New Additions

We've had a few changes around the office lately and I thought that I would use my blog post today to introduce you to our new team members.


First, let me introduce Kristen & Bella. Kristen is our new graphic designer and Bella is her faithful 4 legged friend.

Kristen is a student at Western KY University and will be graduating in December. I wanted all of you to get to know her, so I concocted some interview questions to give you a little insight into our new team member.

1. Why did you choose graphic design as a career? (I had to start her off with an easy one to break the ice)

I chose graphic design because even at a young age I had a huge imagination and was always into arts & crafts. In 4th grade I was my teacher's "Art Princess". It's always fascinated me because the possibilities are endless and it's far from boring. So naturally graphic design was right up my ally.

2. What is your favorite aspect of design?

I enjoy the challenge that it gives me. Most people think that its an easy mindless job, but in fact it can be challenging. I like overcoming this factor and seeing the end result and how much progress I made along the way.

3. What made you apply for the job at Studio Calico?

Good Question. I have a lot on my plate as it is with doing another internship with WKU (Imagewest) and taking three classes. I've always loved scrapbooking and wanted to get into a job just like this to learn more about it. With the two weeks I've been here, I've learned so much more about scrapbooking then I had ever imagined. It's fun.

4. What was your first impression of Studio Calico?

I like the peaceful drive to work and I think the whole concept of the company is very interesting!

5. What has been the most surprising thing about your job at Studio Calico so far?

That I can bring my dog to work! I love it! Because I felt like a bad mom with never having time to spend with her. But really that I have learned as much as I have so far. I'm learning more and more everyday

6. What is your favorite pattern? Least favorite pattern?

I like all patterns usually. More so bright and lively than dull. I like stripes and circles as well. Least favorite.. anything with like skulls on it, I don't know why but not a big fan of the skulls. (I know that many of you out there are also anti-skull....this should make you happy!)

7. If you could name your own font, what would you name it?

Kristen of course, but since that font is already in existence (not a very exciting font if you ask me) I would name it "Bubbles" and it would be big fat bubble letters with polka dots in them.

8. What is the most rewarding part of being a designer?

Seeing my work made public. It's an amazing feeling to be able to point and say I DID THAT!!

9. Tell us the story of Bella.

Bella is the love of my life. I am so obsessed with her. She has the most loving personality and a great snuggler :) I am a pet person. I LOVE any and all pets. Mostly dogs but I've had almost every pet possible. So naturally when i went away to college and my mom got rid of my yellow lab i was devastated. I lived in a place that didn't allow dogs for 2 years so when we moved out i convinced my roommate to move into a place that was pet friendly for our last semester. She agreed but my mom did not. She kept telling me to wait until i had a house, a dog is so much responsibility esp a puppy, you need to wait. Well, she was right, moms are always right. Bella is soo much more responsibility then i had ever imagined. But i think I'm better for it. She does limit me sometimes, but I wouldn't trade her for anything. She always puts a smile on my face (but not when she chews up my computer power cord or pees EVERYWHERE because she gets excited) I have so much fun with her. I got her from the humane society when she was 4 months and she is now 7 months weighing in at 21 pounds. No idea what she is they didn't know her mom or dad, but she looks like a mini boxer, and greyhound mixed with a whole lot of other stuff. So who knows but that's her story in a nutshell :) (We are all dog lover's here, so I had to throw this one in....it makes me all warm and fuzzy)

10. What is your favorite drink?

Easy, Chi Tea. It's like coffee for me. Don't try it unless you want to be addicted. (In my opinion)

You all know how much we love Sonic drinks around here....she's young and we will work on her and try to get her to see the light! There is nothing better than a Sonic drink!

While I'm at it, I'm going to go ahead and introduce you to another new arrival. Her name is Ava and she is the cutest little bundle of joy you have ever seen!

