Friday 30 September 2011

Amy's Amazing Art

Her creations will definitely blow your mind!!!! Even though am following her blog for quite long time, I'm still thirsty for more cards... If you don't know her yet, then you must get ready for the oohs, aahs and wows... Pls help me and Tammy Hobbs introduce you to Amy Sheffer,,,,

Name: Amy Sheffer
 
When and how did you start Cardmaking? 
I started cardmaking almost ten years ago after attending a friend's Stampin' Up workshop. I was instantly hooked! 

When would you say you are most creative? 
My creativity kicks in around the same time I get all my kiddoes tucked into their beds. I look forward to unwinding in the quiet of my craft room, and often find myself still there into the wee hours of the morning! I truly dislike being under the gun of a deadline, but at the same time, I find that my best work comes in the 11th hour!

What is your favorite technique? 
I'm not so much of a technique-driven designer, but one technique that does find its way into my creations regularly is distressing, whether that's with distress inks, a distressing tool, or paint.

Do trends inspire your creative process? 
I like watching trends take off and find it fun (and often challenging -- in a good way) to incorporate them into my own style.

Is there something about paper crafting you find challenging? 
Finding balance -- I could craft all day! 

Is there a designer in the paper crafting industry that inspires you? If so, what about their style or technique inspires you? 
I'm inspired by so very many talented paper crafters, it would be impossible to name just one! Some of my favorite designers to watch are those whose style is opposite of mine -- specifically, those who pull off the modern, graphic, clean-and-simple look so flawlessly. That's a style that I personally struggle with, so I tend to respond to their work with an extra dose of amazement. 

How would you describe your style? 
Eclectic ... I like to try a little of everything and thrive on that element of surprise. I never know exactly what I'm going to end up with after a crafty session.

How long would you say it takes you to complete a card or project? 
I'm a super slow crafter, and typically spend around three hours on a single card or project. Crazy? Yes. But I love the process just as much as the finished product! 

When you are finished with your beautiful creations what do you do with them? 
Okay, please don't judge ... sadly, many of my creations end up in boxes in my basement, even those specifically created to send out! I don't know why, but I loathe going to the post office, and since my cards tend to be bulky and heavy, I need to take them there for correct postage. I have two goals for the current year -- mail more cards and open an etsy shop so I can sell some, too. I recently purchased a postage scale, which should help with both goals!

Are you on any Design Teams or have served on any in the past? 
I currently design for Stamper's Dream and Verve Stamps. I'm also honored to have served on other design teams in the past, including My Favorite Things, Our Daily Bread Designs, and the Splitcoaststampers "Dirty Dozen" Design Team. I also like to take on short-term guest design opportunities regularly.

Here are some of her many beautiful cards:




Simply chic and delightful!!! No wonder why Amy is so famous in the cardmaking industry.... Thanks dear for fluttering our hearts and thanks to all who enjoyed reading the interview....
Now get ready for the next post as I'll announce my giveaway's lucky winner....Stay tuned :)
 

Thursday 29 September 2011

Little Bundle of Joy

A very quick post before going to bed.... Here's a new creation for a little baby boy,,,

This card is entering for:
Unscripted Sketches
The Pixie Cottage
Inky Impressions
Oldie But A Goodie
Closer view:


Thanks to all for leaving me sweet comments :) So excited to announce the giveaway's winner tomorrow!!!!!

Monday 26 September 2011

'cutie'

Am really happy that my cards are making good sales at Edible Arrangements!!! And soon I'll be celebrating my first anniversary since started selling there :)
Made a new 'cutie' card for a new baby-girl... Love this baby buggy overlay from Hambly Studios:


This card is entering for:
deconstructing jen
Stampin for the weekend
Simon Says Stamps
Art Impressions
Lexi's Creations
Card Makin Mamas
Creative Craft
Wee Memories

Let's zoooooom...

Thanks for visiting!!! Only five days to go for the GIVEAWAY winner announcement,,,,

Friday 23 September 2011

FF Day 37- Yvonne Yam

Yes we're featuring the 37th artist at Fascinating Fridays!!!! Isn't that overwhelming?? And I'm so lucky to have new friends too,,, Stop envying :) :)
Today's shine adores colors as well as masters playing with techniques and mediums.... Her creations are a pure delight- soon you'll admit too as you discover her world!!!! Let's welcome sweet Yvonne :)
Name: Yvonne Yam
  
1. When did you start this hobby? 
I really got into scrapbooking in 2009 when I discovered the online crafting community and started playing along with online challenges. 

