Friday, January 2, 2009

Where Are They Now? Donna Baker

If there's one thing I've learned this past year (don't worry, I learned a lot more than that LOL!) it's to believe that anything that can happen. A neighbor recently reminded me on Christmas Day about my discovering at stamping my first SU! workshop ever 5 years ago, and calling her afterwards saying "THIS is what I'm supposed to do!" I meant just sit down and make cards, not make my own stamps, who'dve thunk it? LOL!

But more than that, I've found how the destinies of others can become entwined with our own in unexpected ways. Donna Baker (who later won my "Just So Hoppy" contest AND the tied with Bee for the fan favorite contest the next month with my tins!!) was the first friend I shared my secret I would be leaving SU! to design for Gina K. At that time she was demonstrating for SU! but not on any design teams (i wasn't either!) It was fun to share that new beginning with someone who loved stamping as I did, and as we both began testing the waters outside of SU! into "the big stamping world beyond" LOL! (Little did I know that just one year later, Donna and I would both be on Gina K's Design team together!) She really threw herself 110% into working with my stamps over the next year, and that really got her noticed by "the Big Lady"*, hee hee! Her story is one of passion and persistance, and I hope it inspires you today...make your dreams come true!


Here's a little more about Donna:
favorite:
Technique
- Coloring (line art images)
Colors/color combo - Pinks, Chocolate brown
Type of project to make that’s not a card? Altered items & jewelry
Gina K set by Melanie: All of them! HA – All the Hip Hops
Gina K sets (from any illustrator) Take Flight (new one free with 3 by Gina K)
(I won’t put you on the spot and ask favorite stamp company, hee hee!) ;) I don’t mind answering this question at all; it is hard to say just one because I like to share my stamping LOVE with Gina K, Stamp a Sweet Impression, Starving Artistamps, My Favorite Things & Cornish Heritage Farms. SU! was my first stamping love but has taken a back seat to all these others – still hanging on by a thread!
Craft supplies I can’t live without: coloring mediums, Basic Grey paper pads & matching embellishments, cute stamps!

I've been stamping for about 6 years

I get my inspiration from a LOT of blogs I read (over 150), SCS & Melanie *wink*

The most important things I’ve learned about stamping/cardmaking/scrapbooking are to have fun & no matter what mistakes you make, they are usually fixable & a personal quote, “If it looks perfect it won’t look handmade”

Some of my stamping/crafting goals are to learn to solder & get published.

Some of my stamping/crafting accomplishments began in March 2008. After winning Melanie’s Just so Hoppy contest in March, Gina K asked me to be guest designer for October and in September she asked me to be one of her Senior Designers. In June, Jessie Rone asked me to be guest prettie girl for Paper Pretties for 3 months, and during July, Tracey Berkey of Starving Artistamps welcomed me on her design team and Taylor VanBruggen asked me to be on her first rotating design team for her new stamps Stamp a Sweet Impression. I have grown so much during this year & I am grateful for the many friendships stamping has played a role in bringing into my life. It’s been such a blast & I know the meaning of the phrase “When it rains it pours” but in a good way!!


Donna has offered to send this beautiful handmade 2 year planner made with "A Year of Flowers" and "Say it With flowers" to one of you! Leave a comment here letting me know about one of your own crafting accomplishments or goals, we wanna hear (and then you have to go make it happen!) and I will announce the winner tomorrow :)! (Don't forget to leave scroll down and leave a comment on this mornings post for a chance to win "And Then I Said', winner announced tomorrow for that tomrrow as well! )

* Gina K , although no one would ever refer to her as "big" LOL!!

101 comments:

  1. My crafting goal is to stamp more often and post on my blog more and by the years end either get published or be on a design team , I know it's a long shot , but one can dream !

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  2. I think my crafting goal this year would be to win an award and may be to be a guest designer. I so enjoy stamping and blogging. My goal is to continue to meet wonderful bloggers.
    Hugs
    Heather

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  3. My immediate goal would be to learn how to color like Donna did/does on that beautiful planner!! It is stunning! Another goal is to learn to shade with the Copics that I just got but havne't had time to play with yet. . .

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  4. .....a crafting highlight for me was having been nominated and becoming the Stamper of the Month on the big Oriental Stamp Art list in '08.

