Welcome!! I have crafted all my life, but I recently started stamping and became an SU! demo in July of 09. I have a blog where I post ideas and videos too that you can look at, and I was like you and felt overwhelmed with what to do with all those products!
When I started, I had never attended a workshop, stamping event, or anything! I was really new! I was creating paper crafts before, but adding in stamping was very new.
Mainly my advice is to start with what you have. I thought I had to buy stamp sets that would work for each type of card I would need, get some of all the cardstock, all the ink...yes, I invested a bundle. What happened is that I haven't used all the stamps yet, haven't used all the paper yet, and I am still trying to figure out my style.
I have learned that I need to only buy the embellies, stamp sets, paper, etc. that absolutely speak to me. I will pick out a wish list on one day, wait two days, and then go back through and make a new wish list. By then my ideas may have changed. I mark off and merge the two wish lists into a much smaller order. For example, my occasions mini order was smaller than my Holiday mini order, but I have used EVERYTHING that I bought this time!
Make some cards, tags, gifts with what you have right now. Look on this site for ideas. They even have some stamp sets broken down and you can see hundreds of card ideas using the stamp set you have! Spend time looking at blogs of people who use the same type of products you use.
I also made a friend with a girl who was new like me and we have learned together. She is completely across the country form me, but we email and ask each other about everything!
If you have any questions, please email me! I always have room for another friend!
Good luck!
Where to start? Newbie here...
