I know – it’s almost the end of January and I’m just now getting this posted. I don’t know about anyone else, but work has been absolutely crazy. I’ve worked enough hours the last two weeks to take a full week off. If only it worked that way.

I had the pleasure to have The Cherry on Top and Key Lime Digi Designs answer my questions. Let’s see what they have to say.

How long have you been designing?

TCOT: I’ve been designing around 5 years.

KLDD: Summer 2013

What made you decide to design?

TCOT: I’ve always loved being creative on all kinds of medium since I was kid. I went from a full time professional to a stay at home to take care of my handicapped sons and I needed some other fun outlet to feel whole.

KLDD: I was on many Creative Teams and Store Team at a large digi site starting beginning around 2007 I think….After a while I picked up enough knowledge and increased my skill set to want to try the next step.

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

TCOT: I use PSE/PS/Procreate/a sketch book.

KLDD: I am still using the out of the box software from right before Adobe moved to subscription. As the saying goes, If it ain’t broke…

Describe your design workplace.

TCOT: Disgustingly neat and tidy. I cannot concentrate in a mess. A glass of wine or tea is as reckless as I get!

KLDD: Organized chaos. I am absolutely terrible at putting away and organizing. I constantly make “digital” post it notes to remind me to do something and then forget about it. I have 3 EHDs that I promise myself will be THE ONE that gets organized. As for my work space, I have from the beginning, and probably will always remain a desktop gal. I can’t do laptop.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

TCOT: Absolutely everything! Beauty is everywhere. In a cloud formation. The way the sun reflects on a gently flowing river. The cat napping in just the right position…

KLDD: I love good color harmony, so when I see it on a blouse at a store I will snapshot it or at least make a note of the colors that were in it and run home to make a palette of it.

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

TCOT: Awe, man! It’s just cruel to make me choose! My favorite template pack, (I assume you mean our own and not another designers?) would be the Planner series. I really dig those realistic, mock up types of pages, currently.

Link to all of the Planned templates: https://store.gingerscraps.net/search.php?mode=search&page=1&keep_https=yes

KLDD: I Belong to the Sea. When I was making it, I was in my element. I live in a coastal area, actually on an island chain, so I guess while making it was like being home. Bonus factoid: That collection began with the colors in the Little Sailor Boy Tin element. A close second though, has to be Indigo Serenade..I mean you gotta check out the CT Layouts on that one. They make me swoon.

What was your first job?

TCOT: I worked at AARP everyday after school, weekends and summers. I started at 13.

KLDD: Counter girl at a deli…hated it and never did food service again…LOL!

Have you ever met anyone famous?

TCOT: The list is very long. I lived in Florida where many famous people can be found and I also worked as a bartender in a huge, popular club not too far from NYC. I guess the biggest names might be John Cougar, John McEnroe, Dawn Wells, Green Day, The Ramones, Hootie and the Blow Fish…

KLDD: I would say quite a few, especially because they are here to relax. The latest one was Norbert Leo Butz. He played the middle son in Netflix’s Bloodline (filmed here in the Keys) and was in original cast of Wicked. He joined the local guys at a jam one night about 3 years ago. He can sing! It was great to be in a small audience of 15 or so people.

What are you reading right now?

TCOT: I’m a super geek. I usually ready between 3-5 books at one time. Half fiction, the other half…dork material. Currently, on my nightstand and in the John is Outlander (#4), The 4th of July, The Great Cholesterol Myth and Marijuana Horticulture.

KLDD: I have been reading a series on the kindle- The Peridale Cafe Mysteries by Agatha Frost. They are easy to do in small bursts and am awaiting Book 20.

What is your favorite quote?

TCOT: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

KLDD: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

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

TCOT: I’d love to stop shouting. Next year, any year…I’ve never gone a day without shouting.

KLDD: Become wealthy..haha.

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

TCOT: Ozzy Osborne! He’s a riot!

KLDD: Jason Momoa (Aquaman) would be a fun personality to kick off with.

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

TCOT: I’d need a phone with apps first…

KLDD: Email, banking and maybe one game.

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

TCOT: Take the darn dog out every time he wants to go outside!

KLDD: I would not as such, but I would welcome a “collaborator”. Life is a learning opportunity meant for sharing.

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

TCOT: Family…I’m an ocean away for a reason…I’d rather just stay right here and deal.

KLDD: BACK-remember the disappointment Marty McFly had seeing his self-centered kids…LOL!

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

TCOT: “When it’s time to relax, we’ve got the beer. Miller Beer! If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the beer.”

