My real name is Deborah, and I'm currently living in Indiana (one of the flatter, less attractive States). I have a husband of 20 years (Bill) and a 6-year old daughter named Grace Gabrielle - or "GiGi" as I like to call her. (I also call her Stinkerbell and Brat-ella on occasion, but I'm saving those stories for the thread about Living With Crazy Short People.

I was a college professor who became a lawyer that discovered she didn't really like confrontation. Yeeeeeeah. Go figure. Now I'm a consultant and private contractor working in the energy field.

I have an Airedale Terrier named Bisquit (he is a hoot) and a cat named Puddin' who does nothing but lay around and eat bon-bons all day.

Well my name isn't that hard to figure out from my ID. Its Lysa (that's just Lisa with a y for those of you- if any- wondering how it's pronounced!) I live in Arizona a very HOT state- but its a dry heat as people like to say!

I've been married for a whopping 7 months as of yesterday :). I have no children of my own-yet, but many nieces and nephews that I absolutely ADORE!

I spend most of my free time mainly now making cards for all these awesome challenges, scrapbooking, decorating my house, and shopping- I love finding a good bargain, and of course being with the hubby!

Hi all my name is Paula. I live in Nambour Queensland Australia (very hot & humid in summer). I am married & have a 21 month old daughter, Emma. Who I call rat-fink a lot (poor kid), she is also known as delema (as in dear little Emma). I have two very spoilt cats who have seven legs between them - Tom (3 legs) & Smudge who seems to get called Bludger a lot. I'm a stay at home mum, who scraps & makes cards between doing things with Em.

Woops I forgot Deborah I got such a laugh reading what you had written.

My name is Tara and I currently live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I was originally from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I have two children - Jillian 16 and Alexander 11. I moved to Toronto when I met my hubby. We have one dog - Enzo and he's a beagle (cutest thing ever). I was a stay at home mom for 10 years and now I work part time (early mornings) at our local Grocery Store.

Hi I'm Aussie Julie. I live out in Perth. I have beem married now for 8 years and have a 7 year old dd who is a cheeky little ratbag at times but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I work 3 days a week in a childcare center. Have been there for nearly 20 years now. I will be hoping to get into something scrap related in a shop when I am of on long service in about 8 months time and give child care the flick.

Aussie Julie

Hi All, my name is Beverley and I live in the UK. I am 29 and live with my partner (not married yet!) and we have been together 9 years. We now have to cats Mysterio and Spike. I am a qualified nurse by trade and now only work part-time (2 twelve hour shifts a week) as I am also doing a BA (Hons) Degree in Textiles and Surface Design. I eventually want to pack in nursing and be a full time designer.

Hi everyone. I'm Lin (actually Linda) from Canton, OH, also another boring flat state, originally from Pittsburgh PA. I have been married for 37 years this Friday, June 6, and we have 2 wonderful sons, both in the computer field, who live in Texas and California, so we have great places to visit! I was a stay-at-home Mom for most of their growing up, then worked for a few years before my husband retired in 2003. Was diagnosed with breast cancer a year later, but survivied that thanks to his help, and am loving life! I enjoy both quilting and card-making because I get to play with colors. We love our gardens and travelling as much as we can, and we are both avid readers. I am becoming addicted to this blog because of all the wonderful ideas you all are submitting each week. Hope this never ends!! I also love that we are such an international group. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Hi Everyone! I just LOVE this!
I'm KAREN from Michigan (in a little suburb outside of Detroit) and so HAPPY to meet everyone of you! I know that I have shared "bits and pieces" about myself, but there's always "room for more" (is that like, Jello?). I'm a stay at home Mom, married almost 18 years (married very late in life!) to my husband Ron (engineer who see's the world in black and white---while I LIVE in FULL COLOR), and our daughter, Molly is almost 16 years old. Since staying home is my LIFE, I've made them my "everything"... that's why I'm thrilled to meet some new friends, although I'm not getting much enthusiasm over here for my "Fake Friends", as Molly believes." YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE REALLY ARE" and insists that one of you could actually be HER pretending to be someone other than herself....hmmmmmmm. She's probably just worried your honing in on HER territory!! And I'm not allowed to tell you ANYTHING about HER! She figure skates, keeps me "in line", and thinks that I could have my very own REALITY SHOW!! She also wants to go into CRIMINAL JUSTICE ( --how fitting!!). We have a bunny named, Cupcake. He's very old, blind and has been such a loving companion for me (although I wasn't ready for a bunny "pet", a few tears from my husband convinced me, I BETTER say, "YES". Ron found him outside of our home). I'm a lunch mom (official title: noon supervisor) and have been for 11 years----it gets me dressed and out EVERYDAY! There are benefits, as the kids like to follow me around (makes me feel just like SNOW WHITE) and draw me pictures, etc., so if you too stay home, please consider this CAREER! All of the children are "sweet peas or honey's"...if I know your full name that's NOT A GOOD THING! On the more serious side, I've got a Brother with cerebral palsy and a Mom with Parkinson's and a loving Dad who cares for both of them. Two words that would describe me, COMPASSIONATE and BLESSED beyond words. Welcome to my little world :) Oh, I'd LOVE to have you all over to my home!!!

