Scraps From My Heart

Ooooo, honeys! You are in for a treat today. Yes indeed-y-o! I’ve been tapping the extraordinarily creative brain of my good friend Rebecca McAllister at Sassafras Lass and we’re ready to share the spoils! I know you love Sass Lass products because you told me so in the comments you’ve been leaving for the Anthem and Vintage Yummy collections in this week’s Moxie Monday . And what’s not to love, really? A fresh approach is always welcome! The creative force behind Sassafras Lass is yet another artistic dynamic duo. Like Julie and Eric Comstock of Cosmo Cricket, Tim and Rebecca are a husband and wife artistic team whose strengths complement one another perfectly–Rebecca sketches and adds a color palette while Tim works his magic on the computer. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet this fun couple (you know they’re fun–just look at their designs!), you know that they are bubbling over with energy and enthusiasm! They have a positive vibe that will carry you through the rest of the day. Every time I walk into their booth at CHA I feel inspired in a way I didn’t expect. And besides, I like that they let me name their critters. Sally the snail? Yep. She’s all mine. Join me in welcoming the McAllister’s to the Moxie Fab World! Hi Rebecca. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your approach to trends with us today. Let’s get right to it. Is trend-watching important to your creativity? Why or why not? If so, how does trend-watching manifest itself in your work? Yes, trend watching is definitely a part of the creative process. Trend watching is a great way to be absorbed in a flow of ever-changing inspiration. What I liked 5 years ago compared to today has been influenced by the multiple trends we have gone thru in 5 years. Trend watching turns into trend setting for us. We take what we think is really fun and inspiring in the world, and use that as a springboard to create what we hope will be really fun and inspiring scrapbook products. Where do you find trends? Saying “everywhere” might sound cliché, BUT it’s true! Everywhere you look there are patterns and color combinations. Children’s clothing, children’s books, interior design, and advertising are a few of our favorite leaders in trends. Since trends always repeat themselves, and we love vintage, thrift shopping is one of our favorite trend-searching hobbies. What advice can you give to paper crafters who are interested in incorporating more trends into their projects? Use more Sassafras…HA HA…. Just kidding =) I would say just go with whatever it is that inspires you the most. What do you see in the world right now that just sparks a bit of “oh I love that so much” emotion. For example, say you love rainbows, you could take your favorite patterned papers, cut them into rainbow shaped strips, and stack your own rainbow. That would be combining your favorite patterns with your favorite trends, and make a super cute project. In your opinion, what paper crafting products are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing? My favorite trend at the moment is the “hand-made” phenomenon. I love this trend on so many levels. It reminds me of my childhood, mom making my school clothes. It makes me feel more crafty. So many of us are etsy fanatics, because it’s hand made. Hand made conjures up feelings of familiarity and appreciation more than most items. How often do you like something, and then hear or read the words… HAND MADE… and that just takes it over the top to, now I love it! I think that is why crafting products that look like they are hand made are so appealing. Best part- they look hand made but you didn’t have to do the work =) What is your favorite part about your job and why? What is your least favorite part about your job and why? I have two favorite parts two my job, First being that I work with my husband and an office full of friends. Working with family and friends can be risky, but we have an awesome team, and I love that we get to work as a team to make Sassafras a healthy vital company in the crafting industry. Second favorite part, I love that my main focus is to be creative! It really is a blast!! On the least favorite side, both of my favorites can turn into stressful situations. A hard day at the office could turn into a 1 am “pillow side” meeting as we like to call them. It’s hard when you work with your husband to turn off the work talk at 5 and not bring it home. The creative side of things can also turn into stress. What if we chose the wrong art direction, what if everyone hates this collection, what if we chose the wrong color combination? Nothing life or death of course, but as far as crafting stress goes there are hard days =) Where do you think trends get started and what propels them once they do? I wish I knew the true secret starting point of trends. My guess is that it all starts somewhere between fashion and interior design. Maybe the heads of those industries are also married, and they tell each other their next trend secret… I do think that in fashion and interior design there is a cycle of repeating history, with a fresh take. I could not believe it when leg warmers were back on the scene! In my shock I could hear my own mother 15 years ago saying how she could not believe I thought bell bottoms were cool. I am sure my grandmother feels the same way about what I would consider to be cool wallpaper right now! I think that part of what propels trends are the (post shock) nostalgic feeling new/old trends bring about. I also think the