’ Up!” on goggle, went to the website and found a demonstrator. I signed up to be a demo right after my first party. Mostly it was to get the 20% discount because I fell in love right away. I consider myself a hobby demo even though I have 2 classes a month. I am still in it mostly for the discount! Since joining SCS, I have discovered that there are so many other wonderful stamp sets and have started buying sets outside of SU.
Thanks!
hahahaha,,, Hi michelle,, almost 20 years ago I started stamping to save money on greeting cards,, I am sure other ladies have commented the same,, but I still keep telling my husband we are saving money. He Took pictures of my stamps and stuff and insured it all for 80 grand,,,, Good thing he loves me.. I Love to make a scene,, scenic stamping has always been my favorite,, ,my 10,000 plus scenic element stamps can attest to that. (my grand daughter calls me the queen of rock,, I have every rock and tree stamp out that) Not to mention all the su stamps sets I started collecting back when su sold other stamp companies in their catalog.. I think my oldest su catty is 1993 or 4….. I love the drama you add to your scenes and I pop in here daily to see what you have been up to. Thanks for sharing your talent! And thanks for the blog candy,,, love those little elements.
Hi Michelle, like you I’ve always loved art, I have painted with watercolours, pastels, and artists pencils (colour, graphite, pastels, charcoal, watercolour pencils etc), completing many landscapes, sea scapes, still life’s, & my favourite, detailed portraits of people & animals. But sadly I let this artistic side of me slip when I got hooked in card making around 2003. Decoupage, Parchment craft, Tbags, Quilling, and stamping to a lesser degree. But your work is outstanding, in your beautiful stampwork you remember light, shadows and colour/tone, and have inspired me to use the many, many un-used stamps I’ve bought over the past 5 years, not seeing the potential in each and every wonderful image before now, taking stamping to a higher, more artistic level than just stamping an image and basic colouring in and mounting it on a card. Your cards have returned for me the love of art and you’ve inspired me to pick up my paint brush and pencils again, as well as creating in me a need to create with my stamps to try to make a few mini masterpieces like yours. I’ve now looked again at my stamps in a new light, seeing ideas of scenes in my minds eye combining stamps together to make a lovely picture. I’m in love with our beautiful world around us again and can’t help but smile when I see sun beams through clouds, or the land bathed in pink by a beautiful sunrise. dew drops on flowers, a night sky on fire with a beautiful sunset,where even stormy weather, dark skies and rain has it’s own beauty.
Thank you so very much for this gift returned.
May all the seasons, and our beautiful world continue to inspire you,
hugs
Alexandra
Well many moons ago when CTMH was still D.O.T.S I went to a stamping party.
I had so much fun. I thought it would be a fun way for my 4 daughters and I to have a good time together. And it was. We like to do many crafts. But for my oldest daughter and I stamping and paper crafts are still a fun way to create and also make a little money.
Hugs, Rockin’ Robin Scianna
A friend from church was starting out as an SU rep and I offered to have a party at my house. I invited my Mom, a friend and her Mom and one other friend. My guest had a good time, but no one ordered. I ordered enough for all of us! The thing that caught my attention at the time were these oversized milk cartons that we made — perfect for all of the teacher gifts I needed for Christmas that year. I bought the wheels and the stamps and the inks… and the rest is history!
About 5+ years ago I was invited to a SU party. Feeling obligated, I purchased a stamp set and had no idea what I was going to do with it. I was then invited to the demonstrators home and she said, bring your stamp set and you can use any other of my materials you want! Oh! I thought this was soooo generous of her. Well, the rest is history. I eventually became one of HER best customers and now I have a small warehouse full of stamping supplies – with NO regrets!
Barb
I started Stamping when my Mom (now my upline) introduced me to it. she would send me retired stuff and some paper and this-n-that because I love to scrap book but live 800 miles away. I’m in upstate NY and she is in MO. but we went for vacation to my mom and dad’s two summers ago and she showed me in person how fun stamping can be. I joined a class here in NY and ordered from my mom, who told me I was making her minimums, I should just sign up and I did. Love Stampin’ UP!
My stamp beginnings started when a friend of mine sent me a copy of, (The Stamper’s Sampler) magazine. I was just amazed at what people were creating using rubber stamps and figured I could give it a try as well. Then I was invited to attend an SU workshop and even though I didn’t know a single person there I went and was immediately hooked. My journey through stamping has lead me a long way and I continue to grow as a stamper each year. Blogging and being part of the stamping world through other’s blogs has really opened up a whole new avenue of stamping for me and I love it! – Ida
Well, I also missed the last sharing post, so I’ll let you know I’m from Fort Wayne, IN. I started stamping/scrapbooking about 5 years ago because of a relative that was cramming to finish a scrapbook for a graduation party. Some of it was really good, and I decided that I would not be cramming the day before my son’s party (he was one at the time!). I spend more time on “artistic” stamping now, rather than scrapbooking, but I started selling Stampin’Up! (to myself
and find that it’s a great hobby.
It’s all my daughters fault! We went to a stamp camp a co-worker was hosting. I told her I would bring my daughter but I had no interest in stamping. Well 83.00 later I was hooked!!!
Hi Michelle,
My name is Pat and I live in Cedar Hill, TX. I first saw your cards on SCS and have always admired your creativity. This is the first blog that I have joined because you give detailed instructions on all your work. I am so new to watercoloring that I have not really colored anything! I have a SU birthday set that I received as a gift with purchase and purchased a few stamp sets from Papertrey but have rarely used them. I also purchased a 12-pencil set of Prismacolor a few weeks ago and tried to use it on the birthday set and broke the point, it was a little discouraging. Anyway, I am determined to follow your guidance and technique and hopefully I will be half as good as you are. My birthday is the end of this month and I have requested a set of 72 Prismacolor pencils. I would like your opinion on which version to get, the pencils or watercolor. I am forever grateful for sharing your knowledge and expertise with all of us. Thanks
Well, remember durring the middle of the previous decade there was a show called Aleene’s Creative Living? The spark started there but was fanned into a blaze when I met Sue Nelson of Heartprints.com fame in Aleene’s chat room.
It has been a happy relationship (stamping and I) ever since!
I began stamping, oddly enough, without stamps! I was invited to ANOTHER in-home sales party, and it was for Stampin Up. Never heard of it, don’t need anything. Being a friend, I gave her an order for this pretty cool tape that was double sided, and was contained in a roller case. My order came back and I had SNAIL. Good uses for my classroom. I then was invited to another SU party, so I went to see what the fuss was about. I saw a cat stamp set, and LOVING anything to do with kitties, I had to get it. Then another party. Then, why not have one of my own and get some free stuff??? So by then, I was hooked. I made cards all the time as a little girl for friends and family. I became a demo after about a year, and still am today. I don’t have many workshops, but I do well to support my habit….er….hobby.
I am from Milwaukie, Oregon. I started stamping in the mid 1990′s. I bought a beginner’s set from LSS to make small notes of thank you with the people I was working with. In 2001 I retired. In 2003 I was having lunch with my daughter. She mentioned that she was going to a stamp workshop the following weekend. I asked to go with her. It was a Stampin Up workshop. I have a ball and I bought my first set right there. NOW…..well I have a room just for stamping and own more stamps and stamp sets then I want to count. I have a small store in this room. My daughter no longer stamps but her mother has gone crazy with stamps. I, too, need a 12 step program and a specialized counselor for those addicted to stamping. Thank you for sharing your talent and for teaching all of us how to be better.
Judy Davis
Dear random number generator – pick me, pick me!! (Like I have room for more stamps – ha!) Michelle ~ I’m from Fredericksburg, VA and have been stamping since I was pregnant with my youngest daughter. She is now 14 1/2! My neighbor’s mother was making her own cards and gift bags by stamping and embossing them. She assured us a third grader could do it! I gave it a try and have been hooked ever since. I was first introduced to SU 10 years ago. Now I too have my very own craft room and a collection of stamps that keeps growing. Oddly enough, I rarely emboss anymore, that is until I started subscribing to your blog. Now I am actually using that brayer of mine . . . and I own an embossing pen, thanks to you too!! I love that you share your talent so freely with all of us! You truly inpsire me!! Thank you.
Marcia
I started stamping over 12 years ago. I had at first wanted to stamp on my home made doll’s aprons. I created Folkart dolls with hand-dyed muslin and tea dyed fabrics. I had my own line of patterns and made so many different dolls and critters. Well I wasn’t able to stamp onto their muslin aprons because this was way before inks for fabric so instead I turned to paper. So now the only time I get out my sewing machine is to do mending.
I’m in Saratoga Springs, NY! Your artwork WOW’s me everyday! THANKS!
I got started with stamping because a – then acquaintance – was a demo with Stampin Up, and took me down to her stamping room (visiting family, and I needed to get away – it was my “therapy”). We made 1 card, and I was hooked! She’s now my best friend, and I have my own stamping room chock full of supplies!
Might be 12 years ago: I was new in a crafts club. One night they showed us to heat emboss and we did a card. A friend lend me her stamps for one week. I did few cards and there I was hooked. She had just 4-5 stamps. So I bought a few stamps and we shared our stamps. Where I live I can’t buy much stamps; 3 places to buy stamps but always same stamps no new stuff. But it’s ok. I don’t have too much $$$ to spend on stamps (they’re really costly around here). BUT when I go to Montreal or USA (Mostly USA), you can be sure I visit every crafts place, stamps store or scrapbook stores I encounter on my path. My husband is very patient and wait (sometimes for 2 hours in car). Than I buy a few ones, inks, stuff we don’t have around here. When I go to USA I know what to look for because there are so many beautiful blogs with tutorial and showing these beautiful things. Of course we have SU but I had bad experience so I don’t buy from them! After all these yars I am completely addicted and have many stamps and inks to work with. And most important thing: these beautiful tutorials of yours. As soon as major renovations on the house are over, I’m beginning to try your tutorials…
I got stamping when my girlfriend invited me to a party. I had only done a couple projects before then, so I was anxious to attend. The party was SU! and I was hooked.
I have gotten into scrap booking, although, in that area I need some practice…
I check your blog daily to get the inspiration I need to create cards… So, thanks for the details, and thanks for the wonderful work you share with us.
Oh, by the way, I really hope I win the blog candy-so pick me, pick me!!
Michelle,
I started stamping in February of 2007. I love to send cards to people. I have kept Hallmark in business for MANY years! My friend asked me to come over and spend $10 at a Stampin up workshop. I was hooked. That $10.oo has turned into $$$$$$$. I am an addicted and proud of it! There is no better way to make someones day than to send them “happy mail”.
Your cards are wonderful. Thank you so much for adding your tutorials. You are a blessing to the stamping word.
Tanya
Western North Carolina. I have always done art of various tyes but found stampng when reakized I needed some structured time or myself, Waling around in a craft store I saw a stamping class just starting and was invited to join. That was it. I now have over 3 thousand stamps, sold SU for a while and still go to classes for fun and socializing. I also do polymer clas and use stamps a lot in that. Do watercolors, AI, pastels, etc.
I started with origami, then one evening the origami teacher had a stamp demo, I bought some as background for my origami cards…… then we got internet, and I surfed a while came across some stamping sites and I was hooked : ))
I was invited to a Stampin Up demo in 1997 – bought a couple of stamp sets, but did not do much until about 4 years ago when I got invited to a Stampin Up demo—now am part of a Stamp club, meeting once a month.
Linda Peterson
While I was looking for some blogs about scrapbooking, I discovered Godelieve’s blog (http://www.stampingmathilda.blogspot.com/) I loved her cards so much and kept on visiting her blog every day. After a few months I finally made my first stamped christmascard. And since then I found out it’s very addictive and I spend more time on stamping than on scrapbooking. Greetings from Belgium, Annelies
My first introduction to stamping was at a DOTS stamping demo which my future DIL invited me to attend. I purchased a few things and stamped for maybe a year or so, and then put them away.
Then several years ago a friend was telling me about a couple of crafting TV shows – Aleene’s Creative Living and Carol Duvall. They had a few stamping segments. Then one day I entered “rubber stamping” for a web search just to see what was out there. I couldn’t believe all the sites I found. This sparked a renewed interest in stamping.
Thanks for all the ideas you share with us, and for the blog candy.
A new co-worker came in one day and brought the cutest little bunnies she stamped with M & M’s. That was the day about 12 years ago that I fell in love with stamping. I’ve moved across country since then and don’t really have too much contact with that friend any longer – but she’ll still be in my heart because she introduced me to stamping.
Not a day goes by that I don’t stamp at least something. I really don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t stamp.
Hugs,
Joani
Hi, I didn’t tell you where I live….I live in Sioux City, Iowa. I started stamping as my oldest son introduced me to stamping!!! My daughter was getting married 8 years ago and we wanted to save money on the rsvp’s and my son took me to a stamp store in Sioux Falls, SD and the rest is history. We did make embossed rsvp post cards for the wedding. That is what I started with embossing powder a corner stamp and ink…..no heat gun as the clerk told me I could use the flame on my stove!!!! it worked but I thought I would burn the house down making 200 rsvp’s. lol. so to Micheal’s to get a heat gun….much nicer and safer. I have went through 2 of them in 8 years. I have my daughter’s old room as my stamp room and it is full….in fact my son that got me started stamping told me for my birthday he would come home and move my stamp room to his old room as it is much larger. Room for more toys…yah. by the way Michelle I love your blog and idea’s. Jan
I, too, began with Stampin’ Up. My good friend decided that she was going to be a demonstrator. I grudgingly told her that I would have her first workshop. I couldn’t believe how much fun it was. That was in 1999. She moved away, but I kept stamping and eventually became a demonstrator myself. I’m no longer a demonstrator, but I still enjoy stamping. I don’t stamp as much as I’d like to, but I’m going to make an attempt to increase my creative time. Thanks for sharing your amazing talent with us. You are such an inspiration! Cathy
Hello! Back 26 years ago I bought rubber stamps from a magazine…started my family and on rainy days would let them stamp artwork. Went to my first Stampin Up party (was it 2001?) and was hooked ever since! I take classes and combine my stamping with scrapbooking for a well-rounded good creative time. Always throw in chocolate while having fun making cards and scrapbook pages!
Hi Michelle!! I love your blog!
I got started stamping by also being invited to an SU party. I bought a small set thinking I could use it in my scrapbooks, and kept coming back for more. I don’t just do scrapbooks anymore, and am continually learning and growing.
Brenda
I’m from Castro Valley, California (not too far from San Jose and will be in your workshop next week). I started out by making Christmas cards with Mrs Grossman’s stickers! I went online to eBay to find the stickers and saw stamps for sale and thought that it would be cheaper in the long run to use stamps instead of stickers so I started researching stamps through the internet and the rest is history! I have learned everything I know about stamping from the internet as I don’t have any friends near me that stamp. I started joining yahoo groups to learn more and started swapping. I can’t remember how I stumbled on to SCS but that was a huge find for me and I have learned so much from SCS!
After retiring, I started making cards for the family and then reconnected with three friends to form our card group. Two of the three ladies had been my volunteers in the school library and I had all of their children in class. We get together weekly to make cards, share problems, eat and talk, talk, talk. I call it therapy.
I started off with scrapbooking and then purchased some alphabet stamps to cut down on the cost of stickers and die cut letters. Then I was hooked! Now I’m a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator to support my habit! Thanks for all your inspiration and I love the way you think outside the box in your artwork!
When I was working for an office supply company another employee brought a project to work on during her lunch. I watched her stamp and heat emboss and I was instantly hooked! That was 12 years ago and now I own more than 2000 stamps and have my own studio with heaps of paper, inks, toys, tools! I am retired from paid work and I spend at least a part of every day in my studio stamping mostly cards which I then donate to a local women’s shelter. I belong to about 15 online stamping groups and I’m still as hooked as I was at the beginning. Other crafts have attracted my over the years but this is the only one that has lasted!
Like so many others I kind of “stumbled” into stamping and met a wonderful lady named Patsy who owned a small stamp store. Through the next few years we had a great group who took lessons and sometimes just “hung out” at her store. When she had to close her store (about 8 years ago) we all vowed to keep in touch and play. We have a stamp club that meets one a month and the members, only about 6, take turns teaching a new technique. Once every two months we have a wonderful and talented SU teacher named Kathleen that teaches us on a Saturday. One of our members has a cabin in the mountains and is nice enough to share it with us for a retreat. We have all learned a lot, laughed a lot, and all vow to join the same nursing home so we can stay together. I was widowed very young and stamping has helped get through some lonely times. It has been such a pleasure to share this gift with so many.
I absolutely love your blog and tutorials and look forward to every e-mail.
Hi! I went to a SU party my friend hosted. At first I didn’t think it would be for me. It seemed like cheating, stamping instead of trying to draw it or paper piece it together. Then I started seeing card ideas and scrapbook pages of people using their stamps as a way to make the page into something special instead of a preset. I love making things and it ended up being a big change for me, but it’s worked out for the best. It’s really a fun thing to do!
Hi Michelle,
I am from from Johnstown, CO which is north of Denver.
I went to a stamping expo here locally with my husband one very hot summer afternoon in 2003. We are both creatives and always looking for ideas; when we walked into the show, we were amazed at this artform. There was so much to see, so many tools, so many possibilities! Then I was invited by a co-worker to a SU workshop, and I was hooked. I began inviting creative friends to go with me to classes. That really helped in learning about the tools/products. It was also great to meet others with the same passion. I began to have classes in my home and it was interesting to see all the different variations that we all contributed, ideas, skills. Some have watercolor backgrounds, some photos, some sewing, some quilting, some collage. Interesting to see the direction these different skills lent in cardmaking.
I look forward to your email tutorial every day. The tutorials are very inspiring. I echo the lady’s comment that “I now use my brayer and embossing pen–that I thought was a good idea when I bought it, but didn’t use it much”. You have opened up new “possibilities” for my skills in cardmaking. I guess that is the basis of my creativity, is looking for new ways to combine tools, products, images–trying to figure out what is possible. I also agree with the comment that it feels good to achieve something so succesful in a much shorter time period than some other creative outlets, in our very fast paced lifestyle.
Thank you for your inspiration!
Hi, I from Springfield, MO. I found a sale about 3yrs ago. They were clearancing their rubber stamps for $1. I bought a whole bunch then realized I didn’t know anything about using them. I took a beginning stamp class at Michael’s. Now, many,many supplies later and mucho money spent, I love making cards.
Nancy R
Hi Michele, I’m from New Mexico. I started stamping some 20+ yrs ago when I met a gal with D.O.T.S at a craft sale. I had always done crafts as a kid, and dabbled in just about everything, but since I couldn’t “sketch” very well.. rubber stamping opened up a whole new life for me! I have since learned a LOT… I’ve come a long way. I still save some of my “first creations” so I can see how much I’ve improved and how long the road was to get to where I am now… teaching the joy of rubber stamping to others.
Well, first of all I live in southern Arizona, a little blink-and-miss-it town called Amado.
Just moved here last October when my folks gave us a lot in a small subdivision, helped us buy a manufactured home, and Dean got a pretty good job.
Now, I started stamping when a friend took me to a SU! party about 13 years ago. I was smitten! I have been stamping addictively since then and even became a demonstrator for The Angel Company back in 2002. Just can’t stay away from stamps, paper, and all that GOOD stuff!
