Profile of a Stamper - Tania Gould

http://www.taniagould.blogspot.com/

Name
Tania Gould

Location
Launceston, Tasmania

Any jobs other than crafter
Raising a beautiful, very-chatty 4 yr old!

Favourite craft type/style
Anything that can be turned into a gift for someone.

How did you get started in crafting?
I've been “crafty” for years now, trying my hand at many things like beading, cross-stitch/long-stitch, scrapbooking, quilting, folk art, and painting but my latest and greatest is STAMPING!!

What made you interested in stamping/card making/scrapbooking?
I love that you can simply personalise what I once used to spend a lot of money on – cards! I am also a bit of a way-too-keen photographer and have thousands of photos of my daughter, so what better way to show them off but in scrapbooks! I haven't done any for a little while but I am itching to get back into it – now just gotta get the mojo going and actually go print some pics!

How often do you stamp/scrap?
Since moving house, I haven't be able to stamp as much as I'd like, as there seems to always be something that needs unpacking or sorting out. But generally, I would create something at least several times a week.

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired by anyone in particular?
I tend to find my inspiration a lot these days from things I'm seeing in magazines and on TV, particular colours or layouts or ideas that can be converted into paper or ribbon or embellishments. I often get an idea just while watching a show on TV – BUT I really need to learn to either go and do it then and there or at least write it down, because once I have slept, it seems to disappear by the next day! Grrr!

What’s your favourite technique to use?
Embossing, Embossing, Embossing… oh and I love Embossing!!!! I can't “resist” a bit of embossing!!! And my other fav thing to use is the Sponge Daubers – how did I survive so long without them!? They give a much softer, more subtle look compared to plain sponges. I love to soften the edges of a card with the Sponge Daubers.

What tip/s would you give to other crafters?
What I find useful in my craft area is a plastic tray with all the regular most-often used items, that way they are all easy to grab and also easy to put away. I also have an area that is exclusively reserved to my beloved Stampin' Up Heat Tool – he has his own power point and sits pride of place ready to go at any time I need him (which is every single time I craft!)

I am very fortunate to have, at the moment, a whole room just for me and my craft items. I am still waiting for built-in wardrobes to be installed in all the bedrooms, but when I do, my craft room will have an entire wardrobe of shelves, shelves and more shelves!!! In the meantime, I have little “stations” of areas, eg. All my Designer 12x12s are stacked in my wire cubes that I bought from Bunnings and assembled and tied together with plastic ties. Also, I have baskets with all my punches in and another with the odds and ends like the Circle Cutter, Brayer, Crimper etc. I have little plastic trays to hold my Markers, which I love because it keeps them flat so the ink doesn’t run to one tip and not the other. I have a big plastic container with a lid full of odds and ends of ribbons and twine etc....and sometimes I find I'm inspired just by sifting through that container and find a beautiful piece of ribbon and then the rest is history! Now, I could rabbit on about my craft supplies for days, but for now, this is where I'm at. I am looking forward to having most of my supplies tucked away in a cupboard to keep the room neat but more importantly to keep them out of the direct sun light – as it’s heart-breaking to see a beautiful piece of DSP faded on one half. :(

Profile of a Stamper - Bronwyn Eastley

http://addinktivedesigns.blogspot.com/

Name
Bronwyn Eastley

Location
Legana (near Launceston), Tasmania

Any jobs other than crafter
I work as a grade 5/6 teacher at a local Christian School and oversee the Junior Campus in an Assistant Principal’s role.

Favourite craft type/style
I love a variety of crafts. My first love was knitting and I first knitted a jumper for myself when I was in grade 7. I studied Art in Year 12 and loved painting and screenprinting. My dad used to have his own screenprinting business and a love of photo silk screen grew from that. Not many people could boast access to their own darkroom to develop photos! Sadly, I let that hobby slip and I’m so behind with the technology now to ever catch up. In 2001 I did an Adult Ed. Course on Teddy Bear making and have made over 100 of the furry creatures. I designed one pattern and maybe I’ll market that one day. Then I developed a love of beading and jewellery making, followed by stamping and papercraft. I’ve always loved to ‘make’ things and still dabble in all the areas that I’ve outlined. Of course stamping and papercraft is the main ‘love’ at the moment. A friend is teaching me to crochet at the moment and you’ll see some of my attempts, probably attached to cards at a later date! Stay tuned.

