Feature #111: May Park

Hello friends, it’s me Deepti and here I am with a fascinating artist on another Fascinating Friday. I got to know her when she visited my blog and left me a comment on some post… I visited her back and since then my visits to her blog have never ceased and nor has her amazing creations ceased to amaze me. Her style is CAS and fun, I love her creations… simple, bright  and stunning. So, let’s welcome her…

Name: May Sukyong Park

Blog: Mayholic in Crafts

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

Hello! My name is May Sukyong Park. I was born and brought up in South Korea. I’ve done my Bachelors in Sociology and Journalism in Seoul, Korea. I’ve been happily married to the most wonderful husband for 7 years, and we moved to California, USA in Sep 2009. Currently, we are settled in Los Angeles County, CA. I started blogging in June 2012, to share all that I create and to submit my creations into some card challenge blogs. A few months ago, my husband and I adopted two cats, and they bring so much joy and love to our sweet home.

2. How and when did you start crafting?

I had not enjoyed any arts and crafts until my friend showed me her amazing scrapbook album in May 2010. I honestly didn’t know there was a paper-crafting world before. A month later, I made my first scrapbook page when I went to the Crop Night at Michael’s. Then I started scrapbooking with the encouragement of my hubby, and slowly moved in to making cards. Crafting is my passion since then. Sometimes I’m surprised to see myself who is passionate about paper crafting. Because I had never thought of myself related to creativity back in Korea.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

I get inspired with everyday objects like household items, advertisements, graphic signs, fashionable outfits. I also have a few wonderful blogs I check out everyday to get some inspiration with new ideas. I’ve been a big craftgawker fan, and I find inspiration there as well. There are so many incredibly talented crafters out there to admire. Like many card-makers, I also draw a lot of inspiration from sketch and theme challenges.

4. How would you describe your style?

Mostly clean and simple! Here is why I stick to the CAS style. I discovered the Kristina Werner blog in June 2011, and she’s been my idol card maker since then. I had been following her card designs for practice for a year. I also try not to rely on stamps, patterned papers, and dies. That’s why I love to make my own embellishments as focal points. The creativity is the most important element in my card. I like to be as creative as possible on the cards that I make.

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

Aside from the true basics like stamps/inks/papers, these are my 5 top tools: white embossing powder, scoring board, glossy accents, precision tip scissors, and stamp positioner.

6. What’s your favorite technique?

One of my favorite techniques is heat embossing.

7. What are your go-to colors?

I’m definitely a red person. I love color pops of bright.

8. Do you sell your projects?

I don’t. I am such a slow card maker. I usually create my cards for fun, and most of my creations get given as gifts.

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

When I lived in Korea, I used to work with a franchise company and an online retailer for 5 years in sales departments. Back then I was kinda workaholic, since I had a passion for being a CEO in the future. But for now I’m a full heart and full time wife. Needless to say, my favorite hobby is card making. Other than paper crafting, I love making hair accessories, sewing, making mini albums, and repurposing projects. I also have a Korean blog which covers all my fun life in beautiful California.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

Yes, I design for the Catered Crop blog since April 2013. I absolutely love working with talented ladies on the team.

Wohooo, from workaholic to craftholic… I guess it’s always better to realize our passion just in time, I am glad that you got into crafts, coz you work wonders May. Thank you so much May for sharing with us. I am sure your creativity will be an inspiration for a lot of crafters like us.

Marie's Musings

Hello my sweet peeps!!! A new Friday with a new talent... its the jewellery designer Marie Papadopoulou. The sense of art reflects very well on her creations which make them always exceptional... Wanna know more about her?! Here we go...

Name: Marie Papadopoulou

Blog: baileyrosy

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I'm 53 years old , British and have been living in beautiful Thessaloniki for the past 24 years . I met my husband who is Greek in 1984 when we where both on holiday in Crete , it was love at first sight and a month later he moved to London to be with me and we were married two years later. We moved to Greece in 1989 were we opened a jewellery shop. We have two sons Alexis 22 who is an artist and Aris 18 who is a musician and plays in a band. We have two doglets Bailey and Rosy who have been known to eat several of my craft projects , in honour of the little terrors I named my blog after the little darlings baileyrosy.com.

