LOVEly post,,

The reason I'm posting today is because I have some SUPER DUPER exciting news!! Well, for me it is anyways ;) Throughout the month of July, I'll be the lucky Guest Designer at Pretty Paper Studio... Though it is comparatively a new business venture; I can see it growing much more faster than everyone... Big thanks to its very own dedicated owner, Nielouphar Abdurahiman, who has put every effort in blooming this small business and definitely for spotting me as their guest designer :) :)

I've seriously enjoyed playing with this very versatile kit where plenty of ideas ooze all at a time!! From envelopes, cardstock, patterned papers to embellies, stickers and stamps- the complete kit is just a perfect selection of beautifully coordinating elements :) :) Wanna see my crafty creations from this kit, here they are: 

 

Stunning products, aren't they?? And my sister couldn't resist the second card so she grabbed it for her hubby :) Hope he likes it too!! He was so amazed and strongly encouraged me to open my own gallery!!! Friends, this kit is a wonderful ingredient to create projects for the loved ones in your life,,, So hurry up and get one to delight their warm hearts with Pretty Paper Studio!!!
Until next post, happy crafting :) :)

Stephanie's Stunners

It's a new Friday with a new shining star to spotlight on... Stephanie "Steph" Castro has a style that is elegant, classic and timeless.  Her blog is filled with inspiration that carries you to a place of peace and calm.  Stephanie's personality is equally as calming.  She is a joy to know and a joy to follow.  Just read her interview and you'll OVERstand why she's our feature for today!

Name: Stephanie Castro

Blog: Where'd All My Money Go?!

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

I’m a 30 something professional, working mom and girlfriend living a blessed life in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area.  I have been the Logistics Manager for a Hispanic snack food company for the last 10 years and love every minute of the craziness.  My daughter, Sydney, will be 16 this fall, and is the joy of my life.  I love 80’s music, Bath & Body works, Dr. Pepper and am a huge sports fan.  If I’m not working, I’m doing something fun with my two favorite people, or creating something.  What could be better? *happy sigh*       

2. When and how did you start paper crafting? 

In 2004 a neighbor of mine in Colorado invited me to a “crop”.  It was all Creative Memories people at the time, but I didn’t know anything else was available then, and I was hooked.  I dove into scrapbooking and never looked back.  Once I was introduced to stamping, and card making about four years later, that became more my passion and I tend to focus on that more nowadays. 

3. What inspires you to create?  

Gosh, everything!  You can find inspiration everywhere you look these days.  My daughter is definitely one of my inspirations for scrapbooking, but I love challenge sites, and Pinterest (of course).  A lot of what I create comes from things I find on a daily basis though.  I’m constantly making notes in my planner of things I find, or see, and want to try to incorporate in my cards or projects. 

 

4. What is your favorite technique? Why?  

Dry embossing.  I emboss something on almost every project.  I love the different textures, and its always fun to distress or ink the embossing for different looks as well.

5. Who are your favorite papercrafters at the time? Why?  

There are several designers that I like, but to say I have a favorite might be a stretch.  Three of the papercrafters I visit the most are Candace Pierce (http://creativelycandace.blogspot.com), Rochelle Washington (http://twotearsinmybucket.blogspot.com), and Sparkle Smith (http://sparklecreations.blogspot.com).  Each has a unique style, with clean lines, lots of detail,  and always leave me with the urge to create something every time I visit their blogs.  

6. Describe your style.  

This is difficult for me, as I’m not sure I have a style.  Someone once called it clean an elegant. 

7. Are you on any design teams at the time? Have you been published in any magazines?  

Although I’ve never been published, I’m hoping to accomplish that goal eventually.  I am currently on the design teams for For Your Inspiration, Christmas Card Challenges, Papercraft Star and Unscripted Sketches. 

8. What is your favorite thing(s) about creating?  

My absolute favorite thing about creating is the look on the persons face, or the joy that they express, when they receive one of my projects.  It’s why I do it.

Truly your style is clean and very elegant, Stephanie!!! Love the beautiful simplicity and perfect finishing :) Thank you dearie for helping our creative juices flow smoothly...
And thanks to the most wonderful audience of Fascinating Fridays ♥ ♥ ♥ Will be going for a month break hoping to see you again in September... Mwah to all

Indira's Inspiration...

Hi Friends,

Our  featured artist of this week is a very versatile  and beautiful crafter, who loves to recycle things and when you go through her blog you will simply be blown away with her ideas and recycling skill.. She has such an absolute knack of taking everyday mundane things and turning them into works of art!!! So if you are wondering who am I talking about then let me introduce to you Indira Tanwar and here's what she has to say about her work and passion for crafting : 

Name: Indira Tanwar

Blog: Arty Sorts

 

1. Tell us a little about yourself ?

Hi. I am a KM professional working in an IT MNC. I live in Mumbai with my husband. We recently
celebrated our 4th anniversary. My dad was in the Indian Army and I was privileged to travel across the length and breadth of the country. I did my schooling from 7 different schools in India. After completing MBA, I landed a job in Mumbai and am settled here since last 7 years now.
I have been crafting since childhood and my source of inspiration is my mom. I used to watch her paint, stitch, do flower arrangements, sugar-craft and what not! I love all sorts of crafts and like to try my hands at new techniques.

