Hey y’all!
After 29 years as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I thought I’d experienced just about everything. But my recent trip to Kanab, Utah, proved that there are still some incredible surprises waiting for me!
I traveled to Kanab for a special Stampin’ Up! event, looking forward to seeing friends, making new ones, learning new stamping ideas, and having some FUN!
What I didn’t know was that I was about to discover something about my Million Dollar Happy Place stamp set that would bring me to tears.
But before I tell you what happened, I need to take you back to where this whole story began.
Two Things I Love: The Beach and Cardmaking Techniques!
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know two things about me.
I LOVE the beach, and I LOVE teaching cardmaking techniques!
So when I reached $1 million in career sales with Stampin’ Up! and earned the privilege of helping design my very own stamp set, I was beyond excited!
I had an idea. What if I could combine those two loves into ONE stamp set?
I envisioned a large, bold word “HAPPY,” with a beautiful beach scene etched into the letters. I wanted something that would be perfect for coloring, stamping techniques, and creating unique backgrounds.
And of course, I wanted other greetings that could be combined with HAPPY to make cards for all sorts of occasions.
I submitted my idea to Stampin’ Up!, and they loved it!
This is the actual design idea I submitted. You can see my vision for the beach scene inside the word HAPPY, along with the different greetings I wanted included.
Stampin’ Up!’s artists took my idea and worked their magic! They made some modifications, but they kept everything I had suggested.
And that’s how my Happy Place stamp set was born!
Seeing my idea become an actual Stampin’ Up! stamp set was such an incredible feeling.
But there was one more thing that was especially important to me.
If you have not ordered your copy yet don’t wait because they are almost gone ORDER HERE
Why I Requested Red Rubber Stamps
Y’all know I’m the Technique Queen, and I have always loved working with red rubber stamps!
When it comes to certain stamping techniques, I especially love the results I get with red rubber. That’s why I specifically requested that Happy Place be made as a red rubber cling stamp set.
I wanted stampers to be able to color directly on that large HAPPY image with Stampin’ Write Markers, experiment with different colors, and create beautiful beach scenes right inside the letters.
When Happy Place was released in August 2025, I couldn’t wait to start sharing ideas!
I created a video with more than 20 different ideas for using my stamp set, followed by another class in September. And a year later, I was still teaching new techniques using Happy Place!
I thought that was the story of my Million Dollar stamp set.
Oh, y’all. I had NO IDEA!
Off to Kanab, Utah, for Friends, Fun and Stamping!
Fast-forward to September 2026.
I traveled to Kanab, Utah, for a special Stampin’ Up! gathering, and what an adventure it was!
First of all, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Those beautiful red rocks, mountains, and wide-open spaces were incredible!
But as much as I enjoyed the scenery, the PEOPLE made this trip so special.
I shared an Airbnb with four other ladies. Some were friends I already knew, and others I was meeting for the very first time.
Let me tell you, we had SO MUCH FUN!
We laughed, talked, shared stories, and made memories that I will treasure forever.
And isn’t that one of the best things about stamping?
You can meet someone for the very first time, and because you share a love of creating, you already have something in common. Before you know it, you’re laughing together like you’ve been friends for years!
The memories we made at the event were wonderful, but the time spent together at our Airbnb was just as priceless.
Pajama Party
Stampin’ Up! threw a pajama party complete with popcorn, snacks and making Christmas tags using the new Season of Celebration Mix & Match and Happiest Season Tags Mix & Match Ephemera Packs. But the real fun was when I walked in the door and was in the same pajamas as the staff we all squealed! Natalie, Elisabeth and Carly are all Field Success Managers with Stampin’ Up! and let me tell you they made this event a huge success!
During the event, we participated in a Virtual Card Retreat, made beautiful handmade cards, created Christmas tags, and learned new stamping ideas.
I always love coming home with fresh inspiration and new things to share with all of you!
Learning, Creating and Playing in the Rubber Park!
And of course, you can’t visit Kanab without stopping at the famous Rubber Park!
Yes, RUBBER!
The playground is covered with shredded red rubber, and you better believe I had to get out there and play!
I even tossed handfuls of rubber into the air for a picture.
Who says you have to grow up?
Little did I know how meaningful that red rubber would become during this trip!
The Tour That Changed Everything
One of the highlights of our visit was touring the Stampin’ Up! manufacturing facility in Kanab.
This is the very facility where my Happy Place stamp set was produced.
As we toured the photopolymer stamp manufacturing area, I noticed that everything seemed to be focused on photopolymer stamps.
So I asked the manager a question.
“Where are the red rubber stamps being made?”
He explained that they had completed their very last production of red rubber stamps at the Kanab facility.
No more red rubber stamps would be manufactured there. They were moving forward with photopolymer.
Well, naturally, I had another question.
“Was my Happy Place stamp set part of that last production?”
And he said YES!
Y’all, I could hardly believe what I was hearing!
I already knew that Happy Place was the only red rubber stamp set I could still find on the Stampin’ Up! website.
But now I was learning that my Million Dollar Happy Place stamp set was part of the very last batch of red rubber stamps produced at the Kanab manufacturing facility!
Remember how I specifically requested red rubber because I love teaching techniques?
That one request had unexpectedly made my stamp set part of Stampin’ Up! history!
And then he told me something else.
The Last Red Rubber Burn
The end of red rubber production was such a significant moment that the employees at the manufacturing facility actually held a ceremony.
