Amy Zwart: [00:00:00] going back to granting that permission, I think it's true because, as women we can get caught up in, well, I already spent this much time on it, or I already spent this much money on said supplies or things. And so what would that mean if I, charted a new course and, did it a different way. Sometimes just that permission to get over ourselves and think is part of it too.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of the New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 332. In this episode, I'm chatting with Amy Zwart, Simple Scrapper's community manager, about what it actually takes to finish a scrapbooking project.

Amy has a front row seat to every member win that happens inside the community, and we talk about the habits, tools, and permissions that help scrapbookers close the loop on their [00:01:00] projects.

Hey Amy. Welcome back to Scrapbook Your Way.

Amy Zwart: Hi Jennifer. Great to talk to you today.

Jennifer Wilson: For those who haven't heard you before on the podcast, can you share a little bit about yourself?

Amy Zwart: Yes, I'm a Midwest girl. I'm in Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. Um, I live with my husband and two kids and our dog. Um, my oldest is my son who's now 18 and graduating soon. He has one quarter of high school left I realized. And my daughter is uh, right, right. And my daughter is a seventh grader and she'll be a teenager this summer. So we got, we have both of those events on the horizon here.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Big milestone year.

Amy Zwart: Right?

Jennifer Wilson: I'm curious, are you doing anything specific for your son in terms of memory keeping and this special graduation time?

Amy Zwart: Yes. So, um, well, one thing kind of on the side is I am trying to pull photos for some posters and, you know, things for [00:02:00] the graduation party. So people have been hearing me talk about that for a year. 'Cause I've tried not to procrastinate it, but there's still some things that'll be coming down to the wire, I'm sure.

But yeah, so that's been fun looking through past photos and, you know, pulling things and school photos and all of that. Um, and then I have been working on his regular school album that's a 12 by 12. Um, my daughter's is a little bit more neglected in the last couple months as I try to catch that up as far as I can.

I know it won't be done because he does have events coming up, you know, like there's big things that happen in May even. So finishing it by June is not likely. Right. Oh. Um, and then I did also start an album that I'm trying to decide, I think it's maybe more for me than him.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Amy Zwart: It's a, it's a six by eight album that I call letters to my senior. And I've just given myself permission to write a letter and [00:03:00] include it in that six by eight album with, you know, it's kind of some fun papers and real easy kit of embellishments.

Um, and then sometimes some photos too. So, for example, I wrote a letter about, you know, we went to Disney World and how we've been there a few times in the past, and I pulled some photos from when he was really little and how it was giving me how the mom feels that now I'm bringing him at, you know, this stage in age.

So it's been fun. I, like I said, I'm not sure how much he's gonna love it or want to read it. But, um, I, I called this project kind of a bookend project because when I was pregnant with each of my kids, I also wrote what I called like a dear tiny baby. When I was pregnant. And had a, you know, a book of letters. And just kind of things that were going on at the time.

And a lot of it just things that I was thinking and feeling. So I'm not a big journaler, so this is maybe my, my most feelings kind of projects that I've [00:04:00] done, so.

Jennifer Wilson: I'm sure it's a, a helpful companion for this time and, uh, you know, he'll appreciate it someday, I'm sure.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. That's what I like to think too.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, is this your favorite recent layout or project, or do you have something else that you wanna share?

Amy Zwart: Um, those are definitely what I've been working on. Um, that feel serious I would say. Or feel, you know, when you talk about some of the legacy ideas behind scrapbooking. Um, I did kind of pause and take a break from that and worked on an ornament album. And that has been actually more rewarding than I expected.

I thought it was an easy plug in the pockets, kind of, you know, put some things in order kind of thing. And it was that. It, in some ways it's an inventory project, right? And so not a lot of, you know, extra doodads or things. Um, but I really enjoyed the memories that it brought up, of, you know, these are the trips [00:05:00] we've taken. Or we have a tradition with my family about making homemade ornaments each year. And seeing those and how many we really have, you know, was surprising and kind of fun to have it all in one place.

So that album is very close to done. And I did one for us. And then I have like the kids specific album or specific ornaments in an album of their own as well. Um, so there's a few kind of sections. I'm still trying to wrap up and get the journaling cards done on. But I, I paused that again to go back to the senior, senior project.

So.

Jennifer Wilson: Those are very cool. I, yeah. I love hearing stories over the years. Like it always comes up again and again on the podcast of folks who've started that type of album and how rewarding it is and, and memorable. I, I'm curious if like, the specificity of it has helped you tap into those, those feelings that sometimes are hard to come by when it comes to your journaling.

Amy Zwart: Yes and no. I would say like there's some things that [00:06:00] are, they still feel very factual, you know, to record. You know, we got this on this trip, but I also added a few things that were like holiday decor kind of items. Um, this is where I like to expand my projects, right? Like, 'cause ornaments wasn't enough.

So, no, I laugh, but I am glad that I expanded it a little bit. So I have things like, you know, we have a, a Cookies for Santa plate that we've used, you know, since they were really little. And just, you know, I have a photo of that and just a quick note of, you know, it's been something that's been part of our Christmas since the beginning.

Um, so I, I, I do think there are some feelings that are coming out. It's not just factual, um, or, you know, I have an ornament in memory of my dad, or, you know, things like that, that some of 'em are definitely more sentimental.

Jennifer Wilson: So fun. Yeah, no, now I wanna do that, but not allowed to start any projects at least until all [00:07:00] the rest are finished. So, before we get to that topic of finishing, is there something new you're excited to do, use or try either in scrapbooking or your everyday life?

Amy Zwart: My items today are not scrapbooking related, and you may laugh, but I have some new shoes that I'm really happy if I'm a got.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, tell us about 'em. New shoes are hard.

Amy Zwart: Well, my first question is, would you call them tennis shoes, sneakers, or trainers?

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, uh, probably tennis shoes more often. Sometimes sneakers never trainers.

Amy Zwart: Okay. Okay. So I don't know if that's a Midwest thing or not, but yes, I grew up wearing tennis shoes, and that's what we call them. Um, I know that's not always the case, but yeah, I had some that clearly, like I wore out and I didn't realize I wore them out. And it was kind of a commotion, um, which made me then go through all of my [00:08:00] shoes.

And so, yeah, I got some Hokas based on what everyone said online, and you know, what everyone's wearing. And I, I also got some Nikes. So yes, get out, hopefully the weather will help me wear them more, get out walking and any kind of things were up too.

Jennifer Wilson: I love my Hokas, they're amazing. So.

Amy Zwart: Well, yeah, as soon as you talk to people, that's, you know, that's where it's at. So I'm like, all right, I trust you.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. And then you, you're gonna mention something else.

Amy Zwart: And then next month I get a new washer and dryer. So again, super exciting.

Jennifer Wilson: Um, front loading. Top loading, know, what's your preference?

Amy Zwart: Uh, we're a front loading family 'cause we have like a shelf that goes above it. Um, and I have to say, it's really just, this is a replacement product, right? But you don't know what you got till it's gone and we're having some issues. So we're trying to stay on track here.

Jennifer Wilson: I saw this gadget on YouTube recently where it's [00:09:00] kind of like, like if you un undid a hanger, but it was made of like rubber slash silicone and it was flexible. It's just basically this thing that helps you keep the door open but not totally swung open. So it can be open just enough to, to keep it dry on the inside. But not all the way and kind of in the way of things. Um, I'm, I'm sure I don't even know what it's called, but it seemed really handy.

Amy Zwart: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: I, I, I have a top loading for that particular reason, but we don't have a shelf above it, so.

Amy Zwart: Yes. Yes. Um, yeah, we've had different homemade gadgets like that in the past too. So we'll see what happens with the new one or what it needs. I've heard some of 'em have something kind of built in and I don't know that I checked that specifically on ours. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I would think that would be something they would start doing. So.

Amy Zwart: My first question when we were checking was I had to make sure the doors opened the right way. 'Cause I remember in the past having, you know, the dryer door had to be [00:10:00] flip flopped or something, so I was.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh.

Amy Zwart: Trying to figure that out.

Jennifer Wilson: Gotta make sure. I bet there's some that you can change and some maybe that you can't flip. So.

Amy Zwart: Right, I had to be sure.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, we had to get a new dryer recently that was not the most fun, but we're It's fine now.

Amy Zwart: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: It caused, yeah, we. Uh, how do I say this? Like it was between the dryer and the vent situation basically created a compounded issue where the vent ended up killing the dryer. And yeah, it's all very sad, but it should be good now. Now we know if things don't, don't dry very quickly, go clean the vet right away. Before it gets backed up. Um, yeah. Anyway, yes, those fun things that we just love to do, right?

