Connie Prince

It’s been awhile since I had a chat with Connie Prince, although she pops into the Spotlight fairly often. I think most of us already know her and her design work, so we didn’t spend much time on the work angle. Here’s how our visit went.

J: Connie! It’s been a minute. How are you? I know you’ve had some not-so-happy times recently so let’s not go there. How about a softball… what are your favourite/not favourite colours?

C: I love primary, bold colors. Pastels are my least favorite!

J: Pastels can be quite insipid, and if you don’t like them, it’s really hard to make them work for you. You do bold primaries very well, so don’t change! Honestly, you set quite a pace with your designing, I don’t know how you do it. What do you do for you?

C: I play piano and it soothes my soul so much!

J: Music is such a wonderful form of expression, and can evoke all the moods. I enjoy having it playing, even when I’m in the shower. Thankfully, I’ve got good antiskid strips in there. Lord knows where I could end up when I get right into it. Do you sing, or maybe dance in the shower?

C: Definitely dance!

J: Getting a workout in while taking care of hygiene… great multitasking! What would you do if you won the lottery?

C: Travel, travel, & travel some more!

J: I haven’t been anywhere special in a long time. Travelling with our son is quite challenging, so we tend to stay put. But when we’re not on fire, there’s so much to see and do around here, it’s not such a bad thing. What does your dream vacation look like?

C: Anywhere tropical works for me!

J: Not for me. Must be my Scandinavian and Irish genes coming through. As long as I’m not expected to eat herring….. Oh, I had some absolutely scrumptious Irish-style fish and chips the other day. I could eat that all the time. If you had to choose, what would you want on your plate every day?

C: Steak and salad

J: I do enjoy a good steak. If only beef wasn’t so darned expensive. I need to find a farmer who’ll sell it to me without the middle man. Win-win! But I’d need to get over my aversion for making those kinds of contacts. Do you have any trait that you’d change if you could?

C: I would love to master the art of being patient. I’m working on it, but it is for sure a big struggle!

J: Patience I have. No one believes I’m as introverted as I am. Sigh. Most people see me as self-assured and confident. I’m really not. How would your friends and family describe you?

C: Loyal.

J: That’s a wonderful thing to be! there are so many other adjectives that are loyal-adjacent that probably also fit. If you could have a super power, what would you choose and why?

C: Manipulate time, I’d definitely make use of that one!

J: That would be pretty handy. Speed through the bad things, slow down the good things. Maybe go back and do some things differently. I see the benefits! I don’t think I’d want to see the future though. Life moves too fast as it is. Aside from necessities, is there anything you couldn’t live without?

C: My phone!

J: Hahahaha! Me too! My friend accidentally left her personal phone and her work phone on top of her car after work the other day. She got about half a block when she heard them fall off. Her work phone was totally fine… and she spent most of her day off replacing her personal one. Speaking of phones, I’m sorry mine keeps pinging with news about our wildfire situation. I’m going to have to go through them soon. Thanks for chatting! I’m not going to keep you in this smoky air any longer. Have a great Spotlight!!

Have you seen Connie‘s Daily Download? (I mean, of course you have. It’s right here on the Blog…)

But maybe you haven’t checked out Connie‘s regular monthly #2026 Challenge. She creates a mini-kit for that one every month!

Then, of course, she’s also hosting the other Designer Spotlight Challenge for August. And she has a sale too.

I hope you’ve budgeted for this!

CarolW Designs

Our first Spotlight Designer for August is CarolW Designs. I had planned this conversation for yesterday, but ended up a little preoccupied by three wildfires that popped up in our area on Saturday. The evacuation notifications were coming thick and fast. We’re fine, not at risk from them other than some ash and a lot of smoke in the air, but my mind was definitely elsewhere yesterday. Carol was most accommodating. 😉 She’s quite chatty, as you may remember from her first Spotlight awhile back. A little insider info: the Designers have a long list of topics provided and they choose what we talk about. (I want them comfortable with sharing themselves with us.) So let’s get into it!

J: Carol, it’s nice to chat with you again! Shall we talk work first? I know we’ve covered this before, but let’s review. Is there a story behind your brand name?

C: Actually, I don’t have an English name. But Carol is the name given to me by my high school English teacher. I have been using it ever since. The “W” stands for the last letter of my surname – WEN. It also represents the feeling that my design is wonderful.

J: I remember you saying that last time too. Do you have a favourite colour or palette that you love to work with?

C: I really like purple. So when I see the purple color scheme, I will stay for a long time.

J: I love purple too! Just bought a purple tank top the other day. I choose to ignore those people who say women of a certain age and with a certain body type shouldn’t wear sleeveless tops. It’s too hot here in the summer! So is there a design element or style that you’re really attracted to but haven’t tried yet?

C: Chaotic line style. Hand-drawn style! ~ I’ve always wanted to try it. But I’m still in the exploration stage.

J: OMG! I think that would be a great addition to your style of design. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!! Now, I know how I define your design style, but I’d like to know what three words you’d use to describe what you do.

C: Beautiful. Exquisite. Traditional.

J: So we’re on the same page. Do you have a favourite season or holiday you like to create for? Bonus points if purple can be featured. 😀

C: I like the collections for summer and autumn. Because I have always loved these two seasons!

J: Well, they each lend themselves to both your particular style AND purple. What do you enjoy most about being part of the GingerScraps community?

C: Friend. I want to be friends with all the community members. Maybe we can’t meet in person, but we are friends!

