Today Natasja is my guest blogger. I know Natasja for a while now- we met at several events and had a lot of fun together. She is super talented and I’m thrilled to have her today :)

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?
If I don’t already have an idea in my mind or if I need to create something for an assignment I mostly start with taking a nice cup of coffee and my Macbook, browsing the web to get inspired. I love to visit home décor websites, print and patterns blogs and sites like Etsy. The colors, patterns and shapes inspire me.When my coffee and sometimes a second, is finished, I go upstairs were I have my scrap room. Since I recently have my space redone and reorganized this it self works very inspiring now. I love how organized it is now!

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?
I never create a hidden meaning or message in my work on purpose. Must confess journaling isn’t my strongest part but I always try to put things down just as they are. I always try to have my project express the feeling I had with the picture I am using….but nothing secret about that because that only adds to the words on the layout.
For example creating this mini album reminded me of fun times

Creating this layout I was rather said about my little girl who is always afraid to speak to people she doesn’t know that well.

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?
No need to think this over for one second! Chocolate! No matter in what shape, lol. In bars, cake, cup-cakes, muffins…

4. What is your favorite creation? Please explain why you selected this one.
My favorite creation by far is my wreath…..or actually my two wreaths!
This first one I created in 2009 which just has fall all over it and were I used the same sort of flowers as I used for the weddingbouquet I made for Cosmo Cricket (http://cosmocricket.typepad.com/cosmo_cricket/2009/07/natasjas-wedding-bouquet-class.html)
This second wreath I created last year and is put together with Crica 1934, one of the Cosmo Cricket releases and lots of vintage bits.

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?
In November 2009 I visited Israel to teach workshop. I taught 10 workshops in 4 days and it was such a great experience!
This year in June I will be back in Israel to teach again! Can’t wait to see you again ladies . Next to Israel I’ve also been teaching in Austria , Germany and here in the Netherlands. I LOVE teaching workshops, to get scrappers enthusiastic to play with their product and inspire them!

In January 2010 and last January I visited CHA and worked at the Cosmo Cricket booth teaching make & takes…..that was just awesome!! I got to meet so many people and a lot I already “knew” from online.

I am still amazed that scrapbooking brought me all this!! I love visiting all the countries, meet all these great people and share the love of scrapbooking. Who knows, maybe we meet one day :)

Love,
Natasja

Nat

Karen is a dear friend of mine who just recently started a wonderful website called Society of Ultimate Living. She is an amazingly supportive and fun friend and on top very creative herself !

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?
I use my creative juices to write non-fiction for my website Society of Ultimate Living (SOUL) and I am just starting on a Christmas story that I hope to have completed to shop to agents in the summer.
So when I am ready to harness that creative energy and start writing, I first need to extract my cats from desk.

I swear all my cats (I have six) know when I am sitting at the computer.  That’s my sweet girl Kelle.

Anyway, once I get the cats away from the keyboard, I usually start with a little affirmation.  I usually don’t have huge blocks of time to write, so I’ve learned that I need to break down my projects into little chunks.  So for example, I will sit down take a breathe and say that I am going to write a kick-ass intro to this story.

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?
My goal when I write about my SoulMates on SOUL is to uncover that hidden message.  Find out why someone is successful.  What did they do to live their dream?  So, no hidden meanings in my work.  And if you don’t know what a SoulMate is, go check out my site!

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?
Here’s the official SOUL seal.

So if SOUL were edible, I’d say it would taste like grape juice on ice.

4. What is your favorite creation?
My favorite creation?  Wow that is hard.  Since this is Nat’s blog, I’m gonna go with the story I wrote about her on SOUL!  Click here to read it!

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?
My biggest creative achievement is the creation of SOUL itself.  It truly came in the form of divine inspiration.  I was given the poem below while on a 3 day lomi lomi retreat (lomi lomi is a Hawaiian based form of massage).

Once I read the poem, a picture came to me as clear as day.  I needed to find people who where living this way.  So I am doing just that and I’m having a blast.