Amy Zwart: So, so fun.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. So I wanted to chat a little bit about finishing today. Um, in part because we have finishing day coming up this weekend. And there there'll be more of those later this [00:11:00] year if you're not listening to this episode when it comes out. But I wanted to talk to you both as our community manager and, and what I like to call our keeper of the testimonials.

The person who keeps track of all the nice things that members say. Um, because I, you are the most in there and the most connected to what's happening day to day. And you happen to catch all these wonderful things, whether it's on a Zoom or somewhere in a chat. And sometimes I'm just totally floored by, the words that are shared.

Amy Zwart: Yes, we've had a lot of people working on things and you know, making progress, but a lot of finishing has been happening. And it's amazing to see. It really is very fun, especially if people have reported, you know, kind of along the way that, you know, okay, they're making progress, they're making progress, and then when they hit that final, this is done.

You know, it's such a celebration. The whole community comes around for it.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and really that, that reporting along [00:12:00] the way, that's, I think that's one of the tricks towards getting something done. Is if I say that I'm doing this and here it is. Somebody might check up on me. It's like, Hey, where, where are you at on that thing? Um, and so, and this, the more you do report, I think that increases your chances of finishing in the end.

Amy Zwart: Right, because, and for myself too, I'm almost using that as that's my checklist. Like, I look back at where was I at last week when I, you know, when I gave an update or things too. So sometimes it's a reality check with yourself of like, oh, I did get a lot done. I actually saw someone posted that this week.

I, I didn't think I had done much, but you know, when I looked back, now here are the things that really did happen. So it is great. So I do have some examples of some member wins that I've seen lately.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes, there's been some like big and small. The one that like really stands out to me as a member who'd been like carrying around a box of [00:13:00] photos for 30 years and not doing anything with it. And then she finally was able to empty it and sort it and get them where they needed to go. And I'm like, yes.

Like, let's, let's do this.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. Yeah. 'Cause you know, the, the box of things becomes intimidating, right? Because you don't know, well, what, what is that really gonna be? Or if you don't have the plan, so it's a box of photos, but where are they going to go? Or what kind of sorting needs to happen. Or, you know, figuring out that plan is the first part of being able to get something like that done and accomplished.

Jennifer Wilson: Well sometimes like the longer you leave something, it's a box or it's something silly, like measuring something, like something that just isn't particularly fun maybe has some steps, you have to figure out how to do it. We put those things off and they become more and more intimidating and in the end they're never that bad.

Amy Zwart: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Very true. Or how you word it on your to-do list even is what I noticed. You know, [00:14:00] like sometimes it really should be just open the box. Like see what's in there, know what you're dealing with. Not take care of the box. Just first open the box.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I mean, that's a skill in itself of like being able to give yourself checklist items that are things you can do. Um, and that's taken practice for me over the years. But once you really get going, I, I definitely feel like it's easier to feel like I did something today. I maybe didn't do the whole thing, but I at least took some steps forward.

Amy Zwart: Right, right.

Jennifer Wilson: So what are some of those wins that you had noted?

Amy Zwart: Yes. Yes. So Natalie, uh, had a very successful month for LOAD. And she got a larger sized photo book done for a trip, um, in the past. So that's a, that's a very large project. That's, that's a huge win in, I don't wanna say in a small amount of time. 'Cause I think she had started it before that month, but also a month is still, you know, it's a [00:15:00] reasonable amount of time.

Jennifer Wilson: Well and the consistency of working on it every day too, right?

Amy Zwart: Right, right. That's the. That's the, I don't know, the spectacular part of that for me, as someone that doesn't do things on a daily basis like that, is like, wow, that's, that's amazing for me to see. So I loved hearing about that. And you know, she, again, because it was a daily project, was posting daily with updates and, you know, where she was at.

And, and the community rallied around that to help her, you know, continue on and to help with, you know, some proofreading and, you know, encouragement. So it's a great example.

But I also have, Bre worked on some vision boards for One Little Word. And this one sticks out because I think, you know, there was some conversation she had to have around it about how to make it work and how to make it fit in her actual project.

And, you know, if you're buying magazines and cutting things out, sometimes you wanna cut out all the things. And so she had kind of some size [00:16:00] concerns, I would say are, you know, trying to figure out with problem solving that other people helped, you know, why don't, why not make more than one? Why not take pictures and add 'em into your project so that you can make 'em whatever size you want?

And then the photo can be printed at what fits in the project.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah. I love that. Sometimes like we're thinking that this is, is a certain process or this looks a certain way. But then maybe there's like five other ways you could be accomplishing the same thing. That might be more fun, more easy.

Amy Zwart: Right. and I, I just wanna point out that the size of a project, like, it doesn't matter. Like, when you're finishing something, you're finishing something. And, you know,

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Amy Zwart: Sometimes, you know, my Project Life album, you know, or month is different than someone else's anyway. So, you know, they're never apples to apples, but,

a couple other fun ones were Lorian you know, again, working on, uh, a Project Life month at a time, [00:17:00] so for February. And that's a big win because she had been away from it for a little while too. So coming back in and taking it head on, it was a good thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Well and she works primarily in traveler's notebooks.

Amy Zwart: I think so, but maybe not for Project Life.

Jennifer Wilson: Maybe she wasn't when she was reporting on this. Yeah.

Amy Zwart: I think for Project Life she has, you know, more of like a nine by 12. I'm not sure. If I know that for sure. Um, but travelers notebooks for sure, for other projects. So you're right. So that's interesting too to, you know, have the, the mix between the two sizes and getting back into something can be tricky because of that.

Jennifer Wilson: Uh, certainly. And there was one more I, sorry, I interrupted you.

Amy Zwart: No, that's all right. Um, Judy, uh, finished a layout about her dad. And I saw in the comments, you know, she thanked some people for encouraging her and helping her get it done. So in some ways that might've been from attending, you know, a crop and just being there together. [00:18:00] And in some ways that might've been, you know, asking for specific help about how to make it happen or how to make it work.

Um, that story was specifically from a Story kit idea. So, you know, sometimes those ideas can be in your head for a while when you've had the kit. And sometimes they're new and you haven't figured out how to put 'em together yet.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, sometimes you need like troubleshooting with maybe not having the, the, the right images that you would love to have. Um, or part of the story is difficult and how do you want to include that. Um, in terms of sharing that with others, uh, getting what you need from it. I mean, there's many different approaches and so it's often helpful to, to kind of get, bounce that off others.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. Yeah. And hers was a sentimental layout, so I'm sure, you know, getting those feelings down is part of that process as well. Courtney and Christine both had [00:19:00] album wins. So Courtney finished a cruise album and Christine did what she called an Alice in Wonderland album for her daughter, which sounds fun.

Um, I haven't seen any pictures yet. She said she would maybe try to have her daughter take some. But, um, that one sounds like a fun project and again, had some popups and different things that, you know, when you're doing extra, extra, extra, um, things. Sometimes it can slow you down and have you figure out how it works, like the mechanics and the logistics of it.

Jennifer Wilson: Well and because we have, you know, paper, digital, hybrid people who've done either in the past as well. There's always like something to learn, um, from others. Maybe you're trying a new technique or, yeah. There's just, there's just there's just like shared wisdom from having a of diversity of experience that we have.

Amy Zwart: Right. And I think, you know, sometimes, you know, there's a card maker in the group and they're like, well, this is how the popup works on this [00:20:00] card or on this thing, you know?

Right. So the, like you said, the diversity of experiences across is really helpful.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, I think sometimes the, it's not just about the big wins, it's about the day-to-day showing up, the consistency of creating and finishing of closing loops. That really stands out to me as well. What do you think that we do that most helps members be finishers?

Amy Zwart: We offer accountability. But we also offer planning. So I think a big thing for me is having member meetings where we're talking about our plan for the next journey, you know, the next two months. But then we're checking back in too. So a month can go by really slowly or really quickly. It depends where you're at with, you know, what else is going on.

And having that check in again I think has been really helpful to people.

Jennifer Wilson: And like [00:21:00] how, how do you see accountability coming through? I mean, not every type of personality needs accountability. Some just enjoy the comradery. But I do think there is I think there is maybe a personality type that does need others around, whether it's to say what they're gonna do, they need the bodily, the body doubling aspect of, of being on camera with someone. Um, they, yeah, they, they need something to keep them showing up. Maybe it's the date on the calendar to, to attend a crop.

Amy Zwart: Yeah, I think that's true too. That the crops provide, you know, that, that consistent date and time. But then there's also member meetings that might be that date in the future. Like, this is when I'm going to schedule this next project or this next step of this project. Um, and then along with that, I would also say just having the community there to help get you unstuck.

And so [00:22:00] sometimes that is very specific to how do I fix this thing that I can't move forward? And sometimes it's just more of a, I've been away from scrapbooking for a while, how do I reengage. Or, I left this layout, you know, in a box for, you know, six months and I'm coming back to it and now I don't like this part, or I wanna change this part, or this new piece to the story needs to be added, you know?

And so they ask other members how, how would you do this? Or what are your ideas to help me move forward? And I think that support is, I don't wanna call it underrated here because I think everyone does appreciate it. But I don't think we realize how that support really does get us to finishing. And taking that next step and completing something.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, it certainly does. One thing that's standing out to me, I'm trying to figure out how, how to, how to say this and, um, ask the question. So what [00:23:00] are some of those maybe things that you think end up needing to be troubleshooted when it comes to, to finishing? Like what are, what are those stuck points?

Amy Zwart: I think my first reaction is the, I'm stuck because I haven't been working on it for a while. So, you know, kind of revisiting the what was I trying to do here and what's changed since my last idea. So, um, you know, taking my ornament album as an example, it was gonna be three by four cards of ornaments and three by four cards of journaling about said ornament.

And I was like, well, I don't want just all ornaments all through the book. I wanna, they're kind of in categories in my mind. And so I wanna put some section dividers in and what does that look like. You know, so I put in a four by six card, but now I [00:24:00] have a a pocket page. So now I have three other four by six pockets to put that page in.

So now what do I do with those pockets? Um, I ended up adding photos that went with that section. So for example, our vacation, vacation ornaments now have, you know, a little section title that says vacation or travel. And then I have just a couple of pictures of us on said vacations, you know, so three pictures from, you know, what's more than 25 years.

So it's a way to not capture every vacation in a, in a photo of the family kind of way. 'Cause the goal is the ornaments. But it also shows like this is how long ago some of this has been from. Where, this is where we found some of these little mementos that, you know, hold the memories. Um, so I [00:25:00] think talking something like that through can be helpful to say, you know, what would, what would you put here?

Or is this a place just to have like decorative, open space in my album. Because there's not a lot of that. Every page is full. Right. And so that's the example I can think of in my own recent album. And thinking of other people asking that, you know, in a, in a different way, like, what would you put here? Or how would you document, you know, that I have three years of this, but I really only want it to be on one layout.

You know, how would you combine that? Or what, what do you wanna see across the years versus what's unique from each year? And you know, I see this like, Tiffany does a very awesome creative December Daily. And she'll, she'll say, well, I have, you know, this, this day is showing the crafts that my kids made. But I kind of wanna get all the kids on there, you [00:26:00] know, like they, each daughter is doing a different craft and doing different things.

So how would you fit that on? So it's a six by eight album, and that's where she ends up with fun ideas of little tags that come out or something flips over, you know, to show the backside is the project. You know, picture with the daughter or things like that. So it's fun to see, you know, what, what their ideas start as.

And then, you know, as they get input or talk things through, you know, how it, how it ends up in the end, how it turns out.

Jennifer Wilson: And even with your example that adding those photos of your family adds some really like meaningful context to the album. Of which otherwise could be, yes, the journaling is meaningful, but the images themselves maybe are not as like, as exciting. At one point. It's kind of like a catalog. It's really cool.

Trust. I'm not, I'm not trying to like underscore it but uh, or undersell it. But when you add personal photos [00:27:00] along with it, I think that just makes it even more of a richer story.

Amy Zwart: Right, exactly. That, you know, and I, I take no offense. Because I was calling it my inventory album for a while, right. Because I was like, it's all about, you know, organizing the dates and trying to see, you know, when did we get this one. Um, so I do think that that's a great example of like kind of lifting it up a notch. And you know, when other people reach out to ask questions like that. You know, and sometimes, sometimes the right answer is the easiest, smallest option. Or like, don't worry about that, that doesn't have to go in this album. And so members have a lot of, you know, variety of answers and opinions too. And so you, you can take all of those and then go, okay, what's right for me? Or what feels best right now?

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, so with our Before Your Story Class, I'm always recommending from the very beginning you need a piece of paper. You can put it on the back of your original worksheet and, but you have to [00:28:00] have a place to write down all the ideas that you're going to have while working on this project. You cannot put them all in the album.

It won't fit. Or you'll never finish. But I, you're gonna have all these ideas and so I keep reminding 'em 'cause it comes up again and again. Well, you know, I wanna add these five additional layouts. If you wanna add those later, great. But in order to finish the project, you need to put that aside for now and just keep a note. Um, because yeah, just like kind of having, those rails is something that, that I like to provide. Just because I know that I need them. Otherwise I won't, I won't get things done. So I'm always trying to like structure things like that from the very beginning.

Amy Zwart: Yeah, and asking someone else, you know, what would your rails be? Is a great example of this. Like, you know what, this is my goal for this project or this layout, you know? How would you keep it in check?

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. And I think you, you mentioned also like the, the having stepped away from it, like [00:29:00] reconnecting with your why. So like, you might say your goal and it, it's a, you know, a, a creative description. But really why, like, why do you care about this? Then like, what is also, what is enough? Like what is enough photos, you know, how much does this need to, to capture in order to be both meaningful and, you know, creatively enjoyable to put it together? And I think when you think about it a little more critically, you might not end up with the same project that you originally envisioned.

Amy Zwart: Right. Right. And that's, that's also the joy of the membership. You know, the community is helping you pivot when that's the appropriate move. Right. And.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah,

Amy Zwart: Yeah, taking that advice and knowing when, when it applies and when you're like, no, that I'm gonna push back on that. This really is what I want this time. So.

Jennifer Wilson: In the Finishing project classroom, I, I talk about these as like [00:30:00] course corrections. Um, but I really think we just need to use that, that friend GIF of Ross with like the pivot, screaming, pivot. And like, that should just be the, the theme of the Finishing project.

Amy Zwart: That's great.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, well, I, I'll touch more on that in a little bit. But I did have one other question about kind of how things all fit together with the way that we, we support scrapbookers with finishing. And, and you already mentioned the journey planning process, but I know this particularly helps me with this problem of, okay, I want to finish all of these things. And my list, you know, might not even be like, here's the top of mind list and then, oh, here's the other list that I have down.

Let's refer to those as well. So my list keeps getting longer. But I know I can't finish those. I have to make choices. So how do you think the planning process really like, helps, uh, members be more realistic about what they can actually [00:31:00] do?

Amy Zwart: Here you're talking to someone who usually sets a pretty unrealistic plan as my journey plan. So I feel a little bit, um, I won't say called out. But I'll say I'm, I'm maybe not the best one personally to discuss this. But overall I do think it's the idea around how much time do you really have, what else is going on?

And you know, you're helping call that out as we work through that workbook. And you're saying, you know, and, and even if that's specifically about Finishing day, you know, how many hours do you really have? What, what's your dedication level? You know, what's your energy and effort, you're willing to do this Saturday or whatever.

Um, and I think those are good questions to answer, right? Like, we can push back on our own selves with that and say, you know, if, if we [00:32:00] have dinner plans at seven, that doesn't really mean I get to scrapbook right up until seven. I have to stop and clean up a little bit and get ready for dinner and, you know, all the things, or we have to drive there, or whatever.

So, like, just really making us think about that. Is, I think where, you know, you really provide some success in, you know, the planning ahead. Um, the other thing that you talk about a lot is, you know, make your list and cut it in half. And, you know, be happy with getting half of that done. Um, or let's see, I'm probably not gonna have the right words, how you word it.

Again, in the workbook, having, you know, your, your first goal, but then what's your, what's your above and beyond goal? So I know you have a better word for it than I don't have it on the tip of my tongue right now.

Jennifer Wilson: So, uh, my, my friend Jill Allison Bryan, who's also been on the podcast, she uses these [00:33:00] terms certain, possible and audacious. And she encourages her clients to, to think about their objectives from, from that perspective. So that you're always thinking about what's possible, but then you're also trying to stay grounded at the same time.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. So that's, that's exactly it. Having an audacious goal, you know, I then I feel better that I can still write it down, even though I might not be getting to it. Right.

Jennifer Wilson: It's helpful to know where you're headed. Like even if that.

Amy Zwart: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: Audacious is gonna take, like, it doesn't mean it's not possible. It just means it might take time, it might take planning. Um, but if that's where you want to head, you need to then construct your plan around that. Um, otherwise it, it never even becomes possible if you don't have a direction.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. And you know, things happen in the day and you know, sometimes something gets canceled and it opens up. So then instead of panicking and saying, well, what am I gonna do with that time? Or [00:34:00] kinda withering it away, then now you have that written down as, oh, look at what might happen today now, because you know, these other things have changed. So I do really like that approach.

