- P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to day two of our exciting Card Creations: Start to Finish Week! We hope you enjoyed yesterday’s spotlight on cover girl Tanis Giesbrecht and are now starting to see the design possibilities for the insides of your cards.
Today we’re spotlighting another lovely Canadian, Charlene Austin, who was positively giddy when I e-mailed her about being a featured cover girl for Card Creations: Start to Finish, Vol. 2:
“My answer is a big huge YES!!! There is no question I will have time for this…I would quit my job to make time…LOL. My family is going to be sick of me asking them to take a thousand pictures for a good headshot. Haha. I knew 2010 was going to be a good year. This is an amazing way to start it off. I appreciate it and am so totally honored!”
Editor’s note: If Charlene’s employer is reading this post, she was totally kidding about the “quitting my job” remark. She’s completely loyal to you. I promise.
Let’s get to know Miss Charlene!
Charlene Austin
1. Where did you grow up?
In Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I’m still here.
2. Do you work outside the home? If so, what do you do?
I work part-time as a Property Claims Adjuster {please don’t hold it against me}.
3. If a movie were to be made of your life, who would you cast to play the part of you?
I’m going to go with Jennifer Garner. Not because she looks anything like me {I wish}, but she’s a fun actress and she named her dog Martha Stewart. What’s not to like?
4. What song would you choose as the theme song for your life?
I can’t think of a theme song for my life, so I thought I’d just give you a good laugh and tell you my favorite song of all time: Careless Whispers by George Michael. I know, the 80’s rocked, right?
5. What is one thing most people would be surprised to hear about you?
Most people find the fact that I have a rice phobia pretty crazy. There is no explanation for it, but I have never and could never eat rice.
6. What/who inspired you to start paper crafting?
My BFF Wendy Bond. She invited me to a card party she was hosting. At first I didn’t “get it”, but it wasn’t long before I become obsessed passionate about card making.
7. What is your biggest paper crafting challenge?
My biggest challenge is actually getting myself off the computer and going to my craft room to make something. I get lost in cyber space for hours on end, and then I’m too tired or overwhelmed to create.
8. If you were only allowed two items to create a card beside cardstock and adhesive, what would they be?
Ribbon and my sewing machine. They can both be the perfect final touch to a card.
9. What is your favorite occasion or holiday to paper craft and why?
I would have to say Christmas. The products and the project ideas are endless.
10. How would you describe your style?
I’m not quite sure I have a distinct style, but I aim to make fresh and clean cards with a touch of originality here and there.
In Charlene's She is Strength Card, she carries the design and sentiment from the front to the inside.
11. When is your favorite time to craft?
More often than not, I’m heading to my craft room around 11 p.m. and I stay there until 2-3 a.m. Only on my days off and weekends, of course.
12. What sort of music do you listen to while crafting?
It’s not music, but rather my TV that is turned on while I’m in the craft room. And it’s usually set on the Food Channel. No wonder I get hungry at 2 a.m.!
13. How does your family participate in your paper crafting passion?
While he doesn’t “participate” in crafting, my husband was very supportive when he realized how much I loved my new hobby. He suggested we develop our basement, and helped me create a beautiful craft room.
14. When it comes to calls and deadlines, how do you keep yourself organized?
I’m a bit of a mess when it comes to organization of calls and deadlines, so I end up being very last-minute. My process includes a lot of photo boxes and sticky notes. It’s not pretty, people!
15. Do you remember what Paper Crafts issue your first project appeared in? How has your style changed since then?
Card Creations, Vol. 7. It wasn’t that long ago, but I think I have been all over the board and back again trying to find my “Char Card” style.
In Charlene's There is No Doubt Card, she finishes her sentiment on the inside. We love her "Char Card" style!
16. Have you contributed to any design teams in the past or present? If so, which ones?
I have just completed a design team spot with Elzybells Stamp Company UK. I’m currently part of Embellish Magazine and Perfectly Pretty. Also very close to my heart is a color challenge that my five BFF’s and I do each week called Loonie Stampers Challenge.
17. Name three designers whose styles you like and why they appeal to you.
- Nichole Heady – There isn’t anything Nichole does that I don’t love. She’s brilliant!
- Teri Anderson – I love her clean and oh, so playful style. “Meeting” her cards each day makes me smile.
- Jennifer McGuire – She’s incredibly talented, but what I love is that she’s just so real and down to earth in her videos. Fun stuff.
18. Do you have any advice/tips for someone who’s never been published or who wants to submit for the first time?
If you would like to see your work published in the magazines, you need to know that it IS possible and you CAN make it happen. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get immediate results. Try and try again.
19. What was your inspiration for your Sunny Thank You card that appears on the cover of Card Creations: Start to Finish, Vol. 2?
When I made this card I was just enjoying putting together some of my very favorite things – Papertrey’s Summer Sunrise cardstock, crocheted flowers and a new K&Company pad of patterned paper. Yummy! I also have a thing for stamping sentiments and then cutting it out to add to the card. This card is clean and simple, so to carry the design to the inside, all it needed was matching blocks of patterned paper to make it flow.
In Charlene's Sunny Thank You Card, she carries the design (color blocks) from the front to the inside.
