FAQ

Do you make all of the items you sell?

Yes I do. All of my creations are completed my hand, most often using rubber stamps and brass stencils. I often start with cardstock or scrapbook paper and build my card from scratch, using many layers. I do not use a computer or photocopied parts in my creations; everything is done by hand. For my gift bags, I start with a basic paper bag and build all the layers, including the bag bonnet, from scratch. Since I make all of my items from scratch, quantities are limited to the number I can make before my husband misses me too much and tells me I have to stop for the night.

How do you come up with the ideas for your creations?

I’m usually inspired by a rubber stamp, brass stencil or patterned paper I purchase. When I see a rubber stamp or stencil I’d like to buy, I usually already have an idea of what I want to do with it. I’m not sure where those ideas come from, but I know they come at strange times. I frequently doodle and make notes when I first wake up in the morning, while we’re out to dinner, and while I wait at appointments. I always have a pad of paper and pencils with me to jot down ideas and notes. When I hit a creative dry spell, I often take a class to get inspired again.

How long does it take to make a card or bag?

That depends on the design and how many elements are involved. I usually design a particular card, for example, and then make multiple copies of the same card. The original card design may take several hours, but the multiple copies don’t take as long once the design is completed. I always keep a copy of each design so that I can reference it later.

Where do you get all your supplies?

I try and purchase as many of my supplies as I can locally, so I can support the small stores in my area. If we don’t support those small stores, they won’t last, and we’ll be the poorer for their loss. I often buy supplies a long time before I use them, and they sit in my storeroom and stare at me until I come with an idea for their use.

While I enjoy all the new items I see for sale in stamp and craft stores, I think that a lot of the creativity has been removed from the process. You can now buy all of the parts to make a card in a pack, with little or no creativity involved. I try and stay away from those elements that don’t involve some creative process such as painting, colored pencils, stamping, gluing and glittering, etc. I feel anyone can assemble parts from a kit, but it takes an artist to make something from scratch with no blueprint or design to follow.

What type of supplies and techniques do you use to make your creations?

I use mostly rubber stamps and brass stencils. I have started to acquire some acrylic stamps in the past few years, but old fashioned rubber stamps are my favorite. My favorite technique is colored pencil; I find it very relaxing despite the fact that it’s so time consuming. I also use heat embossing, dry embossing, markers and blender pens, watercolor, chalk and watercolor pencils, acrylic paints, art punches, and paper folding. My favorite embellishment is glitter, and I’m often told I have glitter on my face. I believe that’s how true stampers can identify each other – the amount of glitter on your face or ink on your fingers.

What is the deal with copyright laws and rubber stamps?

Rubber stamps are copyrighted by their owner/designer as original art work. Permission has to be given to the rubber stamp artist for the use of their image in a piece that is to be sold. Many companies do not allow their images to be used for resale, and special attention is paid to avoid copyright infringement, which is a punishable crime. All of the creations I sell are made with images that I have been given permission to use. In some cases this permission comes with specifics for use, such as limited quantities per year. For this reason, many of my items are limited in quantity and cannot be produced in large quantities. Copyright laws often also stipulate that items sold must be made by hand, by the artist, and sold by the artist. This precludes any mass production or mass assembly and consignment sales, such as in gift stores.

Can I copy one of your designs?

If you are interested in making an item you’ve seen on my site for your own, personal use, I will be happy to describe the process to you in detail. However, all of my images are original designs and may not be copied for sale or profit without written permission.