Thursday, February 28, 2013

Top Talent Thursday.



Welcome back to Our Creative Corner.
It is with utmost pleasure that I present to you this Thursday, a lady who appears to have special abilities in all forms of crafts, and to justify this statement just read the paragraph below....

“I love Scrapbooking, stamps and inks, I paint (watercolour, acrylic, glass, and mixed media) I love to draw, decoupage, crochet, knitting (though I prefer crochet), woodwork, pyrography, candle making, servietten technique, sewing (machine and hand) cross stitch, tapestry, latch hooking (is that the right verb?!), patchwork, pottery and cake decorating. I love making dolls house miniatures. I studied photography and still am passionate about it..”

Please welcome the ebullient but modest and this weeks Top Talent:
Laura- Laurart

I have been well informed that Laura loves the art of conversation, so this should make for some interesting reading!

1.)Where do you live?
I live in Hertfordshire with my wonderful husband, artistic daughter, musical son and a very moody cat.
2.)  Describe a real life experience that inspired you artistically.
It will sound very cliche but becoming a mother inspired me very much artistically. I have always loved art and crafts but didn't do much. When my daughter was about 6 months old I made my first mini scrapbook album about her. It was making that first album that really sparked my fascination for crafts. I loved it so much I began to make mini albums for family birthdays and Christmas. My interest then extended to many other crafts. As my daughter grew I began to teach her crafts as well (she made her first 8 x 8 scrapbook by herself when she was two years old and she was featured in a scrapbook company magazine) Her wonderful view of life, music, literature and art continues to inspire me.
3.)  If you could only use three craft supplies for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Distress inks - How I ever made anything before these I will never know. They have transformed my work totally.
   Serviettes - Because they are so versatile and I have a huge collection...with a bit of mod podge they can be used to decorate anything
    Balsa wood - Otherwise my dolls house is never going to be completed!!!
4.) CAS or layering? Why?
Layering - I have always been and always will be a layering person. My early card making and scrapbooking work were full of layered pieces of different texture card and papers that had been torn and chalked (pre DI days) edges. Layering has always appealed to me and I think it fits in with how my mind works - I never ever know when to stop! Sometimes I do have to remind myself that I am not building a tower here!
 5.) Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just wing it? How long does it usually take you to make a project?
I never pre-sketch tags, cards, ATC's and scrapbook pages. My preference is to just go with it and see what happens. For most craft things, to sit and plan takes too long - I'd be wasting vital crafting time! Having said that, for my larger projects like this shadow box, I do need to plan and sketch first because I can work out all the measurements - This was essential to making the box accurately. For this creation it really wasn't possible to wing it. Sketching a design has occasionally been an urgent matter too - While watching 'The devil wears Prada' I saw a scene where Meryl Streep is sitting by a gorgeous cabinet. Luckily I had pen and paper to hand and I sketched the quickest, roughest sketch ever of that piece of furniture in the few seconds I had left to get the details. I know, I could have hired/bought the film and watched it again - but I had to make that cabinet straight away! I am a 'do it now' person when the inspiration strikes! That cabinet is now one of my most treasured pieces of furniture that I have made for my dolls house!
Because I make so many different types of crafts, the time spent really varies. A tag can be done in under an hour...A few hours is average for most things but major creations can take weeks. The longest I have ever spent planning a project was a scrapbook album gift and that took about about three months to plan and the longest it has ever taken me to actually make something was a very large acrylic painting I did of Oaxaca Cathedral and that took me 6 weeks to complete.
6.) If you had a time machine, that worked only once, what point in the history or the future would you be most inspired to visit and why?
I adore the 1920's so I would definitely travel there. There are so many things to inspire me from this decade that it would be impossible to just state one. Although I am far from being a fashionista myself, I am interested in the history of fashion. 1920's fashion was such a dramatic change and also such a beautiful one. I love using those fashion images in my work as they really do represent elegance and glamour. It was also a fantastic era for film and I adore the silent movie stars and have always loved the films from that time. I really would love to have been a makeup artist on the set of those early films.....costumes, film stars, creating faces and cinematography - That would be my ideal time travel experience. It would be such an wonderful decade to see.....

And now sit back and enjoy her Shadow Box...



 
Thank you Laura for being our 'Thursday's Top Talent'  and sharing such wonderful inspiration with us!
If you want to see more and the details on construction visit Laura here;
http://laurabomber.blogspot.co.uk/

If you want the chance to be part of Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner, then just join in our current Challenge- “Create a Cake Creation” here, you still have some time to participate.

Smiles:)
Sue

"The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Gettin Sketchy Winner

Hi Everybody!  Paula here. I'm extremely happy we got so many wonderful cards, yay!  I think ya'll actually liked my sketch.  I went thru them all and it was very VERY hard to pick a winner... so very hard.  But after much thought & deliberation, I finally kept coming back to this one from Heather


It is just so bright & fun and it made me smile every single time I looked at it!

