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Amy Cutler: Pennsylvania
OnLine: lorealle
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Cuttler.Family.Chronicles
Christi Otis: Indiana
OnLine: latte_grande
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Created by Coffee
Favorite Cuss Word: Mostly, I make up my own curse words. 'Flippity jibbits!' is a common one, and I say 'Frick!' alot. But the 'real' curse word I say when I stub my toe is 'Son of a BITCH!' so I guess that may be my favorite.
I'm a gutter girl for a lot of reasons. I believe in the healing power of ART. I think we should be able to say whatever we want in our albums and with our craft without fear. I believe that a big step in scrap therapy is being able to SHARE what we've created. Gutter Girls is the place for that, to share our innermost fears and our secret thoughts, no matter how dark and dirty.
My gutter girl idol is Kristina Contes, because she scraps REAL life. She doesn't worry about what's popular, she's not afraid to speak her mind, and I love that.
Christine Revels: Texas
OnLine: christine
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Christy's Playground
Favorite Cuss Word: I thought long and hard about my favorite cuss word. I use so many that cussing is part of my normal vocabulary but my favorite one is FUCKER. I may just walk by the hubby and say, "fucker" to him. It's a term of endearment.
Gutter layouts. This place is for me. I don't mind scrapping nude photos, well-kept secrets, bitter feelings or my worst fears. Those are the layouts I consider mine. My gutter girl idol is Heidi Swapp. I didn't used to be a fan of hers, but I love her product, love her layouts and I love what she has to say. So, Donna Downey, step aside-Heidi is it.
Jan Stribling: South Carolina
OnLine: JanS
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Heart Scraps
Favorite Cuss Word: Geez, my favorite curse word has got to be FUCK! It's a nice one syllable, says-it-all, kind of word. Screwed something up? FUCK! Someone just told you something unbelievable? Fuuuckkk.... (You gotta stretch it out like that.) It fits all situations. I also spew forth a shit or dammit every now and then, too.
Up until now I have been in the gutter closet. As someone who USED to be heavy into painting, drawing, photography, etc., I totally veered away from anything to do with art for a long time. I was disappointed in myself for not finishing art school and for years felt that big L for loser across my forehead. Thanks to scrapbooking (Can you imagine?) I'm finding my way back to art. I started scrapping my son after he was born and since meeting up with some uber super women over at TallyScrapper, I'm about to go gutter divin'! As far as any "idols", I'm not into the big name scrappers. My idols are here! I love the work of the GutterGirlz right here! They've been inspiration much more so than anyone in a scrapping mag!
Kammie Reimer: Sunny Southern California.
OnLine: kammie.
GALLERY: HERE
BLOG: Kreative Korner by Kammie
Her favorite cuss word: Fuck! It just says it all!
My mind is typically in the gutter, so it will be a nice place to express it in words and visuals my true self--a trucker's mouth! While I have realized my "art" is simple like me, I truly have a passion for having a dirty mind and very sick demented sense of humor. I have become a little jaded and bitter about certain things, so maybe expressing it now will help me with my own issues--it can't hurt!
I began seriously scrapping right before Christmas. It helps that my BFF, Shirley of 25+ years has a full studio full of "stuff" she doesn't use or want, so I was fortunate to be the recipient of a lot of hand-me-downs. So after all these years she has been scrappin' she finally suckered me in to this cult! LOL, but I have enjoyed it not to mention the great people I have met through various message boards and scrap businesses.
People typically would like to know what my style is. Shirley told me I would come in to my own style and I mentioned to her recently that I believe my style that I have developed is "simple." I am not one to gawdy a project up for the sake of using product--I am the opposite, I like hoard my products! Also, I have come to realize I do not like to do layouts! This is sad because most people that scrap believe that's all there is to scrapbooking is creating layouts to be put in a book and shelved. Personally, I enjoy altering items that can be used as actual display or decorative pieces. I enjoy the look on one's face when they open a gift that reflects pictures from their life or something they can use to preserve family memories. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can make someone happy in this manner. And I can get them to cry--I know I struck the jackpot! *LOL* I have attempted some card-making but not to the extent of some others, but I am trying--I have enjoyed making homemade cards for friends and family--I hope they have been keeping them like I do when I receive a homemade card.
I look forward to working with these other talented ladies on the Design Team and hope their talent rubs all over me, BUT I think I will be able to rub off on them with my "gutter" mind!
Kristen Alcatara: NoVa
OnLine: Inkster
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Casting-On
Favorite Cuss Word: Shitfuck! Said loudly and animatedly when something spills/I get excited or the wind blows.