younger, hipper generation takes on new trends full force and keeps them alive and well. Do the evolving trends change your paper crafting style, or do you inject the trends into your already established style? Both. I think the more a favorite trend can be injected into a project the better. By incorporating products and styles that reflect current trends it embraces the whole idea of why we scrapbook in the first place. I love capturing the moment of what is happening in our lives beyond the picture. For example, my wedding album is scrapbooked with a very simple style and sage and lavender are the main colors. I would never chose that style or color scheme today, BUT that is what I was into when I captured those memories. Everything about the page reflects that time period in my life. So I say INJECT away! Today’s trends are tomorrow’s nostalgia. What is your favorite medium in which to work and why does it appeal to you? Has that changed over time? Why or why not? For me, Rebecca, sketching is what I do 99% of the time. I will rough sketch an outline of a collection, add a color scheme, and hand it off to Tim. Tim works mostly in illustrator and photoshop. He is a wizard on the computer! I wish I was more computer savvy! That is how we have done it from day one =) Name a designer (or two) in the scrapbooking industry that inspires you. What do you like about his/her work? There are so many amazing designers out there! I admire when someone has a distinct style and just pulls it off so well! Here are a few picks, but really I could post LOTS MORE!! Leila Bentahar is a Sassafras design team girl based in France. She makes amazing, dimensional projects and teaches them online as well. She is a truly talented artist and I feel honored everytime she uses Sassafras products. Peg Manrique has been on our design team from the beginning of the dt. She has a super clean, simple, classic style. She has not changed her style one bit, yet incorporates each new collection into her Peg style seamlessly. Tracie Hudson, UK based, designer extraordinaire is another favorite of mine. Here is a layout I happened upon recently from Lisa McGarvey , and was awestruck by her work… Thank you again, Rebecca, for taking time out of your busy life to answer these questions for us! A most inspiring interview, for sure. My favorite comment among the many? By i ncorporating products and styles that reflect current trends it embraces the whole idea of why we scrapbook in the first place…Today’s trends are tomorrow’s nostalgia. Oooo. That’s a good morsel to chew on, don’t you think? Speaking of morsels, leave Rebecca a comment letting her know how she’s inspired you by midnight MST on Sunday, June 14 and I’ll draw two random winners to receive the moxie fab and super fun Bungle Jungle collection ! In the meantime, I hope you have a moxie fab day! I sure am glad you stopped on by! See you tomorrow for another edition of Five for Friday ! What will I think up next? Enjoying this groovy day, ~Cath PS You still have until this Sunday at midnight MST to leave a comment-to-win here , here , and here ! Woot on the commenting and prize-winning!

How did it get to be Thursday already, friends? Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess–and we’ve been having loads o’ that in the Moxie Fab World this week as we explore the intricate world of paper-cutting . Yesterday we had a chance to talk to Nikki McClure, one of the most inspiring paper-cutters in the business, and today I’m excited to show you a book that she illustrated called All in a Day . All in a Day, written by Newbury Award winner Cynthia Rylant , tells the story of all the magical pleasures and possibilities that can happen in a single day, along with delivering a message of good stewardship to the planet. As a fan of children’s books in general, I know that it is the magical combination of words and pictures that cause them to become memorable. Who could forget Maruice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are or the original The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter? I’m also fascinated by the process that designers go through to make words come to life. So I’m super excited to have had this opportunity to interview such an amazing artist as Nikki to see how she approached the illustrations in this lovely story that illuminates all the possibilities a day offers and the opportunities and chances that won’t ever come again. So grab a cuppa something yummy, sit back in a comfy chair, and read what Nikki has to say about what it was like illustrating this delightful book! Nikki McClure What was your reaction when you were approached to illustrate All in a Day ? I felt very fortunate, lucky, blessed, excited, intimidated, overwhelmed, and HAPPY. It was an honor to illustrate Cynthia Rylant’s thoughtful words as my first children’s book. Here was a book that mattered. What is it about the paper cutting medium that lends itself to this kind of book? You have your chance, you make mistakes, you have to live with the mistakes made and move on to the next bit of living. Each day is like that. You just do your best and keep moving forward. Every bird and every tree and every living thing loves the promise in a day, loves what it can bring. How did you get started? What was your process as you created the illustrations? I read her words over and over and over. It was hard to create a narrative with the illustrations. I was a bit intimidated, unsure that it was really ok for me to take over the text and craft a story out of