As of a couple of months ago, my new catch phrase became Oh. My. Word. Here’s how it started:

I got an email from Jenn asking me to give her a call to just “chat”. I thought, “Oh. My. Word, I’ve stirred up something or said something I shouldn’t have in a forum, like trying to lead people to believe it’s ok to use naked buttons on something and maybe I shouldn’t have said the word Naked.” So admittedly, I waited a few hours before giving her the dreaded return phone call, so that hyperventilation would not be perceived on the other end of the wireless network, nor would she be able to hear my heart pounding! I’ve never liked getting in trouble. (I wonder if Jenn has a complex with all these people thinking she’s the strong arm and is going to lay down some law, when all she really wants to do is “chat” and ask if you want to get dirty?) Anyway, I called her back after making sure my girls were good and “shusshhed”, so that I’d be able to take my lashing appropriately and with my full attention. I really don’t remember how we got from “chatting” and me waiting to get my comeuppance (which of course never happened), to “How would you like to be on the Dirty Dozen starting in September?”. All I know is that “Oh. My. Word” crept into my head immediately and I said yes without hesitation, as I had been secretly hoping it would happen for me for the last couple of years!! Hyperventilation and heart palpitations quickly followed after we got off the phone and all I could say was Oh. My. Word with lots of jumping up and down!! I still can’t believe it’s really happening! I’m honored to be here. Thanks, Jenn! Call me any time.

Anyway, now that you know that little “backstory”, here’s a little bit about me:

I was born and raised in Houston and Katy, Texas and moved to the North Texas area when I was twelve and am still here in Watauga, Texas, close to Fort Worth. I’ve been married to my sweetheart, Eric for 10 years and we have 3 girls—Shelbie is 17 and a senior in High School, Lindsie is 8 and in third grade, and Audrie is 5 and just started kindergarten. (Yes, a senior and a kindergartner at the same time—what was I thinking?). I was in banking and worked for Bank of America (the Bank of the Northern Hemisphere) for 18 years until I had Audrie and became a Stay at Home mom with my husband’s full support and lots of sacrifices, but it was always my dream and I absolutely love it!

I’ve pretty much been crafty most of my life. I started out learning to sew on my mom’s sewing machine which was actually her mom’s, when I was 6. I made quite a few Barbie clothes and as I grew, made my own clothes and a wedding gown. I’ve always loved art and drawing, and would color my coloring books start to finish in one sitting. From there, painting was my passion; mostly tole and acrylic, for which I took my one and only art class as I never wanted someone telling me what to make or draw and what medium I should be inspired to use. After my daughter, Shelbie was born, I started scrapbooking and everything else took a backseat. I’ve completed over 15 albums and still do that occasionally at retreats I go to annually. I was introduced to stamping about 8 years ago and really didn’t like it at all (I thought it was silly, can you believe it?), so back to my scrapbooks I went. Then a couple of years later, was reintroduced to it by some girlfriends from my church, and fell in LOVE because of the wonderful lady that was teaching at the class that night and I’ve been stamping ever since.

It was then that I discovered Splitcoaststampers, and really started to teach myself the craft (and collecting supplies) and loving every minute of it! I’ve found new friends here (even a best friend) that support, teach, inspire and encourage me to keep stamping and I thank every one of you for that. I’m so excited to see this dream of being on the Dirty Dozen come true. Thanks for inviting me, Jenn, and I can’t wait to see where this stamping journey leads me next because I’m not even about to stop!