Hey everyone!! I’m sliding in here a bit late with this blog post. With vacation and getting my son ready to go to Belgium for two weeks, I completely lost track of time. Hope your July is going well.

Let’s jump right into my interview with our July Designer – Cathy from CathyK Designs.

How long have you been designing?

I opened my first digi shop in 2008, so about 11 years.

What made you decide to design?

I started making some freebies just for fun, then got hooked!

What do you use to create your designs (program, additional tools, etc.)?

I use Photoshop CS4 and Inkscape, though I am considering moving to Creative Cloud once I update my computer hardware.

Describe your design workplace.

I have a computer desk with a desktop computer and large display in our family room. My work area tends to be pretty cluttered, plus I always have my paper planner and paper notebook open on the desk to scribble down ideas.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

I like seeing an idea come to fruition and then seeing how people use that kit to scrap their precious memories. I get inspiration and ideas from color, everyday life, my sons’ activities and interests, magazines, Pinterest, textures, a song, a good quote. Really, anything can be the inspiration for a product!

What is your favorite kit currently in your GS store and why?

It’s so hard to answer that! I guess my current favorite is my Country Roads collection. At first, that palette didn’t appeal much to me and I struggled to find a direction. I actually started the collection with a completely different theme in mind, then our camping trips reminded me of simpler times, which made me think of country life (since I grew up in a smaller town in the south), so I completely switched directions and absolutely love how the collection turned out! Of course, the title is from the John Denver song that was stuck in my head the ENTIRE time I was working on it! “Country Roads, take me home to the place I belong…”

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https://store.gingerscraps.net/Country-Roads-Kit-by-CathyK-Designs.html

What was your first job?

In high school, I was a draftsperson for my father’s HVAC engineering company. This was back in the dark ages before CAD programs when everything was done by hand!

What is your favorite quote?

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I included this one in this month’s Daily Download kit, Chart Your Own Course, because I liked the message.

What is something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

I’d love to take a longer trip to the mountains in our new RV. We’ve only taken short weekend trips so far.

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Texting app, since that’s the best way to communicate with my young adult sons, Chrome web browser, since you can access pretty much everything you need just using that, and Google Maps.

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Um, all the boring things I hate to do, like paying bills, organizing paperwork, cleaning, marketing!

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or to the future to meet your descendants?

Definitely back in time to meet my ancestors. Life would be pretty dull if you knew ahead of time how everything was gonna turn out!

What commercial jingle gets stuck in your head all the time.

“Bum-da-dump-bum-bum-bum-bum” from some insurance company.

If you could turn the ocean into a liquid other than water, which one would you pick?

Wine!

Thanks Cathy!! Make sure to check out her GingerScraps Store and  Facebook Fan Page.

Have you been grabbing the Daily Download? If you’ve missed any pieces, it will be available as a full kit in her GingerScraps store beginning in August.

Thanks for hanging out with me today!!

Happy May!! Has everyone recovered from INSD? I hope everyone was able to join in on the fun and found some great deals!

This month we have TWO designers that have teamed up for this month’s Featured Designer. Miss Fish and Shepherd Studio are bringing you this month’s Daily Download. They both slowed down for a few minutes to answer my questions.

Let’s chat with Juli of Miss Fish first.

How long have you been designing?

2- and three-quarter years so far.

What made you decide to design?

I wanted to make some extra money to get my hair and nails done monthly.

What do you use to create your designs (program, additional tools, etc.)?

My laptop, hooked to a double wide monitor, Photoshop, my new iPad Pro and Procreate.

Describe your design workplace.

I sit in our Family Room at a self-made desk in our bookcase. That puts me in the middle of everything going on in our family. I can also pick and go anywhere (can you say Starbucks?) with my laptop.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

Fun colors and fun patterns. I’ve started designing kits this year because of this.

What is your favorite kit currently in your GS store and why?

My favorite template pack is Wordly Templates. These make me think of vacationing and documenting all my adventures.

What was your first job?

First ever??? Probably babysitting.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

I don’t think so.

What are you reading right now?

I work full time and design; this girl has no time to read.

What is your favorite quote?

Live for the moments you can’t put in to words.

What is something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

Learn how to draw.

You have your own latenight talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?

Michelle Obama

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Texting to stay in touch with my kids and family. Pinterest for design inspiration and ideas. Google maps because I don’t like getting lost.

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Drive my car to work and clean my house, maybe even make dinner.

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or to the future to meet your descendants?

To the future.

What commercial jingle gets stuck in your head all the time.

“Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t”.

If you could turn the ocean into a liquid other than water, which one would you pick?

Margaritas!!!

Make sure to check our her GingerScraps store, her FB Fan Page and her Facebook Group, The Fish Bowl.

Now, let’s talk to Jenn of Shepherd Studio.

How long have you been designing?

About 10 years, but I just came back to digital scrapbook design last year.

What made you decide to design?

Peer pressure.

What do you use to create your designs (program, additional tools, etc.)?

I use Paint Shop Pro mostly, but also use Photoshop and Illustrator.

Describe your design workplace.

I have a designated office space in our home, so it’s filled with my planners and paper crafting as well as my computer for designing. I also have a second monitor I mostly use to stream movies while I work. I keep everything white including all the furniture as I prefer a minimal, clean look.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

I’m most inspired by themes and colors. I enjoy designing papers and patterns and work hard to create unique patterns as well as favorite basics with each kit.

What is your favorite kit currently in your GS store and why?

My favorite kit is Wildflower. I loved the sketches and creating the fun patterns for it. The blues and yellows just remind me of being outside. It’s the kit most like me.

