Society of Stampaholics

Spotlight on Sally Traidman

Today’s Wonder is Extra-Special. She’s Extra-Special because her creations are so good she gets paid to make cards. You’ve seen her work, you know her name. She’s a fool for pink and orange and hearts and flowers; her style is clean and classic and oh-so-very-cool.

She’s Sally Traidman, and, dang, she’s good!

Isn't she cute? When was the last time you saw a grandmother look so cute? (She has the kind of hair I've always wanted, too, btw.)

Because she's a Stamping Star, my typical coverage of her accomplishments is rather limited, verging on the terse, I fear! My first question typically is, "Have you been on any Design Teams?" Well...DUH! However, she's got a few accomplishments of which some people may not know.

For instance, did you know that Sally has been published in Somerset Studio, RubberStampMadness, Stamp'n'Scrap, British magazines and Australian magazines. AND... (drumroll, please) she's even got her own book!

Yup! I had somehow never known this, so I had to order it. (I found it to be a very good purchase, and I highly recommend it, btw! Click on the image below to get your own copy!)

Another thing I learned about Sally is that her design talents have been tapped by companies other than Hero Arts: Hanko Design, Design Originals, and Paper Adventures have all been graced by her talent! Did y'all know that? I did not know that.

And just in case any of y'all are not familiar with the Hero Arts blog, (crawl out from your rock, already!) Sally is a regular hostess there and contributes many, many, many fine works of card art.

Because Miss Sally is so prolific and talented, trying to pick just a few favorite cards is, like, impossible. Luckily, you can find a gazillion of her cards (with How-To instructions) at the Hero Arts Card Galleries.

Sally's got a signature style that is unmistakable and irresistible. If you're looking at some accomplished watercolor painting, you've got your first hint that you might be looking at a Sally Traidman original. She loves bright colors, (especially pink and orange) and she's enamored of hearts. One of my very favorite things about Sally's style is that she proves time and again that you don't have to have a lot of layers and/or techniques to make a great card. (I don't know about the rest of you, but I often feel intimidated by the Card Extravaganzas I see other people making and sometimes will not even enter a challenge because it's just too overwhelming. So it's nice to see a spectacular card that didn't require paint and glue and glitter and spritzing and a blow torch.)

Case in point:

Is that classy or what?!

That's Sally, alright! Chic, clean lines every time. So lift your Diet-Cokes to Sally Traidman, the Chanel of Hero Arts!

Sally's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

I LEAP! I sometimes sketch and then can't remember what it means....

Man, am I glad to hear that I'm not the only person who experiences that!  

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I only make cards, and I make a LOT of them - for instance, today I made about 30 Christmas cards.

Gulp. I suddenly feel rather small and insignificant....

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

Focus is important, and I use the least amount of stamps I can.

Aaaah... an alumna of Less Is More U.... 

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)? 

Soup! I make big pots and freeze small batches. I also rely on bananas and peanut butter. AND dark chocolate - my favorite is Dove Dark.

Eeeeep! That's my favorite, too! I can attribute at least five pounds of my bum to Dove Dark!

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!) 

I would need scissors, a black pen, watercolor paints and brush, a black pad, sewing machine and thread, glue, foam tape, and gems.

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

I would want loud dance music... like Katy Perry, Black-eyed Peas, ABBA, Coldplay, and The Beatles.

Okay, now I have a very clear picture of you bustin' a move to Long Tall Sally as you ink up your stamp.... 

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

I want more punches... I  love those.

Hey, do you know about the curtain rod trick? Mount a curtain rod on the walls (nail into the studs), and "hang" your punches - it works a treat! (See here.)

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I wish I had the ability to draw better.  

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

I would love a new one with better resolution. I currently use an old Sony.

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

"Oh, shit!" (And my mess-up is always getting ink on an almost finished card because my hands are dirty.)

Ah, a classic and timeless phrase. As a connoisseur of blue language, I can attest that there really is no substitute for the truly satisfying and cathartic venting experience this phrase produces. I've tried them all, and "Oh, sugar!" just doesn't cut it.

11. What do you find more satisfying - the process or the product?

I find the product most satisfying.

12. If you couldn't do this for a career, what would you do?

I'm an art teacher - I could go back to that....

13. I know you've been with Hero Arts for many years. How did you begin that relationship?

I used to attend trade shows as I had a retail mail order business that sold stamps. Jackie Leventhal called me over 20 years ago to make cards, and the rest is history.

14. Give us a quick description of your pets.

I don't have any currently. I had a Bichon mix, and he was in some of the Hero Arts catalogs.

15. Give us a quick description of your job.

I am a card designer and stamp designer (I have drawn some of the Hero Arts stamps).

SALLY! How can you leave us hanging like that?! Which ones did you draw? Which one(s) are your favorites?

Here's an update, ladies! Since originally posting it, Sally has graciously sent me a picture of some of the stamps she's designed. I recognize some of these pretties!

16. Give us a quick description of your family.

I have two married sons, 2 granddaughters, and a wonderful husband that puts up with all my craft crap.

Sounds like you've reached Nanna-Nirvana!

17. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself that you’d like to share?

I love to dance.

18. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Simple, simple stamping in black and coloring in with watercolors.

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You can see more of Sally's creations at the Hero Arts website, and I suggest you do.

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Just a reminder that the day after tomorrow is the opening of the January Card Chain Challenge sign-up. Hope to see y'all there!

Spotlight on Anette Hjerpaasen

Yowza! Have these last two weeks been intense! I had to postpone last week's Wednesday Wonder because I was up to my ears in activities. (This hasn't actually changed, but one can only go Wonder-less for so long!!!)

