Meet the New Design Team Members!

Hello and welcome to Inspired by All the Little Things! Recently we held a Design Team call and we were blown away by the submissions. Thank you to everyone who applied! You made our decision very challenging! We decided on 6 designers to start with us on April 2nd. They will be with us until the end of July, 2016.

Without further ado, please welcome our new design team members!

Keeway Tsao-https://kiwikoncepts.wordpress.com/  

Hello, My name is Keeway or some of friends also call me “kiwi”.  I’m a Southern Californian gal that loves drawing, painting, and crafting. I've been in love with arts and craft since I was just a little girl, but I started my adventure into paper crafting in 2015 when I stumbled upon some youtube videos that really sparked my interest. Since then, I have become obsessed! When I'm not working or crafting, I make frequent visits to Disneyland, the happiest place on earth!

Kimberly Lackenbach-http://kimcreate.blogspot.ca/

Hi, My name is Kim and I'm from Connecticut,USA. I've been married for almost 35 years, have 2 wonderful daughters and the sweetest grandson in the world. I started playing with paper when my daughter made a scrapbook of her a trip to Europe and I wanted to try it. I quickly switched to card making and love to create cards for family and friends. I enjoy reading all avenues of social media related to crafting. When not in my craft space I like dining out, movies, home decorating and travel.

LauraJane- http://ahiaf.blogspot.com/

Hello! I've been making cards to retain my sanity for the past 4 years. Truly, an introvert, addicted to creating with Floral stamps and dies. Learning new techniques shared by other bloggy crafters and on youtube is a passion. I LOVE Instagram too. Happily married for 24 yrs. SAHM to 6 kids, living in Illinois near St. Louis. Baking, Crochet, Homeopathy, Homeschooling, are a few of my other interests.  Looking forward to playing with all my toys together for the Inspired By all the Little Things Challenges:)

Leigh Penner - www.leighpenner.blogspot.com  

I’ve been married to my husband for twenty years and we have three awesome kids. I work as a substitute teacher in southern Manitoba, Canada. I've been scrapbooking since 2003 & started stamping/making cards five years ago. When I'm not working or stamping, I love spending time with my kids -- either cuddled on the couch watching Netflix or reading books aloud. 

I also love riding my bike, going to the beach and doing taekwondo
(I’ll be testing for my 3rd degree black belt next month!)

Marcie Sharp- http://cardmakinchaos.blogspot.ca/

I'm a fun-loving, outgoing card-maker living in rural Ontario that also loves to read, socialize and in general, enjoy life! Currently I am lucky enough to be able to stay at home with my kiddos while hubby travels for work. This leaves me plenty of time for creating. If I'm not making cards I can be found geocaching with my family, curled up with a good book and leading the monthly book club at our local library, or happily daydreaming.  

Sheri Gilson-http://papercraftyscreations.blogspot.ca/

Hi! My name is Sheri and I live in California just north of San Francisco.  I have been married to my best friend and high school sweetheart for 22 years and we have a 16 year old son.  I am a SAHM who loves to create!!  I was first introduced to stamping when my sons babysitter invited me to a Stamping Up! Party…I was immediately hooked.   I love spending time with my family when I’m not hiding out in my craft room.

Inspired by All the Little Things - featuring Stephanie Klauck

Hello and welcome to Inspired By All The Little Things! This is a weekly inspiration challenge blog and each week we feature a wonderful designer who inspires us as an artist!

Happy Saturday! Tracey here as your hostess for this week. I will be the hostess on the forth week of every month. The photo I have chosen as my inspiration is a gorgeous succulent bridal bouquet. I am a little bit crazy for succulents right now and when I saw this photo and the colours I new it was perfect for my debut challenge.

This week I have invited the amazingly talented Stephanie Klauck as my guest. You may already know her from the My Favorite Things Design Team and her fantastic videos on YouTube. I am so happy to have her join us as my guest this week. 