How did you get started in crafting?
I’ve always ‘crafted’ for as long as I can remember. My paternal grandmother taught me how to knit at the age of 4. I could never just watch a movie when I was of High School age, as I had to knit, or whatever, while I was sitting down watching TV. I LOVED doing school projects. Making them look pretty was more important than the information that was in them! This is probably where my deep down love for papercraft has stemmed from.

What made you interested in stamping/card making/scrapbooking?
I was asked to a Stampin’ Up! Workshop in May 2008. I thought it would be great to purchase a teddy bear stamp to make my swing tags for my bears. Well, I haven’t finished any bears since and the world of stamping has taken over. I just love it!

How often do you stamp/scrap?
I have Mondays off so that’s usually my stamping day and I fit the odd hour or two in over the weekend. I don’t get much time during the week but if my husband is on night shift, I’ll head off into the rumpus room to craft.

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired by anyone in particular?
Inspiration comes from the JAI girls and many talented crafters whose blogs I follow or subscribe to. My upline (now retired), Amanda Aitken, is a wonderful source of inspiration and we still craft together when we can. I’m so glad she’s back into blogging so I can be inspired by her awesome work when we don’t get time to ‘catch’ up. Inspiration also comes from magazines, Splitcoast Stampers etc.

What’s your favourite technique to use?
I really enjoy the emerging colour and collage techniques and I love 3D stuff, particularly bags! I would love to design some of my own templates one day!

What technique/s are you keen to learn?
I’d love to know how to use the brayer a little more subtly. I’m a bit heavy handed with it and would love to get the effect that Michelle Zindorf and Delys Cram seem to achieve so effortlessly! I really enjoy this style for silhouette stamps and there usually has to be a moon in there somewhere!

What tip/s would you give to other crafters?
I keep a journal that I write in colour combos, techniques etc. and have several folders on the computer with saved photos for reference. I refer to my journal when I’m looking for a colour combination to do. I save files of sketches so I have an idea on hand when I’m stuck.

Profile of a Stamper - Nicole McMurtrie

http://www.mystampnest.blogspot.com/

Name
Nicole McMurtrie

Location
Central Coast, NSW

Any jobs other than crafter
Primary School Teacher

I have started my own hobby business with boutique children's decor and accessories. Items such as fabric mobiles, canvas wall decor, collages, blankets and jewellery are among the things I handmake. You can see my work and find more information on my facebook page. 

Favourite craft type/style
Anything! But I spend most of my crafting time on papercraft and sewing.

How did you get started in crafting?
I can’t remember ever NOT being interested in craft, but it probably started when I went with Mum to her weekly craft nights at the local hall. We would take our dinner with us and watch all the ladies crafting. It was the 80s so fabric and lace-covered photo albums, pot pourri scented balls etc were on the agenda at craft night. From there I was always into painting, making my own cards etc from a young age.

What made you interested in stamping/card making/scrapbooking?
I have always been interested in cardmaking but really only used materials and techniques that were quite basic. There wasn’t really much available in terms of coordinated products where I grew up. Also, I loved the scrapbooking products in shops but it was a lot of work trying to coordinate everything. When I went to my first Stampin’ Up! workshop 2 years ago I was blown away by all the coordinated products in the catalogue and that was that!!

How often do you stamp/scrap?
Whenever I can! But usually it only happens once or twice a week, in a good week. Night time after my toddler is in bed I can get a few good hours (or more if I want to stay up really late) of stamping in. Bliss!

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired by anyone in particular?
Most of my inspiration comes from blog surfing. Before I discovered blogs I used to buy lots of magazines for inspiration. Blog surfing is much more budget-friendly and there are so many talented people out there. I have an ever-growing list of favourite blogs, which I check a couple of times a week.

What’s your favourite technique to use?
I love heat embossing! I also like using layers of texture and embellishments.

What technique/s are you keen to learn?
I have never used a brayer (blush) but am keen to learn how. The effects are amazing!

