What's Inspiring Me This Week!

I don't know about you, but I go through phases when it comes to my cardmaking!

Sometimes I use punches all the time - Sometimes it Stamps - Sometimes it's colouring in!

Sometimes too it is a certain colour that I use all the time - more often than not it is lilac!

Now, I am a BIG, BIG fan of Hero Arts stamps and especially Shari Carroll - who I have had the big honour of spending some time with over the last few years. See Shari's Blog to see her amazing work!

Shari, like me, loves clean, simple looks and I adore so many of the techniques that she incorporates - she is such a big influence in my cardmaking.

Here is Shari's latest card on her blog - Isn't it gorgeous!!

Now, as much as I love Shari's cards and layouts - I do not believe in copying other peoples card and trying to pass them off as your own - It is kind of an unwritten rule in the craft industry and if I ever take inspiration from someone else I always give them credit.

So, as I love the soft stamping in Shari's card above, I took a beautiful stamp from Hero Arts - Elegant Weeds (!!) and created this:

I used the Distress Ink in Scattered Straw on to plain white card and just loved the soft look!
I also pushed myself to use yellow!! Not a colour I use ever - and it is really difficult to force yourself sometimes isn't it - but I am quite pleased with the result.

Other crafty things that are inspiring me this week are the brand new Nestabilities that I have been sent for my demonstration next week in Scotland!

These are so useful and now I cannot stop using them to create my base cards and also layers for my stamped messages too.

I went back to my comfort zone and created this card:

I am so in love with this card that I made using two sizes of the Nestabilities - embossing the edges too which adds a real elegant finish I think! I then just had to use a brand new Marth Stewart punch too to create a ribbon and then finished off with a Hero Arts butterfly stamped and embossed with white embossing powder!

I know I have allready said it - but I love, love, love this card! Isn't it funny how when you go back to your comfort zone you automatically love what you do!! Lol!

Ah well, night off from crafting tonight - Saturday night is Takeaway and DVD night with Chris!! Chinese I think tonight! Yummy!

Have a great night everyone

Hugs

Amy

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