Contributor Center Stage: Candi Billman

This January, we're thrilled to dedicate the Contributor Center Stage to Creative Team Contributor Candi Billman (sweetscrapper)! Candi is an active part of the Studio Calico community, sharing her beautiful planner creations. Be sure to check out her projects in the Gallery this month! Take a few minutes to learn a little more about Candi — her crafting history, organization techniques and more! We're so thankful for our talented team that helps to spread the joy of memory-keeping all over the world.

How long have you been crafting?

Back in 1992, I purchased my very first rubber stamp! That was the beginning of my crazy "collecting" frenzy of all things crafty! At that time we had a couple of local rubber stamp stores that were filled with thousands of wood mounted rubber stamps and accessories! I would go almost weekly to build up my collection so I would have a wide variety for making several different cards throughout the year. Several years after that I was introduced into the scrapbooking world and would incorporate the different 12x12 papers and embellishments in my handmade cards. I would punch out shapes and trim down the 12x12's to be the perfect size card. Creating my own cards led me into creating some scrapbook layouts and mini books.

What’s your go-to technique?

I am so old school and still stick to tearing the edges of my pretty papers to give it a rough look and I also love to edge my papers with ink or paint! I have several little Colorbox Chalk Cat's Eye Ink Pads that are perfect for that technique!

Would you mind sharing some photos of how one such project came together/some text describing the stages?

I am a huge planner girl and love to decorate my planner inserts with the Studio Calico Planner Kits. Every Sunday night I sit down for about 20 minutes, open up my planner to the upcoming week and layout the current SC Planner Kit. At this point I start marking down my important to-do's with the different stickers and accessories that are included in the kit.

How do you stay organized?

Behind my table is a nice huge pegboard where I hang a lot of my goodies on. I love to see the product out in the open...if I see it, I will use it!!!

The pouches that come with the SC Planner Kits are perfect for storing my planner stickers and alpha stickers!

I store my rubber stamps in acrylic frames from my local craft store.

What is the crafting tool you can’t live without?

I would have to say my Tiny Attacher!!! Actually, I prefer to use a stapler than adhesive...love the look!

Where do you go to get ideas?

Hands down my #1 pick for me is Instagram!!! It's so neat to search the different hashtags...there is SO much inspiration out there in IG land! My next go-to places are: Studio Calico Gallery and Pinterest.

Anything else we should know about you and/or your style?

Hate Summer...LOVE Winter!!! Yes, give me cold and snowy days over hot ones!!! All of my friends and family think I am a little crazy :)