Design Team and Guest Design Team October Projects

Projects for October by our new DT and GDT members. You will also find information about our members and why they love what they do.

Meet our new team and I hope you get inspired by their work. I am so delighted that they are part of Berry71Bleu Design Team.

Lisa Novogrodski, Rhode Island-Design Team Coordinator

My name is Lisa a/k/a Raining and I am hopelessly addicted to the art of scrapbooking. As well as cataloging memories for my family I consider what I do to be scrap- art. I love taking a flat piece of paper and packaged products and turning them into something beautiful and unexpected. I
could devote my entire self to this art but alas I have a husband and two children. They are my primary subjects in my art and my life and do sometimes cringe when I mention the words "photo shoot."
I have always been a creative spirit and have delved into many different areas, sewing, rug hooking and needle arts. I hope to inspire you to create with these beautiful and unique tags.
I am honored to be a member of this wonderfully talented design team and look forward to sharing my work with you!

Aymee Gandy, Pennsylvania

Hi everyone! My name is Aymee Gandy, but many may know me as 'Southernbellescrapper.' I am 27 years old and originally from a small town in Alabama. I currently reside in Pennsylvania with my wonderful husband of almost 9 years, Brandon. I am a homemaker, or domestic diva as I like to say, and Brandon works for the railroad. At the present, we do not have any children, but would like to start a family soon. I have been scrapbooking about 5 years. I love, love, LOVE to scrapbook! I enjoy creating layouts, cards, altered art, home decor', and sketches. Scrapbooking is my favorite thing to do and I try to scrap at least once every other day or so. I do have my own blog and I'd love for you to come by for a visit. My blog is called A Scraphappy Southernbelle. When I am not scrapbooking, I enjoy cooking, decorating my home, traveling, reading, watching old movies, and spending time with my family. I am so excited and very thankful to have the opportunity to be a design team member for Berry 71 Bleu. It is such an honor!.

Iris Uy, Philippines

I am a scrapper from The Philippines, a wife and a mother to two sweet girls Nicole & Cheska. I rarely plan my pages – I let a photo or a patterned paper inspire me and I take it from there. I love the shabby chic and romantic style but I also enjoy working with bold patterns and striking colors. I’m an ink and paint type of person. I just have to get it a little messy to consider my page done. If I don’t have ink and paint on hand, then I just tear little bits of elements and stick it randomly for the sheer fun of itJ I am fortunate to be designing for Webster’s Pages, Fancy Pants Designs, and Lily Bee Designs. I was also named as one of the first two Prima Masters. I am also currently a designer for a wholesale store in Australia – Aussie Scrapsource. One of the things I consider to be among my accomplishments in crafting industry have been named as one of the 2008 Memory Makers Magazine Masters and I am thankful for the blessings which have come my way as an artist and will continue to be thankful for the happiness and fulfillment that I get from this craft. I am very honored to be a sponsored designer for Berrybleu and I look forward to creating with the gorgeous and unique handmade treasures from Berrybleu.

Jing van Opstal,
United Arab Emirates

Jing van Opstal, once a dedicated hotelier then became a professional “Hausfrau” 13 years ago when
she married her German husband who has been giving her constant encouragement on her creative pursuits. She has been fortunate to live in and visit many countries throughout the world due to her husband’s occupation and thus, experienced several cultural adventures which inspire her to create and combine amazing colors, designs and even scents.

Her attention to details makes her unique and whatever she ventures out to do, she will try to make it special… aside from artistic work, she loves to entertain at home and that’s where her dining table is always full of themed, home-made accents. Well, she loves something different from the usual. Her artistic style? … “I love to discover and try different things –so my style is totally a mystery … because I love being mysterious.”

I love colors and it truly inspires me a lot. I also have a soft spot on butterflies – well, my craft room is decorated with butterflies on the walls.

I love to stamp and use markers, watercolors and do more on mishmash effect. I enjoy creating something
different from the usual – I like to be DIFFERENT.

I love patterned papers – they are just beautiful and fascinating. I try to just enhance a little bit when I am
making my layouts – making my own embellishments. Why? I find it more
challenging and it is sometimes cracking my brains of making the mix & match. Of course, ready embellishments are also fun and “yummy”. But if it is not available, I sometimes design something I like and send it to
Accucut for personalize diecut– Yes! I love my Accucutdiecuts because it gives me freedom to cut anything. My BLOG … I am slowly getting there – take a peek …almost done. My concept in my blog is something that also connects my being a hotelier’s wife. I have CULINARY 9part)- I travel a lot
and met several Chefs, so why not have something from the experts. I also have Markers and Inks,featuring Copic in particular – just loving the Copic markers. Then the regular Blog updates, layouts and
activities.