J: I’ve always said that GingerScraps is the FRIENDLIEST digital scrapbooking community there is. I’ve been involved with quite a number of them, so I’m qualified to make that assessment. 😉 Can you share any sneak peeks or hints about what you might have planned for the coming months?

C: There will be monthly series coming up. And I’m also working on a series about giving something to my mother!

J: I just love monthly series! I’ve been collecting them from different Designers whose work I particularly admire. Can’t wait! Okay, enough about business. Tell me about Carol… if you could have any animal – real or imaginary – for a pet, what would it be?

C: Nine-tailed Fox. I really enjoy mythology. In ancient Chinese mythology, there is an animal that symbolizes good luck – the Nine-Tailed Fox.

J: Who couldn’t use some guaranteed good luck? Since you mentioned mythology, if you could time travel, would you? Would you go into the future, or back into the past?

C: I want to go back to the ancient times. Go and see the dinosaurs!! Jurassic!!

J: Take your Nine-Tailed Fox with you for protection. Is there a skill you’d love to pick up instantly?

C: Driving. Because of my car accident, I still haven’t dared to start learning to drive up to now. But I think I need this skill.

J: My mom didn’t learn to drive until she was 41 years old, so it can be done. PTSD is real… Don’t let fear make your choices. How do you unwind after a busy day?

C: Lying on the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV.

J: Yes! I don’t lie down but there’s nothing better than snacking in front of the TV. What’s your guilty pleasure?

C: Batman. I really love this series of movies. I love Gotham City!

J: Oh, dark! I’ve been gobbling up all the true crime lately. Goodness. Is that the time?! I need to make supper for the guys already!! They can wait a few minutes while I wrap up. Carol is providing us with one of the Daily Download kits for this month, and it looks like this:

Coincidentally, she also hosts the Daily Download Challenge each month, as well as the Inspiration Challenge. And, of course, this month she’s also hosting one of the Designer Spotlight Challenges. Make sure you have a look! But there’s more… a coupon!

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to play along with the Challenges AFTER you visit Carol’s Store.

Twin Mom Scraps!

Before I get started I’d like to apologize to Rebecca (Twin Mom Scraps) for the great delay in getting this port written. It’s been rather chaotic chez Jan et al the last week or so; every time I sat down to compose my thoughts, somebody or something interrupted me. And my new glasses are… not right. I have another appointment tomorrow to get that sorted out. 🙁 Anyway…

If Rebecca seems familiar, it’s because she’s a Spotlight frequent flier! Here’s something you might not know about her: her mom Lydia was the lead Sugar Cookie for a long time before her health led her to step down. She was also my friend. Lydia left this world 2 1/2 years ago and she’d dearly missed. Now, onward!

J: Rebecca, how nice to see you again! What wonderful little snippets do you have to share with us this time? Given that I’m way behind with this conversation, tell me how you keep track of all the things, between designing, personal life, and other commitments?

R: Lists! And more lists! I use a google calendar which keeps track of all my recurring responsibilities, upcoming deadlines, etc. It has really helped keep me organized.

J: I use lists too, but for some reason, my process has fallen apart. Good for you staying on top of it all! So, tell us about your favourite part of seeing our GingerScrappers using your designs?

R: I love seeing the versatility of my designs in layouts. It’s flattering to see a really beautiful page!

J: I like thinking outside the box with my scrapping, (not that I’ve done much of that lately!) and using kits for layouts that are really off-theme. It’s fun! When you’ve finished a big collection, do you have a ritual celebration?

R: Nope! I start the next one!

J: I’ll have to start calling you Queen of Hustle! 😉 What do you do to unwind from all that busyness?

R: Some eyeball reading on my beloved Kindle!

J: Me too! My Paperwhite is starting to show ghosts of books past on the screen behind books present, but I don’t want to replace it yet. I like it because it fits in my purse. Do you have anything… unusual in your purse or pocket?

R: A painted rock – I found it the morning after my Dad passed away, and have carried it with me ever since.

J: That must bring you a lot of comfort. I remember when your dad passed. I don’t have anything sentimental like that in mine, but I do have a screwdriver and a multitool. 😀 I like to be prepared. My dad loved pizza, so whenever we eat it, I think of him. That’s my painted rock. 😉 Do you have a specific comfort food for those moments when you really need to feel better?

R: Really, anything sweet!

J: A gal after my own heart! But I’m trying to keep my hemoglobin A1C in the green zone, so I’m cutting back. I think it’s working, because I’ve lost 17 pounds. What would you choose if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life?

R: Probably pasta

J: I love pasta too, but I don’t think I could eat it every day. Did you know that if you chill pasta before you eat it, then reheat it, the carbs aren’t as readily converted to sugar? PSA for the day, <snicker> I need some new clothes; do you have an outfit or item of clothing that you’d be happy to wear every day?

R: I’m happy as long as I’m wearing flip flops.

J: SAME! We had a really mild winter and I’ve been wearing mine for a couple of weeks already. It messes with my brain to be outside with bare feet this early in the year, but I’ll cope. It’s been a lot of fun taking note of all the early migratory bird arrivals. I’ve been a birdwatcher for my entire adult life, and I’m learning to identify bird sounds too, using the Merlin app on my phone. Is there a hobby that you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t yet?

R: I would love to learn how to make pretty soaps…I get stuck watching videos on Tik Tok and it’s so relaxing

J: I watch card-making videos on You Tube while I’m brushing my wheaten terror (not a typo) and the two together really relax me.

