Scrapbooking Q & A

Oh, I have one more question! Congratualtions on your pregnancy. Will you continue to write your Studio A-column for CK during the pregnancy and after? Your column is the reason why I subscribe to the magazine!

ummm could you post your crop playlist again...or hint as to where its located on this blog? thanks and be well. -h2

I dunno if you've done this, but if you have I would be happy to hear your answer. I've been trying apply to different design teams but get turned down all the time. Everyone keeps telling me no, and I was wondering how you dealt with that in the beginning and if you have any ideas for me?

I can't seem to get comfortable enough with my own work and what I do, and I cannot find my own style, what do you suggest I do?

How do you plan your pages, photowise I mean? Do you print them all at home after planning the page, when you know what size you want them?
I mostly develop 4x6 photos and then I'm sitting there, feeling I should have planned better, enlarged some, made some smaller and so on but I find it difficult (or even impossible) to plan a page before I have the pictures in my hand.
Any useful tips on this subject?
Thanks!

ali thanks for the Q&A
i love your enlarged pictures especially those that are 4X12 or 6X12. is there somewhere i could print them affordably online or at store? since i don't print my pics at home, having more options of shopping for pics would help alot! :)
thanks ali
God Bless!

I was wondering how you got started with your digital scrapping stuff. Did you follow tutorials? Did someone teach you? I have wanted to go semi Hybrid for years but I seem to be so challenged when it comes to trying it out.

Did you post something a while back about a Clear Square Planter that you used to store supplies? I finally found mine and can't remember who did something cool with it.
Thanks!

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the amount of ideas. I think "oh, a mini book with this concept! An album on this theme! An art journal in this new beautiful notebook!", but when I've started, another idea will pop up which makes the project I'm working on boring and the new one seem so much more fascinating. So I'll finish a couple of pages and then leave it, result being that I have tons of nearly empty journals, albums and mini books. Have you ever encountered this kind of problem? Do you sometimes feel it's difficult to finish something before starting a new project? If so, do you have any ideas on how I could solve this? I've thought about getting some sort of album and just putting all the layouts and art journal pages in there, but that leaves out the pleasure of working in a book (with the art journal pages), and how would I sort it all, and I can't put mini books in an album ... and my thoughts just go around and around. Thanks for taking your time, it's so very appreciated!

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE ANSWERS... SOME REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS SO FAR.
1.) Are your scrapbook page designs primarily done digitally or do you still use scraps of paper and real photographs?
(I tend to think it would be MUCH easier to crop and enlarge/reduce digitally... which is probably why your work always looks so PERFECT!)
2.) If your work is done digitally, how would one get away from the guilt of an entire room full of crafting supplies and paper since most is computerized? Is there a way to incorporate all of that as well?
3.) How often should one do a Spring Cleaning with crafting supplies? (I am embarassed to admit that I have stamp sets that I HAD TO HAVE, but have never used them... Is it best to adopt a Use It or Lose It philosophy?)

Me again.... Here's another one I was wondering about:
4.) Do you archive your scrapbook pages in any way (in case of flood, fire, etc.)? (Photograph or scan.... if so, what kind of scanner do you use?)

You seem to be a very environmentally conscious (among other great things) person who would not waste supplies either bought or given to you. I'm wondering how you deal with old supplies never used that are now "out of style" or that you don't like anymore. Do you donate them, use them anyway or alter them?

What suggestions do you have for someone who has an interest in making a career out of scrapbooking? How do you get started or get your name out there? I have done a wedding album for someone and she loved it and everyone is always suggesting that I scrapbook for people and get paid but I don't know where to start!

Help! I have been stuck on this one layout forever because I am trying to incorporate a circle photo and regular rectangular photos. It is driving me insane and I haven't been able to find any sketches that use photographs cropped into a circle. Is this just not done? Now that it is already cropped and all, should I just go get it printed again and forget it or is there a magical way I can make this work?

Hi Ali,
When you print your own photos, are you worried that because it's done on an inkjet printer the photos will fade?
KazT

I am not a "natural" artist...I wish I were (sigh). So, I immerse myself in written and pictoral golden nuggets from yourselves and other goddesses. :) Could you pass on a "Three things" version for people like myself? Design/artistic/colour concepts to keep in mind when planning and designing 1 & 2 page layout or cards. (SWAK!!!)

Ali -
What do you prefer?
Scrapbook Kits - such as monthly kit club
or
Buying products "a la carte"?

Hi, When I make a small album and use cardstock or paper the covers curl over time. Do you always use very thick stuff for covers? Is this what I am missing?
Would love to know.

Hi Ali!
Like many other have said, thanks for opening up a post for our questions! Here's mine - do you have any type of manual or electronic diecut machine? i.e. Cuttlebug, Revolution, Cricuit, etc. I know you have some favorite punches, but am curious! I have a CB and am seriosly considering the Slice from MM.
Thanks again!
Beth Ann

How do you keep the pages in your mini-albums protected?
How do you organize 'word cofetti'? (that is, words on little strips of paper... hubbie bought me a pack but it overwhelms me!)
Thanks.
Mary

What do you do to get your spark back when you don't feel like scrapping for a while or have been unable to?

Ali! I'm excited to hear about your plans for scrapbooking your pregnancy.... are you putting together a scrapbook at all and if so... how are you going about it?

Hi Ali! I have a question for ya: When you scrapbook do you start your layouts with the journaling in mind and sort of buld the page around the journaling, or does the journaling get built around the layout of the page? Thanks!

I would love to know how you organize your craft room??!! my husband has pretty much given up and now calls the 'office' the 'scrapbook room'...... :) gotta love husbands!!!
thanks. hope that you have a good day!!!

Ever have scrapers-block!?