Fall Survival Designer - Marie Pilgrim

Marie Pilgrim


Hi! My name is Marie Pilgrim. I’m a thirty-something speech-language pathologist, who works in the public schools. I’m very happily married to my college sweetheart, who is going back to graduate school to become an SLP, too!


No kids yet (we're praying hard), but we have a spoiled chocolate lab who thinks he’s our kid (probably because we treat him like our kid). When I’m not at work, I’m usually at church; I’m involved in children’s and women’s ministries.


During my downtime, you’ll find me either reading (voraciously) or scrapbooking! I’ve been scrapbooking since 1990 but it’s definitely become an obsession in the last few years. My favorite supplies are patterned paper, rub-ons, and lately I’ve developed an addiction to buttons.


My style tends to have a graphic/linear foundation and then I have fun layering patterns and embellishments on top!



Please join me in welcoming Marie to the Fall Survival Design Team!

Fall Survival Designer - Aubrey Rives

I'd like to introduce you to our 8th designer. You've seen her work with Maya Road. She is simply amazing!! Please welcome....

Aubrey Rives

Howdy! My name is Aubrey Rives and I am a proud to be from the Lone Star State. I am a graduate of Texas A&M University and a career Elementary school teacher (18 years). I am happily married to my high school sweetheart. He is my soulmate, the love of my life, my rock and the world's best DAD! I have two beautiful daughters! They are both outstanding athletes (in addition to being great kids). Nearly every free minute of my life is spent watching them play softball and running them to and from practices.



I have been scrapping for over 12 years. I originally started paper crafting as a stamping consultant for CTMH (back when they were still called DOTS). In my early scrapping years I did solely two page layouts... then I went to one page layouts... and now, I'm a MINI ALBUM fan! I still do layouts, but my passion for scrapping has definitely shifted to altering chipboard albums.



I have designed for a couple of other kit clubs but the highlight of my scrappy existence is that I have been blessed to be a member of the Maya Road design team for the last two years. I am excited to be a designer for Homegrown Scrapbooks Fall Survival Program! Let's have fun together!

StashBuster Challenge #8 - Birds of Summer

Yes this actually a game.. you are the mama bird saving your baby birds.. well stop it! Use them birds and think of summer.. do a layout about summer.. anything summer 1 point for the layout and a bonus points for every bird you use! (Don’t forget the owls!)
Here is Tami's Miss You Layout


Be sure to upload your challenge layout to the Stashbuster Gallery!

Fall Survival Designer - Kim Moreno

My name is Kim Moreno and I am a stay at home mom of 5 little ones, ranging in age from 12 to 5 1/2 year old twins. It's a bit chaotic around my house but I love it! I have been married to Jesse for 14 years. Jesse is in the Air Force, so as a family we have lived several places including Germany! We are both originally from Texas and will retire to there in a few short years! I can't wait for that day!!

I have been scrapping for over 7 years now and love the creative outlet that it gives me. I have been fortunate to have been published in several top magazines including Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers magazines and books, Scrapbook Trends, Cards, Scrapbook and Cards Today, Paper Crafts and more. I was thrilled to be named a runner up for the 2008 Memory Makers Masters contest this year. Not only is scrapbooking a wonderful outlet for me, I love knowing that I am documenting memories for my children to enjoy as they get older!

I'm so happy and excited to be a part of the Homegrown Design Team (once again... LOL)!! You may visit Kim at her blog: Kim Moreno

Technique Tuesday - Emelyn Magpoc's Who's Got the button...

I love using buttons on my scrapbook pages. They are easy to find --you can buy them from SB companies, from sewing companies, and I've even used the "just in case you lose a button" freebie that is attached to shirts..LOL! And they are super easy to use. I have to admit, before I was not so friendly to the idea of using buttons. I am NOT a sewer, and I dreaded having to thread the holes of buttons. But after seeing Elsie Flannigan use buttons w/o threading them, I was convinced and now I'm addicted!! I simply use either a really good liquid adhesive like Ranger Glossy/Matte Accents or glue dots.

Here are just a few examples:

Use buttons to create a border.
Use buttons to create "bullets" for journaling strips.
Create shapes with buttons.
Use buttons as flower centers.
Or just randomly cluster buttons around other embellishments for an eclectic collaged look.
Have fun and get some buttons on your pages!! :)

StashBuster Challenge #7 - Rock Paper Scissors!

Oh paper beats rock, rock beats scissors and scissors beats paper.. why can’t they all just get along! Let’s make them on a layout.. 1 pt for each piece of paper you use.. 1 point for blinging it up.. and use scissors.. no tearing!

Tami's Rusty Rose



Now it's YOUR turn! We are looking forward to your layouts! Be sure to post them in the Homegrown gallery!

Fall Survival Designer - Audrey Tan

Hiya, I’m Audrey. I’m live in the United Kingdom although I’m originally from Singapore. I’m married with 2 boys, Oliver, 7 and Zac, 5, both of whom form the basis of inspiration for my pages. They are probably fed up with their paparazzi mom taking photos of them constantly to use on her pages. I re-discovered scrapbooking in autumn 2004, via card making. I attended a class and was instantly hooked. I realised it was something I used to do 16 years ago. Each time I went on vacation, I would take endless photos and keep souvenirs, all of which would be decorated and journalled in a photo album. At least this time, materials are of archival quality and much more interesting!



I’ve been with Homegrown since 2005 when Steph gave me my first opportunity to be on her design team. Since then, things at Homegrown have changed tremendously. This year’s Summer Survival kit marks the first anniversary as I was designing with SSK 07 last year. However, you would have seen my work in the form of sketches as I’ve been doing all of the Survival kits sketches since its inception.

Taking up scrapbooking as a hobby has certainly opened doors of opportunity, not to mention friendship as well. I’ve been published before, served on other design teams and definitely have made a lot of friends from around the world, all of whom share the passion of scrapbooking. I’ve enjoyed scrapping so much that I’ve even started a monthly crop with a couple of friends where we provide classes and a great environment to mingle and learn. Regarding my style of scrapping, I certainly love to experiment and try out new ideas. I’m a stamp fanatic and this is evident in my pages. I’m also into the mixed media art and I do tend to bring this over into scrapbooking. Hence, sometimes my pages will turn out to be a hodgepodge of creative experiments.

I’m definitely looking forward to playing with the Fall Survival Kit and hope to be able to inspire with my creations. I would like to thank Steph for creating the Survival kits and coming up with such delectable goodies that make creating a sheer joy!