Do you know someone who blurs the line between work and play?  Who do you think should be featured on SOUL?  I would love to know!  Let me know via my SOUL Facebook Page.  And if while you are there you like it, well please “like” it.

Keep feeding Your SOUL

Thank you Karen !!

Nat

So stoked about this :

2011-2012 returning Design Team members

Beth Pingry

Location:

USA, Illinois

Celine Navarro

Location:

France

Birgit Koopsen

Location:

Holland

Nathalie Kalbach

Location:

Germany

Leica Forrest

Location:

Canada

Kristen Cohen

Location:

USA, Illinois

Vicki Chrisman

Location:

USA, Nebraska

Liz Hicks – Design Team Coordinator

Location:

USA, Colorado

And joining our team this year….

Ashley Harris

Location:

USA, Arizona

Courtney Walsh

Location:

Colorado, USA

Jamie Dougherty

Location:

California, USA

Tracie Hudson

Location:

United Kingdom

Candy Rosenberg

Location:

Oregon, USA

Nat

So we continue the guest blogger month :) Today I’m thrilled to have Vicki Christman as a guest blogger.

Followers of my blog already know it- I have a Vicki -Crush :) Vicki is one of those angels that you sometimes ask yourself how you deserve to have them around ! When I started Scrapbooking she has been my first hero and idol – I loved her style and all those techniques she tried and she always had a way to support the beginners (there it was me) and make you feel content with your work. Love her bunches!

Let’s see how Vicki answers the questions:

@font-face { font-family: “Wingdings”; }@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?

Lots of different things can stir my creative juices, but here are a few that are my favorites.

Because I love to “alter”, going junk’n with my sis always gets me excited about creating.  Between the two of us, we usually don’t miss much J. We love finding fun unique things to alter.. and priding ourselves in finding the best deals. Lol  We both pick up things as we go, tossing out ideas, sharing thoughts, getting inspired.   Taking a drive in the country by myself with some good music is a great way for me to get my creativity flowing. (windows down of course) lol

If I am working on a scrapbook page, usually the photo is what inspires me.  Other things that inspire me are, fun new papers or products, prints and patterns in fabric, home décor, ect..

@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?

Hey… I thought I was the only one who did that. Lol  I’ve noticed that I seem to do that more when I’m working on a “collage” or altered layout.  It’s kind of fun to add little things, that possibly only you will notice or understand.  This layout is one that has always been close to my heart, because it’s of my niece.  It probably has more symbolism rather than hidden messages.. but so many things about it seem fitting for her. The eclectic mix of colors and patterns, funky and vintage, are “so her”.

@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?

The way I go about “creating” I’m pretty sure it would be something really messy to eat, like corn on the cob. Lol   Really, I’m not sure exactly what it would be,… Maybe guacamole?  For me, I would wish it would be like Guacamole….. Because I love Guacamole! lol  ( with lots of fresh cilantro please)

@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }4. What is your favorite creation? 

I have certain projects that are special to me ,for one reason or another. I’m going to break the rules and share two okay?  These two are very different from each other. The first one is a metal tray I painted with Glimmer Glam. Painting on Metal is something new I haven’t worked with that much, so it’s a new favorite.

When it comes to layouts, I guess I would pick this one. Since “vintage” is my first love, this probably defines my style best. I love creating with small patterns, ink, hand stitching, machine stitching, and fun textures.

@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why? 

I guess, any time you’re doing what you really love, it’s a success right? I love what I do!  But if I would have to pick one thing, I guess I would say… I very proud of my shadowboxs dies from AccuCut.

I love seeing people create with them. I just get giddy when I see the different ways people have used them.

http://www.accucutcraft.com/stores/5/category.cfm?

Thank you so much Nat for having me here!  Love you girl!

Nat

For today I have Martha Richardson as my guest blogger for you!  Martha is part of the Tattered Angels Designteam and we have a lot of wonderful email exchanges. Martha is one of the most supportive and cheering persons I know- but on top of that she is also amazingly talented!

