playful.productive.present

FUN Flash!

I'm interrupting my Simple memories for a quick reminder ...

The coupon code SOCKS15 is good for one more day @ littlemissmatched.com
Do you have your crazy socks yet?

Read more here.

Simple Memories, Day 3

Sheez. All this reminiscing is killing me. I know I'm over the news that Simple Scrapbooks has been shut down, but I'm definitely not over the people I love or all the experiences I've had. In fact, as I've spent time recollecting I have a palpable feeling of sadness in my heart. And these are happy memories!

Wednesday's post should be titled Wonderful Wendy. (note: I'm still a day behind!)
This is because Wendy is wonderful. I knew the minute I met Wendy there was something special about her.

[1997] Wendy and I had both been hired as teachers at Pebbles in My Pocket, owned by Brenda Birrell. We met at the training meeting. During introductions, I found out she had four boys. I had two, and couldn't imagine doubling that. I later learned that her last two were twins. I have always thought that having twins would be a wonderful thing and I told her so.

The next time I remember seeing Wendy is when I taught a Core Composition class at her LSS, Heartland Paper (Bountiful, UT) She was so interested. She asked such great questions. I remember thinking, I'd like to be her friend. She was teaching a Summer Camp (scrapbooking for kids) so I signed up my Clark.

[1999] Trey was almost one. Geoff was finally finishing his medical residency and we were preparing to leave Salt Lake City, UT for a job in Lewiston, ID. I got a call from someone at Creating Keepsakes, that The Idiot's Guide was looking for someone to write their first scrapbooking guide. There was no way I could do it. Their turn around was so short and there was so much information to gather and organize. I didn't want to just anyone to write this book. I wanted someone I trusted. Someone that I knew would have a friendly approach to scrapbooking; someone who would do a really good job. I thought of my friend Wendy. I really didn't know her that well yet, but ... I called her and ...

She got the book contract!

[2001] I travel to the ACCI trade show in Chicago with Primeda/Creating Keepsakes and walk the show with advertising reps to drum up awareness and support for a new magazine. Guess who I run into in the My Mind's Eye booth? Wonderful Wendy. She is there with a new baby (another boy!) and we "catch up" I remember thinking as I walk away, I'd really like to work with her. 

As it turns out, Wendy called Tracy White after the trade show and Tracy invited her to our very first editorial meeting. What you really need to know is that from that moment on, there is no Simple Scrapbooks without Wonderful Wendy. She has nurtured relationships in our industry like nobody I know and she is so interested in the editorial process, and in connecting to our readers. She most definitely asks great questions. 

Without a doubt, the hardest thing I've ever done professionally was "leave" Wendy to start Big Picture Scrapbooking. It happened so fast. I intended (and wrongfully assumed) I would be able to do BPS with the team at Primedia. It wasn't to be and Simple Scrapbooks needed Wendy.

I think the "cry" I had with Wendy over that was in my top three, evah (and I'm a crier!)

 

[2004] As I was looking for pictures to share that capture my love and admiration for this remarkable and wonderful woman, these jumped out at me. The biggest adventure (I think) of our time at Simple Scrapbooks, was the making of four or five DVDs. Wendy and I WORKED so hard, learned SO MUCH and had an AMAZINGLY FUN time. We travelled to Dallas, TX and worked with the talented team at Primedia Productions. We even did a segment from a scrapbook store in Dallas (the bottom photo shows us watching what we had just shot and to me "says it all")

I honestly can't imagine my life without my friend Wendy. She is that cool.

And for the record, I will never "leave" her again. If there is to be any more scrapbooking adventures in the future, we will be side-by-side again.

Simple Memories, Day 2 (late)

I missed my deadline posting this. I'm a day late. Anyone who has ever worked with me at Simple knows that this is quite apropos!

This was me 8 years ago this month. I was expecting my fourth son Taft. The book Simple Scrapbooks had been published the previous December. I was learning, much to my chagrin that book authors needed to work to promote their books. In other words, I had been to CHA and had begun traveling and teaching. In fact, I traveled to Chicago for a consumer show at 37 weeks pregnant. On top of being pregnant, I had a head cold and couldn't take anything for it! After returning home completely exhausted, I told my husband, "I'm not cut out to do this author, teacher, traveler thing. I just want to stay home!"

The very next day, the phone rang and I heard Tracy White's voice on the other end,

"What are your professional goals?"

This is where I thought to myself, is she kidding? I don't have professional goals. I am due with my fourth child in three weeks and alI I ever wanted to be was a mom, who scrapbooks. Does it have to be more complicated than that.

Tracy went on to explain that the book, Simple Scrapbooks was resonating with readers and that Primedia, the new owners of Creating Keepsakes magazine was interested in starting a new magazine. After some initial discussion, the powers that be had decided to name this new magazine, Simple Scrapbooks.

I then wondered, Can they do that? Isn't that the name of my book?

She went on to add, that "they" wanted me to be involved. I of course had NO CLUE what "involved" really meant.

I flew to Utah with a three-week old Taft for some meetings and came home, editor in chief of a brand new magazine. A week later, I had a  phone call with John Youngberg, the art director. He asked me if I had thought at all about which columns and departments I would like. I tried desparately to come up with something that sounded smart. It was no use. I was forced to ask, "What are columns and departments?"

The rest, is history -- with a serious learning curve thrown in.
The good news is I am still a mom who scrapbooks and I am still learning.

Please visit the following Simple Scrapbookers' BLOGS today:

Elisha
elishasnow.com/blog

Rebecca Cooper
rebeccacooper.blogspot.com

Marnie Flores
marnieflores.typepad.com

Cheryl Overton
chersmoon.typepad.com

Simple Memories, Day 1 (edited)

 

Just got this cool logo (thanks Cathy) to add to my posts this week.

This is Allison.

When I think of the early days at Simple Scrapbooks magazine, I think of Allison. When I took the job as editor in chief of SS, I lived (as I do now) in Spokane, WA. Magazine headquarters are in Salt Lake City, UT. We (Tracy White and I)  soon realized that I was not going to be able to do everything required of me from my new satellite office (my home) unless I got some help. I had only been living in Spokane for about 8 months. I didn't know very many people. Interestingly enough, one of the very first people I met was Allison. I was to follow her as president over the young woman's organization at church, so I went to her house to learn from her. Within a few minutes we discovered that we were both scrapbookers. In fact, Allison subscribed to Creating Keepsakes magazine. I coincidentally was writing a book (Simple Scrapbooks) for Creating Keepsakes magazine!

We became fast friends. Tracy White asked me if I could find someone to come into my home a few days a week and help me with the administrative duties of assigning and collecting and tracking and ... everything! I approached Allison and she said YES.

Allison worked with me for three years and we traveled together and had so much FUN.

This layout is from my book, The Big Picture. If you have yet to create a scrapbook layout this simple, I hope you will do it this weekend. You will need THREE photos of a friend or someone else you love. You will need ONE sheet of cardstock in a color that reminds you of this person. You will need FOUR standard photo corners and you will need one set of small alphabet letter stamps, an ink pad and a small jewelry tag + an itty bitty safety pin.

Allison now lives in Las Vegas, NV. And guess what? I have just hired Allison to help me do a better job with my blog. Allison is in the process of revisiting three plus years of posts, so she can categorize them and we can ALL find and retrieve information and links more easily. Allison and I have big plans for "Altogether Too Happy" and I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with her again! We will do our best to continue to share the SS philosophy that we established in the very beginning.

Happy, happy memories.
Stay tuned for more all week.

VISIT these Simple Bloggers today (I think they're giving stuff away!)

Elizabeth Dillow

Candice Palmer

Tina Cockburn

Jen Wozab

St. Louis Update

So, United lost my suitcase. "No big deal," I say.

"We'll bring it to the hotel by 8:00pm," they say.

At 8:00pm, no suitcase. We call United. "We've got it!" they say. "We'll bring it to the hotel by 5:00am"

At 6:10 when I wake up and call the front desk, no suitcase.

"Let's go to TARGET" I say ...

and here I sit, on the floor of my hotel room, blogging ...

I've got a new super-cute skirt, trouser jeans, shirts, sandals + make up and a few other necessities which should not be mentioned on a public blog. I'm set.

As a BONUS I found my favorite Archer Farms nut mix (My Target in Spokane does not Cashew Cranberry Almond mix)

This along with the fact that I found two full aisles of Scrapbooking and some SUPER CUTE photo albums has given me some serious Target envy.

I bought the BROWN (not black) leafy two-up, an adorable clip purse-style album with 12 sleeves inside and a green wallet photo album all begging to be played with ...

Here's the inside shot. If you have a hankering for a Photo Album Scrapbook project, you should absolutely visit your local Target. HINT: LOOK for two-up albums like the one I purchased. Three rings (removed pages) no "memo" space and two horiztonal sleeves with a 1 1/4" inch strip down the middle (ideal for strips of pattern paper that help you designate your sections)

I don't expect this to make sense to everyone, but I do expect myself to go home and get creative and report back.

But now, we're off to see the ARCH and then back to participate with these FUN ladies at this AWESOME event.

Just for FUN ...

My friend Jenna (our former nanny) texted me right after my jog, with this:

"What are your happy colors right now?"

What a great question. I LOVE this question. I love it so much that I literally sat right down and created this.

