Guest Designer of the Week: Emily Spahn

The (super talented!) Guest Designer of the Week is Emily Spahn!

Here are her amazing layouts, cards, and altered project featuring ribbon:
Supplies: Take a Chance Paper (35182) – Love, Wise Tortoise Paper (35268) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Ender Paper (35317) – The Classics, 12x12 White Cardstock (71081) - AC Cardstock, 12x12 Apricot Cardstock, 12x12 Kraft Cardstock (71464) – AC Cardstock, Hardcover Black (53135) - Thickers, Apricot (58416) – Premium Ribbon, Black (58317) – Premium Ribbon, Spinach (58555) - Premium Ribbon, Heartstrings (89384) – Premium Ribbon, Love (85111) – Bits, Love (85110) - Bits, Gazeebo (42176) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers

"I was noticing one day how we have a million nicknames for my daughter and that even our family and friends have started calling her the things her dad and I call her. Even the really silly ones like 'munchie' which is short for 'munchkin'!  I wanted to create a layout to document all the different names we have for her. The overall design of the page is one I have noticed I use a lot on my layouts: the large column on one side of the paper! It's easy to change it up every time I use it, this time with some ribbon and some different papers in the background."

Supplies: Wise Tortoise Paper (35268) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Take a Chance Paper (35182) – Love, Greenbelt Gardens Paper (35241) – City Park, Fairmont Gardens Paper (35242) – City Park, Friendly Fern Paper (35092) – Dear Lizzy Spring, Friendly Finch Fabric Paper (35163) – Dear Lizzy Spring, 12x12 Cardstock Kraft (71464) – AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock White (71081) – AC Cardstock, Heart White (35092) – Thickers, Christmas 1 2010 (93063) – Dollar Ribbon Spool, Lemon (58289) – Premium Ribbon, Heartstrings (89384) – Love Ribbon Card, Love (85111) – Bits, Hello Sunshine (85546) – Bits, Love (42164) – Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Slide (72004) – Delights

"I like to take photos of really random things sometimes… like my husband mowing our jungle lawn, which was filled with weeds! ;) I was debating how to use it on a layout and decided to write about summer in general and how things like yard work sometimes get put on hold for the more fun activities. Because the photo is larger (a 5x7) I decided to put the title on the photo itself to save room on the page for more journaling and extra fun stuff!"

Supplies: Wise Tortoise Paper (35268) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Friendly Finch Fabric Paper (35163) – Dear Lizzy Spring, Fairmont Gardens Paper (35242) – City Park, Balboa Park Paper (35236) – City Park, Hyde Parke Paper (35238) – City Park, Secret Garden Paper (35294) – The Classics, Ender Paper (35317) – The Classics, A la Carte (71001) - Patterned Paper Pack, Fancy Strawberry (53111) – Thickers, Satin w/ Pleated Ruffle Edges (89278) – Premium Ribbon, Sunflower with Woven Strips (58291) – Premium Ribbon, Gazeebo  (42176) – Remarks Dimensional Stickers

"I’ve had these photos for over a year, but could never seem to figure out what to do with them.  I love putting together fun color schemes, so I decided to use the stripes in my daughter’s pajamas as inspiration for the colors of this layout.  I started a layout with a sun and rays like this a very, very long time ago and never finished it! I thought this would be the perfect layout to recreate the idea."

Supplies: Ender Paper (35317) – The Classics, Delicate Paper (35413) – Hello Sunshine, 12x12 Cardstock Coffee (71049) – AC Cardstock, 12x12 Cardstock Apricot (71031) – AC Cardstock, Confetti (85533) – Bits, The Classics Medium Brads (85525) – Elements, Coffee (5822) – Premium Ribbon, Lemon (58289) – Premium Ribbon, Everyday 2 2010 (93049) – Dollar Ribbon Spool

"I will be honest… making cards really intimidates me! Layouts come much more naturally to me! I was trying to think of a creative way to use ribbon on my card, other than just tying it in a traditional way. I saw a layout somewhere that had a cake with candles on it and I thought it would be a fun idea for a card, just on a smaller scale."

Supplies: Ender Paper (35317) – The Classics, A Wrinkle in Time Paper (35301) - The Classics, Elated Iris Paper (35257) - Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Delicate Paper (35413) – Hello Sunshine, Brilliance Paper (35415) - Hello Sunshine, Hyde Park Paper (35238) – City Park, Sunny Aqua (53119) - Thickers, Coffee (5822) – Premium Ribbon, White Rose (58205) – Premium Ribbon, Pearl Brads, Classics (85527) – Premium Ribbon, Classics (77246) - Bits

"This card uses one of my favorite techniques, which is really not a technique at all but just something I love: putting lots of different non-matching monochromatic papers together!  I cut one small section out of flowered ribbon to make a single flower for the card."

