Creative Crew Blog Hop

I was nominated by Janey of Inspired Stamping by Janey Backer to participate in the Creative Crew Blog Hop! Janey and I met through our Stamping Group, Inking Everything.

The rules of the Blog Hop are as follows:
1) Create a project exclusive to the Creative Crew Blog Hop.
2) Answer a few questions.
3) Nominate two stampers that inspire me!

Here is my project made exclusively for this blog hop:

An altered Journal!
The Kraft Grid journal is from Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog. I love these little journals! It's so easy to alter them and make them into something adorable! I used the Irresistably Yours DSP from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog, and sponged on some Basic Black ink. I loved the dark grey look of the black on the paper, so I didn't sponge it too dark. The top part of the background is Whisper White Paper, embossed with the Polka Dot Embossing Folder, and the Texture Boutique. The Flower is a single stamp called Blended Bloom, and it's colored with the Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight Blendabilities. I love using these markers as they make me feel like an artist...even though I am not! They add such dimension to your coloring. Here's a closer look:

The ribbon is Daffodil Delight Chevron Ribbon, and that's an Antique Brad. I did sponge very lightly around the white polka dot border, to give my journal a little pop!  Hope you like it!


Onto the Questions:
1) What are you working on?
Currently, I am working on projects for my next two classes: My Chalk Talk Class, and my Butterfly Basics Class.

2) How does your work differ from others in your genre?
If I had to put my finger on one specific thing, I would say that I love Shabby Chic. The one thing that differs about me is that I can't ever totally pull off Shabby Chic, because I am so Type A that I cannot leave my projects too shabby! LOL...I think my right brain collides with my left, so I am left with Not-So-Shabby-Chic!

3) Why do you create what you do?
Well...Usually I am steered by current trends, but I just love certain new color schemes, and certain things I see in the craft stores or on Pinterest, and run from there.

4) How does your creative process work?
When I am trying to design for a class, the first thing I do is pull out some Designer Paper, pick out coordinating solid colors that match, grab a good stamp set, then set it to the side for a day or so, until all sorts of pretty ideas come running into my head, and then I can whip out three or four things in an hour or two. I carry a planner with me, and I am always jotting down sketches from my head to use later.

Last...but certainly NOT least...I am going to nominate Krista Murphy from Krista's Blog, because she always makes adorable projects!

And I am going to nominate Raquelle Clifton from The Lady and Her Stamps because Raquelle always comes up with something wonderful!

Janey...thank you SO much for nominating me to participate in the Creative Crew Blog Hop!

Painted Petals Journal

Can you tell I love this stamp set?
This was a project from my Painted Petals Class in January. It's a tiny little Composition Book that I altered. I bought it at one of the big box stores during school supply season. I see school supplies and my eyes bug out! I like no...LOVE them!

It was super simple to cover this little notebook. I just took some Sticky Strip, ran a piece down the spine, the right side of the front cover, and the left side of the back cover, cut my DSP to fit, and rounded the corners before adhering. Then, I just made the cute tag with the Scalloped Tag Punch, and tied the ribbon. Super easy, fun project that you can make multiples of quickly. Here's a close-up of the ribbon:

Ingredients:
Stamp Sets: Painted Petals
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White
Accessories: Painted Petals DSP, Daffodil Delight Chevron Ribbon, Whisper White Thick Baker's Twine, Scallop Tag Topper Punch, Dimensionals.

Hey Valentine!

Aren't these cute? 

I wasn't planning on making any valentines this year but Annalise asked me to get a Valentine Stamp Set because she wanted to stamp her own valentines this year. I acted like it was no big deal, but inside my heart was skipping, and my subconscious was doing a happy dance! Why? Annalise is extremely self-sufficient. She usually just does her own thing and makes her own goodies, without much help or input from me. And-- because Annalise is in her last year of elementary school, and I'm a little sad about it. She's my youngest, and for the first time in 19 years, I'm not going to have an elementary school student!

Here are some close-ups of the two different Valentines I made:

The cute fishies!

An adorable pirate!

I colored them with my new Blendabilities Alcohol Markers.They are SO much fun! It's like having artistic talent, when you don't! Listed below is the items used for these:

Stamp Sets: Hey, Valentine
Ink Pads: Memento Black
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack, Basic Black Chevron Ribbon, Circle Framelits, Blendabilities in Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, Skin Tones, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie


Here's a pic of all 24 I made:

Want to know the funniest part? This bunch isn't for Annalise's classmates. I decided to join a Valentine's Swap, with some other stampers. Inside this little pouch is a Ghirardelli Chocolate. Sure hope the ladies love them! I can't wait to see what sort of project Annalise cooks up for her class valentines using this set, and you can bet my subconscious (and me!) is going to enjoy every moment of helping her with it!

Sneak Peek of Upcoming Class

Good Morning! I wanted to give you a sneak peek of the projects we'll be making in my Painted Petals Class this Thursday evening! If you'd like to join us, give me a call or send me an email! Contact form is on the left side of my blog.

I will post the finished projects on Friday! Happy Stamping!

Blackberry Bliss Painted Petals Thank You Card

Today I want to show you another card I created from the Painted Petals Stamp Set. This set is straight out of the Occasions Mini Catalog, and is one of my favorites. Why, you ask? Because you can feel like an artist, even if you don't think of yourself as one! Here it is:

Stamp Sets: Painted Petals
Ink Pads: Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizazz
Cardstock: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Lace Paper Doilies, Blackberry Bliss Ribbon, Circle Framelits

Something about that gathered ribbon just makes me happy! It's a super easy to do. Just run a piece of Sticky Strip across the front of your card, and randomly pinch up the ribbon and stick it as you go across.

Painted Petals

Have you ever seen something and just knew you had to make one? Well, that's the case with today's card. I CASE'd it from the Occasions Catalog, and added my own little pop of color to give it some interest. This card is going to be featured in one of my upcoming classes in January called "Painted Petals" The class revolves around a new product suite in the Occasions Catalog. Several products I used on this card are included in the suite. I love that Stampin' Up! saves me so much work by coordinating all of their products. See below for more details on the "ingredients" used here.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight
Stamp Set: Painted Petals
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Spring Flowers Textured Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Painted Blooms Cotton Twine in White, Brights Buttons