So many midwesterners on here! My name is Kelli -duh ;0)- and I too am an Ohio girl. I live in a suburb of Columbus with my 14 month old son, hubby of almost 3 years, and our precious Jack Russell terrier Caesar (big name for such a little dog). I work full time (YUCK!) and dream of one day being able to craft full time. I ADORE this blog and love hearing such wonderful things about all you- we are such a diverse group. Visiting these blogs are my boredom break from work (I can't believe they haven't fired me yet :0)!!! ) I must say that I have never encountered such tremendous talent- you are all amazing and it is a privelege to share this experience with you!!

Good morning, all. I can honestly claim "Sweet Home Alabama", as I live in Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville is known for its significant contributions to the space program. The Saturn rocket that took us to the moon was developed here and the space program continues to be very important to our area. Karen,, this town is full of engineers and rocket scientists! Northern Alabama is beautiful country! We retired here two years ago, having left the cold winters of Wisconsin (and unfortunately friends and family, too). Before we retired here we were full time RV'ers for several years then divided our time between Casa Grande Arizona and campgrounds in Wisconsin for several years. Finally gave up the schizophrenic lile style for a brick three-bedroom ranch on the same street with my widowed sister. It is good to have her in my life! I am also a breast cancer survivor, Lin, and treasure each day! I have more passion than talent for rubber stamping, but it has been the constant during the big life changes since retirement! I don't worry when I am stamping .. and otherwise, I tend to worry!! This blog has become what my stamping buddies used to be in my life. A place to share the fun of creating something cute or beautiful! People who understand the "need" to own rubber stamps and the "stuff" that goes along with them. I cringe when people tell me how much moeny I must save by making my own cards!! I do send out lots of cards to friends, family and others I know of needing a bright spot in their day. When I was diagnosed, I remember how the cards from others lilted my sagging spirits! I visit this blog several times daily, and love catching up with all of you. I don't often comment, but today I needed to authenticate the "Sweet Home Alabama" title!! Congratulations to this wees' winners! And thanks to all of you for the giggles and smiles! I have no funny pets, children are grown and gone and grandchildren live "up North" as we say! I recently gave up my part time job and am loving being home and luxuriating in all the time I want to stamp! I have learned so much from the HA blog and it has generated new enthusiasm! Today I am off to Hobby Lobby to purchase a Cuttlebug. I tried the rolling pin method, and while it works, I don't want to work that hard!! By the way, Judka is my sister's term of endearment, using the Polish version of my name, Judy. Have a great day, everyone. Thanks for the sisterhood!!!

A little about me ... my name is Ashley. I live in Bothell Washington (suburb of Seattle), I'm 27 years old and have been married for a little over 4 years. I have a 9 month old son and am a SAHM. Before having my son I worked in finance for a major bank in the area. I have a degree in finance and economics....goes well with crafting, huh?

What a great idea! I know I don't venture to to message board here as often as many as you but you still make me feel welcomed when I do. My name Sarah (obviously), I'm 31, a SAHM, married 9 years June 12th, and have 4 kids. 3 are boys and 1 girl. Our oldest is 5, the 2nd is almost 4 and our boy/girl twins are 20 months. Coming here and participating in the challenges is my 'therapy'. ;) I live in Ontario, Canada (about half between Karen and Tara).

I'm Arlene, living in mostly sunny California, working in Sacramento, capital of California. I've lived here off and on since I was 16, born in Pennsylivania. I love the area here, 2 hours from the mountains and 2 hours from the ocean. We had a snow fall of 1 hour here 4 years ago and everyone was at the windows oohing and ahhing. I walked out my door and my first thought (honest) was "what is this white stuff)? Everyone talked about it for a week. It was a fun experience. No, I don't want to live in the snow... a special visit is all I need - I can see the snow on the peaks of mountains in the winter... beautiful.

I am now 62 and still love the area, even in the midst of hot summers. I stamped some, but didn't have the enthusiasm that I used to have before this blog came into being. I'm happy that we have such diverse backgrounds and unique stamping styles. I love seeing new techniques again. I'm ready to update my skills.

