Thursday, January 31, 2013

Diagnosis Design #5 Andrea Budjack





First an intro...

In medicine, we document using SOAP notes. It is an abbreviation to help keep consistent format when logging information. 

S=Subjective. What does the patient report. Subjective Data. This also includes the Chief Complaint (CC) which tells what the patients main problem is and History of Present Illness (HPI) a history of what happened to bring them in.

O=Objective. What exam findings do you gather. Objective Data.

A=Assessment. What is your Diagnosis, what differentials could there be (alternative diagnoses)

P=Plan/Education. What is the plan for the patient. What do you want them to learn?

This is the format I will use also.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now lets begin. This is Andrea Budjack...


I found out about Andrea through Laura Bassen. I am such a huge fan of her feminine layered loveliness that I wanted you all to see her work as well. She works for TOP design teams/manufactures such as AMERICAN CRAFTS, LILY BEE, AND PINK PAISLEE, just to name a few. You ever pass those beautiful houses with the lights on at night and see the inside is just as gorgeous and wonder who lives there and what do they do? Well Andrea is that for me in the card making world. I had to learn more about her!


Can you tell me about yourself? married? kids? etc. 
I am married to my high school sweetheart after five years of dating and almost thirteen years of marriage.  We have two boys, six and eight, that are my everything.  I stay at home, which I (like many) never imagined I would be doing after I had gone to college and started on a career path...but love it!  Grew up in Oregon but now live in Florida, 3,000 miles from our family.

Happiest moment? 
Personally, when I had my boys.  Artistically, seeing one of my project on the cover a magazine for the first time. 







CC: Her cards HAVE to be heavy! All those embellishments must cost a bunch too! (says the cheap interviewer)

HPI: She has been blogging since February 2010. This is her first post .

When did your design aesthetic become clear to you?  
Within the past year.  It is something that is always changing. Go through periods when I love vintage, soft and romantic then others when I love the bright colors and fun elements.

If you could interview someone in blog land who would it be and why?  
Paige Evans.  She has this balance of family, friends and creating that I admire and always with a happy tone. 

Who do you feel has a strong design aesthetic and why? 
Danielle Flanders.  She has a way of consistently creating stunning projects that when you see them you are like "that is Danielle." 

What is one supply that has changed the way you design? 
The sewing machine!  You can sew just about anything.  I love working with fabric, felt and paper products and this gives you the ability to use it all...even when you are out of adhesive.

What music do you listen to?  
While I am working away I listen to a Pandora station I created, Bette Midler.  Always something to sing to.

What are your favorite manufacturers?  
This is difficult since there are so many.  When I first began heading to the local craft store many years ago, My Mind's Eye was my favorite. The texture of the paper is just amazing.  Over the years though I have fallen for Pink Paislee, American Crafts (Dear Lizzy is dreamy), Crate Paper, Pebbles and Lily Bee.

What is your favorite color this year?  
Oh, this is tough.  I try to use them all; however, I finding myself trying to use blue more often.

What is your favorite card you ever made?  
A shadow box card for Pink Paislee.  Using a photo frame and 3d elements for a baby shower card.


The perfect blogger is one who? 
I depends on what you are looking for.  I love anyone who opens up their artistic worlds to the reader.  It is all about inspiration for me.

What is most important in creating a card?  
Make it personal.  If you love color, simple, layers, ribbon...add what makes you happy and you will make the receiver happy.

What is most challenging about blogging?  

Finding a balance between personal and artistic. Some bloggers share details about their personal life.  Some share just their creative side.  I would like to do a bit of both, but find that sometimes it can become a place to vent and do not want that to set the tone for my blog.  Always a struggle to be new and inviting.

Do you set crafty goals for yourself, a bucket list of sorts? 
Oh yes, although I usually keep them to myself.  Last year I set a goal of being published in a new magazine and the positive thinking and work paid off. This year...just have to wait and see.

Do you have any blogging idols? 
Not really.  I admire them all.  There is always something to learn, get inspired by and share.  












The best way you can see a persons style is through a body of work. Let me show you what Andrea can do. These are some of my most favorites...

She can make flowers a thousand different ways!

(she shows you how to make these flowers here)


















Do you notice:
  • She can take the same element and constantly change it so it looks new every time, yet maintains her design aesthetic?
  • The charm in her photography staging? Everything around the card adds to the feel of the card itself. The metal buckets, doilies, and close ups keep in step with the country charm that is quintessential Andrea. She is like a real estate agent staging the house so you will buy! 
  • Her color palate is consistently fresh creating a harmony that any magazine would adore. She is a cover girl. Here is her first (of many) covers:


Her creative space:

"My craft space is not all that impressive.  I share the room 
with my husbands music equipment and our office.  All of creating goes on in this one room".  














(Boutique) Layered Country Garden Fresh 
I call her a $10 dollar designer. Each card is worth that much, actually more, but there are so many sweet embellishments, layers and pretties on her cards, that is is worth that much. Her cards are ones you would see in a boutique shop, special and unique. You know, the kind you would see displayed next to one of a kind Etsy jewelry and handmade baby knitwear? A place where you would sip coffee and browse for hours not realizing the time. Her work is like a vacation from the ordinary things in life, similar to the place she lives. 


In asking the crafting community what makes Andrea stand out amongst the rest and what they like about her work:

PAIGE EVANS (Creative Editor for Northridge Publishing and American Crafts Blog Hostess, Andrea is on the DT for both): Andrea has a modern-shabby-layered style and can take any product and make it beautiful. 

DANIELLE FLANDERS (Pink Paislee DT with Andrea, Papertrey Ink and Studio Calico DT):  I admire Andrea's style so much! From the mix of products she uses to her layering skills, Andrea's creative projects always amaze me. She adds such unique details to her work, and there is always something surprising to find while scouring the photos of one of her projects. I also love the photos she takes of them and how they are staged! The mix of patterns, color and dimension just pulls you right in and begs you to want to see more. Her style is very soft and welcoming. We are very lucky to have Andrea on our creative team at Pink Paislee!

DYANE(Owner of Precious Remembrance Shop, Andrea is on the DT): I'm a big fan of Andrea! ^_^ I'm so inspired in every projects that she does, that's why I'm sooo glad that she's part of Precious Remembrance Shop team. With her creations, there's just no limit! She use every piece of crafts that she can find and it's so amazing and precious! Colors, patterns, just every detail of her projects are one of a kind, and how wonderful is that to be able to share it to everyone. She stands out because her creativity shines like a star all the time!^_^













Think you want to join this genre? 


  • Get in Touch With Your Feminine Side. Andrea is a girly girl designer. She is all about the pretty. 
  • Become One with Nature. Most all her cards have nature elements: flowers, butterflies, birds. They work together to create a symphony of beauty.
  • Pack it On: there is so many pretty little things happening in each card. The buttons, pins, distressed papers, pearls in every nook  and cranny is a sweet something keeping the eye moving, the heart melting and the mind interested. 

How many hours do you craft a week? 

Oh boy.  About fifteen maybe. It used to be more, but realized that just a couple of hours a day is just enough. Need time for myself and my boys.

If someone wanted to design like you, what would they need?  

I say use what you have and be creative.  If you don't die cut, find ways to create your embellishments using stickers, chipboard, journal tags or freehand cut them yourself.  If you like the look of stitching, but don't have a sewing machine, break out the needle and thread.  It is using a product in as many different ways as you can think up.  Once you get started the ideas will come, believe me. 


Here is a screen shot of Andrea's work on Pinterest. It speaks volumes as to why she is a perfect candidate for DD. Her aesthetic vision is so clear and oh SO gorgeous!





What was your last crafty purchase?  
American Crafts foam adhesive.  I never can have too much.

Do you have a crafting formula? that is, how do you come up with your designs? is it based on color first? an embellishment first? do you use sketches?  

Ideas seem to randomly pop in my head. Like the other day I thought of a little movement card.  I jot it down in my notebook and go from there.  If it is just for fun, I pull out my scrap bin of paper and pick out colors that call to me.


