Welcome to another Featured Artist/Designer Spotlight. Today we’re thrilled to welcome Susan Opel!
Before we show you Susan’s project, let’s get to know her a little bit more…
When I turned 39, my life changed drastically. After receiving a BA in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI, I spent 16.5 years teaching English, art, and religion to students in Illinois, Nevada, and Indiana. One day I decided that I wasn’t excited about teaching anymore. I wanted to expand my world.
In a dramatic leap of faith, I took a position at Paper Crafts magazine, quit teaching, and moved across the country to pursue a dream job. For 6 1/2 years I worked (can you really call it that?) as an editor for Paper Crafts, connecting with cool creative people from all over the globe. I forged relationships and friendships with scrapbookers, card makers, and manufacturers.
I reveled in the creativity that surrounded me, and I couldn’t imagine NOT being a part of the industry.
One day that little magazine shut down for good, but God knew what he was doing. I’m now thrilled to be continuing my career in the creative industry as the Creative Ambassador for My Favorite Things, a premiere stamp and die company with some of the CUTEST designs out there, the best product, the most amazing design team, five star customer service, and a group of dedicated and seriously awesome employees. I get to look at pretty designs and cheer people on in their creativity every single day. It’s pretty awesome. Really.
I also love to find inspiration for color combinations from real life or online. This card was inspired by this amazing pair of earrings that I bought at Charming Charlie. I can’t tell you how fabulous I feel when I wear them! For more color inspiration, I invite you to participate in the MFT Color Challenges with my design team and me.
- Stamps: (Friends Like Us) My Favorite Things
- Paper: (Black Licorice, Grout Gray, Blu Raspberry, Lemon Drop, Orange Fizz, Cotton Candy, Razzle Berry) My Favorite Things
- Ink: (Black Licorice) My Favorite Things
- Dies: (Flamingos, Blueprints 20, Blueprints 25, Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX) My Favorite Things
- Accents: (rhinestones) Close To My Heart and (Wink of Stella) Zig Kuretake
We hope you have enjoyed today’s project courtesy of Susan Opel.
If you are looking to see more from Susan, she hosts the MFT Challenge & Inspiration blog with a talented design team and at least one challenge every week! http://www.cardchallenges.com/
You can also find Susan in the following place:
Happy Crafting!
Susan Opel= the trendsetter +the educator+ the designer + the cheerleader in the paper crafting industry!
So happy to see her feature here! Her GORGEOUS flamingo card speaks volumes!! Way to go, Susan!
Susan rocks as MFT’s Creative Ambassador and she’s a fabulous cardmaker as well!
Love this dynamically gorgeous card!
Susan is an awesome designer, cheerleader for sure 🙂 AND most of all an awesome person. Gorgeous card using inspiration from everyday stuff…gotta love that 🙂
Dude! This card seriously rocks! Love Susan’s style!
WOW! So awesome to learn more about you Susan. You give me hope to pursue some of my creative dreams 🙂 Your card is as fabulous as you are…and I love your taste in jewelry!! Those are so pretty!! You’ll always be cuter! 😉 Have a great day and congrats on being featured here… ♡
Super duper AWESOME!
A TOTAL Susan card with bling and all! Love it!
Lovely project! I like the embossed border all the way around the card.
Susan Opel ROCKS!! I LOVE this card!!
Eeeeee!! Love seeing Susan’s radiant personality here today! The fact that should took a chance, is something I’ve always admired about her. And I’m oh so glad she did! What personality, fun, love and positivity she brings to the industry. Not to mention some super enjoyable and oh so funky cards. Case in point: A fancy flamingo chillin on a wave ;). Awesome choice for your featured designer today! 🙂
LOVE your style and I agree that the Flamingo is AWESOME!!
Courage, dreams and passion. What we all need to achieve that something special. Keep doing what you’re doing, it inspires us all x
What a vibrant and happy card!
I was so happy to see Susan Opel on the My Favorite Things blog after PC Magazine closed.
With such an eye for knockout cards and trends, she has truly been an ambassador for
the paper crafting industry! Way to chase the dream, Susan! Not all of us are brave enough to take the leap from the “job” to our dream occupation!