What got you into stamping?

[piecesandpom]

Thought it might be fun to share how we got into stamping. I've been think-
ing about this a lot since I HAVE to go back to work and know my time will
be more restricted than it is right now.

I've always crafted, sewing, knitting, hopeless at crochet to one grand-
mother's chagrine, embroidery of all kinds and my most expensive hobby at
one point in time was weaving. The weaving stopped when I was too
pregnant to throw the shuttle! The loom still resides in our basement
family room with the last project on it, over 17 years ago.

The draw to stamping was through scrapbooking and many of the stamps I
first purchased were for daughter number one - so SHE could scrapbook. "No,
mom, you do it!" Those stamps are sitting in the hutch mostly unused. I
have five mini scrapbooks waiting to be filled with pics from this year's semi
and junior prom (for daughter and four friends) because I'd much rather be
stamping cards!

Two things really hooked me in. I love scenic stamping 'tho I'm a newbie at
it and don't always get the look I want. And, Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps
and look. Now I find myself designing in my head and searching for the
stamp(s) that will complete the look for the card.

[stampwilly]

I got into stamping years ago when a lady came to our church women's prayer and craft time to demonstrate embossing. I thought it was the neatest thing to see the embossing powder melt and have such a beautiful image!:D I was hooked, got in a local stamp club and haven't looked back!!!

Stampwilly:D

[Melissa C.]

I started stamping about 15 years ago. I was at a cute little gift shop and they had a rubber stamping demo going on. I watched for quite a while and then the gal showed me embossing. I bought some stamps, EP and a Milwaukee heat gun. I still have that heat gun to this day:D

[alsmouse]

see the response for what my online name means. Ditto.

[gunvor]

It's all internet's fault!!!!

I have always crafted in one way or another, and I think it would be easier to name the things I haven't tried than the ones I did ... I also quite fond of art and always visit art museums and churches when I travel (private travels as well as work travels).

During the summer of 2000 I was trying to find a new, clever shelfing system for our storage at work. I made a bad search on the internet and ended up on the private home page of a Swedish stamper. I got curious, emailed her a few questions, received answers and a couple of days later I had my very first set of stamps and an inkpad.

[Stampalotsue]

I got my first rubber stamps in 1989, as a college graduation gift from my "twin" (in college, I had a friend, also named Susan, who had the same major as me and ended up in all my classes. Our professors started to refer to us as "Susan squared"). She gave me the "Teddy Bear Picnic" from All Night Media, and a couple of ink pads, some glitter glue, and some glossy bookmarks with tassles.

A year or two later, I was invited to a DOTS party... learned how to make my own Christmas cards (love that glittery embossing powder!) and bought more stamps, embossing ink and gun, etc.

Then, found that a local hallmark store carried stamps... and increased my collection.

Then found that there was a store in Houston (now, sadly, all gone) that carried a TON of stamps, inks (ahhh... colorbox!), papers, etc. Further searches online provided a person nearby who had a "store" in her house. We got together and formed a stamp club (this would be about 1997). By then, I had so many stamp, DH put up little shelves on the wall for me to display them! (they were 1" deep, by 1/2" high, by six feet long!).

Now, here I am 18 years later... my friend Susan would be amazed at what she started! I have THOUSANDS of stamp, inks, etc. Much beyond that little tackle box I started with to store them in!

Susan

[stampin stacy]

If I had to pick one thing it would be embossing powders. :shock: Thought they were amazing to watch and had to give it a try.

There is another thread here somewhere that talks about how we used to do this without a heat gun, lol. It is must read if you haven't read it yet, :)).

Found the tread : http://www.rubberstampchat.net/showthread.php?t=175

[inkieroo]

Blame mine on quilting and lampshade making. I used to do tons of both and when I went to our local wholesaler for lampshade supplies (she also owned a large quilt shop) she had a small embossing display and of course I wanted to know what is that--and the rest is history! The quilting sits in a pie safe and the rubber is everywhere!

[suziemack23]

In my case, I have AC Moore to blame! I have always crafted since I was very young. I always had something in the works, and was growing restless doing counted cross stitch. I was in search of doing something different, so while walking down the aisle of rubber stamps and cards, noticed this Christmas card with blue & silver Christmas trees! I was so intrigued with it and absolutely loved the look! I just had to find out how it was made. After chasing down several sales people who had no idea, I finally was directed to the person who gave classes. She told me it was embossed and I could sign up for a beginner class to learn the basis! Well never wanting to go it alone, I dragged my sister with me to take the class, and the rest is history! Between the two of us, we probably have enough stamps, paper, glitter and whatever else to open our own store! I just love doing it and am always looking for new ideas! From that one card idea in a craft store, I now have my own stamp room and will soon need another!!!

[inkieroo]

I hear you Sue--It is so easy to get so addicted that you own more rubber than anything else!

[Inky Whiskers]

I had managed to go 30 years with minimal rubber stampage in my life then a neighbor most pitifully begged me to come to her in-home stamp party.

I walked in the door, the demo handed me the catty, I opened it and BAM!!! I was caught. Hook, line & sinker down the rabbit hole Dorthy. :)) I had to book a workshop so I could keep the catty 'cause I'd literally drooled on it.

3 years later I became a dealer to support my habit. Oh, and the internet didn't help me curb my appitite for rubber either.

[Glomom23]

Let's see, went to a Stampin Up Party in 1995 and the rest is histroy. Hey Melissa, I also still have my original Milwaukee heat gun!

[Becky P]

I, too, got hooked on stamping from watching an embossing demo. Being clueless, I decided for my first stamping experience to make my wedding invitations. But I did it!

Then I opened a scrapbook store and one of my good customers had the Stampsations line of stamps. She and I became really good friends, and I started carrying her stamps in my store. It wasn't long until I was really hooked and started the transition to being a stamp/scrapbook store. She helped me get started with my own line of stamps.

Then she became ill and had to sell the company, and offered it to me. Of course I had come to love her stamps, so I bought it.

Along about the same time, I purchased the Moe Wubba Classic Collection from Kristy at Time To Stamp. Lots of weird stamps, which has challenged my to grow in my stamping (just trying to make samples...lol).

Shortly after, we had the horrible hurricane season with 2 major hurricanes less than 3 weeks apart, and I closed my brick and mortar store.

During this time, I have grown to love stamping more than any craft I have ever done, and even though I still have a day job, I hurry home at night and try to get in a little stamping every evening (and sometimes late into the night).

More information than you wanted to know...lol

[Nancyt]

My Aunt started stamping in the '80's and I sure it would never be anything I wanted to do. It looked so boring and she'd come to town for stamp shows and I'd drive her there and then pick her up. In 1998 I retired for the first time. I started genealogy which led me into scrapbook and then I went into stamping. My Aunt was so thrilled as she had such an extension amount of supplies and wanted to leave them to someone who would appreciate them. I now have all of her stamps and supplies and I've extended my own supplies to more than 10 people could ever use in a life time, but for some reason this does not stop me from buying more stamps and supplies. I'm sure there is no one else out there with this same problem.
Nancy T
:)) :))
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H.O.T. (Hooked on Techniques) Design Team http://www.stampersmall.com
Faerie Song Art Stamps Design Team http://www.faeriesong.com/artstamps