As we kick off National Stamping Month, I’m feeling nostalgic about my lifelong passion for stamping.
Many of you know how I found my first stamp and how I fell in love with stamping. It was in the early 1980’s when I saw a design on (then) a rubber stamp that reminded me of my eighth grade. It was a design like the ones my friends and I would draw on our notes to each other. The stamp design was an adorable doodle featuring a garden—flowers, bees, and all. Eighth grade was a carefree and joyous time of my life and just looking at that stamp design took me back in time. I thought if I could just have that stamp I could put that image on everything I touched. I wouldn’t have to take all that time to draw every little flower! Wow! I just couldn’t stop thinking about that stamp. Sound familiar?
I loved that first stamp! I loved just feeling the weight of it in my hand, and I stamped that little garden image on everything I could! Since that day, I’m filled with happiness every time I pick up a stamp, and it all began with my very first stamp design.
After searching through file folders and saved documents in preparation for this post, I FOUND the original artwork from that first stamp and I thought I’d share it with you today. It’s simple and sweet, and it’s the doodle that started an empire! 
So, my questions for you are these: What stamp was it that awakened that passion for stamping in you? What design was the first you owned, the one that started your own stamping “empire” be it 10 years ago or just last month? Share the name of the Close To My Heart/D.O.T.S. stamp set that represents “where it all began” for you—if you wish, you can even include a link to artwork you made with the stamp. I’d love to see it!
By making a comment, you’ll be automatically entered in a random drawing I’ll conduct on September 14 where 10 lucky winners will get to select a stamp set of their choice from our Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book, which just went live a few days ago. Winners will be posted later that week. Just tell me “where it all began” for you, and in return, you just might win a new favorite to add to your stamping empire!
Until then, happy National Stamping Month!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
“Where It All Began” Contest!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow! For me that stamp set would be Dragonflies and Friends :) Even my girls love to use this stampset!! It is on artwork that covered my daughter's bday invites, her comp book covers for school this year, and so many more things!! :) I love the whimsy it inspires in me and helps me think of happy things. This year in Vacation Bible School, my middle daughter Rosie was in the Dragonfly group :) We made her teacher a card with this stamp set!
ReplyDeleteRobin Mount
I moved to a new town (and state) shortly after the birth of my son, Jacob. It took a while for me to get back into scrapbooking as my older child (Laila) was not even 2 yet so life was a little busy. The first summer after moving, I was invited to my first Close to my Heart gathering. I could not attend, but did grab an Idea Book to look at and IMMEDIATELY fell in love with the papers. I decided then, that I was going to do my son's entire first year album using only the Rough & Tumble paper pack. I still had yet to discover acrylic stamping though.... A few months later, another friend held a gathering in which we made a card using a My Acrylix stamp set. I had done some wood block stamping in the past-but found it to be difficult to use in my scrapbooking since I was never very good at "placing" the stamp in the right spot. As soon as I stamped my first image at that gathering, I was sold. It was so easy! I purchased the "Little Boys" stamp set to go with my previously purchased paper pack and was off and running on what is still, to this date, the best album I've ever completed!
ReplyDeleteThe papers were great, but the addition of artwork using the "Little Boys" stamp set really made the pages as vivid as my memories of my son's first year!
Jeanette, I love the stories you share! It all began for me in 3rd grade when my mom bought me a small kids' stamp set. I loved that thing and used it to make my own stationary. My friend lived next door and we made little mailboxes to hang on each of our front porches and then we would write each other letters, make cards, little sticker books or pretend magazines. Then we would sneak over and put them in each others mail boxes and watch in delight as the other one got our little hand-made notes. I still remember that summer with my neighbor friend and crafting every day with that little stamp kit my mom got me. I really think that's where the love of stamping and giving hand-made cards started for me. There's just nothing like seeing someone's face light up and fill with joy as they enjoy what you gave them and know that you were thinking of them and made it from your heart! Thanks for this fun give-away, Jeanette! :)
ReplyDeleteMy LOVE of D.O.T.S. began with "This Much Bear" way back in the early '90s. This "Q " sized bear had a big plaid bow around his neck & his arms were outstretched as if he was saying "I love you THIS MUCH!"
ReplyDeleteOnce I became a consultant I used this cutey bear at lots of my gatherings (parties back then).
Oh what sweet memories.
Love you THIS MUCH Jeanette!
For me it was when I worked for a company in Draper, UT where I sorted wooden blocks. I was just looking for imperfections in them as my summer job as a teenager. The blocks were actually the wooden handles for the D.O.T.S stamps. I got curious about them, and then finally started buying when you guys went to the clear stamps. Now I can't live without them.
ReplyDeleteI was first introduced to stamping when my daughter was selling D.O.T.S. My favorite was the calendar cuties. What a precious set. I wish I had them today.
ReplyDeleteI guess the MS. set has replaced them.
Mine was the other way around. I was very resistant to stamping because I was sure I couldn't do it well or I'd become totally addicted to it and I didn't need yet another hobby to take time away from scrapbooking. Even when I became a consultant I told my upline that I was only going to teach the scrapbooking side of CTMH, not the stamping. Well, that ended the moment I opened my new consultant kit and saw all those beautiful stamps. I was able to stamp because I could see what I was doing and, even though I am addicted to stamping, I found the stamps worked beautifully with my scrapbooks instead of taking me away from them. I can't tell you my one first stamp set because I fell in love with them all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteBarbra Otten
Wow! The stamp set that began my obsession w/stamping is LIFE'S A JUNGLE. I was so PROUD that it went from a mere Stamp of the Month to a regular featured stamp set in our product line! It is always one of the first stamp sets I point out when showing our brochure to people.
ReplyDeleteI've used this stamp set on cards, altered items, layouts...
Sue Laufer, I knew we were sisters at heart. My love for stamps began in 1992, also with "This Much Bear." I loved his plaid bow tie and the blissful look on his face. I used him with so many other stamps, but mostly "Heart Dust", "Starburst Fireworks" stamped in my favorite rainbow pad. I always colored the plaid bow tie to match my rainbow pad backgrounds. And, of course, he was always stamped on glossy paper. Oh, the memories... Thanks for them, Jeanette!
ReplyDeleteAs a scrapbooker my first love for stamps was the acrylic alphabets - the ability to make any word I wanted. I was hooked. I now have way more none alphabets but that and word sets I can use as a scrapbooker are the first sets I look at. I still have my first acrylic alphabet in the original plastic bag it came in and its still a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI am new to the blog and I have to say I love it. For me it would have to be the first time a set my eyes on "closetomyheart" website. I was a goner. I loved everything about it. My first purchase was several stamp sets, and it went on after that. I can't really say I have a favorite because I love them all. I am totally addicted to close to my heart stamps. I have a list that I keep with me, so when I have a little extra money, I can go ahead and purchase one from the list. I think it's funny, that I never seem to complete the list because, when I buy one...two or three more get on the list.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeanette for feeding my addiction and love of stamps.
I've only been stamping for a couple of years now (actually, ever since I was introduced to Close To My Heart) and my very first stamp was a SOTM Magical Season. I thought it was the most beautiful Christmas stamp I had seen, so just had to have it. Since I used it two years in a row for Christmas cards, I felt the need to trade it so I could make room for some new Christmas stamps from the new catalog. I'm so excited, I think I have about 5 Christmas sets on my list already! Thanks for a chance to win!!!
ReplyDeletehmmm well i had always admired the adorable homemade cards I would receive for holidays and had a few stamps, including a name stamp and some pretty little flowers and leaves. Then, one of our friends invited us to a CTMH stamp/card workshop at her house and i FELL IN LOVE! My first, favorite stamp set would have to be Floral Delights. There are so many great images all surprisingly different! I still keep that set at the top of my stamps and am always reminded of my first love of stamping :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE dogs. So as soon as I saw BEST FRIEND DOGGY, I was completely hooked. My collection of My Acrylix has since grown to over 200 sets. Too many stamp sets? Simply just not possible. They just make everyting faster, simpler, easier!
ReplyDeleteThe stamps that originally inspired me were D.O.T.s. stamps from over 12 years ago! I was expecting my first child and wanted to make birth announcements. I chose a simple handprint image and stamped it in red, yellow, blue and green (in each corner of my card), then used a line image of the word "Baby" which I colored in to match. I was hooked after finding out how fun stamping was!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Cox
My first CTMH gathering we used the Snow Friends Stamp set. I signed up to be a consultant within a couple weeks of that gathering.
ReplyDeleteHere are some cards I made with the stamp set:
a gathering project
Christmas Cards
and just for kicks, I'm sure it doesn't compare to yours... lol, my scrap space, which my husband can blame on you because you are the one who created Close to my Heart... lol. He still says we should use it as a pantry like it's intended to be used as.
I had a "hate" relationship with stamps until I found DOTS in 1998. I met my consultant (and future upline) on an internet bulletin board while looking for the perfect post-bound album. I kept resisting the stamps, while ordering my albums, B&T papers, and more. And Connie even sent me a mini stamp or 2. Then, I got to choose a free mini calendar cutie stamp. I chose the mini Jared, if I remember correctly. From then on, I was hooked and my stamp collection gradually grew. I am now the proud owner of more stamps than I care to count, and I would say 95% of them are CTMH. They are far and away my favorite 7 always will be. So, thanks to Jeanette for finding us all of these great designs, and thanks to Connie Hart for getting my hooked on Close To My Heart!
ReplyDeletebeing a So. Utah native (Kanab area!) ...I have liked stamping since I was in my early teens...I have always liked to cut paper! then 2 1/2 years ago I went to a CTMH party/club and was totally hooked on the clear stamps! TOTALLY so much I became an Independent consultant just over 1 year ago and LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for you wonderful insight and creative mind! I love CTMH!
