Our Instructors

Holly Bliss

Holly has been preparing to be a Paper Craft teacher since she first held pencil. She graduated from MSU with a BS in studio art and advertising. After a brief foray into advertising and graphic design, in her twenties, she found her true calling as a stamp illustrator. 1995 she started "WhipperSnapper" Designs at Cathy Smith's gentle urging. After successfully growing the company for 5 years she sold to her best customer in 2000. She spent the next couple of years pursuing a family and illustrating new stamps for WhipperSnapper. She is now the proud mom to 16-month-old Harrison, who is following in his Mommy's love of art. Holly continues to be inspired creatively in many ways but teaching others is a passion she still loves, even after 10 years.

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Leesa Crutcher

Who really wants to know about me? I am Leesa. I am married to Terry, and have two handsome grandsons from my son, David and my daughter (in-law), Elisa. I have worked full-time for Creative Impressions for over 8 1/2 years, and through that experience, and have been exposed (with great excitement) to so many fun products, techniques & people. I LOVE texture, paper, adhesive, stamps, embellishments, rub-ons, pearl-ex, techniques, and inks of all kinds! I am artsy, simple, silly & quirky. I miss being around other creative people, and that is why I enjoy teaching card & technique classes. I look forward to seeing you in a class!!

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Sandy Klocksiem

I have this wonderful gift and I have discovered that a gift is even better when shared with a friend. I have been teaching scrapbooking classes at Simple Pleasures for 8 years and loving every minute of it. We started out sharing methods for scrapbooking and sort of fell into theme scrapbooking. One of the themes' we have discovered is Mary Englebreit. Mary's artwork fits so many categories for the young and the young at heart for all times of the year. We frequently will do an entire calendar which supplies you with backgrounds for your photos all through the year. We also do Debbie Mumm country and quilting, Marjolein Bastin featuring gentle flowers and birds (perfect for heritage pages), Shelly Reeves Smith and Teresa Kogut are more country home-y type pages and then there are our serious Heritage pages that go all the way back to the feeling of the late 1700's and early 1800’s up through the 1940's and 50's. We have brought our ancestors over from their homeland...to America and their new homes wherever that may be.

Some of the things that we use help set the stage are: Punch outs of all sizes and shapes…decorative scissors, ribbons, lace, fringe, beads and buttons, snaps and tiny safety pins, charms, eyelets, vellum, poems, Bible verses, string and silk ribbon, embroidery, stencils, yarn and even fabric.

I have 15 grandchildren who are all wonderful and who all provide inspiration and memories that jump start me and send me in all directions. But my biggest direction giver is God. He truly provides all my ideas, all I have to do is listen and follow the Leader. I hope that you will come and join our gatherlng of friends who just happen to love scrapbooking.

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Linda Knight

I'm a confirmed and committed crafter, having enjoyed so many different avenues of crafting over the years - from sewing and cross stitch to beading and clay. But no craft has given me as much enjoyment as stamping, papercrafting and scrapbooking have. As a child, my heart sped up every time I walked into an art supply store - today as an adult, stamp and scrapbooking stores do that for me. I love new techniques, old techniques and new ways to use old products. I especially enjoy making cards, books, boxes, and dimensional items such as the Outlines Ornament.

Other than substitute teaching for a number of years, I'm a relative "newbie" and look forward to sharing with you a really fun "ooh aah" project that is only limited to your own imagination. Stamper's Sampler has published two of my cards that I sent in with my subscription renewal- one was a Christmas card and the other was a Halloween card. Mostly, I enjoy the look on my friends and family's faces as they open a card or gift that I've made and express their approval. It just makes my day.

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Cathy Smith

An affection for specialty papers and stationery was the springboard for my stamping journey. When I saw the limitless possibilities for rubber stamping, 21 years ago, I jumped in! The possibilities are still limitless, and I still love the hobby. My enjoyment of paper techniques, stamping, and creating hand crafted keepsakes led me on a natural progression into scrapbooking. I especially enjoy incorporating stamping and quilting techniques in my cardmaking and scrapbooking applications. Experimenting with new techniques and products, and being innovative with the basics keep these hobbies fun and stimulating for me. Teaching at Simple Pleasures is very gratifying to me; it is a treat to be able to share my passion with others!

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Keith Upton

Keith Upton developed an interest in photography in the mid to late 1990’s while stationed in Japan with the United States Air Force.  These early days were mostly spent shooting landscapes, refining his composition and exposure skills. 

In 2005 Keith went digital with a Canon 20D and a handful of professional lenses. A month long photography trip through Europe and Singapore brought him fully up to speed with the digital side of photography.

By the summer of 2006 his photographic and post processing skills had advanced enough to land him his first assignments for several national magazines.  2007 saw Keith producing award winning photographs in very genre from automotive to wildlife.  His portrait and model work as been selected for worldwide gallery showcases.  He has also appeared on Maverick TV’s “Best of the Best 3”.

When he is not photographing, Keith can be found out road racing is modified car, reading or working on graphic layouts for poster and advertisement designs.

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