Society of Stampaholics

Spotlight on Gigi Nolan

Today's Wednesday Wonder is not the kind of Wonder we usually spotlight.

She is, however, the daughter of yours truly, and nepotism has its perks.

She's a Wonder because she was a miracle baby - the only baby that successfully made it through the gestation period after I had many miscarriages. 

She's a Wonder because she's perfectly healthy with a keen wit and a loving heart.

She's a Wonder because every kid is a Wonder.

And she's today's Wednesday Wonder because she entered this world eight years ago on this date.

Happy 8th Birthday, Gigi! Mama and Daddy love you!!!

Spotlight on Sally Sherfield

I have only one complaint about Today's Wonder.

My complaint is that I have a hard time stopping myself from looking at her cards once I've started! (If I actually complete this interview in time, that will be an additional wonder. And if you're reading this on Friday, you know why.)

Her name is Sally Sherfield, and she hails from a small town in Surrey, England, called Milford, which is about 30 miles south of London. Having visited Surrey, I must say I envy her, as Surrey struck me as a rather lovely bit of country when I visited back in 1984.

Here's our Sally with her daughter, Francesca - beauties dark and fair!

As I said above, it's rather difficult to pull yourself away from gazing upon Sally's cards. I'm not sure why - I just seem to keep noticing details and nifty bits and feeling an urge to go try something she's done... but then remain rooted to the spot because yet another detail or nifty bit captured my attention. It's a little like being a Lotus Eater - just rooted to the spot, totally mesmerized!

Sally is very good at layering, and this ability always impresses me. Her work is always nicely complex - plenty of details without going overboard. She's adventuresome - never get the same old, flat rectangle from her - she loves to use all kinds of shapes and embossing folders to add texture and interest.

Sally's work is never static but always very much alive and filled with energy. In the piece below she engages a lot of elements but you never feel like the card is being overwhelmed. Part of this is because she's using a monochromatic color palette, and part of it is because she's using two patterns that are very open (they have a lot of "white space" around them) for the biggest layers.

Here's another one that knocks my socks off!

Isn't this just gorgeous?! She's building up interest with shapes and layers and adding in texture with her embossing folders. But she's keeping the color really, really subtle with these pastels gently playing up the differences in all of the above. Instead of the color taking the spotlight, it supports the other elements, bringing them to the fore. 

And then we have Sally's whimsical unpredictability! Is this card fabulous or what?! Who does a pink Christmas card? How come more people don't try it when it can work this well?!

Because they're not Sally, that's why.

She clearly is marching to the beat of a different drummer, and I love what I'm hearing!

And if you can have a pink Christmas card, why not go purple?

Sally's won her fair share of accolades. In the Hero Arts blog challenges, she won an HM in the Paper Tearing challenge and a 2nd place in the Talent, Talent, Talent challenge. Her card was chosen as a Stand Out in the Caardvarks digital challenge, and she had two cards featured on the Cards magazine blog for the February 2010 Cover Inspiration challenge and for the Create with Newspaper challenge.

Sally's also no stranger to the publishing world. Her cards have been featured in the October and December (2009) and February (2010) United Kingdom editions of Cards magazine. (Told ya she was a hottie!)

Sally has a nice little crafting niche (which shows us once again that you don't need a lot of room to make cool cards).

Of special interest here is the card rack on the left - these are cards Sally's received from some of the Hero Arts Flickr group members who provide her with "constant inspiration." (I also notice that she's got Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band hanging on the wall - love that touch!)

I see IKEA products!!!

Well, let's get on to the good stuff! With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Sally Sherfield, a Whimsy-Wielding Wonder Woman! (Try saying that five times fast!)

Sally'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 never pre-sketch a design, and I am not really good with sketch-type challenges. I usually get an idea in my head and then play with colours and supplies until the card feels right. I then assemble it. Sometimes it can come together straight away; other times I give up, and the bits end up in my scrap box for later use.

I have a LOT of bits in my scrap box, if y'all get my drift....

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

I make about 3-5 depending on work restraints.

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 spend hours browsing through Flickr at the amazing cards, and I know my cards have improved since my first few basic attempts. I am always ready to learn new techniques and try something different. My only tip is I have a box next to my desk of unfinished cards and uncoloured images ready to use if I need a card in a hurry, I also keep a small box of ready-cut nestie shapes in various sizes and colours.

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)?

Always pasta with a tasty sauce, it’s fast, filling and delicious.

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
2. Scissors (My favourites are by Xcut they are very sharp, and seem resistant to getting sticky after using double-sided tape.)
3. Cuttlebug and embossing folders (Where would I be without this? It's my most used piece of kit, and I love it.)
4. Nestabilities (Perhaps my second favorite - I love making those little shaped cards with these.)
5. Ranger Distress inks (I have a growing collection of these; they are so versatile, and I need to get more colours. LOL!)
6. Heat Gun (power permitting) 
7. Embossing powders
8. Score board
9. Corner rounder
10. My favourite glue: “Art Glitter Glue” (This glue is really strong and dries clear. Perfect for messy me!)

Hmmm... that comment about the heat gun makes me wonder if you craft while camping on a regular basis? I'm getting this picture of you out near a stream, stamping away on a big, flat rock with birds and squirrels and bunnies contributing álá Walt Disney....
 
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.

We are a very musical family, and there is always music booming out from some area of the house - we even have an old jukebox in the front room that plays all our old singles. Also my son is in a fairly successful band here in the UK so he would have to be top of my list : Elmor,  The Beatles, The Killers, Patrizio Buanne, and any Motown albums.

Errrr... "fairly successful band here in the UK"?! Sally is being very modest about her son. I never know anything about anybody on the music scene, and I have actually heard of Elmor. They have music videos and everything! Definitely worth a look-see, Gentle Readers!

