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!!