Dec 23, 2015

2015: Stamping Year in Review

Ok, stampers, put down that twine that will never tie properly no matter how many tricks you try, and belly up.  It's time for the "official"

2015 STAMPING YEAR IN REVIEW

2015 was awesome for stampers, except for when it was not.  

The Good Stuff

First, the positives (for all my glass-is-almost-always-full, (I hate all of you) friends.  Susan, I'm talking about you...)
  • This was the year when peace broke out -- the wood v. photopolymer v. cling war finally ended.  No one won -- we all just got tired of it.  That's a shame because I would have loved to have seen a huge bonfire of wood and cling stamps burning on you tube.  Awesome for calming us down when we lose one of our photopolymer ones. What?  You say that photopolymer stamps stain?  Are we really going there again? Listen, staining means love.  It means that the stamps didn't just sit there, ok?  And photopolymer stamps do not melt. They don't explode. They don't get hard.  They stamp just fine.  FINE!!   Um, truce?

  • MISTI -- this clever tool made it possible to keep those 347 inks we all bought despite sucky coverage.  Plus we can stamp on bumpy watercolor paper.  Just keep closing the cover of the MISTI over and over. The damage to your shoulder is covered by insurance, and your copay is more than paid for by all the card stock you saved by using the MISTI.  Just buy it already. Unless you use wood stamps!  Sorrynotsorry.

  • Cute little animals doing human things.  Cats, foxes, dogs, dinos.  They are everywhere.  They bake, hold balloons, fish, stamp, clean house, stand on top of each other and are well, so darn cute.  I'm not good at figuring out what to do with cute little animals but maybe "cute little animals" will be my one little word for 2016.

  • Speaking of "my one little word," don't tell anyone, but it is possible this is over.  2015 pretty much put the end to self improvement.  I mean, why bother?  Fist pump!!

  • Shaker cards.  Love love love them.  Take those sequins and beads and shake and bake that card or tag. Use the Fuse (mine is still in the package) to make a shaker window blind.  The possibilities are endless!

  • Videos!!  Everyone who is anyone is making videos.  Some are long, and involve someone opening boxes and squealing.  Some are really, really long and may, or may not, end in a card. I never quite finish watching them, so I can't be sure.  But so many are crisp, fun, and full of terrific techniques, and they are free! I love them, despite the fact that they trick me into believing that I can make stuff that looks as nice as the stuff made in the videos.  Gee, those folks are talented.
        
    • Foiling!  So many ways to add foil to your projects without spending a fortune.  Just buy a laminator and then when you aren't happy with that, buy a Minc, then a mini Minc, a laser printer, a toner pen, foil, transfer sheets, an extra room to store all this stuff, etc. and foil away.

    • Organization!!  2015 is the year we all got organized, right? Our stamps are in plastic folders, labeled and stored, and cross referenced by weight, height, depth, and year of birth.  (Well, unless you have wood stamps, in which case, you are looking at


    • New companies!!  There are too many to mention, but I will mention one anyway.  That cute little Right at Home is calling my name.  More on that in 2016....  Speaking of 2016,

    • Politics!!  The good news that I can pack up all my stamping supplies and move out of the country if necessary.

    • Bulleted lists and Novels.  The best blogs had them in 2015, n'est pas?
    See, wasn't 2015 fantastic for stamping?  Except for....

    The Bad Stuff

    • Made you look!  Nothing bad happens in stampville!!


    ***

    Thank you for sharing 2015 with me.  I'll be back in 2016 with more stamping and, hopefully, some fun.

    To those of you who celebrate Christmas, hope yours is Merry.  Our lives are not perfect, but I hope you can carve out 24 hours of peace in your life with those you love.  Hug that hope close.

    And for all, my very best wishes for a terrific 2016.  I hope it is full of peace, safety, good health, laughter, and the perfect ink.  And, if you love them,  as I do, many beautifully etched wood stamps

    28 comments:

    IamDerby said...

    Love this! Also the Misti changed my life

    Melissa said...