2. Who inspires you the most? 
I really love Julie Fei-Fan Balzer because she merges mixed media with traditional scrapbooking for her own unique spin on things. 

3. Define your style. 
My style is eclectic at best but really a mish mash of whatever tickles my fancy at that point in time. I love playing with mediums and techniques and I love using found stuff on my projects. Most of my projects incorporate something upcycled and generally a burst of colours! 

4. What are your favourite tools? 
I love EK Success Cutter Bee precision scissors for fussy cutting, my paper piercer and Tim Holtz scissors because it can cut through (almost) everything. 

5. What are your favourite techniques?
I really love playing with masking and misting. It's a great way to add texture and interest to a project without bulk. I also enjoy fussy cutting...it's very therapeutic and a little goes a long way. The bits and pieces can be used to create little "scenes" and tie the whole project together. I love using "white space" as a design element...it helps to rest the eyes and pull them to a focal point. 

6. Do you follow the latest trends when scrapbooking?
I like to use new patterned papers and just let the patterns guide my creations. It's always interesting when you look at trends and make it your own by combining it with things you already have at hand. 

7. Where do you normally scrap?
I scrap in my bedroom. Sometimes on my bed. Sometimes on the floor. Yes, I have to clean up every single time I craft. It's a pain but it really keeps clutter at bay. 

8. What are your favourite colours? 
This is tough. I love using colours on my projects - yellow, orange, green, blue and red. 

9. Are you designing for any products, brands or scrapbook store?
I'm currently designing for Gauche Alchemy and Your Scrapbook Stash. 

10. How much do you spend per month buying your scrapbook supplies? 
One of the perks of designing for stores/kit clubs is of course the free stuff. I generally buy only cardstock and adhesive...about US$15 a month. 

Enjoy...




Thanks friend for taking us on this breathtaking journey!!! Your pieces are so fun and jolly :) Peeps, don't forget to visit Yvonne's blog and leave her some love *happy face*
See you soon and take care,,,

Wednesday 21 September 2011

LOVE tree :)

Long time since I used my distress inks and copics!!!! And this cute stamp from Unity was calling me everytime I made a card... Here's one playing with them:

This card is entering for:
Inkspirations Challenges
Blogger's Challenge
Delicious Doodles
Wee Memories
Glitter Geeks

Dry embossed the hearty tree:


Thanks for peeking :) Enjoy,,,,

Sunday 18 September 2011

Just a reminder,,,,,

We're getting closer to the GIVEAWAY deadline and I can see some new friends here :) Thanks for joining us and if you're looking forward to win then got to tell you that leaving a comment is mandatory. You should be a follower as well as leave a comment to be eligible for the prize.... And those of you who posted about the gift certificate should not forget that you can leave a second comment too :) Good luck to all....

Friday 16 September 2011

Leena's Lovely Littles

A very nice lady joined the Emirates Quilling Guild few months back. She doesn't post many pictures of her work but the ones she did display were amazing, so we thought let's show her in a bigger picture for all of you to admire her work,,,, Let's meet Leena Shah
1) When did you start paper quilling? and how did you know about it? 
Four years ago I had a visit with a friend to an art and craft teacher where for the first time I saw creations in quilling and instantly fell in love with the art form. I learnt basics from her, although I seriously took this art form 3 years after I stopped working. 

2) Do you read books about quilling and other crafts? or what sources do you use mostly ? 
At times I do refer to books but mostly internet is the place for new learning

3) Describe yourself as an Artist , what hobbies do you like and practice? what other forms of art do you like? how long have you been crafting in general ? 
As an artist everything and anything around me inspires me. I love art in all forms be it painting, moulding and crafting. I do practice lot of art form such as Indian folk painting (Warli and madhubani), murals, lamasa and paper crafts (quilling, parchment, punch craft, iris and tea bag folding). In general I have been crafting since 5 years. 

4) Do you work or study? and does practicing hobbies affect any aspect of your life? 
At present I am full time housewife with 18 months child to look after. Practicing hobbies has affected my life as a whole as it has taught me to be more patient and yes it beats away all the stress and gives me satisfaction. 

5) Do you attend workshops or give workshops ? 
Not yet although I am in process of taking workshops soon. 