Part of what has kept me so busy is all the action at the Hero Arts Blog. If you're reading this, you're probably a stamping enthusiast; therefore, you also probably know that the 2010 catalog and collection is scheduled to premiere nationwide this Friday, December 18th. (If by some chance you've been hiding under a rock and don't know about the 2010 release, please join us in our collective mass hysteria of anticipation and let the jumping-up-and-down commence forthwith!)

A great deal of fun and excitement have been shared thus far on the HA Blog, including a little brain child I'm rather proud of hatching - a sort of Easter egg hunt involving a frog prince. Go here if you're interested in playing for a chance to win some of the new 2010 stamps. Another activity is a blog hop showcasing 36 artists' use of some of the new 2010 stamps. I'm very honored to have been invited to be a part of this hop and am in much better company than I deserve, I assure you. (Some of these artists are bona fide celebrities in the stamping and scrapping world - I'm talkin' cream-of-the-crop, knock-off-your-socks, why-didn't-I-wear-my-Depends?! kind of talent here!)

So head on over to the Hero Arts Blog on Friday, December 18th at 10:00 a.m. for what promises to be a terrific array of eye candy! Oh, and before I forget, there will also be preview parties at local scrap and stamp stores as well (see participants here). 

Okay! Now that I have all that off my chest, I can turn my full attention to today's Wonder - someone that I have gotten to know and whom I find as nice as her cards. Ladies, allow me to introduce Anette Hjerpassen from Norway!

(Another happy, smiling individual - scrapping is good for the soul, I'm tellin' ya!)

I have to admit that it's hard for me to pin down which aspect of Anette's art I like best, but it's all her fault. If she didn't have so many fine abilities, I wouldn't be in this fix! In general, though, I can say that I like Anette's work because it always has an air of surprise about it - there's always a little something in there that's rather unique and refreshing.

One thing I really admire (and mean to emulate more in the future) is her ink usage. Anette uses her inks not just as stamping mediums; she uses them to add dimensionality and interest. Take this card, for instance:

Not only is she using masking to make those clouds via ink stippling, she also stipples some green along the stamped greenery for a really nice texture.

Anette is also very fond of embossing, (another area I could stand to emulate) and she's quite good at it. When paired with her use of deep colors, you get a dramatic and somewhat unique look:

This particular stamp is lovely, but I never think to use it with a lighter color on a darker background - which I think is fairly typical. But, as you can see here, just by "reversing the negative" you get a whole new take on the stamp with some drama to boot!

Here's an example of reversing the negative combined with Anette's ink blending skills:

I really love this card - it would be very nice with a traditional, solid card stock background, but the two-tone shading generates amazing visual interest - really gives the card energy. And the use of the dark orange against the light aqua is a perfect punch of color! (You know me - I'm a sucker for maximum impact via complimentary colors!)

(I like this card so much, and it uses a stamp so similar to the 2010 stamp I was given for the blog hop on Friday, that I may just have to flat-out steal this design!)

And speaking of Anette's use of color, she's got a terrific sensibility. She uses  combinations that are fresh to my eyes and in ways that I wouldn't think of - like this card (which I actually happened to receive from her in the mail - eat your hearts out!):

Sky blue and olive is not a typical combination, (at least not to me) and I have never been particularly attracted to this stamp because it feels too busy to me. But this card literally snatched my breath when I pulled it out of the envelope. I've tried to imagine this card with something other than olive green accents, and I have to tell you, I think she found the perfect foil to this shade of blue. I also found her partial coloring of the stamped background a perfect solution to its being "too busy." Now I want that stamp! (Note, too, how she used two shades of blue to give the images depth.)

One last thing I want to say about Anette's work: her craftsmanship is exceptional. Click on any of her cards at Flickr and choose the "enlarge image" feature to see them magnified. If you do this, you will find that her work can stand unashamed under such scrutiny. There's nothing sloppy about the way she puts together a card - which heightens one's viewing pleasure and is an aspect of card-making, in general, that is too often taken for granted. 

Is this a cute card or what?

Anette doesn't belong to any design teams, but she regularly teaches classes at her LSS; if I lived in Asker, I'd definitely take one of them! She is published, however, with some of her cards appearing in the gallery and challenge sections of the Norwegian stamping magazine, Ett Trykk, (I hope this is the correct link) with her Christmas ornament winning a Third Place in its December, 2008, issue.

Anette has also done well in the Hero Arts weekly Blog Challeges, receiving Honorable Mentions in the Pocket, Valentine, Manly and Favorites challenges and a Third Place in the Inspired By WAD 2009 challenge.

Anette is fortunate enough to have a dedicated craft space, and I must say that I like it! I am especially keen (and envious) of the sewing machine having it's own space right there at hand! I also like her lamps - not only do they throw out a lot of light, they're just plain cool looking!

So there you have it! Raise your Diet-Cokes to Anette Hjerpaasen, the Norwegian Star of Surprises!

Anette's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

I hardly ever pre-sketch anything. Either I picture the design (loosely) in my head before I start, or I just grab some stamps or papers that I want to work with, and go from there. The time I spend on a card varies a lot - from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. Sometimes, when I’m stuck, I put the card aside and then wait for a day or a week before working on it again – that usually helps.

You're a very wise woman.

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

On average, I think I make about 3-5 cards a week.

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

I’m afraid I don’t have too much to share here, other than the fact that I just recently discovered how to use scraps! Hah! When playing with techniques I used to put all the test-pieces in a box, MEANING to use them later – but I never did. I'm getting much better at that, thanks to all the great scrap inspiration in the HA Flickr pool!

No arguments there!

4.What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

My husband! He is usually home before I am, so dinner is served when I get home from work.