    I love you, Joan! Thank you for helping to keep this hobby light-hearted!

    joscelyne cutchens said...

    wood mounted for ever and ever. unless you see a photopolymer set you love. the more the merrier. ha!
    #hoarder

    Rubeena I. said...

    haha! I am going to write a year-end article to wrap up as well...but mine will probably be less funny LOL :) good stuff!

    Betty said...

    Wonderful year end wrap up - love my MISTI only now they had to make a better one:-( FUSEtool really works well for the shaker cards so get it out of the pkg and try it - cute little animals - well you saw my one and only ever - wood mounted stamps make a neat decoration for the craft room - sort of like decorating with antiques. Have a blessed Christmas and look forward to more smiles from your posts in 2016

    Patricia said...

    This was a good read. Very amusing. Glad you always keep your sense of humor.

    Susan said...

    Great review Joan! Brought a smile to my face. :) I love my Misti, but I haven't taken the jump into foiling yet. One other big 2015 thing was planners - so many of the stamp companies got into either the planner itself, or at least stamps for planners. And then there are the stitching dies.... (I thought this hobby was about making cards????) Merry Christmas to you Joan!

    ~amy~ said...

    Love your wrap up....thanks for all the gorgeous inspiration in 2015...can't wait to see what you have in store for us in 2016.

    Happy Holidays!

    Debra said...

    I haven't followed the trends too much except for photopolymer .. but its interesting to see ppl weigh in on it all. Have a great Christmas Joan and looking forward to many more 'Dear Paperlicious' episodes!

    Meg M. said...

    Great post, Joan! I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and I look forward to your antics in 2016.

    TK said...

    Love your thoughts and highlights! Merry Christmas!!!

    Anonymous said...

    Too funny, Joan. I laughed out loud about the Misti, the foiling, and especially the videos. I thought I was the only one who felt that way about videos that run over 5 minutes. Merry Christmas to you and yours.




    Jeanne H said...

    Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thanks for all the laughter and smiles.
    Oh, I love wood stamps! I like oldies but goodies!

    SherylH said...

    Oh Joan, I totally agree except I could not have put it down in words! Thank you for the laughs and smiles, not only today, but throughout the past year. I very rarely post on blogs but please know I am an avid reader of yours and your down-to-earth comments (not to mention your novel). Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season.

    Laura Norris said...

    Merry Christmas Joan! Thanks for always bringing a smile to my face when I come to visit your blog. It could be the gorgeous cards you have made, or the latest chapter in the stamping saga, or a fun wrap up post, but I always leave a little happier. : )

    Cathy P in AZ said...

    I. JUST. DIED. LAUGHING!!! You are such a fun crafter / blogger to follow and I loved your take on wood vs. photopolymer stamps, etc! The wood pile was hilarious! I can't wait to read what you publish in 2016! Thanks for the smiles and the cute cards too! Merry Christmas Joan!

    Leslie Miller said...

    I laughed, I sighed, I moaned. One of the few blogs where I sit alone and make audible exclamations while reading. Just bought two wood block stamps, don't have a MISTI or a Silhouette or a Minc or a Fuse -- probably 'cause I don't have that extra room added on yet. Hilarious and very entertaining read, Joan. Can't wait for 2016 with Dear Paperlicious. Happy new year!

    Unknown said...

    I love seeing 'dear paperlicious' in my email inbox! I know I will always see something worth looking at and read something that will produce a giggle or out loud laugh. Bless you, friend. And write on! May the New Year be a great one.
    Lu C

    Joan B said...

    it is awesome, isn't it?

    Joan B said...

    hey whatever works is my motto!

    Joan B said...

    they are making a better MISTI??? I'm not even going to look.

    Joan B said...

    Forgot about planners. Bought one and literally threw it out. I guess I got the wrong one!

    Joan B said...

    short and sweet!

    Joan B said...

    thanks so much

    Joan B said...

    Leslie, just get the MISTI. Your life will never be the same!!

    Joan B said...

    thanks so much! I love my readers!

    Joan B said...

    thanks Jeanne. Stamp with whatever makes you happy!!

    Shona Chambers said...

    Absolutely love this Joan and agree with everything. Although it will be a long time before I can afford a Misti but maybe the new Mini Misti will be more in my budget....I think you and Darnell should get together or maybe do an interview with her. That would be a scream to read!!!!