Creative Blog Hop & Seasons Greetings

Hello Everyone,

Today I am participating in the Creative Blog Hop and I want to thank my friend Justin Krieger of JK Cards for tagging me.  I was thrilled that he asked me actually, and who would say no to him.  I in turn also get to nominate somebody to be part of the Blog Hop.  Its a way of introducing you to somebody else and learning a bit more about each of us.  Justin blogs and creates daily as do I and his work is amazing.  I'm sure most of the Stampin Up community have heard of him already, but it you haven't, I urge you to check out his blog and his work.

You may have already heard of the Creative Blog Hop as it is doing the rounds.  The Creative Blog hop asks us to answer 4 questions about ourselves.

What am I working on now?

I am supposed to be working on my husbands tax, but actually as I create daily and run classes, I have several projects on the go at once and I thrive on being busy.  I also have commitments to the Design Team I'm on called the Paper Craft Crew who run weekly challenges and if I have spare time, I also enter challenges on other sites myself.  However the most important thing I'm working on right now are Christmas Cards, because of the Holiday Catalogue that is now live, and I'm playing with Blendabilities.  I enjoy colouring and practice with these pens makes perfect.  Its another class I have coming up next week. 

How does my work differ from others in my genre?

 I'm not sure that it differs as such, but I do like to use lots of texture and shapes.  I'm a fan of shaped and Easel cards and I'm also a fan of butterflies, so you will find those appearing on my cards on my blog regularly.   I'm always using the Big Shot in my classes and getting the ladies to get the hands on practice with it too.  To be perfectly honest I couldn't manage without one.


Why do I create what I do?

I create for fun, stress relief, relaxation and for my classes.  My cards are sold in a couple of Gift shops and I love the practicality of cardmaking.  You are creating something handmade, with a practical purpose and can personalise it to the recipient.  I am often asked to create cards for special occasions.  Its very rewarding.  Also rewarding are the friendships I've made along the way and that I can call some of the most talented people both here all around Australia and New Zealand as well as on the other side of the world my friends too.  You could never hope to meet a nicer bunch of people than those I've met through my card creations. 

How does my creative process work?

I have a dozens of ideas running through my head at any one time, and I am also inspired by the works of others.  I love trying new things and I just need a few more hours in my day.  If only there was no need to sleep, lol.  Sometimes I like to work using a sketch for a basis and other times its the products themselves that speak to me.  One thing I do need however, and I need this daily, is a little music.  It does help me create.


Now I have the pleasure of introducing you to my friend and fellow Stampin Up Demonstrator Vicki Hodgman of Cards on the Table with Vicki.  This talented lady can make the most beautiful feminine cards to quirky fun punch art and 3D gifts.  Here's her pic and bio below.

Hi my name is Vicki. I live in Sunny Queensland, Australia.  I have loved art and design my entire life and Stampin Up fits right in with what I love doing perfectly. It is so satisfying to be able to create something for someone else that comes personally from your hands and your heart. 

I have been a Demonstrator since August 2008 and have made some wonderful friends, including Carolyn, who only lives “up the road”, 2 and a half hours driving, away from me! 

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Vicki and I had conversed online through our Stampin Up demonstrator site called Stampin Connections, but it wasn't until we met at the Regional Stampin Up Training Day in Brisbane almost 3 years ago that we really became good friends and we now swap cards and ideas regularly. 

I was also supposed to Tag one or two others for an introduction to you, so that next Monday they could also answer these four questions and do the same.  However because of the late notice and business of life in general, being Father's Day weekend, the 5 other ladies I asked all had to decline for one reason or another.  Never mind.  That's Life.  I know you will enjoy reading Vicki's blog next Monday.  I always do.

Onto the card I've created with a stamp set called Bright and Beautiful.  Its a star set for Christmas, hence my creation, a Christmas Card.

I've combined Coastal Cabana, Whisper White and Real Red on this card, along with some patterned paper from the Fresh Prints paper Stack.  This stamp set coordinates with our Star framelits.  Heres a full view of the card below.  The Star and Greeting have both been stamped with Coastal Cabana ink.

Thanks for calling in today to read my blog and see my creation and I hope you will pop by and visit Vicki too.  Have a great day.