R: I would definitely switch places with one of our dogs…they are living their best life, like they pay rent

J: Right?? Well, I’m not going to keep you yakking because I know you’ve got irons in the fire. I’m going to fill our readers in on all the big plans for your Spotlight month (what’s left of it) but first, I want to wish you an early Happy Birthday! Now, back to business…

Rebecca is, of course, the provider of this month’s Daily Download. Here’s a sneak peek.

She’s so generous, she also has a Fan Club Freebie on Facebook! Click on the link!!

But wait!! There’s more! Because in addition to her regular Memory Mix Up Challenge, she’s also hosting this month’s Designer Spotlight Challenge. And if all of that isn’t enough…

ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

Sp what are you waiting for?? Go shopping, get scrapping!!

Memory Mosaic

Yep, it’s October. And in my world, October is always crazy busy. One of the best parts is [inter]National Digital Scrapbooking Day which now has expanded to fill a week.<claps hands gleefully> That means October is a GREAT time to be in the GingerScraps Designer Spotlight!! As I mentioned on Tuesday, this month we again have two Spotlights, Memory Mosaic and WetFish Designs. I had a visit with Joy, aka Memory Mosaic, first, so her Spotlight will post first. Let’s get after it!

O: Joy, it’s lovely to see you again! Are you ready for a grilling?

J: <chuckles> Sure! Want to start with the business stuff?

O: Yes, let’s! I’ve linked this post to your Store (it’s the underlined, bold text above) so our GingerScrappers can check it out. Tell me a little about your design process.

J: When I started, I would just make whatever came to my mind… and I would start making papers, and then elements… with no real plan. Each kit would take me forever, because I wasn’t really organized, and just doing whatever came to mind. Then I got some help from an experienced designer, who is super organized, and now this is my routine…

Around November, I will make a spreadsheet for the upcoming year. I first come up with any on-going collection themes I want to do for the coming year… I then go through and add extra kits to fill in the month. My goal is to have 1 new release each week. (that doesn’t always happen, but It is on the plan. LOL!) When I get ready to work on a particular kit, I first search for a color palette I like, (if one wasn’t already provided to me) I also might search the internet for inspiration around that theme, if I’m struggling with that. I also make a list of any sayings I might want to use for word art in the kit. I have a general list for each kit, depending on the size, how many patterned papers, how many solid papers etc, and I have an elements list too. I gather up all my supplies, (templates if using) and put them in folders so they are easy to access.

I usually always start with the solid papers that I am going to have in a kit, and then move on to patterns. Once the papers are done, I start on the elements. Sometimes I just start with my general elements that are in every kit, buttons, tape, flowers, etc. But, sometimes I start with the themed elements for the kit, and then move to the basic ones. Once the papers and elements are made, I make a coordinating Alphabet. At that point, I send the whole kit to my daughter who does a Quality Check for me. While she is doing that, I work on getting my previews ready. Once I get the kit back from her, I work on getting it all uploaded, ads made and posted and the kit given to my creative team and often the creative team at GingerScraps.

O: I can so relate to your earlier self! Over the years I’ve developed routines that are a lot like yours, only I don’t have anyone to do QC for me. Lately I’ve had some logistical issues that really threw me off. What do you find to be the most challenging part of designing?

J: Well, life can get busy and crazy. It is sometimes hard to just make sure to make the time to design. Also I think the hardest part for me is previews, the uploading, the advertising. I am thankful for the help I have around me, but there are some things that we just have to do ourselves. Everything takes time, and I think sometimes, people don’t realize how much time and energy goes into just getting a kit from the “idea of it” to actually having it loaded in the shop.

O: YES!! All that unseen, internal work is still work. And sometimes inspiration has to be replaced with perspiration. When you’re stuck, where do you seek that spark?

J: Online; Pinterest and Instagram are great places to get inspiration… but sometimes, I have to walk away from the computer and go do something else. I have found that when I do other things creatively, such as drawing in Procreate for fun, or sewing or crafting…decorating my house for the season, these creative outlets often help to get my creative juices going and I can come back with inspiration and almost always the process comes together, much faster, then when I’m trying to force something.

O: I’ve gotten away from Pinterest a bit lately, but I’ve joined a few online communities where I’ve gotten some really great ideas. My phone is FULL of screenshots… and I’m noticing a definite similarity to a lot of those images. Trendy, I suppose. Do you try to keep up with digi-scrapping trends?

J: I am still working on this. I often do searches for trends on-line, I look at physical scrapbooking supplies, in shops, and also on-line, I try to talk to people and get their ideas and see what they like and don’t like.

O: Of course, you want to give people what they want. This “hobby” of memory-keeping is already quite niche, so there will be some specific demands; you get that, since you have “memory” in your brand. I’m sure that’s intentional.

J: Well, the name for my brand, “Memory Mosaic” came from my husband. When I was first getting ready to open a store, and put my designs out there, I was looking for a name… All the names I was coming up with were just things you might think of, “Scrapping with Joy”, etc. (which were fine), but I was wanting something different. When I talked to him about it, he almost immediately said, what about, “Memory Mosaic”, piecing together memories to make something beautiful. So it was born. My daughter made my “mosaic heart” that has been part of every logo I have made.

O: I love a family affair! My younger daughter enjoys crafty stuff and sometimes borrows my supplies or asks for help bringing her vision to reality. We’ve had some fun times and have had some true adventures. (We won’t talk about us out in her back yard in the dark, cutting down pallets with a power jigsaw, ‘kay?) What have you always wanted to try but just haven’t yet?