it, especially one so personal: the book is very much a day in my life. I was comforted by the fact that Cynthia wrote the text with my work in mind. So I just made the pictures that I love most to make. This book would have been completely different if someone else illustrated it. I focused on the smallness of a child experiencing a day: my child, my backyard. To create the pictures, I just had to look out my studio window. The past is sailing off to sea, the future’s fast asleep. I made many, many sketches. Some were cut, but I refused to let go of the laundry scene. I guided the narrative to fit this scene in. I eventually drew the whole book at the size that the papercuts would be made at. Then I transferred the images to black paper and started cutting. I cut out a picture a week. Color was added digitally afterwards. There was a suggestion to add more than one color, but I don’t like coloring in too much without good reason (Why is this shirt colored, but not that flower?) I suggested alternating blue and yellow as I couldn’t decide which color the sky should be anyways. The color subtly adds to the story. I am very happy with the addition of the 2nd color. Rain could show up at your door and teach you how to dance. What was it like to collaborate with the book’s author, Cynthia Rylant? Surprisingly, I had no contact with Cynthia at all! It was really left up to me to decide the visual elements of the book, even page breaks. Once the book was printed, we exchanged notecards in the mail. I mostly worked with my editor and the art director. There was collaboration, give and take, and some eye-rolling: New Yorkers!!! But in the end I am so grateful for all of the conversations. Did you enjoy the experience? How did it differ from working independently in both positive and negative ways? I don’t eye-roll as much when I am focused on my own work. But collaboration always brings new insights. Illustrating a story was a learning experience. It was difficult to continue a character throughout the story. How can I make the boy look like the same boy? How can I keep my interest up when I am making the boy for the 16th time? I have mostly just made one picture tell the whole story. It was nice too, to stretch out that feeling and take time telling a story with a series of images. A day can change just everything, given half a chance. How long did it take from start to finish? What was your biggest obstacle? What was your greatest joy? I think I started in October 2007. All the images were done by May of 2008. Getting the images approved was the biggest obstacle. Reading the finished book to my son was the greatest joy. What do you hope the reader of the book takes away from All in a Day? Live it well. Make it count. Underneath that great big sky the earth is all a-spin. This day will soon be over and it won’t come back again. **************************************************************** Now friends, I’ve got a real treat for you. Nikki has prepared a basic tutorial for how to do your own paper cutting! Consider it a little Paper Cutting 101 just for you! 1. Getting started You need an idea and image. Sketch it out on white paper. Transfer it onto black paper by rubbing graphite or soft pencil on the reverse of your sketch, then place the drawing on top of the black paper (graphite side down) and trace the lines of your drawing. A faint impression of the image will then be transferred onto the black paper. Redraw it so you can see it better. Then start cutting! 2. Tools needed Strathmore Charcoal paper, black (but any paper will do!) X-acto knife and plenty of new blades Cutting mat, preferably self-healing. Quilting mats will do, but if you start getting serious then you will wan tto invest in a Japanese cutting mat for katagami (stencil-cutting) Pencil and graphite/soft pencil for rubbing 3. Tips/techniques for success Use a good cutting mat ( no cardboard or table!) Use sharp blades. Remember that a line drawn is not the same as a cut line. A cut line will need two sides to make it look like a “line”. I always start with the part that I might mess up on. That way, if I do, I can start over without wasting a whole picture.( though I usually just push on and make a better picture in the end!). Start with what you most fear. When cutting out delicate, tiny things like flower petals always start with the inside of the “line” so there is more paper to support the cutting. But wait, there’s more! Nikki has offered this original template for you to get started with! Click here for the download You are now armed and ready to make one cutting-edge moxie fab Nikki McClure-inspired project! Woot! If you’re inspired like I’m inspired, and you’re ready to get paper-cutting, share your project that uses this template or a design of your own with everyone in this Flickr group that I’ve created here . I’ve posted some photos of my kitchen bay window at Halloween which were completely paper cut by yours truly. But before I go, what would a day in the Moxie Fab World be without a prize? Leave a comment by midnight MST on Sunday, May 31 saying why you’d like to win All in a Day or who you’d love to read it to and why and I’ll draw 2 random winners to hold it in their laps with someone dear sometime really soon. Thanks to Nikki and the folks at Abrams Books for helping me out with these last two posts! And thanks, as always, to you for stopping by! Making the most of this day, ~Cath PS I haven’t forgotten that I need to post the winners of the prizes from last week. I promise to have them for you tomorrow.