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

I would bring my paper trimmer, scissors, black ink, Distress inks, adhesive, Cuttlebug, Nesties, ribbon, pearls, and buttons.

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

I would prefer silence, to be honest… I am surrounded by noise all day, so even though I love listening to music I tend to craft without anything on.

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

More time to create!!!

This is the second most popular answer - right after having a dedicated craft room/space. So, basically, we all want to be sent to a better place for a long time. This sounds suspiciously like heaven....

8.What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I am very indecisive, and I hate that! Working on it, and getting better, but not “there” yet.

Oh, Sister-Girl, can we TALK? Everybody who's indecisive raise your hand - if you can decide which one to use, that is.

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

Canon EOS 400D. It is a very good camera, and I’m sure it can do a lot more that what I make it do!!

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

I will have to go for “unprintable”!

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

No pets.

Now that's a real shame. You just haven't lived until you've experienced the aggravation of finding your cat wallowing in your ribbons or sleeping on your work-in-progress.

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I am a senior travel consultant, business travels.

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

DH is Jon Olav, DS is Gaute (11 years old), and DD is Guro (8 years old).

14. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I won a bronze medal in the Norwegian Bowling championship in the early 90’s.

WOW! That's the best little-known fact yet. Others will have to work hard to top that one!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Clear embossing and resist technique with Distress inks and water!

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To see more of Anette's art, visit her Flickr photostream here.

Spotlight on Vanessa Menhorn

It's been a few weeks since we had a Wednesday Wonder what with Thanksgiving and some other job-related events taking me away from home. Today's Wonder has been waiting patiently, though, bless her heart! Somehow I managed to not discover her country of origin. (However, I suspect it's Germany because (1) she currently lives there; and (2) her favorite swears sound like they're in German.)

A regular Sherlock, I am....

Ladies, may I present the lovely Vanessa Menhorn:

(I don't know about y'all, but I suspect Vanessa can tell a good joke - just look at that devilish twinkle in her eye!)

And here is Vanessa's sweet baby Alyssa:

 

Two cutie-patooties under the same roof - you know the resident Daddy-Man doesn't stand a chance!

If you haven't been exposed to Vanessa's cards, you're in for a treat. She makes wonderful, classy little pieces of art - receiving a card from Vanessa might cause one to purchase a frame so it could be hung on the wall for everyone's visual enjoyment. Case in point:

If I received a card like this, I'd have it mounted and framed and add it to my annual Christmas decorations. 

Vanessa has not been published, nor does she belong to a design team, but I say it's only a matter of time. She's apparently only been making cards for a few months, so watch out, world! Vanessa has won several online challenges: Hero Arts Blog: ATC (digital winner), Be Inspired (Fresh Face winner), Learning (HM), and Holiday Accessory (1st Place); Paper Crafts: Gallery Idol 2009 Top 15, Gallery Idol 2009 Top 20 and World Card Making Day Gallery Winner; Moxie Fab World: Not Your Regular Ruffles (winner), One Last Nod to Fall (HM), A Hoot or Two for You (winner), Stretch Your Holiday Style (HM), Gradient is Radiant (winner); Get Sketchy Top 5 (winner); Papertrey Ink: Guest Star Stamper (HM), Guest Star Stamper (HM), Guest Star Stamper (winner); and Caardvarks: Take a Bow (HM). And if that's not enough, one of her cards was selected for a 2 Peas newsletter, AND she was was a featured artist at Caardvarks World Card Making Day and Moxie Fab world's World Tour of Card Making.

And now my fingers hurt from all that typing and copy-n-pasting of links!  

Here's my favorite, arguably, of Vanessa's cards:

I just love the simple elegance that's coming out of this rustic card. I love the delicate stamping on the patterned paper (she likes to do that, I've noticed) with the lightly inked edges. And her stitching is terrific. (On a side note, don't you just love her signature digital stamp?)

Vanessa was able to send me some pictures of her craft space with a few comments:

"I occupy a corner of our bedroom! You can see our bed and a bit of my husband`s Kung Fu weapons. Your interview was the reason I organized my space. :~) Now I am quite happy about it! I labeled all my drawers, sorted my stash and moved an old sideboard to my corner. When I started cardmaking a few months ago, I was sitting / crawling on the floor of my girl`s room in front of her closet where I had my crafting supplies, with her lying next to me on her toddler blanket! Wow, my space improved a lot!"

Would you just look at that great big window and all that light?! I am so envious!!!

I'm so pleased that I was able to motivate someone to snaz up her space! (I feel very pure and noble and good... and less guilty about the present state of squalor in my own craft space.) Did y'all catch that part about how she started making cards a few months ago?!

Check out this perfect stunner:

I believe that I have each and every one of the tools and materials she used to make this white wonder of a card (with the exception of that lovely pearl button). However, trust me when I say you will never see me produce anything anywhere near this gorgeous. My sensibilities are simply not that tasteful!

Is this a cool card or what? It's pure Vanessa: deceptively simple with a fresh composition-disposition and an eye for details. And classy as all get-out....

Please join me in lifting your Diet-Cokes to Vanessa Menhorn, the Belle of the Butterflies and an exceptional card artiste!

Vanessa's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

Sometimes when I have an idea for a card, I try to sketch it, but it never turns out like I intended it to! Most of my cards just "happen." It takes from 30 minutes to 3 hours to finish a card (that sometimes depends on my girl's nap times).

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I usually create about 5 cards a week (all naptime crafted).

I wish I could do that. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I would actually nap during the nap times.

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting  machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?)

I've learned so much through all the challenges! They make me try new things and keep my creative juices flowing.