I started working in a journal a couple years ago and really started scrapbooking in earnest three months ago when I moved to the US. Before i moved I created with anything I could get my hands on : packages and paint mostly and now that I have access to a world of scrappy products I combine the both to form a ‘new’ style for myself. I am constantly playing around with different techniques so that I can experience everything possible! I’m torn between cute and grungy, nice and naughty but there’s room for dessert on every plate. Basically my entire art career has been about pleasing clients and juggling them like spiky day glo balls, but I’m over it. I paid my dues. And now I create for ME. Nobody else. You like it? Pay me? You don’t like it? bite me. Raw and ready or not, here I come.
My gutter girl idol? I wanted to say kristina contes because I love her style but honestly its anyone who plays with paper in some way.
Rachel Whetzel: Oregon Coast
OnLine: WhetzelMomma and TallyHO
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Memories of Mine to Thine
Favorite Cuss Word: (when I'm not at church) SHIT Mostly because it can have SO many meanings!!
For me, having my art in the gutter has so many definitions. Gutter art doesn't have to be trashy. For ME it's about being REAL. It's about saying what I need to, without worrying what "they" will think. It's about being honest with myself about where I am NOW. Even if where I am isn't where I want to be. It's about having the freedom to create without worrying. I don't CARE it it's acid free. I don't CARE if my pages won't be in a museum. I care about letting my art show. I care about life in the gutter.
Shirley Standifird: California
OnLine: {Shirley}, Shirley
Gallery: HERE and HERE
BLOG: Standing on the Edge
Favorite Cuss Word: I would have to say my favorite curse word is
Is my art in the gutter? Yes and no. I love the freedom that Gutter Art gives me. It is great therapy and a wonderful release that is definitely cheaper than paying for a psychiatrist or meds! As I get closer to 40 I am realizing that I do not want phoniness in my life and I definitely do not want it in my art. I am an adult woman and I make the choices as to what and whom I want in my life and what or whom I do not even want to deal with. I create for me now, I take pole-dancing lessons for me, and I lost weight for me. Yes, I take care of my family and my boys will always be number one in my life but now that they are 16 & 18, I feel as though I am free to be me! I wish I felt this type of freedom years ago, what a different attitude and way of living! I love getting my ART on! My Gutter Idols are the ladies right here on this blog with me! I admire the work of each and every one of Gutter Girlz and am truly inspired each time they share their creations!
Kristina Kiessig: California
OnLine: kristinak
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: The Kiessig Family
Favorite Cuss Word: I would have to say shit is my all-time favorite. It can be used in almost any situation, and it's normally the first one that slips out of my mouth. I think that when I journal, I definitely keep it real. I am not afraid to put myself out there, and say what's on my mind. I have finally reached a place in my life where I am comfortable with myself and I am
starting to realize my own worth. My gutter girl idol is Kristina Contes.
Leah Crowe: Virginia
OnLine: Leah C or Darln Leah (darlnleah)
Gallery: HERE HERE and my photography HERE
BLOG: Not Home Alone
Favorite Cuss Word:Fucking Damn!! It’s my favorite and I use it without warning!
When I think gutter, it is TOTALLY dirty minded… so, I wouldn’t say my work is dirty minded…although I wouldn’t mind heading in that direction once in awhile with my art. For real though, I just do not care about Acid free… or rules of any kind. I scrap for my sanity, for the LOVE of the finished project, and at times, am guilty of looking to other peers in the industry for acceptance. Honestly though, I would still scrap if I didn’t get acceptance. There is so much one can share through art, and I am happy to be involved in doing so. I am currently on the Tallyscrapper team with Rachel and several other brilliant people. I also create monthly for The Scrapping Spot. I put my heart and soul into my pages, and hope it shows through to my children one day. Right now, they just like looking at “the pretty pictures.” My Idol… gosh, can I just say anyONE of the Gutter Girlz get my juices going (tap tap tap… I *HEARD* that!) – creative juices ;)
Stacey Castro: So Cali
OnLine: my_3_reasons & socal_gabber_mom
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Fancy Mess
Favorite Cuss Word: Is bitch! It has a nice but I ain't screwing around ring to it, don't ya think? lol
Staci Compher: Michigan
OnLine: CFlattop
Gallery: HERE
BLOG: Stop! It's Scrappin' Time!
Favorite Cuss Word: shitfuckpiss sorry couldn't choose!
I think after losing my husband....I started making more layouts...about real feelings, about being pissed off....and some of my layouts....got a little darker....but they're real and sometimes real isn't pretty and polite.... I am a 37 year old widow, living in michigan...trying to raise my daughters, Tonee' and Sommer who give me constant inspiration through their awesome pictures. I started scrapbooking in 2002, and as each year passes I seem to become even more obsessed with this hobby.....but I couldn't imagine life without scrapbooking....it has become my therapy... My gutter girl idols are Renee and Kristina. Their raw and REAL journals inspire me to find that place in my own art!!