J: I would love to try soap making. I actually have a beginner’s kit to try, but have not made the time to do it. Maybe soon.

O: Sounds like me and resin art… got all the stuff but haven’t made the effort yet. Sometimes I think of all the things I want to do and become quite anxious that time’s flying by. So I have a glass of wine and read a steaming novel until it passes. How do you unwind at times like that?

J: I love to have a hot shower, get in my pjs, get on the sofa, with a drink and a snack, and watch tv, usually with my hubby. In the winter, I snuggle under a warm blanket.

O: Ooh, that sounds delightful! We’ve been having unseasonably warm weather for autumn so far, and even have a late-summer wildfire burning not far away. We’re still weeks away from our first frost. So no need for warm blankies. I’m still wearing shorts and a tee-shirt, my uniform from early May until whenever. I’m even going to purge most of the contents of my closet – I haven’t worn most of that stuff in more than 5 years. If you had to wear the same outfit everyday for the rest of time, what would you wear?

J: I love my wide legged jeans, a comfortable shirt, sweater, and flats. That could be my daily “uniform”.

O: Sounds very comfy! And versatile. Oops, sorry! That noise you hear is Maeve chewing on her new stuffy. It’s got the world’s loudest squeaker in it, perfect for a terrier. Do you have pets?

J: I am definitely a dog person. There have been very few times in my life when we did not have a dog. The hardest thing about having dogs, is that even with the best of care, their lives are relatively short, and since our dogs become part of our family when we lose them it is like losing a beloved family member, but the pain of loss has not stopped me from having dogs.

O: We have two, Claddagh is 10 and Maeve is 7. They’re soft-coated wheaten terrors. (ed. note: not a typo) You’re so right about losing them… Claddagh has a history of pancreatitis and one bout was so scary, even for this old retired ICU nurse. She looked AWFUL. But we want to have her around and healthy for as long as possible. So she’s on a special diet, although we refused to do the “vet$$$$$” diet. She gets a low-fat grain-free commercial food with a little granola topper. Weird, right? Grain-free food with grain on top. For her heart. What’s the weirdest food combo you’ve ever had?

J: In Ecuador they make an amazing peanut sauce, it looks like gravy and the first time I had it on some boiled potatoes, I thought it was gravy, so that was quite a shock, but I actually learned to love it, served usually on grilled beef and potatoes. (it is sort of like thinned peanut butter, but there is no sugar in it)

O: I love Thai peanut sauce, so maybe I’d like that too. Now, speaking of food, it’s getting close to suppertime, so maybe we should wrap up. Let me give the usual Spotlight spiel about the Daily Download and all that. Thanks for the visit!!

Yes, one of this month’s Daily Downloads is brought to us by Memory Mosaic. It’s a very autumn-y kit with a hedgehog!

Joy is also hosting one arm of the Designer Spotlight Challenge for October in addition to her usual Mini Kit Challenge. This is her mini….

And if all that (and the DSD extravaganza coming up) Joy has a coupon code for her Store!

Now, go check out her Store!!

CarolW Designs

CarolW has been a GingerBread Lady for s few years already, but this is her FIRST Designer Spotlight! She wanted to make up for lost time, so our conversation went on for a while… We touched on a LOT of stuff, so maybe you should grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in. What I’m going to share with you is fascinating.

J: Carol, I’m so happy to see you in the Spotlight this month! I think you’ve been a bit of a mystery lady to most of us, so this is your chance to tell us what you’d like us to know. How about we start with what brought you to digital designing.

C: In 2009, while browsing the web by chance, I came across a scrapbook that I found quite magical. Since then, I have been crazy about it, and this is what I have persisted in for the longest time. I like making templates. Later, my mother told me that maybe I could try making templates and let more people use them. So I began my career in design.

J: [Please excuse the formatting snafus. WordPress isn’t playing nice today.] Oh, so you and I were cutting our teeth on digital scrapbooking around the same time! Where do you find your inspiration?

C: I usually think about which theme a color is more suitable for based on the color palette.

J: I think along the same lines, mentally sorting through my photos and kits to decide the basis for a layout. Do you have a favourite palette?

C: I like yellow, purple and bright color schemes.

J: I’ve never loved yellow, sorry… but I can definitely go along with the brights. What do you do when you’re in a creative rut? Do you have a place where inspiration just appears?

C: In parks or forests, I enjoy looking at any plants and flowers in nature and breathing fresh air. This way, my inspiration will come.

J: Who doesn’t feel better after being outside in nature? It’s a proven antidepressant! Is that why many of your collections have natural themes?

C: Yes, I prefer the themes of the nature series. I think nature can adapt to any occasion.

J: That’s so true. Is there a season or occasion you like to design for more than any other?

C: I like autumn designs. I think the colors of autumn are the most beautiful.

J: Hallowe’en is about my favourite time of year, so I agree with you. Do you like designing papers, or elements, or some other digital item most?

C: I love to design elements. For each one, I want to do it better. I keep comparing how to make it the most suitable and the most attractive.

J: That attention to detail is pretty obvious! Your designs are instantly recognizable and are always flawless. Is there a style or trend you’d like to try but haven’t found the courage to yet?

C: Graffiti style, collage style. I’ve always wanted to try, but I feel that I just can’t do them well no matter what.

J: I understand that better than you know. Grunge is hard to get right. I don’t think I can envision anything so gritty with your name attached to it. Can I ask how you came to your design brand?