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

I want my girl to eat a lot of healthy stuff, so I prepare/precook our dinner in the afternoons so I can start crafting as soon as she is asleep. Love cooking, too, so it's no burden for me. :~)

Ah... another well-adjusted super-mommy. I envy from afar....

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of  your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

I would bring my sewing machine, paper trimmer, scissors, Cuttlebug, Nesties, heat gun, ScorePal, border punches, computer and printer (for the great digital kits).

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

I love to listen to the Harry Potter audio books read by Stephen Fry while crafting and my favourite music is punk rock, but on an island I would probably listen to songs like "Somewhere over the rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo`ole or "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

Punk rock, eh? I think I was correct about that devilish look in your eye.... Long live The Clash, btw!

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be? 

A 48-hour day; my own, big crafting room with great storage possibilities; being on a design team; having a craft shop around the corner holding all the newest supplies that only cost as much as you have to pay in the States.

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with? 

I have problems with adhering my layers straightly, (my dear husband likes to point out that something is not straight!) and I would love to be able to create beautiful scrapbook pages to do all the cute photos of my daughter justice.

I suspect that your scrapbook pages look dandy!

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.) 

I have a Canon Powershot A720 IS and it's ok for me....

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

Scheisse! Verdammt! (in this order)

That looks German - or something in the Nordic family at the very least!

11. Give us a quick description of your pets. 

Tiger Lilly Lionheart, called Lilly. She is a grey striped, incredibly fluffy cat. If she were human she would go shopping all the time, buying the newest clothes and checking her make-up all day long.

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I am a stay at home mum at the moment but will try to return to work next summer. I had an exciting job in a bank ;~)

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

My husband is working as a media designer (hence his eye for the straight positioning) and is practicing traditional Kung-Fu four times a week (that's when I do crafting in the evenings). My cute daughter, Alyssa, is 15 months old, loves to look through books with her mummy, has a good sense of humor already, and loves to hug everything and everybody.

14. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you d like to share? 

No, I am too boring!

Oooooooh, no you're not. Let me reference again that mischievous grin of yours - that smile belongs to a lively personality!

15. What's your favorite stamping technique?

I love to use distress inks and Versamark inks.

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You can see more of Vanessa's creations at her blog, Wings of a Butterfly, and her Flickr photostream.

Spotlight on Agnieszka Malyszek

Today's Wednesday Wonder is a former native of Poland who now lives in what she refers to as "the capital of rain." (For those of you not in the know, she's referring to Manchester, England. We have one of those here, too. I believe it's called Seattle.)

I have no idea what Agnieszka does when she's not scrapbooking, but I personally think she ought to be a model.

Isn't she a little hottie?! If we put her on the cover of the next issue of Creating Keepsakes or Stamper's Sampler, I dare say we would have men suddenly interested in paper craft!

Agnieszka has two "signature" design choices: (1) long and lean cards (business size 10 for us Americans), and (2) exquisite quilling. Her size preference makes you re-think your own cards and wonder why you've neglected the 8.5" x 3.5" format for so long. Her quilling is so mind-blowing, you'll find you won't be able to think, period. At least I couldn't.

All I could do was drool.

See what I mean? ('Fess up - you know you're drooling, too!)

How cool is her quilling work?! I look at this and think, "Hmmmm... I think I see a trendsetter here - that little Agnieszka is going to start a quilling revival!"

As you can see when you look at her work, Agnieszka is not limited in her color choices or style. She can handle the subdued, distressed feel of shabby chic just as easily as she can mix it up with brighter colors and contemporary designs. As a matter of fact, she's really good at blending the two by choosing just one "distressed" element to include in an otherwise contemporary look. Like this beauty:

If something like that showed up in my mailbox, I'd squeal so long and so hard you'd hear it three counties over!

Although Agnieszka hasn't been on any design teams, her work is appreciated and is beginning to get some attention, I think.  She was selected as the Fresh Face winner in the Inspired By WAD 2009 challenge over at the Hero Arts Blog; she won an Honorable Mention in a Caardvarks challenge; and was a World Card Making Day Gallery Winner at Paper Crafts Connection. And this just in: The top 6 in Embellish the Cure Color Challenge and October Gallery Challenge Winner (Paper Crafts Connection). So our girl's picking up steam!

Just look at the cleverness of this card:

Never, EVER, in a million years, would I think to make a card like this. (I suspect that most of the rest of y'all wouldn't either.) Traditionally, I think we all think of quilling as a very "feminine" accent, but Agnieszka shows it can be suitable for a masculine card, as well. Although I don't know who's going to get the card below, I know it would work just fine for a male recipient.

 

I swear I can hardly make up my mind about which cards to use here! But I must limit myself to one more, so I think I'll go for one that is not Agnieszka's favorite card shape just to show she can create a masterpiece no matter the shape of the canvas.

Well, now! How about this little piece of heaven?

She's employing the quilling and using muted pastels, "distressing" the edges with well-blended smudges of ink - you think she's leading you down Shabby Chic Alley... but WAIT! That card base is magenta and look at all the bling!!! - you find yourself on Fancy Pants Avenue instead.

Agnieszka sure is sneaky!

She's also a wonderfully talented card maker that I'm glad is NOT a model, because if she was, she probably wouldn't have time to make and share her beautiful creations with us! So, with no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Agnieszka Malyszek, the Queen of Quilling! 

Agnieszka's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

It depends on how many ideas I have. It’s easy when I know exactly what to do, but when I have too many ideas in my head I need to make a sketch to save time. Sometimes I do sketches of my quilled things on paper napkins or yellow sticky notes.  I can usually start a card and finish it in a few hours.