What tip/s would you give to other crafters?
Have a dedicated space for crafting, even if it’s just a desk in a corner. If you are able to leave out the projects you have on the go you are more likely to get them finished. Also, have a place for all your tools and materials. There’s nothing worse than spending precious craft time searching for that paper-piercing tool amongst the mess. As for inspiration, start by looking at a few demonstrator blogs and follow links to the blogs of others – you will have hours of endless inspiration!

Nicole has just launched My Flutterfly - her own range of children's decor and accessories!  Become a fan on the My Flutterfly facebook page and leave a comment on Nicole's blog
to go in the running to win one of her stunning mobiles!

Profile of a Stamper - Amanda Reddicliffe

http://www.stampin-style.blogspot.com/

Name
Amanda Reddicliffe

Location
Windy Perth

Any jobs other than crafter
Mum, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Cook book writer

Favourite craft type/style
Anything goes

How did you get started in crafting?
Until recently I thought it was when my son was born, but it was actually in 2003 when I was handed my ultrasound pictures, and my mother in law suggested we scrapbook them at a party she had been invited to for this little company called "Creative Memories". A triangular piece of cardstock and a row of stickers later, I was hooked!

What made you interested in stamping/card making/scrapbooking?
Just the feeling of doing something with a point - my scrapbooking (I hope) will be passed down over the generations - I wish I had something like this from my parents, grandparents, just so I knew more about them and their day-to-day life - even if it was just journalling!

How often do you stamp/scrap?
I try to every day, but my family are my first priority so ... whenever time permits really! Night time is the best time for me to scrap or stamp.

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired by anyone in particular?
I am inspired by other crafters on the net, magazines, fashion trends. So many people inspire me - I couldn't narrow it down to a few.

What’s your favourite technique to use?
I find the "clean hands" approach works wonders. For cards I'm a simple stamp, glue and stick girl. For scrapbooking I just like to find things that look pretty together and piece them together. Paper piecing I suppose!!

What technique/s are you keen to learn?
Brayering with a capital B!

What tip/s would you give to other crafters?
It's OK to draw inspiration from others - 99% of the time something that starts as a CASE will have your own spin on it to make it unique.
Don't buy on impulse - only buy things you'll get tonnes of mileage out of over the years.
Don't keep clutter - if you haven't used it in a year, turf it or trade it in with other crafty friends. Have a garage sale amongst yourselves.

Profile of a Stamper - Sarah Klass

http://www.sarahklass.com/

Name
Sarah Klass

Location
Perth, WA

Any jobs other than crafter
Mum of two precious angels!

Favourite craft type/style
I don’t think I have a style. I waver between clean and simple and more involved stuff when I have the time/inclination.

How did you get started in crafting?
I’ve always loved pretty papers and collected them as a girl. Never used them, just liked to ‘own’ them. Nothing much has changed!
I started getting into paper crafting when I made my wedding invitations in 2001 using a scalpel blade and a metal ruler to cut them, believe it or not! Purchase of a paper trimmer followed soon after J
Then there were the cards that involved nothing more than a base and some punched flowers, that at the time I thought were the height of sophistication and creativity!

What made you interested in stamping/card making/scrapbooking?
Stamping - I love that I can create gorgeous images without the need to draw them first!
Card making – I believe that absolutely nothing beats a handmade card, and I couldn’t tell you the last time I bought one instead of making it. ‘Just because’ cards are my favourite kind to make and send J
Scrapbooking – I love that I can record special moments and even everyday moments in a way that is enjoyable to do and more so to look at over and over. My kids love their scrapbook pages, which makes me love doing it even more.

How often do you stamp/scrap?
As often as possible! Probably every second day on average. I don’t scrap as much as I’d like to but am working to change that...

Where do you get your inspiration? Are you inspired by anyone in particular?
Everywhere! I often take inspiration from fellow crafters but not necessarily by CASE-ing a whole project. I take note of little details that I like individually and use them when they fit what I’m creating.
I am inspired by colour combinations that I see everyday and I view the world according to the colour families, but then again, doesn’t everybody?!

What’s your favourite technique to use?
Ooh, I don’t think I have one! I tend to have an extended play with a particular technique for a while, and then I’ll find another one and have a good go at that.

What tip/s would you give to other crafters?
Just STAMP! I know what it’s like to hit a creative wall and it happens to us all, but when it does, CASE projects that you like and that are sure to turn out well so that you get your confidence back.