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  5. I love stamping ... I just don't do enough of it to satisfy me or become better at it. I tend to look at my finished project and think that it looked better in my mind than it came out in reality. My goal for crafting this year is to use stamping on a weekly basis in my crafts...either scrapbooking or cardmaking. I believe if I would do it more, I could be happier with my final results. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  6. Beautiful and such a great story too. I recently was asked to be on a design team and I am a little nervous on top of being tons excited. My goals are toget on the design team for 3 other companies I have my eye.

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  7. My stamping goal is to post on my blog regularly and to make my SU business more profitable (I.E. not spend all my profit on more stamps!)Thanks for the chance to win!
    Elizabeth

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  8. I have two goals, to sell more of my art work and to grow in creativity and "coloring"!!!!

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  9. Crafting goals I have for this year include - getting published - which means I need to enter things into various magazines LOL! SO that is something I am going to work on. This is a beautiful planner and what a great story of all the good fortune that Donna has fall her way!

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  10. Stamping for 3 years and won the 2008 Oregon State Fair "Best of Show" for Paper Crafting Division...2009 goal: to expand techniques and share with others.
    Jan

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  11. I just started stamping late last fall, and also went into being a SU demonstrator, more than anything so I could get my supplies at reduced cost..... now I am reading blogs and see there is more stamp sites etc. so I everyday cruise blogs etc to learn how to better my stampin ability.

    More thn anything I want to be able to stamp as you do... and make beautiful things

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  12. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. One of my crafting goals is to get better at coloring and learn how to mask.

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  13. My stamping goal for 2009 is to get my stamp room organized. This is a pretty lofty goal for me since organization isn't my strong suit! I have won several blog candy contests this past year and that was fun. Thanks for a chance to win some great blog candy!

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  14. My crafting goal is to make my attic space my craft room! Have already got some estimates too!
    Happy New Year one and all! Melanie

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  15. One of my goals I just accomplished....but shhhhh...I can't say what it is quite yet. Another is to get published this year. And of course to keep stamping and learning and growing.

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  16. Hi, My goal is to create everyday and possibly consider a blog. I also need to start posting my cards for other people to see.

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  17. Congrats first to Donna on all her accomplishments. My goal this year is to "share" more of what I create. I need to start posting pictures and then actually sending the cards I make. Thanks Donna and Melanie for the blog candy chance. darlene

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  18. My goal is to get published or become a guest designer for a company. I would love to get caught up on my scrapbooking this year too, so will be doing 3 double page layouts a week!

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  19. My goal for 2009 is to explore new techniques in stamping and cardmaking and I'd like to develop my blog. It's pretty basic right now but hopefully I'll learn some ways to make it better. I have some extraordinary people to follow! Happy New Year!

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  20. I want to get organized so I can craft a little every day. SharriC

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  21. my goal is to maybe someday be published or be on a design team not a clue how to do that. also to update my blog and get it out there I made one several months ago but never really did much with it now I have followers and that is very exciting
    Hugs
    Norine

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  22. What a wonderful story! My stamping goals are to get organized (well, complete the notebooks of ideas; items to CASE; techniques; and project plans. AND to finish 2009 Christmas cards and projects by the end of January 2009, so I don't go through again what I went through this year. I've just finished the last cards and presents on Jan 2 - oh my! Think maybe a 2-year planner is a good idea? :-)

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  23. Love your blog...my goal would be to simply learn more and play more!

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  24. My goal is to keep my stamping room neater and to get my swap cards done sooner that (at the last minute)! That goes for birthday, anniversary, and get well cards as well..I may be just dreaming though..LOL
    Carolan

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  25. My crafting goal is to become more confident with the skills I have and to reach out for some new techniques.

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  26. One of my goals this year is to be on a design team. I want to make cards and projects that put a smile on people's faces.

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  27. My goal is to continue to stamp and enjoy myself. I love to read other blogs and learn from others.

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  28. My goal is to be better organized and to not wait until the last minute to make cards. I'm starting NOW>

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  29. A major goal of mine is to actually send cards out!

    It's a good life!
    Terri E.

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  30. I been thinking about it and would love to be published. Just to see a card in print would be so much fun. I love making cards for friends and organizations. At least I hope someone has enjoyed my creations.

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  31. One of my goals for this year is to slow down and take some time to comment on some of my favorite blogs - to pass on some love to all these talented ladies that I love to watch!

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  32. My crafting goal this year is to learn as much as I can about using, blending and shading with copics. There seems to be quite a learning curve and I am on the beginning side of that curve. LOL Thanks for this lovely opportunity and your flowers are beautiful!

