Our Newest Member

Hi girls..

We're so excited to welcome the latest addition to our Fascinating Fridays family... woohoo!!

Its Deepti Malik who was featured few weeks back at this blog,,

Please do send in your warm welcome to our new team member

We hope that you will enjoy working with us and have an AMAZING time ;)

Hema's Love For Crafts

I can never imagine a weekend without Fascinating Fridays ;) And with these rocking stars every week, I just get so delighted!!! We're featuring a sweet lady who practices several forms of crafts... and trust me her creations are very charming!!! Who's she, lets get to introduce you to:
 

Name: Hemamalini Manikandan 

Blog: Love For Crafts

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family

Firstly, I want to extend my gratitude to Noor Nahdi for featuring my creations in Fascinating Fridays. I was born and brought up in Salem, India and now settled in the same place. I have done my Bachelors in Engineering and Masters in Business Administration and got married to a sweet loving Husband.  We recently entered our parenthood with our baby boy born on 12/12/12. Haaaa!!! It’s such a sweet little family with so much bonding of love. 

2.  How and when did you start crafting?

To tell frankly am into crafting only after my marriage. I have always wanted to do something in craft but I did not get the chance to then. After marriage we had to move to China as he was working for a company there. My first crafting started in China with a cross stitch which I made to gift my parents... They just fell in love with it. Realizing my talent, my friends and family encouraged me to choose this path and I've taken it very happily.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

I take this as an opportunity to thank all the craft bloggers. I get inspired with everything that draws my attention in their blog. Thanks to the internet and blogging world.

4. How would you describe your style?

My style is to do something different out of the box and am sure that this would take me to heights one day.

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

My top 5 tools are Quilling needle, Gum, Paint brush, Scissors, Stocking cloth and floral tape.

6. What’s your favorite technique?

I love three dimensional quilling... I enjoy doing it the most.

7. What are your go-to colors?

My go to colors are blue and pink. What a lovely combination they are !!!

8. Do you sell your projects?

Yes!!! I have started to sell my projects. Doing it on time is my biggest challenge having my baby boy too.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?

Other then crafting... Being a home maker and a care taker of my baby is my full time job.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

No. I’d really love to.. Until then am on the process of updating myself with everything that inspires me.

From clay modelling, to cross-stitching and then quilling, I don't think any word in the English dictionary can describe their beauty!! Simply superb and clean... Thank you Hema for being here and inspiring us today... And thanks friends for showing up!! Cheers

 

Congratulations

Hellooooo ladies!! Finally got back with card making but still on a very low pace ;( Also, business has been going down gradually which didn't motivate me to create more cards... However, this should not affect my mojo as card making is a true stress reliever after a long hectic week,,, Here am sharing an old card (new ones haven't been clicked yet)

I really love this color combo which was inspired from that pretty flower embellie... As you see, I trimmed triangles of different patterned papers then laid them accordingly.. Next, folded the edges with a pen to give this curled look... Lastly, popped the embossed sentiment and added pearls, butterfly and the flower...
Thanks to all for spending some tym here and see u tomorrow with a new star at Fascinating Fridays,,, Hmmm, cant wait till then :)

Mel's Marvelousness

Hello there fellow crafters! I am very excited to present to you today’s guest Artist! She is what I call a true crafter at heart. She makes amazing things with a great attention to the tiniest details. Hers was the very first craft related blog that I had discovered and I was mesmerized by her hand crafted projects. I am so happy that she is here with us sharing a bit about herself and her crafty life. Please help me welcome…Mel!

Name: Melissa Mccarthy

Blog: Mel Stampz

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

I live with my husband Charles & our cat 'Mouse' in Port Moody BC (near Vancouver Canada). We love reading, walking in the great outdoors, and are obsessed with growing organic edibles at the Community garden.

2. How and when did you start crafting?

The crafting bug bit me in a big way early on. It's been my activity of choice ever since I can remember. As a child, my Mom would let my brother & I play with her fine art supplies, but I really enjoyed making things out of egg cartons and other random tidbits. I was obsessed with sculpture and painting in High School and had hopes of going to art college. Instead, I majored in English and didn't start paper crafting until my best friend had scrapbooking parties and stamping parties in the late 90's. Then I was hooked for life!

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

Like so many crafters my inspiration comes from blogs and Pinterest. There are just so many incredibly talented crafters out there to admire. Lately, though, my favorite ideas have come from 'making do' with things. Trying to use what you have on hand or imagine a new use for something really seems to bring out your creativity. The old cliché 'necessity is the mother of invention' has always been a fave.

4. How would you describe your style?

If I had to use one phrase to sum up my style it would be "detail-crazed but wanna be C.A.S. My style used to be over the top (with so many details like hand-stitching or beading and so on  that a card would literally take days to make!) Now I'm learning to try and keep things more Clean And Simple.

