Studio Calico

member spotlight | KimberlyMarie

Hello!  My name is Kim (SC username is KimberlyMarie).  I live in beautiful southern Ontario, Canada and have been scrap-booking on and off for the past 12 years.  I have two girls 19 and 17 and twin boys who will be 16 this month!  Time is going by just way too quickly :(  Scrap-booking is definitely my creative outlet, I love it when I just sit down and "play". The whole process is so satisfying and I love the sense of accomplish when I've completed a page. I love the Studio Calico community, everyone is so nice and there is so much talent and inspiration in the gallery.  I see and learn new things every day!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1-My circle punches and my mini heart punch.  They're classic and never go out of style and are perfect for when you need to add a small embellishment.  I use them on almost every layout I create.
2-Water colours!  They are so versatile and I love how you can change embellishments, papers and letter stickers with them.  Ever since seeing how the design team has been using them I've been hooked!
3-Wood Veneer, cannot get enough of this stuff.
4-Vellum, one of the best products ever made.  I love how you can add texture ore create softness with it.  Very versatile.  
5-My printer, I hate my handwriting so I love to use different fonts.  They're great for creating different dynamics and emotions on my pages.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Mostly from the photo's I'm scrapbooking, I like to draw inspiration from how the photo makes me feel and go from there.  After that I'll check out the Studio Calico Gallery and Pinterest :)  There are so many wonderful, creative artists out there and Studio Calico has some of the best!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

Kraft or white with soft muted tones.  I really like soft pinks, blues and greens.  Every so often though I like to get crazy and a bright colour ;)

Tell us a bit about your design process.

Scrapbooking is my creative outlet. I love sitting down and going through the whole process from start to finish.  I love that feeling when the page is complete and I've created something unique and beautiful.  I start with the photo and think about the message I'd like to convey with my page.  Then I'll start thinking of colours and go through my stash to see what I have available to me.  I consider my style to be classic, clean with a touch of whimsy.  I also LOVE embellishments and sometimes have to remind myself less is more....lol  Every so often I'll take inspiration from the Studio Calico kit.  I love the different themes they come up with and it's so easy to grab photo's to match.  It's what I love about the kits they do a lot of the hard work for you and make things easy.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

I mostly just scrapbook but would love to learn more about photography.  I know a great shot when I see one however I need to learn a lot more about lighting and f-stops and all that other techy camera stuff.

Thank you again to Studio Calico for featuring me this month, I am beyond humbled and so flattered.  I truly am glad I found this community and can definitely see myself sticking around for a long while :)

Thank YOU, Kim, for letting us feature you this month! If you want to see more of Kim's work, stop by her blog or SC gallery.

member spotlight

Hello, my name is Jeanette Lee (SC username magnette). I am 27 years old and I reside in a small country, Singapore. I am a teacher by profession and in my spare time, I enjoy watching television, shopping and spending quality time with my loved ones.

I started scrapbooking since November 2008, with the initial intention of only making Christmas presents for friends. The love for scrapbooking slowly developed and right now, it has become more than just a regular hobby. It is an outlet for me, when life gets crazy and even more so, time spent to record down memories of my loved ones.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Washi Tapes – I do love how versatile washi tapes are. They can be manipulated in any way you like and the best thing is that they are inexpensive and can last for a long time.
2. Mister Hueys – I love misting. Be in big or small splatters, they help to fill up the white spaces and add a shimmering finish to your pages.
3. Patterned Papers - I am a hoarder when it comes to papers and I feel guilty if I have to throw scraps of papers away. Papers are the basis of your scrapbooking process and it doesn’t harm keeping all of them, just in case.
4. Vellum – I love how the use of vellum adds subtle interest. Often, I used them as an overlay over bold patterned papers or stuffing confetti into a vellum pocket.
5. Buttons and Brads – I love adding little touches to my pages and that includes putting an assortment of brads and buttons, or whatever works each time.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I usually find inspiration from Pinterest, blogs and online galleries. These are the three main areas where I frequent the most. Often when I listen to the music, the lyrics or the song titles relate to my heart and these drive the inspiration for the titles of my pages. Everyone experiences occasions, when they lose their scrapbook mojo. A good way to overcome this is to find inspiration through sketches. I find them extremely helpful for me to kick-start on my scrapbooking process again.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

I am pretty much open to any color as I take it as an opportunity to go beyond my own comfort level. However, I do gravitate towards softer colors such as pastel pink, green, blue and yellow. I am also particularly drawn to white and kraft and you will see me using these neutrals often to complement with the softer colors.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

I can never finish a page in one seating. I tend to finish bit by bit and by the time I am fully satisfied with what I have done, it would probably add up to a day’s work.