20. Do you have a blog or online gallery? If so, please provide the URL.
I do have a blog (www.willowandpaisley.typepad.com). For those of you who would like to purchase Card Creations: Start to Finish, Vol. 2, please visit my blog to hear about the special deal you can get!
Thanks, Charlene! Our friends at Technique Tuesday were nice enough to donate three sets of their Loving Words stamp set by Ali Edwards – the same set Charlene used to create her Sunny Thank You and There is No Doubt cards. Please leave a comment and I’ll pick three random winners to receive this set, plus a copy of Card Creations: Start to Finish, Vol. 2. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Three lucky people will win this fun sentiment set from Technique Tuesday!
Happy Tuesday!
Kelly
P.S. Make sure you join us tomorrow for our final spotlight on cover girl Becky Olsen!
Tags: Ali Edwards, Becky Olsen, Card Creations: Start to Finish Week, Card Creations: Start to Finish: Volume 2, Card Creations: Volume 7, Charlene Austin, Elzybells Stamp Company UK, Embellish Magazine, Jennifer McGuire, K&Company, Loonie Stampers Challenge, Nichole Heady, P. Kelly Smith, Paper Crafts Connection, Paper Crafts magazine, Papertrey Ink, Perfectly Pretty, Tanis Giesbrecht, Technique Tuesday, Teri Anderson, Wendy Bond
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What a gorgeous set. I could see myself using this over and over again making cards or scrapbooking. Those great cards really nicely showcase this great set. Thanks.
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Oh such beautiful cards! I love your clean whimsical style!
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It was fun to read about Charlene…I am also a Canadian and in fact live quite close to Calgary, so I was particularly interested. And the stamps look wonderful.
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Beautiful cards! I love your style, Char, even if you’re not sure what it is! =D
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I just love your card design style. I especially like the way how you design the inside of your cards, and the front and inside coordinate so well. I always design the inside of my cards, also. I love the stamp set and would love to have a chance to win them. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Love your style Char! Such beautiful, vibrant color schemes too.
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I love the fresh clean style of Charlene’s work. What great inspiration!! Thanks for sharing with us!!
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Always fun to “meet” talented girls.
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one spending hours in cyberspace. I have to drag myself away too, but there is so much to see!!!
Eveline. -
What wonderful cards!
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Awesome stuff. Just love Charlene’s work. Thanks for the chance to win
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I love how Charlene makes the sentiment on these cards the focal point. They are colourful and classy. Thanks for the chance to win that freat stamp set.
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Awesome cards! I love your style. Thanks for working so hard and create great projects to inspire us. The set is absolutely fabulous, hope one is mine
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Such talent! You always find the best. I get so inspired here. Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous Technique Tuesday set!!! I’d use this like crazy, CRAZY, I tell ya!
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Thanks for such an interesting interview and the lovely cards.
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I love Charlene’s clean and simple style!
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I love Charlene’s work and these creations are amazing as always!!!
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very creative.
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I love your work!
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I love Charlene’s style! I get so much inspiration from her blog. Congrats on being featured a Cover girl!!
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What beautiful cards! I love that stamp set also!!
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Beautiful cards – they are so fresh and light. Love them!!
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i enjoy your cards….thanks for the inspiration!
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What gorgeous cards!
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I love the clean style and simplicity. Beautiful job!
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Loved meeting Charlene. All of these designers are so inspiring!
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Great cards and nice to meet you Charlene.
Janet
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Yup, I’m inspired now! What else can I say. I love these Q and A stories!!!!
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Looks like you like polka dots as much as I do. Great work.
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Hey Charlene, I just love your There is no doubt card, its great for V-day. I also scrap mostly at night. I find it more peaceful. Thanks for sharing
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Very nice, love them all.
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Very nice cards. Thanks so much for sharing your projects.
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So happy to read about you, Charlene! Can I “Woot, woot” from up North?
Big congrats on making the cover!!!!!!Teri
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Hi Charlene, I just love your great sense of humor and cards. What a great combination. God bless!
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yeah! polka-dots! Love the cards. Fun ideas. Thanks for sharing!
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Beautiful work! Just love all of your lovely cards! The first one and of course the last one (Since Early Bird is one of my fav lines) are my favorite! I just love your style!
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Nice to always hear the story behind the face & “name” in the magazines!
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Love the cards and the stamps, would love to win!
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Cool! I like the cards in this post a lot…lots of inspiration!
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Love your designs Charlene! Great getting to know more about you too! Congrats on being a cover girl!
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Nice interview with Charlene. Thanks for sharing with us today
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Congratulations on the cover, Charlene. Love how you used the thin strip of brown to ground the designs.
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Great cards . . . it’s so nice to get to know her better and those stamps are sooo cool!
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I have really enjoyed “meeting” all the go-to-gals here and on the PaperCrafts message board
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What a lovely woman! It’s so nice to know that I am not the only who gets lost in blogland and then gets overwhelmed and can’t create! See you at 2am in the kitchen!
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Beautiful cards made with such care. The stamps are wonderful
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Congratulations Charlene! You are amazing! And thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to take your picture for such an occasion! I consider it quite an honor! :^D
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Congrats Charlene and thank you for encouraging us budding cardmakers to keep going for it!
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Charlene, Your cards are so refreshing. Clean, simple work that shines. Less is always more!
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