Can't get enough Scrappy Rat

I had to take the laptop away from Sadey or Shadey as she says. I thought she was abusing her privileges but then come to find out that our cat was forcing Sadey to blog in attempts to dominate the Internet, thus mankind. The cat was behind it all! He plots evil at every chance he gets using sweet Sadey as his decoy and if anything goes wrong it would be blamed on Sadey. Poor Shadey.

So last blog we featured a dog treat recipe by Scrappy Rat Designs. And this week we get to know Veronica a little better. As Sadey was just to hyper catching her tail and ripping open the couch pillows she didn't include the interview or pictures. Sadey seems to think that any picture posted on the Internet should only be of her. The cat seems to think otherwise.

So please without further butt scratches and tongue kisses, please welcome Veronica of  Scrappy Rat Deigns.....

How did you get started making greeting cards?

When I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease and the pain had become my fulltime companion, I had to let go of a lot of my more physically taxing hobbies. I had always enjoyed collage and journaling, so it wasn't a big jump when a friend introduced me to scrapbooking and stamping. Then I learned about crops and crafting weekends--the social side of scrapping and I got hooked. I've met a lot of really cool people through events and swapping ATC's. I host the Altered Artists' Meetup group in Raleigh and the people are really incredible. I love getting together with such creative and talented people.


 How did you come up with the idea to incorporate customers companion animals into the greeting cards?

I enjoy photographing the animals I know, and I love making little books with the pictures I take. Making the cards is very similar, just the pages aren't bound together. :)

Why are you vegan?

For ethical reasons. I have worked in animal rescue and advocacy way too long *not* to want to do all I can to keep from harming animals. It's not like it's all that hard to be vegan. It's the least I can do to keep their blood off my hands.

I understand you make vegan dog cupcakes, what inspired you to make cupcakes for your dogs?

I actually started before I had dogs. I worked at The Third Place, a coffee shop with a large number of dogs among their clientele. Making dog treats to sell there was a way I could raise money for animal rescue groups and shelters. I paid for the ingredients myself so the shelters would get 100% of the money we collected. Later my own dogs would come to enjoy being my own private taste testers. With their help, a handful of recipes became close to 100.

What do cupcakes mean to you?

To me, cupcakes are a delivery device for frosting. I'm a frosting maniac. (Note from Editor, um I love this and couldn't of said it better) I could eat it by the handful if my stomach would let me. It tends to complain if I eat more than one cupcake so I stay in check.

Do you sell your cupcakes for dogs?

Not anymore. My spine acts up too much to let me do mass baking, so now I sell my Yummy for Dogs cookbook in my Etsy shop. All of the money I make selling the cookbooks in my shop goes to the Etsy for Animals Charity of the Month. This month it's a feral cat rescue. I also earmark certain sets of cards as charity items with 100% of their price also going to charity.

Have you had any crazy requests from customers (for cupcakes or cards)?
I'm afraid to say that people have been pretty tame. That's a challenge for all you readers out there. Push me!

What do you like to do when you are not baking dog cupcakes and making greeting cards?

I'm a writer so I'm usually working on one project or another. Several of my books are available in my shop, as well as via my publishers and Amazon.com. And of course, I love to spend time playing with my animals and my foster pets. I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 rats, 2 turtles, 2 degus, a chinchilla and a foster hamster.

Do you have any events coming up where you will be selling your greeting cards or cupcakes?

I make a lot of cards for animal rescues that request them for their fund raisers, so I'm usually working hard on sets and gift baskets for them.

Here is where to find Scrappy Rat Designs

Scrappy Rat Designs: http://scrappyrat.etsy.com

I also have a site for my writing at www.evnoechel.com

and my blog can be found at http://scrappyrat.blogspot.com


How does someone request a customize greeting card?

Just send me a message via my Etsy shop. If you are interested in having your pets on the cards, I ask for .jpgs I can work with and we can go from there. Your pet doesn't have to be a dog. I have made cards featuring clients' rats and birds, too. I'm open to working with just about any animal you can think of.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

Oh geez. That's really hard to choose. There have been so many.

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

That's easy. Team Elias. Let the Right One In is a fabulous book.

What else do you sell in your shop?

Yummy for Dogs, A Cookbook for Canines

Aside from the cookbooks and pet-themed stationery and jewelry, there are notebooks and actual books--of my poetry.

Anything special you want to promote?

 I really enjoy doing the collaged cards using photos of clients' pets. There's something about capturing their personalities that I just adore.

Do you do any vegan related fund raising?

Absolutely. I've always been an animal advocate, so my heart demands it. I sell items earmarked for charity in my Etsy shop, with the proceeds going to the Etsy for Animals' Charity of the Month, and I'm always making items for animal groups to use to raise funds to further their work. I foster/volunteer for an animal rescue that takes in small animals, too. Rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, degus, chinchillas...all those little guys no one seems to think end up as strays or in shelters have a very special place in my heart. They're so easily discounted as "vermin" or unimportant when nothing could be further from the truth.