I am the founder of My Creative Classroom. We offer online arts and craft classes to students around the world. I started MCC seven years ago and thus began my journey as a stamp collector. During the early years of My Creative Classroom I barely had time to catch my breath, much less time to create. Unfortunately, I often turn to shopping to meet my creative needs. (I know many of you have done the same from time to time.) Rubber stamps quickly became my favorite creative substitute.
Fast forward to 2013. I have now amassed a large number of rubber stamps. Many of which I have never used. Some still in their original packaging. Do I feel guilty about this? No. I know my intent was good and rubber stamps never go out of style. I don't believe guilt is a helpful emotion and I would rather focus my energy on using my stamps. I still have a very limited amount of crafting time, but I believe I can meet this weekly challenge. What's more...I hope you choose to join me. So let's get started.
If you are a student at My Creative Classroom, then you know one of my goals has always been to help you use your 'stuff'. This challenge is an extension of that goal. The challenge has two components.
- This blog. Every Monday I will post what stamps I will be work with....with pictures of course. And what projects I plan to complete. Most of my projects will be cards, but I will also be creating journaling spots and tags. Every Friday I will post the results....with more pictures. You will be able to join in the fun by posting your own work.
- The class. We will be hosting a free class at My Creative Classroom. During the class you will learn about the challenge in greater detail. It is not just about using my stamps, but also organizing my stamps in the year long process. I will share how I organized my stamps and my stamp supplies and why I am taking the entire year to organize them. I am happy to announce that many of the MCC Faculty will be joining in the fun. You will also have the chance to set your own 2013 goal and 'officially' join the challenge.
- Step by step instructions for my projects. That is not the point of this blog. And it would be to hard not to overlap with the classes we teach.
- I am focusing my challenge on unmounted stamp sets. So you will find only limited use of wood mounted stamps, foam stamps or alpha stamps. Hmmmmmmm....that sounds like a good challenge for 2014. :)
- Pressure-This challenge is meant to be fun. If you choose to participate, and I hope you do, I encourage you to make the challenge work for you. Adapt it to fit your needs no mine. And if you join the class is you can how the participating teachers will be approaching the challenge.
Jeri'
Great idea, I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea this is! I'm quite selective in buying stamps, I don't want to make the same card over and over again, so they must have mutiple ways to use them. But I still haven't used many of them. I was planning to find a way to do so this year and your challenge may be it. The blog and class will remind me of my goal and help keep me inspired
ReplyDeleteI wish there was something like this for all my new year resolutions/goals :-)
I just found this blog and the class. What a great idea! I know I have stamps that I have not used!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for this class! Many things hit home to me on your first post. I hadn't realized until you said it, but I too turn to shopping to meet my creative needs. I don't have much crafting time, but I find shopping time! And thank you for putting out there that it's okay to not feel guilty about it either. I am determined to start using all of my stamping/scrapping supplies and tools, but most of all my stamps (I'm sure I would have in the ballpark of the 300 as you mentioned in a recent post....I'm not going to count and confirm it though!)
ReplyDeleteWow, I can sure identify with you on the whole stamp situation. And I too would like to get a handle on my unmounted stamps. This challenge sounds like a great idea. I'm going to join in.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope I can keep it up!
Today, even though I have the flu, I am managing to look for a class or two and shop. I always seem to find time to shop, shop, and shop. With so many stamps, dies, and lots of paper one would think that I have created 100's of cards, layouts and other projects. Sadly that is not the case, but this is the year for me to change. I had already made the decision to use every die and stamp in my collection. Along the way I shall find more than one way to use each stamp and die and organize. So it is kismet that I found the class along with the blog. I am looking forward to an organized and productive year along with spending less. The excitement of being organized and creative is as good as shopping, really.
ReplyDeleteA friend forwarded this class info to me and I decided to try it. Altho, I spent a GOOD amount of time last yr organizing all my stamps (wood mounted, acrylic and foam)I thought it might be helpful to hear other stampers suggestions. It might increase the usefulness of this new method. The challenge to use at least one stamp from each set is intriging and I anticipate it to be fun. I am also hoping to pick up on other "organizing" tools & suggestions. I watched the lesson one videos and am thinking the key ring idea for organizing the inks could be helpful. I have mine stored by color in a desktop organizer but not always sure which shade is going to work. I am planning on adding this tool to my craft room. My challenge & I hope this comes up in blogs and the class room; is organizing my papers.
ReplyDeleteOrganizing paper can be quite a challenge. While some of the students are taking on this challenge, I will not be discussing in this classroom. That would be Use Every Paper not Use Every Stamp. :) Maybe in the future, but I have to focus on one challenge at a time.
DeleteBe sure to ask the other students how they organize their papers. They have some wonderful ideas.
Jeri'
I, too, collect stamps. I love the images and have ideas about how to use them then poof. My craft room is over flowing with all the things you know we just need to buy, especially if we have a coupon. I can't wait to crack open every stamp set and use it. Collecting stamps and all the goodies that goes with them is my Prozac.
ReplyDeleteI am a newsletter subscriber, and I did NOT get the key!
ReplyDeleteSandy,
DeleteWe have sent out the enrollment key with every newsletter, including today, since we opened the classroom. I am sorry if you have not received the newsletters. Please contact us at support.mcc@gmail.com and we will take care of enrolling you into the classroom.
Thanks,
Jeri'
I am so excited to join the challenge. I spent so much time the last several months organizing my stamps and punches that I never got the time to use them. I also spend a lot of time shopping for new stamps and papers. This year my goal is to use the time I would normally spend shopping on actually stamping.
ReplyDeleteWant to learn more on using Elements. The best teacher is here on line. I do wish she still taught at conventions but I understand why she doesn't.
ReplyDelete