Gallery Standouts
To provide an environment of reflection and growth in the art of scrapbooking
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Lauren Pieters
average joe
Amy Wolff
designer
Madame Mim
designer-
Colleen
creative artist 
Sabrina
creative artist
Catherine
designer
Amanda Resende
designer
Divian
creative artist
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Getting to know Gina Miller
Our guest this month is designer, scrap artist, website owner Gina Miller.
I’ve known Gina since the beginning of my own digi days…
Let’s walk down memory lane with her…
I found digital scrapping via 2Peas in January 2005 (I was a paper scrapper prior). I had Andrew, who was only 3 months old and Emily who was barely a year & a half so I liked the fact that I could play on the computer and not have a mess laying everywhere with two little ones underfoot. That summer, I decided to try to design my own papers. I started selling my first designs at The Digi Chick in July 2005. I then moved onto Scrapbook Bytes for a while and opened Gina Miller Designs on July 31st 2006!
You are a designer, an artist, a website owner, a mother and a wife. How’s that working for you?
Fabulously. :) First and foremost is my family, so that would of course be the wife and mother hats! I have always been an artist so I am happy to have an outlet to share my creativity, both via layouts and designs. I love that I can turn off the computer if I don't have the time or energy and just focus on my family. But when I want that creative outlet again, it's right at my fingertips. This little wife-mother-website owner-artist life I kinda created for myself on a whim a few years ago works very nicely for me. ;)
Could you take us through your creative process when making a layout?
95% of the time, I start with a picture but every once in a while, I start designing a page with no picture in mind. lol! This is usually when I love a kit and really want to play!! I get about 75% of the layout done, and then I start shadowing everything to see how it all looks. I finish off any remaining elements the page may need. Titles and journaling is always last!
What is your favorite layout? And, your favorite kit?
It's hard for me to pick a layout because I usually like something, then create a new page and end up making that my fav, etc etc etc. Looking at my recent layouts, I would say I really like the way this one of Andrew turned out:
I've noticed that my own personal favorites are usually layouts where I really got into the journaling and recorded a memory.
As for my favorite kit, that's going to be released on July 31st! I just love the colors and the element set especially. Sneek Peak of Savoy Truffle
Your organizing system is legendary. Have any comments about that?
It's kind of old-fashioned I feel like. LOL! But it totally works for me! Of course to use my folder method, I think you also have to have a pretty good photographic memory. I have a knack for remembering what kit contained what little elements I want to use. (Click here for Gina’s system in detail)
When do you think digital scrapbooking really caught on? Where do you see digital going?
Well when I started, the 2Peas digital board wasn't even created yet!! I'd say it probably really caught on late-2006. I remember getting an e-mail about joining the Creative Board for the new Simple Scrapbooks digital magazine and thinking "Wow. This is really going someplace!" And since then, the industry has grown at an astronomical rate!
I don't see digital going anywhere but UP!! Everyday there are new stores popping-up, new designers being unveiled and best of all, new scrappers joining the community! I think the hybrid movement has definitely helped bring some of the paper scrappers over to "our side" and even many of the digital girls are working on half-paper / half-digi projects now. It's very fun to watch this craft evolve and see the different ways in which we can mold it to suit our own needs and desires.
Let’s talk about My Scrapbook Art. That was a pretty big venture. What would be your number one “do” and “do not” for owning your own digital website?
Regarding My Scrapbook Art, I would say the number one "do" it's to keep an open and friendly place, but stick to your guidelines and have rules in place. (The "don't" would be: don't bend the rules and don't not have a game plan and direction in mind.) Traci and I are proud that MSA is going to be celebrating its first birthday shortly, and we think we've reached that milestone so successfully because we won't tolerate any nonsense being brought to the board. We really keep it focused on the art.
Congratulations to Traci and you on MSA’s upcoming birthday!
And finally, for a fun question. If you could hold the magic wand for one thing what would it be?
I've been thinking a lot about this (probably too much for a fluff question! lol) and I think I want a wand to decorate my home! I mean, it's decorated and it's cozy and we love it. But there are so many little things I'd love to do around the house and either time or funds escape us. New bathroom? Give me the wand! New living room couches? Pass the wand! =D
Thank you so much Gina for helping us out here at Gallery Standouts this month! Best to you and your continued success.