I start off with the photo and from there; I grab papers and embellishments that suit the color of the photo. I play around with the layering and only gluing them down once I am sure of its placement. Then comes the fun part, I start adding embellishments to the page and I will end it off with my title and journaling.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

Actually, scrapbooking is the only part of me that is creative. I was never good in Art in school and growing up; I was the typical active girl who was only crazy about sports. I have tried sewing on a sewing machine before but have since developed a phobia due to one bad experience.  However, I do enjoy doing basic stitching (needle and thread) on my layouts. I find it really therapeutic and it is good enough for me. 

Thank you for letting us feature you, Jeanette!!

member spotlight

Hello, my name is Michelle De Leon (SC username : portablemichelle) and I live in Canada. I am a university student pursuing further studies in rehabilitative sciences. If you notice many pictures of myself in my layouts, it is because of my boyfriend's photography hobby! I am trying to pick up tips and work on my own everyday photography, which is one reason I am glad I started scrapbooking. I discovered the scrapbooking world last year while making a homemade mini-book for a birthday present. Through many Google searches for neutral patterned paper, I stumbled across Marcy Penner's blog, which eventually led me to Studio Calico. The different ways people used photos, papers, and embellishments really drew me in, and I decided to give it a try. I am very happy I found a creative outlet that doubles as memory keeping!

 

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1) Pop dots: I like to layer on my pages, and pop dots are an easy way to add more dimension. I also love the look of pop dots underneath a tone-on-tone title for subtle emphasis. 
2) Mister Huey's in Gold: I'm not too big on misting yet, but I love the subtle depth and shimmer this colour adds to backgrounds. 
3) Washi tape: When I got my first roll of washi tape, I wasn't sure what to do with it. Slowly, I started using small amounts, and soon grew to love it! I think it's a fun way to add splashes of colours and accents here and there.
4) Vellum: I am a fan of soft, muted colours, and vellum is a great way to tone down busy patterns and bold colors. To add different texture, I also enjoy using vellum when layering.
5) Badges: There are so many fun badge designs, and I love using them in embellishment clusters. I also like using them on little gift tags or gift wrap.

 

Where do you find your inspiration?

Like many scrapbookers, I quite enjoy browsing Pinterest! I like to look for color or design inspiration in images that are not necessarily scrapbook-related. Sometimes when I'm listening to music, a certain lyric will stand out to me and will give me an idea for a page. One of the pages featured here called "Closer" happened this way!

I also find that I seem to have more inspiration to create when I'm busier and on-the-go, so I started taking a little notebook with me to jot down little thoughts or ideas. 

 

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

Sometimes I feel that I struggle with bolder colour combinations, so I usually gravitate towards soft, romantic colour schemes. A favourite of mine is yellow and white with pops of red and/or light blue. Having a variety of items in the Studio Calico kits helps me try colour combinations I may not initially choose for myself.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

My design process differs depending on the reason I am scrapbooking. When I am looking more for a creative outlet, my page is often driven by a certain design, technique, or colour as a starting point. Most of the time, these ideas are vague and don't pan out, but I have fun with the process. Other times, I am inspired completely by the photo and will use that to build the page. I am trying to work on adding more journaling, but it doesn't always end up happening. To make up for that, I try to journal more in my Project Life.

When I'm in a bit of a "creative rut", I like to change it up by working on a different project. If I'm stuck making a 12x12 page, I'll switch to working on Project Life for a bit, or even a mini book. 

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

Trying to answer this question reminded me of how boring I must seem! Scrapbooking is the only crafty hobby I've had, I've never considered myself particularly artistic. If I'm not studying or working, I do some volunteering and enjoy quality time with my friends and family. Lately, I've been catching up on watching movies. One day when I am done school and have a career path set, I would love to do some traveling! 

Thank you again to Studio Calico for this feature!

 

