Coming Out of the Crafting Closet
Ut-oh! Â Say what Kimberly??
Yes. Â Let me confess. Â I am a crafter. Â A crafter who loves ALL crafts especially paper crafts.
I’m pretty sure that most of you will be able to relate to this post as crafters and I hope you will keep in mind my ginormous HEART for all things Stampin’ Up! and NOTHING changes that. Â PERIOD.
BUT… I am a shopper. Â I am a hoarder. Â When I see pretty paper or stamps… I buy it. Â It’s pretty simple. Â It’s almost like a disease. Â If it’s pretty I want it.
This brings me to my very large dilemma.
I love to share. Â I am always afraid to share the “contraband” crafting pretties that I have created. Â Afraid that my long time Stampin’ Up! sisters might look at me with a FREAK look on their faces and ask, “What the heck are you doing Kimberly?”
This fear is so much so, that I use my “hidden” crafting supplies and don’t share.
Two things happen with this. Â 1st- You don’t get to see something I think is really cute. Â 2nd- I feel a big lump in my throat that I’m being a bad girl.
Yes, at 44 I’m feeling shame. Â FOR REALZ.
That’s going to STOP because the reality is life is short, I am enjoying it and I’m going to share that JOY with you. Â PERIOD.
In this big GREAT crafting community that we all love, Â we have an opportunity to share our talents, crafting disease and rejoice together in the beautiful things we make. Â I shouldn’t be stuffed in a closet creating with my pretties. Â I love that I can use my hoarded supplies and coordinate them with Stampin’ Up! … and GUESS WHAT? They look beautiful together.
I think the reason THIS POSTÂ comes to life is from working on some of my Project Life layouts. Â I have Project Life coming out of my ears. Â I can’t help it. Â Becky Higgins has done a phenomenal job with the designers she has chosen and 100% of all the cards I’ve ever seen are a must have. Â I started Project Life prior to Stampin’ Up! teaming up with Becky. Â However, my poor PL cards have a very thick layer of dust on them because my heart said I shouldn’t use them and only Stampin’ Up! Â Ummm… that’s not the way it should BE.
After working on this project that Heidi Swapp started a week ago…. I can’t do it anymore. Â I am loving this project. Â Capture Life. Â If I’m going to be real about capturing LIFE then I’m going to be REAL and use all the supplies I have sitting in this big ole mess of a crafting room I have. Â It’s LIFE. Â My life consists of ALL kinds of paper crafts that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. Â (Read more about Heidi’s Capture Life project HERE.)
Like I said in this previous post, we ALL have a story to tell. The  good, bad and even the ugly.  I love to capture these stories because it leaves me some hope.  On those particular days that I have no hope left… I look back at previous pictures and layouts I’ve created and know there is hope.  That life can be filled with many challenges but we survive.  With our without the superwoman cape on.  Let’s share it.  ALL of it.
So today I am here to share it. Â I hope you don’t mind.
For the last 6 months I’ve been “collecting” my Ali Edwards Story Kits. Â These are stamps and pocket cards and do-dad galore. Â I love them. Â They have sat on my desk for a long long time.
Please someone pipe up and tell me I’m not the only one???
This weekend I brushed the dust off and I fell in love with these pages I created.
All of these layouts will fit into my 6 x 8 Espresso Album using the 6 x 8 Variety Pack of Pocket Pages. Â I love this album because I can decorate the front cover. Â I’m excited about a new 6 x 8 Album that Stampin’ Up! will release on September 1st. Â It’s ALL Kraft. Â Squeal. Â Perfect for making the cover personalized. (Click HERE for Project Life by Stampin’ Up! Kits!)
The biggest question I’ve received from Instagram or my Facebook Page on these layouts (I share daily there) is the printing.
I’m printing straight from my iPhone to my home printer for this particular album. Â Typically I will send my prints through Walgreens or Persnickety Prints is another fantastic choice. Â Both of these companies do different sizes you need.
Honestly, I’m not looking for perfect printed photos. Â I’m looking to get the photos from my iPhone printed. Â Then I can tell my story.
It’s another beautiful way to create.
Will you join me? Are you doing this challenge? I’d love to hear and see your story.
Of course, I pray this post didn’t ruffle any feathers.  Let me be clear… I love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator because I absolutely know we have fantastic stamps, ink and paper.  The best… really.  BUT I’m stepping out of my crafting hiding closet because I know that Stampin’ Up! products coordinate beautifully with SO many other great products in this amazing industry.
Stay tuned… there will be more pages coming. Â This is a journey and one I’m totally enjoying.
