Crafty Individuals Sponsor Spotlight No. 3

Welcome to the third and final 'Sponsor Spotlight' for January.

We are thrilled to have Crafty Individuals sponsoring the challenge this month.

As well as a fantastic range of original design rubber stamps they stock papers, masks, dies and a whole array of other crafting must haves.

I felt incredibly privileged to be given the opportunity to work with a couple of stamp sets and rather got carried away! My choice of stamp sets were;

Tall Wild Flowers

Two Scottish Thistles

There is so much detail in each of these designs so to me it was important that they really take centre stage on my cards. Once I'd got a design that worked it was easy to replicate it for each of the four images.

For each of the sets I created an initial 'masterboard' using white acrylic paint as a resist and three complimentary Distress Inks to add blended colour.

It was a great way to produce both the backgrounds for each card and the base for each stamped image.

The detail in each image is so fine and the Jet Black Archival ink made each one pop over the coloured base.

The addition of some clear heat embossing and a coordinating border helped to make sure they became real focal points.

The script style used for each image was echoed through the use of Tissue Tape strips, drawing the eye and adding to the balance of the composition.

Using Black Soot Distress Ink on the edges of each background helped to compliment the stamping but seemed a little too harsh on its own, so I drew on white border lines.

As well as the obvious fact that you get two images for the price of one in each set, I love these sets because they are suitable for a range of occasions, both joyous and those which need to be more subdued (and are often quite tricky to get right). That means you'll get even more use out of them, an important thing to think about when you are adding to your stash.

I hope you've enjoyed this final spotlight into the delights of Crafty Individuals products. 

You haven't got long now to enter Claudia's 'No more shopping sins' challenge - you could be picked as one of our Top 3, be our Top Talent and get to display your work here at Our Creative Corner, or even win a wonderful prize kindly donated by Crafty Individuals!

Looking forward to seeing your creations and hearing those confessions!

'Tic Tac Toe' Top Talent

           

Welcome back to another Top Talent spotlight at Our Creative Corner!

  
    This month we are shining the spotlight on the winner of the 'Steampunk Tic Tac Toe' Challenge that was hosted by Claudia.

     Our Creative Corner is so pleased to be welcoming Sam from Craftart who won the Tic Tac Toe challenge with her amazing Washi Balloon card.
     
     As usual, before we show you Sam's amazing creation - let's find out a little bit more about this very talented lady.......




 1.) Where do you live?

In the heart of the US heartland.  And I mean my house is really smack dab in the center!  I'm at the crossroads for North, South, East and West of this great country!  

2.) How long have you been crafting and what made you start crafting?

I've been crafting for as long as I can remember.  My parents and grandparents were all artistic and crafty, so it was something that I was surrounded by all my life.

3.) Describe a real life experience that inspired you artistically

Everyday life inspires me.  The mundane, the normal, the seemingly inconsequential.  The gentle flow of routine.  Everyday in the summer I have a hummingbird that visits my feeder.  This inspired my hummingbird card.

4.) If you could only use three craft supplies for the rest of your life, what would they be?  

Paper, paint and ink.

5.) What is the most useless item that you have purchased for your craft?

Ha!  My craft room is filled to the brim with treasures!  I never purchase anything "useless"!!  Seriously, I know this is going to come as a shock - but probably my color printer.  I thought I would use it to print lovely images, but I have never had the need.  Maybe someday in the future.  Who knows.

6.) Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just wing it? How long does it usually take you to make a project?

I usually wing it.  I have pre-sketched before, but that is rare.  I have some projects that take years, even decades to complete.  Other projects in just a few hours.  It all depends on the project and the complexity.  I'm relatively slow though.  I enjoy the journey, not the end product.  I realize this is very unusual.  I really craft for the process, not the result.  I don't know what to do with all the finished items that stack up in the corner and collect dust.  I'm open to suggestions!

7.) Are you a Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter person? Do you feel you create better in that season?

Oh no!  This is hard because this is really a dirty little secret of mine.  I love being outdoors and I live in a climate that experiences the extremes, so fall and spring are my favorite times of year when temperatures outside are mild …. but the secret is - I always wish for horrible weather, whatever the season.  That way, I'm "stuck" indoors in my craft room.  :) 

 Sam has created a really stunning showstopper for us today.......This box is so gorgeous!

         Thank you so much Sam for being here today in the Top Talent Spotlight and designing such a beautiful project for us. It has been such a pleasure to feature your work.

     If you want to see more photos and details of how it was made, then please go along to Sam's blog Craftart and say "Hello" - I am sure she would love to see you there!



                    Would you like to see your work here in the Our Creative Spotlight?

You could be here as our 'Top Talent' with the spotlight shining on something you have created! All you have to do is enter Claudia's