And I love your tutorials! They are so inspiring!
Thanks!
Carol N.
Hi Michelle,
I became a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator just 2 years ago. Seems all my life I’ve scrapbooked (as a child I saved cards and admission tickets etc and put them in a large newsprint book!) and loved anything to do with paper;
I began making my own cards a few years ago … before I knew anything about stamps and ink! about 12 years ago I remarried and I have “scrapbooked some of our journey” – then one day I went to a home workshop with S. Up! and was “hooked” …. became a demo to feed my habit…. and have branched out to do stamping events – I love to see people tape into their creativity!
I must tell you that your site, your tutorials, your inspiration has taken my stamping to a different dimension… I check your site everyday! some days neglecting some of the others that I also get insporation from…! your work is awesome!
By the way – I live in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada!
Embossing Embossing Embossing That’s what hooked me. In 1993 Patti, my friend gave me a set of cards she’d made. (Ancient history) I was enchanted and asked her how this was done. I bought my first stamp the next day along with a heat gun and embossing powder. That’s the beginning… My goal was to make my Christmas cards (100) and save a lot of money. Ha! I’ve made birthday, Christmas and other occasional cards ever since, but not saved a dime.
how funny is this – I am reading the comment above and she mentions she calls it therapy … well that is what it is what I call my stamping, therapy (really ask my family!)
I started stamping as a favor to a friend who was a Stampin’ Up consultant – she was having a workshop, so I went a long – free make and takes – why not. Like you Michelle I had no desire to stamp or own stamps – I am a techy type person, not very creative – give me specs or a recipe and I can deliver. Well the workshop was fun, so I bought a set or two – I send out cards all the time – it would be nice to personalize …. well about 5 years later and thousands of stamps later, I am still buying stamps, still making cards – with 3 teenagers and work – I need a lot of therapy!
I started stamping about 15 years ago after watching a craft show about stamping. The stamps came mounted on foam but I loved them anyway. I stamped on anything that I could get my hands on…I was hooked! I then set out to find more stamps and discovered Stampin’ Up! and I’ve been in love with them ever since. It’s been fun to see the changes in stamps over the years and every year brings something new and exciting.
Thanks for sharing your art with us. I look forward to checking my email every day and finding a blog update from you!
Hugs,
Suz
Winter Haven, FL
I used to do a lot of brass stencil embossing to make cards & some scrapbooking. I was in a little shop that sold some stencils but mostly had lots of stamps & accessories. I always admired all the displays of stamped cards but it all looked so complicated & time consuming (unlike my stencils LOL). The shop owner & her daughter were kind enough to give me a little introduction to stamping at no cost. As my DH is so fond of saying – I bought just ONE stamp & ink pad just to TRY it! Well that was history and I am now the proud owner of a couple thousand stamps, inks and accessories of every kind and an entire room devoted to my “just one try” projects!!!! I love going to conventions & taking classes whenever I can; reading tutorials on line & subscribing to VSN, TJ newsletter & SCS newsletter. I am still in awe of all the talented artists in the stamping world – those who do it professionally but mostly the many, many talented people who just enjoy creating. I still do some scrapbooking & now that I have a cuttlebug I may pull the brass stencils out & try a tutorial I saw to use them with the cuttlebug – at a much faster pace than hand-embossing.
Your site has been an inspiration & your ideas and creations are just beautiful.
I got into stamping right after my daughter was born. Ihad a 2 year old and a new infant and one of my friends invited me out to a SU party. I went to that party, had a party at my home and then I signed up to be an SU demo. I love being able to get my creatieness out and have fun with other people. My daughter is now 6 and I am still loving it. I love your sight that I just found a few weeks ago and am ipired even more. Thank you.
My neighbor had a Stamping Up party years ago. I wasn’t going to even go – but she called during the party nagging me to come over. I went – bought one set of stamps and a black ink pad – figured that’s all I would ever need. Yeah, right!
Deb Schubauer
I had been scrapbooking for about 8 years when I started a new job. One of my co-workers was really into stamping and making cards. It was really fun and we went to some classes and conventions together. At first I just did the stamping in cards and my scrapbooking was seperate. Then I started pulling them both together and the results were great. I love learning all the new techniques.
Michelle….what a great topic!!
12 years ago, my Son and (future at the time) DIL were making wedding plans. Kristi’s beloved Mom had died the previous year and she asked if I would help her plan the wedding.
In tribute to her Mom, we decided red tulip bulbs would be a perfect guest gift.
We put 3 bulbs in a wire basket with spanish moss, wrapped with cello and tied with wedding colours. Hmmmm, a tag was needed. I spoke to a couple of friends who started stamping at that time and they suggested a tulip stamp. Went to my LSS, met a wonderful lady who walked me through stamping a tag. Oh my goodness, how beautiful it was. Showed me how to emboss (detail platinum) it. Voila!!! a gorgeous keepsake. I made 60 of them and most guests still have the basket and tag!! And yes…..the tulips are blooming every spring!!!!
I have been a happy stamper ever since. The lady from the stamp store is now a good friend, my SU demo is a friend, I have met so many gorgeous people through this wonderful hobby and now stamp with my Grandchildren.
Sorry I wrote a novel……..LOL
Thank you for being a part of my Friends I have met through SCS and the internet.
Hello talented lady…I started stamping many years ago by taking a walk on Thames Street in Newport, RI and walking into a stamp store called Newport Stamp Studio (no longer in business) and watching a wonderful employee demo wet embossing…I was hooked….Lisa
At one time I would make cards with a computer program. I also learned to crochet, but it took me a long time to see a finished product with that and I wanted something else I could do that took less time. One day while in Joann’s I signed up for a beginner card making class and ended up being the only one in the class taught by a wonderful SU demo. I bought a few things from her, paper from Joann’s (which I now let my grandchildren use) and started doing my best. This demo had a couple of workshops that I attended and loved. All my family live in the midwest and I am in Nevada, so I called one of my 5 sisters and she also got excited about it….she has now been a SU denom for 5 years and all the rest of my sisters and mother stamp beautiful cards. I have been so happy that I learned to stamp and have found some wonderful blogs like this one where I can s-t-r-e-t-c-h my creativity.
What a fun question! 15 years ago I was invited to my first SU party at a friend’s house. I ordered one stamp, some cardstock and an inkpad. I’ve been hooked ever since! I still have that stamp, AND the same SU demonstrator!!
Wow…thanks for the chance to win this candy!
I was newly married (8yrs ago!), at one of my DH’s family gatherings. One of the birthday cards given, was handmade! I was intrigued, and not too long after that, I tried it out! As soon as I found my love of stamping, I was hooked!
Started out at Michael’s, LSS, etc…but soon my love grew into a passion for stamping! I became a Stampin’ Up demonstrator in Oct. of 2005, and it’s been a wonderful outlet to share what I love!!
Truthfully I can’t even remember how or when I got started. I think I was invited by a friend to a Stampin Up party way back when (I think it was 1998). I didn’t get “into it” very quickly, although I bought some stamps just to be nice. I slowly started to use what I bought, and kind of enjoyed it. It wasn’t too long before I was buying more. There was a long break in there where I didn’t stamp for several years because I had no place in my house to play without a lot of work moving supplies. I’m not a very creative person, so it was hard for me to come up with ideas of what I wanted to make. My stamping has consisted of making Christmas cards only for several years. Now that my oldest son has moved out to university, I have a space to call my own, and I play as often as I get a chance. I have to buy gadget there is (there goes my early retirement!). Because of people like you, I’m more creative than I ever dreamed I’d be. Thank you!
Stamping is in its nascent stages in India. The first time I walked into a new hobby shop, I picked up an acrylic stamp set, not knowing what to do with it.
Then, I sought the help of Google to guide me, and I found millions of blogs and there has been no looking back. Its come to a point where I nag (read ‘hound them’) my relatives to get me craft stuff whenever they come back from USA.. It’s addictive..
Thanks for the wonderful tutorials..
Hugs
Tejal
I’m from Edmonton, Alberta and I got into stamping when a neighbour invited me to a Christmas card making workshop about 2 1/2 years ago. I had been looking for a way to earn some extra money so that I could stay home with my daughter and I decided stampin’ Up was the way. My first stamps were my starter kit and I have never looked back. I come from the painting world as well, I had been tole painting and watercolouring for several years as well as doing a lot of quilting but there is something to be said for the instant gratification of stamping!
I am so inspired by your work – you have really encouraged me to want to bring all of that artistic background to my stamping. I have really started to look around, particularly at nature and think “Now how can I create that with my stamps?” – I can’t always figure it out – but at least you’ve got me trying! Thanks again for all you do!
I started stamping when I was in high school. I still have my first three stamps. I bought them because I liked the designs, and would stamp them in my assignment book. Twenty years later, I still like the designs, but my tastes are a little different now. LOL. I have always loved to color, so to me, it is kind of like making my own coloring book.
I love watching your work emerge in the tutorials! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Lynn
I have always dabble in crafts since I can remember. I was introduced to scrapbooking first by a neighbor who was having a Creative Memories Show. I loved it (not CM but the idea of creating art out of pictures). That was ten years ago. As with every body life happens and friends change. I made a friend who was part of a monthly group. She invited me to go with her and I fell in love with SU!. That was five years ago. I still love SU! and am in the process of changing from a hobby demo to a career demo. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful art with us. I know that for me it is an inspiration.
Hi Michelle,
I pulled away from many fun things for some time and one day decided to go back to a painting chapter meeting. Well some of my friends had gotten involved with stamping via Stampin Up and I was invited (forced) to go to the next workshop at a friend’s house. When I got home, I told my husband that there was no way I would ever be interesting in such silly things like stamping!!!!!! This was a year ago and I am so certain you know the rest of the story. I love it, I love it!!! Thanks to my friends, I have a blast and am more in debt!! Ha!
Have a wonderful weekend and again thank you for all you give!
Terry in CA
I am a fairly new subscriber to your creative Newsletter, and have thoroughly enjoyed your ingenuity and color schemes. I’ve been rubber stamping about eight years now. Didn’t take me long to become addicted to it. For the past 1-1/2 years I’ve been scrapbooking and that’s as addictive as stamping. A few Newsletters ago you showed the flowers in your gardens…I really liked seeing them. I love flowers, all kinds, myself. When each flower blooms, it’s like receiving a beautiful surprise gift. Thanks for sharing your talent. Barbara Phelps, Shenandoah, Iowa
Greetings from Minnesota Michele. I love your tutorials, and am working my way through them. They’re quite an education. You’ve taught me a lot in the short time I’ve been reading your blog. Thanks so much for all the info and your genorousity sharing your techniques with us all.
Scrapbooking took me down the trail to stamping. I try to make my own embelishments, and stamps are a natural progression. Now I seem to be making more cards than scrapbook pages. Must get back to documenting our day to day lives.
I have been stamping for a little over 9 years. I was invited to a stamping party and had to miss it due to having knee surguery that day. All I saw was the catalog…I drooled and dreamed and knew it would be my next addiction even before I had my order in. I knew weaving was going to be out for a while after my knee was done. August 28th will be 9 years that I have been a SU demo. (I had to have it all! LOL) I just recently went back to weaving this past year, but stamping will be my hear’s passion always.
I am totally new to stamping… I have been a scrapbooker for about 13 years and a good friend of mine is a demo for CTMH. She has tried to get me hooked on stamping for quite some time and I finally gave in. I have a lot to learn, but I do love the creative process.
Hi Michelle,
I started stamping in 2004. My friend invited me to SU party she was having and from that day on, I have been addicted to making cards, and consequently I have a huge craft room which I have to fill up with all kinds of goodies. I was known as the glitter lady but now, I ‘ve put that techinique aside and am concentrating on the sceneries which I follow diligently from your tutorials. Thank you for sharing!
Rae
I was looking in a little gift shop and they had a tiny corner with a few stamps and an iron on a tiny table in the corner. The lady showed my heat embossing (she used an iron) and I was hooked! I spent my first $70 on 3 embossing powders and 3 little stamps to make Christmas tags. That was then………now I have 1300 square feet of stored craft stuff – alot stamping related!
Wow, what if I don’t remember? Way back, I scrapbooked all the old pictures from my Haskell family history (going back to about 1800) and wrote short bios of people on archival paper. A stamping friend says that I was not a scrapbooKer; I was a genealogist. I did have some stamps at that time. Now we fast forward through the bridge obsession and the geocaching obsession. I’m not exactly sure how I ended up on the Jacquard website, but I started with clay dutifully rolled through a pasta maker. went through a fabric period thanks to Sherrill Kahn’s books and now I’m stuck on stamping.
I started stamping about 6 years ago, shortly after I separated from my first husband. A CTMH demo was holding “card classes” once a month at the community center, and I went to that nearly each month until she stopped (March 2007). That was pretty much my only exposure to cardmaking, until I found SCS (April 2007); after finding SCS, I was hooked on stamping and fell in love with SU!@ (even though they don’t have clear acrylic stamps! lol)
I moved to another town and found a SU! demo. I bought a few products from her, then joined her hostess club. And then I took the plunge and became a demo myself! Oh my! Between my demo and SCS, I sleep, eat, and breath “rubberstamping!”
Hi from Wister, Oklahoma. I began stamping about a year ago with just a few stamps. Now I have more, and I have found ATCs and that is where I really began stamping. I have to admit that house mouse stamps are my favs.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for sharing your stamping origins story. My addiction is laid at the feet of my neighbor. In 2004 we moved from Washington to Arizona and my neighbor invited me to a Stampin Up party at her house. Not wanting to hurt her feelings I accepted and the rest as we say is history. She has since moved away to another state, far enough away to avoid the wrath of my DH! Just kidding! LOL
About 18 years ago, a little Christian book store here where I live had a stamp class. I signed myself (SCS mwc) and my daughter (SCS #1volunteer) up for the class. You can see where that has led us. We are both SU demos – I think I created a stamping monster or two.
I don’t see how you have time to read everything!!
I began stamping over 10 years ago when a co-worker invited me to her Stampin’ Up! workshop. I was instantly hooked! Shortly after that I signed up to be a demonstrator.
About four years ago my daughter and I went to an adult ed class on stamping given by a Stamping Up Rep. After that, we were hooked. We went to her for classes for a while and then my daughter became a hobby rep. I like to look back at some of my beginning efforts and see how far I’ve come.
Michelle,
Hello from North Attleboro, Massachusetts. About three years ago a co-worker asked me to go with her to a card making party. I actually told her that it didn’t even sound like anything I would ever get into. The next day she brought in the cards that she had learned to make and I couldn’t believe it. I’d never seen anything like them. I immediately signed up for an all day workshop and haven’t stopped yet. I became a hobby demo in February, 2008 and soon decided to share the fun with neighbors. We have weekly get togethers with just us and once a month we take turns hosting a larger workshop. I found my niche!
I started stamping as a teen making christmas cards, but since I discovered SCS a couple of years ago, the whole stamping world of possibilities has exploded for me!
A girl at work showed me a card she had made and invited me to a SU party. I ordered over $100.00 of stamps and that was in 1993. I made a few cards and then put it down for a while. I got sick in Feb of 04, and had a long recoup period during which time my DD introduced me to 2P’S. I have learned so much from there and SCS. I am back at stamping full time. I have over 100 SU sets and I don’t know how many single stamps. Love it. Thanks for all your wonderful tutorials. Glinda
My step-daughter introduced me to stamping. She became a demonstrator and had a party in her home and invited me. I told her i would come but would not buy anthing, because i didn’t think i could do it. Well that was in 2003 and here i am! I may not be the best but love to try. My grandchildren love them and i make small cards for tray favors at our local hospital. You are such and inspiration and a incredible person for sharing what you do. Thanks so much!
Hey Michelle
First of all the number of hits and subscribers does not surprise me one bit since your blog, talent and generosity are awesome!!! I have been doing crafts since I was a young girl many moons ago…lol. I was making cards a bit digitally and a bit of stamping in the late 90s. My dd was in 2nd grade (she is now starting her senoir year of high school) and we switced schools in the middle of the year. One of the Mom’s had just signed up to be a SU demo and was having her first demo and asked me if I would like to come. I thought it would be a good way to meet some of the other mMoms so I went. Welll little did I know my life would be changed forever..lol. I loved the way the paper, ink, markers, ribbon and other accessories all matched this is what I had been searching for. The rest as they say is history. Happy stamping to all
I just eased into stamping one stamp at a time. I did watercolors and some tole painting and quilting……..so always into color and hand work. I had some medical issues with my hand and shoulder that resulted in surgeries and I lost some of my agility in my hands. But stamping I can do with ease. I started by making cards for my church family and continue to do that for the most part. I enjoy your site so much and appreciate you sharing with me.
Chere Mme Zinforf,
Je viens d’une longue lligne de bricoleuses: mes grand-meres faisaient de la couture et du tricot, etc…. Ma mere faisait un peu de tout et m’a appris bien des choses. J’ai decouvert les etampes comme un a cote du scrap. Vous etes mon idol, j’admire votre style et voudrais avoir un dizieme de votre talent!
I have bought my first stempel was Alphabet with thema Flower. That was on 2006. Then I found now “clear stamps” is a simple and easy stamp. You only change your stamps and you can buy in one serie for once. I like to make card with stamps but I made also my card with another teqnique, like Piercing, embossing or Punch the paper. You are so inspiriing me to make card with Stamps, but I have not so much beautiful stamps like you…thanks for teaching us to make a sweet card with stamps and colour. (I come from Indonesia, I am sorry if my English is to bad)
Love, love, love your blog!
I was window shopping one day and came across a stamp store. I’d never seen a whole store devoted to stamps before. I said to me hubby who was with me- “Look! We could save money and make our Christmas cards!” Yeah right!
Michelle….Glad you asked! I absolutly love paper!!!! Always have, and I receive beautiful paper as gifts from those that love me all the time….have for years. One day at work I received the coolest card you have ever seen as an appreciation token for some work I had performed. I was giddy. I stared at the card, inspected it with great detail and was itching to know how it was made. Then I found out that a lady at work made cards and heard comments regarding how cool they were. I had to check it out, turns out she was/is a SU customer. And another was born that day, I’ve been stamping ever since, it is how I shake off a day in the office or deal with life’s everyday stresses. I enjoy playing with paper immensly. Now I have a collection of cards, and a slight problem sending them to people. I have been creating decrative boxes and filling them with cards, giving out as gifts. My collection grows. If this continues….I may need therapy.
Have a great day!
Signed,
Obsessive pretty paper lover.
Hello Michelle,
Honestly, I went to VBS every year with my Grandma and was ALWAYS doing crafts with her and my mother as well. The first stamping I ever did was the ever famous stamping with potatoes as yound as 3 years old. I remember when I was around 6 years old we made houses for the “fairies” using spools from thread, bottle caps, pinecones, ect. and I “stamped” the rug and wallpaper with a “pink” eraser cut into shapes like triangles and squares. So many fun memories. I was introduced to SU by a friend at the elementary school where I worked and the rest was history! However I love all the different choices with sooooo many wonderful companies and designers out there now.
I love your work, and inspiration. Thanks for all you do in sharing your special talent with us.
Blessings and Hugzzzzzzzzzz
Erin Perez
Hi Michelle,
I just love your style. You asked us to say what brought us to stamping and I have to say that it was my neighbor. When I moved with my husband my neighbor was kind enough to call and invite me to a Stampin’ Up! workshop. I have been stamping since. It was a great way to socialize and get to know others as well.
Twyla
rockseroo@hotmail.com
I altered baskets and fans in the begining and then did scrapbooking half heartedly. I liked it but it was taking to long, Then a friend invited me over to craft one day and I thought that was weird because I always did it alone. She was making cards. I thought that was so fun and it didn’t take so long I could see the product right away almost. I fell in love with it that was almost 17 years ago……………… Oh my that long ago????????? LOL
My daughter-in-law got me started. My son is in the Air Force, and when we went to visit them, I saw some cards she had made, along with the coordinating stamps. There was a “Hobby Shop” on base which is where we ended up the next day. I spent way too much money, and did way too little with the stamps. This was in 1995. In 2001, I started scrapbooking (after having sold all my stamping supplies, except my Tombow pens), wanted a different look for my pages and began stamping again. Now I don’t scrapbook so much anymore, but cardmaking? I love, love, love it and make enough money to “support my habit”. Speaking of which… I need to get back to fun, creativity, therapy, which to me is cardmaking all rolled up into one.
I´m a teacher here in a primary school in Austria. When children have done their homeworks well, they get a little stamp impression in their exercise book. So I have started to collect stamps many years ago.
Then my mother took me to a stamping workshop one evening. I couldn´t believe what I saw there! Embossing powder, heat gun and other new things I´ve never seen before.
From that day on I learned a little bit more than stamping into exercise books.
And the internet teached me also a lot – on blogs like your, or in the forums.
So, that was the story of my beginning in the world of stamping.
Here in Austria there aren´t many shops, so if yor want to buy something, you only can do it with the help of the internet. Most of the people think that stamps are only used at the post office or in school *gg*)
And sorry, my Englisch is not the best…
I started stamping after signing on to make homemade card for our card ministry at our church…that was about 6 years ago and now I have my own stamping room in our house! I am now in charge of the card ministry at church and busy stamping out about 50 cards a week for that (of course with other ladies helping!!). Love your work!
Pam
It all started when I got married in 2005. I had all these beautiful pictures and hated to just stuff them into a photo album. So I spent some time online learning a little bit about scrapbooking, picked out an album and away I went. It took me six months to finally complete our wedding scrapbook, but I knew when I was done that this was just the beginning for me. I quickly started looking around for another subject and decided to do a book for my 17 year old stepson who was graduating from high school. It was quite an adventure, spending time with his mom and sorting through old pictures. One thing I didn’t anticipate, was getting to know him and his family from the time he was born. Bonus!
I moved from one city to another shortly after that, and was invited to a Stampin’ Up party. I’d never even heard of Stampin’ Up before that, but figured if it had something to do with scrapbooking, I was in!
Since then, a whole world has opened up to me. I love scrapping and card making. I have experimented with digital scrapping and I think I am now hooked on that too! I love expressing myself through paper, and have found many ways to use this hobby as a way to make gifts for friends and family.
Thanks for continuing to be a HUGE inspiration!
I live in Roseburg, Oregon (forgot to mention that last week). What brought me to stamping? I am a frustrated artist with no artistic talent….but I can color within the lines. So when I first saw a rubber stamp I knew I could do it. I started out with a couple of stamps, a pigment ink pad, and embossing powder. My first few cards had the embossing powder “cured” over a toaster, with some disastrous results. The next purchase was a heat gun. Ten years later, I need a bigger craft room to keep all of my stamping stuff. But I would love to have more, so I’d be very happy if you chose me for the stamps.
I love your work and inspired by you. Thank you.
Patti P
have always loved paper crafts and when i was 15 i went to my first craft show and there was one stamp stall there and they were showing gold embossing well i was soo impressed that i spent all my money at that stall and been spending money ever since
Yummy blog candy by the way. :p (slurp) ….. Well let’s see…….a lady I work with invited me to a Stampin Up party so I thought hey I’ll go and buy one thing since she is my friend and never go again to one. I have always done crafts, oil painting, anything artsy soooo I fell in love with stamping as well. What hooked me hook, line, and sinker was they had a demonstration of heat embossing and everyone else was afraid to do it but I jumped right on it and fell in love head over heels. So I’ve been to every party from there on out making lots of new friends and having soooo much fun. You are my inspiration as well. Your talent motivates me to do better. Thanks a bunch.
I began stamping a little over 5 years ago when I went to a SU Party. Soon after I became a demonstrator. Then I found out about the Technique Junkies Newsletter. Have been stampin ever since and love it. I really enjoy the work you do. You are so talented. Thank you for being interested.
A stampin up demo. A few cards and I was hooked from then on! lol
Hi Michelle~
The first time I got into stamping, so many years ago, I can’t even remember for sure how it happened. I believe I began buying some sentiments stamps that spoke to my heart: “There is no on so deaf as he who will not listen,” “We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors — we are borrowing it from our children,” and “If we are to have real peace, we must begin with the children. –Gandhi”
I began by using these stamps and others quickly acquired on letters and envelopes to friends, family, and penfriends. Having loved coloring since I was a child, I loved being able to take an image and make it whatever color I wanted. Next, I attended a rubber stamp convention in Carson, CA, and the passion blossomed!
After several years off from stamping to focus on traditional/paper scrapbooking, I retired from full-time work and found I had time for scrapping & stamping! Whoo Hoo!
A friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up party sometime in 2001, and I’ve just gone completely crazy since then. I have soooo much “stuff,” but there’s always new designs, images, papers, inks, pens to try. Loving color since I was a very small girl, I surround myself with all these things and creating with them one of my greatest pleasures!
Thanks for asking, and for sharing your wonderful talent with all of us!
hugs,
~jeanie.
what brought me to stamping is because I have Stage 4 Colon Cancer. To keep my mind off of things I started stamping, I did it during my 3 different times of chemo and still do it now. They, my first doctor said I only had 2 to 4 years to live from being first diagnosed but I am now passed the 4 year mark by 6 months and my doctor said I am a miracle. I have learned not to dwell on it and live my life and still stamping away
Toniann
http://carbonescorner.blogspot.com
http://www.angelfire.com/nv2/carbonescorner
Hi, I love your web site and your ideas. Ive used several. I’m from Hammond Indiana and loooovvvvve stamping.
Hi Michelle,
About 17 years ago a new family arrived at our church, and they had just recently returned from a holiday in the USA. They showed me some embossed cards they had made and I thought they looked fantastic, but so intricate and fiddly. They assured me it was a very simple and easy process, but I had a 3 year old son and a brand new baby daughter, and it looked very time consuming so I didn’t pursue the matter any further. About a month later, however, I called round to their home for something and the mother and daughter were in the middle of a stamping session. When I saw for myself that it truly was as simple as they told me, I was hooked, and have been ever since. In the early day, we had very little available in New Zealand, and even less in the south, in Invercargill where I live. We certainly had no local stamping store and so anything I saw that could possibly be useful I would buy, especially if it was a stamp. Consequently I ended up with things I didn’t particularly like, just because they were the only things available. That has all changed now . . .
Thanks Michelle
I stumbled into a stamp store one day, just to check it out, and before I left, I had all the necessary supplies to make my wedding invitations. This was NOT what I intended. They turned out well, though. After that, I owned a scrapbook store, and my dear friend and customer, Shelly, owned Stampsations, a stamping company. I wanted to carry her line of stamps in my store, and of course, I had to know how to stamp with them. She later helped me start my own line of stamps, I bought her line, and the rest is history.
ok – you asked! LOL About 7+ years ago my girlfriend invited me to a stampin up party at her sister’s house…I was immediately hooked! I have made hand crafted presents since before I can remember…and when I CAN remember – it was my very crafty and talented mother who made me love making things…fast forward, due to life getting in the way (as well as my education!) two things occurred – I was unable to devote the time to my daughter in “crafting” although we did other things together – and I had to stop performing in amateur theater (which I found to be a creative “release”) – so when I got hooked on stamping….and then later realized that my daughter loved scrapbooking – I put the two together and got her stamping as well…AND it makes me always think of my mother who would have taken to this like a duck to water – so – stamping is a creative outlet for me, a time to share with my friends and family, a way to pass on what my mother “gave” to me to my daughter, and now a business that pays for my hobby…and its cheaper than therapy!!! *wink*
oh – yes – I forgot to mention before where I live…currently in Bethlehem Twp in PA – which is right over the border of Northwest NJ where I am originally from (Chester and Long Valley). I still teach in NJ in Bridgewater – which is about 45-55 minutes south of here. Still a Jersey Girl at heart…but at PA prices!! LOL Anyway – I am part of Tina’s SU group of INKcredible gals in NJ – and Tina is your buddy Karen’s up-line…and it was through Karen’s website that I found you….(thank you Karen!)
That’s as nutshell as I could get it!! LOL
Maureen Thomson Stivala
I would have to say my co-workers. They always huddled around talking amongst themselves about their scrapbooking/cardmaking they have been working on and various products etc. They tried for some time to get me committed but I held my ground and didn’t get involved………….until…………….. someone had a party that I attended for the heck of it then it was game over. I was in good and hard and have never looked back. I LOVE to stamp and find it very relaxing and gratifying. I love checking blogs and getting my creative juices going.
Hello Michelle, I live Trois-Rivières, province of Quebec in Canada. I have started to make the stamping 3 years ago. Following long sick leave, I sought a hobby interesting and I listened to an emission which spoke about Scrapbooking. It’s was the beginning for me. I have learned much by visiting Internet sites
I have heard of Stampin’ up! and I became representing.
Since this time I learn at each day from new things and it gives me pleasure of to teach with people whom surround me. I like that.
Sorry for this traduction, I am Québécois Frenchwoman.
Tank you much for this beautiful work.
Hélène Gagnon de Trois-Rivières (Québec) Canada
MY first interest in stamping came from watching hgtv and Carol Duvall. There were no stamping stores in the area at that time and so at AC Moore I found rubber stamping magazines. There was an address for a stamp store in the western part of NC about 3.5 hours from my house—-so off for a road trip. In that store I heard that there was a stamp store coming to Wilmington. Nancy Lewis opened stamp works and my pocket book hasn’t been the same since. Regretfully we no longer have our local store but now I have the internet. my spare room is a craft room packed full of stamps and all the goodies you need and don’t need, but have to have. I always wanted to be creative and couldn’t draw or paint, but now that I have stamping and cards I can satisfy that need. In the real world I am a nurse in a NICU and make cards for the babies and their families at holidays. Probably more than you wanted to know. but thanks for asking Debbie
I had a friend who was into stamping and it looked like fun. I started going to Stamp Camps, etc. and got hooked!! Then I decided to be a demonstrator just to get the discount for my friend and me. My co-workers asked me to teach them and now I am doing this as a part time business!! It has been a blast!! I am going to teach your techniques in a class this fall. I can hardly wait!!
I started stamping after seeing a demo at a LLS on embossing. That got by daughter and I hooked. We started embossing over a toaster! I own 3 heat guns now. I have come a long way in 11 years from a few stamps and a couple pads to literally thousands of stamps and hundreds of pads.
Love the tutorials on the skies. I’ve been trying to recreate the beautiful ND sunsets I have seen and now I think I’ll be able to.
Thanks
Betty
I went to a SU workshop 11 years ago and was hooked. I decided that after the first workshop if I was going to do this I would have to sign up to be a demonstrator to afford what I saw comming. I was right, I loved what I did and loved teaching it.. I also did some designing for Sparkel N Sparkel and have a gallery on The Stampers Art Gallery.
I have shamped through 2 rounds of cancer with my husband and a bad fall that disabled him thee years ago, the lose of my brother. But I lost my father after taking care of him for several months day and night and working and then I lost my sweet mother 10 months latter and I just had a hard time keeping my business going during that time. So the first time in 11 years I could not meet my quota for SU and lost my demo rights. In May I walked in to a stamp store I often visited and was asked to teach there. I am teaching again and love it. I have over 400 sets of Su stamps and hourd them all and then some. I love gagets and punches too. Thats my story. I love your style it is realy close to mine. Look forward to learning more from you.
My good friend, Jennifer, had a catalog at work and I was flipping through it at lunch one day. I thought everything was so cute and had always wanted to learn out to stamp. I had done some very minimal stamping on some stuff for my wedding a year earlier. I found out I was pregnant a few weeks later and placed my first order to do birth announcements
Ever since I have been HOOKED BIG TIME. I became a hobby demo with my sister in 2004 and we are still going strong!
Thanks for asking .. its always nice to reminsce
Kimberly
Back in ’98 we were living outside Memphis, and I was part of an online group called Amazon Women Crafters. We had started having small get-togethers (called ‘stocks’ after Woodstock) in different areas of the country. About 8 of the ladies in the south-central part of the country decided to meet in Bay St. Louis, Miss., with three offering to teach us the craft they loved. One of the ladies showed us how to stamp. All it took to hook me was seeing the embossing technique! We now live in Richmond, and we have no LSS here, only Michael’s and Ben Franklin’s. When I am able and find a class that intrigues me, I drive an hour down to Williamsburg to take a class at Stamp’n'Memories. A few weeks ago I was finally able to take a class on water coloring techniques. I’m one of the leaders four our church ministry, Stamping Angels; we send cards monthly to parishioners who are in the hospital, chronically ill/homebound, had a death in the family, welcomed a baby to the family, or are deployed military. It’s such a rewarding activity! I love my SU lady and her stamping nights! But I have to add my voice to the chorus praising your brayering technique for skies! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise and love of the craft with us!
Many years ago I was a member of Amazon Women Crafters here in Virginia. We had some of the get togethers as well and I learned so many neat things. I really miss the group. Do you have any idea what happened to them. I lost track of the group as sadly life got in the way and a lot has happened to me.
I am in a women’s group, and we were all sharing something about our hobbies and interests. My friend Teresa shared about stamping, which I had never been aware of before. I was thrilled! I am a little designer inside, but I could never do anything artistic because I can’t draw. But with stamping, the drawing is done for me, and I can just plan the colors, layout, embellishments, etc.
I really appreciate your tutorials on how you produce your amazing effects. I’ve learned so much from you just in the last few weeks I’ve know about your blog! You are truly an artist!
Hi, I am from Venezuela, but I live in Houston, TX. I started stamping in my scrapbooks and now I use it to make cards as well….
Hi, Michelle, This is only the second time I’ve left a message. so here goes. My introduction to stamping came in a very unusual way. One day while in the dog park, I have a little Chihuahua named Rocky, I saw two ladies rummaging around some trees that were outside of the park. So me being the curious person that I am I asked them if they had lost something and they replied no they were looking for a box from the Letterboxing game. I found out about letterboxing which is “an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest” Here is a link http://WWW.letterboxing.org So I decided to try and play and one of the requirements is a rubber stamp that depicts the persons personality or likes or whatever. Because of my dog I decide to look for a rubber stamp of a Chihuahua dog. Actually I wanted a fat lady, in a wheelchair, with a Chihuahua, but I didn’t think I could find that so I settled on just the dog. Well, needless to say, when I did a search on rubber stamps I came up with a whole other world of stamping and I starded looking at all the art work and the myriad and variety of stamps and I have been hooked ever since. That was last year in March or April. I have made about 50 cards so far and my friends and family really encourage me. Thank goodness for all the galleries because I have about 500 stamps and not too much imagination! So I have done the various tutorials and have had good results with them. I am definately getting better! Thanks for your tutorials! Nita
My first venture into stamping was many years ago when a little shop opened in the shopping centre locally. I loved what the lady in there demonstrated but couldn’t afford the expensive stuff on my teacher’s pay so the adventure was short lived and the shop quickly closed. About 15 years later I started doing cards using PC software and then discovered stickers and not long after that stamps. Coming to see friends in the US who scrap booked also helped! Now I love it all and my dining room is overtaken with it all.
in l996 my sons teacher invited me to a SU demo after school in the teachers lounge…i bought some little stamps to put on the outside of envy’s – and well – it kind of GREW from there~! thank you for the opportunity to win some blog candy…
The internet! I am a serious internet surfer, particularly the craft and sewing forums. I kept coming across beautiful cards and with all the new forums and blogs, the pictures and tutorials kept calling me! Now I am totally hooked and I just started in 3/08. I have most of the popular tools and lots and lots of stamps and am having a blast!
I started stamping rather reluctantly some seven years ago at a friends invitation. One evening I visited her and I stamped and embossed some fish, and then coloured them …. I still have that rather basic card, but (pardon the pun) I was hooked!!
I continued with the card making, which now involves far more than just stamping, especially now I have discovered various websites and tutorials… but my other crafts have suffered with the embroidery in particular now hardly being picked up.
I ‘reserve’ Sunday afternoon in parrticular for stamping and card making, but try to sneak out to my studio on other occasions, but with working full time and trying to run a home and keep the gardens tidy it doesn’t always happen.
Thank you for your tutorials as they are taking my skills to another level
I got in to stamping because I did not like the card selection in the stores. I like to make my cards to suit the person I am sending it to, to suit a paticular occasion. After I started making card, I found it was also my outlet from everyday life.
Years ago my neighbor was a SU demonstrator, and so I started attending her workshops. I was hooked! I did take a break from stamping for a couple of years while I was busy building a home; however, I returned to stamping and am again addicted! Now I can’t imagine going away from my crafting room for more than a couple of days. It’s very therapeutic!
I was a ‘computer card creator’ until my friend introduced me to Rubber Stamps. Swore I’d never get involved in that – wrong!!! She took me to a convention, helped me with some ‘make and takes’ and I was hooked. What a satisfying hobby.
DianeL
what brought me into stamping???? well….a number of things, i guess. but overall the biggest thing was i needed another creative outlet….i needed something fresh…something different. i’m glad i took the chance…i love to stamp!!!!!
Hi Michelle,
My friend had been sending me stamped cards for quite some time. They were very simple..no fancy backgrounds or embellishments. They were nice but not an inducement for me to take up the craft until I was in a bookstore and looked at stamping books. Wow I thought! There’s a whole lot more to this hobby than I thought and ordered my first stamps. I’ve been stamping now for about four years and am amazed at how many new techniques I’ve learned.
Marliese
I started of scrapbooking and then 2 years ago started taking cardmaking classes once a month from a friend who was then just a hobby demonstrator. I loved her hand crafted cards and quickly got hooked!
Hi Michelle,
At work we always celebrated each co-worker’s birthday with a specific theme that was related to something the birthday person liked or did. My co-workers knew that I liked crafting so they decided to have a stamping party. I had never stamped prior to this and have been hooked ever since.
Michelle-
You are the best. I am trying to adapt your techniques and producing much prettier cards (not nearly as good as yours). I love coloring and shading and always reffer to your gallery for “advice”. Your way of assembling cards is remarcable, so much taste and class. Thank you for sharing,
Olga
WOW you are such a popular lady and an awesome one. I got into stamping because I saw an add in the local paper for a stamping techniques workshop. I told my husband I was interested and he said there was a flyer on his notice board at work, he bought it home I sent it in. It turned out to be the start of Stampin’up in New Zealand. That was April last year. There was a door prize with a basket full of goodies, I was lucky to win that, so that set me on this path of stamping. I love it.We are truely blessed to have people like yourself out there to share ideas. Thank you. Judy
I had just moved into a new town and was going through a hard time about 6 years ago. I stumbled into a scrapbook store one day while a class was in progress and met some of the sweet little ladies who had been stamping together for many years.
