Name: Karen Spears
Family: Married to Mark for 7 years and have 3 children- Alexander (6), Dominic (4), and Adriana (2)
How long have you been scrapping? I have been scrapping for 4 years now. Before that, I was very interested in scrapping and had purchased supplies, but never made any pages. I have always been interested in crafts.
What are you currently working on? I am working on an ongoing project of making a heritage album for my mother. I have so many things to catch up on. If I never took another picture, I would still have plenty of subjects to scrap!
How much time do you spend scrapbooking? Not nearly enough! I usually scrap after my children have gone to bed and do that 2-3 times a month.
Where do you get your ideas/inspiration? I get most of my inspiration from my children and the funny things they say and do. They inspire the pages. Online galleries and magazines inspire the techniques.
Favorite Tool and why? I'm not a real gadget person and don't have very many tools. The tool I use the most is probably my craft knife and glass cutting mat. I like to hand cut titles and cover chipboard with paper so I use those tools a lot.
Favorite Technique and why? I love sewing on my pages. It really makes things stand out. I love using different color threads. It also gives me a chance to use the sewing machine I asked for. I deluded myself into thinking I could sew curtians and home decor things, but I am a terrible seamstress!
What is the best part of being a part of Rusty Pickle Design Team? Is it everything you expected? There are a few "best" parts of being on the Rusty Pickle Design Team! I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to attend conventions and work in the Rusty Pickle booth. I have loved meeting my fellow design team members and the wonderful people who work at the Pickle. Being able to design classes for various conventions has also been a perk! And, of course, I can't forget the awesome boxes of supplies that come to my door. Rusty Pickle is very generous to their Design Team.
List your other Scrappin' accomplishments(Contests, published etc.) I have been published in Memory Makers; Rusty Pickle's Idea book, Nothing Rusty Here; and was the first trainer for Brainiac Scrapbooking's Brain Freeze Rescue Kit book.
Advice for those who want to get published. One thing that has helped me has been visiting online communites that have publishing forums. There are so many knowledgeable people there who welcome questions. I have learned so much about the submission process- where to submit, how to format my files for submission, and so much more.
What are your future scrapbooking goals? I am going to spend more time scrapping. I have a lot of catching up to do! I hear fellow scrappers talk about how they haven't finished scrapping their children's baby pictures and I am in the same boat!
What can we expect from you in the future? Where can we expect to see you/your work next? I don't have anything picked up at the moment, but have just submitted several layouts to major magazines so keep your fingers crossed for me! I usually hang out on scrapbook.com and have a blog there. You will also see me a several conventions in 2007 working at the Rusty Pickle booth!
Anything else you want to say to Scraps of Color readers? I just want to say that I am honored to have been asked to represent my fellow scrappers of color on here. It is wonderful to see the diversity in the craft that I love so much.
By the Sea (as see in the Brainiac Rescue Book)
Boys in the Hoods
Absolutely Adorable Ander (as seen on the cover of Nothing Rusty Here.)
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