I will never forget the day I met Paul & Kezia Whitteker. Poof! In walked this beautiful couple, all smiles and confidence, they shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and a beautiful friendship was born. I’m not kidding you, these two exude happiness and positive vibes all over the place–and it’s absolutely contagious. You can’t help but feel good about yourself, the world, your evening meal, the argument you had with your child that morning, and the grocery shopping you have to do later that day just because you’ve spent a little bit of time with this dynamic duo. While Paul is the businessman in the family and Kezia is the inspired artiste, one without the other is like peanut butter without jelly. And so, even though I’ll be interviewing Kezia and getting her take on trends and how they apply to her designs today, it just wouldn’t be complete without my buddy Paul hanging around in the rafters. Paul Whitteker at CHA Summer 2008 showing me how to create a bead out of Tinkering Ink paper Of course, when I met Paul and Kezia they were busy growing Tinkering Ink, a company that quickly became one of our favorites. Now Kezia is busy designing lines for Autumn Leaves , including the Wellies & Brellas line that I showed you for this week’s Moxie Monday . And while I miss Tinkering Ink terribly, I know that Kezia has found a good place with Autumn Leaves where she can spend more time on design and less time on designing packaging and catalogs. Join me in welcoming Kezia to the Moxie Fab World. I think you’ll enjoy what she has to say about trends and how they influence her work. Is trend-watching important to your creativity? Why or why not? If so, how does trend-watching manifest itself in your work? As an artist I feel inspired by the world around me, however I don’t make a conscience effort to “trend watch” or “trend research” per se. I always have something going on in my life that fills me with inspiration whether it is to walk through the forest or perhaps the television is on in my office with a European fashion show playing. Where do you find trends? Actually watching teenagers and twenty-somethings is a good way to find trends, since they are still discovering who they are and “finding themselves” they tend to hone in on the latest and greatest things of the world and “try them out”. What websites, blogs, magazines, ads, etc. are the most inspirational to you in terms of trend-watching? Why do they motivate you? I love food websites believe it or not! A few that I visit frequently are Donna Hay and Vosges Chocolates . I also get a lot of inspiration from Style and Snapfashun . Rose Cups from Donna Hay Exotic Truffle Collection from Vosges Chocolate Name a designer (or two) in the scrapbooking industry that inspires you. What do you like about his/her work? Ali Edwards inspires me to “be real” whenever I journal or create. I don’t use the pictures that I think everyone else would like to see in my album, I use the real life pictures and journal the true emotions of the event to go with it. Without giving anything away that you are working on, what trend(s) are you currently watching? The “green” trend seems to be BIG right now in every facet of our world, most companies seem to be jumping on the green band wagon. But I saw this same “green” trend happen in the 80’s when I was a teenager so I will be interested to see if it lasts. I also feel like color trends go in cycles that last about 10 years, so you can cast your mind back in the interior design world and see the 10 year cycles in everyone’s homes…70’s avocado green, mustard yellow, burnt orange…80’s sea-foam green and peach (yuck)…90’s burgundy, forest green, and navy blue… Where do you think trends get started and what propels them once they do? I think that one of the roots of all trends is nature. It is never the same from season to season, not just the change from winter to spring, but no two winters are the same either. What advice can you give to paper crafters who are interested in incorporating more trends into their projects? Look for things that inspire you or that you find beautiful and then try to incorporate that same color scheme or feeling into your project, for example…. the layout design of an advertisement for laundry detergent might make a gorgeous wedding announcement… it is all in how you look at it. In your opinion, what paper crafting techniques are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing? Simplistic and clean seems to be trendy right now and maybe that is because of our economy. Everyone is simplifying and going more basic and structured, not a lot of whistles and bells. What is your favorite medium in which to work and why does it appeal to you? Has that changed over time? Why or why not? I really love digital right now because it is so fast and forgiving, however nothing will ever replace the personal nature of a handmade creation for me. There is just something I love about cutting and glue and folding and…you get the picture. What is your favorite part