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

My own dedicated craft room would be lovely, as I have to share our study with the family, and I am constantly getting moaned at for monopolizing it! Also I would also love to be able to get all the fabulous goodies you can get in the States for the same bargain prices!!!

Those heathens! You must come for a visit. Or we can take turns visiting you. We'll pack goodies in our luggage so there will be lots of room for souvenirs on our way back!

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

I think that my colouring could be improved on - I am never really happy with my finished images, I suppose practice makes perfect!

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 am currently using a Fuji FinePix S9600, but I am not always happy with the photographs - they are often dark and the colours are not true to life.  I hope to upgrade soon to perhaps a Canon or Panasonic.

Wow. One of the things I've noticed about you is your gorgeous photography at Flickr, and I've wondered what sort of camera you were using that would give you such control and great focus. So it's a surprise to hear it has any faults.

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

Drat and Blast.

Those are very good. I should definitely adopt them in an attempt to clean up my own potty mouth.

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

 No pets, I have all my work cut out looking after a sometimes quite messy family!

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I work in the local Primary school office as Assistant Secretary where I deal with school admissions, finance and any medical emergencies. (Generally nothing more serious than cut fingers and knees thank goodness).

13. Give us a quick description of you family.

I've been married to my husband Jeremy for 28 years; he has just retired so no more housework for me!!! My Daughter Francesca, 22, is at University studying fashion and textiles, and my son Tristan, 24, is a musician.

Tristan was on our short list in case Gigi turned out to be a boy (as was "Brick" - remind me to share that story with y'all sometime - it's a good example of Spouse's "unique" personality.)

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

Nothing for this section really, I have not really done anything out of the ordinary.

I beg to differ. Here's a little known fact: Sally's got photography skills. You should check out her photos on Flickr - she definitely has an eye! She should be doing the Project 365 thing!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Not sure really, I like getting messy with distress inks and water. (I'm still a child at heart - that’s what working in a school does for you.)

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

I love the process of designing and putting together a card; I find it very relaxing, and it helps me to unwind after a busy day at school.

❧

Check out Sally's Flickr gallery and her blog to see more of her art (and her photos)!

I have only one complaint about Today's Wonder.

My complaint is that I have a hard time stopping myself from looking at her cards once I've started! (If I actually complete this interview in time, that will be an additional wonder. And if you're reading this on Friday, you know why.)

Her name is Sally Sherfield, and she hails from a small town in Surrey, England, called Milford, which is about 30 miles south of London. Having visited Surrey, I must say I envy her, as Surrey struck me as a rather lovely bit of country when I visited back in 1984.

Here's our Sally with her daughter, Francesca - beauties dark and fair!

As I said above, it's rather difficult to pull yourself away from gazing upon Sally's cards. I'm not sure why - I just seem to keep noticing details and nifty bits and feeling an urge to go try something she's done... but then remain rooted to the spot because yet another detail or nifty bit captured my attention. It's a little like being a Lotus Eater - just rooted to the spot, totally mesmerized!

Sally is very good at layering, and this ability always impresses me. Her work is always nicely complex - plenty of details without going overboard. She's adventuresome - never get the same old, flat rectangle from her - she loves to use all kinds of shapes and embossing folders to add texture and interest.

Sally's work is never static but always very much alive and filled with energy. In the piece below she engages a lot of elements but you never feel like the card is being overwhelmed. Part of this is because she's using a monochromatic color palette, and part of it is because she's using two patterns that are very open (they have a lot of "white space" around them) for the biggest layers.

Here's another one that knocks my socks off!

Isn't this just gorgeous?! She's building up interest with shapes and layers and adding in texture with her embossing folders. But she's keeping the color really, really subtle with these pastels gently playing up the differences in all of the above. Instead of the color taking the spotlight, it supports the other elements, bringing them to the fore. 

And then we have Sally's whimsical unpredictability! Is this card fabulous or what?! Who does a pink Christmas card? How come more people don't try it when it can work this well?!

Because they're not Sally, that's why.

She clearly is marching to the beat of a different drummer, and I love what I'm hearing!

And if you can have a pink Christmas card, why not go purple?

Sally's won her fair share of accolades. In the Hero Arts blog challenges, she won an HM in the Paper Tearing challenge and a 2nd place in the Talent, Talent, Talent challenge. Her card was chosen as a Stand Out in the Caardvarks digital challenge, and she had two cards featured on the Cards magazine blog for the February 2010 Cover Inspiration challenge and for the Create with Newspaper challenge.

Sally's also no stranger to the publishing world. Her cards have been featured in the October and December (2009) and February (2010) United Kingdom editions of Cards magazine. (Told ya she was a hottie!)

Sally has a nice little crafting niche (which shows us once again that you don't need a lot of room to make cool cards).

Of special interest here is the card rack on the left - these are cards Sally's received from some of the Hero Arts Flickr group members who provide her with "constant inspiration." (I also notice that she's got Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band hanging on the wall - love that touch!)

I see IKEA products!!!

Well, let's get on to the good stuff! With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Sally Sherfield, a Whimsy-Wielding Wonder Woman! (Try saying that five times fast!)

Sally'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 never pre-sketch a design, and I am not really good with sketch-type challenges. I usually get an idea in my head and then play with colours and supplies until the card feels right. I then assemble it. Sometimes it can come together straight away; other times I give up, and the bits end up in my scrap box for later use.

I have a LOT of bits in my scrap box, if y'all get my drift....

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

I make about 3-5 depending on work restraints.

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 spend hours browsing through Flickr at the amazing cards, and I know my cards have improved since my first few basic attempts. I am always ready to learn new techniques and try something different. My only tip is I have a box next to my desk of unfinished cards and uncoloured images ready to use if I need a card in a hurry, I also keep a small box of ready-cut nestie shapes in various sizes and colours.

