A Unique Blog Hop!

Hello, friends!  I'm here today as part of a Unique Blog Hop and I'm so thrilled!  I was invited to participate by Melissa Chipperfield of Oh, Smudge!.  I have known Melissa throughout my time on the CASology Design Team (since January 2012) and I quickly realized that she is extremely kind, calm, thoughtful, and real.  Melissa is the founder/creator/coordinator of CASology, and she is multi-talented in the world of card-making and photography.  Her style is definitely clean and simple with a flair for humor...and I love it!  Melissa describes herself as "a simplicity seeking, camera crazed crafter" on her blog, and she also happens to be the mother of four children, just like me.  I am thrilled that she asked me to participate today!

I was hoping to have a new card to share with you today but, alas, the craziness of going back to work and having four children return to school has robbed me of any crafting time this week.  :(   I'm hoping next week is better...but somehow I doubt it will be any less busy!

As part of the Unique Blog Hop, Melissa gave me a few questions to answer about myself.  Here it goes!

What are you currently working on? 
While I am primarily a card-maker, I am currently working on scrapbook layouts for my four children.  I started a scrapbook for each of them when they entered preschool, mainly because their class pictures were too large to put into a standard photo album.  Because I tend to be a bit obsessive-compulsive and have to finish what I start, I am now knee-deep in documenting all the activities they participate in each year.  Last school year was so busy that I am still trying to finish up...and yet a new year has already started!  (Ugh!)  I do use some basic stamps on my scrapbook pages, such as stitch lines and splatters...they make good fillers in open space!  Here is a very basic page I did for my daughter using some stamps by Precious Remembrance Shop:

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I think my work is eclectic...while I prefer clean and simple and generally tend to stick to minimal layers, I have also been known to load up layers of paper and use buttons, Prima flowers, pearls, and even sometimes lace on a card!  

What inspires your work?
I have several sources of inspiration.  Other cards made by artists I admire (and give credit to if I CASE their cards).  Pinterest boards.  Catalogs and magazine ads.  (Why is it I can't look at a bed spread pattern and think of how I could make it into a card?)  I love looking at catalogs that sell cards because I often think, "Oh, I could make that with my _ _ _ stamp!"  Inspiration is all around us!

How does your creative process work?
I don't know, it honestly just happens!  I see something, I get an idea, I go make it.  As I mentioned earlier, I don't have tons of free time for crafting, so I have to move when I get an idea!  It is usually late at night, when all the other activities for the day are done.       

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And that about does it for me!  Now I have the honor of introducing you to another designer, one you are bound to know and love...the amazingly talented Shelly Kurth of Sweet Greetings!  Shelly is as sweet as her cards...she is also a multi-talented lady on several design teams (including Poppy Sketches, CAS on Sunday, and SRM Challenge) and a mother of four children!  I was immediately drawn to her clean and simple style and I have been a fan of her work since I discovered her among the Stamping Royalty Winners in 2011.   Go check out her blog HERE!    

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Judy