Design Team Introductions {Part 1}

Hello, everyone! It's time to introduce the design team so we can get to know each of them a little better. Here's the first half of the design team.

"Hi everyone! I'm Julia Aston and I live in Massachusetts, USA just north of Boston. I've been doing some kind of crafting since I was about 5 years old when my mother would set my sister and I up on the dining room table with papers, stickers and crayons! I've jumped from sewing, to quilling, to papier mache and calligraphy and scrapbooking - finally settling on stamping and crafting where I've stuck for the past 9 or so years! I just love how I can create a beautiful card or craft with all the stamps, dies, and inks. About a year ago I decided I needed to stretch myself and started working with mixed media as well. I was a school teacher in the past - but I presently work full time as the administrative assistant in the Trauma Division at a Boston hospital. I have a grown son out living on his own with his lady and a wonderful husband who tolerates my stamping addiction with very good humor and support! We also share our home with two sweet sister cats, Scout and Boo. I am Grand Aunt to two sweet little boys, a toddler girl and a brand new baby girl 2 months old. I make a lot of my cards/crafts around photos of them! Since I have to be at work all day - I'm usually up late at night stamping away in my craft room. When I'm not stamping you will find me walking, reading, or gardening. I'm also active at my church. I am on the Design Teams for a stamp company, an on-line craft shop, and a template company as well as being on a biweekly Blog Challenge team and I'm thrilled to have been invited to work with Shery and the talented ladies on the Mixed Media Card Challenge design team where I know I'll find lots of mixed media inspiration!" ~ Julia

"I'm Shirley and I'm thrilled to be part of this new Mixed Media Card Challenge Team! There's a mixed media "artist" that's been lurking within me for some time and with the popularity of Distress Inks, stencils, dyes, paints and pastes, I'm enjoying incorporating mixed media into my cards. They can end up CAS, full-on or anything in between! I live in a pretty village in north-west England with my husband and rescue dog." ~ Shirley

"I'm so happy to be here! I started paper crafting six years ago. My first love is card making and I also love altered projects. I make jewelry, paint and pretty much anything that involves creating. I love to go antiquing and find vintage treasures to scrap with...maybe some lace doilies, or vintage clothes pins or maybe an item to alter. When I'm not crafting, my absolute favorite place is the ocean. I love to visit waterfalls and walk in the forest along streams. I love to have the grand kids over for a sleep over and craft night. They love to make cards already!" ~ Charlene

"Guten Tag, I'm Maria F. and I'm an American gal living in the Rhine valley region of Germany - came for a job, stayed for a guy! We've two teenagers, two rabbits and a dog in our family. I've always loved making things and after choosing cardmaking over scrapbooking - I found the smaller canvas less intimidating - even started blogging about two years ago. I love challenges and submitting for publications. Check out my work on my blog. I've called my style 'artsy fartsy CAS' in the past and I'm thrilled to join Shery's super-talented team here. I'll be creating mostly CAS cards for you but getting messy fingers in the process (thus my new word 'cassy')!" ~ Maria F.

" Hi there! Lyndal here from Melbourne, Australia. I began my paper crafting journey back in 2006, when I stumbled upon scrapbooking, and was lucky enough to be invited to teach at my local store. When the owner retired a couple of years later, my paper crafting supplies gathered dust, until 2011 when my daughter and her friend decided they’d like to have a stall at their school fair, so I offered to make a few cards – and I was hooked! I LOVE this creative outlet and the on-line community that surrounds it. Lately, I have been experimenting more with mixed media, and The Mixed Media Card Challenge is a perfect way to combine my loves, and an easy introduction into mixed media - so I hope you are inspired to experiment here too!" ~ Lyndal

"Rubber stamping has been one of my passions for the last 20 years. Throughout my life I have enjoyed making a variety of handmade crafts but now I mostly focus on creating greeting cards with layers of ink. I find it fun to begin with white paper and incorporate ink/paint techniques into my projects as well as materials beyond paper. Natural found elements and particularly dried flowers are all-time favorites. I have lived in Alaska for the last 28 years. I came to this land of extremes for a 2-year job contract to direct the Girl Scouts in Northern Alaska. The warmth of the people and the beauty of the land are captivating which I now continue to enjoy in my retirement. I was one of the early stampers on the internet and continue to use my screen name of Far North but now Gmail sometimes automatically adds Janj as my name when I leave comments." ~ Jan

"I have always loved handmade and dabbled with paints from as far back as my memory goes - art journalling, oil pastels, glass painting, tile painting, pottery, embroidery and the list goes on. Then, there was a gap of almost 7 years when I didn’t do anything. My art journey made a comeback in the form of scrapbooking a little over a year ago when I made a mini album with pictures of my baby boy. I had no idea back then that I would get hooked onto it, let alone start a blog and meet so many talented people like you all. I look forward to enjoying and sharing my artsy journey with you all." ~ Kripa

On Monday, we'll introduce the second half and then we're going to start playing on Tuesday, July 1! Until then...be messy, be artsy, be creative!