Spotlight on Paula Laird

Today's Wednesday Wonder is a prolific stamper. This is because she has no fear - just jumps right off the cliff and into the deep end (unlike weenies like myself who spend hours sticking their toes in the water and then run squealing back to the warmth of their over-sized beach towels). And she hangs out and does tricks - no floating aimlessly around for her! Whenever I look at her cards, I feel downright lazy. She's always employing the time-consuming stuff - the embossing and the hand-cutting of images, the application of many tiny little jewels....

Yesirree, this woman spares no amount of time to present the recipient with a creation that is the result of great care and attention to detail. I imagine that getting a card from her is like getting a bowl of Grandma's homemade chicken soup - warm and filled with love and a patchwork of delightful ingredients that can only be produced with much time and energy.

I'm talking about Paula Laird, of course! Paula hails from Australia, so she's a special treat to me because she's got all that foreign exotic-ness going on! (Don't worry, though, Paula. If we ever meet, I will not make you say, "The dingo ate my baby.")

Well, only once.

Paula's won two Honorable Mentions at the Hero Arts Blog and she won a challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot. She has not been published yet, but I suspect that's because she's not submitted her work. (For example, I seriously doubt her trio of frogs in the last photo below will be ignored if she waves it under the nose of a publisher.)

Yes, Paula. That's a HINT!

I found some Bonus Material about Paula: pictures of her lair (no pun intended) online here. She refers to her space as being "downstairs." If this place is a basement of some sort, it's got the best natural light I've ever seen in a basement. (Please tell me this is NOT a basement, because if your basement has more light than my attic, I will just sit down and CRY.) Whatever it is, it's big and roomy, and I am very envious of it!

With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Paula Laird, a Stamping Matilda if ever there was one!

Paula’s Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

Normally I have an idea of what I want and go for it.  Usually it can take anywhere from an hour to all day to make a card.  For the last couple of cards I have been following a sketch.

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I usually make about three to four cards a week. Pages are another matter entirely; they take me forever to do (unless I am doing a class).

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

I try and put everything back in it's place (not so easy to do). I find half my problem is trying to find things that I want to use. The other thing I’ve discovered is to have a folder for all my paper scraps. This way I know exactly what I have before I start.

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

Vegemite sandwiches for my 2-year-old. :-). Adults are a little trickier. Usually it doesn't matter what I cook as my dh works nights so he has either gone to work by 3:00 or 8:00  p.m.  So the nights are my own (yay)!

Did you know the billionth jar of Vegemite was produced in October of 2008?

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)

1. Paper trimmer & endless supply of blades
2. 3 pairs of scissors: one each for cutting paper, ribbon, and double-sided tape
3. Heat tool
4. My very own personal "do whatever I want with it" computer (a girl can dream can't she?) and Internet connection to keep in touch with all my new Flickr friends
5. Bone scorer
6. Sewing machine
7. Metal ruler
8. Nestabilities
9. Prismacolor pencils (I love these sooooo much)
10. Cuttlebug (including dies & embossing folders)

Ahem... I think you are forgetting something. Being Australian and all, it's your responsibility to bring Hugh Jackman as your cabana boy. The rest of us are counting on you!

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

Queen, Trace Adkins, my daughters' laughter, (corny I know) Bryan Addams, and The Eurythmics.

I like corn. And Queen, Bryan Addams and The Eurythmics. Don't know Trace Adkins but I suspect s/he must be pretty good, judging by the company s/he is keeping here.

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

Tough question - I think "knowledge" would be up there, closely followed by everything else stamping/scrapping related. :-)

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

It depends on the day. Some days, all of it. I am still fairly new to this wonderful world of all things paper. I would love to be able to make a simple card, but usually end up cluttering it up with stuff - lol.

I know EXACTLY what you mean! I suspect that I love all those pretties so much that I have a hard time leaving them alone - kind of like not being able to pass up birthday cake. (Who knows when cake will come my way again?!) I'm thinking if I can convince myself that cake is going to be available every day, I can be happy with a smaller slice - that I can even (gasp!) turn it down. So I think the best remedy may be to make more cards!

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)

We have two cameras, but the one that I favour is about 5 years old: a Sony 4.1 mega-pixel Cyber-shot. It may not take the best pictures, (compared to the newer ones) but I can upload the photo's easily onto my ancient computer.

