Fiskarette Spotlight ~ Kirsten Lapping

by Caroline

Kirsten Lapping – www.kirstenlappingdesigns.com

Can you tell us a bit about yourself……~ Hi, I’m married to Kevin, we’ve just celebrated our 20th anniversary and we have 2 daughters Vicky and Becca; I’m very lucky to have such a supportive family who always help me to follow my dream.  I’ve loved crafts for as long as I can remember, some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories are when I was crafting, I used to doodle and dream up characters.

Over the years I have tried and enjoyed so many types of crafts, my favourites are papercrafts including cards, ATCs and scrapbooking, also jewellery making which I used to design.  My craft and career path have run parallel, I have worked with nursery children, as well as set up an arts and craft group for young children, I worked as a Creative Colour Consultant and I designed jewellery, during these times I also enjoyed doing extra arts and crafts with my 2 daughters as well as being asked by friends and family to make cards; this seemed to have guided me to the point where I became a Freelance Craft Designer, then to have my dream career of having a craft design company.

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What inspires you in your creations?  ~  I get so inspired by just about everything, I generally don’t have an off switch when it comes to craft, you only need to ask my family (they say it’s usually 24/7 ~ they’re very supportive), however, this is great as it really does help me with the work I do, it’s also brilliant to be able to be able to wake up each day passionate about what I do, I’m very lucky.  I carry a notebook around with me, have one beside my bed for those creative moments in the middle of the night.

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What are your favourite craft techniques?  ~  I love so many aspects of crafts, so many techniques, I’m also very open minded to trying new techniques, I believe that everyone has a creative side and there is always someone who can teach you something new.  I do love stamping of course and heat embossing, I love heat embossing and punching shapes to use as embellishments from our Enchanted Embossing Powder.  I love trying new techniques or incorporating old favourites with new ones.  I’ve been enjoying using our stamps to make jewellery, some using shrink plastic, some using chipboard and some using scrabble pieces which was great fun.

Exploding Box

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What is on your craft desk at the moment?  ~  My craft desk is where I get a chance to “play” testing new products or designing projects and making card and project samples – which isn’t as often as I’d like, thankfully we have a great “Creative Craft Team” who make great samples for us.  I have a basic kit, die cutting machines, Fiskars craft mat and multi tool, as well as stamps from “The Harmony Collection” (“The Original Interchangeable Craft Stamps”), “The Enchanted Collection” and our new acetates are all to hand to craft.  The projects on here are the “Scuba Scrap page” for the scuba divers and some elements of the big project we’ re working on.  I have lots of cupboards and a 4 foot tall tool box with extra craft stash, next to my craft desk too, in case I need extra things to “play” with.

My design area has some of our craft products on, I have print outs for our next big projects – a work in progress at the moment.  My lap top is generally the main focus of my work here, along with my diary, design pads, notebooks and the ‘phone.  I do have magazines, newspapers etc. where we’re currently featured along with printouts of things we’ll be sending for craft magazines – July’s issues.  I always have peach water and snack bars to hand, as I generally don’t think about the time when I’m engrossed and if I don’t have meetings.

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Where do you craft?  ~ I don’t always craft at the craft desk, I have been known to craft in many places, including in the car and on planes, I also design just about anywhere too, I’ve come up with some great ideas when I’ve been in queues for theme park rides; I really don’t have a craft off switch.

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Tell us about your typical working day… ~ There are so many variations no two days are ever the same.  If I don’t have meetings, workshops, things to do with the “Skill Challenge” or anything else that takes me out, then I usually check and answer some emails, we like to get orders ready early too.  During the course of the day I will do a fair amount of paperwork, I do try to test new products or find new ways with our existing ones; I often need to work on new projects with our products too or check through some that have been made for us.  I’m currently spending a lot of time working on designs, concepts and ideas that I started designing several years ago, I’m also turning a lot of sketches into reality, for our big project; this will take up a lot of our time, so we’re fitting it around our current work and commitments to ensure we always keep high standards for our customers.  There are usually a couple of days a week that I will do something to do with “Skill Challenge”, as we’re organising the big event for November, as well as our future challenges and giving interviews about ones to the present day.   I do like to design but I also like to ensure that everything else is running smoothly too, but each day varies, which makes it even more interesting.

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What are you working on at the moment?  ~ The craft projects I’m working on – well . . . I’ve just made a Princess birthday card for my daughter, using some of the Fairy Princess stamps, I used the Fairy Princess called Victoria (one is called Victoria and one is called Becca named after and inspired by my daughters).  I’m also finishing off the project for the “Skill Challenge” where I will be teaching Scuba Divers the “art of crafts”.  We’re also working on Skill Challenge and organising sponsoring a craft group with craft product.  As for designing I’m working on something I’ve wanted to do for a few years, I’m really excited, we’re hoping to launch them later this year – we’ll keep you posted.

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Can you tell us about the ‘Skills Challenge’?  ~  Kirsten Lapping Designs launched the “Skill Challenge” to encourage people to learn a new skill, it may be something they have always wanted to learn, something for a new hobby or they may even need to re-skill for a new career.  We also hope to encourage as many non-crafters to enjoy the “art of craft” and find the crafter within.  We are working with several companies and organisations, where each month I am learning a new skill and in return I am teaching non-crafters how to craft.

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What skills have you done to date?  ~ In January I learnt to play the keyboard, I asked my daughter for this challenge as she is very musically talented and was a great tutor.  In return I taught her some demonstrator techniques, which will help her with her Duke of Edinburgh.

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In February we worked with the Rugby League North East, I taught 4 Professional Rugby League Players from Gateshead Thunder, how to make Exploding Boxes with a specially designed rugby based theme they were “great sports”; this went so well that we are working together to implement this into their community programme. 

I learnt some great rugby skills, I would recommend anyone who would like to get involved with Rugby to give it a “ try”.  There are many other ways to get involved with rugby, Rugby League North East run a great volunteer programme, they also have a Duke of Edinburgh programme and of course there are some great teams to support from Jarrow Vikings which Kirsten Lapping Designs sponsor to Gateshead Thunder which I have great admiration for.

Another aspect of the community programme where we are working together is the “Wool Appeal” we are asking if anyone could donate deep purple or golden yellow wool, we would like mini stripey scarves about 2 cm x 25 cm and mini jumpers with horizontal stripes once we have the sizes of the cuddly cats; these will be sold and funds will go into the community programme and raise money for the NSPCC.  If you would like more details about the “Skill Challenge” and details of the companies and organisations who I learnt skills from visit www.kirstenlappingdesigns.com  

If you would like to donate to the “Wool Appeal” please send to RLNE & KLD Wool Appeal, George Taylor (Regional Development Manager North East), Gateshead International Stadium, Neilson Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. NE10 0EF if you have a pattern for a stripy jumper or a small cute cat you can also send to this address or email to enquiries@kirstenlappingdesigns.com

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In March we worked with Bridge Training Centre for Women (who are based in the North East) where I learnt Sign Language, Liz was a really good tutor and I enjoyed learning some of the basics.  In return I taught 8 Bridge Managers how to make a specially designed Bridge bookmark card.  Bridge offer such a variety of courses and support, we have their details on our website and would encourage anyone who could learn a new skill with Bridge to get in touch.   In 1996 when we moved back to Sunderland, I attended a Bridge course which offered a taster of many different courses; this inspired me to do lots of courses.

learning sign language

I’d love to say a big thank you if I may, to everyone who is and has been involved with making “Skill Challenge” more than we could have hoped for.

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What do you have planned? I am learning to Scuba Dive during April, this really will be taking me out of my comfort zone!  We have a few great months coming up; we’ve kept a couple of months free as we’re hoping to do some really special things (I always aim high).   We are currently planning a “Skill Challenge” event in November where everyone who has been involved are given the opportunity to have a stand to show the skills people can learn, this will be open to the public and we’re hoping people will be inspired to try a new skill, whether they’ve started their own “Skill Challenge” or would like to.

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Which have you enjoyed the most? I have really enjoyed all of them for different reasons, I’ve always wanted to learn to play music; I now feel that Sign Language would be great for everyone to learn – I’d love to see it as part of the National Curriculum and Rugby was great it really took me out of my comfort zone.

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You make your own stamps – tell us about that… ~  Quite a few years ago I came up with an original idea for interchangeable stamps, I started designing and writing ideas down, including copyrighting some designs.  Later, whilst I was a Freelance Craft Designer and in between designing for several companies, I decided to bring out a small range of “Original Interchangeable” wood mounted and unmounted stamps.  Due to their success and requests from people who had loved them and the workshops I led using them, it was suggested that I take things to the next level and start my own Craft Design Company, which became a dream come true.  The “Harmony Collection” was launched which are also interchangeable craft stamps, these are in acrylic, as we felt these worked even better and gave crafters greater value for money whilst still keeping the same high quality; it also answers the issue of craft storage.

Each set of stamps can be used individually, they can also be mixed and matched within the set and many can be used with other sets too.  Each set comes with an ideas guide to inspire people, there are many other ways to use them too, this is great for crafters as they can create almost limitless possibilities.

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Any handy crafty hints or tips you would pass on to anyone else?  ~  I find I am inspired at anytime of the day or night, so I always carry a notebook with me to sketch or write ideas; I keep one beside my bed as I often have great ideas when everyone else is sleeping.  I have been known to write or sketch on napkins when my notebook has been full.  So my tip would be to keep your mind open and keep your notebook handy you never know when you will be inspired.

A great craft tip I love to use is to use our Enchanted Embossing Powders in a different way than normal (although they are great for embossing stamped images), press a pigment ink pad or Versamark onto paper, sprinkle with our powder, gently pour off, then gently heat, you can repeat if you wish, then you can use a punch or scissors to create your own gorgeous embellishments (Clearly Magic also adds a glossy glaze to projects).  My favourite small punches are Fiskars Teeny Tiny Cassette Punch Set especially the dragonfly and the castle, these go great on cards with our stamps too.

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Do you have a favourite project you would like to show us a picture of and why is it your favourite?  ~ I’d never personally sent a project into a magazine before, so when I was asked by Papercraft Essentials to send 3 projects into them to go with our subscription offer, there wasn’t enough time to ask one of the team, so I designed the projects, I was over the moon to be asked.  One of my favourites has to be the Screen Card as I’ve taught many workshops, where I have used my interchangeable stamps over the past couple of years; I’ve made so many variations of this card and always had a great response.   So many people have asked about the template that we’ve put it as a free to download on our website along with a project to go with it.

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What makes you smile?  ~  My husband and daughters, always make me smile, so many things make me smile – crafts makes me smile (of course) especially when I find time to make cards and projects; also designing new craft products, meeting new people especially crafters and non-crafters who become converted to being crafters.  When people let me know that they have been inspired by a workshop, demonstration or our products.  There are so many more things that make me smile – great music, sunny days and rainbows, then when I think of these wonderful things my mind starts racing with more craft designs and new ideas how to use them, it’s a good job I don’t really switch off!

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What annoys you!?  ~  People who break promises, take credit for other people’s work or who can’t be happy for others – thankfully these people are a minority and I have met many wonderful people on my crafting journey.

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If you could be invisible where would you go and what would you do?  ~  This is a tough one, there are so many places I’d love to go to, maybe places at night when everything is peaceful I’d go to places like: the Sistine Chapel, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal and different palaces, the Colosseum, so many, I’d love to experience different cultures I love history and historical art.  I really love fantasy so I’d have loved to have visited the set of the Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – maybe there’s hope for me with The Hobbit or other Chronicles of Narnia movie adaptations.  Since I love music I’d love to sit backstage at concerts of my favourite groups.  I think a time machine could come in handy too . . .

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Anything else you would like to add….  ~  I’d love to ask you and the Fiskarettes if I may; “if you could, which skill would you like to learn?  Also, do you have a friend or family member who you would love to teach the “art of crafts” and help them to discover their crafter within?”   We are hoping to support new crafters with our “Top Tips and Happy Accidents” page, we are asking crafters to send their top tips to enquiries@kirstenlappingdesigns.com and each month we are sending a specially chosen gift to our favourite.  If anyone is inspired to learn a new skill we’d love to hear which skill they learn, we will feature our favourite story near the end of the year and send a special gift to them too, people can find out more about the “Skill Challenge” at our website.

Thanks Kirsten!