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)?

Always pasta with a tasty sauce, it’s fast, filling and delicious.

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
2. Scissors (My favourites are by Xcut they are very sharp, and seem resistant to getting sticky after using double-sided tape.)
3. Cuttlebug and embossing folders (Where would I be without this? It's my most used piece of kit, and I love it.)
4. Nestabilities (Perhaps my second favorite - I love making those little shaped cards with these.)
5. Ranger Distress inks (I have a growing collection of these; they are so versatile, and I need to get more colours. LOL!)
6. Heat Gun (power permitting) 
7. Embossing powders
8. Score board
9. Corner rounder
10. My favourite glue: “Art Glitter Glue” (This glue is really strong and dries clear. Perfect for messy me!)

Hmmm... that comment about the heat gun makes me wonder if you craft while camping on a regular basis? I'm getting this picture of you out near a stream, stamping away on a big, flat rock with birds and squirrels and bunnies contributing álá Walt Disney....
 
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.

We are a very musical family, and there is always music booming out from some area of the house - we even have an old jukebox in the front room that plays all our old singles. Also my son is in a fairly successful band here in the UK so he would have to be top of my list : Elmor,  The Beatles, The Killers, Patrizio Buanne, and any Motown albums.

Errrr... "fairly successful band here in the UK"?! Sally is being very modest about her son. I never know anything about anybody on the music scene, and I have actually heard of Elmor. They have music videos and everything! Definitely worth a look-see, Gentle Readers!

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

My own dedicated craft room would be lovely, as I have to share our study with the family, and I am constantly getting moaned at for monopolizing it! Also I would also love to be able to get all the fabulous goodies you can get in the States for the same bargain prices!!!

Those heathens! You must come for a visit. Or we can take turns visiting you. We'll pack goodies in our luggage so there will be lots of room for souvenirs on our way back!

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

I think that my colouring could be improved on - I am never really happy with my finished images, I suppose practice makes perfect!

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 am currently using a Fuji FinePix S9600, but I am not always happy with the photographs - they are often dark and the colours are not true to life.  I hope to upgrade soon to perhaps a Canon or Panasonic.

Wow. One of the things I've noticed about you is your gorgeous photography at Flickr, and I've wondered what sort of camera you were using that would give you such control and great focus. So it's a surprise to hear it has any faults.

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

Drat and Blast.

Those are very good. I should definitely adopt them in an attempt to clean up my own potty mouth.

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

 No pets, I have all my work cut out looking after a sometimes quite messy family!

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I work in the local Primary school office as Assistant Secretary where I deal with school admissions, finance and any medical emergencies. (Generally nothing more serious than cut fingers and knees thank goodness).

13. Give us a quick description of you family.

I've been married to my husband Jeremy for 28 years; he has just retired so no more housework for me!!! My Daughter Francesca, 22, is at University studying fashion and textiles, and my son Tristan, 24, is a musician.

Tristan was on our short list in case Gigi turned out to be a boy (as was "Brick" - remind me to share that story with y'all sometime - it's a good example of Spouse's "unique" personality.)

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

Nothing for this section really, I have not really done anything out of the ordinary.

I beg to differ. Here's a little known fact: Sally's got photography skills. You should check out her photos on Flickr - she definitely has an eye! She should be doing the Project 365 thing!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Not sure really, I like getting messy with distress inks and water. (I'm still a child at heart - that’s what working in a school does for you.)

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

I love the process of designing and putting together a card; I find it very relaxing, and it helps me to unwind after a busy day at school.

❧

Check out Sally's Flickr gallery and her blog to see more of her art (and her photos)!

Spotlight on Mary Walmer

Today's Wednesday Wonder is Mary Walmer, a talented card maker who loves ink adventures by the looks of her cards! You can tell just by looking at her work that she's not afraid to get in there and try different techniques - and she often hits pay dirt with her efforts.

But before we get into all that, here's our Mary (very Jackie O in her chic shades) with her Dear Husband!

 

Mary's style has one constant that is immediately apparent to me: she likes to mix it up with the supplies! What first caught my eye was her fabulous use of inks and water colors (I think these were actually Twinkling H20s). Like in this card:

Isn't this cool? A simple design with a light and airy execution - the heart and sheer ribbon float above the page. The splashes of paint draw you into the focal point, and the ripped edges add just the right amount of texture.   

Here's another one I like a lot:

Mary's really good at letting her inks and paints provide depth and interest. Here she's got three beads strung on jute as her only dimensional items. But the card feels like its got many more layers as a result of the stamped background being washed in various colors, the torn edges being inked, and the border made of ink "stitching." Finally, the stamped inchies are highlighted here and there with a white pen, which gives them the illusion of depth, too.

In this card, the inks take more of a back seat, but she still hooks you with her great use of texture.

All in all, seeing Mary's cards make my fingers itch to play with my paints and experiment with "messy" techniques (and if that isn't the very spirit of inspiration, I don't know what is).

Mary has not been part of a design team yet, but she was selected by Hero Arts as their Fresh Face winner for the first blog challenge in January, 2010. Mary has been published in Stamper's Sampler and Take Ten awhile ago but hasn't submitted anything in recent years as a result of time constraints. However, Mary says she's fixin' to fix that directly! (And not a moment too soon, I think!)

 
Look at how much depth she's created here - how much texture is perceived - and the whole card is 97% flat, for crying out loud!!!

Mary has a very nice space to work her magic - check it out:

 

Vital tools and supplies at her fingertips!

I am filled with envy at her flat file on the right. I have been wanting one of these forever - which is ridiculous because I'm pretty sure we'd never be able to get it up the stairs....

