Hello All! Today I get to shine our little Verve spotlight on Guest Diva Mercy Kerin.
An awesome cardmaker and a fabulous sketch artist, I've been a fan of Mercy's for quite some time. Her cards are always detailed, colorful and have the coolest layouts. I was overjoyed when she agreed to be a guest designer for us this month, and she definitely did NOT disappoint! If you haven't been checking out her projects the last week or so, you're in for a real treat.
Before I get to Mercy's VERVE-iview, I'll start things off with this adorable girly girl card using the new Express Yourself set. I just love the flirty bold pink & black combo and the very interesting circle frame. Such a beautiful card!
When/how did you get hooked on stamping? I was introduced to stamping in 2004 when I attended a 24-hour crop at a local church. The hostess had arranged for a demonstrator to come and show us how to use stamping in our scrapbook layouts. Until then I was strictly a scrapbooker, but once I had made a card I WAS HOOKED! I am so many years behind in my scrapbooking now! :)
How often do you stamp? I try to stamp at least once a day, but with a hard-working husband, two teenage boys, two dogs, and one cat it can get crazy quick at the Kerin house! LOL! I like to stamp at least every other day...I sure do miss it when I don't get a chance to do it.
What's your favorite embellishment or finishing detail? It's definitely a tie for my favorite embellishment... ribbon and/or buttons (for now), but my favorite finishing touch would be piercing...LOVE IT!
I love this card Mercy made with the quirky little teapot from A Cup of Life. Her color choices and embellishments really give this teapot personality.
How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with? It really depends. There are some days that I can crank out several cards in a matter of a couple of hours, then there are days that it takes the majority of the day to complete one card that I am happy with.
Tell me about your creative space. I am totally OCD when it comes to organization and accessibility. I like to have everything within an arm's length when I am creating, so I have a compact and well-organized workspace...I always tell my friends that I have a label maker, and I'm not afraid to use it! LOL! I am a pretty messy stamper in the process of creating, but I like to clean up and re-organize between cards/projects...that's just how I roll! :)
What is your usual starting point for a project? As of late, I really like having a sketch to go by. I use Photoshop to resize them to exact card size, print them off, and then take exact measurements for each layer...I told you that I was OCD! I can always work in a color challenge, stamp set, inspiration, or embellishments with a sketch as they are needed.
What is your biggest source of inspiration? I love SCS, but I find that I am spending more time at sketch and other challenge blogs/threads. I also love cardmaking magazines!
Who in the crafting world do you most admire and why? Honestly, there are so many wonderful ladies out there that have touched my life at one time or another, so it isn't really fair to pick only one. There are some that I adore simply for their creativity, but then there are others that have been kind and encouraging when they didn't have to be. But if you are going to make me choose one....then it would have to be the-one-and-only Shannan Teubner! She has been such a wonderful and funny friend!
What is your favorite set from this release? I love them all, but if I had to pick one favorite, it would have to be Enjoy. I love the fact that you can create either a gorgeous flower or stunning butterfly with it. It is such an elegant and versatile set...I love using it!
So, you see what I mean? Beautiful designs and a fresh take on colors -- every one of Mercy's creations just captures your eye. I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about this fabulous stamper as much as I have! Mercy's been crafting up a storm lately with her new Verve, so be sure to check out her blog for her newest creations as well as her Tuesday Sketch Challenge. Thanks for stopping by!
