Studio Calico

member spotlight

This month's member spotlight has a style that's bright and bold and infused with an awesome sense of humor. And while I've never met Gillian Nelson in person, I'd bet it's safe to say that her style reflects her personality. We're glad to have her both in our gallery and on our message boards, and can't wait to share more about her with you!

 

My name is Gillian Nelson.  I am an Oregon resident, a wife, a mother of three, and a lover of all things paper.  I graduated with a degree in nursing and enjoyed working in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before deciding to stay home 8 years ago and becoming intensely focused on caring for the Nelson Family Unit.  I’ve always been a scrapbooker at heart, but when I found out that it was an actual hobby and that there were entire stores dedicated to it, I was a’goner.  I’ve been fortunate to have pages published in Scrapbook Trends, Scrapbooks Etc., and Creating Keepsakes, various idea books, and was chosen for the CK Hall of Fame back in the olden days.   Scrapbooking has become a permanent part of my life, I’m sure.  And I love that I can enjoy my hobby with so many wonderful people who are just as crazy about it as I am.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Patterned paper.  The right combo of colors & shapes on a piece of patterned paper can make my heart beat faster.  I’m not even joking.  It’s physical joy.
2. Black ink.  I ink the edges of everything.  Ev. Ery. Thing.  It just grounds things for me visually.  And I like the way an inked edge makes each layer stand out on its own.  I’ve made a mental effort to NOT ink everything on a page recently, and I couldn’t go through with it.  Had to be done.
3. Brads.  It’s difficult to find a page of mine without a brad on it somewhere.  American Crafts mini brads are awesome for just a little spot of color.  And the Crate Paper and Basic Grey fabric brads are like crack.  Have to have them all.
4. My Epson printer.  LOVE being able to scrap on a whim because I can print out any photo, any time.  It’s also been key in helping me keep (kind of) current with Project Life.  It’s a total workhorse in my scraproom.
5. The Cameo.  I resisted it for the longest time because I couldn’t justify the cost.  But once I gave in, it was hard to imagine scrapping without it.  Such an amazing little machine. 

Where do you find your inspiration?

It’s everywhere.  I love both of the SC galleries for an instant boost of inspiration.  Pinterest is also a surefire way to find an inspirational spark.  The random triangles in my “Growing Pains” layout were inspired by a piece of artwork I saw recently at the Portland Art Museum.  My sister is also a scrapbooker, and I find her pages to be hugely inspiring.  But some of my favorite pages in our family’s album are those that are inspired primarily by the stories they tell.  I love to tell stories.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite color, but if you were to judge by my stacks of patterned paper, I’d have to go with aqua blue and apple green.  But orange and sunny yellow are close seconds.  I LOVE color.  The brighter the better.  My everyday dishes are Fiestaware, both vintage and new, and I love all of that bright, happy color in my cabinets.  But I digress...back to scrapping...  Because I love to use bright colors in my pages, most of my backgrounds are quite neutral, primarily white, kraft, and light grey.  Have to balance it out, don’tcha know.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

I have a really hard time scrapping a photo if I don’t have a story in mind first.  I have to have a pretty good sense of what the journaling will be.  So I will typically flip through iPhoto and see if any particular photo jumps out at me as one that has a story to tell.  What follows in putting a page together is truly accidental.  I tend to push things around for ridiculous amounts of time before I “commit to the stick” and glue everything down.  And once I’m done, the finished layout rarely looks like what I originally pictured in my head.  I love looking to the SC challenges when I’m feeling creatively stuck.  I use the challenge forum and the blog quite often to help me get my gears going.