Now I'm drooling over this wall. I love this framed-out situation even more than I like the store display system. I wonder if I can get Spouse to make me one of these...?

Well, let's get on to the good stuff! With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Mary Walmer, the Ink Whisperer! 

Mary'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 rarely pre-sketch - I usually begin with a technique I want to try. I have a huge box of backgrounds from techniques I’ve tried that I like to go through once in awhile and just create a bunch of cards with bits and pieces. I don’t do much scrapbooking - I find it too intimidating! I usually spend any where from 30 minutes to three days on a card. ( I go back and tweak things a lot!)

That sounds like a really good idea - having a box of pre-made backgrounds that you can just have at the ready....

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

When my mojo is working, I do several cards a week. Usually I get on a roll and create a bunch in one day and then don’t do anything for several days.

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 learned to go with my first instinct and not over-think things. I've also learned that white space is a good thing if done well! Lately I am very drawn to the clean and simple style. I'm trying to fight my tendency to hoard “special things” and just USE them, there will always be more beautiful things.

You are totally right on that one, and I'm working on adopting that same philosophy!!!

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)?

My stand-by dinner solution is having a husband who can cook.

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!)

I would bring my black, waterproof ink pad (Memento is my favorite), white card stock (is this a supply or a tool?), watercolor paints or pencils, paintbrush, tape runner, scissors, black fine tip marker, Tim Holtz edge distressing tool, a box of miscellaneous patterned papers, and Sour Patch Kids. 

What are Sour Patch Kids? (I really hope I didn't just make a fool out of myself by asking that....)
 
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.

I'd listen to Rob Thomas/Matchbox 20, Train, Beastie Boys, (for when I need to get funky) Led Zeppelin, Godsmack (when I want to rock out - LOL)

I know Rob Thomas's dad. He was the head of the Public Defender's office here in Indy forever. He taught me in a trial practice class. He never brought Rob to class, though... the heartless thing!

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

I want windows in my studio (it’s in the basement right now), an unlimited supply of Basic Grey papers, and lots and lots of rubber stamps!

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

I don’t feel like I have my own “style” - I'm a jack of all trades but master of none. But that is kind of the fun part, too - just trying everything that piques my interest.

I can relate to that. On the one hand I'd love to have a signature style that people automatically recognize that it's my work. On the other hand, I have a short attention span so I seriously doubt that day will ever arrive.

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 have a Canon PowerShot SX10 IS. I like how portable it is while still taking amazing photos.

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

CRAP! Yeah that is my go-to word and it's heard several hundred times a day!

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

My sweet boy Cooper is a Sheltie-terrier mix and has a quirky personality - he’s beyond spoiled, and that’s how it should be! Why bother having a pet if you don’t spoil them? Cooper is often featured on my Blog - he’s just so photogenic.

Is he cute or what! I have this theory that a pet's level of quirkiness is directly proportionate to how much his owners include him in the family. Something fabulous happens with domesticated animals start to morph their own traits with those of humans.... 

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I owned a Paper Arts Shop for three years but closed it in 2008. Since then I've been selling stamps and supplies on eBay (my eBay ID is morningsunstudio). I'm hoping to expand into some new venues this year.

13. Give us a quick description of you family.

My husband and I have been married for 20 years, and we have two beautiful daughters: Jillian is 20 and Jenna is 17.

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

My birthday is on Valentine’s Day!

Happy belated birthday! 

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

It changes weekly! I am pretty fond of the faux batik technique, and I like to use Adirondack inks directly on a stamp then spritz with water before stamping - does Tim Holtz call that faux watercolor? I love watercolor paints and use them quite often in various ways.

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

The process, for sure. I am rarely satisfied with the final product - I'm my own worst critic.

❧

Be sure to check out Mary's Facebook page for her eBay store, her Flickr gallery and her blog to see more of her art!

Spotlight on Krystn Sawyer

Today's Wednesday Wonder is a first because I was unfamiliar with her work until it was recommended to me by Hero Arts veteran artist Sally Traidman. Sally has known Kristyn for several years, and I have to admit, I'm smitten with Krystn's simple style! Krystn is also the first stamp designer and store owner I think I've interviewed, so she's truly unique to this venue.

What I love, love, LOVE about Krystn's cards is their incredible simplicity and the precision of their execution. They are like haiku's - light and weightless and airy. And this minimalism is not easy to master. The less there is on a card, the more glaring the mistakes or design flaws. (After all, if you're going to strip down to your skivvies in public, you'd better be wearing clean undies.)

Krystn's cards are, no doubt, sporting brand-spankin'-new lingerie from Victoria's Secret!!!

How sweet is this? Coming up with a design this simple must have taken forever. And her decision to use such tight color palettes in her work is another gutsy choice. Using less color magnifies the spotlight on the design and execution, so they had better be flawless.

As noted earlier, Krystn designs some of her own stamps, and three of the collections she's most proud of are the mostly heart blooms, pick-a-posy stamps, and simple things. (Caution: you will definitely develop I-want-itus once you see her wares.)

When I asked Krystn how she got into the stamping business, here's what she had to say:

"Doing art/being creative" has always been an important part of my life since I was a little girl. My favorite Christmas present each year was always the box of art stuff my parents would give to me. Doing something - anything - creative is and has always been what I enjoy most.

"I graduated from college with a degree in graphic design and worked as a graphic designer/art director for nearly 15 years. On the side, I also designed and created custom handmade wedding invitations and coordinating pieces, special event invitations, and handmade cards. Occasionally, I purchased supplies for my custom work from a local store, Mostly Hearts, owned by Sally Traidman. When Sally wanted to print a new catalog for the business, she hired me to design it. We worked closely together on the catalog and I learned a lot from her about the business. Later when she decided to scale back and get out of retail, she asked me if I would be interested in taking over Mostly Hearts...."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Kristin is her own personal design team, and she has submitted her card designs only once, but she made quite the impression! She submitted to one of her favorite publications, Stampington & Company's Take Ten. She was delighted and honored when her 4 cards were published as a small article titled Sweet & Simple in Take Ten 5. (I have that pub, and I loved that little article!)