What was your first job?

I worked in the kitchen at a Summer Camp in the Adirondacks

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Several people. I even got to shake President Bill Clinton’s hand.

What are you reading right now?

“How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life” by Frank M D Lipman

What is your favorite quote?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” by Mahatma Gandhi

What is something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

Take my husband to a foreign country. He’s never been outside the US.

You have your own latenight talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?

Oprah

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Instagram, Etsy, Gmail

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Rub my back and feet

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or to the future to meet your descendants?

Back in time

What commercial jingle gets stuck in your head all the time.

Dada da da da I’m lovin’ it.

If you could turn the ocean into a liquid other than water, which one would you pick?

Herbal tea

Make sure to check out her GingerScraps store and her Facebook Fan Page.

Also, make sure you are grabbing each day of the Daily Download for a great kit and templates from both ladies.

Happy February. Today we’re talking with Shelley of Day Dreams ‘n Designs. She was kind enough to answer my scrapping and somewhat off-the-wall questions.

How long have you been designing?

I started out designing blog train freebies in 2014 and then opened my first store in April 2015. I started with a guest spot at GingerScraps in November 2017 and love being a GS designer.

What made you decide to design?

I had started digital scrapbooking a fews years before but then found some tutorials on how to design my own stuff. After participating in blog trains I found out how much I really enjoyed it.

What do you use to create your designs (program, additional tools, etc.)?

Photoshop CC

Describe your design workplace.

I have my own office with a large u-shaped desk that holds my PC and two monitors and my Mac Computer. And yes I use it all!

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

My kids and what I need to scrap for them along with colors and themes.

What is your favorite kit currently in your GS store and why?

A Snowy Adventure has always been one of my favorites. I love doing snow kits because I love snow but I also love the color palette.

What was your first job?

My first job was at a place call Sears Teleservice. We answered calls from people wanting to schedule repair service for Sears appliances.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Nope.

What are you reading right now?

The Unblemished series

What is your favorite quote?

Life is to be enjoyed, not endured.

What is something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

Take my family on a cruise.

You have your own latenight talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?

Hmm, I don’t really watch talk shows but recently some of my favorite songs have been from Imagine Dragons so let’s go with them!

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Find iphone, Messages, and overdrive – gotta have my ebooks and audiobooks!

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Hands down cooking and then cleaning. But I hate cooking more.

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or to the future to meet your descendants?

Hmm that’s a tough one but probably to the future to meet my descendants and see what it’s like.

What commercial jingle gets stuck in your head all the time.

We only stream so we don’t watch commercials but my kids like that shark song and that gets stuck in my head a lot unfortunately!

If you could turn the ocean into a liquid other than water, which one would you pick?

But water is my favorite thing to drink! I don’t drink soda any more but my favorite was cream soda so I’ll go with that.

Thank you to Shelley for playing along. Make sure to check out her GS Store, her FB Fan page, and her blog. Also, make sure you are grabbing each piece of the daily download from the GS blog.

Happy 2019!! I’m so excited to bring you this month’s featured designer profile. ADB Designs is one of our newer store designers. Let’s just jump right in and get to know her.

How long have you been designing?

As scrapbook designer since 2012; as designer (marketing and end user products) in a photography studio since 2002.

What made you decide to design?

I retired from a high stress job in IT and found designing to be a powerful creative outlet for my time and energy – AND – it allowed me to create designs that supported my genealogy passion.

What do you use to create your designs (program, additional tools, etc.)?

Photoshop CC & AI; scanner, husband who is professional photographer, LOL!

Describe your design workplace.

I have an office in my home, with windows that overlook a wooded hill on our 5 acre property. It is peaceful and quiet, unless the office cat is demanding attention.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

I love history and romantic “things” – I research for my genealogy passion and all of that feeds my designer imagination. I create a lot of Heritage collections designed to assist with telling a family history.

What is your favorite kit currently in your GS store and why?

Patriots & Loyalists Heritage Collection is my current favorite. I loved the challenge of creating a collection to support research in the American Revolutionary War period. I loved the challenge of creating a product that celebrated both patriots and loyalist…all were newly minted Americans at the end of the war.

What was your first job?

WOW that really takes me back. I would have to say babysitter at age 12 for the 3 children who lived next door.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

No, I lead a boring life. LOL

What are you reading right now?

Oh goodness, I read 6-7 books at a time. (I read a lot of non-fiction) I am finishing these:

• The Last Shogun – the life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu
• Rosalind Franklin The Dark Lady of DNA
• I Remember Nothing More – The Warsaw Children’s Hospital & the Jewish Resistance
• His Brother’s Keeper – A Story From the Edge of Medicine

What is your favorite quote?

“The opposite of hate is not love, it is indifference.” David Wilkerson

What is something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

Go to Australia and visit my brother Alan and his family.

You have your own late night talk show, who do you invite as your first guest?

Oprah Winfrey

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?

Google Drive, Adobe Capture, Google News

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

Clean & cook — oh wait, my husband does that….I guess help me stay organized.

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or to the future to meet your descendants?

Back in time.

What commercial jingle gets stuck in your head all the time.

“Nationwide is on your side” Peyton Manning singing.

If you could turn the ocean into a liquid other than water, which one would you pick?

Would not want to do that…but if you are asking about other favorite liquids….well a good single malt Scotch makes me happy. 🙂

Thanks Diane!! Make sure to check our her GingerScraps store and her Facebook fan page. Also make sure you are grabbing the daily download every day to get this awesome kit!

Happy New Year everyone!!