321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Stylish Blogger Thanks

I got an email recently from Diane Allen passing along the Stylish Blogger award. It was so nice of her and you can check out Diane's wonderful blog and stamping ideas by clicking here. This nice recognition comes with a request to share some things about yourself and then to also pass the honor along. I let Diane know that my fellow 3-2-1 Stamp team member Mickey Roberts was nice enough to give me this same honor in January. So since that was so recent, I'm just going to link back to that post as not much has changed and there are links there to some great bloggers that I shared then. Thanks Diane -- and I will say I am inspired by so many people who share online. There are a ton of very Stylish Bloggers out there and I thank you all for sharing so many great ideas.

Thanks Mickey!

"Oh Mickey, you're so kind, you're so kind, you blow my mind, hey Mickey!" Had to alter that well known 80s song lyric a little to say thanks to my fellow 3-2-1 Stamp team member, Stampin' Up demonstrator Mickey Roberts. She was nice enough to gift me with this nice blogger award at the beginning of this new year and I'm just now getting around to saying thanks.

Mickey is such a talented blogger and I hope you'll check out her blog by clicking on her name or the link is always in the right column of my blog under "Blogs I Browse." The award requires that I tell you 8 things about myself and that I then share links to 8 bloggers who inspire me. That one is tough as there are so many who inspire me. OK here are 8 things you may or may not know:

1. I just survived a wonderful weekend outdoors with other great Girl Scouting volunteers to go through Outdoor Skills training so my daughter's Girl Scout troop can go camping. I'd done this training 26 years ago as a Cadette leader and it was fun and very educational to do it again, even if it was freezing last night in central Florida! Our trainers were aswesome and the food we cooked was yummy.

2. I've been a Stampin' Up demonstrator since fall of 1997 after I was introduced to the company at my Mom's support group when my son was just about 9 months old. I was already a long time rubber stamper and was so impressed with the quality of the stamps and the prices of the sets -- and I loved the color coordination. So I signed up "just for the discount" and the rest is history.

3. Our son Houston turns 14 on 1/14 this week -- and he was named for the first word from the moon, "Houston, Tranquilty Base here. The Eagle has landed."

4. That famous Neil Armstrong line has great meaning to me because I watched that moment in history as a transfixed kid in 1969 and then grew up to be a television journalist who specialized in covering America's space program for more than 6 years of my career, including a stint at the NBC affiliate in Houston.

5. Go Gators -- ok, everybody who knows me knows I love the Florida Gators. It's my alma mater plus I taught Journalism there and just love everything about my memories of the Gator Nation.

6. I married a Tennessee Volunteer -- 'nough said and proof that us Gators can love our rivals.

7. I grew up in West Virginia but my mom is a Florida Native. We lived on a hill with a road frequently closed by snow so I did my share of parking at the bottom and walking home. Now I have Florida blood and put on gloves and a hat if it's 50 degrees -- I'm a wimp I know.

8. I'm of Minorican heritage, which means my ancestors were from Minorca, a small island off the coast of Spain. They were early settlers of St. Augustine, Florida (the nation's oldest city) and I'm very proud to have graduated from that high school.

OK -- enough random trivia about me. I am inspired by so many stampers out there in cyberspace (including all of the ones who Mickey named already), but since I have to narrow it down, here are 8 bloggers who inspire me, in no particular order.

Kimberly Van Diepen

Dawn Olchefske

Diana Gibbs (on Mickey's list as well, but Diana is so funny I had to mention her again)

Heather Summers

Karen Barber

Diane Simpers

Mary Brown

Robin Merriman

Thanks again Mickey. And I could go on and on about all the inspiring bloggers out there who share so graciously on their blogs. So be sure to check out the bloggers Mickey honored and thanks for stopping by.

 

The name of my blog

Have you ever wondered why my idea blog for my Stampin' Up business is called 3-2-1 Stamp? I live on Florida's space coast — home of space shuttle launches for the past 28 years and of course Apollo, Gemini and Mercury missions before that. Space is in our blood here. The space shuttle program will end next year. It's a sad time, as workers lose their jobs — especially a job that's so much more than that. Working on the shuttle program is a calling, something people approach with a passion that routinely brings tears to the eyes when you see a launch.

I met my husband while I was covering the space shuttle in the 1980s as a television reporter for Orlando's ABC affiliate and then for the NBC affiliate in Houston, Tex. While I've moved on from day-to-day reporting, Bill is still a reporter and the space analyst for CBS News. His work makes us so proud. Today NASA shared a You Tube video that celebrates the role of the news media in the shuttle program's history. I know this is not a video about stamping, but it is a video that celebrates the inspiration of my blog's name. Yesterday, the House approved funding for a third and final shuttle flight next June. Godspeed to America's astronauts as they ride out this great adventure and prepare for a future that includes trips to the International Space Station on Russian rockets while America re-works its human spaceflight program.

I had to share this video that celebrates all we hold so dear here on the space coast, where our area code is incidentally 321. And oh, yeah, I like that first reporter you'll see in here quite a lot. Enjoy the ride!

