Curricula - Hobbies
Stamping
An Interview with Laurajean
How did you get started? I got started with stamping about 16/17 years ago, shortly after I was first diagnosed with cancer. My mom knows me so well, and knew I needed a creative outlet and something to keep my hands busy, so she introduced me to the art of stamping. It was a wonderful creative outlet PLUS I stayed busy making and sending cards to others, which helped me take my mind off myself and my situation. There wasn't much available "back then." At least it was NOTHING like is today! But I loved it! Then I got busy with court and custody stuff with my daughter - and then, having a toddler again changed everything, so I took a break from it for a while.
Then...we had some hard things happen to us that really wounded me deeply and I went into a very dark place. My dh had a secretary who was involved in a Stampin' Up! group and he - like my mom, knew I really needed an outlet! - asked her to invite me. The rest is history. I fell in love all over again. I signed up to be a demonstrator because I was single-handedly making my own minimums so I thought, why not? I have a small - very small - customer base, but it is so much fun. The secretary (Marilyn) and her sister-in-law, Cindy, are especially good friends. We try to meet at least once a month to play with paper. In addition, Cindy is also a cancer survivor, so that makes the connection even more special. I have a group of "girls" that meets in my home once a month to work on a project or card. Not only does it help me maintain my minimums as a demonstrator, but it is a big blessing to me and a ministry for my "girls." I enjoy working with, ministering to, and teaching others something that I love and is in turn, a blessing to others. I regularly make cards and treats to hand out to people at church - in particular the elderly and widows as they need to be remembered. It is a ministry that I really love.
What materials and costs are involved? The cost???? Well, it can be a lot! Or not so much. You really don't need everything that's available. Some good paper ($6.95) , a few good ink pads ($5.95)and stamp sets (costs vary, depending on the stamp set) some good, quality adhesive ($4.95), and a good paper trimmer (one-time investment - around $25) will get you started. So probably around $50-$75 initially. Stampin' Up! updates their clearance rack every-now-and-then which helps out a lot with some of the initial costs. It would probably be around the same for scrapbooking, too. And of course, there's digital paper-crafting which has become very popular. Stampin' Up! has two different downloadable digital programs available between $40 and $80.
How does it bless you or others? It is a blessing to have my hands and mind engaged and busy. It keeps me out of trouble and it keeps me out of my dark hole! I hope it blesses others...that is my goal. I never pass up an opportunity to send a thank-you, birthday, thinking-of-you, or get well card. Everyone likes to get mail, and even though postage has gone up, it is still a very inexpensive gift to send a card. Many of them (like Christmas and Valentines) I hand out. And I am not limited to cards either. I make a lot of 3-D paper items that hold candy, treats, etc and hand those out at every opportunity. There are so many lonely and hurting people, and it just takes a little bit of my time and money to spread some cheer and happiness and encouragement. I am sure I get more blessing out of it than anyone else!
If you'd like more information about Stampin' Up!, contact Laurajean on HomeschoolChristian.com's forums.
