KN: A Rubber Stamper in the Stampscapes® Gallery from France is rare. I asked Karine if she would write a few notes about herself and the stamping scene in her area. Here's what she said.

I have discovered the rubberstamping world at the start of 1999 owing to a french friend who received some cards from swaps with American and English friends (but I have got a lot of stamps yet) She explained to me how make a scenic card. We have swap both. In September 1999 I have taken an Internet subscription and since then I have never stopped looking at stamping sites, "meet" new rubberstamping friends, learn new techniques, see a lot of great stamps...and in august 2000 I have decided do built my own site, my rubberstamping home page where I show my cards and some of the cards that my friends sent me. I have new contacts. My dream is to do know the rubberstamping in my area. In France rubberstamping isn't very popular unfortunately. I have only 2 friends in France who are interested.

Otherwise we have a lot of shops now (especially in Lyon because it's a big city, the second of France after Paris) who sell stamps but people use them for an occasion (to make cards, invitations for a wedding, a party, a birthday....but no really rubberstamping :o( We have also two companies who make their own stamps : L'atelier de l'empreinte (Paris) and Aladine (Near Lyon). These companies and some craft shops participate in craft shows from time to time but here there are no convention. For my part I love to do scenic cards and I'll try to improve, it's my favorite technique and I buy a lot of stamps to make them. My first scenic stamps have been Stampscapes®. I remember the day where I have seen the site of Stampscapes®. I believed to dream! I loved these realistic stamps and I was amazed to see all the very nice cards from the gallery. Today I'm very honored that you put my cards in. -Karine