member spotlight

Hi, my name is Ginny Hughes (SC username Ginny)and I live in New Hampshire with my husband and 5 children. I am from Kentucky moved to Utah then we settled here up north. I have been scrapbooking on and off for about 6 years, but really have been obsessed with it for about the last 2 and a half years. I can't imagine ever giving it up! Studio Calico has opened my eyes to all of the different styles and ways people scrapbook. I love the eclectic mix of layouts in the gallery. I started Project Life this year and I am hooked! I love having a different way to tell my family's stories. I am more of an everyday scrapper, I love to capture the little things :) Thanks so much for featuring me this month!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Stamps-My new favorite stamp set is the Studio Calico Noah outline alphas. I have to resist the urge to use these on every page!
2. Sewing machine- a page just doesn't seemed finished till it has some thread on it :) I love the texture that the thread gives to a page, very soft and comfy.
3. Tweezers-yes, tweezers. I love little alphas and the MME enamel dots and all kinds of little doo-dads, but my hands do not like picking up and placing those tiny little pieces to the exact spot that I want them! When I starting using  tweezers a few years ago it was a revelation!
4. Cameo- I started out with the original Silhouette several years ago and was hooked from the start. I resisted upgrading to the Cameo for a little while, but I caved :) That little machine is a wonder, it can do just about anything!!
5. Printer- Since I invested in a Epson printer last year it has seriously changed the way I scrap. I am not a planner at all and I am a (mostly) late night scrapper so the ability to print what I want when I want is the best.

Where do you find your inspiration?
The usual places-Pinterest, SC gallery, magazines, blogs. I think magazine ads are my favorite place to find inspiration, they always lend themselves to page design. I always start a layout with the photo. I am inspired by the photos, then everything else after that.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

I am drawn to all different colors, but my faves are always greens and blues. 

Tell us a bit about your design process.

The photos, it always starts with a photo. I don't know how I would describe my scrapping style. Some pages are super clean and simple and some are layered so much they probably weigh a couple pounds ;) I just go with the flow and whatever is inspiring me that day. I love shapes (circles, squares, triangles, hearts,…) and try to incorporate them into as many pages as I can.  I am also more of an everyday scrapper, I like to capture life and the little things. With 5 kids life gets hectic and I know the more years that pass, the more I will forget.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

Hmmmmm, not really. I tried sewing, that didn't work out so well. I tried to be artsy with paint, another epic fail. But I still had fun and will try those things again. I think the end result is not always the goal of creating something, it is fun just to try and you never know where it will take you.

Thanks for letting us spotlight you, Ginny! If you'd like to see more of Ginny's work, stop by her Studio Calico gallery or her blog.

member spotlight

We're excited to introduce you to our February Member Spotlight - Felicitas Mayer-Klink!!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1. I really got a crush on stamps, especially shapes like arrows, triangles or other graphical elements as well as those popular date/word stamps. I lust love to stamp very randomly or create backgrounds on my scrapbook pages.

2. For my stamps, I mostly use StazOn ink which is amazing (I love the smell!). I have different shades of grey, black, brown and some bold colors. But actually I just use the neutral ones because it matches perfectly to every color on my project.

3. I’m also drawn to nice patterns on papers. When I cut a paper sheet into pieces and still have the patterned look on my little scrap…this is what I like.

4. When I saw MME’s enamel dots for the first time, I so fell in love. I have a bunch of them in almost every color, but I also create it on my own with a dimensional color/glue.

5. At the moment, my printer is not collected to my computer, so I’m not able to print photos for my pages. But I replaced them with the instant frames from my Instax instant camera. Those “old school” pics give a vintage but modern touch to every project and it’s great to scrap some snapshots or overexposed pics like those on the page below.

 

Where do you find your inspiration?
Besides browsing other scrapooking blogs, I like to look for inspiration on home décor, interior or architecture blogs. I’m always inspired by great interior composings, you can perfectly use those elements of design (arrangements, color combinations etc.) as guidelines for your project. I also subscribed to some magazines for scrapbooking, home décor, lifestyle, fashion…just too many! But this is my second important inspiration source and I love to sit on my couch and get inspired on the weekends.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?
My favorite color is turquoise, teal or light mint, actually, it’s a whole color family. I like those vibrant color tones and I would love to have my creative space in a light teal color…shhh…I’m working on that right now. Besides that, I also love pastel tones which is great for all Spring projects as well as for the ones for light summer and winter. I don’t like seasonal colors like “Fall is orange and brown”, my colors just have to match my current mood and the photo.

 



Tell us a bit about your design process.
I don’t have a plan when I start creating. When I got the last SC kits, I just sat down and have those bags with tons of goodies. I cover my table with all the products and start choosing a background paper (mostly patterned). Then I decide where to place my photo. I really love to layer on my projects, so the next step is to chose some matching papers and figure out in which order they should frame my photo.

At the moment, I like to have a graphical layout base. It could be a big chevron shape like the one below or just some basic shapes like triangles or squares. Then I cut all my paper pieces and place them below the photo. This takes a few minutes, I always change and rearrange the single pieces and layers before I glue. After all papers were glued down, I start stamping some basic shapes or painting some acrylics to the layout.

