Card-maker takes scrapbooking to the next level

Lifelong Lodi resident Leslie Crosby has taken her scrapbookinghobby and turned it into a mini-business, creating hand-made greeting cards using clear acrylic stamps. Now she's using her creative knowledge to teach others how to make unique cards and other projects.

For Halloween, she taught a workshop at Hutchins Street Square to make an embellished trick-or-treat bucket covered in patterned paper. She also teaches classes locally on scrapbooking and making gift tags.

Tell me how you got into card-making using stamps.

When I started scrapbooking several years ago, I found that my collection of tools and papers grew at an alarming rate. To somewhat justify my hobby, I realized I could make cards with all the supplies I already had on-hand. At first I swore I would never get into stamping, but I discovered a great company that makes awesome clear stamps for the sentiments on my cards; it only took making one card with these stamps and I was hooked.

What is your favorite stamp in your collection? Why?

That's almost like asking me to choose which (of my two children) I love more! I currently have 125 acrylic stamp sets, and each clear-style stamp set has about 15 images on it. I can't even imagine choosing just one! But the one stamp I use most often is the personalized one I put on the back of each card I create, stating it was handmade by me so everyone knows I created it with love.

Does everyone on your card list get a homemade one? For every occasion?

To contact Leslie Crosby

Call 712-7951.

Email handmadebyleslie@ sbcglobal.net.

Visit www.lesliecrosby.myctmh.com.

Absolutely! I don't want anyone feeling like I don't care enough to make a card for them. I don't think I've purchased a card in the store in about five years.

As far as "for every occasion," that is what is so great about making your own cards. You can make them as personal to the person or occasion as you want. I make birthday, anniversary, wedding, baby, "thank you" and sympathy cards.

Some of my favorite cards are the ones I make to let someone know that I am thinking of them at a specific time in their life: For my first-time mom friend who recently went back to work, for a family friend who retired from the fire service, pet sympathy cards for friends who lost their beloved furry companions, for a surgery from which recovery was a bit tougher than expected. Those are the cards that are so fun to create.

When I make handmade cards, I can make them in non-traditional sizes, too. I've done smaller cards and round cards, which are fun surprise for the recipient.

What would you recommend to someone who wants to get started making homemade cards?

Start simple. Don't think you have to buy everything all at once. You can start very easily with a few pieces of paper, scissors and a few embellishments. Once you get a feel for what you're doing, then you can add to your collection.

I understand you have a craft table at home. What is the one tool you can't live without?

My husband would be grateful if I were able to contain myself to one table. I tend to take over the house when I'm in a creative mood. The one thing I can't live without is my piercing tool. I can use it to add embellishments to a card or to add holes for brads or eyelets. It's like having an extra hand.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 10:27 a.m., Monday, Oct. 27 to correct Leslie Crosby's phone number.

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