Featured Artist/Designer: Maureen Plut 08 27 2015

Welcome to another Featured Artist/Designer Spotlight. Today we’re thrilled to welcome Maureen Plut. Before we show you Maureen’s project, let’s get to know her a little bit more…

I’m a St. Patrick’s day baby who lives in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada.  When I’m not in the studio making cards, I’m a Grade One elementary teacher to joyful, energetic 5 and 6 year olds, happy wife to Tony, proud mom to Jake, and loving GrandMoe to Ashlynn.  I am thrilled to be invited back to the Paper Crafter’s Library after two years!  I’ve been busy these past 2 years completing my Masters of Education from Gonzaga University while working full time.  Now that I’m finished, I’m excited to be back in the studio!

I currently design for Verve Stamps and the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. I’m also excited to be rejoining the Clearly Besotted Stamps design team since taking a 2 year hiatus. My design style is all over the place right now!  It ranges from CAS to classic to shabby!  I’ve also been experimenting with mixed media art journaling.  I’m not a total trend watcher anymore, but rather create what I love.

I’m honoured to be featured here on Paper Crafter’s Library and hope you like the projects I’ve chosen to share.  There’s a little bit of what I love in them.

Personalized Wedding Card

This is my go-to wedding card design!  I use my word processing program to create the names of the happy couple using the Arial font at size 16.  I added a little lace and a pink heart rhinestone to add texture to this CAS wedding card.

Tip #1: the names and flourish are 2 different stamps I had to measure carefully to make sure the flourish was centered to the names.

Supplies

stamps: Love and Marriage, Gratitude Journal (PTI)
paper: vintage cream (PTI), patterned paper (craft supply)
ink: onyx (versafine)
accessories: lace trim (craft supply), heart rhinestone (Recollections), word processing program (Open Office)

O Christmas Tree

Do you ever see a photo on Pinterest and say, “That would make a great card”?  I sure do!  Here’s my inspiration photo from It’s a Stamp Thing  (http://itsastampthing-vicki.blogspot.ca/2011/11/occo-christmas-tree-challenge.html)

I’m giving you a sneak peek at a new Clearly Besotted stamp set coming out on September 5, Tiny Trees.

Tip #2: Mojo in a funk?  Head over to Pinterest and search for images you love.  I’ve created a Christmas Card Inspiration board (https://www.pinterest.com/maureen7/christmas-card-inspiration/) to help me get going on my Christmas cards.
Tip #3: It’s never too early to start your Christmas cards!  I don’t know about you, but I need LOTS of Christmas cards and Christmas always sneaks up on me!

Supplies

stamps: Tiny Tree, Modern Christmas (Clearly Besotted Stamps)
paper: vintage cream (PTI), Altitude (BoBunny), Sleigh Ride (Crate Paper)
ink: basic grey (SU), vintage tea duo (PTI)
accessories: Christmas Tree die, rustic twine (PTI), stitched sentiment flag (Lil Inkers), glue pen, Prisma gltter, rusty bells (craft supply), paper doily (craft supply), seam binding ribbon (MemrieMare Etsy store)

Teachers Live Forever

I hate to say it, but it’s almost back to school here in BC!  Actually, this teacher has been in her classroom setting up this week and will be in next week as well.  I’m an over-planner when it comes to the beginning of the school year.  Because I love my job and all the wonderful people I work with, I had to make a teacher card with my favourite teacher set, Teachers Count  (http://shopverve.com/vs-0195.htm) by Verve.  I helped inspire this set and I must say it gets the most inky love in my studio.

Tip #4: Use muted primary colours to get a vintage look on Teacher cards. After inking my apples and leaves, I stamped off once before stamping on my die cut.

Tip #5: Use green ribbon for leaves!  It’s a great way to use up to little scraps of ribbon you can’t stand to throw away!

Supplies

stamps: Teachers Count, Dream Big, Peace on Earth (Verve)
paper: red (SU), rustic white (PTI), Smarty Pants (Simple Stories), grid patterned paper (scrap supply)
ink: red, wasabi, bermude, craft white (SU), aquamist (SU)
accessories: apples dies, scalloped flowers dies (Verve), Pastel Polka Dot Ribbon Collection (Verve), rustic twine, buttons (PTI), white embossing powder

We hope you have enjoyed today’s project courtesy of Maureen Plut.  Be sure to stop by Maureen’s blog: http://buttonsandbling.blogspot.ca/ to see even more of her beautiful work (and let her know we sent you).

Happy Crafting!