Hello and welcome back! You might have just arrived from the talented Krista Frattin, a returning Artisan from 2014. Today I am so excited to finally officially share this news! Some of you may have seen this announcement in person at the OnStage Milwaukee event, or on my social media sites.
Can you believe it? Let me tell you a little story. Back in April or May, I applied to be on the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team again. (I had the privilege of being on the 2012-2013 team before.) I think originally the team was to be selected and notified in late June or early July, but then the Stampin' Up special event schedule changed. So, the previous team continued on, and the new team was to be selected later and announced at the OnStage events on November 14. I think by October, I had decided that I probably wasn't selected and I had made my peace with it. I was mentally making a list of the demonstrators who I thought would be chosen, as it's a fun guessing game. So, on October 6th I was sitting at home on my couch, wrapped in a blanket with a horrible cold. Then, my cell phone rings. At first I thought it was work, but then I looked down to see a call from the 801 area code in Utah. My heart skipped a beat, and I answered the phone. Next, Becky Foster-Cowley introduces herself, and asks if I am home by myself. I say yes, except for my dog, who promises to keep quiet. Next, she says that I have been selected for this year's team, and did I want to accept. I said, "Really, are you serious? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!" and I threw my hands in the air. The tricky part was I didn't know who else was on the team, how they were going to announce it at OnStage, and I had to keep that secret until November 14th.
So, finally, November 14th rolls around, and I drove to Milwaukee for the OnStage event. As they show Sara from the live event in Brussels talking about the Artisan Design Team, my heart starts pounding and my hands start shaking. So, I hid them under the table while my friend Julie asks me casually, "Did you apply for that this year?" I casually respond, "Uhhuh." Then they announce all of the names, most of which I missed in all of the commotion, and I got to stand up and claim my prize -- cash, a shopping spree and a beautiful Tiffany bracelet (that I put on right away).
I also got to meet Sue Plote at Milwaukee who was the other Artisan announced there.
So, a little bit more about me. My name is Marisa Gunn, and I live in West Chicago, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I’m single, and have one furry roommate named Monty, an energetic, rescued Labrador mix. You'll see him on my Facebook and Instagram pages often. I joined Stampin’ Up! in the summer of 2002 without ever attending a workshop. I loved the coordinating products, the variety of stamp styles and the quality. I have a full-time job in the computer industry, so creating helps me unwind and use the creative side of my brain. I am the classic definition of a “hobby demonstrator”, and get together regularly with my friends to share our creative time and inspire each other. I also love photography, travel and spending time with family and friends.
I have been a “maker” since I was very young, and I have always loved the whole process of creating something with my hands. You could say that I have spent my life collecting hobbies and corresponding craft supplies. I have been stamping and scrapbooking for many years now, so these two hobbies in particular continue to inspire me. Currently my favorite things to design with are Project Life, watercolor, graphic elements and products that can be used to create a scene. This is my second time being selected as an artisan, and I am very excited to embark on this year with other creative demonstrators from around the world (it's an impressive group!).
Anyone who applied for the team was invited to bring a card to post at the OnStage event. I thought I would share that card with you today. I used the Peaceful Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set and the Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies to make this card. First, I stamped the tree in Versamark ink onto watercolor paper, heat embossed it in clear and then colored over it with Mossy Meadow ink and my Aqua Painter. I also cut the word "peace" from watercolor paper (two layers), and water-colored the top layer with Real Red ink. The rest of the greeting was heat embossed in white onto Cherry Cobbler Cardstock.
I added some red star sequins from the Brights Sequin Assortment, some Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details to complete this part of the card.
I also added a piece of the poinsettia print from the Season Of Cheer Designer Series Paper, and the striped tape from the Season of Cheer Designer Washi Tape along with some Silver Metallic Thread and a staple. This was all mounted to a Soft Sky card base.
We hope you'll join us every two weeks for our blog hop. You can also follow our team board on Pinterest here.
Well, that is all for me today. I promise, my other posts won't normally be THIS long! Your next stop on the hop is Michelle Long. I hope you'll join us every two weeks for the Artisan Design Team Blog Hop with all designers from across the globe. Thanks for stopping by!
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