Studio Calico

Member Spotlight

Say hello to Allie - this month's spotlighted member!  Allie's layouts popped right out at me in the gallery with her stylish simplicity.  Let's get to know this fun girl a little bit better...
Name: Allie Hamblin
Studio Calico Username: AllieH
City, State, Country: Exeter, Great Britain

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started?I started after I got married in 2005 as a way to preserve some of the photographs that we had but since having my daughter in 2008 and joining Studio Calico I have been completely hooked.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
    •    Punches - particularly circle and butterfly ones.
    •    Needle and thread and Kinsey's templates as I love to add a little bit of handstitching to my pages.
    •    Little alphabet stamps for my journaling as I really don't like my handwriting and have to share the computer with my husband.
    •    Patterned paper - Love it in all colours, patterns and manufacturers.
    •    Thickers - who doesn't have a slight addiction to them? 


What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I love the veneer shapes. They're so great at adding a little touch to a page and I love the fact that you can alter them to suit whatever layout you are making.

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? I'm a pretty simple scrapper, but I guess most of my pages tend to have lots of white space, some handstitching and a little bit of patterned paper.

Where do you find your inspiration? I love looking at the gallery here at Studio Calico. I see so much great work from both the designers and members that is really inspirational. Apart from that I have to admit to a love of Pinterest for interesting design and colour ideas.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? White and anything else. I have to force myself to use other colour backgrounds.

Tell us a bit about your design process. Most of my pages are about our daughter, so I tend to start with the picture or story I want to tell. I tend to work with the most current SC kit, I'm a bit of a kit killer and tend not to buy much elsewhere, and pick out the paper and embellishments that I think will complement the photo. I then just move things around until I am happy with it and stick it down before I change my mind.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I have been trying to develop my photography as I love taking photos, unfortunately a three year old does not always make a willing subject! I also enjoy sewing, knitting and crocheting small projects and baking with my daughter.

Thanks for sharing all your beautiful layouts with us, Allie!

Member Spotlight: Sarah

Hi SC friends!  It's Kelly here to share the love I have for one of our amazing message board member, Sarah Andreotti.  Her work has really caught my eye lately and I just realized that her two year SC Anniversary is coming up on September 11.  She's also from my home state of Michigan and lives in a city not too far from where I grew up.  So cool!  Here's a little bit more about Sarah...

Name: Sarah Andreotti
Studio Calico Username: Sarah Andreotti
Town, State: Frankenmuth, Michigan USA
Blog: http://sarah-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapbooking in 2007 when my sister just moved to the Virgin Islands and was going to miss my then 6 month old daughter growing up. I made my sister a scrapbook of everything that was going on back home to send her for her birthday and I was hooked! My stash grew from a small Iris container of products to a whole card catalog plus some! 


What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
Mists: So many options- masking, using on veneer or chipboard, splatters or full on coverage!
Buttons: There are so many different shapes, colors, etc. that I can justify using them on just about any page. And they always have to be stitched on for me!
Bakers Twine: I love all the colors available now and the fact that it works for not just scrapbooking, but cute packaging and more!
Wood Veneer: So many possibilities!
Tim Holz Mini Attacher: Genius invention, really. I've recently found they're the perfect addition to the little boy pages I get to do now that I have a baby boy! 


What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? Mister Huey's in White. LOVE. 

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Machine stitching adds that little something if I feel my page isn't quite complete.

Where do you find your inspiration? Blogs, magazines and Pinterest. Oh, the time I've spent on Pinterest!

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? I love pink and pretty much anything that goes with it!

Tell us a bit about your design process. I start with the photos, then come up with the design. I usually have what papers I want to use in mind, then add embellies as I go. I always incorporate the journaling space in my design planning, but I never know what I want to say until I'm writing it down.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I love photography! I love taking photos of my family just doing our day to day stuff, or trying to set up some cute little shoot that my 4 year old then has no interest in. J
I also like to pretend I know how to sew and sew up little things- headbands and totebags have been my recent projects. My sewing machine definitely sees more paper than fabric, though!

Thanks for being a fabulous SC member, Sarah!