They invited me to join them and as you know, the rest is history! What started off as a monthly get-together for friendship turned into a blossoming of a creative part of myself that I didn’t know exists.
I now express myself as an artist and will be forever grateful to the women who invited me in.
Emanuella
Hi Michelle: I am one of those 3,000 that visit your blog every day to see your amazing creations — I love every last one of them, and am learning a lot thanks to your fantastic tutorials. I retired a couple years ago, and after being a single parent most of my adult life, and having no time for a hobby other than reading, fixing jigsaw puzzles, and attending all my son’s activities, I decided it was time for my hobby to materialize. I tried ceramics, no; quilting, no; knitting, no; x-stitching, sortof; and started scrapbooking and liked it. I attended first a scrapbook convention where on a lark I signed up for a rubber stamping class and liked it enough to buy about 20 rubber stamps. Then I went to a craft fair and saw a bunch of beautiful sample cards. On the back was the credit for Stampin’UP! So I got on the internet and found the closest demonstrator — was only going to buy a few to play with……….and 2 years later my demonstrator and I are fast friends, I am one of her best customers, I love SCS and spend a whole lot of time there, and now I am as addicted as all the rest of you/us gals who visit you and the SCS sites and blogs. AND I AM LOVIN EVERY MINUTE! —sandy
It was 12 years ago when my children where still at primary school. I was helping out organising gifts for the mothers day stall at the school and I went to one of the other parents houses to sort out the gifts. She was a stamper and had a book shelf full of stamps. At the time I was into Folk Art painting but I thought the stamps where interesting so I asked about them and she said have a play and that was it. I now have a very large collection of stamps and I have never looked back.
Several years ago I became very ill and unable to work. My friend, Sandy, called and asked if I wanted to go with her to a stamping party. I had absolutely no clue what a stamping party was but did go. It was held at a SU demo’s home and immediately, my eyes fixed on a beautiful gold embossed Christmas card and I was hooked. Have been making cards ever since and just recently started a bit of scrapbooking for my sweet grandchildren.
Thanks so much for all your beautiful work that gives me so much inspiration.
My 10 year old wanted to scrapbook so we went to some Park programs and you could make a scrapbook page or 3 cards for $5.00. She made the page. I made the cards. I got hooked. She very seldom does anything scrapbooking.
Hmmm good question! I can’t remember how I started stamping. I know something got me interested and I got some books from the library. My first really big stamping project was all my wedding stationary – that was a big job! I used to cycle through crafts, stamping for a few months, cross stitching for another few, etc etc – but since finding SCS (because I was searching for info on the cuttlebug!) it’s been all stamping, all the time!
Ooh, that’s some very yummy blog candy!
I just decided one day to start scrapbooking (I think I was preparing for our wedding, although I’ve only done a few pages in that book in the last five years!!!). Then a few years later I went to a scrapbooking fundraiser and met a SU demo. I went to a few of her workshops and since then, I’ve been hooked!
Hi Michelle,
I really love your blob and have enjoyed trying to recreate some of your awesome projects! Your cars are always a treat for me to try to recreate! Of course mine aren’t nearly as nice as yours, but I do enjoy it! I started scrapbooking about 5 years ago and then stamping was close to follow. I love participating in swaps and love to use your ideas and techniques. Keep up the great work!!!
I got started stamping because a friend of mine invited me to a Stampin’ Up! party. I wasn’t going to go but with two teenagers I just wanted to get out of the house. I went and liked it. I went to another one some months later and liked it more. OK so anyhow I work two jobs so I don’t have a lot of time to stamp, but I love it. It helps me relax and have fun. I swear my part time job is to buy stamps!!! LOL. Kidding. My husband is disabled and we have regular bills plus teenage bills. Again LOL.
I love them and wouldn’t change a thing about my life. OK maybe one thing but how much chocolate can a girl really have? I haven’t scrapbooked since I lost all the kids childhood pictures when the basement flooded (along with everyone else’s in town). But I love cards. Everyone out there have a great day!
Smile and remember you never outgrow a hug! I have aunts to prove it!
Ronda
Hi Michele,
I first started with scrapbooking. One day, I attended a stamping workshop with a friend and that was it! I simply fell in love with stamping. I also paint but since I have no talent drawing, I am never satisfied with my work. This is why stamping is so much relaxing for me!
Johanne from Montreal
I went to see a demo at a local stamp store near my house and was so intrigued I started buying stamps and trying the techniques the showed each week. For a couple of years I bought indiscrimanately – if I liked it I bought it! Now I think about the types of cards I want to make and what I don’t have in my collection. But every once and awhile I still go on a buying spree, though mostly online now. Sadly our local stores (two) are gone, and since I live in Montana, it means quite a drive to find another. We do have an awaesome Stampin’ Up dealer here.
Hi Michelle,
I discovered stamping 23 years ago while perusing some items for possible home school use in an office supply store. They had a fairly nice selection of All Night Media stamps. I picked a few up with the kids and we learned stamping together. I still have some of those original stamps and they still stamp like day one. I can remember embossing with trepidation over the stove long before heat guns were marketed to use. I remained an occasional stamper for many years and became more “serious” about paper art nearly 12 years ago. I truly enjoy creating.
I’m a subscriber to your posts and if life would settle down for a bit, I’ll try some of your techniques soon. You do gorgeous work. Thanks so much for sharing!
Big Hugs,
Ruth C
Angelartistok
I received a thank you card in the mail from someone and it was handmade and I loved it. I started looking on the internet at web sites and one thing led to another and now I’m making my own cards, too. But I just got started about three months ago so I have a long way to go to build up my supplies and talent.
I have been into crafts for years. I got my first stamp that said handmade by and used it on everything. Since then I have added so many new stamps that some of them have not been looked at in years. I think it is time to go through all my old but good stamps and start using them again. I mostly make cards now and after years of using stamps I think I could possibly be called a stamp-a- holic. I really enjoy all the techniques and yours is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
My sister, Karen, started stamping first. When I visited her in VA (I live in TN) she was considering becoming a SU demo. So, being a wonderful little sis (LOL), I encouraged her and ended up being her first customer. I bought Elegant Greetings – my first set. Didn’t make a lot of cards at first, but it grew on me! Now I have over 300 sets and my fantastic big sis gives me a lot of her retired sets! Now I make cards almost daily, even have a few paying customers…just to keep up my inky habit!
About 8 years ago, I was just browsing Michael’s. Saw some cute stamp and got hooked. Found an SU demonstrator and went nuts. It just gives me happiness to be able to create little works of art. I get a kick out of seeing the 100000000 possibilities people come up with out of one little stamp or stamp set – amazing!
I’m a happy scrapbooker since 2003 and discovered stamping on layouts. I am thrilled now!
Hi Michelle, I was away when you asked where everyone was from, so I’ll tell you now.
Maine I started stamping after going to my first stampin-up party and have been addicted every since. I live in a very small town, so I needed to find a hobby and this is it. I also scrapbook. I have learned pretty much by myself but it’s therapy for me as I work 12hrs. shift on my job, so not alot of time to go places. I’ve made some pretty good looking cards, and some not too great, but it’s relaxing for me. I love what you do for all of us, and you shouldn’t be surprised at the number of hits you get daily! Wish you were on the East coast. It would be worth the drive to see you do a card in person. Thanks from Vacationland.
Hi Michelle,
I stamped for a very very long time but didn’t really discover it until I was invited to a Stampin’Up party 4 years ago. It’s been a love affair ever since, and a very expensive one at that. Much more therapeutic than a man!
So the cahnce to win free stuff is like wowy!
Cheers,
Sylvie from Toronto
Hi there,
Just came back from my summerholidays I have some catching up to do with reading all the blogs, probably don’t find the time to stamp anyway
First of all I come from the Netherlands and I don’t really know what made my tick for stamping. I just like doing it and exploring the possibilities. I followed some workshops about stamping – I work at a craftstore – and I really liked it. And now I’m hooked
Keep on going with your nice artwork. I really enjoy reading your blog and getting inspiration of it , although I’ll never be that good as you are! but I’m working on my skills
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Jolanda
Wowie….what fun! It must have been 1998 when I saw I card example in a card store in downtown Colorado Springs. The stamp that had been used was a large pansy stamp that had been embossed in gold and watercolored in vivid purples and blues. It WAS stunning! I fell in love with that card and decided I was going to make one like that. Next I found myself at our one and only stamp store. I snooped and read, asked questions and attended classes. It’s 10 years since that time and I’m still hopelessly addicted. I’m writing this while waiting for the postman to deliver my Stampin Up club order. Stampers are the best….and Michelle you certainly set an excellent example for all of us. Thank you!
Donna
Thanks for the chance to win blog candy!
My aunt introduced me to stamping by sending me some cards she made herself and encouraging me to join the ranks of card makers. She sent me some stamps and inks and papers and showed me a lot of websites and blogs.
I too was invited to a SU party by a good friend. I had tried being creative in the past, but my scrapbook pages always looked so weird. I didn’t know how to coordinate colors and patterns. Then I met Stampin’ Up! and it made it all so easy. I have been a demo for 6 years and have in the past year begun to step outside the SU box (which I still love though) and try other companies’ stamps and accessories. I recently purchased my Palette Hybrid black ink because you have good luck with it when using the alcohol based markers. I looked everywhere around my home for some, but ended up getting it online. I love this ink – it is the first ink that has worked on my very favorite whisper white paper when I want to use my copic markers. Sorry I got kind of long winded here! Thanks for the blog candy offer. I visit every day via my feed.
Laura
I wanted to make my own Christmas cards about 5 years ago, so I got hooked and haven’t stopped since!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!
Hi Michelle!! I LOVE your work!! Ok… what got me into stamping…
I was really into scrapbooking when my 1st Granddaughter was born in 2002. My then SIL, took my Mom and I to a SU! party. I was clueless as were most of the 1st time stampers, and the demo didn’t explain what we were supposed to be doing, sooooooooo needless to say, I had NO desire to stamp whatsoever!
I don’t even remember how I found Splitcoast, but once I did and saw all the beautiful things that were created with stamps, I was hooked! I love to stamp now and am amazed at all the techniques and artists (like you)!! I got rid of my scrapbooking stuff to help support my stamping habit! (You know you “NEED” so much)! I love SCS and all the inspiration I get from them and the members. Now I’m discovering blogs, so I guess it’s fair to say I’m addicted!
Thanks for giving us a chance to win some CANDY!!! I can always use new stamps!!
Debi aka: SassiAngel
I live in Knoxville, TN (I did not mention that last time). My stamping story is interesting. A good friend of mine’s little girl (she was 1 year old at the time, she is 3 now) had been diagnosed with liver cancer. My friend was a big scrapbooker and so was I. She had a Stamping Up demonstrator that was going to donate all her profits from her sales to their family to help raise money. So, I looked through the catalog (I had never heard of stamping up) and I ended up ordering about $100 worth, got the basics, stamp cleaner, water color pencils, and 2 sets I think. I got Winged Things and Sincere Salutations (I still use and love them). I was hooked after that and now I make and sell cards.
To update, my friend’s little girl is now in remission and doing great! Thank the Lord!
lol Love your work and you blog candy. My story is very much like your My sister loved stamping and kept telling me about it over and over and them one day she told me she signed me up for a workshop. so i went along to spend time with her and to find out what she was so excited about. I told myself i had enough hobbies i did not need another one. hehehehe. Now i very seldom do my other hobbies because i love stamping so much. Cheryl from Kansas.
I have always been “crafty” and when I saw some birthday cards made from scratch, I wanted to try it. I can’t believe what my first cards looked like ( and I thought they were great), Now I see all the wonderful cards the gals make on SCS, and I can make mine look “similar” to their’s. Thank you for your amazing tutorials.
Kate
I started stamping in the late seventys with my children as a craft form as well as making cards for their grandparents. I still have my original stamps and even some of the original embossing powder (still works well). Of course my stamps and supplies have grown over the years as well as my techniques. I do teach some workshops at church and some one-on-ones. I love stamping! My daughter stamps and my sons wives stamp as well! Plus the grandchildren!
I live in a small town in Indiana and have always liked the look of homemade Christmas Cards. When my DH was diagonsed with cancer and could no longer work and we didn’t go out anymore (except for treatments and to see the doctors, I found that I really wnated to try my hand at card making. I bought a few Christmas stamps, some ribbon and carstock and set in to make “Our Christmas Cards” last year. I must say that I’m hooked! I see so many beautiful cards and hope someday to be able to make mine as pretty.
Sandy Duley
Hello, Michelle =] I’ve only recently found your blog, and I am loving every post. I think it is fantastic that you share so much about your techniques, and I have learned a lot form your posts. Thank you!
I played around with rubber stamps when I was a young teenager with my mom, but only recently got into them heavily. I found that I was drawing the same bird over and over, and decided it would be easier to have a stamp to use. I ended up cutting the bird out of fun foam, and using acrylic paint to “stamp” with it. From there, I decided to find out how to make an actual rubber stamp, and I started carving erasers, eventually moving to stamp-carving material.
I found carving stamps so much fun, that I started needing to find things to use my stamps ON, to justify my making dozens of them in a month
I started using my stamps to make cards, started making ATCs, etc. Eventually, I needed stamps for my cards and ATCs that I wasn’t comfortable making, such as flourishes, and words.
Basically, over the past year, I have amassed a considerable collection of unmounted stamps, ink pads, and various other supplies, just so that I feel better about spending 459828745927 hours carving stamps
Although I am historically more traditional in my artwork (drawing, painting, etc), stamping has become my passion as of late =]
I had my daughter’s wedding last week & didn’t get to visit you last week. I’m from Massachusetts near Cape Cod. What brought me to stamping was going to a SU demo & taking part in a make & take & I was hooked. I already was involved in scrapbooking & stamping soon became my number 1 craft. I love the fact that you only have one small project to think about creating rather than frying your brain thinking of page upon page of book layouts. Stamping is my passion! I luv it!!!
I was invited to a Stampin Up Workshop. I hade no idea what I was getting into. Needless to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I now how 2 classes every month.
I started stamping 12 years ago when a friend of mine hosted a Stampin’ Up! party and was trying to get all of us co-workers to go. I didn’t really even know what to expect when I went, but I am so glad I did. Not only did I come to love stamps, ink and paper, but I have a very good friend in that very same Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I never expected stamping to be such a beautiful creative expression for me.
Hi; I’ve always loved colors and somehow wanted to be creative. My bridge partner at the Bridge Club kept telling me of his wife’s stamp hobby and it intrigued me so that I kept asking questions.
After a while, they invited me to go to their house and I got to see her room with all her things in it. I was facinated and decided to visit a local stamp store and got myself into a class. From there on I was hooked! I love to spend time looking at stamps, paper and craft tools.
I also love all the wonderful people I have met there.
I first was introduced to stamping through scrapbooking. I like to make my own embellishments and that was an easy way because I did not have to draw them. I could stamp and cut out or just stamp. I am slowly learning more and more about stamping and the different techniques. I have to say it has been very enjoyable and I look forward to the time when I get to practice.
It is September 2000 and my DH (Army) is in Bosnia. I had just purchased a computer program (Hallmark) to make cards and send to him. Now it is October 2000 and I get invited to a rubber stamp workshop. I go to be nice, thinking what would you do with rubber stamps? You’d use them once and not need them again. Well, then I saw and thought I could use a set to decorate his envelops (remember that computer program I purchased?) A month down the road our Family Support Group is thinking of things to send the soldiers and I open my mouth and mention hand made cards. So, after 425 cards to our soldiers I was hooked. Became a demo by April 2001.
Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us Michelle! It is so generous of you to offer up some blog candy as well!
My best school friend/buddy got me interested by asking me to take classes with her!
It was early in July 2003 and my birthday was coming up… I received an email from one of my cousins to enquire as to whether I would like a gift of some card making classes for my birthday.
I sat and considered it for a while, but as I have always viewed myself (as have my school art teachers) as sadly lacking in artistically creative talents, I said no, thank you, and hoped she would remember my discussion about wanting to learn how to quilt instead.
Well, a day or so later she (my cousin) sent me to a friend of hers who needed assistance with her computer (my job). While there I noticed a beautifully decorated packet and when I commented on it, the client said “forget about the packet – look inside at the cards”. She proceeded to show me the first set of cards she had made at the same proffered card class.
Colour me surprised when I saw the masterpieces made with rubber stamps and embossing powders and all other kinds of wizardry!
I excused myself from the client, stepped outside, and rang my cousin on her mobile phone and asked if the “gift” was still available.
That was exactly 5 years ago this month and could I be happier? I don’t think so.
I have tons of fun things to play with, wonderful friends I’ve made as a result of this hobby/addiction, from all around the world, and more importantly, I’ve learnt that I am creative and can make some really pretty things!
Thanks for letting my share!
Hi from Cape Town!
Helen
http://firenzecards.blogspot.com
Hi Michelle!
I’m from Western Pennsylvania. I started stamping when I was twelve (well over, ahem, twenty years ago). My mother’s friend gave me a rubber stamp of a teddy bear and a mustardy brown ink pad for my birthday. I’ve collected stamps and made various items with them ever since. I got into scrapbooking in 1997 and started cardmaking in earnest about six years ago after I attended a SU! workshop. Papercrafting is such a wonderful creative outlet for me, and I love creating with my friends and family, as well as creating things for them.
Thanks for sharing your tremendous talent with us here and on SCS! You’re a gem!
I used stamps and ink from when i was pretty young, but lost it for a while in the transistion to from kiddy stamps to adulthood. eventually my sister introduced me to scrapbooking, which i started doing with my wedding album (a questionable desicion, but there you go). With a few scrapping friends around me I discovered first Hero ARts and later Stampin Up, I was hooked!!
Thanks for the wondrful inspiration, Michelle. I never realised it was possible to make such artistic creations from stamps.
Gosh, let me think…… For me it was more a set of pictures. In the year 2000, me, my mother, and my then 9 yr old son set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Although we didn’t complete the 2100+ miles, we did do a third of it and I had over 200 pictures I didn’t want tucked away in a drawer. So, I took a beginner class and have been hooked ever since.
Thanks for asking! It’s fun to learn and share what gets people motivated.
Stamping was never going to be something I’d get “into”. I already had enough craft interests; I didn’t need stamping too. Well over the years that changed when I found Oriental Stamp Art website online. I loved the cards members made so I wanted to buy some! Two years have gone by now and I’m an avid cardmaker using you guess it; stamps!
I was invited to a ‘Stamping Party’ which worried me as I had no idea what it was, in fact wondered if it was some cult like group.
When I found out it was crafts I almost went into a panic attack. I haven’t a crafty bone in my body! Much to my surprise it was fun and now 3 years later I have “invested” way too much money and spent too little time doing it! I have decided I am a collector. Love your tutorials Michelle!