 

I personally don't believe that your happy colors change -- at least not drastically. Otherwise, they would not technically be your happy colors, yes? However, within each color family I have noticed shifts in color preference from time to time. I have also noticed that I gravitate towards using certain colors (for example ORANGE) more than others depending on the season of the year, my mood, trends in the industry or in our culture in general. I also enjoy my happy colors in varying combination and proportions. So, RIGHT now ... while I will always love my standby yellow "frog" green I am enjoying a more true-ish hue with even a touch of blue in it -- a sort of "bright" aspen green. I am especially liking this green in combination with my always happy turquoise, which has shifted ever so slightly to the sky blue side of things (perhaps this is the influence of spring?)

Oddly enough I woke up this morning, checked my Alltop Scrapbooking NEWS widget (see left) and read, on Craft Gossip,  about Beth Opel's "What Color Are You" posted at CreatingKeepsakes.com
While this isn't the easiest quiz to take (wish it had been in survey form) it is a FUN diversion and just might lead to some personal insight, not only regarding what colors say about you, but also about how and why you are motivated in this life-changing hobby of ours.

I took the quiz and found that I did NOT have a predominate color -- this likely underscores what we already know.

A. I'm a chromophile

B. I'm border schizophrenic in my approach to color (??)

Seriously, my quiz responses had an almost even split among ALL colors, except PURPLE. This is interesting to me because purple is in fact my least favorite color. Notice, I did not say I don't like it. I just like it least of all.

This then (according to Beth and her research) is the description that least describes me. I have to agree.

Purple Scrapbooker

You are the fashionista of scrapbooking. You are aware of current trends, and your pages are stylish and elegant. You probably enjoy learning new techniques. You may actually create layouts about yourself. Journaling is important to you, and your albums express who you are.

I'm definitely NOT a fashionista and I'm often completely unaware or oblivious to current trends. I would say rather than stylish and elegant, my pages are playful and authentic. I don't mind learning new techniques, but I'm certainly not motivated by them. I do create layouts about myself and journaling is important to me, but I prefer short, snippets of conversation and insight over long essay-style journaling.

veddy interesting, for sure!

I challenge you to take the quiz, read ALL of the scrapbooker definitions and then perhaps create something this weekend that will help you answer Jenna's query:

What are YOUR Happy Colors Right NOW?

have a listen ...

The interview I did with Vicky and Jen on What Really Matters has been posted on their website. I think I did O.K. -- we struggled a bit with the phone connection, because I wasn't at home, but overall I'm pleased. Vicky and Jen are so conversational. It was very easy and enjoyable to chat with them. If you have a minute, download the mp3 file or subscribe to the Vicky and Jenn podcast in iTunes and listen to us as you drive or work in the yard. The interview is about 50 minutes long, so you'll want to be doing doing something else while you listen. You could even scrapbook!

On the home front, Addie and I got our TOMS in the mail! How CUTE are the little TOMS?

It's NOT to late to order some for you. Just be sure to use the coupon code: odwsfsA67GSK0MW so Lauren will get credit. I'm surprised and delighted at how comfortable my pair is. I wore them all day (I have old-lady, jogger feet!) and as a bonus, they come with a very cool, scrappable sticker as well as a handy cotton shoe bag.

 

Addie's speech is really improving. We've added two sessions of private speech therapy to her two days of early intervention preschool and she is now adding single words to her signing and attempting to mimic us far more often. I just order this CD, called Time To Sing  from the Apraxia website.

Here's what the description says:

A young child’s world is filled with song, from the first lullaby, to “Happy Birthday”. But for our children, struggling to speak, singing along with their friends can seem hopeless – they can’t keep up. If only the words were slower, they could sing along, too. Time To Sing! is the answer!

The songs on this recording have all been newly arranged. The words are much slower
than the originals, but the music is fun, exciting, playful, and beautiful. This music recording is perfect for children with apraxia and other speech or language disorders, children learning English as a second language, and children with other delays.

 

Clark, trampoline-loving son (reference his recent birthday cake featuring "toothpick man," a Taft creation) landed wrong attempting to complete one of his "backwards triple one and half" flips. He is thankfully doing much better. We've ruled out (via X-rays) any serious injuries and with some consistent Ibuprofen and a neck brace he will be back playing soccer in no time. Thanks for your well wishes!

I'm headed out to St. Louis on Friday, where I'll be attending and speaking at the For Keeps Sake  event. I'm excited to meet Mary Engelbreit and hopefully a few of YOU (please be sure to say "Hello" if you read my blog)

Good times.

And the WINNER is ...

Kristie Lippert (who posted on 4/19)

Yes, she is a scrapbooker
She is 39 years young
Yes, she is married
No, she does not have children
No, she has not taken a class at BPS but, she adds "I want to!"

Kristie's comment about what she wants in reading my blog is:
I love your blog because you have a variety - scrapbooking, life, travels, everything...and there's always a great "message" in your blogs.

