A Peek Behind the Scenes at Simon Says Stamp and a Bit About Our Family :)

Hi friends!

Many of you have asked about our story.  With our dog Simon sick, and him being the namesake, the logo, and a big personality at the forefront of our company, we just knew this summer was the time to work on sharing our story with you.   In order to share our story with you, we worked with a wonderful company, IPSO, to bring it to life through a video.

Sharing this video with you is bittersweet.  I adopted Simon as a very little puppy with one bent ear over 14 years ago.  I knew him before I met my husband and before my kiddos came to this world.  I knew Simon as my pup before I started the business Simon Says Stamp (and named it in his honor).  Simon has always been a HUGE part of our lives.  He would sleep in my bed, follow me around the house, lie next to me as I crafted, folded laundry, and worked on the computer, shadow my kids around our yard, and often come to the office with me. With Simon always wanting to be near us, we find him in the background (and foreground!) of many of our pictures.  He was a kind, quiet, loyal, sweet and loving little guy.
simoncollage2

It’s with a deeply heavy heart that I am sharing with you:  Simon recently passed away.  He had been sick the last few months, and his sickness created a sense of urgency to film this video. As hard as it was to put ourselves on camera….I am so glad we did.  I think many of you can relate.  In the moment, the process of sharing our story might be hard.  But, our stories are our lives.  Documenting our stories through pictures and videos gives us something that we can look back on later to remind us of the joys and happy moments that make up our life.

This is a great opportunity for us to share pieces of who we are, and what we do, with YOU.  We are grateful to share this journey with you and are so so grateful for your support along the way.  We wouldn’t be here without YOU.  You’ll even see typical moments with our pup, Simon, in the office captured in the video.

Special thanks to our friend Jennifer McGuire for introducing us to the fabulous team at IPSO and encouraging us to tell our story.

THANK YOU for being here to listen.

Much love,

Heidi and the Simon Says Stamp Family.

Heidi Crowl
Founder of Simon Says Stamp. Crazy in Love with my hubby and life partner, Mommy of two fun(ny) kiddos, forever mom to our pup Simon who sadly passed over the Rainbow bridge, and a new mom to our family protector German Shepherd. Lover of all things art, craft, and stamp related. Goofball at heart.
  1. I am so sorry for your pain and your families pain right now Heidi.
    Sadly I know the heart ache from losing a much loved pet and the heart ache is horrible but I also know from experience your pain will ease with time. There will always be a special place in your heart and your families heart just for the beautiful wonderful Simon and wonderful happy memories of him.
    I really hope there will be more paw prints on all your hearts in future, just give it time, allow yourselves to grieve – it’s normal and that’s good for all of you.
    Enjoy your Christmas as much as you can, you will laugh with your family and you will cry too. Big hugs to all of you Karen xx

  2. I am so saddened to hear about Simon. While it is so painful now, it surely pales in comparison to the years of happiness you had with him and gave him. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  3. I am so saddenedy by your loss. I’m in tears and haven’t even watched the video. We recently had some medical issues with our kitty, Sunshine and this hits really close to home. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Much love and hugs to you all. xoxox

  4. I am in tears after seeing this post about Simon. What a gentle loving spirit he was. If he could talk he would tell you, ” Thanks for everything. I had a great time.” We teach them to sit and stay….. if only they could.

  5. I’m so sorry Heidi to read this about Simon. What a blessing, loyal friend and family member he was through all 14 years. Our Lizzie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in August after 15 years so I know what you’re feeling. Simon will live on through your company and especially through his own stamp line in which I own a few!! Hugs to you and your family!

  6. Heidi, I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved Simon. I remember seeing him at the very first Create in 2014. It’s so hard losing a four-legged member of the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

  7. My thoughts are with you as you go through these days without Simon. May the pleasant memories of happier times become the peace that helps you through these days.

  8. Thank you for sharing your story and your love of craft. I really love shopping online with you. I am so sorry to hear about Simon. I definitely feel your pain as I have had two cocker spaniels for 11 years. In September I lost Nala my female and now we are nursing Freckles our male as he battles cancer. Pets add richness to family life and become part of us. Simon was lucky to have you for his family.

  9. I am so sorry for the loss of your family member. Our pets are our children, confidants, comfoterse and give unconditional love. Glad you have the video, thanks for sharing

  10. So very sorry about Simon. I know exactly how you feel. We lost 2 of our dogs this year, within 3 months of each other. Cancer is merciless. We adopted them when we got married 15 years ago. Letting go wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. Thank you so much for sharing this video.

  11. I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. I also have an old boy he’s 10 and he does exactly what Simon did. They are so deeply loved and missed so much . I dread the day. All we can do is remember the good times, you gave him a good life he will be waiting on the rainbow bridge for you.

  12. I’m so sorry to hear about Simon. I’m sure he left a huge pawprint hole in your heart that seems so empty right now… but I hope someday that hole will fill with all of the joyful memories and love Simon shared with you. Peace to you and your family.