Twenty years ago I went along to a Stamping Evening and bought my first lot of stamps. I was mainly interested in making cards for my family and my children and their friends when they were invited to birthday parties etc. Over the years I lost interest but have now rekindled my interest when I was invited to a Scrapbooking class by a friend. Not only am I into scrapbooking in a big way but I have now renewed my love of stamping. I so love visiting your blog for inspiration – you have taught me so many new ways to use stamps – Thank you.
About 8 years ago I was invited to a StampinUp party. The last thing I needed was another craft. But I liked the girl hosting the party and looked at it as a “night out with the girls”. I bought the recipe card stamp to make some Christmas gifts….easy enough…no further committment. Well, I’ve been hooked ever since!
I was introduced to stamping at a scrapbook convention. I saw the use of stamping backgrounds or titles, but I would NEVER stamp a card – HA! 10 years later as a SU! demonstrator and I’ve made THOUSANDS of cards. I also said that I’d never buy flowers since I have boys. I own probably half of the flowers that SU! makes!!!
Thanks for your great blog!
Laura from MN
I stumbled into a stamp store with 2 friends 8 years ago — it looked interesting, so we took a beginning class. That was **IT**! We are all still stamping 8 years later!
Wendy
My friend Joyce invited me to a Stampin’ Up party. I was SOOOO amazed. My first set was “We Woosh You”1999. That year, I made our Christmas cards. I had so much fun! My daughter helped me, and together we made 40 cards. Then I hosted a party and bought more(along with my free stuff
. The next thing I knew, I had signed up to be a Demonstrator! Although I’m no longer a demo (I really do miss it!) I will forever be (hopelessly) addicted. Stamping has brought me so much peace, but more importantly, SO MANY WONDERFUL FRIENDS!
About 14 years ago, I saw a stamping demo. She was gold embossing, and I loved how it looked so elegant, but was reasonably easy to do. So I bought a set of stamps and have been addicted ever since. When I moved from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada to Nanaimo, British Columbia Canada, most of my stamping supplies came with me in the car. The insurance on shipping them with my household goods would not have covered replacements, so I decided they were safer with me in the car.
Love you tutorials….jist haven’t been brave enough yet to try one…..But soon.
Well, I was new to a town where making friends is difficult (small northern Canadian town). I was supply teaching one day at a new school and they were trying to gather items for a fundraiser in town. One of our fellow teacher’s daughter, ages 3, has cancer. In the staff room a teacher had brought in some of her cards, which she was adding to the schools basket (for chinese auction). I asked about the cards, and the lady gave me a stampin up catalog to look at. I was hooked the moment I opened it. She invited me to one of her monthly classes. I spent over a $100.00 and have been back every month since march 2006. (I think I am her best customer each month, LOL) I am now good friends with my Stampin Up Demonstrator and have meet many other people as a result. I now have my own room for stampin, and have spent $1000′s of dollars on stampin materials. And I only started this hobby 2 years ago.
From childhood, I have loved crafts. I think I have tried them all. One day I wandered into a rubber stamp store and watched the magic of embossing powder turning to raised, shiney patterns. I was hooked! Thousands of stamps later, I still love it and get much satisfaction from playing and making art.
I am from Perth Australia. I never really liked stamping much until I was invited to an open house Stampin’ Up! day and fell in love with the colours and stamps. It wasnt long before I became a demonstrator and that was nearly 2 years ago. I was a folk artist before that so love the idea of doing scenes with the stamps but havent had much time to play yet. I love to see what you do and one day will get to try some of your tutorials. I love your work. thank you for all that you do for us blog readers.
I work in a psychosocial field and find papercrafting is a fantastic outlet for many clients to share their feelings. You can make a beautiful thing with one piece of paper but with stamps you can make hundreds of beautiful pieces of paper, so the possibilities are endless. There is nothing more satisfying than communicating a feeling through a visual medium and I love that stamping encourages people to do this.
I started with scrapbooking. My husband worked for 2 months in Scotland and I joined him to tour the UK when I came home I wanted to scrap my trip so mbf taught me. I was injured and could only sleep sitting up so I had to do something in the sitting position so scrapping worked. I went to a stampin up clinic and fell in love. Now I had to retire due to the injury and still have to work in the sitting postion so guess who has all the time in the world to blog, scrap and make …retiredheather. Your blog was one of the first I joined and I still think you are the Best. You share a talent that just Wows us all. Please don`t ever stop.
as a person with a disability, i had to give up hobbies, but i still needed a creative outlet; i found i could stamp when i took a class three years ago.
What wonderful and interesting stories! I started stamping almost 20 years ago, precisely because I could not draw or paint, but I still wanted to make creative projects. The stamping then disguised my artistic inadequacies. Today, I have learned so much from other stampers and artist like you, Gina, and I am happy to say I feel very creative and find stamping to be a fantastic way to express myself and to share what I love to do with others! Thanks for all you do on this blog to help us learn to be artistic!
Jan
I had always done some crafts, knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch- there are several in the craft room waiting for my return. A coworker was doing her first SU demo at work, and I decided to go to support her. I was overwhelmed at first, but quickly became addicted! This was over 10 yrs ago, because I helped my friend Jenny stamp the programs for her wedding, and she just had her 10th anniversary! Just love it, and the cool thing is how much positive feedback you can get for something that is fairly simple, at times!
Thanks as always for all your inspiring tutorials, and also the chance to win!
I have been a paper cutting fiend for over 35 years making paper tole pictures. This is a “lost art” and many do not even know what it is. I was bord and quite lonely after moving and a bit unhappy with myself. I read about a local craft show and decided to try selling some of my pictures. The show was very small and there weren’t many shoppers, so I started wandering and talking to other venders. And there I met the sweetest person. Her passion was card making and she was kind enough to invite me to her Wednesday card making class. One visit and I was hooked. I thought, “a paper craft that I love to do and is easier to store than 8 x 10 pictures!” Well, many items later I now have a problem storing all my carding making supplies! Your work inspires me just as my first instructor did. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas you share with me and others.
In college I learned to do calligraphy, and was actually quite good at it, but had to stop when I had children (one bump of the table and your whole project is ruined!). When they got older I decided I would go back to it and start practicing my lettering again to make projects I had in my mind. But just about that time I was invited to a stamping party and that fed my need to create (and is much easier!) so I’ve been stamping ever since! Once I discovered SU!, I was crazy about it and became a demonstrator! I love your blog and visit daily! Thanks, Jackie from Buffalo, NY
I worked with a woman who was a stampin up demo several years ago and she got me interested in stamping. I had always been involved in artistic things, but this is so much fun. Thousand’s of dollars later….. I still love it!!
Thanks and I just LOVE your blog.
Lori
Lacey, Washington
I happened upon a demo of Hero Arts stamps at a local Hallmark store in about 1985 or ’86. About the same time, I was also invited to a SU party by a friend. And another friend was placing an order with a little company called ANT Transfer, so I ordered a few of those as well. At that time my daughter was in preschool and I was gravitating towards designs we could use for her party invitations, holiday tags, etc. Little did I know at that time how long my interest would last.
DeniseB
Hi
For me it was friends…what does one do without friends…wilt away
I am ever so glad that my dear friends got me started; why you ask, because now I consider myself one who does
have a creative bone in her body.
Happy stamping all.
Lynne
I started scrapbooking 8 years ago, but quickly got bored with what was out on the market, and was looking for something different for my books. I was so tired of stickers! Then, almost 5 years ago, my neighbour invited me to a Stampin’ Up party. I was so excited about it, I jumped up and down- and I don’t do that sort of thing easily! The very first set I bought was Sketch An Event. I was so impressed, I had my own show, then signed up to be a demo. That was the start of my learning curve! I was able to find out an incredible amount of knowledge through the generosity of stampers like yourself, Michelle. What a great community- everyone is always willing to give a hand up and share. I’m now expanding my artistic horizons to areas I never thought I’d be going- like colouring Thomas Kinkade stamps, and trying out so many new techniques! AND my scrapbooks have improved 110%- I’ll be happy to leave these as my journal-in-pictures to my children’s children and beyond!
I have been a scrapbooker along with my aunt for about 15 years now. A couple of years ago my aunt convinced me to make my own cards….so I considered it a smaller version of scrapbooking. I enjoyed it more as time went by I picked up a few stamps like the big lettering for my scrap pages. My aunt would come to visit me and we would go shopping. I think I spent about $200 in stamping supplies at local crafts store each time she came. She showed me some tricks and how to use them in my cards. I AM HOOKED! But the best part is I found you!!! I use to oil paint many years…all scenery painting. Oh Michelle, you have brought out the artistic passion I once had for oils but now transferred to stamp pads. I am back to creating scenery but using sponges and stamp pads. Right now I am watching you close as you teach me techniques….but soon I will go off and mine and use my creative mind once again. thank you so much!!
Whoa…. you have a lot of comments to read! What brought me to stamping was an invitation to a Stampin’ Up workshop at my neighbor’s house… and I was hooked!
I think the year was 2002… next thing I know, I’m signed up to be a deomnstrator. Well that lasted a year and I dropped out but continued to stamp. In 2007 I once again signed up as a demo and here I am… trying to support my habit!
I started stamping when my oldest daughter invited me to a SU party at her house. I was reeled in hook, line and sinker that night approx 4 years ago! I ordered $350 dollars that night! Well I couldn’t pass up get a free stamp set with each $50 spent and after all my daughter was earning lots of nice things from my order! I turned her old bedroom into my craft room and I have already out grown that room. : )
My freind was retiring and worried she’d be bored, so we signed up for a class at a lss and the rest is history. Gradually all my other crafts have gone by the wayside and stamping and paper crafts have taken over.
I was invited to a Stampin’ Up! workshop through a friend in the fall of 2004 and was hooked with my first card. We used my favorite fall set, Fall Whimsy, and embossed in gold. Loved it! That was a Friday night, so the next day I was off to Joann Fabrics & Crafts to buy a VersaMark pad, a heat tool, and gold, silver and copper embossing powders because I just couldn’t wait to order them (although I did order my first SU! stamp set, Frosty, and some other things that evening). Love your blog and the creativity you share with us!
Like a majority of people, my first stamping experience was through a Stampin’ Up party. I had a friend at the school I worked at whose wife started demonstrating and he asked me if I would have a party with friends at school to help her out. I said, “I will do it for you because you all are my friends, BUT I am not crafty will not do that stuff.” She now jokes that she created a monster – a stamp-collecting monster, no less! LOL
Hi Michelle, I was into scrapbooking pretty heavy and had decided I wanted to add some stamping to some of my pages… A friend was having a SU party so I went. Next thing I know I’m hooked and am having my own party… I am now a TAC Demonstrator and have a group of girls that meet once a month… I LUV it!!!!
Hi Michelle,
You are amazingly talented. I am truly awe stuck with what you can do with ink and stamps. I have been trying for some time to create “scenes” with stamps but never with your success. The depth of color and light that you achieve is stunning.
Thank you for sharing your creations.
Lynn
My niece was a demonstrator of DOTS many years ago and she got me into it. At that time I bought lots to support her, but never really go the hang of stamping. My stock was actually used more in my 3rd grade classroom by my studnets than by me..LOL
Just this past fall, I attended a SU Workshop locally and I cannot get enough of stamping.
I am a CM Consultant and scrappin’ and stampin’ seem to go hand in hand and the fit is right for me now..Enjoy both..but stampin has kept me busy this summer…love it and can’t get enough of it. Actually have stopped purchasing cards now and sending my own out!! HURRAY!!
I was invited to a co-worker’s Stampin’ Up party in 2001 and decided to go with no intention of buying a thing. I was so hooked, I booked a show myself and ordered $500 worth of things for myself to get started and then it just blossomed from there to TAC parties, and then online purchases, etc. I seriously have so many stamps but always want more. it is an addiction from which I want no cure! LOL Kathy Eddy
I went to my neighbor’s Stampin’ Up party. She wasn’t going to invite me because she knew I didn’t like to scrapbook. I fell in love with stamping but use it for cards…still don’t like scrapbooking!
My sister and I live far apart but we often would do crafting when we would get together. We tried stamping but I didn’t have very good results, so I lost interest and gave her my stamps. Several years later, I went to stay with her when she was very ill due to chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer. After she came home from the hospital, she was concerned that I wasn’t having any fun during my visit so she suggested we do some stamping. When I headed back home, she sent me with several copies of The Rubber Stamper and I was hooked. That was 7 years ago. She’s doing great and we’re both still stamping!
I was invited to a SU party by some of my friends, I thought ok might as well see what all the raving is about. Needless to say I loved it, and have been stamping ever since. I have a large room in my basement where I stamp.I have been stamping and playing around with stamps and inks for over 15 years. You have helped me so much, I understand stamping a scene so much more now after seeing your tutorials. Thanks Michelle.
Evelynn~
My name is Corrina. I was raised in Northern Wisconsin, where I met my wonderful Husband Paul. (He truly is my Hero of life) He shows me every day what unconditional LOVE is. He doesn’t expect me to be a size 0 or a size 9. He loves me for who I am not what society thinks I should be. The unconditional love has lead us to CELEBRATE our 25th Wedding Anniversary on October 23, 2007. We now make our home in Virginia Beach but we have also lived in California for 12 years, Our greatest blessings we have received are our two wonderful children, Jason who is 23 and serving his country in the USMC, and Sarah who is 15 and a very loving daughter and just a joy to life. Our Son Jason has a beautiful Wife “Chrissi” and they have two beautiful daughters Hannah who is 3 and Hailey who is 2, each one of them are a gift from god and they truly are our little angels. Our children and grandchildren are our lives. You never stop worrying about them.
Thanks
Corrina aka USMCMommer
A friend invited me a stampin up party and that was a love story for me.
I have a huge room stampin and craftyroom. I tell my husband if he builts me a bathroom down here he will never see me upstairs.
I love trying new things and appreiciate when someone tells me or shows me new things.
I was introduced to stamping about 11 years ago when my Sister-in-law had a D.O.T.S. party(which is now Close to my Heart). I felt obligated to buy something so I bought 1 stamp set and a red and black ink pad. I played with it for a while and then life just got busy for me and I didn’t think about it again for about 2 more years. My husband brought home a scrapbbook mag. for me and said why don’t you do something like this with our pictures?(To this day I’m sure he regrets that!) A few months later, I was introduced by a mutual friend to a Stampin Up demonstrater, who happened to live two blocks from me. We hit it off, became super good friends and I was hooked!
Hi Michelle,
I have actually been stamping for more than 20 years, but gave it up until approximately 5 years ago because there wasn’t much product selection available nor did I have access to lots of creativity, like what is available through your blog. Then a friend gave me a birthday card she stamped that I loved and I was hooked. Hooked? I’m obsessed! I want to stamp all the time!
Thanks for keeping me inspired! And good luck in California next week.
Melanie
Hello Michelle! My daughter invited me to a Stampin Up workshop that her girlfriend had signed up as a rep for. About that same time, my best friend hooked up with a demonstrator through Close to My Heart……When we compared notes, it was like a new dimension opened itself to us. We became stampin pals as well as best friends. Now I am a hobby demo for SU and my daughter’s friend comes to my monthly stamp club meetings. We have a blast. I wanted to own a card shop when I was first out of highschool, and although my talents pale next to yours, I guess in a sense I have accomplished my goal. I own my own small cardshop.
Greetings from Virginia. First of all, I’d like to say that your cards WOW! me.
A couple of years ago a first asked me a come as a guest to her Stampin Up group when it was her turn to be hostesss…I was hooked. At first I resisted embracing another craft because my limited free time was spent quilting and knitting, but my “inner child” loves to cut, color, glue, glitter and create.
Hi, Haiing from Broken Arrow,OK, was a scrapbooker way back and one of my co-workers was a SU demonstrator. She constantly showed me products I good use not only for cardmaking but for scrapbooking also. She finally talked me into going to a SU party where we actually went home with our hand stamped creations. Still stamping 4 years later. Love your work and it has convinced me to stretch my creative juices. Have taken oil and acrylic painting classes years ago, now I think I’ll try a water color class. Love, love your work, thank you for sharing it with all of us.
In the winter I am lucky enough to reside in a new Senior Residence park in Florida called Tanglewood. There are all kinds of activities there, and one Friday I went to the card making class. Well, I was hooked. I think you either are addicted to this hobby, or you don’t go for it, and I am certainly addicted. I used to have money for clothes. Now I just want to buy stamps. I hope one of my daughters someday takes an interest because they will certainly inherit a bunch of stuff.
I am sure you won’t get round to reading all these replies – wow, nearly 400 at last count!
Anyway, I actually hated stamps when I first discovered them (about 12 years ago). Couldn’t see what the fuss was all about. I was like you – preferred to draw and colour my own images (I am a painter too – folk art mainly). My very first stamp was a bunny rabbit, and I used it to stamp onto stickers for the backs of my folk art I was selling at the time.
Fast forward 6 years and I moved to Sydney from Canberra, where I knew no-one. My best friend introduced me to her SIL, who was a stamper. I went to some of her classes, met some of her friends, who are now also my closest friends and stampers too, and I have never looked back.
It is safe to say that I am now a stamping junkie!! I love all kinds of stamps (rubber, foam, acrylic, cheap and junk, expensive and top quality). I would not dare to count my stamps, cos its too scary to think of the value of the stuff I own!!!
Funny to think I went from really not “getting” stamping to totally loving it lol!
Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on my own humble beginnings!!
Deanne
xx
I started stamping about five years ago when I attended a stamp camp put on by a pair of demos at my job. I was hooked immediately!!! I now work as a parapro for one of the demos in same school. My son thought the principal was nuts when he put the two of us in the same classroom! LOL!! Thought we’d have the whole 8th grade hallway stamped within the first semester we were teamed up!
Let me start by saying how much it means to me (us) to be asked. I know that I am relatively new to the world of papercrafting and you have been a huge inspiration.
I got started in papercrafting after a 15 year break from the creative world (I used to manage a Cloth World and sew up a storm. Then stopped for my career. Now, I am a newly single (again) mom and needed to find a creative outlet that was just for me!!! i joined a stamp club with a friend and started blog-surfing. Not brave enough to stick my own neck out yet. but loving every minute!!!
About 5 years ago a couple from the east coast was flying out here to the west coast for the husband to dance a weekend of challenge-square dancing, my hubby was also dancing that weekend, but not me at that level. This man’s wife and I became friends as we hit it off well when we had flown out to the east coast for dances … the guys danced, we gallivanted about the countryside. Before getting out here, my friend had called around and found a stamp store that still had some openings in some classes that Saturday, so she signed us both up. Neither of us had rubber stamped before! I was hopelessly hooked and the rest is now history! I had always loved doing artsy-crafty things but after having 2 sons never had the time between raising children and/or working. I have found stamping cards to be a very satisfying outlet because I can start and finish most projects within an evening’s time.
I still love to learn new techniques and tricks with stamping. I can hardly wait to meet you, Michelle, when you come to San Jose, CA to teach us some of your ‘how-so’ techniques!
I feel ancient but I started stamping before it was even a big craft – it was very hard to even find a variety of rubber stamps. I became a SU demonstrator about 10 years ago just to get a discount on products. I had friends ask me to start having workshops and it all took off from there. Everyone now teases me because I now have my own little “stamp store” in my craft room. It is always exciting to try out new products and learn new techniques. I used to subscribe to lots of magazines but now it is so much better to read blogs, such as yours, and learn new techniques. There are so many very talented stampers out there and it makes every day exciting seeing what others are doing.
