Here I am sliding just in at the end of the month with featured designer Little Rad Trio. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m glad to see the end of January. Let’s catch up with Jennifer.

What is your design process?

I generally start with a theme in mind and search for the perfect color palette. From there, I generally start with elements move to papers and end with alpha. My process is not consistent as I’ll sometimes start with papers. It all varies on my mood.

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

I use photoshop CS6 exclusively. I do have illustrator but I haven’t taken the time to learn it yet. One of these days that will happen!

Describe your design workplace.

I’m not like the traditional designer. I don’t have a set work place. Most of my designing occurs on my laptop with some happening after hours on my IRL computer. Most of the time, I’m at my kitchen counter on the laptop though.

What is your favorite thing about designing?

My favorite thing is the unlimited ability to be creative. I can just let my mind wander.

What is your favorite or “go-to” color palette?

I love bright bold colors!

What is your favorite treat to have close while designing?

A nice glass of pinot grigio.

Do you have job outside of designing? If so, what do you do (if you don’t mind sharing)?

Yes. I actually own a small business of 50+ employees in 3 locations (MN, ND & WI). I’m in the insurance industry and operate as a managing general agent which is a specialized niche in the industry. We work solely with independent agents and have binding authority on behalf of a number of insurance carriers. We deal strictly in commercial higher risk business with our niche being long haul truckers. With being the owner, it involves quite a bit of travel so that’s what’s so nice about having a laptop. Have laptop will travel!!

What is your *favorite* kit you’ve designed (that is currently in store) and why is it your favorite?

His Blocks! It was a spur of the moment kit but I just love how it turned out and love the bright bold colors!

What is your favorite thing about GingerScraps.net?

All the friendly people and I just love Ginger and Missi!! They are such a sweethearts!!

What is the current ringtone on your phone?

Cruise by Florida Georgia Line. It’s one of my favorite songs!

If you were deserted on an island (with all water/food provided), what three things would you want to have with you?

My family, internet and my laptop!!

If you could spend the day with anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why?

My maternal grandmother. She passed away when I was in 3rd grade. Now that I’m an adult, I would love to know her as an adult.

What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

Wow, I would have to think on that one. I has so many favorites that mean so much to me.

What would you sing at Karaoke night?

Sing at Karaoke night? Not gonna happen! EVER!!

Any special message to our members?

Love all that you do and cherish all your loved ones for life is just too short to do anything else.

Thanks to Jennifer for answering my questions. Make sure to check out her store, blog, and Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (for those in the US anyway) and Happy Thursday to everyone else. I hope you have all had a blessed day.

November’s Feature Designers are Kathryn Estry Designs and Blue Heart Scraps. I had a chance to catch up with Kathryn and ask her a few questions. She gave me some fabulous answers and some great photos that I can’t wait to share with you.

What is your design process?

I design in collections ~ kits with lots of matching packs. This way a scrapper can easily make a whole book from the collection that all coordinates if they choose to. I start with a color palette and a theme and then decide on the style I think would work the best for that collection. I create elements and papers that will fit in nicely and give scrappers a lot of pieces that work well together.

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

I use PSE 5.0 for the most part only going into PS now and then. I have a lot of actions and filters, and I like to draw freehand on paper first and then copy my designs using my mouse and the tools in PSE.

Describe your design workplace.

I’ll show it to you. I designed this room when we moved from Houston to Fort Worth two years ago. I’ve always wanted a special place that was just mine and that I could decorate however I wanted. This room is me all over! One of my favorite kits, Studio Kathryn, was inspired by my home office.

What is your favorite thing about designing?

I love creating, and that’s exactly what designing is. Watching a kit come together and finishing the previews is so fun! Then seeing your layouts with my designs is the icing on the cake!

What is your favorite or “go-to” color palette?

Happy colors. I’ve used the colors in my Studio Kathryn kit often because I like them so much ~ pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and greens.

What is your favorite treat to have close while designing?

Lime water and gum. I have other favorites, but I’m trying to be good. 🙂

Do you have a job outside of designing? If so, what do you do (if you don’t mind sharing)?

My main job these days is being a Nana to my 5 sweet grandkids! I retired from teaching a couple of years ago, and I’m just loving the grandma scene!

Please share a photo of yourself, can be silly or serious but a photo that shows us who YOU are.

I chose this Christmas picture from last year because it includes my sweet husband, Robert, and my daughter, Brandi, and her family and it’s taken at our church. Baby Lucy wasn’t born yet, and I don’t have my son, Tommy, and his family in the photo, so I’m sneaking in a photo of his family, and one of Lucy, too. These photos together show you who I am. My family is everything to me!

  

What is your *favorite* kit you’ve designed (that is currently in the store), and why is it your favorite?

