The Story behind the News

Okay, I think the fog is clearing from my late night excitement followed by sleeping in really late today. If you haven't figured out yet what a huge fan I am of Clear Dollar Stamps, let me say it again, "I love Clear Dollar Stamps!" I've often felt like a walking (or typing) billboard as I've told people about these stamps. I actually stumbled upon their site a couple of years ago. I was searching the web for Scripture stamps and their name came up in a search. I was immediately drawn to those stamps, and continued searching the site. Let's just say it was love at first sight!

I remember many months ago thinking that I really didn't think I'd like to be on a design team. I looked at the amazing cards these women made and the time they spent making cards. I didn't think I could come close to that.

Then, CDS announced a Guest Designer Challenge and I decided I'd try it out! That was in February or March. I wasn't chosen the first month, and was a little bit disappointed, but knew I had a way to go before I felt confident in my work. I know what styles I LIKE, but honestly, didn't think I could make cards look like these people did. Then I decided I would study the artists and the cards. I didn't want to make cards JUST LIKE theirs, but I wanted to learn what it took to make a "WOW" kind of card.

Also, at the time, we were still living in our old house. I had no craft area. My stamps and supplies were somewhat stored in our bedroom along with half our other belongings. If I wanted to make a card, I had to drag everything out to the living room, which held the other half of our belongings. We lived in just over 1000 sq. ft. and had enough belongings to fill twice that space with my Pampered Chef products & supplies, Phil's computer stuff, toys and homeschool supplies, not to mention my crafting goods. I not only stamp, but have cross-stitched, crocheted, sewn, done fabric painting, etc. for as long as I can recall, and had the goods to prove it! Needless to say it was a chore to actually get set up to stamp, then things got left wherever I used them as the next "emergency arose in the house."

I didn't try out for the Guest Designer spot for a few months when we were moving out of the other house (I did manage to get rid of a LOT of stuff! yea!) and into this one. Some of my "dork sisters" and I tried out again for the July spot, then the August spot. I was TICKLED pink when my friend Karen Lynn was chosen as one of the Guest Designers last month! (Funny story, when I typed that somewhere else she misread it & left out the "L" in tickled. Yep, she thought it said I was TICKED when she got the spot! LOL! I'm still laughing at that).

This month I was really hoping to be chosen, but I had been feeling sick & didn't have the energy I normally have for stamping. I knew WHAT I wanted to make, as mentioned in a prior post, but just wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. Once I got that straightened out, I was able to get 2 projects made. I've also said before I must have ADHD & OCD because my mind goes a million directions with ideas & I MUST finish them. They had to be posted to the CDS blog by 3 p.m. on the 31st. I realized Sunday afternoon, that my husband had taken the camera so I couldn't take pictures to submit. He got home that evening, I took pictures, I blogged & put my cards on Splitcoaststampers. I sat back & relaxed thinking the "hard part" was done. I decided either late, late, late Sunday night or Monday morning, to look at the other entries. It was then I realized I'd left out one crucial step: posting a comment on the CDS blog, which was the biggest requirement of all! LOL! Dork moment for sure!

Last night I kept checking my computer, as if something would magically make it Tuesday morning and I could see who won. Lo and behold, at nearly midnight I got a note from Laurie Wilson, the Design Team leader and Stamp illustrator, stating that Christi & I had been chosen this month! She said we had to wait til Lori M. (yes, they really like the Laurie/Lori names), had announced it on the blog before we could say anything. This wasn't hard for me as far as calling. I figured I was the only one up so late. It WAS hard not to e-mail my friends or post it online.

This morning it became official and here I am! Now, I have my full-time job waiting for me, sick or not, 24/7---my family. So, I'm off to heat up some food. I'll be back to show you which stamp sets I'll be using for my designs.