Member Spotlight

Hello there, Celine here to share our newest member spotlight... I LOVE what this girl makes!
Name:  Rahel Menig
Studio Calico Username:  RahelMenig
City, State, Country:  Gilroy, CA USA
Blog:  http://www.swissgirldesigns.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? Now, the problem with this question is, I can't really remember the exact year when I started with scrapbooking... But it had to be in 2004 or 2005, cause my favorite Aunty came back from a trip to Canada and was totally excited about her new found hobby. She didn't really had a lot of time to explain the whole thing to me, but said "you always have to use three of every element on a double layout". I went home that day and started my very first mini album from scratch, using some baby pictures of me that I found in my moms drawer. At that time there were absolutely NO scrapbooking stores in Switzerland (yes, I'm a real Swiss miss ;) ) so I had to improvise. I used lots of that normal crafting cardstock, would make my own paper with coffee and berry stains and would print out word documents feauturing ABC's.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1. I love love love my pink hot glue gun! I pretty much use it to glue anything and everything on my pages. It even works GREAT to add some cool dimensions :D

2. Patterned paper, patterned paper, I can't live without patterned paper! I like to make lots of banners (and glue it with my pink hot glue gun...), make triangles as part-matting behind pictures or cut funny boarders to add around the layout.

3. Thickers! I seriously can't get enough Thickers ;) I tried lots of different brands for sticker alphas, but I always returned to American Crafts somehow.. Especially love the glitter ones ;) heeee

4. It's new and super addicting: Washi Tape! Yes, this really needs to go on the top 5 list.. They add so much fun and color and are super versatile too, f.ex. I like to stick plain pictures on the wall with this tape and it looks like a million bucks :D

5. Now here it gets hard, cause my list of top favorite products is long.. But I guess I would pick plain old white tissue paper or old street maps for the last point. I love to add lots of texture with these two things, making the pages more interesting to look at.

Some other favorites would be: glassine bags, typewriter, sewing machine, pearls and baker's twine :D Oh, and not to forget: fabric!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I really like the patterned paper, especially Mud Pie, Betsy and Grove from the Countryside Collection. I seriously can't get enough of the Mud Pie Alphas!! Even made a little wall art with one of the letters.... dumdeedum.. Oh, and I can't tell you in a higher voice, how AWESOME these paper work in my minis! love love love!
What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Hmmm... (thinking about my latest layouts and what could be called special about them...)  I guess the layering and the banners would be my signature style. I love to write title-parts or journaling with my vintage typewriter and then cut them into banners and adhere them in a way they add dimension to my page. By layering I mean mainly the 'behind the picture' stuff that is usually going on in my layouts. I love to use white tissue paper and doilies to make it all interesting.  Also I love to use non-scrapbooking related stuff like road maps for example or meaningful ephemera scraps. One more thing is that I often scrap about everyday situations like f.ex. getting a new computer. I made like 4 pages only about that topic ;)

Where do you find your inspiration? Pretty much everywhere. Since I can't make up my layouts in my head in advance, I just go with gut feelings while I work. If there are paint brushes on my desk I might be inspired to do some background painting, if I have flowers in reach I might use them on the page. I also have my favorite blogs that I like to check out daily, but I never try to do the exact same and copy other people's work. Thinking about the question a bit longer I think I get inspired most by products that I love and have in reach. For example I have a stack of doilies in my drawer and use them on pretty much every single page I do...

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? I would say I usually scrap with light colors and soft patterned paper. Basically I love naturals and then rock it with some color pops. I absolutely adore the power of a soft and feminine yellow in combination with a nice teal or 'Mud Pie Alpha Blue'. Also I love to throw in a bit pink or rose - oh, and I looooove white or creme Bazzil Bling cardstock!

Tell us a bit about your design process. I have a cardboard shipping box with my favorite items like patterned paper and alphas in it. I usullay put that box on the bed (since I scrap in our bedroom...), go back to my computer and look for a picture that I would like to make a layout or tell the story about. Once I found it I print it out and go back to the box and look for cool items and start combining the products. I put on some relaxing music (usually Mendy Gledhill or Movie Soundtracks) and just let myself go I guess.. ;) It's very important for me, that my desk is very clean (probably because it's a very limited space...) if it's messy I sure can't make a good page! Also sometimes I just can't connect with the picture/story I chose in the first place and get all frustrated. If that happens, well, then I usually have to find another picture or two ;)

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. My heart beats for photography. I actually made an apprenticeship in the field of photography back in Switzerland. I love to go out and just have fun with unusual angles, light situations or what so ever, as long as it's different! Also I just started with watercolor after a veeeery long break. I used to go to classes with my mom, like a million years ago. I'm totally hooked again and hope to incorporate that with my layouts somehow :)

Thanks for sharing your beautiful work, girl!

