Creative Blog Hop

Today I am taking part in a different kind of blog hop called the Creative Blog Hop!  Not only do I get to share a project with you, I also get to tell you a little bit about my crafting process.  I was nominated by fellow Stamp Review Crew member, Lisa Young. The funny thing is, as I was posting my project, I noticed that we both used the butterfly die for our cards. Then looking back, the person who nominated her, Mary Brown, also used the butterfly die!!!  Great minds think alike, right? :)

Here is the project I just finished up this weekend:

Here are the questions I was asked for the Creative Blog Hop:

What are you working on?
These are baby shower invitations that I made for my friend Andrea. This is her first baby, so our church is having a baby shower for her. She wanted to invite some friends and family too, so I made these invitations special for her. She is having a sweet baby girl and the colors of the room are coral and gray, so I used Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Gray and Smokey Slate. They are also doing chevron in the room, so I used the Chevron Embossing Folder for the back Basic Gray mat.  I think these colors are so classy together. I love how they turned out and I hope she does, too!

I also have a Project Life club going right now, and have been working on cards for that, too. We are using the Cherry Cobbler album and the Christmas kit and accessories that were in the Holiday Supplement. I was able to get those albums in the nick of time right before they sold out!

How does your work differ from others in your genre?
Hmmm...this is a tough question for me because I don't think my work is all that unique!  Some people have an obvious style...clean and simple, vintage, mod...but I don't really think I do!  I create CAS cards, but I also do very detailed cards from time-to-time.  I will say that I don't tend to embellish my cards very much with big things like buttons, large brads, or lots of ribbon. Do I buy these things? Most certainly!  haha I just don't feel like my strong point is creating with them. They sure are pretty to look at in their little packages though. :)

Why do you create what you do?
I usually create just for fun and for design teams or blog hops.  Every once and a while I will create something for another challenge blog, too. I used to do at least one challenge daily, but I just don't have the energy or time for that anymore!  I wish I could say that I usually have someone in mind for the things that I make, but I really don't!  These invitations are the first thing I have had a real life reason to make in a long, long time!  Now that they are finished, I will be working on more projects for the other blog hop that I participate in, The Stamp Review Crew, as well as projects for the Addicted to CAS design team that I am on.  These two teams are my crafting livelihood and give me an excuse to craft at least a few times a month!

How does your creative process work?
I sometimes feel like I don't have a creative bone in my body.  I am usually pretty happy with my end results, but it takes me a long time to get there!  Most of the time I start by looking at challenge blogs. For the invitations, I found a sketch that I liked at Fusion Card Challenge and started there. Then I moseyed on over to Addicted to Stamps and More to see what their challenge was. I used to be on their design team and I knew they would have something fun and fabulous going on!  I was right! The challenge this week is Make Your Mark, and I decided to make my mark by sponging the lovely floral stencil from the Artisan Embellishment Kit.

Sometimes I feel like I am cheating by using all of these challenge blogs to help inspire me, but I have come to the conclusion that it is just tutoring for those of us who feel like we aren't the brightest crayon in the box. :) I will say that having challenge blogs to look at has saved me tons of time by giving me a starting point instead of sitting and staring at my stamps and cardstock, trying to come up with an idea all by my lonesome self!  

To keep the challenge blog going, I have nominated my very talented Stampin' Up! downline, Aimee Cretsinger. This gal is so inspiring in so many different ways, and has such a big heart that carries over into her crafting abilities. I can't wait to read about what she has been up to!  I know she is very busy with other commitments and doesn't get to craft as much as she would like, so I was beyond-the-moon-thrilled that she agreed to participate in the Creative Blog Hop!

I have also nominated Kathy Kartak, who inspires me almost daily with her ability to use Designer Series Paper! I am one of those who buys the DSP just to admire its beauty, but Kathy really puts hers to use and I really admire that!  I met Kathy at Convention in Salt Lake City a few years ago and she is a hoot. I am so blessed to have gotten to know her!  That's one of my favorite parts about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator...the friendships that you form are priceless. 

Make sure to stop by these lovely ladies' blogs next Monday, January 26th to continue the hop!