Creative Team Spotlight: Jennifer Evans + Wonderful Wednesday and One Buck Wednesday! September 26, 2012!

This month we are spotlighting Creative Team Member, Jennifer Evans!

1. What is your favorite Technique?

I love to layer on my layouts. The more the happier I am.

2. Where did you learn to design?

As an artist for the last fifteen years, I believe that if my hands aren’t stained from paint then I wasn’t having fun enough! My twin sister introduced me into scrapbooking and stamping twelve years ago. I kept my feet grounded and refused to take the plunge that she had. I held tight onto my canvas, paint brushes, and acrylics and watched as she continued to write and tell me about her new passion.
A year later I walked into a scrapbook store, fell in love with paper, and I dropped my art supplies thinking that I was to never to look at them again. It wasn’t until altered books and mixed media came into the Northwest that I began to realize that my first love for paint and canvas could be used with scrapbooking! Scrapbooking then became more of an artistic way for me to tell my story than just photos on a page to document an event.

3. What influences your design choices?

I love color. I flip through home decor magazines and catalogues like Pottery Barn or Anthropologie to get color combinations to work with.

4. Who are your artsy inspirations?

The more I work in the scrapbooking community online, the more I am inspired by my fellow team members. Then, I get to craft with my sister, Rebecca Grinder, and she reminds me why I love this so much. She rocks! ;)

5. What do you enjoy doing besides crafting?

If I could spend the day out in my garden I would be content. My husband and I also enjoy photography together while spending quality family time. Our favorite place to go is the Oregon Coast.

I wanted to share with you some random acts of kindness gifts I created for my son's teachers. I love Samantha Walker's new Paris Girl line with Carta Bella. The stickers are perfect for an easy and quick gift or gift tag!

I also used Samantha Walker's Spellbinders set that goes with this line to cut the heart out and thread some ribbon misted with Heidi Swapp's Color Shine in Primrose and Tinsel which matches this beautiful line perfectly!

To see more of Jennifer's work visit her blog, Create Often

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Digital Tutorial by Joscelyne Cutchens

Hello Friends, this is Joscelyne Cutchens checking in again with another Digital Tutorial. I use Photoshop CS5 on a mac, but you should be able to use the same directions with PSE or a PC.  

Here is the layout I will be sharing with you:

Blossom Paper collection solids,  Blossom Paper Collection AQUA 

Fonts: dirty headline, Futura Light.

click for each point of the banner, double click to close the selection.

pc: Ctrl-Shift-n

pc: Ctrl- d

pc: Alt-Click-Drag

pc: alt-click-drag

Tips for the title work

• Dirty Headline is a paint stamp looking font sample the text color from a patterned paper to get a perfectly coordinated colored title.
• adjust the opacity of the font layer (I used 80%).
• Stack the letters. Type a syllable, return, syllable, return until the whole word is typed out.
• Perfect sized title for the space: select the whole word and adjust font size until the longest syllable takes up almost the whole width of your text area. Now adjust spacing between the lines until the letters just touch.( I used font size 145 pt, spacing 113 pt)
• You can also make your title multicolored by selecting certain portions of the title and adjusting the color as I did in my Sea Life Park layout.

I hope this gives you ideas for new digital layouts! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I'll do my best to get you an answer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Love,

Joscie, rhymes with bossy :)

Creative Team Spotlight: Cristal Hobbs!

This month we have the privilage of getting to know Cristal Hobbs.  Cristal's carefree approach to crafting is always welcoming to both newcomers and seasoned designers who love to craft. Cristal is also an avid blogger who shares about her love of creating through demos and new projects each week. I asked Cristal to answer a few questions to help us get to know her, this is what she said:

Q. What is your favorite Technique?
I don't really have one, I like to try new techniques all the time. If I can create it with paper or fabric I will. I love making paper ruffles, using fabric on layouts, coloring outside the lines.

I love the dimensional and textural qualities of this fun card. Isn't that trio of flowers so cute? Cristal used Kokeshi paper line Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations. She also used Real Wood paper from Creative Imaginations.

Q. Where did you learn to design?
I didn't, I just picked up crafting and just wing it. I only began scrap-booking 3 years ago. I just started in my home and it spiraled from there. Kind of the like the Rachel Ray of scrap-booking...I'm no chef I just play with paper! hehe

Cristal created a gorgeous purple flower at the base of her fan for added flair. Patterned paper is from the Kokeshi line by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q. What influence your design choices?
Mostly nature and anything from fashion or past eras. I love 50's bold designs, 80's colors...I love it all, there is something special in every season. I am always thinking about the purpose and reason behind the design before I design. I love that crafting allows you to share your heart and soul. That influences me the most.

Cristal made this little dress with fabrics from the Enchanted Garden Collection by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake.

Q. Who are your artsy inspirations?
Probably the crafters I meet that are so kind in person, those people you just can't believe how amazing the are when you meet them. Eva Dobilas, Karen Maldonado, Shemaine Smith, Rhonda Van Ginkel, Lori Allred. Those people inspire me because they have heart and it shows in their creations.