I was introduced to CTMH only two years ago but signed on as a Consultant right away. The first stamp set I ordered was the "Thinking of You" sentiments as I was anxious to produce cards that were 100% CTMH to show customers. I appreciated the way that one stamp set could cover so many occasions and I just used it again earlier this week!
ReplyDeleteI went to my first CTMH gathering about 2 years ago and immediately fell in love with the stamp sets. I had never been able to get the hang of stamping until I found CTMH and our fabulous clear acrylix stamps. My family had just returned from a trip to Disney World and I knew I had to have the Magic stamp set. I still use that stamp set all the time on layouts. I love that I bought it for Disney pages and I have been able to use it on so many other pages and cards. I have added several hundred sets of our stamps to my collection since then, but I still come back to my Magic set all the time.
ReplyDeleteJeanette, my first rubber stamp purchase was from a Close To My Heart home party in 1997. I purchased "Holly Bear" and soon thereafer, bought every "bear" rubber stamp that Close To My Heart had. I became a CTMH consultant about one year later. My first love was scrapbooking, but I've made some card also. Thank You for making CTMH Acrylix stamps!!!! I wished all rubber stamps were acrylix!!!
ReplyDeleteBecky Coburn
The first stamp I ever purchased was Snow Friends!!! I did a blog post about how I started paper crafting here..with a link to my first simple cards.
ReplyDeletehttp://sarahspapertray.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-i-started-paper-crafting.html
I am fairly new to papercrafting but fell for it hook, line, and sinker!
Thanks Jeanette.
im an alpha-addict... i hate buying stickers or rubon letters and running out of a letter you need for a layout title so allll of the alphabets are my addiction! you know you will never run out of the letter you need and you can make them any color! how great! now if only ctmh had a greek alphabet too for all of my sorority layouts and projects. ;)
ReplyDeleteWell mine would have to be the Solo T that a consultant sent me as a gift before I had ever heard of CTMH. After playing with it I fell in love and within a few short months signed up to be a consultant myself! LOVE THE STAMPS!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Retro Flowers!! I loved that stamp set, it is so verstile!
ReplyDeleteCreative Roses! I LOVED that set & used it for such a long time. It was so pretty in Smokey Plum & Plum Mist for the flowers & Olive & Garden Green for the leaves. I'm sure everyone I knew was sick of getting Creative Roses cards!
ReplyDeleteWOW what a question--a favorite stamp set--there are way too many to decide on. I have been stamping for 12 years and almost all of the stamps I own are CTMH. Love so much about everything they have. Here's hoping that I win. julie
ReplyDeletewhen i first was invited to a gethering, i told myself i wasn't gonna get any stamps-i scsrapbooked only! then i hosted a party and received Gone Fishing with the rustic trails paper to coordinate and also the blue and green ink to match. as soon as it came, i opened up the stamp and went to work! those cute little fishies and the sentiment 'gone fishing' are still my favorite!!! needless to say, i have been a consultant for 3 years and have all the fishing/nature stamps available! i love them all, and appreciate the opportunity to represent such a wonderful product and even better company. Jennifer Kammerer
ReplyDeleteMy first CTMH stamps were the ones that came in my consultant kit.
ReplyDeleteI think Evergreen has been used so much its stained in almost every colour :)
I have a new favorite every few months -- Treetops is one of the current.
Can never ever have enough stamps!!!
The first stamp set I used was at a home gathering and was Delight in Everything. It was used with the Let's Get Together paper packet. I couldn't wait to order my own and to get creative with such beautiful supplies!! From there I joined and the rest is history!! Loving every minute of my CTMH scrapbooking job!!!
ReplyDeleteLynne G
Ohhh love this - mine was Wags and the paw print. It was also my first coordinated color combination with red, black and white! Of all the stamps I have had over the years, I do still have Wags - he will stay close to my heart forever!
ReplyDeleteI had been a consultant for a while but had pretty much resisted the stamping (we were still wooden in those days). Then I discovered the "words to live by" set. LOVED them. I used them to make a wonderful Fathers Day album for my hubby for his first Fathers Day. It was my first completed album, first mini album and sparked a love of stamping in me. I have to say although I am immensely relieved we no longer are "wooden" I still have that set of "words to live by" and still use them! Thanks for helping me remember such a fond memory! Allison
ReplyDeleteMy introduction to CTMH was the More to Adore set which I fell in love with. I think what really won me over though was the alphabet sets. I had previously used stickers (ugh!) on my pages and was frustrated as I always ran out of certain letters and numbers. When I was introduced to stamping where I could use the letter or number as many times as I needed I was hooked for good.
ReplyDeleteWe spoke fondly about those treasured first stamp designs during our AB dinner at Leadership last month. It was so much fun to reminisce! My first D.O.T.S. stamp was Whitney's Message. Oh, how I loved her and still do! She now sits on a shelf in my office. She made such an impression on me 14 1/2 years ago, I just had to find out how to become a consultant. That was one of the best decisions I ever made!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories and for Whitney!
My first CTMH stamp set was Playful Flourishes in 2006. When I attended my first CTMH home gathering, I had to have this set. I was immediately hooked on stamping and CTMH once I saw the amazing acrylics and how little space they took up! It was not long before I became a consultant myself- and one of my most used stamp sets is still Playful Flourishes!!!
ReplyDeleteJen Patrick
It all started for me when I was asked by my best friend to go to a "stamp party"... I told her I would go but that I probably wouldn't buy anything because stamps frustrated me so bad. Well, the layout we did was with the Preciuos Paisleys paper and the stamp set Floral Charms. We also used the Preciuos Alphabet that night and I will never forget it. Once I held that clear block in my hand and stamped the words "grandpa & me"... I was hooked for life! I couldn't believe it. I ended up ordering over $100 in products that night and booking a gathering. It was probably about a year (maybe a little longer) that I decided I should be a consultant so I could at least get a discount on the fortune I was spending. I'm always amazed at the new books, each one gets better and better. Thank you so very much for all that you have done for us. What an amazing company you have built.
ReplyDeleteFor me it was when I first saw Acrylix stamps in October of 2004. I went to a party (dragged there by my mother only two months after having my first son). Sat there through a speech about CTMH and then saw the Playful Caps alphabet set. I fell in love at first site. I thought of all the possibilites of using it on cards and scrapbook pages and decided about an hour later that I was going to sign up to share this with everyone I knew. Since then I have let people borrow my stamp sets and held workshops to share my knowledge with them and get them excited about acrylix. I tell my customers "Once you see "clear" you never want anything else again".
ReplyDeleteI never really planned on stamping, but my first order as a customer earned me a FREE SOTM, and The Works Alphabet showed up in my box of goodies. I remember playing around with it and loving how much I could do with a simple alpha. I chalked, I embossed, I did generations, I layered and before I knew it...I wanted another! And another! And maybe one more!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar story to another commenter above. At the first CTMH gathering I attended - I fell in love with the paper & ordered A LOT of it!! That qualified me for the "Free SOTM". I had no intention of stamping, as I had previously tried rubber stamps & could never get them stamped in the right spot. But who can turn down something for FREE!! That SOTM was Snow Friends - after trying it on my Christmas cards that year, I was hooked - and it is still one of my favourite stamp sets today!!
ReplyDeleteHero's Pride because it is a stamp set I will be able to use for years to come. My husband is a Marine and there are always events taking place where this set comes in handy. I had seen stamps in the past before I was introduced to CTMH and it never tickled my fancy. It was only after trying one of your stamps that I fell in love. Thanks Jeanette!!
ReplyDeleteI never stamped anything until I joined CTMH! That was 3 yrs ago and the consultant kit had TONS! of stamp sets when it arrived. I was so overwhelmed but quickly fell in love with the Classic Alphabet stamp set. It was perfect, I would make titles for my scrapbook pages, I could spell names. I don't care much for my own handwriting so these letters quickly became something I could not live without. I could make a whole word on the block. I could stamp them one at a time on separate pieces of card stock and place them anywhere on a page. I had joined CTMH to make cards, my previous attempts at scrapbooking had not been too successful but now I could scrapbook! This set is just now being retired but it will always be a favorite!
ReplyDeleteI remember it fondly, Queen for a Day. I had moved quite a distance from 'home' and didn't have friends. My girlfriend from 'home' encouraged me to join DOTS. I checked ya out and here I am, still stamping away. Yes, I still have that stampset.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good reminder to pull it out and use it.
Thank you Jeanette for you are Close to my Heart.
B. veronica s.
You know for me it wasn't a stamp set that started it all...or maybe you could consider it and extention LOL. My first passion in Close to My Heart was the little safety pins. I started looking for them all over because I had seen them in a Spring 2006 catalog my friend gave me. In March 2007 at the CKC in Portland, I purchased a Topiary My Accents from a Consultant that had a booth there. Of course she ordered it, it came in the mail and I couldn't wait to use them on SOMETHNG...I love little safety pins. I looked at Michael's, JoAnn's everywhere and no one had them BUT CTMH. So it wasn't long (April 30 to get in on the $99 special) before I was signing up to be a Consultant because I wanted it all. It was when I went to my first Unit meeting that I made my first card to swap and learned what it was all about. I am still loving it and wanting so much to still have it ALL. Now I am in love with the stamps, papers...all of it. Thanks Jeanette for following your heart.
ReplyDeleteIona Schlaupitz..Consultant for 2 yrs 4 months :D
I had tried stamping for years since it made more sense to me to buy stamps that I can use again rather than stickers. However, I thought I was stamping challenged. I would get the outline of the block, the image would be crooked or even upside down. One of my friends was a CTMH consultant and I offered to host a party for her without ever seeing any product. She gave me an Idea Book and I fell in love with the acrylic stamps and blocks, the papers, etc. My first order was my consultant kit and all of my stamping issues are gone- I am just rubber stamping challenged. My first favorites were Soulmates and Friendship Word Puzzle; I used them for my wedding scrapbook.