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  33. How fun that was to read about Donna! Thanks for posting the "Where are they now?" and I can't wait to read more :0)

    My first New Year goal for my stamping is a simple one compared to most... I just want to get started with my own blog *sigh* and *smile*

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  34. I have not been published...but my goal would be to make more time to stamp.

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  35. I am fairly new to stamping, so my goal is to learn as much as I can so I can improve my skills. :-)

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  36. This is beautiful. Just a striking card! My goal is to participate more in life and get out of my comfort zone more.

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  37. My goal is get my stamp area organized so I can find what I am looking for!! Use it or lose it and finishing unfinished projects!!

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  38. My crafting goal is to stamp/design at least 4 days a week. I would like to think about being on a design team or getting published, but I really don't think that I am "there" yet. Oh, yeah, and then there's the part about I don't handle rejection very well:)

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  39. This year has been a wash as far as creativity and cardmaking are concerned! So my goal is to rejuvenate my creativity somehow and make a lot of cards for family & friends, not only for special occasions but also for "nothing" occasions. Those are the best!

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  40. Thanks to you both, Donna and Melanie, for sharing your stories and proving that dreams do come true.

    Several goals this year:
    Get my blog up and running (almost done),
    finish getting a working studio up and running(halfway there),
    learn the ins and outs and knitty gritty of basic techniques/design skills,
    create original projects and,
    become a guest designer or design team member and lastly,
    embrace the wide diversity of fellow stampers and bask in the glow of their talent and caring hearts.

    Easy Peasy right? - LoL!

    I'll let you know how it went next new years with a special blogcast from my blogging, learning center of a creative studio!

    Organized or not it should be a fun year :)

    Happy New Years everybody and thanks for sharing your goals and dreams.

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  41. My goal is to use more of what I have, that I haven't used! I tend to use the 'old familiar' and need to branch out and 'experiment' more.

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  42. My crafting goal is to scrapbook more (I am really good at collecting paper, kits etc. but not so good on the creating). I would also like to be more organized with my stamps, CS and accessories. My third goal...and this is a dream of mine...is to be a Guest Designer for Gina K. I have many goals besides these, but I know scrapbooking and being organized are in my control and I need to take/make the time to accomplish them.

    Thanks for this interview with Donna, she is awesome!! So talented!

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  43. I'd have to say my goal is two-fold. One, to have a place to call home for all of my stamping "stuff" and two, to do more stamping, especially cards.

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  44. I guess I have two goals (small, but...). First, I would like to be able to continue making birthday cards for my coworkers. I know that sounds silly, but I work in an elementary school and the staff keeps growing every year! Second, I would like to get one of my cards published somewhere... Thanks for keeping me inspired!

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  45. It wasn't really a goal, but I just happened to fall into selling my hand stamped crafts. I would have never in a million years thought someone would want to purchase something I created. My goal this year is to expand on what I create to sell.

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  46. I used to just look at galleries and copy what I saw. I am coming up with my own designs more often now. My goal is to do this more and use more of my stamps and supplies.

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  47. One of my goals this year is to make a card or work in my stamp room everyday as I find it relaxes me. Even if it's putting stuff away or re-organizing, I feel the creativity flowing through me. Thanks for the chance to enter!

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  48. My goal this year is to have stamping classes in my home.I'm not a SU demo, and I would like to teach on my own. In this area, there are NO stampers, so I'm advertising & coming up with idea's. I've passed out 144 complimentary coupons to a free class & I've got ZERO return so far. But I'm not giving up...I will convert these ladies to stampers, yet!!!

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  49. My crafting goal would be to stamp more! I adore crafting for the joy I receive from it - anything else is just a bonus. ;)

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  50. My goal is to learn how to really use copic sketch markers so that my work is beautiful!

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  51. I would love to win Donna's project, it is beautiful.

    My goal is to get good enough that Gina K notices and thinks that I could be a guest designer for just one month :) I'm working on it every day! Being a guest designer for Melanie would be just as awesome!!!

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  52. I dont want to win I just want to wish everyone wonderful new year!

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  53. How wonderful to read all that about you and Donna! It was also fun to get to know more about Donna! One of my crafting goals this year is to be a more active member of SCS. This includes participating more with the challenges, posting in my galleries at least once a week, posting in the galleries of those who participate in the challenges, and posting to my favorite forums. I thought Gina K might be a great place to start! :)

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  54. This is gorgeous Donna!!I love it!!!

    My big goal is to get published(but I have tiny hopes to some day work for some other stamp companies)!!

