Friday, November 24, 2017

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Blog Hop



You never know when, or how, you will touch someone.


     This blog hop is to celebrate the unique talent and awesomeness of Iliana, inventor of the MISTI.  I'm going to share my story with you on how her awesomeness changed my life, and I'm sure many others, over the past 3 years.  

     Sorry for the novella. (You'll want to read it to the very end).  There's a chance to win a MISTI!

     I didn't know Iliana prior to a couple years ago.  I had stumbled upon her invention, the MISTI, while looking at homemade card pins on Pinterest.  It was in a Jennifer McGuire video that I first caught site of that beautiful pink square and I immediately ordered one.  I tirelessly watched every video and read every post I could find until 5:00 am that morning. 
     Let's look back at my crafty life for about a year prior to finding the MISTI.  My husband and I worked separate shifts and never saw each other.  We passed each other every once in a while without much of a sideways glance at the other.  I had three children who had reached the ages where they didn't need their mom to help them with daily life and I had started to suffer again with clinical depression. The only thing that helped my extreme loneliness was stamping cards at night, after the kids went to bed.  I'd listen to my music and just lose myself in my paper and ink.  I was previously a demonstrator with a stamping company, but had grown bored with it and I was pretty much just making cards with paper and stickers because stamping had lost its luster.  Pretty soon the stickers lost their luster as well.  I just wanted to give up.  


     Then.....I saw it.  I couldn't tell you how long it had been since I was excited about ANYTHING. That my heart was beating so fast watching the videos and blog posts about the MISTI, seemed pretty outrageous.  It's a stamping tool.  Settle down.  But I couldn't.  A week later, I received my MISTI in the mail with that cute little pink business card.  I was smitten.  If you ask Iliana now, she'd say I was obsessed.  



 

     To not bore you, I'll make the next two and half years short.  Through the discovery of this amazing tool, I have found crafty people, just like me, who love the MISTI as much as I do and we started a Facebook Group called Stamp Junkies.  Through this page, I've gained 4 best friends who are my sisters, thousands of member friends, and I have taken my stamping to new heights.  I've traveled to many different states, been to CHA, met many business owners, design team members and bloggers who, like me, have been changed with this wonderful invention. 
 
  
     My life has gone from feeling isolated and nonexistent to full of color and vibrant art.  My depression had been so bad that I often thought that no one would notice if I was gone.  The MISTI gave me something to focus on and I tirelessly fought on Iliana's behalf while she was going through the patent pending period and the awfulness of copycat companies.  I'm really not sure how it began, but I became friends with Iliana and have gotten to meet her and I've grown to love her even more than my obsession level had reached from afar.  I will continue to stalk her and look for her in every plane ride I take and the back seat of every car that picks me up from the airport.  

     I can never express to Iliana, or anyone for that matter, how much her invention and passion changed my life.  No, SAVED my life.  I hated myself.  I hated life.  I had no one.  Now?  I'm so blessed with a brand new world filled with just the loveliest people.  All from a tool that lets me stamp so much better.  

     Iliana's unique talent, I believe, is her grace.  This woman had an idea, brought it to life, expanded from her garage, became a company and was granted a patent.  This should have been a huge celebration (which we did celebrate), but it has just brought out so many copycats and legal issues trying to protect what's hers.  She has fought this battle with such grace and courage that I'm in awe of her every day.  When I see her in person, I still get tight in the throat.  I can't speak for a bit and in my head I wonder what in the world I could ever say to her that would explain my life before and my life after her idea.  

     I have fought, and will continue to fight, for you, Iliana.  I love you more than you'll ever know.  I'm just a girl from a little town in Pennsylvania who stamped in her lonely craft room for years and wanted to quit.  You've opened up the world for me and I no longer want to disappear.  
     
Standing:  Kim ZumMallen-Pietruszewski (Stamp Junkies Admin), Me,
Julie Halvin Brase (Stamp Junkies Admin), Chris Dayton (Stamp Junkies Admin).
Seated:  Iliana Myska (My Hero, inventor of the MISTI), and Gina K.  (Gina K. Designs and
StampTV star/owner of Village Paper and Ink in Greendale, WI and Stamp Junkies Sponsor of JunkieFest 2017)

     I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to make a card for Iliana to show in this post, but I only invited myself into this blog hop a couple nights ago, late.  With Thanksgiving, I haven't had a moment to sit down and make a card worthy of celebrating my hero.  I mean really, none would ever be good enough.  (You'll get one for Christmas, promise).  Love ya.

