Monday, November 27, 2006

My Stamping History

So I was thinking maybe I would share how I got started as a stamper. I owe this obsession to my wonderful sister (and blogmaster guru), Kimberly. Exactly 3 years ago, Kimberly showed up at my house (we were stationed at Fort Hood, TX at the time) and said we were going to stamp. I had looked at the catalog before but always said "why would I make this when I can buy cards??" Little did I know....

I have always loved cards. In college, I frequented the "out of the blue" section at Hallmark. I loved those 'for no reason' cards. I love e-cards. I just like cards. I am often not good at saying heart to heart things aloud, but I can write them down. So I like cards.

I have never thought of myself as artistically inclined. I cannot draw. I have never done anything artsy in my life. I do love color and I think I have an eye for color combinations...you might not think so....

Anyway, back to how I got started. I had just had my 3rd baby boy in 3 years. I was very worn out and desperately in need of some outlet for myself....one that did not involve kids! I think that Kimberly came at just the right time, divine intervention perhaps. I don't know, I just know I needed an outlet and she showed up. I loved it the very first time I tried it! Kimberly just brought a few cards down and we sat at my kitchen table and stamped. I was hooked. I made her start a Stampers 5 club so I could start my collection. I made most of my Christmas cards that very first year. They weren't good, but I started!

Just a few months after that, my husband was deployed to Iraq for a year. I moved back to live with my mom while he was gone. I didn't want to be by myself with the boys. They were 3.5, 2 and 6 mos when he left. I stored all my stamp things in rubbermaid tubs in the corner of my mom's kitchen. I stamped more and more as the months went on. It was a wonderful escape for me from the stress of being a single parent and missing my husband. I made lots of cards that I sent to him while he was gone. He has a box where he has saved every card I ever sent him.

About halfway through that year he was gone, I took the plunge. I signed up to be a Stampin Up! demonstrator. I had a pretty good start with demonstrating. Then we moved again and I had to start all over. I never really got any clientele after we moved. I've not done a workshop in almost 2 years. I do have a regular group of stampers who come to Stamp Camp once a month. This fall I have tried to start having more classes and so far it has gone pretty well! I am trying to find a way to use my hobby to help out a bit with finances.

I learned all I know about stamping from Mamakimberly or the internet. I have Beate Johns to thank for my introduction to Splitcoaststampers.com, the best stamping website ever! I was on a yahoo group with her and she mentioned this site. I joined in January 2004 and have loved it ever since. So many talented artists in one place! I think that I truly grew as a stamper when we moved back to Texas about a year and a half ago. I got my own stamp room then and it has really helped me tremendously to have my own stamping space.

So that's my story! I will be forever grateful to my sister Kimberly for introducing me to Stampin Up! and rubber stamping. I know it has helped me through a lot of stressful times in my life....divorce (not mine!), unemployment, deployment, etc. It is a wonderful outlet for me to creatively express myself. I view it as therapy. I think that Kimberly came along at just the right moment for me, and I love her for sharing it with me.

wow! that was alot longer that I intended. If you got through all of this, thanks for reading my story!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Emily,

Found your blog thru MamaK's site. I enjoyed reading your "Stampin' Story". It's a lot like mine. I, too, need an outlet with three boys under three. It keeps me sane! :)

Jaala
~aka crazyladyjay~

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing your story! I always find it interesting to see how stampers got started!

Anonymous said...

I loved reading your story, can't wait to hear more from you!

Coach Prentice said...

Interesting to read your story. I have a newborn now and an 18mth old...so not much time to stamp right now, but I'm looking forward to pulling out my supplies putting them to use sometime soon. Some info and pictures of your stamp room would be fun to see....

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great stamping story. Isn't it amazing how a hobby can get you through to many stressful times? You are lucky to have a supportive family and such a great sister!

Heather