Friday 25 May 2012

Theresa's Treasures

Happy Friday bloggers!!! It's Rochelle with you today featuring the one and only- Theresa Calderini.  Theresa's creations posses an air of sophisticated elegance that permeates through the screen when you visit her blog. Each card appears as though every element has been methodically planned out so that the finished product is a beautifully orchestrated work of art. Her writing style makes you feel as though you're having a personal conversation and that makes a visit to her blog all the more enjoyable. As you read through the interview below, you'll come to understand why Theresa's cards and writing are the perfect combination for a great blog that displays great work!!!
 Name: Theresa Calderini

1. Tell us a little about yourself. 
I hail from sunny Florida and am presently a full-time crafter & writer. I have been blogging for about 5 years and recently launched a new blog titled “Parables of a Crafter” which was created as a means for artistic and written expressions to be married and used to reach, teach and touch others through art and word. I have been married for 10+ years, my handsome husband Mark is a Firefighter / Paramedic. I have 4 beautiful children (young adults now!) and am also a grandmother. My “secret dream” is to be on the stage at Women of Faith as a Storyteller! Only God knows the future and if he sends me there, I’ll show up with a smile on my face and a basket full of handmade cards to share!

2. When and how did you start cardmaking?
I’ve been cardmaking for as long as I can remember, but it became a central part of my life about 8 years ago. I like to think that I was born with a paper gene and have nurtured it throughout my entire life!

3. What inspires you to create?
Life around me is my main inspiration, be it people, places, things, anything with dimension, color or a story is inspirational to me. My favorite Photographer is Stephen Bivens and I gain a great deal of inspiration from his work. Each day is new and with it comes the opportunity to be inspired and to create and I take full advantage of this whenever possible!

4. What are your “go to” tools for cardmaking?  Why? 
Paper of course!  Also Copics, ribbon, distressing inks and die cuts. I’m known as the “queen of contraband” and don’t favor any particular company over another. If it’s a tool that catches my eye, I’m willing to incorporate it into one of my creations!

5. Who are your favorite paper crafter's at this time? Why? 
I am very inspired by Beate Johns as I can feel her passion through her creations and this is something that draws me to her work. Whenever Beate creates something new, I sit and let my eyes wander over it, seeing each detail and imagining the story that comes behind it. I also enjoy Michelle Zindorf as she is an artist who is extremely gifted with ink. How anyone can take containers of ink and a brayer and bring them together to create such beauty is beyond me, but I really get revved up over her work! My favorite “creator” is the ever popular Becca Feekan because she has the wonderful gift of stepping outside of the box with her paper creations. I love reading Becca’s blog, her love of paper crafting is demonstrated through her words and her creations.  I aspire to take lessons from each of these talented ladies and incorporate what I have learned into my own creations. If I can do this successfully, the sky has no limit!

6. Describe your style?
Huh? My what? Lol! Many of my creations come as the result of a story that I want to tell which means that I can’t be nailed down to a specific style, but I’m ok with that! I would describe myself as eclectic and free-spirited in regards to style. No matter what style I use, you can be sure that the one consistent element will be a story going along with each creation!

7. Are you on any design teams at this time?  Have you been published in any magazines or online journals?
I joined Perfect Sentiments design team in 2011 and presently, this is the only team I am working with. I do hope to identify additional design teams that I can get involved with in the future. I have not yet been published although I am presently working on my own publication which will be an interactive, Christian crafters book which we hope to bring to market near the end of 2012.

8. What are your favorite thing's about creating?
Sharing my passion with others through my creations and stories is what brings me the most pleasure. Having someone tell me that one of my creations inspired them truly warms my heart which creates a desire within me to go into my craft studio and create more!  




Delicate and flawless creations, Theresa!!! Your pieces of art are always thrilling and a visit to your blog will inspire us to the peak.... Thanks Theresa for sharing your valuable time and being with us this week :) :) Folks, don't forget to leave some love at Theresa's place.... Join us next Friday, for another portion of fabulousness!!! Bye for now!!!

Friday 18 May 2012

Kim's Kreative Kreations

Hello friends... It's Tenia here today,,, This week we're spotlighting a super sweet, kind and super duper talented lady!!!! I just adore her Clean and Fresh style!!! Please help us all welcome Colorado's very own....Kim Singdahlsen!!!!!
 
Name: Kim Singdahlsen
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a former actuary (the mathematics of insurance!) but now I spend my time taking care of my household and of boys.  I have two very active sons, along with my husband, who keep me busy with sports, music , church activities and playing in our Colorado mountains.  My other creative outlet is involvement in our church music program including playing piano at our services.  

2. When and how did you start cardmaking?
I started cardmaking as a reprieve from my life of mathematics and boys!  I love having some time each day to be surrounded by colors and glitter and fun images.  I started about a decade ago with some quick lessons in a friend’s basement…little did we know where it would lead! 

3. What inspires you to create? 
I am mainly inspired by other crafters.  It’s not uncommon for me to ignore a stamp set, then see how someone else uses it, then I have to buy it.  I don’t necessarily copy their card, but just seeing what someone else creates with a product is enough to get me going. 

