Getting to Know You...Featured Reporters

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Today we would like to introduce some of our newest reporters! These fine ladies will be writing our feature articles that will typically run on Fridays and Saturdays. They are some of the best of the best and their work is top notch. You can see more of their work on their individual blogs... visit by clicking on their names. Please take a moment to get to know them a bit better and welcome them to Craft Critique.


Tami Bayer

I am a stay at home crafter who also takes care of my rockin' 12 year old son and sweet husband of 17 years. I come from a long line of quilters and seamstresses. I got my first sewing machine when I was in Kindergarten and have been doing some sort of craft for most of my life. I discovered papercrafts a few years ago and am free to stamp and make cards now that my hubby digitally scraps our photos. I love to go treasure hunting at yard sales and thrift shops for things to use in my art and around the house.




Martha Bonneau

Hi, my name is Martha, I am 39 years young and I am totally addicted to scrapbooking. I started scrapping approximately a year and a half ago and have scrapped almost every day since then.

My inspiration is almost always 1 of my pugs, but I have been known to scrap humans every once and a while. I have been married to my hubby, Bob, for 7 years and besides the 2 pugs (Mugsy and now Pixie) we have a kitty named Ivo.

Besides scrapping I also enjoy sewing. I think everyone I know has a tote bag I have made... and I love making felt monsters too. Things that make me happy are photography, anything with skulls on it, the color orange, 80's alternative music and the fact that I just made the zingBOOM design team and that I had one of the winning LOs in the Martha Stewart Scrapping contest. You can always check out what's going on in my scrappy world by going to my blog at http://mugsyboo.blogspot.com/ (Or just click on her name...)


Emily Giovanni

I am Emily Giovanni and I live in Arlington, Texas. I am 29 years old and I have been married to my husband Matthew for almost 9 years. We have three crazy boys; Andy - 7, Alex - 5 and Adam - 4. I am a stay-at-home-mom to my boys, even though it seems like I am never at home!

Up until I discovered stamping/card making, I had not done anything artistic in my life! My younger sister introduced me to rubber stamps in the fall of 2003. I was hooked and have been stamping ever since. I had never considered myself artistically inclined and was quite surprised when I made something good!

My stamp room is my oasis of quiet. I have also recently been bitten by the digital scrapbooking bug. I've already made more pages this month than all last year! I also enjoy reading, music (listening - not playing or singing!), cooking, hanging out with family, talking, shopping and CHOCOLATE!


Sharon Harnist

Sharon is a native of Texas and has been involved in many different types of crafts all her life. She started scrapbooking in 1996 and was first introduced to rubber stamping in February 2004. Shortly after, she became a demonstrator and instructor of rubber stamping, cardmaking & scrapbooking in May of 2004.

Sharon served on SplitcoastStampers Design Team from January 2006 thru November 2006. Currently, she is on design teams for two different rubber stamp manufacturers: Cornish Heritage Farms’ Thomas Kinkade Rubber Stamps & My Favorite Things. Visit her blog (linked in her name) where she shares all kinds of paper-crafting & organizing ideas.


Lauren Meader

I was extremely honored and excited to be asked to be a featured reporter for Craft Critique!
I really enjoy sharing what I love. So I know this is going to be a great venture.

I am 29 years old. Very happily married to a supportive guy, who is also my very best friend (and cheerleader :D). I have 3 children Alexa, Noah and Amber that keep me busy as a stay at home mom. Being at home, I realized I needed "me" time and began rubber stamping 3 years ago. Once I found stamping, I was obsessed!

I was really only able to start working hard to make my passion my occupation this past February, as my daughter has Leukemia. The initial first year was very busy with her treatment ups and downs and about 8-9 months mainly spent in the hospital. While she still has a year of treatments left, she is technically in remission and doing well, THANK GOD.

That experience taught me a lot about life. Don't sit still and wait for tomorrow to do what can be done today. There are never any guarantees in life, and when that is thrown in your face, you take a step back and go over your life. I don't want to say "I should have......"

Once we were free and Alexa was doing well, I knew it was time to advance towards my own goals. I am happy that I have achieved most of what I set out to do, but there is always room to grow. I am getting to do what I love most by being with my children and working from home.


Thank you ladies for joining our team. We can't wait to hear what you all have to say!