You have ideas?! I wish I had ideas! Lately I've done nothing but create slop because I can't think of any ideas. I thought I had an idea, but then I got this thing that shows me a picture of my Flickr friends' uploads. And I saw my idea on one of Lin's cards, but her version was sooooo much better than mine that I abandoned ship. (If anybody's wondering why I haven't posted a card on Flickr lately, it's because I have no ideas.)

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

Scrapbooking is not my cup of tea. :~) (Maybe I'll try someday....) I love cardmaking, and I try to get at least one card done a week. Challenges and card chains are good motivation to make more :~) I think I’m more efficient when I can feel time pressure on me (lol).

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

I’m quite a new crafter. I have been  cardmaking for about 2 years, but only stamping since January of this year. Therefore, I don’t have much advice. I still need to learn so many things! Certainly I have learned that inspiration is everywhere around us (it can be a colour scheme or a little detail). When I have something inspiring I can work faster. Another thing is a tidy space around me, this keeps me focused. 

Good advice - especially that thing about keeping your space tidy. I totally agree with that one!

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

“OMG it’s dinner time?!”  :~) I hate when I have to stop in the middle of creating because I forgot about dinner. Spaghetti or pizza is always a good answer for the situation like this. Isn't pizza the most popular dinner solutions? I bet it is.

I bet you're right!

 5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

Pencil and pencil sharpener, self-healing craft mat, metal ruler, scissors, double-sided tape, glue, embossing tool, heat gun, punches and shape templates – that’s my current set I’m using, and I know I can manage with that.

 6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favourite musical artists.

A list of my favourite artists is very long and miscellaneous - Nina Simone, Eric Clapton, Sting, Pink Floyd, Coldplay… those are only a few of them.

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

Oh my - I’m afraid my wish list is too long. I can’t even remember all these things I would love to have! But my own craft room with space for everything from my wish list - that’s the number one!

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I’m not satisfied with being not satisfied.  (lol) I’m not happy to say this, but I’m almost never satisfied with my cards. I do analyze too much and always see things I could do better (different).  Just can’t help it.

You are SO not alone on this one! I just spent a precious two hours last night on what is total garbage, in my opinion (see my comment earlier about Lin's idea working so much better than my execution of that idea). Nobody'll be seeing any of that!

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favourite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, and it’s my favourite toy so far! It’s a really good (easy-to-use) camera with an unusually nice body. I really love it!

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

The first word that comes to mind is “CRAP”! But there are others of course... lol!

I could write a whole blog entry about the word, "crap." In fact, I think I will - keep your eyes peeled, folks!

❧

You can see more of Agnieszka's creations at her Flickr photostream.

Bonus tip: most of her cards appear to be located at the beginning and end of her photostream, but don't ignore the rest of the photos! She's uploaded breathtaking pictures of some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. I'd always heard the beaches of Croatia are gorgeous - and she's got the pictures to prove it!

Spotlight on Godelieve Tijskens

Today's Wednesday Wonder hails from Belgium, and she has a most romantic name: Godelieve (rhymes with "GO-believe"). Some of you may know her better as "Stamping Matilda." But by whatever name you associate with her, there's no mistaking her presence in the world of paper craft.

Now seems like an appropriate time to put a face with the name, so please take a gander at Godelieve Tijskens.

Again, we encounter a happy visage with a really nice smile. Stampers are either unusually content or they're sniffing their glue!

Godelieve had her picture taken in front of some of her stamps because she doesn't have a dedicated craft room to share with us. Which is either really inspiring or really depressing - I mean, she turns out incredible stuff, and it's all without having a dedicated space. So you can either feel hopeful that you, too, can bring forth works of genius despite a "handicap" of having no dedicated space; OR you can feel wretched because you HAVE a space and still can't produce masterpieces - and now you can't blame it on not having a space, either!

There are many things to like about Godelieve's work, so her style is very hard for me to pin down. She's so comfortable working with a variety of mediums that I'm hard-pressed to capture recurring characteristics - although I will say that I'll bet she enjoyed making mudpies as a little girl. I say that because she is fearless when it comes to getting into the thick of it with the inks and the paints - she's not afraid to get her hands dirty! Godelieve's work regularly incorporates inked backgrounds that require more than a little time, effort and skill to lay down. I find her work with Ecoline ink particularly fascinating, and she has several good tutorials on this technique at her blog. 

Isn't that cool? Or how about this beauty?

I'm also pretty impressed that Godelieve takes found materials and does stunning things with them - like this:

This Christmas tree ornament was made from a cereal box. A cereal box, people!

I can just see it, can't you?

Get up, have breakfast, yawn and stretch a little, pick up the empty cereal box, knock out a few masterpieces.... And she hasn't even had lunch yet! 

I can't wait to see what she does with her sandwich wrapper....

I read on her Flickr photostream that she likes to take her scraps and make cards on Sunday mornings. You know, I have plenty of scraps, but I lack the capacity to make my sow's ears into the proverbial silk purses that Godelieve creates with hers:

She also takes amazing photographs that she sometimes incorporates into her cards - I laughed out loud when I saw this one:

Godelieve's talents are in very high demand. She is currently a member of three design teams: Odd Bird Planet, Art Journey, and Aud Design. She has also guest designed for Dark Room Door, the Hero Arts Blog, and Angels Landing. Godelieve has also been published - and more often than she shared with me, I suspect. Her work most recently appeared in Art Specially for You, a Dutch publication that gave her six pages in its last volume. (And if getting six pages all to yourself isn't impressive, consider that this not just a magazine - it's a book - and it included an article Godelieve wrote on Ecoline inks.)

Scrapplings to die for....