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

I like to dabble in anything crafty, but I have a touch of Crafting ADD.  I’m infamous for starting a project with gusto and then quickly becoming bored and then abandoning said project.  My husband is pretty tolerant of it, but the afghan that’s 2/3rds done is kind of a sore subject, so we don’t discuss it.  Much.  I do enjoy knitting, though, and consider myself an accomplished knitter.  I’ve accomplished a lot of dishcloths.  ;)  A whole lot of those.  And fingerless gloves.  And scarves and hats and coffee cup cozies.  But my knitting project pride and joy has got to be the Murlock hat I gave my son this past Christmas.  (For those of you not familiar with World of Warcraft, a Murlock is a humanoid, amphibious monster.  Imagine an upright, murderous frog.  You wouldn’t want to run into one in a dark alley.  But my son desperately wanted to wear one on his head.  Go figure.)  Anyway, I designed it myself and spent hour after hour (after hour) locked in my bedroom in order to get it done in time.  My mom was a wonderful knitter, and I channelled her as I made it.  I think she’d be pretty proud of me for actually getting it done.  The aforementioned afghan, though?  I probably wouldn’t discuss that with her, either.

Gillian, thanks so much for sending us into the weekend with a mega dose of inspiration!!! If you'd like to see more of Gillian's work, pop over to her gallery - you won't regret it!

Member Spotlight

Get ready for some mega inspiration - it's time for our Member Spotlight! This month we're featuring Lilith Eeckles - her style is funky and fresh and we can't wait to share her work!

Hi. I'm Lilith. I was born in Leuven, Belgium on 26th January 1979. As a child I grew up in South Africa and my parents moved back to Europe when I was a teenager and settled in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. I now live in the South of Belgium in the Ardennes. I am a mother to four marvellous but mischievous boys (Damien, Noé (7), Robin (4) and Elouan (2)) and have been married to the most wonderful man for 11 years. I'm a  foreign language teacher. I teach Dutch and English to French speaking students and I LOVE it. Besides my passion for languages and teaching, there is also music, photography and on the top of my list SCRAPBOOKING. I started just after getting married as I wanted to make a wedding album. I really got hooked when my two eldest boys were born in 2003 and I haven't stopped since. It helps me unwind from my hectic days being a mum and teaching teenagers. Scrapbooking has made me realise that I can be creative and I love documenting my family's life. It has made me become more confident and willing to have a go.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Patterned paper. I love it and hoard it and even think I would just frame some of my favourite papers. It lends itself to so many things and I could not scrapbook without it.
2. Ink: Before having mists I only had a bottle of India ink and I still use it on nearly everything. A must have!
3. Stamps. I collect them just as I collect patterned paper. My favourite technique is using them over a mask. I can create little stamped circles or triangles even hearts!
4. CAMEO: I don't know if it is a product but I love it to bits! I have a little folder with an array of cut outs in different shapes and sizes mostly in kraft and white cardstock. If I don't have the time to cut out a shape I just flick through my little booklet and choose something I like!
5. My new favourite: GELATOS. They are are emollient-based water- soluble medium. I love my oil pastels but these are AMAZING! They can be smudged, blended with gesso or water, you can even stamp with them.

 
Where do you find your inspiration?

Pinterest is a MAJOR inspiration source. I love pinning art and mixed media creations or graphic design works. They always kick start my mojo. I also love looking through the SC gallery as there is so much inspiration on it!!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

Now this is a hard one! I am really into neon colours at the moment. I still have a soft spot for pastels but I also like bright colours like fushia and turquoise. The colours I pick tend to vary and depend on how I feel and what mood I am in.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

When I started scrapbooking I used to work with sketches and I drew every layout I wanted to create. Nowadays I tend to go with the flow. I always have an idea. It might be a design element and on other occasions my starting point is the photo or the papers. The only rule I follow when I create even for assignments is to have fun. I still have a little note book I carry around and that I use a lot when I am out and about. At home I flip though it and can start creating almost immediately. As I work full time it is a great time-saver.

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

My passions are scrapbooking, music and teaching. I am a language teacher and teach Dutch and English to French speaking students. Education has always been very important and I love seeing students learn and discover. When I was a child I learnt to play quite a few instruments and also followed singing lessons (my dream was to be an opera singer). My love for music is still strong and there is not a day I don't sing or listen to music. Besides music and scrapbooking I also love DIY. I love decorating our home and DH has no say over the power tools. They are my buddies. In the near future I would love to build my own table for my scrap corner. I also love to sew. I don't make clothes but love making curtains and cushions and last but not least I have recently ventured into the world of art journalling and am really LOVING it. It has opened a whole new world to me and it is inspiring me to try out new techniques on my layouts as well!