I have so many favorites, but I especially love Autumn Dance. You’ll notice some of the same colors as in my home studio except they’re much bolder here. I love the big flowers, too. It’s definitely a happy kit!

What is your favorite thing about GingerScraps.net?

The people! The community is so much fun, and the staff is always so friendly and helpful. I also love that the site is organized so well and that there’s so much going on.

What is the current ringtone on your phone?

Funny question. We actually bought new cell phones yesterday, and I was playing with the ringtones last night for calls, texts, and my alarm clock. I ended up with Meadow Sunrise for my ringtone. It sort of sounds like a Scottish dance, loud enough, but it doesn’t make me jump out of my chair.

If you were deserted on an island (with all water/food provided), what three things would you want to have with you?

Things, not people… Hmmmm… My Bible, my computer, and a great big game book filled with all sorts of different games and puzzles. I hope my deserted island is close enough to a cell tower so I can Skype!

If you could spend the day with anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why?

It would be my parents. They died almost 20 years ago now, and I miss them so. We were very close, and I’d love to have them meet Robert and see my kids all grown up with babies of their own. They adored both Tommy and Brandi, and the kids enjoyed visiting with them so much. Both of my parents and both of my kids left me in the dirt with their high level intellectual conversations. I was happy just to listen. If they were to come back for a day though, I’d talk non-stop, and my cheeks would hurt from smiling so much. This photo is on my studio wall above my computer. Recognize the frame? I’ve used it in several of my kits in different colors.

What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

It would have to be Christian hymns and beautiful octavos I’ve learned in choir mixed with songs from my favorite musicals.

What would you sing at Karaoke night?

Man. This is showing my age! Again, Christian music ~ or something from Les Mis.

Any special message to our members?

Yes. Thank you! Thank you for your support of my design habit! Thank you for enjoying my designs ~ what a rush for me! Thank you for your online friendship!

Thanks so much to Kathryn for answering all my questions and providing us insight on her life. Make sure to check out her GS Store, her FB page and her blog.

Our other Feature Designer is JoyLynn from Blue Heart Scraps. Although I didn’t get a chance to check up with her, make sure to check out her store, FB Page and blog as well.

Love to you all!!!

Happy end of October. It’s hard to believe it’s almost November which leads to the beginning of the Holidays. And the beginning of November brings DSD. GingerScraps will be celebrating DSD from Friday, October 31 through Thursday November 6 (because you know our celebration is always too big for one day). More information will be coming soon. Watch the blog, forum and Facebook page for information.

Now, onto our Featured Designers for October. Jennifer of Luv Ewe Designs and Lily from Pixelily Designs. Both designers have their stores at 30% off for the month.

I had a chance to catch up with Lily and ask her some questions.

What is your design process?

I am a sketchy person. I always ‘sketch’ my next products before I create them. That’s why I never leave my old, folded notebook wherever I go.

When I start to create a product, I will make the easiest one. In my case I will start from all the paper packs and the element pack is always the latest.

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

I used Adobe PS6 before I crashed it and now I am back to my old PS3 *sob*.
I have a wacom bamboo, but rarely use it and wish I could dump it for Intuos or something better.

Describe your design workplace.

It’s inside the kids’ playroom. I put a table with an HP Pavilion desktop at the corner.
The music is always on, a bottle of water is always there ( I am trying to be healthy and forget a cup of coffee but a cheating day might happen once or twice ).
The thing I hate is when I trip on the Lego blocks scattered around the room. It is painful !

What is your favorite thing about designing?

I love all the process, as long as I am not on a tight schedule. Yes, I am not a good organized person.

What is your favorite or “go-to” color palette?

I love soft colors with a touch of blue or green in it. I am a sucker for green.

My dinner plates are green, my bedsheet is green, my stuffs are mostly green and I don’t feel sorry about it

What is your favorite treat to have close while designing?

I must nibble something to keep my brain work. I used to have sweet things like chocolate or brownies but I am trying to be healthy these days so I change into cut fruits or nuts. Man, it’s hard to start something healthy.

Do you have job outside of designing? If so, what do you do (if you don’t mind sharing)?

Nope, I am a full SAHM for my 2 boys.

Please share a photo of yourself, can be silly or serious but a photo that shows us who YOU are.

I am not a photo person. I like taking photos but I don’t like being on the photo

Be creative, it’s a fun way to spend your day.

Remember to check out Pixelily’s store, blog, and Facebook page.

Also, check out Luv Ewe Design’s store and Facebook page.

As a special feature, we asked our members to give us their favorite kit and a layout they have made from that kit. This month we have a layout from lynnw with her favorite kit from Pixelily – Shop Till You Drop.

Hope you all have a great Halloween and get ready for a busy DSD weekend.