Jing's Blog

Your Traveling Berry Bleu Designer Team Member.

Michelle Hodges, Texas

Hi! I am Michelle Hodges and I live in South Texas. I’m a SAHM to our 6.5 year old daughter. When I’m not scrapping I enjoy spending time with family, being outdoors, Church activities, and traveling. Some of our favorite outdoor activities are going to the Beach, hiking, bird watching, and driving around in the golf cart.
I started scrapbooking fourteen years ago and four years ago I started getting more involved in scrapbooking by joining in on online Scrapbooking sites.
My scrapbooking style is shabby-chic, artsy, simple with clean lines and some vintage. My style changes depending on what products I’m using and the kind of project I’m working on. I feel I’m very versatile when I scrap because I enjoy creating altered and Mixed Media projects, trying new techniques, and working with the latest new products.
Some of my favorite Scrapbook manufacturers are Sassafras Lass, Cosmo Cricket, Jenni Bowlin, Graphic 45, Pink Paislee, and Webster’s Pages!
I look forward to getting to know each of you!

Renea Harrison, Tennessee

Hi everyone! I am a 44 year old, stay at home Mom. I laugh when I say stay at home, because I actually am the secretary/accountant and jack of all trades for our local family based business.

I don't just love scrapbooking, I am passionate about it. I love every aspect of this amazing multi-media art. The art of the creation itself, from taking the design in my head and getting it out onto the paper, to the social aspect of it. I love sharing what I know, and learning what others share. I love talking about it, as well as encouraging others to take that leap and dive right in. I have quickly become a forum junky and I love the sisterhood aspect of all who share in this experience.

I would also like to shout out a thanks to both my husband and son. They not only put up with my scrapbook insanity, but encourage me to pursue my passion. I have been married to my husband for over 21 years, and he has always been, not only the love of my life, but my biggest supporter in all aspects of my life. We have built a wonderful life together, and have raised an amazing son. God has definitely blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined!

Guest Design Team Members:

Cathy Cafun, Australia

Before I introduce myself I would like to thank Marivic for inviting me to be a Guest Designer for Berry Blue this month... I was so excited to be asked, as I just l adore Marivic's gorgeous tags, they are like little works of art.


Hi, my name is Cathy Cafun. I live in sunny Brisbane, Australia with my husband Yves of 25 years and 2 teenage children Luke (18) and Brittany (almost 16). I have been scrapping for about 7 years and have tried many crafts over the years but once I was introduced to scrapbooking by a friend, that was it for me, I had found my passion and I have been hooked ever since. I don’t think I have a particular style, but I do love the beautiful feminine pages am very partial to the grungy distressed look. My inspiration usually comes from photos of my family, and I just let my creations flow from there. I really enjoy experimenting with new techniques and I ADORE colour!!!


I am currently on DT’s for Scrapmatts, Bird Is The Word, Kraft It Up Beyond The Door and my2angels, and have been a Revolving Door Artist at The Colour Room (which was a big thrill). I have been so very fortunate to have had quite a few LO's published in Scrapbooking Memories and have various LO's to be published in upcoming issues of Scrapbooking Creations.


The world of scrapbooking has given me so many wonderful opportunities, which I am very thankful for and I have made so many amazingly talented friends from all over the world who are truly inspirational and beautiful people, but I think what I most enjoy about scrapping is being able way to record all those precious family memories, for my children and loved ones.

Gerry van Gent,
The Netherlands

My name is Gerry van Gent. I`m a mom of two adorable kids and a wife of a very supportive hubby. We live happily in the Netherlands. I`m a SAHM and I have plenty of time to spend with my kids and of course I have plenty of time for my hobbies...scrapbooking and photography. I got involved with scrapbooking while my first child was born in 2003. I was looking for a different way to display my photos and while surfing Internet I found out about scrapbooking. Needless to say I was immediately addicted and never stopped since then.

What I mostly like about this hobby is that I can show my creativity with paper, to show different ways to use it and I love to be creative and inventive. I love to hand-cut and hand-stitch. My layouts have always dimension and I always do my best to show that through my photos.
I`m honored and happy to be guest-designing for Berry Bleu this month! Thank you!

Karen Wilson

Hello! I'm Karen Wilson, I have lived in Northern Arizona since 2000, I'm originally from California. I'm a proud mother to 2 kids, Jayden(3) and Nicole(7). Between the two of them, they sure do keep me on my toes. I'm married to the most wonderful man, Brandon and am so blessed to have him in my life. I am hopelessly addicted to scrapbooking! My favorite techniques include layering and distressing. I have a love affair with flowers and bling.
At the end of the day this is what helps me relax. It's my creative outlet.
If I'm not scrapping, then I am spending my time with my kiddies, or watching movies with my husband...cleaning, cooking...doing the motherly/wife duties.
Visit my BLOG.

