Blog Candy and Getting to Know You

502 Comments

Times Up and we already have a winner!!!!

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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 thoughts on “Blog Candy and Getting to Know You”

  1. Kim Dunworth's avatar Kim Dunworth

    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!

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  2. Terri Fleming's avatar Terri Fleming

    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!

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  3. Alyssa's avatar Alyssa

    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! :o)

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  4. Jen's avatar Jen

    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

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  5. BettyAnn Arrasmith's avatar BettyAnn Arrasmith

    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

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  6. Lynn from Chatham ON's avatar Lynn from Chatham ON

    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).

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  7. Carol H's avatar Carol H

    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.

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  8. Cheryl's avatar Cheryl

    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.

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  9. StampinCathy's avatar StampinCathy

    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.

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  10. Kim B's avatar Kim B

    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!

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  11. Rachel's avatar Rachel

    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!

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  12. Linda Yama's avatar Linda Yama

    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.

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  13. Alexandra Stewart's avatar Alexandra Stewart

    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

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  14. Robin Scianna's avatar Robin Scianna

    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

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  15. Nancy Freeman's avatar Nancy Freeman

    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!

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  16. Barb Eyring's avatar Barb Eyring

    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

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  17. Sandee Richards's avatar Sandee Richards

    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!

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  18. Ida's avatar Ida

    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

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  19. Nancy B.'s avatar Nancy B.

    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.

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  20. sharon's avatar sharon

    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!!!

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  21. Pat's avatar Pat

    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

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  22. Cindy Cade's avatar Cindy Cade

    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!

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  23. Jen Dyson's avatar Jen Dyson

    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. 🙂

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  24. Judy Davis's avatar Judy Davis

    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

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  25. Marcia's avatar Marcia

    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

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  26. Linda w's avatar Linda w

    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.

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  27. Alison's avatar Alison

    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!

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  28. Carole's avatar Carole

    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…

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  29. Lisa Kimball's avatar Lisa Kimball

    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!!

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  30. Tanya A's avatar Tanya A

    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

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  31. De Etta's avatar De Etta

    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.

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  32. Ineke's avatar Ineke

    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 : ))

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  33. Linda Peterson's avatar Linda Peterson

    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

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  34. Annelies's avatar Annelies

    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

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  35. Linda Sims's avatar Linda Sims

    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.

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  36. Joani's avatar Joani

    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

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  37. Jan's avatar Jan

    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

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  38. Cathy Green's avatar Cathy Green

    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

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  39. Barb from Wisconsin's avatar Barb from Wisconsin

    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!

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  40. Brenda's avatar Brenda

    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

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  41. Harriet Skelly's avatar Harriet Skelly

    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!

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  42. Lynn E.'s avatar Lynn E.

    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.

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  43. Yvonne's avatar Yvonne

    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!

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  44. Diane Young's avatar Diane Young

    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!

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  45. Anna Arthur's avatar Anna Arthur

    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.

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  46. Jamie's avatar Jamie

    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!

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  47. Susan's avatar Susan

    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!

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  48. Nancy R's avatar Nancy R

    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

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  49. Connie Smith's avatar Connie Smith

    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.

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  50. Carol Norby's avatar Carol Norby

    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.

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