Meet Your Host
Terri Johnson
Terri Johnson Creates
I'm Terri Johnson - a lifelong crafter, educator, and the founder of Terri Johnson Creates.Â
For over 30 years, I've worked with thousands of makers across the country (and around the world) to show them that crafting should be fun, not stressful!
These days, I'm best known for helping crafters of all levels feel confident with their cutting machines & creative tools -- turning "'Im so frustrated!" into "I can't believe I made this!"
I'm the creator of the All Things Silhouette Conferences, the All Things Silhouette Club, and the Silhouette Instructor Licensing Program -- and now, I'm thrilled to bring you A Cut Above Summit!
Meet Your Speakers
Dr. Carina Gardner
Slightly Distressed Perfect Holiday Cardinal Shadow Box Card
Dr. Carina Gardner is the founder and President of the University of Arts & Design, a post secondary institution offering degrees and certificates. She’s also owns Design Suite, a flagship program that has helped over 500 designers turn their creative skills into profitable businesses.
Carina holds a Ph.D. in Design from the University of Minnesota and has spent over 18 years licensing her art and patterns. Her designs have appeared on dishware, jewelry, prints, clocks, sewing patterns, kids products, and seasonal décor sold through major retailers like Nordstrom, Riley Blake Designs, Silhouette, and 500+ independent boutiques and museums across the U.S. She previously served as Creative Director for Carta Bella Scrapbook Paper.
Through her popular Make and Design Podcast, Carina teaches hobbyists and crafters how to build a real design business step-by-step.
Brenda Lambert
Owner of Silhouette Success
Boutique Gifting: Etched Glass Homemade Vanilla Bottles
Brenda is a licensed TJC instructor who teaches Silhouette Studio with a mix of tech tips and creative flair. From Cameo to Curio, she helps crafters get the most out of their machines with tutorials that make even advanced features feel approachable. Her classes are packed with practical know-how, a dash of humor, and plenty of “aha!” moments for makers at every level.
Brandi Mahon
Creative Content CreatorÂ
Make Custom Christmas Stickers — No Drawing Required!
Brandi Mahon is the talented Creative Content Creator behind Stamp Me Some Love. She is dedicated to helping card makers and crafters bring their artistic visions to life with her free tutorials, virtual crafting summits, and memberships. Join Brandi's supportive community of like-minded individuals (Card Maker Success Membership) and let her expertise in card making and crafting empower you to create beautiful handcrafted cards and connect with others. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, Brandi Mahon is here to inspire and guide you on your creative journey!
Kelly Wayment
Silhouette ExpertÂ
Botanical Crepe Paper Branch
Since 2009, Kelly Wayment has been a leading voice in the Silhouette community, sharing her passion for crafting with enthusiasts worldwide. A versatile “hobby collector,” Kelly integrates cutting technology into a wide range of creative pursuits, though she specializes in stunning paper flowers and 3D paper art. With over 15 years of experience, she is a go-to resource for those looking to master their machines. You can find more of her work at her blog, FindingTimeToCreate.com, or follow her journey on Instagram @kraftingkelly.
Patrick Ali
Lead Educator - Siser NA
Patrick Ali is a 9-year crafting veteran and 5-year business owner who proudly wears many hats at Siser. As a former member of the sales team, one of the Cutter and Software Development leads, and the current Lead Educator, Patrick combines his experience and passion for the industry to deliver unique educational experiences. His mission is to make learning accessible and fun for creators of all skill levels and backgrounds by showing off what’s possible with Siser materials.
Aja Fillmore
Illustrator & Designer
From Screen to Paper: How to Use SVG Cut Files to Make Beautiful Holiday Gift Tags
Aja Fillmore is an illustrator and surface pattern designer specializing in hand-drawn florals. She runs four Etsy shops, designs fabric collections for Raspberry Creek Fabrics, and sells SVG cut files through the Silhouette Design Store. With a background in collection design for the scrapbooking industry, she creates coordinated art that works across paper crafting, fabric, and digital products.
Michelle Price
Marketing Director - 12 x 12 Cardstock Shop
Holiday Ornament Gift Box
At 12x12 Cardstock Shop we love paper like you love paper and we've made it our goal to have every type of paper and cardstock you need for whatever you're crafting. Our Marketing Director, Michelle Price has been making cards and scrapbook pages for over 25 years and she loves to share her passion for paper by teaching others how to craft with their Cricut or Silhouette machine.
Elena Anderson
Designer
Snowy Christmas Tree Shaker Card
Elena is an avid designer of SVG cards and also the host of Card Making with SVGs+ summit. When she started her blog back on 2016, she was a "traditional" card maker using stamps, dies, inks and more to create cards. In 2021 she transitioned to SVG-based projects and began designing SVGs. Her true love of cards and SVGs has now combined to be almost exclusively what she creates and shares on her blog, YouTube channel and in many crafty online summits. Elena lives in Denver, CO with her best friend and husband of nearly 27 years, Alex and their sweet, elderly dog, Django.
Randal Smith
Designer
Layered Birth Flower Ornament for Laser & Cutting Machines
Randal Smith is the designer behind C3 Designs Studio, where she creates clean, high-quality SVG and sketch files for laser and cutting machine makers. Her signature style blends classic, country charm with modern simplicity, with a strong focus on floral and nature-inspired designs—especially her birth flower collections.
