Friday, June 13, 2008

Joyfully Inspired

Can I admit that I struggled at first with this inspiration challenge? The first couple of days I looked at the picture, I was more inspired to crawl into that gorgeous bed than I was try to create a card from it. But after a few days, inspiration finally came, first from the vertical rectangles of negative space between the bed's iron bars and second from the subtle play between the white sheets, the white walls, and the grayish shadows. Of course I had to pull in lots of that rich, bold red, along with a spash of yellow (my happy color).

Are you inspired to create something Vervalicious? Leave a comment on Shannan's June 9 post with a link to your project. [Edited to Add: You can view the inspiration piece and get all the challenge details -->HERE<--.] Deadline is noon Eastern Time, June 21st. We're choosing two winners: the first will be randomly drawn from all entries; the second will be our favorite from those entries that use Verve stamps. So if you have Verve stamps, you'll want to use them!! Both winners will receive $15 in Verve Bucks.

Have you enjoyed the fun questions the Verve Divas have been answering this week? Here are my answers (and yes, I'm the lucky one who gets to follow the Verve class clown. Someone's gotta go next ;).

1. When/how did you get hooked on stamping?
About six years ago, a scrapbooking pal of mine, Christie, came into our sons' Little Gym class waving a cute little card she had made at a Stampin' Up workshop. I couldn't get over the fact that she had made it herself, and I wanted to know all about these "stamps" she had used. I had always walked right past the rubber stamps in craft stores, thinking they were ridiculous. I mean, what's so creative about the same image over and over again? The following weekend I spent several hours at her house drooling over her catalog, completely amazed at the creative possibility. I'm still amazed six years later, in fact!

2. How often do you stamp?
I try to stamp every day - it keeps me in the creative mindset.

3. Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury.
I can't think of a stamping-related injury that I've had. Now my bank account is a different story. (Massive hemorrhage comes to mind. Chronic, too.)

4. How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with?
Usually 1-2 hours. Is that crazy? I'm a pretty slow designer, and tend to be a perfectionist, so it takes me a while to declare something finished. Honestly, I've given birth faster than I've made many of my cards.

5. I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space.
You know the saying "a place for everything and everything in its place"? I took a permanent detour halfway down that path and have never made it to the end. I actually like my creative chaos, though. The problem with clean and tidy is that I'd probably want to leave it that way.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, which craft tool could you not live without?
I'm glad Carole clarified yesterday that the island would, in fact, have the standard-issue supplies. In her words:

stuff like cardstock, patterned paper, inks, stamps, ribbon, scissors,
adhesives, paper trimmers, and Copic markers

Good, because I'm planning to offer up the Copic markers to the first passing sailor in exchange for passage back to the nearest English-speaking country. I hear they're worth it. Until then, I'll wait happily with my trusty little paper piercer.

7. What is your biggest source of inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere ... store displays, catalogs and magazines (especially clothing and home decor), print ads, product packaging, you name it. And of course I love to browse through the SCS galleries and stamping blogs.

8. Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why?
There are several, and pinch me, I'm on a design team with them!! And I must add the uber-talented Nichole Heady, Debbie Olson, and Beate Johns. But I don't really want to grow up -- I think I'm among the oldest around here already ;)

9. What is your favorite part of the creative process?
I love the whole process, but I have to say my favorite part is the sense of accomplishment I feel when a project is complete. In my non-stamping life, I always seem to be surrounded by works-in-progress, so it's nice to have this one arena where things get finished. Plus finishing one project always means moving on to another!

Are you still with me? Great! Tune in again on Monday for more of our Project Parade. Until then, have a great weekend!!