Tina Rutledge

Hi Everyone! My name is Tina Rutledge. We have recently moved to the sunny state of Florida. I'm from Chicago, IL. and have lived their all my life, so I'm a city girl at heart. I have been married for 14 years to my wonderful and loving husband and we have 5 children. As a stay at home Mom, they definitely keep me busy, but are my inspiration. There are many things that inspire me and bring out my creativity. That is why I love scrapping! It allows me to challenge myself, bringing out the true expressions of my creative mind, in paper form. I also enjoy the positive energy it does evoke.

Thank you for visiting and we hope you were inspired with all their beautiful work. Come visit us again soon for more DT reveal and Anniversary giveaway.

Blog Hop Rak Winner and Tag winners

Hello again!

I was going to wait until tonight to draw the names. Actually, I've been sick the past few days, so I am going to bed early tonight and get some rest.

Alyssa, my daughter, helped me with the drawings..

All the names were in the hat:

Blog hop RAK winner:

Heather Jacob! Congrats Heather!!

Tag winners:

1. Chantal V.

Congrats Chantal!

2. Denay

Congrats Denay!

3. Jacira

Congrats Jacira!

Congratulations everyone!! Pls. email me your address so I can send the prize to you.

Thanks again to all who joined the blog hop..Come back in a few days and I will have another RAK and tags giveaway for my Etsy's Anniversary.

September Challenge Winner and More Prizes!

Hi everyone!

It's the end of our bloghop and tonight, I will announce the winner. I still have to tally up the comments and will have my kids draw names from a bowl, the old-fashioned way as opposed to using random.org.

Our bloghop was a great success and we are truly happy that you were able to join us for this. Because we have so many comments, I added a few tags that I will be giving away tonight as well. All comments are eligible until we draw the names tonight. You still have time if you still want to leave comments to win one of the tags I made. But only one person can win the blog hop RAK.

Here are the tags that you can win tonight:

Thank you to all our new followers. I will be giving away more prizes in the next couple of weeks, our first year anniversary on Etsy is coming up, that means you will have another chance to win.

Last but not the least...we don't want to forget our September Challenge winner:
Rachael Funnel. Congrats Rachael!!

Here is her winning LO!

Thank you and see you again tonight!

Welcome To Our First Ever Blog Hop!

Berry71Bleu welcomes our new DT members. Also today, we will welcome our October Guest DT members as well. To welcome our new team, we are celebrating it with a bloghop. So come join us and make sure you become a ollower of this blog and leave a comment on everyones' blog following the order of the list below as this blog is your last stop of the hop.

Every comment counts and if you join this WEBSITE and become a member, your name will be added twice to the drawing for a better chance of winning. Just make sure you mention it in your comment here.

So how does this blog hop work? The design team and October guest designers will be revealing their first projects for Berry Bleu. You will need to visit each blog and leave a comment that you have been there. Your last stop will be the Berry71Bleu blogspot. To qualify for the prize you will need to leave a comment on that blog letting us know you have visited all the designers. A winner will be randomly selected. You have from October 1- October 4 (12:00 a.m. eastern time) to complete the hop. A winner will be selected on October 4th!!!

Along the way you will find some design team members offering up their own raks and prizes!!!!

And here is what you can win here:

Here's the RAK you can win:

Start here:
1.Lisa N.
2.Iris Uy
3.Jing Van Opstal
4.Aymee Gandy.
5.Michelle Hodges.
6.Tina Rutledge
7.Cathy Cafun
8.Gerry Van Gent
9.Karen Wilson: (You were just here)
10.BERRY71BLEU (YOU ARE HERE!)


Make sure you come back on the 4th when we announce the winner.

Thnak you for stopping by!!

UPCOMING BLOG HOP!!!!!

September 15 Design Team Members Projects

Thank you to all our design team members for making wonderful projects for Berry71Bleu. This is their last project with the tags for us and we will start our new DT reveal on October 1st.

Cassandra

Irit

Jolanda

Lisa A.

Lisa N.

Also by Lisa N...Halloween Project..she altered a clipboard for this project.

Thank you again everyone for all your lovely work!

September 11 New Word Challenge at Bird is the Word and My challenge submission for OUAS

Hello everyone! Our 2 GDT this month, Helen and Vicky are both DT members for
Once upon a Sketch. As I looked through their blogs on Friday, I saw their take on their September 1st challenge. I had been meaning to join their sketch challenge, but I had been so extremely busy with our new DT members and making tags for all of them. And then I realized yesterday that my DT project for Bird is the Word, has some similarity to the . I will send the revised version of this to OUAS.

