Studio Tour Featuring Danielle Flanders

This week we are getting a very special peek into the creative corner occupied by Danielle Flanders.  In all the years I have worked with Danielle I have never before seen her space so I found it very fun to see where all that crafting genius takes place.  As I looked through these photos one thing I realized is that we probably give our Design Team members TOO MUCH STUFF.  I see that big Pink Paislee box tucked under her chair and think to myself “maybe she doesn’t have anywhere to put it.”

One thing is for sure…she is extremely organized (so are her kids…) and that ribbon drawer looks like it would be fun to just sit and look at!

About Danielle’s Space

I recently set up a desk in our basement, because I didn’t have a place to call my own! I was scrapping in our dining room for a long time and decided it would be nice to be able to have my sewing machine out and ready whenever I wanted to use it. (And then we could actually EAT at our table again too, which is a bonus!)

The 2 large bins next to my desk hold my Pink Paislee products and my Jenni Bowlin products. However, I keep the most recent Pink Paislee lines in a box right under my desk, so I can quick grab what I need!

The desk is set up right when you come down the stairs, and I share the room with my girls’ big toys, like their kitchen, lego table, art easel, etc. They love to hang out with me down there while I’m working. The easel and lego table are behind my chair.I’m lucky enough to have a storage room right next to where my scrap space is, so I have larger things like all my mini books and such stored in there.

On my desk, I have a basket for glues and holes punchers, a cup for pens/scissors, a cup for paintbrushes and a container for my Cuttlebug embossing plates/trimmer. I also leave my sewing machine up on my desk. The keyboard drawer pulls out and that’s where I store my punches for easy access.

I found these large white cubes at AC Moore. Love seeing the pretty colored cardstock! I have a drawer for flowers, ribbons, buttons, brads and bling, alphabets, and stamps and other embellishments. I bought some 12 x 12 Cropper Hoppers to store my patterned papers, rub ons, stickers and transparencies. (The papers are organized by manufacturer.)

Since I had SO many ribbons, I decided to make my own little ribbon wraps. Next to the ribbon, you can see some 12 x 12 clear file folders, those are holding my paper scraps by color.

More About Danielle

Scrapbook Style –  I would say my style is a bit on the simple side, but dimensional at the same time, with girly touches. I tend to be drawn to cleaner pages that draw your eye right to the photos! I love to focus on how to use items creatively or in a unique way also.

Inspiration – I find inspiration everywhere! A particular color palette, an ad in a magazine, techniques to play around with, new scrapbooking products, home decor and current styles/textiles all have an impact on me!

Favorite Product – My favorite Pink Paislee product right now would have to be the Artisan Swirls. They are so beautiful and dimensional. I love that you can customize them to your project by painting, misting them, etc. So much fun to work with and such a unique product!

One Wish- I hope that my girls will stay happy and healthy forever. They mean the world to me, and I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to one of them.

Favorite Movie – I love anything with Leonardo DiCaprio in it, but I think my all-time favorite was Titanic.

Guilty Pleasure – Raisinettes or Reese Peanut Butter Cups

Favorite Memory – Meeting my girls when they were born.

One Fear – Snakes.

First Job – My first job was when I was 16. I bussed tables at a restaurant called Elk Creek Steakhouse about 1 mile from our house. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was going on when I started and on my first night, I spilled water on a scary looking motorcyclist’s lap while refilling his glass. I was so embarrassed!

Music – Love pop with an urban edge (that’s what my local station calls it!): Katy Perry, Train, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Jason DeRulo, John Mayer, Usher, Kings of Leon.

Typical Day – In the summer it’s very different than the school year, we don’t really have a routine! During the school year, I wake up at 7:30, get my daughter dressed, fed and off to school, then drink my coffee and check into my scrapbooking sites on-line while I wake up. The rest of the day usually involves cleaning, making beds, dishes, laundry, and spending time with my youngest daughter. Sometimes I will sneak some scrapbooking in, but normally I wait until they go to bed to create – when it’s nice and quiet. They go to bed at 8 pm and I usually stay up until 11 or 12! I’m most definitely a night owl!

Signature Piece of Clothing – My favorite comfy Vigoss jeans and a hoodie, because most of the year here in New York, it’s chilly!

To learn more about Danielle and to visit her blog just CLICK HERE.

Studio Tour With Nicole Samuels

If you aren’t already familiar with Nicole Samuels then you are missing out!  Nicole has been a member of our team since we started our company (with a short hiatus in there somewhere….) and we totally adore her clean yet clever use of product.  After seeing her space I am reminded yet again how many scrapbook and crafters use storage baskets and small containers to hold all of their precious goods.  I would love to flip through all those green bins to look for that perfect embellishment!

About Nicole’s Space:

We have a first floor master bedroom in our house, but we choose to use it as a playroom/rec room and use an extra bedroom upstairs as our master.  This lets us be upstairs with the kids while they’re young and up at night and it gives us a fairly large playroom to use on the main floor.  I have a wall of the playroom set up as my scrap area.  I would love to someday have my “own” room to really be able to set up and spread out…but for now it works perfectly because I can be right in there with the kids playing or my husband watching tv.

