Wednesday, October 8, 2008

October Contest!

Hey all! I'm pleased to announce October's contest, which is to make a layout following my sketch. I've included the sketch and example.

In addition to following the sketch, i'd like you to
- use a neutral background (black, white, kraft, gray, or brown)to allow the focus of the layout to jump out.
- use at least 3 photos of the same theme.
- use doodling somewhere on the layout.





This will be due October 31 at 11:59 pm. Please upload to photobucket or whatever photo hosting your prefer and post a link in reply to this post! A winner will be selected randomly from all entries.

Scrap-therapy

I love scrapping for so many reasons... primarily there is the artistic aspect and the historical record that i'm providing for my posterity, but scrapping can also fulfill a more direct, emotional need in the here and now! Scrapping for me is also very therapeutic. When i lost a baby to miscarriage this summer i was able to put my thoughts and feelings to paper in poem form and then scrap them. It was a HUGE jump in the healing process for me. Perhaps you aren't comfortable scrapping MAJOR events that are traumatic for you. Perhaps a smaller even feels more appropriate? This is a layout i did to help my son Nikolas when he had to pitch his FAVORITE shirt, the one he'd grown super attached to (and it showed from the condition it was in!!!) I made a deal with him. If we could throw the shirt away, i'd cut a strip of the fabric and all the remaining buttons and make a page for his book. So while he couldn't keep his shirt to wear, he'd have it forever in his scrapbook. To my surprise he eagerly agreed! so here's the page I made for him.



Do you have any examples to share of therapeutic scrapping you have done? Anything that has helped ease your mind or that of a loved one counts! I'd love to see any examples!! in fact, i'll do a drawing on October 15th, mine and dh's 14th anniversary, woohoo! for a rak if anyone would like to make a therapeutic layout/project and share!!! Please have that posted by October 14th!

Thanks,
Rebecca

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Hey everyone!

I'm Jennifer. Pretty sure most of you knew that already though. I've been working with Viv here at SX for quite a while now...since June-ish of '06 :) Eeek, has it REALLY been that long? lol!

I've been scrapbooking since my first daughter was just a baby, back in 2002. I quickly became addicted :) I've ALWAYS scrapped 8.5x11, since my very first page. I've done only a handful of 12x12 pages, and they were for other people, not for me. I prefer 8.5x11 for several reasons, but the main one is that it is a easier album size for my little ones to handle :)

I've been published in multiple scrapbooking magazines and scrapbook idea books. :)

I live in the beautiful state of Washington. I love it here. Growing up in Southern California, moving up here sure was a difference, but now I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love living in a little city, where all the neighbors know each other. I love being able to let my kids play outside and not having to worry about anything happening to them. And heck, if I want 'busy', Portland (OR) is less then 1/2 an hour from me!

I thought I'd share a few of my recent pages with you too:


Anyways, thank you all for reading about me! Oh, and if you want, you can check out my personal blog here: http://jenniferswartz.blogspot.com/. Nothing special, but everything things that happen in my life. lol :)

Teresa Collins SPOOKTACULAR Album Kit

This is on Pre-order (ETA They are IN STOCK NOW!!!) here at SX: http://stores.scrappersxchangetheshop.com/-strse-1954/kittc-halloween/Detail.bok

I wanted to link you all to more detailed pictures and instuctions for putting together this mini album. It looks amazing, doesn't it?
http://www.productperformers.com/images/halloweenfinal.pdf

I just LOVE the Halloween line the Teresa Collins did, it's great! I love the paper with the circles the most, and I can't wait to punch/cut them out and have fun with them!

Anyways, I hope this helps you decide to purchase the album kit here at SX!!! :)

just a little project in the works...


got these mirror frames from ikea a while ago (LONG while ago :) and just finally painted them to match up our bedroom...

it's not completed quite yet (let's see how much longer it takes me) but was looking to add some vinyl to it and dress it up... recently got graphically speaking for my cricut and excited to put it to use. hubby picked priceless, me & you, and life is good- those are just some of the sayings on this COOLIO cartridge... and it does jumble too!

will post again when complete- hoping to get some play time in this week :)

Monday, October 6, 2008

Hello!!! An Introduction!


Hello Everyone!!! My name is Rebecca, and I am so pleased and honored to be on the ScrappersXchange Design Team! I have been a subscriber about a year now and absolutely LOVE Vivien's kits, and know that you all will too. Her kits are the perfect culmination of style and creativity and are budget conscious as well.

A bit about me. I am a Stay at home, homeschooling mom of 5 so far. I love my family, and love to record our memories. I occasionally freelance write in the homeschool community as the opportunity arises. I scrap for that reason but also because i'm an artistic person and crave that creative outlet. My other hobbies include reading, sewing, singing, acting, and other creative endeavors. I also strangely enjoy organizing my scrap area.

I am working on a number of albums of my own right now. I have a series of family albums, which is our chronologically organized activities. I also have a heritage album, which contains both older and newer family treasures. I have a wedding/marriage album, a month in review album series with 2 years so far, and my Book of me. Each of my children has their own series of albums as well that i constantly work on, which is why you might see several layouts of mine that look similar. Scrapping is my passion, and i strive to continually improve my artistic skills as well as my interpersonal, communicative and writing skills.

I have served on other design teams, both term ones and guest designing. And i currently also design for Lucy Chesna's challenge blog So Tell Me Your Story

I'm thrilled to be on the team and look forward to working with Vivien's awesome kits and hopefully inspiring you all with challenges and sketches. Let's SCRAP!!!

Rebecca