About a year-and-a-half ago, Stampin’ Up! announced a new contest inviting all stampers, demonstrators and non-demonstrators, to put on their creative caps and submit a design for a monster-themed set. You all might remember my sweet friend, Doris, and her winning Monster Maniacs set? 🙂 I loved the set and didn’t mind being the runner-up to her creation. So when Shelli announced at convention that year that there would be another contest, I knew I wanted to try again!

As my mother and I drove back to Vegas from our first convention, we brainstormed all sorts of sayings and phrases that we thought would make a great stamp set. When I went back to work, I couldn’t help but doodle here and there. I would draw something, take a picture, and send it to my mom and she’d say yes or no. (She was my upline at the time so I figured she knew what would work. After all, mother knows best!)

One night I was rocking our middle son to sleep and saw the Bible verse I had painted on a canvas to match his spaceship-themed room. “Shine like stars in the universe”–one of my favorite verses of scripture. That’s when I decided I wanted to do a scripture set. I sat down and thought of a few that I felt would not only look great on a card but would reach someone who needed to be lifted up.

I was in the Air Force for nine years. All nine years were spent far from family, and even a few months were in the Middle East–away from my husband and our 7-month-old son. Nothing helped more than the scripture verses my mom or dad or my church family would write on my cards. In fact, I still have a scrap of paper with a verse that my dad sent me while I was in basic training.

There’s something special about making a card for someone and I wanted these Banner Blessings to make it even more special! Thank you, Stampin’ Up!, for the opportunity, and thanks to everyone for their support! I hope you enjoy the set as much as I have already! 🙂

Holly Stene

**Please note the opportunity to design stamp sets is no longer available.