GOOD MORNING GINGERSCRAPS! (imagine Robin Williams a la Good Morning Vietnam)

I decided it would be fun to bother Meg, our guest designer this month (Ocean Wide Designs), to tell us more about herself. We already know the basics, but for anyone who is just catching up let me share with you,

I live in Central California with my husband, Jeff, and our furry-babies… Riley, a small terror… I mean, terrier! and our two guinea pigs – Sparkles and Bubbles. Jeff and I love to travel the west coast, we like doing outdoorsy things like hiking, geocaching, kayaking, fishing, camping, etc. I work from home running our small businesses, including the Real Life Scrapped social network! When I have the time I LOVE to read cozy mysteries, bake goodies that go straight to my hips, work off those goodies with Zumba & my treadmill, and do crafty things like crocheting & embroidery.

She’s busy busy busy and still finds time to design and scrap!

This is (a) very casual harassment interview, so enjoy!

Designing: How long have you been? What made you start? What’s your favorite thing to design: templates or kits or both for separate reasons? Any tips for a beginner scrapper?

I’ve been digiscrap designing for two years now! That fact just hit me 🙂 I’ve always done freelance web and graphic design stuff, but I must of had a lapse of judgement two years ago to start digiscrap designing!  I honestly started digiscrap designing because I wanted to make a few extra dollars doing something I was already doing and loving. It was hard to get started, but I’m glad I stuck with it! I never would of met all the people that I have if I hadn’t branched out to designing.

I love to design both kits and templates… for different reasons. Kits because I LOVE coming up with all the different pieces and making it all come together. Templates because they get me scrapping, which I don’t seem to do as much now that I’m designing.  I’m totally a template addict 🙂

Tips for a beginning scrapper… don’t get discouraged by all the amazing layouts you see everyone else make! You’ll get there someday too 🙂 Don’t be afraid to become a participant of a community, like GS.  Scrappers are some of the friendliest people on this planet and are always willing to lend a hand! Plus we know how to have a great time 🙂

From one template addict to another, I love your Sea Charts (especially vol. 5 😉 ) I also have to agree with you on the don’t get discouraged bit. I was just looking at my own “first” layouts/pages and my oh my… I never thought I’d get to where I am today from those horrid things  masterpieces. 😉

What’s your favorite kit to date?

Happiness is…

I totally love the color pallet- I’m such a sucker for purples (and greens…together). I’m also a sucker for splatters, and you have a SUPER add on of some terrific splatters, so of course, I’m totally going to share ’em here and now,

Here is some inspiration! Using this fun, super pretty kit is one of Ocean Wide Designs CTM’s (Rachel). Seriously awesome page!

Back to nosing around Meg’s personal life, shall we? Because that’s what we’re really  here for! 😉

This next question is vital, it was brought up in a previous interview and I feel it’s imperative for all interviews. Being a coffee FREAK, wait- I should be more specific- CAFFEINE freak, there we go- I must know if there are other crazies out there like me. So, Meg,

Coffee or Tea?

Tea… I love coffee and all, but tea is so much better 🙂 Earl grey with natural bliss low fat vanilla creamer = LOVE!! I love all kinds of different teas, my husband usually gets me something tea related at Christmas.

I’ve actually been drinking a lot of tea myself lately, but I prefer English Breakfast, with just a little bit of milk. Definitely favor black teas.

One super quirky thing about you: 

Geeze, I don’t know anything that isn’t quirky about me. Ok… I’m a blend of English/Scottish/Welsh… but in High School I was president of the Armenian Club. Those Welsh genes for having an extreme amount of hair, then the Scottish genes for making the hair dark… I had everything but the nose to make me look Armenian. All of my friends were Armenian (huge Armenian Diaspora here,) and so I joined the club to hang out with them. Senior year the club voted for me to be president – AGAINST MY WILL!!! – and it’s something that’s followed me ever since. They said that I was perfect for the position because I was “odar” aka non-Armenian and responsible. My husband tells everyone I’m Armenian anyway, and they believe him… even though I don’t have the nose AND I’m seriously allergic to garlic. Oh… that’s another quirky thing, I’m allergic to the most random things – garlic, cherries, grapefruit, carrots, grape skins… 

First of all, I love the stream of unfiltered consciousness that is that response. Second, I like that you threw in your completely random allergies. AWESOME response, my friend.

Your top three places you want to visit (anywhere in the world):

1. England… because it’s where my paternal family is. My grandparents moved to North America after WWII, but most of the family is still there. Our family history in Great Britain goes past the War of Roses, so there’s lots of sights I want to see 🙂

2. South Africa… because it’s like my husband’s second country. He’s been there a lot, and I haven’t. He would move there in a heartbeat!

3.  New Zealand… need I say more? I almost moved there after high school to attend a university… but there was that whole issue with it costing an arm and a leg.

I say, YES TO ENGLAND! I’m a wee bit envious of your direct connection to that lovely country (I’m sort of a HUGE fan).

One last question,  What is one thing you NEVER leave home without?

My iPhone… I’m kind of attached and always connected. I do so much, that I always have to be available.  Plus it comes in handy when my grandpa wants me to look up sports scores during dinner LOL!

I’m pretty attached to my phone too, I try not to be, to “unplug” every once in a while- typically when the battery dies during the day and I’m too lazy to re charge it. HA!

Well, that’s enough poking and prodding into Meg’s life (for now, bwahahaha!). Meg is going to be hosting a special speed scrap next week!  So make sure to join her (us!), she’ll have a freebie JUST for showing up! I say that’s a WIN! So mark your calendars, and if you don’t, I’ll be reminding EVERYONE in the next few days anyway. 😉

Have a happy scrappy weekend my friends! And thank you Meg, for entertaining me, I mean, all of us! Look forward to the speed scrap/chat!

April