This shelf holds pretty much all of my scrapping stuff.  I have been pretty good lately about really purging what I don’t use and only buying the products that I love and know will get used.  I just didn’t have the extra space for it all AND I found it overwhelming to find what I wanted amid all the supplies.  I like to be able to see what I have, so I use open bins and baskets, organized by product type.  Example:  letter stickers, buttons, borders, journaling spots, rubons, etc.

My desk is actually a cheap kitchen table form Walmart several years ago.  I love that it’s bigger than a typical desk.

The tower of drawers holds my design team stuff…mostly Pink Paislee right now!  Also letter sticker sheets that don’t fit in the bins, extra misc. ribbons, and other random items.

I organize my patterned paper by manufacturer.  The giant glass jar of ribbon is my favorite part of my space.  I wrapped the ribbon around wodden hinged clothespins and just pick through the stash to find what color/texture I want.  I love seeing all the pretty trims through the glass.  ahhhhh… :)

I have a metal cart that slides under my desk for additional storage.  I keep my punches and twine/floss, inks, etc in the top of the cart.   When I’m scrapping I can just pull it out and it sits beside me with my go to items right at hand.  Then I can slide it back underneath when I’m finished.

About Nicole:

Scrapbook Style – clean, somewhat simple, but I love adding little touches here and there to finish it off.

Inspiration – my kids, new product, colors

Favorite Product – right now I’m loving all the border and shape punches

One Wish- sleep!  (my 9 month old is still not sleeping through the night…not even close.  ugh)

Favorite Movie – an oldie but goodie… Dirty Dancing.  I know every line!

Guilty Pleasure – my brand new iphone.  I could get seriously addicted to that thing!

Favorite Memory – there’s just too many to choose.  A recent one is seeing my daughter’s first reaction to her new baby brother.

One Fear – swimming in any body of water where you can’t see the bottom.

First Job – cashier at Toys R Us

Music – I love Pandora when I’m scrapping.  Usually the John Mayer station.

Typical Day – Get up at 6ish.  Breakfast for 3 big kids, then feed the baby.  Get all kids dressed and baby goes down for a nap.  I get a quick shower while the big kids are entertained by a TV show.  Then it’s off to school or our morning activity (now that it’s summer).  We HAVE to get out of the house in the morning or the whole day goes downhill fast.  :)   Then back home for lunch and the baby goes down for his afternoon nap.  Clean up, scrap, laundry, reading to kids…whatever is calling for my attention the loudest at that moment.  Late afternoons in the summer are spent at our neighborhood pool.  Come home, get showered and in jammies after the pool.  Get baby down for bed at 6:30ish and then make dinner for the rest of us.  Big kids go to bed at 8.  And THEN…then I scrap or chat online or facebook or watch tv with my husband or whatever.  I’m usually in bed by 10 or so.  Wish I could stay up later to get more crafty time…but with the baby still up at night… I just can’t!

Signature Piece of Clothing – in the summer?  flip flops!

To learn more about Nicole we invite you to visit her blog HERE.  You will instantly fall in love with her signature style!  Thanks for the tour Nicole.

Studio Tour Featuring Amanda Muirhead

Today we are taking a peek into Amanda’s scrap space.   By the looks of these photos it is easy to see that Amanda has learned how to take advantage of every square inch of her space.  I am secretly coveting all those stackable tins!  So cute and functional too!

I used to have the master bedroom for my scrapbooking space but after the birth of our daughter, I had to move into a much smaller space.  My tiny room is approximately 8×6 feet.  It is so tiny that I removed the door just to have that extra little bit of space.  Every little inch in my space is jam-packed.  Although it’s very full, I know exactly where everything is.  I keep all my favorite embellishments right at my fingertips on my table or the shelves that surround it.  It’s quite convenient to have everything right within reach.  I keep a little DVD on my table so I can watch re-runs of my TV shows; my favorite being “The Office.”

More About Amanda..

Inspiration – I find most of my inspiration in two places: My family, especially my daughter and the funny things she says and even her clothing.  Secondly,  my home, Prince Edward Island.  It’s beautiful scenery and gorgeous beaches are always a great source of inspiration.

Favorite Product – This is such a hard question for me because I absolutely LOVE product!!  I can’t list just one but my favourites are pearls, ribbon, flowers and basically anything that has glitter.

One Wish- Well I’d sure love to win the lottery. I know money doesn’t buy happiness, but I already have the happiness so the money would be a lovely little perk!

Favorite Movie – The Princess Bride

Guilty Pleasure – Strawberry shortcake

Favorite Memory – Being given my daughter after she was born and being told ‘it’s a boy… oh wait…. girl actually!’

One Fear – It’s not my biggest fear, but it’s scrap related:  I have a fear of losing my scrapbooks and scrap supplies in a fire.

First Job –  Picking strawberries and blueberries for local farmers. Also babysitting my 6 younger siblings.

