Inspired By #59 featuring Amy Sheffer

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!

This week I have invited my friend

Amy Sheffer of Pickled Paper Designs.

I first discovered Amy's blog and her incredible work when

she was added to the Papertrey Ink design team.

I remember visiting her blog for the first time and being so thrilled that

she would be designing for PTI -- I just adore her style!

And, I've been pretty lucky to get to design with Amy together for

Reverse Confetti -- we've become friends and she is awesome!

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

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

I started my blog in 2007, and like so many others, was trying to think of a catchy, unique name for it. I settled on Pickled Paper Designs for two reasons. First, I had long gone by PickleTree online (that has its own story!), so I wanted something with the word "pickle." Second, at the time, I was more interested in scrapbooking than card making, so the word "pickle" with it's meaning "to preserve" totally worked. My tag line was even going to be "preserving memories, one page at a time." The scrapbooking thing never really happened, but the blog name stuck!

2. What is your style of card making?

Slow?! hahaha! Actually, I like a little of everything, so I'd say my style is kind of eclectic. That said, I definitely feel like my designs have drastically simplified over the years. Sometimes my cards can even go through the mail now, like in an envelope, not a box ;)

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

There is so much talent in the card making world, and I am constantly inspired by other crafters. One of my biggest stamp crushes right now, though, is Yoonsun Hur. Her designs are just so unique and artsy and out-of-the-box! 

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

Other designers; browsing Pinterest or Instagram for eye-catching home decor, textiles, package design, art, and more; and of course, the product itself.

  

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

I am completely Hamilton-obsessed. The soundtrack is {still} on non-stop and I'm constantly singing and rapping along. 
My favorite parts are Lafayette's, especially Guns and Ships.

Here is Amy's card using this week's inspiration:

The challenge designers have also created 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!

Kimberly Lackenbach

Kim's Cards & Crafts

LauraJane 

After Hours Ink & Flowers

Marcie Sharp
 Sharp Designs

Sheri Gilson

 Paper Crafty's Creations

Silke Ledlow

 My Life

Wanda Cullen

  Cullen-ary Creations

And here is my card -- Leigh Penner -- To The Full: 

  

(I love how Amy & I used the same stamp set and created very similar cards!

What are the odds?)

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Friday, June 9th at 11:55am. (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!

Inspired By #55 with Heidi Shafer

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!

This week I have invited my friend

Heidi Shafer of Mapleberry Musings.

I met Heidi online through the Papertrey Ink forum and challenges. 

Then last year, we started doing a challenge together that encouraged us

to use our stamps that we'd purchased but hadn't inked up yet.

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

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

Mapleberry Musings is the name of my blog.  I began on Jan 1, 2011 although I had it for two years before I made my first post.  Thankfully, I finally pushed through the fear and paralyzing perfectionism to just start!  Our previous home had three huge maple trees and we grew blackberries and strawberries out front.  We called it Mapleberry so I wanted to use that in my blog name.  I liked how the word "musings" implied thoughts, contemplation, or reflection.  It worked perfectly for leaving the possibilities open of what I could share.  Plus, the muses in classical mythology are goddesses of the arts!  I started my blog to share my creations with like-minded souls, keep a record with photos and details, and participate in challenges and blog hops.

2. What is your style of card making?

Clean lines, simple layering, and color probably defines my style best.  I love a bit of sparkle too!  I enjoy cute and elegant images alike.  I often use embossing folders and dies on my cards, but I'll break out the scissors for fussy cutting anytime.  It's very therapeutic.  

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

Tough question.  I follow over a thousand stamping blogs in Feedly, because I love to see what other people make, so it's hard to narrow that down.  Jennifer McGuire is always an inspiration because of her techniques, tutorials, and simple designs.  You can see a card I made that was directly inspired by her.  I adore the creations of Betsy Veldman and would own all of her stamp set designs if I could.  I love her vintage vibe!  I also admire the shabby romantic style of Melissa Phillips and grungy/mixed-media style of Julee Tilman.

