Featured Blogger- Elena Roussakis

For those new to my blog, on the first Monday of each month, I feature one blogger that I admire and follow. When I read blogs, I always enjoy getting to know the person BEHIND the blog. I’ve featured craft, baking, lifestyle bloggers in the past and it’s been neat to see many of you start to follow some of the blogs I love.

Let’s get started with the feature today featuring the amazingly talented Elena Roussakis from Just ME!

Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
I’ve been blogging for 2 and a half years already!  I initially wanted an online space where I could show off some of my handmade cards for a small handful of clients who ordered invites and cards from me….

How and when did you get introduced to stamping?
I introduced myself to stamping 10 year ago, when I designed a custom monogram stamp and stamped the front of 300 wedding programs.  I didn’t know what I was doing!  Then, a good 5 years later, when I found myself a stay-at-home mom with no desire to clean house during naptime, I clicked on a stampin’ up add I found on facebook and hooked up with a local demo.  The story wrote itself from there… I became a demo (but the kind who didn’t like to push people to buy anything) and then discovered other stamp companies little by little.

When you started stamping, did you ever think you would be on design teams? What was your first reaction when you first got asked onto a team?
I didn’t know what a design team was when I first started, or how to be asked to join one – so no, I never thought I would be on a design team.  I felt all warm and fuzzy inside when I was asked to join my first team, hee hee.  It validated to me that my work was good!

You always create amazing, creative cards. How long does a typical card take to create?
Thanks, Paulina!  I am a slow crafter.  I don’t tend to work off of sketches, so whatever idea I had in my head usually morphs into something completely different by the end of a crafting session.  It takes me anywhere from 1-4 hours to create a card.  Not 4 hours in a row, mind you… (the cards that take me 4 hours in a row usually end up in the trash bin…)

The crafting/ blogging world constantly has new trends. What trends are you really into right now?
I am always so late to join the  trends.  By the time I decide I like a trend, it’s already half-way over, ha ha!  I love sequins, and wood veneers, but I tend to not be led by trends.  I will incorporate a touch of what’s trendy here and there, but I won’t put much thought into it.

Where do you get inspiration for your creations?
Pinterest is huge for me.  I am obviously very inspired by fellow card-makers and scrappers, but even more so by home decor and prints.  I think my favorite thing is seeing a print online and then setting out to recreate it with stamps and ink.

Okay, now onto some fun questions that are non-relevant to crafting…..

Besides crafting, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Arg.  Someone introduced me to candy crush, so right now I’m enjoying that.  It’s great for the family too  when the kids see me playing they all crowd around and shout out suggestions.  just kidding…

What is something about yourself that many people don’t know?
*sucks in* there are so. many. things.  i am a huge klutz . i am pretty pale for a half-greek, halfegyptian.  i’ve known my husband since kindergarten.

If we were to spend the day going and doing your favorite things, what would that entail?
A lot of food. and there would be talking, laughing, coffee-drinking, some strolling, and maybe even some crafting.

You have your choice to spend the day with any celebrity, who would you choose and why?
There is so much that Bobby Flay could teach me in a day.  I can bake just fine, but the cooking is a little on the weak side… I think an intensive day with Bobby Flay would be awesome.  If he’s not available, I’ll take Ann Burrell.

Name 5 things that you are most passionate about:
My God, my family, my marriage, being creative and preserving memories.

I know that many of my sweet readers have seen Elena’s beautiful work, however, I have a feeling that some of my readers haven’t been introduced to her work. Here are the places you can find her:

Elena’s blog

Elena’s Facebook page