ReplyDeleteThis may not be at all believeable but my first stamp set was CTMH when I joined in April 2008!
ReplyDeleteI had been a consultant for another scrapbook company that did not have stamps and you would have thought it was Christmas when my CTMH Consultant Kit arrived!
I sat myself down with an Idea Book, an ink pad and the incentive stamp set... and just proceeded to make little borders and patterns on any piece of paper within reach : )
In little more than a year, I have added so many stamping techniques to my skills set... and I love to share all that I've learned with others!
Thanks for this topic... it really got me excited just like it was my first day stamping all over again!
It was "WAGS" that stole my heart. I remember going to my first DOTS party. I bought a purple stamp pad, Wags, a balloon and the grass stamp. I spent $23.10 and I thought I had placed a BIG order. Little did I know that when my order arrived I would need more colors, papers, a sentiment stamp, etc! Wags started my obsession and I don't think I have missed a day stamping since. Thank you Jeanette for bringing such joy into my life as well as many other papercrafter's lives too! Your stamps are the BEST!
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would become a scrapbooker, but my best friend promised she was going to "suck me in" once I had children! My introduction to scrapbooking was actually at a CTMH consultant's open house for the new Idea Book. I had never stamped anything before but I really liked the idea of the alphabet stamps. And of course, the clear My Acrylix made it seem so easy! That day I purchased Sketchy Lowercase. One month later, I went to my very first crop, hosted by the same CTMH consultant. The first layout I ever made was using sticker alphabets, and then for the second layout I decided to "be brave" and try my stamps. Those first pages I did are very simple but they really represented the beginning of my CTMH fixation! I love that the inks coordinate with the cardstock which coordinates with the papers, etc. I love telling people not familiar with CTMH all about the products - in fact, I have had people think I was a consultant! Now I'm just getting excited for my next home gathering - the new Idea Book is so great, I just couldn't resist!
ReplyDeleteMy first favorite stamp set was the older version of the Grape Leaves, paired with either the grapes, strawberry or blue/black berry stamps...loved doign things with that set! Still own the old woodies! Ü
ReplyDeleteShannon
Smarklow@gmail.com
My very first D.O.T.S. stamp was an adorable puppy named Wags! He stole my heart and had to come home with me. Wags adorned many a birthday card and gift bag for parties my three boys attended.
ReplyDeleteI still have Wags and he sits on my desk. He will always hold a special place in my heart.
My favorite stamp set and the one set that I probably use the most -"Giggle Caps". I love the way the letters work with most every theme, and how fun they are.
ReplyDeleteI actually started stamping over 14 years ago with the wooden stamps. I was at a local farmer's market and there was a stall demonstrating stamping and heat embossing. I decided that I was going to make my own wedding invitations! My fav stamp from then was (and I still have it) a heart made up of roses. I amassed quite a collection of woodies but then I was introduced to CTMH and a whole new world opened with the acrylix! I have to say that my fav CTMH stamps are the alphas. I LOVE the ability to stamp entire words and see the placement. My fav alphas are Precious and Playful. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI have been in love with stamps since the early 80's. I only had a few and they were mostly holiday stamps and really never did anything fancy. My first Close to My Heart stamp I think was Buds and Berries. I loved that stamp and was able to use it on lots of stuff and back then when I did not have a lot of income, it was one I could get the most use of, changing the look by changing the colors. Since becoming a consultant, I love them all and have a real hard time not buying them all When the My Acrylix came out I was so excited to see the new vision that Close to My Heart had started. Right now my favorites are the fluorishes and alpha solos. Thanks Jeanette for all your wonderful designs. I always look forward to seeing something you have created and am always looking ahead knowing that whatever comes next will be just as beautiful and brilliantly designed as what we have now.
ReplyDeletePaula Mackey
My first CTMH stamp purchase was Holiday Jubilee, at the time I told myself that it was the perfect stamp because it had all the holidays on it and I would never need another stamp!!! Boy, was I wrong. My love for stamping only grew and I now love them all. Other stampers must think that Holiday Jubilee is a great all around stamp, it still appears in the catalog today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for always coming up with awesome products and for being such a wonderful leader to us all!
For me my first was Blossom Blocks- it came in my consultant kit- and it was the first CTMH stamp I had ever owned- I loved it and still do!! The beautiful reverse images work well in so many of my projects and are really lovely when used with prisma glitter!!
ReplyDeleteI first started stamping 18 years ago right before my first son was born. It was Christmas time when I saw my first stamped card - received it from a Secret Santa. I looked at that card for a loooooong time trying to figure out why it was "different"....only to finally realize it was handmade. I'd never seen anything like it! When I found out who my Secret Santa was I asked her all about that card - thus was born a beautiful new friendship, and my obsession with stamping! I bought my first stamp at a small stamp store and took it with me to a beginner's class my friend did for several of us at work...I still have that bunny stamp and it's my favorite reminder of how this wonderful craft can not only lead you to a world of fun, but new friends as well!
ReplyDelete"Flutter" was my first love. A friend invited me to come to a 'club' one day. I was so excited to go b/c her CTMH layouts in her album were so unusual and I wanted to be part of it. What I loved was the ability for a stamp set to coordinate with paper. And, it was even cooler when I discovered that the colors in the paper matched the inks and the inks matched the ribbon, etc. I was sold on stamping because not only was it unique with how it all went together, but it was fun to do! I had seen stamps in stores previously and wasn't remotely interested. However, trying the acrylix and seeing how easy they were sold me.
ReplyDeleteFlutter was the first stamp set that I had to have because my daughter loved butterflies and the colors in the paper were so pretty. I have used my "Discovery" paper sparingly and still continue to make pretty layouts using Flutter with Discovery.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj82/snowscrapper/IMG_2904.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj82/snowscrapper/IMG_2905.jpg
I'd never heard of stamping until 2003 when I went to a CTMH gathering. It was close to Christmas and I thought "Hey I can make my own Christmas cards" and have done so ever since. The set that started it all for me was a wooden stamp set S733 called "Santa Claus". Not my best work, but I was a beginner. That day was the first of my expensive hobby that my husband now regrets encouraging me to get.
ReplyDeleteDebra Bergmark
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/DebraJB/?action=view¤t=Santacard.jpg
I have had several faves over they years but the one that I loved (and still love) the most is a little sheet with a polka dot bow on the neck. I made cards that said "Thank EWE". Many favorites have since come and gone but I still have that stamp and I can tell you that it has been WELL LOVED.
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes, Sue Laufer.... me too, "This Much Bear" as a brand new consultant this was the first stamp that I used in a "swap"... he was holding a dangle of Christmas lights between his two hands.... the Christmas light was a "B" sized stamp. Oh those were the days, and the original "Super Set".... YES! Oh this is taking me back.... love these memories!
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with Sunflower Garden - in the old wood blocks. It was so beautiful. I didn't know I could make artwork like that, and it was so easy and fun to stamp! I still have it in acrylic - it's one of those I cn't imagine living without.
ReplyDeleteMy love for stamping began when I helped my sister make recipe cards for her gift stash. (She's one of those super-organized-better-have-cute-little-gifts-just-in-case kinda of people). I don't remember the set name, but I had so much fun creating them! I went on to building my own collection and continue to LOVE papercrafting!
ReplyDeleteIt began for me when I bought a Close To My Heart wooden stamp set at a garage sale. I didn't have any stamps and I thought I would give it a try. I got hooked and have been stamping since!!!
ReplyDeleteI started out as an Alphas only stamper... I was so tired of running out of vowels with alphs stickers. The first stamp set I bought was Doodle Alphabet, the Rustic Alphabet. Let me way, they are very well loved (and well stained!). It has spread from there and I love to collect my stamps... my wishlist is always longer than I have storage space. =)
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the first stamp I ever purchased (I just remember that it was wooden) but I definitely remember the first time I saw a CTMH idea book. I wanted everything in the book (mind you, I hadn't even seen anything in person - just the book) and I was hooked. 48 hours later I was a consultant and here I am, almost 5 years later - and thanks to you and your passion, I have some of the very best friends I have ever had and probably will ever have.....
ReplyDeleteIn 1991 I went to a D.O.T.S. party and bought a cute little bunny holding a carrot. That began my collection and my stamping. However, with woodies, I just never felt confident enough to be the stamper I wanted to be. I finally became a Consultant in 2005 after I saw the amazing Acrylix! Now I love them all and feel like I can stamp with ease. Thanks so much for leading the way!
ReplyDeleteBodacious Bolds....I sold and sold this stamp set as the most versatile stamp set 'till it was retired!! The Christmas tree could be turned upside down and used as an icecream cone...the swirls could be used as Mickey and Minney...so versatile and brings back lots of memories!!! A 2nd one (AND my very 1st stamp set) was Friendship Garden that came with my Consultant Kit 7 years ago...I LOVED THAT SET!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this question...for me it is Autumn harvest. I've had it for umm...the very beginning of my CTMH collection and refuse to give it up. What I love is the versitility and also that so many others still do beautiful pages and cards using this very same set. I started with the scrapbooking side and said to myself, "I will only buy stamps that will accent a page. I will not start 'collecting'" but as we all know, scrapbookers can be a bit addictive and before that year was out, I was putting in orders for just stamps. Anyway, Autumn Harvest...still one of my favorite sets.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell Sue Laufer and I are from the same stamping era because my first order was for This Much Bear and Just Believe.
ReplyDeleteJust Believe says so much to me. You can adapt it to anything in your life. Just Believe in God, life, family, kindness, yourself...anything is possible. Just Believe and then put your actions behind those beliefs...
And who couldn't love This Much Bear? I love you THIS MUCH...and a little bit more... is what we say at our house. Over the years This Much Bear has been stamped many,many times and he has held signs that say Happy Birthday, I love You, Congratulations... He's always ready to share THIS MUCH love.
