This was my basement three years ago. It seems like it was a lifetime ago. I spent hours working on MISTIs. At my best, I could make 3 per hour. However, there were always distractions and getting 60 done for a flash sale took me almost 2 weeks to make. I still worked part time at a clinic and had to take care of My Little Petunia.
It took a long time to mail out the orders. I had to manually enter the addresses on USPS.com. I shipped my own orders for 8 months. The postal employees became my friends and helped me unload my vehicle every time I arrived.
I believe I made 600 MISTIs in this basement before I could afford to place my first order with a Chicago manufacturer. When that first order of manufactured MISTIs arrived, I had to ask friends to help me ship them. I used to post the order number on Facebook, and people would ask how many more before their number was up and their MISTI would be shipping. It became so exciting to see what number we were on.
Those were exciting times. I feel so blessed to have come this far. I have made so many new friends and I never could have imagined how the MISTI has changed stamping. I'm so grateful for all of it and for all of you!
To celebrate our 3rd anniversary, I am having a 20% off sale on the Original MISTI and Original accessories (mousepad and grid pad). No coupon is necessary, and the sale ends Sunday, July 23rd.
Thank you so much for blessing me with your love and support.
Congrats on your anniversary. Your invention has changed the stamping nation. All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteThe MISTI changed the world of stamping for the better. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteMany more such years are surely coming and congratulations for this beautiful achievement and product.
ReplyDeleteLove you
Congratulations for this great 3rd Anniversary!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! All that hard work has paid off! Thanks for your perservance in making so many stampers happy,happy!
ReplyDeleteSo thrilled with my MISTI's. So happy that you had this vision and were able to share it with all of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm forever grateful to you, Iliana for creating the MISTI. It was tool I had been searching for. Congratulations on 3 years of successful business. Here's to many more.
ReplyDeleteI still have my original one hand made by you. I think I was order number 496! I love mine to this day and use it quite often. Your product has made my stamping so much easier and I've recommended it to many people. Several of my stamping friends all have one from my recommendation and demonstration.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Iliana, and thank you for pushing through all the hard work! God has truly blessed you, and may He continue to bless and encourage you. You've changed all our lives with this amazing tool that I always have out and available on my work table (yes, both of them). Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLove my Misti! Can't live without it! Thanks and happy anniversary.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Awesome 3rd Birthday!!!!! Just kept spreading the "must" word last weekend while teaching a make & take at last weekend's stamp show nearby. There are still lots of people who NEED their first Misti! ((((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your hard work paying off! An amazing journey! Happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I have had mine several years and like it very much. A very "much needed" piece of equipment in any crafters room.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you! God has surely blessed us at stamp junkies to have you in our lives! Hugs <3. Jess
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Birthday/Anniversary! I can't count how many times I've used my MISTIs. Thousands and thousands since I purchased my first one. You changed my life. Who knew that seeing that pink square online that fateful evening would send my crafting into the crafting maelstrom that is now Stamp Junkies. I've made so many new friends, 4 best friends, met my hero (you), I make "appearances" now and travel the country in support of My Sweet Petunia. I'm incredibly proud of you and incredibly honored to now call you my close friend. I love you more than you'll ever know. You've changed my life for the better. God had us cross paths. I'm so glad He did.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Birthday!! Like so many others, I LOVE my MISTI and your product has totally changed stamping for me. You've taken so much of the frustration out of stamping and returned the fun. Thanks for all those hours of work.
ReplyDeleteHappy 3rd Anniversary Iliana! If my memory serves me, I believe I had just learned of you and your MISTI when you had pics up of a long table in your living quarters with a friend helping you pack them. Then you had a pic of the numerous MISTI's boxed and stacked against a wall by the door, ready to take to the post office. I too remember the fb posts of everyone wondering what # you were on in hopes their's would soon be sent. All the while I admired them from afar waiting until the day I could order my own. I FINALLY got mine about a year after that. My poor husband knew more about the MISTI and how it worked than most crafter's as I watched, (and pined) over every video that came out! LOL
ReplyDeleteI was so proud of you for creating such a great product and turning it into a business and I am STILL proud of you for achieving it! You are my hero! Congratulations again Iliana, you are an amazing role model for YOUR own Sweet little Petunia!
Happy Anniversary ..... I teach weekly classes and both of my Misti's (large and small) are my weekly go to ..... Thank You!!!
ReplyDeleteYour story is truly amazing! I have one of the first ones from the Chicago manufacturer and one of the minis. I love how the Lord has showered His blessings on your invention. Happy birthday MISTI!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Iliana on your Dream and the 3rd. Birthday of the Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented. The perfect Name for the Perfect Tool! <3 You truly have made stamping more fun and creative! Big (((Hugs))) to you sweet lady! <3
ReplyDeleteLove my MISTI and wish you much success. So glad you took out a patent. Good luck. From Jane a Holmes Australia.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! MISTI is such an incredibly wonderful tool! I absolutely love both of mine!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I love my misti! So glad you came up with the idea �� hard work paid off!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on achieving so much success! This product has changed the stamping world. Thanks to your family and friends for helping.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I love the MISTI and can't imagine how I stamped before it came out. Happiest anniversary and many, many more!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your humble beginnings. Love your product!