5. Tell us briefly about your design process.

My design process usually starts with one element (most often a focal image or a technique-based background). Where I struggle most is with the layout of things on a card, so I usually move all the pieces around and take a reference photo when I think it might be looking okay. Then I procrastinate for a while & come back to it later :) In hindsight, my favourite projects have started as sketches, so I really need to practice planning that way more often.

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

1. Printer. The freedom of digital or hybrid crafting is addictive.

2. Heat gun & embossing powder. If I couldn't heat emboss stamps & digital things.

3. Embossing machine & digital die cutting machine. So many possibilities.

4. Fiskar's Precision trimmer. I've had it for a month or two & love it.

5. Scor-Pal & Scor-Mat (with a homemade piercing mat made of layers of fun foam.)

7. What’s your favorite technique?

Emboss Resist, beyond a doubt! An oldie but a goodie. The raised heat embossing lines help me colour or paint but stay in the lines & it feels like magic when the image shows up under the ink or paint.

8. What are your go-to colors?

I must confess: I have a problem with turquoise & grey. If I have to add another colour I go for green and if I'm really trying to break the turquoise addiction, I add something like red or coral.

9. What are your favorite manufacturers?

For Images: stamps from Hero Arts, Impression Obsession, and countless Digital Image companies. For inks & mediums: Tim Holtz Distress inks, stains, paints, Copic markers. For Gesso & gel mediums: Golden (which is very affordable at art supply stores that cater to students). For paper: Spicer's, my local Printer's Wholesale Shop where it's really affordable to buy Neenah classic crest to use in my Silhouette Cameo (easier on the blade).

10. What do you do when you are not crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?

When I'm not crafting, I'm a House Wife (otherwise known as laundry service, editor, personal assistant, barber, chief cook & bottle washer!) ;) My most obsessive craft-related hobby is creating and sharing digital papers and overlays for crafting. One day I dream of turning that addiction into a small business. 

Teddy BOY

Peace.. Was quite bewildered to hear of families that have a nanny for every single kid!! Are parents nowadays extremely busy to the extent they can't take care of their young ones, teach them or even chat with them... That's really terrifying and heartbreaking!! Sadly, we are so blown away by the materials surrounding us that we tend to run behind them and forget the value of happy family life.. I strongly believe its high time to re-organize our real priorities before we face the worst ;(

Simple card for a baby boy: Started with clear embossing the base kraft paper then layered with patterned papers.. Next, popped the oval die cut, added teddy bear sticker and a banner.. Finished with ribbon and a felt blue star...
Don't know why my bear is sad, probably his mom left him too =) Hugs and Kisses to all

Starring Deepti

Happy Friday!! We're here today to feature a multi-talented artist who enjoys cardmaking, painting, and sketching.. All pieces are purely handmade by her which make them even more captivating!! Will not let you wait for long- let's turn the spotlight on sweet Deepti....

Name: Deepti Malik

Blog: Dee's Art Utopia

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Firstly, I would like to thank Noor for picking up my creations for Fascinating Friday’s. It is really motivating ;)

And now about me - My name is Deepti, I am from India. I moved to Cleveland – Ohio, USA in October 2011 after getting married. I have done my Masters in Science and also MBA. Prior to coming to USA, I was working as Senior Program Manager (Academics) in a Management Institute. Currently, I am homemaker living with my dear husband Vikas. My parents and my in-laws live in India whom I miss a lot. 

2. How and when did you start crafting?

I have been into creativity right from my childhood, mostly involving school competitions and projects. However, with increasing pressure of studies and pursuing a career, my art was kind of left behind. Now that I am a homemaker, I get enough time to explore it =)

I mostly did charcoal sketching, acrylic painting and soft pastels but crafting began with creating cards at the time of New Year - 2013 for the family. Then I came across the Pinterest, followed by the Paper crafts magazine, followed by Moxie Fab World and finally to the beautiful world of creativity showcased by artists and crafters through their blogs… which led me to create  my own blog in January 2013 and since then I am hooked ;)  

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

I get inspired by everything around me, from snow covered winters to blooming flowers in spring, birds, animals and even everyday objects of use…

4. How would you describe your style?

I have no specific style per say but I do like to create clean and simple cards mostly based on a theme/ a sentiment or an expression that can be represented in someway on my card

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

I have very limited tools, but whatever I have are the best so far for me. The first is the Paper trimmer, crafting scissors, Exacto knife, glue stick and Cuttlebug

6. What’s your favorite technique?

My favorite technique… hmmm… actually I mostly hand draw the elements of my card, some of which you will see in the images of my creations. So I guess that’s my technique ;)

 

7. What are your go-to colors?

My go to colors are black and white… I definitely have these on my cards in some way or the other.