C: It comes from my English name. My name only has a Chinese version. My surname is WEN. My English name, Carol, comes from my English teacher. She gave it to me when I was in primary school. I have been using this for so many years. The suffix “W” indicates that this is my surname: WEN.

J: Ah, that makes sense! I had a friend in nursing school who came to Canada from Beijing after the events at Tiananmen Square. She adopted an anglicized version of her name too, in order to fit in. I often wonder where she ended up. I hope she’s had a soft landing. How do you manage all the things you have to fit into your day, between designing, other commitments and personal stuff?

C: Every morning when I rest, I usually go to buy some things for my mother that she needs. After lunch, I started designing. Around four o’clock in the afternoon, I stop because I can’t sit in front of the computer for too long, or my head hurts. After dinner, I will go
shopping with my mother, or go with friends, or go to the movies.

J: That sounds like a nicely balanced routine you have. Do you have any advice to give someone who is new to digital design, or who is thinking about jumping in?

C: Perseverance and passion are gifts. Stay fresh forever!

J: Boy, does that last sentence ever resonate with me. So, enough about “work”. Like you, it makes my head hurt. Let’s talk about something fun! How do you unwind after a busy day?

C: I play games or watch my favorite TV series. I watched it with my father. Lying on the sofa, I poured a glass of ice water and discussed the plot and characters of the TV drama with my father. That feeling was extremely comfortable!

J: That sounds so cozy! I like being completely alone when I’m feeling stressed, and because I’m almost never completely alone, it’s a real treat. I’m going to put a sign on my studio door that says, “DO NOT DISTURB the CRAFTER. She may decide to hurt you.” My husband always seems to know when I’m trying a new technique or medium for the first time and throws me right off. Is there a hobby you’d like to try but haven’t yet?

C: Surfing, I’ve always wanted to try surfing once. I live in an inland area far from the sea, with no ocean around. When I travel, I always choose places with the sea, but I get seasick. So I have never gone surfing even once. So I really want to give it a try.

J: I think riding a surfboard is different from being in a boat. I don’t know that it would cause seasickness – your brain would be too involved in trying to stay on the board! Any surfers reading this want to weigh in? Let’s backtrack for a second. You mentioned a favourite TV show… what is it?

C: Criminal Minds. I really love this TV drama so much.

J: Oh, I LOVE it too! One of our daughters does a similar job for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but she says it’s not glamourous and they don’t have a private plane to fly around in. She’s also never arrested anyone and doesn’t carry a weapon. She always watched shows like Criminal Minds when she was growing up, and now that she’s living it, she prefers John Hughes movies instead. She watches Home Alone EVERY year at Christmas. Do you have a movie you could watch over and over and not be bored?

C: The Jurassic series. I like Jurassic Park and I also like Jurassic World!

J: My son loves those! Let’s play What If… If you could have any pet, real or imaginary, what would it be?

C: Dinosaurs!! I am very fond of paleontology and history. When I was in college, I really wanted to study archaeology, but that was rejected by my parents. I live in Japan and I really enjoy watching programs on paleontology and history. I also like visiting museums. I think dinosaurs are very magical animals! They are wonderful.

J: I should have seen that coming. 😀 If you could teleport to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

C: Egypt, I like Egypt very much, although I have never been there once. I want to see the pyramids. I want to see the mummies. I think that’s a very magical place. But because it was so far away from me, my plan never succeeded.

J: Coulda predicted that answer too. 😉 Don’t give up on your dreams! You never know when opportunity will knock. If you could live in a fictional universe, which one would you choose?

C: I want to go to Pandora. Yes, that’s because I watched the movie Avatar. I think Pandora would be extremely beautiful!

J: I think it would be too. I’ve never actually seen the movie; don’t the inhabitants of Pandora have um… special skills that you’d have to learn? Is there an Earth-bound skill you’d like to learn?

C: Driving. In fact, because of the car accident in 2015, I have never learned to drive. Even though I have fully recovered now, I still haven’t learned. I’m worried that when I’m studying, I might use the accelerator instead of the brake… This is really terrifying.

J: Yeah. It’s always a possibility, but it usually happens to elderly people. I do a lot of driving and I think soon I’ll be doing ALL of it. Hubby’s heading for the “elderly” realm. 😉 He’s kinda scary… Let’s flip this around. What flavour of ice cream would you be?

C: Vanilla. It has a fresh scent and is very gentle.

J: It’s uncomplicated. I’d want to be tiger tail… licorice and orange. It was my favourite as a child, and I haven’t had it in a LONG time. I have three tubs of ice cream in the freezer and none of them is exciting, just delicious. Do you have a favourite comfort food?

C: Noodles. Here, many people think that noodles can nourish our bodies and our spirits. Noodles are a very warm and nourishing food, so I think noodles can comfort me at any time.

J: Noodles are universal, aren’t they? Most cultures have them in some form. Now I’m hungry… Maybe we should wrap up. I’ll fill our readers in on the Spotlight particulars and link ’em up with the goodies. Thanks so much for your patience! Have a wonderful August.

Have you seen the sneak peek for Carol‘s Daily Download? Check this out!

Go figure… yellow and nature! Everything in Carol‘s Store is 40% off this month AND she has a coupon.

Of course, Carol is also hosting one of this month’s Designer Spotlight Challenges, in addition to her usual Daily Download Challenge. Between Carol and Neia, you could get in a quarter of the Challenges needed to earn the GingerBread Ladies‘ MEGA Seaside Serenity.

