Meet the Designer - Glynis Bakewell

Hello crafters!

Here at Chloe's Creative Cards, we're so lucky to have a team of talented designers who work so hard to produce beautiful, inspiring projects for us to admire and recreate. Of course, we always showcase their work, but we thought it would be nice to get to know them better. So, with this in mind, welcome to our second instalment of our 'Meet the Designer' series!

Today we get to meet the incredibly talented Glynis Bakewell, who has shared so many of her crafty makes with us here on the blog and on social over the years. She has inspired so many of us with her magnificent creations that we thought we'd find out more about her! 

WHAT'S YOUR NAME AND WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?

Hi, I'm Glynis Bakewell and I'm from Stockport, Cheshire (not Greater Manchester - locals will understand the big debate regarding this!).

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING CARDS AND HOW/WHY DID YOU START?

I've been card making now for 20 years after spending the weekend watching QVC and a very expensive shopping trip to Hobbycraft. I then turned my hobby into my business when I opened a craft shop in Stockport.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE TECHNIQUES? 

I like most techniques such as die-cutting, stamping, colouring, decoupage, heat-embossing, and 3D work, but I’m definitely not into grungy techniques, so I stay clear of those ones! 

WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STYLE?

I’m a little magpie and seem to navigate to anything sparkly – that’s one reason why I love designing for Chloe, as I can make the cards over the top with lots of glitter.

IS THERE A PROJECT THAT YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF?

When I owned CJ Crafts, my craft shop in Stockport, I was very proud of a 4ft giraffe that I covered in decoupage. When I retired from being a shop owner, I sold the giraffe to a gentleman who tucked the giraffe under his arm and walked up the high-street! It was a funny sight to see and the highlight of that particular day.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY MEMORABLE CRAFTY MISTAKES?

Like many of us crafters, I am known to make lots of cards of Australian cards. Fortunately, these are easily fixable!  

IF YOU COULD ONLY KEEP FIVE CRAFTING TOOLS/MATERIALS (OTHER THAN CARDSTOCK AND ADHESIVE), WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

They would have to be my die-cutting machine, marker pens, Pergamano scissors, Chloe's glitters, and a stamping platform as these would cover most of the main techniques I enjoy doing!

WHAT THREE PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT ON THEIR CARDMAKING JOURNEY?

I’m going to give just one key piece of advice which I think is so important. And that is not to think that you need to buy everything you see to begin with. As you go along, and become more experienced, you will realise which items you need and which you don't.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CRAFTY HOBBIES?

Not really crafty as such but I love gardening and DIY. I'm currently decorating the hallway and I re-tiled the patio during the summer. 

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

I really enjoy spending time with my son and daughter. I try to do this as often as I can.

WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?

I have a rather large drawer in the kitchen dedicated to chocolate and toffees!

WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOUR FRIENDS USE TO DESCRIBE YOU?

I didn't have a clue how my friends would describe me, so I asked a dear friend of mine and he said 'talented', 'inspiring', and 'caring'. How lovely of him! 

TELL US SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU.

I lived in Germany for five years and at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, for two years whilst my husband was on deployment.