4. What is your favorite technique? Why? 
There are many techniques that I have tried and love, but the single thing that I come back to on virtually all of my cards is dry embossing.  I love the incredible variety of embossing folders that are currently available.  A simple embossed component adds such dimension to an otherwise simple card. 

5. Who are your favorite papercrafters at the time? Why? 
Now THIS is a hard question.  I follow over 200 blogs – and those have been carefully selected from amongst a much higher number as I have narrowed it down to those that are my style.  Each and every one of them inspire me.  And many, many of those card creators have become my friends – I am NOT picking from amongst them – I couldn’t narrow it down.  But some of the other papercrafters that consistently take my breath away are:

6. Describe your style. 
I recently heard the term “clean and layered” and I think that’s perfect!  I’m not always simple and I’m definitely not one-layer – but I am always crisp and clean.

7. Are you on any design teams at the time? Have you been published in any magazines? 
I currently serve on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps design team and on the Dynamic Duos Challenge design team. 

8. What is your favorite thing(s) about creating? 
Glitter in my eyebrows!! 

Beautiful and perfect cards for mass production... I can feel the fresh air with these gorgeous, botanical and rustic creations!!! Thanks Kim for fluttering our crafty hearts and thanks to our friends too for the visit... Enjoy your weekend :) :) 

Wednesday 16 May 2012

mom

Woohoo!!! I was chosen as Featured Stamper at Color Throwdown #191 :) :) Such a thrilling news to start your day with,,,,
This multi-colored creation below was made using three distress inks.... Who can guess which colors?? Before distressing, I stamped and embossed the image... Then placed the ribbon, leaf die-cuts, flower, pearls and finished with chipboards.... Here you go:

This card is entering for:
Love to Create (Dies, Embossing, Flowers)

Wow, such a long list and may be more to add too!!! Thanks for browsing, sweetest day ever :)

Friday 11 May 2012

Inspired by... Ujjwal

Hi Friends and welcome to this times' Fascinating Friday Feature... It's Hussena here as are very proud to introduce to you a very talented and gifted cardmaker and scrapper- Ujjwal... If you have ever seen her work am sure you will agree with me that her work is always so Gorgeous!!! Her simplicity combined with the brilliant ideas makes her work so unique... And her stamping as well as paper piecing is so impressive that you cannot help but fall in love with them..... So without further ado lets get to know a little more about Ujjwal in her very own words :
Name: Ujjwal

1. Tell us a little about yourself 
I am a software engineer turned stay-at-home-mum-to-be who is an enthusiastic crafter and someone who's in love with all pretty things especially if its related to paper :)

2. When and how did you start cardmaking?
I have been crafting and making cards since I was in school but I hadn't come across all the fancy tools of the trade then. It was 2 years back that I started taking my hobby a little more seriously.

3. What inspires you to create? 
Inspiration comes in many forms. I am most motivated by the thought of seeing a priceless expression on a loved ones face when they receive a unique handmade product.

4.What is your favorite technique? Why? 
I love to stamp and explore different techniques associated with it. I think stamping is very versatile- a single stamp can be used in so many different ways and they are great for creating cards in bulk.   

5.Who are your favorite paper crafter's at this time ? Why ? 
I think there are a lot of very talented people out there who always manage to come up with something new and you are left thinking why didn't I think of that before. I love following Jennifer Mcguire, Shari Caroll and lots of other awesome crafters. They always have one or the other trick up their sleeve. 

6.Describe your style?
I have more of a Clean and Simple style when it comes to card making but then I also love to experiment at the same time with different styles and techniques.
 

7.Are you on any design team at this time?
Yes, I am working with a few product companies at the moment. One is Prickley Pear Stamps and the other is Pie Lane. I also a guest designer now and then for various other teams. 
 

8.What is your favorite thing's about creating?
Spending time creating is my special  "ME" time. I love the fact that I can just be on my own when I am creating and do something I love. It is also very liberating to be appreciated for what I create.





Such a fantastic line up of cards and other hand-made goodies!!! Ujjwal, how fun and happy are these little things :) :) I BET the recipients will be walking all day with a big smile on their faces, after receiving these!!!
Thanks folks for passing by.... "Great day ahead"

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Thanks a bunch

Hello there and happy Wednesday to you!!! I was having so much fun playing with the sketch in this card... Started with dry embossing then placed that white strip of stamped paper... Later I adhered the trims, stems and the image,,, Finished with sentiment and the pretty lilac butterfly.... Here it is:

This card is entering for:
Victorine Stamps
Little Miss Muffet 
crafts 4 eternity
Color Throwdown
Freshly Brewed

Thanks for the visit- see you soon!!!

Friday 4 May 2012

Thrilling News

Hello friends, been a couple of days absence from my little blog..after a long tiring week at work- I literally just took some time to wind down!!! 
So I'm here now to make a small announcement regarding a new addition to our sweet family. It's the joining of Rochelle Washington to the Fascinating Fridays Fabulous Team!!! Rochelle was featured here weeks back and is now a part of us :) :) Welcome dearie and wishing you all the best now and always....
See you soon with a new star and probably one of my cards' post before that- if I get time :(