Here is the challenge at ONCE UPON A...SKETCH:
Journalling Criteria : A memorable year - Your title must be a year, and you must journal at least 2 lines on why this year is memorable for you. Examples: the year you got married, the year you graduated, the year you moved to a new house/country, the year you started a new job, the year your child was born, the year you lost someone dear. Your journalling can be in any language and any format (written, typed etc).

09-11-01...How can we forget? The date says it all..I was in Manhattan in 2000. We were walking towards Battery Park and I had to stop to take this picture. I am so glad I did. That was the first time I ever saw WTC and sadly the last time I ever saw it. There are no words to what had happened even 10 years had passed, it still fills us with deep sorrow and pain unimaginable.

This is also the reason I made my DT project for Bird is the Word. Our project was due yesterday, I searched everywhere for this picture. I had moved 5 times since this picture was taken and for some(amazingly)unknown reason, I had kept it and didn't lose it during all the move or destroyed when I got divorced in 2005.

Here is my project for BIRD IS THE WORD using the word "SHARE".

I used Tim Holtz Crackle Paint.
Alphabets by October Afternoon
Michael's Recollection "Love Letter" Paper Collection
Teresa Collins World Traveller Paper
Handmade flowers I made
Crocheted trims in beige and gray

Please visit BIRD IS THE WORD for more info on this challenge and how to upload your project. Also check the amazing work that our talented DT members made using the "share" word. The winner will receive a kit from
Tidbitz in Time kit club.

Thank you all so much for being here. Your visit is truly appreciated.

September Guest Design Team Members

Every month, we showcase new Guest Designers and every month we are so lucky that we have such talented ladies joining us. It is such a pleasure to see their lovely work using Berry71Bleu Tags. These ladies are my friends as well so I know you will love their work as much as I do.

Here they are:

HELEN TILBURY

My name is Helen Tilbury & I live in Durban, South Africa, with my scrap-tolerant husband Shane & our four children – Chelsea (18), Jack (16), Reilly (13) and Cami (11). I love all things paper-related & am also a keen photographer. I’ve been paper-crafting for 8 years now & am showing no signs of stopping any time soon! In fact I have enough stash to start a store so I’m going to be scrapping the rest of my life just to get my money’s worth out of it. When I’m not taking photos, scrapbooking or blogging I’m doing stuff with the kids, taking them to their activities & extra lessons, sports matches or sleepovers! I love connecting with other bloggers from all over the world & love that I have a huge bunch of online friends & hope to travel the world one day & visit them all. When I’m not pursuing my passions or doing my “mum” job I love to relax with a magazine & eat a delicious meal prepared by my hubs, who is a great chef…yes! I’m a lucky girl!!Currently I am designing for Color Combos Galore, Inspired Blueprints, Once upon a sketch, Bird is the Word, Scrapbook kits with Jules, Pretty Paper Petals & Scrap-it-Lah. You can find my blog @ SCRAP ADDICT.

Nicolle Kramer

I am a SAHM of four. I have (2 boys) Ryan 18, Bret 17 and (2 girls) Kayla 14 and Jolie 8. I am married to the most awesome hubby ever for 18 years now, my Mike. When I am not scrapping. I enjoy gardening both flower and veggie, crochet, knit, cross stitch , paint etc. Let's just say I am crafty. I also enjoy spending as much time with my family as possible. We enjoy watching movies together , BBQ's, playing games, swimming and just talking. I have been scrapping for about 7years but lately its been the hobby I enjoy most. I have made over 200 layouts this year. I am very passionate about this craft and love to learn anything new and trendy.

I believe being part of your team would give me a chance to share my work and inspire others. Be part of a fun community where we all have the same crafty hobby in common. I also love to get to know new people and create friendship's. I in turn would get inspiration and new ideas as well. I would also love the chance to work with your beautiful tags.

Vicky Varvadouka

My name is Vicky Varvadouka, I am a happily married mum of two little girls (Nefeli 4 & Ioli 2) and I work in a big company in Greece. Scrapbooking is my passion and a way to express my self! I started making layouts in September 2010 and have been obsessed ever since.My kids are the main source of inspiration for my work and are the primary subjects of my layouts. I would say I love vintage and romantic but I don't limit myself to one style, I choose a photograph or paper line and adapt accordingly! I love to experiment and challenge myself with new techniques and textures! I like to share my work with others and hopefully inspire and encourage some people to try something new! I just started submitting layouts to magazines too and got lucky on my first attempt at Northridge Publishing! I LOOOOOOVE scrapbooking and I can't imagine myself without it! It has a piece of my heart!!!! I blog here: My Embellished World