about your job as a designer and why? What is your least favorite part about your job as a designer and why? My favorite part about being a designer and an artist is that every day is a new experience. I am never bored (unless I have to create a barcode, but those days are few and far between.) My least favorite part about being an artist and designer is when I have to create under pressure and there are deadlines to meet. It is much nicer to be able to let things happen organically. The creations that happen spontaneously and organically are always the most beautiful and they always sell the best at the store. Name some doors that have opened to you as a result of being connected to the scrapbooking industry and what that has meant to you. I have met some incredible people as a result of my career in the scrapbooking industry. I have been given the opportunity to travel to different places and teach others how to do something that I LOVE! Once you spot a trend, do you have a way of filing that idea away for later use that works for you? Yep I write it down, take a picture of it, rip it out… or collect it in any way that I can and then it goes on my clipboard above my desk! Which retail stores tend to get your trendy juices flowing? Anthropologie , H&M , Top Shop and the like. I really find online stores a much better way to get my creative juices flowing–and I can do it in my pajamas! Do the evolving trends change your paper crafting style, or do you inject the trends into your already established style? I inject the trends into my style, I am very erratic and not methodical or regimented at all… so that tends to show in the things that I create…. It is always sporadic in nature with a little element of surprise. Kezia and me at the Paper Crafts 5th Birthday Bash at CHA Winter 2009 Thanks, Kezia, for taking the time to share your insight with us! Friends, I’m excited to announce that I have 2 sets of Kezia’s Pretty Poppies line to give away today: Just leave some love for Kezia by midnight MST on Sunday, May 3 and I’ll draw 2 random winners to receive this beautiful line! It’s a Kezia kinda day, ~Cath

Today is a real treat for me, friends, and I’m hoping that you will think so as well. For in this edition of Ask Around , I’m featuring one of my favorite designers and sweetest friends, Melissa Phillips . Until recently, one of my tasks here at Paper Crafts was to monitor the “Send Us Your Best Work” folders in our Yahoo email account. This is the place where designers send us projects they are working on for possible publication in our magazines. (If you are interested in submitting your best work, click here .) Before each submissions judging, I would sift through the project images we had received and pull the ones that were appropriate for that particular issue. For example, if we were working on a Mother’s Day feature, I’d pull all the projects that would work for that feature and I’d bring them to the submissions judging. Soon I started noticing a girl named Melissa Phillips. She had a unique style, one that I had not seen before. Her style was light, airy, soft, and pretty, and I was spellbound by it. Gradually, she started getting picked up multiple times in numerous publications. I started calling her “my girl,” as in, “Look, here’s another beautiful project from my girl, Melissa!” She was making a big splash here at Paper Crafts– indeed, she was splashing all over the industry. As time went on, we became good friends as well. I’ll never forget the first time I met her. Her husband was doing some business at a place just about a mile from my home and Melissa was coming with. I insisted on a lunch meeting with the team, and we broke bread on my front porch all together. Initially I was shocked at how tall was, but mostly I couldn’t believe how soft-spoken and sweet she was. For Melissa is the very incarnation of the style she has invented–light, airy, soft, and pretty. I’d like to thank Melissa for taking the time to answer my questions on how she is influenced by trends and invite you to enjoy one of the sweetest reads of your life. Melissa: Hello everyone! I’m so excited to be joining you today and am grateful to Cath for the opportunity to share with you a few things I love about this wonderful hobby of ours. Looking back, I think I have always had a love for paper and glue…it’s fascinated me since I was little, but I didn’t give myself the time needed to explore this hobby until I graduated from college a few years ago. It seemed that at that time, my ducks were in a row and I was ready to do something for myself and so I started making thank you notes to send out after my little girl arrived. I was enchanted….and it’s only gotten better. Paper crafting is something I love and have grown with and I am thankful to have found it. Is trend-watching important to your creativity? Why or why not? If so, how does trend-watching manifest itself in your work? This question makes me laugh a little as I don’t think of myself as trendy or as a trend follower…I love what