Blog: Inkspired Treasures
I've been stamping for over 11 years and a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 9 1/2 years. I remember going to my first workshop, placing my projects on the bookcase at home and walking by and thinking...WOW...I made that! Although I've done many different crafts, stamping has definitely remained my passion. I love teaching others how to make cards, 3D projects, home decor items and scrapbook pages! We built a wonderful studio in our home and I love having the space for classes and workshops! This year I went on Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Incentive Cruise to Alaska! My goal this year is to earn the next Incentive Trip...FIJI! My wonderful customers are helping and my husband is cheering me on, too!
I am published frequently in magazines including PaperCrafts, Crafts N Things, Stamp & Scrap Arts, Just Cards, Just Invitations, Stampers' Sampler, Take Ten, Stamp Vamp News, Rubber Stamper and Rubber Stamp Madness. I've been chose twice to be a Stampin' Up! display maker...once for Leadership and once for Convention. I have won Stampin' Up!'s monthly contest and So Shelli's Creative Challenge. I worked on the Charter Design Team for Technique Junkies Newsletter for six years and am STILL getting great attendance at my Technique classes!
I've been married to my husband, Eric, for 32 years (yes, I was young!) and we have two wonderful sons, Adam - 29 and Ross - 26. Adam was married last year to a wonderful girl, Beth. Ross just got married to Allie and I was fortunate enough to be allowed to do all their paper wedding projects. It is SO nice to finally have some GIRLS in the family! Bleach, our cat, keeps us company now that the kids are out of the house.
Mary Brown - Team Member
Blog: StamperCamper's Corner
I've been a stamper for 15 years and a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 12 years (as of Sept 10th)! I went to my first stamping class on how to emboss and never looked back! I've been a 'crafter' since I was young and was (and still am) a quilter although I really like being able to finish projects in a much SHORTER time when I'm stamping! I love making cards and 3D projects and also enjoy using My Digital Studio to create digital items. I love sharing projects that look complicated by are easy to make!
I've been really fortunate over my years of affiliation with Stampin' Up! to have some amazing opportunities. I have been chosen to be a display stamper for three conventions and two leadership events. These were very exciting opportunities as it really challenged me to use sets and often colors that I would not normally do. It was so exciting to see my creations displayed at the events. I have won several of Stampin' Up!'s monthly contests and a So Shelli Creative Challenge and in the past regularly had my cards display on Stampers Showcase - a demonstrator only part of the Stampin' Up! website. In the past, I served on Splitcoast Stampers Product Review panel. As part of this group, we reviewed products that were recently released to the general crafting public and had the opportunity to try these products and provide opinions of the products.
On a personal note, I am married to my wonderful husband Randy for 27 years! We have two 'fur children'...a spaniel mix who is somewhere between 7 and 9 (she was a rescue dog) and our Bandit...a 2 year old short haired Havanese. He absolutely ADORES his 'big sis' and they play together so well! Besides my stamping I do work full time. I teach at a local community college. My specialty is the technology of health care. I both teach and coordinate two the the 'big' classes (over 35 sections in both courses each quarter) and am in the process of editing a textbook that will be used for the courses in Fall of 2012. I really look forward to being to this session of Create! We have so many DELIGHTFUL projects to share with you!
Elizabeth Price - Senior Designer
Blog: Seeing Ink Spots
Hello to all paper crafters and stamp enthusiasts my name is Elizabeth Price. I am from San Jose California, born and raised. In April my husband Newel and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. We have two boys: Nicholas age 21 and Logan age 14. Our house is full of all boy things from guitars, amps, speakers and sound-boards to race cars, big tools, and hockey gear. At least I have my rubber stamps and accessories galore!
Here is a bit of trivia about myself. I graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelors of Art in Theatre Arts. I am a retired dancer and cheerleader. I coached and choreographed seven teams to win National Cheerleading Championship titles back in the 90s. I worked for Opera San Jose as a Production Manager/Assistant Stage Director/Choreographer and was also lucky to work for the Jose Limon Dance Company. Currently I work as an event coordinator for Bloomster’ s of San Jose.
In 2010 I was named a Stampin’ Up! Artisan Award Winner. Over the past year I have had opportunities to create many projects for Stampin' Up!'s Leadership and Convention. My interest for rubber stamping was sparked a long time ago by my art teacher from junior high school. I stamped a few things here and there and was always on the lookout for stamp products. It wasn't until '98 when I heard about Stampin' Up! when I became a demonstrator and much more involved in the world of paper crafting. I am now totally hooked and passionate about creating rubber stamped works of art for gift fiving and home decor. I love my job as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.