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  55. My crafting goal is to be better at blogging my projects. I love the creation process but once a card, page or 3d item is finished--I lose interest and am ready for the next challenge. so noone sees what I make but the person I gift an item to. I started demonstrating for SU this year and until last month I was limiting myself to SU stamps but you and several others on the web have so inspired me that i broke down and started buying and using stamps from other companies again. What can I say? Variety is the spice of life and on the web we see so many cool images not avail locally. Ahh... to win the lotto and be able to everything that that grabs your heartstrings.

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  56. My crafting goal is to organize my room and to start making Christmas gifts, I want to make atleast 3 a month.

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  57. You and Donna should have fun working together.
    My stamping goal this year is to use new stamps right when I bring them home or get them in the mail, before I forget what my ideas were for the stamps.

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  58. My goal this year is to get organized and clean up my area! My scrappin and stampin spot is in need of some cleaning! I also would like to get more accomplished.

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  59. My crafting goal this year is to make more time to create. It's my most favorite 'me time' thing to do and I seem to let life get in the way and my stamping projects get pushed aside. I would also like to submit a few projects for publication this year.

    Thanks for being such an awesome inspiration.

    Teresa

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  60. I'd love to find more time for stamping and one of my goals this year is to become much more organized and on top of things. I'd like to have the cards and items ready and waiting for the event, rather than staying up till 2 a.m. the night before to get it all done!!

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  61. Mr craft goal is to use more of the things I already have before I buy more! Blogs are such enablers!! I also want to practice my coloring more with my copics! Practice makes perfect!!

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  62. My stamping goal would be to learn how to to use my color medium to shade more. Their is so many neat blogs out their and I love going in to learn more.
    thanks for the chance to win some candy.

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  63. 'big boss lady' roflol

    My craft goal this year is simple. I just started blogging 12/1. I want to continue blogging 5 cards a week and, most importantly, send them to friends. I used to just make cards when needed, now I'm making cards just because. I want to use them to stay connected old-school style to friends via snail mail.

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  64. OH my GOALS! Such a dreamer, I am. I would love to be published, and start work on a design teamor two this year. I love stamping, and obviously love the BEST stamps, or why else would I be HERE???

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  65. OMGOSH! I wanna win this! I adore Donna's work and she's always been a superstar in my book. I haven't achieved my goal yet, and that is to either be a guest designer, on a design team, or get a card published. Any one of those would make my YEAR!

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  66. I have been stamping for almost 10 years. The past 4 years I have won first place at "Cultural Arta Day" at a Home and Community Educators group from the University of Florida. Maybe it is time to start a blog of my own. time

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  67. My goal is to post more often on my blog. That also means I must start creating more!

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  68. What a gorgeous planner! An accomplishment I've had is making a card for a Valentine contest at work and winning! My goal for this year is to spend more time making cards and making them half as good as those on the blog sites I visit.

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  69. I love flower stamps. This card is gorgeous! My goal is to participate in my challenges. It will be the best way for me to create more, learn more & grow more.

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  70. Congratulations Donna and Melanie for reaching your goals and all of your accomplishments! Both you gals rock!!
    My accomplishment this year was taking the plunge into the blogging world.
    My goal(s)is to get more traffic on my blog and become a guest designer. A long term goal is to be on a design team and to be published.

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  71. my accomplishments are my blog, managing to post nearly everyday, and getting on a design team even if it is a small one. My goals are to branch out past SU! just like you and get on more design teams. I really should try to get published again and I am determined to use my suppliies on impulse. Too often I find myself saving stuff for some other time, project etc. No more!

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  72. I think my goal for this year would be to be published. Probably never going to happen, but that just inspires me to work even harder. I think the best thing about this kind of craft is that I do it for myself - if I never get published that is okay, I know in my heart it was the best I could do and that I had a great time doing it!!

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  73. My first goal is to learn to use my Copics in more dynamic ways and I would really like to get caught up with my granddaughter's scrapbook.

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  74. My crafting goal this year is to be asked to be a design team member for any stamp company that would be willing to give me a chance.

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  75. My greatest dream is to design stamps. I love to draw (and color too) and will often draw my own design if I can't find just the right stamp.

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  76. My goal is to make more often cards and maybe start a blog.

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  77. Hey there Mel! My crafting accomplishment I'm most happy about was getting onto 2 design teams over the last year. Paper Pretties, and the Guest Team for GinaK (and boy do I miss getting the early peeks at your sets!!!) Now that I'm back in the states with a new baby I haven't had quite as much time to stamp, but hope to get back on track in the next month or 2. Keep up your great work!!!

