i've been stamping for about 15 years. at first it was all about starting my collection and having a variety of images. i signed up with stampin' up! in order to do just that - can you believe we had no michael's in new orleans? i shopped at stamp stores in florida whenever i visited my cousin, and i was so jealous! finally a michael's came to town, as well as a couple of scrapbooking stores, and eventually, i started branching out. i found myself away from home for about 4 months (thanks, katrina) without stamps or any crafting supplies at first, but i picked up a laptop along the way to stay connected. so of course i got hooked on splitcoast galleries and then blogs, which were starting to gain popularity at the time. i decided that blogging would be a good way to showcase my invitations and stationery designs for easy access to customers and i could share stamped cards too - bonus! it took me a little while after moving back home to get started, but once i did in january of 2007, i was hooked. i stamped almost every day at times, sharing my printed work, cakes, and parties as well. the collecting continued in order to keep posting, i fell in love with specific companies, and then i was asked to join a couple of design teams. all of that adds up to a lot of stamps!! and i've never sold a single one. i worry that as soon as i do, i'll need it for something - crazy, i know! eventually, i may get around to pruning the collection down, but i have fond memories of so many images. i can actually picture myself stamping with some! of course, i'm still buying (and designing!) new things, too, but that doesn't mean i have to throw out the old, right? so i figured that for now, i'd have a little fun and stroll down memory lane from time to time with a new stamping feature i've decided to call way back wednesday - not very original, i guess, but it is what it is. i'd like to say i'll do this every wednesday, but work takes over sometimes. i have lots of old favorites to keep me coming back, so i'll definitely try!
i decided to kick it off with the very first stamp i owned as an adult, fish lips by all night media. my friend melanie gave it to me - i know i had a thing for fish, and i've always been crafty, so i think that was why she thought it was perfect for me. i may have already been designing stationery at the time, but i was definitely not stamping yet. i'm pretty sure i kept it on my desk in my first grade classroom and i don't think i stamped with it for a very long time. but i love that i still have it! she's always kind of reminded me of the rainbow fish, so that was the inspiration for my cards today. i started off with a very simple design showcasing her one-of-a-kind rainbow appeal, standing out among others. it's hard to see but she has shimmery glitter pen details on her fins and spots and lips to make her stand out even more. and then with a fun wave washi + a few sequins, fish lips has forgotten all about that little ©1989 on her wood block, swimming right into 2K13! do you remember your very first stamp? and even better, do you still have it?!
:) lexi
