Cricut Contributing Artist Series: Rebecca Lopuc

Rebecca Lopuc, an artist from the UK, shares her Welsh heritage and love of books through the art she uploads into Design Space. Her colorful and whimsical images provide the perfect starting point for a fantasy themed project. Through this artist spotlight, we will learn about Rebecca’s creative journey, how she became a Contributing Artist, and how living in the UK influences her work.  

How did you find Cricut, and why did you decide to join the Contributing Artist Program? 

I was living in Canada when I found Cricut 9 years ago and never looked back. I am obsessed with Cricut. I love seeing how I can push creative boundaries with the help of the machine or whip up a beautiful project to give to my family and friends.

I’ve always loved drawing and when the CAP program was announced joining was added to my dream goals list. When I was approved, I could not believe it. Every time I’m on Design Space I am overjoyed and proud that my images can be used by other makers, and I get so excited seeing my images being used by makers in their projects. It makes my day! 

Where did your artistic journey begin? 

My artistic journey began in primary school (I think that’s Kindergarten in the US!) I was accepted into a weekly art Club where we were introduced to all kinds of art!

I studied art in my later years at senior school and continued after my school years. I began drawing digitally when I was around 20, teaching myself to draw. Since being in the CAP program, I feel like my skills have improved and it has been great to think about what type of images would work well with certain materials. 

What does creativity mean to you? 

It’s everything about me! I’ve always been creative right from when I was a kid turning boxes into pirate ships and bin bags into witch’s capes! Creativity is a form of expression. It’s a way to tell people who you are, or a way to process emotions. Creativity makes me feel like I’m in my happiest state and I feel like many others can identify with that. It’s incredible how you can create something from nothing. Crafters are real-life wizards, making magic with everything they do! 

Who or what inspires you to create, and why? 

I’ve always been inspired by the world around me, and I’ve found the way I can communicate that is through my making. You will find a lot of my images are animal or landscape inspired and that’s no coincidence. Another common theme for my images is fantasy. I am always inspired by the things that I read and the idea we can bring anything to life is really exciting.

I’m always inspired by the people that I meet and I’m lucky to have met many creatives from the UK. I’d love to shout out Duygu, Emma Jewell Crafts, Tara (@ourlayeredhome), Kate (@themakerykate) and Roisin (@sweetevedesigns) as makers who inspire me every day with their passion for creativity and the things they create.  

What is your favorite type of craft? 

This is such a hard one for me. It really depends on what mood I am in! Papercraft will always have a place in my heart as that is how I began on my Cricut journey. However, I adore playing with basswood and trying out making new things with it. For Halloween and Christmas, I created a countdown calendar that was really cool.

I’m proud of the projects I made as presents for others as although they are not my most technical, the delight and joy I see on their faces is better than anything! I created some holographic sticker sheets for friends, and they always are delighted by a fresh set of sparkly stickers!

But also, the ball gown I personalized might be my favorite…  

What word would you use to describe your design style? 

Whimsical – I’m all about magic, finding magic in the world, and spreading magic to others. Fantasy and dreamlike qualities are aspects the heavily influence my style. 

What is your proudest accomplishment?  

Working with Cricut! A few years ago, I got the opportunity to become an Ambassador and host workshops on behalf of Cricut UK and go into stores to share my knowledge of Cricut. I could not believe this was happening to me! Working for Cricut is the dream! I am quite a nervous person and I’ll never forget how scared I was for my first workshop. It went amazingly and from that point on my confidence grew, my knowledge increased, and I had the opportunity to meet talented individuals along the way. I now work supporting the Cricut UK team and I get to share my artwork too! I am always proud when I get to share my experience and my love for Cricut too. There is nothing quite like chatting with other creatives and sharing our stories. 

Does Living in the UK influence your images? 

Absolutely! The UK has some wonderful traditions we cannot let slip by without some making! Pancake Day and Red Nose Day are both days perfect for making and we’ve seen some historic moments these past couple of years too, such as the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

I live in Wales, and before I first joined the program, I found we were in desperate need of images that celebrated Welsh culture. I’m really proud to represent Wales with my images and bring in Welsh imagery.

Whilst Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are putting Wales on the map with their Welcome to Wrexham documentary (which fun fact I live in Wrexham!) I hope to be furthering it with the range of images made in Design Space. 

Do you collect anything? 

Books! Lots and lots of books. I am an absolute bookworm and have hundreds of books to the point where it’s a problem. I love reading though – if I’m not crafting, I have a book in my hands reading. 

Explore more of Rebecca’s artwork and be on the lookout for new designs by visiting her Design Space profile. Prepare to be transported into Rebecca’s colorful world and inspired by her creativity. We are grateful to have her in the Contributing Artist Program, and we know you will enjoy her art as much as we do. 

Show us what you make with Rebecca’s designs, and make sure to tag #cricut on social. 

Interested in seeing more Contributing Artist images and designs? Check out all of our artists in Design Space!