I was asked what my journey with Stampin' Up! has been... I wanted to share my answer with you. So here I go lol..
When I signed up I was two weeks from delivering my almost 10 year old (Jan 24th was my 10 year anniversary with SU). I taught my first class while nursing my baby on a purple boppy to my MOMS Club friends. So much has changed over the years.. yet the best part of crafting and stamping is the connecting with amazing people. Most of these amazing women are still my friends today!
My niece was engaged to a man serving in Iraq. He sent her a sympathy card scribbled out and hand written "Happy Birthday babe". She said "I know it should be the thought that counts but this stinks!" The MOMS and I gathered to make him cards to send to her. They were married for four years when he was killed under a flipped jeep. She was 6 weeks away from giving birth to their second child. She has two stunning kids and a box of cards he sent that were hand crafted. That and a scribbled sympathy card. She has his written words to share with those babies as they age.
We moved while I was pregnant with my third born, our fifth child. Shortly after the birth of our daughter, we suffered a major car accident. It was my stamping friends who showed. They helped me prep for my card making classes. They made us meals.
I've struggled when people have suggested that what I do is trivial. Yes, I could sell make up, jewelry or clothes (all
of which I love) but this feeds my soul. I help people to connect and find friends. Many walk into my class and say that they don't have any friends. They have been sick, dealing with crisis, etc. and feel all alone. They connect. They create something and walk away having accomplished something beautiful. Something that will bless others. When I was at MOPS I was the craft coordinator. This was the feeling the moms needed. To accomplish something as we don't see what raising our kids (in the midst of it) does. We are elbow deep in balancing husband, kids and home - laundry, dishes, diapers, driving kids around, health concers and more.
To create something beautiful means so much. I love what I do. The connections. As a mom I am in the midst of it all. Sometimes the only adult conversation and connection is through my crafting and stamping.
(So THANK YOU for that!)
So as I am blessed to celebrate my 10th anniversary with Stampin' Up! Sharing what I love, helping others enjoy creativity and worth while accomplishments, in this making a difference (the Stampin' Up! moto). I know that it has made me into a better person. I signed up for the discount. For the FREE Sale A Bration items. I am now blessed to have some of my dearest friends come from card making. They bless me in my classes, on my Gettin' Crafty Stampin' Family/Team and just finding time to create with me. To connect. I need it, some days, more than they do. I love the women (and men) who have joined me.
My husband likes seeing what I do, too. He's a CPA but he sees what I do to support our family. He sees how it connects others. He sees how it blesses me (after I'm mad about cleaning the home studio and needing help ~ lol). I love supporting and contributing to my family with my passion to connect and create with others.
I couldn't do this with out YOU. The Support, the Love, the Encouragement, the Friendships and so very much more. Cheers and I look forward to another 10 years creating beauty and art (with very little ability to draw - lol), all wrapped up in a hand-crafted card.