KLDD: None, really

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

TCOT: Check out last answer…

KLDD: I would not want to take from the sea creatures, so instead how about a kiddie pool of margaritas, like in The Last Man on Earth.

Such fun answers. Thank you ladies so much!!

Want to stalk them? Here are all the details:

The Cherry on Top: GS Store, Facebook Fan Page, Blog

Key Lime Digi Design: GS Store, Facebook Fan Page, Facebook Group

And make sure to grab the Daily Download. I know it’s late in the month. If you have missed the beginning links, you can always grab the full kit in the store next month.

Thanks for hanging out with me tonight!!

Happy (Northern Hemisphere) Fall!!! It’s finally cooling down where I am and I’m so happy. It was becoming ridiculous.

This month we have a treat. Our featured designer is Studio Jx2, which is a collaboration of the lovely Jennifer (Luv Ewe Designs) and JoyLynn (Blue Heart Scraps). I asked them both the same questions and thought I would do this Q & A session a little differently. Let’s see what they had to say.

How long have you been designing?

Jennifer: 11 years.

JoyLynn: Just over 8 years — holy moly!

What made you decide to design?

Jen: I started making siggies on Cafemom years ago and found out about digi scrapping. I used it in making tags. Then I created some stuff myself to go with the orders of the requester. I designed before I made my first layout actually.

JL: I enjoy being able to share a bit of my personality with others through things I create. It’s like therapy, in a way. When I’m sad or down, my products are darker in color and more reserved in theme — when I’m feeling the smiles or love or celebration, everything’s brighter and bolder.

What led you to decide to design together?

Jen: JoyLynn and I did a collab many moons ago. We loved how our designs meshed well (and so did our CTs) so we decided to take on a separate name just for our collabs. We have done too many to count over the years.

JL: We’ve collaborated on projects together a ton of times over the years, and always enjoyed how our styles blended together. Opening a new store for just our collaborations was a way to showcase them separately, because we LOVE them all!

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

Jen: Photoshop Creative Cloud and starting on Illustrator.

JL: Adobe Photoshop (still using CS5, because it’s not broken and I’m too lazy to figure out a newer version, lol), Illustrator, Wacom Tablet.

Describe your design workplace.

Jen: My area is a table given to me by my grandma. She used it when she did her homework. There are still ink stains on it that give it character. And my desktops sits on that. Not really fancy.

JL: Lately, I’ve been horrible, and worked a LOT in my bed, lol! I have a wooden lap table that holds my laptop, a huge tile that holds my mouse and tablet, and then the rest of my garbage (pencils and paper for 4839248302483209 To Do lists each week, drink, remotes, everything else) is scattered on the bed or on a side table. It’s been too hot for my craft table in the garage (thank you 100 degrees in October!), the kids take up too much room on the kitchen table, and I haven’t replaced the desk table I got rid of over the summer. It’s…an adventure, lol.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

Jen: Many things. Might be a picture and I love the colors in it. It might be a song I have stuck in my head. You just never know.

JL: Enjoying the process, seeing all of the beautiful creations people make with our products. It’s very humbling to be a part of how they choose to remember their lives.

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

Jen: Be Balanced. I love the colors and we all need to be more balanced in our lives. We are all so crazy, busy and need to slow down.

https://store.gingerscraps.net/Be-Balanced-Kit.html

JL: Though I honestly love all of our collabs, my current favorite may be the Be (Im)Perfect Kit. The colors are gorgeous, I LOVE the idea behind it that nothing is perfect, but we can still find beauty in the imperfections

https://store.gingerscraps.net/Be-Im-Perfect-Kit.html

What was your first job?

Jen: Sonic Carhop

JL: Cashier at FoodWorld

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Jen: I did get to meet the Pioneer Woman’s boys when I was at her restaurant.

JL: We’ve had a few college/professional football players from our small town area…but that’s about it. Boring, I know.

What are you reading right now?

Jen: Well I am not much of a reader, so nothing at this time.

JL: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (the 2nd book in the Unearthly series)

What is your favorite quote?

Jen: You can do anything, but not everything.

JL: Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth “You owe me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky. ~ Hafiz

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

Jen: Hope to go to NYC next year for the Thanksgiving Day parade. Have wanted to go for years.

JL: Actually KEEP a New Year Resolution? lol

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

Jen: Ellen DeGeneres. Absolutely love her. She has a kind heart, is giving and is funny.

JL: P!nk.

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

Jen: Jobulator (my full time job), Facebook and Instagram.