Cristal made this sweet kitchen sign with many various scrapbooking products, and added a hanging sash with fabric from the Wanna be a Cowboy collection by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake Designs. 

Q. What do you enjoy doing besides crafting?
I love raising my boys,being really old school. I raise chickens, garden, gather my own eggs, read alot, spend time baking and love doing things the old fashioned way. I used to have a real fire burning stove/oven. I love baking bread and the simple life.

Cristal created this with patterned papers from the Kokeshi collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Cristal created this little sign with patterned papers from the Blossom collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

I hope you will go and visit Cristal's blog often.  She always has something fun and fabulous going on...and great giveaways!

Creative Team Member spotlight Jennifer Ingle

Cuckoo Clock Card created with Cuckoo clocks stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Co. Papers are the Kokeshi collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

I have the privilege of sharing the work of Jennifer Ingle with you today. She is such a fun spirited member of my creative team. Her designs always have an innovative twist.  She not only works with paper...but also fabric in her one of a kind art dolls, which she affectionately names.  I asked Jennifer a few questions about herself and here is how she responded:

Ice Cream card was created with "The Sweet Life" Stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp company. Papers are from the Heidi collection for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What is your favorite Technique?

That's a hard question, but I think lately it has really been paper piecing.  I love cutting out the tiny pieces from various papers and putting them back together like a little puzzle and the results are just too fun!

Butterfly card was created with "Be You" Itty Bitty by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Company. Paper is from the Blossom collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  Where did you learn to design?

Well, I've been making stuff since I developed fine motor skills, pretty much, so I'm not sure if I can define where I learned to design.  I pick up new techniques by looking at the art of others, working with new supplies, and coming up with ideas and then trying to find a way to make them work.  I am constantly learning in every aspect of my life and since my creative life is such a huge part of who I am, learning and growth is something I am always striving for.

Flower card was created with paper and stickers from the Blossom collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What influence your design choices?

Product.  I think that might be a horrible answer, but it's true!  When I get a new product in my hand, be that a fresh pack of paper clay, some great new patterned papers, a set of stamps, or a vial of vintage buttons from the antique shop it generally spurs me on to create something!  I am pushed by my desire to try out new things and make them work in my own way.

Doll was created with Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric collection by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake Designs

Q.  Who are your artsy inspirations?

Well, she will kill me for saying this, but Eva Dobilas is an amazing card maker and I am constantly inspired by her work.  Becky Shander  and Terry Stevens are wonderful mixed media artists and Rachel Wetzel and Abi Monroe are some really inspiring art doll artists.  I could keep going, as there are so many fabulous people out there creating so many fabulous things!  

Organdy Ribbon card was created with the Heidi collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing besides crafting?

There is stuff other than crafting???  HA!  No, really, I love to read and I collect children's literature.  I like to make cupcakes when I have time and I absolutely LOVE hanging out with my fabulous Hubbums and my two beautiful black labs, Maggie and Thatcher. 

Ear rings were created with shrinky dink film. They were stamped with the Kokeshi stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Company.

Sympathy card was created with Encompassed Grace stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity StampCo.

Jennifer has such a fun blog as she writes from the heart and her delightful personality shines through.  You will have to visit her blog frequently.

Creative Team Member Spotlight: Nancy Doren!

I'm thrilled to share with you the designs of Nancy Doren!  Nancy is a seasoned scrapbooker, you may have seen her layouts in FW book publications, Scrapbook Trends, or Creating Keepsakes just to name a few.  She has a wonderful blog, and if you haven't started following Nancy yet, today is the day to start.  She is always creating and sharing what she does in such a fun fashion.  You will grow to love her just as much as I have.

I asked Nancy to introduce herself by answering a few questions...here is what she had to say:

Q.  What is your favorite Technique?  

A. Machine stitching! I can hardly do a project without it!

Q.  Where did you learn to design? 

A. I've always been interested in art and design, and I learned a lot in college art courses like Art History and Principles of Design. Other than that, I'm just self-taught by looking at the work of designers I love.

Q.  What influences your design choices? 

A. Women's fashion greatly influences my choices. I'm always inspired by new trends, prints, and textures in fashion magazines.

Q.  Who are your artsy inspirations? 

A. My favorite artist is Alphonse Mucha, so I try to put a little bit of Art Noveau and organic lines in all my projects. As far as other artists, I really admire Loretta Grayson, Sylvia Ji, and Tara McPherson.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing besides crafting? 

A. I love to watch sci-fi with my hubby, play games with family and friends, and I love to read.

Here Nancy used papers from Samantha Walker Ooh La La collection for Creative Imaginations. She also used some of my dies from the Silhouette store, as well as some of my black and white houndstooth fabric from Alpine Fabrics. I love the personality captured in this layout...Nancy has tons!

