Amber, how long have you been stamping and creating cards?

I have been creating cards for about 4 years now. I had always received hand stamped cards from my sisters Leslie and Pauline prior to moving to live near them. I so wanted to do this but I had no idea where to start. I moved to Las Vegas in February 2004 to be near my sisters and I was hooked at the first gathering. It was not long until I was hooked on Stampin' Up! and ordering everything in sight. In Nov 2005 I became a demo to receive the discount...    

 I understand you make cards to send to the troops. What process does this take?

In October 2006 I was perusing the forums on Splitcoaststampers and I started seeing that there were ladies who either had a husband serving or were sponsoring a group of soldiers that were looking for some card donations. It started with me sending all my swaps which I had mounted. I started asking other ladies in town for their no longer used swaps. I hate to say old because so many of the card fronts are in excellent shape long after they are no longer current. I started a thread on both the demo side and the non-demo side on Splitcoaststampers asking ladies to send me their card fronts. Many ladies all over the country, even some from Canada and as far away as Scotland have sent me card fronts, boxes of white envelopes, adhesives, & card stock. I supplied the first two ladies I started to contribute to until they were no longer taking cards. Then I started looking for others including a couple ladies who are members of SCS who are serving in Germany and Afghanistan and began sending hundreds of cards to these two ladies. This became a full time job (I also work full time) mounting card fronts and making my own cards to supply to these wonderful people serving our country. I kept track of each and every card I produced on a spreadsheet. I know where each card went. I purchase only good quality 110LB card stock, GP white at Walmart for these cards. I do not go cheap. I feel I have an obligation to each and every lady who has contributed a card front to do them right and make us all proud. I do it like this:  I cut several reams of card stock, score and fold (recently I was the lucky recipient of a Scor-Pal to celebrate my 10,000th card), then take a bunch of card fronts and use the little square adhesive squares on the back. I do a couple hundred of fronts at a time. Then I set up the assembly line and start mounting, trimming to make look uniform and put them in a clear envelope with a white envelope. After I get several boxes of these full, I start counting and see who is on my list next for a box of cards. I used to send out 400 or 500 per box. With the cost of postage I have had to start using only the flat rate priority boxes that I ship for $8.95 each. The postage alone is enough to break the bank. I do not even want to think about what I have spent, not to mention the white envelopes, clear envelopes and the adhesives....YIKES!    

 Do you have helpers?

Helpers...I have all kinds of helpers. From my wonderful husband who has put adhesive on card fronts and helps me seal the boxes, to the lovely ladies who come and help make cards to the many ladies across the country who have lovingly donated all their unused card fronts, some full cards and even a few have sent white envelopes and adhesives. My sister, Pauline and friend Geri even take boxes of the card fronts I receive home and mount them for me. They each use the same precision that I do. I have been told I am a bit OCD when it comes to the cards I send. I would have to say that there are many ladies across the country who do not even know that they have helped with this huge project. I send hugs to each and every one!  

 Do you receive supplies from paper companies or buy all the supplies?  

I buy the majority of all the supplies. I have as I said received donations on occasion from ladies sending me card fronts. They send boxes of white envelopes and sometimes some adhesive squares. I so appreciate the help.  My husband had been unemployed for a bit and has just gained new employment. Money is tight. About a month ago a lovely lady named Carol contacted me. Carol saw my thread on Splitcoast and contacted me to see if she could contribute to my project. She has become such a special friend! She has contributed far too many things for me to list but the thing that means the most to me is the fact that she is a special lady and a wonderful new friend. I am looking forward to meeting this very special lady. This project has touched my life in so many ways but I have been so blessed by the special people who I have had the pleasure to meet along the way.  

 What are your sources for inspiration?  

There is so much inspiration. I look at the beautiful card fronts from ladies and I smile to think of how beautiful they are and what they will mean not only to the soldiers but to the people who receive them from the soldiers...Wow think of the smiles!  I have gotten at least a dozen thank you cards/notes from not only the soldiers that we contribute to but from one wife of a solider. This  lady used to be a demo for Stampin' Up!.  Her husband had seen that when she sent out a card, she used a post it note inside so the card could then be used by the recipient.  Well, when he sent her one of the cards I sent to his group, he put a post it note inside! This wife sent me a beautiful thank you card complete with a picture of her 4 little kids and husband that was taken just before he was deployed. She wanted to take the time to let me know how much this labor of love meant to her family. It so touched my heart. It is things like that that keep me going. Just thinking that these cards mean so much to so many people.  

If people wanted to send donations to help with the cost of supplies where would we send them?

 It would be so very helpful if people would donate to assist with the postage, white envelopes, clear envelopes and card stock.  This is such a huge project.  Picture going into Walmart and purchasing 5 reams of card stock (5.36 each for 150 sheets) 5 boxes of adhesive squares (4.88 per box of 1000) and white invitation size envelopes ( I had been purchasing at Office Depot 100 for $8.39).    These items add up so fast.  My special new friend Carol has helped me to find places where I can purchase these at better rates so I can get more bang for every buck.  Carol is also the one who provided the Scor-Pal for me.  It has made the scoring and folding of the card bases go so much faster.  Bless you Carol! I have a Paypal account (sprtchick@cox.net) where anyone who wishes to assist may make a donation.  This account is specifically for this project.  As I sell stuff on Ebay, those funds go into this account too.  Donations would be great, however, I will continue this project for as long as possible.  I actually did have a donation of cash from Kate at babyoutfitters.com last week.  It was so unexpected to have someone offer a monetary donation.  I am so appreciative of that.     

 Do you set goals for yourself?  

My first goal was for 10,000 cards sent to the soldiers who are defending our country.  I just hit that goal late last week. I then set a new goal of 20,000. I look at those numbers and I am blown away. That is a lot of cards! Believe me I would not have reached the first goal nor be on the way to 20,000 without the support of those who send their cards, card stock and other supplies. It means so much to the cause!  There are so many angels out there!  

Tell me a little more about you and your family..

  I am 48. I work full time as an Executive Assistant and Customer Service Liaison. My husband is in sales. I grew up in Wisconsin, moved to Illinois when I got married many years ago and then moved to Las Vegas in 2004. We love it here. I have 3 sons, Paul 26, Jake 23 and Cody 17.  I have a beautiful granddaughter who just turned 3 in July. We are a Christian family who love to help others. I have recently signed up to be part of our church card ministry. Last weekend I took my first batch of handmade birthday cards and dropped them off.  The ladies have now asked me to do a Stampin Up! workshop for them. I would much rather just get together and show them how to make quality cards and help them do it. I just love to serve others.   

Amber is there anything else you would like our readers to know?  

I cannot emphasize enough how much the people I have met and interacted with during this project have touched my life.  They have sent notes of encouragement with their packages and just lifted me when I might be in a rut.  It is the people that matter the most.   

Thank you Amber. I am sure our readers have enjoyed getting to know you, up close and personal. You are indeed an awesome person and I wish you every success!