Designer Spotlight ~ Candace

 Hi everyone! We're back with another Design Team Spotlight Series and we are featuring design team member Candace Oliarny from Candi O. Designs 

  

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 
I am married and have 2 wonderful kids, Mitch 15 and Madison 12 who keep me busy if I’m not crafting!  We also have a cat, Milo, who likes to “help” me craft as well as a box turtle Tuck and fish Hobbes.

When & how did you first get into crafts (general)?
I have been doing all kinds of crafting my whole life, loved art time in school the most!!  Got into tole painting in my 20’s which has transformed into coloring, just using a different media.  

When & how did you first get into card making specifically?

In 2003 we moved to the States from Canada and I started going to Stampin’ Up Classes to meet people and learn.  It took off from there and I became a design teacher, started a Blog in March of 2009 and now I’m on 4 amazing design teams!! I love creating!!

What is it that you enjoy about card making?
I enjoy the creative process and using new supplies and techniques. 

Do you give your finished cards away or do you keep them for yourself or do you sell them? If you sell them, where can we find them?
I give my finished cards to friends and family for occasions/holidays.  One’s I love I keep and some I do sell in my Etsy Store:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/candiodesigns

What is your style of card making?
I think my style is cute and simple. 

What is your favorite media to use in card making?
Copics, Die Cuts and Pattern Papers.

Besides card making, what other crafting do you do and enjoy?

I love making scrapbook layouts of my kids!!  I also make treat/gift items to give away and some home décor items. 

Aside from crafting, what other hobbies and things are of interest to you?

I love watching my kids play sports, enjoy bike riding and as a family we play Pokémon Go!

How did you learn to color? Did you take classes, watch videos or are you self-taught?
I started coloring after watching a brief video on how to blend with copics.  After that I’ve just been practicing and learning color combos off of Pinterest.
 

What is your favorite thing to color?

Stamp Anniething Stamps!  They are too cute!!

What is your process in designing a card?

I start with my image, pick out papers to go with him/her, design card layout and then color the image to match with card design. 
 

Do you have any “fail safe” tips you can share?

Use a color chart from Pinterest.

  

What advice would you have to someone just starting out coloring images or card making?

Practice, Practice, Practice.  The more you color the more you’ll get better.

Tell me something that I may not know about you.

I’m a Breast Cancer Survivor and paper crafting really helped me get through the rough times.

Fun facts:
What is your favorite Stamp Anniething stamp and why?

I love them all!!!  Each one that comes out becomes my favorite…lol!! 
 

What is the ONE crafting tool you find to be a MUST for your crafting arsenal? 

Paper…Paper…and more Paper!!!  Plus my Silhouette Cameo….

Where can we find you?

Blog:  Candi O. Designs

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CandiODesigns

Instagram:  candiodesigns

Pinterest: Candace Oliarny

Here is my card for today using Samantha ~ Make your own Rainbow.  I love that she is holding a copic pen and designed my card around to look like she wrote the "hello".  The new dies are so awesome they even cut foam which is what I did to raise up the hello die cut on the card.

Products Used:

Stamp Anniething: Samantha ~ Make your own Rainbow and Hello Die

Paper: Echo Park Paper ~ I'd Rather be Crafting

Simon Says Stamp: Wonky Rectangles

Copics, Foam and Enamel Dots