Creative Blog Hop

What an honor it was to be asked by both Heidi of Stampin Along With Heidi and Kath of All That Scrap to be a part of the Creative Blog Hop.  They are two very talented ladies and I enjoy seeing the amazing projects they create.  I blog hop regularly with them through our monthly Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop and we have a new one coming up soon that you will want to check out.

The Creative Blog Hop works in a rather interesting way.  You are nominated to join the blog hop and the only requirements are to nominate two others to follow you on the next Monday and to answer four questions about yourself and your creative process.  Nothing to it!

For my project, I chose the Lotus Blossom Stamp Set featured in the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog.  It has turned out to be a favorite.  The sentiment is from the new Painted Petals Stamp Set found in the new Occasions Catalog.  Can I say it's another favorite?  Okay, I'll have to admit that there are many from those two catalogs that are favorites.  Stampin' Up!® outdid themselves with them.

With over ten inches of snow on the ground, I needed to cheer myself up with some bright Springlike colors.  I love the new Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper.  They are hand painted designs and all gorgeous.  Pacific Point and Rose Red certainly made for a bright, cheerful card.

Stamp Sets:  Lotus Blossom, Painted Petals; Inks:  Garden Green, Rose Red, Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  Pacific Point, Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

There are the four questions those of us who participate are asked as part of the Creative Blog Hop.

1.  What are you working on now?  As a Design Team member for Christmas Card Challenges, I weekly design a Christmas card to contribute to the blog.  I also love challenges so I enter quite a few and am always working on a new project to share.

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?  Well, there are so many styles and so many talented people, that it's hard to know where I fit in the mix.  I tend toward clean and simple but I do like to try different things so you never know what you'll see from me.

3.  Why do you create what you do?  You know, I hadn't really thought of myself as very creative.  I do like to sew and crochet.  I'm working on a mystery novel so that tells you I like to write.  Since I became a Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, my passion for card making has taken center stage and I spend most of my time creating cards and other projects for friends and family and for sale.

4.  How does your creative process work?  Inspiration comes from a variety of sources.  Pinterest, magazines and the challenges I enter.  I've even taken a photo of a shadow on my wall and tried to translate it to paper or canvas.  Then there are times, I just sit down at my craft table and start playing with paper.  I'm also a doodler.  I keep a journal and colored pencils next to my recliner and when I'm taking a wee bit of a rest, I'll pick it up and doodle.

And, now it's time to share with  you the two people I've nominated to participate in the Creative Blog Hop next Monday, February 9th.  Alanna, from Alanna's Spot in the World, and the Design Team Coordinator at Christmas Card Challenges, and Jean, from Rogue Thoughts...Jean's Stamping Studio in the Rouge Valley.  Two very talented artists.  I know you'll love their projects!

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Calypso Coral Lotus Blossom

It would seem I'm on a roll getting lots of new cards made.  Of course, the frigid Iowa weather has something to do with that...there is no way I'm going outside with -20 wind chills blowing in my face!  The view from my craft studio window is as close as I want to get to exposure to the elements.

For this card, I combined the sketch challenge from Mojo Monday and the color challenge from ColourQ.  I hadn't used Rich Razzleberry and Calypso Coral together that I recall and I must say that I love how they look.  And, that Sale-A-Bration Lotus Blossom Stamp Set is fast becoming another favorite, too.

Stamp Set:  Lotus Blossom; Inks:  Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry; Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (retired), 3/8" Old Olive Striped Organdy Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals, Glue Dots, SNAIL Adhesive, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The sketch is from the current Mojo Monday Challenge 379.  You can find the challenge details and more inspiration HERE.

The colors are from the current ColourQ Challenge #274.  You can find the challenge details and more inspiration HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Lovely Lotus Blossom

One thing about cleaning up your craft area is you come across so many things that you've saved but had forgotten they were saved.  :-)  I have a top that I love to wear but the decoration is slowly starting to fall off so it's been regulated to an every day shirt that is only worn at home.  It's a flat bead or brad or I'm not sure what to call it but I saved those that have fallen off.  The Paper Players theme challenge to use a recycled or re-purposed item was a perfect reason to use them on my card.  The colors I used are from the Pals Paper Arts challenge.

This is my first opportunity to use the Lotus Blossom stamp set from the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog and I have to say it is a great set.  I love the tabs that are on the stamps so you can line things up perfectly.  And, I love that it's a three-step image.  The colors I used for the blossom are Night of Navy and Wisteria Wonder.  I could have used one color and let each ink layer darken the image but I like that Night of Navy as the bottom layer.  It really gave some depth to the flower.

Stamp Sets:  Lotus Blossom, Lovely Little Labels (retired); Inks:  Night of Navy, Wisteria Wonder, Card Stock:  Wisteria Wonder, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Glitzy Glitter Card Stock Stack (DCWV); Accessories & Tools:  Brass Bracket, Brass Brads, Linen Thread, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

All Stampin' Up!® product unless otherwise noted.

You can find more inspiration and challenge details HERE at The Paper Players.

More inspiration and challenge details for Pals Paper Arts can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha