Creative Blog Hop.....CTS103

That wonderful and oh-so-talented Cindy Beach has nominated me for a Creative Blog Hop.  That means I get to share my creative process with you by answering 4 simple questions - so here we go!

1.  What are you working on?  Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!  Finishing cards, writing out cards and making a few last ones just in case!  Here's a peek at my desk this week!

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?  My work is usually clean and simple but I like to have an interesting - or even quirky -  little detail somewhere on my card......like a small piece of mesh in the background  - 

or Santa's red nose - 

                           or a wonderfully punny sentiment......

3.  Why do you create what you do?  I loved doing bulletin boards when I taught school  After I retired I missed working with paper and design.  I look at each card as a mini bulletin board - each with its own theme and personality!  I rarely make more than one of the same card - except at Christmas - most of my cards are created with a specific person/occasion in mind.  

4.  How does your creative process work?  I like to start with a sketch.  Then I pull stamp sets from my bookcase looking for images that would fit.  When I decide on the set I start picking colors and Designer Paper.  Of course there are those times when I start with the Designer Paper and work this process backwards! 

I created today's card starting with that terrific sketch from Cas(e) this Sketch..........and an extra cut out Noel that was found on the corner of my desk........

                           

I used Natural Composition Designer Paper and whitewashed it slightly with white ink so that the notes stand out in the background.

I have passed the baton on to Debbie Crowley at expressively deb.....she is also mostly a CAS designer with a wonderful eye for color and composition.  I enjoyed meeting her at a gathering last year - she has a great smile and is such fun to chat with!  Her post about her creative style will go live next Monday....Dec. 22nd.

And I will leave you with a housekeeping note......

Blogger has taken it upon itself to add a number captcha code if you leave a comment.  Unfortunately no one has found a way to remove it yet.  But in the meantime we have discovered you can skip it and just hit "post comment" as usual......hope that helps as you travel around in Blogland!