I started really getting into the idea of digi-scrapping in the spring of 2009. It took me a few months of internet searches (mostly freebie hunting!) to get the courage to actually try my hand at creating a page. I'm pretty sure I found SSD kind of by accident, just from my usual "digital scrapbooking" internet searches.
I do know that Melissa's "Just Chillin'" kit was the first SSD kit I ever bought and that this was the first SSD LO I ever made. *cringe*