I asked Stephanie to share a bit about herself...

1. What is the name of your blog? When and why did you start it?

The name of my blog is Round Here. I started it after I got more involved in the online craft world and wanted to be able to share my scrapbook layouts and cards with online friends and fellow crafters.

2. What is your style of card making?

It's pretty much clean and simple... I love white space. But I do like to mix it up a bit and I'm always up for trying new techniques and design ideas. I love clear sequins (with silver Stickles centers) and use them on almost every card I create. 

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

There are so many designers that inspire me... way too many to name. I think the biggest inspiration to me are designers who create because they love to create. There is nothing more inspiring to me that seeing another designer create something and want to share it with the world because they truly enjoyed the process and ended up creating something they loved. That, to me, is inspiration.

4. What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?

Anything and everything. Ads in magazines, home decor, fashion, nature. Inspiration is literally everywhere. You just have to slow down long enough to see it. ;)

5. Share something about yourself that we may not know?

When I started paper crafting, I was strictly a scrapbooker. The first time I walked into a craft store that carried stamps (and not just the rolls of stickers that I was obsessed with lol!) I looked at my husband and said... 'I can't believe people pay this much for stamps. I will never be a stamper.' 

Now, I don't think I create anything without something stamped on my project. ;)

Thank you Stephanie for sharing your story with us.  Here is Stephanie's card she created for us using this week's inspiration as a cue!

I have also created a card for this week's inspiration! I hope you will play along with us this week! We would love to have you join us!

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 31 at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

• Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
• Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
• Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
• Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
• Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by "Inspiring Stand Outs" {Our Weekly Winners}

Thank you all so much for joining us this week at Inspired by #7!

Before we get to our Inspiring Stand Outs, we want to let everyone who applied to our Design Team Call know that the team has been selected and contacted. Thank you to all who applied!

What a gorgeous array of cards in our gallery this week!  Choosing standouts was not an easy job.  A special thank you to Bonnie Joynt for being our Creative Guest this week! 

Both Bonnie and I have chosen our stand outs!

These are the submissions that have earned a special Inspiring Stand Out badge this week. Please go ahead and display the badge on your blog!

Bonnie Joynt's Choice for Stand Out this week is:

Allie Kostiuk

Allie created a beautiful card that played nicely with the inspiration photo.  I love when people go out of their comfort zone and try a new technique.  Isn’t that what this challenge is all about; a simple photo inspiring creativity.  Allie’s hand painted watercolour tulips are beautifully showcased in the bucket.  The distressed background papers give the card an old world look that compliments the antique wooden chair in the photo.  Well done Allie!

There were so many beautiful cards to enjoy.  Thank you to all those who entered cards.  I hope you continue to be inspired by the photos that are presented in each challenge.  Happy crafting and I certainly look forward to many more challenges.  Thanks Karen for giving me the opportunity to be your guest. ~ Bonnie

Karen's choice for Stand Outs this week are:

Leigh Penner

This little blue bucket caught my eye in the gallery every time!  Leigh's style is so clean & sharp, yet she still managed to convey the shabbiness of the wooden chair with that little strip of woodgrain paper.  Gorgeous, Leigh!

And because it was too hard to just pick one... I'm also highlighting:

Kelly Szafron

Kelly's card looks like a piece of art to me - it would be amazing in a frame or on a stand.  Her painting of the tulips is just stunning (view it large, her background is so subtle & gorgeous!).  Her hint of grey in behind is reminiscent of the fabric in the photo, and the twine adds just a touch of shabby chic!

Congratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who played along with us this week! We will be back in one hour with a brand new challenge!  

The next challenge goes live at 5:00 am PST.

Happy Stamping!
Karen

Inspired by All the Little Things Design Team Call {Thank You for Applying}

Thank you to everyone who applied for our design team call. We were overwhelmed by the response. The team is carefully looking at each individual application and we are currently discussing. It is going to be SUCH a difficult choice. Please know that if you are not chosen this time, to please apply again in the future. 

