Unique Blog Hop

I was honoured to be nominated by my lovely customer Jane to take part in the Unique Blog Hop.   If you've arrived here from Jane's blog welcome and if not you are still very welcome, but I encourage you to visit Jane's blog and to visit her other link on the Unique Blog Hop.  Jane's work is beautiful so do click backwards on the blog hop to check out her work too!

Part of the unique blog hop is to answer questions when it reaches you and they are
1. What am I working on?
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
4. How does your writing/creative process work?

Well the first question is easy.  I've been working on using all my goodies from the relatively new Stampin' Up! UK Annual Catalogue and the very new Stampin' Up! UK Autumn/Winter catalogue.  Here is a stepper card that we made at my monthly card club class using the Flower Patch stamp set and matching Flower Fair frame lits.

I've also been busy with dare I say Christmas cards, but then as crafters we always try to be ready early!!!!  I did say try!

This is using a paper piecing technique. You stamp the main image onto your card base and then stamp it again onto firstly very vanilla card stock and then onto brushed gold card stock. Cut out pieces that you can then match onto the whole image on your card base.  It creates different dimensions and depth to the image.  It also doesn't require more than one ink pad!   You can also colour in the odd element on the trees to 'lift' the image further.   I've also made several with the gorgeous stamp set Festival of Trees. There's a simple example here and you can see a more detailed version on my post Stampin' Up! UK Winter Wonderland Christmas card club with Festival of Trees.

Clean and Simple Festival of Trees and Chalk Lines 

I'm also learning how to use my new computer so that I can use the Stampin' Up! digital package - My Digital Studio - to create scrap book pages of some of my favourite pictures and memories of great days out. Here's my family at Blenheim Palace this summer. Sadly my dad is missing as he didn't feel well that day and so didn't join us.

Finally I'm working on encouraging others to tell their stories via memory books with all the wonderful Project Life products now included in the Stampin' Up! range or by building their own story in a locket from my new direct sales role as a South Hill Designs Artist.  It's easy to do either shopping online www.southhilldesigns.com/zoetant for yourself or by sharing the fun of building yours and your friends stories at a party! The choice is yours, but if you'd like more information about Stampin' Up! or South Hill Designs please do email me at zoetant@live.co.uk 

The remaining questions or should I say answers.  My work differs from others as I don't think I have a particular style, although like Jayne, I'm erring more on the side of less is more or  clean and simple rules!  There is a myriad of products around and the beauty for me of being an Independent Stampin' Up! UK demonstrator is that I can resist other products in favour of Stampin' Up! which saves me time and money. I know what I have available to me to buy and don't crave others even though they are tempting sometimes!  Stampin' Up! allows me to be simplistic in my design, but also if I'm feeling a little more inclined to be flamboyant I have the products available to me for both styles.  Arguably the first card I've shared today isn't simple and is busy with flowers, but the nativity scene is very simple and of course perfect for posting purposes!

I create and do what I do because I love seeing others creativity evolve. Many say 'I'm not crafty or creative' but with simple tuition and encouragement anyone can create cards and with social media like Pinterest the inspiration is there all the time. However I often find my inspiration from fabric patterns, colours of nature and the world around me in general.  

All of this has brought me some fabulous friendships, self confidence to deliver classes and presentations including some to large rooms full of people, a little extra income and job satisfaction.  This is why I do what I do and I love to share it with others.  

The same can be said of story building in lockets.  

This lovely lady was given her locket from her fiancé in honour of their first anniversary of dating. He added hers and his christian name initial and the first letter of their joint surname to be along with a coin saying 'love'. He ordered it via his sister in law as a surprise.  He won so many brownie points! 

My creative process works because I enjoy what I do and I love sharing what I enjoy with others so that they can enjoy it too! Simples!!!

All I have to do now is introduce you to my 2 nominees.  They will be joining the Unique Blog Hop on Monday 29th September. 

Please visit Dawn who is a member of my Stampin' Up! UK team. She's a talented crafter and busy Mum,  who runs classes and parties and likes to help others enjoy craft.  

Also Victoria is a mum of two young cheeky boys. She is multitalented when it comes to crafting as she is a keen scrapbooker, card maker and more recently a successful sewing bee making the most gorgeous hand sewn animals and cushions.  

Enjoy your journey along the Unique Blog Hop.

Zx