It’s Rock Star Spotlight Day here again at The House That Stamps Built. It’s always so much fun to learn a little bit about the women behind the art. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Cheri Weston. Here are Cheri’s responses to our game of 20 questions…

Cheri Weston

1. Tell us a little about your family. My husband, Carl and I live in West Gardiner, ME on farmland once owned by his grandparents, with our calico kitty we call Bobbi (she was born with a bobbed tail) and a German Shepherd puppy we call Allie. We have two adorable grandchildren who live in the Adirondacks of New York State, Philip is 5 and Alexa is 4.

2. How did you get into stamping? It was five years ago, when I offered to make baby shower invitations for my daughter-in-law’s baby shower. Without my knowing how it happened it morphed from a hobby into a lifestyle….I can’t go a day without crafting something.

3. What is your favorite technique? I love to try all techniques, but I especially love those using inks and heat embossing.

4. What is your favorite tool? I couldn’t live without my Score Buddy, my punches, my embossing folders, my dies….these are all my favorites.

5. What are your favorite embellishments? The simple ones like ribbons and buttons.

6. What is your favorite coloring method? I love coloring with Copic Markers.

7. What is your favorite color combo? I like the combination of Black/White/Red, it’s a no fail classic combination and can be used with over 50% of my stamps.

8. If you had to describe your stamping style with 3 words, what would they be? Clean and Simple. I struggled with this for so long, but once I caught on I find I’m really comfortable with it and now struggle with layering.

9. Do you always send the cards you create? No, I don’t! Unless I make a card with someone special in mind or for Repeat Impressions Show Boards….I keep my cards. When I’m over loaded with cards, I select a bunch to send to Operation Write Home or put together gift packs for special gifts.

10. For which occasion or holiday do you create the most cards? Hands down, Christmas. I love making Christmas cards.

11. What is your favorite stamping magazine? Paper Crafts and Paper Creations.

12. What are your favorite Repeat Impressions’ designs? I love the Christmas and Holiday stamps. They are some of the best I’ve seen.

13. What are your other interests besides stamping? Reading, gardening, walking, hiking, kayaking, target shooting, waterskiing, playing ice hockey.

14. Name your favorite food and one food you can’t stand. I don’t think I have a favorite food, but I for sure, I don’t like fish.

15. What is your guilty pleasure? Red wine. I love a nice glass of red wine…okay, two glasses of nice red wine.

16. Do you have any pet peeves? Yes. I have no patients with people who blame others for their own problems.

17. Tell us one random thing people may not know about you. I once worked for the FBI.

18. Name 3 things on your “bucket list”. I don’t really have a “bucket list” but I would love to sky dive, visit these countries: Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Scotland and hike a portion (I’m a realist) of the Appalachian Trail.

19. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, 5 movies, 5 people and 5 foods would you take along?
• 5 books: Gone With The Wind, Celia Garth (or any book by Gwen Bristow), Far From the Madding Crowd, Return of the Native, A Walk in the Woods.
• 5 Movies: Gone With the Wind, The King’s Speech, Dirty Dancing, Sweet Home Alabama, Sleepless in Seattle.
• 5 people: My husband, son, daughter-in-law and both grandchildren.
• 5 Foods: Tacos (anything Mexican), potato salad, broccoli, Swiss cheese and chocolate brownies with walnuts.

20. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? “Sleepless in West Gardiner”.

Thank you, Cheri, for sharing your responses here with us. It was fun learning a little more about you! And I know you’ll all want to keep up with Cheri’s latest creations too so be sure to visit her blog, Stamp’n Boomer.

And before I sign off… a friendly reminder. If you haven’t created a card for our latest Sketch Challenge yet, we sure hope you will soon! Submissions are being accepted until Tuesday, May 28. Please refer to my WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge M1513 post for all the details. Play along with our sketch, upload a link to your card here on the RI blog and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate!

Happy Friday everyone and thank you for stopping by.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Wendy
Repeat Impressions

Surprise! It’s Rock Star Spotlight Day here again at The House That Stamps Built. It’s fun to learn a little bit about the women behind the art isn’t it?! This week we’re shining the spotlight on Geri Utterback. Here are Geri’s responses to our game of 20 questions…

Geri Utterback

1. Tell us a little about your family. I’m married to my best friend and we have been married for 36 years. I have two daughters from a previous marriage. They gave me two wonderful grandchildren and are in college. My DH retired this year and we are still trying to adjust to him being home all the time.

2. How did you get into stamping? My daughter Brenda introduced me to making cards. We started getting together with my other daughter Theresa and making cards together. We had so much fun and the next thing I knew I was hooked. Some of you may know my daughters, Brenda Turner - Stamp It Up and Theresa Momber - Crafting The Web.

3. What is your favorite technique? The thing I really love about creating cards is the coloring. I could spend all day coloring and often have many images colored before making the card itself.