So with no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Krystn Sawyer, Goddess of the Paper Haiku!

Krystn'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 always jot down ideas and sketch designs. However, I don't necessarily work from a sketch. I am most inspired by thinking of the person that the card is for and by the sentiment that I am trying to convey. Even though I create in a simple style, it sometimes takes a long time for a design to come together.

Oh, sister-girl. Can we talk?
 
2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

I just don't have very much time each week to create, so I'm not able to make as many cards as I'd like to.

 

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 been trying to get my supplies organized. Even though I'm not done - and may never be - having my supplies somewhat organized has helped me to know what I have and to be able to find "just the thing" I need more quickly.

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)?

 My husband ... he does the cooking most of the time anyway ... thankfully.

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!)

I would want my punches; rotary trimmer; scissors; x-acto knife; cutting mat; clear ruler; metal ruler; bone folder; craft tweezers; and adhesives.
 
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.

I'd enjoy just listening to the sounds around me.

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

 A new high-end digital camera and someone to teach me how to use it.

Okay, I'm totally with you on that!

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

I'd like to be able to create a card from start to finish more quickly.

You and me both, pal, you and me both....

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.)

Currently, I have a Canon PowerShot SD790 IS. Its not ideal, but it will have to do for now.
 
10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

I can't really think of one particular word or phrase ... maybe ... dangit!

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

 Due to allergies, we don't have any pets.

Ah, that's too bad. I understand, though, that poodles and labradoodles are excellent choices for those with allergies.

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I love being a SAHM. Maintaining mostlyhearts.com keeps me busy and lets me be creative, too.

13. Give us a quick description of you family.

I've been happily married for 20 years and have two happy healthy kids: a 9-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.

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

We are working on what may be a "life-long renovation" of the 150 year-old barn home we live in.

Now that's cool!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Stamping plus paper-piecing.

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

I love both the process and the final product.
 

❧

Be sure to check out Krystn's store, mostlyhearts.com, and her blog to see more of her art!

Spotlight on Becca Nelson

Today's Wednesday Wonder hails from a Winter Wonderland known as Shakopee, Minnesota, which has a demographic that includes a large snowperson population.  Case in point: here's our Wonder - Becca Nelson - with a recent house guest!

Lookit those dimples! And do you detect a special glow? Becca is expecting her first child in April!!!

I stumbled upon Becca's creations a little while ago and fell in love - she has a lovely sense of whimsy and a fondness for all things vintage. I'm especially admiring of her use of patterned paper. Check it out:

Is this cool or what? I do believe we're looking at eight - count 'em! - eight different patterns of paper (nine if there's a pattern on the flower's red center). I love all these vibrant "aged" colors with ink distressing here and there (she also knew when NOT to ink distress, and that's a pretty impressive skill).

And what about this one?

Here we're down to a measly six patterns - Becca's ability to select patterns and juxtapose them in a way that pleases the eye really impresses me - I have trouble managing as little as two patterned papers on a card. (And I'd like to state for the record that I have this paper pack but have never made anything nearly as attractive with mine.) Wonderful, wonderful whimsy here!  She's taken an image we've all done to death (a butterfly) and breathed fresh life into it by producing a butterfly convention in a fabulous patterned paper tree.

And just to show that Becca's not limited in her ability to work with various paper types, check out this beauty:

We're back up to eight patterns (can you identify them all?) and what really impresses me with this card is how well she was able to distress papers that normally would not be considered "distress-able." These bright, glittered pastel papers are the antithesis of aged/shabby/worn, but Becca pulled it off with a light touch and a deft hand.

I picked this card simply because I think it shows off Becca's unique vision. Despite her use of multiple patterned papers, her designs are fairly straightforward and simple. She keeps her embellishments to a minimum - which allows them maximum focus. And although she favors vintage papers and images, she gives them a flare by bringing in something modern - in this case, it's the strips of DYMO labels. Also, rather than use a typical gold crown, she shakes things up with a beautiful pop of pink. The edged bottom is a nice way of creating visual balance without getting fussy. All in all, a really super card!

Here's where Becca makes her magic:

(Proving, once again, that one need not have a whole room to be brilliant!)

Becca's been published in Paper Crafts, Cards, and Correspondence Art, so she's definitely proved she can run with the big dogs. In addition to her cards, she's made some fabulous wall art and other cool stuff (see her blog or online galleries - links are provided at the end of this post).

With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Becca Nelson, Minnesota's own little Vintage Viking! 

Becca'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 almost always have to make a sketch of my design.  Most of the time an idea comes to me at work during the day and I have to sketch it out while at work.  I can then come home and tweak it to the way I want and make my card. The time it takes to make each card really depends on the complexity of the card and how much coffee I’ve had! See answer below.

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

When I’m in a groove, I can make up to 20 cards a day.  When I’m in a funk, it will take me all day to make one card.

Okay, I can relate to the latter, but as to the former... Get OUT!!! (as Elaine would say.)

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?

Since I do sell some of my cards, I have learned to make at least 4 at a time of each style.  I cut 4 of each piece of paper, make 4 of each embellishment and assemble the 4 cards at the same time.  

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)?

I call my husband and have him pick up something on his way home from work!

Now that's what I'm talking about!

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!)

I would bring my quilting mat, guide and rotary cutter (my paper trimming tools), large circle punch, ATG Gun, scallop-edged punch, corner rounder, sandpaper, scissors, and Cricut.