I've emailed Kristie to inform her that Sue at Albums and Answers will be sending her a brand new, shiny, Apple Green ATG dispenser fully loaded (with archival quality 1/4" adhesive) perfect for adhering ribbon and a variety other important elements to her scrapbook pages. CONGRATS Kristie!!

If you were one of the more than 1,000 wonderful blog readers who did NOT win, this cool tool, I've enabled you in following through with the link above (wink. wink.) 

but wait, there's more ...

Paula (who posted on 4/18) and
Kimberly Violet (who posted on 4/20)

Will be receiving one of the Scrapbook Album Kits from Albums and Answers.

I am so grateful for your responses and eager to deliver MORE of what you like to read. 

On the homefront, Clark sprained his neck last evening on our trampoline, so I'm headed to get him some X-rays. All in a days work!!!

Happiness is ...

A Monday morning full of potential and anticipation. The actual demands of the week haven't fully set in and so I feel energetic and optimistic!  I allowed myself to sleep in a little this morning (self care) and to take the mess of the weekend and look at is as evidence of a full and busy life. I found myself walking around saying "Happiness is ...." and filling in the blanks.

Happiness is a NEW Dust Buster that is not only cuter than my old one, but far better at picking up the dirt and grass on my laundry room left by dirty clothes.

Happiness is a laundry room humming away and an adorable little girl that MUST help Mamma with every little thing.

Happiness is the planters and pots that we pulled out over the weekend. I didn't get to them like I had hoped, but they are calling to me and the sun in shining so I'm looking forward to transforming the Winter porch into the Spring one!

Happiness is the evidence that my children are learning (not necessarily to pick up after themselves) to follow through on things that will develop confidence and talents. Note all the sticky flags down the side of the piano (What's up with that?) Someday I will miss this mess -- at least that is what I'm telling myself on this Monday morning!!

I challenge you to try this exercise. Pick one morning this week, or next Monday morning and choose to "see" things in a positive light. Snap a few photos and share them on your blog if you have one. You could even create a "Happiness is ...." scrapbook page.

Thank YOU btw,  for ALL of your responses to my blog poll. I'm scrolling through and reading and feeling very grateful for a global community of friendship and support.

Life is good.

who are you? + a giveaway

So, I'm headed to Portland this morning. In fact, I set this to post bright and early (the same time my flight takes off) I'm really hoping that my flight does indeed take off, as today is the 2nd attempt to get me to Portland for an all day BPS meeting.

We're meeting today with the team at Sundrop Media who is helping us reach out in some PR efforts to spread the good news about the big picture behind our beloved hobby of scrapbooking. I'm starting off the day with an interview on the Vicky and Jen Podcast and then we'll be discussing all kinds of exciting things that will be happening in the near future. We're even working on some improvements to the BPS website, so make the navigation more intuitive -- good stuff.

Another item on the agenda is my blog. With the demise of Simple Scrapbooks, I really want to be a bit more intentional about my blog. I want to use it to more regularly post and share those things that resonate with YOU; those things that will keep you coming back and ultimately those things that will continue to grow a simplified and authentic approach to life and memory keeping.

If you're willing, I'm going to do some informal polling over the next week or so. Today, I'm hoping you'll do me a HUGE favor and tell me who you are.
Specifically, I would LOVE to know ...

1. Are you a scrapbooker?

2. How old are you?

3. Are you married?

4. Do you have children? How many?

5. Have you taken a class at BPS?

and one final "open ended" question which is optional ... What do you wish I would blog about more often?

Now, be sure to make this easy on yourself. For example, if I were to leave a comment it would look like this:

Yes. 43. Yes. Yes, Five. Yes, and organization and color.

that's it. Make sense?

I greatly appreciate your time and your insights. In fact, if you will leave a comment answering these questions, I'll enter you in a drawing for a product I LOVE.

 

This is an Apple Green ATG 714 adhesive dispenser, loaded with 1/4" wide acid-free tape. I had seen scrapbookers using these before, but wasn't properly introduced until I spoke at the Delta Phi Scrappa event in MN where I met Sue, the owner of Albums and Answers. 

Sue gave me a very compelling demonstration and I was sold. One of my LOM students asked me yesterday, what I use to adhere ribbon on my layouts. My answer is while I've tried a myriad of things in the past, I NOW use my ...

Apple Green ATG 714 adhesive dispenser, loaded with 1/4" wide acid-free tape.

I LOVE it.

You need to know that this very cool dispenser is quite pricey. You also need to know that I purposely have not talked about it until I've tested it completely. I have come to the conclusion that it is absolutely worth the price. And the cool thing about the Albums and Answers online store is that Sue brings these dispensers in and has them professionally painted, so you can have this handy tool in beautiful colors. For me, these little extras are worth a great deal!

I also have two easy-to-assemble mini-album kits from Albums and Answers to give away, so that is THREE great prizes for THREE lucky winners. I'll post the winners on Tuesday morning.

Happy Friday.