     So, would YOU like to win the item that changed my life?  If you would, visit each of the my wonderful friends' blogs listed below.  Comment on every post and you will be entered for a chance to win a MISTI, your choice of an original size or mini.  Thank you so much for reading my story.

     Here are the blogs to visit!

Marci  <----You are here.

Click here for more information on Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day!  

     If I had to pick what MY unique talent would be, I'd have to say that sharing my love and utter devotion to Iliana with thousands of people every day with creativity, humor and respect.  My passion is now networking with everyone in this industry to make sure everyone succeeds.  We need to lift each other up and I like being a rung on that ladder. It's now my purpose.

Much Junkie love to Chris Dayton who told Lydia I was whining about not being in the blog hop because I love Iliana more than anyone else.  She graciously let me in.  You girls are the best.

Marci  








      

44 comments:

  1. I love stamping, and getting my non stamping friends involved and liking the art of stamping. I have volunteered making cards with seniors at a nursing home, and watching their faces light up when they see their cards come to life and full of color and then being able to use those cards they made because they can't get out to buy any. I stamp for fun, so I can buy different stamp companies products, as I don't work for any company, and am not limited to use one type of product!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I’m just a small town PA girl as well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marci, thank you so much for sharing your story. I pray it touches others who are experiencing similar trials and hurdles. We all need something to help us through those difficult times in our lives. So happy you found what you needed in a little pink square.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for sharing your story, Marci. Iliana's MISTI has been life-changing for many of us stampers. Iliana's sacrifices when creating this incredible tool and her continued sacrifices while dealing with the copycats deserves all our support and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love my mini MISTI and some day would love to have an original sized one too! Such a fabulous tool for us card makers! So nice to get that sentiment straight when finishing a card, or knowing I can re-stamp an image to get it inked completely! Awesome tool!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks so much for all the work you put into the site! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aww Marci! What a wonderful tribute! You are such an integral part of the Stamp Junkies page that I love - you are truly a beautiful soul I have had the privilege of meeting. This Stamping/creating community is a great place to belong! Hope to see you in January- thanks for all you do for Stampers everywhere 💕💕

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love stamping special cards and seeing the smiles on their faces when they open them. Thanks for sharing your special story.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Marci I love your story and have felt pretty much all of these emotions. I adore Iliana, her daughter Jayden and can't say how much MISTI has made me a Happy Happy lady. There is an old adage.. sometimes the things you do are not for you , but for someone else you may never know. I can't remember the quote but I think that conveys what I mean. Iliana's invention was for her but it had benefitted so many of us. Hundreds, no thousands, unlimited numbers. Love your group Stamping Junkies.. Gail T Austin, Tx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for sharing your story Marci. It's a wonderful testimonial to Iliana and the wonderful MISTI. The MISTI has certainly changed the way I stamp and is so easy and such fun to use. Thanks for all you do for the Junkies group.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I loved hearing your story, Marci. I totally agree with how much the Misti has changed everything. I enjoy stamping again. I am creative again. It feels great! And all because of the brilliance and tenacity of one very brave woman with an idea and the courage to bring it to the world.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful story, I’ve got a Pinterest page of Misti ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I think it's so fantastic and fortunate you found this tool to channel your creativity and fight off depression. I think whenever we are creative, we are expressing our spirituality, so I am not surprised to learn how passionate you are about your MISTI.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for supporting Iliana during her journey. I was so disappointed when I saw all the copycat products. Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for Stamp Junkies! It is a great group.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Blessed to be part of your new Misti life.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Everything happens for a reason. You have been blessed.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I’m a big-town PA girl (Pgh), but feel the same way about stamping since discovering the MISTI. Thank you for sharing your story!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What. Nice tribute! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I enjoyed reading your story Marci and I can so relate, except I was a stay at home Mom. When our youngest was graduating high school, I was suffering from empty nest syndrome and needed something to do just for me as I was becoming very depressed. Once I tried stamping I was hooked the first night, however, like you, over time it became boring. As time went on and I got a computer and found GinaK and other card makers and products and things began to pick up again and then I learned about the MISTI... (...need I say more....) 😉

