One of my fellow Ella Friends, Diana, posted a great list of Questions and Answers on her blog. Many of them are the questions that I receive from friends and family that I have never addressed here on the blog. I thought I'd give it a go.
WHY DO YOU SCRAPBOOK?
- To keep records in an orderly and attractive manner: school year albums especially
- To record the everyday bits of our lives that we will eventually forget or take for granted
- As a creative outlet for my writing and photography
HOW/WHEN DID YOU START SCRAPBOOKING?
One of my neighbours was a Creative Memories consultant and she had an open house over the Christmas Holiday in 2003. I loved the idea of scrapbooking and loved that there was a consistent source of supply and inspiration. I may not use the albums or the paper any more, but I do use plenty of the tools.
WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU HAVE? (I've changed this question to WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE? since I own plenty collecting dust!)
MacBook Pro 17" loaded up with Microsoft Word and Photoshop Elements 6.0
Canon EOS 40D Camera with various lenses, but the one used most is my 50mm 1:1.4 and my back-up Canon PowerShot G10
HP9800 DeskJet Printer
Tonic Trimmer 12" Large Base
Creative Memories Custom Cutting System
Creative Memories Multipurpose Tool
Making Memories Instant Setter
Creative Memories Tape Runner & Refills
DO YOU ALTER YOUR PHOTOS?
The short answer is no.
The accurate answer is yes, on occasion to crop, straighten the horizon or convert to black & white or sepia. I don't like overly processed photos. It's the flaws that make things real, right?
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT ... STORY OR PHOTO?
Over the last couple of years, I've come to the conclusion that what is most important is the story the photo doesn't tell. It's easy to just say what is in the photo, it's harder to write why the photo was taken. I'm fortunate to have a collection of good photos, but without the story they're just pretty pictures.
BESIDES YOUR CHILDREN, WHAT DO YOU SCRAPBOOK ABOUT?
Our life. People we know. Places we go. Things we do.
SCRAPBOOKING HAS A BIT OF A STIGMA ATTACHED ... ARE YOU EVER EMBARRASED TO ADMIT THAT YOU DO IT?
Isn't it sad that my choice of how I record my life is mocked; in some way considered unworthy or a waste of time? For those who think so, they are welcome to, I'm sad they do not feel they have a story to tell or their children will not have a keepsake of their childhood. I'm (thankfully) no longer in the business of changing their minds. No one is saying you have to have a whole studio filled to bursting with the latest and greatest of all papers and embellishments. You don't have to head to every class or go on every retreat offered. I would appreciate less ridicule over my choice. I don't shy away from the topic when it's raised, but I also no longer take offence. I love it when someone decides to start!
WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?
I like to think I am an authentic scrapbooker. My pages are well designed, well balanced, with a focus on the story and photo. My primary desire is to get my pages done. I have a huge collection of embellishments, but I rarely use them. Crazy! I like a simple page with a bit of pretty. Pretty can be a brad, a flower, a button, a bit of bling. It won't be much, but it will "finish" the page.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE LINES OF PAPER?
I don't know that I have any favourites. I buy what I like. I have to say while at ScrapFest yesterday, I came home with a lot of Jillibean Soup and Theresa Collins. In general I am not about the "latest and greatest" trendy products. I like having a variety of product from which to choose, but it doesn't have to be recent. Case in point:
the printed paper is from Creative Memories, back when I was a consultant, YEARS ago (I've not purchased any supplies since! Tells you I had far too much in the first place! Older Making Memories stickers, newer American Crafts letters and brads.
It's not the newness of the product that makes your pages, it's the product choices. The only thing guaranteed: all of your product will be "old" eventually. Make the right choices for your stories and your photos and your layouts will never be dated.
DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO ANY MAGAZINES?
Yesterday, while at Scrapfest, I signed up to receive Canadian Scrapbooker as well as Scrapbook & Cards Today. Both are Canadian produced with Canadian Scrapbooker publishing fully 100% Canadian content. Other than those two, I subscribe via google reader to a number of blogs. I do have subscriptions to: Canadian House & Home, Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living.
WILL YOU TEACH A WORKSHOP AGAIN?
Not really applicable to me as I do not teach. I'm a shower, not a teacher. You have to have far more patience than I posess to teach! I will definitely TAKE a workshop again :)
DO YOU BUY A LOT OF STUFF?
Too much! Case in point? Yesterday I enjoyed the marketplace at Scrafest far too much. I don't shop often, but when I have an opportunity I go a bit crazy. My focus was to purchase for my December Daily project. I now have enough supplies for about ten books! But I love that I now have choice where I had none before I went shopping.
Where I live there are no scrapbook-dedicated stores locally. I occasionally purchase on line, but that would be bulk paper purchases (Orange Peel White Bazzill and Kraft Bazzill) from the States. My annual trip to Cape Cod cannot be complete without a visit to the world's best scrapbook store: Colorful Creations in Hyannis. LOVE them!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SCRAPBOOKING WEBSITES/BLOGS?
Ella, Write.Click.Scrapbook, Big Picture Classes, Cathy Zielske, Ali Edwards, and a whole google reader filled with more, but these are my top five must visit sites each day.
ANY PARTING THOUGHTS?
Scrapbooking brings me a ridiculous amount of joy. It is such an expressive and inclusive way to tell stories. I am grateful every day to have discovered it. I've learned so much through this process! My photography has improved, my writing has improved, my relationships with others has improved. It is all very positive and motivating.
GIVEAWAY
Yesterday, at the Canadian Scrapbooker booth, I received three copies of the Fall edition: one for me and two to give away. Leave a comment with the answer to this question:
Why do YOU scrapbook?
and a winner will be chosen on Friday, October 22nd at 8AM. Since I know some of you ladies visit from overseas and the US, this is open to everyone :)
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
