Creative Blog Hop and my Card Creations Projects 1 & 2

Hello there! Today I am excited to take part in the Creative Blog Hop and also to share some never-before-seen projects. A special thank you to Sarah Sagert, my friend from the 2012 Stampin' Up Artisan Design Team, for nominating me to participate. I love her style and creations, and am honored that she asked me to join in on the fun!

Here are my answers to the four questions for the hop.

1.  What are you working on?
Right now I'm getting ready for Christmas including making my Christmas cards (using this kit and this template), making lots of Christmas tags and planning my Christmas package wrapping options. I love the holidays, and often have many more ideas than I have time to implement. In fact, I just remembered two more projects I want to complete in December: making the stars from this kit to add to my banister decorations and making some three dimensional Christmas trees in glass jars.

Here is one set of tags I've made so far. I'll have more details about these tags in a blog post later this week.

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I try to think out of the box with my supplies, and work at making something different than I have before. I don't know if my style is very different, but I tend to be more linear in my designs and would say that I include a medium amount of accessories and details. On the spectrum between clean and simple to vintage shabby chic, I am in the middle maybe towards the clean and simple side. Lately I've been using a lot of watercolor and metallics as well as kraft and neutrals. I like making cards with little scenes in them as well like the city card below.

3.  Why do you create what you do?
I was on the Stampin' Up Artisan Design Team back in 2012-2013, and I am currently designing for the Can You Case It website for their weekly challenges. Both of these are fun as I get something to start with: a sketch, or a list of colors or specific products. I also like to submit to magazines like Cards and Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking. So, sometimes I'll start with their list of calls for submissions. When I'm not designing for a challenge or a team, I usually get some ideas from Pinterest that I want to try. Sometimes I see one particular technique and want to try a little different spin on it. Or other times, I like looking at a piece of art or a logo or anything else with great design, and an idea will pop into my head that I can't wait to try. I'll be honest: sometimes these projects fail miserably! But, most of the time I get something that I really like. I think it's good to stretch yourself and try different things. I don't want to get in a rut!

4.  How does your creative process work?

As in the previous question, I usually start with a sketch, colors, products or a Pinterest inspired idea in mind. Then, I head to my crafting area to make it happen. I'm blessed in that I have a dedicated space for my crafting, so if I don't have time to finish all my current ideas I can leave them staged and ready to complete at a later date. I also write out my ideas on index cards with a sketch and details about any stamps or accessories that I want to use. Then, I'll take a batch of cards with ideas to my workspace to create from. Every now and then I also like to take scraps from previous projects, and make a new project with them. I usually have music or maybe a previously viewed movie playing in the background.

The two cards below were accepted to be in the Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking Card Creations Volume 13, but I recently found out that it's not going to be published after all. The good news is I don't have to wait to share these cards with you!

 

This one has a watercolor background, and features a stamped vellum feather, stamped feather on cardstock and an inked water spritzed feather on water color paper, each die cut and layered together.

 

Product List

Four Feathers Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Really Good Greetings Clear Stamp Set	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad	Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin' Pad
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper	Watercolor Paper	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Vanilla Coaster Board
Feathers Framelits Dies	Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker's Twine	Gold Sequin Trim

I made my own stencil for the sun rays on this card. The center of the ray is made from coasterboard, and has a sponged cardstock sun layered on top. The city skyline was trimmed out and also attached to some coasterboard to add to the depth.

 

 

This one has a fun surprise inside! I used my stencil again with sponged ink, and finished the greeting inside.

 

Product List

Ray Of Sunshine Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Calling All Heroes Photopolymer Stamp Set	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Tangelo Twist Classic Stampin' Pad	Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Vanilla Coaster Board	Window Sheets Base Material
1-3/4" Circle Punch	Sponge Daubers

Now, I am going to nominate two of my sideline in Stampin' Up!.

Barbara Pisciotto I've known Barb since just before she was married. We lost touch for awhile, but then we met up again at a Stampin' Up meeting a couple of years ago. How fun to be able to see her again a few times a year, and share in this creative endeavor together. Check out her blog for some really beautiful autumn and Christmas projects.

Dee Tollaksen I met Dee through Stampin' Up! also. She is a new Grandma, and has the cutest little grandson now. You should check out her blog to see a whole collection of pretty cards and gift packaging projects. She's also been doing alot with the Project Life by Stampin' Up! products and the Project Life App.

Well, that is all for today! Thanks for stopping by.