Our Guest Designer for the December kit, Tanya Royston, came to us via our own Lisa Saunders. You may have guessed that Lisa loves all things Disney, so it would make sense that she’s part of a Disney Scrappers message board and gallery, right? Well, Lisa saw Tanya’s work there and was so impressed, she wanted to share her with our Cocoa Daisy family. We agreed when we saw some examples of Tanya’s layouts, so we invited her to join us for the month.

You’re in for a treat!

Tanya’s gallery is beautiful! She has a strong graphic style and uses patterns so well. We love how she made the December kit, Desktop, work with her Disney pictures so expertly. Tanya claims to be still pretty new to the whole scrapbooking scene, but she sure knows how to design pages. We loved working with her this month and hope you’ll have a chance to check out her gallery and leave some love. It will be worth your time! What she did with the Pink Paislee gallery print? Very creative!

Get to know our Guest Designer by reading her bio, then you can learn even more through her questionnaire answers. We think you’ll love her as much as we do!

Hi, my name is Tanya Royston and I’m a paperholic.  It’s been two weeks since I purchased beautifully themed Christmas paper.  I’m a northern transplant living in North Carolina with my teenage son.  Even though I’ve been scrapping for almost 10 years, I still feel like it’s brand new and I’m still learning.  Although there’s plenty to scrap, I seem to mainly scrap our various trips to Disney.  Life for me is about all the little things.  Scrapping allows me to chronicle those moments in such a creative and practical way.

1. What is your most creative time?
I love early morning scrapping. Before the house and world awake and it’s just me, my supplies and the day ahead.

2. Share your current top 5 favorite songs/music groups with us.
Always on the top of my list is Mary J. Blige, anything she sings. Loving Adele’s new song Hello. Bruno Mars once again anything he puts out.
3. If you were in a Rock N’ Roll band, what would your job be?
Hmmmm, since I have zero musical abilities anything onstage would be out. I’d probably fit best somewhere in the PR team. Part of the creative team for the look of the band.
4. Did you ever want to change your name? If so, to what?
I remember growing up not seeing my name on novelty items and being frustrated. But I never thought about changing it. I’ve always thought this is what my parents gave me and loved it. Now if I found out they pulled it out of a hat, I might not be so loving towards it.
5. If your life was a movie, what actress would play you?
I like to think of myself as a strong woman so the actress would have to exhibit that. I’m thinking Viola Davis or Danai Gurira, sword wielding warrior from the Walking Dead.
6. What’s your favorite accessory?
This is going to sound odd but hair is my favorite accessory. I braid, twist and twirl my hair braiding. When I walk into a beauty supply store I wonder long/wavy, short/curly, color. Then I go home, look in the mirror and play.
7. If your life were a novel, what would the title be?
Hmmm…

8. What was your first job and how did you get it?
My first job and first interview was as a secretary for a university. Back in those days, you got the paper and thumbed through the classifieds. I’m dating myself but that really is how I got my first job.

9. What food would describe your style?
Something simple and savory. Maybe a baked potato with varying toppings depending on my mood.

10. What is “dressed up” for you?
A lightly starched white blouse, jeans, heels and funky jewelry. Ready, where are we going?