Designer Spotlight: CathyK Designs

We’re slipping Cathy in just under the wire here! I know we all understand how hectic December is… So settle in for a few minutes and get to know a little bit about CathyK.

J: How long have you been designing?

C: About 12 years.

J: What made you decide to design?

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

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

C: I use Photoshop CS4 and Inkscape, though I am planning to move to Creative Cloud hopefully soon now that I have a new laptop.

J: Describe your design workplace.

C: 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.

J: What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

C: 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, our camping trips. Really, anything can be the inspiration for a product!

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

C: It’s so hard to answer that! I guess my current favorite is my Nature Walk Collection. I absolutely love how the collection turned out! The peach and purple looked fantastic against all the neutral greens and browns. I think that nature/outdoor collections are my favorite to design.

J: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

C: Steak with Bourbon Peppercorn Sauce.

J: What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?

C: I like watching college football, especially Ohio State. Go Buckeyes!

J: What did you want to be when you were small?

C: An architect

J: Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?

C: Well, if people are included, I’d say my hubby for sure. If not, then I’d say coffee.

J: Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

C: Um…maybe Sandra Bullock.

J: If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

C: Caution: tends to ramble on!

J: What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

C: Tom Hanks

Thanks for sharing with our readers, Cathy! Before I forget, Cathy has generously put her ENTIRE STORE on sale at 30% off for the whole month of December and she has a terrific kit in the Daily Download. Don’t worry if you’re late to the party, because the whole kit will be in the store in January.

Next month the Designer Spotlight will be a little different. There are some fun new questions and our designers get to decide which ones they answer! I’ll be chatting with Cheré Kaye and Aimee Harrison New Year’s Day so be sure to check in.

 

Fresh Baked: DECEMBER 18, 2020

It’s ONE WEEK until Christmas. Are you done with your preparations? Sadly, I haven’t even started. My Christmas tree is up though. That definitely counts as something.

Before we jump into other goodies, remember the Bake Sale is on-going though Sunday. Some great full kits or template sets for just $1 each.

And also remember, when you spend $10 in the store you get this awesome kit for free.

Now let’s see what is new in the store for this week.

Have you picked up the Monthly Mix Collab for December? I think this kit will be very beneficial to scrappers in the northeast US this week.

How are those challenges coming? Just 10 completed challenges gets you this great kit as a reward.

Fresh Baked: DECEMBER 11, 2020

Hey there. Welcome to another Friday. We’re so close to the end of the year. It’s hard to believe it’s finally here.

Remember you get this kit for free just for spending $10 in the store.

If you love Christmas, you are going to love the new kits this week. Christmas abounds.

Remember any 10 challenges completed gets you this awesome kit as a reward.

Fresh Baked: DECEMBER 4, 2020

Happy Friday everyone!! I hope you all made it through the week happy and healthy.

Have you put up your Christmas tree? The Free with Purchase kit is perfect for those tree photos. It’s yours for just a $10 purchase in the store.

Let’s look at a few of the new kits available in the store this week.

Have you gotten started on your challenges this month? Any 10 completed challenges gets you this great kit as a reward

Fresh Baked: December 1, 2020 & NEW Free With Purchase, Monthly Mix and More

Happy December everyone. Can you believe we finally made it?

Before we jump into the Buffet for December, don’t forget to check out the Black Friday sale that is still going on. There are some great deals to be had.

Don’t forget to check out the Buffet Bundles. One easy click to add bundles of Buffet goodies to your cart.

Look at these Buffet colors. So beautiful and perfect for the holidays.

Let’s see what the designers have. I see the start of the holiday season starting to show up in the kits.

Remember any $10 spent in the store gets you this great collab. Get ready to scrap those Christmas Tree photos.

The December Monthly Mix collab is beautiful. It’s time for some {winter magic}.

The beginning of the month means a new Daily Download. December’s DD is provided by CathyK Designs. How many new Game Night photos have you taken during the pandemic? This kit will be perfect!

And finally, any 10 challenges completed (and there are over 25 to chose from) will get you this {sugar plum fairy} kit as a reward.

And now a few samples from our store CT. Take a look in the Gallery for more beautiful layouts.

Fresh Baked: November 20, 2020

It’s Friday again. One week until the holiday season officially starts. Are you planning any big shopping trips or staying in and shopping online this year?

Don’t forget, any $10 spent in the store will get you this awesome kit for free.

Let’s see what the designers have new for this week.

Remember, any 10 completed challenges gets you this kit as a reward.

And don’t forget to shop the November Bake Sale that ends TODAY! So many great items for only $1 each.

