Spotlight on Shanna Vineyard

Today's Wonder is one hot mama!

Literally.

She has seven children.

All under the age of 12.

Two are in diapers.

She's also an Arizona girl relocated to Mississippi, so there's another reason she's hot.

And then we have her creative output - which is, of course, pretty dang hot, obviously, or we wouldn't be here!

Ladies, please meet Shanna Vineyard!

Look at this peaceful and happy countenance. Does this look like the face of a mother of seven children under the age of 12 with two who can't score at the potty without an assist?

If I had seven children under the age of 12, I would look like this:

Actually, now that I think about it, I look like this on a regular basis. Hmmmm.... I must speak to Gigi. There's only one of her (as opposed to seven) - clearly that child is way beyond her allotted share of Drive-Your-Mama-Nuts.... 

But enough of this nonsense! Let's talk about Shanna!

Despite my professions for the simple designs in life, I'm as fond of extravagance as the next girl. Luckily for me, there are people like Shanna out there! Shanna's gift is the ability to assemble a variety of dramatic - and often bold - colors and patterns and shapes in such a way as to make them pleasing to the eye. (This is not my gift, so I am deeply appreciative of it in others!) Take this card for example:

Now there's a Whole Lot Sumpin' Sumpin' going on here. Unfortunately, I can't tell you why this works. If I could, I'd be doing it myself. Oh, sure, I can pick out a few things - like how she's using the rule of thirds for her still life there at the bottom right. Also, she may be using lots of different paper "patterns" here, but they're all (1) small in scale, and (2) of the same basic tone (they all have a shared level of grey, basically) with a lot of soft, muted colors. She selected the red family as her pop of choice, and she's demonstrating repetition with her use of this color family through some of the paper bunnies, the big bunny's bow, the inked sentiments, and the focal point of the brighter, pink-ish doily. She's got texture through the gauze bow, crochet and paper flowers, and the lace of the doily. The composition is already very busy, so she accents it with simple methods: edging with ink and stitches - subtle but effective! Toss is some elegant pearls for a little bling and - voila! - Art.

I assure you that, had you dumped these materials on my desk and told me to use all of them in one card, we wouldn't have had Art in the end.

Mess, yes, but Art...? Not on your life, sister-girl! 

Check out this wall hanging:

This is the kind of thing I'd love to make, but, again, sit me down with the parts, and you'll find me there three hours later staring at it... and somehow covered with glue, to boot. Shanna's got the small patterns again, and everything she's using falls within a tight color palette of peachy-pink, light aqua and chocolate browns with a little orange-tinged goodness for a pop. And she's distressing everything again. I am all for distressing, btw! I loooooves me some Worn-Out Wow! One thing I've noticed we do have in common: our favorite focal point is downstage (usually right) on the composition. You can bank on it!

This one is extremely clever, I think:

She's very sneaky here and creates a visual triangle out of brown with the bow, the butterfly, and part of the pattern on this Bo Bunny Flutter Butter paper. Now that's just plain sly! (And speaking of sly, guess who designed the stickers that are a part of the Flutter Butter collection?)

And lest you think Shanna is only capable of being brilliant when she's busy being busy, check out what she can do when she's just chillin':

Just how cool is this set of eco-messaged cards? 

And then there's this giftie "bag":

This sweet thing is filled with stuff - the ribbon at the neck unties to allow the contents out. If you'd like to make one of these, you can download the pattern here.

Wanna see where Shanna's makes her magic? Here's the broad overview (look at all that gorgeous natural light)!

And here's a wee close-up.

Shanna's a bit of a star. (DUH! Ya think?!) She's been published in Paper Crafts, Scrapbook Trends, CARDS, Creating Keepsakes, and ScrapStreet (an online mag). (What a slacker, eh? But seven kids will slow a person down, I imagine.) Not only was she a former member of the QuicKuts Design Team, but she's also on the Bo Bunny Design Team, and she actually designs stickers for them! (Follow the link and see if you have any of the stickers Shanna designed.) 

And on that note, let's get on with learning about today's Wonder! Please raise your Diet-Cokes to Shanna Vineyard, Mississippi's Red-Hot, Card-Makin' Mama! 

Shanna'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?

I try to create something on my own at first using whatever mojo I can muster up.  HA!  But if I stare at things longer than about 15-20 minutes and nothing comes, then I reach for sketches! I love the instant inspiration they provide! I use this process for layouts and cards!

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

I try to scrap at least one layout per week if my schedule allows for it, but I make at least 3-4 cards per week on average.

I feel like such a schlub.

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’ve adopted the “less is more” mentality (LOL!) - I think more out of necessity than anything else. I used to use a lot more products on my pages and cards but that was when I could afford to buy more scrapping supplies. Now that my husband and I have 7 children between us... well... you know. HA!  

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)?

Uh…. A Little Ceasar’s $5.00 Pizza? LOL! Is that bad?

 

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!)

Hmmm... I would bring my paper piercer, sewing machine, corner rounder, Crop-o-dile, Cuttlebug, circle punch, scalloped scissors, paper trimmer (Fiskars), paper crimper, and my QK Revolution.