How do you take photos? Do you edit them? 
There is a corner of my craft space with a window that gets sun most of the day.  With a white curtain that hangs from above, I use the top of my storage drawers with this draped over (creating a box around the project to keep the light consistent).  I then have an extra thick white curtain to place under my projects. My mother found a few vintage doilies for me over the years and use them for staging (along with a few other baskets).  Using just my close-up option on my 6.1 mp camera (it is old and reliable) and photo editing software, I crop and lighten the photos.  


If I had to pick a song that represented Andrea to ME, it would be this one:




Thank you Andrea for taking the time to answer the questions and giving me full access to your blog Creative Paper Trail.



Next Diagnosis coming February 15th (friday, because the Paper Crafts Gallery Idol Girls will be having a special blog hop post Feb 14th)!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A Blog Named Hero "Meet the Design Team" Blog Hop



Hello Everyone!  This is me:

My name is Wida Miller. I am a mom of 4, a nurse practitioner, a pretty good cook, kind of messy, way too chatty, so analytical it will give you a headache, and pretty funny if I do say so myself. I have been blogging about a year. If you want to check out my stuff (awards, DT, work etc) click on the bars above. My style can be described as fresh and edgy CAS.

I am so happy to announce that I will be having a new feature with A BLOG NAMED HERO! 

What is it you ask?

Each month on the 22nd, I will be hosting on the blog showing you how to use color or images to inspire creativity! 

I always say I see the world in cards. And it's true. I find inspiration EVERYWHERE.

I like to browse these sites because they take the work out of figuring it out. These people have figured out colors that work well together, layouts that are pleasing to the eye, fonts that are trendy, and the latest techniques. So then you wonder, where do I come in? 

My job will be to help you learn how to take a photo or color inspiration and translate it into a card based on what you have and your style aesthetic in a few easy steps. This is NOT required to submit to the challenges. It is ONLY for additional inspiration. I have a small demonstration for you today.


I found this birth announcement in google.  I loved the fresh colors on this card and saved it for later. 

Then it was later...


Here is what I came up with, a very LITERAL interpretation:

using Studio Calico papers and gems, MME papers, PTI linin impression plate, Hero Arts/SC stamp and Tim Holtz flower dies

Things to notice on this card:

1. Font. The way something is written is SO important. Once I submitted a card for publication and was told my card was good, but the font was "tired". I tried to find a font that worked with the theme of the blog hop--HELLO and was HERO ARTS (of course) so I settled for this one called Heydey Sentiments. It sorta matches the font on the "Emma" too, score!  :) 

2. Color. The colors were already chosen in the sample photo. I just looked at my stash and found what was similar. I hope to explain more about this in future posts.

3. Texture. Using the sample again. I know you are probably thinking "sure if I have ALL the products, I could create a card too, but I don't". Well don't fret. I will show you that you can use alternative textures even if they are not perfect. Remember your viewer will not know that it wasn't a great match and it is just an inspiration! 
  • If texture isn't your thing, you could clear emboss a background stamp on the white cardstock to give a subtle effect as well. (I love the envelope pattern stamp by Hero Arts)
  • You could use a piece of patterned paper 
  • You could score lines vertically or horizonally using a score pal/scoreboard (I heart Martha Stewart's)
4. Layout. This one is the one I struggle with most. I don't understand sketches and that is supposed to help with this problem, so that isn't much help to me. Sometimes the inspiration gives you the formula. sometimes not. In these cases you could combine challenges and use a sketch. Some great challenge blogs dedicated to sketches are:

Phew! Well now you are off to the next gal! See you on the 22nd! And if you have any feedback on what you would like to see or how you would like me to format it, feel free to comment! 

Wida

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Perk Up Pills and The End




Feeling down and out?

I made a sweet treat with PERK UP PILLS using this months Paper Made Bakery Kit! Click HERE to see!


Here is my month of Paper Made Bakery Projects once again...


























This is my last post as a design team member for Paper Made Bakery. It has been great fun using these kits to push me out of my comfort zone, try new products and expand my creative horizons! They have a fantastic new group of ladies for the new term and I know they will rock the kits!






