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!

 

The people of CHA

I LOVE craft stuff.  I love seeing it, I love touching it, I love dreaming about its possibilities...and all of those loves come together at CHA more than anywhere else.  But MORE than the craft stuff - I love the PEOPLE I get to spend a few days with every summer and winter.  Some are old industry friends, some are new store owners, some I've shared a few adventures (and cocktails) with, some I've only previously known through email or the phone.  But they are my FAVORITE thing about CHA!  Yay people!

Who doesn't love some Canadians?  Especially when it is Vicki Boutin - whose style and creativity I LOVE, and my buddy Catherine Tachdijian - head cool chick at Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine!

I didn't get out of the Xyron booth much...but when I did the first place I went was the Bazzill booth for a hug from two of my favorite people - Frani and Joey!

Celebrating a successful show with some of my co-workers (and the greatest friends a girl could ask for) - Braden, Julie, Helen and Corey.  We TOTALLY lucked in to the kitchen table at Buca di Beppo where...if you go...you MUST have their Ultimate Raspberry Lemon Drop.  HELLO!

Ok, ok...I had to sneak in a photo of one of my favorite booths.  This greeted us every morning when we walked in to the expo center - a booth filled with nothing but gianormous animals made entirely of yarn!  No demo table, no order center, no paper work, just a giant GOOD MORNING! and WELCOME! to everyone who passed by. 

And last, but not least, you might be saying to yourself "well surely Beth took a few photos of the Xyron booth - I mean, after all, she was in there for four days straight!".  But...uhhh...no.  It was SUPER cool though - and you don't have to take my word for it - Xyron was awarded 2nd place by CHA for best booth!  (I did get a photo of that - even though I didn't go to the 7am award ceremony.  I mean come on - have you met me?)  Congrats Xyron!

Xyron Creatopia - Fabric Refillz and other adhesive goodness!!

Day 2 of the Xyron Creatopia video bonanza...a few videos demonstrating the different adhesives available in this fabulous new machine!

ADHESIVE AND LAMINATE REFILLZ

The Creatopia delivers the edge to edge adhesive you know and love from Xyron, but now does it in 12 INCHES!!

In addition, for the first time EVER, Xyron has created a machine that will take any product up to 1/2" thick!!  This allows you to apply adhesive on foam, wood, plastic, acrylic, memorabilia, almost anything your little heart desires!

ADHERING THICKER ITEMS

FABRIC REFILLZ

For those of you who are fabric crafters - quilting, embroidery or other projects, the Creatopia will change the way you create!!

I freely admit, until Creatopia came along I was TERRIFIED of fabric crafts because:

I didn't feel I had the expertise or patience to try to keep fabric in place as I ran it through my sewing machine.

I didn't feel comfortable using fabric on my paper crafting projects because I had NO CLUE how to adhere it to my projects without using some sort of wet glue mess.

I couldn't get the hang of temporary stitches or pinning stuff in place.But NO MORE!!  Xyron has created this AMAZING fabric adhesive that will do away with your temporary stitches and your pins, the adhesive won't gum up your needle and is machine washable, and there is no wait time for glue to dry on your paper projects!  It is HEAVEN!!  Thank you Xyron for making me craftier!!

Xyron Creatopia videos are here!!

Well...ok...they've been "here" for a while but I am such a technical loser that I had to wait for Don to come home and help me figure out how to get them up and running.  Yes - I am that cool.  To that end, I'll post a video or two per day and we'll end up with a whole library of videos for your viewing pleasure!

For those of you who are interested in buying a Creatopia but aren't 100% sure what it does, these videos are for you. For those of you lucky ducks who have already purchased a Creatopia but want a visual tutorial on how to change out the components or replace the cartridges or any other helpful hint - these are for you.  For my mom who doesn't care what these videos are about and just thinks it is neat that I am on them - these are for you! First up...the Xyron Creatopia Overview! Happy Viewing!