Scrapbooking Q & A

Since you like 3's I've got 3 questions.
1. Do you have any tips on writing on TEXTURED cardstock? Mine just doesn't turn out.
2. Do you print your pictures out differently when you going to be covering parts of them up? example: your Seattle Simon layout
If I tried this I would have all the faces covered.
3. Do you normally stamp directly on the main layout or do you stamp and then cut it out and adhere?
thanks,
{vicki}

I see a lot of sewing on scrapbook pages... Is there a tension setting on the sewing machine that works well on cardstock? I am scared I would mess up a layout if I sew on it.

Tons of great questions! I can't wait to read all the answers!!
I really would like to know how you keep to such a simple design with all the cool stuff? How do you know when it's enough without being not enough??
Also, how do you store like ribbon, brads, flowers, etc. By color? Size? Leave it in the package or what? I have most of mine stored by color, but the problem is for publishing purposes they want to know what brand each thing is and I mix it all together!!
THanks in advance!!

Will you ever do a page of Simon singing for us at CKC Portland? There has to be someone who took photos and sent them to you. One of those little recording boxes with his voice would be incredible. I'll never forget that moment.

I need some specific information. I love the font you have "Hello Life." but how do I get it and then how do I actually use it?
Thanks.
Rebecca F.

How do you store and organize your supplies, especially your photos? Also, how do you organize your digital supplies?
I've only just started reading your blog in the last couple of months, so if you've answered those questions previously, maybe you could just point to the post?
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!
Melissa

Okay, this isn't really a question that requires answering. After seeing that your quote is from Rilke, I was curious if you have checked out the cd Ancient Tower. It is a beautiful collection of Rilke poetry read by Meryl Streep and then each poem is set to music in a modern chant style and sung by New York Voices. In my opinion, a very inspiring cd. Anyway, when I saw your quote, I thought that I would share in case you've never heard it.

Hey Ali, wondering what you do with all your scraps? Do you purge a few times a year? I feel guilty throwing away scraps, but want to leave room for new stuff too, without ever expanding my space. I'm trying really hard to 'contain' my hobby to a certain amount of space. =)

Hi Ali! On your digi overlays, I purchased the 8.5x11 ones instead of the 12x12 because I have a 8.5x11 printer...can they be resized to 8x8...like you said in a previous post or do they have to be a 12x12 overlay, and most importantly how do I do it, step by step!

Do you have a routine each day where you spend a certain amount of time doing house stuff, Simon stuff and scrapbook stuff?
I find that when I get a project idea it totally consumes me and I let other things fall apart until I have to attend them. Can you imagine my family wants to eat? lol Anyway I work away from home and I really want to start to do more creative stuff but it's hard to fit it into my schedule.

Being that you are a scrapbooking 'celebrity' I am sure tons of different companies send you freebies to try. Do you ever go to scrapbook stores to shop, you know for yourself...your stash??? If you do, do you walk thru the whole store and then pick out stuff or go know exactly what you are buying? If not, don't you miss it? Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!

I'd like to know how you keep your mini-album once terminated? Do you have a special container or place to protect them? Do you look at them often?
Thanks for sharing this time with us.
Magali (Montréal, Québec)

Ali....I'm just saying thank you today. I was reading thru LIFE ARTIST before going on vacation and took your advise. I grabbed a book and each day I journaled. I knew how I felt and I knew the pics I was taking. So then I used a few stamps, pencils and black pens to embellish the pages. My photos came in yesterday and I completed an entire book with over 100 photos. I had journaled 18 pages and then I wrote "other moments not to be forgotten" and threw in the extra photos. I'm always going to do vacation/event albums like this. The best part is that I actually journaled. Thanks.. Mac

How did you learn to embrace your own style? I am looking for inspiration on how to move through a discovery phase of some sort and find mine. I'd like to throw out the "it's supposed to be this" and just enjoy the process. My process & my spin on creative projects. Maybe learning about your journey will help. Thanks!

I have recently been going through my parents pictures because they were displaced due to flooding and I am trying to organize them for them. Any suggestions on combining several generations of photos as well as many different sizes (ex: wallets, 3x5, 4x6,5x7)? I am perplexed as to whether to scrap them all or place in photo albums or any photo boxes. So any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am strongly leaning towards what you did for CK with the different size page protectors and scrapping that way.
Best wishes to you and your family for your new blessing!
Thank you,
Shawn

Ali, you are such a great inspiration all around...thanks so much for sharing who you are and your passions here on your blog! My question is:
Do you have any non-scrapbooking resources on hand that you use on a regular basis? For instance my first thought was a dictionary or thesaurus for journaling...then I wondered what other resources might be handy to have on hand.....any thoughts?

Hi Ali,
I'm just curious when you have a pile of pictures in front of you from several events and every day stuff how do you decide what you are going to scrap?
I'm struggling with the fact that I have all of these photos in front of me but where do I start.
Thanks,
Amy

On mini book pages do you put modge podge over the top to seal them / protect them from all the flipping? It seems my edges like to lift up? Not that I have made very many... LOL!
Congratulations on the upcoming addition.
Hope to go to the workshop on the 6th.

Hi Ali:) Hope you're feeling better, so excited for you & your family!!!;) My question is about your Printer-HP Photosmart D7360? Is it user friendly? Can you print different sizes? (i.e. wallets, 2x3, 4X6, & 5x7)??? What 'bout the quality? Is it slow or farely quick at printing? Thanks for your help! Love your style of work, & I love your blog; I read it everyday!
Take Care,
Dawn:)

I have a few questions for you
How do you incorporate your digital scrapbooking into your scrapbooks?
Tips for new digital scrapbookers who may want to dabble in hybrid scrapbooking?
How do you not get pulled into all the new products out there and stay with your style?
Any chance of an Ali type of retreat (as Donna Downey have etc).

Hey Ali,
When will the new book be coming out? I'm so anxious to get it!!
Kelly

Dear Ali,
First of all, many thanks for being again posting.
My question maybe sounds silly but... In Spain scrapbooking is unknown, but I supose that in USA sometimes you meet someone that doesn't know about it, never heard about it, never heard the word scrapbooking. How do you explain it in a few words ? What do you exactly say to show how wonderful is it ?
Best Regards.

Hi Ali,
How sweet of you to open this up! I would like to hear some suggestions from you about getting back into scrapbooking after several years out. I used to do a lot of scrapbooking in the late 90's and really enjoyed it. I used mostly CM products and style and did almost exclusively 12x12. I had life events that took me out of the routine and have never successfully gotten back to it.
I think part of the issue is that I am overwhelmed by getting so far behind again (I was SOOO happy when I got the 90's completely done) and also don't really think those big album/spreads are inspiring me right now.
I also lost my mom a little over a year ago and I think that is contributing to hesitation to get back in there. I have continued to do paper crafting with cards/stamping and I have done a couple of mini albums for trips in the last year or so that I've enjoyed.
Thoughts?
Peg

I know organization for myself, like many others, is an evolution. How are you currently storing your most commonly used tools and all of the new products that you get? I generally forget what I have before i get a chance to use it unless I leave it out - which then creates a mess on my already limited workspace!

Hi Ali,
I was wondering if you had any tips on how to fix a 3 ring album when the rings don't close tightly. I purchased some 3 ring albums from Target (mid-price range) and now the rings open slightly and when I turn the pages they fall out! I like the flexiblity so I can add pages and new ideas but I am so frustrated.
Thanks, Laura