#truth
#feelingrelief
XOXOXO
21 thoughts on “Coming Out of the Crafting Closet”
I am with you Kimberly! I love Stampin Up but there are so many, many wonderful products out there and I use them all. All of my projects, cards or scrapbooking layouts, are a mix of Stampin Up products and whatever else I have on hand. For me, I can’t wait to see EVERYTHING you do!
Amen!!! When I first started scrapping I felt like I was playing with Legos and duplos-nothing went together. Then I discovered SU and fell in love. But as much as I love them, I see other pretties that spark my creativity. If it works with my core SU colors, it’s mine. I felt the same way when I was a demo!
When I read your Post it felt like I could have written it. Thanks for sharing! You are right! As much als I love my Stampin’Up! stuff there’s a lot more in my craftroom that I also love.
Yay! I can’t wait to see more of your beautiful inspirations. Thank you for always keeping it real!
Love your transparency and everything you create, Kimberly. Thanks for sharing from your heart.
I love what you’re doing. I buy, buy, buy supplies, and they are all sitting around in boxes and bags. I never manage to pull them out and use them. Always too much grading and class prep to do. Maybe one day…
I too, will come out of the closet & tell the world I use other products in addition to SU. I started with traditional scrapbooking, now I’m into MMS (still using MDS) plus Project Life on my iPad. I have boxes of PL cards that are collecting dust & like you, should pull out of hidding & use. And I’m a hoarder of paper. There you heard it from me. Boxes of paper plus SU collections that could qualify as a store in itself. Kimberly, continue to share all of your creations. Everything you do is so inspirational & creative. Plus, it’s nice to have you “back”.
Amen sista!!! I have way too many shoebox containers full of “other” Project Life cards to NOT use them!!! It’s a fantastic system, with lots of beautiful cards. I AM glad Project Life and Stampin’ Up! joined forces in so many ways. You can’t beat the quality of the Stampin’ Up! pocket pages! Beautiful work as always! 😀
Most of my supplies are Stampin’ Up! and I got rid of almost all of my non Stampin’ Up! supplies when I became a Stampin’ Up! demo. But I still have LOTS of pretty paper. I love pretty paper!!
Can I think more of you as a demo and excellent designer? Well, I didn’t think it was possible until I read that you busted out of the excellent, but small, universe of SU. YEAH! SU plays well with others, and the options from others is endless, trendy, and infinite in color. I started in the big universe of papercraft, and years later began looking at to SU for cardstock and tools as well, however, I never discontinued buying beautiful, quality papers, ribbons and accessories from the other companies. I love that you came from the closet and admire the many other limitless, beautiful things in the paper craft world.
Oh I could kiss YOU!!! I’m with you. Seriously love all things paper. I have it in abundance. It’s a sickness for me. LOL. XOXO
Absolutely Eveline. Most of my craft room is Stampin’ Up! and you can never ever beat the coordination. But I’m a sucker for paper, cute stamps and… well I guess all things cute. LOL. XOXOXO
Ha ha ha. Oh Faye, I love you too. I’m having a big ole come out of the crafty closet. But seriously. It’s like a bad word to say if you are a demonstrator. As if… we liked other things… Oh dear. I wish I didn’t like all things crafty but it’s the truth. I love it all. XO Most of all I just want the happiness. That’s what it boils down to for me. Hope your sweet husband is doing well. XOXOXO
Ha ha. Traci, I’m with you. I buy buy buy. Oh dear. Do I buy. Ugh… I hope you can find time to play too. I know life is so so so busy. I do know this. I think I’ve sacrificed a little too much sleep this week to get my craft on but it sure did feel good.
Mary Lou, thank you for being a loyal reader. You don’t know how much THAT warms my heart. XO
I’m on a roll right now. I am hoping to see more time once the kids are in school but I will tell you I’m a little worried having a high school student this year. Oh JEEZ. XOXO
I think many feel this same way but are fearful of the “look” we may receive when we play outside the sandbox. It really boils down to happiness for me. If it’s making me happy, then this is a GOOD thing. Happiness is needed in this awful fast pace life. XOXOXO
I’m like a squirrel in a craft supply store. It’s bad bad. LOL. Then take me to an office supply store and it’s worse. OH MY WORD.
I look at like this… if you are crafting then this is a GREAT thing. XOXOXO
I am a Paper Ho. There I said it. They need to create a 12 step program for this! I also will mix Stampin’Up! with contraband. I can’t help it….There is just so much temptation out there in the big box stores! I DID donate a lot to a teacher friend of mine, she was grateful…I mailed 2 boxes loaded to her (Thank God for one rate priority mailers!).I had to make room for the Holiday Catalog stuff! That is going to break the bank for me…so much to choose from…so many ‘I wants’…Narrow it down? What? No way!
I love your story! You are so creative and such an inspiration to me!
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