8. Do you sell your projects?

No, I don’t sell my projects yet. But soon I plan to open up my online store where I’ll sell my handmade cards, acrylic paintings and charcoal sketches by order

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?

I am a home maker. When I am not crafting… I am painting or sketching and when I'm not doing that either, I am taking care of household chores, cooking and spending time with my husband.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

No, I haven’t got the opportunity yet but I definitely look forward to that, till then I am enjoying and learning at every step and from all the artists around and I love creating these small pieces of art and expression =)

 

Ohhh, these are stinkin' cute!! Love the way you incorporate fun images, color combos and definitely the handmade sentiments... Thank you Deepti for entertaining us this week and ladies, you can also visit Dee's Artistic Strokes for creations with acrylic, pastels and charcoal.. Great weekend and stay safe!!

Jacqueline's Jewels

Hello!

Tasnim here, and this week we are featuring an amazing artist! She is super talented, and personally, I think all her work should be framed and preserved :) Her work with stamps and inks is unequal and she will impress you every single time. Let's hear it from

Jacqueline de Groot

1.     Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
My name is Jacqueline de Groot, born in England, married to a Dutch man and living in France with our four boys of 24, 22, 19 and 17. We were called to the French Mission Field 20 years ago to distribute Biblical Foundational Teaching to the Francophone world. I love nature and live in the beautiful South of France surrounded by vineyards. My blog is http://myscrapbasket.blogspot.com 

2. How and when did you start crafting?
I have been paper crafting for about six years, but I have always loved being creative since I was at school and loved art.
I have been creative in so many ways but stamping and playing with paper is my passion. I love what the Crafting world has to offer via blogs, Pinterest, Stamp galleries, etc.
The old-fashioned, expensive cards that were for sale in the French shops made me look for a way to make my own type of cards that I would love to send to family and friends.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
Good question! In different ways. Sometimes I look at a stamp or a combination of stamps and I see a card in my mind. I love Pinterest for design ideas. Sometimes one of my own designs gets revisited and I make it again using different elements and colors. The Flickr gallery of Hero Arts provides so much inspiration too! I get inspired by Nature, colors and just try to express my heart through my hands!

4. How would you describe your style?
I want my cards to be pretty and use earthy colors. Love the vintage style too. The Post Card Tag Art card with the half-stamped Starburst lace, white embossed with the butterfly is closest to my favorite style of card-making.

I also love using up scraps and making grid cards. This is one of my favorite grid cards which I make for home decor framing.

5. Tell us briefly about your design process.
I make a card and keep the design process in mind for a future card.

6. What’s your favorite technique?
My favorite technique has to be collage. I love layering of stamps and stamping on patterned paper. One of my favorite collage cards is this one:

I also love using distress inks and spraying with water direct to the stamp - the result is always different and effective

7. What are your go-to colors?
Love pinks, burgundy, all tones of brown and beige, provence/sage green and denim blue.

8. How much time do you spend crafting every week?
I work in the mornings so I love to spend some time in my craft room in the afternoon, every day! I don't always keep my priorities right as sometimes I realise the dishwasher is still full and its four in the afternoon! I am very passionate about crafting, it gives me an outlet to express myself.

9. Do you sell your projects?
Yes, not all of them, but I have sold a lot of my cards and Grid designs for Home Decor projects. In this way I raise money for Mission Projects supported by our Church. I have put the cards I can't part with in a treasure chest.

10. What do you do when you are not crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
As I said I work in the Office of Derek Prince Ministries France with my husband, one of my sons and a secretary. I pack in orders of books for the Francophone world and other administration work. We also support the local church with our Ministry. I also love cooking and photography.

Thank you Jacqueline for sharing your passion with us and these creations are just mind-blowing!!! Btw, you're the 91st  artist to be featured here and more inspiration is on the way =) Cheers

sending love your way

Hey friends!! Unfortunately, I'm working in a new hospital so you should be understanding all the difficulties that we confront everyday *sad face* Many doctors seem to be freshers with little or no experience or ones who should soon be forced to retire, pathetic... Was very baffled to hear that a nurse didn't know how to inject insulin, other tried many times to insert the drip but failed and a very self-centered nurse refused to change patient's gown for three days, excuse me are you a nurse?! Working in the healthcare industry is not as easy as people assume; it needs plenty of experience, patience and definitely professional ethics... If you can admit that you have none of them then at least act as a human and never put patient's life at risk!! Be humble and get well-trained, not just grab wages for being physically present on duty!!

This card is just full of vibrant colors!! After adhering the gorgeous pp, I layered it with Dear Lizzy Laser Cut Paper,, Then placed the sentiment on transparent sheet, added some butterflies and a pearly swirl... Thanks for swinging by and see you next tym at Fascinating Fridays post, mwah