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

Sketches usually.  Sometimes it's a photo or the creation of another stamper.  Often I just pull out things I want to use and start playing.  My design process is slow, so I'm glad I have a studio where I can leave works in progress on my desk.  When I get stuck, I go do something else for a while.  Then I come back, work on it, get stuck, leave again, return and tweak it some more...whatever it takes.  I love to listen to music when I create.  It always flows easier when I do!

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

I love to perform in musical theatre whenever it fits into my family's schedule.  There's nothing else quite like being on stage.  I performed professionally in an Andrews Sisters tribute group for three years (2010-2013).  It was a lot of fun!  I also sing in my city's Symphony Chorale doing classical works.  Music is in my blood and I can't imagine a world without singing! 

Here is Heidi's card using this week's inspiration!

The challenge designers have also created 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!

Kimberly Lackenbach

Kim's Cards & Crafts

LauraJane 

After Hours Ink & Flowers

Laurel Seabrook (Guest Designer)

Seabrook Designs

Marcie Sharp
 Sharp Designs

Sheri Gilson

 Paper Crafty's Creations

Silke Ledlow

 My Life

Wanda Cullen

  Cullen-ary Creations

And, here is my card:

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Friday, May 12th at 11:55am. (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!

Inspiring Stand-Outs for Challenge #54

Thank you all so much for joining us this week for the Inspired by Challenge #54!  
We loved seeing how you were inspired in all of your creative projects. 

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!

A special thank you to Jennifer Kinney for being our Creative Guest this week!

Jennifer selected this card as her favourite this week...

#17 Susie Moore

  

Jennifer loved Susie's card with the bold yellow and white stripes!

And I chose:

#14. I Card Everyone

I just love how Michele was inspired to create this fabulous scene on her card!

Congratulations ladies and make sure you grab your badge.

Thank you so much Jennifer for joining me as my guest this challenge. 

Join us again in one hour for challenge #55!

Inspired by all the Little Things #46 featuring Lindsey Larsen

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!

Hey there, Leigh here.

Lesley requested a break while she's preparing to have her baby

and asked me to fill in for her for the next few months.

This week I have invited a friend who I not only

admire as a stamper, but also as a person,

as she is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside:

Lindsey Larsen of Occasional Crafting.

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

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

Occasional Crafting - I started my blog on a whim. It was during some PTI anniversary festivities, and they were hosting tons of challenges.  I'd made cards inspired by challenges before, but never shared them because I didn't have a blog.  Literally just minutes before the midnight deadline I decided to start a blog.  I had no idea what I was doing and frantically tried to think of a name.  Occasional Crafting is what popped into my head because that was the truth...I had a baby and time to craft was a rare occasion.  When I typed the web address I accidentally hit "s" twice...a typo that has always bugged me.  I started my blog in 2012 but have taken huge (like 6+ months) breaks at different times. 

2. What is your style of card making?

I'm on a never ending quest for a cleaner more simplified life, so I am happiest when I stick to a clean and simple card making style. 

3. Who inspires you as a designer?

Who doesn't is probably a better question. I'm inspired by so many people for lots of different reasons. Often I am equally if not more inspired by the card maker as a person than by their cards.  I guess I just love to surround myself with good, uplifting people and the fact that they share a similar crafty love is a huge bonus. :)

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

Everything!  I'm constantly scribbling ideas and color combinations on scraps of paper or napkins, tearing pages out of magazines (usually children's clothing), and snapping pictures of things I see. 

  

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

Hmmm...I don't have anything really interesting, so here are a few random things.  I love to try out new recipes, my weakness is buying children's books, I crave salty over sweet 99% of the time, I'm a speech pathologist by trade and still really love learning especially about things related to my field, I wish I was an awesome gardener, and I rarely buy anything right as it is released.  Most often I research and ponder (often for hours) before making a purchase.

Here is Lindsey's card using this week's inspiration!

The challenge designers have also created 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!

Kimberly Lackenbach

Kim's Cards & Crafts

LauraJane 

After Hours Ink & Flowers

Leigh Penner 

To The Full  

Marcie Sharp
 Sharp Designs

Sheri Gilson

 Paper Crafty's Creations

Silke Ledlow

 My Life

Wanda Cullen

  Cullen-ary Creations

We hope you will play along with us!

The linky will close on Friday, March 10th at 11:55am. (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!

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