I've held and loved many stamps since then, but for some reason, those two are still my favorites! (Maybe because we didn't have soooo many choices back then?)
Dawn
CTMH was my beginning with stamping. I feel in love with the stamps that I say on an auction site and soon I was searching online for Close to My Heart. I contacted a consultant and the next thing I knew I was filling out my application to become a consultant. My first stamp that I feel in love with was Simple Stitches. I haven't stopped since.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began my passion for CTMH it was all over the It's A Party. It was the first set I bought before I was a consultant. Then it has become my go to set for many things. I am very sad that it is retiring at the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteHolly Valeirus
Wow - can my mind go back that far?? My cousin introduced me to D.O.T.S. many years ago and one of my first favorite stamps was Whitney's Message. I liked how I could write or stamp a sentiment on the "sign" she was holding. Cute!
ReplyDeletein 2003 a friend of a friend would have open scrap nights at her house. she was a CTMH consultant and knew so much and had so many wonderful ideas. right away i fell in love with 2 stamp sets. the first was the "i scream" ice cream cone and sundae set. i could stack a cone with whatever flavors i desired and put a cherry on top!! i also loved the "random thoughts" set with tall skinny drawings and the frames. i loved that i could mix and match the frames. i was an addict after that and now have 132 stamps sets!! you certainly wouldn't guess that many by looking at my shelf - they store so easily!
ReplyDeleteI still remember the first D.O.T.S party I was at!!! It was before I was married and before I met my future husband!! A friend from work had invited me to come and I said Yes! That was over 18 years ago!!! I purchased my first ever D.O.T.S stamp - Ivy Border! :) Remember that one!! Ohhh, you could use the Ivy Border for anything! I also purchased my first D.O.T.S. ink pads and can you believe it, the color name has slipped my mind. It was a pretty bright green, perfect for my ivy stamp! Well, after receiving that stamp and playing...the passion hit! :) The past 15 years, I have been a loyal customer (and now consultant) of CTMH! I would have a gathering 2x's a year, just so I could earn the wonderful items for FREE! :) Three years ago, I was able to take the next step and become a CTMH Consultant!!! What a joy CTMH has been throughout sooo much of my life! :)
ReplyDeleteFor me it was a dancing bride and groom I embossed on our invitations. I loved sending something handmade and my invitees loved receiving them!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, when I first started scrapbooking, I swore stamping was too time consuming!! After meeting a CTMH consultant in 2005, I was hooked. I now have 5 boxes full and collect on CTMH scrapping supplies. I love how everything coordinates! Some early stamp sets were the Pizzazz alphabet caps and the Delight in Everything set. I still love to use the flowers from delight all the time. It's a timeless drawing that works on everything from cards to pages. Thanks so much for bringing awesome clear stamps to the industry.
ReplyDelete"Sunflower Garden" is the stamp set that captivated me. I ADORE sunflowers and this stamp set is soooo stained from many uses. It makes me happy to stamp with it, even after all these years.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first stamp set I ever purchased was from CTMH and it was before the acrylic sets came out. I still have the wooden set. I looked for a name and a number on the box however, there is none.It has 2 different Christmas trees (one traditional looking and the other more of a modern type) to choose from, 2 stars, and a "Seasons Greetings" stamp to complete the set. I remember like it was yesterday as I soo wanted to learn to scrapbook and didn't know where to turn. So I purchased everything I needed cardstock, B&T, inks, glitter and the stamps to make my Christmas cards that year. I was so proud to send those cards and continue to try to learn more each day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun story - it's fun to see the original artwork from that first stamp set! I really can't pin my start on any ONE stamp set - I grew up collecting rubber stamps as my grandma would give each girl in the family one for Christmas so I've been stamping as long as I can remember! Then in 2005 a friend told me about CTMH and I joined without ever seeing the products in person. When I got my starter kit a few days later I was completely blown away and I've been hooked ever since. I think the first sets I bought after I joined CTMH were the Playful Alphabets and Frosty Friends sets - both still some of my favorites! Thanks for sharing your passion with us all!
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp set was the set in my consultant kit. Since then I have come to love the stamps of the month as I play around with them figuring out what to do with them each class. The best part is when my clients think they don't want the stamp set, but by the end of the evening they can't wait to get one for themselves! Thanks Jeanette.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette, Well the silly but, nevertheless stamp set that started it all for me was the Pizzaz Alpha Cap. It all started when I was invited to a gathering around 5 yrs ago.
ReplyDeleteAfter being introduced to SB and using all sorts of products for a year. I got to use a couple clear stamps that night but still thought why in the world would you buy a stamp you might not even use twice, you must be crazy!?
But I thought I could use the Alpha Stamps over and over and stop buying stickers. So trying not to spend much I bought my 1st CTMH purchase with that stamp set and one PP each of a boyish theme and a girly theme, one ink to coordinate with each PP and of course a black ink. I was set!(or at least I thought:O)
Now 5 years later I have over 30 stamp sets and am still making a list a mile long... I must be crazy!!(but loving it.)
I just started with CTMH this year but I would have to say I love the Connections stamp set - so great for cards and scrapbooking. You can turn all those circles into anything. I love CTMH stamps and paper.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I will never forget the stamp set and moment I fell in love with stamping. It was the first time I went to a CTMH Party. I loved to scrapbook, but I swore I would not buy anything to do with stamping because I tried it before with wood stamps and I hated it. I had forgotten all about the party my friend had invited me to and she called, after the party started to see why I was not there. Long story short, after some arm twisting, I got dressed and was there an hour late. I complained to my husbnd the while time I was getting dresses that I did not want to go because I hated stamping. I did not know CTMH had other scrapbooking supplies. All I knew was that I was going to a "Stamping" party. Well, I went to the party and the stamps and blocks were clear, so I could see where I was stamping on my project! I Loved it! Also, I was very impressed with the high quality and affordability of the products. I was hooked and signed up as a consultant....she did not ask me, I asked her! The stamp sets that I fell in love with and bought that night were Baroque Alphabet and Adorable. They are still two of my all time favorites that I use a lot and use often at Gatherings for make and takes. You can see cards I made for a Gathering on my blog here: http://debrapate.blogspot.com/2009/07/make-your-own-card-box-matching-cards.html The one with the Baroque Alphabet is the card they made at the workshop as a Make-n-Take. The others were just to show. To this day I have another card that I use a lot as a Make-n-Take at Gatherings using both the Baroque Alphabet and Adorable stamp sets from CTMH.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember what stamp I got first, but I think it was either Humpty Dumpty or Hey Diddle Diddle. I do remember that the thought of scrapbooking scared me until I went to a Close to My Heart party. After that I saw how easy and fun it was and I was hooked. I LOVE Close To My Heart, because it really is faster, simple, and easier.
ReplyDeleteIt was the Elegant Floral stamp set that went with the Elegant Bouquet paper pack.
ReplyDeleteI was sold the minute my consultant said those three magic words - "two step stamping"! And the clear acrylix made it all possible! I signed up to be a consultant THAT day, and used that pretty stamp set on all of my projects for about 3 months!
The first stamp set I bought was in 1999 and it had a snowman so I could make Christmas cards. I went to CTMH party and bought the starter embossing kit. I thought it was the coolest thing and it soon launched me into scrapbooking. Then in 2006 I was reintroduced to CTMH and I bought the Wedding Stamp set. I've been hooked ever since.
ReplyDeleteIsabelle Dickens
For me it was the Sm Flower Bunch stamp by DOTS that started it all for me. It was a cute little teddy bear holding a bunch of flowers. I used it for all kinds of cards. I was 14 years old at the time. 6 years ago before the birth of my first child I made the transition into scrapbooking and I now have 5- 12x12 albums and an 8x8 album full of pages inspired by close to my heart as well as all the many, many cards that have been made through the years. 16 years later I still love the creativity and versatility I find from your company.
ReplyDeleteMy start was with one of your competitors, but I was completely hooked after the first demonstration. Then 3 years later, at a local crafting convention, a wise consultant asked me if I knew about CTMH. WHen I replied no, she handed me an idea book and 2 sample stamps. I've been one of her best customer for years. One of my favorite sets is Simple Stitches - I use it over and over again and have for all these years. Thanks Jeanette, for making that first doodle!
ReplyDeleteI never stamped until after I became a consultant. Then I tried the "Happy Endings" set and LOVED it! With 2 little girls this set will always be a favorite of mine!
ReplyDelete"Little Boys" was the first one I tried out. I was just getting started on my oldest boy's scrapbook and that seemed to capture him perfectly all in one stamp set. I was so excited to get started I couldn't wait for it to arrive. Once I got it I used it on nearly every page of my scrapbook because it was just so universal and fun. I still love it, last week I made a card with the robot on it that said "Domo Arigato" just like the Mr. Roboto song from the '80s.
ReplyDeleteThe stamps that sparked my passion are the alphabet stamps - any font will do. (I'm hooked on the Giggle set right now). LOVE CTMH and am proud to be a consultant.
ReplyDeleteKaren C.
I've only known about CTMH for a year and a half, so what inspired me the most was the stamp set Flower Child. I loved the cute images and especially loved the My Acrylix stamps for ease of use, storage and affordability.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your blog Jeanette!
I'm just new to stamping and started less than a year ago. The first stamp set I bought was the Cottage Floral. I was expecting my third child and we knew it was going to be a girl. I wanted to use some flower stamps in her scrapbook pages, but I wanted a set that was versatile enough to use beyond the baby stage. I have used this set to produce both cards and scrapbook pages and I have found that, many stamp sets later, it is still one of my favourites.
