Blog Hop...with a difference!

So I am here today for a share of a different kind for this "Blog Hop with a Difference". (Sorry, this was supposed to be up last night!) I was extremely honoured (and very humbled) to be asked to participate by my gorgeous friend Paula Perry, who I have known through the scrapping community for a few years now. I was really blown away when Paula asked me to join in as a person who inspires her, especially since SHE inspires ME! I have long been an admirer of Paula's work, especially her use of mists & masks, colour and layering - some of my own favourite things! If you are not familiar with Paula's work, make sure you visit her blog HERE to see her gorgeous creations.

Now, getting to know me...

1. What am I working on right now?
At the moment, it's Design Team work which will be revealed soon. I tend to only have one project happening at a time, as I like to finish completely before starting something new.

Here's a little of what I've created lately (and yes, one of them is an Off the Page item - I even surprised myself!)...

2. How long does it take to complete a project?
These days, (thanks to my beautiful children!) I am rarely able to start & finish something in one sitting, so it is usually spread over 2 or 3 days in a couple of sessions. On average I think it would probably take about 2-3 hours of actual time. (The worst part is having to stop & pack up when the mojo is flowing! LOL)

3. What are my favourite things to create with at the moment?
Without a doubt it's all about texture & colour! My must-have items are patterned paper, texture paste, stencils, mist / paint / ink, gauze, doilies, flowers, buttons / flair, sequins...and my trusty hot glue gun!

4. How does my creative process work?
I am definitely a creature of habit - I always start with my photo. (If I am designing for specific criteria, I bear that in mind when choosing my photo.) From there, I select patterned papers and a sheet of coordinating cardstock (I like to use a cardstock base for stability & "framing" on my layouts). Once I work out roughly where my photo will go, I start adding mediums. (My favourite part!) After that, it's all about layers - more patterned paper, gauze, doilies, etc. Then I embellish with whatever takes my fancy at the time. I never plan my embellishments in advance, I wait until I have the background done & photo ready to stick down and then just let my mojo take me wherever it wants!

5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired?
I have to admit, sometimes it's not easy! After having over a year off after the birth of my boys, it wasn't easy getting my mojo back. My biggest inspiration definitely comes from my kids though, as they are my usual subjects and I love the fact I am creating something that records the memories of their lives. Aside from that, there are several things that inspire me - the work of others (via blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, etc); the products (you know when you have THAT paper you just have to use?); challenges (I often find having some sort of criteria to follow makes it easier for me); and last but not least, for me it's about the time out. It's time spent NOT doing chores, running after the kids or doing things for other people, it's about doing something just for myself...it's MY thing!

6. What is my signature style?
This is always the hardest question! I don't quite know what to call my style, but my favourite things to use are colour, messy mediums and layering. I guess that makes it kind of "arty"? (If someone can define this for me, then please do! LOL)

This is one of my favourite recent layouts - what "style" would you call it?

Now to tell you who I have joining me on this blog hop. Each of these lovely ladies inspires me for different reasons...

Vicki Burdon
Vicki and I have been the best of friends for 5 years now. She was my very first real online "scrappy friend" and of all the things I have gained from this craft, her friendship is one of the greatest. We have supported each other through many life events, and despite the fact we live 1000's of kilometres apart and have only had the chance to spend "real" time together twice, she knows me better than almost anyone. (Sometimes I think we were separated at birth! LOL) Vicki inspires me not only for her creations, but also for the friendship & unwavering support she has always given me and simply for what she manages to fit into her life! When she isn't running after her 3 gorgeous kids or working on her farm, she runs & designs for both Scrapbooking Top 50 and Show Us Your Stuff; as well as her handmade business Burdy's Embellies.

Em Stafrace
If you aren't already familiar with Em's work then you have seriously been missing out! Em is not only a very talented scrapper, but also an extremely talented graphic designer. How she manages to combine the two through her hybrid and digital work never ceases to amaze me. I have often looked at digital layouts and whilst I admired the composition of it, I often thought it was missing a bit of the texture & dimension you see in "traditional" scrapping. NOT the case with Em's work! Her ability to add depth to a page is AMAZING, and she features textures that you seriously want to reach out and touch. Em has a a long list of impressive credits to her name - design team positions, numerous publications, and she also manages & designs for Page Drafts (where you can find her awesome sketches!)

Becci Sundberg
Becci is another lady that totally inspires me. I first came to know Becci through scrapping, but since then I have come to admire so much more about her. Becci runs her own blog called Becci's Domestic Bliss, which documents her passions and journey toward creating a simple homemade life for her family. I share many of Becci's philosophies & interests and often find her a wealth of information. From organisation and running a home, to cooking for a family (from scratch of course!), her amazing crochet creations and just the simple fact that she keeps it REAL. Becci calls it how she sees it, and I totally love that about her! Becci even went as far to crochet an entire blanket for EACH of my boys after they were born, and it was one of the most amazing, generous gifts I have ever received.

Each of the ladies will post on their own blogs next Monday, 7th July, so be sure to stop by and check them out. In the meantime, you can visit the lovely Paula's blog post HERE to see who else she linked up besides me.
Thank you so much for stopping by, and for all the comments you leave me. You really do make me smile and it is very much appreciated! X