2. How and when did you start crafting?
I started crafting in 2011 so am a bit of a newcomer really, I was on the internet one day looking for something totally unrelated and I came across the Silhouette cutting machine and I bought it on the spot! I had never made a card or any sort of paper project before in my life....I didn't even own an ink pad! The rest is history.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
We own a jewellery shop and both my husband and I are jewellery designers and have our own workshop were we produce our designs. We have about sixty independent designers from all over the world who also contribute so a lot of my inspiration comes from the beautiful objects I see around me in my working day. `I'm inspired by so many things , I'm especially inspired by other bloggers who are a constant source of wonderment to me and of course Pinterest another obsession!

4. How would you describe your style?
 I'm not really sure what my style is, I've tried most things but I keep coming back to CAS , although I do like to get messy from time to time.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?
I would have to say my gorgeous Cameo machine is my first love as many of my followers will testify ,my eBosser, scor pal, heat gun and my Fiskars stamping block, oh did I mention I love my Cameo!!

6. What’s your favorite technique?
Goodness they have all been favourites at some time or another, embossing both wet and dry especially on leather, fimo and felt were firm favourites for a long time and I do love using Glossy Accents but not sure that's a technique. I do however have a passion for making my own moulds so I can reproduce my own embellishments be it with fimo or UTEE and over the past few months I have gone Modge podge crazy and revamped my craft room door and several radiators in my house.

7. What are your go-to colors?
Although I love, love , love bright and bold colours black wins hands down for me every time, red and cream are also colours I use a lot.

8. Do you sell your projects?
I sell many of my cards in my shop but I also donate a fair amount to charity mainly for our local dog rescue centre.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
I work mornings at my shop, mainly window displays and of course helping our customers with their purchases . I don't design as much jewellery as I used mainly because I spend far too much time crafting ! I've had so many hobbies in my life, ceramics, dress making, cookery school, horse-riding and keeping fit I'm currently attending Pilates classes three times a week but none of them have ever lasted as long or been as costly as my crafting obsession.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?
I’v'e been lucky to be on some great design teams over the past few years but  I currently design for Addicted to CAS  (ATCAS) an amazing group of talented ladies and of course our wonderful leader Kylie who has been very supportive.

Pretty projects... how could anybody not love them?! Perfect inspired pieces and such impeccable designs too... Thank you Marie for sharing your creativity with us... We are really in need of this dose :) Take care friends!!

Featuring Barbara...

Hello friends, this is Deepti and I am here to introduce another amazingly talented, brilliant and fun crafter Barbara Murphy. You must have come across her fascinating creations through a lot of  challenge blogs for whom she designs and wondered how is she able to create such wonders every time…  Whenever I make a trip to her blog, I usually get stuck there. So, without further wait let me take you to her creative world

Name – Barbara Murphy

Blog: kinsale creations

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

I'm 38, single and owned by one very bossy cat, Rosie. My family is scattered across Canada, but we keep in touch regularly. I have a niece and nephew who also love card making...they sell theirs at a local farmer's market and have regular clientele now! 

2. How and when did you start crafting?

I started crafting in 2009 when I tried making my own Christmas cards with a friend. I was hooked!

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

If I'm creating a card with someone in mind, they usually inspire my design. The things they like, their personal style, the reason I'm making the card…

4. How would you describe your style?

CAS but sometimes I like to try dressing things up!

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

ScorBuddy, detail scissors, Copics, Cuttlebug (and dies) and ALL of my stamps ;)

6. What’s your favorite technique?

Coloring is my favorite technique. Copics, Prismacolor pencils...I love 'em all!

7. What are your go-to colors?

Hmmm... there are many color combos that grab my attention but my all-time fave would have to be red, white and baby blue.

8. Do you sell your projects?

No, I donate them to local charities who choose to distribute them or sell them for fundraising activities/auctions.

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

I work full-time in the telecommunications industry as a cable designer for copper and fiber optic circuits. Photography is another hobby of mine.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

I design for CAS on Sunday, Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, Little Tangles and The Alley Way Stamps.

