Happy World Card Making Day!

Friends, I AGONIZED over what to share on my blog today. It was a really tough decision. In the end, I decided to post something that reflected what this day actually means to me. So, let's break it down.

DAY - well, that's today (three cheers) and that means the ENTIRE day (yippee skippy).

CARD MAKING - that's the hobby we are talking about here, and it's my favorite. It's pretty darn cool that we have an entire day dedicated to creating something we love for those we love.

WORLD - that doesn't just include Indiana, where I live, or the United States. That includes all lands near and far. That means EVERYONE from all corners of the Earth. When you stop to think about that for a second, it is kinda mind-blowing. Hands down, one of the neatest things about this hobby is that I can not only be inspired by someone from across the ocean, but that someone can be inspired by me as well. AND, being able to make connections with someone who lives thousands of miles away, simply because you share a passion for this hobby. Like I said, mind-blowing.

HAPPY - All of the above definitely make me just that, happy!

Since this hobby of mine affects people, and my fellow paper crafters from all over the world affect me, I thought it only appropriate to share some of the cards that have inspired me from some of my favorite creative minds.

Without further ado, I give you:

SOME CARDS OF PURE AWESOMENESS 

(from people filled with pure awesomeness)

Lindsay Amrhein - That die-cutting blows my mind

Andrea Ewen - I LOVE this color palette and it all works together beautifully

Maile Belles - Perfect execution of the hexagon trend

Jennifer Rzasa - So clever how those stripes cross each other to make a new pattern

Debby Hughes - I pretty much like everything from her

Laura Bassen - The first time I saw this card, my jaw dropped

Cristina Kowalczyk - I love the negative die cutting

Amber Daigre - The technique used to create the banner is so clever

Dawn Woleslagle - I love when a shaped card is done so right (and there's a pattern)

Susan Raihala - Susan amazes me with how she can make so much impact with so little

Even though there are only 10 listed here, there are many, many amazing paper crafters out there that aren't on this list who inspire me all the time, and I tip my hat to them as well. I wish I could go on and on, but then you would be here all day and wouldn't be able to see what fun things others have planned for you today. You probably noticed that most of these are clean & graphic and that's simply because that's my favorite style and that's usually what inspired me. If you'd like to see more of what inspires me, check out my board on pinterest.

I'm not quite finished. I figured I would make one of my own cards inspired by one of the above cards. And, here it is:

Did you figure out which one inspired me? :) Thanks for stopping by today and I send you off with hearty wishes for a day filled with World Card Making Day craftiness! If you need some inspiration do help jump start your creativity, check out the blogs found on the official WORLD CARD MAKING DAY BLOG LIST.