So let’s see what she has to say :)

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }I am delighted to be today’s guest blogger for Nathalie. I’m Martha Richardson and I am a NY transplant now living in the Outer Banks area of NC. Meeting Nathalie has been a life changing experience for me and can’t wait to someday meet her in person {and she didn’t pay me to say that}. At first I was worried about what I would blog about and then I received an email that said “FIVE QUESTIONS FOR…”. Well that’s easy I THOUGHT. It wasn’t, it turned out to be much harder than but here goes…

WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET INTO YOUR CREATIVE ZONE?

Because I’m a curious information seeker, an empty vessel for new information my computer and the web is what connects me to the creative world. Because of the rural area I now live in this has become my place for information, shopping, classes, friendship, shopping…did I say shopping?? I don’t have a local LSS or craft supply store within 60 miles and by the time the weekend roles around I’m tired out from my fulltime job as a teacher.

I take classes online…from CraftEdu, Big Picture Classes, House of 3, Jessica Sprague, Prima Live, Get It Scrapped…just to name a few. I’ve had classes with Nathalie Kalbach, Stacy Julian, Ali Edwards, Cathy Zieslke, Nic Howard, Tammy Tuttereow, all of House of 3 and so many more fabulous artists that otherwise I would never have the opportunity.

I read blogs, I’m on FB, I create on Polyvore, I pin on Pintrest, I watch tutorials, I look at other artist’s work…all of this FUELS my creative tank.

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }DO YOU EVER CREATE HIDDEN MEANINGS OR MESSAGES IN YOUR WORK?

Absolutely…most of the time. These messages though are mainly reminders for me and hopefully someday when I’m not here my daughter Caitlyn will know who and what her mother was truly all about!

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }IF YOUR CREATIVE WORK WERE EDIBLE WHAT WOULD IT TASTE LIKE?

It would taste like a yummy Cake Ball, since my style is always evolving and changing, and I can’t really label it. Just like all the varieties and flavors of Cake Balls…one day you can make Devils Food ones…the next day Red Velvet…the next German Chocolate…or even Strawberry ones. That is what my work would taste like. You will find the recipe here and check out here for some eye popping Cake Ball creations by Bakerella.

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }WHAT IS YOU FAVORITE CREATION?

See…I told you Nat made this tough on us…pick one…that’s as hard as the last question…YIKES! Today my favorite creation is a mini album I made for my daughter. Caitlyn fell in love with Alice in Wonderland back in 5^th grade when she played the Cheshire Cat in a musical version of Alice. To this day it is still her favorite and I created this with some words of wisdom for her to take with her while she traverses adulthood

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }WHAT IS YOU BIGGEST CREATIVE SUCCESS SO FAR AND WHY?

Besides being a mother I would have to say being chosen for the Tattered Angels Design Team. I have always been a creator of all things creative…but I never thought it would go beyond creating for my own personal rewards. When I discovered Tattered Angels while watching a House of 3 web show I knew I had to try this medium. Now mind you I had received a few 1oz. bottle’s in kits but put them aside and really didn’t pay attention to them. Seeing the results FUELED my creative tank…I dug out my Tattered Angels bottles and started playing. That lead to a curiosity that I had to find out as much as I could about this magical product. I created and created and one day I saw the CALL for the design team. I told my husband about it and he told me that I needed to apply. I laughed at him…I have never been published, I didn’t have a blog, I was an unknown…but he said, “You have the talent”. So I went to work…. produced the required projects, started my blog and sent the application off. At that time I was just proud of “ME” for doing it…for being brave enough to be rejected and not really worried about the outcome.

The day I received the email awarding me my Angel Wings, however CROOKED they might be, was one of the most momentous days of my life…to be validated is very powerful. I will tell you that after reading the email I put my head down and cried with happiness…in fact it still brings tears to my eyes as I think about it. It showed me that you “just never know…take a chance…you just never know”.Here are a few projects made recently for the Tattered Angels Design Team blog.

@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }I hope you enjoyed a small peek into my world.  Have a CREATIVE DAY and may you find your FUEL for your CREATIVE TANK!!

Nat