Carina Gardner
CEO of Design Suite

Snowy Christmas Ornaments

Dr. Carina Gardner is the founder of the University of Arts & Design, offering Master’s degrees for business-minded creatives. She’s also the CEO of 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 17 years licensing her art and patterns. Her designs have appeared on dishware, jewelry, prints, clocks, sewing patterns, 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 and founded the children’s brand Mini Lou, carried by Nordstrom and Peek Clothing.

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Brenda Lambert
Owner of Silhouette Success

Candles & Cut Files

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.

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Crafty Christie
SVG Designer and Silhouette Tutor

Raise Your Spirits: Crafting a Boozy Holiday Gift Box

Crafty Christie is your expert Silhouette tutor and SVG designer at Crafty Christie's Creations. She guides you in mastering your Silhouette cutting machine with creative project ideas, detailed tutorials, and informative courses. Crafty Christie makes Silhouette crafting enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

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Kelly Wayment
Silhouette Expert + Paper Flower Artist

Handmade Paper Flowers (a Silhouette Project)

Kelly Wayment has been educating and inspiring Silhouette users since 2009. With a deep passion for all kinds of crafts, Kelly seamlessly integrates her Silhouette machines into nearly every hobby she pursues. Her extensive experience and creative approach have made her a trusted resource in the crafting community, where she continually shares her knowledge and enthusiasm for crafting with others.

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Patrick Ali
Lead Educator - Siser NA

Making Spirit Wear with Unique Effects

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.

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Aja Fillmore
Designer

Pressed & Pretty: Fall Florals with Siser

I’m Aja Fillmore—an artist, designer, and educator who loves turning creative ideas into beautiful, useful products. I design stationery, SVG craft files, and illustrated fabric that blend thoughtful design with playful charm. With a background in design education and a passion for digital tools like Procreate and Illustrator, I enjoy both making and teaching.

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Michelle Price
Marketing Director - 12 x 12 Cardstock Shop

Christmas Paper Scene DIY Decor

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.

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Elena Anderson
Owner/Designer

Christmas Tree Cookie Shaped Card

Elena is a lifelong crafter having learned cross stitch, sewing and hardanger as a young child from her crafty aunts. She started her paper crafting journey in the 1990s with scrapbooking which transitioned into stamping in the early 2000s. Her blog and YouTube channel originally focused on cardmaking using stamps, inks, markers and more. But Elena decided in late 2020 to concentrate on electronic cutting machine crafts, especially (but not exclusively) cards and papercrafts. In addition to teaching fun project tutorials, she designs her own SVGs which she sells through her Etsy store. Elena is also the creator of the Card Making with SVGs+ summit happening in October. She lives in Denver, CO with her best friend and husband of 25 years, Alex and their sweet elderly dog, Django.

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Jennifer Sanderson
Screen Printing Coach

Screen Printing with Vinyl

Jennifer Sanderson is the screen printing coach behind Pigskins & Pigtails, helping crafters turn their vinyl cutters into powerful screen printing tools with a basic home setup. She simplifies the process, making it easy for anyone to create pro-quality shirts, bags, and more.

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Carla Minarcin
Designer and Crafter

Fall Flower Pumpkin 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.

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Erin Reed
Craft Expert

Mixed Media Art Journal Page

Erin Reed brings a fun, romantic, and sometimes funky feel to her projects. She is a military wife, a stay-at-home mom of 2 boys and 2 girls, and a Canadian transplant who lives in Texas. Her first love is family. Her second love is crafting fast fun, and quick crafts. Catch her over on her YouTube channel, Erin Reed Makes for all kinds of crafty adventures, card swaps, The Maker's Retreat, and tons of fun!!

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Kyndra Cellan
Crafter/Content Creator

Foiled Affirmations: Learn to Foil Acrylic with Your Silhouette

Kyndra is the face behind Lavender Light Creations, a crafting business focused on spreading light, positivity, and purpose behind handmade crafts. With a passion for meaningful design and a love for Silhouette machines, she specializes in projects that combine beauty and inspiration-like acrylic displays, vinyl crafts, and sublimation. Kyndra is thrilled to be teaching at A Cut Above Crafting Summit and can't wait to share techniques that will help you confidently bring your designs to life.

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Julie Thompson
Designer

Christmas Shadowbox Project

Julie is a busy wife and mom of four and has always loved art, crafting, and any kind of creative outlet. She has worked in the graphic design industry for over 20 years, doing freelance and other work on a wide range of projects, including crafting files, book covers, marketing, logo design, and websites. She is also a Design Suite Coach with Carina Gardner Inc. She loves sharing her passion for design with others. Julie also loves to cook and bake, read, sew, paint, and enjoy being outdoors in the beautiful White Mountains, where she lives in Arizona.

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Ashley Ciccero
Artesprix Sublimation Arts & Crafts Supplies

Think Outside the Printer: Artesprix Sublimation on Everyday Blanks

Discover just how versatile sublimation can be in this hands-on, step-by-step class led by Ashley from Artesprix! Using sublimation blanks you likely already have at home, Ashley will guide you through creative techniques that combine the magic of Artesprix’s Iron-on-Ink mediums, markers, ink pads, and paints, with traditional paper crafting methods. Whether you are new to sublimation or looking to breathe new life into your stamps and stencils, this class will show you just how far your at-home projects can go with a little heat and pressure, and a lot of imagination.

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Jared Barbosa
Product Educator - Heat Press Nation

Everything You Need To Get Started With DTF
Everything You Need To Know About VersiFlex By Sawgrass

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.

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Michelle Price
Designer

Mrs. Claus Pop Up Card

Michelle has loved paper since she was a little girl, but once she got her first cutting machine her crafty world opened up! Now Michelle shares card making tutorials and card making cut files at Bits & Pieces Paper Lab.

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Sharia Morton
Designer

Craft Your Own Haunted Mansion: Creepy Cute Paper Craft for Halloween

Hi, I’m Sharia Morton—a designer and artist based just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. I create charming, detailed 3D paper crafts that bring joy to makers and crafters of all ages. My designs include everything from gift boxes and greeting cards to layered home and party décor—each piece inspired by the rich storytelling traditions and Southern culture I grew up with. You’ll find my work in the Silhouette Design Store and other favorite spots where crafters love to gather. Whether you're cutting with a machine or crafting by hand, I love designing projects that spark creativity and make every occasion a little more special!!

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Stacey Wattenbarger
Designer

Quick & Easy Laser Projects: Earrings + Welcome Door Hanger

Stacey Wattenbarger is the creative force behind Diva Watts Designs, a top-selling digital design shop known for bold, beginner-friendly laser files and hand-painted door hangers. Since starting her business in 2019, Stacey has had over 2 million downloads worldwide and has been featured by Cricut, Silhouette, Glowforge, xTool, and Hobby Maker TV. She specializes in clean, layered round door hangers that combine farmhouse, rustic, and modern styles, making her one of Etsy’s leading designers in the niche. Stacey’s journey began as a lifeline after the loss of her daughter Betty, and her work continues to honor Betty’s legacy through creativity, connection, and community. Whether teaching, mentoring, or creating exclusive designs, Stacey is passionate about helping makers find joy and confidence in their craft. Her approachable, purpose-driven style has made her a trusted voice in the laser community.

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