JL: My ereader app (because I try to read a LOT), Photomath (I CAN work out the multi-step Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 homework problems by boys have, but if I can save a little time on homework checks, I’m all about it!), and Facebook — because as draining as social media feels sometimes, it’s the easiest way for my not-always-social self to keep up with those I care about.

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

Jen: Make lists for me and tried to have them keep me organized.

JL: Talk to people for me?! I’m horrible with my words when it comes to using them verbally (written? I’ve got that down pat!). I get nervous and tongue tied and lose my train of thought.

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

Jen: In the past and learn more about my family history.

JL: Future

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

Jen: Like a good neighbor State Farm is there. Not sure why lol.

JL: I try to avoid commercials like the plague — that’s what DVR and the fast forward button is for 😉

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

Jen: Dr. Pepper…yummy.

JL: Sweet Tea. 😉

Thank you ladies so much for “chatting” with me.

Make sure to check out their GingerScraps Store for their beautiful kits. They each also have a Facebook Group and there is always fun things going on there.

Jennifer – Luv Ewe Designs Fan Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/LuvEweDesignsFanGroup/

JoyLynn – Blue Heart Scraps Fan Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlueHeartScrapsFanGroup/

Have you been grabbing the Daily Download? I love the sentiment of this:

Have a great rest of the month!!

Hey there everyone. Just popping in here to talk about our August Feature Designer. This month we are focusing on Marina of Magical Scraps Galore. She was awesome about answering the questions I had for her. Let’s see what she had to say.

How long have you been designing?

I started designing in 2011, so it’s been 8 years now.

What made you decide to design?

I started to make my own digital papers and embellishments for scrapping our second trip to Disney World, which of course were very basic. I had so much fun that I decided that I wanted to learn more about digital scrapbook designing, so I spent hours and hours reading and watching Photoshop tutorials. Then I took park in the design challenges hosted by MouseScrappers, and after that I opened my first shop in 2013.

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

I use Photoshop, Illustrator, and ArtRage.

Describe your design workplace.

I design in my studio at home, with my two cats sleeping by my computer or on my lap.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

My main motivation and inspiration are my kids and my trips around the world.

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

Mmmm this is a tough one … I have several kits that I love, especially my travel collection, but one of my favorite kits is Destinations: Road Trip. I love the colors and the retro feel.

What was your first job?

My first job was as a proofreader for a consulting firm.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Yes, I met Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films)

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading Book 2 of the Game of Thrones series (A Song of Ice and Fire)

What is your favorite quote?

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.

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

Next year I’m celebrating both my 50th birthday and 20th wedding anniversary with a roadtrip from Mt Rushmore to Las Vegas, making stops in many Utah and Arizona National Parks.

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

Jason Momoa

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

I’d keep Spotify, Instagram, and my running app.

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

I’d have them cook!

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

To the future, definitely!

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

I’d say none, I’ve been watching Netflix only lately.

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

Red wine!

Thank you so much Marina!!

Make sure to check our her GingerScraps store, her Facebook Fan Page, her Facebook Group, and her webpage (she has some freebies if you sign up for her newseletter).

She’s having a sale all month to celebrate being our Feature Designer. And make sure you are grabbing the Daily Download as well.

Have a great day!!

Hi everyone!! Boy, March is flying by. Sorry this is a bit later than normal. I’m really not sure where the first half of the month went.

This month we are talking with the fabulous Connie Prince. She took a few minutes out of her busy schedule and birthday celebration to answer a few of my questions.

How long have you been designing?

Since 2006.

What made you decide to design?

When I started designing there weren’t that many digital scrapbook stores or designers. I wanted to be able to create things to use in my own scrapbooks and it just took off from there.

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

I design in Photoshop & Illustrator.

Describe your design workplace.

I have an office / craft studio where I do my design work.

What motivates and inspires you as a designer?

I pull inspiration from pretty much everywhere! If I’m ever feeling stuck a visit to the craft or antique stores will usually get me going again.

What was your first job?

Cashier in a family owned grocery store.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Yes, a few – my favorite was Newt Gingrich, I worked for him while in college.

What are you reading right now?

It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst

What is your favorite quote?

Your life is an occasion. Rise to it. – Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

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

Visit Alaska!

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

Bradley Cooper

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

Instagram, Bank App, & Snapchat.

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

All of my admin work!

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

Past – I don’t know that I could handle knowing the future!

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

State Farm.

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

Something not sticky!

Thanks Connie!!

Make sure to check out her GS Store, her FB Fan Page, her blog, and her FB Group. And make sure you are picking up the Daily Download this month.

Also – her store is on sale all month.

Have a great week!