Member Spotlight: Sarah

Hi everyone! It's Waleska and I want to spotlight a super talented and sweet member of the Studio Calico community with you today...  Sarah.

Name: Sarah Klemish
Studio Calico Username: Sarahak
City, State, Country: Midland, Michigan USA 

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapping right around the time my oldest son was 2 years old – 2000. I set up a Creative Memories class at my work through our Community Education program and attended the class.  I was hooked!

 What are your top 5 favorite products and why? Studio Calico Wood Veneer Shapes – especially the hearts and stars! I love that they are so versatile!  They can be used as is or I like to add patterned paper behind the open shapes to add some color.

Anything October Afternoon - I find that I can mix their papers / stickers / embellishments easily.  Their products just work well with my style!

Creative Memories Foam Squares and Frosted Splits - The Creative Memories Foam Squares (pop dots) are amazing!  Easy to get off  packaging, they offer a lot in a pack and the height of them is just right! The Frosted Splits are STRONG!  They hold well and easy to use!
 
Bazzill Cardstock - I use white or kraft cardstock on almost every layout I do!  My LSS orders it in bulk for me because I go through it so fast!
 
Jillibean Corrugated Shapes - I love the fun kraft colored shapes – easy to place and easy to dress up!  They just add that certain something to a layout AND go so well with all of their fun paper lines!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? Studio Calico Wood Veneer Shapes!!  They complement any project because they are neutral in color AND when you buy a pack you get a TON of pieces in a variety of sizes!!

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? I would say stitching. I am not a big embellisher so whether it is outlining a few things or the entire page it just adds that finishing touch.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful work with us, Sarah!

Member Spotlight

Nicole S. here with a new member spotlight!  I just love this blog feature... it's such a great way to learn a little more about the people we chat with on a daily basis on the boards.  The well deserving member we will be spotlighting today is.... Alisyn Evans! 
Name: Alisyn Evans
Studio Calico Username: alisyn
City, State, Country: Gilbert, AZ, USA

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I actually resisted when a friend tried to get me into it initially.  But when my first child was born 11 years ago I gave in and I’ve been seriously hooked ever since!  I still love to look back at the early books and although I cringe at much of the design, I’m glad I have things documented.  My kids truly love their books, too. (And they don’t care so much about the Paperkins--ha!)
 
What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1)     Patterned paper:  it’s colorful and so inspiring to me, and the variety is endless.
2)     Buttons and brads (esp. fabric-covered brads):  love collecting them, but also have to use them on almost every page.
3)     Thickers:  does anyone else remember handcutting & making their own layered letters from templates??—enough said ;)
4)     Punches:  so fast and EASY.
5)     Can I say cardstock stickers—love those things!  (again with the fast & easy)
 

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? Love the stamps:  just wish I was better at using them!
 
What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? My pages tend to be pretty simple, so I’m not very technique-y J. But probably my favorite part of the process is coming up with the titlework, and I build around that.
 
Where do you find your inspiration? Honestly, here!  It’s been said many times before, but this community of designers and members is so talented.  I truly love looking at everyone’s art and learning from the huge variety of styles.  I also love Anthro catalogs and fashion magazines in general for color/pattern inspiration.
 
What is your favorite color and/or color combo?  I LOVE color, so can’t pick a favorite, but yellow and aqua seem extra yummy to me right now.


