Jan Barletta

OK... let's get to know a bit about Jan. I've recently turned 42 and I am trying very hard to act my age. Actually I'm still that silly schoolgirl who used to have a pottery wheel and make money selling my creations to Mum's piano students. See - nothing has changed - only now I'm scrapbooking and selling to my own students! But in fact... a lot has happened in between.

I grew up on a farm in New Zealand, spent most of my young adult life living on the Gold Coast, then after marrying my Adelaide-born husband up there, settled down in beautiful Adelaide about 15 years ago.

I've worked in some unbelievably diverse occupations - from a secretary at Qantas, to a PR Officer for Wet'n'Wild Waterpark, Introduced the live shark show at Seaworld, Dealt Black Jack at Jupiter's Casino, had my own eBay business since 2001, and spent 5 years as a Teacher Aide.

I'm a bit addicted to any sort of artistic pursuit - from creative writing to playing music and of course - craft!! I've done ceramics, wheel-thrown pottery, china painting, acrylic and oil painting, folk art, sewing, knitting, rug making... well, that's enough. I was very resistant to Scrapbooking to begin with - even though I loved the idea - I just didn't want to start another hobby!

Eventually I couldn't help myself. I bought some paper, a couple of Scrapbooking magazines and off I went, completing several albums before I heard of Kaszazz (then Crafty Kids) and decided to go to a few workshops.

Little did I know there was so much more to learn! Stamping, punching, distressing, etc... in fact, I still attend workshops and I'm still learning!!

I began teaching at the start of 2008 and have lots of lovely students of all ages. I love teaching beginners to see their excitement and skills develop. It always gives me a buzz to see what they can achieve - especially the ones who never thought they were capable!

I've never been one to enter competitions. I have had lots of pages published as workshops for Kaszazz and last year I was shocked when informed that I had been voted by consultants as runner-up in the most popular workshop of 2009/2010 for my Bella Lime Green Double Page. This was in fact the most popular scrapbooking workshop as the winning workshop was for a set of cards. This meant that more consultants ran my workshop than any other of literally hundreds of possibilities! The $800 prize pack I won was awesome!

I was once told I made the best scrapbooking pages on Earth - I gravely doubt this, but was pleased to accept the compliment! My students are spoilt by the variety and affordability of their lessons and I am delighted that they are so happy.

I felt running my business as a consultant for a party plan company was restricting me, so in January 2010 I started my own independent business 'Scrapberries'. In my new business I can source products from various manufacturers and can offer better pricing to my customers. As my business is constantly evolving, we are currently working on an online shopping website, which we hope to have up and running by the end of April. You can visit the website now at www.scrapberries.com.au and see the awesome range on offer!