Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Introducing Diane Van Diepen - Design Team 2016

Hi everyone. My name is Diane. I recently moved to Timaru from Westport with a transfer through the company I work for. You could say I'm coming home as my family on my mother's side grew up here in Timaru. I grew up a few hours north the small village of Akaroa. My hubby and I have 3 wonderful children, 2 girls aged 12 and 10 and a boy aged six. 


How were you introduced to Papercrafting?
I started scrapbooking after the birth of my first child in 2003. I think my love of paper goes way back further than to when i was a child. I have always had a calling to purchase that journal or writing pad even though I had a huge stash at home. Nothing changes as I'm still stashing paper for a rainy day. Weather it's an old marine chart found at work or a ribbon from a gift. My favorite are broken jewelry pieces.

What type of papercrafts do you enjoy?
Mini albums, and 12 x 12 layouts. I just love to create anything really. I am not really a fan of card making asthey are always finished too quickly and I never want to give them away!

Here's my sister's 40th mini album. I so wish I hadn't given it away but I am pleased to hear she is filling it with quotes and inspirations for her daughter as a hand me down in years to come.


What inspires your layouts and projects?
The photos colors and subject inspire me the most. I then go for the paper to try complement the photo. I do also spend a lot of time on YouTube, Pinterest and reading heaps of blogs.


What is your favorite craft brand and why?
Kaisercraft, Lindy's Stamp Gang, Bo Bunny... my list could go on for pages and pages. I just love them all.

What scrapbooking tools/products can you not do without?
Baby wipes - for cleaning tools, glue and hands!  Sprays, heat gun, craft knife are next. Then paper towels. I do like to get messy.

What is your current favorite technique or embellishment?
Flowers and sprays would have my favourite embellishments.  Like I said earlier I like rummaging through old jewery boxes for little bits and pieces as I think they tell the story too. Below was my neice's bracelet she was going to throw out which I attached to a family photo layout.


Who is your favorite celebrity crafter?
Gabrielle Pollacco, Rebecca Genet, Karen Tamir... not wanting to sound like a broken record again but the list could go on for pages. You get the picture.  The are so many amazingly talented artists out there. I would love to inspire others as they have inspired me on my never ending crafting journey.

What do you hope to try or improve on this year?

Journalling is not something I am very strong at so that would have to be top of the list. Establishing my blog and creating more mini ablums so I can tidy up all those old albums I have full of photos.

What advice can you give to people just beginning to enjoy papercrafting?
Watch YouTube and visit local store, blogs and the net. Or take a class. Whenever my creative juices run out I turn to the big wide world of the internet for inspiration.



Here'a s photo of my fisher girl daughter who I love. The colours are my favourite in the layout. I managered to pull the lime green and pinks from her shirt into the papers and flowers of the layout. The pearl tapestry effect in the background is also something I really liked and had fun creating.


Here's a father and daughter shot. I really wanted to use all 3 photos but highlighting the one were they both managered to look at the camera as well as smile at the same time. I remember it took ages to get the one good shot and felt some how it needed to be shared in the layout. (I did say journalling wasn't a strong point!)


Finally I am thrilled to be part of the 2016 Artfull Craft Design Team and I hope I can inspire and share you through my scrapbooking journey over the next year.



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