Friday, 30 August 2013

Pamela's Perfection

Hello there crafty friends! This week your host is Tasnim bringing to the spotlight a VERY talented paper crafter.
I met her through our challenge submissions at Runway Inspired Challenge, and eventually we became team-mates on the same challenge blog. I was always very impressed by her unique and creative style. Her creations are sure to make a "wow" statement! Please join me to welcome Pamela Ho!
Name: Pamela Ho

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Vancouver, BC, Canada when I was a child.  I am currently a full-time accountant and part-time student.  I live with my parents and my brother, in which they are all very supportive of my hobby.  My father would sometime look out for crafty deals, my mother crafts with me while my brother asks for special custom cards.

2. How and when did you start crafting?
I've loved arts and crafts since I was little.  My mother taught me how to knit when I was in elementary school and I went to art classes in high school.  But it wasn't until October 2011 when I started stamping and card making.  It was Thanksgiving 2011 when I got together with my friends and made cards for a fundraiser at church.  The following Christmas, I started buying lots of stamps, ink pads and other crafty supplies.  Since then, I have picked up needle-felting, crochet and project-life/scrapbooking.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
Pinterest :)  And paper crafting magazines.

4. How would you describe your style?
Definitely clean and simple.  I've tried layers but the card turned into "clean & simple layers".

5. Tell us briefly about your design process.
I used to sketch out my ideas, but now, I don't really have a design process, which ends up wasting a lot of good cardstock.  If there's no specific project I'm working on, I would go through my stamps or pattern paper and see which ones I want to work with.  If there is a specific photo that I'm inspired by, then I try to stamp out the draft design on scrap paper.  There are times when my mom finds me sitting in front of my desk and staring off into space because I didn't know what to make.  

6. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?
Aside from my paper trimmer, score board and adhesives, my top 5 tools would be my Big Shot, Craft Knife, Cutter Bee Scissors, Copics, and Post It Notes.

7. What’s your favorite technique?
Masking!  Next would be fussy cutting.  Both of these techniques result in the greatest satisfaction!

8. What are your go-to colors?
Does white count?  I love using white cardstock but I don't find myself reaching for any specific colors more often than others.

9. Do you sell your projects?
I have sold some of my earlier cards in flower shops, to friends and within church for fundraising.  

10. What do you do when you are not crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
I work full time during weekdays and once I'm off, I'm studying and doing homework.  However, on my days off, I would be visiting other parts of Greater Vancouver as well as the States.  Other times, you would find me playing video games, playing tennis, hanging out in coffee shops or napping at home :)




Pamela, thank you very much for being here with us! and friends, did you see those cards? aren't they just amazing? To see more of her work, please visit her blog at miao • a design blog'

Friday, 23 August 2013

Barb's Beauty

Hey friends, we're back with Fascinating Fridays!!! Its Deepti here and I am glad to introduce you to the amazingly talented Barb Ghigliotty. There is a story as to how I found her… I used to see her entries in a lot many challenges but since she doesn’t have blog and me at that time did not have a Flickr Gallery, my curiosity to see her creations couldn’t be sufficed. So, I created my own Flickr Gallery and added her as my first contact :) I am glad that now I can access all her wonderful creativity. It was my chance to feature an artist this week and I thought there is no better platform than Fascinating Friday’s to know her better. I am sure you would love her creativity, so there we go…
Name - Barb Ghigliotty

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Deepti for featuring my cards in “Fascinating Fridays"! I live in New Jersey USA, and have been married to my best friend Mike, for 38 years! I have a Master’s degree in Nursing with a focus on high risk pregnancies. We have 2 grown children and a sweet granddaughter, age 7 (the light of my life), who lives in Florida. The only one left at home with us right now, is our fur-baby Movado who keeps us young with his unlimited energy and fun personality!

2. How and when did you start crafting?
I started crafting when I was old enough to pick up a pencil and crayons! As a child, I always enjoyed arts and crafts, and learned to crochet when I was 10 years old. In my 20's, I learned to macrame’ and besides making plant hangers, rugs and wall hangings, I enjoyed teaching my friends. I began scrapbooking when my granddaughter was born, but I find card making the most fun!  

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
Several months ago, I joined the Hero Arts Flickr Group, and I find a great deal of inspiration from all of the wonderful friends I’ve made there. I also love to play in challenges to push my creativity, and enjoy Online Card Classes!

4. How would you describe your style?
My style is definitely ‘Clean and Simple’, but I do love to learn techniques and try to implement them in my card making.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?
Any and all of my stamps and inks, as well as my Grand Calibur, T-Square Ruler and Heat Gun

6. What’s your favorite technique?
Coloring with my Copic markers (which I don’t do nearly as often as I would like).

7. What are your go-to colors?
I love aqua/teal (Hero Arts Soft Pool is my fave ink) and the color combination of pink with gray or black.

8. Do you sell your projects?
No, I give cards to my friends and family and donate the remainder to Operation Write Home.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
I am a Nurse Practitioner, but currently not working. Living in New Jersey affords me long walks with my hubby on our beautiful beaches.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?
I have never been a Design Team member, but I was a Guest Designer for the CASology Challenge Blog in May 2013.






Wow!!! It was wonderful to know so much more about you. Thank you so much Barb for sharing with us. I am sure you loved the few creations she shared with us and now my friends its time for you to get much more inspired by visiting her Gallery. Enjoy!!

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Holiday Cards

"Eid Mubarak" to my sisters and brothers in every continent of the world ❤ 
After a month of fasting, God has blessed us to celebrate for the good deeds that we have practiced and the evil that we abstained from... The actual purpose is to stay the same throughout our lives and spread the message of peace to mankind... Ameen
I personally loved these cards so much: the color combo, pop-up stickers, buttons, swirls, twine, flowers and definitely the patterned papers. Second one is in Arabic and says: Happy Eid



Stay tuned as we're getting back with Fascinating Fridays next week onwards...
Until then, be happy :)