Getting to Know Tonya and Jolaine!!

Please join us in welcoming our November Design Team -- Jolaine and Tonya!!   Jolaine will be here on Tuesdays and Tonya will be here on Thursdays this month.   So we asked them both to answer a few questions so we could all get to know them a little better...

Hi! I'm Jolaine Frias. I live in Monroe, NY and work as an elementary school teacher in Yonkers. I have been married for nine years to my wonderful husband who truly supports my crafty obsession. We have two children, Emily is 4 years old and Dylan is 1. My scrapbooking style has changed a lot since having my sweet little boy, I went from making flower-heavy projects to making funky, bright ones for him! Thank you to Flamingo Scraps for welcoming me into their GDT! What a great bunch of talented ladies!

Why do you scrapbook?
I love photos and how they tell a story. I love the thought of sitting with my future grandchildren and walking them though my scrapbooks, talking about life and family.

What is the one scrappy item you just can't live without?
My paper distresser by Tim Holtz! I use it in most of my projects!

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Pink! Don't know why but pink just makes me happy!!

Do you like your handwriting and do you use it on your layouts?
I don't love my handwriting but I do think it's important to do write your own journaling, at least sometimes! I do both kinds of journaling on my projects, handwriting and typing.

What is your favorite item in the Flamingo Scraps store today?
Are you kidding? I love everything with the name Prima, Tattered Angels or Maya Road on it! But seriously, I must have the entire Waiting For Santa collection by Webster's Pages, it's fantastic!!!

More of Jolaine's work can be seen here on her blog!

My “real name” is Tonya Gibbs, but when my kids were younger I was nicknamed Psycho Mom. Yes that is a term of endearment given to me by the kids on my son’s baseball team when he was eight, and I love it! I’m happily married to my high school sweetheart, Kenny Gibbs for 20 years, and we have two beautiful children Brittany, 17 and Brighton, 14. I call Keystone Heights, Florida home. It is a very small town nestled between Jacksonville and Gainesville. I’m a web designer for the University of Florida Foundation, and have been paper crafting my entire life! I’m also a sports photographer with a focus on youth sports. I was very excited when Flamingo Scraps asked me to be a member of their guest design team. I have known Susan and Suzanne for a few years now. Thanks for the opportunity.

Why do you scrapbook?
I love to share the things that I create with other people. I give away WAYYY more than I keep. I love the joy on the other person’s face, when I give them a digital layout, a photo canvas, or a mini album filled with photos of their loved ones. I think I have photographed every child in this town. But my favorite reason for scrapbooking is when I’m on a sideline photographing a football game and the child scores his first touchdown, and his Mom yells from the stands “Tonya did you get that?”. I quickly go home make something irresistible for her and bam instant joy! Also paper crafting calms me. I know that sounds odd, but in my job I have to be creative. I sit behind a computer all day, and am constantly inspired. But I yearn to create things with my hands, dimensional objects. Sometimes the mechanics of making things with my hands, helps settle my mind.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Wow, that is tough because color speaks volumes. I have to choose? I think blue. It is neutral and blends with most anything, and that’s me. Blue can be calm or bold. Again, me! Plus it looks great on me since my eyes are blue. And of course I bleed Orange and Blue. Go Gators!

Do you like your handwriting and do you use it on your layouts?
I’m ok with my handwriting. I use it on a lot of my stuff. I spend too much time in front of a computer so when I’m scrapbooking, I don’t want to return to the computer to generate journaling.

What is your favorite item in the Flamingo Scraps store today?
I have to say the Webster’s pages and Parisian Anthology lines. I’m a huge fan of the designers at Webster’s pages, their papers are rich, and their art work fabulous. I love the femininity of the Parisian Anthology line but most of all the versatility.

More of Tonya's work can be seen here on her website or here on her youtube channel!

Join us this month to see their fabulous work... we can't wait!!