2. When and how did you start cardmaking?
I used to make cards ever since I was a kid. My favorite shape was a circular card. I used to make cards for my parents, relatives and friends. I also loved collecting cards which were sent to us on various occasions.

3. What inspires you to create?
I get inspired by anything and everything. The other day I got a forward email to tie shoe laces in different ways, and I got thinking how to use that technique in my cards. So whatever I see around, I find some inspiration in it.

4. What is your favorite technique? Why?
I love Quilling. You add just one quilled element in your card and highlight it appropriately, and is sure to gather appreciation. But I also like to dabble in various other techniques as well.

5. Who are your favorite paper crafters at this time? Why?
Its hard to pick one name. I like various artists for their distinct style.

6. Describe your style?
I would say it is simple and clean. I also use a lot of recycled stuff in my projects. And yeah sometimes I do make elaborate stuff too, with lots of embellies.

7. Are you on any design team at this time? Have you been published on any magazine or online journal?
Currently I am Guest Designing for Pie Lane. My work was recently published in a local newspaper here in Mumbai on World Environment Day for making use of recycled stuff in my projects.

8.What is your favorite thing about creating?
It gives me a liberating feeling. I am in a world of my own when I am creating something. The kind of satisfaction I get after I "create" something, be it a small piece of embellishment or a big project, is truly amazing. I am so glad to be doing what I like most. 

Aren't these cards just beautiful!!! Indira has recycled a  magazine page to make her second pink card... isn't that amazing!! Besides recycling, Indira also does beautiful Quilling.. her work is so neat and her color combinations always are very lovely!! Her work has been inspiring all crafters/bloggers for quite some time now. So please don't forget leave some love for our today's guest at her blog :) And thank you so much Indira for sharing a little bit about you and your work :)

Joan's Journey

Joan a.k.a. "Sassy" may have a fiesty nickname, but, she is a very humble and sweet lady.  She has a true passion for paper crafting and that is evident every time she posts a new project on her blog!  She chooses happiness on a daily basis and shares that happiness with the world.  As you read her interview, you'll realize why Sassy and her designs are so sweet!

Name: Joan Olk

Blog: Sassy Moments

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am "Sassy" a "young-at-heart" 56-year old, married, with two grown children (31 and 27).  Married to Jason for the last seven years we are the parents to Sassy, a peke-a-poo, along with two cats, Nicki and Indy.  We make our home in Maple Grove, Minnesota (not to be confused with Walnut Grove and Little House on the Prairie).  Born and raised here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I have never tried lutefisk, love the serenade of loons at the lake, and the North Shore is my favorite place to vacation.  In addition to paper crafts, I enjoy crocheting, fishing, board/video games, and reality television.  I choose happiness each day from the moment I wake up.  Sparkle, priceless and believe are my favorite words.  Beets, brats, and beer are food and drink I avoid and it is only by chance they all begin with a "b".  

2. When and how did you start cardmaking?

Honestly?  I think I stumbled upon it.  Back in 2002, after the death of my Dad, I made a scrapbook of his life x 11 copies!  For several years that followed, I belonged to scrapbooking groups on Yahoo and MSN, hosting and participating in scrapbook-related swaps.  After making many scrapbooks as gifts and some for hire, when moving I retired all my supplies to moving boxes for several years.  A co-worker was a SU Demo and after attending a couple of card making events at her home, I slowly tried it.

3. What inspires you to create? 

New products, color, and blogs.  New products as I just want to dibble dabble in this and that and try it.  Bright vivid colors, seasonal colors, any colors!  Currently, I subbed to over 400 blogs at last count and from them all I find so much I love.

4. What is your favorite technique?  Why?

Hmmmm…. Messy, I suppose, is not a technique?  Recently, I discovered a new love of using stencils, masking, and misting.  It adds great texture and as much pop of color as you like.  Distressing and inking are probably what I use the most.

5. Who are your favorite papercrafters at the time?  Why?

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer – I never miss her daily blog.  What an inspiration!  Love her stencils, tutorials and how she uses mixed media in everything!

Teresa Collins – Her paper lines are gorgeous!  So much so that I own them, look at them, just can’t bring myself to cut them.  Someday I will.  But for now, hoarding is the only option.

Claudine Hellmuth – The first word that comes to mind is happy - love her whimsical stamps sets and all her products!

Christy Tomlinson – We began paper crafting about the same time although she is a bit bigger than I am at this time.  HaHa!  I have loved her since beginning with Chatterbox.  She does it all!

6. Describe your style.

It is easier for me to tell you what I am not… and that is CAS.  I struggle so with CAS, always wanting to add one more of mist, layer, embellishment, more ribbon, ink, etc.  White space must bother me.

Let’s call my style… mish mash.  Whatever comes to mind is the creative route I take.  I am not much of a planner and what I end up with is usually a surprise.  In addition, if I don’t like the result, I toss it aside hoping to recycle some of its elements and I begin again.

