Meet Mye de Leon, the creator of this month’s DST Gold Member Kit, One Heart.
| What inspired you to create this month’s DST Gold Member kit?When I learned that I would take February spot, I knew right on I wanted to do a kit similar to my Valentine kit last year called Love Bug,but I wanted to make it more general for versatility.
What is your favorite part or element of the kit? I love the papers and the paper flowers. I created the papers first. It took me a while to finish them and it’s unlikely for me but I love how they turned out. Tell us about your family: I have been married for seven years to my one and only love, Kris and we were blessed with twin daughters, Scieszka Raine and Elysia Raine who will turn seven in July. I have been working from home since October of 2010 and have loved every minute of it. With being at home, I get to see all of my kids’ important milestones. I love to see their giggles when they play, how serious they are when watching a movie and how dedicated they are playing their gadgets. They just love to stick with each other. How long have you been designing? I have been designing for more than two and a half years now. I started as a blogger in the year 2007 and after months of hopping several blogs, I stumbled upon a former colleague’s digiscrap blog and got smitten by her layouts. Needless to say, I asked her how she did it and that’s how I started to learn about Photoshop. I played and got to do my first layout and since then I [have] never stopped. I tried paper scrapping but it costs too much for me. I don’t want my hobby to become my burden so I stick to digi, joined CTs and eventually became a designer in the year 2009. What program(s) do you use? I have Photoshop CS5 What part of designing comes easiest to you (themes, colors, papers, elements)? I would say papers. I love adding textures to them and I always create them first. What part of designing is most challenging to you? Alphas. When I have created all my papers and elements, I struggle with what type of alpha I should include and at times, I end up with nothing. What inspires you? I am driven by colors. At times, I am inspired by my kids’ creativity. Whenever I see them painting, I see colors they are using that I’d want to work with. Designing comes naturally when I have colors to start with. If you’re running low on design mojo, where do you go to kick-start your creativity? Pinterest! It’s a collection of many great things and I always get inspiration when I look in there. What has been the greatest compliment you have received about your designs? When customers send me [a] personal email just to say how much they love my work and how much they are looking forward for more releases, it’s priceless. Link us to a layout that you have seen using your work that just left you awestruck. This one by Tamara totally blew me away. She used my kit, About to Fall. I saw it first in her FB profile and I was like, wow – it’s just awesome! I clicked because I recognized the kit and I wanted to make sure and yes, it was my kit. And this layout is just stunning! How much time do you allocate to designing in a typical week? I design as much as I can. Recently, I [haven't] monitored how many hours I stay in front of the computer to design. I wish I had a schedule and I wish I had self-discipline to stick to it, but I don’t. I wake up, prepare the kids for school, eat (sometimes eat while in front of the PC). I check email, FB, design, design, design. I work until it’s late and I am already sleepy. That’s my typical week. What is the latest you’ve ever stayed up to finish a design or scrap? Four A.M. It was the first week of my husband being away to work abroad. He won’t be able to check on me so I get to stay up late to finish my designs and advertisements. What’s your favorite snack to have handy while you design? Cream puffs and coffee. What magazines do you subscribe to (scrap and non-scrap related)? Tip Junkie. Slippers or barefoot? Definitely flip flops! Favorite TV show? I rarely watch TV, but I like Supernatural. Where is the farthest you have been from home? It was when I was sent to Japan for a business trip in 2003. I love the place and I still want to go back and see more beautiful places in that country.
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Mye de Leon
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Mye de Leon Product Picks
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Layout Inspiration
Here are some layouts created with this month’s Gold Member Kit.
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Gold Member Challenge
Don’t forget to check out our Gold Member Challenge posted in the forums. Scrap with this month’s featured designer kit and post it in the Gold Member Gallery for your chance to win $25 to Mye’s personal store! And, don’t forget to attend the Featured Designer chat at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 17 for your chance at even more prizes!
What a wonderful interview Mye! I love getting to know a little bit more about you and thank you so much for mentioning my layout..I am very honored!!
Great interview. I LOVE Mye’s work. It is obvious that color is her motivator. It is the thing I like most about her work. She has a great eye for color. I love the rich tones of her colors as well. My favorite kit so far is Sweet on September–I use it a lot.
Mye is one of my favorite designers, so I was thrilled when she was your featured designer this month. Her kits are so very inspiring & well thought out & put together. I just got her Down by the River kit & will be using it on my next project for sure!
Awesome interview! Mye’s definitely one of my fave designers. Her kits always come up so pretty and unique. I love the different unique elements she got in her kits.
I really enjoyed reading about Mye! I love her work, she is so awesome! I have collected so many of her kits, and I love using them. Great interview!!!
Mye, thank you so much for this really beautiful kit. I love your designs and became a gold member just to download your contribution this month. Thank you, thank you!!!
Way to go Mye!!! So glad to see you here as the Featured Designer!!! Beautiful kit!