Make a Change Monday - How I Scrapbook (and a great giveaway!)

Ok all my scrapbooking friends...raise your hand if you are still:

a - scrapping chronologically

b - complaining about not being caught up on your scrapbooks

c - all of the above

I am going to feel like a SERIOUS dork if I am the only one who has raised my hand - but I know I can't be alone! I have been scrapbooking for a lot of years - and while I have always been open to (and enjoyed) creating mini albums, making cards, creating home decor, etc. I have ALWAYS held steadfastly to the belief that I need to scrapbook chronologically. I don't know where that idea started, or why I haven't been able to let go, but I held on to it to the point that I was starting to "dread" scrapbooking.  Every time I looked at my piles of photos or started to print out pictures from my computer I just lost the excitement and started to feel the pressure because I was "so far behind".  It feels ridiculous now that I am typing it out - but it is the truth, and I think there are many of you out there who feel/felt the same way.

THEN - a few years ago my scrapping mojo was literally saved by Xyron when they started carrying the Everyday Stories (EDS) albums and page refills.

 

 

 These days the idea looks very familiar, as there are several companies/celebrity scrappers who have created entire systems and collections based on this type of divided page protector process.  I remember the first weekend I tried it - I printed out 3000 photos (yup - you read that right!) and got them ALL in albums in a weekend.  ALL OF THEM.  It was so incredibly freeing - because you CAN still do 12x12, but now you've also got other/easier options as well.  Were all of the pages decorated and journaled in that weekend?  HECK no!  But you know what - that was ok, and eventually they got finished.  Now, whenever I get a coupon for online photo printing I'll print out all of my "current" photos, put them in EDS albums, and then I can go back and add paper/embellishments later.  I am, for all intents and purposes, "caught up".

Recently I have finished the albums for Don's childhood (you can see the first one in the second video above) and our time in Hawaii and it is SO MUCH FUN to be able to go in to a store and know exactly what kinds of products I need and to complete several pages in one sitting.  Also - for those of you who are product hoarders (like me) - scrapping this way has been HUGE in helping me purge old products I will never use.  For example - one weekend I was in a "Halloween" mood so I went through all the albums and embellished/added paper to all of the Halloween photos.  Afterwards I was able to go through ALL of my Halloween product and get rid of items I KNEW I would never use - papers I didn't like any more, products that didn't apply or weren't my style ("our first Halloween" die cut anyone?), etc.  I pared down my Halloween products to stuff I love - and it felt gooooood.

I bring this up for MAC Monday because this weekend I was vendoring at the Cut Out Cancer Crop in Southern Pines, NC and I talked to SO many women who STILL feel the pressure to get "caught up" and have lost their love of scrapbooking - and I want to help one of my fabulous online friends find the joy in this type of scrapbooking.  So I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Post a comment here and tell me what you think about this way of scrapping.  Have you tried it? Do you have questions about it?  Have you used other divided page protector systems?  Tell me your thoughts and one lucky winner is going to receive a 12x12 black leather (REAL leather - not pleather!) EDS album with one pack each of all of the page refills we carry.  Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern time on Wednesday February 15th.  Good luck everybody - and Happy Scrapping!

 

New Xyron videos - great project ideas!

To be fair, "new" actually means "new to those of us who keep forgetting to check the Xyron page on YouTube".  I had COMPLETELY forgotten about these projects until I stumbled across them last night - but they are too cute not to share!  All three of them would be great gift ideas since...ahem...the holidays are RAPIDLY approaching.

PS..."get your creativity juices flowing" is starting to weird me out a little bit.  :)  Guess I better come up with a new catch phrase for the next round of videos!

 

 

 

surprise, surprise...more Xyron videos (and behind the scenes photos)!

I do do other things with my life than make Xyron videos - but I do love filming them and I do love my Xyron peeps!

We did a great series to celebrate craft month, including...

This easy and inexpensive guestbook (using the Xyron Everyday Stories system) that only takes a few minutes to put together and uses paper scraps and embellishments you already have at home!  This is PERFECT for newlyweds or as a housewarming gift, and can easily be used as a guestbook for a wedding/anniversary or birthday party as well.  I created something similar for my folks' 40th anniversary - everyone brought/sent a photo of themselves and a 3x5 index card with their favorite memory of my parents.  It was an incredible way to celebrate the people they've touched and gave them a lifetime full of memories in just one book.  Even if you don't consider yourself to be "crafty" this is a can-do project for you!

I was SO excited to be reunited with my buddy Jessica Barnett for this magnetic calendar project - I swear she is a creative GENIUS!!  Who walks in to a Home Depot, sees a sheet of metal, and thinks "oh yeah - I can make something awesome with that"?  I'll tell you who - Jessica!

Video shoots are LONG days and (if I get sidetracked...which usually happens after lunch) full of re-takes and close-ups and "are we done yet?" moments.  Good thing I am surrounded two of my favorite people on the planet - Julie and Rob!  Love you guys!

Julie is an 8-year breast cancer survivor!  We created this project (and a video that we'll release soon) to celebrate her and let people know about our Pink Ribbon X150. Xyron is proud to donate 50 cents from every Pink Ribbon X150 sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Spread the word!

Rob and Julie - two of the best co-workers and friends a girl could ask for!

And this is what happens at the end of a very long day when the grown-ups leave the room for a minute.  'Nuff said.

Valentine Album Giveaway on Paper Crafter's Corner!

Anybody wanna win a FREE Valentine Album donated by MEEEEE?  Then head on over to Paper Crafter's Corner

PCC is a treasure trove of crafty gossip, events, and more, created EXCLUSIVELY for scrappers and card makers in the SouthEast.  It has store listings, event information, local consultants, retreat locations, links to scrapbooking consignment/garage sales, AND Susan writes product reviews, has contests and giveaways, it is literally a one-stop shop for all things crafty down here in the South!  I encourage you to check out her site and sign up for her feed (scroll down the home page and you will find the sign up block on the right-hand side), and/or become a fan on Facebook!

I've just returned from CHA and as soon as I unpack I'll be posting some fun photos...INCLUDING photos of the new Xyron Creatopia Shapez component! Can't wait to show you!

Fabric Obsession Day 5: Creatopia Fabric Book!

Now that I have become totally ENTHRALLED with fabric (my husband...probably not so much enthralled :)) - I offer you this Fabric Book video featuring...why...it is the Xyron Creatopia!  Surprise Surprise! 

Doing these with Chris Potter always cracks me up!!

For those of you just beginning to think about adding fabric to your paper crafting - this project is PERFECT for you.  In fact - it was the first fabric project I did when Creatopia first came out, and I loved it so much I taught it as a class! 

HAPPY FABRIC CRAFTING!!!