 
Then I choose my embellishments like tags, chipboard shapes, stickers, brads, buttons, glitter, sequins etc. I always use different colors and textures to highlight some areas. When I’m done with embellishing, I finally set the title on my page. I don’t journal that often on my layouts but when I’m doing it, this is the step I do it. I have a final look on the whole page to see if I want to add something more. But in 98%, I decide it’s finished and I like it.



Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

In my leisure time, I love to do cooking new recipes, watching movies and geo-caching with my newlywed husband, family and friends. But I also like to try new things like to croquet, knit or just stay creative.

 I got a crush for photography through my passion for scrapbooking. My mom is a hobby photographer and she took pictures of our everyday when I was a child. I didn’t like it very much because she always was there with her camera and my sister and I always have to smile for her. Since I create scrapbook pages, it’s me who’s always searching for a good photo to scrap and get on everybody’s nerves… I think that’s kind of poetic justice. Although I don’t scrap every photo I take, I also like using new media like Instagram (@felicitasmayerklink) to share snapshots of my everyday. It’s a great way to find people with equal interests and to get inspired.

When I started scrapbooking, I never thought that I would be self-employed in this industry three years later. Due to the amazing support of my whole family, I am happy to have my own paper crafting brand called “scrapperin” which sells scrapbooking products and publishes a print magazine. It’s a big adventure and it tooks the most of my time but I just love it.
 


Finally, I want to thank Studio Calico for this great opportunity. I am a big fan of SC and when I got the email I was really blown away and I hope you got a little sneak inside my creative world. Thanks so so much!

Thank YOU for sharing your awesome work with us, Felicitas! If you'd like to see more from Felicitas, check out her blog or Facebook page.

member spotlight

 

We love our members, and we love getting a chance to put them in the spotlight. Sarah Klemish is a longtime SC member and we always love seeing her new pages in our gallery! 

My name is Sarah Klemish and I was born, raised and still reside in beautiful Michigan. I have two boys who a lot of scrappers have seen grow up through my pages. I have been scrapping for close to 12 years now and still have a passion for the hobby. . .  the product, the process, the end result, the feedback, I love it all. I have also developed a love for photography thanks to scrapbooking. I love capturing special moments for friends and family, and of course for myself.  My Nikon goes where I go!  Thanks Nicole for featuring me as the Studio Calico January 2013 spotlight member - the first of the new year!  It's going to be a great year!

Top 5 Products:

1. Studio Calico Folio Paper – I can’t use this paper enough! I think I have used it as my neutral background paper on 90% of the last 50 layouts I have done! It is the perfect complement to any pattern paper and works well with my Cameo! I order in in bulk when I can find it.

2. Black spray paint - When Marcy Penner first started the ink splash craze I watched a tutorial on her blog on how she accomplished the look . . . I was surprised to see that she used black spray paint. I went and bought a can from my local JoAnn Fabrics and have been using it ever since. Thanks so Marcy for the tip and for starting such a fun technique, I am hooked.

3. Sewing Machine – I don’t feel like my layouts are complete without some type of stitching. I use embellishments sparsely so sewing gives my layouts that finished feel. I have a cheapo machine that I bought from Target and it works perfectly for my scrapping needs.

4. Cameo – I am sure I am no different than anyone else who owns a Cameo, I am obsessed! I use my machine on pretty much every layout I create. I love being able to create titles and embellishments that complement the product line I am using at the time. It is a must have machine!

5. Pattern Paper - I am pretty sure this is a common favorite of all scrappers, it is essentially a major part of the scrapbooking process. I use pattern paper in small amounts and love that most companies offer a huge variety of patterns and colors with each line they produce. My husband is baffled at the amount of pattern paper I own but hey, you never know when you are going to need it!

Where do you find inspiration: I find inspiration everywhere! I love looking at manufacturer blogs, scrapper blogs, and of course Pinterest. Magazine ads always inspire me as do scrapbook magazines. Sometimes if I am in a slump I go back through my own layouts and inspire myself! LOL What is your favorite color and/or color combo? It is hard to say that I have a “favorite” color or combinations of colors because in my process I tend to pull whatever colors complement the photos I am scrapping. Of course for holiday layouts I will pull colors that match that particular holiday theme or I will pull certain colors that are associated with a particular season. Currently I am really drawn to wood grain papers, graph papers, bright pink/fushia and turquoise.