 To create this card Nancy used paper from Samantha Walker Blossom Collection for Creative Imaginations, as well as a print and cut butterfly digital die from my designs in the Silhouette store. I love those textured beads on this layout...and that stitching is a fantastic touch!

 Don't you love these CUTE cards!  I do!  Nancy showcased some Samantha Walker dies from the Silhouette store...the cherries on the left and my birdcage design on the right.  I love that she has a butterfly in the cage ready to fly out at any moment...perfect for a congratulatory card.

 This layout has such a fun grouping on the right.  Love all the texture of buttons and flowers.  Nancy used paper and stickers from Samantha Walker Blossom collection for Creative Imaginations.

Another wonderful card by Nancy! Paper and stickers from Samantha Walker Blossom Collection for Creative Imaginations.

 My favorite thing about this layout...the unexpected use of hot orange-y red to add a little excitement to the color scheme.  Nancy used fabric from Samantha Walker Enchanted Garden collection for Riley Blake Designs.

 Another two sweet cards...Nancy used paper and stickers from the Samantha Walker Heidi collection for Creative Imaginations.

 Who doesn't just love the retro look of pink and hot orange with a touch of brown...such of fun color combo!  Nancy used several birdhouse digital dies from the Silhouette store, she also used Creative Imaginations Foundations cardstock, and fabric from the Samantha Walker Enchanted Garden Collection for Riley Blake.

Sonic can make any kids day a happy YUMMY day...check out that grin!  Nancy used paper and stickers from the Samantha Walker Heidi and Blossom collections for Creative Imaginations.

Thanks for popping in on Nancy's Creative Team spotlight. I hope you enjoyed getting to know her better as I have. I hope you will frequent her blog often.

Easter!

Yikes...time keeps on ticking and not pausing for a moment. This month went by in a whirlwind as we count down to quilt market--which starts tomorrow! If you are going to be at Quilt Market...stop by and say, "Hi." I'll be hanging out by the Riley Blake booth.

Last blog hop, you may remember me asking for your help on choosing fabrics for my daughter's Easter dress...there were so many fabulous ideas for fabric combos, Tara's  comment won. She suggested that I use the cream with brown dot, the pink calico, the plaid, from my Cowboy 2 collection for Riley Blake, and a more solid color to set it all off  (which I interpreted as the tone on tone paisley.) This worked out quite well, as I wanted to design some appliques for the front of the dress. I also added in a few other fabrics from Wanna be a Cowboy 1 and 2. Well I'm thrilled to say that I finished it!  This was the most ambitious project I've attempted yet.  I used the Feliz party dress pattern from the book "Sewing Clothes Kids Love" by Nancy Langdon.  It's a super book for pointers on technique and embellishments, and ideas to make clothing unique for kids. I'm thrilled with the result. I could not have done this without the ideas in this book!

A little about the appliques...I knew I wanted a fun "spring scene" on the pinafore of the dress. I started shaping bunnies and flowers with scissors, then laying them out on the front of her dress. When she came home from school she looked at what I was doing...I thought she would love it...but to my surprise she said, "Those weren't the kind of bunnies I was thinking of." Truthfully, I was stuck with the arrangement and it wasn't going as smoothly as I had hoped...so I asked my daughter, "what kind of bunnies were you thinking of?" She said, "Well an Easter bunny...you know, Mom...the kind that's white with a pink bow and standing like this." She turned to her side and posed the way she thought an Easter bunny should look.  It made me smile...of course...that is why the applique wasn't going so well...I didn't involve my daughter's help.  She's full of good ideas.  So I cut a bunny that she liked (it's the white one with brown polka dots) and started my arrangement again, and everything clicked.  She knew just what the dress needed, and I was glad to have her help.  

On the back of the dress I used prints from both my Cowboy 1 and Cowboy 2 collections. If you are a store and you carried Cowboy 1 and have a little left on a few bolts, you can blend the Cowboy 2 with the Cowboy 1 collection perfectly.  (That goes the same for you sewers out there who still have Cowboy 1 in your stash...Cowboy 2 is a perfect match.)

So my 3 year old son, who is totally mesmerized by machines, sat and watched me make Sydney's dress for many hours.  He finally said, "Mom, can you make me a dress too?"  I told him I wouldn't make him a dress, but I would make him something he would love.  So I made him a bowling shirt, with cowboy appliques.  There's a boot on the front, and a suede star on his back (washable suede...the coolest stuff--I had to sacrifice an old Eddie Bower skirt that didn't fit right, but was made of a gorgeous tan washable suede.) Colin was thrilled.  When we walked into church on Sunday, he gripped his cowboy boot on his shirt and told everyone as we walked down the isle, "My Mom made this, My Mom made this." He embarrassed me a little...I swear he wasn't coached, but it made me smile because he was so proud to wear it. The smile says it all!

Now I've got three kids, and it really isn't cool to sew for two of them and not the third...so I sewed a tie for my oldest child, Talon. He was a good sport to wear it.