CASEing Genius: Amy Tsuruta

 

Hello Crafters! 

I'm sure today's Genius will be a familiar face to many  . . .

It's Amy Tsuruta!!!

Amy is uber talented. Her designs are simply amazing which easily explains why so many companies and challenges are out to snap her up. You can see all her craftiness on her blog. Tsuruta Designs. Plus, she and some crafty friends put together the Coffee Lover's Blog hop each season. I love Coffee so immediately I felt a kindred spirit in Amy. But do you want to know my absolute most favorite thing ever about her? It's her encouragement. Period. No matter whose blog I go to or what route I take to get there Amy has always beat me. ALWAYS. It's like she transform into a  little crafty fairy fueled by coffee and glitter traveling at Santa Claus speed in the wee hours to visit all the blogs in blogland. She is so generous and kind. I'm in awe of her ability to give back. 

Shall we get to know her? 

The Interview:

1. Who are you and where do you live? 

 My name is Amy and I live in the gorgeous state of Washington!

2. How would you describe your style?  

Clean & Colorful

3. Name one product you're completely crushing on right now?  

Watercolors 

4. What is was your first crafty purchase? Would you still buy it now?  

I've been crafting most of my life so let's see....I remember cross stitching when I was younger.  I actually managed to complete a project!  I didn't really have the patience to sit still for it then and certainly don't now....

Fun Stuff:

5. What is your current favorite song? 

 I seldom listen to music while in the car, it's always on NPR....I do stream music and tend to listen to the Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga and Mumford & Sons stations.

6. Who would play you in a movie?  

This made me chuckle, I had to google Japanese Actresses so it would at least seem realistic....I pick Rila Fukushima of The Wolverine {Big Hugh Jackman fan♡}.  

7. One random thing about you that people would never guess?  

 I'm a Canadian♡

I feel like singing along to Mumford and Sons while sipping coffee with Amy would certainly be a good time. :) 

Let's get to the goods! 

LO-VE that bold red stripe with the grey background. The sketchy city is simple but pops off the card on that white circle! 

I love how free this is. Those light blue hand drawn stripes are beautiful. The contrasting red stars are perfect to frame her bold sentiment. 

Flowers in a mug? Yes please. The little handle hanging off is just adorable! 

The CASE: 

I love the bold stripe in Amy's first card. the layout got me in the second card along with that watercoloring. Lastly, the soft fluffy bow in the third added some great texture. I wanted to incorporate that too. 

I started by adhering some Navy Blue card stripes to a white cardbase. I used the waves background from Hero Arts/Basic Grey and heat embossed it in white on my watercolor cardstock. I used my zig markers in various blues to color it. I did blend with some water. I die cut it into a circle and adhered it to my card base. 

All of the stamps I used are solid images except for the "Hello" circle. As most of you know me and solid images don't get along. But I really wanted to use them so sometimes you have to make nice with the girl at the party you don't like. You know what I'm saying.  

I stamped my lighthouse and my anchor in light gray ink then colored over them with my copics.I chosethe lighthouse to mimic Amy's tall city buildings.  I can't be without my black outline so I used my multiliners to outline them. For the fish I stamped it by inking it up with Wild Mango and Sweet Gelato and letting them mix in the middle. It was a bit too pink so I ended up adding some shading with my copics. The stripes were added with a copic multiliner and a white gel pen. In order to get the texture Amy created with her fuzzy bow I used hemp twine to create a Sailor's knot. I had to Google this. Like I had clue one how to make a sailor's knot. I've never sailed anything unless you count home drunk on a skateboard one night sailing.  . . .I mean this girl I knew did that . . .yeah...her . .. crazy girl. 

Ahem. 

I wanted to bring in an extra bit of red so I added one red sequin and topped it off with glossy accents. The glossy accents is clearly not dry in the photo. Forgive me. There are so many hours in the day. 

That's it for me!

I though for sure when I did Amy's feature it would be a coffee card. Funny how things surprise you :) 

Thanks for visiting! 

I hope you go over and leave Amy some love it. She's a delight! 

XoXo