I got into stamping by attending an SU party – sound familiar anyone?? LOL That was over 12 years ago and I’ve come a long way, baby!!
My story is quite simple. In order to cut cost at my wedding 6 years ago, I made my own wedding invitations. They were simple, the wording printed on velum attached to purple cardstock with ribbon and a stamped image of double hearts embossed. And now I have a closet overstuffed with rubber stamps and everything else that goes with it
I was doing scrapbooking for several years and then had a friend/demo introduce me to stamping. Actually, at first, I still thought it looked much to hard but one day agreed to go to a stamping class and viola’ now I’m addicted
Thanks for the great blog candy!
My journey began with a calligraphy class. Then I wanted to show off my new skill so I bought a rubber stamp that said to/from, a ink pad, embossing powder and a heat gun. I now have 2 Iris carts full of stamps, 10 8×10 trays of stamps and a large number of UM stamps. In the beginning I thought I’d only need a black ink pad. Now I have a few drawers full of ink pads. I have taken classes, and even done some demonstrations myself.
I have met so many wonderful people that I never would have met if I hadn’t began this journey in to the art world.
Thank you for the inspiration. It’s appreciated!
Alyce
Before I joined the world of rubber stamping, I was into scrapbooking. I had the idea that I would buy a “few” rubber stamps to use on some of my sb pages…………well, you can see where this story is going!!! I haven’t scrapbooked in 4 years……I guess I like the instant gratification that I get from making a card……….I can see a finished product much quicker!!
My first experience with stamping was about a year and a half ago when a friend of mine from work asked me if I wanted to come to her house to visit with her stamping friends. They were going to do something with shaving cream and ink and since I’m a crafter at heart, I said sure. I’ve bought lots of stamp sets since then and actually make stuff with my stamps. I generally tell people I collect craft stuff more than I actually make stuff with my craft supplies.
Your cards are beautiful and I appreciate the extra effort you go through to share the exact how of the process.
Hi from Ontario, Canada.
4 Reasons I am hooked on stamping. 1.Judy J, now one of the turbo design team members at Technique Junkies kept showing me this craft. 2.It fit with my scrapbooking, but she lived far away. 3.Another friend invited me to a SU workshop. I ordered one set and and was off and running! 4.The blogs and groups have taught me so much, and continue to inspire me.
About 3 years ago my friend Michelle would make cards for our women’s ministry group and bring out all kinds of stamps to create them. I was interested but was just getting my feet wet with scrapbooking. Then a new neighbor put a Stampin Up! newsletter in my daughter’s candy bag during a Halloween outing. I gave her a call and attended a few card making camps. Thanks for the chance to win the blog candy and for investing so much of your time in this site.
Hey Michelle,
I was a scrapbooker who bought some alphabet stamps for some titles. Slowly as I was at crops I’d occasionally do some make and takes that included stamps. I think the thing that really tipped me over the edge was one of the internet groups I am in started to do card swaps and my creativity took off and so did the need to have more stamps
Subscribing to your blog you have shown me that with your stamps and inks you can create a work of art.
About 3 years before I retired from teaching, I attended SU parties, bought about $40 worth of product and never did a thing with it. One year, two friends helped me finish Christmas cards that I had started the previous year. I just wasn’t that interested! A couple of years later, I started stamping in earnest….and I found Ebay! I wrote a lot of money orders that year! Although it took me a while to discover that Ebay is NOT the best place to find stamps, I learned much about what is out there. I spent a year with Dream Impressions, which lasted as a home-party business for about two years….and then I got back to doing what I wanted: finding things I like all over the Web! I’m up to my ears in mounted and unmounted images now, and I have a stash of paper and cardstock that just won’t quit! I dabble in other paper and mixed media, and love it all. Having retired 6 years ago, I have time to do just about what I want to. (Oh, I live in NE Oregon….a small, relatively isolated rural area. The internet keeps me connected.) And I love blogs like yours that inspire me daily!
Evelyn in Oregon
Early 90′s I was on Prodigy internet service, I found a board that said RStamping in the crafts, didn’t know what it meant, so as I read I became interested. I met a girl through the craft section, she gave a RubberStampMadness magazine, I think that was all it took……. I still have the magazine.. boy, have things changed in 18 years……..thanks for a chance to win some goodies…..
First let me say I love your work….it’s just fabulous and so easy to follow. Thanks for that.
I used to learn a new craft every year and make Christmas Presents. I bumped into a lady in the stamp aise of a Hobby Lobby and saw a card she had created for her parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. I was stunned at it’s beauty. I asked where she learned to do that and she gave me her Demonstrators number…..I booked a party and just fell in love with this art.
We moved I missed it….we moved again and I missed it more. I signed up and have been Stamping and Demonstrating ever since. That was almost five years ago!
I have met so many wonderful people sharing this art form….stampers are the BEST!
That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!
An avid cross-stitcher/knitter I very reluctantly went to a neighbour’s ‘Craft Party’. I was instantly intrigued by the papercrafts demonstrated and spent far more than I expected (sound familiar?). A visit to the local Craft store for extra supplies introduced me to STAMPS!! And the rest, as they say, is history
DH is still coming to terms with just how much ‘stuff’ I NEED and how often lol!
I moved a year ago from New Orleans to California to take care of my mother-n-law who has Alzheimer’s. I just started to make ATC’s and basic cards with her. I started going to scrapbook stores looking for card kits and stamps while doing this I met other artist who have shown me a whole new world of stamping. Thanks to them I don’t think I would be that interested in stamping, but now I have a new love for stamping and great new friends.
My daughter brought me to stamping. She became interested through her friends. She sent me wonderful cards. I was enchanted. I wanted to learn how. Now it’s something we can share. We live far apart and I miss her. When we get a chance to talk it’s about cards, colour, atc’s paints, paper, etc. Now my little granddaughter is becoming interested and it’s wonderful when the three of us can be together creating together, sparking ideas off each other. There’s nothing better. I was so glad when she told me she loves your blog as much as I do. – Nimmy
My neighbor introduced me to stamping. I enjoy crafts and had done some quilting but like you stamping provided an end product that I could share with others in much less time.
What wonderful stories!
I’m from Kitchener Ontario Canada
When my children were young I would sew for them. Then I started crocheting. Then my sister in law started cross stitching so I went through that phase for a while. My DD thought scrapbooking would be fun but I didn’t think that I should do that I didn’t “need” another hobby! But just a few trips with her and paper is just as much fun to buy as fabric is!! And I was biten by the “bug”. Card making is my choice activity and what a wonderful way to brighten someone else’s day!!
Thanks so much for sharing all your tutorials. I have leaned so much
Beth
Hi Michelle, I wondered into a stamp store many years ago and thought how fun is this! started talking to the owner and she was looking for some part time help. I told her I was interested, she hired me – totally aware I had no expirence in stamps. and well, the rest is history!
thanks for the great blog!!!!
Lorene
Michelle – I do love your blog! I come here whenever I can. I live in Quakertown, PA which is an hour north of Philadelphia. I started stamping when I found this stamp store and wandered in. I was hooked instantly and use my stamps to make cards for my rather large family. I’ve been making them for about 3 years now. I often didn’t like the cards in the store. My family loves it because their cards are personalized with their name and often things about them. It takes me about 2 hours to make each card. Except for Michael’s, there are no stamp stores near me, so I’m so excited when I find things online.
Your work is really amazing and I love looking thru everything on your blog.
Thank you for all you do.
I bought my first stamp from a co-worker about 12 years ago at a D.O.T.S. party. About 5 years later, I went to a SU party with a neighbor,and have been hooked ever since. I got BOTH of my sisters into stamping, and they have also gotten into MONDO scrapbooking! Yes, we have an addictive obsession for a hobby…and I wouldn’t change a thing!!
I just love your blog and all of the wonderful tuts you post for us novices…just gorgeous. Thank you so much!
Hi…Rockin Robin from Kenosha, WI. What brought me to stamping, almost 4 years ago, was restlessness. I have always been “artistic” (no, not autistic, although some people would argue that a bit). I have moved from craft to craft, and medium to medium. Stained glass, fabric arts, sewing, crocheting, knitting, some really bad painting, beading, etc. I was restless in my artistic expression, but had no idea what I wanted to try. Someone from my work had posted a flyer about a “stamping party”. I had no clue what it was, and thought: OMG, what’s so fun about inking a stamp and pressing it to paper? But, I was curious and went, thoroughly expecting to not be impressed. Well, long story short….I was hooked!!! The “party” was for the Angel Company, and I spent over $250.00!! I plan to continue stamping until I am old and gray, or just plain can’t do it anymore. It is my passion, and maybe, some day…I’ll be “good” at it!!! Wish me luck at the blog candy. Hisses, Rockin Robin Caldwell
Great question Michelle! I was shopping in Toronto, Ontario Canada (I live near Hamilton, Ontario). I was in a neat area by the Harbourfront called Queens Qauy. It is filled with beautiful specialty shops (my favourite). I have always been interested in crafting. I learned to knit and crochet when I was 9 years old. I still love it to this day. Anyway, I stumbled across a store called Great Impressions. They sold rubber stamps. The gentleman in the store showed me heat embossing. SOLD! I walked out of the store with a bunch of supplies and the rest is history. That was approximately 12 years ago. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us all.
Michelle,
when I came from Hong Kong, 12 years ago, (to Canada) I know nothing about stamping at all.
It is only the about 5 years ago, I happened to come across rubberstamping,
I cannot recall when is my first stamp I brought, but I was totally shock when I found the Splitcoaststampers’s website, that I really am crazy with this hobby.
Edna
Well… My husband is in the Navy in WA state and he worked with another sailor whose wife is a Stampin Up demonstrator. They are both artists in their spare time (pen, pencil, comic book art, stimpling, etc)and fun to be around. We started hanging around them as we all had little kids and loved Lord of the Rings (geeky I know, didnt I mention the comic book stuff already?). She suggested I come to one of her workshops. “oh no, I am not a scapbooker, I like my photos on black background with no adornment and my hobby of choice is spinning/knitting and wool stuff” I replied. Then she told me their would be cookies…. So I went and thoroughly enjoyed myself. And that night had spent $80 on paper, ink and a couple of sets of stamps before I left. Have only been doing this about 4 years and kind of sporadically but really love the process when I can find the time. I also love the response from card receipients…
I got into stamping many, many years ago. In the late 1970′s and early 1980′s I heard about a company named D.O.T.S. I purchased some stamps and got involved with stamping and making some cards. Due to the birth of my youngest child, and the many complication with her birth I had to put the stamping aside. I finally came bac to stamping and scrapping in the late 1990′s.
A chronic headache brought me to stamping-I’ve had a headache 24/7 for over 3 1/2 years…two years ago when I finally came to terms with “it” being chronic, I decided to take the plunge and become a Stampin’ Up! demo (hobby primarily) and signed up under my youngest sister who’s been a demo for five years-she’d been “working on me” since she started, but fear of becoming a “collector” kept me from taking the plunge! Well, two years later I have a room dedicated to being my studio, and lots of “stuff” to help keep my mind off the pain…I LOVE creating, and stamping is so relaxing for me–a great diversion to the pain. I love the art, but an unexpected blessing has been the people I’ve met through my new hobby-I’ve especially come to love the community of paper artists!
My bff had a SU party and reluctantly I went. I was into scrapbooking at the time, and when we would get together, she would stamp and I would scrap. She became a SU demo, but never took it to her potential and quit. I was the one who got really hooked and became a demo who is hooked on SCS and all these blogs! Love your work and thanks for offering the blog candy!
Hi Michelle,
In 2002, when I was pregnant with our first daughter, a couple of friends had a surprise birthday party for me. One of them gave me a beautifu scrapbook album filled with papers and embellishments. I really didn’t think I would use it. I had never scrapbooked before. But when my daughter passed away at birth, I used the supplies and started scrapbooking to make a memorial album for her. At that point I was hooked on scrapbooking. Two years later the same friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up! party and I was hooked immediately. So much so I became a demonstator. Now I like to use stamping on all my scrapbooking pages and everything else. I’m addicted.
I was in Japan 16 years ago for my son’s wedding in Tokyo and found that the local department store in Habari Gakaoka, was having a demonstration of what was new to me – “stamping.” The young lady demonstrator, knew very little about it also, but was demonstrating to the best of her ability and using a small toaster oven to melt the embossing powder. I did find however, that there were some small 1 inch Christmas stamps for sale made by Kodomo No Kao, now Kodomo, which I bought and am using to this day – Holly & Snowflakes. My daughter who was travelling in America and coming on to Japan for the wedding, had seen a very good demonstration of stamping in her American travels, and had bought stamps, embossing pads and a selection of embossing powders – very bright primary colours and gold. She was very enthusiastic, and as soon as the wedding was over I took her for another demonstration at the local department store. The end result was that we both returned home to Australia full of enthusiasm for stamping, and have been enjoying stamping and card making ever since. I do however, cringe now, when I see some of our earlier efforts, which we were so proud of. Both the art of stamping and our ability has come a long way in 16 years!
Beverly
Hi Michelle,
I have been a bookkeeper licensed tax consultant most of my life. When my husband retired from the Air Force I opened my own practice. In 1993 I retired and was able to spend time playing with my paints and sewing. In 1998 a friends daughter introduced me to stamping. I immediately found I loved it and Istamped more and more it was my new passion.
My husband had some serious health challenges and I stopped stamping to care for him. After being out of stamping for 2 years and the death of my beloved husband in January 2008 2 of my friends said come on you need to start stamping again.
I feel I have started stamping twice and I find it relaxes me and helps me cope with each day as it comes to me.
I appreciate all the time you spend to inspire not only me but all of us. Thank you!
Karen
I got started stamping with my daughter – a lady we worked with gave card classes once a month at her house – after not I was hook – making cards has always been passion for me so this just added to my passio – absoluely love love your work – keep the inspiration up – I only dream of being as good as you are – thank you so much for this inspiration
I started stamping when my SIL invited me to her SU! party. I’ve been hooked ever since. I loved the idea of not only homemade cards, but other homemade goodies as well. I now have my little girls stamping. It’s easy, fun and creative. They are always so proud of their creations. Thank you Michelle for showing me a whole new level of stamping. You make it look so easy, and your tutorials are so well written that even the most unartistic person can turn out a masterpiece! Bravo!
Gosh I would have to say that was 12 years ago already maybe. My sister was invited to a SU party and she asked me to come along, I asked her what that was and she told me rubber stamping. I told her only kids do that! To my surprised I enjoyed it and bought a stamp set that night , but didn’t really use it much until a few years later I was invited to another one and seen they had went to all wood stamps. My first was foam and I really didn’t care for them. I started to stamp then and a few years later became a demo and sold stamps for 6 years then quit. I still stamp I just no longer sell them. My sisters and I get together sometimes and stamp and scrapbook. But stamping has really become therapy for me as I have depression and it really helps to cheer me up.
Angel hugs
Debby
Hi there Michelle! I am from the Portland, Oregon area and have lived here the majority of my life, having ventured to the Southern US for a while when I was younger. You are a FABULOUS artist and huge inspiration to me. I have been a pencil/charcole/remedial colord pencil drawer for many years but never pursured it much, primarily because I worked outside the home and just never made time for myself. Fastforward 25 years to April 2007, when my friend asked to to a Stampin’ Up workshop and since then I have become a stamping fool. I love it as I have never loved any creative process and I have never been a “craft” person as I would have previously defined it. But I realized I could use my modest artistic abilities to create cards and other paper crafts. Thank you so much for all the time and love you invest in each piece of your work. I am so appreciative of each portrait.
I first got into scrapbooking. Then I made a new friend who was scrapbooking but had stamped in the past. I had bought a few stamps and pads but had not really used them. My friend kept drifting toward stamping more things and I became interested. Now I am “collecting” stamps and pads and am getting better at stamping! I have even tried one of your techniques! I love your work. You rock!
Hi Michelle. My friend, Leslie, was sending me cards regularly while I was ill. It was over many months that I received these interesting cards that looked handmade. I spoke to her about it and she shared the idea of stamping with me. As I was recovering family and friends wanted me to have something to do with myself all day. So I went to a Stampin’ Up party at Leslie’s house and I’m sure I bought something, but I have no clue what. At any rate, I had a very steep learning curve and a steeper spending curve.
Hi Michelle, I am Daniela from the North of Germany. I like your artwork very much, especially how you “play” with the colors. I started rubber stamping in 1998 when I was an Au Pair in Los Gatos, CA. I went into a rubber stamp store and saw all the great handmade cards. I asked the sales lady about making them. She invited me to a basic-class the same weekend: There I embossed the first time and was blown away from the great effect. After the workshop I bought my first rubber stamp in the store and I never really got the stamping virus off of me
)
Take care and thanx for sharing your great techniques. Yours Daniela
I can’t believe that I’ve stamping for 14+ years! My discovery began in July 1994 with my move from Los Angeles Ca to Highland Heights KY. I began working on a letter to my family and friends as how the move went, life in Northern KY and working in Cincinnati. I wanted my newsletter to be more than a letter but a memory for myself, my family and my friends. I began looking for ways to decorate my paper and I didn’t want to use clip art. I searched the internet which was pretty new then, and found D.O.T.S – (Dozens of Terrific Dots)( now called CTMH – Close to My Heart)). After purchasing my first bear and paw stamp set and spending about $500 in 3 months, I was hooked. When I move back home to Los Angeles in 1997, I found that stamping was on the rise in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. 1999, Carson CA had the first Rubber Stamp Convention which is now twice a year and it’s an event that I try not to miss. I love crafts and dabble in various forms from Quilting to painting to stamping –card making and scrapbooking, wood crafts and yarn crafts. The internet has been a wonderful tool …. it led me to you , Michelle!
I got to stamping, when I was curious about scrapbooking. I have made jewellery for a year of 5 and wanted something else to do with my creative brain.
So when I surfed on internet, I loved the scrapping things. And bought my first things to scrap with, and my first stamping set was an abc stamping set. But that was not enough, I found out later on. So during a year I got more stamps and are a bit addicted to it. I love to stamp and make cards with it, of use them on my scrapbook layouts. And I love te do so many different things with one stamp.
I really love your site, and keep being amazed of how wonderfull things you make! You really inspire me
Actually, my beginning, was 7 years ago, my boss introduced me to my very first SU experience…………since then, I own over 1000 sets, mostly retired of course………..also, I own way too many wood mounted and acrylic ones as well……….I have four avenues to sell my cards and may have a 6th, by end of summer, arggghhh, that makes my pleasure stamping more like a job! I love your site and I love your work, great job!