6) Have you gained any benefit from your art? what kind of benefit ? 
Satisfaction, peace of mind and most important thing is that its has helped me connect with people around the world sharing same interest and passion. Creating something is most beautiful thing in this world and i am happy doing so. 




Such unique pieces, Leena!!! And your imagination is absolutely creative,,, Thanks dear for joining us today and thanks to all who visited us :) Have a fun-tastic friday!!!

Wednesday 14 September 2011

ITS A GIRL

Its 11:00 PM here and am nearly exhausted as just left work three hours back!!! However, I decided not to sleep unless I share with you this sweetness made from Garden Party Collection (My Little Shoebox)....

 This card is entering for:
The Sweet Stop
Crafty Catz
Southern Girls
The Emerald Faerie
A closeup


Thanks for visiting!!! Soon will leave you some love at your blogs :)

Monday 12 September 2011

get well soon

Peace be to all,
Below is a new 'get well soon' card. Hope it brings some relief to our sick sisters and brothers,,,

This card is entering for:
deconstructing jen
Mark's Finest Papers
Crop Stop
little red wagon

The closer, the clearer 


That's for now.... Thanks for peeking and don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!! Mwah :)
 

Friday 9 September 2011

Mariana's Mind Medicine :)

Yeah, just have a look at her cards and you'll be mentally relaxed :) Her creations offer an abundance of the 'wow' factor. And if you're an avid follower of talented artists then you must have come across this lady. It's Mariana Grigsby, one of my favorites!!! Her stamping, coloring and embellishing proudly stand out from the crowd. Pls help me and Tammy welcome today's shine..... 
Name: Mariana Grigsby


When and how did you start Card making?
I think that I have always made cards since I was little, but I started making them as a hobby, since 2009 when I started playing along in some of the blog challenges on the internet. 


When would you say you are most creative? 
When I feel happy and my mind is in a “worry free” mode...lol. Usually when nobody is at home, and I can keep myself focus on my project. 


What is your favorite technique? 
I love many techniques, but the one that I enjoy the most is coloring stamped images with Copic markers. I guess this is because it reminds me of when I was little and I used to enjoy using my color pencils all the time. 


Do trends inspire your creative process? 
Yes, trends are a great way to keep my creativity flowing... but sometimes I can find inspiration in anything.


Is there something about paper crafting you find challenging?
Yes! My craft table is kind of small, and I love creating. So, every time I make a card or layout, my crafty table ends up very messy... That is a challenge for me, because I think I spend a lot of time keeping it clean and organized. I don’t like working on a disorganized table. 


Is there a designer in the paper crafting industry that inspires you? If so, what about their style or technique inspires you?
I have many favorite designers. I love the clean and simple style of Cristina Kowalczyk; the colorful and fun style of Jennifer McGuire; the cute style of Teri Anderson, and the classy style of Ashley Cannon Newell. They are super talented and such a great inspiration for me, specially when my mojo is distracted ;)

How would you describe your style?
Usually I design my cards according to the images I am using. But I would say that my style is mostly clean and graphic with touches of elegance and fun. I love using eye-catching colors, and I particularly like to add little details like gems, pearls, or stitches 

How long would you say it takes you to complete a card or project? 
It depends. Sometimes, when I am in the creative mood I can make them very fast. But if I am interrupted many times, I can take longer.

When you are finished with your beautiful creations what do you do with them?
I keep some, I giveaway some, I submit some, and I sell some.

Are you on any Design Teams or have served on any in the past including guest design spot? 
Yes, I am currently a Design Team member of Embellish Magazine, The Stamper’s Dream Store, and Jane’s Doodles. I also have been invited by several blogs to be a Guest Designer like Inspirational, The Play Date Café, Case Study.


Here they are:





I believe dictionary lacks the relevant words to describe your cards' elegance!!!! And the photos are superb too :) Thanks dear for inspiring us (seriously feel like making a card now).... And thanks to all who read this feature!!!! Have a Fantastic Friday,,,,

Tuesday 6 September 2011

A good-bye and a welcome note

Today we are sadly saying good-bye to our cherished member - Alia Mohammed who has been such a hardworking and sweet mate. We'd love you to stop by her blog and wish her all the best in her future endeavours! Thank you Alia for working with us :)
As Alia is stepping down the team, I would also like you to say hello to our next amazing member - Yuzz Yusof (who was featured HERE). Welcome dear to our team, happy to have you on board :)
Am also so glad that Amna Al Fardh and Tammy Hobbs will be continuing for the next quarter... Thank you friends for helping me feature talented artists!!!!