Jennifer Wilson: I think there's also the opposite case of, today I was, Emily has a club after school, and so I was gonna pick her up at five instead of, you know, 3, 3 15. And now we're expecting a hailstorm. So I'm probably gonna pick her up at three 15. So I'm not driving around in a hailstorm at five o'clock. Um, but that means that the things I had planned from 3:15 to five, uh, which might've been fun things, are, are not gonna get done. And that's okay. But there, there's like that, that well could happen just as easily. So.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. Yeah. There's, yeah, the weather. Weather is definitely still a factor in so many things too. Oh, what a bummer.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and yeah, who knows? They might change the forecast a million times between now and then. I'm gonna check like an hour before and figure it [00:35:00] out. But, you know, um, that's part of why having that 50% goal might mean that you could still get something done, even if you end up interrupted in ways you didn't anticipate.

Amy Zwart: Right, exactly.

Jennifer Wilson: So, so talking specifically about Finishing Day, like, how would you describe that from your perspective? You know, having been first a member and, and also also as our community manager.

Amy Zwart: Um, I still put it as one of my very most favorite events.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Amy Zwart: There's something really special. Yes. There's just something really special about coming together, knowing you have a plan. Um, seeing everyone, you know, on the Zoom, that's usually how I do it. You don't have to be connected. Um, and just seeing the replies come in, you know, the updates of what people have been working on.

So I think it's fun to always kind of know what, what's happening out there, but also, you know, what's getting done. So. I think [00:36:00] this the social side, like it's actually honestly kind of a quiet crop generally. Um, if people have been on a long time, sometimes there'll be little breaks of, you know, discussion or again, if someone has, you know, a question to ask or a way to get unstuck that they wanna talk about, um, that's always welcome.

But it is generally a quieter crop. And anyone that's been my crops, that's usually not the case for me. So I do always have to adjust a little bit in my thinking of that. But overall, it makes it productive. And I'm able to do some of that heads down work on a Finishing Day. So again, I appreciate kind of having that on the schedule and knowing, you know, that that could be it a good day to finish the journaling on those layouts that are almost done,

just need the journaling. Or to think through the planning of, you know, the new project or the next step in this project. So. I've really enjoyed it as [00:37:00] like, I mean, I guess even a borrow from our latest book, club book, it's like immersive time that you're able to, to spend and know other people are getting things done as well.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, it's just that additional layer of accountability beyond just a regular crop. Or it, it's not just coming to your table to scrapbook as like a regular thing. It's, I have an objective here, whether your finishing goal is very small, like clean off your desk, to empty your space. I mean, it could be any there anything in between. But whatever it is, you have a clear thing that you wanna get done. You try to be realistic about it. Maybe, uh, have the, as again, have those audacious goals as well. Um, then you have a kind of that time buffer around it too, of this is when we're, you know, inviting you to do it. And we have so many members that end up saying, okay, I can't do it on this day, but I'm gonna do it on Friday.

I'm gonna do it on Sunday or the Monday after. They [00:38:00] choose an alternate day. Uh, because having that label means something.

Amy Zwart: Right. Yeah. And some people extend it and they make it finishing weekend, and I think that's awesome too. You know, then your, your list can be a little bit longer and you know, you have more time dedicated towards it. And I, I should also point out that the Plan, Prep, and Pep Day that comes before Finishing Day is equally, I don't know what to say, exciting or appreciated by me. Because there really is something about knowing how you're gonna start that day and having some of your supplies out or,

you know, having looked in that box that you were gonna handle. Or, you know, whatever your task for the day is, you've, you've gotten a jumpstart on it. And you've started to think about it. So, you know, in the past it's kind of worked that, that day is on a Wednesday or a Thursday before the Saturday of Finishing Day. And it gives you a few more [00:39:00] days to just think about what's coming up.

Jennifer Wilson: And I, I like to talk about it as not being surprised. Because I know I've said I'm gonna do something on this day, and this happens a lot like with house projects. Okay, this is the day we're gonna do this, and then you open the door or the box and you're like, oh. And it's not exactly what you expected. It could be better, it could be worse. But by having that Plan, Prep, and Pep You know what to expect. You've gotten past the element of surprise and can then be even more, uh, realistic and strategic about actually making progress. Um, because you can gather items, you can adjust your plans, you can, you know, uh, really figure it out with facts in front of you.

Amy Zwart: Right, right. And that, again, going back to the pivot term, that gives you a chance to pivot projects. If you actually don't have the photos in hand or you know, don't have the printer ink or you [00:40:00] know, if something is missing. Well now you don't have to waste your whole, you know, Finishing Day because you were unprepared.

Now you have time to pivot and get a new project or go, you know, do that errand to get the printer ink or you know, whatever the case may be.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I mean, with a Wednesday Plan, Prep, and Pep, that's enough time for Amazon to deliver your ink if you need it to. So.

Amy Zwart: If there's no hailstorms or blizzards.

Jennifer Wilson: No, very true, very true. One other thing that stands out how the habits and routines that we lean on, like the rest of the month. The rest of the creative journey, how those support finishing. And I think, you know, staying connected to your photo management, staying connected to your stash, like I think all the things we do add up to make Finishing Day something that is even more fruitful than it could be if it was in isolation.

Amy Zwart: True. Yes. Um, [00:41:00] I know like I order my photos so I know if I if I haven't done photo management as far as, you know, the ordering of the photos for a while. Then I get a little twingy like, uhoh, where am I at? You know, I have to look back. But if I've stayed on task with that, then that's not a question. That's not part of the equation when I'm going into Finishing Day or, you know, the next part of that project.

And so I think that's key. But also, if I have been to crops that week, I already am on my way of, you know, doing the next step and I know where I left it. So it ties in with all the fun things, right, of like attending crops and leaving yourself breadcrumbs. And, you know, knowing where you're at. That's so much easier when it's, you know, a daily or weekly process than when once a month you're coming in or you know, even longer.

It's always harder to reconnect when it's been when you've been away for a little bit.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:42:00] And those, just the, the little bits of connections. Sometimes you might not think the 5, 10, 15 minutes is valuable. But it, it usually has more of an impact than you think it might. Whether it's like delete, you know, the daily delete before bed or, you know, you can only come to 30 minutes of a one hour crop in the morning, but you do it anyway before you have to head off to a meeting or, or whatever your responsibilities are. Making those like small commitments to yourself add up to something much bigger.

Amy Zwart: Yes, for sure. So showing up, you know, in those ways, or even just looking at your list of what's next and kind of keeping it top of mind so that you know. You know, here's what I can do in that 30 minutes. Yeah. So you don't sit there for the first 20 minutes figuring out what you should be doing.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, that's one of the reasons why I often create kits. 'Cause if I have everything for a layout on my desk and it's just one layout, and I [00:43:00] have photos and a sketch, and I have products, I know where I'm headed. Like it's almost an inevitability that that page will get done. Because it is, I feel like it's almost 90% there when you've done that much planning for it. And so that, that, that's what helps me keep it top of mind. Now, if I had five of those on my desk, I wouldn't, I couldn't do it because I didn't have to make a choice. But just having the one is really, really helpful.

Amy Zwart: Yeah, that's a great example.

Jennifer Wilson: Now I mentioned the Finishing Project earlier, and this is a class that's more than a decade old now. Um, it was originally taught many times as a four week class to finish a specific project. Usually something a little bit on the bigger side. And then also think about what can make you a better finisher. And every year I think, oh gosh, I should update this. And, and this will sound arrogant and it sounds arrogant to even think it to me. But I review it and I'm like, I'm not sure what I would change, because I think it's really good. I think it's very, it's a [00:44:00] very helpful, thoughtful, straightforward process of figuring out

like, where do you get stuck? Why do you think that is? In trying to troubleshoot it to figure out, is it, you know, because this format. Uh, doesn't, or this size doesn't work for you? Is it because you weren't ready with your photos? Um, and yeah, we're doing that ad hoc all the time for Finishing Day and in the community. But this is definitely like a, know, a very focused, concentrated effort around becoming a finisher. Is there anything from the Finishing Project that stands out to you that you think it's, it's good with helping with or, or other things that members have said about it?

Amy Zwart: I think you nailed it with the focus. So I think there's lots of reasons why projects can end up unfinished. And I love, I love the content in the Finishing Project. For figuring out, you know, was there, was there a mistake made along the way of thinking, you know, it could go this way or that I had more time [00:45:00] or different things.

So it lets you explore different options. But the, the other half to the Finishing Project, I think is just as important and it's, it's giving you the focus to say, this is what I'm gonna work on and I'm gonna be consistent and I'm gonna report back. And I'm gonna be heads down on this. Because sometimes the answer is just always, I just need to do it.

