August 25, 2014 UNIQUE BLOG HOP

Today's blog post is a UNIQUE BLOG HOP that I was invited to take part in by a fellow AMuse demonstrator, Angel Company demonstrator, friend and a very creative stamper - Chris Franco - you will find her here at Stamped Blessings .  She is an inspiration for me to try new techniques and often has great tutorials.  I will be sharing some things that a lot of you might not know about me.

                               1.  WHAT AM I WORKING ON.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new AMuse catalog - especially these Pretty Peonies, and the new Fiesta Papers that come in a 6 x 6 pad.  New yummy inks to go with the new paper as well as new color card stock.  and...no fussy cutting these pretty flowers and leaves - there is matching dies.  How easy can this be to create a beautiful card when it all matches.  Now a tool that I could not live without is my stamp positioner - why you ask???  Well I use my dies and run them through  my cuttlebug machine just using white cardstock.  Then using the clear plastic that comes with the stamp positioner I stamp my image then with some re-positional adhesive I put my plain white cut image on some scrap paper, line my clear plastic image that I have stamped on the white cardstock remove the plastic and PERFECTION.

     2.  HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS

I am not really sure if I have a style - and if I do it changes often!!  I like cute, pretty, shimmer, glitter, and CAS (although this one is a challenge for me as I always think it needs more).  I love to blurf (surf stamping blogs) and get a lot of ideas and inspiration from blurfing as well as Pintrest - isn't Pintrest wonderful?

                         3.  WHY DO I CREATE AND HOW DID I
                                             GET STARTED

      

I will answer the 2nd question first - I have one of my besties, Donna T. to thank. (and you will see her creative process next week)  We had just moved 60 miles from the city - I was feeling lonely and had not made many new friends and she invited me to a SU party to which I said "I will come but I am not buying anything".  How many of us have said that???  And buy I did - not only SU, but I would hit every stamping store I passed - then I heard about The Angel Company and had a party and decided to become an ANGEL demonstrator.  I loved every minute being an angel demonstrator and began teaching classes at our local craft store.  Through the classes there I met another bestie, Pat, and we still get together as often as we can to create.    In 2011 The Angel Company went out of business and I choose to continue my stamping journey with AMuse and am still selling their product.  I was the last "Angel of the Year" what a honor and have my downline to thank for bestowing that honor on me.

The other part of this question is why do I create - I create for my chemo buddies, I have been a Chemo Angel, SubAngel, Special Angel and Senior Angel for about 10 years and there is always a request for a note/card to someone in need.  This is the way I can give just a little part of myself and hopefully make someones day just a bit brighter.  I especially love the children, but I have made some lasting friendships with some of my chemo buddies/families.  You give with your heart expecting nothing in return but when you do get a note from the buddy or their family you know your card meant a lot.

4.  HOW DOES MY CREATIVE PROCESS WORK

My favorite way to stamp is to get together with a bunch of friends and do shoe box projects, plus it motivates me to clean up my stamping studio.LOL  Once a year, while my husband is on his annual fishing trip to AR., there are 6 friends ranging from 57 to 84 and we all bring at least a couple of projects, and new techniques to share.  We stamp, snack, drink some wine, share life stories, and have an absolute amazing adventure.  

When I stamp alone I am usually responding to a special request assignment for Chemo angels and I try and tailor my card to fit their age, gender, special favorite colors and/or interests.

I am a retired home health RN and loved my career choice of taking care of people, so I feel I have continued this passion in just a different way with my cards.

I am an avid dog lover, we have 2 amazing big girls, and we are part of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue for which we transport and foster dogs in need, again continuing my passion of caring.  Our pets love to share my craft space with me hence the name of my blog Glittered Paws!!!   

God has blessed me with a lot of friends, good health, good eyesight, and hands that still create - for this I am so very thankful

Next week you will be introduced to Donna T. at Lakefront Stamping Creations who was an Angel for The Angel Company  as well as a Chemo Angel and also a RN and I think you will enjoy seeing her blog and creations.
You will also be introduced to Patti G. at Cherish Each Precious Day  who is multi-talented and takes her creativity to a different level.  She too is a Chemo Angel and a retired school secretary.
So On September 1, please make a visit to both Donna T. and Patti G and leave them some hugs on their blogs.  Thanks Chris for the privilege of sharing some of my works.    

.