Heather, Here is your badge to wear proudly on your blog :)


Our lovely Top Talented Coordinator, Susan, will be in touch with you very soon to make arrangements for you to be spotlighted as our Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner.

Don't forget, there's still time to play along with my current challenge "It's My Birthday" which is a color combo challenge with a theme.  Please make sure you link back to us when posting your submissions!


Saturday, February 23, 2013

It's My Birthday

Welcome back one & all, if you're new here then welcome newbie! What great entries we had last week, hope to see everyone again this week! Paula here.... Each year for the past three years I have hosted a Murder Mystery Party for my birthday... it's great fun with all my local girlfriends & I dressing up in character and pretending for one evening to be people other than ourselves. The first year the "Murder" happened during Mardi Gras, last year it was in an old Mansion, this year it will be at a Super Hero Convention. Our decorations will all be Red, Blue & Yellow. So there it is, your task... Create a CAKE creation using Red, Blue & Yellow with layer upon layer


Meihsia Liu - Simply Paper Crafts

Liliana Inguanti- Stampin from Home

Sharon Wheet - Designs by Sharon

Lori Rider - The Diva Stamper

Irena Kowalczyk/Rudlis - love, life and crafts

Paula McClane - Scrap Addict's Attic

Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Top Talent Thursday.



Welcome back to Our Creative Corner.

Once again it is my utmost pleasure that I present to you, a lady who generates marvellous work. I feel so privileged to be able to present to you each week such talented people here on Top Talent Thursday.
I know they are all appreciated by you and Vada will be no exception.
So please welcome and congratulate our Guest and ‘Top Talent’ for this Thursday and winner of the “Decorative Edge” Challenge.
 I introduce:
vada-stampsinkandpaper.

Let us learn a little bit about her.
1.) Where do you live?
  Portage, Wisconsin

2.) What techniques or routine do you employ to inspire
yourself?
I don’t really have a (routine,) but I am a Technique Junkie
and have been for almost 10 years now.

3.) What colour do you hardly ever use?
Gee this is a hard question for me, as I enjoy the color
challenges, and try to use just about every color that relates
to the challenge.  But I think maybe (Purples) would be the
lesser one that I would use on a standard bases.

4.) Markers or chalk, and why?
Both, I love to color with just about any medium.  I have both
and now have Copic Markers and Distress Markers.

5.) What is the most useless item that you have purchased for
your craft?
I have to say, some of my (first punches), as I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.


This is Vada’s  beautiful card using  the ’Birds of a Feather‘ plate from Artistic Outpost.

Thank you Vada for being our 'Thursday's Top Talent'  and sharing such wonderful inspiration with us.
I would urge and encourage you to pop over and visit her Blog to see more of her commendable work.
http://vada-stampsinkandpaper.blogspot.co.

If you want the chance to be part of Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner, then just join in our current Challenge here you still have some time to participate.


Smiles:)
Sue.

"The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.






Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Party Like It's Mardi Gras Winner


Hello and welcome back again to Our Creative Corner and a sincere thank you to all who participated in the "Party Like It's Mardi Gras Challenge." It's Lisa here and the time has come to announce the winner and WOW did I ever enjoy all the festive colors, masks, layouts, card and projects. Everyone did such an amazing job and I felt like I was right down on Bourbon Street! You all did wonderful!! Unfortunately I could only choose one winner and that one is  ....drum roll please



Absolutely love the transformation of the black mask to really represent the shimmery colors of Mardi Gras as well as the beautiful feathers, the piece of an old earring and that terrific vintage pot holder! Not to mention the additional colors and embellishments that really brought the festive feel home!

Congratulations Mitra! Here is your badge to wear proudly on your blog. :)


Our lovely Top Talent Coordinator, Susan, will be in touch with you very soon to make arrangements for you to be spotlighted as our Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner.


Don't forget, there's still time to play along with Paula's current challenge "Gettin' Sketchy."
Please make sure you link back to us when posting your submissions.



Saturday, February 16, 2013

Gettin' Sketchy

Welcome back everyone who has played along with us before and a huge Welcome if you're new to our site! Paula here with my first ever sketch for you to try... that's right, I've never drawn up one before so this is a big experiment for me. I cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Feel free to place your sentiment where it works best for your creation. The sketch can be rotated and we need to be able to see all the elements from the original sketch, but used however you like.