We will be in contact with the successful candidates near the end of the week. In the meantime, we hope you will join us in our current challenge found HERE.

Inspired By All The Little Things - featuring Bonnie Joynt

Hello everyone!  It's Karen with you today, I am going to be your hostess on the third Saturday of every month, and for my first week, I've chosen this photo of a gorgeous bucket full of tulips - a sure sign of spring!  The colours and flowers really spoke to me, along with that piece of grey & white gingham in behind.  Something else that inspires me, is the amazing artwork of my friend Bonnie Joynt.  I love to stitch on my cards, but Bonnie takes stitching to a whole new level!  You'll want to check out her blog, Stoney Stitches to see more of her amazing work.  Here's a bit more about Bonnie:

Bonnie Joynt

1. What is the name of your blog?  When and why did you start it?
The name of my blog that I started in September of 2012 is Stoney Stitches.  I wanted to try to enter some cardmaking challenges, so I needed a blog to showcase my cards.

2. What is your style of cardmaking?
I almost exclusively make hand stitched cards using embroidery floss and paper.

3.Who inspires you as a designer?
Karen Day has always been my biggest source of inspiraton.  She introduced me to paper crafting in 2000 and I have not stopped playing with paper since then.  I love going to her blog and seeing her beautiful designs!

4. What sort of things inspired you as a cardmaker?  Photos? Sketches? Other designers?
I get inspired by other cards that I see in the crafting world.  I also get inspired by card requests from friends.  Recently, I had a friend who wanted a special tea card for a friend, so I designed a whimsical tea cup card.

5. Share something about yourself that we may not know.
I lived for six months in Marseille, France many years ago.  I went back 5 years ago, and fell in love with the country all over again.  In the future I hope to spend a lot more time in France.

Thanks, Bonnie! (you made me blush...)  Here's the card that she designed especially for this week's challenge:

 And a close up so you can see the stitches:

and a little something from me:

Karen Day

Jeanne Jachna

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 24th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by "Inspiring Stand Outs" {Our Weekly Winners}

Thank you all so much for joining us this week at Inspired by #6!

We loved seeing how you were inspired in all of your creative projects. A special thank you to Kate Lorenzini for being our Creative Guest this week! 

Both Kate and I have chosen one stand out!

These are the two submissions that have earned a special Inspiring Stand Out badge this week. Please go ahead and display the badge on your blog!

Kate Lorenzini's Choice for Stand Out this week is:

Shona Chambers

I really loved seeing everyone's creations and getting to know many of you a bit better through your blogs.  I narrowed my favorites down to six and would choose each for very different reasons, but since we are asked to choose one standout, it's Shona's card, which I kept gravitating to.  Remember what I said about white space in my interview? I really am drawn in by all of the clean space punctuated by the circle, which seems to be die cut a bit off center so the bottom is somewhat wider, which I really like, as well as the use  of the wood grain paper.  I also like the movement Shona created with her tulips and leaves.  The sentiment contributes to the movement, as do the sequins, and the rectangle die provides some contrast with its angles.  I enjoyed the use of blue flowers and purple (after the blue-purple flower conundrum!), and would love to see an alternate version using yellow!  All around a standout in my book!   

Jeanne's choice for stand out this week is: 

Elizabeth Stewart

There were so many beautiful cards this week it was so hard to choose just one!   I am so glad you joined us I can't tell you how much I enjoyed seeing so many different interpretations of the inspiration photo!  Honestly I'm drooling over more than just a few!  The one that I keep coming back to is this beauty from Elizabeth Stewart!  I love the wonderful scene she created using so many different die cuts!   I'm addicted to color and this one makes my heart happy! 

Congratulations and thanks so much to all of you who played along with us this week! 

The next challenge goes live at 5:00 am PST March 19.