7. Are you on any design teams at the time?  Have you been published in any magazines?

Yes, two:

The Perfect Sentiment

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday team

No, I have never been published.

8.What is your favorite thing(s) about creating?

OOOO…. Lots of things come to mind… the joy of completing a project I am happy with, giving a creation as a gift to someone that can appreciate all involved in bringing it all together, sharing my creation with others and receiving comments and constructive criticism.

Such bright and colorful projects!!! They're surely radiating so much happiness :) Thanks Joan for fluttering our crafty hearts and spending some time with us!!!
If you wanna get more inspiration then visit our featured star's blog now... Thanks for passing by and have a fun-tastic Friday!!

Pritesh's Paper Projects

Hi Friends,

Today's crafter in spotlight is truly a very special person and quite popular in the quilling community for her gorgeous work and her detailed tutorials on every new quilling technique that's been introduced, she is a scientist who has taken a break from her job so she could indulge in  her love for crafting  and we at Paperie Designs' Studio are very happy to introduce this very creative quiller /crafter  Pritesh Dagur of the blog "Quilling Me Softly" and if you would like to get to know her a little better here's what she has to say about herself :

Name: Pritesh Dagur

Blog: Quilling Me Softly

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I come from a family of 6, a super-techno-savvy brother, an amazing cook sister and another sister with a sense of humour to die for. My mom truly is the backbone of the family, who has passed on bits of super-talent genes to all of us. She is an awesome singer, cook, crafts person.........you name it, she does it. Married into a Tamil Brahmin family, I have an almost 2 yr old son, around whom my life literally weaves itself. Having a super-supportive husband and in-laws is what has brought me where I am today, as a craftsperson and as a human being.

2. How and when did you start Quilling?
I was initiated into quilling by my sister, whose Boss' wife did it. I was in the middle of maternal leave and with my son becoming a little independent, I had a little time on hands. I tried it with a broken needle and some hand-cut strips and my first attempt was a disaster to say the least. But my sister encouraged me. This is August end, 2011. By September, I was able to manage reasonably and my close friend, Deepa Bharti, put her faith in me. She ordered a quilling chess set and in spite of a job and plenty of apprehensions, I took it up. I managed to finish it (I still feel I did a terrible job of it but she loved it) well in time for her anniversary. In October 2011, I bought my first proper quilling tool. So, here I am, a quiller only 9 months old :)

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
I read a great deal on the Internet about quilling and the people whose art really inspired me are Suzana Ilic and Inna Dorman. Suzana's distinct style with very unusual themes and Inna's perfect execution of the most intricate designs was like a beacon in the dark, I was groping it. Slowly, I think I started improving and have developed a style of my own.

4. How would you describe your quilling style?
Ummm........that is a little hard to say. I try to dabble in all styles of quilling but over all, I think I am more of a realist quiller, akin to realism in painting. I lay a lot of emphasis on emulation of real life objects, as much as I can. Some things might be impressionist, but by and large, I'd describe myself as a realist quiller.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?
That's a tough question! I'm a too junkie and I looooove to collect the best there is in craft tools. I'll try to put together a list of 5 (and trust me, it IS hard to do): My Panduro Quilling Tool, Clas Ohlson high-precision craft knife, Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page punch, Quilled Creations fine-tip scissors and last, but SURELY not the least, Ryman MA4 manual shredder.

6. What’s your favorite technique?
I think I can safely say Beehive. I use it all the time, in all my projects, in a whole lot of ways. I have Mariah Indah Susanti to thank for coming up with that and making my quilling perspective a lot wider.
 
7. What are your go-to colors?
If I was to choose, Red, Black and Gold. I rely on this combination whenever my brain struggles for colour combinations that work well! This one ALWAYS works :)

8. Do you sell your projects? What do you do with them?
I work mostly on ordered projects (hence a distinct lack of cards in my work), ordered by a host of people for different reasons and occasions. Since they are ordered, I sell them, yes. I do my pet projects too, every once in a while (though not as often as I'd like to).

9.What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
Ever since I quit my scientist job and became a crafter full time, I don't really do much besides crafting and spending time with family. I'm an artist 24x7. My brain never stops designing! Hehehe. But ya, I love to sing, bake and read whenever I find time. I love reading......

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?
No, I am not a designer on any blog as of now. It's a work I'd have taken very seriously and I didn't want any commitments when I moved from Stockholm. Now that I am in India, I may consider it. If a good proposal comes my way, I will sure give it a very serious thought.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity and I wish Art would carve for itself the space it deserves in our lives. Good Luck to all crafters and thank you all, for your love, inspiration and encouragement.

Wow, didn't i tell you her work is simply gorgeous!!! Her quilling is always so neat and beautifully done and her design sensibilities are truly unique..she seems to enjoy tackling larger than life intricate projects and also loves to share her techniques with all the newbies quillers out there...Thank you Pritesh for letting us get to know a little bit more about you and your creative work. You are truly an inspiration to all the crafters out there :):)