Cath Edvalson
Ask anyone here, and they’ll tell you how much they love their job. Sometimes I wake up thinking I am one of the luckiest gals in the world because of the tasks that lay ahead of me, the people with whom I get to work, and the inspiration that I’m going to find on any given day. I mean, being the creative editor of a magazine like Paper Crafts is like eating chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without gaining any weight.
Of all my super-fun duties, however, right now I’m super-loving authoring the Moxie Fab World blog. I mean, the sheer idea that I get paid to find inspiration for readers all over the world, quite frankly, is mind-boggling to me. Take last Tuesday, for example… I was surfing the ‘net for some inspiration, happened upon a very cool modern furniture site, started digging around, and found some uber cool wallpapers.
Feathers Wallpaper from 2modern.com
Animal Farm Wallpaper from 2modern.com
Suzanne Wallpaper from 2modern.com
Now, in all probability, I would never plaster these patterns on the walls of my home, but they are inspiring in and of themselves. And then I started noticing that each one reminded me in a big way of paper crafting product that I was familiar with.
The fire was lit. The inspirer was inspired.
You can’t imagine my joy as I flitted from web site to web site, trying to find the matching product to each wallpaper sample. Call me crazy, but it was some serious brand of joy. Did I mention how much I love my job?
This wallpaper reminded me of this Peacock Feather Stamp from Inkadinkado.
Look at the similarities between the wallpaper and the Baby Zoo piece of paper from the Baby Cakes Collection from KI Memories.
Though they’re in a different color scheme, the resemblance between the wallpaper and the Simplicite paper from the Cosette Collection from GCD Studios is uncanny.
Here’s the cool thing. When I sat down to write the post, I didn’t have a plan, I had no idea in what direction I would go, nor where the inspiration would take me. One thing led to the next and before I knew it, I was having a quite literal blast putting the whole thing together, and I was extremely pleased with the results.
That’s the very nature of inspiration, isn’t it? A spark is ignited, the excitement is registered, there’s a flood of ideas, more excitement ensues, the work begins, and before you know it you’ve dived into an entire bowlful of magic.
What’s inspiring you lately? Who inspires you? What inspires you? Where and when do you get your best ideas? Now that you’ve heard what’s revving my engine, I’d love to hear what’s revving yours! Leave me a comment by midnight MST on Thursday, June 18 and I’ll choose a random winner to win some American Crafts fun!
Yours in sourcing inspiration,
~Cath
P.S. For the full post that compares wallpaper to paper crafting product, click here.
The majority of my inspiration comes from all the blogs in my Google Reader. I also love looking at decorating magazines to get ideas of color combos, etc.
i am inspired by pictures i see in magazines. :0
i get my inspiratiosn online
Ok, I’m not just saying this to suck up, but one of my greatest inspirations is your Moxie Fab blog posts!!! Your bring so many beautiful things to us that inspires many of my projects!
Blessings,
Christine
My inspiration this time of year come from have the window open and looking out on all the textures and colors. It really give me a renewed since of my art side.
My inspiration comes from looking at other people\’s ideas and playing around with different layouts. Usually I have to make the cards or layouts when I get the ideas or I forget them!
I get a lot of inspiration from blogs. Lately I have been really inspired by the pages of Stephanie Howell. Her from-the-heart journaling is truly beautiful and encourages me to always speak from the heart with my work too.
I love PC mag for inspiration and I get a lot of inspiration from crafty blogs. Home decor catalogs and magazines are also great for inspiring patterns and color combos.
I love the creative juices overflowing over on Bety’s blog: Iralamija.blogspot.com
I just love her work. I just can’t get enough of her ART.
I hope she never runs empty of all those gorgeous ideas.
I think having all these great blogs to read & look at are a fabulous inspiration. I check your blog, Jennifer McGuire’s and Hero Arts blogs pretty much on a daily basis. The amazing creativity shown is just fabulous. Yesterday, I watched Jennifer’s thinking inking video and went straight to my desk and tried out several of the techniques shown. Now that’s just inspiring! Thanks for the chance to win
I am inspired by bloggers and design teams, there is some amazing talent out there. Always blwo me away.
Lately I have been getting inspired by just about anything!
Other wonderful designers, items on Etsy, or simply just the paper and embellishments I have. Thanks for the chance to win some crafting goodies! 
I get my inspiration from the normal areas — scrapbooking magazines and blogs, but also from just everyday things–clothes people wear, or certain fabrics in stores…almost anything.
Other designers’ creations inspire me! I see a card I love and then get to work! My final results are almost always very different than the inspiring project and I love that!
Often I get my inspiration form the “usual” places – online galleries, magazines etc. But sometimes things in real life just jump out at me and give me great ideas, like a funky advert, or the pattern on someone’s skirt.
I’m inspired by the things that are in my daily life, the view out my window, the crazy kids in my house…. the farmer’s market sign next to the curb…. I just have to remind myself to look for it.
Oh man! I am mostly inspired by all the blurfing that I do! I also really find lots of inspiration in children’s clothing and children’s books! It doesn’t hurt that that is my life since I have a 3yo!
Love die cuts too much. I got the cricut, slice, sizzix, quickutz and still looking at the cuttlebug and Nestabilities.
Is that too much??
I am inspired by the samples that are posted on Splitcoast. I love their challenges, and the fact that I can search for a sample by the stamp’s name.
Thanks for hosting a chance to win American Crafts!
Who inspires me is Becca at Amazing Paper Grace and it’s a pretty much daily visit to her blog! Beautiful creations abound. Some are breathtaking! Check her out. And her faith is out front for everyone to see.
Other than my cute kiddos who are so good about lettin’ me take photos of them, I’d have to say the thing that inspires me the most is pattern paper. Give me a piece that completely WOWS me and I’ll be crafting the hours away.
I get inspired by challenges,sketches,magazines and blogs!
I love to look at blogs and magazines!
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