AECP Participants

Tell us a bit about yourself.

After a long courtship, I married my high school sweetheart. Being with family is our greatest joy. Many of our trips involve our grown son and daughter, their spouses, and our two grandchildren. Our dog, Mulligan, is the master of our household.

Crafting has always been an important part of my life. My mother taught me to cross-stitch before kindergarten. I sewed samples for fabric stores, quilted, decoupaged, decorated cakes, and refinished furniture, among other things.

I loved scrapbooking so much that I begged to work in our town’s first scrapbook store. In my retired life, I managed a scrapbook and stamp store and taught many classes. I met Anna Griffin and Tim Holtz, who became great influences on my crafty style.

We retired in Tucson, Arizona. The room intended to be a living room became my studio. Having time to craft was my dream come true.

How much of an impact did AECP have on you (in regards to skills and teaching) and would you recommend it to others?

At this stage of my life, I was searching for a new purpose. The AECP program was a significant turning point for me. Each morning, I had a new lesson, new techniques, and new achievements to anticipate. Every class offered something that improved my work and provided the challenge I was looking for.

I had taught many classes before, but I learned a lot more about teaching through AECP. Having such a variety of teachers with different teaching styles expanded my ideas of how to teach and share the joy of crafting.

My greatest challenge was the technology part of teaching classes in a virtual world and communicating through a blog. I received a lot of help and was given great resources. Each step has been so rewarding, yet with each step, I realize how much more there is always to learn.

I am a great advocate of the AECP program. Since completing my program, I have had the privilege of watching others’ skills improve dramatically and their confidence rise as they worked through their levels in AECP.

What has been your favorite part of the AECP journey?

That’s an easy question: it’s the people. I was finally connected to “my” people! New friends came into my life who spoke my crafty language and were as addicted as I was to this crafty world. It is amazing how well you can get to know others virtually. I have made lifelong friends who share their talents and frustrations. We play, learn together, and create some fabulous art.

If you are to add an extra class to the syllabus, what would it be?

The classes and instructors continue to evolve and improve. I suggest adding a technology class to the program, similar to what Aditi is offering in her classes. Bridget is also offering what I would have liked—a chance to practice before the final teaching assignment. Her Saturdays also provide AECP participants with an opportunity to talk to those who have completed the program, offering advice and encouragement. I believe I would have benefited greatly from that connection.

How does the switch from being an AECP participant, essentially a student, to an Educator feel?

Education is my passion. I've been involved in various educational roles, from being a fifth-grade teacher to volunteering at schools and serving on the school board. When my husband finally cut off my scholarship to take college classes, I switched to craft classes! I will never stop being a student.

As an educator, I have the honor of witnessing those magical moments when something I've said or demonstrated brings that "Ahhh Haaa" light into a student’s eyes.

I love planning classes. It allows me to explore my stash, study techniques, and immerse myself in learning all I can about a process before I teach it.

It is so rewarding to see someone post a card they made in my class or send me a thank-you card they made. I admit to being an Altenew Enabler.

I'm incredibly proud to have been named the 2023 Educator of the Year.

AECP gave me the inspiration and motivation I needed to build my cardmaking skills and the confidence to pass that crafty knowledge to other people and share the love for stamping.

Although I have been an avid papercrafter for many years, the AECP helped to bring new techniques, inspiration and motivation to try something different. Each lesson was jam packed with so many ideas I was compelled to stretch my cardmaking muscles and make multiple projects. I also learned to use my Altenew supplies in new ways. Through this journey I have met wonderful crafty friends and been inspired to teach crafting to others. Thank you, AECP, for renewing my crafty mojo.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the Altenew family! I absolutely love to inspire and teach others the art of paper-crafting. I love to color, especially watercolor. Like others on the Certification team, making cards and teaching others has been my passion for many years. Altenew is where I feel I can offer my passion and talents the most, after all who doesn’t love a floral stamp? I am looking forward to getting to know more of the Altenew community.

I have had a passion for handcrafted items for over 14 years and I am the founder of Auzz Trinklets N Krafts. I started my paper craft journey in 2012 to learn and inspire myself for making cards which became my full-time job. I am a tax consultant by profession but I quit my job to learn more about this industry. I am excited to teach and spread the joy of creating with Altenew products

I love crafting because it allows me to be a lifelong learner. There are always new products and techniques to learn and explore. That's why I was drawn to the AECP program. Though I've been a cardmaker for over a decade, the Altenew "style" was new to me! What better way to learn than by taking Academy classes. I learned so many new techniques and was re-introduced to tried and true methods, used in new ways - all from people just like me!

The start of Altenew was a turning-point in my stamping life; those amazing stamps made me want to be part of this company! When AECP was announced I immediately applied and was delighted to be accepted. I love that I could do the AECP classes at my own pace, within my limited crafting time while working full-time. Moving home to Europe I plan to spread my love of card-making as an Altenew Educator.

I started stamping many years ago. I have enjoyed taking the Altenew classes and upping my card making game. What I love about stamping is it is multi-generational! I sit down and make cards with my mother, daughter, and even my granddaughters. I love the joy a handmade card brings! It is my pleasure to be part of the AECP educators and to now teach others.

I’ve been crafting since 2013, and this past year has been a year of momentum. Being a part of the AECP has been incredible and I’ve learned so much from all the classes. I’ve created some of my best work and I look forward to what comes next, family, God and my love of all things Altenew! Huge thanks to my hubby for everything! ​

I began crafting around the same time that Altenew first began selling their gorgeous craft supplies, and I have been a fan ever since. I was accepted into the very first group of AECP participants, and was able to take my time to work through the classes at my own pace with the support of so many talented people. I am thrilled to be included in this group of artists, and excited to share all of the techniques and skills I’ve developed with others in the crafting community.

59 and holding!
I was a kid that liked to pretend I was the owner of an office, because I knew they never ran out of paper or crayons!
Now, I am the owner of my own craft room and I always have ink, paper and stamps!
I have been “playing” with paper for as long as I can remember. These days you can find me in my craft room creating with paper every day.

I admit to having a serious addiction to paper.

The scrapbook and card-making industry has been a major part of my life for more than 25 years.  Teaching classes, taking classes and working in stores created a passion that has never waned. 

Retired but never tired of learning, I jumped at the opportunity to become an AECP Educator.  It gives me great joy to share this creative addiction.

I am a Chartered Accountant by profession, a paper crafter, and a cross stitcher by passion. Thus I adore including stitching in my paper crafting. After a brief introduction to paper crafting in 2005, children and career required my foray into crafting to take a back seat. After a long hiatus, I started crafting again in 2020 when the pandemic hit, as I was not traveling for work and had more time on my hands. I discovered Altenew at this point and was attracted to their range of products. In the spring of 2021, I found AECP and started the journey, where I learned so many new techniques, and even in techniques I had used before, I learned new aspects. I know I will continue learning even after becoming a Certified Educator. Finally, I have made so many friends virtually in the crafting community who are so willing to help, whether about crafting techniques, products, or the tech aspect of social media – I am hugely thankful and appreciative for these friendships.

Addicted to color and splatter, I have been a paper crafter and mixed media artist for a decade. I live in India, and the culture and beauty around me definitely impact my creations. I'm always attracted to the deeper meaning of life and emotions, and I connect that to my art. Apart from crafting, I am a full-time healing practitioner and intuitive coach, and I often integrate the two worlds when creating. I look forward to teaching and inspiring you all as we plunge into the world of colors.

I was born to create. I loved crayons until I discovered graphite and ink! I fell in love, got married, had a son, earned my degree, authored books, ran businesses, homeschooled kids, hosted radio, and earned my Altenew Certification, a whole life under threat of seizures. So yes, I'm blessed to be here – surrounded by such excellent, creative friends, and I couldn't be more excited to see what comes next!

 I am a wife, mother to three grown children, and a proud grandma to our (first)grandson. After immigrating to Canada 20 years ago, I got inspired to try scrapbooking through a friend. Through the AECP, though, I became really addicted to card-making by fine-tuning my skills. If not in my craft room, you can usually find me in my garden, where I draw daily inspiration, especially when everything is blooming. I am a translator (still working on languages #5 and 6), published author and I love scuba-diving, crocheting and reading.