Creative Blog Hop!

Hello! Thanks for stopping by!! Today is a little different post.  My Fusion teammate, Michelle Lupton (from Handmade by Michelle) has nominated me to participate in a Creative Blog Hop. I'm delighted that Michelle asked me - I love her style too!! Through blogging I’ve met wonderful friends who share my love of papercrafting. We admire each other’s different styles and support and encourage each other.   This is a a great chance for us to get to know each other better because I get to nominate two other designers I love to share more about themselves!

1. What are you working on now?

I'm always working on something new.  I am blessed to be on several design teams.  It's a crafter's dream to be the first to work with a new product.  So what's new?   

I just finished working on the Waltzingmouse Stamps new release - something for everyone - a vintage "Special Lady" set and fun comic book inspired graphics.

Pretty Little Studio has a new collection called "Treasure Island" coming out any day.. think mermaids, pirates, treasure chests, and parrots. 

Serendipity Stamps has a new release blog hop on Friday -  a new baby bootie die and some graphic images perfect for creating backgrounds from Anya Schrier!!  

I'm also working on putting together my "kit" for The 12 Kits of Occassions.  That's a group of 12 friends who take turns putting together a kit for the rest of the group to work with.  My month is May and the theme is "Let's Hear It For The Boys".  I'm coordinating pattern paper, stamped images, die cuts and embellishments.  Follow the group on their blog - I'm making an extra kit to give away!

2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?

One word .. COLOR! If you look at a gallery of all my cards I think the one thing they have in common is bright bold color! I like to try different styles - and am hard to pin down (not sure if that is a good thing or not) so you never know what you're going to see on my blog.... CAS or layers. The one thing you can always count on regardless of the particular style is COLOR!

3. Why do your create what you do?

I think we all have the same intention – to share a smile, and let others know how much they mean to us.  A card tells a friend you are thinking about them, and that they are in your heart and mind.   Aside from that it's theraputic for me.  It's a way to escape and let my mind wonder.  It's what I do when I'm staying up late waiting for my kids to come home, and how I brighten a cold winter day.

4. How does your creative process work?

It's different every single time.  Rarely do I know exactly what I'm going to make when I sit down to work.   I usually start out inspired by a photo or a sketch.  The first thing I grab could be the perfect patterned paper, stamp or die - next it's lots of mixing and matching elements until I'm satisfied that everything is perfect.

Now, I'd like to nominate two cardmakers whose work I admire -

Anya Schrier from Life is What You Make It    I've always considered Anya my mentor - she's been creating beautiful projects and blogging since 2007!!!  She is one of the most amazing stampers I know - I bow to the QUEEN!  She's the big sister I wish I'd had (I'm older than Anya - but she leads by example!).

Suzanne Dahlberg from Freshly Noted   I was lucky enough to be asked to join a group of designers called "The 12 Kits of Occassions"  where I was introduced to Suzanne.  I've always been impressed with her designs that are the perfect mix of clean and fussy - always "just right".  Suzanne just joined Papertrey Ink, and I'm happy to say I knew her when!  LOL!

Special thanks to Michelle  for nominating me!