4. What is your favorite tool? Dies

5. What are your favorite embellishments? Ribbons

6. What is your favorite coloring method? Copic markers and Prisma pencils.

7. What is your favorite color combo? Teal and peach for now, it changes.

8. If you had to describe your stamping style with 3 words, what would they be? Not really sure if I have a stamping style. Hopefully I’m versatile and artistic.

9. Do you always send the cards you create? No, I often make cards using a sentiment for a challenge that I don’t have a need for. Sometimes I send extra cards to OWH.

10. For which occasion or holiday do you create the most cards? Birthdays and Christmas.

11. What is your favorite stamping magazine? Cardmaker

12. What are your favorite Repeat Impressions’ designs? This is a hard one. I love a lot of them, but I really love the cat images and the Blue Heron.

13. What are your other interests besides stamping? Reading, spending time with my family and going for walks, especially along the beach when we can.

14. Name your favorite food and one food you can’t stand. I love chicken and I can’t stand okra .

15. What is your guilty pleasure? Chocolate anything!!

16. Do you have any pet peeves? Bad drivers

17. Tell us one random thing people may not know about you. I can make a really good pie crust.

18. Name 3 things on your “bucket list”. To do more traveling, start playing the guitar again and lose some weight.

19. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, 5 movies, 5 people and 5 foods would you take along?
Books: Harry Potter series, a cookbook (for the cook), The Lake House
Movies: A River Runs Through It, Steel Magnolias, When Harry Met Sally and any James Bond movies for my DH.
People: My husband, too many to take all my family, so a doctor, a cook, a gardener and a carpenter to build me a ship so I can get off this Island!!!
Food: Fruit and vegetables that have seeds (so the gardener can grow more), chickens, and chocolate.

20. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? Steel Magnolias

Thank you, Geri, for sharing your responses here with us. It was fun learning a little more about you! And I know you’ll all want to keep up with Geri’s latest creations too so be sure to visit her blog, Geri’s Cards.

Before I sign off… a couple of friendly reminders… If you haven’t created a card for our latest Designer’s Choice Challenge yet, we sure hope you will soon! Submissions are being accepted until Tuesday, April 23. Please refer to my DCC410 ~ Clean And Simple Cards post for all the details. Play along with this challenge, upload a link to your card here on the RI blog, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a full sheet of rubber stamps… any sheet of your choice!

Also… Bill and I are busy today getting our booth set up for the StampScrapArtTour show in Rockford, IL. We’ll be at the Clock Tower Resort this weekend, April 20 & 21. If you’re in the area we hope you will come visit with us. We have lots of new stamp designs to show you since our last trip to Illinois!

Happy Friday and thank you for stopping by.
Here’s wishing us all a wonderful weekend!

Wendy
Repeat Impressions

Woohoo! After a really long hiatus, it’s Rock Star Spotlight Day here again at The House That Stamps Built. Over the years this little game of 20 questions has proved to be a fun way to get to know the artists behind the cards we’ve been sharing. This week we’re shining the spotlight on Karen Hasheck.

Karen Hasheck

1. Tell us a little about your family. I am very happily married to a retired school teacher. We have two grown children: Brian, who lives in Chicago with his wife Kristy and their dog Ludo. He loves working at a large downtown accounting firm. My daughter Marie lives in Appleton, WI with her son Nate who is 6 years old and the apple of Grandma’s eye!

2. How did you get into stamping? 14 years ago I was introduced to a SU demo who was a good teacher and I was hooked immediately. My first project was my “baby’s” high school graduation announcement and when he moved out to college, stamping took over my life and my extra bedroom became my craft room.

3. What is your favorite technique? Dry embossing with embossing folders

4. What is your favorite tool? Big Shot (I use it everyday both embossing and cutting die cuts especially Nestabilities)

5. What are your favorite embellishments? Pearls and colored gems

6. What is your favorite coloring method? Paper piecing - I love to “color” by picking a fun dp and cutting and piecing on the stamped image and I do it all the time.

7. What is your favorite color combo? Well my favorite color is green and I do reach for greens, yellows and browns alot, but I have lots of other favorite combos too… recently I discovered kraft and cream (off white) and love that combo.

8. If you had to describe your stamping style with 3 words, what would they be? CAS+ - I have to add a Plus to Clean and Simple - I love an unique fold or something fun and different to make my CAS cards pop.