Tell us a bit about your design process: For the most part I start with photos (unless I am really in love with a particular paper line, in that case I start with the paper). I don’t scrap my photos in any kind of order; I scrap what inspires me at the time. Lately I have been doing a lot of gift albums so I have been scrapping photos that were taken for friends or family. I always start with a neutral background (most likely SC Folio) and more than not will add a few black paint splatters. From there I just play with picture placement and paper colors. Once I have the basics placed I sew everything down and then add whatever embellishments I feel are needed (usually not a ton as I am embellishment challenged). I most always type my journaling on strips and add that last.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking: I am not lying when I say I am truly not creative. LOL I enjoy scrapping but don’t even go far out of my comfort zone with that. I am a huge reader and lately have been addicted to watching TV series on Netflix. I love spending time my extended family and of course with my husband and boys. I have a true love for photography but only do that for “fun” – I have been lucky to work some photography jobs and am always willing to take pictures at events for work, family and friends. I am always sure to mention that their pictures may turn up in a scrapbook layout down the line so not to be surprised! 

Thanks for sharing a bit more about yourself, Sarah - and for being an awesome part of our community!

december member spotlight

Hello!  My name is Adrienne Alvis and I live in a very small town in Southern Illinois.  I've been married to my wonderful husband for almost seven years now and we have three beautiful and spirited children.  Because of my hardworkin' hubby, I am very lucky to be able to stay at home with my children and create.   I started scrapbooking about six years ago and instantly fell in love!  At first, I only scrapbooked in my spare time as a hobby, but over the last couple of years I have been wholeheartedly determined to make it more of my everyday life.  

I started my blog, Table Scraps, just a little over a year ago and I joined Freckled Fawn's Design Team this past September.  I have been a Studio Calico member for over two years now and I remember receiving my first Studio Calico kit and thinking to myself, "Whoa! This is going to totally change the way I scrap!".  And it did!  I've been a lover of all things SC ever since, especially the amazingly talented members of it's community and design team.  

There are so many things about this hobby that I enjoy, but most of all I love being able to capture and document the moments that are making up my children's lives so they can share them with their own families one day.  This is truly my passion and I have learned so much and have met so many amazing people through my scrapbooking journey.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1.  Washi tape of course!!!  It's so versatile and easy to add to a layout or card for that special touch or pop of color.  My stash has grown tremendously in the past few months thanks to my DT position with Freckled Fawn :)

2.  Mister Huey's Mists.  I love the visual interest that mist splatters add to my layouts.  I also like using mists to color wood veneer, chipboard pieces, and white card stock cuts from my Cameo. 

3.  My sewing machine - I can't scrap a page without at least a little bit of stitching on it!  I love the texture and handmade feel that stitching gives my layouts.  Wood veneers, Thickers, chipboard, vellum...you name it, I've stitched through it.  I've really put my machine through a lot, but luckily I've only broken one needle in the past six years!

4.  My Silhouette Cameo -  I love this machine!  It makes it so easy to add a custom title or background to a page.  I was over the moon when SC started offering cut files in the shop!  I think I own almost every one!

5.  Flairs/Badges - It took me a while to jump on the badge boat, but once I did I knew I was a goner!  This is probably the only embellishment that I hoard in my stash and think very hard about using before I adhere it to a page!

Where do you find your inspiration?

I love scanning PInterest, Instagram, and the amazing SC Gallery for inspiration.  I blog surf and love looking at crafty sites on the Internet.  I also love looking through fashion and home decor magazines to find great color combinations and to check out new trends that I can incorporate into my layouts.  I also find sketches to be a huge inspiration as well.  

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

Turquoise, red, yellow, and gold have been my go-to colors recently.  I like to mix it up though and try new color schemes depending on what colors I pull from my photos.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

I always start with my photos and pull my color scheme together through them.  Then I go through my supplies and grab what I want to use for my layout so it's in full view.  Next, I start placing paper and items on my page until I'm satisfied.  I usually place my photo on my page first and then work everything else out around it.  I like to tell my story through my photos and design so my journaling usually takes up the least amount of space on my pages.  I never attach anything to my page until I'm 110% sure I like where it is.  After I add a bit of journaling, I will machine stitch and mist on my page for the finishing touch.  Sometimes this process takes an hour and sometimes it takes all day.  It all depends on my inspiration and the amount of time I get to work in between distractions (like laundry and cooking, ha!).

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

Other than scrapbooking, I like to read, listen to music, watch television, and hang out with my hubby and kids.  We're really into outdoor activities like fishing and hiking through the woods near our home.  I also love to ride my bike down our country roads and recently, I started running.  We keep it pretty low key and ordinary around our house, but I love it!  I've also been really focusing on my photography skills lately.  I've been taking a few online classes since I bought my first DSLR this past spring and I love experimenting with different settings and editing software.  I'm also a big fan of my iPhone and all it's app capabilities.  I love how I can capture so many more "everyday moments" with my iPhone and share them instantly with friends and family.  I'm really quite addicted!