I also dabble in photography, some crocheting, jewelry making (not much anymore), and gameplaying on an Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) called Asheron's Call for the past 5 or 6 years. It's become a family of steady and returning friends, people who you even call on the phone to wish a "Happy Birthday" to or call to figure out a computer problem. I've had a great time laughing, groaning from puns and the jokes that make you "groan", as well as enjoyed the comeraderie of friends all over the world.

Paula - I'm glad my post made you laugh (my family laughs at me all the time, but for a different reason).

Julie - I like how you describe your kid! I, too, have a "cheeky little ratbag" at home. And I can't wait to pick her up tonight so I can call her that!!! :>)

Karen - thanks for the nice post you left at my picture. I'm glad you're enjoying everything so much - your enthusiasm definitely adds to the charm and atmosphere!

Judi - Do you know a woman named Margaret Murphy? I think she lives in Hunstville, too.

I look forward to getting to know all of you better as time goes by. For now, though, I have to go pick up my "cheeky little ratbag" from her sitter. (ROTFLMBO!)

lol Gigi-My CLR(Cheeky little ratbag) is 7 and drives us crazy at times. At school on Wednesday they were doing art,scrunching and gluing paper,she did three or four then sat back with her arms crossed adament that she wasn't going to do any more. No amount of coaxing from her teacher or the aide changed her mind. She was threatened to be taken to the office and it didn't phase her. The aide took her out of the room and down to see jer pre primary reacher from a few years back and that didn't work either so it was of to the office. No tears nothing just a very stuborn little girl. After a few minutes and a talk from the headmaster she came back and finished her work. She had to stay in at recess yesterday to finish it of as by this time it was nearly pack away time. The funny thing is though I got a letter yesterday afternoon saying that she was going to be getting an honour certificate today. I had a giggle with the aide about it all as it was decided before her little stand of that she was getting it.

Aussie Julie.

Well hi all you probably already guessed my name is Cathy, I live in Verwood in the UK (it is on the south coast) I have a 16 year old dd and a 14 year old ds, I have been married almost 20 years and I have a pet marine fish called vladamir (my daughter has 3 marine fish tanks with numerous specimins in - she has a saturday job in an aquarium shop which may help to explain her passion) we used to have two rabbits flossy and splash (the kids named them - thats my excuse) but sadly they both died of old age and too much of a good thing! I have been crafting for several years and serious card making for about 5 years.

Hello everyone!
I'm Andi, and I am a City Girl that lives on a ranch at 3500 feet elevation in Eastern Oregon! I've been here 9 years - my husband dragged me here from our first home (another ranch near Willows, CA) with a 1 month old son and 16 month old daughter... I left my family and friends and probably cried for 5 years...still have my moments.. My kids are now 9 and 10. My closest neighbor is 2 miles away, the kids school is 7 miles away, groceries are 17 miles away, and my 'big city shopping' is 2 1/2 hours away! But we do have a paved road nearby...a gift! Yet, with the fuel prices, I don't go down the road very much...
I am addicted to stamping, and scrap booking, and love capturing our life!
I love the Hero Arts blog and this place! It's a daily dose of inspiration, and keeps me on my toes... It's fun getting to know all of you and seeing your beautiful work!
I also love the 2peas stamping board... Lots of friendly folks and great resources for how to's, as well as challenges!

Hi there!
I guess it's my turn now. I'm Heathre (to my friends), and I am an American living in Oamaru, New Zealand (on the east coast of the South Island). I'm 34. I grew up in Kansas City (another Midwesterner here), lived in St. Paul, Minnesota for my undergraduate degrees, then in Salem, Oregon for my graduate degree (geosciences - geographic techniques), then just outside Madison, Wisconsin (in Deerfield) for a few years before my DH and I decided to take the plunge and move out of the US in 2004.

I'm a GIS/Database Specialist at an international gold mining company, and I travel an hour each way to work (good knitting time since I don't do the driving!). It's a great community with wonderful people, though - like an international family with people from all over. I've been able to travel a good deal for work (Australia, the Philippines, and around NZ), and I visit my mom and sister and family in St. Louis once a year. I've been married for nearly 12 years, and we have no kids but a wee furry boy (Pomeranian-Sheltie cross), Bailey, who is also 12 (like our marriage) and is our surrogate child. He took the long flight across the Pacific with us and then was in quarantine for 30 days!

I love stamping and knitting, and I am a huge letter writer, which justifies my continual output of cards. Everyone I know gets a piece of my artwork in some form! I love the Hero Arts blog as well as this flickr group, and it's great to meet like-minded people from afar.