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  78. you're so sweet! Big Boss Lady-HA! Some awesome things happened for BOTH of us last year, huh? Wonder what this year will hold for us?! So excited! love reading all the comments; I hope EVERYONE's goals come to pass-it's a wonderful feeling.

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  79. Well, first to say, I love Donna's work too :) and enjoy visiting her site to see what's new. Crafting goals for this year? Two main ones: Finish 10 cards a month(I know it sounds small, but it's AMAZING how quickly time flies by) and using at least half of my current stash of paper & embelli's (no willpower when it comes to DP's up close & in person - sigh). A secondary goal would be to get published.

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  80. Donna is so incredibly gifted, and I am so very happy for all she has accomplished!! Hugs to you, Donna...and you as well, Melanie!! You ROCK!!

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  81. One of my crafting accomplishments happened back in 1997, back before I really knew what I was doing.I just got back into stamping 3 years ago. I made 108 3-D Christmas ornaments for party favors. They were either hunter green or burgandy with gold embossing. It took 3 images to make one ornament.

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  82. My stamping accomplishment occured this past month. After a robbery in 2007, I finally was able to acquire enough things and to become well enough to start making cards again. It is mainly through donations of scraps and unwanted items from 5 of you! I find stamping and scrapping people to be the most generous and caring souls I have ever had the priviledge of knowing, even if it is only via computer. What joy I am experiencing every day by being able to create even the simplest cards. Thank you for all you do. Linda Crowder Ferris, TX

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  83. My crafting goals include organizing and using what I have, and also to try and find time each day to create something new. Since crafting, (particularly stamping and card making) makes me happy, I'm going to try and set aside me time each day so that I may be a happier person for my family After all, everyone deserves to be happy, right?! :)

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  84. I would have to say my crafting goal for this year is to use my stash, make a lot of cards and do a a lot of scrapbooking - I have lots of beautiful stamps, papers and embellishments - and they need to be used!
    Thanks for sharing - the card is beautiful!
    Sandra

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  85. My goal is to try new techniques & create outside my comfort zone a bit more. I'd also like to get into scrapbooking, rather than just cards.

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  86. goal - improving in cardmaking

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  87. My goals are to purchase more stamps and to make more time to play with them and to also creat a blog for myself.

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  88. My crafting goal for right now is to learn how to use my new Copics!!!!

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  89. Definitely make more time for stamping. I get such enjoyment out of card making, but I never seem to have enough time to pull out some stuff and get to it.

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  90. One of my accomplishments was learning to use Copics - now I use them all the time! One goal I have is to build my stash of cards - seems like I never have the one I need & am making it 30 minutes before I need to send/give it - a lot of stress I can do without!

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  91. One of my goals this year is to learn how to use Copics and get my coloring up to speed. And another is to just have fun scrapping or cardmaking. I love both and just get so absorbed it in. It has ceased to be a hobby and turned into an addiction! :)

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  92. What a beautiful card.
    I would love to have that much talent.

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  93. I want to get more projects done and learn how to use markers/pencils on my projects.

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  94. One of my crafting goals this year is to spend a little time every day working on some kind of craft. I'd like to get ahead in my card-making as well so I have a little stash built up for emergencies.

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  95. My crafting goal this year is to organzie my space more and make atleast one card a day. I also am going to start sending my cards in to see if I can get published.

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  96. All of the work by the ladies are phenomenal! My goal this year is to actually submit some of my stuff to be published and get it scanned and up on the web so that others can se it and help me fine tune it. It would be great to have it published, but if not, I don't want to be what my husband calls a "Wish you had." I've lost two patients this year in their 40s with young children, and it has made me acutely aware of how much we should spend doing things we love, not things we feel like we HAVE to do.

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  97. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to get all my paper arts stuff in one room. By the time I've located the things I need from a bunch of different rooms, the inspiration is often lost.

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  98. My Crafting Goal(s) is to get more people to visit my blog and get on a design team.

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  99. My crafting goal is to buy the cuttlebug, more stamps and to make beautiful cards like yours! Hugs, Moni

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  100. My crafting goal that have almost accomplished is to get better organized. I have tons of great stuff that I never get to use because I have it in a huge pile on the floor of my craft room.

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  101. I've been trying to get my stamping room organized. I want to get that done and then to spend more time stamping.

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)