Thank you for sharing a little more about yourself, Lilith! If you want to see more of Lilith's beautiful work, be sure to stop by her blog or her gallery here at Studio Calico.

 

member spotlight

It's time for another member spotlight! This month, we're featuring Kay Rogers. Kay's projects pulled us in with her use of clean lines, bright colors and classic designs. Enjoy the inspiration!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

• PAPER. I love paper. It is the biggest source of inspiration for me, for sure. I am loving the "Take Note" collection from Studio Calico right now . . . the designers from Sassafras are some of my favorite people ever!
• WOOD VENEERS. Man, these little lovelies make me happy. I like small accents with big impact and these fit the bill!
• FLAIR. The camera flair from Marcy in the last kit was the beginning of a new addiction in scrapbooking embellishments. I can see hoarding flair will be my new pastime. LOL!
• WASHI. I'm a little late to the wash party, but have quite a stash built up. My favorite thing about Washi? You can change your mind! Love it!
• MASKS. I love doing mixed media, and masks just make me happy. I bought quite a few masks in the winter and hope to have some time to play this summer.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I am such a huge fan of both the design team and members here at Studio Calico. It is my go-to spot on the internet for inspiration. I also look to Pinterest for inspiration. I wonder what life was like pre-Pinterest! Boring, for sure. ;)


What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

I love all color combinations! I am loving teal/red right now, as well as grey/yellow, but I'm not heavily led by color combinations. It's whatever compliments the photo best for me, if that makes sense.

Tell us a bit about your design process.

I start with the photo. I then place the photo on patterned paper, and decide which papers the photo would look good on with nothing else. I usually use 3 - 5 patterns on each layout. Once I place the photo and the papers, embellishments are last for me. I am a really simple scrapbooker, so embellies are sparse on my pages. I tend to hand-write my journaling, and often hide it on the page.

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

• I'm a math teacher, and at the high school that I teach I sponsor the photography club. I have learned so much from my students in the club about creativity. They don't let things like having the latest and greatest equipment keep them from taking amazing photos. It's been the best lesson for me about photography. It's your eye, not your camera.
• I also teach Photoshop Elements, Digital Scrapbooking, and Lightroom at my local camera store. I specialize in editing photos creatively.
• I entered the world of mixed media last winter and have loved it. All but one of my last 8 projects have been picked up for publication recently! It's been fun to have another creative outlet!
• I am learning to sew. It's been a slow process, and during the school year I just can't carve out the time, but I am hoping to make a quilt this summer. Wish me luck!

Thank you for sharing a little more about yourself, Kay! If you want to see more of Kay's beautiful work, be sure to stop by her blog or her gallery here at Studio Calico.

Member Spotlight

Please welcome this month's Member Spotlight, Jennifer Kinkade! 

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? 

I started scrapbooking back in 1998 when I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter as a result of someone having a Creative Memories party in their home! That was back when you played with strips of paper and triangles and a corner rounder--which I still have and use to this day (the corner rounder, that is..)

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

My main "go to" items when I scrap are:

   1) my sewing machine! I can't hardly do a page without it! I use it to secure chipboard letters, washi, pictures or just give the page a little bit of interest.
   2) Mister Hueys mists or black spray paint. I love the look of splattered paint on pages--I like the edgy look that it gives to any page.
   3) my manual typewriter. It's a great way to add quick journaling to a tag, label or page.
   4) Washi tape!! For me it is that perfect little piece of embellishment to add to a page. The versatility of the stuff is AMAZING! I am signed up for and super stoked to be taking the Washi Workshop at SC next month, too!
       I just did a "photoshoot" of my washi that I hope to have up on my blog soon!
   5) FONTS!! I confess that I am a font freak and I can create just about anything with a cool font and my Silhouette Cameo!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? 