And then our girl has definitely made a name for herself in the weekly challenges over at the Hero Arts Blog:  Man Week (1st Place),  Flower (1st Place), Paper (HM), Monochromatic (HM), Photocard (HM), and she won accolades in some of the pre-blog Hero Arts challenges: an HM in the 2005 Hearts & Love Contest, a 1st Place in the 2005 Watercolors for Summer Contest, and a 3rd Place in the 2006 Lots of Love Contest.

Yes, Godelieve is the Real Deal, alright. And we're lucky to not only have her work to admire, but she is very generous on her blog, sharing instructions and techniques. So, if you pay attention, you can have a little Godelieve in your life with very little effort. And let's face it - that's got to be one of those Good Things that Martha Stewart is always yammering about, right? A woman who makes art out of cereal boxes at her kitchen table is good to have around!

With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Godelieve Tijskens, a true Artiste!

Godelieve's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

No, I don't pre-sketch my cards.  Often I don't know what I'm going to create.  I just start with what's in front of me :)   

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

About 10 cards I think.  I really want to stamp something each day.  Sometimes even more, depending on DT assignments.

Holy mackerel! I should just go crawl under a rock. Ten?! TEN?!    

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

Usually I try not to use too many colors on each card, just 2 or 3.  

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

Let hubby do the cooking :)

You know, I'm sensing a pattern here - seems like a lot of us are very generous. We're so willing to share the joy of cooking. Aren't we nice to sacrifice all that joy?  We're such good people....

Oh. My. Word. That's a merry-go-round. The woman made a merry-go-round....

I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

I would bring my craft knife, embroidery scissors, grid ruler, cutting mat, paper piercer, daylight lamp, sponges, Cuttlebug, Nesties, and stamp positioner.

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

I would hopefully hear songbirds, but I enjoy the music of Leonard Cohen, Tracy Chapman, Tom Waits, something classical (Vivaldi, Grieg, etc).

Godelieve, I believe you have just revealed yourself to be very deep and intellectual (as if that merry-go-round wasn't a tip-off)! None of those artists are frivolous lightweights - that bunch tends to chisel into your brain and stir the pot of thought!

    

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

It would be something you can't buy: time and inspiration.

Good one!       

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I love vintage work to look at, but often I don't like my own vintage style cards.   

Okay, so remember what I said about Godelieve being deep. This next little project shows she's more than deep. She's an ENGINEER.

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

I'm using a Canon 450D, also known as Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, which I like a lot.

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

    %?é#$!@

 That's my girl! (I'm always mildly relieved to learn that I'm not the only one who is fluent in blue language.)

OPTIONAL (These are new questions that readers have expressed an interest in knowing. You can answer none, one, some, or all.)

11. Give us a quick description of your family.

Hubby and I got married 30 years ago.  We have 2 grown sons: Rik has his own business.  Happy to have Bert living with us; he needs special care and constant attention, which takes a lot of our time.

12. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I get up very early - 5:00 a.m. sometimes - to have a few quiet creative hours.

I need to do that more often, I think.    

13. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

I have a few: heat embossing on vellum, and all resist techniques.

❧

You can see more of Godelieve's creations at a variety of places: her blog, Stamping Matilda, and her Two Peas gallery, and her Flickr photostream and her Splitcoast Stampers gallery. She also has a photo blog: Up Close.

Spotlight on Stephanie Klauck

Today's Wednesday Wonder is "new" to me. I've been rather busy lately, so my ability to browse the Hero Arts Flickr Group has been seriously impaired. But I got some time a little while ago and went a-cruisin', and Stephanie Klauck's cards made me drive back around the block for another look-see.

It was worth it!

And here's our Stephanie:

Another beautiful smiler. Is it the ink that makes stampers and scrappers so happy? I suspect there is a correlation. Or it could just be that she's Canadian. Have you ever seen an unhappy Canadian? I know I haven't. Must be something in the water....

I am not alone in my appreciation of Stephanie's work. She has been published in BHG Scrapbooks Etc, Cards, Scrapbook Trends, and Canadian Scrapbooker. AND she's been on a few design teams: WorldWin Papers and Quickutz. She is currently on the design team for Black River Designs. So Stephanie is pretty popular!

I can understand why. She has a very clean style, and her work is very appealing. Take, for instance, the page below. I looooooove this page! This is, really, a masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned. She's used three different patterned papers - but none of them are fighting one another (I particularly like the use of the cloud paper) - and she's employing one of her "signature" moves (more on that later). There's a terrific 3-D sensibility - and it's all coming from paper and ink - not one  bulkier embellishment unless you count the fiber (and I don't count the fiber)! The colors are rich and warm, the balance is excellent, and your eye travels across the canvas with nary a hitch. You can't add or take anything away from this page to improve it, so it's Practically Perfect in Every Way!

I look at Stephanie's creations and the words "clean" and "sleek" come to mind. But I'm also put in the mind of home-cooked comfort food - the kind that is warm and makes you feel good; the kind with rich flavor - savory - like a really terrific stew. I suspect this is because Stephanie often uses her ink in a very cozy way. (I always think that edging elements with ink not only adds dimension, it warms up the element itself - makes it "cozy.")

For instance, every element on the card below is edged with ink. Now try to imagine that card without the ink - it would be stark and a little cold, I think. But add in the ink and you have a nice, cozy little card. Stephanie likes kraft, and it really works well here, a perfect foil to the pastels; and her color choices are great - she's using complimentary colors for maximum pop. That butterfly would look nice no matter what color she chose, but nothing will stand out against that blue like the orange.

Here's another page, and we see some more of Stephanie's "signature" move. What is that move? Well, I've got the advantage because I've been looking over her art, but you'll see it, too, I suspect. Stephanie very effectively uses strips of patterned paper as an accent - especially horizontally - and she also really loves stripes. And I'm glad that she does because they always look great. Her use of patterned paper is great because it enhances her subject and never distracts. When I look at this page, the photos grab AND KEEP my attention - they are truly the focus. The design elements highlight these photos, and keep me "ooohing" and "aaahing" over the experience they're capturing NOT the design choices she made.

