Here’s our interview with Miss Marlene. She’s been with Spark a Smile since the beginning!
What were your first thoughts when you heard about making Spark A Smile cards?
Truthfully, my first thought was how am I going to find time for something else! I do quite a bit of volunteering at church and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with it all. I’m so glad I came to that first meeting!
Truthfully, my first thought was how am I going to find time for something else! I do quite a bit of volunteering at church and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with it all. I’m so glad I came to that first meeting!
How long have you been paper-crafting?
I think my first paper crafting was about 17 years ago. For my birthday, my mom sent me an assortment of stamping supplies. Stamps, ink pads, embossing powders and an embossing gun. I was hooked from the start!
I think my first paper crafting was about 17 years ago. For my birthday, my mom sent me an assortment of stamping supplies. Stamps, ink pads, embossing powders and an embossing gun. I was hooked from the start!
Where do you get your card design ideas? Who or what inspires you?
My mom is an avid card maker. She sends me samples often with new techniques. Mom has a whole room with paper crafting supplies. It is fun to visit at her house and play in her card room. Spark a Smile is also a big inspiration. It’s a fun group and always interesting to see all the different crafting styles. One website that I use a lot for inspiration is www.splitcoaststampers.com.
My mom is an avid card maker. She sends me samples often with new techniques. Mom has a whole room with paper crafting supplies. It is fun to visit at her house and play in her card room. Spark a Smile is also a big inspiration. It’s a fun group and always interesting to see all the different crafting styles. One website that I use a lot for inspiration is www.splitcoaststampers.com.
What is your favorite product or technique at the moment?
I LOVE my Cuttlebug! I enjoy having the ability to cut shapes and emboss easily on my paper crafts! The Cuttlebug also makes it easy to cut shapes in multiples and I do a lot of bigger quantity projects in my work at church.
I LOVE my Cuttlebug! I enjoy having the ability to cut shapes and emboss easily on my paper crafts! The Cuttlebug also makes it easy to cut shapes in multiples and I do a lot of bigger quantity projects in my work at church.
[Editor’s note: Spark a Smile has a Cuttlebug machine that anyone can try! Also, look forward to another blog post later this month to see how it’s used.]
What is your biggest challenge as a card-maker?
Making time to work with paper between Spark a Smile get-togethers. I love doing paper crafts!
Making time to work with paper between Spark a Smile get-togethers. I love doing paper crafts!
What has been the biggest reward or most fulfilling aspect of making Spark a Smile cards?
Knowing that they are being donated to good causes. The thought of bringing some joy to a stranger that might get one of my cards. Enjoying visiting with my card making friends at the monthly meeting.
What advice do you have for fellow card-makers?
Come to Spark a Smile! It’s fun and you’ll come away with new friends, guaranteed!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Even if you feel like you’re not a “crafter”, come and give it a try. We have tools to make crafting easier, people to help you out and we almost always have chocolate of some kind!
Thanks, Miss Marlene!
