Welcome to November. This month our feature designer is one of our newer designers, Laurie’s Scraps and Designs. I asked her some questions so that you can get to know her a bit better.

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?

My sister told me about it so I downloaded some freebies and loved it!

What made you decide to design?

I have always been creative. So Designing was just another creative outlet for me.

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

PS CS4, Illustrator CS5.

Describe your design workplace.

Desk in the playroom so I can be with my kids too.

What is your favorite thing about designing?

I love the color palettes. I love to see how it comes to life with a color palette!

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

It is a tie between Fall Harvest and Fright Night. I love the watercolor elements.

What do you do when you are feeling very sad or depressed?

Design, and eat chocolate

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?

I used to live overseas as a child in Malaysia. So we would travel a bunch while we lived over there. So traveling on that side of the world was amazing!

Which is your most cherished childhood memory?

Playing Hide and go seek in the dark with my family.

Do you believe in ghosts?

No, not really.

Who is your celebrity crush?

I don’t really have one, but if I had to choose, it would be Thor.

What do you order when you go to Starbucks?

I rarely go there because it is far from my house, but I usually get a smoothie of some sort.

What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Chocolate with Chocolate Chips.

How old were you when you had your first kiss?

14? I think?

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Optimist for sure!

Would you change your name if you could? If so, what would you change it to?

No. My Mom used to tease my Dad after I became an adult, that I was named after his old girlfriend. Good thing my Mom was an independent woman, because I know she must have liked the name too, or I would be named something else.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Sausage.

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be nice to everyone, and don’t gossip behind people’s back. It just makes you look bad!

What do you do to wake up in the morning?

Check my emails and Facebook.

What is a small luxury that you treat yourself to?

Ice Cream. I lost about 50 pounds a couple years ago, and I try to not eat it, but I have to sometimes.

What did you want to be when you were small?

Teacher, Lawyer, or a Doctor.

Which would you rather do: wash dishes, mow the lawn, clean the bathroom, or vacuum the house?

VACUUM! I love it, It is immediate satisfaction. I should go vacuum now!

If you could hire someone to help you, would it be with cleaning, cooking, or yard work?

Cleaning for sure! When I get designing, I sometimes never have the desire to stop and go clean!

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Buy a new house! And pay Bills!

What’s the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?

The neighbors…. like the whole street! It is good when I am looking for my kids to come home from school.

Share your favorite recipe with us.

ohhhh, I have so many. But since it is getting cold outside. I will share my favorite soup recipe. You can leave out the cream and sour cream to make it more healthy. ENJOY!

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

In a large saucepan, saute the chicken, onion and garlic powder in
oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add the beans, broth, chilies
and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for
30 minutes.
Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Yield: 7
servings.

Thanks so much Laurie. Make sure to check out her GS store, her FB page, her FB group, and her blog. Also, be sure you are collecting each of the Daily Downloads from our blog to get this fun kit she is giving to us this month.

Welcome to October. Our Feature Designer this month is Lori of BoomersGirl Designs. She slowed down a little from the DSD preparations to answer a few questions for me!

How did you get started in digital scrapbooking?

I wanted a way to preserve the precious memories of my kids so that watching them grow up so fast wasn’t quite as painful. My oldest son is 21 years old and I’ve been scrapbooking since he was a baby.

What made you decide to design?

Although I’ve been a nurse for 25 years now, I had always been blessed not to have to work too much so that I can stay home and raise my kids. I had tried making and selling a variety of items (from flavored lip balms to beaded leather bracelets to soft sculpture dolls) to supplement our income so I could continue to stay home with the kids most of the time. Everything was an epic fail. I finally decided to try my hand at creating my own digital scrapbook kits. It’s been an adventure of continual learning and growth over the past 4 years, but it allows me to be productive while at home, helps provide for our family and gives me a creative outlet.

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

PSE 11

Describe your design workplace.

A large desk in our living room with my personal computer that I do all of my designing on.

What is your favorite thing about designing?

I have met so many wonderful people from customers to fellow designers to my Creative Team members who I would never have met otherwise.

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

That’s tough – I would have to say either “Lords & Ladies” because the medieval time period fascinates me, “Garden of Eden” because it celebrates God and the Bible or “Totally 80s” because that is the decade I grew up in.

What do you do when you are feeling very sad or depressed?

I like to eat – LOL.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?

We haven’t had the opportunity to take actual vacations because we have a large family (6 kids), a limited budget and several pets. But our favorite family day trip so far has been to Washington DC via the MARC train. Unfortunately, only 4 of our kids (plus the girlfriends of the oldest two boys) were able to come along, but it was so much fun and we can’t wait to go back!

Which is your most cherished childhood memory?

I would have to say that the magic of Christmas was my favorite memory.

Do you believe in ghosts?

I have never personally seen one, so I’m not convinced.

Who is your celebrity crush?

I would have to say Johnny Depp.

What do you order when you go to Starbucks?

I’m not a Starbucks fan.

What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Either No-Bake Cookies or my daughter’s Panera Bread-inspired chocolate chip cookies.

How old were you when you had your first kiss?

Mmmm… 16, I think. It’s been soooo long ago!

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I try to be an optimist, but life gets in the way sometimes.

Would you change your name if you could? If so, what would you change it to?

Tabitha. It’s a Bible name that you rarely hear, but isn’t too unusual.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Banana peppers.

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?

Your kids will grow up way too fast. Don’t waste a single moment with them, because before you know it, they will be teenagers and not want to be seen with you. 😉

What do you do to wake up in the morning?

Alarm clock and coffee.

What is a small luxury that you treat yourself to?

I don’t think I treat myself to any luxuries as I always prefer to do things that our entire family can benefit from and enjoy.

What did you want to be when you were small?

A nurse or a psychiatrist.

Which would you rather do: wash dishes, mow the lawn, clean the bathroom, or vacuum the house?

I’d have to go with vacuuming.

If you could hire someone to help you, would it be with cleaning, cooking, or yard work?

Definitely cleaning.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would quit my job to be able to stay home with my kids full-time and move us into a nice house out in the country (in a better area with better schools). I would definitely spoil all of my kids with the money – even the grown ones. And go on some awesome family vacations.

What’s the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?

Probably our “mini” potbelly pig destroying the back yard with his all day grazing.

Share your favorite recipe with us.

These are called “Halfway to Heaven Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies” (yep, it’s a long name – feel free to call them whatever you want). They taste like chewy Nutter Butters!

Cookies:
1 1/2 c. quick oats
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 egg

Filling:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. creamy peanut butter

For cookies, preheat oven to 350.

In bowl, mix oats, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

In another bowl, mix butter, sugar, egg, peanut butter and vanilla. Add the oat mixture, stirring just until blended.

Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 cm apart. Pat down to make flat circles. Bake x 8 minutes (or until lightly brown on edges). Cool

Whisk powdered sugar and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Approx. 5 minutes.

Place frosting between 2 cookies and press lightly.

Thanks Lori!! Make sure to check out her GS Store, her FB page, and her blog. And don’t forget to grab the pieces of the Daily Download every day from this blog!