What are you waiting for? 😀

Neia Scraps

For our first Spotlight this month, I chatted with Neia, or Neia Scraps as she’s known in the GingerScraps Store. She’s sharing the Spotlight with CarolW, and I’ll share our (very lengthy) chat with you tomorrow.

I think we’ve all caught glimpses of Neia‘s sense of humour before, but this time she didn’t hold back. 🙂 You’ll see what I mean…

J: Neia, it’s been awhile since our last visit In that time you’ve been VERY productive!! Last time we talked I told you how much I love the way your design style has evolved, and I followed that up with buying something like a dozen complete collections. I’ll tell you, the Daily Download has me drooling. But now I’m wondering, how do you make it all work? Designing, commitments, family and personal time… how do you make it fit?

N: With coffee, good playlists, and a lot of controlled chaos. Sometimes I design while waiting for the pasta to boil. Multitasking queen.

J: I used to be really good at that, but since I retired, I’ve started to slip. 90% of the time it doesn’t matter, though. What do you most enjoy about how GingerScrappers (and others) use your designs to create their layouts?

N: It’s like watching someone decorate with things you love — but even better!

J: Remind me again, how did get into digital scrapbook designing in the first place?

N: Accidentally. One download turned into a hobby, then a passion… then 5,000 layers later, here we are!

J: Uh… I’m pretty sure it’s WAY more than 5,000. You don’t skimp on your kits by any definition! Let’s play “what if” for a few minutes. What would you choose if you could learn any new skill instantly?

N: Sword fighting. Not useful at all in real life, but imagine how cool I’d feel.

J: OMG!! I have this mental picture of you dressed like one of the Musketeers now! I’m probably always going to see that image when I think of you. My son-in-law teaches fencing, but I didn’t see you in the white jumpsuit. Nope, the knee-high boots, full-sleeved white shirt, vest and scabbard. And you look MAHVELOUS! To sort of stick with the fantasy theme, if you could be any age for a week, how old would you be?

N: Maybe 25 — young enough to eat pizza at midnight, old enough to know that was a terrible idea.

J: Hmm. when I was 25, I already had three kids. I wasn’t even seeing midnight. Ever. And the one time I ate pizza while nursing my son, he screamed the entire next day. Definitely a terrible idea! 😀 In a similar vein, if you could time travel, which way would you go? (I, of course, would go back and skip the pizza.)

N: I’d go to the future just far enough to see if someone finally invented self-cleaning laundry. Priorities.

J: Hahahahaha! That would be amazing! I have four loads waiting for me to get it into the machine. Maybe tomorrow. 😉 I’ll have to get the dog to move though. She’s sleeping in the doorway. If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you choose?

N: A spoiled house cat. Naps, snacks, and dramatic staring? Sounds like my kind of schedule.

J: Oh, my… yes! Bonus for me is hubby is allergic to cats, so he’d let me scrap in peace. He’s already bugging me about what’s for supper. I don’t know. It’s pretty hot so I won’t be grilling. Maybe it’s a mac-and-cheese day. What’s your favourite comfort food?

N: A warm bowl of homemade soup with bread. Bonus if I didn’t have to make it.

J: I make really good soup, but usually only do it in the fall. I won’t ever let hubby eat soup in a restaurant. The slurping would be embarrassing. I mean… it’s so LOUD! What was your most embarrassing moment?

N: I waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at me. Then tried to play it off by fixing my hair. Oscar-worthy recovery.

J: Too funny! I’ve done that, but instead of trying for the Oscar, I just put my head down and changed direction. You’re braver than me! So now I’m gonna talk about business. I won’t mind if you wander away.

Business? Well, I already mentioned the Daily Download. There’s only a Sneak Peek on the Blog, but I have an image of the full kit, and it’s FABULOUS!

There’s a coordinating mini-kit and some messy edges in the Shop. Of course, I have to have it all. If you’re in a rush and can’t wait for the DD, the entire collection is in the Shop. Half price, too!

This month, everything in her shop is 45% off—or even more on bundles!
And here’s a little bonus: spend $20 or more and get an extra 10% off at checkout. Use the coupon: NEIA-SL202510

Neia is hosting one of the August Designer Spotlight Challenges. Click on the underlined text to see what she’s up to. (ANY text that’s in bold and underlined in my Blog posts will be hyperlinked.) This is in addition to her regular, monthly My Memories Challenge. She’s so busy…………………………

Be sure to check out the Summer Scrap-a-Thon that started yesterday. The mega-kit reward for 20 Challenges is going to make you so thirsty! Check back tomorrow to meet CarolW.

Aimee Harrison

This month we again have TWO Designers in the Spotlight. Many of you already know Aimee, or have used her amazing designs, and she’s been in the Spotlight before, so our little chat took a bit of a meandering path. How so? You’ll see!

J: Aimee! It’s good to chat with you again. I apologize in advance if you hear my son cacking in the background. Things are still not back to normal here and he’s spending all his time with Mom. I’ve got a movie on for him and he’s nothing if not easily amused. Last time we visited, we talked about all the meat-and-potatoes stuff related to your designing, so this time, let’s do something a bit more informal. You okay with that? Oh wait… there are a couple of design-related things I wanted to ask about… Do you have a favourite theme or occasion that you always turn to when you’re designing?

A: I love to design flower types, I never run out.

J: Your flowers are always so gorgeous! You’ve clearly had lots of practice creating them. Do you have a favourite season or holiday that you MUST design for?

A: Spring because I love the colors and new growth.

