Stampin’ Up! Steppin’ it Up! 100 days, 100 lives!

 100 lives in 100 days.  On June 23rd I finished reading The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma.  I was inspired by the story of a single father that read to his daughter every night for almost ten years.  It started with 100 days.  Now as a single mother of 3 adult children and as a second grade teacher, at first I thought about my missed opportunities.  Not that I didn’t read to my children, or that I don’t read to my students (in fact, I am still reading to my students most weekdays this summer).  However, the consistency of committing to reading for at least ten minutes everyday for almost ten years, not only marked the dedication and value of reading to children, but also the dedication to his craft – an elementary school librarian.  He lived his vocation.  And how, might you ask, does this fit in with my Stampin’ Up! business?

As I mentioned, my three children are young adults and by the end of the summer, all of them are moving out of our family home.  My daughter left for Texas a week ago.  My oldest son is packing to move into his own apartment with his fiancé.  My middle child (also a son) will be returning to his job in Boston and will hopefully regain his apartment in town with his girlfriend soon to be fiancé.  I am going from a full house and being a mother of three to an empty-nester.  So what is my vocation? What is it that makes me, me?  Long before Stampin’ Up! I created my own cards and loved mailing hand made notes and even stationary to friends and family.  It is the reason I was drawn to this wonderful company.  It came to me after reading this poignant adventure that I was about to embark on one of my own.  And the “Color Me Happy” show was born. 

Since that day, I have without fail, I have gone live on Facebook to create.  I joined Stampin’ Up! almost 10 years ago and this is the first time I have taken to heart the mission of this amazing business: Inspire, Create, Share! I am having such a great time creating and encouraging all my viewers to take a chance and try a new technique, play with color and enjoy the process.  I invite you to go to my Facebook page Gigi Stamps, and join me in this journey of 100 lives in 100 days.  

Here are some of the other projects I have created:

Can you tell I love sunflowers?

I usually go live sometime between 7 and 9, but like the book that inspired this journey, it needs to be at least 10 minutes before midnight.  One day I did a crazy little video in my daughter’s college apartment!  She graduated from Ithaca this past May, but hadn’t been in her apartment (or even in Ithaca) since February.  With a six hour ride out and back, and packing in the middle, the only option I had was to go live on the road.  So far it has been an exciting journey. I am committed to sharing the wonderful benefits of taking time for yourself, creating something that you are proud of and then sharing with someone you love.  Oh and that is another part of this journey,  I am committed to sending out 3 times as many cards as I create!  I am a little bit behind, but handwriting letters to family, friends, students, and new acquaintances has helped me keep connected in this crazy time.  I look forward to seeing you join in the fun!