ReplyDeleteAshley Zantingh
Mine was actually a funny story...I was an AVID sewer and my friend a stamper....I had no interest in stamping and she in sewing. Then one day she really wanted me to try it out, I said ONLY if you try to sew. Well there we were, I got the easy part, falling in love with stamping, my friend, not so much...she hated sewing so much she was making a pair of pants for her husband she didn't even want to go buy elastic she just tore the waistband from a pair of his underware and used that! I laughed so hard!!! Well that was about 18 years ago with beautiful D.O.T.S!!! I have recently stummbled upon some D.O.T.S stamps and have even posted them in the Consultant forum, they are fabulous and need to be brought back in acryllic form!!!! Here is the link!
ReplyDeletehttp://raggedydayz.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html
http://raggedydayz.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html
If those don't work try my blog (click on my name) and look in March and April! You'll see them!
It all began when Holly Veselenak invited me to a gathering early in her consultant career. I didn't know the hostess but Holly got me there by telling me about the project - stamping with My Acrylix! It was 2004 and for me it all started with Playful caps and lowercase AND Signs of Spring. We stamped the butterflies and colored them in with coloring pencils. I was hooked! Thank you Holly for introducing me to My Acrylix and to Close To My Heart. Thank you Jeanette for sharing your passion!
ReplyDeleteLiz G, Macomb, MI
I was introduced to stamping and CTMH by my sister in 2002 and have only use CTMH products for card making and scrapbooking since. The first stamp set my sister sold to me was the rubber stamp set "Freshest of the Bunch". I loved the beautiful flowers I was able to create using first and second generation stamping (especially the pansies) and didn't have to color and shade to make them look cute. I was hooked and felt so crafty and creative. Thanks Jennette for creating such an outstanding company. I am proud to use your products.
ReplyDelete~Amy W.
I am fairly new to CTMH. I resisted stamping for years because everything was wooden and I couldn't "see" what I was doing. A friend introduced me to CTMH and the first stamp set that I used was Holiday Cheer (I think)it had large images of a tree, an ornament, santa and holly leaves. I was able to use prisma glitter and color with markers and this set just opened a whole new world to me and I have never looked back! Thanks Jeanette for your vision and for starting this wonderful company.
ReplyDeleteI wanted no part of stamping! I don't have room to store all the "stuff" associated with it. I'm a perfectionist and was not going to invest in stamps because they were too hard to get right. There are many reasons why I avoided "stamping". I didn't even know there was such a thing as Acrlic stamps until at a crop at my church in 2006 I was introduced to Close To My Heart. You could say it was almost love at first sight. I was so excited that I could see through these stamps and they took up very little room.
ReplyDeleteI started out just buying stamps to make cards. My first purchase was A Little Bee, Thoughtful Scripts, and Hydrangea. I still think A Little Bee (now retired) is one of my favorites. Although Thoughtful Scripts will forever be a great card sentiment stamp.
Less than two years later I became a Close To My Heart Consultant so now I can have all the stamps I want!
My first stamp set I purchased was from Close To My Heart about 6 years ago. They were still mounted on wooden blocks at the time and it was called "In Friendship's Garden." had just moved to my now hometown and a nice lady invited me to her first party as a new Consultant! When I saw the Idea Book and the the close friendships the women shared I knew it was for me! I'm not sure how to upload a picture in this comment area but visit my blog and you can see the set and a layout I made using the set. Man, I've come a long way! Thanks for all you do Jeannette! Shelby
ReplyDeletewww.scrappinthisandthat.blogspot.com
Wow, I just love this blog! The artwork & stories are so inspirational! I was like a couple of others on here and said..."I'm not interested in the stampin' I just want to do quick scrapbook pages." Now I'm addicted to the stamping. It was too much fun to stay away.
ReplyDeleteThe first stamp set I was Totally excited about was the Alfresco stamp. I loved to stamp backgrounds with it.
I actually dusted that one off and used it today... Here's the layout I made.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n93/ericshelli/IMG_3030.jpg
In 1990 a friend gave me a card made with Fairy Bear. She had used a rainbow pad in pinks and purples on glossy paper and I was hooked! We researched and began ordering from DOTS, then decided that we would order a consultant kit together and 'go into business'. I couldn't scrape together my part, so she started selling and I had her first party. I also gave her the idea for make and takes at the parties and another idea that she used as she started out. Her business flourished and we've had so much fun together over the years.
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with the "Tiny Typewriter set" because I knew this was the solution to my messy handwriting on my scrapbook pages. I guess you could say I have a "type A" personality scrapbooking style. Love the stamps, paper, everything CTMH!!!
ReplyDeleteSonya Rissler
For me, stamping started with My Acrylic stamps! I had never liked stamping because I felt it was a "blind" craft since I couldn't see what I was doing. When I used the My Acrylics, I was hooked and signed up to be a consultant!
ReplyDeleteIt was 2 years ago. A friend of mine was having a workshop. I had never heard of CTMH or acrylix stamp sets before. She was using D1183 Adorable. That end up being my first stamp set and I've been hooked ever since.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your stories and for the chance to win a stamp set. In high school which is now over 20 years ago I bought my first stamp set. It was in a clear plastic case,came with a small ink pad & it was a small teddy bear alpha set. They were every which way some standing or upside down doing cartwheels. I use to collect bears so that set caught my eye right away. I used it a lot, I even did some work with it on my high school yearbook. I think I still have that set packed away, haven't parted with it yet! Stamping has come a long way since then and much of that is due to your wonderful company and the quality of products you offer.
ReplyDeleteWOW, what memories!! I would have to say, and I see I am not alone, This Much Bear, BUT you have to add the string of balloons to his hand....that was my first stamp that I Demonstrated with. I had never stamped before and really got into DOTS to do scrapbooking...but I added that bear, on glossy paper yet, to my first layout using Tombow markers....wow, thanks for the flash back!!
ReplyDeleteI took a class from a CTMH rep at a local college because I was interested in scrapping. I absolutely fell in love with the Joy Forever stamp set; we used it a lot in many different ways and I was amazed at how different the flower could look depending upon the technique used. This was last October, and I have been stamping and scrapping ever since!
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with stamping way back in 1990, when I was shown heat embossing for the first time!I was blown away with how easy it was to do! I just KNEW I had to do something this cool and I went on a quest to find everything I needed to do the same technique! I lived in Jacksonville, Florida where my husband was stationed with the Navy... At that point, I am not even sure DOTS was on the East coast yet!
ReplyDeleteOne day I got an envelope from my friend Kathy who was living in San Jose, CA and she sent me a DOTS catalog because she knew I would love these darling designs! I LOVED everything in that catalog!
I think the first DOTS stamp that I truly fell in love with was the very cute monthly girl stamp (for July I think), she was dressed in a sailor dress... sadly, I can't remember her name!
Thank you Jeanette for falling in love with stamping... because you did, I have a job I love and have made many friends I would NEVER have know otherwise! Hugs...
I loved stamping and making my own cards. I made the birth announcements for both my sons, who are now 17 and 14. I didn't attend a D.O.T.S. party until a little after my first son was born. Then I had to "have it all." I used Iris Garden with a rainbow pad to make lots of cards. I look back on that now and have to laugh. They were so plain and primitive. My consultant thought it was a great achievement when I actually started layering paper and images on my cards. LOL. I remember attending a party with my wishlist in hand and ordering the Pebbles stamp. I just had to have that stamp! I attended another party a couple weeks later, and before I got the order from the first party, and ordered the Pebbles stamp, because I just had to have it and it was on my list. That is how my son got his first stamp. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to start scrapbooking, because I took tons of pictures and just "didn't have the time to make extravagant pages to put all those pictures on." If I had only known. I have been "officially" scrapbooking for just over six years and have been a consultant for just over five. And, I stamp all the time on my layouts. Who'd have thought?
Thanks Jeanette!
I cannot think of a specific stamp set because there is soooo many I love and I bought several my first time. I went to an open house for my upline and won the hostess rewards. I got $100 in free stuff! I was so siked I could finally try my hand at stamping. I love the sets with whimsical things, the girls and kids, and flowers of course. You have to love flowers. It has been so much fun. I just don't have enough time to use them.
ReplyDeletewith out a doubt Dragonflies and Friends is the best stamp set ever when we went from woodies to acrylic I kept only one stamp set in wood and use it still today love/loved Dragonflies and Friends.
ReplyDeleteWhen I became a consultant in 1996, I loved "Wags", a very cute dog and a really cute cow (I can't remember the name.)
ReplyDeleteMy start came from what I believe was a DOTS stamp - way in the beginning - I think it was a ticking stamp. It may have been before DOTS too - I still have it somewhere - couldn't give it up.
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it but I forgot the name of the stamp. It was one of the cute bears. Must have been around '92. Bren showed us Stamping the bear in black coloring in this cute bear and then......Adding the brown fun flock.....That did it for me....Making a cute fuzzy bear. I bought the bear stamp and made my own Christmas cards that year. I had a blast and haven't stopped enjoying myself since.
ReplyDeleteI started stamping in the mid 90s and remember staying up until 3 in the morning scrapbooking and stamping. I bought many individual stamps but absolutely fell in love when I got the Snow Business stamp set. I stamped that on every Christmas and winter thing I could. Now my girls are avid stampers and use a lot of my wood stamps. It's great to see how far this great company has gone with the great inovations of the clear blocks and stamps. Now there is no excuse for not being able to stamp!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been stamping that long ... my 'one year anniversary' will be coming up shortly. It all started when I went to a CTMH card making demonstration ... I went thinking it will be a great afternoon to spend with my friends doing something 'crafty' (and since I liked to scrapbook I figured it would be a lot of fun). Little did I know that I would leave there with a new creative outlet ... and my first stampset on order. The stampset that introduced me to just how versitile stamps can be and how far they've come from the little wooden blocks I'd see at craft stores was 'All Decked Out'. I have to say I made all of my Christmas cards last year with it ... and I haven't stopped. =P
ReplyDeleteWhen I was new to the Island of Okinawa I was introuced to close to my heart. I was looking for friends and things to do, and found a group of scrappers right next door. I went to a friday night scrap night, and was shown all the stamps.While going through the stamps I immediately fell in love with "Cupcake Sprinkles." I loved how easy it was to make a cute birthday card. I started out using a card pattern out of Originals Card Confidence Program. I used Liquid Applique as the frosting. Everything about Close To My Heart is easy, and extra creative. Plus I get many complements on how long it must have taken me ;) Then I get to share with them how easy it would be for them to create projects like mine. Thanks for everything!