Debbie Henderson - Senior Designer
Blog: Debbie's Designs
I took the plunge to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator in February of 2008 after stamping and using Stampin’ Up! Products for over 14 years! I became hooked the first time I attended a workshop. I am one of those people who love what they do and get to share what I love. I’ve won quite a few awards with different challenge sites over the past 2 years. I am honored to again be part of Create with Connie and Mary as a designer for the upcoming Occasions Mini Edition and look forward to everyone else's projects!
I have always been crafty, even attending college to earn an art degree but decided to get married and start a family a year after I attended college. Stamping is something I’ve always stuck with, it never gets old. I haven’t purchased a store bought card in over 14 years!
I have been married to Dave since July 2008. I have two grown children Jessica 26, Greg 24 and one granddaughter Kaitlynn who is 3 years old and a joy to have around! I am lucky that she and my daughter only live about a mile from us. I get to spoil her rotten! We own two kitty cats named Abigail and Katie whom were both acquired through our local animal shelter. Dave and I are self-employed business owners. We own a fire prevention business who services, sells and installs fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems, commercial hood systems and commercial paint booths. We have customers in the whole state of Maine. Even though we are on the road quite a bit, I still have time to focus on my workshops, classes and stamp camps. I have yet to make it to a regional or to convention due to living in Maine…..so far away from everything! Maybe someday!
I look forward to the weekend card challenges, the Thurday challenges and the interactions with our subscribers. I hope you will enjoy our Occasions Edition projects!
Robin Messenheimer - Senior Designer
Blog: Robin's Craft Room
Among my many hobbies, paper crafting is my favorite. I started stamping back in the 1980s when I lived in Virginia. Some members of a group to which I belonged made their own rubber stamps in their basements and garages and our “bible” was the relatively new Rubber Stamp Madness magazine. During the 90s and into the new century, stamping took a back seat to a career, motherhood and a big move from the east coast to New Mexico. As I neared retirement, I was definitely ready to get back into stamping when a friend invited me to a Stampin’ Up! workshop. Wow, what a difference 20 years makes – this was not my 1980s stamping group, and I loved the look and feel of everything Stampin’ Up!
In 2007, my husband and I finally retired and moved to Hawai‘i, where one of the first things that I did was look for a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator – whom I found in my own neighborhood! In January 2008, I decided I was hooked enough on Stampin’ Up! products that I signed up to be a demonstrator. It didn’t take long at all to have my craft room become dedicated to “Stampin’ Up! Only.”
My college education and careers (yes, I’ve had three!) have all focused on the use of technology in a corporate environment. So my work in all my hobbies, from needlework to sewing to papercrafting has tended to focus on organizing layouts and constructing graphic designs. I’m working hard these days to learn how to be more creative and artistic in the way I use papers and inks and embellishments, and the Stampin’ Up! community is the best for teaching all of this.
I am very excited and honored to have been invited to be a member of the of the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition design team and I’m looking forward to sharing my projects created from Stampin’ Up!’s 2012 Occasions Mini products with you. I can hardly wait to see what the other Design Team Members create, too – we’re all going to have a great time with all these new products Stampin’ Up! has to offer and hope you will, too!
OCCASIONS EDITION 2012 GUEST DESIGNERS
Wendy Weixler
Blog: Wickedly Wonderful Creations
I have been married to my college sweetheart, Ron, for 26 years. We have three fantastic kids ... Devan - 23; Garrett - 20; and Amelia - 17. We have lived in the same neighborhood since the day we got married, and we really enjoy living so close to so many of our family members.
I have been doing something crafty for as long as I can remember ... from paint-by-numbers and "beflowered" mudpies and cakes as a little girl, to cross-stitching, sewing, cake decorating, jewelry making ... and my biggest passion - papercrafting. I am currently a Stampin' Up demo (have been for nearly 6 years!), and love to "share what I love" with others. I love the creative process and the satisfaction it brings me (even if it occasionally happens at 3:00 a.m.!). It's a great way for me to relax and feel like I have accomplished something.
Deb Currier
Blog: ARTfelt Impressions
Julie Edmonds
Hi Stampers! I live in Eureka, MO with my Family and Fur Babies. I’ve been a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator for over nine years and an avid crafter my whole life. I fell in love with Stampin’ Up! The first time I saw it. I was at a craft fair and the images displayed on card samples caught my eye. The creativity started flowing and I was hooked! When I hosted my first workshop I knew right away that becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator was the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of paper crafting with my love of teaching and sharing with others.
I enjoy making cards and scrapbook pages, but my favorite thing to make is small 3d gift items. It’s so much fun to dress up something small like candy and turn it into a great gift that will brighten someone’s day. I am also an avid reader! I’ll read just about anything I can get my hands on, especially cozy mysteries and fantasy books. A book is always made better when I have a hand stamped bookmark to go along with it!
Carrie Sampsel
Blog: Carrie's Scrapyard
I remember making my very first card ever at a Stampin’ Up workshop…I was instantly hooked!! A year later I became a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and have been for the past four years. I love cardmaking, scrapbooking, and making 3D projects. I believe the possibilities are endless for what you can create with a sheet of cardstock and some snail!
I’m also married to my wonderful husband Mike and we have two very beautiful, smart and energetic little boys. Gavin is 10 and Chase is almost 2 now. We have two cute little dogs, Eris and Wicket that are part of our family as well. Although our lives are very busy, I still manage to make time to stamp every day because I am a stampin’ addict!
Melissa Davies
Blog: Rubberfunatics
I was first introduced to Stampin’ Up! in 1998 when I attended my first workshop. Although I had never heard of Stampin’ Up!, it was a “Mom’s Night Out” and I sure need one! I scheduled my own workshop that night & joined the Stampin’ Up! family on the night of my party. I live in South Lyon, Michigan with my husband Tim, and our children Rachel (21), Braden (16) & Grayson (10). What I love most about Stampin’ Up! is that I have met a lot of wonderful friends who mean so much to me and hold a very special place in my heart. I love that I still get a “rubber high” as much today as I did back when I first started and I still get giddy when I see Mr. Brown coming down the street. My kids think I’m crazy! I am thrilled for the opportunity to be a Guest Designer for Create with Connie & Mary and look forward to sharing my projects with you!
Mindy Backes
Blog: Bada-Bing! Paper Crafting!
I'm an athletic trainer by day and a paper-crafter by night! I've always been crafty and liked to make things and I've always had a love for paper. I was always carrying around paper and coloring books and construction paper when I was a kid. And since I can barely draw a stick figure, stamping is the perfect art/craft for me! I got into scrapbooking and then card making after I graduated high school and then was introduced to SU at my first "real" job. After being a VERY good customer for years I finally signed up to be a demo with the encouragement of my then fiance and now husband! I am my own best customer by far but I love sharing SU with others when I can! I love being able to take a bunch of "nothing" or parts and make it into something beautiful! I also love the joy that a hand made card or gift can bring to the recipient! I work a lot so stamping is great stress relief and a great creative outlet. I have also made the most wonderful friends because of stamping and SU. I was able to meet many of my online friends this summer at convention and it was awesome! Stampers are exceptional people!
In other news, I'm married to my high school sweetheart. We reconnected after 10 years! We have a little toy fox terrier, Ellie, who is often my stamping buddy. Hopefully we will have some little stampers around here in the near future, wink wink! In addition to stamping I also like to work out. I enjoy weight lifting, running, and I teach Turbokick aerobics at our local Y. I also love clothes and shoes almost as much as stamps and collect Hallmark Christmas ornaments. That's pretty much me in a nutshell!
Carrie Gaskin
Blog: Artistic Avenger
Hello there all, my name is Carrie Gaskin. I am lucky enough to live in on the amazingly beautiful coast of British Columbia, Canada and living here you can't help but be creatively inspired. I have been a SU Demonstrator now for almost six years and have loved every minute of both the creative and business aspects. I love making cards most of all as I am an "instant gratification" type of gal. Scrapbooking still intimidates me some but I'm trying, really! 3D projects are also something I love to do and share. I'm always making something for someone! Sharing in my love of papercrafting are my two kids (daughter aged 10 and son aged 8) - that is probably one of things that makes me feel the luckiest, I get to share my love of stamping with them and they feel such a part of what I do. Also thrown into my mix is my dear husband, Craig. Although certainly not a crafter (sorry hon) he is an extremely supportive partner who continues to help me look at things in different ways to expand my personal creativity.