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.

I like any kind of music!  It really depends on my mood (and how much coffee I’ve had)! I’m not going to list specific artists, but I have been known to listen to Christian (my #1 choice), classical, Alternative, Top 40, and sometimes even Country.

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

I would like a larger, more appealing scrap area. I currently share a room with the washer and dryer, furnace and water heater… along with some friendly spiders in the warmer months.  On a positive note, the furnace and dryer keep me warm in the winter, and the small space helps keep my spending on unneeded supplies in check. I am able to do laundry while creating, and it makes me feel good to multitask. I also have a big window right above my desk.  We have plans to get a new tile floor and maybe add wainscoting to the walls!   

Sounds like a pretty sweet set-up, all in all!

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

I am very envious of all the stampers out there who create such beautiful artwork. I would like to learn new stamping techniques and love browsing Flickr to find inspiration.  You ladies certainly do have a lot of patience!

Not all of us do. I threw an inkpad right out the window one day it made me so mad. (Don't judge me harshly, it had a bad attitude and ought to be grateful I didn't stomp on it BEFORE heaving it out the window.)

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 have a Canon Rebel XT and love it! After having it for years, I’m still learning how to use it.

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

I don’t swear, so mostly I just groan or pull my hair out.

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

No pets at this time.

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I work at a title insurance company, but will be quitting soon to become a full time stay at home mom!

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

I live with my husband Jeremy, and we are expecting our first child in April! The Dr. said that the “Gender appears female,” so that’s what we are anticipating!  We are excited to begin this new chapter in our lives.  I think our lives are about to change in a HUGE way!

I think that you would be right!

A word of advice. After the baby is born, DO continue to go out to dinner, movies, etc while you still can. She'll sleep through all of it. Once she reaches 6 months, you will find yourself somewhat housebound because now your little darling will be in full exploration mode and have the ability (and will) to holler at the top of her lungs, making movies and fine dining a suspended activity until she's about four.'

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

I don’t know if this is little-known or not, but I love using vintage elements on my cards, especially photos.  I love thinking about the events that took place when the pictures were taken and giving those discarded photos new life on my cards.  I am so grateful that my husband comes with me to antique stores to hunt down my treasures!

I love that you like to wonder about the subjects in the photo - I do that, too!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

Ha, ha….like I said before, I am a total novice at stamping, so my favorite technique would be shopping for the stamps!  I hope to improve my stamping. 

Okay, that IS the best answer thus far!

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

I love having the finished product in front of me. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment and success. I have a card rack in my scrap room and I love having it full of all different kinds and colors of cards all packaged and ready to go to their homes. 

❧

Check out Becca's other cool stuff at her blog, Becca Nelson, her Flickr Photostream, and her 2Peas Gallery.

Spotlight on Sherri Thompson

Today's Wednesday Wonder is probably freezing her little fingers off right now because she's from Maine, and that's pretty far north. But if she's feeling the chill, you'd never know it to look at her card creations. She's a woman after my own heart because she embraces color, and (unlike Yours Truly) she's a whiz at incorporating patterned paper into her cards.

I'm talking about Sherri Thompson, of course, and would you just take a look at how cute she is! She reminds me of a little Christmas elf - all she needs is a Santa cap and some bells, and she'd be ready to go!

The very first thing that caught my eye about Sherri's work is how good she is with patterned paper and details - I mean, she can really pull it all together! Check out this terrific creation:

I recognize that paper - it's Cosmo Cricket (one of my favorite companies), but you'll never see me handling it as well as she does. I have a horrible time layering patterned paper without it looking like so much overkill - or it's opposite: too stark to make an impact. But Sherri balances it all just right! She's got no less than four pieces of patterned paper on a surface area measuring approximately 4.25" x 5.5". Plus she's got no less than 6-7 layers - and it all looks terrific. She devotes the most space to the busiest print, but she balances it with multiple layers of simpler prints and highlights a good-sized focal point with a "frame" of colored semi-circles and dimension through pop-dots. If she'd laid down the busy paper as one of the background border pieces, it would have been wasted, visually, as it would have been all but covered up. And if she'd used the smaller patterns on the main background, the chick image would have overpowered it. Love this!!!

Here's another little birdie I'm lovin'. Who couldn't help but feel better after getting this in the mail? I LOVE how she used a striped paper for the sun's rays! She's also used small prints so they don't overpower the small card size. And would you look at those vibrant color choices?! 

Don't you just love, love, love the bright colors here? I don't know what she was going for, but I find this card provocative. Is this penguin on the beach in Antarctica? Or is she actually on one of those beaches in St. Bart's that have white sand? Are those polka dots snow or just a great paper choice because of the color? Then she's got these little touches of red and orange accents that lead your eye all around that design. (This thing couldn't have more movement if the hula skirt was fluttering.) This may very well be my favorite cards of hers because it's got it all.

Wouldja just look at the detail on this card!!!

Sherri's work has not gone unrecognized in the stamping community. Her Red, White & Blue Thanks card made the Fab 5 at 2 Sketches 4 You in July, 2009, and she's been published in a number of Magazines and e-zines: Cards (January, 2010), Papercrafts (March/April, 2010), Scrapbook News and Review (January, 2010), Scrapbooking.com (November, 2009 and  December, 2009). (It looks like she's just gotten started submitting, and I'm soooo glad of it!)

Sherri hasn't been on any Design Teams yet, but she's so busy with her family and school that I don't know how she'd be able to fit it in. Although, as you will learn later, she's QUITE the prolific card maker! So I wager she'll be on a DT before it's all said and done. 

And here's where all of Sherri's creating occurs....

Look at how contained all of that is. Just goes to show how little you really need to make awesome card art!