Like there are no stumbling blocks other than the dedicated time to do it. So seeing others do that has been great. Um, Shannon recently has been going through it and she does add in little updates, so I should back up and clarify the Finishing Project, we sometimes run as like a community. And you know, like a CoLab where everyone's doing it together. But the materials are there for anyone to do any time.

So Shannon has been going through and doing it, and I believe she's working on like annual [00:46:00] albums that she does in photo books. And so she's running into some of the problems. Yes. Like, you know, where are these photos or this, this year is missing, you know, certain event photos that I need to track down.

Um, unfortunately she also ran into a, the photo book size constraint. And had to kind of back out some layouts and do some things right? So there, there are still issues and, you know, problem solving to happen. But the real win for her has been the dedication to that project and really saying, Hey, I can do this.

And it's, it's just, it's like having someone along your side, you know, or something like that, this encouraging little voice to say, keep going and, you know, so that the dedication and the time I think is just as important as the content of figuring out if you, you know, need to course correct or, you know, if [00:47:00] you've looked into other options for how to do this project.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. One. One aspect related to that course correction that stood out to me as well was. The permission to pivot. That, that it's okay if maybe your original plan, isn't gonna work out. Um, maybe even your whole project isn't gonna look like that way you started it. In the end, the meaning will still be there regardless of how you finish it.

Um, and like sometimes having that permission to make the change is what someone needs. Because otherwise they just feel stuck because like, I can't, I can't do it this way. Like, it's too time consuming. Uh, it's, there's way too many pages. It's not gonna fit in the photo book software. Um, or it would have to be multiple books, which is, I mean, photo books these days are very cost prohibitive, so let alone multiple books is, is even more challenging.

So, um, I think that's just another layer of, of what makes it helpful.

Amy Zwart: [00:48:00] You are right, the permission that, you know, as adult women, we shouldn't need to hear someone else say. But boy, does it feel good when someone else could say, oh, you can change that. You don't have to do it the same way you first envisioned. You know, it's, it's definitely valuable.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, there's that, like, you know, uh, I don't know, sexist old adage of, you know, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. And I'm like, do you know how stubborn women are at not changing their mind and sticking to it and saying, no, this is how I'm going to do it.

Amy Zwart: Very true.

Jennifer Wilson: I'm saying that for myself that that is something that, uh, can be difficult.

Amy Zwart: Yes. Yes. Well, and, and again, using my ornament, uh, album as an example, I started that project a long, long time ago. And I don't think I recognized fully that that was a sticking point to me. That I didn't like how it was going, or I, [00:49:00] you know, didn't give myself permission to pivot until other members did one.

You know, and I, I started to pull the things I liked best, you know, from each of their versions that would work for me. Like, so this still matches my end goal, or, you know, and I even struggled. So I found the original album that I had started with, it was a different size. It had not a lot done in it, but it had some,

some photos printed. So then it felt wasteful. What if I don't use those. And I can't tell you how good it felt just to throw some of those photos away and be like, who cares? It doesn't matter. It's not done. It's not doing any good sitting in this box either. So let's clean that out. And then I actually thought I was gonna get rid of all of the pages that I had started too, and I ended up revamping 'em and using 'em as some of those divider section divider cards or things.

So yeah, so I felt [00:50:00] great about it. You know, in the end I also was able to repurpose that album for something else. And so, you know, in the end, that's probably one of my most recent and probably biggest, you know, major pivots on a project. But I don't think I realized that I was stuck on it as much. I think I thought it just wasn't a priority. And that, that maybe was the case too, that it kind of got tucked away. Um, another great thing is photography of like taking ornament photos. Like I had a lot of photos in the early years 'cause I wanted to do this project. But when I looked back I'm like, oh, they're so blurry, or they're not crisp.

And now like the iPhone portrait setting, you know, while it dangles on my tree is like, this is amazing. Right. So, so that I'm happy about too. Yeah. So on one hand it's kind of funny to see like a really old ornament look like a really crisp new photo. [00:51:00] Right. You know.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Amy Zwart: And then I did save a lot of the old photos just because then it kind of was a timestamp too for me to, to know, well we had that at least in 2004 or whatever.

So.

Jennifer Wilson: That's fun.

Amy Zwart: But going back to, you know, granting that permission, I, I think it's true because, you know, as women we can get caught up in, well, I already spent this much time on it, or I already spent this much money on, you know, said supplies or things. And so what would that mean if I, you know, charted a new course and, you know, did it a different way.

And sometimes just that permission to get over ourselves and think is part of it too. Like

Jennifer Wilson: We're great at adding guilt on top of guilt. So.

Amy Zwart: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Little guilt ice cream sundae there for us. Um, we know how to pile it on and yeah, it's, it's, it can be challenging to tease that apart and [00:52:00] tell yourself that it's okay. And, you know, you'll, we're all learning from it. Um, and every time that we do make that change, it's gonna impact the next project that we start. So that we can be more realistic, be more understanding of our own limitations of, you know, what creative processes are exciting and fun for us.

Which ones maybe good for others, but not for us that we can admire without having FOMO about. that can be a challenge for sure.

Amy Zwart: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Is there anything else that you wanted to highlight from our community that you've noticed over the years? Um, I, I feel like we've talked a lot about this, that it's been so helpful to just, to be able to share, to ask for questions, to say, okay, how do I, how would you do this? Even sometimes, you know, I'll be teaching on a Zoom and I'm doing something live and I'm like, okay, I can't figure out which, which pattern paper direction to go here.

And then I'll get six different reasons from six different members about why I should choose one [00:53:00] or the other. And that helps me figure out what's important to me and, and to make those decisions. Um, I love, yeah, I love just hearing the different perspectives and sometimes it makes me think about things in a, in a whole new way.

Amy Zwart: Right. And an example that I was thinking of as this, you know, this idea of talking it through was, you know, you recently did your December Daily decision of, I don't wanna do a whole project. I just wanna try it as still a large and complicated layout, but trying to put it all together in one kind of story in place. Instead of how I've done it in the past.

And your example with that also, like the permission was also there, not just to pivot now, but to pivot again if you didn't like it. And I think that was really key. Like, you know, here's my plan going forward, if this doesn't work or I don't like it. So I don't know if you have anything to add with how that's been now kind of [00:54:00] on closer to the backside of that experience.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I can say that I'm almost done. We are here at the end of March. And if it all goes to plan, I should have everything like photographed in a blog post written, uh, and queued up for the week after this podcast goes live. Right now. That's what's on the calendar because I wanna share like, the whole process of how this came together and, and what I think about it.

And I will say it was both easier and harder than doing an album. Um, and, and just for those, I, I've mentioned this a couple times, but what I did is I have a, it's a two page spread and there's 25 little pockets, envelopes, bundles, flip ups, all kind of all different types, kind of all designed differently. And they all have photos or journaling or both. I guess they all have journaling and some of them also have photos. It's all printed [00:55:00] very tiny. And future me is going to really be mad that I printed it so small. But I did learn a lot from it and I, I do feel like I'm, I am feeling done, at least for now with doing a big album. I don't feel like our, our December season as full in, in the holiday way as it used to be.

We're kind of just because Emily's getting older and she's more interested in doing things with her own friends during the holiday season when she has a break. When she's not playing volleyball and not in school, she wants to go to hang out with friends and, I don't know, play video games and do whatever they do. So it's just different and that's okay.

Amy Zwart: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: The stories and the photos that I have are also different. And so I do think that some sort of layout, is something that I wanna try again. So that's where I'll leave it for now. Hopefully. Next

Amy Zwart: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Next week there will be a blog post and I will, [00:56:00] we'll share more about all of my, my observations.

Amy Zwart: That's awesome. We have, we have that to look forward to. And, and again, I, I just appreciate, you know, that you shared the experience along the way and the decision making and like I said, kind of the, the backend what ifs. You know, and options for the future too. So, and I, I think it's also a, a key part in this community is recognizing when kinda life has changed.

Like you said, Emily's doing different things, but it doesn't mean you don't have, you know, it doesn't mean there's zero stories that you wanna capture, but how, how's the best way to capture that or where. You know, and what does that look like now? So I think those are great, you know, thought provoking questions to ask ourselves too.

Like, what, what does this mean? I have a similar example, um, for a Week In The Life. People were first talking about, you know, is Ali gonna do Week In [00:57:00] The Life this year? And what, you know, so I wanna say back more in January when people were trying to figure out, you know, when would it be and what's going on?

So I started commenting that I think I really still wanna do it, but it's gonna be a busy time of year. And, and it has been with regular school things, but the senior year graduation stuff on top of it felt like a lot, right? And kind of had me going, oh, is this the right choice? So Peggy actually was the one that first said to me, what if you moved it?