Keep your eyes peeled for some awesome goodness for Black Friday.

Fresh Baked: November 13, 2020

Happy Friday the 13th. I saw someone say that the last Friday the 13th was in March. Here’s hoping this one resets all the crazy. Hope you have a great weekend and are ready to enjoy some goodness from our designers.

Remember, if you spend $10 in the store you get this great full kit for free!

Let’s see what the designers have been working on.

Have you grabbed the November Monthly Mix?

And, how are those challenges going? Any 10 completed challenges get you this awesome kit as a reward!

Fresh Baked: November 6, 2020

Well, we made it to another Friday. Hope you have all had a good week. Did you accomplish something fun this week? I finished the first afghan I have ever made for myself (crochet) and I love it so much. I figured after all I’ve given away, it was time for one for me!

Remember with any $10 spent in the store, you get this fun {movember} kit for free.

Let’s see what our designers have this week. There is a little bit of everything in every color here.

Do you enjoy the challenges in the forum? Remember if you complete any 10 challenges, you get this kit as a reward.

Leave a message and let me know what fun things you have accomplished this week!

Designer Spotlight: November 2020

Wimpychompers!

Here we are in November already. 2020 has, in so many ways, definitely been an annus horribilus, to steal from the Queen. Hopefully there are better days ahead!

I’d like to introduce you all to Christina, the creative genius behind Wimpychompers. (I just wish I would have thought to ask her how she came up with that name… I’m sure there’s a story there!) She’s in the Designer Spotlight this month and has gifted all of us with a fabulous Daily Download. Make sure you’re picking up your pieces while they’re available.

J: How long have you been designing?

C: I want to say 10 or 11 years

J: What made you decide to design?

C: I got really interested in making signatures in forums actually. I started messing around with Paint Shop Pro (ha) and ended up writing tutorials for signature making. I swore I would never start digital scrapbooking as I did paper scrapping at the time but soon changed my mind. Once I started figuring out the program I switched to digital, then decided I loved designing.

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

C: Mostly Photoshop but I have recently gotten my hands on Procreate so we will see if I add my own drawings to my items

J: Describe your design workplace.

C: My couch. (laughs). I sit on the couch with a lap desk, it’s the most comfortable and especially helpful now that my kids are doing school from home and have taken all of our desks.

J: What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

C: I love looking at colors on Pinterest but mostly I am theme driven. I especially love to do kits I know I could use.

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

C: Can I say all of them? (ha). I would say the entire When I Grow Up series, it’s not technically one kit but that one took a lot of time and makes me smile, each kit being so different.

J: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

C: Ooh, dangerous. Cinnamon rolls probably although my waistline may not appreciate that one

J: What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?

C: I don’t watch sports but I love playing Lego video games with my kids, it can be therapeutic to smash everything in the game.

J: What did you want to be when you were small?

C: A children’s book author, a teacher, and a ballerina

J: Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?

C: Hugs from my kids, they are teens so it’s not as often anymore and I take them when I can!

J: Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

C: I’ve never considered this one. Maybe someone like Kristin Bell

J: If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

C: Caution: Can go off on a tangent with no warning!

J: What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?

C: Maybe Reese Witherspoon

Before we say thanks and see ya to Christina, I think I should tell you that she’s put everything in her store on sale at 30% off for the WHOLE MONTH of November!! That’s really generous, and I bet it boosts her sales pretty nicely, just in time for Black Friday and Christmas. I’m going to check it out right now!

Fresh Baked: November 1, 2020 & NEW Free With Purchase, Monthly Mix and More

Welcome to November. For those of us ending Daylight Savings Time, did you remember to reset your clocks? I remember a time when we actually had to manually set the clocks. Now it seems everything automatically resets for us.

Don’t forget to check out the Buffet Bundles. One easy click to add bundles of Buffet goodies to your cart.

I’m just in love with these buffet colors. Remember all the buffet kits are built off the same color scheme so they can easily be mixed together for that perfect layout.

Let’s see what the designers have for us. Keep reading to the end so see some sample layouts from our talented store creative team.

Remember any $10 spent in the store gets you this great collab. Does your significant other participate in {movember}?

The November Monthly Mix is great for those Thanksgiving photos. We are {grateful, thankful, blessed}.

The beginning of the month means a new Daily Download. November’s DD is provided by Wimpychompers.

And finally, any 10 challenges completed (and there are over 25 to chose from) will get you this {thankful hearts} kit as a reward.

And now a few samples from our store CT. Take a look in the Gallery for more beautiful layouts.