Indulge Me, Please! ; )

My paper crafting friend, Gail, at www.greetingsfromgail.blogspot.com nominated me, of all people, to answer some interesting questions and share some insight into my creative process!  Now, I must say, this has been way more fun for me than it probably will be for you to read; therefore, it's been sort of a guilty pleasure/indulgence.  Hmm.......where have I seen that lately?  Let me think on that I as I write this post.......

So, here are some questions about my creative process and how my brain works..... this could get a little scary; maybe I should have saved this for Halloween!

1.  What am I working on right now?

Ok, wow,  I'm in the middle of 4 projects!  Yikes!  I have a canvas laying on my table drying.  There are programs for a horse show/banquet in pieces.  I have another canvas in the other room with cuts laid out and finally the project I'll be showing you today!  I recently finished a birthday gift for my sister posted over at Exploring Cricut and More.

2.  How long does it take me to create a project?

Well, it depends on the project, my mood, and how much coffee I've had!  It seems some projects just come together so quickly and others get started and sit on the table for days or more!  Canvases can take me a couple of days.  I cut all of my own dies on the Cricut and finish them.  That can take some serious time.  I also like to make my own texture paste and glimmer mists.

3.  What are my favorite things to use in my creations currently?

I love using lace, however I haven't used much of it lately.  Creating with lace just feels indulgent to me!  I also love making and using flowers on layouts.  Here's a sneak peek

at some I'm using currently.

I love to use tulle and old pieces of jewelry.  Wait, I've also been using burlap in my country feeling projects.  I love all embellishments, let's just put it that way!

4.  How does my creating process work?

I suppose it depends on what I'm creating.  If I'm working on a layout with pictures, the photograph seems to drive the piece for me.  If I'm working on a card, I often am inspired and motivated by challenges.  I have also been motivated by sketch challenges for layouts.

That being said, the actual physical process goes something like this.  I sit at the computer and design my creation in Design Space.  This gives me sizes and dimensions.  I start with squares to represent my pictures and change them into the rectangle (square) sizes I want for the photos.  Then I start choosing the dies, frames, elements, etc I want on the page.  I print my pictures at this point and see what colors I want for my papers, inks, paints, etc.  I cut my dies and cut the backing for them from ......wait for it........cereal boxes!  I love cereal!  So, I have lots of boxes for my die cut backings!  This gives the dies more dimension and a chipboard feel.

I take all my goodies over to the table and go to town with inks.  I love to embellish my die cuts.  Once they are all set, I start the layout.  This is the point I start to visualize where other embellishments might go.  I usually lay out everything and I might snap some pics with my phone or camera if it's within arm's reach!

Now, I commit to the adhesive!  If I mess up something, or should I say WHEN I mess up something, I make it work!  I seldom throw away anything.  If I can't make it work, I save it for another project.

5.  How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

Easy question!  Research and challenges!  I love to watch videos!  I watch a lot of Gabrielle over at Such a Pretty Mess and Vicki at Clips n Cuts.  I also enjoy the CTMH videos, of course!  Since my daughter sells CTMH, I like to watch other videos and see how my CTMH products could be used in similar ways.  Oh, and there's always Pinterest!  I also like to hang in the barn and some of my ideas are born there.

6.  What is my signature style?







I didn't realize this is a signature of mine, but the comments I receive the most often seem to include the word "detail" in them.  So, I suppose detail is big in my work.  Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here ya go!

7.  What is your favorite piece you have created?

Wow, that's a tough one.  I have a few I really enjoyed doing.  I guess my favorite is "Sisters" followed by "Pumpkin Baby" and "Red, White, and Blue Cowboy Style."

Thanks for indulging me!  Hey, speaking of indulgences and guilty pleasures....over at Heart to Heart that is one of this month's challenges and here is the 4th project I've been working on!

This is truly an indulgence for me right now in the midst of the other projects I need to finish!  I love working in My Crush Book from CTMH!  I treat it like an art diary of my life.  I put pictures in it as well as art journaling.  Oh, and yummy coffees are also one of my favorite indulgences!

It's also going off to Aud Sentiments, 613 Avenue Create,  and Pile it On.

Hey, Katie Smith, tag!  You're next to answer these questions!  Be sure to check out KatiesCorner in the next few weeks to see what she is working on and how her brain works!

All CTMH products used are from KatiesCorner.