That's long enough for now, I think! Take care, and happy stamping!
-Heathre in NZ

Heathre, we also lived just out side of Madison,
wisconsin (Sun Prairie) until 2001. My husband and I worked for the Dept. of Agriculture, State of Wisconsin! Know Deerfield well. It is a small world. Andi, I can relate to the crying for five years after being uprooted! When we were living the nomadic life, I would cry in grocery stores because I never knew where anything was! And when I saw friends run into each other at the store, I cried because I knew I would never run into anyone I knew when we went to the store!!

Forgot to mention that next year is our 25th anniversary and we are going to go to Ireland (a long time wish). Nice meeting all of you. I never knew anyone who worked in a gold mine before!! Judy

Hi everyone!
I'm Jenn, and I live in NE Iowa in a very small town. I work part-time at the local university & when I am not there I am a SAHM with two girls (9 & 2). My husband of 6 years is a civil engineer & likes to fish. I fish along with him (more so before the 2 year old) whenever I am able. I have always had art in my life...used to paint portraits with watercolor & planned on being an art teacher. Life took a turn & I ended up being a dental assistant for 8 years until I took up computers. The rest is history! I fell in love with scrapbooking once my first child's baby book was filled & have now discovered the art of stamping. Just a little peek into my world....

Hello all...
My name is Wendy and I live outside St. Louis. I am not married, but thrilled to find out that their are other young stampers out there like myself. I'm 28 and work part time at the local Wal-Mart garden shoppe. I spend my free time, when I can either stamping or scrapbooking our family photos (I live with mom and dad still).

My stamping has been put on hold this week because I'm volunteering with Relay for Life and our team has had a ton to do this week. I am a cancer survivor too. Actually still dealing with it...astrocytoma-tumor in the spinal cord. Over the last eighteen years it has left me paralized and using a wheelchair. I get tired a lot from my tumor and stamp when I feel up to it. I love the blog and enjoy sharing with people who have a passion for the same craft as me.

Sorry if this is too much info. I'm from a town where everyone already knows about my condition and I am not a shy person. I like to say what I thinking when I am thinking it.

Catch ya'll later.
Wendy

Hi, everyone-
My name is Teresa. ( My real Chinese name is Huei Chen Wang) I live in Lake Stevens, Washington, a little bit north of where Ashley lives. I came here from Taiwan to study in college in 1990. My major was accounting but I really didn't like it that much. I met my husband and got married two years later. I had been working for the same company as a shipping/packing clerk for 13 years until my niece came here in 2005. We adopted her as our daughter last year. She will be 13 in August and will start junior high this fall. (Scary, maybe I should ask Karen for advice.)

As you know, we have a 1-1/2 years old Shiz Tsu whose name is Nina, who also likes to sit on my lap when I'm stamping. I really get a lot of stamping done this way..(HA..HA.) We also have 2 hens and 2 chicks. Sometimes deer will come wondering around our yard too.

This is a whole new world for me. I am kind of shame in front of new people. Before the HA blog, I only make Christmas cards and birthday cards occassionally. Glad to know so many people share their passion and talent on here. Thanks everyone for your inspiring cards and stories.

Congratulations to the circles winners and honorable mentions.

PS. Nice to know someone lives close to me, Ashely. Where do you go to get your stamping stuff? Maybe we can meet sometime.
Teresa

Hi all,
I'm Jen (no surprises!) I live in Newcastle, Australia, It's about 2 hrs drive north of Sydney. I love the international flavour of this community (including all you midwesterners).

Newcastle is the second largest city in our state but is small by US standards. It is a beach city and I first moved here to go to uni, but I really like it as a place b/c it is close to Sydney but with less traffic, more affordable housing, and better beaches. But don't tell anyone else that, we don't want a whole lot of tourists crowding out our beautiful beaches :)

Heather, I would love to talk to you about your decision to leave the US. Think we can do that sometime?

Thanks!

Hi everyone.I'm samantha (hubby mike in photo) in live in Hammond, IN just next to chicago . i work parttime as an optimetric tech(this means i an the mean person that puffs you in the eye at the doctor) in munster, in and full time mommy of 2 boys eric is 6 and evan is 3 ,you can see their pic on my gift box scrapbook. and i am a addicted scrapbooker/stamper. i found that in the last 6mths i've used stamps on all my scrapbook pages so with that said i'm gifting all my stickers to my sil who just started scrapbooking .it is so nice that eveyone here wants to get to know one another. i saw another hoosier listed hi gigi!

