Oh my goodness! You all asked some fabulous questions!!! I was hoping this would be a way to get to know me a little better and to answer any questions you might have been harboring. :)
I'll just dive right in:
Stephanie asked how I was feeling: Thank you for asking! I am tired these days chasing a toddler around and feeling huge! But I am thankful. Thankful every day. I know how lucky I am to be feeling this tired. Plenty of women wish they could be pregnant. :)
Tracy M asked "Do you find that you overlap products between projects for your different design team posts or do you use non-DT brands too?": Both! I LOVE the companies that I design for so much so most of the time you will see me using them even for non-DT projects. But of course I still get excited about other lines that are out and just "have to have them".
Kailash and Jessica asked where I draw my inspiration from: Honestly, sometimes it's just a "Wouldn't this be cool on a card?" I sometimes bounce ideas off my husband and he makes them so much better! Pinterest, some of my creative hero blogs (Melinda Spinks, Shellye McDaniel, Stephanie Buice, Lori Allred), and all of YOU! When you leave me comments and feedback I get totally inspired to create more!
Gregsgirl asked what was my favorite crafty item to use: I just got the Bow it All by Zutter and I am totally obsessed. I made two videos which will be featured on the May Arts Ribbon blog by the end of the month. I LOVE my Xyron tools and constantly think of ways to use them. I'm about to make up a kid's craft with them! :) To be seen...
D asked how old Emmaline is now: 16 months!!! I have to share a picture of course. :)
Snuggle time after nap time:
This was Emmaline putting her bear down her shirt... I asked her why and she pointed to her belly with the bear in it and then walked over to my belly and pointed. She now calls this bear "baby bear".
Cebelica asked what my favorite thing about Christmas is: the twinkle-lights. I am a Christian and I definitely know the reason for the season, but the twinkle lights just bring out such joy in me. I love the stars and I feel like they are everywhere when the twinkle lights are out.
Shari and Carla from Utah asked what inspired me to start blogging: My husband. He insisted that I put my work somewhere that I could remember it. He signed me up for my blog! He also convinced me that I needed a Cricut. :)
Alexia asked how long I have been crafting for: 3 years. I started in January of 2011 so coming up on 3 years. :)
Bearsmother asked if it was hard to give away my crafty stuff: sometimes. But I remember how incredibly excited I was (and still am!) when I win a giveaway and how much it inspired me (and still does!) to have new product. If I can do that for any one of you then I am happy to pay the shipping to your doorstep! :)
Patti asked how I use my Xyron tools.... oh Patti, you have opened a can of worms. :) I LOVE laminating, I have made calendar magnets to go on the fridge, I have made menus for dinner parties and stickers for Emmaline to use. If you want more specifics, you can click on the labels to the right on Xyron and I tag most every post that I do using Xyron. :)
Wendy asked me about my mommy/daughter time the other day: Emmaline is 16 months. It's a place called "Parent's Place" and we went to a mommy/daughter toddler class. She painted for the first time and LOVED it! I should take a picture of her painting. I'm so proud. :) I don't think they let anyone who doesn't come with a toddler in though Wendy. :( But you can come hang out at our house afterwards! :)
Pam H and Kimberly asked how I find the time to keep it all up: haha. Some days I feel like I am always behind. Other days I catch up. My husband is currently working on his computer snuggling next to me while the Hobbit is playing in the background as I write this - baby monitor is next to me - and the laundry is in the dryer - and the dishwasher is going.. yep, that about sums it up. :) I'm a champion multi-tasker. :) My husband encourages me and he works a lot. Crafting keeps me sane. :)
Jennifer asked how big my crafty space is: We lived in San Francisco in a 450 sq. ft. studio so it used to be whatever I could store under the bed on one side (the other had drawers for clothes). We got here and I was using the guest bedroom which is big. But we just moved it out to the sunroom to make a real guest room... and had the coldest week EVER... it was like 35 degrees in there so I was running out to grab supplies and bringing them in! But it's about 8 ft wide and 20 feet long. I'll show pictures when I get everything out of boxes again! :)
Mom of 2 Monsters asked how I find the time to be on so many DTs: I try to keep it to 4 or under and it depends on how much they require. In the new year I will only be on 4 at a total of 8 projects per month required. Fabulous. That is 2 a week with time for me to do "other" projects if I have time. :) I try to keep my card making to under an hour/hour and a half per card. Home decor/sewing projects take much much longer.
Snappy Scrappy asked for intricate cuts if the sticky gets in between the cracks when you put it through your Xyron: Honestly, yes. It can. BUT you just rub your finger over it even before you take it off the sheet and it will come right off. I have never had an issue with it and it has taken me FAR less time to run it through the Xyron and rub then to use liquid adhesive so I still recommend it! :)
Sherri, Alexis, and Tina asked if I was ready for Christmas: NO! I haven't sent out my family packages yet! eek!!! But I will in the next couple days along with all the winner packages hopefully! :) Getting closer.