Music – James Blunt, Sarah Mclachlan, Dido, Glee soundtrack

Typical Day – If it’s a work day, we’re up at 6am and spend 1.5 hours rushing around and getting ready to leave for work and daycare. I take my daughter to daycare, playing eye spy for the whole 1/2 hour drive. I spend 8 hours at my desk at work and then rush back to the daycare to pick her up.  We head home, again playing eye spy the whole way home.   The next two hours are filled with supper, bath time, cuddles and stories.   After my daughter is tucked away in bed, my hubby & I try to get the house cleaned up.  I’ll usually retire to my scrappy room shortly after that and he’ll retire to his computer.  Of course, it’s much different on the weekends and  during the summer.  The summer scrap time is often replaced with beach and pool trips.

Signature Piece of Clothing – yoga capris!

To learn more about Amanda, see some of her project designs, or just to say hello…be sure to visit her BLOG HERE.

Studio Tour Featuring Lynn Ghahary

Lynn recently joined our design team as one of our Live Pink magazine contributors and we feel so very blessed to have her joining our team!  She was featured as a guest artist last February and we instantly fell in love with her style.  You will be able to see more of Lynn’s designs in our upcoming issue due out in July.  Let’s take a look at where Lynn creates her projects and learn a little bit more about what makes her tick.

Scrapbook Style – clean with bits of flair and lots of details

Inspiration – anything and everything! I’m especially drawn to anything with unique color combinations and lots of texture.

Favorite Product – definitely my punches – I have A LOT of them!

One Wish - more time with my Dad so that he could meet my boys (he passed before they were born)

Favorite Movie – Pretty Woman!

Guilty Pleasure – Tagalong cookies (I order boxes and boxes of them when the Girl Scouts start ringing my doorbell to last me throughout the year)

Favorite Memory – this is a hard one as I have so many of them!  probably the moment each one of my boys was born and I held them for the first time

One Fear – I hate to sound morbid but my biggest fear is losing someone close to me such as my husband or my boys.  having to endure my father’s death was hard enough I’m not quite sure how I would survive losing one of them.

First Job – I worked in a type of “everything” store called R.J. Mars in the baby department and would spend hours making sure all the hangers were evenly spaced on the racks (exciting huh?)

Music – I listen to Pandora when I’m in my studio and have a few different stations set up – my favs are Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas

Typical Day – wake up early (around 6am) with the boys and our new puppy Buddy.  get everyone dressed, fed, teeth brushed, lunches made and either on the bus or driven to school.  work in my studio or run errands til lunchtime when I pick up the boys from school.  spend time doing homework, playdates, tball or soccer practices, or just hanging out around the house with the puppy.  dinnertime is usually just the boys and I since my husband works in NYC and doesn’t get home until later in the evening.  once my husband is home we all hang out some more playing board games, watching movies or playing family wii.  bedtime for the boys is usually 8pm and then my husband and i usually catch up a bit and then it’s back to my studio for more creative time or watching some of my favorite guilty pleasure reality tv shows on bravo.  of course summer vacation will change things up a bit but this is our typical day when school is in session.

Signature Piece of Clothing – my Fossil jeans – they are the only brand I wear since they fit me the best!

To visit Lynn’s blog page and to see more of her fun designs visit her blog HERE

Saturday’s Studio Tour {Featuring Vicki Boutin}

We are back with another fun studio tour this weekend.  Ya know….these girls are amazing.  Not only do they inspire me to get out my products and start creating but I look into their studio spaces and I see so many fun ideas on how to store my products and display my art.

Vicki’s space is A-mazing.  I think I could curl up here and stay awhile.  If you have ever met Vicki in person you will instantly see her “style” all over this room.  So girly, so glamourous, and also a little bit shabby chic! Total heaven.

more about vicki:

Scrapbook Style – Eclectic with a funky, linear flair

Inspiration – Anything that is visually appealing…fashion, blogs, ads etc

Favorite Product – I love stamps!  They are so versatile!

One Wish- for more hours in the day!  I am always running out of time!

Favorite Movie – I have many!  But a few are Forrest Gump, Pride and Prejudice, Grease, The Sound of Music, Pretty in Pink…and so on and so on!

Guilty Pleasure – Ice Cappuccinos

Favorite Memory – Walking to the post office with my Grandma in the summertime.

One Fear – I don’t like spider and snakes.

First Job – I worked in a Department store in the ugliest red and white, bell bottom, polyester uniform!  But the job was ok!

Music – R&B…or anything that makes me want to get up and sing and dance!

Typical Day – Watching cartoons with the kids, getting them off to school, answering emails, scrapbooking, organizing class stuff, getting the kids from school and then it’s family time!

Signature Piece of Clothing – I think it would have to be my funky jewellery collection!  I love anything fun and sparkly!

around vicki’s room:

Thanks so much for sharing your space with us Vicki!  I for one want to move into your house anytime you are accepting visitors :-)

To learn more about Vicki and to see more of her project designs just visit her blog HERE

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!