I was nominated to participate in the creative blog hop by my dear friend Meg Loven.Thank you Meg!
I thought since this week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday here in North America I wanted to share a card using the Thanks Stamp from the Seasonally Scattered stamp set. This card is super easy to put together and also showcases that thing that drew most of us into stamping. Gold embossing! I mean seriously after 20 years of being a stamper I still remember my friend showing me gold embossing and oohing and aahhhing over it. Back then we even used the heat of a light bulb or toaster from underneath to make it melt. Thank goodness we don't need to do that anymore!
I'm not sure why my picture looks blurry but if you click on it it seems to look crisp and you can see the gold embossing better. Sorry for the inconvenience and if it's just my computer sorry again.
As part of the blog hop I am going to answer a few questions so you can get to know M.E. a little and my creative process:
- What are you working on?
If you found me today I wouldn’t be doing anything creative, seriously. My husband and I own a Wild Game Processing Business and this is the Monday after our busiest week of the year. So we are cutting Deer and I am checking them all in and cooking for a crew. But creatively it’s all about Christmas! I just finished up a Month long series of Christmas Crank Classes that had us making over 500 cards collectively. Phew that’s a lot of “Happy Mail” going out in December!
2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I have given this a lot of thought and I came to a little revelation. My creative work is just like my personality. I try to get along with everyone! In high school I got along with all types of groups. “Nerds to Popular” and I think that is exactly how my creativity it. Not to sound boring (because nothing creative is boring!) but I am kind of a “middle of the road” stamper. Stay with M.E. here….what I mean is I try not to go over the top with my designs (who wants complicated when you are trying to de-stress?) and I struggle with going too simple. I do love my embellishments after all but I try to stick to one…or maybe two at a time. I like to create things that make others happy.
3. Why do you create what you do?
First why do I create in the first place? Because I have ALWAYS needed that outlet to be happy. ALWAYS! Creating makes me, well, happy. I was a florist and head designer for over 10 years and when that avenue ended (too many babies at home) I looked for something to fill that void and I found Stampin’ Up! and I’ve never looked back. Now what keeps me going is keeping a balance between all that male testosterone in our other business and the love I feel when I am around women doing something creative. Why do I create the things I do? Mostly for my customers because when I make them happy then I am happy. It gives me a warm feeling when they love what I create for them! I keep them in mind on every project that I create. Will they like it? Can they use it? Is this something they will want to re-create?
4. How does your creativity process work?
I am inspired by so many things. I use inspiration to my fullest advantage. Whether it’s seeing a color combination that I love or a Stamp Set that I can’t do without! Looking at a punch in a different way or seeing a design in a magazine that is so eye catching. I, like many, love pinterest for inspiration. I usually start looking long before I need to create because when I do go to create I almost always have slept on it, designed it better in my head (my best work happens in my head in the wee hours of the morning as I lie in bed) and then I like to sit down with only those ideas and make it my own. Don’t get me wrong there is some AMAZING work on the Stampin’ Up! website or in the Create, Inspire, Share catalog that I CASE (Copy and Share Everything) because it’s perfect just the way it is, but doing it my way is the most rewarding!
And to add to the Creative Blog Hop fun, I get to nominate two more bloggers. Their Creative Blog Hop posts will be posted next Monday on December 1st, so be sure to check in with them then for their posts and nominations.
Lydia Fielder is the Author of 'Understand Blue'. I nominated Lydia because you need to experience her art if you haven’t already. She can take a stamp and some ink and turn them into works of art! She is the Community Manager at splitcoaststampers and a very talented artist. If that’s not enough for you her blog writing style and sense of humor will draw you right in and make you feel like you are right at home and have been friends for years.
Rachel Chamberlain and I have been friends for many years. As many, Stampin’ Up! brought us together but friends we will stay no matter. She has an amazing eye for design and you will catch me stealing ideas from her regularly and of course being inspired by her fabulous creativity. You can find Rachel at ‘Great Minds Ink alike' (see even her blog name is super creative!)
Make sure you don't miss out on the ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA while supplies last! Click on the image below to start shopping all the deals. Some only last til the end of today!
Now here are supplies I used for my card that I showcased above. You can order 24/7 by clicking on each link below.
Product List
Enjoy!
M.E.
![Hardwood [wood]](http://www.stampinup.com/images/EC/133032s.jpg "Hardwood [wood]")