Sharon Wheet - Designs by Sharon

Susan - scrumplescrunch

Paula - Scrap Addict's Attic

Meihsia Liu - Simply Paper Crafts

Lori Rider - The Diva Stamper

Liliana Inguanti - Stampin' From Home

Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie
Irena Kowalczyk/Rudlis - love, life and crafts





Thursday, February 14, 2013

Top Talent Thursday




Welcome back to Our Creative Corner.
Happy Valentines Day, and for those who celebrate, I hope you have received some love in the form of Chocolates or Flowers.
It is with utmost pleasure that I present to you this Thursday all the way from USA, a lady who has just started up a Blog and is a little apprehensive of moving into the unknown here at Top Talent Thursday.
When she was informed of her win for the “Shabby Chic” Challenge, I don’t think she quite believed it, but when you view her card you will understand why she was successful, as her work is just delightful.
So please welcome and encourage our Guest and ‘Top Talent’ this Valentines Day;
It is my pleasure that I introduce;

Steph- Perry Papercrafts.

Let us learn a little bit about her.
1.) Where do you live?
My husband and I live in Sherwood, Oregon, which is just south of Portland.  We are fortunate that most of our family is within a days travel in the Pacific Northwest.

2.) Do you enjoy 'stepping out' of your comfort zone? If so why?
I love learning new techniques, but I don't always feel brave enough to jump in on my own without something visual to go by.  I like best to attend a workshop or class, or using a step by step visual tutorial to learn and try something new.

3.) Do you work on more than one piece at a time?
I always have lots of ideas for projects rolling around in my head, but when I sit down to work on something I usually like to finish it before moving on to the next one.    

4.) Describe yourself in five words?
Friendly, optimistic, curious, affectionate, and totally addicted to stamping (can that count as one word??).
(Um ….No,I don’t think so but who cares!)

5.) What techniques or routine do you employ to inspire yourself?  
I have numerous blogs I view routinely to get inspiration, including Our Creative Corner.  I love the daily challenges at Splitcoast Stampers and try to view the latest trends at Moxie Fab World.  I'm not a trend follower, per se, I just like to see what is new.  Having been a card maker/paper crafter for just under 6 years, I have found a new appreciation for color and composition in a wide variety of formats where I never really noticed before...books, magazines, commercial web sites, etc.

6.) What other hobbies or talents do you have that you'd like to share with us?
Card making is my primary hobby but I have also dabbled in pencil, charcoal and colored pencil drawing.  I like to sit down with a good book (but haven't done so much recently - too many cards to make LOL) and enjoy spending time outdoors camping and hiking when the weather turns warmer and drier.
(Gosh I like a good book too.)



Thank you Steph for being our 'Thursday's Top Talent'  and sharing such wonderful inspiration with us!

Stephanie’s  Blog: www.stefperry.blogspot.com 

You can also view her gallery on- Splitcoast Stampers-dahlia19


If you want the chance to be part of Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner, then just join in our current Challenge "Party like it's Mardi-Gras"- here  you still have some time to participate.


Smiles:)
Sue.

"The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it."
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Make Mine Mushy Winner


Hello all you fabulous crafty people,
Welcome back again to Our Creative Corner and a sincere thank you to all who participated in the "Make Mine Mushy Challenge." It's Lisa here and the time has come to announce the winner and boy oh boy, was that a difficult task! Everyone did such an amazing job interpreting the sketch and I was overwhelmed with love and mushy stuff. You all are very inspiring. Unfortunately I could only choose one winner and that one is  ....drum roll please




Synnøve's card is filled with enchanting embellishments, colors, and that adorable little coffee cup!  I am a coffee addict, so I really love that sentiment too. :)
Congratulations Synnøve and feel free to add our Top Talent winner's badge to your blog.


Our lovely Top Talent Coordinator, Susan, will be in touch with you very soon to make arrangements for you to be spotlighted as our Top Talent Thursday on Our Creative Corner.


Don't forget, there's still time to play along with our current challenge "Party Like It's Mardi Gras."
Please make sure you link back to us when posting your submissions.


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Party Like It's Mardi Gras Challenge

Hello and happy Saturday!
We welcome you back to another challenge at Our Creative Corner and before I reveal  our newest challenge, we'd like to say thank you  for your fantastic entries you submitted last week for the Valentine Sketch Challenge.  Make sure you check back on Wednesday to see who the lucky winner is! Also, we had another amazing Top Talent Thursday post from the extremely talented winner Silke.

Okay, now on with the show...
It's Lisa here and I'll be your host again this week and I would like to challenge you all to
Party Like It's Mardi Gras! 
Create any project using the inspirational photo below. Please explain what about this image inspired your creation.

Now here are the brilliant works from our DT for your inspiration...





Meihsia Liu - Simply Paper Crafts

Lori Rider - The Diva Stamper

Liliana Inguanti- Stampin from Home

Paula McClane - Scrap Addict's Attic

Linda Coughlin - The Funkie Junkie
Irena Kowalczyk/Rudlis - love, life and crafts