My post today is a little bit extra special!

I was asked by a friend, the lovely & talented Maria, if I would be interested in the Creative Blog Hop?  After thinking about it for 2 seconds, I said “yes”.  What else could I say?  Thank you for thinking of me Maria.  I feel very honoured to participate.  I am in awe with what Maria can achieve with her crafting & to this day she still astonishes me with what she creates.  Be sure to visit her to see her wonderful creations.

What is the “Creative Blog Hop”?  It is a chance to hop around different blogs each Monday showcasing Stampin’ Up! only designs as well as getting to know a little about each designer , how & why they create.  I love looking at people’s different technique & style.  You just never know what little tips & ideas you can find.

Along with creating & sharing our sample/s we get to answer 4 easy (they call it easy, I call it hard) questions.

What are you working on? I have a couple of half-finished cards sitting on my desk for my Technique Classes & Tutorials for the first couple of months.  Actually, I am quite happy with how they are falling into place as I have about 3 months planned & already on the go.  I am also working on cards for my Friday Volunteer Class.  These are a completely different card & happy that I have about 12 completed, all with different techniques & styles.

How does your work differ from others in your genre? I’m not too sure about this question.  I love a clean & simple card (CAS) & tend to use a lot of Whisper White & Very Vanilla.  In fact, I seem to eat these colours as I go through so much of it.  In saying this, my White & Vanilla have to have some sort of embossing, eg Heat or Dry.  I also love techniques, so am more than happy to sit & play until I am happy with what is in front of me.  I do like to try different styles, but always come back to the clean & simple.

Why do you create what you do? For me I find it very therapeutic & it is my escape from the hectic lifestyle we tend to lead today.  I do find that I can sit for hours just playing & not realise the time, until I get a tap on the leg from “Belle” letting me know that it is now “her” time & I’ve been “playing” too long.

How does your creative process work? I find that with Stampin’ Up! all the hard word is done for you – everything matches.  I love our catalogues, not just for the beautiful products, but for the wonderful ideas & samples.  I also spend way too much time on Pinterst, pinning all these wonderful creations, which I never go back to again.  I do, however CASE some of cards for my Volunteer Classes but may turn it into a technique or something a little different.  I am known to pick up a piece of ribbon, stamp set, cardstock, etc walk around with it for what can seem like a day or so & then go from there.

My card today has actually been created using the stamps already sitting on my desk which were not put back into their place from yesterday’s session.

I embossed 2 lines about 3 ½” or 9cm down from top of card & about ½” or 2cm apart using my Simply Scoring Tool.  I then stamped the dotty image from Painted Petals Stamp set direct onto Soft Sky card in Soft sky Ink on the top half prior to sponging around edge with same Ink.

The bottom part was stamped using the stripe image from same stamp set direct onto Rose Red Card with Rose Red Ink, sponged around edges with same ink & adhered to bottom part of Soft Sky Card. I stamped the image from the Lotus Blossom Stamp Set direct onto a strip of Whisper White Card with Wild Wasabi Ink prior to adhering in the middle of the scored lines.

I punched a circle from Whisper White Card with the 2 ½” Circle Punch prior to stamping the stem image from the Painted Petals Stamp Set with Wild Wasabi Ink, stamping off once onto scrap paper.  The flowers were stamped using Blushing Bride & Rose Red Inks.  I stamped off once prior to stamping the Rose Red Ink & sponged around the edge with Soft Sky Ink.

The Starburst Framelits were used to cut a piece of Soft Sky Card sponging around the edges with  Soft Sky Ink to give it a bit of definition prior to adhering to the above stamped circle & finally to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

“Thank You” from Itty Bitty Banner Stamp Set was stamped onto Whisper White Card in Early Espresso Ink, cut with the coordinating Itty Bitty Framelits & adhered to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

As I thought the card need something to finish it off, I tied a small bow from Whisper White Baker’s Twine, adhered to card & stuck a large Rhinestone to the middle.

The other person posting with me today is Patrice, so be sure to check out what she has created.

As part of the process I get to nominate 2 people to help keep the blog hop going.  I have nominated Naomi for my person to join the blog hop.  Naomi is a very creative craft person & has only been a demonstrator for a few months.  Be sure to head over to her blog next Monday & check it out.

As everyone is quiet busy this time of the year, I’ve decided to post a couple of my favourite blogs that have already taken part in the hop.  Please be sure to check them out & to leave a couple of comments, which I am sure they will appreciate.

Mary-Jo Williams @ Techno Stamper

Julie Davidson @ Julie Davidson

Robbie Rubala @ Index 2

Thanks once again Maria.

Until next time, Happy Stampin’

Vicky