Saturday, January 26, 2013

Saturday Afternoons #6



using watering can labels and 5 & Dime



Saturday Afternoon Story Time:

Sometimes getting away from the kids is fun, especially if it means a trip to Archivers :)  I got to meet some Colorado bloggers and I had the best time! 





Friday, January 25, 2013

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop

It's Papertrey Ink's January Blog hop! The theme is black backgrounds...





This card was very technical, it uses INLAY and  CLEAR EMBOSSING ON DRY EMBOSSING TECHNIQUES. Here is how I did it, hope I explain this right.
  1. die cut the word lucky out of a black card stock base, save the black pieces that go into the loops of the words (in the letter l, k, and y)
  2. cut an identical piece of black cardstock that is the same size as the front of the card and apply a lot tape in the area where the lucky is going to be and along the edges of the card
  3. glue this piece to the back side of the front flap of the card base
  4. die cut the word lucky in hot pink card stock
  5. inlay the pink lucky word die into the top of card
  6. apply the black pieces for the loops of the letter l, k, and y
  7. stamp the sentiment in versamark and white emboss 
  8. dry emboss the roses
  9. rub on pink versamark ink on the raised parts of the rose
  10. clear emboss the rose
  11. cut out rose leaving a small edge border
  12. pop up in bottom corner of card using foam tape
TIP: I HIGHLY recommend an emboss buddy on this card!!


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Runway Inspired Challenge #22

Runway Inspired Challenge brings you fashion photos to inspire card creations. This week is:






Here is how I did it: 
  • stamp the sentiment first
  • die cut 4 black, red, blue and green strips with the PTI border die
  • glue the black strips down at a diagonal also using a tape runner, but I taped the ENTIRE back side, including the open holes of the die
  • I removed the holes from the other strips and inserted them in the border die. 




And for MORE inspiration, check out the design team: 

the winner gets a gift certificate to Avery Elle!!!!

we have a new Facebook host for the upcoming challenges so it should be fun to play along!


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Designer Tip: Rule of Odds

It's my day over at Paper Made Bakery! Here is what I created...

everything came from the kit (below) except the little black brad.



Want to know why this card works? Click over to the Paper Made Bakery site and I will tell you why! 


Saturday, January 19, 2013

Saturday Afternoons #5


A post dedicated to my love of October Afternoon, a manufacturing company with pretty crafty stuff!




using 5& Dime



SATURDAY AFTERNOON STORY TIME:


“Your children are not your children.
They are sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. 
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For thir souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the make upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness.
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He also loves the bow that is stable.” 
― Kahlil Gibran

one of my favorite poems...

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Diagnosis Design #4: JJ Bolton



First an intro...

In medicine, we document using SOAP notes. It is an abbreviation to help keep consistent format when logging information. 

S=Subjective. What does the patient report. Subjective Data. This also includes the Chief Complaint (CC) which tells what the patients main problem is and History of Present Illness (HPI) a history of what happened to bring them in.

O=Objective. What exam findings do you gather. Objective Data.

A=Assessment. What is your Diagnosis, what differentials could there be (alternative diagnoses)

P=Plan/Education. What is the plan for the patient. What do you want them to learn?

This is the format I will use also.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now lets begin. This is JJ Bolton...uhhh...*at work*, sportin' goggles and a lab coat.


I asked her to send me a unique picture of herself. This message was in the email with the picture. She is a funny gal.

"What you can see in the pic = stylish (not!) safety glasses. What you can't see in this pic = my coworker around the corner asking me what the heck I'm doing." 

She does this for us folks, she does it us! 

How much does your profession play into the way you design? 
My day job is as a quality assurance officer for a laboratory.  Very detail oriented stuff.  And lots of techy stuff.  So I guess that translates to my card making too!     

This is a picture of JJ with the lab parakeet. They keep him in the break room. Pretty unique pictures eh?










