Creative Blog Hop

I was to be asked by Alanna from Alanna's Spot in the World to participate in this fun hop. Alanna is the DT Coordinator at Christmas Card Challenges and is a talented paper crafter.

The Creative Blog Hop works in a rather interesting way.  You are nominated to join the blog hop and the only requirements are to nominate two others to follow you on the next Monday and to answer four questions about yourself and your creative process.  Nothing to it!

Here's a card I want to share with you today. I used an Altenew stamp set called Shadow Play. I created the background using Gelatos. I rubbed the watercolor paper with Gelatos and then brushed it with a little water to blend. I colored the sun the same way. Then I stamped using Ranger Black Archival Ink. 

I also decorated my small Dylusions Art Journal Cover today so I thought I would share it with you too. I painted it with PaperArtsy Fresco Paint in Slate, then I stamped the images from the PaperArtsy JOFY 13 stamp set with Black Ranger Archival ink. I colored in the images with Fresco paints in Cherry Red, Turquoise and Chalk and I combined those colors to make the lavender and pink. I used a Stamper's Big Brush pen for the green on the grass and stems. 

There are the four questions those of us who participate are asked as part of the Creative Blog Hop.

1.  What are you working on now? I am the Founder of the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog and I am always working on my nest mixed media project.  I usually have several in progress at one time.  I am also on the Christmas Card Challenges design team so I make Christmas cards frequently. I also normally have several cards and projects that I'm working on to submit for publications.

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?  I like to call my card making style colorful CAS. My cards can be simple, but I don't always have a lot of true "white" space. I am not shy with color at all, but I also don't usually pile on layers and tons of embellishments. I love to add layers of paints, stencils, stamps, etc to my mixed media projects, but I don't tend to add a lot of 3D embellishment unless I'm specifically working on a collage. 

3.  Why do you create what you do? I've always enjoyed being creative and making handmade cards. I've made cards for almost 20 years now. I got back into it seriously about 5 years ago. I find creating cards and mixed media pieces to be very relaxing and excellent stress relief. 

4.  How does your creative process work? I usually start with an idea. If I know the direction I want to go it normally doesn't take me too long to make a card. But, sometimes the plan in my head might not work and it takes time to rework my original design or come up with a new one. When I have a block, I usually look for inspiration on Pinterest, Blogs, or Splitcoast Stampers. For my mixed media projects, I usually work on them for days or weeks. I love that I can keep adding layers and textures over time. I almost never know what the final product will look like until I actually get there. 

And, now it's time to share with  you the two people I've nominated to participate in the Creative Blog Hop next Monday, February 23rd. 

First is Karen Crossen from I Just Need More Glue, Pain, Pens, and some Fun Paper.... Karen is an amazing mixed media artist.  I've also nominated Lalo Ik from Nani Wale who is a super creative crafter who makes beautiful creations.