Nicole asked what my favorite layout was and why: Hmmm.. I get SO intimidated by doing layouts! I talked to some of my layout friends and they say they get intimidated by doing cards! haha. My Blue Steel layout is my favorite, but I scrap-lifted it (and got permission and linked of course). I love the colors and the look on Emmaline's face.
Charity C asked if I had any advice for newbies trying to get onto design teams: Make them see you! Social media is huge. When you use their product, post to their FB page. Participate in challenges. I got on Imaginisce in 2011 because I won something from them and sent them a thank you email when I received the product along with projects I made with it. I sent them a thank you note in the mail. It started a wonderful friendship. Take good photos and in general for projects I try to stick to the the tri-color rule of using a max of 3 main colors (not including neutrals) on a project. I just like the way it looks more. But most of all: do what YOU LOVE. You will find a DT that works with YOU and likes your style. Hang in there!
Sugarlips and Beth asked if I had any advice in getting more followers: Hmm.. How did you find me? ;) I used to click on people's blinkies and then the blinkies on their pages, etc. Blinkies have gone out of style a bit. Participate in challenges, comment back on people's blogs (something I have been TERRIBLE about since Emmaline was born), and be genuine.
Iris asked what inspired me to part with so much of my stash: Two things: I LOVE winning prizes and want to give back and give away prizes myself! And secondly, we have made 3 house moves in the last 18 months. Nothing makes you want to purge like moving!
Sharla asked what my favorite holiday tradition was: I love picking out/decorating my mom's Christmas tree. And I love putting up the outside lights with my dad. With my husband's family we read "twas the night before Christmas" every Christmas Eve and I love that too! :)
Hattie asked what my #1 crafty item on my wishlist is: a Silhouette Cameo!! AND it's on the way to me! My husband just got it for me for Christmas during the Black Friday bundle deal! :) Next up are the punch boards from We R Memory Keepers. I drool over them but I don't own any yet!
Mommy's Crafty Creations asked if I clean as I go or leave my crafty mess for another day: I used to clean as I went. I have to have a clean space to craft. But since I have had Emmaline sometimes I only have 15 minutes to craft until she wakes up from her nap and after some of my chores are done - so the mess seems to get left for another day more often then not :(
Linda asked what my favorite project is: hmm... I honestly don't know. There are some that are more sentimental to me than others - like my first publication - but those that bring others joy or that decorate my house are amongst them.
Kristi asked what projects I am working on: I am working on a Santa wreath for May Arts which hopefully will be able to be posted pre-Christmas. tick-tock! AND I just got my first Doodlebug box and am about to get all kinds of Valentine's happy! :) I have a few ideas I am excited about!
Jan asked how I got into scrapbooking/crafting: I actually went to something called the Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA and Provo Craft was there. I tried a Cuttlebug and knew I was born to emboss! They gave me one as I left and I was so shocked! I have been crafting ever since! :)
Dorcas asked if I will be having more children or stopping with my two little girls: haha. can you ask my husband!?! It depends on the day. We get a little worried about paying for college with more children, but if we were just doing what we wanted to we would have 4 - a 2 and 2 split with a few years in between the first and latter set. But people say they know when their whole family has arrived and part of me thinks I will feel that way with two. :) We shall see! :)
Sue D asked what I do with all my projects: I send them off to people! Most often then not my projects are made with a person or friend in mind. :) Sending home made cards to people is what inspired me to start crafting in the first place. I want to send joy through the mail into people's mailboxes. :)
Toni asked what my favorite holiday is: That's tough. I love the 4th of July for the fireworks, Thanksgiving for the cooking extravaganza (I once made a whole Bon Appetite Thanksgiving!), and Christmas for the warmth, twinkle lights, traditions, family, and Christmas carols. :)
Diana asked if/how crafting has changed since being a mom: It certainly has! I can't just sit down when I am inspired - I tend to send myself emails so I don't forget my idea (pregnancy brain!) I also have a lot less time to craft so I feel the need to utilize it to the upmost. I get part of naptime on some days and after she goes to bed on others.
Day 1 Winner: My Mind's Eye Goodies
Day 2 Winner: DCWV Haul
Day 3 Winner: My Creative Time Stamps and Dies
Day 4 Winner: May Arts Ribbon!
Day 5 Winner: SEI + 1" Sticker Maker from Xryon!
Day 6 Winner: 3" Sticker Maker
Day 7 Winner: Core'dinations goodies + Xyron Mega Runner
Day 8 Winner: My Pink Stamper Exclusive Stamps
Day 9 Winner: 6x6 Paper Pads
Day 10 winner: Imaginisce Haul
Day 11 Winner: Canvas Corp
Day 12 Winner: Bazzill, Apron, Heidi Grace and Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker
CONGRATS WINNERS!!!! I need you to send me your addresses and I will ship the goodies out! :) CourtsCraftsBlog@gmail.com
Congrats to all the winners, thank you for the fabulous comments and I do this at least once a year and sometimes more so check back! :)