Supplies: Frolic Paper (35403) – Hello Sunshine, Spree Paper (35400) – Hello Sunshine, Delicate Paper (35413) – Hello Sunshine, Brilliance Paper (35415) – Hello Sunshine, Take a Chance Paper (35182) – Love, Crazy Little Thing Paper (35179) - Love, All that Matters Paper (35176) – Love, Ender Paper (35317) – The Classics, Greenbelt Gardens Paper (35241) – City Park, Fairmont Gardens Paper (35242) – Dear Lizzy Spring,  Friendly Fern Paper (35092) – Dear Lizzy Spring, Golden Gleam Paper (35090) – Dear Lizzy Spring, Friendly Finch Fabric Paper (35163) – Dear Lizzy Spring, Gentle Badger Paper (35253) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Refined Percy Paper (35259) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Elated Iris Paper (35257) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Wise Tortoise Paper (35268) – Dear Lizzy Enchanted, Crestview Court Paper (35074) – Abode, Edith Fitzbolt Paper (34733) – Craft Fair, Humpty Dumpty Paper (34665) – Baby, Chai Paper (34196) – A La Carte, A la Carte (71001) – Patterned Paper Pack, 12x12 Cardstock Apricot ( (71031) – AC Cardstock, Scarlet (58295) – Premium Ribbon, Denim (58329) – Premium Ribbon, Bubblegum (58240) – Premium Ribbon, Lagoon (58266) – Premium Ribbon, Apricot Ric Rac (58354) – Premium Ribbon, Apricot (58416) – Premium Ribbon, Spinach (58555) – Premium Ribbon, Heartstrings (89384) – Love Ribbon Card, Christmas 1 2010 (93063) – Dollar Ribbon Spool, Lemon (58289) – Premium Ribbon, Everyday 2 2010 (93049) – Dollar Ribbon Spool, Dear Lizzy (61734) – Mixtape, Love (42164) – Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Slide (72004) – Delights, Dear Lizzy Springhouse Flowers (77237) – House, Picnic (700214) – Flair, The Classics (77246) – Bits, The Classics Pearl Brads (85527) – Elements, Dear Lizzy Assorted Brads (85504) – Elements, Dear Lizzy Mini Pearl Brads (85519) – Elements, Medium Jewel Brads (85258) – Elements, Tropicals Mini Jewel Brads (85272) – Elements, The Classics Fabric Brads (85524) – Elements

"Lately I have been trying to use my craft supplies to make things for my daughter. I decided to make a mini album of colors for her, one page for each color. However, after creating all the pages I realized it was much too thick for a mini. So instead I just left them as individual cards so she can take them out and play with them individually. I had planned on sewing all the elements down, but after three bent needles, I decided that perhaps my sewing machine was not made to sew on cardboard! ;) I may go back and hand stitch everything down later to ensure that she doesn’t take any of it apart!"

Here's a little get-to-know-Emily questionnaire:

How did you get started scrapbooking?
I started scrapbooking in about fifth grade when I made some really fantastic pages using typing paper and crayon-written titles. It was love at first scotch-taped down page! ;) I have been doing it ever since, though I’ve graduated to some more advanced products! I started scrapping more seriously in about 2004 after I got married and moved into a space big enough to hold all my stash!

What would you say your scrapbooking “style” is?
It is really hard for me to describe my style. I would say colorful and simple, but with fun little extras.

What is your favorite technique?
My favorite technique might be that I don’t really use techniques! But really, I like to outline things or ink the edges, and as I mentioned I really love putting together fun color schemes on layouts.

When do you find time to scrap?
Now that I am a mom (with another little one due in a couple weeks!) I have to scrap mostly at night or on a rare night out to crop with friends.

On average, how long does it take you to complete a project?
It takes me anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple hours… or even days. Sometimes I will start something and completely lose my mojo and need to set it aside for awhile. I feel like my pages probably look like they are created pretty quickly, but I am actually really picky and am constantly moving and changing things until I’m happy.

What is your favorite thing about American Crafts?
I really can’t choose just one! I love Thickers… who doesn’t? But I also really love all of the different American Crafts monochromatic papers. I don’t do well with big prints, and I love that I can always count on AC for some fun colors and great patterns. I also really love a lot of the new embellishments like the Bits and the Delights. So fun!

Thanks so much for sharing all of your crafty goodness with us Emily! Make sure to sign up to read her blog for tons more eye candy!

Come back a little bit later today for a chance to win oodles of spools of ribbon!

Comments

[Becky Williams]

These are all fantastic! You sure have a way with ribbon ♥

[Melanie]

Woohoo, so thrilled for you, Em! What gorgeous projects, you talented lady you. :)

[mandie]

Awesome, Em!!! love these! way to go!!!

[lisa truesdell]

love these, em!!!!!

[Jill Cornell]

Awesome, awesome projects, Em!!!!!! :)

[Amber]

Love these projects Emily!

[Amy H]

Love them all - as always, love Emily's work!!

[ShellyJ]

love it all :) cute cute!

[Barb]

Great work, Em! I'm so happy you got this opportunity!

[Silvana]

Great work emely I really love the way you put together your LOs

[NancyD]

Emily, your pages are so pretty! I especially love the composition of the dandelion layout.

[Lisa]

I love, love, love, the uber-talented Emily! Thanks for featuring her here!

[Jen]

YAY for Emily! Love all your projects!

[{vicki}]

Totally gotta do a "nickname" layout for my son---we have so many cute little names for him.

thanks for the inspiration!

[Deb D]

The projects are simply goregous! Love the line.

[Annette A.]

awesome projects. Simple ways of making something look really cute. thanks for sharing

[susan weinroth]

these are ALL absolutely stunning emily!!!! your use of ribbon is so inspiring :) and the vintage high chair in the pics of your daughter - OMG!!!! i'm super jealous! it's fab. ;)

[Denise]

Emily, awesome projects. I was just thinking I needed to weed through my ribbon for Goodwill. I think I may actually use some now!