What if you captured a different time of year, you know, from the community, but also different than what I had been doing in the past? And I was like, oh, there's options. Wait a minute. And, um, I sat with that for quite a while and I, I think it was tied in with me building my original, you know, journey plan [00:58:00] and kinda looking at across the year or two, kinda an annual plan.

So I definitely sat with that for a while and I kept coming back to, um, but things will be different later in the year. And then I will no longer be capturing what I want to capture. So those changes would be captured next year, right? If I did it again. But what about, you know, what's happening right now. And so the, the kind of compromise that I came to is that I still do want to document it and kinda keep it at the same time.

So I've, I think I've always done mine in April or May. And, you know, it's tied in with like, there's also like naturey outdoors, you know, we get our light back, we get some flowers and green trees and you know, things. So it's been kind of a fun season to document too, in that way. So I think my [00:59:00] plan right now is to document it, but then maybe not do the album until the fall. Because then I will be through all the graduation stuff and, and I'll probably still be working on the school album, don't mind me. But, you know, it can be a, a project on the side later in the year. Instead of trying to say, okay, now I gotta get through all the photos and I have to do, you know, I just wanna document it,

first. And give myself permission to just have that be enough at first. But I, I will say that it wasn't an option I had given myself. And then, you know, Peggy's question really had me like, well, I don't know. And, you know, I had to think that through for quite a while. And, and I appreciate that, you know, like giving me pushback on my, this is how I always do it, kind of mantra.

So.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and I think doing it in the fall will give you different perspective to share than you would normally in the album. Because it's not so in the moment. You're gonna be [01:00:00] looking back from a different place and maybe even starting to make some of those comparisons of what life is like now in, you know, September, 2026 versus May, 2026. And it might look a little different.

Amy Zwart: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Um, so I think that'll be really, really interesting.

Amy Zwart: Yeah, that's a good point that, you know, I, I try to capture the journaling in the moment, but that's happened in some other albums when I've, you know, when there's been an extension on actually getting it done. That then you do have that opportunity to add more detail from later kind of a thing. So yeah, I like that reminder too.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I think I've had projects where I had journaling from the time, and I added journaling later. And I just, I literally labeled them that way. Like, you know, by, by the date. Or even just by the year. Like, you know, recorded in 2018 versus recorded in 2026. Just so that it's clear to the reader's perspective, but it's valuable to include both. Because then I'll read [01:01:00] the things that I wrote a long time ago and I'm like, well, that's not really how I would say it now, but that is how I said it then.

So what is the real one? They're both real. I mean, it's, yeah, that's an interesting conundrum, but I think there's lots of solutions.

Amy Zwart: Right, right.

One other example from the community that I've seen recently about talking about the start of a project and you know, what it looks like. And that, that is like around school albums. Like what would you include for your kid's school album? And what's interesting is sometimes it's because my child starts kindergarten next week and sometimes it's because I have a graduate, you know, so I'm going retro and both are fine.

You know, I make no judgment on which approach. But I think the answers kind of come out differently then based on, you know, what the scenario is and you know, what is your end goal and is it, one album summary [01:02:00] of things. Or, you know, in my case, each of my kids will have multiple albums, and I'm okay with that.

You know, I've done it along the way. So I think it's, you know, it's just another topic of like, this is a big project, but does it have to be a big project? Do I want it to be a big project? What, what are the rails? Again, going back to your question earlier or your comment about, you know, establishing rails. Is people are asking the right questions so that they can establish their own rails.

You know, it's, it's Scrapbook Your Way and it's finest of, you know, you don't have to do it how everyone else has done it, but what do you want it to look like? And then, you know, if you want that included, then now, yes, you do have to save that, you know, worksheet one once a year. Or, you know, capture their, their printed name or, you know, different things.

So having that foresight to, you know, look at what you wanna save or what you wanna capture, I think helps people when [01:03:00] setting that up too.

Jennifer Wilson: And, and also even finding the, the surrogates for that. You know, I had grand plans of doing like the worksheet or a currently list every year. And I think I have some notes somewhere for like a couple years. But now I'm gonna have to go back through my photos and really all I want to include is like, what was she into every year?

Like, what was she, you know, watching, reading? What was she playing with? Um, and I think I'll be able to get that from context clues from the photos. And also just like chatting and having memories and sharing photos and, and kind of coming up with maybe some missing pieces. Um. because not everyone is perfectly organized and going to remember to do that. Like some folks have maybe a tickler file that has a reminder to do that every May or whatever. Um, I'm not that person. have to have reminders to like take my medicine every day. So thinking about May is not really on my agenda, but I do take photos and [01:04:00] I, I love going back and kind of looking for those clues in them that can help me put together the journaling as well.

Amy Zwart: Right. And that's again, another great example of doing it in the moment versus doing it later. You know what, like I, I have, I think it's uh, you know, on his first grade pages or kindergarten, it's like this tiny little photo that says he played soccer and then as a senior he finished playing soccer, right? Like, I didn't know that back then. So it's this tiny little photo. It's like, I don't know where this is gonna go. Right?

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Amy Zwart: So, you know, that that'd be the equivalent of, you know, Emily with her first volleyball out there, and it's like, I don't know what's gonna happen. And now you're like, okay, volleyball 24 7. Right.

Jennifer Wilson: When you start, even like having these conversations has helped me start creating little folders of I might want to use altogether later. Whether it's for something like a graduation or even [01:05:00] like, okay, here's a picture of every one of her volleyball teams from when she was like 10 years old. And then like, oh yeah, like we were in a tournament in Milwaukee and I recognized this kid and mom from a different team I mind you and one that's even like two hours away from us. Oh, no. She was on her team when she was 11, so. We were in Milwaukee. So it just, those little things. But because I had those photos, I can pull it up and be like, oh yeah, that kid looks like that kid. Even, you know, a little bit different 'cause they're five years older. And, uh, I went up and talked to the mom, which having the data empowered this introvert to do. And yeah, it ended up like it's a whole thing now and I have my little folder of here's all the team photos so that I can have that as, as a reference and for this, you know, eventual layout that I'll make.

Amy Zwart: That's awesome. Yeah, that is a great, great example.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, Well, I hope this has been helpful [01:06:00] to all of our listeners, whether it's ideas for your own projects, permission to, to make that change or, or also the invitation to, to come join us in, you know, the coolest place to hang out for Scrapbookers on the internet. So.

Amy Zwart: Simple Scrapper where it's at,

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. Yes. Yes. Amy, can you share where our listeners can find you online? Are you on social media?

Amy Zwart: I'm not, so you have to find me in the community. And you can look for me in the crop room as well. We have a couple different times I'm usually there, but I do try to attend our events as much as possible as well.

Jennifer Wilson: You have to have exclusive access to get, to get ahold of Amy. So, uh, if that's another incentive to come join us, definitely a, a wonderful asset to our community. I always, I always appreciate everything that you do.

Amy Zwart: Thank you. I love being here, so it makes it easy.

Jennifer Wilson: And thanks for, uh, spending time with me on the podcast. I appreciate this is not quite super last minute, but you know, [01:07:00] relatively last minute recording and I appreciate you, uh, hanging out and chatting.

Amy Zwart: No problem. And I wish you the best with your predicted hailstorm today.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. Hopefully it will all go well. We are blue sky and sunshine right now, but we'll see what.

Amy Zwart: Oh, good.

Jennifer Wilson: Happens in the next few hours. But I don't like the idea of baseball size hail, other than the fact of maybe we'll get some new siding out of it. But it doesn't sound like a fun project, so.

Amy Zwart: No, I do not wish that on you.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. All right. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I'll talk to you again soon.

Amy Zwart: Sounds great. Thank you, Jennifer.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Kim Chaffin: [00:00:00] I think of all the different ways that people tell their stories, like through music or art or whatever. And think that it's a very important thing to document what it is to be alive as a human. And I think that that's the reason that I don't get tired of scrapbooking.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 331. In this episode, I'm interviewing Kim Chaffin for the My Way series. My Way is all about celebrating the unique ways memory keepers get things done.

We're excited to have Kim as the April featured artist at Simple Scrapper.

Hey Kim, welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Kim Chaffin: Hi.

Jennifer Wilson: I am looking forward to our conversation today. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, sure. Um, [00:01:00] my name's Kim Chaffin and I live in northeast Tennessee. I'm married, uh, my husband and I have four grown children. We have one grandchild and a beagle and a cat. And we live in a 100-year-old farmhouse, sort of out in the country.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, very fun. Very cool. We just stayed at this very, very old Victorian house, um, in, in Iowa, on the river. And we decided that we couldn't, we probably don't ever wanna live in a really old house. 'Cause literally everything creaked, every step, everything you do, it creaks.

