Tina, Owner and Designer

Founder Tina Allyson,  has a vision and wants to share her creative outlet with others, one community at a time.  Having experience teaching crafting within her community,  Tina created SCRAP U & Artistry Too, a studio designed to teach new and creative forms of art classes to children & adults.
Tina has lived in Hillsborough for over 19 years and has always been an active member of her community but when her dream of opening an art studio became a reality it opened up a whole new world of art to our community!  
"I got the teaching bug when my friend Maryann asked me to create and teach a scrapbooking program for Amsterdam School's enrichment program.  I fell in love with the program and returned every year there after.  Being creative is my passion, I love to watch students  try new things, grasp new concepts and apply them to school projects and at home in their own freestyle art!   The kids are excited to share their masterpieces and  I am always amazed at how talented and expressive children are or how often I've heard a parent remark that they didn't know their children were that talented"!
"I have always wanted a Studio where people stop in, take a class, do some freestyle art, take creative risks, hang out and meet new people.  Art is not only therapeutic but socially,  a great tool to bring people together.  Scrap U  & Artistry Too is a safe space, both personally and professionally for every guest who enters.  Our warm, inviting climate is most important to me.  I want each of our guests (adult and children alike) to have the opportunities to experience new, amazing art programs and learn a variety of different art mediums from talented professionals in their craft that they would not otherwise get to experience.  Hillsborough has not had a one-stop shopping location for all their artistic needs and now they do!  
Tina's  commitment to support her community comes from years of volunteer and non-profit work.  Tina's resume of volunteerism includes many  organizations including but not limited to: Hillsborough's Cultural Arts Commission, Organization for Autism Research (OAR), Safe & Sound Somerset as well as coordinating family events & fundraisers throughout Hillsborough School's.  
​In 2008, Tina founded a non-profit organization called, Care to Share Support Network, that worked with families of children with special needs throughout Somerset County.  During the lifespan of the charity, Tina was recognized for her work and significant contributions to Hillsborough's Special Education Department.  Tina received several proclamations from Hillsborough Township, tas well as an award from the radio station, Magic 98.3 for “Women Who Make Magic” and in 2009  Tina received New Jersey's Somerset County "Women of the Year" for Volunteerism.

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Ariadne Ippolito - Studio Administrator

Ariadne Ippolito has always had a love for helping others and using her creativity to create art. She earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University, and her career spanned major cities like NYC, Boston, and Chicago, where she excelled as a Director of Event Planning in various hotels and conference centers. Currently,  Ariadne is a Marketing and Brand Manager for a telecommunications company, where she focuses on graphic design, creation and brand marketing.
Her passion for DIY crafting led her to start her own business, during the pandemic called,  CraftSpeak Studios.  Ariadne enjoys working with various mediums  from vinyl and sublimation to paper quilling and crepe flower making, channeling her creativity into unique and beautiful projects.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Ariadne currently lives in Hillsborough with her daughter Maddy, who has a passion for art, and drawing, her hubby Mike, who is an avid PC Gamer in his spare time and their two cats Obi-Wan and Daisy.  Check out her website for all her creative musings!   Visit her web page: The Digital Ariadne

Denise Carr - Sewing Instructor

​Denise is a freelance seamstress and sewing teacher with over 30 years of experience specializing in apparel, home décor and costumes.  After spending much of her youth learning from her very talented sewing mom and working in a fabric store, she earned her BS in Marketing from Bloomsburg University and her MBA from Temple University.  While working in the corporate world she continued to follow her passion for sewing until her sewing client base took over full time.  That passion she is happy to share with “children of all ages”.  See our programs page for Denise's class schedule.

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Hannah Allocco - Drawing & Painting, Skills Labs Instructor

My name is Hannah Allocco, I am a current student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.  I am pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts for both Visual arts and Graphic Design. My main concentration is painting but I am well-versed in many different artistic skills including sewing, embroidery, drawing,  photography and design. I’ve been working with children since my junior year of high school and I am excited to work for Scrap U where I can share my love for art with so many talented aspiring artists! ​

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Sharmilee Raje - Drawing & Painting & Crochet Instructor

Sharmilee Raje is an artist who sells her handmade crocheted products and          paintings. She has an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management. Artistically inclined since childhood, she developed and honed her painting and crocheting skills after moving to the US in 2017. While an expert in painting with acrylic paints and watercolors, she also enjoys exploring new painting techniques and mediums. Her art is inspired by the vibrant beauty in nature. Her love for teaching stems from her passion to share her knowledge and skills with others. Visit Sharmilee' s art on her Instagram & Etsy pages!


Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/colors_and_crochets?igsh=ZTE2Nzh3cGJ1Znhu&utm_source=qr    Etsy: https://colorsncrochets.etsy.com 

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Annika West - Drawing & Painting Instructor, Art Camp Instructor

​Annika West is a student at The College of New Jersey pursuing a degree in Business Management and with a minor in Fine Arts. In high school, she studied art in the National Art Honors Society program and Art Club. Annika enjoys creating art in many styles, using a variety of artistic mediums. Outside of drawing and painting, she also enjoys sewing, collage, crafting, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and anything creative. 

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Maureen Grotz - Fluid Artist, Littles Art Instructor

  I've lived in New Jersey all my life. I met my husband in High school, he's      been my rock with helping me reach my dreams in owning my own     business. We have a daughter named Emma who is our sunshine! I've   been making art for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl I   would enjoy watching my uncle draw cartoon characters on placemats   when we'd go out to dinner. You can say he started my interest in art. I   started with just making doodles or scribbling lines on paper, seeing   creatures come out of the lines. As I got older I signed up for drawing,   cartoon & animation , sculpting classes. I love how art is constantly   challenging me. Art has helped me keep an open mind. Things don't     always turn out the way you want and that's ok.  

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Sarah Wessel - Anime & Crochet Instructor

  My name is Sarah Wessel, I’m a current student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at  Rutgers University where I am pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. I got into drawing cartoons and anime characters when I was in middle school with a how-to drawing cartoon book and now I am looking forward to teaching students how to make their own characters and cartoons!    Besides this, I have experience in crocheting since high school. Crochet can be applied to many different mediums like keychains, clothing, bedding, charms and I am very excited to share it all with everyone!

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Lily Campbell - Art Coordinator

Lily Campbell is a student at Hillsborough High School and member of the National Art Honor Society. She has taken art classes throughout high school and is currently in AP 2D Art and Design. Lily is passionate about art - specifically painting and drawing - and engages in many different mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, and graphite. She has been working with kids for 5 years in various programs, and loves to help children discover their love for art. Lily is thrilled to put her creativity to work at Scrap U! 
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Camryn Resetar - Art Coordinator

 Camryn is a Hillsborough high school student and is very excited to be apart of the         Scrap U team! She has always had a love for art, especially acrylic painting. She has been   working with children in art camps for the past two years. She hopes to take her interest in art to a career in interior design and architecture one day!     

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Amanda Lu - Art Coordinator

​My name is Amanda Lu and I’ve had a passion for drawing since I was about the same age as the students here! I’m currently a student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts and Rutgers University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. Besides drawing and graphic design, I have experience in oil, acrylic, watercolor and gouache painting and am currently learning how to crochet and sew. I first started teaching at the YMCA during senior year of high school and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey here!

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Susan Niedt - Special Events Instructor

Susan Niedt is a Certified Aromatherapist, Reiki I and Reiki II, and a Certified Positive EFT Practitioner. She studied Aromatherapy at Aromahead Institute and Aromatic Wisdom Institute. She is an active member of NAHA. Her love of plants and their unique healing properties brought her to the world of Aromatherapy, through which she discovered that combining both the therapeutic and energetic properties of essential oils with EFT and Reiki protocols, deeper levels of healing can be experienced. Susan teaches Yoga, Jewelry Making and Aroma Therapy classes with Scrap U!

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​Marie Jarrett & Heather Bruno - Empowered Mindful Solutions

​Scrap U is partnering with Empowered Mindful Solutions !  Check out the programs we are collaborating on by visiting our website & Empowered' s website!
We are two teachers who went into education as eighteen-year-old bright eyed students who wanted to desperately make a difference in the lives of children. After many years of teaching thousands of kids in various settings, it was abundantly clear that we wanted to do more. No two children are exactly alike; we have taught students who need to be challenged and students who need additional support, however that challenge and support may look and feel different for each child. We believe that kids should always be seen, heard, respected, and receive the support they need to be strong, confident, and happy people.   www.empoweredms.org/

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Itoko Kobayashi - Origami Instructor

​ Itoko came from Japan.  She loves to share her origami art work with others.  She started   her craft working exhibitions, fairs, and finally by teaching others.  Itoko loves  to see   others reaction to her work, especially of children.  She wants people to know the   possibility of creativity with paper.  See our programs page for Itoko's class schedule.

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Team Photos!

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