Ava is Carter's little sister....her Mommy is Cara. Some of you know Cara because you see her name in your kit every month, she is one of our dedicated kit packers. We missed her like crazy while she was out on maternity leave and I, for one, am so excited that she is back working with us again!! One good thing about Studio Calico, we love babies and dogs!

That's all for me today....Emily's got something good planned for tomorrow....stay tuned!
Lorie

May Flaum Signed My Yearbook! (and an oops)

One of the things I love about Reveal Night is seeing what the DT came up with using the same exact things. I'm always floored at how the exact same kit produce so many different layouts! Well according to the extremely talented May Flaum, it's all about your individual style and how you decide to use the products provided you. I know that the kit club concept has stepped up my own personal scrapbooking abilities, having to use certain products makes me look for different ways to put them together. May has taken kits from a number of kit clubs out there right now and designed a class that helps you maximize your own style using your kits. The class is called Adventures in Scrapbooking: Using Kits, and you can read the exact description of her class here at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Here's what May had to say about working with her Studio Calico kit:

What can I say about Studio Calico kits? I am never sure what I will get, but I know that it’ll be fun, fresh, include stuff I’ve never seen before, and be loads of fun. As a crafter who lives and bleeds in kraft, I’m clearly attracted to the kindred spirits at S.C. I love working with neutral cardstocks like cream & kraft and then pumping up the color and funk with papers and embellishments. This October kit has been so great to work with, and I can’t wait to be able to share my layouts with my Big Picture Students.

The YEARBOOK kit is featured in the final week of class, and I can’t think of a better way to close out class than with this super fab October kit. I’m having so much fun with it – I can’t stop creating! It’s been a pleasure putting this all together and I can’t wait to get started with all the kit loving students who will join me.

Class starts November 5

For sneaks and updates, be sure to visit May's blog: http://mayflaum.wordpress.com/

And totally changing gears…do you ever make mistakes on layouts? What do you do? Throw a kicking and screaming fit? Toss it and start over? What if it's the last thing you had to do to finish your layout?

I just wanted to share what I did on my Pencil Proliferation page. I make mistakes all the time, but they usually force me to come up with creative solutions for hiding them :) That's what happened with this page. I left the journaling until the end, a big no-no in my book, but I'd added so many things that I was flat out of room for telling the story. See where the scroll is?

See how the scroll covers up some words? :) I had enough space for two lines of text and I totally totally totally messed up the wording. I used the word "far" two times within in five words of each other. It's a silly thing, but it would have bugged me every time I read it. I usually prewrite my journaling, and I had for this page, but I decided to go all renegade and change it up AS I was writing it in with my pen. I got to the end of the line and realized I hated what I'd done! But I had no intentions of redoing the whole page. I thought about moving the number strip up, but that would have messed up the balance. Then the idea of the scroll hit. I'd already done all the journaling I needed to about this particular habit of my son's on my blog. So I sized a document in Photoshop to the dimensions I'd need to print on my small notebook paper, copied the text from my blog, printed it out on the notebook paper, and smartly glued the whole scroll onto my layout. And you can't tell because of how I photographed the layout. Sneaky, yes? The scrolled notebook paper fits the topic, I covered up a mistake, and I journaled all that I wanted to, without having to start over again. It's a happy thing! So the next time you make a mistake, don't panic, just look for a creative way to hide it.

Get Published with Studio Calico

Have you noticed that scrapbook magazines are including kits in the description of items used? Scrapbook Trends is one such magazine in which submissions may include the kit the items came from along with the manufacturers of the products.



Take Stephanie's layout as an example which was published in the May 2008 issue of ST.

We genuinely appreciate those who submit taking the time to mention Studio Calico. To acknowlege that, we are offering a $15 gift card to our subscribers who get published using a Studio Calico kit and indicate such in the product description as shown above.

Just a little something to say, "Thank you," and to help support your add-on splurges!

Upon publication, please send an email to info@studiocalico.com. Please let us know the magazine and issue (or idea book) in which your LO or project was published.