My mom and I were invited to a SU party back in 1999. I loved making the projects and got instantly hooked. Unfortunately, I only had one set and a set of chalks and could not afford to get more at the time. I made so many cards with just that one set, I still have it just as a momento. I really started stacking up when I moved to Guam in 2003 and one of my neighbors was a SU demonstrator. After 2 years of learning more, I decided to take the plunge when I moved and became a SU demostrator myself. I also use many ideas and project with my teaching as well. Stamping and scrapbooking is actually very theraputic for me, it is a stress release so my husband does not complain either. Rhonda
I tole painted on and off for over 20 years. When I first saw stamping I just could not understand what was the attraction. I went to a stamping store close to the tole painting store and looked around for at least an hour and was pretty impressed, but, still not convinced. I still could not see how any body could get any pleasure doing this. About 12 years ago a very insistent co-worker invited me to a stampin’ up party. I enjoyed it and bought some stamps. I still did not stamp unless my friend invited me to her home. I bought several sets and inks and all the stuff but, still no stamping. I did do some holiday cards once in awhile. I went to stamping conventions. About 3 years ago I went to a stamping store near my job and they offered a get together to learn new techniques every Wed. afternoon. I joined in. The classes stoped but then I found a Stampin’ up demonstrator close by. I stamp once in awhile. I met someone through the Stampin’up sell and trade website and we did some ATC exchanges but then I sort of got sick and I had to stop. Right now I primarily lurk stamping sites and blogs and read stamping magazines.
I love your work!
Thanks,
Alex in E. Mesa Arizona
I attended a Scrapbooking and Stamping fair at Morphettville Racecourse, South Australia back in February 2008. You could pay $7 to do a class on (I didn’t know at the time) stamping. Alisa Tilsner (Stampin Up) from Port Lincoln was teaching. Anyway it was the first time I had ever stamped and I thoroughly enjoyed it and made a lovely card. I had never heard of Stampin Up before so she gave me a catalogue to look through, which I took home and showed to my friends, and then emailed her with a fairly substantial order. I have not looked back and look forward to the day when I can join Stampin Up myself.
PS I love your work, Michelle. What a fabulous inspiration you are to me.
My big sister sent me a beginners set of stamping items in the late 90′s!! I had no idea what it was for, so when I visited her she showed me and from there the hooked status began. I started buying a few stamps here and there, and embossing powder etc. There’s now a group of us ladies that get together at my house every now and again and stamp and chat and stamp some more, so it’s quite a social thing to do as well. A lot of heart is shared with each other and much fellowship is had around the table, so we all benefit greatly with the stamping. P.S. I really enjoy the different ideas you share with us. Thanks – Luv Sharon from South Africa
I ever was interested in crafting. Since 2004 I meet friends from the www to do handicrafts together. In september 2004 I had the chance to try some Housemouse and Penny Black Stamps. This was the beginning of my stamping carreer
I love your stamping art!
Greets from Germany
Hi. Like you I hadn’t really done any stamping and went to a friends house for a workshop. I have been hooked ever since. I love it. I have meet so many new friends because of it. Thanks.
Pam
Hi Michelle, I got started stamping when my daughter gave me a stamp set and ink pads. At the time she was working for Rubber Stampede and got hooked herself. I had never even heard of rubber stamps, but it didn’t take long for me to become addicted. Now, at least 10 years later, I currently own over 350 SU sets and many single stamps from other companies. The obsession does not seem to be going away either. So I blame my DD for all of this and love her all the more. I have been making cards for all these years and just recently uploaded a few cards to my SCS gallery with more to come soon.
Betty Sue
I started card making about 2 years ago and I am still giving baby steds, I was looking for a hobby, I moved from Brazil to Netherlands 5 years ago, love reasons, my husband is dutch, now we have 2 children, is not easy to live far from familie and friends and that is why I started , was a big change in my life. so now when I need some time alone, I do my cards (I would like to e able to do more, but with 2 kids (4 and 1 yo ) is not easy.
Hi Michelle, ‘Flu’ brought me to stamping! About 6 years ago, I was lying in bed unable to do anything except watch TV and I tuned into QVC Shopping Channel and there was a craft session showing. I was immediately fascinated and ordered some stamps and other supplies. The rest, as they say, is history and I wouldn’t like to count how many stamps I now have. Sometimes, with work commitments, I feel as though I may be more of a rubber stamp collector than a rubber stamp artist but I won’t work for ever and then there’ll be some time to play every day.
I live in West Yorkshire in the UK (that’s in the North of our little island for those who are not familiar) and rubber stamping is certainly going strong here. SU is now launched here also but there’s not a demonstrator in my area.
Diane
I got started in stamping when I visited a local gift shop. They had a small section of rubber stamps and it was around Christmas time. They were doing make ‘n takes for Christmas cards at the time. That little make ‘n take was all it took to get me hooked. It was 1995 when I started and have now amassed over 10,000 of those great gems in my collection! LOL!!
Julie Frokjer
stamp202@comcast.net
Hi Michelle, my MIL who is a passionate crafter started me stamping. She gave me some rubberstamps as a gift when I became a SAHM and started doing paperarts…
and I love the depth you create in your art 
next was discovering a cardmaking magazine which presented JudiKins stamps and surfing the net for stamp and collage art. I live near Hamburg in Germany
Sabine
I live in Southeast Texas. I first was a scrapbooker after I adopted my daughter. Then I began to use stamps on the pages. Now I rarely scrapbook, but I stamp a lot. I love being able to send someone something I made. I tell myself I’m saving money by not buying cards, but I don’t really believe that. LOL. I love the way you use color and shading on your cards. I hope by seeing your card making process, my cards will be better. Thanks for sharing your art with all of us.
Kim M
Wow….a wonderfull Blog.
I´m Pingubella from Germany.
I startet Cardmaking and stamping 4 Jears ago.
I love your stamping Art.
Nice Day
Greetings from Pingubella
I truly tried not to get into stamping…I’m one of those obsessive people who has to have it all, so I did not want to have something else to buy. I am a scrapbooker and my craft room is full of all the goodies I just had to have. But all my friends stamp and my SU demonstrator is so talented she eventually got me hooked. And then I went to work at a stamp store and discovered all those other manufacturers! It’s been downhill ever since…I have hundreds of stamps and ink pads of every type and brand. I think Brilliance is still my favorite, since it is great for stamping and scrapbooking. I found your blog through Split Coast about six months ago and was amazed at how much more I could get out of my stamps. I’m afraid I will never get to your level as I don’t have an artist’s eye for detail, but my work is so much better since I have been reading your tutorials. I can’t thank you enough.
I started scrapbooking years ago, when my son was about 2. It was an escape for a busy mom. I introduced my good friend to papercrafting, who in return introduced to stamping and your website. I do more in papercrafts, such as mini-scrapbooks, and she does cards- beautiful inspirational cards like yours.
I started stamping in 1982 when I first saw a PSX sample in a gift shop. Thes rest is history and you, Michelle have added a whole new demension to stamping and look forward to each days contribution. Carol from Maine
Like you, I kind of evolved into rubber stamping. A life-long crafter, sewer, painter, my daughter introduced me to scrapbooking about 8 years ago. Wow, paper crafting is fun. In the past, when my fingers got itchy to decorate something, I would do a room makeover. It’s a lot less expensive to do a scrapbook layout rather than a room makeover. Then I started dabbling in paints and inks for papers which led me to rubber stamping. Now, I could open my own store with the number of stamps, papers, inks, paints, embellisments, etc. that I own. Funny thing is, as new stamps and papers are released, I want more. Please, please pick me!!!!
My sister and I started stamping around 1985 at a woman’s shop in the loft of a barn! My sister was invited to a Stampin’ up party and she got me hooked. My sister is the reason I am a Stampin’ Up demonstrator today. Mom always made homemade gifts for everyone and I am the same way. I love to make and receive homemade gifts. I love creating and Michelle you have given me a whole new road to go down!
I got my start in stamping just about a year ago when my good friend took me with her to a Stampin’ Up workshop/party. I had never done anything like it before and I told her I certainly didn’t need another obsessive, expensive hobby since I was already heavily into beading and jewelry making. I didn’t buy anything at that party, but went a little crazy after that. It started with “I’ll just buy a few things and make my Christmas cards this year” and now card making is a true passion.
Carla
I started stamping thanks to my Aunt. I was telling her how when I was in high school I ordered a scrapbook starter kit and it never showed up. Well for Christmas she gave me so much stuff and that’s how I started. It has turned into a giant hobby now and takes up and entire room!!
In the eighties, my neighbour’s sister was starting a stamp store. When she would come to visit my neighbour, she would always bring a vast collection of stamps. PSX mainly. She taught us to ink your stamp with Marvy Brush Markers, huff and stamp. We also knew about heat embossing and dry embossing. I never knew about stamp pads until much, much later. The stamp added to my calligraphy pieces until the middle 90′s when my girlfriend discovered stamping. Now, I have to know and master every technique that exists. I love your tutorials.
What a great relaxing hobby stamping and scrapbooking have been for me. Ellen
Hi, my name is Kati. I live in Germany near Berlin.
I love to create so many things – for my children, for the room, for gifts look here: http://www.mamapia.zweipage.de.
10 Years ago I bought my first stamps to create my weddinginvitations and after ist I made birthday cards with rubberstamps. Since having an faster computer I traveled through the www an found so many ideas to make something new, that I had no time to try it at all. I loved the rubberstamping-Ideas at most, thats why I bought one rubberstamp after the other for trying all ideas I saw and I have.
I’m very glad about so nice sites like splitcoaststampers an I have to learn so much. I love your style, an wanna to thank your for showing all the beautiful artworks step by step.
Hugs and Kisses
kati K. alias mamapia
About 14 years ago or so, My sister and I were at a flea market and in one of the buildings was a rubber stamp booth. My sister and I have always made crafts before but we had never done any stamping. The owner of the booth showed us some basics of stamping. We each bought a stamp and have been making cards ever since.
I never got a chance to respond to your request about where your readers/admirers are from. … I live in Limestone, Maine – the tip-top of Maine, along the Canadian border. About 8 hours north of Boston but 10 minutes from New Brunswick, Canada.
About 10 years ago, my sister-in-law (whose always into the latest crafty trends) invited me to a Creative Memories party. I immediately got hooked on scrapbooking. A few weeks/months later, a man I worked w/ had a Stampin’ Up! catalog at his desk – his wife was a demonstrator. I flipped through it, by now very addicted to scrapbooking and realized that I could probably use stamps to create my own background paper, etc. … So I booked a party. Shortly afterwards, I moved out of the area but before doing so, signed up as a SU demonstrator – thinking my mother & I could keep my status “alive”! But pretty soon my friends were interested and other family members, and I started demonstratoring at house parties, hosting stamp camps, teaching weekly classes, etc. … 10 years later, I’ve slowed down a little because I had a baby 9 months ago – but actually this past weekend, I hosted a Stamp Camp at my house w/ my 9-month old in tow! I’m already planning on doing another one in the fall for the holidays -and the group can’t wait!
I truly love your artistic touch on everything – you have such a unique style. TFS!!!
Anyway, what brought me to stamping? Well, my grandma has always given all the granddaughters in the family a rubber stamp for Christmas so I grew up stamping just a little. Not much – never did it in my scrapbooks, and never knew any cool techniques. I’ve always been more into scrapbooking than stamping. Anyway, go back to 2005 – I decided to sign up for CTMH, but decided I wouldn’t get into the stamping part, as I didn’t need more stamps – I had a collection from the last 20+ years that I never used. I decided to just stay with scrapbooking. Well, once I saw the stamps and started learning fun new techniques, I was HOOKED and have to stamp on everything
About 7 years ago a friend showed me a SU catalog, and then we found a place that sells card stock for $1 a pound! I made my Xmas cards that year without a real stamp (cut a tree stamp from a sponge). I went to a SU stamp camp, where I proceeded to buy about 100 (lol) tree stamps. It’s been a great ride, and I also now do scrapbooking, beading, and “thinking about” art journaling. Love it all, and love your art, Michelle. It’s given me a whole new approach with inks. Nettie
Hy Michelle,
i’m Angela from Berlin/Germany.First i must say,that my english is not so good,but i hope you understand my message.:)
I work as a kindergarden teacher since 20 years and like this I’ve discovered my creative side.Now i stamp since 2005,but i’m not a profi like you. I’ve seen your cards at the first time by the splitcoaststampers and i was really enthusiastic about your work.I’ve not try your tecnique by this time,but i will try it soon.Im missing some stamps for this great work:( Im really thankful for each help and your blog with those great idea’s helps me very much.Many thanks for this great stamping art and many greetings from
Angela
WOW what a generous blog candy—I just love looking at your blog–you do such wonderful work!!!! Thanks for sharing!!
I got into stamping accidently. I was at a party (not a stamping party), when someone showed me some cards she had made at a stamp class. I was blown away. She said she was part of a group that met once a month and invited a group of us to attend the next meeting. We went, and were hooked!!! Its only been two years, but I’m loving it!!
A good friend of mine invited me to a Stampin Up! party about 10 years. At the time, I thought “what?? stamping?? I’ll go but I really don’t get what the excitement is about!!” Needless to say, many stamps, paper and ink later, I’m totally hooked and can’t imagine not stamping!!!
Hi,
I’m from Wurtland, KY (near Ashland). I’ve always been creative and into crafts — cross stitching (got too expensive to frame), quilting (taught by my Mom), painting, etc. When I first saw rubber stamps for sale, I didn’t “get” it. I thought it strange that someone would want to buy all these stamps — where would you store them? A couple of years later, I was invited to an SU party and the rest is history!
I subscribe to your blog — it’s the bright spot in my day when I can check email and see your next great creation. You’re a wonderful inspiration!!
Dorothy W.
I was purchasing handmade cards on ebay for my children that had recently moved out of state. Thinking to myself…I could make these. Fortunate to have a great stamp store near me, I decided to take a look. The rest is history, been stamping for 2.5 years now. Took the ‘empty’ out of the empty nest syndrome. Love your work…and your site. Thanks for sharing.
Hello from Texas! I first started stamping about 8-9 yrs ago when after moving to a newly developed neighborhood a nice young lady down the street invited me to a stampin up party. I fell in love. Not only were the products great, but it gave me a chance to meets the other neighbors. It’s such a relaxer for me. Plus it gives me some “ME” time.
Well for me…both my mom and MIL are avid card makers. I always loved their designs and work. One time my mom hosted a Stampin’ Up party and I fell in love
I love incorporating stamps into lots of different projects.
I have always stamped here and there. I have never felt very good at it. I have been to many parties and classes and loved the cards we made, and always bought the stamps. However many of them sit unused.
However I think I am going to dust them all off, and get stamping again. Your cards are so inspiring. I think that is why I never used them much, because, although they were very nice cards we did, it seemed that everyone was doing the same or something similar.
Now I can see how to take my stamps to the next level. Your very detailed instructions are so great. I now print them off and have a binder cataloged with your designs for inspiration. I think I have found what I want to achieve now. Thank you for all of your great work. You are truly blessed.
Thank you
gail
I started stamping agter many years in scrapbooking. It ALWAYS had my interest, but I was afraid I could not ever get the stamps straight or where I wanted them on a layout. I’m thankful for acrylic stamps, but as a SU demo, I also like the stamamajig… he is definitely my friend!!!! I have come to really enjoy stampind with scrapbooking and feel like I can indeed be creative with stamps!!! I DO thank the Good LORD for the creative nature He has given to me…. His gift of creativity has brought me a peace, that indeed does pass all my understanding!!!!
Stamp On!!!!
Denise from PA
I SO ENJOY ALL you posts and information… YOU are a very creative person, and wish I could just sit by your side and watch for a day or two!!!!
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!!!!
Hello
I moved to Oregon five years ago for my husband who is losing his eyesight.
I was so lonely all I could do is cry. I am a shy person that has in the past been mistaken for snobby.
I went to the senior center to see if they had anything I could do and the director (Sue)
ask if I would like to make cards. I agreed to give it a try and met some really fantastic women in the group. They invited me to a stampin up party. Wow! so many to chose from.
I became hooked and have been trying to get up to the same level as these women.
They are extremely talented.
Your web sight and some other web sights have also helped me.
Now I am trying to figure out how you make those fantastic dots on your card.
Tried it and did not get the same result that you do.
My grandchildren and great grandchildren open the cards before the gift since I have been making the homemade cards. How could you get a better compliment than that.
Thank You for all you do and sharing with all of us.
Everyone could always use some more stamps. I know I could.
Marilyn W.
My daughters-in-law were my initial inspiration. They are so talented and were making cards. Then a friend invited me to a stampin-up group to make some cards and learn some techniques. I was hooked. I had recently retired and needed a creative outlet and this was it. I’ve spent waaaay too much on supplies and can spend time stamping during winter evenings. But boy the summer sure fills up with events and my card making has slowed considerably. I’ll get together with my friend next friday and try to jump start my card making.
Your site Michelle has been a real inspiration to me since I found it a few months ago and I’ve tried your brayering technique but need a lot of practice. Thanks for all your help.
I, too, never got around to telling you where I was from. I am from South Devon in England. I first started to use rubber stamps about 16 years ago, before there were very many craft items around. After a couple of years they were put away and I became interested in cross-stitch, but then I realised that I really wasn’t very good at that! By this time there were more craft items available so I started to make some cards for family and friends’ birthdays etc. As time went on I bought more and more stuff until my DH decided to hand over his photography dark room to me, so I now have a small craft room but it is all mine! I still make cards but they are totally different from those first attempts and I much prefer to play with my ink pads and make a mess thesedays!
Thanks for being such an inspiration Michelle; I really enjoy receiving your emails and tutorials.
Lyn
Hey Michelle … I currently live in Akron, OH (originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area) and I have to blame my daughter for getting me started in ALL OF THIS!!! She does scrapbooking and is a demo for Creative Memories so of course in order to be supportive of her efforts, I started scrapbooking. One of the other scrapbooking ladies (and a friend of my daughter) was also a SU demo and so to be supportive of her efforts, I also started stamping. Well … long story short … now I’m addicted to both with stamping being my primary at the moment!! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful tutorials … I hope someday to be able to create some of the beauty you create. P.S. We get to meet in person at the end of August in Wadsworth, OH … I’ll be at the gathering there … so EXCITED!!
Hi, Michelle. I live in Durham NC and have been stamping since 1999. Previously, I was a scrapbooker; however, a friend of mine introduced me to stamping and I haven’t looked back (and can’t remember the last time I scrapbooked). As they say, stamping is an addiction and therapy all rolled into one! I have never “met” a rubber stamp I didn’t like and I’m embarrassed to say that when I moved last November, my boxes of craft supplies and rubber stamps far outweighed anything else I had to move!
As always, love your blog and work! Thanks for sharing!
Sharon
Well, I have always been a person that has to help someone at any cost–even if I it seems I can’t–I do my best to try to find some answer–some way, to help! I have had quite a few of my famiy and friends living with me-some more than once! If someone needs a roof over their heads–no matter where I have lived and how big or small–I squeeze them in…:0) At one point in my life in 2005, I had my aunt who is slightly MR–I really like to say she is challenging–and in an amazing way, not a bad way! She challenged me and still does to this day to view life in a whole different light! I love and admire that life is seen and lived “so simply” by her! She was always trying or wanting to try new things to do with her hands–and with her limitations, was often frustrated by how things would turn out–in her eyes– not up to par, even with all the postive words of encouragement by us and others. Well, there was a small craft store at the end of our street and they were holding a card making class–Whalah! –I went with the intention of my aunt finding a new passion in creating things that only belonged to her! A way for her to show, create and express herself–through work that was exclusive to who she was and it didn’t have to be up to par with anyone or anything else–only her-and that that was what made her and her work unique! I realized during the class, in helping my aunt and learning all the above myself–that we both needed that! I was hooked and so was my aunt! We both have continued to create with stamps and more and even some scrapbooking since! We have found a peaceful place to just be and be free in what we create–our craft areas! :0)
Greetings from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. I don’t have any particular story to tell about how I began stamping. I think I just went with a friend to the convention in Cleveland, and then to a SU party. Bought tons of “stamps and stuff” not knowing what to do with it all at first. While I have fun stamping, I’m sure I am still at the Junior High School level and not a PhD candidate like you!