I love, and if I am drawn to it, I will create with it or try to recreate what I feel when seeing it. I don’t like the process of creating to feel forced, so for me, I create with the things I love and tend to ignore the trends. Where do you find trends? It seems that I am hopelessly stuck in one trend and I love it…that of shabby chic, vintage, weathered, and aged. I believe that this trend found me as nothing speaks to me more artistically and emotionally. I feel my grandma’s soft hands, see my mom playing the piano, and envision my great-grandma hanging out her linens to dry in the sun as these beautiful pieces of art float through my mind and in front of my eyes. What websites, blogs, magazines, ads, etc. are the most inspirational to you in terms of trend-watching? Why do they motivate you? I’m a vintage soul at heart, so while I love to see what others create when following trends, nothing inspires me like those who use all things timeless, aged, shabby, and ready to tell a story. I even have favorite colors that seem to always draw me in more than others…colors that speak to me personally and create a feeling of gentleness and love. Country Living has a way of inspiring me to try new color combinations. Amy Atlas has a way with color and design that makes me run to create. Every nook and cranny of Inspire Company is filled with bits of inspiration and wonderful artists. Name a designer (or two) in the scrapbooking industry that inspires you. What do you like about his/her work? I have long admired Carolyn Peeler …it seems that heaps of inspiration can be found in one single square inch of her creations. She has a softness to her creativity that speaks directly to my heart. Keisha Campbell has a wonderful way with techniques…she makes them seem so simple and doable. I was first introduced to machine stitching on my chipboard through Keisha’s work, and am drawn to her simple flair for absolutely beautiful creations. Without giving anything away that you are working on, what trend(s) are you currently watching? I love watching and incorporating the use of vintage things into new projects and creative areas. To see old book print or sheet music used in paper-crafting today makes it all the more meaningful. Those timeless pieces each have a story to tell. Where do you think trends get started and what propels them once they do? Trends create excitement….they have a way of engaging people in such a way that makes them get up and try something new. Trends create growth in that, each new trend continues to grow and develop and take on a life of its own. What advice can you give to paper crafters who are interested in incorporating more trends into their projects? Find a trend you LOVE and try it…perhaps it’s not for you…perhaps it’s forced once you do try it. I think it’s important to not let the trend shape you and your style, but to welcome the trend into who you are and how you create. Don’t change for what’s popular and desirable at the present time, or you may lose yourself in the waves of trends that will come and go. There is something for everyone, whether it’s bright and bold with funky written all over it, playful and humorous, clean and simple, or many different combinations of what’s trendy. If the current trend is incorporating butterflies in your paper-crafting, there is a butterfly for you and your current style…always remember there are many options available when it comes to creativity….there is no right and wrong. In your opinion, what paper crafting techniques are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing? Embossing has taken on a life of its own and I love the dimension, depth, and texture it adds to paper-crafting. I have noticed a huge evolution in the world of stamping over the past few years….artists are thinking outside of the box and creating a new excitement in this area, so much that I think many are allowing themselves to try stamping and are enjoying it. Glitter is EVERYWHERE and can be found it all styles of paper-crafting. I love the life it brings to projects. Dusting off the sewing machine and using it in paper-crafting is another trend that many are trying their hands at….one of my most favorite techniques. I love the personal touch it adds to everything….it makes it touchable and homespun. In your opinion, what paper crafting products are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing? Kraft is WONDERFUL and here to stay….it is extremely versatile and seems to fit into many different styles of paper-crafting. A must-have for me and one that I see everywhere is adhesive pearls and rhinestones….they are super delicious and add the perfect finishing touch to anything. And, dare I say hemp and buttons….they go together like peanut butter and jelly I tell you….one is not complete without the other and I see this wonderful duo all over. What is your favorite medium in which to work and why does it appeal to you? Has that changed over time? Why or why not? Paper + scissors + glue = true love. I’m a little old fashioned