I'm really happy to have not one but three guest designers for February!
Karen Brooks is a sweet heart I met online about a year ago and have grown to just love her optimistic, hard working, generous spirit! Along with cards and layouts, Karen makes darling jewelry so I was thrilled when she said "yes" to making some jewelry for us!
Hi!! I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be designing for Kelly this month and hope you all love what I have to reveal throughout the month!!
My name is Karen Brooks and I'm married to my best friend and soul mate, Rob. We have two rambunctious teenagers (Caitlin & Dylan), a diva doggy (Daisy), mischievous cat (Snow) and noisy bird (Bob). I grew up in the great big state of Texas and never left! I recently returned to school working on my degree in Health Sciences focused on the medical field and am leaning towards transcription since it will allow me to work from home and still maximize the time with my family - which is the most important thing to me! I'm completely and udderly (**giggle**) addicted to anything cow and scrappy related.
2) When and how did you get into papercrafting?
I started paper crafting in grammar school. I still have a huge bag of drawings, cards and things I made for my grandparents in our storage shed because my grandmother NEVER threw anything I made for them out. At the age of 13 my grandfather passed away suddenly and I pretty much quit making anything. As I hit high school and my junior/senior years my senior book became my focal point. I stuffed anything and everything in there from pipe cleaner shapes, cassette covers (yeah I go back a little ways..LOL), the weekly football game ribbons and ticket stubs from prom/games. I look at that book now and think how hideous it is and what I could do to make it better, but I won't change it - too many memories of making it and enjoying each piece that is put in there!
3) What inspires you or gets your 'juices" flowing?
My family, online galleries, television, friends, nature, blog hopping, product!!! It can vary from day to day as to what will spark an idea!
4) What is the most annoying aspect of our hobby in your opinion? What is the best part?
Wow, not much annoys me in crafting. I guess the one thing that drives me a little crazy is finding pictures to scrap - I have tons of them but sometimes get an idea that I feel the need to run with and the pictures just don’t coincide with what I am working – this equals to scrappers block. Other than that card making and altering items are a breeze for me and almost effortless!!!
5) If you could go anywhere/do anything and then capture the memories, where would you go and how would you show off your memories?
HHHMMMM, there are so many places I'd love to go with my family - that is the key, I want to experience it all with my family!!! Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Italy, France, Canada, The Grand Canyon (never have stopped but have been close many times), Disneyworld (again)!!! My list could seriously go on and on!!! Most people think the pictures are the key to capturing the memories but for me it is about the time spent with my family - I love good pictures like anyone but it is more about the time spent together for me. I'd love to do a travel journal focused on just journaling about where we go, how we get there, things we do and put in trinkets/reciepts to help document and of course add pictures. But I think the journal itself would be the most fun and rewarding in the long run!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read a little about me!! I hope you enjoy my projects from this yummy kit and can’t wait to see what inspiration I may have provided for you!!!
Wow, not much annoys me in crafting. I guess the one thing that drives me a little crazy is finding pictures to scrap - I have tons of them but sometimes get an idea that I feel the need to run with and the pictures just don’t coincide with what I am working – this equals to scrappers block. Other than that card making and altering items are a breeze for me and almost effortless!!!
5) If you could go anywhere/do anything and then capture the memories, where would you go and how would you show off your memories?
HHHMMMM, there are so many places I'd love to go with my family - that is the key, I want to experience it all with my family!!! Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Italy, France, Canada, The Grand Canyon (never have stopped but have been close many times), Disneyworld (again)!!! My list could seriously go on and on!!! Most people think the pictures are the key to capturing the memories but for me it is about the time spent with my family - I love good pictures like anyone but it is more about the time spent together for me. I'd love to do a travel journal focused on just journaling about where we go, how we get there, things we do and put in trinkets/reciepts to help document and of course add pictures. But I think the journal itself would be the most fun and rewarding in the long run!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read a little about me!! I hope you enjoy my projects from this yummy kit and can’t wait to see what inspiration I may have provided for you!!!
Here is a shot of a part of Karen's creative space:
Here are a few shots of the kit I sent to Karen to play with:
And here are the darling pieces she made so far!
To keep in touch with Karen, please visit her blog: www.craftscrapper.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Karen!
xo
Comments
KarenB
Thank you Kelly!!! It was an honor to work with your kit!!! I have enjoyed our friendship over the past year and look forward to many years to come!
Monday, February 2, 2009 @ 9:49 PMBeth W
There's only one thing I can say-WOW! I see a new area of crafting beckoning to me!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 1:38 AMPinky
WOW what a great job Karen did! I loving all of it!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 10:09 AMPeg
Awesome work, Karen! I love everything you made!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 10:32 AMVickiF
Love the jewelry Karen! I'm a fellow Texas too! Wasn't born here, but got here as fast as I could lol!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 11:10 AMRox-Ann
Yahoo Karen what beautiful jewelery you created. Love them. Congrats on Guest Designer for Feb.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 5:10 PMsouthernbellesmom
Karen, I love the necklaces!!!! I am so impressed. Congrats on being a guest designer this month. WTG
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 @ 4:59 AMJill B
Karen you are so talented! Wow! Congrats on your GD spot!!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 @ 7:11 PMKarrie Cook
Awesome and unique stuff, Karen! I just love them all!
Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 12:20 PMKaren Patterson
Karen what fabulous jewelry, it is great to see you as the February designer. I can't pick a favorite piece yet, I do love that ring though....
Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 1:16 PM