9. Do you always send the cards you create? I send alot but I give many as gifts and donate even more.

10. For which occasion or holiday do you create the most cards? Has to be Christmas.

11. What is your favorite stamping magazine? Just Cards

12. What are your favorite Repeat Impressions’ designs? Rebecca and Belle

13. What are your other interests besides stamping? Scrapbooking, Pinterest, reading mysteries

14. Name your favorite food and one food you can’t stand. Love cheeseburgers, hate lima beans.

15. What is your guilty pleasure? Shopping online (for more stamps, diecuts, embossing folders, etc., etc.)

16. Do you have any pet peeves? People who don’t respond to emails.

17. Tell us one random thing people may not know about you. I am a huge Green Bay Packer fan.

18. Name 3 things on your “bucket list”. Visit Hawaii, Europe and take another cruise.

19. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? It’s A Wonderful Life (especially now that I am retired

Thank you, Karen, for sharing your responses here with us. It was fun learning a little more about you! And I know you’ll all want to keep up with Karen’s latest creations too so be sure to visit her blog, Karen’s Kreative Kards. While you’re there don’t forget to leave her some love. Karen has a birthday coming up this Sunday too!

And before I sign off… a friendly reminder. If you haven’t created a card for our latest Sketch Challenge yet, we sure hope you will soon! Submissions are being accepted until Tuesday, April 2. Please refer to my WHAT IF? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge M2013 post for all the details. Play along with our sketch, upload a link to your card here on the RI blog and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $25 Repeat Impressions gift certificate!

Happy Friday everyone and thank you for stopping by.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Wendy
Repeat Impressions

Our Rock Star Spotlight series has been a big hit and a lot of fun. We got a chance to get to learn some interesting facts about all of the talented stampers (aka Repeat’s Rock Stars) who share their wonderful card creations with us here every week. Then last time, by reader request, I spotlighted myself… the artist who creates all the images that become our stamp designs. Now this week, by Rock Star request, we are shining the spotlight on my husband, Bill, the craftsman who turns my designs into stamps for all of you.

1. Tell us a little about your family. My wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this past summer. We have two cats for “sons” and I also have a daughter from my previous life. She is a nurse and lives in Florida.

2. How did you get into stamping? I got into the stamping business after I had to retire from my previous job due to several herniated discs in my neck. My mother-in-law’s new hobby at that time inspired us to start Repeat Impressions. If you missed it earlier you can read the story of how we came to be by following this link.

3. What is your favorite technique? Using the scroll saw to cut out all the rubber dies.

4. What is your favorite tool? Our big vulcanizer

5. What is your favorite color combo? That’s simple… black ink on wood.

6. If you had to describe your stamping style with 3 words, what would they be? Down and dirty!

7. Do you always send the cards you create? No card creating for me… I leave that to the experts.

8. What is your favorite stamping magazine? Vamp Stamp News was the first magazine we ever advertised in. I still look forward to checking it out every month.

9. What are your favorite Repeat Impressions’ designs? There are many but if I had to choose I would say our #1704-P Great Blue Heron, #708-K Rebecca, the lighthouse stamps and really all the ones that index well and make my job easier.

10. What are your other interests besides stamping? Watching football, trying new micro brews, driving my John Deere tractor, hunting, camping, reading, travel and trying new things.

11. Name your favorite food and one food you can’t stand. I love to eat and pretty much like ALL kinds of foods. But I can never pass up the Argentinian beef at El Gaucho Steakhouse when we visit Aruba. We don’t eat a lot of red meat at home so this is a real treat. The only food I really can’t stand… tuna casserole!

12. What is your guilty pleasure? Buying new hats. And this drives my wife crazy! She’s always pointing out that I only have one head so why do I need 200 hats. I just can’t help myself. I like to collect baseball style hats from all the different places we visit.

13. Do you have any pet peeves? People who do all kinds of stupid things when they are driving instead of focusing on the road.

14. Tell us one random thing people may not know about you. I enjoy making bread the old fashioned way with my hands… no bread machines in this house. I usually bake a dozen or so different kinds of loaves on Christmas Eve… and the relatives have been known to fight over the leftover loaves after dinner the next day.

15. Name 3 things on your “bucket list”. Take my wife to Alaska and also visit Ireland where I’ll drink real Guinness in a real Irish pub.

16. If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island, which 5 books, movies, people and foods would you take along?

Books: Any of the Alex Cross books by James Patterson and anything by Dean Koontz, John Grisham or Tom Clancy .

Movies: Dirty Harry, The Shawshank Redemption, The Longest Yard, The Man From Snowy River and Beverly Hills Cop.

People: My wife, and… do I really have to bring any more people? Then it would no longer be a deserted island!

Foods: Lobster, steak, cheese, olives and beer! (Good thing my wife had all the vegetables on her list!)

17. If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be? Well considering all the time we spend on the road traveling to stamp shows, how about… Driving Miss Wendy

Now I have to admit… I had a lot of fun working on this post! Of course, getting Bill to sit still long enough to answer all of these questions took a bit of doing, but I think it was worth it in the end. Thanks, sweetie, for playing along with us! I hope you all enjoyed it too. And if you missed it previously and would like a virtual tour of how our stamps are made you can learn all about it by following this link.

Thanks for stopping by today and spending some time with us!
So how are those cards coming for our latest Sketch Challenge?

Wendy