FF DAY 3 - COLLEEN DIETRICH

Today's star in Fascinating Fridays (FF) is a talented lady whose cards are very unique. Indeed her work thrilled me so I decided to feature her. Let's all welcome her!!!

Name: Colleen Dietrich

Blog: Dietrich Designs

1. How and when did you start Cardmaking?

I was introduced to the ‘official’ card-making world in October 2007, when I joined Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator so I could get the discount. Prior to that, I had made cards many years before for co-workers with just a small handful of stamps, and my tools were very limited.  SU opened up a whole new world for me.  (I do not demonstrate anymore.)  Along the way, someone told me about Splitcoaststampers and then I began uploading my cards there on March 30, 2009.  In late May 2010, an SCS friend encouraged me to start a blog, and it’s been addicting ever since!

2. From where do you draw your inspiration?

My inspiration truly comes from everywhere:  catalogs for bedding, clothing, decorative objects; a magazine called Where Women Create (published by Stampington & Co.); Target circulars; blog challenges; nature.  On my blog, I have about 8 or 9 different cards that are in a series I call “Inspired by….”.  There, you will find cards inspired by a priest’s stole, a child’s bathing suit, things from the Target circular, and more.

Take a look at some of Colleen's stunning creations:

3. What are your favorite companies?

My favorite companies are Stampin’ Up!, Flourishes, Spellbinders, and Anna Griffin by Plaid Enterprises.

4. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?

The top 5 tools in my crafting arsenal are:  the Stampamajig stamp positioner, paper piercer, dimensionals in two thicknesses, heat tool and a ruler.

5. How long does it take you to make a card that you are happy with?

It usually takes me an hour or two to create a card I am happy with.  That’s because I usually make two of any given design.  While my 8 ½” x 11” cardstock is on the cutter, I use both halves to make identical cards – one to keep and one to give away.

6. What do you do with the cards that you make?

The cards I make wind up in various places.  I keep a large, collapsible fabric container with sturdy sides from The Container Store for give-aways only.  Those give-aways might be sent by me to various people, or sometimes several are packaged up and given as a gift for someone else to give away.  I also keep a supply of simpler cards to donate to Operation Write Home.  I have another identical container where I keep a stash for me.  Sometimes I just pull them out to look at them because it’s enjoyable to me.

7. Do you post your cards in a blog, gallery, forum?

My cards are posted in two places -- my blog, Dietrich Designs:    http://colleen-dietrichdesigns.blogspot.com/                                              

and my gallery at Splitcoaststampers:http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?page=1&cat=500&ppuser=146480&perpage=96&thumbsonly=0

8. Are you currently designing for any blog?

Recently I have been named as Private Blend Designer for the new term beginning in early January 2011 at The Play Date Café:  http://www.theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/

I’ll be a Guest Designer coming up on January 6, 2011, at Off The Wall Craftiness: http://offthewallcraftiness.blogspot.com/

and also as a Guest Designer on the Clean and Simple Design Team at Splitcoaststampers at the end of January 2011.

Thanks dear Colleen for sharing your art and another thanks to those who visited us. Be sure to leave Colleen some sincere love :)