I love this ride … my personal rubber stamping & paper crafting ride!  Just sayin’ … …

Indeed, my stamping journey has blessed me in many unexpected ways.  Right up at the top of that list are the friendships that I have as a result of my love for this hobby-turned-business.  My dear friend, Lydia Fiedler, nominated me to participate in this Creative Blog Hop, which features Stampin’ Up! projects by an ongoing list of SU demos & friends.  Big squishy thanks & {{{hugggsss}}} to you, Lydia!
 

1. What are you working on?  My paper crafting has slowed recently … and I’m tickled to say that I have officially finished my Christmas shopping!  I know.  What’s the big deal?  Lots of peeps have finished!  Well … this is an absolute FIRST for this girl to be done before closing out the first full week of December.  Did I manage the same before having children?  Possibly, but I doubt it.   So, Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?   Hmmmmmm …  Perhaps each of us has a slightly different perception of our own work as compared to how others view it.  Overall, I see myself as a ‘variable’ in the stylistic world of stamping.  I have creations in my repertoire that are multi-layered to the max, but not today.  I have previously been such a fan of coloring that I was bored with items without line art.  I’d love to become easily fluid in clean & simple styling … but I’ll continue to work on it.  So, I add a couple of layers and often resort to what might be termed ‘traditional’.  That’s possibly my comfort zone, but I’m also a creature of exploration at times, and I just never know when I’ll break out and dabble in a new-to-me technique.  When the mood strikes … give it a try!
3.  Why do you create what you do?   Why??  Because since being introduced to stamping several years ago by my then college student daughter, I’ve discovered my favorite type of creativity.  It’s that simple.  Stamping, creating with paper, inks, & embellishments brings a joy to me that is very satisfying.  I’ve sampled many crafting methods over my entire life.  I even have one of my first loomed-loops pot holders.  Perhaps carefully sun-baked mud pies were my beginning, but they didn’t “keep” very well.    And I’m pretty sure I was a Master of Mud Pies.    Papers, inks, and stamps make me smile … inside and out.
4. How does your creativity process work?    I’m influenced by so many things!  Nature, color, adjoining designs, pinterest!, fabrics, the countless stamped projects I’ve seen and loved over the years … These are all a part of my process.  I usually go to my stampin’ table with an idea of what I want to create … but I may or may not have the design set firmly in mind.  Perhaps I need to ponder colors.  I often start with a stamp set … but as I play with color ideas or design elements, so many things can change as I bring new inks or papers or embellishments to the table.  Alas, I’m often an “explosion” stamper, in that I gather & bring so many items to my stampin’ zone that the table looks positively crowded or packed with a plethora of creative supplies by the time I’m actually ready to photograph the finished project.  …sigh…  Oh how I hope I’m not alone in this!   LOL

Now for the fun part!  I get to share my nominations for the next two Creative Blog Hop players for ‘next’ Monday, December 15!

Hallie G.!   Have you ever watched someone’s work online and then had the delightful opportunity to meet that creative soul in person?  Well, Hallie Gainer has inspired me for a nice long time.  I was lucky enough to be on the same Creative Crew at SCS with her too.  But for a long time, I didn’t even realize that she lives in Texas.  Yep!  She’s a fellow Texas gal with a smile as big & bright as her delightful personality.  And when I heard a voice calling, “Bev!”, in the line at Starbucks during Convention last July, I couldn’t believe it was her … right there and in person!  Yeeeehaaaaaaaw!!  You’re going to love Hallie’s ways with SU’s paper, stamps, + inks just as much as I do.

smithr66 !   I’m still waiting and hoping … I can be very patient, so I’m not worried.  Next week you will clearly see why I’m so inspired by Nancy Smith‘s creative talents!  Need an inspirational nudge on a slow mojo day?  I have no doubt that you, too, will soon be a following fan of hers.  So ‘why’ am I still waiting?  Well, surely there will be a time when I find myself meeting Ms. Nancy in person … even though that hasn’t happened just yet.  And yes, the Splitcoaststampers Creative Crew galleries are blessed with Nancy’s challenge creations.  I know you’ll be tickled to see how she becomes an inspiration for you as she has for me!

Thanks a bunch for having visited here today!  It’s a pleasure to share with y’all!
Inky (((hugs))),

 ~
~
~