I want to thank Nicole Harper and Studio Calico for featuring me in this month's Member Spotlight.  It is truly an honor for me and I think the SC community really is the very best!

november member spotlight

Since the introduction of our card kit, we've enjoyed seeing more and more beautiful cards in our member gallery. This month, we wanted to shine the spotlight on one of our talented cardmaking members! Please join us in welcoming Joy Taylor to the SC blog!

I have been crafting especially stamping on and off since 1994 and absolutely love it, although I love all crafts, stamping is my passion, I love to create and have fun with the craft, learning new techniques as I go along.

I have achieved many accomplishments since stamping, being on many wonderful design teams, being asked to do guest designing and best of all meeting so many new and wonderful friends.

My partner allowed me to take ownership of one of the spare rooms that we have in our house and he has built all of my craft furniture custom made for my passion for crafting.  I love that I have everything at my finger tips and come and go as I please, it really is my little haven and I adore my space.

I live in a small town, in Southern New South Wales, Australia with my partner Darryl and our furbaby, Roly. I currently work part time, but like all us crafters would love to see my passion for the craft to turn into my daily job…oh to dream!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

I would have to say that this is a hard question as I adore everything that is in the crafting industry right now, but to try and narrow it down, this is what I came up with:

• Stamps – I almost stamp onto every project when I create, so this would be my truly favourite.
• Inks – I love Dye Ink as it dries fast and I would have to say Versamagic Onyx Black ink for stamping out sentiments, as it gives a really crisp stamped image.
• 6 x 6 paper pads – I am addicted and think I need intervention as I just keep purchasing everytime something yummy catches my eye.
• White Cardstock – I am renowned for using white on almost every project, it is my go to colour and I have a huge stock pile that I keep stocked at all times.
• Bling – I have got a serious addiction when it comes to this, I like to add a little bling to most of my cards, I have 2 big drawers full of this goodness…yes I need serious help LOL.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration in a lot of places, at times, like most of us I lose mojo, so in order to help me get that back or to even just get inspiration for a particular card, I have a few sources, mostly I blog surf - I generally have a list of my favourite card makers and surf through their blogs to find maybe, colour combos, design or layout or for that matter a particular stamp that they may have used and I wish to use..

The other types of inspiration I source out are web sites like, Pinterest…it is a huge and over flowing source of inspiration, if I am after a particular theme, colour combo or design, I just type in the search bar and start pinning.  This is also a good way for me to keep track of some fun and super pretty cards that other people may have pinned and that catch my eye.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

This kinda is hard for me, I am a girl that loves Blue and wear a lot of it..I do try to use this in my card making but I find, that I gravitate to many different colour combos…as I said in a previous question, my go to colour is white so I find anything can match with it.  At the moment though, I am really loving the Grey and Yellow combo and Aqua and Chocolate colours together….

Tell us a bit about your design process.

Sometimes, I am stumped as to what to create and find that just pulling maybe parts of a collection out I end up pulling together a card, by eliminating those parts that I don’t wish to use.

Other times and I know this is really strange, but hey! Whatever works for you right? Well I find that sometimes when I am in the shower, yes you read correctly (sorry if I am giving anyone nasty visualisations right now..LOL) I will be thinking about a particular card that I need to create and boom!!! It is like the water washes the cobwebs away and I have my design…crazy I know LOL.

Other times I take a stamp either colour in or paper piece and it just seems to come together..

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

I enjoy doing lots of other things in my spare time..I love to garden and find that with work and my DT commitments I don’t always get a lot of that time to just potter out there.

I enjoy watching movies and just sitting back whilst watching them and surfing blogs and twitter chatting with all my wonderful friends from overseas…

I also love to cook and read wonderful recipe books…

Love to travel, when I get the spare cash and time LOL..

My latest passion would have to be dabbling in Photography, as a young girl I used to drive my Mum mad when I would use up a whole film (am I showing my age now by just stating that LOL) and take photos of the flowers in the garden the farm animals and just odd things…recently I have just purchased my first DSLR camera and about to embark on an online photography course, so I am excited to learn more about this..

