Creative Team Spotlight: dj_W
August 31, 2011
This post is part of a series on our blog that will introduce you to the designers and team members that work behind the scenes at Plain Digital Wrapper to make it a fun-loving, digi-family. We would love to get to know you better as well, so if you aren’t already hanging out with us in the forum, please take a moment to say good morning to us, introduce yourself, and find some inspiration from our many challenges!
This week are are highlighting the very talented and super organized CT Member and CT Team Leader, DJ (dj_W). DJ joined the Plain Digital Wrapper CT team in 2009 and earlier this offered to take on the role of team leader for the CT when the position became available (and we are so glad she did!). She has been on several creative teams since she started scrapping in 2006. Besides PDW, she currently creates for JillDZines (the second CT she ever joined) as well as Kimeric Kreations and Sherwood Studio, both of whom she describes as “great friends” she met right here at Plain Digital Wrapper.
DJ originally purchased some papers and stickers to make pages for her grandchildren but admits to never creating a single page with those paper supplies. “I decided if I scanned the papers I could use them more than once. Then I realized there were lots of papers and elements on the Internet and that seemed much easier. I was hooked. Discovered a site called Scrap Outside the Box (which no longer exists), downloaded some freebies, did a couple challenges and knew I’d never use the paper supplies. I joined the CT there in 2006 and joined a couple personal CTs right after that.”
DJ shared the following information about herself.
What was your favorite childhood toy or game? My favorite game as a child was jacks.
What flavor of drink would you be? Lemon, or maybe cherry, guess I could just go for Cherry lemonade and have both.
What are your hobbies or pastimes? My favorite pastimes are spending time with my grandchildren, traveling, gardening, and photography. I love reading,
puzzles (jigsaw, Sudoku, logic, crosswords) and digital scrapbooking.
If you were a superhero – what would your “power” be and why? I’d want to be like the Flash and be able to move from one place to another at top speed.
If you were a crayon, what color would you be? If I was a crayon I’d be purple-any shade, but lavender or lilac are my favorites.
What would you do with a million dollars? If I had a million dollars I’d make some renovations to our house and hire a housekeeper so I’d have more time-then take off and travel.
What is your favorite snack to scrap with? Chocolate-usually have some Hershey’s Bliss or Andes mints in my drawer-a fact that my grandchildren have
discovered so they tend to disappear quickly.
Do you sing in the shower or car? I don’t sing period! I’m totally tone deaf-so I let others make the music and I enjoy listening!
What is your weakness? My biggest weakness is spending way too much time on my computer.
What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is people who don’t really listen. You have a conversation one day and a few days later they ask
the same question or come back with “you never told me that.” Drives me crazy.
Wii, Playstation, X-box or No, thank you? We have a Playstation which I NEVER use. I prefer and spend way too much time on games on the computer.
What PDW designer inspires you the most? I think the PDW designer that inspires me most is Kimeric Kreations-that’s why I asked her to be on her CT. I love her style and the colors. I never have trouble finding the element I need in one of her kits and so many of her kits work together that I can mix and match easily.
What one thing is essential for putting you in a creative mood? I have to have a photograph or idea to scrap to get started. Can’t do anything with a kit unless it really works for some photo-usually not hard because I have tons of photos of the grands, my kids, and all kinds of heritage and travel photos. My
sister is also into photography-we’ve done several photo treks together and she lets me use any of hers that I want.
What is your all-time favorite kit? My favorite kit has changed so many times, I could never pick just one.
If you could choose only one type of element to scrap with, what would it be? If I could only have one type of element if would have to be flowers, they pop up in almost every LO I make.
What subject(s) do you scrap most? My grandkids are what I scrap the most.
What’s the scene when you scrap? I’m lucky enough to have an extra bedroom that I’ve turned into an office-scrapping spot. I have my computer and
printer and tons of bookcase space. The room is very organized-my desk is totally cluttered. Its quiet when I scrap.
How many pages do you usually do from one kit? Most kits I only make 2 or 3 layouts.
Do you print your layouts? I usually print my own layouts in 8X8 and put them in albums. However, I do frequently make books at Shutterfly as gifts for the
grandkids .
How many layouts do you usually complete in month? I make anywhere from 10-20 Layouts in a month.
What style of scrapbooking do you find the most challenging for you and why? I think the fantasy layouts are the most challenging. My style tends to be more simple and straightforward with the photo as the most important part of the layout. I love a soft almost grungy look to a layout.
DJ has inspired us with these layouts during her time at Plain Digital Wrapper:
This is one of my all time favorites-a photo I love, the colors in the kit were perfect and it all just came together.
Layout created with Sunrise Sunset by Kimeric Kreations.
This one has some of Noah’s first photos, including one with his grandfather.
Layout created with the PDW Collab Baby of Mine and Candy Wrappers: Flavor J by Scraps of Candy.
I love this one because its another of my favorite photos and the colors were just right!
Layout created with the PDW Collab Sunny Days are Here Again for the Some Assembly Required Template Challenge.
These are photos my husband took of Ella and they really capture her personality. This is pretty different from my usual style.
Created using Love-a-Lot Kit and a template from Basic Principle Vol. 2 both by JoHanna.
This is a favorite because I like to remember that I once looked like this (LOL) and because I love the kit.
Layout created with Love’s Blush Kit and chat template both by Southern Creek Designs.
Thank you DJ for sharing a little about yourself with us and for all you do to help make PDW great.
