Sale at ComputerScrapbook.com

There is a sale at ComputerScrapbook.com this week. Get 10% off everything in the store. The sale ends Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 at midnight. Use the coupon code EV27F to get the discount.

Simple Scrapbooks

I'm all about things being simple. Simple scrapbooks focus mostly on the photograph or journaling -- it's not necessarily about how great you are at being creative, or finding new uses for paperclips and wire, or about spending $15 and 10 hours to make one layout. For me, simple scrapbooks are easy, nice looking ways of replacing photo albums.

I do like seeing all of the new techniques, and visualizing how I would create new layouts, but because my time is so limited, I end up trying to make things simple and quick.

One of the companies I have done some work for is Julia Rembrandt. They make scrapbook layouts for you -- pre-designed papers -- and all you do is add your photos. They do include die-cut embellishments and stickers if you want to add them, plus instructions on how to create the layout. It's a great way for beginners, those who are too busy to scrapbook, and for those who get overwhelmed by the thousands of options. I love the concept! Simple scrapbooks for those of us who want things to be simple!

Baby Scrapbooks

Here are some tips on making baby scrapbooks. There are many aspects of your baby's life you can include in your baby scrapbook, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Pregnancy -- you can include ultrasound photos and various stages of your pregnancy.

2. Nursery -- if you've created the perfect nursery -- document it! Take photos of building the crib, painting, etc.

3. Family History -- include a little about your family, parents, grandparents, etc.

4. Birth Day -- ID bracelets, baby with parents/grandparents/brothers/sisters, footprints, etc.

5. Homecoming Day -- Baby being carried into the house, any signs or decorations.

6. Sleeping Baby -- with mommy, daddy, or alone.

7. Bathtime

8. Moods -- first smile, grouchy, content, etc.

9. Body Parts -- hands, eyes, long eyelashes, feet, close-up of face.

10. Holidays -- make sure you get their reactions to firsts -- such as seeing Christmas lights, hearing jingle bells, the touch of a soft Easter bunny, etc.

This is just a start for your baby scrapbook -- if you don't have a digital camera already, this is a perfect time to get one. You are going to want to take lots of photos of everything, but this way you only print the ones which turn out perfectly. Baby scrapbooks are so important because the time goes by so quickly, and it's easy to forget little things.

Scrapbook.com

One of my favorite online resources is Scrapbook.com! They have thousands of items on sale every day. Great prices. Easy to purchase. Reliable and a trustworthy company. Highly recommended.

Rocky Mountain Scrapbook

There are many who have asked about my scrapbook paper designs -- and since I have not had time to personally put up my own website with samples of my papers -- I'll direct you to Rocky Mountain Scrapbook.

I created all of the overlays on the site right now, and the following papers:

Rocky Mountain Camping/Hunting, Fishing, 4th of July
Sports: Football, Soccer, Rugby, Golf, Volleyball
Back to School: not the first 2 listed but I did the rest.
Grunge
Travel/Vacation
Military
Celebration (not the Halloween ones)
Winter

As soon as I get time to put my portfolio online, I'll blog about it and let you know.

Sale at Scrapsy Daisy - Digital Scrapbooking

Just to let you know that Scrapsy Daisy is having a huge sale -- everything is 40% off until Friday, October 21st. Check out their digital scrapbooking supplies.

Scrapsy Daisy

New Scrapbook Paper Designs

While at Memory Trends I came across a new line of scrapbook papers that I loved. They are from MaisyMo Designs in New Jersey -- a company created by 2 darling sisters with great ideas. If you get a chance to check out their website and buy some of their stuff -- I would highly recommend it!

MaisyMo Designs

Free Printing for Digital Photos

Do you want free printing for your digital photos? Faces.com (an Australia-based company) officially launched their product for the U.S. on Thursday. Faces.com offers digital photograph storage as well as low-cost printing services. Storing photos will be free and with a low monthly fee of $7.99 you can print unlimited photos from your account. (Or for a $3.99 monthly fee you can print 100 photos.) Prints will be on archive photo paper and developed professionally. However, customers will have to pay for shipping and handling, and only one print per image can be ordered each time. It sounds like a really good deal, but I'll have to wait and see how much they charge for shipping/handling before determining if it really will be beneficial.

Digital scrapbooking options will also be offered and should be compatible with digital scrapbook software such as Photomix and Lumapix.

Back from Memory Trends

Memory Trends was long and tiring (as all trade-shows are), but also very informative. It's interesting to see how many men have bought into the scrapbooking industry as a business. It seems that gone are the days of simplicity and business owners all knowing each other and now scrapbooking is becoming big business. It's an investment (and most likely very profitable for those who invest.)

Although there are new companies cropping up every day, most of them do not have the funding to make it. Even though they have great designs, fun ideas, and enthusiasm, I'm afraid that most of them will lose out. I have a few personal favorites and I'll share them with you as soon as I can get my into my routine.

I did get some new ideas and information about new products which have been announced, but it seems that most of the new products are not ready for market yet and will not be available until next year. I'll be blogging about the upcoming products in the next few days.

Keep Scrapping!

Free Scrapbooking Ideas

A great resource that doesn't cost any money is your local library. Most libraries will have idea books, information about essential scrapbooking supplies and books about the industry. Free scrapbooking ideas can be gleaned from many places and the library can contain a wealth of information. Many libraries will also have magazine subscriptions available -- you probably will not be able to check out the magazines but you certainly can look through them for ideas. If your library does not have a large section for scrapbooking, most libraries are open to suggestion and requests from customers, and will look into stocking particular titles if you ask for them.