With no further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Sherri Thompson, my favorite Maine Event! 

Sherri'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?

For cards, I usually start with my accent and papers and just go for it.  I add things as I go.  For layouts, I usually start with a sketch or layout as a guide.  It usually takes me at least an hour to make a page.  If I’m really struggling, it can take me a whole day.  For cards, it usually takes about an hour, depending on the technique I’m using.  If I need a quick card, however, I can whip one up in about 15 minutes.

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

I’m so bad-I haven’t made a layout since last summer!  Now that my kids are getting older, they’re no longer willing camera subjects.  I love making cards, however, and I make about 5-10 a week.

Good grief! I am so not worthy....

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?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that “more” isn’t always better.  Sometimes I have to stop myself from going overboard on a project.  Most of my favorite cards are simple designs.

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)?

Fast dinner solution-I love my crockpot and have some great recipes.  My husband’s favorite is Crockpot Lasagna.  It’s so easy and everyone always asks for the recipe.  I will post a link on my blog.

Bonus!!!

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!)

My Top 10 Tools are my 12” Cricut paper trimmer, Making Memories paper piercer, Sizzix Big Kick, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Sewing Machine, Threading Water Border Punch by Fiskars, 3” scalloped circle punch, Creative Memories circle cutting system, Precision tip scissors (I use tiny sewing scissors), and myCrop-o-dile.

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.

I don’t usually listen to music while I’m scrapping, unless it’s Christmas music. (I start listening to it in October - I’d start even earlier if I could!)

If you go to her blog, you'll hear some young men harmonizing a very original medley of Christmas tunes. You see? I know an elf in hiding when I see one!

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

What I want next: Copics!

Aaaaaaah... a fellow Copic Compatriot. As Wallis Warfield Simpson once said, "You can never be too rich or too thin." I would add that you can never have too many Copics, either. Just a little warning right here and right now: Once you get the first few markers, you'll never be able to turn back. Just accept that you will become addicted and spend the rest of you life fighting that Copic monkey on your back. But never fear! It's a great high (not to mention completely legal).

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

I like my “cutesy” style, but I’d like to create just one shabby chic card just to say, “I did it!”  Also, there are lots of things I’d like to learn or be better at.  I would love to be able to color and shade stamped images using Copics.

Oh, boy... she's got the Copic Fever in a mighty bad way...!

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’m not tech-savvy AT ALL.  My DH bought me a Kodak Easyshare several years ago for my birthday, and I’m still using it.  It’s so easy to use.  I hope I never have to learn how to use any other!  Plus, I can print my photos easily at home with the printer dock.  It’s perfect for scrappers like me who are technologically-challenged.

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

I don't know if I say anything - usually I'm by myself when I scrap!  So I guess I really don't have an answer for this one.  Kind of boring, I know!

Okay, folks, we now have conclusive proof that Sherri IS an elf. When she messes up, she doesn't say anything. At least that's what she claims. But I suspect there may be an occasional, "Oh, for the love of candy corn!" ricocheting off the walls.... 

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

I have two very spoiled indoor cats (Hallie and Oreo) and two equally spoiled beagles (Bo and Luke.)  I would love to have a little girl pug - named Daisy, of course!

Is this a reference to the Dukes of Hazard? Despite it being wildly popular during my youth, I have never seen it. Will this pug puppy have little hotpants?

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

Right now, I’m a full-time student.  I am a college senior studying elementary education.

(Betcha she'll be hollering, "For the love of candy corn!" a lot more after she starts teaching - especially if her students are sixth graders.)

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

My DH, Donny, and I have two children.  Our DD, Jordan, is 15 and a freshman.  Our DS, Ryan, will be 13 in March.  He’s in the 7th grade.

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

I traveled a lot before I got married.  I have been to the Soviet Union (when it was the Soviet Union), Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Mexico.  Oddly enough, my state borders Canada and I’ve never been there!

That's okay. But, really now, no self-respecting elf would bypass visiting the North Pole! Or is that part of your cover? A sort of "Don't ask, don't tell" thing you elves have got going there? 

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

I love to paper piece.  I often stamp on patterned paper, too instead of coloring images.  It gives a fun look.  I also love to add details with chalk, a white gel pen or stickles.

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

That’s a tough one.  After trying many different crafts, I have found papercrafting to be my very favorite.  I love mixing and matching the colors and design elements.  Plus, I never really outgrew my love of coloring, cutting and pasting.  I love the finished product, as well.  Store-bought cards could never compare to handmade cards.

So very, very true.

❧

Check out Sherri's other wonderful creations at her blog, Bits and Pieces of Me and her Flickr Photostream.

Spotlight on Agata Pfister

Today's Wonder is a woman after my own heart.Yes, folks, she's an official Color Nut and she's fond of clean, crisp designs! She also hails from Switzerland - which is so exciting to me. (Obviously, I know the place exists, but it always seems more real once I've met someone who actually lives there!)

Ladies, please meet Agata Pfister!

 

Is she cute or what? Look at that twinkle in her eyes - I suspect she's quite capable of playing the prankster!

Okay, the first thing that attracted my attention to Agata's creations is how well she handles simplicity in design. She's really, really good at it. Take this scrapbook page, for instance:

This is worthy of magazine publication. The kraft presents an excellent neutral backdrop for her photos and the lines are crisp; the patterned paper circle with journaling strips break up the two parallel vertical lines. Both the journaling composition and the glittered letters bring life and movement into the overall design and keep it from becoming static. But best of all, those photos are dominating the page and not vice versa.

