August 18, 2014

The Creative Blog Hop




By now you have likely heard of The Creative Blog Hop and today I am here to share my story with you. Lisa Elton (My Paper Tales) tagged me last week in her blog post HERE. Lisa was my first non family blog follower and we have become blogging and email buddies since that summer of 2011! Thank you Lisa, you are the sweetest! You will find lots of fabulous inspiration if you pop over to her blog and have a look around

The idea around The Creative Hop is to learn a bit about other creative blogger by answering four questions, so here we go...

1) What am I working on right now?

Right now it is all about getting organized. With my son heading into his second year of University and my daughter into her senior year, husband working across the country and design team commitments...the only thing that keeps the creativity going is being organized. Stamps and dies are being stored using the "Jennifer McGuire Storage Style" so that I can find what I am looking for and the clutter is kept at bay. I can't create or be creative when my craft room is a disaster.  A place for everything and everything in it's place!  See HERE when it began a year ago!

With my son taking his furniture to the house he is renting with three other guys from school I am going to be moving my craft room into his bedroom with the big windows and double the space. With his blessings of course!  I will share photos when the move is complete! Like most revamp projects, I imagine I am getting myself into a big job!

Keeping the supplies organized is one thing, but keeping track of deadlines, admin duties, home/family and appointments is a job in itself.  Back a few weeks ago I went to staples with my daughter, not to buy her school supplies, but so that I could get a new school year day planner. I was so excited. That system has always worked for me but after watching recent posts and videos done by Debby Hughes, Kristina Werner and Stephanie Klauck I am now thinking it may be time for a more adult day planner.

Here is a snapshot of my current system...



2) How does my work differ from others in my different genre?

That is probably the hardest question to answer about myself.  I have so many people tell me that they see my cards somewhere and know that it is mine. How is that possible? My style is CAS but my cards are not all the same. Sometimes they are so simple and one layer and sometimes multiple layers. What I do know if that I use the same principles in every card I create. I don't like clutter and if my card starts getting busy I either remove some items or start over. The elements on my design always have room to breath, I leave lots of white space and I use a minimal amount of patterned paper (even though I love it),

3) Why do I create what I do?

I have always been creative! My obsession with paper started as a child when I starting collecting pretty stationary. To this day I love to look in stationary stores for inspiration.

Primarily I create because I find it very relaxing. I have and have had MS most of my adult life. Although I did not find out until my 30's the symptoms traced back to my later teens. For me being creative with paper is an opportunity to let go of any stresses in my life and keep my fingers moving doing something I love to do.

4) How does my creative process work?

I tend to plan out my designs before I begin. I have an idea, I think about the elements I want to use--papers, colours, stamps, die cuts etc., then I sketch out my design.  I always pull all items I am going to use out, cut my papers and then sit down and get to work.  I try to create all at once without distraction, so when I start my intent is to complete it. I do a great deal in the evening, I am a night owl by nature and maybe it is partially because it was the only time I had to create when my kids were little. I don't usually listen to music because I end up dancing instead of crafting, I like to work in quiet.  Projects usually are not quick--I move slow.

Well that is it for me.
Thank you for visiting and learning a little more about me.

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The last part of the Creative Hop is to name and tag THREE more people, with the week I had I only tagged two people, but I know that you will love them! Both of them blog crushes for me.

They will be posting next Monday, August 25th!


Stacey Lang Schafer



I'm a wife, mom of three, special education teacher...and passionate paper-crafter!  I've always enjoyed crafting...and once I attended my first card party, I was hooked and started a blog of my own in 2009!  I LOVE our fun paper-crafting/blogging community and find myself inspired to try new techniques and new supplies on a daily basis!  Meeting new friends who delve the same hobby and sharing my creations and tidbits of daily life on my blog gives me so much joy!  Thanks so much to Tracey for inviting me to join her in this fun Creative Hop!  I'd love for you to stop by my blog, Stacey's Stamping Stage!

Michele Ferguson



I was a SAHM who always found delight in all kinds of crafting - and maybe a little bit of alone time in the bargain wasn’t a bad thing either =] I attended culinary school at age 50!  Own a catering company called “Y.P.O.M?”  and delight in cooking – even though I am married to a “fussy eater.” My husband, Tom, and I spent 15 years renovating a little Cape Cod in Michigan.  When completed, we built a new home on a country two acres, because we were bored and we’d outgrown our little house with SIX grandchildren! Though I’ve been making cards for years, my first blog post happened in May 2014!  With a whole lot of “you can do it” from Debby Hughes – can you believe that??!!