Edited to add: The original video embedded here was on You Tube and that has been removed by someone. To watch this you now have to go to NASA's website. Click here to do that and then look under the NASA Multimedia section and in the Videos area you'll see one called "Covering the Shuttle Program" that includes the video that my husband is part of. If navigating NASA's site is too tricky, then click here to view the video on our local newspaper Florida Today's website. Also Bill's CBS News space website can be found by clicking here.

New Stampin' Up Retiring Lists and a great special for becoming a demonstrator.

It's June 1 and that means Stampin' Up has announced its annual lists of retiring stamps, home decor items and accessories -- items available only through June 30.

CLICK HERE to go download the retiring stamp and home decor lists.

We make our own stamps and home decor items so those don't sell out before June 30.

But because accessories are from outside vendors, those are while supplies last and you'll want to check those out in my online store so you know what is still available -- and best of all what's on sale as some are! To see the accessories that are retiring, please click on the Order Online link in the upper right of this blog -- then click on SHOP NOW and then you'll see the LAST CHANCE link in the store's left column and can easily browse and order accessories right there. If you're already a customer and would rather email me or call with your order, then please do so of course.

Also announced today is a great Mini Starter kit -- at $99 it's half the price of our normal starter kit and includes all the regular business supplies plus a box of this year's catalogs and a free box of the new catalogs that will begin July 1. It includes an assortment of creative stamps, inks and papers that can be customized as well. Click on the photo link to see the starer kit form and what you get.

You can email me to sign up or sign up online through my demonstrator website by clicking here. The code you will need to sign up online is 321stamp. Feel free to email me with questions about the demonstrator opportunity. It's a great way to earn extra money or just get a discount on your own orders.

I always love retiring time -- even though it can be hectic and it's sad to see some favorites go, I love the excitement surrounding what's new! If you don't already have a demonstrator and would like to reserve a new catalog that's due out July 1, let me know!

A new look & it's moon landing day no less!

I wanted to thank Michelle Laycock for the new blog look. What a coincidence that this would be ready to unveil on today, the 40th anniversary of the moon landing! I know Michelle caught the significance of today as well in her posting for today.

I happened to have been the same age that my daughter is now when we landed on the moon (9) -- and I can still remember watching that grainy black and white TV image and my parents waking us up to see Neil Armstrong step outside. Little did I know then the role that the space program would play in my life. I grew up to be a television reporter (in a former career) who covered the space shuttle program -- and my husband still does as the very knowledgable space expert for CBS News. If you want to know anything about space, just check out Bill's website here. He's the best there is (and he follows in the footsteps of some great space journalists we've known and loved.) On the space coast, the anniversary of Apollo 11 has been a big deal -- and it's wonderful to see it get so much attention everywhere. Thanks again Michelle -- and hope everyone likes the look. And now you know a little bit more about the meaning of "3-2-1 Stamp".

Check back tomorrow to see my groovy new watermark on a cute Big Shot die cut project!

Nice Blog Thoughts

Virginia Killmore was kind enough to let me know that she had nominated me for an "I love your blog" award on her blog that you can check out here. Thanks Virginia. These online awards ask that you pass it on and share it with other bloggers. There are so many stamping related blogs that I visit, many of them wonderful Stampin' Up ideas, that I could never narrow it down to just seven I love. So I'm going to share some other blogs I love to visit from time to time for creative inspiration or just for fun. Thanks Virginia and happy blog hopping! Take time to be creative today.

The Pioneer Woman - a unique, well-written blog with recipes, photo tips and her real-life love story.

Cathy Zielske - Simply Scrapbooks creative director offers up wry wit and design tips

Stacy Julian - love this Simple Scrapbooks founder's approach to scrapbooking and life in general. I want to be her when I grow up!

Donna Downey - be inspired!

Alicia Paulsen - Posey Gets Cozey at this visual feast for the eyes -- a fabric lovers dream.

Etsy - okay, this may be a website and not a blog, but I love the idea of supporting crafters through this online "crafter's market". Need a custom, handmade gift? This is the place to start.

Ali Edwards - a life story star and inspiration. If there was only enough time... she would say to make time!

A new blogger in town

Stop by and visit new blogger Diane Noble. She has some beautiful things to share! Just click on her name to check out her site. Welcome to the "blogosphere" Diane!

Rockin' Blogger!?

A very creative blogger named Jen was nice enough to nominate me as a Rockin' Girl Blogger. I had to laugh, as I'm not sure how rockin' I am -- but I always tell my kids and hubby that I used to be! So I'm supposed to nominate five others who haven't already been tagged by someone else. Also check my right column "site I browse" list for inspiration places I love to visit. And be sure to click on any name in this post to go check out their rockin' blogs. Thanks Jen!

1. Michele (she rocks in person as well!)
2. Chris (always inspiring ideas)
3. Linda (designs and writes from the heart)
4. Erika (who defines rockin')
5. Pam (creativity plus)