Hey everyone, Sweet Talk is back for 2024 with a slightly new format but the same awesome goal. Getting to know YOU, our amazing community members. Once a month we will indulge in some “sweet talk” and have some fun getting to know you all a little bit better.

“Getting to know a diverse group of people leads to a better understanding of yourself.” — Alexander Den Heijer

Without further ado let’s dive into this month’s Sweet Talk interview with an amazing community member: Scrappy Penguin

Welcome to Sweet Talk, give us a short introduction of yourself/family and how you found digital scrapbooking.

Hi, my name is Kellie. I’m an Atlanta native, living south of Atlanta. I am a mom of two. A daughter in her 30’s and a son who just graduated high school. Fun fact: I am doing the college thing with my kids. My daughter and I are both currently online students, and my son starts in person this Fall.
I was introduced to digital scrapbooking in 2010, while a traditional paper junkie. I really began my digital journey after being diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and again in 2014. It was just easier to sit with my computer. I never touched the paper again.

I have been on many creative teams but eventually left them all for my dream spot with Tracey of Clever Monkey Designs. I’ve been with her team; I have no idea how long now. Tracey has been my biggest teacher over the years. As well as many of you reading this. I am an avid studier of pages to learn and grow as a scrapper.

Answer a few fun questions for us.

1. Give us [3] must haves for the layouts you create? My photos, typically theme related elements, but I love to have fun and step outside the box with themes as well. And the perfect paper. I will play with three of four papers in a kit before I pick the final one. It must be the one that makes the photo pop, not one it blends into.
2. When is your prime scrapping time? I don’t have a set time, but mostly when I’m alone. I am not a fan of being disturbed when the creative juices are flowing. This is because I tend to scrap when I am working with a new kit and have limited time. Or because inspiration hits and I must get the page finished before the computer battery dies.
3. What is your favorite thing to snack on when scrapping? I am not really a scrappy snacker, but I have been known to eat almond joys while I scrap.
4. Go to your gallery, what is the date and title of your very first layout here at SSD? Aug, 25, 2018 titled “Tell_Your_Story2” This is a bit inaccurate as I have deleted pages over the years. It is accurate in the sense that I have been a member of SSD since 2016. I did not submit work regularly until Clever Monkey Designs joined as a Designer. But I loved looking at the inspiration.
5. Dig in your stash and show (or tell) us a kit/product from your favorite designer here at SSD and why? This may be the strangest kit anyone would pick as a favorite, but my life has this kit’s name all over it. “Weirdness” by Clever Monkey Graphics & Tracy Martin. I am all about using kits more than once and making it worth my money when I purchase one.
   Although I was CT for this kit… I have 6 or 7 pages with this kit. And counting because my life never stops being weird.
   
6. In honor of our This or That challenge system taking its bow answer a Fast Five This-or-That: (use bold or underline)

Templates or Freestyle
Patterns or Solids
Journaling or Word Strips
Minimal or Clustered
Lots of Photos or Photoless

And of course, please share with us your favorite layouts featuring the below & tell us why you chose them:

• •a cool technique
  I clipped paper to a mask in this one and love the effect behind my daughter’s picture.
  
  
• •your favorite element(s)
  I love the elements in this kit, Stay for the Stuffing by Clever Monkey Graphics. The wooden utensils are beautiful.
  
  
• •your choice
  This page is very special to me because of what it says. I’ve been through a lot of heart break this past year and this is on my desk top as a reminder to myself. I am going to make it!
  
  

Before you go, share with us a favorite tip you’ve learned over the years: This is a tough one for me, but I think studying other pages you admire. Copy the look either with the same kit or a different one. Don’t be afraid to mimic a page by someone else. It is a form of flattery to the creator. Designers have teams to show you what you can do with the kit, even if that means copying them. It’s your page after all. Don’t be afraid of shadowing either. Play with it. Shadowing is key to your page’s beauty. I am not the expert I would like to be, so I use every resource available. There are ways to achieve the look you admire on other pages without knowing all the fancy techniques. I am not saying don’t step out and learn something, but cheating is ok too. Use templates, take them apart if you just want the shadowed frame in your own creation. And ask someone to teach you things. I think there are many of us willing to tell you what we know. I am always learning and growing as an artist. You can do it too!

Thanks so much Scrappy Penguin it’s been so much fun learning more about you. Until next time, happy scrapping. xo Kiana