Check out this one:

WOW! The white is a great neutral, and she's 'Shopped the photos to pop out the red sweatshirt - which, with the red "red" just leap off the page. And I'm really impressed with that journaling strip. Now that was masterful. Any other color but white would have seriously messed with this composition. But how do you put white on white without it disappearing? You punch holes in it and let the shadows and torn edge do the heavy lifting! She anchors the design while also providing visual movement by using a simple black font for the journaling, black title boxes and a black photo turn. (I'm impressed with anyone who can anchor and move at the same time.)   

And here's where she decides to get cookin' with the color!

First of all, she's made her photos sepia and white so there won't be a battle between them and the other colorful elements. She's got a nice balance going with the photo and elements across the top and the title along the bottom (love those embellishments, btw!). One of the things that really makes that title balance is the use of 3-D letters and the vertical line of colored blocks - the latter really ties it altogether and gives a nice visual weight to the entire composition. The yellow journaling strips provide a nice break in the red background and are the right weight - if she'd gone with a full yellow journaling block, it would have overpowered everything else on the page and thrown off the balance.

NOTE: for those who aren't familiar with French, I think she's saying that it takes 15 minutes to get the children ready to go outside in the winter and that she's looking forward to spring. (I took a few semesters of French in high school - and that was literally 30 years ago! - so I could be wrong).  

And what about this beauty:

This card's bread and butter is the ink and the technique - which are beautifully highlighted by the black (neutral) base.  The white sentiment and flower tie it all together (and the white center of the flower was a wonderful choice. Any other color would have thrown the whole composition out of whack and destroyed the visual flow). 

So where does Agata create these masterpieces? Check it out:

Agata was really cute when she sent me these pictures, apologizing for the "messiness." I actually liked seeing things in a state of disarray - it makes me feel better about my own messy space. Besides which, when I look at these pictures, I don't see a mess - I see the Physical Manifestation of Creative Genius!

As a matter of fact, I am so taken with this concept that I plan on employing it in all future instances of sloth. That's not a sink full of dirty dishes! That's the Physical Manifestation of My Creative Genius! Likewise, the pile of dirty laundry spilling out of my closet and the deplorable state of my desk - these are all Physical Manifestations of My Creative Genius! (My mother is going to be so happy when she learns she produced an Einstein rather than a slob.)

Here's a close-up of Creativity Central:

I love that little house thingie - that's an attractive and interesting storage solution! I also love all those photos sticking on the bookcase. I'm wondering if those are for inspiration or are they the photos to be scrapped next? Either way, it's a Good Thing!

Agata's won several awards, so I'm not the only one who's impressed with her abilities. She has done very well in the Hero Arts weekly blog challenges: She was awarded the Fresh Face prize in the Photo Challenge;  the Scrapbook page winner in the Sketch 2 Challenge; and an Honorable Mention in the Cards That Give Challenge. She also was one of six winners for the Snowflake Color Challenge at Embellish Magazine, an online publication.

Alas, Agata is not on any Design Teams, nor has she been published in the print media. However, I think it's safe to say that it's merely a matter of time! (And I do wish you'd submit, Agata, as your designs are so crisp and clean, and subscribers would love to have a break from some of the same-ol, same-ol.)

Without further ado, lift your Diet-Cokes to Agata Pfister, the Swiss Miss of Elegance (sorry, Agata, I have no self-restraint)!

Agata'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?

Thinking about a project takes most of the time. Sometimes I scribble something but only for layouts. Making itself is usually about an hour (a card) or several hours (a layout).

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

Depends on the week. It can vary from 0 to 3 layouts, 1 to 7/8 cards. Last November was quite busy for it!

 

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?

Start with less, you can always add something later - that’s one. And second: do not be afraid of color!
 
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)?

I have a stash of quick recipes in my kitchen and there’s a natural shuffle going on in it. But I’ll just mention one special Swiss recipe: a cheesecake, not a sweet one but the one made with real cheese like Gruyère. Don’t ask about calories, the number would kill you!

Death by cheese... okay, that'll work!

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!)

I would bring my scissors, finger knife, round punch, border punch, trimmer, silent setter, brush for water pencils, stapler, corner rounder, and blending tool.

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.

I like to listen to Sting, Louis & Ella, Pat Metheny, some of Miles Davis.

Louis & Ella as in Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald? Did you know he was the only man she would record a duet with?

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

Some cutting system so I could make nice, shaped cards!

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

I tend to repeat my designs, have a hard time being creative, and have trouble thinking outside the box.

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 started with a point & shoot Kodak, then there was a Canon EOS 500N, a Nikon Coolpix 10S. And now there’s a Nikon D40x, definitely my fav!

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

Meeeeeeeeeeerde!!! (That’s French, if you ask… ;-))

Ah, yes. I'm very familiar with that word! I have been known to utter its English cousin with gusto!)

11. Give us a quick description of your pets.

I have no pets, but I love cats.

12. Give us a quick description of your job.

I'm a Stay At Home Mom; I was a pianist in a former life.

That is so cool!  I've always wanted to play piano, but I seem unable to do anything requiring physical coordination. Although I can pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time - which is a completely worthless accomplishment in the field of music. Or any field for that matter....

13. Give us a quick description of your family.

I have a husband of 11-something years, a son who is almost 3 years old, and a daughter who just turned one.

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

In 2001, I played Mozart’s 25th Concerto for piano with Lausanne’s Chamber Orchestra.

Oh. My. Word. We have a bona fide star in the house (no honky-tonk piano-playin' mama here)!

15. What’s your favorite stamping technique?

My favorite technique is Distress Resist.

I love that one, too!!!

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

The process! As soon as I finish something, I have to start something new!

I'm in agreement with you. I enjoy looking at the finished project, but that's a fleeting pleasure. The process (when it's working!) is a thrill!!!

❧

Check out Agata's other wonderful creations at her blog, Under Construction, her Flickr Photostream, and her Scrapdeco galerie.