 
Tell us a bit about your design process. I wish I had time to scrap every (good) photo I take, but I just don’t.  So I try to focus on the photos that really make me feel something, that bring out strong emotion in me.  When I find one of those photos I decide what I want to say to that person, usually one of my kids.  I find an SC kit that has colors/patterns that coordinate with the photos/mood of the story, and I get going! Usually takes a while before I’ll glue anything down, however.  I have many layouts going on at once, with things being moved around, not being committed to J  Wish it wasn’t that way (super messy) but that’s how it goes for me!  Luckily my super-organized husband humors me. (I think)
 
Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I love my three kids and husband dearly, and honestly they take up most of my time!  I really enjoy cooking and baking for them, trying new recipes and collecting cookbooks as I go.  I also love home décor, and given unlimited money and time would have a ball redecorating my house over and over and over again.J  I love to sing, and love music in general.  My current creative goal is focusing on my photography skills—there is still so much that I need to learn, but I’m really enjoying trying to improve myself in this area.
 
Be sure to check out more of Alisyn's beautiful creations in her gallery.  Thanks for sharing with us, Alisyn!

Member Spotlight: Barb

It's Kelly here shining the spotlight on one of our fabulous members, Barb Novack.  I love that Barb has been a member of Studio Calico from almost the very beginning - she joined in June 2007.  Here's a little bit more about this wonderful woman!

Name: Barb Novak
Studio Calico Username: Babs
City, State, Country: Neenah, Wisconsin, USA
Blog: Babs's Babble
 
When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapbooking in 1998. I spent almost two months in Europe right after high school graduation and came home with many, many rolls of film. I borrowed my mom's deco scissors, grabbed my Crayola markers, cut pictures into ovals, matted everything, and made my very first scrapbook. It was a Creative Memories album. The patterned paper was from Walmart. It is possible that much of the solid paper was construction paper. It is a total work of art.

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1. Ledger paper: It goes with everything
2. Kraft cardstock: Again, it goes with everything
3. Buttons: Timeless and simple embellishments
4. Border punches: Super-easy to use but add so much detail
5. Patterned paper (especially paper with stripes, words, and polka dots)

(This was a hard question to answer! I started out staring at a blank screen. Then, I added two things. Then, I answered a few other questions. Then, I came back to it. Then, I had a list of five and started to think of more things I wish I could include. Things like: a stapler, epoxy or fabric brads, Hambly transparencies, American Crafts Precision Pens, all Thickers except the ones with glitter, Big Bite punch, little letter stickers like Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers, and the We R Memory Keepers giant corner rounder.)

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? I love buying Studio Calico stamps - I really do! I especially love the background stamps like the little circles or the recent stamp that looked like two columns from a book or the woodgrain background. I am a little embarrassed to admit, though, that I rarely actually use the stamps. Stamping is such a big commitment. I'm always a little nervous that I will stamp and completely mess up what I'm working on.

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Are photo enlargements a technique? I do love enlarged photos.  I have also been having a great time experimenting with page protectors lately. I'm trying to do a Project Life album. That has gotten me into playing with divided page protectors and sewing page protectors to create custom sizes.

Where do you find your inspiration? When it comes to actually scrapbooking, my inspiration comes from sketches. I have a serious thing for sketches. I always have. A Becky Higgings sketch book was my first idea book purchase, and my love of sketches has not diminished since then.

In general, though, my inspiration comes from blogs. My favorites are in my Google Reader, and I love keeping my very favorite ideas and images organized in Pinterest.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? An answer to this question didn't immediately pop into my head, so I looked back through my Pinterest to see if there was any sort of pattern. There isn't.  I seem to favor bright but natural colors mixed together in unusual combinations (like my collection of mis-matched Fiesta dishes of every color) and really neutral palettes with a splash of a single color.

Tell us a bit about your design process. I have a folder on my (super messy and very full) desktop for my latest favorite layouts and another for sketches. I save things here from my Internet travels. When I have a picture (or a couple of pictures) and a story I want to tell I go to the folder to find an idea or two. Then, I re-size the pictures, sit down with a pile of products, and play around until I end up with something I'm happy with.

A quirky thing about me - I always need to clear off my workspace before I can start a new project. I just need a fresh, organized space before I can start something new.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I love to cook! I actually look forward to meal planning and have so much fun putting together recipes to make a perfect meal. Of course, this means I also love collecting different dishes, serving trays, kitchen equipment, and cook books.

