Pretend Stamping Friends

The first thing I want to say today is THANK YOU to all the lovely people who left comments on my Kristina card post. My pretend stamping friends are the best!!! The funny thing is, that I always thought if I actually ever made the top 10 I would be super excited...instead I was just shocked!!! I got up from TRYING to have a nap yesterday afternoon (seriously, who mows their lawn at 2.30pm on a Friday?????), to find a comment in my email inbox congratulating me on making it to the top 10. I said some very interesting words that involved "What the..." and immediately went to Kristina's blog to see if it was really true....and it was!!! I then sat here in front of my computer just....well wondering what the hell she was thinking....LOL! I'm over that now, and feeling very pleased with myself....PMSL!!!!! I have decided not send that particular card to my Gran, but rather I shall frame it and keep it as a cherished possession. Yes, that may seem a little odd, but I may never make the top ten again and I want a reminder to myself that, on this one particular day, I made a card that Kristina thought worthy of accolades....just for when I doubt that I am any good at this card making thing....YKWIM???

OK, enough self-congratulatory blathering....onto the pretty pictures. When I went to Regionals last Saturday I missed swapping with my PSF Sam. So we organised that we would swap between the two of us. She had none of her swaps left and offered to send me something from her stash, while I sent her a couple of my leftover swaps. Yesterday I received her cards.....OMG!!! I was expecting ONE card and instead received THREE of the most gorgeous creations....this girl is seriously talented!!!! Check this out:

These cards are just sooooo yummy. So thank you Sam, my pretend stamping friend, you have totally exceeded my expectations and I feel very spoiled to have received such lovely cards from you....mmmwwwaaaahhh!!!!

When Madonna introduced me to the world of stamping back in late March and when I decided to start a blog (April???), I never dreamed that I would get so much out of it. Sure, my bank account is now perpetually empty because of all the delicious things I NEED, but I have gotten so much more than mere dollars could ever buy in return. I have made friends with some of the sweetest, kindest, most generous people you could ever want to meet...not that I've met many of them IRL...and every day brings me joy, not only from the lovely things that they say about my work, but also from seeing what they do and learning from them.

So, to all my pretend stamping friends I say: thank you for bringing so much unexpected happiness into my life. Studying for a PhD involves many hours alone, focused on seemingly incomprehensible technicalities, and yet whenever I want to I can go online and visit with the loveliest people and see the most beautiful art.....PSF's are the best!!!!

Kristie