Hey guys!! I'm Pam Baldwin :) I am so completely honored to be here as your guest designer for the month of May and sharing the excitement and creativity of the October Afternoon brand! (First thing you should know about me is that I totally overuse exclamation points :)....and sometimes smiley faces! I just can't help myself!!) I'm a Canadian girl, from Hamilton, Ontario more specifically. I'm always trying to work out the perfect balance between home life and work life. Right now, that means I work part-time as a nurse 3 days a week and the other 4 days I get to spend with my family. A good majority of my scrapbook layouts are about my kids, because they're pretty awesome :) I've been scrapbooking for almost 5 years now to document their lives and tell their stories. The ones about the little details of life right now are my favourite :) This year, I'm super excited to be a part of Ali Edwards' Digital Creative Team and I've started teaching some classes over at Big Picture Classes as well. I've got a blog that gets updated with my new projects along with some video tutorials here and there: www.pambaldwin.ca .
And now....to answer your questions ;)
1. Are you a layout person, a card person...or both?
I'm mostly a hybrid layout/Project Life person with a bit of personalized photo card making thrown in the mix.
2. What is on your scrapbdesk right now?
Ummm...everything. I am not a neat and tidy kind of scrapper. I've got plain white pieces of paper with notes and sketched ideas all over the place. I've got a few different projects on the go right now and I'm excited to participate in some of the fun happening on-line for National Scrapbooking Day tomorrow!
3. What is your favourite October Afternoon line or product?
I discovered October Afternoon when I received my very first scrapbook kit in the mail with all kinds of Rocket Age goodies. IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SITE!! I've been a HUGE fan ever since and pretty much love every line. I know for sure I've been hoarding a few things from the Sidewalks and Witch Hazel lines. "Tidbits" and "Doo-dads" are a winner every. single. time.
I'll be working with the Treasure Map Collection this month! I got started right away pulling together pieces for a PL spread. Tidbits and Doo-dads!! LOVE THEM!! And the colours of this collection are just so perfect :)
4. What can you NOT scrapbook without?
My computer. As disorganized as my workspace is, I'm a planner when it comes to wanting to making layouts. I use Photoshop Elements to help me get a better visual of the look I'm going for, like the size and position of my photos and where they'll end up on the page, before I cut into any paper.
5. What is your favourite source of inspiration?
All of my projects start with a favourite photo or a favourite story. In terms of design, I like layouts that look like they could be a magazine spread, and I find a lot of inspiration for that style of scrapping on Pinterest, checking out illustrations and posters and editorial designs.
Just for fun, a little bit more about me...
1. What is your favourite movie or tv show?
Favourite movie, You've Got Mail. But I could pretty much watch Christmas movies all year round. Favourite show, I've been trying to keep up with Grey's Anatomy this year (I did not see the McDreamy spin coming! I hadn't even heard he was leaving the show!) and The Blacklist is another one that's all twisty and turny this season.
2. What is your favourite food?
Probably vanilla birthday cake with buttercream frosting. Although Peanut Butter Cups and Ruffles Sour Cream n' Onion Potato chips would probably be high on the list. And with the weather warming up, Slurpee season has begun!! (although I don't know if they count as a food...they're more of a drink)
3. What is your fondest childhood memory?
During our summer holidays, my mom would take my brother and I to Canada's Wonderland (kind of like a Six Flags amusement park) once a week. It was an hour drive to get there, and we'd get a Slurpee on the way (maybe that's where my love for Slurpees comes from :) My brother and I would race from one ride to the next all day long, riding as many roller coasters as we could, and laughing and putting our hands in the air and screaming for all the big drops...just thinking about it puts a smile on my face. I loved those days! Can't wait for my kids to get a bit bigger so I can share it with them too! Although something seems to happen with your equilibrium when you get older and I'm not sure I could handle all the loops the way I used to...
4. If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what power would you possess?
I'd like to be able to clean my house using only my mind....how awesome would that be!! I'd wish to remain anonymous, because I could see that power being in very high demand...so I shall remain nameless.
5. If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
I have so many fond memories of sitting around the table with friends during high school and university at our friend's Chinese food restaurant, talking and laughing for hours!! I would definitely love more of that!! (that's actually a pretty attainable goal because we're still good friends...I should really set something up!)
Okay, that's all from me for now :) Can't wait to show you what I've been working on next Friday!