A friend and I have been having monthly "feasts" this year. Each feast has a theme (my favorite so far was the Big Mouth, Big Bowl Soup Challenge) with several ridiculously complicated and overly-ambitious recipes that fit with the theme. We've been experimenting with cheese lately, too, trying a few different "fancy" cheeses and accompanying nibbles with each of our feasts.
 
Well I, for one, would love to be invited to one of Barb's delicious looking feasts.  And maybe we can fit some scrapping in (after our post-feast naps, of course!)

Member Spotlight

Hi Everyone!  Susan here again today with another amazing Studio Calico member to spotlight - Mandie Pierce.  I absolutely ADORE her colorful and playful sense of style when it comes to her scrapbook pages.  Here are a few of my favorite pages that Mandie has created, as well as a bit more about her.
Name Mandie Pierce
Studio Calico Username MandieLou
City, State, Country Vacaville, California.  United States
Blog Like A Lemon to a Lime and a Lime to a Lemon 

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapbooking in 1999, when our daughter was about 6 months old.  I've always kept books with photos and ticket stubs, cards, etc.  But one day at Michael's I discovered they made actual products for this.  I was hooked.  

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1-Hero Arts Basic Alphabet stamps.  I use these ALL the time.  I get asked about them all the time too.  I don't have a good answer for why.  I just love the way the look.  (You will find this is likely my answer for most of the things I like.  Lol.)  I like to use the capital "o" with the lower case letters.  
2-Buttons.  Big, little.  Vintage, New.  Doesn't matter...  I just love the way they look.  I think they add a little touch of something to a layout or card - especially if they are sewn onto the project.  It just adds a little finished touch.   
3-Sassafras Lass Flowers.  All kinds.  All colors.  The little ones.  The big ones.  The foldies.  The paper whimsie variety.  Love 'em all!  I hope they keep making them all!   I don't know why, but I just love flowers!  :)  Even when I don't use them, I like to pull them out and just look at them!
4-Border Punches - Especially my Double Embossed Dotted Edger Punch from EK Success.  I use it all the time.  I think I go for this one most often because it adds a simple punch of fun to the design but doesn't overwhelm the pattern paper.  I also love the open scallop border punch.  Who doesn't love a good scallop, right?
5-StazOn black ink.  It's is so crisp.  And it smells so good.  What's not to love about that?! 

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why?  Oh, gosh.  This is a hard question....  Right this second, my favorite is the new wood veneer shapes.  Especially the butterflies.  I love the color of the wood.  I love the shape.  They are fun to use on just about everything!  (but, next week - my favorite will likely be something different!)

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Probably sewing.  I use my sewing machine on almost everything.  If I don't, it doesn't feel "right."

Where do you find your inspiration? All over the place.  Usually it comes from an actual product itself.  A pattern paper or product will inspire me to use it in a certain way.  Aside from that, catalogs and magazines often catch my eye with a color combo or pattern.  I also love the gallery at Studio Calico. Oh and Ikea.  I come back from that place with a million ideas swirling in my head. 

What is your favorite color and/or color combo? In general, I love teal/ yellow & grey or orange/ teal & grey.  I don't really use that in scrapbooking though...  I tend to use whatever color combo strikes my fancy at the time.     

Tell us a bit about your design process. I am probably lame, but I don't think I really have one!  Sometimes I have a particular theme or an actual layout in mind,  But a lot of times, I don't.  I am more of a fly by the seat of my pants scrapper.  Inspired by the product itself, I will often pull out the product and then look through my photos to see what fits.  Then I will just play with it until I get it how I want it.  In every other area of my life, I'm a big planner.  Not sure why I'm not that way with scrapbooking. 

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.  As far creative things go, scrapbooking is pretty much it for me.  I do cross stitch every now and then.  I love to plan parties.  I probably get a little too involved in the planning.  (You can see the last 2 I did last on my blog - in May and June of last year.)  I enjoy planning them down to the last detail.  