Scrapbooking Bulletin Boards

I'm interested in finding any great scrapbooking bulletin boards, forums, or message boards. If you know of any, please comment and let me know what they are and why you think they work well. Thanks so much!

Scrapbook Papers used in Magazine Layout

Hey all,

I had great news today -- I've been officially published. :-)

Actually some of my papers were used in a layout published in the latest edition of PaperNewsMagazine (page 21). It's kind of fun to see how other people can take my scrapbook paper designs and make really cool layouts.

Anyway, just a bit of good news I wanted to share.

Julia Rembrandt and Rocky Mountain Scrapbook

I'll be working at the Memory Trends booth for Julia Rembrandt -- make sure to drop by if you are going. I didn't design the products, but I did layout the catalog and do some of the background design work.

Also, most of my papers will be showcased at the Rocky Mountain Scrapbook booth at Memory Trends. I specialize in grunge papers (pre-scuffed, etc.) I would love to get your feedback about which papers you like, which ones you've used and if you would like something specific for your own scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking Kits

One of the latest trends in the industry is scrapbooking kits. Kits usually come with scrapbook paper, embellishments, stickers and everything you will need to complete a specific layout. It is great for beginning scrapbookers because everything you need is right there, and you won't have to worry about being really creative, taking a lot of time, or trying to find papers and embellishments which match -- it's all done for you.

I've seen scrapbooking kits which include everything for a full scrapbook (except the photos of course). They may include an album, metal embellishments, sticker quotes, ribbon, bows, etc.

My personal favorites are those kits which are already actually laid out, so all I have to do is put my photos on, perhaps add a sticker or two, and then I'm done. My time is really busy, so I like the idea of having great layouts from published designers without much work.

Memory Trends

Hi all,

I'll be going to the Memory Trends show in Las Vegas next week. I'm excited and hope to see some of you there. It will be fun to see all of the new scrapbooking stuff coming out and get new ideas. I'll be working at the Julia Rembrandt booth, so come by and say hi if you get a chance!

HSN Coupons

C58703 - $15 off $75 item. HSN has some of the best scrapbooking products. Great idea for Christmas gifts.

Shutterfly Coupon, Discount for Photo Cards

For those of you who want to get your photos printed, Shutterfly has a discount of 10% during October. Use the following link and coupon to get your discount.

Save 10% Easily create personalized holiday Photo Cards at Shutterfly. Use Coupon Code: AF10-CARD (Expires 10-31-05)

Discount Scrapbooking Products from WalMart

I've found quite a few products from WalMart at discount prices. Check them out:

Scrapbooking with Memory Makers with Other and Pens/Pencils by Michele Gerbrandt, ISBN 0883639289: Memory Makers is one of the leaders in the scrapbooking industry.

Joy of Scrapbooking: Creating Keepsakes by Lisa Bearnson, ISBN 0848718402: I've seen Lisa on either QVC or HSN and her ideas are wonderful. She is one of the first scrapbookers and really has a way of teaching beginners and advanced scrapbookers alike. Highly recommend her stuff! I'm excited to see what Creating Keepsakes has to offer during Memory Trends in Las Vegas this coming week. I'll be sure to blog about what I learn.

Anyway, if you don't see a particular product/title just click on one of the links above and it will take you to the scrapbooking section at Walmart then you can look around that way.

Scrapbooking Book - Step-by-Step Instructions

Book offers step-by-step guide to scrapbooking

"Scrapbooking: 100 Techniques With 25 Projects Plus a Swipefile of Motifs and Mottoes," by Sarah Beaman; Firefly (142 pages, $19.95 paperback).

If you need a step-by-step guide this new book may be helpful. You get tips on decorating, photography (tinting and cropping photos), accenting, and threading. The book also includes layout ideas, templates and projects. This is not considered an easy, quick or simple guide, but the instructions are detailed and may help you learn techniques.

Life is A Choice

I know this doesn't have anything to do with scrapbooking but here is a great story going around the internet. It might not be accurate or even a true story, but it portrays a great principle: Life is a Choice!

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or .. you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn! from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and wee! ks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods p laced in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

He continued, "..the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Wel! l, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Digital Scrapbooking - Print Books for Family

Hi all,

I think Digital Scrapbooking is great, but I want to have something to put on my coffee table, or something to look at on the couch -- so this is a great idea.

At the Scrapbooking USA Expo last week I attended a class by Heritage Makers -- a company just recently purchased by MyFamily.com. I think it is going to be of huge benefit to scrapbookers. Have you ever spent hours and hours making one scrapbook, and then later wanted to have copies for your children, or grandparents? Or made a scrapbook and then had it ruined?

Heritage Makers allows you to print your scrapbooks, or any family stories, etc. into an actual book format. They keep a back-up copy so if you want another copy in a year or two, you can just order another book. Plus, if your original gets damaged, you can send it back, and get a new one for 1/2 price.

I must say I was so impressed by the possibilities, I signed up to be a consultant for Heritage Makers. Has anyone done this? -- Printed your family stories, photo books, or scrapbooks into a book?

I'll blog more about Heritage Makers as I learn more and actually make my first books.