keeping up with the johnsons

I always feel compelled to add "I'm not pregnant..." whenever I say that I have big news. So now that we have that clear, I'd like to share something that I've been keeping sort of under wraps--at least on the website here--for the last few weeks. I am the newest member of the product design team at ScrapGirls!

I applied during the week that all of us got the stomach flu, sometime mid-January. The kids had been sick early that week and I had some extra time on my hands. I'd been thinking about it for months, had even posted the "if you are interested in being a product designer" checklist from their website on the bulletin board in my studio for inspiration. Every now and then I'd look over the list, think about it, dabble around at designing some stuff, then get distracted by something else. That week the boys were sick, I gathered my resolve, hunkered down and finished what I felt were the best products I had to offer, and pressed Send on my application e-mail. To say that I was nervous was an understatement. I promptly came down with the stomach flu myself, and was actually glad for the distraction: there's nothing like hanging out in the bathroom and sleeping from hours on end to keep you from compulsively checking your e-mail. I didn't hear anything for a few days so I followed up, was assured that they had received my application and that they would let me know something soon, and then, wonder of wonders, I got the news that they wanted me on the team.

ScrapGirls was one of the very first sites I found when I discovered digital scrapbooking and it has remained at the top of my list for a number of reasons. To be associated with them in this way is an incredible honor to me, and I look forward to learning from the host of amazingly talented designers that I can now call my teammates. That I might now be able to contribute to the family budget by doing something that I love so much *and* continue to be able to stay home with the boys is positively a dream come true.

My first kit debuted on the site two days ago. I meant to post a preview of it here then but got a little distracted by the excitement of it all. There's nothing like seeing your name among those of people you look up to and I have to say that it was a pretty surreal afternoon. But here it is, a kit with a Canadian theme. I'm really proud of it, and hope that it will appeal not only to Canadians but also to anyone looking for some grungy, general interest papers and embellishments.

So that's the news here. I've got a lot of other things in the works, so if you want to see what I'm up to, check here.