CC: She has an addiction to die cuts, it's serious. It's BAD, so bad, it's good...(remember when being bad was good ;)

HPI: JJ is a mother of fraternal twins, Brady and Ryan who are 13. She has been married to Dave for 17 years this fall and together 19 years. They met at work. He was younger and only an intern! She has worked in labs since college except for 5 years when she stayed at home to be with the boys. During that time she ran a ribbon design company with her sister.


one of JJ's favorite photos of her family taken a few years ago


touring the High Museum of Art in Atlanta

She has been blogging since May 2011. The first post says goodbye to the business she and her sister started. (Hence the name Ribbon Girls).  From then on, JJ took over the blog as her own and began creating her magic. 

When did your design aesthetic become clear to you?  
Has it become clear?  I must have missed it, lol!  All I know is that I’ve always been drawn to clean, graphic, and colorful design.      

If you could interview someone in blog land who would it be and why? 
I would pick Cath Edvalson from PC/Moxie Fab World.  I would love to pick her brain on what she considers good design and what she sees on the paper crafting horizon.  

Who do you feel has a strong design aesthetic and why?  
Joscelyne Cutchens comes to mind.  Her cards and layouts all have that Joscie feel.  Until recently, I never knew there was a name for that style, but recently I heard it described as “freestyle/collage” (think it was Windy Robinson on the Paper Crafts site).  I think Joscie’s style is heavy influenced by the fact that she was a scrapbooker first.  Love her fun and cute style!

What is one supply that has changed the way you design?  
Die cutters (electronic and manual)!  Searching the web on how to use my electronic die cutter (Silhouette) is what led me to the wide world of card-making.  I’m probably the only person who got a Silhouette first and then moved on to a manual die cutting systems.  I love all my die cutters!  (Don’t ask me how many I have;)

What music do you listen to?  
I love all types of music, but my go-to is reggae/island/mellow/beach hippie music. Bob Marley, Big Mountain, Jack Johnson, UB40, and Hawaiian bands.  I’ve also been known to play 80’s music and old school R&B/funk.  

What are your favorite manufacturers?  
I’m an equal opportunity buyer, but the stamps that I reach for the most are from Avery Elle, Mama Elephant, Hero Arts, Waltzingmouse Stamps, PTI, Paper Smooches, and Lawn Fawn.  For cardstock, I favor Avery Elle (especially white) and PTI.  For dies, I love Memory Box/Poppystamps, Lifestyle Crafts, Spellbinders, and PTI.  For inks, I prefer Fresh Ink (pigment inks from Impress) for stamping and Distress Inks for blending.

What is your favorite color this year?  
Gold, no joke!  I don’t really even wear gold jewelry, but it seems to have crept into many of my cards lately.  



What is your favorite card you ever made?  
If I had to choose just one card, I’d probably choose this one.   From conception to execution, it went exactly as I had envisioned.  (it is the deconstructed Chevron card seen below)

The perfect blogger is one who? 
Shares.  Anyone who shares techniques, supply sources, tips, inspiration, failures/victories, etc. is tops in my book. 

What is most important in creating a card? 
Supply-wise you mean?  Good quality cardstock.  Never underestimate good white cardstock.

how long does it take you to make a card? 
I am pretty slow.  I rarely have long stretches of time to craft, so I grab time here and there.  It ends up taking me longer, but many times, the extra thinking time helps me work out the kinks.  

what is on your crafty wish list for 2013?  
I’d like a Silhouette Cameo just for the larger cutting space.  My Silhouette SD is fine, but I’d like to try some bigger projects like party favors.    

where do you go for inspiration?  
For some reason, I prefer looking for inspiration in pics/sites that are not card related.  Home decorating, letterpress, photography, and graphic design sites are my favorites  

Is there one technique out there that you want to try but haven't? 
I’d like to try letterpress!  It requires more/different supplies, so that may not be in the cards for me this year.  (May not be in the cards for me, get it?  Yes, I’m a dork.)
Who is your blogging idol?  
I have a few idols.  Betsy Veldman is definitely one because she is off the charts creative!  I learn something new from her every.single.post.  Another is Jocelyn Olson.  She has an eye for design and I’m in awe of her digital/hybrid talents!  I wish I could watch her create a card start to finish.  Of course, Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner, Cristina Kowalczyk, Claire Brennan, Nichole Heady, Kim Kesti, and Julie Ebersole are amazing.  
Can I also list the bloggers I admire the most?  Laura Bassen, Christina Maclaren, Laurie Willison, Jackie Rockwell, Jen Rzasa.  More recently, I’ve been taken with the work Pamela Ho, Kelly Griglione, and Chrissy Larson.  (Sorry if I misspelled a name!)