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear Marci, Thank you for sharing your story. I have been a stamper for many, many years, (I think I am the only stamper in my small town) but what I've learned over those years, is that stamper, crafter people, are the BEST! I'm so glad you have found your group of friends, and found what you love to do, through the MISTI. Lucky you!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love YOUR courage and grace, Marci! And I love you! AND, of course, my Misti!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm glad you were allowed in. I didn't have time to make a card until today either.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Depression sucks! I know that feeling of not thinking anyone would notice if you were gone. I am glad the misti, helped enhance your life!

    ReplyDelete
  24. A lovely tribute to an incredible woman and her invention,it's amazing that 1 thing can touch so many lives in such a positive way.

    Well done little dear! Never forget you are loved Miss Marci,
    mama

    ReplyDelete
  25. The Misti really makes stamping so much more fun! I follow Stamp Junkies too!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lovely story and
    a wonderful creation!
    Love my MISTI.
    Carla from Utah

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am yet to use one of these amazing tools. you all just make me want it more.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! Love your story! Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Marci! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I love Stamp Junkies! I am so glad you and your "sisters" started Stamp Junkies because of your love for the MISTI. I would like to take this time to thank Ilina for creating the MISTI which is by far my favorite stamping tool ever!! I would also like to thank Stamp Junkies. That group has made it possible for me to meet people in my own area that I found on Stamp Junkies. These people I have met have become very good friends...thanks again Ilina and Stamp Junkies you have made my life better too!

    ReplyDelete
  30. sweet!!!!!!- thanks for the chance of winning the amazing misti tool:)

    ReplyDelete
  31. thanks for helping in the fight to protect the
    Misti copyright. The knock-offs were never as
    good as the Misti (so I've heard - never used
    anything but the Misti). Glad they were put
    down. Also happy to hear that you are enjoying
    like again - there is always a bright side to
    every cloud. Take care and keep up the
    good fight.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for sharing your story, I feel deeply as I, myself suffered from depression as well, and not just that, my youngest is in the same shoes today, I no longer worry for myself but the fear of losing my daughter bites into me on a daily basis, I so hear you! Thanks for touching my heart today! I too hope that we all able to put our focus on crafting or some other things when the dark cloud hovering over our head. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Marci, thank you for baring your soul, it touched me deeply. So glad that Iliana and the Misti were your lifeboat!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would like to join the family of Misti. Very special sounding ladies in this group.

    ReplyDelete
  35. So glad the Misti brought your creativity back in full force & you found life fulfilling again. You sound like am amazing lady & I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for sharing with all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Marci, I can certainly relate to your story. So glad you found your joy again.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Beautiful story and i feel the same way about my Misti.

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a wonderful story! Thanks for bravely sharing this with us!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a wonderful testimony to the power of crafting and the community of which we are a part. I am so glad to see how you have been lifted by this creation! Happy holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  40. It is indeed an amazing tool!! I have loved my MISTI for helping me stamp better! Thanks for sharing your story.

    ReplyDelete
  41. MISTI is one of the most "must-have" stamping tools. Never stop using my Regular MISTI and Mini MISTI when I making cards.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Marci, you touched my soul with your story. I too suffer from deep depressions and unfortunately, my husband doesn't understand what I go through. My husbands thought is, why or what do you have to be depressed about. How does one explain something, they themselves don't even understand? So when I don't want to live, I would go to my craft room and start playing with my stamps and make a card, it helps me get out of my funk! I am so glad Misti came into your life through Iliana. I love Stamp Junkies, for the group helps me also get out of my depression, you guys are a lifesaver for me! Love you and Chris Dayton. <3

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is such a wonderful story you’re sharing here ! Thanks for it amd glad to know you’re all good now ! Love from France, Marjorie. margessw@icloud.com

    ReplyDelete