I have 2 favorites!! Mister Huey's mists--I use  Calico Shine, Taxi, and just started using the Silver! Wood Veneers are my 2nd favorite. I can't resist all those little shapes. I love using them plain or coloring them with mists, paints, or stamping inks! I am going to try nail polish on them soon!!

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? 

Sewing. Hands down.

Where do you find your inspiration? 

I know this is cliche, but I really do find inspo everywhere...magazines, photos, the SC forum and gallery, design, colors, a moment that I've captured...and I am a total Instagram junkie! :)

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

I start out with a neutral background then use pops of yellow or aqua/teal or grey mostly.

Tell us a bit about your design process. 

The secret is...I really don't have one. I think my scrapbooking is non-traditional and imperfect. I will usually start with a photo that I love or want to use and move on from there. I do a lot of layering with patterned papers or Hambly transparencies, then I will add a few embellishments. Sewing things down is normally my last step. I am a fast scrapper...layouts are done in 30 mins or less, unless I am waiting for paint to dry! I try to keep my photos the main focus of any layout that I do.

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

I do a fair amount of digital scrapbooking as well. I find that if I am in a creative funk or I have taken a break that making a digital page normally gets my creative juices flowing again. I also LOVE photography. It's a big time passion. Photography has allowed me to see everything in a new light, from life to scrapbooking to design.

You can see more of Jennifer's work in her SC gallery and her blog. 

Thank you for sharing with Jennifer! 

Member Spotlight

This month's member spotlight is shining bright on Keshet Shenkar, user name Keshet. Let's get to know her a little better. 

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? 

I started scrapbooking when I was 16, in 2001.  The way I discovered scrapbooking is actually a funny coincidence—my father is a business consultant and he once worked with Creative Memories. They gave him a bag with a starter kit, which he promptly put in the basement.  I was poking around the basement looking for a photo album one day when I came upon the kit and started playing. As they say, the rest is history!  I’ve been in love with photos and office supplies (too many mechanical pencils to count, anyone?) since I was a little girl, so I think I was bound to find this hobby sooner or later!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Label stickers. Seriously, I cannot get enough! They add the perfect touch to anything from Project Life to a layout to home décor, and they make wonderful “homes” not only for journaling, but also other design elements. I keep them separately in my stash and go through them constantly.
2. Journaling spots. This is a teensy bit similar to #1, but I love to add journaling to my projects in pretty ways, and these die-cuts and tags are the perfect way to do it! I also love to layer them with embellishments. Elle’s Studio makes some lovely ones, and there are wonderful sellers on Etsy producing beautiful designs as well.
3. Border Punches. I have a few too many of these, but the basic scallop and doily designs are the real workhorses for me. I use them on nearly everything I create.
4. Flowers. I’m a girly-girl kind of scrapper, so it was very convenient that my new baby is a little lady! I love adding flowers, either pre-purchased or handmade, to my layouts. I also love creating flowers by layering journaling spots, stickers, and other items in my stash.
5. Letter stickers. Especially Thickers—and especially the Lullaby font! Nothing makes me happier than a big stack of letter stickers, and I use them on every page I create.  I still remember my “happy place” at last year’s CHA—the wall of Thickers in the American Crafts booth!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why?

This is a tough one, but I’ll have to go with Fab-rips! I love using them as layers or pleating them into flowers.  I’ve torn through so many of my packages!

 
What is your favorite go-to or signature technique?

I don’t know if this counts as a technique, but I would say handwritten, heartfelt journaling. Part of it is that I’m too lazy to get out the typewriter, part of it is that I love the personal touch, but almost every project I create incorporates my own handwriting.  I also like to journal with as much depth as I can—I really use scrapbooking as therapy in that way!  If I want to keep something private, I usually create a hidden pocket on the layout to tuck in my journaling.

Where do you find your inspiration? 

I find inspiration from life—my topic usually stems from whatever is new and challenging in my life at the moment.  When it comes to design, I get so much inspiration from other scrappers, especially SC-ers—you’re the best! I also love reading scrapbooking, home décor, and DIY blogs, and get lots of ideas that way. Finally, my “color” board on Pinterest is where I store inspiring color combos.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

A combo of yellow, pink and aqua.  I just love them together! I’m also loving all off the gray out there lately!

