Guest Designer Melissa Cash

I am really excited to share a little Q&A with my guest designer for "Spring Basket"! Melissa has been on my radar for a long time now, she is such a talented cardmaker and has just created such magical projects with my "A Year of Flowers" and "Pressed Flowers" sets. Featured in this post are a few project that stood out to me! So when I was ready to release "Spring Basket" I knew she'd be a perfect choice, it didn't hurt at all she emailed me *shortly* before I had a chance to ask her, saying how much she'd love to see me release a set of "petites" to go with her favorite set "A Year of Flowers"! Well, you just love when things like that happen, Melissa Cash, come on down and enjoy your moment!

Tell us about yourself! Family, pets, where you live, work, etc:

I have been married for almost 25 years (on May 10) to David and we have two grown boys. Jim is 24 and Jon will be 20 in June. I am so lucky to live near one of the most beautiful places on earth, Yosemite National Park and I have worked/teach classes at my local stamp store. I love animals and have two terrier mix dogs(Abby and Wags, both are rescues) I volunteer for my local SPCA when I can. My life is full of many blessings.

Describe your style/what you think you do best:
I would say my style is pretty mainstream. I love to use images that are timeless and can be used for many occasions.

FAVORITE TECHNIQUE: Layering, layering and layering!

COLORS/COLOR COMBO:
Just about anything paired with green makes me happy. I use a lot of pinks, greens, aquas and browns.

FAVORITE EMBELLISHMENTS:
Rhinestones, ribbon and flowers

FAVORITE GINA K SET BY MELANIE:
Hmmm, this is a hard one. Right now I am loving Spring Basket, but I also love A Year of Flowers and Pressed Flowers too! Heck, I love them all.....who am I kidding? (her first Spring Basket sample is pictured below)

FAVORITE GINA K SETS (FROM ANY ILLUSTRATOR)
All of them! Too many to decide.

CRAFT SUPPLIES I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

Copics, Gina K. PL White, Black and Kraft cardstocks, Tonic Trimmer and Nestabilities dies.

I’VE BEEN STAMPING FOR (HOW LONG):
About 20 years. Yep, I have been around along time.

I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM:

First, I am inspired by nature and the beautiful colors of nature. Second, I am inspired by the many different blogs I peruse each day. There is so much talent in the stamping world. I am also inspired by different stamping challenges, sometimes a challenge is just what I need to spark my creativity.

Tell us about your FIRST stamping experience!!
It was in the fall of 1990 and I was at a little gift shop and they were doing a demo on embossing. They were embossing bats with black EP on brown paper bags. That was all it took, I was hooked. I bought the bat stamp, ink, embossing powder and a Milwaukee heat gun (which I still have and use 20 years later). Funny thing about this, is that I don't really care much about Halloween, but I bought that little bat anyway!

Tell us about your most MEMORABLE stamping experience!!
Hmmm, this is a tough question. We went on a stamping cruise 11 years ago and were pretty disappointed. On the way home from the cruise we decided to create a retreat of our own. This year (last weekend in April) will be the 10 anniversary of The Great Yosemite Stamp Escape. I think it is one of the greatest experiences because I have met some wonderful instructors and stampers over the years. Stampers really are amazing people!

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT STAMPING/CARDMAKING ARE:
Stampers/cardmakers are some of the most kind, loving and supportive people you will ever meet.

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING GOALS ARE:
I would also love to be on a design team(s) someday. My goal is to continue teaching people the craft that I love. I would love to travel and teach.

ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS:
1. Don't think you need to have every stamp, tool, embellishment that is on the market. Take it slow and find your niche.

2. Don't give up and don't every think your work isn't "good" enough.
3. Have fun!

FAVORITE THING TO MAKE THAT AREN’T CARDS:

Little boxes and gifties.

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

1. Seeing my work in a magazine. I think I have been published about 10 times in some of the different magazines. Remember way back when Take 10 magazine first came out? I had a card on the cover, I was on cloud nine. I haven't submitted much since then....weird huh?

2. Teaching classes. I am so fortunate to have an amazing stamp store minutes from my house I teach a couple of classes a month.

3. Being on the Center Stage Team and doing design work has been a complete joy for me.


CHALLENGES I LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN:

Sketch and color challenges are my favorite. I have files and files of sketches that I refer back to for inspiration all of the time.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US!

1. I have been fortunate to meet Paula Deen (the amazing Southern cook) two times. Once at her cooking school and once at a benefit dinner at her home.
2. I have a travel bug, my hubby says I have one foot in the road at all times. My motto is "have passport, will travel"
3. I don't like clowns..they are scary.


WHAT I DO WHEN I’M NOT STAMPING:
I like to spend time with my family, read and travel when I can.

A FAVORITE QUOTE:
The better part of one's life consist of his friendships~Abraham Lincoln

I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about Melissa as much I did! One thing I am sure of, someone who has that as their favorite quote must be a true blue friend to others! :) Now let's go see a "Spring Basket" project from Melissa on her blog, I can't wait to see what she's dreamed up! And while you're there, please "follow" this talented lady, her cards are gorgeous, and you hard it from the woman herself: 20 years of stamping experience AND a paid stamping instructor, we could all learn something! ;)

Have a great day!