Guest Designer of the Week: Carrie Ferrier

The guest designer this week for American Crafts is Carrie Ferrier!

You're going to absolutely love her Spring-themed stuff, there's no doubt about it!  Supplies: Radiant Paper (35396) - Hello Sunshine, Made in the Shade Paper (35379) - Peachy Keen, Illuminate Paper (35412) - Hello Sunshine, Dandy Paper (35397) - Hello Sunshine, Oh So Dandy Paper (35372) - Peachy Keen, Delicate Paper (35413) - Hello Sunshine, Breezy Paper (35406) - Hello Sunshine, Sunbeam (72011) - Delights, Good Afternoon (42195) - Remarks, Sunrise Limeade (53179) - Thickers 

Carrie says, "Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed and addicted tp metal frames. They are all over my house. Not only do I put photos in them, but I also love to fill them with beautiful patterned papers. When I saw the fun color combos of the new AC lines, I knew I wanted to combine them and fill a metal frame with them. This was such a simple project to do... and I love the result! I’m all about making my projects simple to complete. Here's how to re-create it, step-by-step:

1) The frame opening is 8x10, so I cut a total of (24) 2" square patterned papers.
2) Next, I distressed the edges of each square with sandpaper, then crumpled the squares up in my hands to get the ‘worn’ look.
3) Then I simply adhered the squares onto an 8x10 piece of white cardstock.
4) I finished it off with two Delights butterflies and a Thickers sentiment. So very simple to do, yet full of texture, color and beauty!" 

Supplies: 12x12 White Cardstock (71081) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Kraft Carstock (71464) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Black Cardstock (710821) - AC Cardstock, Jovial Paper (35398) - Hello Sunshine, Suzie Strawberry Paper (35330) - Confetti, Breezy Paper (35406) - Hello Sunshine, Lucy Lemon Twist Paper (35331) - Confetti, Dainty Paper (35404) - Hello Sunshine, Oh So Dandy Paper (35372) - Hello Sunshine, Illuminate Paper (35412) - Hello Sunshine, Fluttery Paper (35417) - Hello Sunshine, Easy as Pie Paper (35393) - Peachy Keen, Sunrise Limeade (53179) - Thickers, Sunbeam (72011) - Delights

"The photos from a photo shoot I did with my niece last spring were the inspiration behind this layout. 99% of the time my pictures are my inspiration. The journaling in this layout stems from the photos and the giant tree I created out of several different pattern papers stems from my journaling. I love how creating flows like that! To make my tree I just freehand cut leaves out of several different patterned papers, then matted them on black cardstock to make them stand out on the page a little better. I sanded the edges of each leaf as well as the edges of the butterflies and chipboard letters. I used the pink cardstock between two neutral cardstock colors to add overall color and to help bring out my niece’s skin tones, lips, and nail polish color in the photos."

Supplies: Black cardstock, My Oh My Paper (35376) - Peachy Keen, Holy Moly Paper (35391) - Peachy Keen, Decorative Tags (85547) - Bits, Sunrise Borders (53185) - Thickers, Audrey (42191) - Remarks, Bowtie (89398) - Ribbon, Large Corduory Brads (85538) - Elements, Twist (72008) - Delights, Invitation (72006) - Delights

"When most people think of spring they think of flowers and gardens. I must confess, I am absolutely horrible at growing flowers or vegetables, or any other kind of garden. I LOVE those things, but growing them… I’m challenged in that area! When I think of spring, the first thing that I think of is being able to get my bike down off the hanging rack in the garage and ride, ride, ride! Spring is the beginning of many many hours of me on my bike! Since my page is all about spring being the time I can start riding my Dolce bike again each year, and spring also means the growth of flowers, I knew I wanted to add flowers to my page even though photos of a bike doesn’t really make you automatically think “flowers” :) To accomplish that on my page, I grabbed Delights flowers and also a flower border punch. I didn’t need a lot of journaling on this particular page, so I made my title bold and combined journaling strips with bold letters for the small bit of journaling I wanted. I ‘scuffed’ up the letters with sandpaper for that ‘worn’ look."

Supplies: 12x12 White Cardstock (71081) - AC Cardstock, Cool Cat Paper (35389) - Peach Keen, Easy as Pie Paper (35393) - Peachy Keen, Breezy Paper (35406) - Hello Sunshine Radiant Paper (35396) - Hello Sunshine, Lucy Lemon Twist Paper (35331) - Confetti, Dainty Paper (35404) - Hello Sunshine, Audrey (42191) - Remarks, Decorative Tags (85547) - Bits, Lagoon (58213) - Ribbon, Sunrise Borders (53185) - Thickers, Butter Rose (58180) - Ribbon, Twist (72008) - Delights

"Sometimes, out of nowhere, when I see color combos within my stash of papers/embellishments, a specific photo pops into my mind that I want to use those papers/embellishments for. This was the case for this layout. I’ve hung onto this casual wedding snapshot of my daughter-in-law not knowing how I wanted to scrap it. The minute I saw the grey/yellow/blue/green combo of AC goodies that was sent to me, I remembered this photo. I love how it all came together. When working with a bold color in a photo, just add little snippets of that color within your design. For instance, if I would have used the bright yellow as my large base paper, the yellow would have totally overpowered the photo. The little pieces of yellow added into my design helps balance the photo, without overpowering and taking over. To create my ½ circles, I simply used a circle punch and punched out only ½ a circle from the edge of the papers. That technique gives your ½ circle a clean, straight edge."

