Editor’s Note: We are excited to have Donna Espiritu as our featured artist for August. Her work inspired our latest style challenge inside of the membership. Please enjoy this interview with Donna for our My Way series.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am from the Philippines and currently reside with my family in Hail, Saudi Arabia. I’ve been married to my childhood sweetheart for 20 years. We have one daughter.
Do you have a favorite recent layout or project?
This is not that recent, but this layout represents my love for both digital and traditional scrapbooking, if I may say.
What is something new you’re excited to do, use, or try?
I’ve wanted to learn how to sew or crochet.
What would you say to a non-scrapbooker about why you love this hobby?
I love this hobby because it gives me peace when my mind is a jumbled mess. There were times it helped me get through a rough patch and somehow helped calm me down.
When did you start scrapbooking and what precipitated it?
I started scrapbooking around the early 2000s. I am a crafter by heart, and when I saw an ad (I think it was Creating Keepsakes) about a layout, I thought to myself, “I want to do this too.” I wanted to make my wedding album, but that took a back seat when my first niece was born. My first layouts were about her; I was so crazy over her!
What sizes or formats do you typically create in? Why do they work for you?
Always 12×12, but I also dabbled with art journals.
What projects or activities are you focused on this year?
Mostly digital scrapbooking. I wanted to start creating paper layouts again, though.
How would you describe your style in three words?
Layered and girly.
What are some of the products, tools, and/or techniques you use most often in your scrapbooking?
For paper and digital layouts, there should always be flowers/florals, a lot of things to layer, and to cluster. For digital layouts, I always tweak the shadows a bit, but most of the time I just use my fave drop shadow style.
Is there a trend you are loving right now?
I am not into trying out all the trends. But I do love everything Paige Taylor Evans. Is that a trend? 🤣
Is there something in scrapbooking — a supply, technique, size, or format — that you’ve decided is just not for you?
Maybe the 8×11-sized layouts and hardcore mixed media.
Where and when do you typically scrapbook? Has this changed over time?
I have a long table where my computer, printer, and photo papers are. I usually scrapbook at night when everything has settled down. This hasn’t changed except for the table and the printer.
Is there an organization strategy for photos, supplies, and/or tools that has worked well for you?
I organize my photos into folders: year and month. And I create folders according to the occasion or whatever the photos are about.
Where would you like your scrapbooking to be in 10 years?
Well, first and foremost, I hope I am still healthy enough to use my hands and eyes for scrapbooking. And I hope within these 10 years I have replaced my old digital cutting machine. 😆
What has being a scrapbooker taught you?
Eye for detail, balance, and color. That no matter how you try to “copy” other people’s style, yours will always come shining out. Creating can help with your inner peace. That I can just be myself.
Where can our readers follow you?
Thanks Donna for sharing a peek into your hobby!
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