Member Spotlight

It's Celine back again to share a fun blog post with you.  We've got another fabulous member in the spotlight today!  Please meet Nina! 
Name: Nina Stenzel
Studio Calico Username: NinaSt
City, State, Country: Herne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I guess I encountered scrapbooking the first time after my daughter was born in 2003. I wanted to create a special picture album for her and since srapbooking was not very popular in germany back then I put all my effort in finding colored paper or cardboard and even some punches were available. I finished the album but didn´t get back to the actual scrapbooking activity until 2008 when it became more popular in germany. I bumped into some Scrapbooking-Onlineshops and all the material caught my attention so I started off scrapbooking again.
What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1. Thickers: I´m kind of addicted to them and rarely use other Alpha-Stickers.
2. PP: Because you can use it in so many ways.
3. Stamps: Because you can reuse them.
4. Punches: Because they are multifunctional as well.
5. Mr. Hueys: I just love those little mists.

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why?  Are you seriously asking me after my favorite SC product? There are so many, there isn't one that I don't like. Like I said before, I love Mr. Hueys, especially the white, the Fabrips, the PPs and of course the stamps.
What is your favorite go-to or signature technique? Well, ultimately I find myself putting on some color splatters on any layout that I make. Seems to be my personal icing on the cake.

Where do you find your inspiration?  I usually get my inspiration from the internet, especially in blogs and forums. I am really thankful for all the inspiring ideas of those talented scrappers.

What is your favorite color and/or color combo?  At the moment my favorite color is turquoise. I use to combine it with black, yellow and grey.

Tell us a bit about your design process.  Actually I don´t have a consistent procedure. At times I start with a sketch but the beginning could as well be a specific PP or a photograph. Usually I develop the layout in my mind some days before I start.
Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.  Besides scrapbooking I enjoy to take photos which in my opinion somehow belongs to scrapbooking. My christmas present last year was a DSLR and I am trying to improve my skills in operating it manually.

Thanks for sharing your lovely work, Nina!

Member Spotlight:

Hey everyone! It's Sasha with another fabulous member of the Studio Calico Community to shine the spotlight on.  I have been following Diane for quite some time and thought she has a style that is so fresh and she plays with colors so well!
Name: Diane Payne
Studio Calico Username: dpayne
City, State, Country: Prosper, TX  USA
Blog: http://dianepayne.typepad.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started?  In 1989, shortly after I was married, I put all my honeymoon photos and memorabilia, into a magnetic album that was covered with lacey fabric, complete with a matching frame. I embellished the pages with a little doodling and journaling using markers and copy paper. My first real introduction to scrapbooking was in 1997 shortly after my daughter was born. I attended a Creative Memories party and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What are your top 5 products and why? Patterned paper is hands-down my favorite product. I like to use it as my background, layer it, and cut designs out of it for embellishing my layout. I think it is the most versatile product in my stash.

I love my punches and almost always use one when creating a layout. They are so versatile and can be used over and over again. I especially love my butterfly and edge punches.

I like to use those tiny square alphabets, like the ones by October Afternoon, Jenni Bowlin, and Cosmo Cricket, for creating titles mixed with larger fonts or for adding emphasis to words in my journaling. I find myself reaching for them over and over.

I seem to use buttons and brads on almost every layout, it is the perfect finishing touch.
I love the transparent look of washi tape. The gold strip tape from the June Shade Tree add-on is my favorite one. I’m going to be really sad when that one is gone.

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why?  I love the Studio Calico mists. They cover chipboard perfectly and white is incredible on dark colored papers.

What is your favorite go-to or signature technique?   I’m not sure I do anything that easily identifies a layout as mine, but I usually create linear, structured layouts with a sprinkling of embellishments. I almost always use journaling strips typed on my vintage typewriter and add a little machine stitching to finish it off.

Where do you find your inspiration?  My inspiration comes from all around me. It could be a scrapbook supply, clothing, ads, or online galleries and blogs.

What is your favorite color and/or combo?  Yellow! I especially love yellow with a splash of red.

Tell us a bit about your design process.  Typically, I begin with my photos or a story and pick out paper and embellishments that go with it. I almost always have an idea in my mind of how I want to arrange everything. Once I’m happy with how it looks, I snap a photo of it on my phone in case I need to reference it, then I take it apart and start gluing and sewing everything down. I’m slow…all of this usually takes me 2-3 hours.

Occasionally, I make a layout for no other reason than to scrap a photo I love or play with new supplies that I’m excited about. I like that I allow myself the freedom to do both.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved making things. Over the years I’ve knitted, cross-stitched and even did a little sewing. When my first child was born I borrowed a neighbors SLR camera and I became hooked on photography. Photography and scrapbooking are a perfect marriage and I am hopelessly in love with both!