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

Actually I don't normally worry that much about messing up. But if I do say something it's probably s**t, but not when the 2-year-old is around.

You are SUCH a better mother than I am.

You can see more of Paula's lovely creations at Flickr for the Hero Arts Group (her user name is Pajalu), and at her very cool blog, Pajalu's Papers & Fabrics Addiction.

Comments

[Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal)]

Am I really first???
yeah!
Awesome interview! I love learning about other stampers and scrappers, especially the ones I 'see' all the time!
I loved learning about Paula! At first I did not know who we were talking about until I saw her signature watermark! (Pajalu)...
Paula's got great music taste, I must say... and her cards are awesome!!!

And I agree about Hugh Jackman - a must for a cabana MAN (he ain't no boy girls!)

[Jenn]

Love the interview, Deborah & Paula!! So fun to learn more about the sweet & caring Paula. She is just a sweetheart...talented too! Love her froggy card & was so "thrilled" to see it up on the HA blog!!

Hugh Jackman...yes, a good choice! Loved him in "Australia." A must see!

[Lin]

Great interview, you guys!! Loved learning more about Paula! I have definitely seen her growing this past year and love her cards!!

[Arlene]

Wasn't that froggy card the mostest?

Paula made the world shake, you know... over at the Cuttlebug group on flickr... she got the world map of the Cuttlebug group working... it shook our little world. :)

So glad you highlighted Paula. She's so sweet and helpful... wish I could meet her too.

[Laura]

Wonderful interview. I love Paula's cards, so it was great to read the process behind them.

[Lucy]

I am a massive Paula fan - she's one of the nicest people ever. Thanks for this Deborah - you couldn't have chosen a nicer interviewee. And as an English teacher i am supposed to hate the word nice, but I can't help using it. She is too darn NICE!!!!

[Tracey]

What a great interview with a wonderful and talented stamper...PAULA!!! Deborah you are such a HOOT!!! I ROTFL at your remarks to her answers!! YES Hugh is a real man...he even has hair on his chest!
Can't wait for next Wednesday to get my dose of laughter :))))))))))))))

[donna mikasa]

Great Wednesday Wonder! I love Paula and admire not only her awesome stamping, but her quilting as well. Till this day, my jaw still hurts after seeing her awesome 3D froggie card--probably the most amazing I've seen, ever! Her attention to detail is truly inspiring and a visit to her photostream is such delight....Big hugs to both of you for a great WW!

[Dawn T]

Neat interview.. I enjoyed learning more about Paula. I really look forward to seeing what she has created... always look out for it on Flickr. Loved her LO's she did for the Aussie Fire victims. Awesome
thanks for interviewing her.

[Kelly Booth]

Awesome Interview Deborah...thanks for interviewing Paula....Love her cards and she is so sweet too....Congrats Paula for being the Wed. Wonder....YAY!

[Anne Gaal]

Hi, Deborah! Hi, Paula! Great interview! Your pop-up frog card is still one of my all-time faves! :-)

[Jill]

Great interview! Love Paula's cards- that froggy card is too cute!!

[Paula]

Hi Deborah,

I am just poping in to say a huge thankyou for picking me to be a Wednesday Wonder. Also to say thank you all for the lovely comments. I promise (cross my heart etc) to bring the original cabana "man" Hugh with me to the island lol. Thanks again & take care Hugs xoxoxo

[Yvette]

Hi, Deborah! Hi, Paula! Great interview! Love it, I have always fun reading these "Wednesday Wonder"'s!

[Chris M]

Woohoo Paula!! Love reading your interview and lovely to see an Aussie in the spotlight. Deborah, you are such a crack up about 'the dingo ate my baby'!LOL Super work Paula!!!

[julie]

Yeah Missy Paula. Loved reading your interview.

[Hannah Nicole F]

I enjoy reading these every wednesday, so thanks for putting them out there! It was a terriffic interview, I enjoy finding out more of all of you.

Lucy I am a Paula fan too, she is very helpful and kind.

[Judy1223]

Yay for Paula! I have long admired her work and really enjoyed getting to know more about her! I agree, she would be published if she submitted her work, no doubt! I'm so glad to be able to see her beautiful creations through Hero Arts and her own blog!

[HeathreP]

I can't believe that Paula hasn't been published yet! She really needs to submit. I really enjoyed this interview, so thanks to both of you for providing it! I continually find it inspiring to learn more about our fellow paper artists... just wonderful.