Tell us a bit about your design process.

I usually start with an idea of what I want the page to be about, whether it’s a sentiment or just something light about a recent vacation. I generally have a sense of what I want the layout to “feel” like—layered and haphazard, or graphic and striking, for example.  Along with that comes a basic sense of where the elements will be. After that, I pull supplies, move things around, and cut and paste until I like the result! I don’t always start a project with a good vision of what I want to create, but I definitely enjoy the process much more when I do.

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

My job doesn’t seem that creative (I work at a nonprofit doing divorce law!) but it actually does involve a lot of “thinking out of the box” and coming up with clever solutions to problems. In my non-work life, I love to use my creativity to decorate and organize my home, cook and bake Sabbath meals (I’m especially experimental with my baking!) and put together cute outfits for my munchkin.  I’m also experimenting quite a bit with photography and would love to learn more!

 

member spotlight

This month's member spotlight is shining bright on Shanna Nalywaiko, user name Shannanoel. Not only is she a super talented scrapbooker but an equally talented photograper. Let's get to know Shanna a little better. 

Name: Shanna Nalywaiko

Studio Calico username: Shanna Noel

City/State/Country: Rohnert Park Ca 

Blog: http://www.shannanoel.com/

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? 

I started digital scrapbooking in late 2006, I instantly fell in love with the design process, playing with color and incorporating my photography. I was soon asked to be on the Lilypad creative team (you can see my gallery here) and loved it even more  Even though I was having a lot of fun with it, I decided in the summer of 2010 that I was spending too much time on the computer and left the hobby all together. Through scrapbooking I developed my photography skills and followed blogs that had beautiful photography including Elizabeth Kartchner's blog. This past summer she made an adorable little mini album using Crate Paper's Neighborhood Collection. I feel in love. At first I just had to hunt down that paper.... but the more and more I dug... the further I feel! What I really love about it is that my girls (9 and 5) can join in on the fun, they love making little books with my bind it all. My oldest even put an instax on her Christmas list!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

1. Is white cardstock the most boring answer in all of history, or what?  I am sorry its the perfect backdrop!! Even when I was a digital scrapbooker, I simply scrapped on top of a white canvas, I think colors POP off them and no matter how messy you get, ... its still a clean look. 

2. Paint! Splatter it. Sprinkle it. Smear it. Cover it. There is so much you can do with this versitile product! If it comes in a spray bottle or a can you can do wonders with it. I also love that you can mix it and match anything you are working with!

3. Patterned paper, of course! I really love cutting it up into little tiny accent pieces all over my white canvas! I really love the 6x6 pads since the scale is smaller and lends itself well to this! 

4. Washi Tape - I am so excited everyone is discovering this little gem, because now they are coming out with all these NEW patterns! LOVE it!!! ! I found it in 2006 and was using it on home decor projects, so it was natural to bring it onto my pages. 

5. Does the Cameo count? I find new ways to use that thing on a daily basis! 

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why?

Hands down Mister Huey's!!! Oh gosh! I am just in love with that Mister! I use its on every.single.page! Since I do usually use a white cardstock background the Mister Huey products add the perfect touch!

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique?

Like I said, I definitely like my blank canvas, and I am also a "white" space scrapper. Add in some misting, sewing and a picture and I am good to go! I am also really loving using my digital background with my Cameo and making some fun hybrid layouts!

Where do you find your inspiration? 

EVERYWHERE! First off, of course my children and husband bring me the most inspiration. The funny quotes, the adorable pictures, how could you not be inspired? The scrapbooking community as a whole is an endless source of inspiration from the community to the galleries.. I am AMAZED on a daily basis the talent that is out there!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?

I love anything with turquoise and grey! 

Tell us a bit about your design process.