And this may be the biggest difference between card making and scrapbooking. Card making's primary focus is design; scrapbooking is about storytelling, so the design choices play a supporting role. Stephanie gets this.

 

I included the tags below because they're pretty and fun to look at! I love all the bright colors and different ink techniques and textures she used on them. I believe these were made while taking Jennifer McGuire's Thinking Inking classes over at Two Peas.

We interrupt this broadcast for an important message NOT from our sponsors (mainly because we don't have any sponsors). I am now going to make a shameless plug for these totally awesome, totally FREE video demonstrations with outstanding hand-outs! If you do nothing else to improve or enhance your technique skill set, go check out these tutorials. There are 27 videos - all quick, concise and highly viewable. She's got killer examples for each and every technique, and you can download instruction sheets with pictures for each video. Jennifer really outdid herself here. I mean, this is the Mac-Daddy of all ink technique classes, and IT'S FREE. So get on over there and check 'em out!

But not 'til you're finished here, of course!  

 

And here's one last card that I just fell in love with because it's so simple in its design. Stephanie's got her patterned paper strip of stripes here, and she's inking her edges, and she's keeping the bulky elements to a minimum: six little pearls. The rest of the three-dimensionality is coming from the layered paper, the punhced butterflies, the ink, and the embossing. What a lot of "WOW!" for very little fuss (or money). This card is flat-out awesome, and I'm stealing this design immediately! (I need a recipe like this for emergency card-making situations.)

And here's our Stephanie's craft space below. I am drooling over her big window AND her television. She's got a very nice set-up here because she can reach just about everything without having to move out of her chair. Not that I'm lazy or anything! I just hate to have to get up and walk all the way across the room for something because it takes too long. Yeah... that's it! It takes up too much valuable crafting time! I could be chopping up paper in that eight seconds! I'm also envious of her computer and printer being right there. Now that's handy! Mine are downstairs.

And if you think I hated walking all the way across the room for a paper flower....

And now it's time to learn what Stephanie's Really Like. So with no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Stephanie Klauck, a Scrappin' Stamper on Steroids! (You'll see what I mean in a minute.)

Stephanie's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

Sometimes I sketch out a card or layout if I get an idea but can't sit down to create right away. Layouts usually take me about an hour and cards about a half an hour.

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I usually make about 2 layouts a week and probably 3 or 4 cards.

And you wonder why I refer to her as a Scrappin' Stamper on Steroids?

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

The biggest thing I've learned is that more isn't always better. I have really cut back on shopping for scrapbook supplies because I found too much stuff was actually making me less creative. All my crafting time was spent trying to decide which product to use rather than actually creating anything.

Oh, geez. Can we talk? Been there, done that. What am I saying? AM there, AM doing that.

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

Pizza - quick and easy and the kids love it!

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

QK Silhouette, computer, scissors, border punches, pencil, ruler, paper trimmer, heat gun, sewing machine, foam ink applicator tool.

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

Ingrid Michaelson, Kenny Chesney, Counting Crows

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

A craft room with custom built cupboards and shelves.

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

Knowing when a project is finished. Sometimes I over analyze too much.

I can so relate to that one....

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

I have a Canon Digital Rebel and I love it.

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

Shoot!

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

1 cat and 1 guinea pig

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I work in an office for an Electrical Contracting company.

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

1 husband (Steve) and 2 children (Caitlyn-11 and Ryan-5).

14. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I hate driving. I didn't get my license until I was 25.

Up until this moment I thought I hated to drive more than anyone. Not anymore!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Embossing. Especially embossed resist. SO many cool things you can do with that.

And you do.

❧

To see more of Stephanie's creations, check out her blog, round here, or her Two Peas gallery, or her Flickr photostream.

Spotlight on Amy Young

Today we have a special treat! I think everybody who reads this blog is a member of the Hero Arts Flickr Group, so all the Wednesday Wonders thus far have come from that affiliation. But it's a great big world out there with some awesome stampers who are not members of the Hero Arts group, and today's Wonder is but one of them. In an effort to spread the love and broaden our horizons, I thought it high time to spotlight one of these women, and Donna Mikasa unwittingly brought me my first victim - er... I mean subject! And luckily for all of us, this amazingly talented artist agreed to participate.

Gentle Stampers, say hello to Amy Young!

(My apologies for this smallish picture - we lifted it from her blog, A Thousand Sheets of Paper.) Amy looks like a fun-lovin' lady, yeah?

Are you ready to "ooooh" and "aaaah?" (Or perhaps I should ask if you're ready to be awed?) Hang on to your ink pots....

 

(Featured stamp by Sugar Nellie)

Yowza, right?!

Better settle in because you're not going to want to leave for awhile. And grab a towel or something, as I forecast envy with a chance of drool....

How I became aware of Amy's work is an interesting story, and it technically starts with either Kelly Booth or Donna Mikasa. I'm not sure which one of these ladies first discovered The Greeting Farm, but the one started using and quickly led her sister down the path of addiction. Now half the Hero Arts Flickr Group - including Yours Truly - is strung out on these Copic-friendly images.

(Thanks, Donna and Kelly, for turning me into the stamping equivalent of a crack 'ho. Really appreciate that.)

But I digress! The Greeting Farm (aka: TGF) has a blog, Club Anya, and that blog has contests every week, and it was one of these contests that led Donna to discover Amy, which led to visiting Amy's blog, thereby causing Donna's jaw to drop in awe, which compelled Donna to email me with a link to same (because we junkies are always very generous about sharing our hook-ups).

