Do you remember the first time you inked a stamp and then put that stamp to paper? The excitement when you lifted the stamp to hopefully see the perfect image left??? Or maybe you were one that took a couple of times before you got the image “just right” and to your satisfaction???? The first time I went to a stamp club I was so clueless but came home excited about what I had made and how much fun it was! If Pool Boy had any idea how that little stamp, ink, and paper would grow into where we are today, he MIGHT have taken my car keys and checkbook!!!!! LOL!!!!
A Pretty Card For A Beginning Stamper!
So this is how I started out – simply ink and paper and these cute little pillow stickers called dimensionals. Gosh I loved those dimensionals and STILL DO!!! Three stamps, two ink colors, basic measurements, and a couple of cute dragonflies to grace the card front – so much fun and just enough to make me feel accomplished but not overwhelmed. I remember buying some ink and some paper, and one stampset. And totally FORGOT to buy a block!!! Pool Boy shook his head at me – buy things I can’t use UNTIL next month’s purchase!
Stepping It Up For A Casual Stamper!
I really enjoyed the whole stamping experience, and within a few months I told Pool Boy I needed to buy a Big Shot so I could do the embossing folders – one of my absolute first WOW moments!!! And to this day, I can not let an embossing folder retire without first purchasing it!!! By adding the texture with the embossing folder and some ribbon – my cardmaking skills went up another notch. And if I wanted to buy the big shot, I just as well buy the starter kit so I could get all of my inks, blocks, cardstock, etc. with a discount, right???? I told Pool Boy 6 months, then I would have everything I needed, and I would quit.
But I didn’t know that Stampin’ Up roled out new catalogs every 4 to 6 months. Pool Boy was in trouble!
The Avid “Love It, Need It, Gotta Have It” Paper Crafter!!!
Within a couple of years I had teamed up with another stamper and we had a monthly card class. Just that one class and the stamp club I had joined at the beginning – nothing else. Before long, we started making cards for the church card ministry, and we joined up with my upline to make samplers – for every month, every holiday, every season!!!! I handselected the perfect group of gals to be part of my Stamp ‘n Sip club, and away we went! And Pool Boy shook his head cause he could see that those 6 months were never going to end!!! Longest 6 months EVER in history!!!
Which brings us back full circle to the first picture. Stampin’ Up is for EVERYONE – you do NOT have to be a talented crafter, you don’t even have to collect loads of product! You can simply start with the kit collections or Paper Pumpkin, add a few things such as ink and embellishments, or you can jump fully clothed into the Stampin’ Up paper crafting waters head first and go to town. Whether you are a beginner, a casual stamper, or an avid stamper there is something for everyone. And the best part?????
Is gathering with old friends, meeting new friends, and building those relationships. I have three monthly clubs with different focuses, I organize the card ministry and usually have a couple of service projects on the side going at the same time, I offer in person card classes, online card classes, game nights with Bingo and Speed Bingo while we stamp, FB LIVES, my website, along with whatever else I can squish into the month. And Pool Boy?????
He’s just shaking his head, but he says he’s along for the ride! He helps me with deliveries, running die cuts, helping me package, and next month we head to Houston for Stampin’ Up’s OnStage Live. The agreement – he gets to select where we eat dinner, AND I can NOT sign him up as a supporting demonstrator!!!! He draws the line at having to attend the meetings in person!!!!
Thank God for Pool Boy! Until next time, have a great day, find some time to craft and create, and God Bless!
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