Unloading a LOAD of Stamps on Ebay!

well... the time has come. I sorted and sorted and sorted again through my 250 Stampin' Up stamp sets. All from my very first set (Greetings Galore I bought in 2000) to the newest additions.
From those I have managed to whittle down my "keepers" pile to about 50.  I also have about 75 Papertrey Ink sets that I have not sorted... oh the pain...!

So I have started to sell my sets at bargain prices on ebay. So far I have sold approx 44 sets! So there's about 150 odd sets left!

These stamp sets have been my source of income, joy, comfort and creativity at times. It's hard for me to let them go, but it's comforting to know that they will end up in homes of other crafty people who love to stamp!

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing stamp sets, you can check out my ebay page. there you will find auction style listings as well as reasonable BUY IT NOW prices that reflect the average completed (sold) prices on ebay.  my seller name is IPPYHOLLERMOM and I have been on ebay since 2003 :)

Many of my listings start at $1 or $5 and I do combine shipping as well as ship overseas!

AHHHH! It's a jungle in here right now. taking pics, sorting, listing, packaging and shipping... it's a real store in here!
The kids are helping me and we are making a few bucks for fun summer activities! At least they benefit... :)

As for school, things are going great! FAST and GREAT! I am halfway thru the summer semester and actually keeping up with all the work. I think I might actually be able to do this!
I had my first lab practical last nite and I was able to identify all the pig parts! YEA! Now that's LIFE!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer! See you soon!

2 weeks into it...

I used to think that time was flying by... but I think I may have been a little premature in that statement.

Time is NOW flying at breakneck speed!

Summer courses are no joke. You are listening, absorbing, reviewing, writing, regurgitating information and more all while trying to balance family, sustaining life (ie eating, drinking, exercising), sleeping and maintaining order. I haven't had much time extra time for fun things like art, friends and leisure... but yet. But as my life starts to normalize, I will work time in!

I did not want to add a real photo... you're going to have to trust me... this is better.

In 2 weeks I have thoroughly reviewed every aspect of the periodic table, scientific method, cell composition and respiration, pH, conductivity, fetal pig dissection, thermodynamic energy, classification, molecular diversity and more! I took bio during my first year of college but I am required to take it again as you need to have completed the course within 10 years of the start of clinical study. For me that was 16 years ago... lucky me :) Seriously though, I am so glad to be doing this.... I can honestly say I don't remember 75 to 80% of everything we are going over. And I feel for those students in my class who are struggling more than I am ~ since it has been such a help to me to have seen most of this before~ regardless of how little I recall...

Most of the students in my class have dissected something or another in the past. I, however, have not had the opportunity. When I was in HS we didn't dissect anything... and in college I took the bio elective which was minus the lab.  So when it comes to lab assignments, it's all new to me~ I am enjoying it!

Anyway, the pace is incredible and surprisingly I am surviving. (I started very confident, then started to worry a bit... now I am gaining confidence again but looking towards another difficult hump - according to my professor, this next test next Thursday will prove to be the hardest of the semester sans the final.) 

On a different note, I will say that despite the support that my family has shown, it has been a difficult  transition going back to school. I miss spending all the extra time with the kids, I am not spending as much time with my hubby in the evenings and meals have become more for sustenance and less for conversation. I am hoping that come fall, things will return to normal as my classes will mostly be when the kids are at school. 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - A New Direction

View of a full rainbow from my front door

It's been a very rewarding journey. In 2003 I started selling stamps and scrapbooking supplies through Stampin' Up! and then moved to making and selling handmade cards thru various vendor fairs, online Etsy and local Artisanal shops in MD!

How AWESOME to be able to sell my work, that I have made from raw materials with my own hands!

The reward is great!

Throughout this journey I have met so many people. From all different walks of life~ Nurses, artists, mothers, teachers and MANY more! I cherish each and every encounter and have learned a lot about myself from all of you.

I especially appreciate The Muse and Art Partners for believing in my work. For promoting me and backing me up each time I had ideas.  Thank you Whitney, Susie and Barbara!

Now my journey is taking a little turn (ok - a Big turn). I have decided to leave my art for personal enjoyment and dedicate much of my time to going back to school - Radiological Technology. I have always believed that you never stop learning. There is always a new skill you can acquire that will enable you to further help others. Art is one way of touching people. And I have definitely been so fortunate to make art my job for these years.

So I have decided to start on this new road. My family and friends are supporting me (I do need it... I haven't taken a test in 14 years), and I feel confident in my abilities. And it helps that I'm going to school with my brother, who is 11 years younger than me, studying the same thing~ What a blessing! He said it perfectly... "When else in our lives would we ever be able to go to school together?"

I am going to continue to sell bits online as I continue to be creative and will stop selling at the stores.I will also continue this blog - sharing my personal art as well as interesting (hopefully) stories of a 35 year old, mom of two, as a student!

I am looking over the rainbow... to a new and exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) journey. I think I can... I think I can...