Stamping: a history

 It doesn't read as well as "Hogwarts: A History" but it will do for a title. I did a little dive into my past via my gallery on Splitcoast. Gosh I love Splitcoast, but I REALLY loved it back in 2004 and 2005- I could barely get off the site. All these years later, I still love Splitcoast but I am also really excited about Craft Roulette. I am so happy to have Craft Roulette to help keep my feeling challenged and inspired. 

Anyway, here is a visual of my "heyday" of stamping 

2005 was my highest year of card making and posting and I think it was the year I was a Stampin' Up demonstrator. For 6 years (2014-2019) I made ZERO cards!!! I sold some stamps, kept some stored, had no space to really work.

So what brought me back to this hobby?

1- I had never really given it up in my mind. My stamps just weren't accessible etc.

2- I finally made a "craft room!” I did this in July of last year and 6 of the 7 cards that I made in 2022 were after August when I got my room arranged.

3- Craft Roulette. When I re-discovered watching YouTube for stamping, I started watching Gina K again, just as I had back in 2005 (maybe 2006). When Gina K sent out a message that she was going to be on Craft Roulette, I was intrigued and tuned in. Well, it only took one episode for me to LOVE Craft Roulette. Mary Gunn Funn makes card making funn again with her wheel and parameters. Apparently I needed a challenge. Going forward, I hope I can keep card making fresh and exciting to me. I'd like to stay motivated with it because it feels a little bit like getting "back to my old self."

       I know that 40 cards per YEAR is nothing when you look at the YouTubers. But, I also know that you gotta start somewhere! 40 cards would be a great goal for me to finish out 2023 (right now I'm at 24 for the year). The more you stamp, the better you get at it and I am still trying to find my style. 

  1/24 Update: I uploaded 39 cards to SCS for 2023 so I was one card short of my goal!

Plastic!!!

 Something that has been on my mind is the amount of plastic used in crafting (and the packaging of crafts). Years ago, I used to make money envelopes (with the oval window for the face of the bill) for my neighbor to give at Christmas time. I did this by tracing around a template and hand cutting. So, I started thinking there's probably a die for that now & I wouldn't have to use the template any longer. When I searched for a die, I was shocked to find that the only money dies are ones that have a plastic tube that you attach to the card & you roll up the bills and stick them in the tube! WHY???? The old fashioned kind with the oval work just fine, they are flat and they fit in an envelope. 

OMG, don't get me started on sequins and pre-packaged ephemera.  I guess I am getting too old to craft!

Encouragement- it has the word Courage right in it!!!

 A little encouragement goes a long way. I was listening to the podcast "Craft your Life with Altenew" and the founders of that amazing stamp company were talking about how they got started. Tasnim said that she began card making and was encouraged by her husband to start a blog and share her creations. When she resisted, he actually set up the blog for her! Wow! That simple act by her husband really exemplifies encouragement. For most of my life I have been the encouragER, not the encouragEE. Giving encouragement comes very naturally to me and it is one thing that led me to want to be a teacher. Receiving encouragement is another story and it's something I don't feel that I accept well.  I am a true introvert at heart and fear holds me back in many ways. For example, I've started this darn blog but have not told anyone about it! Why? I'm afraid "people" will judge it as stupid. 

Around the time I started this blog I started a new Instagram to share my cards. I was horrified when Meta automatically posted my card photos to my Facebook wall! I didn't want my FB friends to know about my crafting, only my crafty friends! After all, my craft people are mostly in cyberspace, my FB people are real! They are going to be so much more judgmental, right?? They are not going to understand this online sharing of cards. Actually, I was wrong in that assumption. Those accidental posts gathered a LOT of interest and positive comments. All this to say, perhaps I SHOULD be braver and "put myself out there" as people are always telling me. Hmmm. I don't know about that. Maybe I will take some baby steps...