Gigi (Deborah) - I sent you a flickr mail... have you received it? I thought we could chat "off group", and I'd be happy to answer any of your questions about my move. Let me know if you can't find my message, and I'll try a different way. Thanks!
-Heathre

Hi everyone. My name is Yvette and I live in Wilrijk. This is a suburb of Antwerp a city in Belgium (Europe). In this part of Belgium: Flanders we speak Dutch. Our second language is French that we learn in school, we also learn English at school.
I have a full time job at the department of Finance, I go to different company's to check their accounting. (All day numbers - that's why I enjoy so much my stamping)
I've been married for 32 years and have 2 daughters, Sophie (28) who lives not far from us and Ann (20) who still lives at home, she 's learning for nurse. We also have a 9 year old mini Shi Tzu named Lexi, two little rabbits (salt and pepper) and two chickens.
I love this blog. I don't often give comments, but that's because I have to write in English, and when you know that in school languages weren't my strongest point you'll understand that it's not easy to do so.
But I love seeing all your work, reading this blog. Understanding English is easier than write it, I have only sometimes problems with some of yours abbreviation (I hope this is the right word) as for example: SAHM - what means it?
Deborah (Gigi), this topic is a great idee!
Lovely day to you all!

SAHM means stay at home mom... and your English is MUCH better then my Dutch and French combined. :)

Yvette, I am so in awe of you - THREE languages?! WOW! I can barely speak one.

Your English is very good, so don't you feel self-conscious about it! (If English was your weak subject in school, I can't imagine how brilliant you must have been in all the other subjects.)

SAHM means Stay At Home Mom.
DH means Dear Husband
ROTFL means Roll On The Floor Laughing
ROTFLMBO means Roll On The Floor Laughing My Butt Off
BRB means Be Right Back (when you're chatting with someone)

These are all just abbreviations to save time.

Heathre, got the email and responded!

Thanks for the explanation!

Some other abbreviations are:

LOL - Laugh out loud
atk - away from the keyboard
Glad so many are writing here.

Hi all,
Yvette don't worry about your english It's the only language I know & I have heaps of problems with it!!!! As for the abbreviations I didn't know half of them - will have to write them down now. My hubby thought dh stood for something else (not saying too rude).
Just a quick question to every one how do you work out what time is closing time. I live in Australia & have no idea how to work it out. I think we are a day ahead here (as I write it's 230pm on a Sunday), any help would be great.

I'm about two hours away from Hero Arts, here in California. It is now almost midnight as I write. Your post was about two hours ago, which would have made it 10:00 p.m. my time on Saturday.

Are you on the east coast of Australia? I think you'll be able to tell the time by going to this site - 24timezones.com/. I've never used it before, but it's really neat.

I am on Australian Eastern Standard Time and Pacific Standard Time (where hero arts is in California) is 17 hrs BEHIND us. That means they are usually the day behind us, so the deadlines in our time usually end in the late afternoon the next day (ie midnight Sunday becomes 5pm Monday for east coast Australia.)
I have a couple of yahoo widgets on my desktop which help me out with timezones.

Thanks for the info Arlene & Jen. Just one question what is a widget?

Hi I am Kelly B...from The Central CA Coast..... I am originally from AZ and have been here 5 years now and Love it....
I Live here with my Husband and Dog Xenia. I have two girls 23 and 27. They live in AZ.....
My oldest is going to have my first grand daughter in about two weeks...So Excited about that!!
I have been stamping for about 20 years now....and still loving it!!

Widgets are interactive virtual tools that provide single-purpose services such as showing the user the latest news, the current weather, the time, a calendar, a dictionary, a map program, a calculator, desktop notes, photo viewers, or even a language translator, among other things. (I found a website that has a tour - widgets.yahoo.com/download/). I may try this. Thanks for the tip jen ink.

Hi All
My name is Ann-Marie officially. I'm 38 live in leicestershire in the midlands, england. I've been married to Jon for almost 15yrs we have a DD Rebecca 13 and a DS Matthew 10. We also have a collie cross called Gus and a 20wk old jack russel called Minnie.
I've been making cards since 2002 properly. I worked in a craft shop that closed last year. now trying to make my way teaching and demoing independantly. I also make bespoke wedding stationery.
Must say this is really interesting.

Thanks Arlene for the explanation of some other abbreviations, for example: LOL - Laugh out loud I used it somewhere but I thought it means Lots of Love, so sorry if it was unfit.

