You have questions....I have answers!

Thanks so much for all the kind comments during my Paperlife Spotlight! I feel as if I've met so many other wonderful scrapping and crafting friends. I love going back through the comments and visiting everyone's blogs. So thank you for taking the time to post a comment.

I noticed in the comments that there were a few questions. I know when I post questions, I always like to get answers, so I'm going to do my best to attempt to respond to the questions!

Thanks Grace! Even though your question was directed to future spotlights, I thought I'd go ahead and answer as well. One of my simple scrapbook tricks that I like is to use a template design that works for any layout. Sometimes I just want to do a quick page and may not want to think a lot about it other than just getting the pictures on a page. I find that a couple of tried and true templates are the way to go. The layout is the same however I just mix it up by using different papers, colors and embellishments. I find that when I am really wanting to get some work done in a jiffy, this works great for me! And by the time you get the different embellishments and paper on, you can hardly tell it's the same template design!

Another simple scrapbook trick for me is to simply be ok with making it simple! I know that sounds redundant but I think we get under such pressure to create such a perfectly designed and embellished page that we make it much harder on ourselves than it should be. The first step to making it simple is to get it in my head that it's ok to make it simple! Don't get caught up in the fads and pressure to make it more difficult than it should be. We do this because we want to get the stories down, the photos in books and we do it because WE ENJOY IT!!! That for me has been the most freeing thing!

You're so sweet Lori! Ugh, that's a tough one! I can't imagine only having 5 scrapping items but for the sake of your question, I will do my best to try and think of what those would be. Hmmm, I'm going to assume we're not talking tools, just scrapping items for the page so that's the direction I'll go. First of all, I would have to have flowers! I love flowers. I think they add so much to a page. Not that I would want them on all my pages but I wouldn't want to be without them. Second, letters! Give me some letter stickers or rub-ons! Third, would be ink. I have to have ink. Although I don't use it on every page, if I was limited that would be one item I would definitely want because it is so versatile. Fourth, journaling cards or tags. I would have to have something to add the stories to the page and I love the looks of journaling or note cards. Last but definitely not least, I would have to have some bling! Give me some clear stones. I love to add bling to pages. It is the jewelry to my page and I love how it just sets it off.

Wow! I think I did actually come up with five! And I think they really are my top 5 because I did just pick the first things to pop in my head so obviously they are my "go to" items for scrapping! Great question, Lori!

I love vintage too Debbie! It reminds me of being at my grandmothers house when I was a little girl and going through her dresser in the bedroom. You know, the one with all the extra jewelry, lace, gloves and other great treasures hidden in there!

I do love all styles though. I think that has been the biggest thing for me was too not allow myself to get in a rut of one kind of style. I see a lot of pages that all seem to look the same and I'm not like that. Some are and that's fine. I think that's the great thing about this hobby is that it becomes so personalized and individual.

I find that it all begins with my photo. I can sense a mood from the photo and that usually gets me started. Whether it's upbeat, playful and fun or a more serious, heartfelt page. The colors and style of seem to reflect that mood I want to project. Also, it depends on what I want my layout to say. It depends on the story I am telling. That mood is reflected in the layout, colors and design. And then I just build on it from there. I hope that makes sense to you because in my head it works! LOL.

Hi Alison! This is a great question too! Trust me, I've had so many lulls, I don't even want to think about it. Sometimes I just don't feel like scrapping (not too often!) but I do have those times. Or where I'm faced with a blank page for hours or days not knowing where to begin. What I do to jumpstart my creativity is to hit some of my favorite blogs. I find something that really jumps out at me and then I try to scraplift it. Yes, I said scraplift! It's really ok....and I think secretly, everyone does it! hee hee..... What I find that ends up happening, is that in the end, my creation looks nothing like what I attempted to scraplift, because in the process, it has started my creativity flowing and I'm off on my own. I don't even know so much if I could call it "scraplifting" as much as I would "inspiration". There are some blogs I can go to and just looking at their creations, I am inspired to try something!

Also, setting myself on a time limit is the best thing! I have to say, getting on a design team was the best thing in helping me do that. The deadlines for getting the pages done really pushed me to get more accomplished in a shorter time. I find that I am much better creatively when I just go for it and start putting things on the page. I kind of felt a little bad about that process, until I read once that Heidi Swapp said that she works that way too and who better to follow? It just works for me. Otherwise, I can look at a page, position and reposition for hours and still not be finished. So, now when I start a page, most of the time, I give myself a certain time to get it completed and move on.

Thanks so much Kim! You are so sweet. I know this isn't a question I did want to respond to this. Yes, my sister is probably my biggest fan! She is so supportive and encouraging in everything I do. She is actually on the design team for Rusty Pickle so I am very proud of her as well. You will see comments regularly from her on my blog and me on hers. We are very close even though I live in Tennessee and she lives in California. Oh and by the way, she's expecting another little baby in March so I get to be Auntie again and that makes me very happy! So, thanks Kim for the sweet comment about her!

Well, I think that about does it. Hopefully, you've learned a little bit more about my process and personality! Thanks again for taking the time to leave your comments! I am enjoying reading every one of them and getting to know all of you too!