She specializes in beginner-friendly, Silhouette-tested sketch files and laser-tested designs, helping makers create beautiful, professional projects with confidence. Her designs are sold on Etsy and the Silhouette Design Store.
Randal is passionate about teaching makers how to turn a single design into multiple creative (and sellable) products.
At A Cut Above, she’ll be sharing a holiday laser project designed to help you create something meaningful, giftable, and easy to recreate.
Carla Minarcin
Designer and Crafter
Sugar Skull Owl Lantern
Carla is a lifelong crafter with a passion for all things creative! For more than 10 years, her Cricut has been her go-to tool for making magical paper creations. She loves designing SVGs that help others bring their own projects to life. When she’s not cutting and layering cardstock, you’ll find her whipping up whimsical fake bakes, arranging cheerful florals, or decking the halls with handmade wreaths and garlands. Her colorful world of crafts is all about sharing joy, sparking imagination, and adding a little extra fun to everyday life.
Erin Reed
Creator
A Fun Fold Christmas
Erin Reed brings a fun, romantic, and sometimes funky feel to her projects of all kinds, from papercrafts, sublimation, kid crafts, mixed media, art journals, Cricut crafts, and so much more! Catch her over on her YouTube channel, Erin Reed Makes, crafty adventures, card swaps, art reviews, crafty storytelling, The Maker's Retreat, and tons of fun!!
Kyndra Cellan
Creator
Custom Fall Doormat with Your Silhouette
Hi, I'm Kyndra, the maker behind Lavender Light Creations! I am so excited to be back for another A Cut Above Crafting Summit. I specialize in creating handmade apparel and accessories using my Silhouette machines, sublimation and laser crafting. I love creating seasonal and custom pieces to help others add a personal touch to their space. I am passionate about helping others feel confident in their crafting by breaking projects down into easy, repeatable steps. In my class, you'll walk away with skills you can reuse and a project you'll be proud of!
Julie Thompson
Designer
Christmas Penguin Pop Up Card
Hi, I'm Julie Thompson, the creator behind Cedar Hill Design. I'm a graphic designer and SVG artist living in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona, and when I'm not designing, you'll probably find me on a hiking trail or in the kitchen baking for my favorite people. I have a deep love for handmade things and the joy they bring, which is what this Christmas popup card project is all about. I hope it inspires you to make something magical this holiday season.
Chelly Ontis
Content Creator
Party Banner with 3D Bows
Chelly is the crafter and SVG designer behind We Can Make That®, creating fun projects for Cricut and cutting machine fans. From cute cards and home decor to scrapbook pages and gifts. Chelly also loves helping makers turn simple materials into something amazing and inspiring those who dream of starting or growing a craft business of their own. When she’s not in her craft room, you’ll find her quilting, organizing craft supplies, and enjoying life as a wife, mom of grown kids, and proud nana.
Jared Barbosa
Product Educator - Heat Press Nation
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Jared Barbosa is a self-professed heat press nerd! This really comes in handy for his job as Heat Press Nation’s Head of Product Education. His friendly personality and love of the creative process have helped make him a trusted content creator in the heat transfer world. Off-camera, his heat press work continues at his own home-based business, where he specializes in customizing t-shirts, coffee mugs, and gift items using Direct-To-Film, HTV, sublimation, and other methods. When he's not heat pressing, you can find him playing music with his band or eating tacos with his wife and son.
Michelle Price
Designer
Gingerbread Tunnel Card
Michelle has always been a paper lover! As a child she hoarded office supplies, but her love of paper really exploded when she was introduced to the hobby of card making. Shortly after Silhouette was introduced to the market she grabbed one and started cutting her own card embellishments. Now she designs cut files for card makers in her shop Bits & Pieces Paper Lab.
Sharia Morton
Designer
A Sweet Surprise: Gingerbread House Pop-Up Christmas Card
Hello! I’m Sharia Morton, the creative mind behind Sharia Morton Designs. I specialize in paper and vinyl crafts, creating intricate SVG files and 3D paper projects that inspire makers of all skill levels. I am currently pursuing my Master of Fine Arts in Digital Design at the University of Arts and Design.
My creative journey was rekindled with an iPad and a Cricut machine—gifts from my husband that helped me reconnect with the artist I had always been. What began as drawing in Procreate quickly grew into a design business offering tutorials, digital downloads, and creative resources across multiple platforms.
Through my work, I aim to help others create something beautiful with their own hands. I also aspire to write and illustrate a children’s book, blending storytelling and art to inspire creativity in the next generation.
Debbie Jenkins
Creative Professional
A Glowing Jack-o'-Lantern Card (With or Without Lights!)
Debbie Jenkins is the creative force behind Debbie J’s Crafting Corner, where she brings cardmaking to life with creativity, joy, and a welcoming spirit. With a background rooted in art from childhood, Debbie stepped away to embrace the busy roles of wife, mother, and full-time professional. Now that her children are grown, she’s reignited her artistic spark—sharing easy, confidence-building tutorials through live videos, blog posts, and hands-on workshops.
Guided by her cheerful motto—If I can make it, you can too—Debbie invites crafters at all skill levels to discover their inner artist. Whether through uplifting YouTube tutorials or fun, community-centric live crafting sessions, she transforms complicated techniques into simple, joyful experiences.