Hi Everyone!
I have enjoyed reading about all of you. I live in sunny (HOT) Arizona and enjoy staying in the cool AC to stamp and make cards. I am a full-time special education teacher. I have been married for 2 months (yes, that long! lol). My husband and I have 1 kid--our furbaby, Toffee, a pretty spoiled mutt who is always sleeping at my feet while I stamp. I love this blog and have felt so inspired by all the fabulous work posted here!
-Jill

Jill, where in Arizona do you live? We moved from Casa Grande two and one half years ago ... just couldn't stay for the sumers and grew weary of the trips back and forth! Welcome. Judy

Hi Annie & Jill welcome to the blogging and international online stamping family :)

Thanks Arlene, I am slowly catching on to all the techno stuff. Am going to check out the site now. TTFN

judkajudi,

I live in Yuma. I've lived here for almost 5 years now. I grew up in South Dakota. The summers here are hot, as you know, but I would rather brave the heat than shovel snow! :) How long did you live in Casa Grande? I've been through there many times on the way to Phoenix (mostly on the way to Ikea....). :)

LysaQ,

I saw that you live in Arizona. I am in Yuma--where are you? :)

-Jill

Jill, tjhe first winter we were full time RV'ers we spent in Yuma! The RV park was Westwind. There was a wonderful stamp store there, across the street from that great hamburger place!! We spent 5 winters in Casa Grande; it has about doubled in size since we left! Oh, how I miss Ikea! It's a long story, involving the price of golf, about how we landed in Yuma!!

judkajudi-- What a small world!!

I play in a D&D type game (Dungeons and Dragons) and I don't think most of the guys are telling me they love me alot. :) grins. I was asking so many questions about what all the abbreviations were.

Between all us stampers though, I imagine there's a lot of love (lol) going around too :)

Hi Jill,

I am in Chandler... quite the distance from Yuma!

~Lysa

Yvette, I thing your translation of LOL is charming. And I'm going to steal it for a card I'm making for a friend!

I'll always think of "lol" among us stampers here as lots of love.

There are apparently now 452 members in this group. Where are the other 430-or-so?

Come out, come out, wherever you are....

*grin*

OOOOh! We now have 473 members!

This thread was buried, so I thought I'd post so new members could introduce themselves if they wanted!

Welcome, new members!!!

Hi...i'm kellsterstamps...AKA Kelly ...
I Live in Scotts valley CA which is buy Santa Cruz....I have been here since 2003. I originally came from sunny AZ where I lived all my life and raised two girls...they are now 23 and 27....
My oldest is due with my first grandchild any day and I can't wait to fly out and meet her!!
I live with my sweet hubby who is so supportive of my habbit.....
I have been stanmping for about 22 years....Long enough to accumulate enough suplies for 20 peaple...LOL!
I am retired and enjoying life with hubby and our dog Xenia.....

Welcome Kelly, Arlene here. I am just up the state from you in the Sacramento area. Scotts Valley is a beautiful area. Enjoy! It is going to be another scorcher of a day here in the Central Valley - was 103 degrees F yesterday.

Hi Arlene...the heat here has been bad too and the Fires are awful!!
We usually do not have this kind of heat...98 yesterday and 101 on Friday....
We do have air and most do not so I guess I should be thankful!!!
Sac is always hotter than it is here.....
Everyone there has air conditioning right?
kelly

When I joined this Flickr group in early April, there were 80-plus members!! Going back through these posts, I realized that I never actually introduced myself...sooo.....Hi to everyone! My name is Susan (aka StampStudio). I live in Virginia...the northern end of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley (75 miles from Wash. DC). I am retired (3o-yr. flight attendant) and live with my wonderful husband ( a retired captain...go figure!) and two cats...Tigger and Shadow. I have been addicted to stamping and card-making for many years. Absolutely LOVE it!! It's a real pleasure to be in the company of so many talented and enthusiastic stampers.

Hi everyone! My name is Anne and I live in North Carolina with my husband and our 2 girls: Melody and Coda. Melody is a black-and-white tuxedo cat that looks a lot like my avatar. Coda is a gray and white calico-looking cat with a pink nose.

I spent 16+ years as a technical writer in computer software and have **finally** made the switch to a creative career. I am starting my own nature and wildlife photography business. You can see some of my work at my Web site: www.gaalphotography.com.

Coming up in July, I will have 2 photographic prints in a group show (about 25 prints total) at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. There is an opening reception from 4 pm - 6 pm on July 4th. If you're in the area, stop by! It would be fun to say "Hi!" :-)

Hi Anne...If I still lived in Chapel Hill, I would be there in a heartbeat! ( Lived there from Sept. '87 to May '95....for the length of time American Airlines had a hub at RDU. They dragged us out of there...kicking and screaming all the way!!) I still dream of moving back to NC...Blowing Rock or Asheville would be fine with me. Good luck with your show! Susan

Thanks, Susan! If you're still in the airline industry, happy travels! :-) Best wishes no matter what!

Hi Anne, since photography is another hobby of mine I took immediately a peek at your web site: love your photo's!
Good luck with your show!

