Melanie has been scrapbooking for several years and loves sharing her passion with others. When she’s not teaching technique classes to scrappers, she spends her time teaching swimming lessons and taking stained glass classes. Melanie also spends much of her time volunteering with the Special Olympics and at Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital, where she loves to take her dog Duke, a trained therapy-dog. Melanie lives in Vancouver, Washington with Duke and her other dog Ruger.

Q & A with Melanie:

What gives you creative inspiration?
Teaching gives me inspiration—seeing people smile and come back to show me what they’ve done makes me want to continue to create so I can do it again. I also get a lot of inspiration from song lyrics and my dogs. The outdoors are also inspirational to me—I could sit outside for hours and so many things come to me. Sometimes ideas even come to me in my dreams!

What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
Again, I love seeing the satisfaction of people after they learn something; in particular, I love the smiles on their faces. It’s wonderful when they learn the skills and use them, then come back and show me what they’ve done.

What is your favorite paper-crafting technique?
I love the lifting technique—it’s great because it allows you to use more of the background paper. Rather than covering it up or hiding it, you get to make it come alive and “pop” off the page.

What is your paper-crafting philosophy?
Well, since my best work usually stems from mistakes, I don’t get discouraged. I know I’ll stumble across the perfect way to arrange something, so I don’t fuss over it. I get up, walk away and come back to it a little while later.

What excites you the most about the future of the industry?
That there are so many new techniques coming out so fast. The industry never stops and there are always new creations. It’s great, because it keeps your albums from ever getting boring.

Melanie’s advice to other paper-crafters:
Your own personal creation is the only thing that matters, don’t worry about what others think.

Melanie’s top picks of Hot Off The Press products:

1. The sarabooks™ —They’re so versatile and can coordinate in so many ways!
2. The —6 feet of 6 different fibers is a lot! I also love the names, textures and colors!
3. The 12"x12" paper—I love that the papers are TRUE 12"x12", it makes it so easy!
4. The vellum—the thickness of the vellum is perfect, just right for tearing.
5. A tag book like Tag Art #3 Cut-Outs™ —they’re really easy to use and incorporate in your layouts.

Tools Melanie can’t live without:

1. A paper-trimmer—I have several! My favorite is from Cutterbee.
2. Adhesive—I love my Part not in database (may have been discontinued): #pn863291 dispenser.
3. I also love my Fiskars pointed scissors.
4. I also use a black waterproof ink pad frequently.
5. And I love using a Bone Folder for smooth paper-folding.