Scrappy Blog Tour!

Hi everyone!! Last week, Daniëlle tagged me to be in this 'scrappy blog hop' and I couldn't be more pleased to play along! I love Daniëlle ever since we "met" at the message board of My Scrapbook Book. I was so sad when The Nook had to go, but with a lot of the girls I stayed in touch and Daan is one of them. I'm very happy to say that we've met irl as well, even though it has only been a few times. Daniëlle is an amazingly sweet girl, very easy to get along with, she's funny and I love everything she creates! Daan, thank you so much for tagging me! Hugs!

I was given some questions and as you may know (or maybe you don't) I am NO good in talking about myself. I'm much better in creating layouts than in talking! But I promise I'll give it a try.

1. What am I working on right now? 

I just finished a layout for Amanda Robinson Studio. Creating something with her cutting files is so easy to do! The files are all super fun to work with and I'm free to create what I want and with what I want. In this case I chose to use the August kit from Scraptastic Kit Club "Boys of Summer". This kit was filled with Crate Paper and Fancy Pants products and so this morning went by in a flash!

2. How long does it take me to create a project?

This totally depends on a lot of things: on my mood, on the products I'm using, if I'm using a sketch or not, if there's anyone else in the house, if the television is on ..... So I don't have a standard answer. What I can say is that I find it easiest to quickly put together a layout (in half an hour or so) - without adhering anything - then stepping away from it for a couple of hours or even a day - and only then finish it. There are times when I don't have the time to do this, when I've procrastinated too long and deadlines are looming .... but very often I change these layouts afterwards as well, even after I've handed them in.

3. What are my favorite things to create with at the moment?

Color, color and color with a little bit of white, kraft or black!

My very favorite things in no particular order: die-cuts/chipboards/frames (like these from Jillibean Soup, but also from Pebbles, Crate Paper, American Crafts, Fancy Pants and Pink Paislee), old book pages, Silhouette Cameo, all things Christmas (like this collection from Bella Blvd), scrapbook kits (Scraptastic Kit Club), wood veneers, cutting files (Amanda Robinson, The Cut Shoppe, Kerri Bradford, Juliana Michaels), color mists/water color paints/Gelatos (Prima, Heidi Swapp, Studio Calico, Faber Castell), washi tape, online classes (Studio Calico), doilies, flair buttons (Pretty Little Studio, A Flair for Buttons), paper clips (Webster's, Maya Road, Freckled Fawn), brush script titles (cut files from Terri Bradford), sketches (Creative Scrappers), Doodlebug Design. And last but not least: my sewing machine!!

4. How does my writing/creating process work? 

This depends very much on my mood (again). I work best when I'm on my own. When I'm scrapping with friends I tend to talk more than I scrap. However, there's one exception: the "crop marathon" with my friends from Scrapbook Nederland. One Saturday every six weeks we crop from 10.00 am until 10.00 pm and on those days I finish more layouts in one day then anywhere else. These girls are so inspiring and the atmosphere is so fun and close that I can scrap without thinking .... Don't know why exactly, I just do.

When I scrap I let myself be inspired by the products. More often than not, I start with a certain collection and then I start hunting for a matching photo. Finding the right photo takes up much more time than the actual scrapping! I always use collections from one manufacturer to scrap with. Even when I use the kits from the Scraptastic Club I start with separating the papers into manufacturers piles (I don't do this for the embellishments).

Furthermore I like to have everything where I can see it. This means that I create an enormous chaos while scrapping! But when I'm finished I clear it all away as I can't start another project if my table isn't clean.

5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired? 

I don't know, I just am. By looking at other blogs, participating in online classes, trying out new techniques, browsing through Pinterest ... but also by NOT scrapping for a while (hours, days, weeks even). And most import of all: by only creating with product that I LOVE. Having to work with product I don't like is killing for my inspiration!

6. What is my signature style?

Oh my, what a difficult question. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but I think my pages say it all: I use lots of color and embellishments (all shown above), I always want everything to be "straight", but sometimes I force myself to adhere something at an angle (which I then regret, lol), I love to add stitching and paint splatter. And oh yes, I would love to be able to add lots of journaling but I always leave it too late and then there's no room for it anymore. If you would ask me what I would like to change about my pages, then that would be the answer: more journaling on my layouts!

Now you get the picture? LOL!

For next week, I'm tagging these three amazingly talented ladies: Madeline Fox, Bente Fagerberg and Marcia Dehn-Nix!

Madeline Fox is on the Scraptastic Club design team with me and that's where we met: at the message board from Scraptastic. I adore her style (not unlike mine, lol), her sense of humor and she takes the most wonderful photos! I can look at her layouts forever and discover something new every time I look. This is one talented lady!!

Bente Fagerberg, my Swedish friend! I know her from way back when we still had the kit club My Scrapbook Nook. We stayed in touch ever since as she's one of the kindest people I know. Her scrapping style is totally different from mine, so very very beautiful! She is a wizard with paints and mists and gesso and has an eagle eye for detail. She makes the most stunning creations!

Marcia Dehn-Nix, we met on the design team of Imaginisce and she amazes me every time with her awesome creations. She is not only great in creating layouts, but also in all kinds of other projects. I just love her style.

Please pay these girls a visit! They definitely deserve it!!

If you made it until here, you're my hero! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. If you didn't, I don't blame you!!

Have an awesome Monday!
Hugs,