Saturday, March 1, 2008

Guest Designer: Paula Williamson

The three new Verve Visual sets are now available at the Verve Store!

Today I'm so excited to share some of the projects Paula Williamson created as our Honored Guest. If you recall, Paula was the winner of our Honored Guest Sketch Challenge, and she definitely did not disappoint! So sit back and relax while you check out her amazing projects, and learn a little bit more about this amazingly talented up-and-comer! To see bigger images and recipe information, just click the photos. :)

How did you get hooked on stamping? I got hooked on stamping when I went to my first Stampin' Up! workshop...way back in 2000. I went as a "friend" helping a relative who was just starting out in the business, and voila! I wanted to keep the catalog, so I booked a workshop. Case closed, I was hooked!

How often do you stamp? I used to stamp once a week. Since I started a blog back in November, I stamp almost every day. I am lucky that I have a husband who works crazy hours and an 18 year old daughter, at times they fend for themselves at dinner! LOL I have to admit that I am a tiny bit envious of stampers/scrapbookers who have all day to stamp, because I don't get to play until I get home from work.

Do you have your own stamping space or do you share it with the cat, dining room, coat closet, etc . ? Yeah!! I do have my own room & I do share it with my cat and dog! It isn't a large room, but I painted it a robins egg blue color and painted very large hibiscus flowers on the walls. Lately I have been fighting the urge to repaint. When I'm not in my "room", I usually have some design show on and I get a little tingly with ideas!

Do you stay true to a stamping budget, or are you swayed by all the enabling out in stampland? I have to say I take note of the enablers, but I don't rush out and buy some of the "toys" I am so lucky to have BFF's who let me use some of their "toys" and take them for a test drive. LOL This is such a huge industry and the temptation is definately there, but I do control myself with large ticket items...now paper & ribbon, that's another story!

What is the latest stamping toy you've picked up that just made your heart go pitter patter? Ok, that last question is kinda out the window, where this answer is concerned! I have been longing to own the Spellbinders Nestabilities for a year or so now. Where to start when you just want them all? For me, I was in my lss and the heavens opened up, and angels started singing...there they were. Nestabilities hanging in a row, ordered on accident by the store owner, and in my hands! No, I don't own them all, but I am slowly collecting them and just looking at them makes me smile. When I crank out that embossed piece of cardstock, I just marvel at the beauty of such a clean perfect cut. Does this make me an enabler too?

Name one stamp or stamp set that you don't think you'll ever part with. A quick answer would be an alphabet set, I use a Hero Arts set a lot! But...I have recently fallen in love with my Loads of Love set from Stampin" UP! I originally bought it to do Christmas cards a couple years ago, then I bought the accessories set to go along with it. I had so much fun making Valentine's with it this year.

What do you love most about papercrafting? Hands down, I love the variety! The variety of paper selections, and all the places I can glue or tape it to. Didn't I already say I love paper, and all the pretty colors it comes in! I love that the companies are making pads of paper in 6x6, thank you Basic Grey! I can own it all in a scaled down version and then buy my favorites in a larger sheet. I am such a crafty nerd!

What do you consider to be your stamping strengths? I went to school for art and I was taught about composition and color. I absolutely love everything about color, and how to make the whole project work together, like a balancing act. I know I have made things like cards, that I later looked at and wondered what I was thinking, but I chalk it up to learning. Usually when I have one of those moments, I pull the card apart...gently and re-use pieces into something I am happy with.

Who is your stamping hero (someone whose work inspires you to challenge yourself creatively)? Debbie Olson!! It has been almost one year since I looked at a card from her blog. I was blown away with her cards and followed her blog for a couple weeks. I pulled out some old friends from college, my Prismacolor pencils. They rubbed their eyes from years of being closed up in the darkness of a drawer, and then I introduced them to some Gamsol. From Debbie's blog I have admired so many other great designers and I am so thankful for having found her. Looking at all this creativity every day had made me be more creative. Thanks Debbie for all the inspiration!

Be sure to leave a little love here for Paula so we can give her a much-deserved swollen ego! :) And if you need more of a Paula fix, be sure to check out her awesome blog, paper possibilities. I'll be back on Monday with another very special Guest Designer. Have a great weekend!