Wasn’t this an amazing interview...even more interesting is to know that the design element exists both in her professional and creative life. Thank you so much Barbara 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 Blog. Enjoy!!

Darling Darnell ;)

Its already October, omg!! Though I would like time to move slowly yet I eagerly wait for Fridays to introduce you all to our masterminds in the crafting community... With great pleasure, would love to welcome the kind-hearted, talented and sweet Darnell:

Name: Darnell J Knauss
Blog: djkardkreations

I would like to thank Noor for the wonderful honor of being featured on Fascinating Fridays post!  Your past  honorees are extraordinary card makers and it is a thrill to be in their company!

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

I live in the Bay Area of northern California with Kevin, my very tolerant and supportive husband of 42 years.  We have a son, DDIL, and handsome, brilliant, funny, and identically twin grandsons, Adam and Henry, eight years old.
 

2. How and when did you start crafting? 

I've always loved art, doodling, drawing, and coloring.  I even did a little oil painting in the last century.  I started making cards in early 2002 after being invited to a Stampin' Up! party by a coworker. The addiction was immediate.  I made cards on a desk in the unfinished garage for ten years and then moved to my "Playhouse" three years ago when we landscaped the back yard.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration? 

In the old days I drew inspiration from stamping magazines, and other magazines like National Geographic and Sunset, and from my own photos.  Today, my inspiration comes from other card artists' awe-mazing blogs, challenge blogs, online classes, everyday products around me, and from my own photos.  Now when I walk through life, I find myself consciously aware of designs on products, clothing, etc.  Here is a card I made after pulling out an old Spirograph game to play with the twins:

On a personal note, I draw another kind of inspiration every day from the friendships I have made blogging in this outgoing, generous, and caring community!

4. How would you describe your style? 

Definitely clean and simple, what I like to call "CASlicious."  I often try to incorporate humor or whimsy into my cards.

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

Paper cutter, paper scorer, Tombow tape runner, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and Big Shot.

6. What’s your favorite technique?

I still love coloring my stamps with markers and then stamping the image, sometimes spritzing first for a watercolor effect.  I also love paper-piecing, which I just discovered a couple of years ago.  This is still one of my favorite cards and one of the very first cards I paper-pieced:

The "hair" is made from a bird feather.  This card still sits in my craft room and makes me smile every time I look at it!

A few months ago, I started what I consider to be a new technique.  I realized that I had a tremendous amount of stamps and other products that I call "NBUS" for "never-been-used stuff."  Because new stamps and paper and other products are put away when I get them (I'm clutterphobic), I often forgot about them, even as organized as I am!  So I started a personal NBUS movement and a number of my blogging friends have joined in.  Now I take a NBUS item and then go try and find a sketch, color, or theme challenge to incorporate my item, or just make a card using it without a challenge.  Making this NBUS technique an everyday part of both making my cards and blogging has really helped me use my fantastic goodies.
 

7. What are your go-to colors? 

Greens, aquas, lavenders.  The reason I love color challenges so much is because they force me to use colors I might not normally reach for, like orange.

8. Do you sell your projects?  
Not at present.  I used to sell in a small boutique.  (Occasionally a friend will commission a set of cards and insist on paying ;)

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

Wait.  What?  You mean crafters have time to do other things when they aren't crafting and blogging?!  I am a part-time legal assistant for a law firm representing school districts, but I'm happily retiring at the end of this year.  My other primary interests are confounding my husband, grandmothering, lunching with friends, and gardening.
 

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?  
No, although I do occasionally have the honor of  participating as a guest designer.

Here is another favorite card that I paper-pieced:

And here's a card that is an all-time favorite in terms of the thousands of views it has registered both on my blog and on my Pinterest board:

The funny thing is, I almost didn't post this card!  We are our own worst critics and we need to stop doing that and be kinder to ourselves! Thanks again, Noor!

Looking for,,,

Hello everybody, 

Hope all are doing pretty well... 

Got a small announcement for y'all... 

We're looking for a new member to join our sweet team of Fascinating Fridays!! 

If you're interested to become a part of us then feel free to mail me at artisan@paperiedesigns.com Great Day Ahead!!