As I said before, my background is really in digital scrapbooking, and I am finding I am dipping my toe back into that world a bit with my Cameo. So my layouts all start in the silhouette software. If I am inspired by a shape, or using a template.. thats where I start.If I am using a paper product, I LOVE 6x6 pads, because a lot of times the companies will shrink the scale down a bit. Since I scrap on a smaller scale (8x* with a lot of white space) that really helps me!  From there I print off my journaling ...... then its gets messy! Sewing, painting, misrting, cutting, ... its just FUN! I just keep going until my layout feels done. I always know the "bones' of my layout before I start,... buts its all the little bits and pieces that you add that really make a page standout. 

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

I am lucky enough to be surrounded by creative people in my life. So we are always creating something. Twice a year I get together with 8-12 girlfriends/family and we all pick a project/craft to teach other. Its so much fun to learn new techniques and ideas. We craft all day & night... chat,.. eat.. you get the idea! Its loads of fun! :) Because of things like that I enjoy loads of things from photography, felting, painting, beading, sewing etc. I am one lucky lady to be surrounded by these amazing people!!

Thanks so much for sharing a little bit about yourself Shanna! 


 

Member Spotlight: Stephanie Baxter

Stephanie Baxter has been a long-time member at Studio Calico and we love the contribution she brings to the message board and gallery.  She's just all-around inspiring and fabulous with her creative layouts and her positive attitude.  I'm excited to get to put Stephanie in the spotlight this month!

Name: Stephanie Baxter
Studio Calico Username: *paperandglue*
City, State, Country: London, UK
Blog: http://stephaniebaxter.blogspot.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I first became aware of scrapbooking about 7 years ago when I got a Saturday job in a little scrapbooking store near where I lived. Through that, I found my way to the online world of scrapbooking and kept up with things that way, although I didn’t do much scrapbooking then! It’s only been in the last 2-3 years or so that I’ve really gotten into it properly and made it my hobby.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why? There are SO many to choose from!! I guess I’d have to say patterned paper (I love American Crafts, October Afternoon, Crate Paper, Pebbles and SC, of course!), Thickers, punches, white or vanilla cardstock and dimensional adhesive. I use these products on pretty much EVERY layout I make!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I am LOVING all the wood veneer stuff right now...I think the asterisks are my favourite! I also can’t wait for the new camera ones. Mister Huey’s is also a definite favourite.

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? I’m not really a technique-y kind of scrapper, but I do love to use dimensional adhesive on all my pages, either to use on the photos or on a journaling spot or something...I just like the dimension it gives and the way it makes stuff pop off the page. I also love to mix and match different patterned papers...I can’t get enough of paper!

Where do you find your inspiration? Pinterest is a huge source of inspiration for me right now. I find all sorts of random images on there that I try to use as a starting point for a page. I also love looking through the SC gallery at both the DT work and the member’s layouts...so many inspiring people there, it’s unbelievable!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? This is something that changes for me all the time! If you asked me next week, I’d probably say something completely different! Right now, I absolutely adore grey with soft and pretty pinks, greens and yellows, a la the new Dear Lizzy Neopolitan line.

Tell us a bit about your design process. I try and start with something that inspires me...this might be an image from Pinterest, a quote or just a new product that I can’t wait to use. From there I pick a bunch of products that I think I might want to use, lay down my photos, pieces of paper and embellishments without gluing them down...I spend quite a bit of time moving bits around before committing to adhering them down! I agonise and deliberate for ages about where things should go, although you’d never know that from looking at my pages since they are often quite simple! I always do my journaling last. Always. I like to look at the whole page with the photos on it to give me some sort of emotional response which then helps me phrase what I want to say.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I have to be quite creative in my job sometimes since I teach 6 and 7 year olds...we’re always doing some sort of arty project! I actually made a display with the kids that took a bit of inspiration from Kelly Purkey’s amazing map layouts!! Our topic is Africa and the display is a massive collage map of Africa showing the different environments (rainforest, desert, savannah, etc.)...before sticking the collage on the wall, I made a larger map and used it as a mask before going to town on the board with some Mr Huey’s!! Many thanks to Kelly for the amazing idea! I also love photography, although since starting teaching I don’t really have much time for it. Working with children has really given me a passion for children’s photography though... I’d love to do that some day!

Thanks for sharing a peek into your process and world, Stephanie!  We love having you as a memeber at SC.