Kim Chaffin: It does. It does. It's very drafty, but it was always my dream to live in an old house.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, it's beautiful. I'm sure. So I always like to ask our guests a couple icebreaker questions. So do you have a favorite recent layout or project, and why do you like it?

Kim Chaffin: Well, okay, so we lately, uh, in this area, we don't get much snow anymore. And my kids did get a lot of snow when they were [00:02:00] younger, but it, it makes me kind of sad that my granddaughter doesn't get to see as much snow. But we have been having a little bit of a snowy winter and so I'm really enjoying using some of those like, wintery products that I don't get to to play with very much. So, a recent favorite. Um, my kids each have sent me, they're grown, so they don't all live with me anymore. But they each sent a picture of themselves in the snow. When we, we did have a snowy winter and one of the big storms, they sent me a picture.

And so I did this layout, uh, that featured those pictures and it kind of had some like, um, I don't know, I guess words of advice to them about, you know, enjoying the magic of life and the moment slowing down and the way snow kind of makes you do that. And so that's, that's one of my favorites lately.

Jennifer Wilson: That's really cool. I love that story and I love how you invited your family to participate by taking photos from where they were.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. I like to do that because they're not, I can't be the one, you know, taking all the pictures [00:03:00] anymore. So I love it that they share with me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, it's lovely. So is there something that you're excited to do, use or try so something new inside of scrapbooking or in your everyday life?

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. Yeah, scrapbooking wise, I've been kind of collecting more stamps lately. I'm, I'm kind of perfectionist, and so I've kind of gravitated toward digital things. Because I can control it a little more. And stamping to me is, I don't know, it's a little imprecise and messy. But I've been having a little fun with like, just trying to lean into that and not be so perfectionist. So I've been collecting some stamps lately, and I hope to, to play with those more in the future.

Jennifer Wilson: It's very cool. Yeah, I hear that a lot. 'Cause there's, they're so beautiful and I think, I feel like stamp sets are getting bigger and bigger too. Now we have the six by eight ones and so we just, that's just that many more stamps that we have to play with and yeah, I can't wait to see what you do.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. It's really fun, I think. But yeah, I just have to learn not to be so, you know, so control oriented. If it gets a little messy, it's okay.

Jennifer Wilson: I [00:04:00] totally get that for sure. So this is our My Way episode because you're one of our featured artists this year at Simple Scrapper. Um, what would you say to a non scrapbooker about why you love this hobby?

Kim Chaffin: Well, yeah, I've been scrapbooking a really long time, so it's something that I really do love a lot. And I'd say probably at first it was just a creative outlet for me. But I think now that I've had a lot of years to think about that and why I do keep coming back to it is, um, the storytelling aspect of it. Um, I, I think that's really important. I live in Jonesboro, Tennessee, which, it's a really small town, and if you, if anybody has heard of it, it's probably because you, it's known as the international storytelling capital of the world.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh wow.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, even though it's a really small town, we have a festival every year where it draws more than 10,000 people that that come and they listen to [00:05:00] just oral storytelling. I just, for me, I think that's what scrapbooking is. I mean, I think of all the different ways that people tell their stories, like through music or art or, or whatever. And think that it's a very important thing to document what it is to be alive as a human. And I think that that's the reason that I don't get tired of scrapbooking. And go on to some, you know, there's a lot of creative outlets.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, for sure.

Kim Chaffin: But for me its the storytelling, I think.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you do any storytelling that's outside of scrapbooking?

Kim Chaffin: Not, not like officially like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Kim Chaffin: Storytellers do in the, in the festival, but I kind of think we all do in the ways.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly,

Kim Chaffin: That we share our, I I don't know, like, you know, anytime you get up in front of a group and talk about your life to people. That's sort of storytelling. And then just the things that you choose to share. I don't know. I think we all do it in various ways if you pay attention, but not professionally. No.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah. The paying [00:06:00] attention part, that's, that's so important. And the more that you kind of embrace the different identities that we have. Like whether it's being creative or being a memory keeper, being, you know, a family legacy keeper. What, whatever it is that you feel in your connection is to this hobby.

When you embrace that, the more that it just, I don't know, permeates your life, I guess.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So tell us about how you got started scrapbooking.

Kim Chaffin: So, um, I was invited to a Home Creative Memories party, uh, by a friend, like, I don't know, 28 years ago, I think. And I had no idea what it was. She told me to bring photos along and that's all I knew. And that was, that was it. I was just kind of immediately hooked. Because, well, she knew that I, that I took a lot of pictures of my kids and my family. And I also kept a journal at the time, so it was just, I don't know, it was kind of a perfect fit for the things that I loved already.

Jennifer Wilson: And where were you in your [00:07:00] like life stage in terms of your kids and and your marriage and that at 28 years ago?

Kim Chaffin: Gosh. Yeah, I was, I was young. Uh, yeah. My, my, my kids were young. I was very busy. I really barely had time to scrapbook back then. All my kids hadn't been born yet. They, some of them came later. So yeah, I was just in the middle of young parenthood.

Jennifer Wilson: How has your scrapbooking changed since that time? Are you still scrapbooking exactly the same way as you did 28 years ago?

Kim Chaffin: No, no, no. Yeah, no. Back then it was like cut the photos into stop sign shapes, and I don't know if you've been with it long enough to remember all of that or not.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I started with a Coluzzle cutting photos into circles. So not quite.

Kim Chaffin: I remember that.

Jennifer Wilson: More, let's see, like 21 years I think was my first layout. So

Kim Chaffin: You're, close to close.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Kim Chaffin: Uh, yeah. No, it's, it's style has changed a lot. My love of it hasn't changed, but yeah, [00:08:00] I'd say I'm a lot more like simplistic.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Kim Chaffin: And clean in my style. Then I was like, you know, cut out the photo into a shape, write some things on the page and slap some Mrs. Grossman stickers on it, and that was it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes, yes.

Kim Chaffin: But It's evolved a lot since then.

Jennifer Wilson: So tell us about the sizes and formats you're typically working in these days.

Kim Chaffin: So yeah, um, I mixed it up a little bit. But over the years with, with Creative Memories, I started with 12 by 12. And that's probably kind of been my go-to over the years. But, um, not all, you know, I, I do mix it up this year. I'm working nine by 12 just because I think sometimes it helps spark creativity to change up the size a little bit.

Um, within each album though, I usually will insert smaller pages occasionally too. So it's kind of a mix. But I do usually keep it pretty big. I kind of need a, I don't know, I feel like I need a lot of real estate to work with, so, so [00:09:00] yeah, I gravitate toward the bigger sizes.

Jennifer Wilson: Now you, you do a lot of hybrid work, right?

Kim Chaffin: I do. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: How has incorporating more of that impacted the size or not at all? Like do you, do you do more like six by eight or the 10 by eight, that type of size? Um, because you're doing more of the hybrid things or.

Kim Chaffin: I don't, I don't know if that really makes, I have a large format printer, so it doesn't, I don't know that that really makes a difference. So I just, yeah, do whatever size I want to. But kinda like the bigger, because it gives me more room to put a lot on the page.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. And has switching to nine by 12 like is the rectangular canvas. How does that, how does that work with your brain versus the square? Has it been a challenge or.

Kim Chaffin: I. No, I think I liked the change because I think I always did find the six to six by eight appealing.

Jennifer Wilson: Uh,

Kim Chaffin: But it was kind of too small. for me. Like I felt like I couldn't squeeze everything in. And like I do have the focus [00:10:00] on storytelling, so I usually have a lot of words. So the nine by 12 is the same, you know, ratio as the six by eight. So I think I enjoy that, that change. Um, since I've done some, I did 12 by 12 for a lot of years.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. So, what kind of projects or recurring activities or one-time activities, uh, will be part of your repertoire on your plate this year? Or are you just making one layout at a time about your stories?

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, I, I've been doing more story. But last year I kind of did the week to week Project Life and. So that's another change I made this year is to get a little back into more story focused. So I'm not doing the week to week anymore, and I'm enjoying that change also. Um, I'm still trying to finish up my December Daily album, so I'm a little, I don't know.

I'm trying not to see it as behind. I'm just, it'll get done when it gets done. But yeah, I'm, I'm doing story focus pages. And then something I'd like to get into before the year's up. I have a lot of, of, um, like heritage type [00:11:00] things.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm.

Kim Chaffin: Old family pictures from my grandparents and my parents. And their stories before I was born.

I've interviewed some family members and I've done some like research tracing genealogy. So I'd really like to get into getting some more of that into albums too this year.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. I think that's like a, a back burner project or maybe even front burner for a lot of people. But I know it's one of mine too. Like I have boxes and boxes of things that I'd like to tackle.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. I think I'm intimidated.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Kim Chaffin: I'm afraid I won't do it justice. It feels more precious somehow than, than just the everyday stuff that I'm doing for myself.

