We are so excited to announce our February scrapbooking guest, Nathalie DeSousa! She has created GORGEOUS memory keeping projects using the Everyday Musings collection! We know you are going to love them!

But first, how about we get to know Nathalie a little better?

Introduce yourself to our readers with a short bio:

Hi there!  I am Nathalie (aka Tachita – my nickname since birth, and what my family and friends call me), a stay-at-home wife and mom.  Though I was born and raised in Ecuador, I have called Toronto, Canada home for more than half my life.   My love for paper, arts and crafts and documenting started when my mom gave us paper pads and colorful pens to play with, and it has grown through the years to more than a hobby.   I love photography, reading, long walks, soccer, and spending my days working in a new crafty project with a cup of black coffee and dark chocolate nearby.

What inspired you to start paper crafting?

I have been enamored with paper and journaling my entire life.  Once I became a mom, I looked for ways to safe keep my kids every moment and that lead me to scrapbooking.  However, my time was filled with my kids’ activities until they started high school, and I found myself bringing the stories out of my journal into a more visual format.

What best describes your paper crafting style?

The best way to describe my style is eclectic.   I love mixed media, paper, cut files, black and white photography, negative space, hand stitching, texture, dimension and lots of stories.   Let’s just say my style is always evolving!

What draws you to Pinkfresh Studio products?

I love Pinkfresh Studio products!  The fresh designs, quality, and color palettes in the collections are always  so beautiful and easy to work.  I love the balance of their embellishments with all the paper collections.

Please list your top 5 current Pinkfresh Studio Products.

• Indigo Hills 2 collection ( I still have the original collection in my top favorites ever)
• Everyday Musing collection
• Adore Alpha stamp and Die set
• Pinkfresh Studio liquid watercolors
• Joyful Day Puffy Sticker phrases

What is your very favorite color combo?

This is a hard one for me, so I am going to say black and white with a hint of rainbow!

What is one tip you have for someone just getting started in paper crafting?

It is always a good idea to browse around to find inspiration, however, do not copy their projects.  DO YOU! Do what makes your heart sing, what speaks to you; this is the only way to truly create one-of-a-kind projects you will love.

If you don't currently follow Nathalie, she shares her work on her different social media accounts. Check them out and follow below!

BLOG | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | PINTEREST | TWITTER

Nathalie has created some really beautiful projects, so let's get right to them! Here is a little more about them in her own words.

Hi there! I am super excited to have been invited to be this month’s guest designer for Pinkfresh Studio as i am a fan of their collections ( I think I have saved every single collection they have made!).   Let me share with you all what I created with the beautiful  new Everyday Musings collection…

For my first project, I wanted to create a simple everyday entry in my Personal Journal (Traveler’s Notebook). The graphic design and colors in the Full of Joy paper was the inspiration for this page, so I covered one side of the spread with a piece of this paper, and then added a large title using a combination of the collection’s alpha, mini alpha, and puffy stickers.

To continue the graphic look of the page, I pulled the thin frames in the chipboard frame pack. First, I pulled most of the chipboard layers and glued them to the other side of the spread using glue.   Once the picture was set in place, I added embellishments at the intersection of the frames.   The journal lines were then added to the inside of one of the frames.

I love the new journaling cards and journaling pockets, so I chose to use them both to create a new entry in my Family Album (Life Crafted -Citrus Twist Kits).   I used the Good Times paper and a Journaling pocket to create a frame for my Valentine’s Day picture.

For the other side of the spread, two of the journaling cards were used in a 3x8 PL insert.   I chose the gold foil acetate card to add my title using the gold foil stickers and added the journal lines with a typewriter on the card.   A few more puffy gold stickers were added to create a coherent look on the spread.

The Everyday Musings collection is perfect to document everyday moments;  for my first layout I decided to combine the chipboard frames and a bit of watercolor to create this page of one of our failed selfie attempts. 

Check out my YouTube video to see how the page came together, enjoy! And here are a few more layout details!

My last project is my ode to the papers in the Everyday Musings collection.   I chose a few cut files from the Silhouette Store and JustNick studio to create the flowers and leaves from the collection papers.  I was able to add contouring to the paper petals by using a ball tool -clay shaping tool-

The Sweet Escape paper was the perfect background for this page.   First, I added a bit of white paint -with feathering strokes- to create a soft frame inside the paper, and then created the diagonal design of the page by creating two large flower clusters at the corners of the picture.   A few gold foil accents were added by using some ephemera pieces in the clusters and as part of the title.  The small butterfly (created from the 6x6 paper pad) was then added to create some movement to the page. 

It was  a true pleasure to work with the new Everyday Musings collection in all these projects.   I am thankful to Pinkfresh Studio for their invitation – I am a forever fan -, and to all of you for taking the time to see a bit of my work.  Have a blessed day!

We always ask one final question, which we think is super fun!

Do you have a past favorite project you've created with Pinkfresh Studio product that you'd like to share? Why is it your favorite?

This is another hard choice for me, as most of my projects using Pinkfresh Studio are probably in the top of my list. But I think the combination of mixed media, the colors, the large title, fussy cut florals, hidden journal, and the super cute picture makes it a favorite in my list.

Thank you for all the amazing projects & inspiration today, Nathalie! We are so honored to have had you on as a guest this month.