Member Spotlight: Ann-Marie Morris

The gallery has been filled with amazing inspiration and I'm so happy that one of my favorite scrapbookers has been sharing her work there recently.  I love her bright colors, happy outlook, and take on scrapbooking the everyday.  Meet Ann-Marie Morris...
Name: Ann-Marie Morris
Studio Calico Username: Ann-Marie Morris
City, State, Country: Currently Orem, Utah but I'm originally from Southern California.
Blog: annmarielovespaper.wordpress.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? While I have always been really into crafting, I didn't get into scrapbooking until I was a junior in college. That Christmas, I decided to make my parents a scrapbook of family memories. Before I knew it, I was knee-deep in design blogs and amazed at all the endless ways that people can combine paper + photos! SInce then, I've worked for a local scrapbook store, a Paper Source, and now American Crafts, all in the name of my love for this hobby. I can't wait to see where it takes me next!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why? Oh man, it's so hard to narrow the list down to five, but I almost always grab patterned paper, Thickers, stamps, mists, and vellum! All five of these products are so versatile and easily add so much interest to any type of project.


What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? Mister Huey's, especially Calico White! I can't get over how beautifully opaque the mists are - there's nothing else like it!

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? I don't know if there's one particular technique I use every time, but I am a big fan of imperfections. I love "winging it" as I go, without worrying about whether everything is perfect or not.

Where do you find your inspiration? These days, I can't seem to pull my eyes away from Instagram and all the amazing iPhone photographers out there! I also love blogs and Pinterest for a quick burst of inspiration!


What is your favorite color and/or color combo? All of my projects feature at least a little bit of teal + yellow, but I love using as many colors as possible. Oh, and you can never go wrong with kraft!

Tell us a bit about your design process: When it comes to layouts, I usually have a general idea of how I want them to look, but nothing too exact. I find that the more I allow myself to play and experiment, the more I love the end result. But when it comes to minibooks and Project Life, I like to have a little bit more structure and maybe a couple of "rules" here and there. With all my projects, my most favorite part of the design process is the embellishing. I LIVE for embellishments! Once I feel like my page has been sufficiently decorated, I add a little journaling (either handwritten or typewritten) and call it good!


Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking: When I'm not working as an In-House Designer at American Crafts, I love to thrift, decorate my apartment, explore new places, and of course, spend lots of time shopping at Target :)

Speaking of being an In-House Designer at AC, I saw this little sneak peek on Ann-Marie's blog last week:

New letter stickers made from her handwriting - how cool is that!  Thanks for being a great inspiration - we can't wait to see what you share next, Ann-Marie.

Member Spotlight: TamiG

My new scrapcrush is on the fabulous Tami Gookstetter... her layouts in the gallery caught my eye the other day and I spent way too much time drooling over her pages.  She's a huge inspiration and a great part of the SC Community!  Let's get to know her a little bit better:

Name: Tami Gookstetter
Studio Calico Username: TamiG
City, State, Country Edgewood, WA USA
Blog: www.ButterflyKissPhotography.com/Blog

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I have been scrapbooking since the late 90s really (lots of shaped pictures and decorative scissor use!) but took a hiatus in my college years.  I recently started again in 2010 when I happened across Studio Calico on the web.  I fell in love immediately with my first kit, On the Easel, and have been hooked ever since. I love scrapbooking as both a creative outlet and a way to preserve memories, since pictures often just reside on hard drives nowadays.  I love that my family will be able to look back at these albums and get a peek into our life through the years.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why? The top of the list would have to be Thickers, I can use those on every single page without fail.  I also love using mist, die cuts (like OA miscellany), buttons, and chipboard.

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I love Mister Huey's so so much.  I like the versatility; I can add splatters or spray on a page, color chipboard pieces and use them with masking.  I love the color range and the opacity too.

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Hmmm, this is a tough question...but I do like to add mist splatters or a touch of hand sewing to most layouts.

Where do you find your inspiration? I love looking at Pinterest for interesting color combos, quotes, and designs.  It also is really helpful for me to start with a sketch so I am always checking out the Sunday Sketches for inspiration.  And I can't forget the Studio Calico gallery, all the members post such inspiring work!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? I love the color green, especially chartreuse.

Tell us a bit about your design process.  I usually start with either a sketch/design in mind, or a technique I want to try out.  I started printing my photos from home this year, on my little HP photo printer, which has been really great for me since I like to use different sizes on my layouts and helps me to be able to scrap whenever I have time without waiting to get prints.  After printing the photos I will pull out a coordinating kit and choose a few key elements, colors, and patterns that compliment the photo and theme of my layout.  I never glue until the very end, so I will just cut, layer and move bits around it it feels right.  I kind of work backwards because them I will take everything off and do any sewing/misting before putting everything back and gluing down.  I always journal last; this part is tough for me and I tend to keep it simple and factual, I am not a big writer.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. When I am not scrapbooking, I am busy being a mom and running my photography business. I love that I can combine all my passions with my photography; shopping, vintage goodies, crafting, and meeting wonderful new people.  Actually I was just noticing how similar my scrapbooking and photography style are. I would love it if anyone wants to check out my work and leave a comment, either on my blog: www.ButterflyKissPhotography.com/Blog or facebook: www.facebook.com/ButterflyKissPhotography

Thanks for sharing, Tami!  We can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Member Spotlight

I was so excited when my creative friend Paige Evans joined Studio Calico and started sharing her amazing work in the gallery... there's so much inspiration in all her pages!  I'm excited to share a little bit more about her as our November spotlighted member.

Studio Calico Username - PaigeEvans
City, State, Country – South Pasadena, CA, USA
Blog – www.paigeandchris.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapbooking when I was 16 and got my very first job at a scrapbooking store (it wasn’t even my first choice for a job but boy am I glad it worked out the way it did!). My life has revolved around scrapbooking ever since! I worked there (Yesterday’s Scrapbooking & Stuff) until I left for college and got a job at Pebbles In My Pocket, then I started working for Northridge Publishing (they publish Scrapbook Trends, CARDS, the Create: series, Simply Handmade, Bead Trends, and the new Cricut Mags) where I still work for from home going on 6 years now; I was an In House Scrapbooker/Product Designer for American Crafts for 20 months and now I’m their Blog Hostess and Design Team Manager. I also had a brief stint at Archiver’s. My how 10 years of scrapbooking has flown by!
What are your top 5 favorite products and why?

#1 – patterned paper because there are unlimited choices and I love all the things that can be created with it.

#2 – fabric brads because they can be incorporated onto pretty much any project and I love the bit of texture and pop of color they add.

#3 – Bits decorative tags by American Crafts because they’re the perfect blend of design and cuteness.

#4 – punches because they can be used in so many different ways over and over again.

#5 – my sewing machine because it gives all my projects that perfect finishing touch and I love the “homemade/homespun” look.

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I know I’m going to sound like a broken record here, but the patterned paper is my favorite! Every piece is usable!
What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Because I love using lots of different patterned papers on my layouts and projects any kind of paper technique where I can show off as much patterned paper as possible is okay in my book!
Where do you find your inspiration? Recently – Pinterest! Also magazines like Scrapbook Trends, CARDS, Simply Handmade, Cricut… wink wink

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? Does rainbow count as a color? I’m all about bright, happy, and fun color combos!

Tell us a bit about your design process. I start with a super simple sketch of what I have in mind. Usually it involves a lot of patterned paper so I’ll choose my papers based on the colors of the photo/s and then cut into them to make the embellishments or background. I don’t adhere anything until I’ve figured out the placement. Lots of times I step away from my projects and come back several hours later when new inspiration comes to mind.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than
just scrapbooking. I’ve been a mommy for just over a year now so that takes up most of my time! I also love to bookbind, dabble in fine arts like painting and drawing, and home décor projects are always fun. Someday I’d like to get back into the design aspect of scrapbooking. There’s nothing like seeing products you’ve designed in stores or on layouts of friends in this awesome community!

We're so glad to have you as a member, Paige!