They gathered together and toasted with apple cider to commemorate the final red rubber production.
It was the end of an era.
And my Happy Place stamp set was part of that final chapter.
That’s when I started getting teary-eyed.
I had spent so many years working toward my Million Dollar sales achievement. Getting to design Happy Place was already a dream come true.
But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my stamp set would become part of this special moment in Stampin’ Up! history.
And y’all, the surprises weren’t over!
More Pieces of the Story Started Coming Together
After the tour, I returned to our meeting and began sharing what I had just learned.
Natalie White heard my story and said, “Oh my gosh!”
She told me that when she toured the manufacturing facility the previous year, she had actually taken pictures of my Happy Place stamps being produced and packaged!
Can you believe that?
She had photographs of my stamps being manufactured, and now she was able to share those photos with me.
What a treasure!
Then I shared my story with Carly Giles, and she told me something else I had never known.
Carly had served on a committee working to improve the production quality of photopolymer stamps.
And guess what they had used as part of that work?
The word HAPPY from MY Happy Place stamp set!
Because of the intricate detail in the beach scene in those letters, the image was used to help improve the level of detail they could achieve with photopolymer stamps.
Just think about that!
My Happy Place stamp set was connected to the end of red rubber production AND had played a small role in efforts to improve photopolymer stamps for the future.
I was overwhelmed.
But there was still one more surprise waiting for me.
A Presentation I Will Never Forget
At the end of our meeting, Josh from the warehouse called me to the front of the room.
He shared that there were very few Happy Place stamp sets remaining in the warehouse.
He also told us that two Happy Place stamp sets from that final batch of red rubber production had been sent as commemorative gifts—one to Sara Douglass and one to Shelli Gardner.
They were special keepsakes marking the end of red rubber manufacturing at the Kanab facility.
And when the warehouse team learned that I was there, they wanted to do something special for me, too.
They presented me with my very own Happy Place stamp set from that final red rubber batch!
And that wasn’t all.
They also gave me one of the photopolymer prototypes connected to the work that had been done using my HAPPY stamp image.
Y’all, I was speechless.
Well, almost speechless. You know me!
But I was definitely emotional.
Standing there holding those stamps, knowing the history behind them, was a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.
When I first designed Happy Place, I wanted to combine two things I loved: the beach and stamping techniques.
I never dreamed that one day I would learn my stamp set was part of the very last red rubber production at Stampin’ Up!’s Kanab facility.
And I certainly never imagined I would be presented with a commemorative set from that final batch.
My Happy Place stamp set was already special to me. Now it’s priceless.
But Here’s What Made This Trip Even More Special
As emotional as that presentation was, I came home thinking about something else, too.
The PEOPLE.
The ladies I shared an Airbnb with. The friends I hadn’t seen in a while. The new friends I made. The laughter, conversations, shared creativity, and memories.
After 29 years with Stampin’ Up!, I’ve received some wonderful rewards and enjoyed some incredible opportunities.
But the greatest benefit has never been a discount or a product.
It’s what I call the PEOPLE PERK!
The friendships.
The encouragement.
The opportunity to gather with people who share your love of stamping.
The memories you make along the way.
And sometimes, the unexpected surprises that bring you to tears!
That’s what has kept me loving this stamping community for almost 30 years.
Come for the Stamping, Stay for the Friendships!
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I’d love for you to consider joining my Stamping Friends Forever Team.
We share ideas, encourage one another, learn together, and enjoy monthly Team Time Together Zoom meetings.
And we have FUN!
You can watch the video to see all of the cards we made in the Virtual Card Retreat, my Christmas tags and the other goodies that I came home with on the video!
During October 2026, Stampin’ Up! also has a special joining promotion.
For $100, you receive a coupon for $125 in products of your choice, PLUS $50 in Stampin’ Rewards added to your account to use within three months.
That’s $175 in products and rewards for just $100!
But I hope you’ll discover what I’ve learned over the years.
The products are wonderful. The friendships are priceless.
Learn more about becoming a Stamping Friend Forever Team Member https://txstampin.com/join-my-team/
Thank You for Being Part of My Happy Place!
When I look back on this trip, I’ll remember the beautiful Utah scenery, the fun at Rubber Park, the projects we created, the late-night laughter with friends, and that unforgettable moment when I learned my Happy Place stamp set had made history.
But I’ll also remember how blessed I am to have found a community that has brought so many wonderful people into my life.
And that includes YOU!
Whether you’ve been stamping with me for years or you’re brand new to my crafting community, thank you for being part of this journey.
I went to Kanab for a stamping event. I came home with memories, friendships, and a piece of Stampin’ Up! history that I’ll treasure forever.
And after 29 years, I still can’t wait to see what comes next!
Stamping Is Easy…let me teach you!
Sharon
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Author Bio — TxStampin Sharon
Hi y’all! I’m Sharon Armstrong, better known as TxStampin Sharon — your friendly online teacher for card-making techniques and creative confidence!
I’ve been a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator for 29 years, teaching stampers around the world through my Mystery Monday Stamping live classes, YouTube tutorials, and my 110 Cardmaking Techniques Library.
My mission? To help you make beautiful handmade cards with no stress — just go rogue!
Explore more tutorials at TxStampin.com/Card-Making-Techniques
Happy Stampin’ y’all!
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