Welcome Cindy Tobey, our March Guest Designer! And...win a set of your own March Buttons!

Good Monday Morning, Friends!

March is here! The MARCH Buttons of the Month kit is available here and in my shop. To all of my subscribers, your March buttons are all shipping this week!

Would you or someone you know love to win a set of our March Buttons Of The Month? Come out of lurkedom and leave a comment or story and a winner will be chosen March 15th. Tell your friends!


Without further ado, let me introduce you to our March Guest Designer........ Cindy Tobey!

Cindy's colorful, intricate style has amazed me since I first discovered her work years ago at Scrapbook.com. I was not surprised when she was inducted into Creating Keepsakes' Hall Of Fame Contest last year. You can see her lovely art gracing the pages of Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, BH&G Scrapbooks Etc, Paper Crafts and more! She has designed beautiful work for Fancy Pants, Prima, We R Memory Keepers and Trace Industries, as well as her involvement as a "Dream Team" member for Creating Keepsakes Magazine. Yes, she is very talented and I am thrilled to share her with you ALL here!

Cindy was sent the March Buttons Of The Month, as well as my newest Bird design that compliments the BTOM, "Garden Whimsy." I love the layout and card she created using the March "Garden Whimsy" collection. Isn't this sweet, isn't she lovely? Beautiful work, Cindy....thank you!

I love how Cindy used the pink and black flower button as the center of the "O" in her card's title, "LOVE" and "YOU". Combine that with the fun apple green flower, the machine stitching and fun chunky chipboard alphas and VIOLA you get perfection in my book............... (oh, wow that was a run on sentence if I've ever seen one myself...lol!)

Today she shares with US her creative thoughts and processes in the interview below!

1.) Tell us a little about YOU and how you are involved in the scrapbooking industry........
I have been all about making art ever since elementary school. I went to college for Graphic Design and worked in that field until I had my daughter, and decided to be a stay-at-home-mom. I enjoy many forms of art: painting, drawing, photography, quilting, knitting, and of course scrapbooking. I've been on various manufacturer design teams since 2006. Right now I'm on the Fancy Pants Designs team and the Creating Keepsakes 2009 Dream Team.

2.) What led you to scrapbooking? Do you remember that *first* time you sat down to create a page?
I went to a Creative Memories party with a friend about 13 years ago. That was the first time I created a scrapbook page. I was hooked and I haven't looked back since.

3.) When you sit down to create, what are the essential items in your environment that you need to feel in the "mood" to be creative?
Upbeat music or a sitcom playing in the background. A story, and or photo that I just can't wait to get onto paper. Inspiring scrapbook products.

4.) I feel most creative when........
The sun is shining and I'm well rested...or (since the former rarely happens) when I have a steaming cup of coffee.

5.) How do you decide what you are going to journal about... and what is your favorite way to document journaling?
Sometimes my journaling drives the layout, it's my starting point. I have a story that I need to tell and I add photos to support it. Other times I start with the photos and I'll look at them and think about the story behind them or how they make me feel when I look at them. I usually type up my journaling and add it to my layout. Once in a while I handwrite my journaling, but most times I just use the computer. It is much quicker for me and I love how clean a font looks as well as how much easier it is to read. I do try to include a bit of my handwriting on most layouts by adding the date by hand.

6.) Share with us your most favorite layout and why this layout is your most favorite.....
Wow. Tough one. Its too hard to pick a "most" favorite, but I'll share one of my favorites. I love "Limbo" (published in Creating Keepsakes, August 2008) because it captures my son in an everyday type summer moment. He's playing and laughing in the backyard...just having fun! I love using bright colors and I had fun with the felt tree branch and leaves on this layout. When I look at it I think of warm sunshine and happy giggles. It makes me smile.

I have to agree that is one heck of a layout! That tree is FABULOUS.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Be sure to say hi if yotu would like to win a set of your own March buttons!

Ciao Friends!

*tessa ann*