Thank you for the inspirations, Diane!!

Member Spotlight: Melissa

Hi, it's Waleska and I want to share another fabulous member of the Studio Calico community.

Name:  Melissa Mann
Studio Calico Username:  pixiegirl1981
City, State, Country:  Pensacola, Florida - USA
Blog:  http://www.iheartpenquins.blogspot.com

When did you start scrapbooking and what got you started? I started scrapbooking in 2005. My husband and I had just moved down to Florida from Maryland and in the process, I found the bag of memorabilia from our wedding in February 2004. Someone had given us a memory book to glue photos & cards in, and to fill in different information about the special day. I remember thinking that it would be fun to find some wedding themed stickers to put in the book ( I was QUITE the sticker fiend growing up - I owned every single Lisa Frank sticker available!). I went to Wal-Mart (oh, the horror!!) and found some wedding themed Jolee stickers and was feeling quite proud of myself! I told my Mom about it a few weeks later and she proceeded to tell me that I should go to JoAnne's because they had a larger selection of scrapbooking product than Wal-Mart did. It wasn't long after discovering JoAnne's & Michaels that I fell headfirst into this hobby!

What are your top 5 favorite products and why?
1.  Stamps - I can use them over & over again! I have a small obsession with stamps and own a TON of them! I like using them with paint & ink.

2.  Kraft Cardstock - I have to stop myself from picking up a sheet of Kraft for every layout I create. And even if I don't use it as the base of my layout, I will still reach for a scrap piece to create a punched embellishment or to type my journaling onto.

3.  Mist - I love mist. Love, love. And I recently just tried out the Mr. Huey White. Yumm! I love all the different techniques & effects that can be accomplished with mist.  A very versatile tool to have in your stash!

4.  Punches - I only recently fell in love with punches.  Within the last year, I'd say. Before that, I hated them. I don't know why - but, I just never seemed to have luck with them and I didn't know how to use them.  However, that has changed. My favorite punch at the moment is the small Martha Stewart sunburst punch.  I think I use that on every layout. And the Optic Dot Border Punch is pretty awesome too! I really love how easy it is to create custom embellishments with a few punches & patterned paper!

5.  Chipboard Embellishments - I love how chipboard immediately adds dimension & interest to a layout or project!

What is your favorite Studio Calico product and why? All of it!!  Seriously, I love all the exclusive papers & stamps that are included in the SC kits every month. And while I LOVE, LOVE the stamps, I really adore the patterned paper that SC creates. One of my favorites was the butterfly paper from the Cotillion Kit from September 2009. I still have a small piece of that paper stashed away ;-) I am always impressed with the quality and the design of the papers. They are unique and one-of-a-kind and always perfectly compliment the kits!

Where do you find your inspiration? I usually find inspiration from the online world: blogs, ads, decor sites...I also get quite a bit of inspiration from magazines. Sometimes the placement of text and/or photos in ads gives just the jumping off start for a great layout design!

Tell us a bit about your design process. Well, first I have to waste about an hour or so online ;-) Then, I usually reach for a folder that I keep sketches, ads, color combinations, etc in and find something that catches my eye. I find the patterned paper I want to use and then the picture(s). I play around with the placement of the paper and photo and then adhere all of it. Then I find the embellishments I want to use and save the title & journaling for last.

Tell us a bit about what else you do since we know you are creative in more ways than just scrapbooking. I love books. Oh, I love books. I will never understand this craze of being able to download a book onto an electronic device. NEVER. I love the feel of a book in my hand.  My favorite authors are Janet Evanovich, Mary Higgins Clark, Francine Rivers, & Angela Hunt. One of my most prized possessions is my complete set of the original Cherry Ames series by Helen Wells.  Also in the past year, I have really come to love cooking. I have been been determined to try a new recipe once a week and have come to enjoy the challenge of creating a recipe on my own. I can make a mean dish of Chicken & Aspargus with Pasta! Of course, I love photography - my Rebel is one of my best friends....and last but not least, I love playing the piano.
 
Thank you so much, Melissa!