Thanks! I appreciate the well wishes! :-)

What fun to read this thread! I'm new here, so it's nice to read a little about the "regulars." I'm an Aussie-born Canadian, living in the gorgeous eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia, older than dirt, recently retired from a several-decades-long career in Social Work in the Canadian Air Force. My retirement time includes artsy stuff (stamping, card creating, sewing, beading, yadda-yadda) and gardening, and I'm obsessive about both (lol). I also LOVE to read, particularly during winter. I'm gram-pea over at TwoPeas if any of you hang out there. My daughter and son have flown the nest, and I regularly entertain four delightful little grand-boys. And life is good!
Deborah.

Gram_Pea, Welcome to the group. I think quite a few of us are new to the on-line community of stampers. I entered a couple of the WSW challenges, which was the first time for me. I had a pretty hard time first entering the cards for the challenge. I think a lot of people did. Just have to keep on learning.

Hi gram_pea! Just wanted to say welcome, and how I LOVE Nova Scotia! We have vacationed there 2 times now, and love the music and the people! I'm retired, too! Ain't life grand???

Welcome gram Pea....

Hi All,

My name is Paula and I am very new to this and stamping! Last week was my first time responding to a HA challenge and it took me a whole day to figure out how to take a decent picture and post it. Sure hope it works!

I just started cardmaking this year but am already addicted! I love looking at all of the submissions in this group. You are all so talented and I'm getting fabulous ideas.

I'm 44, live in Hartland, Wisconsin (yes, another Midwesterner) and have lived here all my life. It is between Milwaukee and Madison. Summerfest (the world's largest music festival) starts this week. Wisconsin is also home of the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers (missing Brett Favre already), cheese (and our cows are happy as well) and of course, beer.

I have been married for 16 years to Dan and have one 11-year-old son (John) whom I adore. We've had just about every reptile as a pet in the past and am happy to say we don't have any now but have one dog (Kode, pronounced Cody) who's 6, and totally nuts and one cockatiel (Fred) who's I don't know how old and pretty nuts as well!

It's so wonderful to be part of such an international group that shares the same love of crafting. I work full time as an Instructional Designer but hope to become a SAHM someday, even if my son is 23!

Hi, Gram-pea! Hi, Paula! Welcome to the Hero Arts flickr pool!

Welcome Paula....
Is it summer there yet?? I know WI gets pretty cold in the winter....
kelly

Hi Paula,
welcome to the group. I hope that you are not to far between the cities that all the good stamp stores are too far away. What am I talking about a true stamper knows how to adapt.

Wendy
from Washington, Missouri

Hi I'm Carolyn. born and raised in Chicago and surounding suburbs.
My x-husband and I plus 3 children. moved to Arkansas 1992.
I love it here now (took a few years to get used to).
When I last visited family in Chicago. I couldn't belive I drove like that. giggles. I still have family and friends in Chicago and I visit when I can.
Arkansas is a beautiful state with a capital B. Lots to see nature wise. Just love the scenery. Camping is a most.
I'm 42. My oldest son is 22 in college. My daughter 19 has givin me my first granddaughter which I'm holding in my pic. My youngest son 16 has a summer job and has gone on various camp trips. He's my sunshine.
I started scrapbooking 11-07 due to becoming disabled. It gets my mind off the constant pain i live in daily. Meds help to but slows my mind down considerably.
My intrest is now cards so I'm very very new. I won't summitt any work until I feel it worth posting.
I love what I've seen here on the Hero Art site. I'm learning soooo much, and it's free...yippy

Oh I almost forgot . I'm now married to my soul mate. It will be 8 yrs in August. Together for ten.
I also have 4 cats and 2 labs....

Hi Carolyn! Welcome to the pool!

Hi Carolyn - welcome. Being a newbee too, isn't this great!

Kelly - It is summer here, at last, but sometimes that doesn't mean much. It was 69 yesterday in the low 50's at night and will be 85 on Thursday with more rain, just what we need!

Wendy - I'm really not in the middle of nowhere. From Milwaukee to past where I live is one continuous city after another, but, I must say I wish we had some more specialty stores. I go to an Archiver's in Fort Wayne (my dad lives there) when I can and love it! I guess there is one in Madison. Road trip!

Alooooha! Is this where we start a new "thread"? This is all new to me. My name is Donna and I live in Pearl City, Hawaii. I've been a Hero stamper for decades but on Flickr for just a short time. Still don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going!

I've been married for 29 years and have two grown daughters and 4 bunnies. I enjoy making cards and sewing, too. I have a bunch of pics from our Japan trip last year that never made it into a scrapbook, yet. That's my next project...

The Hero Arts inchies challenge is my first. I've been too "chicken" to participate but I love doing things on a small scale (tag art) and this was indeed a challenge. Everyone has been so gracious in their comments. I haven't been to everyone's site but recognize the names. It's nice to put a name with a face.

It took me long enough to get here...I will try and check out this group more often.

