Sweet November spotlight on Tress

Hello my friends!

Can you believe it is already time to start previewing the new Sweet November stamps for July? Time sure is flying... it seems like it was just spring planting time and now here we are with summer full upon us and it is time to start doing some harvesting. But before we get our hands dirty I want to shine the Sweet November Guest Gal spotlight on a very special friend and fellow card maker whom I have gotten to know through emails these past couple of years. And when she recently started her own blog I couldn't wait to have her join this release... please say hello to Tress Smyth!

Tress is a Copic queen with major coloring skills. She really knows how to bring an image to life. Her card designs are fresh and fun and Tress has a knack for picking papers and accents that never overwhelm but always perfectly support the main focus of her cards. She is a real storyteller with her cards which is something that I totally respond to. Tress' taste in images is delightfully eclectic but she does have a love of fairies and has been a long time supporter of Sweet November's magical inhabitants.  :)

Ok, so now it's time for Tress to answer the Sweet November questionnaire... which I always look forward to reading!

1) What color do you feel represents your personality and why?

Green!  To me, green represents growth/life, and it allows other colors to stand out when it is used as a backdrop.  Green can provide balance and stability to other colors.  I'm not one to seek the spotlight, but rather enjoy being a strategist who can design plans for others.  I crave learning...continued growth.  This venture of card making and blogging is a new experience for me.  Typically, I'm more logic driven, rather than creative, but I'm trying to develop new skills.

2) Is your style of dress/ home decor similar to your style of card making?

Yes, I think so.  I like light bright colors, flowers, and a casual not too fussy look!  You won't find much beige, brown, black, or muted shades in my wardrobe or my house.  My craft room/guest room is blue and white with floral accents everywhere (along with a few fairies tucked in here and there).  In my living room some of the furniture you'll see includes a denim sofa, a large floral chair and a half (my throne, lol), an ottoman used as a coffee table, an antique side table, an 1800's bookcase, and a contemporary wall unit that houses hubby's LARGE television...which I must admit I've learned to appreciate. :)  White tee shirts and capris or shorts in all the colors of the rainbow are my standard dress.  My cards also tend to be colorful and not too embellished.

3) What one thing always puts you in a good mood?

My husband's smile.  Yes, very corny, but so very true.  His smile lights up a room and makes any darkness or sadness dissipate.  I know I can count on him to be there to support me and try to make any situation better.  Even when I'm angry with him, he knows all he has to do is smile, and I have a difficult time staying upset.  What an unfair advantage!  ;)    

4) If you could visit any time in history when would it be?

Gosh, this question is difficult to answer.  There are so many periods in time where people were expanding the boundaries of knowledge and creativity.  I suppose, based on conversations I've had with individuals, I'd say the Roaring Twenties.  During my college years, I had the pleasure of spending time with several women who were young adults during the Twenties.  They told their stories with such zeal, recalling lives full of fun, excitement, and passion.  Their eyes sparkled as they talked about long summer days, dance halls, prohibition, politics, love, and fashion.  I'd enjoy seeing these women in their heyday!

5) If you were a mythical creature ie. fairy, elf, mermaid, troll, wizard, witch etc., what kind would you be and why? 

Definitely a fairy!  I'd love to fly under my own power and live in and amongst the flowers.  Being a darker fairy rather than a cherubic faced pixie would be my choice.  Although I also like the style of fairy shown in the movie Snow White and the Huntsman...shimmery and almost transparent.

Bonus question
6) If you are a fellow Gleek, which character from McKinley High do you most identify with?

Sorry Amy, never watched the show.  But I do have both Christmas cds!  :)

LOL, love that you have the Glee Christmas CDs Tress! :)

Now, check out the gorgeous card that Tress created using the Princess Ilyse stamp. Her coloring is positively dreamy and Ilyse looks so serene and regal all decked out in those beautiful shades of purple that Tress used. And that single sheet of pattern paper creates the perfect scene for this lovely princess... I just love how it looks like she is resting beneath a wisteria tree in full bloom. So when it was time for me to CASE Tress' card I knew that I wanted to create a single sheet scene for a princess as well. So I pulled out Lilliane and colored her up. But in my entire stash of paper I couldn't find anything that I liked. So I had to get a bit creative and ended up stamping a simple scene for her instead using a castle stamp on slightly patterned paper and just a hint of color added to give it some interest. In the end it was just what Lilliane needed. 

Alrighty, so tomorrow Tress is joining Nancy, Marion,and myself and we will be kicking off the July Sweet November release previews! You won't want to miss sneak peek week both here and over on the ATS blog. As always there are chances to win all of the new goodies so don't miss out on the fun!

Toodles!

Supply list:

cardstock- Bazzill and Copic X-Press It

paper- Basic Grey

stamps- Sweet November (Princess Lilliane), Faerie Song (Moon Castle), Verve (sentiment)

ink- memento tuxedo black and rich cocoa, Colorbox creamy brown, Tim Holtz old paper distress

Prima flowers

Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Copic markers:

skin- E000, E00, E11, R00, R20, RV23

hair- E35, E57, E59

eyes- B04, B06

clothes- RV63, RV66, RV69, RV00, RV52, 0, E81, YG21, YG03, YG95, Y13, Y21, Y26, Y28

background- B0000, 0, G40, E42