Back to the Beginning...

I often get asked how I learned to make such beautiful cards (what a huge complient that is!). Usually, I don't quite know what to say in return, other than lots of trial and error as well as practice! I have always been interested in practically anything home made as I grew up in a family where there was not many crafters.

It all started by being introduced to Stampin' Up! at a home party that I was tagging along to. I had alot of fun doing the make and takes and I only purchased a catalogue mostly to see more of why people were so fascinated by rubber stamping. The next party I was invited to, I ended up purchasing card stock to make my best friend's bridal shower invitations (I was hesitant to purchase any stamps because I would also have to buy inks and everything else in which I didn't have any money to do so at the time) When I got my card stock home, I went to work on making the bridal shower invites by doing most of the designing on the computer and printing out pre-fabricated clip art for the flowers on the project that I was making. The bridal invites turned out really cute, but it probably took me 3 times longer to make them using technology!

Below is one of the cards that started this new hobby! My, my, how times have changed!!! This card used some Stampin' Up! card stock, Ribbon and DP from Micheals and a computer scrapbooking program that I received as a gift. Every time I look at this card it gives me a good chuckle and reminds me that everybody starts somewhere!



It was probably 2 or three parties later that I finally convinced myself to throw a party and buy some stamps! That was November of 2006 and I haven't looked back! For the last 2 years I have been buying different colouring tools, and accessories from the back of the catalogue to make my crafting easier and to give me more options. I seem to be the type of person that requires everything out there so that it should take me less time to make a card. Problem is that it just gives me more options and then it takes me longer to decided on how to make my card!!! Go figure! lol

To make a long story short, I have become very addicted to stamping and making my creations as it really serves as therapy for me. It is a little escape from all of the craziness of child rearing 2 busy little kids and it gives me some instant (or relatively anyway) gratification more so than any of my other crafts (tole painting, stained glass, embroidery, cross stitch & quilting) I became an Stampin' Up! Demonstrator to afford my craft supplies and to be able to learn more...I'm a bit of sponge and love to absorb all the crafting info that I can! I started researching projects on Splitcoast Stampers and following along with some of the tutorials that they have. It has become my paper crafting bible!

So there you have it! My humble beginnings in paper crafting and hopefully a good laugh at my first handmade card :) Oh, and before I forget... I must also acknowledge my biggest enabler and the friend that started it all...Angela (jellybean74 on SCS) - My husband still curses her for introducing my to all of this!!!! LOL Poor guy - he didn't even see it coming :)