that way, but I need to touch, mold, create, and experience each aspect of paper-crafting with my hands…it makes me happy What is your favorite part about your job as a designer…and why? What is your least favorite part about your job as a designer… and why? I love being creative plain and simple. It’s healthy, it’s rewarding, and it’s fun. I also get to work from home…in the wee hours of the morning, such as now, while my little house sleeps. I must admit that the organizational issues that come with being a designer aren’t my thing….my stuff is everywhere….out of control…but somehow my husband still love me for my messes. Name some doors that have opened to you as a result of being connected to the scrapbooking industry and what that has meant to you. I have the wonderful opportunity of designing for my favorite companies…I work with product that inspires me and suits me perfectly. I have met the most amazing women…created lasting friendships, and have grown individually….taken chances and been rewarded for doing so. It’s been so good for me personally to take hold of something, such as paper-crafting, and allowed myself the time to turn it into something I am passionate about. Once you spot a trend, do you have a way of filing that idea away for later use that works for you? Nope. Remember what I said about the whole organizational thing…let’s just say there is much going on in my head at all times. Which retail stores tend to get your trendy juices flowing? I’m a Pottery Barn lover…. Williams-Sonoma … Tai Pan ….anything home décor related draws me in and won’t let me go. It’s amazing how inspiration can be found everywhere. Do the evolving trends change your paper crafting style, or do you inject the trends into your already established style? Most definitely, I inject them into my style…I have tried to change my shabby ways and become a funky girl at heart….but it’s hard work, not enjoyable, forced, and I don’t like the outcome…so I open my door and let it in and use it how I will. * * * * * * Now seriously, friends, wasn’t that the very definition of sweet? Leave Melissa some love here by midnight MST on Wednesday, April 15 and I’ll draw two random winners. One will win this Sweet Things Kit designed by Melissa for The Scrappy Gourmet and the other will win 5 handmade cards created and autographed by Melissa herself. And did you notice her comment about how trendy stitching is on projects? Click here for the details on our Stitch in Time challenge going on now until April 13! Grateful for Melissa, ~Cath

Happy Thursday to you, friends! I’m super excited to bring you an Ask Around featuring trendy designer, moxie fab marketer, awesome teacher, and my good friend, Layle Koncar . I’ve known Layle since coming on the Paper Crafts scene nearly four years ago now. Whether submitting projects for our magazines and special issues or being super willing to fill holes on a moment’s notice, Layle has been a bright star in my world from Day 1. If you’ve ever met Layle at a CKC, a trade show, or a class in whatever corner of the world, you know that she’s a knock-out dresser, an enthusiastic paper crafter, and a talented designer with a strong passion for her craft! What I love about Layle’s style is how she is able to marry vintage with hip. Vintage hip. Yeah, that’s the ticket. And while this is her predominant style, her work is also very bold, graphic, fun, and trendy . Formerly the marketing director for Scenic Route , Layle brings a friendly professionalism that makes her one of the most enjoyable people to work with that I know. So here’s my good bud, Layle, everyone. I hope you enjoy her take on trends as much as I do! Layle: Hi guys! Layle Koncar here. I’ve been scrapbooking/paper crafting in one form or another for the past 11+ years. My scrap subjects are my 2 boys - Jack (11) and Sam (8). Since I don’t have daughters to scrap, I like to get my pink, girly fix in by scrapping photos from my childhood. My style has evolved quite a bit over the years, but it’s only been within the last few years that I feel my style has really defined itself. I’d say my style is pretty linear, with a mixture of vintage & funk thrown in for good measure. Where do you find trends? Hmm, maybe the easier question to answer is ‘where don’t I find trends?’