J: I love all the seasons for different reasons, but spring is special, isn’t it? There’s so many ways you can portray spring and spring-like subjects, and still have it be relevant and coherent. You mentioned flowers and colour… do you have any design routines or rituals you follow when you start designing a new collection?

A: I am very methodical in my designing. I design the packs first in a certain order, then I design the kit and each portion is designed in order as well. Makes sure I have a well rounded kit and collection.

J: It makes sense to have a formula of sorts, to make sure you don’t forget an important aspect of the collection. Do you think you have a signature element or technique that makes people know instantly that YOU designed something?

A: I think it’s my titles both in the kit and as a standalone pack. Also probably my Alphas.

J: I know your titles are a great feature, especially for the new-to-digi Scrapper who might not be ready to design their own. And I LOVE a nice, matching Alpha!! The literal alpha, although there are some very fine Alpha men out there. 😉 Especially in those superhero movies I’ve been watching with Adam. If you could live in any fictional universe, which one would you choose?

A: Harry Potter, I would love how convenient magic is.

J: As long as you could control it completely, it sure would be convenient. Do you have a TV or movie guilty pleasure?

A: I do. It’s Outlander.

J: Mmmmhmmmm. Speaking of Alpha males! Although Brianna holds her own. Strong genes. She and Clare have had to adapt to such huge shifts in technology but they make it look easy. If you could instantly learn a new skill, what would you want it to be?

A: How to paint. I would love to be able to do watercolors especially.

J: Watercolour painting is fascinating. The way the colour moves with the water on the paper, and how it can be turned into something beautiful with just a few strokes… I could watch watercolour videos all day! Oh, and alcohol inks, They’re really interesting too. Lately I’ve been watching some how-to videos on my tablet while I get myself into the bedtime zone. I find I can turn off all the intrusive thoughts by concentrating on the processes. How do you unwind?

A: I like to read.

J: That would be my idea of a perfect day, to stay in bed and read.

A: I would live in pajamas if I could. For sure!

J: One thing I can’t do near bedtime though is listen to music. I find myself singing the lyrics in my head, over and over and sleep goes out the window. The other night I sang the entire eight minutes and forty-two seconds of American Pie. In my head. I think that would be my go-to if I ever did another karaoke night. Do you have one of those?

A: Jolene, by Dolly Parton, I believe. I don’t sing karaoke very often because I’m terrible lol.

J: I didn’t say I was good, just that I know all the lyrics. 😀 Karaoke is Adam’s favourite part of his day program. He makes up for his lack of talent with great enthusiasm. Speaking of Adam, I think his movie is over. I should check on him, I suppose. But before we end this little conversation, I want to remind our readers that Aimee will be hosting one arm of the June Designer Spotlight Challenge in addition to her regular, long-running Color Challenge. And she’s also giving us a stunning Daily Download! Don’t forget to check out her June Buffet collection Jardinière.

Aimee has a coupon!

Check back on the 4th for Part Two of this month’s Designer Spotlight, Twin Mom Scraps!

Cindy Ritter

Welcome to Part One of this month’s Designer Spotlight! [Excuse my pyjamas, I had a lousy sleep last night and haven’t yet ruled out a nap…] Cindy Ritter and I recently had a nice chat over slushy margaritas where she shared some insights into her creative process and maybe one or two personal details, too. Let’s get into it!

J: Cindy! Nice to chat with you again!! It’s been a minute. I’ve noticed lately that you’ve brought us some absolutely fabulous new collections. Tell me, where does your inspiration come from?

C: Usually music, I am very in tune with music emotionally and that often fuels my creative process. My recent “Reflections” collection is a great example. Inspired by the song My Distorted Reflection which is a song about self-acceptance. I’m also really inspired by colors, emotions and occasionally by random cool words.

J: Music has the ability to cut through all the distractions in life, doesn’t it? I hadn’t heard that song until you mentioned it. Tracked it down on YouTube and WOW! You really nailed it with this collection. [Insert enthusiastic applause here.] I feel like this collection is a bit different from many of your previous kits. Has your style evolved?

C: My style has gotten quite a bit more artsy. If I had to describe it in three words, they would be artsy, grungy and emotional. Since learning to use AI I find I am doing a lot more unique papers and elements and using less purchased CU. I’m also creating more hand-painted and hand drawn art than I used to. I prefer to create something unique that isn’t available anywhere else.

J: You’re certainly doing that! It must be so satisfying. Now, there’s no mystery as to your design “brand”. But IS there a story there?

C: There is no secret in the name, but there is a zebra hidden in my logo. A zebra is the mascot for people with rare diseases and health issues. I have several. In spite of them I have a very good life full of joy and people who love me.

J: AH! I wondered what the zebra meant. Over the 24 years of my pediatric nursing career, I cared for quite a few kids with rare conditions, and my son is a zebra too. Maybe you should create a “resilience” kit. That’s something ALL of the zebra folks have in spades. Your designs are already inspiring, but is there something specific that excites you  about how others use your work?

C: I love how creative they are! It’s also really cool to see my creations used in ways I wouldn’t have thought of, often the layouts are so much more beautiful than I even imagined!

J: There’s no limit to the creativity of our GingerScrapping community; the ingenuity of some of them is quite intimidating… but also aspirational! While we’re talking about aspirations, if you could live in any of the fictional universes, which one would you choose?

C: The Forgotten Realms, yep, I’m a D&D nerd!

