Here are all the makers that make up the design team and contribute to the Maker Forte Blog:
Nicole Coursey, DT Coordinator
Hi, y’all! I’m Niki, and I live in San Antonio, TX. I moved here in 2008, married my husband in 2010, and I have two stepkiddos: one is a sailor in the U.S. Navy, and the other is still making his way through high school. I’m a copywriter by day, and when the sun goes down, my glue gun heats up!
My favorite techniques include stamping, watercolor, die-cut design, and paper sculpture, mostly quilling and flowers. When I’m not crafting, you can find me relaxing in the backyard, searching online for craft inspiration, or taking an engaging online course. My blog is www.tealkatsblog.com.
Find her on Instagram @cardstoq
Kari VanNoy
Hello! I’m Kari VanNoy! I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember, but it has only been in the last 10 years that I absolutely fell in love with card making. I craft and teach others cardmaking skills in sunny Arizona. It makes me happy to see the look of wonder on others’ faces when they finally “get” heat embossing or ink blending or a new skill.
I’ve been a guest designer for multiple companies, too. I’m married with 3 kids and live in Mesa, Arizona, with my supportive husband and sweet dog. After my oldest son moved out, I converted the large bedroom into my DREAM CRAFT ROOM (well…almost dream craft room), where I continue to create and be inspired every day! My blog is www.SunshineInMyPocket.com.
Find her on Instagram @kariavan
Joy Wilson
Hi, I’m Joy from the Northern Kentucky area, and I’ve been paper crafting for 20-plus years. If you count collecting stickers as a child, then I’ve been crafting much longer, but these days you will find me stamping, coloring, and card making.
If I had to describe my style, I would say I am clean and simple with lots of dimension, but I love playing with ALL of the things!
Besides my passion for paper crafting, I have a menagerie of fur and feather babies that I fuss over and love dearly. I am very lucky to have a husband who supports and enables my passions and encourages me daily to get a little inky.
Find her on Instagram @joywilsonink
Jackie Sitton
Hello Everyone! My name is Jackie Sitton. I live in Texas with my amazing husband and 3 rescue cats. When I’m not crafting, you can find me playing golf or traveling the world. Like most people, I started my crafting journey with scrapbooking. One day my local scrapbook store had a cardmaking class, so I signed up. I was instantly hooked and haven’t stopped since!
I love my Copic markers, but I’m always trying to step out of my comfort zone and attempt new mediums and tools. I’m excited about this opportunity and hope I can inspire you along the way.
Find her on Instagram @createdbyjackie
Katy Ingram
Hello friends! I’m Katy Ingram, a wife and mama to 1 son and 6 kitties. I live in southeastern North Carolina off the coast of Topsail Island, and I LOVE making handmade cards.
I started my cardmaking journey back in 2016, and in 2019 I started my YouTube channel and blog, Eastwicks Paper and Ink. I needed an outlet to share and hopefully inspire your creativity with my card making as well as provide you with some tips and tricks along the way. I am so excited to be joining the Maker Forte Team and getting to know all of you.
Find her on Instagram @eastwickspaperandink
Sharon Smith
Hi, I’m Sharon, and I live in a small town in Michigan. We moved here from the UK 8 years ago and don’t plan on leaving. I am married to my best friend and my craft enabler. I have 2 human kids, Our son moved into his own place a couple of years ago, and our daughter is just hitting her teenage years. I also have 5 furbabies and a feathered friend. I spend my days overseeing my daughter’s virtual school, which gives me a ton of crafting time!
I love to stamp, color, and use lots of other techniques that result in a card being made – I always have some form of ink on my fingers! When I’m not stamping, I am designing and decorating items with vinyl and sublimation ink. My other loves are reading, photography, and binge-watching crime shows. I am a self-confessed social media addict and am constantly posting my designs (or my puppies and kids) on my platforms. My blog can be found at: https://fiddlydiddlycardsandcreations.blogspot.com/
Find her on Instagram @fiddly_diddly_cards_and_crafts
Marj Banzales
Hi! My name is Marj, the person behind MarjBanzalesDesigns. I am completely obsessed with all the things related to paper. I have been a paper fanatic since I was in Grade school and collected an amount of paper. During those years, I even started a small business by buying and selling stationaries to my girlfriends.
I’ve had a love of art since I was a very young age, but my love of lettering started when my typewriter broke and don’t have access to any computer. I had to start from scratch because it won’t look good if it didn’t match at all. With that being said, I did my project like I was making a scrapbook. Very attractive, full of designs and creativity.
I have been in love with card making, coloring, and stamping after receiving my crafty magazine in the mail…. the rest is history. I am passionate about card making. It brings me so much joy. I just love to create!
Find her on Instagram @marjbanzalesdesigns
Tasha Jorgensen
Hi everyone, my name is Tasha, and I’m a Wisconsin crafter who believes glitter makes everything better!
I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember, and I love card making, stamping, painting, drawing, and mixed media. In addition to paper crafting, I enjoy baking, traveling with my husband, gaming, and watching movies. I’m so excited to be a part of the team, and I look forward to getting to know all of you!
Find her on Instagram @CraftyPinkPixie
Jennifer Schoolcraft
Hi there! My name is Jen, and I have lived in beautiful, sunny Arizona for most of my life. I have an amazing husband and three boys ranging in age from 9 to 30 (yikes!). We share our home with my sweet senior dog, Pixie, who is closing in on 18 years old! We also have two bearded dragons named Morax and Buddy.
I’ve been crafty in some way for as long as I can remember but started making cards a little over 4 years ago. I truly believe that standing still is not the place to be. That exploration of our creative sides, stepping outside of what we are comfortable with, and discovering what is out there is the key to growing and improving as creators and as people too.
I love so many cardmaking styles but find that mixed media is the one that I love the most!
Find her on Instagram @jenleeschoolcraft
Kim Skinner
Hello, my name is Kim Skinner, and I live in Florida and New York. I have been a crafter my entire life. I love creating and experimenting with paper crafting and mixed media projects of all kinds. My husband and I have been married for 35 years, and we have raised a fantastic daughter and a wonderful son.
I spend a good part of every single day creating in my craft studio. I am a retired teacher, and I love to teach. I hope that I can inspire you to create something new!
Find her on Instagram @stamping_imperfection
Gloria Hayoung Lee
My name is Gloria Hayoung Lee. I was born and raised in South Korea. I moved to Canada in 2004 and currently live in Barrie, Ontario Canada, with my husband and two boys.
I really love to make cards and try to make various types of paper crafting. Coloring is one of my favorite parts of cardmaking. I’m so excited and happy to be a part of The Maker Forte Design Team.
Find her on Instagram @gloria_hayoung_lee