19 comments :

Lynn said...

Tracey, I loved reading your post. Thanks so much for writing it...can't wait to see the craft room takeover! Love hearing about your creative process too. You are a gem.

Irish Cherokee said...

Nice writ up Tracey. Well done. - Jim

I Card Everyone said...

Tracey you, my friend, are the best. How you keep it all together [even with a planner] just blows me away. You know how much I love your style, you cannot know how much I value our new friendship.... I don't know how I will live up to your fabulous lead, but thanks for inviting me to "tag" along. =] Michele

Darnell said...

That was great, Tracey! I enjoyed reading your TCBH interview very much!! And how awesome that you are moving into Ben's old room which is bigger and more well lit?!! I'm thrilled for you! Knowing your organization and planning skills, you won't miss a beat going from one to the other!! Take lots of pictures! Hugs, Darnell

Maria said...

How awesome is that write up!:-) And, how fun that you'll be able to move into your son's old room. I'm looking forward to those pics! Just love your style and can't wait to see more fab creations! Have a great week!:-)

sandie said...

HiTracey, this was great to read. It is so good to learn more about you and your creative world. I will have to take a look at your link about organisation as I only have one corner of our spare room and I am too many stamps etc for the space! Have a fun day x

Lisa Elton said...

YAY a place for everything and everything in it's place...I KNEW we were separated at birth LOL!! Terrific post Tracey and thanks for your sweet words. I can't wait to see your new crafty space. Big windows and more elbow room sounds great to me! I use a calender to keep things in order, such a help!

Lisa Elton said...

Oh I forgot to tell you that you can copy either of the blog hop badges from Darnell's blog or there's one on mine if you want to!

Marisa said...

Nothing I enjoy more than finding out about the person behind the cards :) Great post and look forward to seeing the craft room redo photos :)

Michelle Short said...

Loved hearing more about you and your creative process Tracey. I'm a planner addict as well and have loved seeing everyone's recently too :) Thats great you'll be getting to love spaces soon too! :)

Shelly said...

Enjoyed learning more about you! <3

cm said...

Tracey, I've been crushing over your blog since I 'discovered' you, and this post just re-affirms how awesome, talented and creative you are! The 'adult planner" (you're so funny!) is brilliant, and certainly a zillion steps above my current system - strewn about slips of paper and post-it-notes! Better system required, for sure! Moving into your new space - exciting! Yes, a huge task, but based on all the things you're capable of - juggling the commitments and responsibilities of several design teams, keeping your family 'close' despite distances, coping with MS, and everything else home-and-house related - you'll tackle this with your usual perseverance, focus, style and flair! Everything in its place and a place for everything: YES! The promise of photos to come: excellent! We'll be waiting. I'm envious - wish I could spill into a real 'room'; my kitchen counter craft zone is rather cramped *grin* Your post: pure delight! You. are. awesome.!!
Hugs~c

Deepti said...

I so enjoyed reading about ur creative process :) I like that planner, I do that too ! I am so glad to have known u, u r such an inspiration :)

Sharron said...

Enjoyed your post so much--loved hearing more about you and your creative process. How wonderful that you will have a bigger and brighter space for crafting. Be sure to post pictures!

Leigh Penner said...

Oh, how fun that we're both a part of the hop, Tracey! So fun to learn more about you! And I think I'm going to have to look more into your organization system...

Barb Ghig said...

Oh, how fun it was to learn so much about you, Tracey! I love your planner so much, that I'm convinced to get one for myself! Thanks so much for sharing yourself with us ~ Barb ♥

Anita in France said...

What a fabulous post, Tracey ... so enjoyed it! Your enthusiasm for your craft is a thread that runs right through it! Soooo looking forward to hearing about (and seeing) your new craft space ... oh, yes, a place for everything and everything in it's place ...blissful! Anita :)

Jen Mitchell said...

I loved reading your story. It's amazing how we can all get to "meet" and know each other better through this hobby that we all have!

Stacey Schafer said...

you're so awesome, Tracey! so happy to know you, sweet friend!