Our Founder

DSD-Pro was founded by Digital Scrapbook Consultant and Business Trainer Cindy Angiel.

Who is Cindy?

My name is Cindy Angiel and I’m known throughout the art community as Paint Chip. I am a multi-media artist. Paper has always been my favorite medium to work in and scrapbooking is one of the ways I began expressing my creatively when I was a very Pic from Me Album young girl around the age of ten. Fast forward twenty-something years and you could find me still playing in paints, papers, textiles, inks, and all sorts of artful mediums. Naturally, I quickly jumped on board the creative scrapbooking trend as soon as the millions of products began hitting the stores.

In addition to these tactile mediums I picked up designing digital art along the way and used my computer generated creations in various projects. Digi-Scrapping came about in the early part of 2003 and I gave it a try. Not finding it particularly thrilling, I tucked this method of scrapping back into the drawer and continued to play with my paper scraps. It was around mid-2004 when the scrapbooking community began producing some awesome digi-art, that I decided to give it another try. This time I found the process of creating digi-layouts much more enjoyable and creatively challenging.

I Was Hooked on Digi-Scrapping

I went from creating digi-scrap pages using other designers art work to creating some of my own. Along with creating pages for myself I began scrapping for friends and family as well. It wasn’t long before digi-scrapping became another “art addiction” as my husband refers to it. I took a few classes, experimented a lot and started distributing my own products while pulling in a few Scrap-for-Hire gigs. So it wan’t long until digi-scrapping began to take up a significant part of my business activities.

I Saw a Hole in the Digi-Scrap Industry

As my interest and skills increased in digi-art I could see that there were tons of new online businesses popping up everywhere and most of them were by stay-at-home-moms who had never owned or operated a business. The paper scrapbooking Pic from Me Album business community appeared to be providing guidance, tools, and plenty of goods for new store owners and professional level scrappers to use and market. While the digi-scrap business community continued to grow and produce wonderful products, it seemed to be a little more protective of sharing tools to help new business owners. I’m not sure if this had to do with fear of digital piracy issues, competition, or what.

At first glance most people see a career in the digi-scrap world in one of two places - either as an art designer, or as a freelance scrapbook artist. So most of the products available to professionals are focused on meeting the needs of business owners in those two career fields only. It looked to me, digi-scrap professionals needed more than just commercial-use licenses to help people working on a career in this industry.

Why? Because there are many more career opportunities in our industry and there are but a few websites focused on delivering products or services to digi-scrap professionals whether they are artists or not. Since starting DSD-Professionals, I’m starting to see a slow trend toward digi-scrap professionals sharing the “inside scoop” with one another and through DSD-Pro we are taking this trend to the next level.

Through DSD-Pro we are teaching entrepreneurs how to use both artistic skills and business practises to build strong companies in the digitial scrapbooking industry.

My Business Background

I have over 30 years of experience in business/program management and have been an entrepreneur my entire adult life. I’ve spent much of this time working directly with State and Federal Government Agencies, Non-Profit Organizations and Internet Marketing Groups . I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and most everyone in my family owns their own business(es).

I now have a network of companies under my own wings, most of which are in the arts and crafts industry and in 2007 I added a couple of digi-scrap income streams to the mix too. It’s been a very profitable experience thus far ane it is truly one of my favorite areas to work in.

Working Together to Improve the Digi-Scrap Business

I’m thrilled to be using my honed business skills, mixing them up with my art interests even further, and having a great time working with peers to build the DSD-Pro business association. This is an endeavor that I know will benefit digi-scrap entrepreneurs across the globe.

As your Blog Hostess and the Director for the DSD-Pro Business Association, I’ll use the medium of the web to provide digital products, training materials, business guidance, and peer-coaching opportunities to help professionals like you - be successful in your digi-scrap business. Pic from Me Album

Although DSD-Pro is primarily presented through my eyes - I actually spend a great deal of time collaborating with a terrific team of creative artists and web-preneurs. Much of the information provided here is a result of the conversations and research efforts we share. So I’m not alone in this endeavor and our team is always looking for creative spirits interested in sharing their skills, knowledge, and experiences with their peer business owners.

Are you interested in lending a helping hand and assisting with getting the association up and running? Would you like to make a guest appearance, be a contributing artist, or offer your assistance in another way? Please don’t be shy. Speak up and let me know what’s on your mind!

Drop me an email anytime at: paintchip @ dsd-professionals [dot] com . I’d love to hear from you!

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