! Home decorating magazines, tv commercials, even billboards! But hands down, Target is one of my favorite places to trend watch. Target has been a fan of my wallet for at least 10 years! Years ago they started to partner with emerging and already established designers to create really cool, affordable stuff, specific to Target. Take a look at this fun dinnerware set recently launched at Target by designer Orla Kiely ! Big bold patterns, bright colors, and super playful. What websites, blogs, magazines, ads, etc. are the most inspirational to you in terms of trend-watching? Why do they motivate you? One of my favorite websites for trend watching is The Decorating Diva . They have a way of pairing color with pattern that really gets my creative juices flowing! Name a designer (or two) in the scrapbooking industry that inspires you. What do you like about his/her work? Ooh, that’s an easy one! Hands down, it’s Jenni Bowlin . I’ve been a fan of her work for years! I love the way she mixes new with old and still manages to make everything look so fresh. An inspiring image from jennibowlin.com Where do you think trends get started and what propels them once they do? I definitely feel like most trends start with fashion, specifically color combinations. I think most people are afraid of most fashion trends, especially those seen on the runways because they’re so hard to translate into real life fashion. That’s why I think they propel so easily into other areas like home décor and paper crafting – it’s much easier to experiment with fun, off the wall trends in areas that seem less risky. A trendy card Layle had published in Card Creations 6 , a special interest publication from Paper Crafts magazine What advice can you give to paper crafters who are interested in incorporating more trends into their projects? First off, don’t feel like you have to incorporate a particular trend into your work just because the trend is there! I remember overhearing a woman one day looking at some chipboard butterflies in a scrapbook store. She said, “I don’t have any pictures of butterflies, why would I use these on a scrapbook page?” Bingo! If the trend just isn’t you, walk away! If you like a particular trend, but aren’t sure how to use it, search you favorite magazine or online gallery and look for examples on how other crafters have used it. Another one of Layle’s cards featured in Card Creations 6 In your opinion, what paper crafting techniques are trendy right now and why do you think they are appealing? Maybe not so much a technique, but a state of mind – the eco trend. The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ motto has been popular for the last few years, and with the downturn in the economy, I think a lot more people are focusing on it and incorporating it into their daily lives. I know I’ve gone through my product stash with a fine tooth comb over the last few months, reassessing what I have and figuring out how to make what was once old, new again. Don’t think of your stash as being old, think vintage! Here’s a project I created using a metal mailbox number and other old vintage supplies I already had laying around. Name some doors that have opened to you as a result of being connected to the scrapbooking industry and what that has meant to you. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to teach all over the US and internationally as a result of being connected to this industry. I’ve met some of the neatest people in my travels and been able to visit some beautiful places in Canada, Australia, Amsterdam and England. I love it that I’ve been able to pair my love of travel with scrapbooking. Once you spot a trend, do you have a way of filing that idea away for later use that works for you? I have an inspiration board in my scrapbook room that I made a few years ago out of the base of an old vintage baby crib. Things that I want to remember end up on this board - color combinations, patterns, project ideas, embellishments that I want to remember to actually use, and a few family photos sprinkled in. I also have a large spiral, hardcover inspiration book that I use for pasting magazine clippings that catch my eye. Which retail stores tend to get your trendy juices flowing? I know it’s a common response to this question, but for me it has to be Anthropolgie . Between the fun and fresh clothes and the way they’re merchandised, I could spend hours in that store! There’s been more than one occasion when I’ve walked out of an Anthroplogie store with an idea on how I want to ‘merchandise’ something in my own house. I love the way they effortlessly blend new with vintage. A spread from an Anthropologie catalog Another favorite stores of mine for trend watching is Z Gallerie . They’re always spot-on when it comes to color and design trends. Do the evolving trends change your paper crafting style, or do you inject the trends into your already established style? After scrapbooking and paper crafting for 11+ years, I’d say my style is pretty much established. I’m pretty linear, with a little bit of funk & vintage mixed in. When I see new trends that appeal to me, I figure out how to work them into my already established style, that helps to keep the projects I’m working on to stay fresh. “Butterfly Exhibit” in the March/April 2009 issue of Paper Crafts magazine I’d like to thank Layle for taking the time to provide us with these answers to my questions about how trends influence her work–and I’d like to thank you for spending some time with Layle and me here in the Moxie Fab World today. I’d like to invite all y’all to leave Layle a comment and I’d be oh-so-happy to select 2 random winners for a prize. Just be sure and do so by next Thursday, March 12 at midnight MST. Have a moxie fab Thursday, friends! ~Cath