  13. I’m deeply in sorry for your loss, not even in your family member in SIMON your Logo, your Business …..we lost on Halloween our kitten and never thought we (and my 7 year old daughter) had to face with so much pain and sorrow.
    One day the pain will be gone and for you and your Company, Simon will always be the soul, the heart, the one who will always take care of you.
    All the best and Happy Holidays from Germany
    Jasmin

  14. Heidi, I’m so sorry to hear about sweet Simon. I come from a family where each dog has truly been loved as a full member of the family. I love that you were able to capture him in such a special video. You’ll cherish it as I’m sure you will cherish him for always! Hugs to you and your family!

  15. I am SO sorry to hear of your loss :( Pets leave such deep little footprints on our hearts no matter how big or how small they are. Carry your happy memories with you.

  16. All my family are so sorry to hear about Simon! We know how hard is to loose someone who was a part of our lives for so many years!!! Thanks for sharing your story and all your love and support for crafters!!!

  17. I am so sorry to hear about Simon. May you find peace and joy in the memories. And thank you for the video. So nice to see the faces of all of you that provide wonderful service and products to all of us who love crafting too. Merry Christmas and many blessings in the year ahead.

  18. Oh, Heidi. So sorry for the loss of your sweet pup. It is never easy. Glad you have wonderful memories. I’m joining the crowd in sending you cyber hugs.

  19. This was a wonderful video. I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve gotten a lot of joy from stamping and coloring Simon. He holds a piece of my heart too.

  20. So sorry for the loss of Simon – my heart goes out to you. I absolutely love Simon Says Stamp and a gift card is on the top of my Christmas wish list — we’ll see if Santa comes through! Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

  21. My heart just broke reading about Simon’s passing. My little Lhasa, Hailey passed away just this summer, after 17 years together. It was right at the time you were holding the contest for Simon to have a new friend for him, to be featured as a stamp, & I really wanted to submit her, but I just couldnt bear to do it with what we were going through at home. This will be our furst Christmas without her, & even though a number of months have passed it’s still very difficult. I still speak of her in the present, & purchased a gift for my Mom on her behslf, as we did every year. I just can’t bear to break some of our traditions. I hope that Hailey finally gets to meet Simon in Heaven, & they both can finally become real friends. I’m so very sorry for your great loss. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family during this difficult time. XOxo

  22. So, so sorry for your loss Heidi. Our pets are definitely part of our family and really like children to us. I know your sweet Simon felt the love of your family and felt blessed. Thank you for sharing your story. :-) Donna

  23. Thanks so much for sharing the story–loved reading it & seeing the pictures & video! Wishing you comfort in the many happy memories you have of that adorable pup, Simon. No matter how old they are it’s always too soon to loose a furbaby & my heart goes out to you & your family. Thank you for all the inspiration & your service to us crafters & your incredible generosity! Hoping 2016 brings you many happy times!

  24. Oh, no…I’m so sorry for yur loss, Heidi, Simon was a so cute and nice little boy. I’m sure that he ‘s now in the paradise of dogs… I’m really sad. I send you hugs…

  25. Heartfelt wishes for peace and may the good memories of Simon accompany
    and comfort you and the family. We will miss Simon as well.

  26. Losing a family member is always a hardship but you have so many good memories to bring happiness in memories later. What an honor to have a company named after him so we all shared in his life. When my Mother lost her dog, I told her to write down each time a memory overtook her and hurt. After about a month we sat down together with all the pictures we had of him and her notes and made a scrapbook together that became the most heartwarming time I spent with her. We laughed together and cried. We recalled so many good times. We made a really neat scrapbook documenting all the things that were important to Mom using her notes. It became a tool to heal instead of hurt. Later, when looking through it it became a time to receive warm hugs. Scrapbooking is so important for so many different reasons and Simon Says Stamp is a wonderful company. Sending hugs and good thoughts, Mary

  27. Thinking of you and your family, Heidi, including your SSS family too. Simon has blessed your lives, just as you all have blessed his. Thank you, for sharing your story and memories with us.

  28. Thank you for sharing this video with us. It’s really cool to feel love for the faces that are behind this wonderful company. You humanized it for me. Most online companies are mechanical and now I ‘feel’ for your company. I ‘feel’ heartache for the loss of Simon.. And I didn’t even know him!! It saddens me how some people talk to me. It’s like people have forgotten that these are other human beings that we are talking to & interacting with and treating so poorly. People are becoming robotic in their daily interactions and it’s just really sad. This video just warms my heart. So again, thank you. And I’m so sorry for your loss of your family member. You are in my prayers Miss Heidi & fam.

  29. It is so nice to hear the story behind simon says stamps. I am so very sorry about the little man behind the name, I cant imagine how you are feeling as My 4 yr old Teddy Bear is like my other sons and I love him the same. I hope things get easier soon for you and Happy Holidays, Sheila Miller

  30. This was so touching. From now on I will always think of Simon when I am shopping or on the blog getting inspired! Thanks for sharing your story – It’s important to me to know that the places where I spend my money are truly worthy of my loyalty and patronage.

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