When I read the PM from Julie, I was in total shock. Soon after, the fear and trembling set in. I have read all the Dirty Girls' biographies, so I know many have had a similar reaction, but I never expected to be on the receiving end myself! Could I deliver on this commitment? After thinking it over and a lot of self-talk, I decided that if Julie thinks I can do this, then I can do this. It's such a great honor and opportunity to be a member of the Dirty Dozen, and I will work very hard to make sure she doesn't regret inviting me.

My name is Linda Bullard, known as labullard on SCS. I live in Troy, Michigan, just north of Detroit, with my wonderful and very supportive husband Bill. We have a six year old Briard (large shaggy French sheep dog) and a nine year old Maine Coon (large shaggy cat). I've always been fascinated by crafting and craftsmanship. I remember watching my father doing carpentry and my grandfather fly fishing (a real art form) and tying flies. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was a girl and I eventually dabbled in knitting, needlepoint and cross stitch. I just always enjoyed making things.

The longest running hobby I've been involved in was training and showing my Briards, from 1978 to 2000, showing several to their AKC Championship. I made some very good friends along the way, and a couple of them are now my stamping friends too. The one dog-related activity I've continued with is Temperament Testing on Briard litters at seven weeks of age, using the P.A.T. (Puppy Aptitude Test). I also had a love of horses and took English Riding lessons for ten years, starting in 1992, which is where I met my husband.

When I took an early retirement from the corporate world in May of 2001, I discovered the Carol Duvall show and was especially intrigued by the paper crafts. I started exploring on the internet, becoming more and more interested in rubber stamping and the art of making beautiful cards. In 2003 I signed up for the Technique Junkies Newsletter and their online discussion group, which was a big turning point for my stamping abilities. That's also when I began to notice being really drawn to cards made with Stampin' Up! images, and through a friend found a Demo. Then in 2004 came the biggest turning point of all: I discovered Splitcoaststampers. Wow, I couldn't believe all the features they offered! I had never seen anything like it on the internet. It was also the first time I publicly displayed any of my cards, because SCS made it so easy to create a gallery and share. And I soon discovered that making new and supportive friends was a wonderful benefit from all that SCS offered. Now I was really hooked! My purchases of SU! stamps and supplies increased dramatically and I signed up to be a discount Demo in January of 2005.

I am mostly self-taught using the internet and stamping publications. I'm a slow stamper, sometimes taking days to complete a card. I relish a challenge and trying lots of different techniques, and have a special fondness of 3D. I spend a lot more time looking (studying) than stamping, and I love every minute of it. I don't usually participate in the SCS challenges, but I always study them and the artwork they inspire. Basically, I find the creative process totally fascinating. I practically live in the galleries because there are so many talented stamp artists here, so much to see and learn every day. And it just keeps getting better and better.