Inspired by All the Little Things - Featuring Kate Lorenzini

Hi! Jeanne here this week! I'm so excited! This is my first post on Inspired by All the Little Things blog, and as Lesley's partner in crime I get to pick out the inspiration photo the second week of every month! Spring is in the air and I'm beginning to see little bits of green peeking up from the ground! I can't wait to see all the bulbs I planted in the fall bloom! 

My guest this week is Kate Lorenzini - from Pinned and Penned.  I'm inspired by Kate's attention to detail.. yummy layers, embellishments, and bits of gold!

Kathryn Lorenzini

Time to meet Kate and find out a little bit more about her!  I just know you're going to be smitten with her style!

1. What is the name of your blog? My website is called “Pinned & Penned.”

When and why did you start it? The idea started brewing way back in 2008 when I was sewing frequently and toying with the idea of starting a line of fabric goods. While I love sewing, I realized that I did not want create for profit given the time-consuming nature of it, and the fact that I would quickly come to dislike sewing if I did! However, I wanted a place to showcase my clothing and accessories, as well as my writing, so Pinned & Penned was born in 2011 on a different platform. Of course, after my re-entry into paper crafting in 2013, the focus changed to paper goods, as did the website, but the name stuck! And as a writer and teacher of writing, I do love sharing a poem every now and then, and crafting a good post.

2. What is your style of card making?
Layered, and mostly contemporary. Whether it’s clean and layered, or a much busier piece, I really love playing with patterns, shapes, textures, and fonts. Shaping paper and making more architectural pieces that pop off the page is often a part of my designs.

3. Who inspires you as a designer?
The first answer might surprise you--people who create with lots of delicious, open, clean white space! People who incorporate design principles of proportion, balance, pattern, etc. well because this is an area of learning for me. People who take risks that work, offer an unexpected turn or element in their design, or are witty. People who fit those descriptions? Joy Taylor, Jocelyn Olson, Aga, Therese Calvird, Maria Fischer, Keren Baker are just a few in my book!

4. What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?

Anthropologie. From the store windows to the clothes and home goods, I just love their aesthetic. Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Seriously! Can’t tell you how often I have an issue open to one of her gorgeous floral, food, or interior design spreads. Life in the PNW in general, and living on the beach—the colors, textures of nature are ever-changing and inspiring. And of course fashion. Have a whole Pinterest board devoted to compelling designers that I use for my creations-- love Runway Inspired Challenge!

5. Share something about yourself we may not know.

In 1999, I traveled cross-country in a big old (1950’s era) converted hippie bus called the Ark with about 25 other American and international folks for only $400. We departed from Boston, hiked the Badlands, got lost in Canyonlands, camped under the stars, swam in the Mississipi, met bikers in Sturges, bathed in the red-rock rivers of Utah, drove through the night desert to Las Vegas, and so, so much more in between, finally landing on the Pacific shores of San Francisco. It was my first journey west, and it changed my life.

Here is Kate's Card inspired by this weeks photo!

Kate Lorenzini

And here is my take on the inspiration photo...

Jeanne Jachna

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 17th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

1. Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
2. Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
3. Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
4. Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
5. Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspired by "Inspiring Stand Outs" {Our Weekly Winners}

Thank you all so much for joining us this week at Inspired by #5!

We loved seeing how you were inspired in all of your creative projects. A special thank you to Amy Tsuruta for being our Creative Guest this week! 

Both our Amy and I have chosen one stand out!

These are the two submissions that have earned a special Inspiring Stand Out badge this week. Please go ahead and display the badge on your blog!

