Getting to know you: How long have you been crafting?
 

I am fascinated by how we all come to papercrafting in such different ways. Some of us are new to it, some of us are seasoned veterans. :) I would love to learn more about how you got started. And how long you have been crafting.

Just a little about me... Before papercrafting I was an avid needlepointer and cross stitcher. And almost 10 years ago I took a class from the amazing Jennifer McGuire. And it was all over after that! I was hooked! Probably good that I found a new hobby because these old eyes weren't seeing the needlepoint too well anymore. heehee Since that time I have loved this craft, have had the great privilege to teach classes, and have met some of the most amazing people I have ever known.

How about you?

I have been stamping for about 15 years. A friend invited me to a Stampin' Up party. My supplies all fit in a small plastic shoe box. I was so happy a proud of all my things. Now they hardly all fit in a huge stamp room. I have become very involved with scrapbooking also. I have done lots of different crafts most of my life but paper crafting is what I love most.
I live in a small town in WA state and I'm fortunate to have two local stamp stores plus a small Michael's in town. Most of my friends are stamper also. My best friends I have met through the hobby.

Thanks Kate! Love hearing your story. Isn't it amazing the wonderful friendships that come out of this hobby? I can SO relate to your shoebox vs whole room story too! :)

I started papercrafting in July 2010. I was looking at some baking videos on YouTube and suddenly I saw this video called Finally Friday from Kristina Werner :). And I saw that she was creating a card, and it looked like so much fun! I immediately grabbed some craft paper and some old ribbon and I created a card! A couple of weeks after that I placed my first order on Simon Says Stamp! :) And now I still make cards!

I can see how stumbling on Kristina's work could get you hooked. She is amazing (both as an artist and person - love her!) Stay tuned on the Simon forum because I plan to pull in her videos fairly often - if you don't already subscribe to them!

Crafts is my name!! I have always cross stitched, needlepoint, sew, chocolate making, soap making and many more but then I had a freind take me to a crop! That was the beginning of the end. I stamp, alter and scrap anything I can get my hands on! My children are 9 & 8 and when we all get going there is paper and glitter everywhere!

Venus - I love that you are involving your kids in your crafting. That must be so fun and a great thing to do together.

My kids have been crafting since they were babies. They make all their own birthday cards and for Christmas they make decorations for gifts. I am glad that we can share an activity that doesn't revolve around "technology". Old fashion crafting is good for their creativity!

I've been stamping for 3 years now and loving it! I started crafting when I was a kid and loved cross stitching and that's been my hobby for a looong time. Until I got pregnant and wanted to make a handmade album for my first born, that's how I started venturing to scrapooking world. And now I'm hooked and can't stop wanting a lot of stuff, unlike before only needle,thread and x-stitch pattern I'm all set but now my wish list is like a mile long for so many things that I want, lol! But I love it so much fun!

When I was pregnant and after my son was born ten years ago I couldn't work like I used to and living in the middle of nowhere meant there wasn't many places to go and I just needed a hobby to fill in a bit of time here and there.
A scrapbooking shop was doing lots of advertising and it got me curious and next time I was in town I went in to check it out ... and that was the end of me lol

I was given these little needlepoint kits when I was 8, and that was the same year I was taught to make ornaments out of plastic canvas. My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was 10. I self-taught myself to knit when I was 25 and have done other things such as illumination and calligraphy. I got fascinated by Japanese felt food replicas and started making them about three years ago. I started doing papercrafting about two months ago when I saw cards made with SU stamps on Pinterest and wanted to try making my own. I love papercrafting. I've always adored being around paper and ink, but mainly channeled that love into writing. It wasn't a huge leap at all to start to make cards and other items with paper.

My mom is impressed with the amount of crafting I do, saying that I inherited that bug from my grandmother. Mama also does crafts, but nowhere near the amount I do.

I started scrapbooking on June 27, 2000, discovered the paper crafting community on the Internet in September, 2000.

In July 2001 I went to a Stampin' Up party because I was curious about stamping and how to integrate it into my scrapbooking. I vowed to look and not buy. We all know how that worked out. :D

Fun question! I have always done some sort of crafty stuff.....(anyone remember the potholders made with the loom and loops that were woven, LOL!) Before stamping I was an avid quilter. My mom got me into stamping and I will always remember thinking "what the heck does she need so many stamps for?!"
She brought some stamps, ink, paper and a few basic tools in a small box for me one weekend and I haven't looked back since! Now instead of that small box, I have a small room! That was about 8 years ago and I still love to get all inky!

Since 2000, when my mom passed away. I started scrapbooking her old photos I found in her albums. I always stamped a little starting around that time, but I REALLY started stamping maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I love it!

I love hearing all of your stories. Thanks for sharing them!