ReplyDeleteOpps, left my coment in the next post my mistake...OK, I've been waiting to post because I am looking for the first card I ever made and I DO still have it from 18 years ago when I was first introduced to D.O.T.S.
ReplyDeleteI purchased the "Bear and Wagon", an "A" size stamp called "puffy heart" (which I stamped using the masking technique, filling my wagon with hearts) and the arched saying "Thanks a Bunch" (Stamped above the wagon load of love) Along with a rainbow pad, raised panel cards, a glue pen and prisma glitter. I was instantly hooked! They'll have to bury me with a stamp in my hand! Look what you started Jeanette!
I'm fairly new to stamping, my sister got me started on CTMH a little over a year ago. I have collected a lot of the stamp sets but I think my favorite so far is Family Ties-Children. I have been using it quite often. I also love the CTMH TV. I love seeing the experts show how to do the different techniques and seeing the projects they make. I can't wait to get my new idea book!
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp was one that I made in elementary school... in the fourth grade, I think. It was a swallowtail butterfly. We traced pictures of our images onto material much like an eraser and then "carved" them out and mounted them onto a wood block. Sadly, I no longer have the stamp or any artwork that I made with it. I had completely forgotten about that first stamp until I went to my first Close To My Heart gathering and used the clear acrylic stamps. It all came back to me and I remembered how much fun stamping was!
ReplyDeleteI crashed a stamping vacation that 2 friends of mine did while their boys were at camp. They generously allowed me to play with their stash of stuff. The stamp I loved that day was "Follow Your Dreams". That was 4 summers ago.
ReplyDeleteBeth
WOW! Tough question, Jeanette! HA! I can't pick out just one stamp set, but I can pick out my favorite type. It would have to be any fluorish or scroll in a variety of shapes and styles that I can create a beautifully original sheet of random stamped paper and then use that as a part of cards or my scrapbooking layouts. I was not much of a stamper when I first started s/booking...but the look of an original "random-stamped" paper that I created is PRICELESS! Thank you for beautiful tools to assist in all of our creations!!
ReplyDeleteMy first encounter with CTMH came about in March of 2007 at a Trade Days event when the first booth I came to was a consultant (Linda W.) selling CTMH products. I was at her booth for more than an hour! I was so impressed with her that I joined her stamping club and have been buying CTMH products ever since. Thanks Linda for being a great consultant and friend. And, thanks CTMH for all of the wonderful products and promotions.
ReplyDeleteLaurie W. Seguin, TX
It all began for me 4 years ago with the Sweet Occasions set. When ever I look at this set it reminds me of my first gathering I attended and how excited and overwhelmed I was. I knew I was in love, but didn't know where to start. I picked this set out because I was getting married and wanted to make some of the wedding items myself and it seemed like a good versatile set to start with. The bride on this stamp set is so adorable. I recently used her on this bridal shower invitation I made. http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/2009/07/bridal-shower-invitations.html
ReplyDeleteThe very first stamp set I ever owned was the Woodcut alphabet. I was so tired of cutting out letters and a friend suggested I try stamping some titles. She gave me the Woodcut alphabet for my birthday and I was in love. I had never heard of CTMH, but I found a consultant and joined a splurge club. To this day, I could never, ever get rid of that set!
ReplyDeleteI just loved the morning glories set. teamed with pansy purple & orcid Bouquet. My favorite for a long time!
ReplyDeleteJolene McCormick
My very favorite and I still do have the wooden version is the Balloon String stamp. I have used it so often for random stamping and just about everything else!! Betty Byland
ReplyDeleteI loved stamping for many years before I bought my first CTMH set. I often was frustrated when my image did not come out the way I wanted and lining it back up to finish off the image never really worked. I bought my first set of CTMH stamps in April 2007 - the SOTM because I was in need of sentiments. I was hooked! I swore after the first stamped image I made that I would never again buy a wooden block. Not only did I not by any additional wooden stamps, I called my friend with whom I placed the order and signed up to be a Consultant immediately after. I have been one of my best customers ever since!
ReplyDeleteI went to my first ever crop at a local scrapbooking store, and they did a demo of chalk popping. I came back a few days later, bought a set of Hero Arts flower stamps, Versamark ink and a set of chalk, and played with that set over and over again.
ReplyDeleteKisses from Heaven has to be one of my all time favorite sets. It was one of my first CTHM and it started my tradition of making my own Christmas cards. Since then I have made ALL of my cards, but that was my springboard!!
ReplyDeleteI was first introduced to DOTS about 15 years ago, in Jr. High. I don't remember the name, but I loved the teddy bear holding the bunch of flowers. Over the years I had gotten away from stamping, and one day was curious about what ever happened to DOTS. I found out that DOTS had become CTMH, became intrigued again, located a Consultant, and had a gathering in May 2008. I was so impressed by how far stamping had come! I fell in love with the May 2008 Stamp of the Month, With Love. I love flowers, and it had quite an array. I then moved onto Delight in Everything as a favorite, fell in love with stamping again, and became a Consultant. Now I, as I'm sure many of you can also say is true, have a new favorite stamp set every week!
ReplyDeleteDragonfly and Friends-I went to a gathering at a frineds and the CTMH consultant demonstrated that stampset and I purchased it and a level 1 kit and some cardstock and ink pads. The rest is history-----
ReplyDeleteHere I am.
The first stamp set I bought was "For Every Occasion" so I could use it on my card creations. It is so versitile and classy that I always recommend it to my customers and tell them that it was the first one I bought. Now, of course, I am am completely addicted to stamps and dream about them at night!
ReplyDeleteSo many stamps. I'm not sure which one it was but my latest resurgence in stamping was the May Stamp of the Month - Be Yourself. I just HAD to have that stamp set and off I went running and fell in love with stamping all over again
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp was a little puppy stamp, bought it with markers. My first CTMH stamp set was an alphabet set. I loved that I could make my own words!
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp set was one of the
ReplyDelete1x1 size stamp set that had a couple pictures and a saying for ever month. It was the perfect first stamp set. I made some many cards with it.
The first stamp I purchased was Rachel. It was a little girl stamp and I purchased it because my daughters name is Rachael. It was so cute and my daughter loved it because she thought it was named after her! I still have the catalog that it was in too!
ReplyDeleteIt was the Super Set! Purchased in 1997. I've been addicted ever since.
ReplyDeleteI have loved paper and pictures since I was a little girl. I started scrapbooking when I was 15. I was introduced to CTMH through my sisters friend. I fell in love with stitches. It looked so real! Wooden stamps always scared me, but the clear were just for me! Have loved the stamps ever since.
ReplyDeleteMy love for stamping started along time ago before I knew about DOTS or CTMH....I would buy stamps from the craft store..My first CTMH (Clear stamp) purchase was Blossom Blocks...I loved clear stamps so much from that point on...I went to a scrapbook convention and found the CTMH rep there and bought a few more from her...
ReplyDeleteLove to hear your stories....
Thanks so much...
Julie
Jeanette -
ReplyDeleteI, too, love to hear your stories like this - thank you for sharing so much of yourself with all of us! :-) Scrapbooking for me began with a home party for CM - I fell in love with scrapbooking and my consultant tried for 6 years to get me to become a consultant and I would pray about it and God never released me to do so. Then I went to a CTMH Gathering and was SO EXCITED and God immediately "gave me persmission" to sign up! :-) That was 2 years ago and I LOVE our products - my favorite stamp set are the new leaves - oh my goodness - so gorgeous!!
Thanks again and wish you blessings everyday!
Wendy Taylor
azsmistygirl@aol.com
Tucson, AZ
My first stamps were about 12 years ago... they were "Thought Cloud" and "Lace Heart" (I think that was the name of it) and I used them for baby announcements for my daughter's birth. My all time favorite stamp will always be "Josh Bear."
ReplyDeleteLinda Lynch
This is bring back such fond memories of the first Stamp Club I was in. (And to think I am hosting my own Stamp Clubs now!) My friends kept teasing me, "Are you going to get the "Citrus Set", are you going to get it now?" I think they were secretly getting tired of me drooling over it! I still use it and made a birthday card for my friend in June. (she knows my love for orange!) Thank you Jeanette for bringing up such fun memories and for letting me see how much I have grown!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started, the stamp that was the most loved (used) was Lenny Lamb...both sizes!
ReplyDeleteThe large one was the main stamp I introduced many others too because we could use our big fat Marvy makers (purple for the body outline and pink for nose) then chalk the inside lines to highlight him (or give him fluff), then add white liquid applique to give him dementia (no I did say that right instead of demension). Then we would use a tad of DOTS glue to his nose for a sparkling personality! Cut him out, and 3D mount onto trimmed purple polka dotted B/T on the face of a card, and then add the verse, Thinking of Ewe.
Oooooooooh the sweet memories of those days!
For me, I had never gotten my hands on an acrylix stamp set until I joined CTMH in Oct of 2006. I had just discovered CTMH on the internet and was so excited that I joined. When I got my kit one of the sets was the "Glistening Snow" set. I just fell in love! Not only the designs, but (shhh, don't tell anyone) but I love the smell of them! To this day, whenever I get a new set of stamps, I smell them!
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp set was a Winnie the Pooh to make birthday invites for my daugher 10 years ago. My stamp collection(obsession) has been going since then. I was just introduced to CTMH several years ago and can't get enough! My first CTMH,(and most used) set is From Me to You that came with the card kit several years ago.