J: Ha! My husband has always lived in a fantasy world, but I’m never sure which one he’s inhabiting this week. Lately he’s been talking about Tolkien a lot, so I guess he’s a Hobbit… What’s a movie you can watch over and over and never tire of?

C: Burlesque, I love the soundtrack!

J: And we’re back to music… What’s your theme song?

C: Beauty in the Struggle by Bryan Martin.

J: I haven’t heard that one, but I relate to the title. What’s your favourite way of unwinding after a day on the struggle bus?

C: Snuggling up with my cats, a cold beverage and a good book.

J: I’m not a cat person, and my dog Maeve isn’t a cuddler, although she’s good company. My mother has been terrified of cats since she was a small child, and so cats weren’t part of our world growing up. I always saw my mom as incredibly strong and fearless until I brought a kitten in the house and she broke a toe trying to get away from it. That’s also when I knew she didn’t really have eyes in the back of her head…

C: I believed my mom had special “mommy magic” that allowed her to always know what I did wrong. As a result, I was a pretty good kid, lol.

J: I relate to that too! Whenever I asked her how she knew I’d misbehaved, she’d say, “My spies are everywhere.” And I had no reason to doubt her! This has been fun! Before our audience departs though, I want to make sure they’re completely filled in…

Cindy is hosting a Designer Spotlight Challenge in addition to her regular monthly Word Art Challenge. You can find details in the Forum – just click on the hyperlink (bold, coloured, underlined) text! Don’t forget to check out her Store!!

And of course, Cindy has a special and entirely free Daily Download kit for us for the month. If you’re new to all this, the Daily Download is just what it says… the kit is broken up into smaller chunks and the bits are available for download for a limited time and the links are found here on the Blog.

As I mentioned awhile back, we now have TWO Designer Spotlights per month (most months… more about that in a minute), and this month our second Designer is Dani of JB Studios. I haven’t heard from her yet, so perhaps she doesn’t have time for a chat… which is A-OK! It’s always voluntary. As of now, we only have one Designer scheduled for May and for November. If you’re on a Creative Team for a Designer who ISN’T on the list, maybe nudge them. I’ll make it worth their while. 😉

Twin Mom Scraps!

It’s my great pleasure to introduce to you Rebecca, aka Twin Mom Scraps. This is her first Spotlight!

One thing quickly became apparent when I was chatting with Rebecca… she doesn’t much like talking about her creative process, so we glossed over that stuff. Check it out…

J: Tell us about your path to designing.

R: I started designing back in 2008 (I think) and continued through 2013. Life got busy with young twin daughters and a booming business, so I took a 10 year retirement. Once my girls graduated high school, I decided to come back in 2023 (although, I never stopped scrapping and have completed albums for every year since they were born!)

J: Wow, I didn’t even start digiscrapping until 2010. Late to the party, as always. What are the colours you love to design with? Do you have one you really don’t like?

R: BLUE is definitely my favorite color. I don’t really have a least favorite, but I guess I am least likely to use the color ORANGE in my designs.

J: So all the “fall” kits are really hard for you, Got it! It’s funny though… I don’t love orange or yellow, but I LOVE scrapping autumn photos. While we’re talking about colour, do you have a green thumb?

R: I have a BROWN thumb. LOL. No matter how hard I try. Things go great for the first few weeks, but then always seem to take a turn…in the wrong direction.

J: I love growing plants, indoors and out. I get lots of compliments for my flowerbeds, and it’s a good feeling. Do I love the workload spring and fall? Not so much. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

R: It is a huge compliment when people say nice things about my kids.

J: I know what you mean! I like hearing nice things about my kids too, although I can’t really take credit for their greatness. None of them went the career direction I expected them to, but ended up being wonderful humans. What did you want to be when you grew up?

R: I think I wanted to be a veterinarian.

J: My oldest wanted to be a doctor, and she is… a PhD-type doctor in a related field. Second wanted to do something with athletes, and instead is a criminal behaviours analyst. Youngest was determined to be an engineer until his brain injury. Now he’s just the light of everyone’s life. We all end up where we’re supposed to, I think. If time travel was possible, would you go back in time or ahead? Why?

R: Probably BACK in time, to give my mom a proper goodbye ☹

J: This time of year will always be difficult for you; it’s barely been a year since she joined your dad in the next world. I wasn’t there when my dad died, but I’m okay with that. He wouldn’t have wanted me there anyway. May I give you a hug? I’m a hugger. I can’t help it. I should put that on a t-shirt, like a warning to unsuspecting strangers. If you had a warning label, what would it say?

R: Don’t ask me a question, if you don’t want an honest answer. I often don’t have a filter.

J: That’s actually a super-power. People will always know where they stand with you. Kinda like Bette Midler. I admire her for that. Do you have a celebrity crush?

R: Paul Walker

J: Ooh, yeah! I can see why. Another one gone too soon. He was a fine actor… I know there are a lot of adjectives we could use describing him. What one word would your family and friends use to describe you?

R: Perfectionist.

J: Ouch. That’s gotta sting! But would you change that?

R: No, I’d worry less if I could

J: I can relate to that too. Thanks for the meet-and-greet, Rebecca. I’m just going to tell everybody about the business side of all this now. Safe home, ‘k?

As part of her Spotlight, Rebecca is providing this month’s Daily Download. Have you checked it out? Every one of us with kids will find it useful. 😉 She’s also hosting this month’s Designer Spotlight Challenge in addition to her usual Memory Mix-Up Challenge. She has generously provided a HUGE discount code for her GS store too!