With this superb team, I'm very certain we'll be fascinated every Friday!!!!

Monday 5 September 2011

Back to Business :)

Its been quite some time since I posted my creations regularly :(  Now that the festive season is over, I'll try to be more punctual but one thing for sure: posts will be shorter, lol. As life is getting busy with my new job, I'll only post images and links but if you would like to inquire about them, then surely you can mail me at artisan@paperiedesigns.com....
Today's card features the cute set of glittered chipboards from Pebbles with a pp that I received as gift from Paper Pretties (cute, isn't it??)

This card is entering for:
Cardabilities
Pile It On 
Desert Islands
Emerald Faerie
Clearly iStamp 
Marks Finest Papers
And a closer view:


Thanks for swinging by!!! We'll welcome a new member for Fascinating Fridays tomorrow, stay tuned!!!

Saturday 3 September 2011

Closing with Yuzz Yusof

I am a mother to a 2 years 8 months girl named Mia Zara - she is my everything and I am wife to a very understanding hubby and he owns his own business. Weekday I will be working from 9 am - 6 pm and in weekends I usually teach at the local scrapbook store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am currently a resident designer for Scrappingville (local scrapbook store). This is pure hobby to me and I will craft and create whenever I am free. My style I should say sometimes clean, sometimes I love to play with paint/mix media, sometimes I will go for "beautiful mess" and there are times my page is complete vintage. 




Such overwhelming layouts!!!! Your daughter must be so proud that you've created these beautiful pages for her :) Thanks sweetie for inspiring us, friends you can see more creations at her blog.
My deepest gratitude goes to all the artists as well as to my sincere audience for celebrating Eid with us!!!  BTW, I promised you yesterday that I've some good news for you: I'm extending the giveaway period till 30th September. So if you haven't entered yet then its time to win a 50$ gift certificate from Two Peas In a Bucket!!! Hurry up :)

Friday 2 September 2011

Getting to know Naush Samama

I am Naush, a to-be-40 year old, SAHM to 3 incredibly cooperative young lads(ages 9,10,12) DH works with General Motors and has been most supportive of my obsession with crafting. Dubai has been home for the last 19 years, where we met, married and have been raising our boys. My sons and my husband are the motivation, in my, being able to pursue my goals in art. They are the ones who compromise and encourage me all the way.

 I was raised in Kuwait, where we lived for over a 15 years. I love travelling and have travelled a good part of the world in my previous profession as airline staff. I love meeting people, exchanging cultures and making friends.

My love affair with art started at a very tender age, when I was constantly reprimanded for “wasting” my time doodling and cutting/pasting and “dressing” lifeless objects.  I loved painting. However amazingly not until I got married, did, I get the right encouragement to pursue my hobby seriously ! (thanks to DH’S encouragement !)
 I have been playing around with paper, paint, glue and scissors for the last 8 years. I love creating ANYTHING.  I am frugal in my ways and love to recyle/reuse and repurpose objects. Although I stick to mainstream card making, often I wander into unchartered artsy territories of altered arts. I love the flexibility of digital stamps but I still love to get my hands dirty with traditional supplies like distress inks and acrylic paints.  Being creative does not necessarily mean being limited to just one specific craft, hence I tend to try out all mediums of creating anything functional ~ just so long as I am enjoying it.

How  I  create anything in the chaos and mess in my craft studio is a true mystery ! J 

I had been teaching art in schools and institutes. I am a regular participant in several seasonal art exhibitions thru out Dubai.  I conduct 6 weeks art workshops for children as well as ladies in my villa at the Arabian Ranches..
I was interviewed by City 7 channel as well as Sama Dubai. Express has also carried out a feature on my craft works and cards. I have been a part of the Dubai shopping festival, hosting two outlets in the Art Avenue at Al Reef Road, Bur Dubai.

I am a member of the EEG, Emirates Environment Group, Feline Friends and Emirates Dyslexia Group.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my little resume. I look forward to some of you’ll visiting my blog and if you like something, you could leave me a comment too.





Glad to know more about you, Naush.... Love your Eid cards so much and that easel card is my favorite :) Thanks sweetheart for feasting our eyes and thanks to all who're celebrating Eid with us... Sadly, tomorrow is the end of '7 Days of Eid Celebration' but I've some good news too!!!! Stay updated....
Smooches,