P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I sure did! As much I as love hosting our annual Gallery Idol contest, it’s a lot of work to coordinate and schedule. And as hard as we try to put on a good show, there’s always a surprising twist with every season…and this season is no different! Read on to hear the happy ending to this year’s surprising twist!

Today we’re spotlighting our 2011 Gallery Idol winner Cristina Kowalczyk! Just announced last Friday, Cristina was so sweet to indulge this pesky editor and answer a few spotlight questions for me and our loyal PCC blog readers!

Shall we get to know our talented 2011 Gallery Idol winner a little bit better?

Take it away, Cristina!

Cristina Kowalczyk

1. Full name: Cristina Elcira Kowalczyk

2. Where did you grow up? Where do you currently live?

I grew up all over the place. I was born in Delaware, and then moved to Miami, then to Virginia, then to Indiana, then back to Delaware when I was in 5^thgrade. Never a dull moment! Now I live in Hinsdale, IL, in the western suburbs of Chicago. I’ve been here for almost five years.

3. Do you work outside the home?

I’m an author, so sometimes I work in the house, sometimes at the library, and sometimes at a coffee shop. It depends on the day and how much I’m trying to get done. I’m working on my second novel now.

4. What/who inspired you to start paper crafting?

I think my story is similar to many people’s in that I got hooked by a Stampin’ Up! workshop. But I’m pretty sure the seed had been planted long, long ago because of growing up watching my mom do all sorts of crafty things. Since I can remember, she was always trying something – basket-weaving, cross-stitching, sewing, quilting. And now we do paper crafting together!

5. Do you remember what Paper Crafts issue your first project appeared in? How has your style changed since then?

It was the January/February 2011 issue, and I still have that card up on my desk. I’ll never get rid of it! My style has always been clean and simple, but I think it’s gotten more graphic since then. A lot of the time I think what I’m basically trying to do is recreate patterns using stamps. Because of that, I’ve found that I don’t buy as many image-based sets anymore and instead spend my money on background sets and builder stamps.

Thinking of You Card by Cristina Kowalczyk

6. What made you try out for this season of Gallery Idol?

I remember watching the competition unfold last year, when I was just getting into paper crafting, and being so in awe of the projects people were making. The designers were just knocking it out of the park, round after round. At the time I never thought I could be like them. But my confidence grew little by little over the past year so when the competition rolled around again, I thought, Why not?

7. What round of Gallery Idol did you find the most challenging?

Fabric!

8. What did you enjoy most about the Gallery Idol experience?

Two things: 1. Getting to know my fellow competitors. They are the most amazing group of girls and we were all so supportive of each other. I wouldn’t have wanted to go through it without them! 2. Reading the comments people left me along the way. I was so overcome by the outpouring of love from everybody, even from people who’d never left me a comment before in their lives. It was so humbling. Because of my day job, I’m not usually the most social person. I spend a lot of time alone, just writing. So to feel like I had found this group of people who really cared about me…that was amazing.

9. What was your reaction when you heard that you were the grand prize winner and had won a spot on the Paper Crafts Cruise?

I didn’t sleep well the night before, and I had all these ridiculous dreams about trying to load the Paper Crafts web site, but there being no announcement, so I would go to another web site, and still no announcement. Haha! I finally crept out of bed at 6 a.m. to check. And it was like someone had just socked me in the chest (but in a good way!). I couldn’t believe it. I think I’m still in shock!

There was one little complication, though, which had come up only a few days before. Because of some personal stuff that I’ve been going through, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to go on the cruise. Which breaks my heart! But there’s really no option. The timing just isn’t going to be good. Life is what it is, though, and the experience of going through this (and of winning the title!) is more than enough for me.

[Note to reader: here's the surprise twist...]

10. You’ve kindly gifted the cruise to our runner-up in the competition (who will be revealed in today’s second post!). Now that you’ve completely won over your fans with this act of generosity, how will you spend your year as Paper Crafts’ reigning Gallery Idol winner?

Haha! Believe me, I didn’t just offer it out of the goodness of my heart. I would have gone in a snap if I could but like I said, there was really no option. I am SO happy, though, that the runner-up will be able to enjoy it. She deserves it just as much as I do! We all deserve cruises, I think! (You can arrange that, right?) For now I plan to keep designing for all the wonderful teams I’m on – Clear & Simple Stamps, Wplus9, Embellish, and CASE Study– and to have blissfully stress-free crafting weekends (hee!), and to spend time with my husband and daughter and be happy. That sounds like a pretty good year.

Thanks, Cristina! You truly are a class act. I think the suspense and intrigue of this surprising twist needs to be worked into your upcoming novel! Best of luck with your new manuscript! Speaking of new manuscripts, I was just flipping through our September/October 2011 issue and came across this fun card by Cristina. I think it perfectly sums up her Gallery Idol win.

Happy, Happy, Happy Day Card by Cristina Kowalczyk

Happy, Happy, Happy Monday!
Kelly

P.S. Stay tuned for our second post when we reveal the Gallery Idol runner-up who will be going on the Paper Crafts Cruise! (And we’ve got a pretty cool reaction from her, too!)

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the winners from Kim Kesti’s Party in a Bucket post, Renae’s July/August Tips, Tools, & Techniques Trivia post and my 2011 Gallery Idol Winner post!

Kim’s winners:

1. Savannah O’Gwynn (Aug. 3, 10:42 a.m.)
2. Nancy (Aug. 3, 3:46 p.m.)

Renae’s winner:

Amber From AZ (Aug. 4, 8:36 p.m.)

My winners:

1. Amanda J. (Aug. 5, 4:52 a.m.)
2. Laura Jean (Aug. 6, 8:08 p.m.)
3. Kathy (krolski) (Aug. 5, 7:32 a.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be in touch shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

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!