Amy Tsuruta's Choice for Stand Out this week is:

Michele Ferguson

Such a gorgeous gallery of cards!  I was especially inspired by Michele's beauty of a card.  Her use of white space and patterned paper is always perfect.  I continue to love the view looking down into a coffee/tea cup and the combo of the vellum and embossing makes for a gorgeous way to finish off her design. 

http://icardeveryone.blogspot.com/2016/03/inspired-by-all-little-things-challenge.html

Lesley's choice for Stand Out this week is:

Laura Jane

So many beautitful cards in the gallery but Laura Jane's card kept catching my eye! I love the swirl of the die cut flowers and how they mimic the embossed swirl of the butterflies in the inspiration photo. I also love that she created a shaker card. It is so fresh, pretty and unique!

http://ahiaf.blogspot.ca/2016/03/tea-roses.html

Comgratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who played along with us this week! We will be back in one hour with a brand new challenge! In the meantime, we do have a Design Team Call on....be sure to check it out!

The next challenge goes live at 5:00 am PST.

Smiles,

Lesley

Design Team Call for Inspired by All the Little Things

Inspired by All the Little Things is having a Design Team Call. 

We are looking for 4 card designers to join our team.

Here are the terms:

1. Make one card each week based on the inspiration.
2. Comment on the submissions of others. (we will use a commenting schedule)
3. Post your card and the challenge graphic onto your blog each week. (you MUST have a blog)
4. Stay on for a 4 month term. 

We are looking for designers who are team players and who take good, clear photos of their work.

No experience is necessary.

To apply please send an email to thepaperplayers @ yahoo.ca (no spaces) and 

put Inspired by Design Team Call in the subject line.

In your application, please include:

1. A link to your blog.
2. Attach the photos of three of your favourite cards you have made.
3. Links to three of your best blog posts.
4. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Deadline to apply is Friday, March 18th at Noon (PST). I will reply within 48 hours to let you know if I have received your application. If you do not hear from me, please send again.

We will be emailing all successful applicants by Sunday, March 20th.

Thank you for considering joining our team!

Hugs!

Lesley

Inspired by All the Little Things~Featuring Amy Tsuruta

Hello and welcome to our very first Inspired By All The Little Things post on our new blog! I have to say, we were blown away by the wonderful support we have received in our first week! Thank you so much!

One of my favourite people I have met in this crazy, crafty world is Amy Tsuruta.

Everyone knows Amy! She is such a lovely person and I am proud to say, we are birthday twins! I had the chance to meet her a couple of years ago and I hope this summer we will be able to connect once again!!! Amy is a prolific designer; she amazes me with her talent, energy and enthusiasm. She is by far one of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever met.

I asked Amy to be our fist Official guest here on the new blog! I knew inviting Amy meant I needed to have a coffee/tea inspired graphic!!! 

Amy Tsuruta

I asked Amy to share a bit about herself...

1. What is the name of your blog? When and why did you start it?

Tsuruta Designs

I started it in November 2007 and it was a great time to transition from the Splitcoaststampers platform.  

2. What is your style of card making?

I generally tend to fall back onto clean + simple designs but still love to layer pattern paper!

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

I couldn't just name one person as an inspiration...I find that the entire paper crafting community is an inspiration to me.  I devote my early mornings to my Feedly.  It's a process I thoroughly enjoy....seeing everyone's blogs and projects is one of the favorite parts of my day!

4. What sort of things inspire you as a card maker? Photos? Sketches? Other designers?

I would definitely say all of the above.  I love a great challenge but I love to take away different ideas from designers, whether it is a card design or how they use color....

  

5. Share something about yourself that we may not know?

Hmmmm...I've never had a Snickers bar.

Here is Amy's delightful CAS card using this week's inspiration!

The Team wanted to also create a card for this week's inspiration! These ladies just inspire me SO much!!! I hope you will play along with us this week! We would love to have you join us!

Karen Day

Jeanne Jachna

Tracey McNeely

Lesley Croghan

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Thursday, March 10th at 11:55pm. (PST)

Some simple rules to keep things organized and enjoyable:

• Please use the graphic for your post and link back to this post.
• Any posts that are offensive will be removed.
• Please comment on the submissions of others...we all love the support!
• Yes you can combine with other challenges but NOT other inspiration challenges please.
• Have fun and challenge yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up