Holly Mills
Hello paper crafters! It’s me: Holly. I’m Paper Crafts’ new graphic designer. Cath already introduced me in this previous post, so I won’t say much more, except this: I am a self-confessed paper crafting ignoramus. There. I said it. It’s finally out there.
My nearest experience with paper crafting was an amateur run at bookmaking. But I love art. And I am continually amazed with the creativity and design skills I see in the cards we receive here.
For years my mom had a poster hanging in the hall titled, “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.” I feel like that’s where my paper crafting schooling is right now. I’m returning to the basics. If only naps and recess were included with my new education!
Shortly after starting with Paper Crafts, I realized I needed a tutor (or dictionary) to help me learn the crafting jargon that’s thrown around the office like a hot potato. I figured I didn’t have time to read-up on the vernacular, so I called my sister, who is a card maker.
Me: Do you own a machine named after a bug?
Heidi: What? (pause pause pause) My Cricut?
Me: Yeah. It makes stuff for your cards, right? So tell me what is the difference between DIY and a die cut?
Heidi: Serious?
Me: Yeah. And what’s that cardboard stuff with decorated paper on the other side?
Heidi: You mean chipboard?
Me: Yeah. What do you use that for? Is it like a layering piece or an ornament or something?
Me: And how hard is it to emboss?
Heidi: What type of embossing?
Me: There are different types?
Heidi: (I can hear here blinking in disbelief) Yes, there’s dry, as well as heat embossing. They are different techniques.
Me: Huh?
Heidi: (stifling a mocking tone) Why don’t you come over and we’ll make some cards together?
Lets all keep our fingers crossed that I don’t break her Cricut machine, and maybe one day I’ll have a collection of my very own DIY cards.
Keep smilin’,
Holly
A good sense of humor will get you through anything…
Congratulations on your new job!! Don’t worry- you’ll be an old pro in no time! (And you just might have fun doing it, too!)
Thanks for sharing the “convo” you had with your sister! Too funny to someone like me. I started really getting into all the techniques available to paper crafters about a year ago, and am so happy I did. I now can throw that crafty jargon around with the best of them!
If anyone is interested, I made a couple of basic 101 video tutorials. One is on paper masking and one is on paper piecing… they can be found on my blog (direct link is to paper piecing, which has a link to masking) http://rcbogner.blogspot.com/2009/11/paper-piecing-101.html
Thanks for the great report! I can’t wait to read about your experience with the bugs by provo craft! (there are more than one bug named machine from the company!)
We aren’t all born with this knowledge. We all learn little by little. I think you are feeling what a lot of people feel when they want to start scrapbooking and paper crafting. Overwhelmed with everything. Just take it slow. You’ll get the hang of it before you know it. And maybe join the ranks of the addicted and “wise?”. LOL
Good luck!
Good luck on the card making! I remember having a very similar conversation with a good friend a few years ago. Now I’m hooked!!!
I’m sure you’ll be just fine – after all, you have some of the greatest paper crafters around you.
You are working at the right place to find out about crafting! Congrats again!
Three letters: L O L.
Totally know this kind of conversation since in Germany papercrafting is rather unknown
Holly, Holly, Holly…you are so funny!! What a great sense of humor you have. I wish I could work with you all! You sound like one of my sisters asking me questions about stamping. Oh, just wait until you get some ink on those fingers…