Supplies: 12x12 Concrete Cardstock (71474) - AC Cardstock, Oh So Dandy Paper (35372) - Peachy Keen, Made in the Shade Paper (35379) - Peachy Keen, Blithe Paper (35416) - Hello Sunshine, Decorative Tags (85547) - Bits, Lovely Lady (78047) - Details, Audrey (42191) - Remarks, Lagoon (58213) - Ribbon

"The best way I know how to make a card have that little extra “something” is to layer, layer, layer. And a great way to layer is to combine different types of embellishments in your layering. I layered a cut out paper stem with a 3D foam flower, as well as offsetting and layering two pieces of identical lace ribbon, then topping off the layering with a strip of patterned paper pop dotted up."

Supplies: 12x12 Vanilla Cardstock (71041) - AC Cardstock, Easy as Pie Paper (35393) - Peachy Keen, Made in the Shade Paper (35379) - Peachy Keen, Dandy Paper (35397) - Hello Sunshine, Frolic Paper (35403) - Hello Sunshine, Sunrise Limeade (53179) - Thickers, Sunrise Borders (53185) - Thickers

"The existing shapes on a lot of patterned papers is a great way to decorate a card. I used the existing tree shape and existing cloud shape on two different patterned papers for this card. Using foam pop dots adds depth and interest to cards and layouts. If I hadn’t used the 3D foam adhesive on the details of my card, the card would have felt dull and less interesting."

Great projects Carrie! I'm totally in the mood to scrap some spring photos now! Here is a bit more about Carrie to get to know her better:

How did you start scrapping?
I started scrapping back in 1999 when my husband’s company was manufacturing some scrapbook tools for the local scrapbook store owner. The store owner asked my husband if his wife {me} scrapbooked. When my husband told the store owner I did not scrapbook, but I did LOVE to take pictures, the store owner gave my husband a set of the tools being manufactured. He said they were for me to try, and he invited us out to the LSS to check things out. A couple days later I dropped by the LSS that I had never been to, fell in love with all the beautiful patterned papers, and have been scrapbooking ever since. As a little girl I collected pretty stationery, I took hundreds of pictures of my toys and pets, and wrote in my diary. I like to think that scrapbooking is the adult version of my childhood loves. I now collect and adore patterned papers, I still take hundred of photos, and I include a lot of my personal journal entries into my pages.

What's your style?
I’m a firm believer that there are no rules in scrapbooking. If my pages feel right to me, if I adore them when I look at them, and I have fun doing them, that’s all that really matters as far as style to me. That being said, I’d consider my style clean, linear, with a lot of funky fun thrown in. And I’m a detail person; I Love adding that final little detail to finish a page/project off.

What is your favorite technique?
Oh wow, I have several favorite things I like to add to pages. Right now, I’m seriously crazy addicted to border punches. I also distress the edges of almost every embellishment I add to a page. Oh, and one more that I’m crazy about right nowL using corrugated cardboard on my pages. I simply break apart shipping boxes for the corrugated cardboard pieces.

When do you find time to scrap?
I’m a night owl. For some reaso, I can’t find my scrappy mojo before 5pm. I’m often up until 2 or 3am scrapping. With two grown boys, it isn’t hard for me to make time to scrap these days.

How long does it normally take you to create a layout/project?
I’m kind of an odd duck; I can create layouts way faster than I can create a card. It never fails, a card takes me twice as long to make. Normally layouts take me anytime from 45 minutes to an hour and ½. Mini books take me days, but I love doing them! Cards take me at least an hour, even if they are super simple. I think I get stuck during the thinking up the design stage with cards.

What is your favorite thing about American Crafts?
I buy Thickers in bulk numbers. Seriously addicted and love Thickers letters and shapes and recently the new borders! Besides Thickers, my favorite thing about American Crafts has to be the amazing patterned papers. I love combining different lines of AC papers on my pages and projects. Combining different patterned papers together on pages/projects always, always gives me that “Ahhhh, now I’m LIKIN’ this!!!” feeling when I look at the finished project.

Check out Carrie's blog to see tons more of her amazing scrapbook creations!

Comments

[Leslie Ashe]

Congratulations Carrie!! I LOVE your work!!!

[Lisa Day]

Awesome awesome projects Carrie!!

[Renee Lamb]

woohoo Carrie!!! You know I'm your biggest fan! Love the projects here!!!

[kristi]

Yay Carrie! LOVE your projects, so so so pretty!

[Stacey McElyea]

Congratulations Carrie! Gorgeous work. . .as usual! AC is lucky to have you!

[Norma Kennedy]

Adore Everything You Do Carrie.... really BEAUTIFUL !!!!

[Sherry Coogan]

Gorgeous projects, Carrie, congrats! :)

[Melinda Spinks]

Beautiful projects Carrie, just love everything you did! :)

[Dawn Pritchard]

Love all the projects! Just gorgeous! Congrats for being the guest designer!
Dawn
www.theinkedstamper.com

[Becky Cates]

Great layouts and a great interview too! Glad AC gave you the opportunity to showcase your work on their blog.!

[Betsy Potts]

Congratulations Carrie, you are so deserving of this honor. Your work is beautiful and I can proudly say that I have known you since the beinning of your scrapbook career.

[Danielle Flanders]

Beautiful work, Carrie, congrats!! (the wedding page is my favorite out of the bunch!)
xo
Danielle

[betsy sammarco]

ooooo! I love your work Carrie!

[ellen s]

i love Carrie and her work! Congrats. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous