Designer Spotlight
Amber Kemp-Gerstel APRIL 2024 EDITION
amber’s top 3 tipS for new & experienced crafters! INSIDE: How to deal with “crafter’s block” & crafting boo-boos
Amber Kemp-Gerstel Artist
1. Tell us about yourself. My name is Amber Kemp-Gerstel. I live in Miami, Florida with my husband and two sons; Markus (8 years old) and Maxwell (3 years old). 2. What is your crafting story? I’ve always been creative and crafty. Since I was very young I enjoyed making things. As an adult, I fell in love with cardmaking and soon started a blog as a hobby and a way to share my creations with other people. I had no plans of turning this hobby into anything more. As the blog became more popular, I had the opportunity to create content for magazines and even Martha Stewart. Soon, I was receiving offers for paid partnerships with some of my favorite crafting companies! That’s why I decided I might be able to turn my passion for crafting into a career. With some thoughtful planning and the support of my husband, I left my full-time career as a child psychologist and embarked on a career as a blogger and content creator. Eventually, my work as a content creator grew into opportunities in television! I’m fortunate to have appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show, and Making It, and hosted my own show on Disney+ called Disney Family Sundays. 3. What is your “why”? I love sharing doable DIY with my community and inspiring people to be creative even if they don’t think they can.
01
Q & A
with Amber Kemp-Gerstel
4. Which project has been your favorite, or what was the most meaningful to make? Recently, I shared a creative hack for encouraging reading in young children. I recorded myself reading a book out loud and then turned that voice recording into a QR sticker that my kids can scan when they want me to “read” the story to them! The project was received really well on my social media which is always exciting and encouraging! 5. How would you describe your personal crafting style? My style is definitely colorful, fun, and quirky! 6. Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere!! I love looking to home decor and fashion to inspire my next DIY project. 7. What advice would you give cardmakers and paper crafters out there? Please give at least three. My advice would definitely depend on their goal. Not everyone wants to turn their hobby into a career. For those who want to hone their skills, my advice would be to make daily creativity a habit. I find that a daily dose of DIY can really keep your mind spinning with new ideas and techniques you want to try. For those who want to turn their craft into a money- making venture, I would encourage them to stay true to their voice and style. Don’t attempt to create for the sake of dollars. Paid opportunities will find you because of your unique perspective so don’t give that up!
02
Q & A with Amber Kemp-Gerstel
Last, I once read an article that says creative people need to take more naps! LOL! So yeah, treat yourself to more siestas. Even if it doesn’t result in your next genius idea...at least you’ll be well-rested! 8. If you can only do one card making technique for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Stamping! It’s easy and you don’t need a ton of supplies to get it done. You just need paper, stamps, and ink. I also prefer cards that are slim rather than bulky, so a few stamps can go a long way to achieving that. 9. How do you deal with “crafter’s block” or being stuck in a rut? I’ve learned that “crafter’s block” is always temporary. You just have to wait it out. The next idea will come. Forcing it can just make you more frustrated! Often I’ll take a trip down memory lane and look at old projects I made. Sometimes, I’ll remake the old project and eventually find myself coming up with a new idea or technique that I didn’t use the first time around. 10.What is your Altenew story? How did you first learn about Altenew, your first Altenew product, blog hop, etc? I’ve been in the crafting world for a loooong time! I remember when Altenew first popped up on the scene and I’ve been keeping an eye on them ever since!
03
Q & A with Amber Kemp-Gerstel
11. What is your all-time favorite Altenew product? Pick one! I love the color-by-number florals! Such a genius and fun product.
12.Please tell us a fun/quirky/interesting fact about you that most people don’t know about. I am bilingual. I speak both English and Spanish (though my Spanish has gotten rusty over the years). I suppose you could also call me tri-lingual if you count Pig Latin!! LOL!
04
since 2012 Started Crafting
12
Years of Being Crafter
2014 Year Discovered Altenew
500 +
Number of Cards Made
04
Social Media Accounts
@damasklove
damasklove
Missed the previous Designer Spotlight? Lhey Ralston shares why she crafts, her Altenew story, and where she finds inspiration!
READ HERE
CHECK OUT OTHER FEATURED DESIGNERS BY VISITING www.altenew.com/pages/designer-spotlight
altenew.com
instagram.com/altenewllc
tiktok.com/@altenew
blog.altenew.com
pinterest.com/altenew
support@altenew.com
facebook.com/altenew
youtube.com/altenew
(800) 593-1089
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software