Creative Blog Hop!

Welcome to my blog!  Today I'm participating in a Creative Blog Hop where I share my projects and my "creative process" then nominate two more stampers who will then next week share their projects and process with you!  I was nominated by Connie Babbert,  of Create with Connie and Mary fame; Connie and I have been stamping friends for, um, a long time, meeting in a small online group of stampers; we are still members to this day!  We have met at Stampin' Up! conventions a number of times, sharing dinner and swaps too!   Here's Connie's wonderful blog and the post she did last week for this Creative Blog Hop!

We traveled for Christmas so I couldn't get my pre-order of new Occasions Catalog products early; they arrived right after Christmas so I couldn't wait to begin creating with them!  Of course with Valentine being right on the horizon I wanted to jump in making cards for family who live away from me which I will need to mail early!

I had been wishing for an embossing folder of hearts and there is was in the new catalog!  YAY!  So sweet!  I paired it with a small black and white heart print from the Stacked with Love DSP, Strawberry Slush Baker's Twine, a Hearts Border Punch strip and 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon.

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper hearts add some sparkle and pizazz!

My second card also uses the same color scheme... I love this Strawberry Slush color and am already dreading it's retirement this May!  sniff, sniff!  Isn't this butterfly fabulous??!  It's diecut with the new Butterflies Thinlits Die...there are three in the set!  The sentiment is from the new You + Me set and it has some really cute stamps in it... besides coordinating with the DSP stack!

I cut two of the largest Heart framelit, scored one horizontally just above the "dip" in the top of the heart then glued the portion above the score line to the front so the card will open easily.  The DSP was diecut with the second from largest Heart framelit.  I added some Strawberry Slush Sequins from the In Color Sequin Assortment to embellish!

OK, now to answer the questions...

1.  What are you working on now?
     I am working on card samples of sets I pre-ordered out of the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration Catalog!  I really like so many of the stamps and products and I'm eager to use them.  I'm also working on my challenge cards for Create with Conie and Mary Thursday Challenge Team as well as an upcoming Control Freaks Blog Hop.

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?
     I find that each stamper has her/his own style and I enjoy seeing what and how others create.  My style has also evolved over time and is influenced by trends in the industry such as colors, new products and techniques.  However, I tend to be pretty critical of my own work so if I don't think it's just right I will take it apart and re-do it or just start over!  I like vintage and shabby chic but find that more and more my style is more clean and crisp.

3.  Why do you create what you do?  
     Usually I create things because of a need:  to send a card for an occasion or just to lift someone's spirits.  I also create samples for workshops and other activities.  Sometimes it's to fulfill a request.  It is rare in my life to just get to sit down and create just for the fun of it but if I have some idea or inspiration rolling around in my brain itching to get out on paper, I'll somehow make time for it!  Mainly, I love to create and have been doing that most all of my life through various skills or crafts so I'll sneak it in somewhere! : )

4.  How does your creative process work?
     One thing is sure:  It varies!  I often will look through my stamps to find one that fits the occasion or theme then I might look for a layout or sketch to use with it.  For this I usually go to my Pinterest boards where I've saved some (ok, tons!) of sketches and get some ideas; usually I'll modify one to fit the stamps I've selected.  Next I'll select papers and color schemes.  When I start out and already have a color scheme, I usually first look through my designer papers and see if there is one that fits the color scheme; if not, I may stamp my own or use solid blocks of color, ribbons or washi tape.  However sometimes inspiration comes first which gives the impetus to create; for example one day I noticed the unusual colors in a lady's blouse then came home and used them to make a card!  I've also received inspiration from paintings, upholstery patterns and even the cover of a PB catalog!  : )  Right now I have a shopping bag from a store hanging in my stamp room because I love their logo design and plan to use it as the basis for a project, modified of course..  Inspiration is everywhere if you look!

To continue the fun and creativity of this blog hop going, I have nominated Deb Currier and Sue Erickson!  Deb is on the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge and Design Teams and has a wonderful clean papercrafting style!  I have known Sue for years and we have met both at Stampin' Up! conventions and also conventions which our husbands attended as part of their profession!   Sue has a lovely style and also uses My Digital Studio for many projects!  Deb and Sue will post next Monday, January 12 but you can see their blogs now by clicking on their full names above. 

Thanks for reading all this as I shared some about how my creative process works!  I'd love to hear about yours too!

Happy New Year  a few days late!

Margaret