What makes you laugh?  
Almost anything.  Most of my friends and family would say that I’m a joker.  A sarcastic joker;)

Worse blogging moment?  
None that I can think of!  It’s been a fun ride!  










The best way you can see a persons style is through a body of work. Let me show you what JJ can do. These are some of my most favorites...








Do you notice:
  • the graphic feel of her cards?
  • the use of solid color, and LOTS of it?
  • the interactiveness in her cards? Her work always seems to have movement either literally or through design.


Her creative space, in the basement of her home:













Die Cuts with a View
I have loved JJ's work for a long time. Back in March of 2012, I gave her a Liebster award and here is what I said, "Her cards are just plain unique. She looks at the same supplies you and I do and makes magic with them. She has me thinking and drooling...and not necessarily in that order. " 

I still feel this way about JJ today. She is innovative and I believe a forerunner in starting a new genre of cardmaking by bringing die cuts front and center. 

In asking the community what makes JJ stand out amongst the rest and what they like about her work...

LAURIE WILLSON ( on Casual Fridays Challenge Design Team, Paper Crafts Magazine Gallery Idol Finalist 2011, 2012, Stamping Royalty 2011, World Card Making Day Winner 2011): "JJ is an amazing card maker. She has the most gorgeous designs and uses color in so many great ways. I love her use of die cuts. She comes up with fun uses for them and the layouts of her cards are always so original. I love seeing a new post come through from her on my reader! She is so creative and so very inspiring!"

JENNIFER MCGUIRE (Paper Crafts Magazine Go To Gal, Education Director Hero Arts, Ranger Industries Contributor): " JJ Bolton... where do I begin? Her cards always cause my jaw to drop. She combines colors in amazing ways and comes up with one-of-a-kind designs that impress every time. And she also achieves what I find very difficult: incorporating techniques into a clean and simple look. I am a fan. A BIG fan!"

JAMIE GRACZ (Owner of Avery Elle Company, JJ is on the design team): "I asked JJ to be a part of the Avery Elle design team because her cards are bold, fresh, modern and just plain creative! I have never seen anyone use dies like she does. There are two cards in particular that stand out in my mind and best represent why I asked JJ to join the Avery Elle design team."
"I love the bold and modern design of this first card. The mix of shapes and textures is amazing."


"This second card is graphic, fresh, fun and pure genius!"


(this was chosen by me as well for the Top 12 Cards of 2012)










Think you want to join this genre? 
  • Cut the...die. Electronic, battery operated, manual, any and all types. JJ is a BIG user of die cuts and she is constantly using them in new and magical ways. 
  • Think outside the circle. Anyone can take a die cut shape and use it as it was intended. Either as a label or to stamp on, but JJ takes that same die and transforms it into something your eyes have never laid eyes on...ALL THE TIME!

    • Shape Up! JJ loves to create shapes and layer shapes. She really enjoys more abstract design. Its graphic and modern.


    If someone wanted to design like you, what would they need?  
    Good quality cardstock and ink, some kind of die cutting machine, and an open mind  OK, that came out goofy.  By open mind I mean, looking at your supplies in unconventional ways.  I’m a big advocate of finding new uses for supplies I already have in my stash.

    Last craft purchase? 
    Sequins from Etsy, water color pencils, and inkpads from Stampin Up.




    How many hours do you craft a week?  
    A good week, about 3 hours.  Some weeks, none!  

    If I had to pick a song that represented JJ to ME, it would be this one:


    She is Hawaii (even if she lives in Virginia), she has turned the crafting world upside down with her designs and aesthetic view!

    Thank you JJ for taking the time to answer the questions and giving me full access to your blog RG RIBBON GIRLS.



    Next Diagnosis coming January 31!