Thank you so much for sharing your talent with all of us! You are certainly an
inspiration to me, as I am a beginner…..just started scrapbooking about a year
ago and am now getting into stamping………I am not familiar with SU products.
But I am enjoying the adventure of stamping.
Janice
Well, a friend sent me a stamp probably 15 years ago, as a birthday present (I think). I loved it and used it a couple of times, even bought a couple of stamp pad (one a Colorbox–back before the individual colors came out of the box), but never did anything much with it. 2-1/2 years ago, though, I ran across a very cool paper-crafts magazine at the grocery store. It was full of ideas for valentines, so my little boy & I made cards for the grandparents. Well, the rest is history. We’ve been crafting ever since, making cards, mostly. My little boy, who is now 5, works alongside me most times. Fun!
Like many others, I started out scrapbooking and originally tried to convince myself that I was not going to get into cardmaking. That thought didn’t last long. I found that card making and stamping are such a great stress reliever for me. I am a chronic pain patient and this is great therapy for me. I can do a card in a short period of time or I can spend hours on cards, depending on my mood, my pain threshold level. Especially now with all the great card ideas that you share, I’m even more excited about stamping. Thanks for always sharing your incredible talent with us!
I went to a group for mom’s who have special needs kids for the first time. I had stayed up really late the night before so I could take pictures and supplies I needed to begin life books (both our boys are adopted) to scrap. I was SO disappointed that I had lugged all my supplies and was so ready to begin scrap booking, and I found that a SU rep was there to teach card making to the group. I finally got over it and did the life books….and then started making cards and found that I really enjoy trying to create them. I haven’t been at it for long, and I don’t have much time for it but do enjoy it when I can.
Hello Michelle,
My name is Julie from Sapulpa Ok. (A small town outside of Tulsa) This is my first time to visit your blog. Your abilities amaze me. I’ve only been stamping for about a year. My sister-in-law got me started with paper crafts by showing me a little about scrapbooking. Then she told me I needed to get some stamps and ink. I was like you at first, I thought why would I want to use stamps…I thought of the little stamps that kids use. But then my sister-in-law bought me a card making kit with a set of stamps. She showed me how to make my own patterned paper with the stamps to create my own unique cards, and then I was hooked. I’ve not gotten back to the hundreds of pictures needing to be scrapebooked, I’ve been making cards, joining card swaps and stamping everything in site!! I now blame my addiction on my sister-in-law. Because of her I have redecorated my extra room for a craft room and own a Cricket Expression and have to go to the craft department at every store I go to. I now have my own blog that my niece (a Stampin’ Up consultant) started for me. I have not yet mastered my computer yet to post pictures of my cards, but hope to soon. I do have to say that I don’t think that any of my cards come close to comparing to yours. I look forward to seeing your more of your work.
In 1989, I saw a picture made for a nusery. I just knew I wanted to do that same thing. I didn’t even know how to describe it when I would go into art stores. I thought the drawing was done with a pen.
Eight years later, in the newspaper, I saw rubber stamps for 50% off at JoAnn’s and thought that might be the item for which I was searching. I spent $50.00 on a mish mash of stamps and nothing on ink pads or paper, and it sat in storage for another year. LOL
Then a friend invited me to a SU party and I pulled out my stamp stash, thrilled to finally learn what to do with the stamps.
I am still with the same SU demonstrator. And I host parties at my friends requests, because they need supplies and I love gatherings at my house and they don’t enjoy hosting parties. We are all happy stampers.
This might be my second entry. I don’t remember.
Laurie from MN, formerly of WI with a brief stay in MI.
Wow the give away is so cool. I got started when a friend of mine offered to let me use her stamps to make valentines cards for my kids classmates. The first time I stamped I fell in love with it.
Tracy in Oklahoma
Hi Michelle!
I am a “crafter” from way, way, way back! lol There isn’t anything that I’ve learned along the way that I didn’t enjoy……but, when my sister-in-law asked me to a SU party, I said to her, “I’ll go, but I can’t imagine I’m going to much like stamping things on paper!?!?!?!?” lol Do you believe it?? Now, she often reminds me as we get together and claims that I’m “more into it” than she is. I beg to differ…..anyway, it doesn’t matter. She opened the door to this wonderful craft, and people like you keep the interest going as I’ve found more and more things to do with this wonderful medium. Thanks a lot!
A friend of mine was an avid stamper and she introduced me to stamping. That was about five years ago. My style started out very simple and has evolved from there. And, while I still think simple is better, I love trying out and seeing others try new techniques. You never get bored with stamping.
Hi Michelle
I started stamping around 7a ago. I decided I was going to make my wedding invitations. I also introduced my 2 nieces to stamping by getting them to help me with the invitations. They were so happy to help and made them feel important helping me with the wedding.
I live in Stittsville, a part of Ottawa, On., Canada. We have a few stamping stores, like Heather’s Stamping which is an awesome store. It’s the store where I took some classes to help me learn how to stamp.
Ter:)
P.S. Love your Blog and always look forward to your new cards and instructions.
I started stamping because:
1. I love the smell of ink.
2. I love all the eye candy.
3. I love to shop.
4. I love to create!
Hi Michell,
I started stamping as a result of helping my girlfriends daughter get her numbers up for a Stamping presentation in her home. I had no intention of buying, but ended up facinated by the whole stamping craft thing! That was 15 years ago!! Now I am hooked….especially with your stamping style which I have recently tried. It fits so well with a church outreach project for prisoners. We are not allowed to use glue, glitter or yellow ink of any kind! I am really enjoying learning your style.
Thank you so much for taking your time to show us all a new technique. Dawn
my best friend, debby, was into making paper. one day in 1996, she gave me a stamp of an anatomically correct heart (i’m a cardiac nurse) and a big, fat juicy red marker. that got me started. i went to a couple of s.u. workshops and a couple of classes at my lss. i got hooked really fast! but what really got me to be a total “collector” was my first stamping convention! i worked double shifts every other sunday for 6 months so i would have some mad money. then, i told myself that i could buy anything i really wanted at that convention. i was there from 8am-5pm. they were telling me, you really have to go now…the vendors want to leave! lol! but i took pictures of wonderful samples and bought as much stuff as i wanted (took 3 trips to my car!) the rest is history. i don’t get to play as much as i’d like, but i’m retiring in a couple of months and will be in stamping heaven soon! yippee!!!
i love your daily tutorials since they give me such inspiration every single day.
i wish i could see you in san jose (i’m in sacramento) but i know the women (and men?) you will be instructing will thoroughly enjoy their time with you!
sandyh
sandyha@comcast.net
About 5 years ago, I saw a vintage-style canvas framed in a picture frame in a craft magazine that I fell in love with and, after reading the article, I realized it was rubbered stamped and antiqued with gesso, paint etc. I managed shopping centers in four states and passed a rubber stamp store every month for three years on my rounds of the centers but thought it was an office supply-type rubber stamp store, i.e., “paid”, “overdue”, and “file” etc. After reading the article, I stopped by to take a look. I stopped dead in my track at the door and my mouth fell open; the owner told me that she loved the first-time reactions of people who had never been in a stamp store. I was hooked and hundred of stamps later and thousands of receipts from Michaels, Hobby Lobby and numerous stamp stores …here I am!! I went from having everything in a plastic container to a room crammed full! I love the all aspects of the craft and have to have and try everything I see. I never get bored! I love your artwork and check you out every day. Thanks for taking the time to share your art with us.
Saundra Grose
I was trying to find a local group who did scrapbooking since not many of my friends are crafty. One of the groups I joined had a SU rep as a member. When I asked her what SU was, I never expected to get such a heartfelt and passionate response! She went on and on about the great products, the people she’s met through SCS and the wonderul inspiration that they provide. She then showed me her gallery online and it was love at first “site.” I spent days browsing the gallery, amazed at the wonderful work all those stampers were creating. I stalked the site for weeks before finally joining and began crafting with only one stamp set. (“Always” will always have a place in my heart!) My collection has since grown, as has my love for the art form.
Hi Michelle,
I love, love your blog & tutorials. I’m still afraid to try my hand, but after seeing grapes I’m gonna go for it. How did I get to stamping? Two years ago my friend Rose said ‘Come on over this afternoon. We’re going to stamp.’ Stamp? I had no idea what was coming! I made 4 very simple cards that afternoon. The following week Rose invited me to a SU party. I went. I purchased a stamp set & a set of stamping spots. I figured I could go anywhere w/ my new toys. Just put it in a shoebox & go. Little did I know that I would give up my counted cross stitch hobby & have my stamping addiction grow into a whole room of supplies! My daughter saw my first simple cards & said I can do that & she now is stamping. I even had the opportunity to demo a technique at a recent stamp camp. I love to stamp. Thanks for sharing how you became involved.
Hi Michelle,
I took me a while to ‘get’ stamping. I’ve been scrapbooking for 7 years now and my family albums are done and the kids are out of the house. I was interested in making my own cards and when I attended a card making class with CTMH consultant, I hated what I made and said “this is not for me.” But I keep seeing some cool cards while I got invited again to try stamping with Stampin Up, it all clicked for me. I’ve never looked back. I want to stamp everyday now and look forward to seeing the beautiful designs you come up with. thanks so much for sharing we me.
I went to a SU! party and really enjoyed myself. I bought a bunch of stuff but the hobby didn’t really catch me until I went to Vegas with my friend. On a whim we looked up one of the stores there (sadly not there anymore) and happened to get there on the day they were having their anniversary. Big Sales! Lots of different products, such different stamps, friendly people and, oh yeah, Big Sales!!
My mom always jumped from one hobby to the next. We had a huge old dresser full of different things; paint, fabric, yarn, pencils. She couldn’t settle on one thing – and I followed her lead. My dad said ‘Don’t spend too much, you know you’ll just change your mind!’. Now I laugh (8 years later) when I think about picking up another hobby!
I give my friend Roseann the honor in getting me involve in stamping she was a stampin up Demo. I did a show in my house for her and I was hook. So Thank Roseann for helping me in bring out the little girl in me, because growing up I would rather color in a coloring book then play with dolls.
I used to manage a flower/craft shop and going through a supply catalogue one day I came across some beauitful papers and embellishments so I ordered a bunch in. They arrived but because I and no one else knew what to do with them they didn’t sell!! About a year later I knew what to do with them!
I’m in Lexington, Kentucky – The Horse Capital of the World!
A good friend stamped with her mom, gave me lots of stamped things and invited me to her stamping workshops but I was never available and thought – I don’t have the time or the money. Besides I tried it once (non-SU stuff) and for some reason I just couldn’t figure out how to put it all together. Then one workshop was scheduled on a night I could go and I said to myself- I’ll go to be nice and buy a few things because she’s my friend. I remember the date clearly – January 29, 2001. As the demonstrator was making the first card, it was like the heavens opened and the angels sang!!! Seven years, many workshops, and LOTS of money later, I am a demonstrator and love stamping more than any hobby I have ever engaged in. I have an 8-person stamp club and just acquired my first downline in May!! This is the first time I have ever represented a company like this and I really love SU. I truly believe they have the best products in the industry, and thought so long before becoming a demonstrator. If I work at a full-time job (gotta pay for this stuff somehow!) I would more vigorously pursue my business and do it full time.
Michelle – you are SUCH an inspiration to me!! I wish I could see things as you see them. Your creations are absolutely amazing and look forward to seeing more and learning more from you!!
*HUGS*
Becki
Well for me, it was because I wanted to make my own wedding invitations. THere was no stamping on them, but I went to the local scrapbooking store to get supplies, and took an invitation class. Well after that class I saw they had more classes, and signed up for the Rubber Stamping Basics, which I learned lots of neat techniques. I was hooked. I used to make cards, but I’d do it all with no stamping…. now that I’m into stamps, I do mostly stamped cards, but still do some without. Love all the great things you can do with a stamp, and love that I can amaze others and get them to start stamping!
I live in the Florida Keys, otherwise referred to from some as Hurricane alley. I started scrapbooking many years ago when my son was young. Worked with the Creative Memories products. I was invited to a round robbin by another CM consultant, not the one I normally made my purchases through, anyway, while there I met a lady with Close To My Heart products. I decided that I needed to try a few things there. That was a really bad decision………I AM A STAMPOHOLIC! Are there any meetings in the area, I need to attend a three step program! Oh what the heck, enter me into the blog candy drawing and forget the three step program. I do not think it will work anyway!
Denise Wells
mamascollections@aol.com
Hi Michelle! My name is Francine and I’m from London, Ontario Canada. I was intruduced to scrapbooking by a friend and then almost immediately to stamping (SU!) and I was hooked as a matter of fact I have made so many more cards and invitations than scrapbooks….although I’m going to try and do some scrapbooking pages for my Mom’s 50th birthday using mainly stamp sets as my embellishments… Oh and I should let you know that thanks to you I have ventured out of my square box and started working outside of it!! Here’s to whatever inspires you, and all of us stamp/scrapahoic’s!!
This is great blog candy I would have a blast with all this,Its just like christmas
A Stampin Up Workshop (but it wasn’t the first time that I stamped…just the point at which I REALLY became addicted)….that was back in 1996!
I moved to Kansas City 10 years ago and was invited to a SU party by someone we met at a church we visited. The rest is history. My friend has moved away but left me with something very fun to do in my spare time.
I had gotten a glimpse of stamping at a cross stitch convention (of all places), but never actually got into it until I had breast cancer. It was so therapeutic for me. My mom was very ill at the same time, so it came into my life at just the right time.
I knew this lady who really could gosip about people at work. One day she invites me to a “stamp camp” and being curious about who she talked about (if she talked about me), I accepted the invite. Of course, it turned out to be a very enjoyable day making cards. We became friends after that and I started a new hobby.
I have always been crafty.. Over the years it has been many different things that have been my passion. I’m a scrapbooker and a few years ago my cousin become a SU demo. And I really enjoyed her class. Keep on scrapbooking and tossed and turned the idea of SU around in my head FINALLY March of this year I became a demo…. And I love it . Your Blog is just terrific. The things you come up with are amazing.. Thank you
Wow let me think I have been scrap booking for about 12 years and thought stamping would be fun to add to my pages manly using alphabet stamps well it just took off from there and now I do my card stamping more than scrap booking.
Larie M
5 years ago I moved into the same community as the Mother of a very old friend, Dee was like a second Mom as her daughter and my sister and me had been friend since we were 6 years old……It didn’t take long to discover that Dee had a hobby and a passion…. stamping. She also belonged to several groups that met on a regular basis and she invited me to one…… Well I was HOOKED…. Dee passed away last year and is dearly missed…. but she has left me with her passion for Stamping that will probably last my lifetime.
I had just suffered my second miscarriage and my friend thought this would be a good hobby for me to become interested in to keep me busy. Let’s see my daughter is now 21 so that would have been 22 years ago. (Yikes! That explains why I have so much stuff.)
While my husband was working on his doctorate at BYU, my step daughter and I visited the Provo Craft shop in Provo. We saw these examples of cards made by using rubber stamps and thought it might be a fun thing for the two of us to do while my husband studied. We had a fabulous time complete with lots of giggles trying to emboss using our hair dryer and then the toaster. I went to my first at home meeting with the company called D.O.T.S. (now it’s Close to My Heart) and bought many of their stamps. My collection of stamps and products is huge. I AM AN ADDICT! I love introducing others to this hobby, too, because I am so passionate about it.
Shirley L.
Roseville, CA
I’ve always been a crafter…and I SWORE I would never get into stamping..because you would have to buy so many stamps to do stamping projects. I make cards..so if I were to get into stamping..I’d have to buy a different stamp for each project. BUT…one day I decided to give stamping a try…ever since then I was hitched…I love my stamps..and I have a nice selection. Yahooo
Thanks for the chance to win.
I got introduced to stamping by my Mother. She had just visited this store that just opened on island (Guam) and when she came home, the first thing she said was “You’ve got to take a class.” I did take that 3 hour long class, and it opened my eyes to so many fun possibilities–I have never looked back! That was back in 1995 when there weren’t a lot of stamp stores to browse from and online shopping was just taking off. I remember moving to Florida and one of the first things I did was look up craft stores/rubber stamps stores so I could learn the route to get there! Over the years I have replaced cardmaking for scrapbooking, but I have tried to incorporate stamping on my pages (to the chagrin of my CM Demo); and every one of my children’s birth announcement have been handmade and handstamped! I have now come full circle–dusting off my stamps and replacing my stamp pads (surprisingly may of them are still “juicy” even after years of non-use) and coming back to my first love. It’s been a long journey, and I look forward to where it continues to lead me!
About 5 or 6 years ago I was looking for a crafty present for my daughter and bought her a stamp, inkpad and some embossing supplies. She thought it was OK but I fell in love with it. I have since collected many stamps & papers and am now in the process of trying to use it all. Your blog is a fantastic inspiration. Thank you for sharing your talent. Vicki, Australia
hope I am not too late! count me in
Hugs, Barb
I was pregnant with my son and took a class. I was hooked after that. Of course, I haven’t got have the stuuf finished that I want to. My son is 2. What is funny, is my mom could not believe the amount people spend on the hobby. I took her to a class and now she is hooked also. haha
My friend gave me a birthday card she made for my birthday and that is what started it all. I thought, why buy a stamp and use it on one card when I can draw. I do stamping more for the consistency of the image and embossing etc. Still do a bit of drawing.
I was talking to a friend and wondered if you were an artist to start with, you know the one with a brush and a canvas. Now I know the answer
I have cased your birds on a wire. Will let you know, when I mount and post. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Michelle!
I’m one of your subscribers. Are you really going to read ALL these e-mails!?! Hehehe!!! I’m happy to answer your question.
I, too, came to stamping from a fine arts background. I can recognize yours from the dimension you get in your scenic stamping. Those trees with the birds were AMAZING!!!
I bought my first rubber stamps after seeing an episode on The Carol Duvall Show featuring Nathalie Metieviere (sp?) and Magenta stamps nested frames. The rest is history. I immediately became addicted and now own around 1500 rubber stamps and stamp every chance I get. I still draw too (my favorite fine art technique), but often in conjunction with stamping and have even sold some of my stamp designs to rubber stamp companies.
If you are interested, you can see the stamps I designed at the following websites. My name is always shown with my stamps so you will know which ones they are. Here are the addresses:
http://www.heartsintouch.com
http://www.aboutartaccents.com
This is a terrific question, Michelle! Thanks for asking!!!
Big happy hugs,
Rebecca
p.s. Yours is the ONLY site to which I subscribe.
I have brought to stamping a whole new creative side of decorating envelopes!
I have always loved all kinds of crafts and started stamping when I was in jr. high. One of my art teachers taught us a batik technique. I did a little bit of stamping from then on. I really got into stamping about 19 years ago and haven’t stopped.
Sandy in Utah
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