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.

Oh no!!! The sound of the ocean would be pure HEAVEN!!! As loud as it gets in my house with 7 kiddos… are you kidding? LOL! And at night when the kids are in bed, and I’m scrapping I usually get to hear the sound of UFC on the TV from my hubby. HA!

So Shana's opting for The Sounds of Silence, More Silence, QUIET!, All's Quiet on the West Coast Front, and This Ain't Yer Baby's Silence. I can relate to those.

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

I’d probably wish for my own scrappy room/space where it wasn’t out in the open for kids to get into or company to see when they come over. But that won’t happen until kids start leaving home… in which case… I CAN WAIT! Wink!

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

I have a lot to learn about all the different stamping techniques out there. It’s been a slow process for me over the last year but certainly an enjoyable one!

Now I REALLY feel like a schlub. 

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.)

I ♥ my Canon Rebel XT!  It’s an oldie but a goodie! 

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

“OH SNAP!” (we use that phrase a lot in our house!)

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

A Black Lab named Roo, (we nicknamed her “Rucifer” since she’s always into trouble! LOL) and a Beagle named Kirby. My hubby literally found him homeless on the curb when he was a puppy so that’s how he got his name. He’s the sweetest dog alive!

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

Work-at-home-Mom.  I design stickers for Bo Bunny and sell my handmade creations so I can be home with my children.  

 13. Give us a quick description of your family.

My best friend and soul mate, Shane Vineyard, and our blended family of 6 princesses and 1 lone prince: "His": Kacie (10) and Karlie (8); "Mine": Bailee (12), Macey (10), and Cassidy (8); and "Ours": Brody (2 in two days) and Chloe (closing in on 6 months).

14. Got a fun or little known fact about yourself you’d like to share?

I’m a hopeless Dr. Pepper addict.

Have you had their Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper? I LOOOOOOOOOVE that stuff! And it's getting harder and harder to find. This wicked, wicked woman at church turned me onto it last summer. If they quit making it, I'm going to shoot her and then myself.

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Oh man!  I like them all, but embossing is the most fun to me!

16. What do you find more satisfying - the process or the product?

For sure the process! I love creating and working with my hands. I don’t always like the finished product but using my creativity is the fun part! 

Now THAT"S a good answer.

❧

You can experience more of Shanna's goodies at her blog, her 2 Peas gallery, her Flickr page, her monthly card club, and her Etsy shop! (Shew - that's a lotta goodies!)

Comments

[Judy Jung]

Thanks, Deborah and Shanna for a wonderful peek into Shanna's life!! Have admired her work and loved learning more about her.

[Marilyn Valadez]

Wonderful interview, and loved seeing Shanna's beautiful creations! Wow! What a "Superlady", I don't know where she gets all the energy to take care of a large family, and then find time to make these gorgeous cards, and design for a company to boot! You are indeed a "Wonder"... every day of the week!

[donna mikasa]

Shanna is one hot mama! Thanks for a great interview and getting to know her better...

[rae barthel]

wooohoooo!!! Shanna ROCKS!!!! way to go girlie!! you know I love your schtuff ;)

[Judy1223]

Wow, great interview with Shanna, Deborah! Her cards are totally amazing...I am in awe of her work! Thanks for highlighting her...she's a doll and super talented, too!

[Trinh]

Thanks for sharing your work and a peek into your life, Shanna! Don't know how you do it all but you do it beautifully. And thank you for the laughs, Deborah!

[Karey]

Thanks for telling me so much about Shanna. I have been buying her cards and card kits.
I agree she is very talented!

[stampersuzz]

Big fan of Shanna's work! Love everything she creates! One talented lady.. thanks for sharing her work!

[jaemom]

Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself, Shanna! It was also fun to "catch up" on some of your work that I hadn't seen yet. You make wonderful stuff! Thanks, Deborah!

[Vanessa Menhorn]

Shanna is amazing!! And I love her wonderful work! Thanks for the great interview!

[Shanna Vineyard]

Aaaakkk! Ya'll have me blushing! ♥ Thanks so much Deborah! You were much too sweet to me! And I assure you.... I DO GO CRAZY!!! I am far from a perfect Mom and Wife and Crafter! This hobby keeps me sane from a normally insane life!

HUGE HUGS!

Shanna ♥

[Fika]

Shanna.. it's nice to know you more.. i love all your beautiful creations and my fave are the ice cream shaker card and the love door hanging.. so AWESOME!! Hey you've been so organized with 7 kids and cardmaking, i don't know how you can manage all of them.. Deborah, i always love to read your WW.. GREAT job :)

[Lori Borntreger]

Been a HUGE fan of Shanna's for YEARS!!! What a great spotlight on Shanna's talent!! Not only is she as wonderful as she seems online, but she is just as amazing in real life!!

[Tiffany]

I absolutely adore her work!!! Beautiful creations!!! Great interview! And Deborah, you had me cracking up big time with your statement and funny ghastly photo! Too fun!

[Kathy Martin]

Shanna is amazing isn't she! :)

[Jo]

Wow! Jo x

[Anne Gaal]

Fabulous interview! :-)