ReplyDeleteHappy 3rd birthday! Thank you for such an amazing tool that has made stamping so much easier! I don't know how I managed without it! I was so excited when I managed to get it here in the UK! Still excited when I use it! Love it! xxx
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! ;) Yes, your Misti Tool HAS changed stamping & we ALL LOVE IT! ;) I RARELY pull out my acrylic blocks anymore! LOL PLUS, I'd RATHER stamp with my Misti! ;)HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Eat some Cake & ENJOY!!! :D
ReplyDeleteDo you offer replacement foam pads for inside the Misti (original)? Mine is getting kind of beat up. By the way, I love my MISTI.
ReplyDeleteHappy 3rd Anniversary Iliana! Congrats on your milestone!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your success! I would be lost without my Mistis.
ReplyDeleteThankful for your success and the MISTI...I have all 3 sizes and find uses for each!!!! TFS
ReplyDeletePaper Hugs,
Jan
Iliana, happiest anniversary for the Misti. Your hard work has paid off, and we, the stampers, are the main beneficiaries. I get a little irritated on your behalf when I see everyone jumping on the bandwagon with knockoffs...but...they say imitation is the truest form of flattery. YOU deserve the financial rewards from those knockoffs, which is what bothers me. Anyway, I love love love my Misti and use it every time I stamp. And I thank you so much for this powerful, wonderful product. It's hard to believe it's only been three years...feels like I've been using it longer. Congratulations and all the best wishes to you for your incredible accomplishment. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations & Happy 3rd Birthday! So happy for you that this invention has done so well for you! It is a must in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteI'm brand new to the stamping/card making world. (Well other than a few small stamps I have used in planners anyway.)
I don't mean to be a Negative Nancy I really don't, but I have a question please... the sale ends when? In your post it says Friday, July 20th but Friday is the 21st. I really don't want to miss it and we get paid on Friday so please tell me I can still order on Friday?????
Thanks so much!
Hello & Happy Birthday to You, Iliana, & the AMAZING MISTI!! Like I've said before, the MISTI has truly changed my ability to craft. 5 1/2 years ago I was left permanently disabled and had to put stamping on the back burner due to permanent nerve damage in my neck/arm/hand. The MISTI has honestly been a healing tool to help drag me out of the ensuing depression that followed my many injuries. You have added joy & substance to my days and have made me feel as though I have a purpose again in life. You will likely never know how deeply grateful I am to you. Many blessings to you and your family, and your family of MISTIs, and I am thrilled to continue to love my craft thanks to you. ~HUGE HUGS~
ReplyDelete#kindnessmatters
Hello Iliana,
ReplyDeleteYOU should be so very proud of this wonderful accomplishment!!! Wow-I didn't even realize that I probably had one of the Misti's you were packaging up yourself! I love the 2 I have (especially the mini Misti) and use them constantly. Your invention helped me create a much nicer, consistant and professional looking piece. Congratulations to you and all those family and friends who supported you through your Misti journey! Wishing you many more years of successful creation and invention Iliana!
I absolutely love my Misti! I kept telling myself that I didn't need another toy, that my Stamp-a-ma-jig was all I needed. Now I can't imagine stamping without it. Your awesome invention has saved many a card from being thrown away. Happy happy anniversary!! You are sooo appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI SO BADLY wish that I would have known you were making them in your basement!!! I would have paid twice what the price is now for it!!! Meanwhile, I was buying everything else under the sun to help me line up things, like sentiments. I can't even walk a straight line, not even sorta straight, let alone stamp in a straight line. I love my Misti!!!!!! Your hard work has changed the stamping world FOREVER!!!!!!!! We will all be indebted to you!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! Celebrate! Thank you for being so generous. Love love my MISTI!
ReplyDeleteI am just amazed and in awe of someone with the creative genius and guts to do what you did. Making something in your basement and selling them. It's just amazing. Congratulations on your anniversary. You deserve all the blessings you have received and more ❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Congratulations on your amazing invention. I remember back when we would go on FB to find out how close our order number was. I've owned three including one of the "originals". I am so happy this has been such a huge success -- Well deserved!
ReplyDeleteI got one of your basement versions LOL. I was at the point where I could no longer hold a block without dropping it. This helped me to be able to continue stamping and even better
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting to read—I had no idea you were making them yourself! I held out for awhile on getting a MISTI b/c I just didn't get it. But after watching some videos on various blogs and experiencing a lot of frustration when an image couldn't be fully stamped, the lightbulb went off. First I got the mini MISTI, which I have used a lot. Then I just went for it and got the giant MISTI last month for my birthday. Congratulations on your achievements, and happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary. I wouldn't be without my misti.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Anniversary!!! I love my MISTI
ReplyDelete