Featured Friday: Tracey Mallaghan!!

Welcome to the February edition of Featured Friday!! If you haven't seen one of my Featured Friday posts, this is the segment where other extremely talented people have graciously accepted my invite to be interviewed and CASEd. Well... I'm not CASEing them, just their artwork.

This week's FF favorite is the incredibly talented, quirky and charming Tracey Mallaghan of Chronically Crafting Fibro Fighter.

Tracey is extremely passionate about raising awareness for people who suffer from fibromyalgia, a debilitating, but often unseen and misunderstood condition. 

Her artwork ranges in style, but never lacks texture and she always tries out heaps of new techniques. Just one pop over to her blog always leaves me thinking, "Now how did you do that?!" Luckily, if you ask her, Tracey is more than willing to share her crafty secrets, because she's cool like that.

But why wax poetic about Tracey when she can give you much better insight than my feeble words?

Here are 7 things you should know about Tracey:

1.     How did I get my start in stamping? 

I became ill in Nov 2011 and had to take a lot of time off work, flicking through the telly, oh how daytime telly dulls your brain, I saw Barbara Gray on Create and Craft (I think its making its way to the US) and was amazed at what she was creating with stamps.. I was hooked and started googling about crafting. I read a lot of blogs by people who also started cratting after an illness.  It has really helped me keep looking on the bright side and I've picked up so many tips both for crafting but also on coping with Fibro.

2.     What's the craziest/funniest thing I've ever made? 

Before I found papercrafting I first started crocheting, my Granny had taught me as a little but it wasn't until I got ill that I realised you could make things... not just long long chains!  

Anyhoo I thought I was it and made a scarf for each of my daughters. Well I got them out of storage for this winter and was mortified lol they were awful.  I showed them to the girls and asked if they had worn them, sensible things that they had pretended to, so my feeling weren't hurt and stashed them in their bags!!!  Now they know I am sharing my stuff with the bloggy world they are thankfully much more honest with me.... I think

3.     If I could be any craft supply, what would I be and why?

Glue,  so I can always hold my family together... cheesy but I am so lucky to have them.

4.     What kind of cards are my favorite to make? 

Im still learning so much about papercraft that I really dont know, Im still finding out names of styles.  I love Graphic 45 papers and Tim Holtz... well everything Tim Holtz and these are what I always find myself being drawn back to, I think these lend themselves to grungy, layered, mixed media styles so well.  Grungy distressed looks are also so good for covering up mistakes!!  

I love the look of Clean and Simple, too, though. I was struggling with getting this right so took an online course, oh how I love the internet.  

I most love making cards for my family, does that count? I change up the style depending on their taste but getting that really personal touch across that you couldn't get unless you made it yourself makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

5.     What are my favorite card-making challenges?

 I actually started a blog so I could join in with the Compendium of Curiosities.. however, I think i only entered twice... there are just so many fab blogs out there and I do loose track!  I must make myself one of your challenge reminders.  I love Altered Eclectics and my first ever entry was with them. Elaine is such an awesome person and so talented.  And of course her other site Eclectic Ellapu ;)  Becca and I are both on the Design Team and not only do I have the honor of being chosen by Elaine and getting to share my stuff but the Team is full of such lovely ladies like Becca ;)  Also if you havent been NBUSed yet you really must, its not a regular challenge site but Darnell is just so so talented and her posts always, always make me laugh.

6.     What is my least favorite crafting supply? 

Grrr Too sticky supposedly low tack sticky stuff...  I have ripped so many pieces of paper using stuff that shouldn't stick too much, trying  to hold a mask or die in place.... grrrr.  any tips from you or your lovely bloggy friends on low tack sticky stuff that sticks but not too much would be most welcome.... Grrrr

7.     What is the best thing a new stamper/blogger can do?   

Play and chat,  just have a go with whatever catches your eye and look at lots of blogs.  The crafty community is so friendly and full of advice. If it makes you happy it is well worth doing.  Also try to get organised early on, my crafty stash grew rapidly and it took ages to sort through after a while of accumulating,  Jennifer McGuire has some awesome storage tips.

Oh and if you really want to know if your scarf has turned out well... ask a friend - not your daughters! ;)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The answer to Tracey's question 4 was actually how I stumbled upon her amazing blog. I'd seen a card she'd linked up that was sheer grungy, distressed perfection and I had to pop over to her blog to see who the creative genius was!

Now comes the fun part - where I get to CASE one of Tracey's cards! If you're unfamiliar with the acronym CASE, it means Copy And Steal Everything.

Which is why I was sooooooo tickled pink and blue and all sorts of other colors when I came across this card of Tracey's:

The Original

It's so full of texture and pops with color, and I thought it would make the perfect day-before-Vday card to CASE. 

Tracey also graciously CASED her original creation and made a canvas mixed media collage. 

Tracey's CASE

I'm not sure if I could hang this in my house because every time I walked by it I would just have to stop and stare and its sheer loveliness. I'd waste hours! Remember what I said about all that texture that is never missing from a single Tracey project, This is a prime example. It's just layers and layers of gorgeousness!! 

After seeing Tracey's CASE, I wasn't sure mine would hold up, but I was pleasantly surprised with the end product.

My CASE

This is one of my all-time favorite CASEs. The color, the texture - just everything screams fun and bright and lovely and.... well I could go on, but I think I'll stop there. 

I'm sending my card over to the following challenges:

House of Cards: Love

Penny Black - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Love is in the Air

But I do want to tell you crazies to go check out Tracey's blog. She could use some new friends! She always leaves the sweetest, kindest comments and I promise your click will be worth the effort!

P.S. I know I'm behind on commenting - I'm sorry, my friends! This week has been... well... just unpleasant and that's what I'll say. I'll be making as many rounds this weekend as I can! :)