Questions Part Three

Thanks to everyone for their feedback on the FAQ posts.  I was really just curious if they were of interest.  Most of the interest will probably be the stamping related questions so I'm back again this evening with the first of two posts related to all the stamping questions you all had.  (You all had a LOT of stamping related questions! lol)

Stamping Questions Part One

How long have you been stamping?
I started stamping a little bit in my scrapbooks in the spring of 2007, but it didn't become a hobby all on it's own until probably the fall of 2007.

You make so many great patterned papers for your cards and actually *use* them on future cards. How do you organize those papers so that they actually get to see the light of day again?
No real organization.  I just keep them with my cardstock.

What is your 'favorite' time to create?
I don't really have a favorite time.  I usually end up creating in the afternoons.  It's usually afternoon by the time I get other things done and have a chance to create something.  My crafting space is along one side of our bedroom so I can't create at night.  (My husband gets up around 2 or 3 am so no late nights for me.)

Do you have a favorite color or color scheme with which you like to work? What's your favorite color combo? I would like to know how you come up with your color combos.
I kind of answered this before.  I don't really have a favorite color combo, just whatever strikes me at the moment.  Color combos sometimes come from just trying colors together and other times they might be from a photo in a catalog or magazine. 

How long have you been creating cards?
I've been creating cards since fall 2007.  (Anyone else think it's weird that those dates are stuck in my head?!  I started my first blog around that time so maybe that's why I remember the time of year.)

How did you get started in card making?
Blogs are what got me into card making.  I have been a scrapbooker for about nine years.  One day, I came across blogs and fell in love with stamping and card making.

I was wondering if you prefer making cards like this one, or the ones where there is a lot of coloring involved?
I don't really have a preference.  Sometimes, I like to just stamp and other times, I love to create cards with lots of coloring.  I really enjoy doing both.  I think that's one reason I really love working with the companies I get to work with.  I get to do both styles. *smile*

Do you make one single card, or do you make multiples if you really like the design?
Almost all of my cards are single cards.  I rarely mass produce.  I don't know why.  I just can't get into mass production. 

How long does it take you to make a card?  Do you just focus on one, or do you have several going on at once?  
It really varies from card to card.  Some might take a half hour and others might be longer than an hour.    I only create one card at a time.  If I leave a card and move on to something else, the first card will probably never be finished.

What is your favorite paper crafting technique?
Hmm.  Sponging ink around the edges and sewing on my cards are probably my favorites and my stand bys.

How do you get your inking looking so even and perfect?
Practice.  I use those large yellow sponges and cut them into quarters.  I ink the sponge up and dab some off onto scrap paper.  This helps so you don't get too much ink.  You can always add more, but you can't take it away.  Then, I turn the sponge as I ink the edges.  I ink the very edge with the center of the sponge where there is more ink and turn as I'm adding more ink further in so that I am using the part of the sponge where there is less ink.  (I don't know if that makes sense.)

Can you do a tutorial or talk more about your stitching on your cards?
I can try to answer questions, but I don't know about doing a tutorial.  I don't have a camcorder so I don't know how easy it would be to show you how I stitch.  Email me some questions and I will try to post something.

How do you know which stamps coordinate with which other stamps (other than the obvious ones from the same set)? Do you spend a lot of time with placing stamps together to see if they work or do you pretty much know that they will or will not work?
I just experiment to find combinations I like.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. *wink*

Do you ever just feel a card is "so-so" but everyone else loves it?
Absolutely.  Some of my favorite cards won't get very many comments and others that I don't really care for will get lots of comments.  (I think I might have bad taste! lol *wink*)

It's encouraging to me that even you designers sometimes make cards you don't care for but are still willing to post them for all to see. I am way too critical of what I make... but others don't seem to be. I need to remember that.
Obviously, this isn't a question, but I wanted to comment about it anyway.  I can assure you that I make things that I don't like.  Sometimes they never see the blog (*wink*), but most of the time I will post them anyway.  I figure there will probably be some part of the card that might inspire someone in some way even if I don't like how the entire card turned out.  I agree that most designers don't tend to say when they don't care for a card, but I'm willing to bet we all create cards we don't really care for.  I just don't mind saying it for everyone to read. lol

Have you been published in magazines and if yes, how many times and what magazines?
Yes, I've been published a few times.  I'm terrible about submitting.  I will be good and submit one month and then, months usually go by before I submit again.  Just too many things to do and this hasn't become a priority. You can see my publication list here.

What would be your ideal stamp set that hasn't been made yet?
I honestly don't know. 

I love all the cards you made with Guidelines 2. I have the set but haven't used it yet!
Where do I start?!?!?
Just play around with it.  That's my best advice.  You never know what you'll come up with.

When you have a straight border (or somewhat straight) what is the best way to meet them up if it isn't big enough to go across your card?
Some stamps can be hard to line up.  If you mess up the border a little bit or the edge is a hard edge where the border won't be smooth, just cover it up (a button, a ribbon, a strip of patterned paper).  Lots of things will work well to cover the border and enhance the design at the same time.

I'm curious about what themes/images do you predict becoming the next fad in the stamping world?
I don't really know.  Some people are predicting hot air balloons and peacocks.  I don't know about the whole peacock thing.  Not sure if I could get into that fad.  I don't think I really worry about what is the next best thing.  I use what I love.  Cupcakes are a big trend, but it took me a long time to find a cupcake set I love (PTI's Cupcake Collection).

How long have you been a CTMH consultant and what type of set up so you have to photograph your cards?
I've been a consultant since the beginning of the year, but am now a junior consultant because I am not active.  I don't sell to anyone and mainly just purchase a few scrapbook things here and there.  I use a light tent to photograph my cards.  I purchased mine here, but they don't have the same one anymore.  This one is similar.

Happy Stamping!

Niki

Comments

[Rebecca Ednie]

1.

I love both card making and scrapping. What are your top 5 inspiring scrapping blogs??

[Mishy]

2.

Thanks for all the info Niki.. you never cease to amaze me.. I know you design for High Hopes.. do you know where in the state we will be able to get them once they are not available to us on line?

Mishy