My Stamping Journey

My stamping journey started in 2007, I was freshly “home” again after spending 20 years traveling the eastern states with my Coast Guard hubby and two kids. First retirement had hit, and I was eager to catch up on all the things my extended family was involved in while I was away.

Enter Christmas Stamp Camp! My mom and sister-in-law faithfully attended, and invited me along. Now I was no stranger to trying out new things. The military lifestyle certainly prepares one for that.

In my younger years, I dabbled in drawing and painting. Love DIY crafts. Spent long hours cross-stitching and had made a killer Barbie house out of plastic canvas for my daughter. I could do this stamping thing too.

My indoctrination into the stamping world was eye opening! Women were ecstatic over the papers, designs, stamps and more. Like kids in a candy shop, they wanted it all. As we went to each card making station, we oohhed and ahhhed over what was displayed in glory before us. I was hooked. I needed more.

I hosted Stampin’ Up! parties, attended camps and classes. Consistent effort grew my ability at card making. The desire to stock my shelves with supplies was undeniably strong. My collection of stamps started small but expanded quickly. I needed more.

My first Stampin” Up! catalog and stamp set, and early card making effort.

My demonstrator spoke of starting a monthly stamp club that involved the commitment of gathering to make cards, place orders and take turns reaping host benefits. She needed participants. This idea intrigued me greatly, and I was the driving force in collecting enough friends, family and coworkers to make it happen.

Life happens, and after some time my demonstrator needed to step down. Our little club of enthusiastic stampers was temporarily adrift. We did not want to end the good thing we had going. There was talk among us of using another demo in the area.

Admittedly, I was jealous. I didn’t want someone else to take over. Why couldn’t it be me? I realized then that not only did I need more, I could do more!

I would sign up to be the demonstrator. I would run the club. My classes and camps would be offered. This was my opportunity to create and share, make new friendships, spend all the money I made in more stamping supplies (truth).

Being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator nurtures my creativity. The colorful sunrise, waves crashing on the beach or snowflakes drifting in the air are all truly inspirational to everyone. Yet somehow the most mundane items can stimulate my stamper’s intellect. When I find the hidden beauty in ordinary things, I feel like the world is a better place.

Some might see a rug, the back of a dehumidifier, a mop and extension cord…
The crafter sees an embossed image, dies, decorative masks and swirly stamps.

My stamping journey is far from over. Sure, I have come a long way since I held that first stamp in my hand. And being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is a path with its own challenges and rewards. But there are always new things to learn, new people to meet and new stamps to collect. I will never stop needing more!

Join me on my stamping journey and fulfill your needs too. Sign up for my newsletter, come to a class, follow me on social media, shop my online store https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net. Let’s create beauty and share love, one card at a time.