Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

Hello there!

I am THRILLED to share my audition for Graphic 45's illustrious 2013 design team. It's a long shot, but hey - a girl has all right to dream, right? :)

This past year has been such a blast. From my first audition last March, I feel like I've grown so much. Emotionally, spiritually ... and definitely as a designer. I owe a huge part of that growth and creativity to Carolyn and Kathy from The Mad Scrapper. These ladies took a chance on me and gave me the wonderful opportunity to design and teach classes at their store in the greater Seattle area. In doing so, I've been able to create a few projects with the latest Graphic 45 papers and Staples and not to mention, I've also been able to meet some pretty amazing women who I now call friends! ;)

Most of the projects I'm sharing are projects that I designed and taught - so if I ever made that lucky team, I know I'd be over the moon getting to teach *everyone* some new projects and designs!!

Well, I won't waste anymore time - so I'll start off by sharing my latest Graphic 45 creation: A mini album made with Graphic 45's new large tag album and beautiful Secret Garden paper line! This is probably my favorite Graphic 45 project that I designed for The Mad Scrapper. I love romantic colors, flowers, vintage themes and of course tags, so it was very fun to create.

Next up, French Country. Who didn't fall in love with this line at Winter CHA? I was so excited when the ladies called me from California, asking me how much extra paper I'd like to order for my mini album/organizer class. :) "Um, a lot?"

One thing I try to do with Graphic 45, is when I see an image or a pattern that is so unique, I try to use that as a focal point for a project. Like the arc on my cover below; it was so striking and stately, that it begged to be fussy-cut from the Rendezvous paper. 

Then, we have a 12" x 12" calendar album I made with Place In Time. I'll admit, this was a stretch for me as I'm not a layout person. But ... I always love to challenge myself, so it was fun trying to think up how I wanted each page to look. Below are my favorite months from the project:

When I first saw sneak peeks of Bird Song, I got so excited and immediately thought of ideas on what I could do with the paper. Well, I have this tendency of changing my mind sometimes at the last minute. Not because I'm trying to be difficult, but because the paper just, well, inspires you to do something beyond what you first imagined! 

With Bird Song, I remember laying all the pieces out on the table at The Mad Scrapper and reveling at how beautiful they were. Then I thought how my previous idea just wasn't right. That's when I noticed my papers making a fan shape on the table and well, the idea to make a fan album was born!

And then there's Ladies Diary. I loved this line so much! Again, the pretty, romantic colors and flowers are so my kind of style. But I wanted this journal to feel a little aged and worn, so I distressed the edges using a combination of ink and Breakfast Blend coffee. ;)

Happy Haunting is the nicest Halloween line I've ever seen! I'm not hugely into Halloween, but this line was a must have. I taught this class months before Halloween, but we still had a pretty packed house! I was so excited to use Happy Haunting along with Graphic 45's altered kraft box. The ladies even learned how to make the super funky but simple flower on top. ;)

Steampunk Debutante. An oldie, but goodie. Some of my students are big into steampunk so I wanted to challenge myself last summer by making a project that not only used steampunk imagery, but had a bit of functionality to it as well. For this project, I made a "radio" out of chipboard that folded out to reveal a mini album. In the last picture, the Victorian lady's arm is actually attached with a brad so it has a hinge effect. 

Next is a little shadow box that I decorated with Little Darlings paper. Since I made this for a real nursery, I wanted to keep the embellishments and details simple, yet precious. 

I don't make cards very often, but when I do, they're always chunky! Here are some that I made for Mother's Day using another oldie but goodie, On The Boardwalk. 

I think of all of Graphic 45's lines, Tropical Travelogue is my favorite! While I love pastels, romantic designs, and really feminine patterns, I also love rich and vibrant tropical hues. Maybe it's because I've lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life, and every time I see some sunshine-y paper, it makes me feel like I'm sitting under the sun. ;) 

This is a children's book I made last year with Tropical Travelogue. I spent hours fussy cutting little jungle leaves and flowers and just got lost in the whole process! I keep telling myself I'm going to make another one someday. And then life happens. ;)

Finally, I'd love to end my audition with my first project that I designed for The Mad Scrapper. It's another mini album using Tropical Travelogue, but it's special to me just because it marked the beginning of a new season in my life. I also used Graphic 45's fun metal hinges and flower Staples. 

Well, that is all, ladies and gents! Thank you kindly for your time reviewing my audition! And thank you so much to all my sweet blog friends and visitors who visit my site. I am so grateful for your encouragement! As I near my two year anniversary in papercrafting, I can honestly say it's been the hugest gift and such a wonderful blessing in my life. Whatever your craft, whether it's papercrafting, stamping, or beading, I hope you continue to pour your heart into your work. There is so much joy in creativity!!

Many hugs,

Maria