I just want to take this last opportunity to thank the wonderful Studio Calico team for asking me to be here on their wonderful blog today, I am in awe of everything Studio Calico and have meet some wonderful people through this community…

I hope you all enjoy reading a little about me and having a giggle along the way.. Hugs, Joy

Thank you so much for letting us spotlight you, Joy! To see more of Joy's work, stop by her Studio Calico gallery or her blog.

member spotlight

It's time for our October Member Spotlight! We fell in love with her light, airy and artsy style, and think you will, too. Meet Natalie Elphinstone :

Hi, my name is Natalie Elphinstone and I hail from the Land Down Under. I live in Melbourne Australia with my wonderfully supportive husband and two gorgeous girls aged 6 and 2. I work full time as a doctor, specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and I'm coming up to exams soon which means my world is dominated by Rules and Protocols and Structure. That's why I love to scrapbook - it's my way of unwinding. I find it so relaxing to express myself creatively; cutting paper, layering embellishments, splashing mist around... it's like therapy for me! But even more than that, I love to document the stories that make up our lives. Those everyday moments, our routines, habits and funny things my kids say regularly find their way onto my pages. These are the things that would otherwise be so easily forgotten... but not if I have anything to do with it!! I'm currently on the Design Team for Flourish With a Bling and Scrap Friends (an Australian manufacturer and online store respectively), and I'm regularly published in our Australian magazines "Scrapbooking Memories" and "Scrapbook Creations". I share all of my scrapping, family and work stories on my blog One Scrappy Doctor.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

I-Phone: I know it’s not technically a scrapbook product but honestly it’s changed the way I scrap. It’s now so much easier to capture the everyday moments that I want to document. And it also helps me stay connected to the online world where I’ve made many friends and can gather inspiration even on the busiest day.

Silhouette: What a machine! My Silhouette has also revolutionised the way I approach a page. There’s a million ways I can use it to augment my layouts, but what I love doing the most is to cut out a fancy title or some word-art to make a bold statement.

Mists: I’ve got a rainbow of mist colours but I’ll keep on collecting them because they’re so useful. Sometimes I’ll use them as a spray, but most commonly I use them more like a waterpaint to customise embellishments or to add layers of colour to my background. And I’ll add a splatter of mist to nearly all my pages for a finishing touch!

Journaling tags: Because I’m such a big believer in adding journaling to all my pages, these things are a must. Especially if I haven’t allowed space on my page to write everything I want to say, I can get it all down on a journaling card and hide it behind my photo.

Flairs: My latest addiction… flairs! With so many manufacturers and Etsy shops offering a huge selection of flairs to suit every occasion I’ve started to amass quite the collection J They’re great as an embellishment because they add a bit of dimension without being overwhelming. I love that we’ve been getting them in recent SC kits – they’re always the first thing I run out of!

Where do you find your inspiration?

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t sign into my Google Reader and troll through the hundreds of blogs that I follow. There’s a world of wonderful scrappers out there who are incredibly talented and also hugely supportive of one another. People are so willing to share ideas, techniques, tutorials, design principles, photography tricks etc…. Everything I know about scrapbooking I’ve learnt from the community itself.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

To be completely honest – I’m really bad at making up my own colour combos. That’s why I subscribe to kits … so all that hard work of making colour choices is done for me! LOL! Either that, or I stick to designing within the same manufacturer. It’s much easier that way ;-) But I have to say that I am really loving the trend of adding a splash of neon or super-bright colours to my projects lately. I’ve decided that hot-pink is my new favourite colour!

Tell us a bit about your design process.

For me it’s all about the story I want to tell, so it commonly starts with something I want to express and then I have to search for a photo and products to match. But when it comes to designing the page itself I let the products guide me, shuffling them around until I’m happy. Then I sew everything down with my machine so I can be confident it’s not going to come unstuck!

I’m also constantly conscious of where my journaling is going to fit onto the page and I have to keep space to do that at the end. I rarely plan out what I’m going to say – I usually just grab my pen and write until all that space is filled.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.

Like most people serious about their scrapbooking I love to dabble in improving my photography skills. But any of my crafty pursuits have to fit into my busy lifestyle, which means most of my photos are taken with my iPhone. I guess you could say I’m into a bit of iPhoneography. I’ve got tonnes of photo apps and it allows me to edit my photos on the go, upload them to Instagram and call them done!

Apart from that, I do some pretty fancy ‘embroidery’ on my patients….. but that’s a different story. LOL!

Thanks for letting us get to know you better, Natalie - and for sharing such amazing projects! If you'd like to see more of Natalie's work, stop by her Studio Calico gallery or her blog.

member spotlight

Happy Friday, Studio Calico friends. I think you'll love this month's Member Spotlight - we adore her bright and warm style and couldn't wait to share more about her with all of you! Meet Naomi Atkins :

Hello! My name is Naomi Atkins, and I'm very excited to be featured this month! I love being a part of Studio Calico and sharing in all of the awesome inspiration that is found here everyday! I could sit on the computer all day and browse the member gallery, but my days consist of either cleaning up messes, fixing emergencies, cooking, or snapping photos! We only have a tv for watching movies, so scrapbooking and sewing are my ways to relax! I have an amazing husband Jonathan, and five wonderful children Katlyn, Elise, Everett, Weston and Camille. They are my daily inspiration, and make my life interesting and complete! I spent eight years teaching Legal Research and Writing classes at a local college, and then went for a major career switch, sort of accidentally! Ten years ago, when I got married I told my husband, "I'm just not creative."  I am so grateful for my awesome business partner Nichole and we started the business Inspired and Enchanted Photography two years ago and haven't looked back since! We have a busy wedding season and a lot of families and newborns as well! My interest in photography began with my love of scrapbooking and my desire to take better pictures. I would sit in awe over pictures I saw on photographer's websites and wanted mine to look the same. Since I spent enough money on years and years of schooling already, I figured I was going to have to teach myself. Lots of books, online forums and practice later I have my business which I love! My love of scrapbooking has grown through all of this.. I truly love this hobby! Only since I quit my teaching job have I had time to start posting things online and getting more involved and I haven't looked back.  I love learning new techniques and being inspired by all of the amazing ladies on here. I have been published several times in Scrapbook Trends magazine and am on several design teams.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1.  Patterned paper!!!!! I can never have enough, and yet I always seem to have too much! It's my go to supply for scrapbooking, and often the source of my inspiration.  Nothing makes me happier than to recieve a beautiful stack of patterned paper! I really love mixing lines when I put paper together, which is why I love Studio Calico kits so much.  Getting the kit has really taught me to open my eyes as far as color combinations, and putting papers together that I may not have originally picked out to coordinate.

2. My Canon Mark II (soon to be the Mark III!!).  I simply cannot scrapbook without a good photo.  Scrapbooking drew me to photography, but the photograph is what makes the layout for me!

3. My Sewing machine! I simply cannot seem to "complete" a page without a bit, or a lot of sewing.  Zig zag, straight stitch, paper piecing, you name it, I love that finished, handmade look that a page has when it's been sewed.  I only very recently made the switch into fabric as well!

4.  Thickers! I love the texture that a nice, thick letter adds to a layout.. it is the perfect finishing touch. I can't seem to have enough of them either! Plus, they are so easy and fuss-free to add a great title.
 
5.  My cameo.  I've tried about every die-cutting machine out there, but the Cameo takes the cake.  It's pretty easy to use, and LOVE to cut titles and sayings with it.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I love to see what other designers do with their pages.Even if it's a layout that is not my style, I still find inspiration from lots of other styles! Magazines always, and still continue to be a great source of inspiration.  As i've grown as a scrapbooking artist and photographer, I now see inspiration everywhere. Catalogs, book jackets, typography, etc.  And of course, Pinterest. I LOVE pinterest. I have to admit though, sometimes pinterest stresses me out. I'm such a crafty person..I like to sew, scrapbook, bake, etc.  and I get so overwhelmed by all that I want to do yet never have the hours to complete, sometimes I just have to turn off the computer! It's like "inspiration overload" if that makes sense to anyone :)

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?
I have access to lots of color.. my husband works for Sherwin williams, so I have a fondness for color cards! I can't say I have one favorite, although I love aqua, light pink, and brown.  I also am very inspired by color palettes on pinterest.  Since I love patterned paper so much, just seeing particular colors together in a palette will get my mind going!

Tell us a bit about your design process.
Almost always starts with a photo. That's why I scrapbook large photos so much.  I am not so good with journaling, but for me a pictures says a thousand words.  I try to take the emotion that i've captured in the photo, and convey that into my layout..whether it be soft and sweet, or playful and silly.  I know this will seem weird, but i often know I want to scrapbook a page based on a certain photo or stack of papers.  I lay in bed at night when I can't sleep, and imagine my photo and paper, and think of what i want to do with it. It is often where i come up with my best ideas! Sometimes, if it's a really great idea and I don't want to forget it, I will actually get up and write it down, which doesn't thrill my husband so much!

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.
I love all things creative.  We don't have television channels, the kids can only watch videos.. so crafting is how I relax.  I love to bake and read as well.  I just started sewing.. I recently made my first outfit for my one year old daughter, and I just finished my first quilt top, a chevron style thanks to a quilt along, "Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night."  She did such an amazing job taking you step by step through the process. I just have to bind and quilt it yet! I really enjoyed that project! I loved putting the fabric combinations together, just like I do with patterned paper!

Thank you so much for letting us feature you and your awesome work, Naomi! If you'd like to see more of Naomi's work, please stop by her gallery here at Studio Calico or her blog.