Guest Blogger - Gail!

Gail was part of my Stampers 12 group last year. Her cards always have a great funky twist to them, and I miss her being part of our current group. Perhaps she'll come back? (wink wink, nudge nudge).


1. When did you start 'stamping'? 2007, a friend introduced me and I was hooked.


2. Which companies do you prefer/tend to stamp with and why? I have only used Stampin’ Up, I started attending a Stampin’ 10 club where Stampin’ Up was promoted so I just stuck with them.



3. What is your favorite technique? Melting wax, mixing it with peal-x and embedding your stamp, everyone else hates this technique, but I love it.



4. What is your favorite colour combination to work with? Earth tones with copper.



5. What is your favorite stamp set in your collection and why? Not sure that I have a favourite, I like them all, so much so that some days I will just sit on the floor pull out all my stamps and just look at them.



6. Is there a stamp you wished you owned? I wish I had a stamp of a mountain bike.



7. What project are you currently working on? My current project has nothing to do with stamping, it is a baby quilt that is 2 years over due. It is now becoming a twin- double size and I have mandated myself to have it done by the end of February.



8. What technique would you still like to learn more about? I would like to learn to do movable cards.



9. Is there a blog out there that inspires you to be more creative? I haven’t really looked, but I like reading about Erin’s knitting mishaps and what inspires others.



10. What other hobbies do you have outside of stamping? The short list consists of , knitting, sewing, and quilting.


Last but not least, a photo of your project please and a description of what and how you made it :)


*This is the pattern of Gail's quilt with her personal fabric selection shown below. I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like! Thanks Gail for being the Guest Blogger this week :)

Guest Blogger - Alicia!

This week's Guest Blogger is my good friend Alicia from 'Pieces of Me', and one of my Stampers 12 group.

1. When did you start 'stamping'?

Umm I think this March will be 3 years?

2. Which companies do you prefer/tend to stamp with and why?

The majority of my products are from Stampin Up, mostly because I belong to a Stampers 12 group. We meet monthly and have a minimum purchase of $25 for each class! I think it will be 3 years this March that I have been in this group, so you can imagine I have quite the inventory now!

3. What is your favorite technique?

Well I guess what you will see in most of my cards is a lot of paper layering! I like to use lots of different papers in each card.

4. What is your favorite colour combination to work with?

I don't think I have a favortie, I like the soft subtle colors best from Stampin Up. But after this project I am done with pink for a while!

5. What is your favorite stamp set in your collection and why?

This is tough! I really like Friendship Blooms from Stampin Up, becase the flowers are kinda modern and different, and can be used in a lot of ways!

6. Is there a stamp you wished you owned?

Haha, lots!

7. What project are you currently working on?

Just finished my 5 all occasion cards in pink for a contest I had on my blog! The readers that guested the sex of my baby got put into draw to win 5 all occasion cards in the winning sexes color! So yes I am having a girl! And the lovely Ann www.tragicoptimist.wordpress.com was the winner.

8. What technique would you still like to learn more about?

How to use my freakin scalloped edge punch! grrr that thing pisses me off.

9. Is there a blog out there that inspires you to be more creative?

ahhh I guess this one, it is the only card/stamp related blog I read!

10. What other hobbies do you have outside of stamping?

I like to draw, photography, read and write on my blog!

Last but not least, a photo of your project please and a description of what and how you made it :)

Well since I had to make 5 cards for this project, I basically laid out on my table all the inks, accessories, pens, buttons and paper that I had in pink. Then I would pick an occassion, grab 1 or 2 stamp sets that went with that occasion and then just let my imagination go! I rarely plan out a card, I just start cutting and stamping till volia! The master piece is complete. I won't go into all the details of the items I used in these cards, cause that would take all day! But if you see something you like, let me know and I will tell you what I used!

Thanks!
Alicia

Thanks Alicia for posting! Your cards are awesome!

A little about me...

Good morning and welcome to my very own 'paper' blog! I will now be using this blog to display and chat about all things paper related (especially cards!). I will keep posting up challenges from time to time, so please keep checking in :)

This post will be similar to those you will see in the weeks and months ahead from my guest bloggers. But I thought it would be fun to introduce myself to you to get things started.

1. When did you start 'stamping'?

I started creating my own cards shortly after I got married in 2002. My
Mother-in-Law has been making her own cards and stamping for years, and she
inspired me to do the same. Many of my first techniques I learned, I learned
from her. And my first stamps actually belonged to my husband (he used them when we were dating to design a CD cover for me!).

2. Which companies do you prefer/tend to stamp with and why?

When I started I had an obsession with Hero Arts. I would seek them out and had a specific store I had to go to when visiting Vancouver Island to buy them. Then I was introduced to Stampin' Up by a girlfriend, joined a stamping club and became a demonstrator. Through the blog world I am slowly branching out and learning about other stamp companies, many of which I love!

3. What is your favorite technique?

I love all things that sparkle - using Tombow adhesive with chunky glitter, or embossing with iridescent ice. Adding touches of bling brads to my cards I also find myself doing quite often. I can't forget buttons though. I suppose that isn't a technique, but I love adding buttons to my cards.

4. What is your favorite colour combination to work with?

From the Stampin Up colour family I particularly love Tempting Turquoise and Certainly Celery. Those look great paired with Very Vanilla or Not Quite Navy.

5. What is your favorite stamp set in your collection and why?

Hard question. There are many that I love. I'll pick 'Pocketful O' Posies' from Hero Arts - one of my very first stamp sets. I love the simplicity of the flowers but also how versatile they can be!

6. Is there a stamp you wished you owned?

I have fallen in love with a number of the 'Starving Artistamps' stamp sets. I have a few enroute to me right now and can't wait to use them. This set though - too cute!

7. What project are you currently working on?

I NEED to get started on my Christmas Cards (eek!) but I have a few Card Challenge cards I am wrapping up right now. The past one from IPC, and the current one over at OCC. (Check back on Tuesday for these!).

8. What technique would you still like to learn more about?

On Papermonkey's site she talks alot about Copic markers. I would like to learn more about these and their difference from Stampin' Up markers. Stay tuned, this will be an upcoming post at some point!

9. Is there a blog out there that inspires you to be more creative?

The list on the sidebar are all of my (so far) inspiring links! My first one I came across was Papermonkey's and then the OCC. Libby's Little Addiction inspired my 'Grace's Closet Challenges' and I love the Starving Artistamps stamps.

10. What other hobbies do you have outside of stamping?

I love to run, decorate cakes, bake, and spend time with friends and family.