ReplyDeleteOh Jeanette that is such an easy one...I was the typical little girl that loved to play school....my mother bought me one of those dollar store stamps that was preinked about a 1000 years ago and I stamped on everything until the ink was gone and then tried my darndest to color it!! Still trying my darndest to stamp everything & anything!! Thanx again for all your inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteMy stamping addiction began in January 2006, when I joined a CTMH monthly scrapbook club with my sister-in-law (also now a CTMH consultant). At the first gathering I realized how much easier stamping was going to be for me now that I had found the My Acrylix stamp set, Precious Alphabet. I have used this stamp set on a large majority of my artwork from cards to layouts, and although it has been used consistently for over 3 years, it continues to be my favorite alphabet stamp!
ReplyDeleteSometime in the early 80's my sister sold stamps for DOTS. I thought it would be fun so I bought $400-500 worth of stamps. Having small children, a busy husband and working full-time left very little time for myself. Eventually I gave them all back to her. I didn't want to feel guilty for not having time to play with them.
ReplyDeleteFour-five years ago my daughter took me, kicking and screaming all the way, to a Stamp Camp. I fell in love with the Snap, Crackle, Pop stamp set. Having vowed not to get into stamping again, I spent almost $100 that day. She went back home to Maryland several months later and I took over her Stamp Camp group (that met in my home once a month). I became a consultant about 2 years later and haven't looked back since.
I thoroughly enjoy seeing the delight on someone's face when given a homemade card, layout or gift.
The first party I went to was in November and "Beauty of Christmas" was the featured (wood) stamp set. I totally fell in love with it and bought outdoor denim, pansy purple, and new england ivy as well. That has always been my favorite stamp set. I fell in love with it and is still dear to me today. I don't have it in wood anymore but I still have it in acrylic! Thank you! Jeanette, it is really great to see where this company has come from and wonderful to see where it is going now. Thank you for everything!! Kara Schmidt
ReplyDeleteMy stamping "Empire" started with the Marine D1070 stamp set (oh how I desire to be able to sell that military line of stamps again I miss them terribly and so does the team :-). at the time (five years ago in April) my hubby was deploying to Iraq for the second time on our sons 4th birthday. I meet a gal at a craft fair on base and she had made some coasters with this stamp set. I asked where she got her stamp and the rest is history. During that one deployment we used the Marine stamp set and the D1069 Army stamp set (boots) to gather the children for monthly get togethers at the base church on the last thursday of the month, after the serman they would hold a dinner for the spouses of deployed service members and their kids so that we could have a home cooked meal once a month and didn't have to cook or clean it up! I was a KV (Key Volunteer) and in charge of crafts and we made all kinds of cards to send to "daddys" and "mommys" that were away. We decorated paint cans and ammo cans so that we could write down things that daddy was missing in our everyday life and then daddy could sit down and read the messages in the cans when he got home or we would email him the messages, basically helping mommy to not forget to tell dad the little things . We made 3x3 craft albums and oodles and oodles more. We started a monthly scrapbooking group this way, so that instead of writing in journals to our deployed spouse for them to read when they returned, we could include photos of the event too... making my husband feel almost like he was there with us physically and not just in our hearts. I started recruiting wifes with this stamp set (us military wives get moved around alot and they would always signup with me before leaving to their next duty station.) All because of this stamp set. With that stamp set I wasn't just Colin's mom or Lcpl ( back in the day rank) Middleton's wife. I was the fearless leader of the Semper Scrappin Squadron Oorah! LOL Man I LOVE this "EMPIRE" that you've built and for sharing it with us all! It's made our(us military wives) deployments pass much faster (my hubby has deployed 6 times in the last 8 years) and allows us to gather not just because our husbands are deployed together, or our children are the same age, but because we have a shared passion for scrapbooking and stamping our everyday lives for our deployed loved ones. It allows me to be Peggy, not just Sgt. Middleton's wife and Colin and Elizabeth's mom.
ReplyDeleteSending a HUGE cyber HUG XXXXX!! for all you do!
For me, the stamp set would be Heart Throb, because, that was the SOTM when I was first introduced to CTMH. I loved the detail and quality, and loved the idea of an exclusive stamp set each month.
ReplyDeleteGini
i don't know the names of my first sets but i still have them and use them. actually my daughter borrowed them and she loves them as well. it my first set was a gift back in 1996 or 7, it was 36- 1x1 different background and small card making stamps the first set i actually bought was in 1998. it was another set of 36 1x1 alphabets. kinda puffy with a small stitch on different parts of it. i made my daughters senoir scrapbook with this set. love it love it love it
ReplyDeletedebbie
fontzd@yahoo.com
I would have to say the very firs tset that I got thru CTMH!! Ocean Friends, my son loved ocean animals so I ordered this set and made his 1st B-day invites and party hats. It was an awesome start with this AWESOME company!!!
ReplyDeleteJessie
Hello - I still have the cutest bear stamp that I used for making daily special menus for the restaurant I worked at - years ago. I have purchased many stamps and sets over the years but I must say the CTMH has the best quality and program to belong to - today marks my first full week of being a CTMH consultant! WOW!
ReplyDeleteI still have my first wood mount set of 30 mini stamps and I still have them!
ReplyDeleteThe stamp set I LOVED was Buds n Berry! Although I had numerous other stamp sets, everything was done using this set! I also had the matching b-size stamps! Oh what joy that set provided!
ReplyDeleteI still have the wood mount set that is a 30 piece set of mini's that i still use. How did we use those wooden stamps. Heather Stimes
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago I got on the CTMH website to find out more about it. I kept seeing the ads in my creating keepsakes magazine and everything I saw I loved. This lead me to book a party with my now upline, Connie Wine. We had a good chuckle over the phone about or last names because how ironic is it that Connie Wine would get to know a Connie Beer!! Anyway Connie came to my house for my gathering and introduced my friends and I to CTMH and stamping. I was hooked on the idea of being able to stamp my titles all at once with the letter stamps instead of having to go to a computer or invest in the Cricut that I couldn't afford at the time. I can't remember what my first stamp was but it was the letters that got me hooked!
ReplyDeleteThe stamp that started it all was in the early 80's... I think it was a Hero Arts stamp of a cartoon cat in a Bi-Plane... don't ask me why!! 10 Gazillion stamps later, I still have that silly cat sitting on my desk.
ReplyDeleteI still have my first set. . . prominently above my desk. . . I never used the set until just recently, but I originally bought stamps for the love of the look of stamps as much as their possibilities. . . I {heart} my family is the set name I believe. It isn't marked on the set, but it is a crayon drawing of a house, cat, tree, flower, cloud, grass parts and an adorable sun! Just looking at this set still makes me happy!!! Second to this would have to be the only set I own in both wood and acrylic. . . I Love you Beary Much. . .
ReplyDeleteThanks for the happy trip today! I needed it!
It all begain back in 1998 for me when I saw a D.O.T.S. ad in Creating Keepsakes magazine that showed a small glimse of b/t paper that I knew I just HAD to HAVE!! I called to located a consultant and found who is now a great friend and now 'customer' of mine! She came over and showed me all kinds of things using this wonderful paper but also using stamps. Stamps??? What is THIS all about! I sure don't 'need' yet another hobby! She showed me the R172 Rose Romance stamp. She showed me heat embossing on vellum (ooo-aaaah) and then colored it from behind to make stained glass! Needless to say, it was at that moment that I was hooked! And yes, I still have all of my original wood stamps and have never gotten rid of any of them! I just can't part with my collection of thousands of stamps! lol!
ReplyDeleteMy first exposure to D.O.T.S was with H202 Geraniums and G191 Flower Pot. I love to use masking with the two, color the image, and use glossy accents to make the image pop.
ReplyDeleteTwo stamps that are quite close together in my memory are: One had a jumping frog on it, and the other was a fancy letter 'D'. I loved frogs and just had to have the stamp so that I could stamp it on the backs of my envelopes when I went away to school (late '80's, early '90's) And the letter 'D' stamp I used for my return address...on those same letters.
ReplyDeleteThe first stamp set that I bought and used for my Jumpstart party was Flurries. That was back in 2005 when I signed up as a new consultant. I still love that stamp set! I used it with the Deck The Halls paper packet. I loved our My Acrylix stamps then, and I still love them now!
ReplyDeleteIt all began for me back in 1997 at a D.O.T.S home party where the demonstartor showed stamping with a set (I don't remember the name) that had ivy and grapes! I fell in love with stamping and CTMH at that time and have been stamping ever since.
ReplyDeleteI use my moms stamp set and I like the stamp set with the balloons and the Hip Hip Hooray. I use it to make birthday cards for my family and friends
ReplyDeleteFrom
Kate
I can't remember the name of the stamp set now, but it was a SOM in the Spring 05 IB. That was when I was introduced to CTMH by my friend and now fellow consultant. Pam did the gathering and now she is my upline! I was so amazed how we could make little animals out of the egg stamps! I had so much fun making a chick, dog and my favorite a turkey....all out of the "egg" stamp set!! I am still amazed when other consultants help me think outside the box with a stamp set.....I have been in LOVE with stamping since that day!!!
ReplyDeleteKim
Before I heard of CTMH, I had tried other acrylic stamps and wasn't all that impressed. As far as stamping, I could take it or leave it. Then when I first tried the CTMH My Acrylix Stamps, I was totally hooked! It was SO much better than any of the other acrylic stamps I had every tried. It was so easy to get addicted from then on! It is incredibly difficult, trying to select only the "Must Have's" each time a new Idea Book comes out. My first stamp was Cottage Garden - I love that stamp because it can be used for EVERY season!
