Guest Designer Spotlight - Maria Gurnsey

Happy Wednesday, Verve Fans! I hope you enjoyed the release party and are anxious to ink up some new stamps!



Today I have some wonderful eye candy for you, brought to you by one of our November Guest Divas, Maria Gurnsey! I love what Maria has created, and I hope you do, too!



















The first project I'd like to show you is this awesome card Maria created using Ornamental Christmas. I love the colors she chose...they say warm, homey Christmas to me! The way she tied the ornament with silver cord is genius, and look at that perfect bow!!



We asked Maria our Verve-i-view questions, and here are some of her answers:



1. When/how did you get hooked on stamping?

I only started stamping in January of this year. We had recently moved and I stumbled across the blog of a local who was a Stampin Up demonstrator. From there I found SCS and all the other wonderful stamping blogs. I was hooked!!! I signed on as a demo in February and started my blog. So glad I did, the world of stamping is just so amazing!!!!



2. How often do you stamp?

I try to stamp everyday!! I find things flow better when I don’t let myself get rusty. Plus, I’m a challenge addict and so I try to squeeze in as many of my faves as possible.



3. Tell me about your funniest or most embarassing stamping related injury.

This is the question I always love to read about the guest diva’s!! It always makes me laugh especially since my craft room is not near as “dangerous” as other’s can be. I was always accident free, until I started working on my Verve samples. (I swear I didn’t even do it for the sake of this question). Twice working on my projects I cut my thumb with my scissors. Just stuck it right in there and cut it. The same thumb, side by side cuts. I complained for days (just ask my hubby!!)

The next project I have to show you is a card made with the Poinsettia Christmas set. I love every little detail on this card...the buttons in the flower centers, the offset polka dot paper, the ribbons, the eyelets, and the piercing. I told you I loved it!

Isn't that fabulous? And did yall see that Maria has only been stamping since JANUARY?? WOWEE!! What a rock star!



Here's more Q&A:



4. How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with?

It takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour plus. If I have an idea in mind it usually happens pretty quickly. Other times I second, and triple guess myself and wind up moving embellishments over and over. I think this is why I love sketch challenges so much. They take away a lot of the guess work.



5. I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space.

ORGANIZED, ORGANIZED, ORGANIZED!!!! I have to have everything in it’s place. It drives me crazy when things get messy. I try to clean up in between projects so I can start fresh. Sometimes when I’m on a roll I can let the mess go but then I have to clean up when I’m done. Clutter makes me crazy!!!!



6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what craft tool would you take with you? Why?

Probably my SU punches!! I hate cutting things out (so does my thumb)!!! I like how quick the punches make my projects go. In a perfect world, every stamp would have it’s own punch!!!!



Are you ready to see Maria's final Spotlight project? You better sit down...

This is totally drool-worthy! Maria created this awesome Christmas ornament using the Snowflake Splendor set. I love all the twinkle and the embellishments she chose. But the best part is...

It glows! Isn't that fantastic? See, I told ya you would drool. I totally fell out of my chair when Maria sent this to me...totally awesome!



Here are the last questions of Maria's Verve-i-View:



7. What is your biggest source of inspiration?

Blogs!! I have a huge list of blogs I try to check everyday. I sip my coffee and check out everyone elses wonderful creations. It starts me thinking creatively first thing in the morning and I have learned so much from my fellow bloggers!!



8. Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why?

Laurie Schmidlin and Julia Stainton!!! Laurie’s blog was one of my first blog finds that just made me say WOW!!! I couldn’t believe what she could do with paper.

I totally admire Julia’s simple, shabby style. I’m an all things vintage kind of girl and there styles never fail to blow me away!!!!



Julee and I are so grateful to have such awesome Guest Divas every month, and this month is no different! Maria created some awesome projects...just check them all out in her Verve Gallery HERE. You can also follow Maria's work and latest projects on her blog, Scraps by M. Join me in giving her a round of applause for rocking this release!



Make sure you check back tomorrow for another guest spotlight...2 more to go! Have a fabulous day!