Magazine Monday – Meet Lindsay Amrhein

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday and day one of our exciting Cards Ideas Week!

We’re so glad you could join us as we celebrate our latest special issue, Card Ideas for Paper Crafters! On sale now, you’ll find 288 cards made from 72 fresh and fun sketches. The best part? We’ll show you how versatile these sketches can be as our designers flip, turn and rotate them for even more inspiration.

As always, we’re thrilled to be partnering with the Moxie Fab World blog for a whole week of promotion. Between the two sites, we’ll be spotlighting cards (and sketches) from the issue, hosting some fun challenges and giving away some amazing prizes.

Click on the cover image to order your copy today!

Today we’re spotlighting the talented Lindsay Amrhein, who has 8 cards in Card Ideas for Paper Crafters! As one of the Top 10 finalists in this year’s Gallery Idol competition, I so enjoyed seeing her creative designs week after week.

Shall we get to know Lindsay a little bit better?

Lindsay Amrhein

1. How long have you been designing with sketches? Why do you think they’re so appealing to paper crafters?

Sketches have been in my craft arsenal since the beginning. I would refer to them when I needed help getting started and I still do. Sketches take away that first hurdle of design and allow you to jump right in with all the fun stuff!

Sketch by Cristina Kowalczyk, p. 106

Happy Happy Birthday Card, p. 107

2. What is your most difficult paper crafting challenge?

Knowing when to stop putting things on my project! I tend to overuse embellishments or colors or something that detracts from the overall design. I have been trying to take a less-is-more approach to my card making.

3. How would you describe your style?

I have never quite been able to define my style; I do lean towards fun and cute, but sometimes find myself creating clean and graphic cards as well.

Sketch by Vanessa Menhorn, p. 58

Happy for You! Card, p. 59

4. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

At the age of sixteen I underwent major surgery to remove a benign tumor from my brain. It was a pivotal place in my life that changed who I was and how I viewed life from that point on.

5. How do you keep yourself organized when it comes to submission deadlines?

As soon as a call is up, I print off the information and put it in a folder that sits on my desk. Whenever I have an idea, I write it down within that folder and all card images are stored in a folder on my computer.

6. Name three Paper Crafts designers whose styles you like and tell me why they appeal to you.

• Teri Anderson – she does amazing things with patterned paper and stamps. There is always something she does that I wish I would have thought of!
• Julia Stainton – she can seriously do every style and make it look amazing! Her layering is top notch and she chooses the best colors and products for her projects.
• Maile Belles – THE clean and simple queen, she always makes my jaw drop in amazement at the way she thinks outside the box with stamps and her use of color.

7. Do you have any advice for someone who’s never been published or who wants to try submitting for the first time?

Don’t take it personally, there are a lot of cards being submitted and sometimes it’s just not what they are looking for. Know the magazine you are submitting to and design accordingly. Lastly, don’t give up! Keep trying!

8. Out of your 8 cards in Card Ideas for Paper Crafters, which is your favorite and why?  

My You Did It! Card. I love the rainbow colors and how simple it looks, although it was more work than I had planned. When I first saw the sketch, I envisioned rainbow die cut circles, but didn’t want the bulk, so I had to die-cut the inner layer out of all the circles to get the one layer look I was going for. 

Sketch by Julia Stainton, p. 24

You Did It! Card, p. 24

9. Do you have a blog or online gallery? If so, please provide the URL.

My blog is http://lindsayamrhein.blogspot.com

Thanks, Lindsay! Leave a comment here for Lindsay and I’ll pick three winners to take home Hero Arts’ Layered Flowers stamp set (the same set she used in her Happy for You! Card above) AND a copy of Card Ideas for Paper Crafters. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Tuesday, August 23.

Three lucky winners will take home this stamp set from Hero Arts!

Happy Monday!
Kelly

P.S. Hop over to Moxie Fab World for even more sketch-filled inspiration!

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the winners from our Monster Gift Card Giveaway, Countdown to Card Ideas Week and Samantha Walker/Unity Stamp Giveaway posts!

Monster Gift Card Giveaway winner:

Karen (Aug. 18, 12:48 p.m.)

Countdown to Card Ideas Week winners:

1. Laura Daniels (Aug. 19, 9:18 a.m.)
2. Annette A. (Aug. 19, 6:48 a.m.)
3. Norma (Aug. 19, 4:12 a.m.)

Samantha Walker/Unity Stamp Giveaway winners:

1. Dianne (Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m.)
2. Janie La Pierre (Aug. 19, 12:50 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be e-mailing you shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing address. Thanks to all who left comments!