ReplyDeleteHappy National Stamping Month! I had been collecting stamps for many years before discovering CTMH. My first CTMH stamp set was the wood-mounted Southwestern one and I used to make a really neat piece of furniture for my mother. I love our acrylix so MUCH that I have sold almost all of my wood mount collection...keep up the awesome work on designing these sets! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy first set was Halloween Dingbats. I bought it on ebay about 7 years ago. I loved it so much, I found a consultant. She drove an hour to give me a catalog, bless her heart! I have been addicted ever since!
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp set was a Happy Birthday wooden set of 4 stamps. When I had a birthday gift to give someone, I always needed a card and I loved being able to make a card at a moments notice. I love the stamp sets at Close to my Heart. Fan Forever....
ReplyDeleteJulie Goodman
Monroe Michigan
I first purchased an all occasion set of mini wooden block stamps. I still use the set often. My daughter and I used it to make her birthday invitations this June.
ReplyDeleteAlfresco was the first stamp that I had from CTMH. I loved the stamp style and I also loved that the stamps were clear.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteWhere it all began for me was once upon a time in DOTS days. I first fell head over heels for Peter Penguin & Terrific Turkey! I saw cards made with them & I HAD to have those stamps! I found a Consultant, was an enthusiastic customer for 2 years then I became a Consultant & have been here for over 11 years!
I would LOVE to see some old "vintage" DOTS designs in My Acrylix!!
Jes Ballas, PA
The first stamp sets I purchased were the Giggle Caps and Giggle Lowercase sets. I was so excited to be able to see where I was stamping and how my letters were lining up. It was so much easier than finding the right color letter stickers and worrying about running out of e's. I liked lining the words up on a block before stamping them and getting them just so. Since then, I have purchased many different sets and I love them all!!!
ReplyDeleteIt all began for me back in 2000...My friend, Liz, who is now a consultant with your company, had begged me for years to start stamping and scrapbooking with her. I love writing and photographs so I knew if I said yes to her, it would become an addiction for me. Liz's family and my family spent a week together at a cottage on Cayuga Lake in NY. In 2000, she brought everything I needed to complete my first scrapbook. She brought the album (engraved with "Lake House Memories"), the paper, the beautiful stamps, inks, and embellishments. She also brought double photos of our vacation at the lake from the past several years. I had no other choice but to stamp with her every night and I fell in love. I haven't stopped since that first night on the lake. I now have several completed albums. Unfortunately, I have three friends with cancer right now. I stamp special cards for them at least once a month so they know I am thinking about them. Like I predicted, my passion for creating is now an addiction. My husband refinished our basement so I have my own room to create in. I have convinced many people to join in to this great past time.
ReplyDeleteBack in 1996, when I started stamping, there were several rubber stamp stores in my area. A friend and I would haunt these stores every weekend and spend, spend, spend. I didn't hear of DOTS until my brother's former girlfriend had a party one evening and I bought several of the texture stamps. Shortly thereafter I became a teacher and many of my stamps were put away as I was consumed by the job.
ReplyDeleteJump ahead to 2002 and I became interested in scrapbooking after a roadtrip to Alaska. As the hobby once again called to me, I turned back to my stamps. At that time, I was also working at Archivers and the acrylic stamps were starting to come in. I wasn't impressed and I was highly resistant to the idea of anything but rubber. It was at the Midwest Rubber Stamp show that I first caught a look at CTMH and booked a show. Once I got my new stamps, I was hooked. They were so much better than the acrylics in the store. I have so many favorites, I don't even remember what the first one was. I do remember the alphabet stamps really got me hooked. Some of my first stamps were Whimsy and Spunky. I also love butterflies and absolutely loved Flutter. Now my area abounds with acrylic as I slowly try and sell off all those bulky rubber stamps!
My very first DOTS stamp set was Super Set, I just had to have it! I loved all the little stamp images, and I purchased a black ink pad and colored pencils to create cards. That was back in 1997. Wow...how times have changed! I joined CTMH in 2000 and love My Acrylix stamps! Thanks Jeanette!
ReplyDeleteThe first acrylic stamp set I ever owned was from CTMH and it was the Girl Scout stamp set with the little girl and cookies. I made the most adorable "thank yous" for everyone that bought GS cookies from my daughter that year (and we sold a lot!) I got so many compliments on them I decided to try out even more CTMH stamps. I have gotten hundreds of more stamp sets since then.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved crafting and scrapbooking but never really stamped, but when I recieved the Whooo Loves you stampset in the mail I was hooked. Those mushrooms were too adorable I had to use them right away. I did a layout for a contest that my CTMH consultant (and my BFF) was having. I had so much fun stamping and cutting out each mushroom to place on the layout. I did post my layout on my blog at: www.downwitdabrowns.blogspot.com It is under October 2008 labeled Charlee Layout. Now my collection has grown and I try to use stamping on all of my layouts!!
ReplyDeleteIt would have to be heartrob which was the Stamp of the Month in Dec. 08. I fell in love and knew immediatley I wanted to become a consultant right away and it's been the best choice I've ever made. I love working for such an awesome company with such creative designs and products.
ReplyDeleteI was first a scrapbooker, and then came to love stamping on my pages. Once I became a consultant, I knew I "needed" to include some stamping (after all, you can't sell what you don't use), but usually tried to just stamp enough to include something stamped. However, when I first stamped with "Playful Flourishes", I really "got it". I used that stamp A LOT (and still do!) -- on pages, on cards, on dimensional elements, etc. I am definitely learning just how fun stamping is!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that BulbsIn Bloom is the stamp set that got me addicted. This one in particular because those were the flowers that my daughter began drawing and I thought how cool it would be to make pages with that set and her drawings.
ReplyDeleteWow, so much fun and to think it all started with stamps!
Denise Wells
mamascollections@aol.com
My favorite was one of the 1st stamps I purchased before I became a consultant. It is Little Treasures. I've used the jar motif for a bunch of different cards and ideas. Thanks for the great stamps Jeanette.
ReplyDeleteI was inspired by Zoo Friends..I have used it to make cards,pages, invitations & cakes! Super cute cakes! I love this set & still reach for it often!!
ReplyDeleteWent to a workshop and used the wood set - I made a baby picture book with 6x6 page protectors and the set that hooked me was Dream Talk - Tiny, wood mounted alphabet set. I loved the idea that I could spell whatever word I wanted and it would look good.
ReplyDeleteIt took a year for the stamping idea to percolate with me and I joined as a consultant a year or so later. By then, the company had switched to acrylic. My favorite set then became A Little Bee.. it's still my favorite.
The Close to My Heart stamp that started my current collection (obsession) was Beauty of Christmas--the first stamp of the month I ever bought. Within months I became a consultant.
ReplyDeleteBefore that I had several DOTS stamps that my mom and I had bought back when I was in high school in the 1990's. I still have a teddy bear magnet that we made at a party:) My mom was even a DOTS consultant in the early days of the company. We have a long history with you Jeanette :)
The first stamp I bought was the D.O.T.S. rocking horse back in 1990 or so. I just loved the catelogs and all the ideas. I was a consultant for a few years and just love your vision and company!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom, my aunt and my friend have tried getting me to scrapbook for at least the last 15 years. My friend took me to a scrapbook store one day about 10 years ago and I bought a bunch of paper but never did anything with it. About 3 years ago, my sister was showing me the close to my heart website, she was buying some retired stuff on there. When her order got here, I was sold! I loved how everything coordinated-paper, stamps, inks and had to place my own order. The first stamp I purchased was "start your engines". All those years ago the other scrapbook companies didn't appeal to me. Then when I was introduced to Close to my Heart I became addicted. 2 years ago my sister and I attended the women's expo in Salt Lake City. I had the opportunity to meet Jeannette after she spoke about Close to my Heart. She is so down to earth and a genuine person. I knew this was the company for me and signed up earlier this month.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it was my first but the alphabet set ( wood mount) that is like kids writing is still one of my favorites especially for my kids scrapbooks. It even has the backwards s. Thanks Jeanette for a wonderful company filled with great stamps that makes it hard to pick one favorite. Karen Hoffman
ReplyDeleteMy first stamp set was a grape and vine CTMH wood set.
ReplyDeleteThat brings back a lot of memories of my first stamp club as a customer.
Jen L.
I've been stamping for over 12 years but I'm fairly new to CTMH, infact this month is my 1 yr anniversary.
ReplyDeleteMy major inspiration came with ALL DECKED OUT. At that time it was the SOTM & I fell in love with it & used it for so much of my Artwork. It just has so many possibilities & is sooooo cute!
I was THRILLED when I saw it returned in this Qtr's Catty.
here's a link to one of the MANY projects I completed w/ the awesome ALL DECKED OUT
https://rebalynn.myctmh.com/MyCTMH/MyArt.aspx?HighlightID=1027735
I'm a Halloween nut and I just love all the CTMH halloween sets. I've gotten them all (yes, all of them!)since I started stamping back in 2000. My favorite has to be the SOTM Happy Haunting. It makes the most adorable cards, a little spooky and a whole lotta cute!
ReplyDeleteThe only stamps I've ever used are CTMH. I love them so much I see no reason to try any other brand!
Christine W.
It all started with the stamp set my mom....I loved that I could add the extra layers and come up with amazing backgrounds. I have never been the same!! I love close to my heart!!
ReplyDelete5 years ago my husband and I went to Graceland. When we got back I was ready to scrapbook all my pictures. Well the trouble was I couldn't find any paper or anything that went with Elvis, Music, Graceland, etc. My mom who was a Consultant for CTMH suggested the "You Make My Heart Sing" stamp set. I bought the stamp and and used Bubblegum, Ocean, and Black paper to make my creation. I was so happy with the results. I was so excited to be able to make my own B&T paper! I walked away with a creation that was all my own and that I was so happy with. At that point I realized the potential of stamps! I realized that this small investment to buy a stamp set allowed me to create a beautiful layout but I could also use it on other layouts, cards, and other creations. I have never looked back and LOVE stamping! I can't imagine life without stamps!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Lamprich