Member Spotlight | Karen Baker

Hello, my name is Karen (SC username @HelloTodayCreate). I live in Australia in the picturesque Hunter Valley with my husband & three gorgeous girls.

By day I’m a full-time university student studying teaching, I finish this year. I basically live to create when I’m not gardening, writing or reading. I’ve always loved design, if I wasn’t studying education I think I would study interior design as I’m aware that I look for color, pattern & beauty in most things, such as art, paper & fabric. I started scrapbooking when my eldest daughter was born over 11 years ago, but really I was scrapbooking from a tender age, I just did’n’t know back then it had a name.

Fast forward to 2012 & I was introduced to Project Life® & well I was obsessed, ordering my first scrapbook kit from Studio Calico to create. My office space quickly turned into a little studio, out went the husbands accounting books & in went the paper, albums & stamps. I’m passionate about Studio Calico for a lot of reasons but mostly because I see a lot of myself in the way they put a kit together, everything matches, it has quirky factors & it’s designed to be loved.

2014 was the year to put myself out there, I’m quite a shy person so sharing was daunting at first. I set up my blog with the help of my talented sister, started an Instagram account to share my creative work & away I went.

I haven’t looked back, thank you to Studio Calico for choosing me this month, I’m flattered to be honest.

SC Member since: 2012

All time favorite past kit or collection: Office Hours followed in close second by Sugar Rush, both being Project Life® kits of course.

What do you do when your kit comes? I get it all out of course, ooh and ahh over all the bits and pieces & then admire it for days in the little box. When it comes time to use the kits I hang onto some 3x4 cards because they are just so darn special, I pin them on my cork board or frame them. I have a little secret though; lately I’ve been ordering two kits, so that it’s not so difficult for me to part with some products.

What’s your go to technique? I love using my sewing machine for my Project Life® layouts, at the beginning of 2014 I purchased my first machine, & I haven’t looked back, I’m self-taught & I haven’t broken a needle yet! My other go to technique, which I want to improve on this year, is my silhouette cameo, purchased in 2014 from Studio Calico.

Share your top 5 products.

1st – Studio Calico Kits either Project Life® or Scrapbook

2nd – Stazon Ink – in black

3rd – Solid Glue Runner

4th – Mini Stapler

5th – Project Life Black Journaling Pen

Where do you go when your mojo is low? Easy, Pinterest. After taking a break first, I have a coffee, I might read a magazine, take a walk & then if I’m still stuck I open Pinterest on my iPhone & scroll. I look for how someone has styled a room or a pattern in fabric, anything design wise is inspirational to me.

We are members of the local Art Gallery, my daughters take classes there after school & on weekends occasionally, so I find a walk around the gallery conjures up creative ideas for me. I take photos on my iPhone a lot when I’m out & about & this way I can refer back to them when I feel my mojo needs improvement.