Nice to meet all of you! Alooooooha!

Aloha Donna! Welcome to the Hero Arts pool!

Welcome to all the newcomers!

Wecome all you international stampers, where are all the English people apart from Beverley & I , I think we are an under represented nation!

I love this site. Just joined the Hero group this week, which was also my first time using flickr. So I am not really sure of what I am doing.
My name is Debbie and I live near Wilmington, Nc. I am a nurse of 32 years, I tell everybody I started nursing at age 4, just a little exaggeration.
Have been stamping for a while, it is my stress relief. I just love to go in my room and sit down at the table and see what happens, often it is not what I start out to accomplish.
My husband is retired and we have 2 daughters and 1 son between us(second marriage)
I have really enjoyed hearing about all of you and seeing where you are from.

Hi Debbie! Welcome to the Hero Arts pool!

hi, all! My name is Marsha. I live in Evanston, Illinois. Retired from at&t 6 years ago-been papercrafting ever since. I have been making lots of cards but love making books, boxes and frames, too. Looking forward to seeing all the great work everyone is producing.

Hi, Marsha! Welcome to the Hero Arts pool!

Hello all! I am also a newbie here...have been scrapbooking for a few years and just got into stamping. I discovered the HA website, bought my first stamps, and submitted my first card today for the inchies challenge. I am soo excited everyday to see what wonderful things all you gals have created--great inspiration.

My name is Elana. I am 23 and I live in Wilmington, NC (Debbie: where do you live??) with my new husband of 2 weeks! :) We don't have any kids yet, but we share our new first home with our two "kits", Marco and Lance. I just graduated with a BA in Spanish and French and I will be starting on my Master's in August. I also work part-time as a tutor. Summer (post-wedding) is giving me lots of time to work on cards and such, hopefully I'll be able to keep it up come fall....

Thanks for listening and glad to read about you all!

Hi, Elana! Welcome to the Hero Arts pool!

Welcome to all the "newbie"! New people means new ideas. When I'm back from my holiday I will need a lot of time to see all of your work, but I love it so I certainly will make time.

welcome aboard to all the newcomers from me too.

Hello to all our new members! This place is a daily dose of inspiration and friendship.. Looking forward to seeing all your creations, and learning from you!

Welcome, Elana, what a beautiful name! Congrats on your recent wedding - are you making all your thank you notes? :) You will enjoy your summer here, I'm sure, and gather lots of ideas.

I'm new and from The Netherlands. I only have one card here in flickr. I lived in Tucson, AZ for a year and I still miss it. It's fun, making cards and I always say that I go to my happy space when I go upstairs to my craft room.
Eveline.

Lin, I am making all the thank you notes...to go along with the handmade invitations, reply cards, programs, table cards, place cards.....you get the idea. That is actually what got me into stamping. It is a bit of work, but enjoyable. Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome, Eveline, to the Hero Arts pool!

Welcome to all the "newbies" out there. I often wonder who is joining the group because everyday when I go the HA group I see that our membership number has grown. Always wondering who they were.
Wlecome welcome welcome.

Hi, I'm from Vancouver Canada. "Newbie" here as well. Just started to get "addicted" to card making almost 2 months ago. My first card is the Mothers' Day card. Gradually buying more and more supplies/accessories and get my creativity going!

Fibbi - Welcome to the pool!

Welcome to all the new people. I have a friend who started out with a See's pound candy box and said her stash would never get any bigger than that box.... I laughed of course and made endearing sounds like "oh" and "yes, I'm sure", and "of course". She did try, though... well, what can I say, the candy box has been long retired!

Just for the curious members out there. I use the screen name wowzer98 because my initals are WOW and more than likely every login name has been taken already for WOW. So I thought why not spice it up a little...Wowzer, plus you usually need a number somewhere in the login.

Now for the real story. My initals are WOW because when I was born I weighed in at 11 lbs. 9 ozs. When Mom heard this she yelled WOW! I kid you not, it is a true story. My Name is Wendy Olivia Wildb...(left the rest off).

What my parents didn't know is that I would live up the WOW factor. I have overcome so many health obstacles. Been able to meet the Pope (John Paul II) when he was in St. Louis, give speeches on cancer, and travel. They didn't know it, but my parents gave me those initals for a reason.

Just for those who care to know.

P.S. My health challenges are I have a cancer tumor in my spinal cord that over the last 18 years has left me paralyzed in my legs and using a wheelchair. I am glad that I can still use my arms to stamp and scrapbook. Plus it is a good theraputic outlet.

Hi, Wendy - now that's a WOW story. Keep it up, you are an inspiration. Don't know I can be so optimistic if I were in your shoes.

wendy, you truely are a wow ! thank you for sharing with us.