 

(inside card)

Upon visiting Amy's blog and seeing what she was doing, I had to agree with Donna. If you can't get into one of those Copic certification classes, studying Amy's work is a nice substitute (and it's free). The woman is like Norman Rockwell with a Copic - she's a master worth emulating. And not only that, but in every blog post featuring one of her lovelies, she not only provides a supply list, she lists exactly which Copic markers she used and where. Now that's a happy ending to a good story!

But why settle for a good story when you can read an amazing one?

According to her bio at Club Anya, she picked up her first TGF stamp in April, which led her to buy some Copics, which led her to start a blog to share her wonderful creations AND made her pursue a Design Team position at Club Anya, which she just won (along with our own Kelly Booth and Lysa Rohrer). How's that for a meteoric rise? I mean, think about it. The woman started playing with Copics six measly months ago, and JUST LOOK at her skill level!

We're not worthy... we're not worthy....

(Featured stamp by Sugar Nellie)

Amy's talent is so evident that it's hard to believe that her gig with TGF is her first DT experience. She's also never won any awards or been published. However, she tells me that she had never pursued any of these things before - which would explain such a state of affairs. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I'm very glad she's decided to start pursuing such matters! 

And speaking of pursing such matters, Amy apparently has her own stamp line debuting at All That Scraps in November!!! (I'll provide a release date as soon as I know it.)

And if Amy's Copic magic doesn't blow your mind, did I mention this clever woman is quite good at altering stamped images? This particular trick is what brought her to Donna's attention in the first place. Club Anya had a contest inviting stampers to provide sketches of an Anya or Ian stamp they would like to see in the future. Amy came up with dozens! And her "sketches" looked like the real deal. 

Check it out - here's the real stamp ("Anya Ballerina"):

 

And here's what she looked like after Amy got done with her:

Holy Scarlett O'Hara, Batman!!!

And did you ever think you'd see "Wild West Anya" as the Little Dutch Girl?

 

I'll say it again: We're not worthy... we're not worthy....

With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to an Illusionist whose sleight of hand reveals a hand that is anything but slight. To Amy "The Alchemist" Young, the David Copperfield of Copics!

Amy's Wonder-ful Interview  

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

When I scrap or make cards, I am definitely a 'leap out of the gate' kind of gal. Sketches can be fun when I'm participating in a challenge, but on my own I just go where the paper leads me. I usually finish a page layout in a couple of hours, and my cards can be pretty quick... 20-30 minutes including coloring. The only time they take longer is if I'm getting really creative with my altering of a stamped image or if I draw my own. 

Twenty to thirty minutes?! We're even MORE not worthy...!

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I haven't been creating many pages recently, just a handful each month. Cards, on the other hand.... I make at least one card a day (more if I have the day off from work). I issued myself a personal challenge to use up as much of my paper scraps stash as I could, and making cards is a fantastic way for me to put all that paper to use. Plus it's just really fun to color stamped images with my Copic markers. =)

 You are living my resolution to purge and are now my official role model.

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

1. Go with your gut - that first initial design idea or color combo that pops into your head is usually the best way to go.
2. Creating should be fun. If you're not having fun - if it isn't bringing you joy - then you need to loosen up a bit.
3. Use what you love. Whether it’s a favorite stamp, paper line or type of embellishment, if it makes you happy, then you can never use it too much. 

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

I'm a lucky girl - most nights dinner isn't my responsibility.

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

Hmmm... Honeybee scissors, Tonic 12x12 guillotine paper trimmer, T-square ruler, bone folder, Coluzzle circle cutter, Slice die-cutter, Cuttlebug & embossing folders, OTT light, border punches, and sewing machine.

Okay, can we talk? I recently acquired the Tonic guillotine paper trimmer - the 12" model with a 6" extendable base, (takes up less room and is more travel friendly) and I am IN LOVE.

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

I'm a peace-and-quiet kind of crafter; it's just me and my thoughts when I'm creating.

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

An unlimited budget to buy all the new stamps, paper and embellishments as they are released.

Hey, that's a good one!

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I don't want this to come off wrong, but I'm really happy with what I create. I'm comfortable with my style, (colorful and playful with a tendency toward clean lines) and I know who I am as an artist. I'm always growing and evolving within my style; I suppose if I didn't, then I might become dissatisfied.

Excellent answer!

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

I have - and love - a Nikon D40 (though I'm hoping to upgrade to a D70 soon).

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

Awww... cr@p... LOL!

SURPRISE - TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!

Some of you regular readers have expressed an interest in knowing the answers to the following questions, so I've added them to the interview.

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

My Yorkie, Duke. He's my little sweetie. =)

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I'm about to embark on a whole new journey into stamp design! My line is called Sweet November Stamps, and they will be sold at All That Scraps under the C.C. Designs label beginning in November. I'm both nervous and excited!

So what's the release date?! Don't leave us hanging, woman!!!

 
13. Give us a quick description of you family.

We're happy. =)

14. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I have a photographic memory for a lot of useless things like TV shows, movie quotes... stuff like that. But these 'powers of observation' come in really handy with keeping track of my scrap supplies and paper collection.

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Is coloring with Copic markers a technique? I do that on just about all of my cards these days. Though I also really like to mask and layer different images too.

❧

To see more of Amy's eye candy, check out her Split Coast Stamper's Gallery and her blog, A Thousand Sheets of Paper!!!

NEWS FLASH - THIS JUST IN FROM AMY:

"My first release will be Monday, November 2nd, and I will have my first four original fairies (the drawings that provided me with this opportunity) available in rubber as well as some Christmas digi stamps."