Jennifer Wilson: Totally. I see that a lot. How do you store your layouts? Do you store use categories chronologically as you make them? What does that look like?

Kim Chaffin: Roughly chronologically, it's kind of a mess really. So I don't keep up to date chronologically. 'Cause it, um, there's years that I haven't done anything with. So I have all of these [00:12:00] open albums in my scrapbook room. And I've got little post-it notes on them with what year it is. And so roughly chronologically I'll insert layouts sort of where they go. And it'll, it'll come together somewhat chronologically in the end, but precisely. So it's not like. I would be upset if a layout that happened more recently appeared in the album.

Jennifer Wilson: Sure.

Kim Chaffin: Know, earlier it's, I'm not, not real picky about that, but yeah.

Rough. I don't scrapbook chronologically. Not at all, but, but roughly It'll be chronologically in the end.

Jennifer Wilson: Sure, sure. I think that works for a, a lot of people to have the freedom to, to work with whatever story they want to, and then file things in a way that maybe feels the most comfortable.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So let's talk about your style. How would you describe it, um, in, in three words, if you could?

Kim Chaffin: Okay. Um, well, you used one of the words already, hybrid, I would say for sure.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Kim Chaffin: Um, minimalist and [00:13:00] maybe photo centered. Because I, typically have very large photos somewhere in the layout.

Jennifer Wilson: What would your process look like? Do, are you typically working from a story idea, a product you wanna use, a design inspiration, or could it just be any of those any day?

Kim Chaffin: It, it can be any of those. I rarely, well, no, I will, I was gonna say, I rarely start with product inspiration, but that's not true. Yeah. Any of, I would say any of those, it can be, I think I'm more often starting from the story or photos.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: That I want to use, but, but yeah, I've definitely been inspired by a product and found ways to make it work.

And yeah, any, any of those can be a starting point.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any particular products, tools, or techniques that we would see really often in your scrapbooking? Like some sort of like a technique through line that defines your style?

Kim Chaffin: Um, I, I think I, I'm pretty, uh, I really just need the basics. I think I'm pretty.

Jennifer Wilson: Uh.

Kim Chaffin: I [00:14:00] have my computer, my printer, some card stock, photo paper, adhesive, and trimmer, I could probably be happy scrapbooking with, with just that alone. But I, you know, I do like the other fun stuff too. But, but I think most of mine is more computer fo I do a lot of the putting together the layout in Photoshop on my computer first. And then I print out the parts as and put them together. So, so it's definitely very computer oriented.

Jennifer Wilson: Let's dive a little more into that. So what, what parts of your pages are typically hybrid and which are you using physical supplies for?

Kim Chaffin: Hmm, that, that varies. But, um, so some of it can be completely printed from the computer and some, some of it will be, you know, like physical product that I add afterward. Um, typically though I will print, I, I usually sketch out a design prior to getting on the computer. And then once I'm on the computer I will print. I will figure [00:15:00] out the size of photo that I need, and usually it will have the title, so maybe the title might be a digital thing on the photo. And then I'll print that. The background could be plain white card stock, or it could be patterned paper that I have already. But, more often it's, I use a lot of digital, so more often it's some digital pattern paper. And then I print it out and the embellishments might be digital also, or sometimes I draw from physical things that I have, so, so that varies a little bit.

Jennifer Wilson: And so when you are using like digital embellishments and digital pattern paper, you're typically printing those out as separate items.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Very cool.

Kim Chaffin: The nice thing too is you, I can resize them.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Kim Chaffin: Or sometimes even change color if I need to.

Jennifer Wilson: Fun. Fun. Is there a trend that you are loving right now?

Kim Chaffin: Hmm. I, I, I struggle with that question a little because I don't know whether I'm very [00:16:00] trendy. Um. I do think I've seen like a shift in the pages used to be that you saw, you know, people sharing and publishing were a lot more white card stock and not a lot of color. I'm seeing more color and pattern paper and I think, I think lately I'm a little into that too. Like enjoying putting more color back on my layouts than I did for a while.

So. Maybe, I don't think I'm really trendy in terms of like. necessarily keeping up with what the latest thing is in scrapbooking. But I, I do think there's a trend toward more color, and I think I am kind of on that band bandwagon a little bit.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I think it's such an interesting thing because the, the paper world is typically pretty slow. And the digital world tends to be much faster, but they're, they're not always kind of in sync with trends. But what you described though, actually seems to mirror what, what's happening in fashion. We've, we're going from minimalism to maximalism.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:17:00] Um, that's, I don't know, kind of interesting. Yeah, I, this question stumps me too, because I'm not even sure where I would go to figure out what is trendy. Like we all, especially with, you know, my philosophy and scrapbooking your way, I hope everyone is doing just what they want. You know, what, what they like, what they enjoy.

Kim Chaffin: Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So is there something in our hobby that you've decided is just not for you? You've tried it and you're like, Nope. Or maybe you haven't even tried it because, you know, uh, this isn't gonna be work for me.

Kim Chaffin: Um, yeah, that's, that's another difficult question. And I don't, don't know that I have a great answer. Because, even when I look at things that aren't really, um, my kind of thing, I, I kind of think of it as a little bit of a fun challenge to try to at least once try to, to find a way that I could make it work. Um, I will say that back, I don't know, maybe 10 years or so ago I was putting like heavier, bulky things on the page. Metal even, you know, gluing metal [00:18:00] frames and things like that. And I've kind of like never again with that. Because I found that over time they kind of, uh, the pressure in the book, it, it makes indentions on the facing page and I just. Yeah, I don't, I don't like the damage that that can cause to other pages in the book, so probably really bulky embellishments I'm done with. I wouldn't do that anymore, I don't think.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, those little like round buttons were popular for a while. I think I got so many of those in various kits and I, I did use them, but you're right, they do make quite an indention. On the pages around them, so.

Kim Chaffin: Exactly. Yeah. I used a lot of that. And even like, just big like stones and.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: Things like that. And now I open 'em up and they've kind of like, they're, they're not doing nice things to the other pages in the book. So I, I don't think I would do that again.

Jennifer Wilson: So where do you typically scrapbook and like, how does that fit into your week?

Kim Chaffin: So being creative is kind of an important thing to me. So it's a little bit of a goal to, uh, be creative at least for a [00:19:00] small period of time every day if I can. That doesn't always work out 'cause you have busy days. You're not even in town some days. But I try, if nothing else, just to print a few pictures or type out some journaling on my computer, even if I don't have time to sit down and do a whole lot. I do have a scrapbooking room now, which is really nice because. For a lot of years when my children were younger, I didn't have the space to do that. So it was on the dining room table or even spreading out on the floor sometimes.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: That made it a lot more prohibitive, you know, because you have to get everything out and put everything away.

So now that I can leave things out, I do try to do just a little something creative every day. And if I have time, it's usually in the afternoon. Um, sometimes I'll find free time before the family comes home to really dig in and, and get a lot done.

Jennifer Wilson: Now talk to me a little bit about organization. Are you a like neat and tidy? Everyone has, its, everything has its place, person, or are you a like this is, it's all chaos and I love it kind of person.[00:20:00]

Kim Chaffin: I want, I want to be neat and tidy, but it's a little bit chaos. Um, I wish I had someone to come and like help me, help me organize things. That's not my strong point.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: Uh, I do have like baskets and bins and I try to keep everything labeled so I can find things. But, I'm maybe a little bit with scrapbooking,

I might be a little bit of a hoarder too.. So I have things here that are decades old and it piles up after a while. And so, yeah, I'm not, not the greatest with organization. But, um, I, I do pretty much know where everything is, but it's a lot sometimes.

Jennifer Wilson: So with that, do you have any particular strategies, either for photos, supplies, or tools that has worked well?

Kim Chaffin: Um, well, okay. Digitally, I'm a little better.

Jennifer Wilson: Uh.

Kim Chaffin: With photos. I do, I do keep those organized so that I, I can pretty much find a picture anytime I want to. Every year, I, I make a, a folder for that year, and then within the folder, each month [00:21:00] and at the end of every month, I upload all the photos that go in that folder. So that my, my pictures are pretty organized and easy to find, but it's just, yeah, my supplies that, that, that could use some help.

Jennifer Wilson: And so your photos, are they, they're living in a folder structure. Are you using software? 'Cause you mentioned you use Photoshop for your scrapbooking.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, so my, my actual computer hard drive probably couldn't hold a lot.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: I, I keep them backed up on, I keep them backed up on hard drives. But, um, and then, yeah, I pull 'em in, pull them into Photoshop when I'm ready to use them.

Jennifer Wilson: Great.

Kim Chaffin: And then my, my digital supplies are fairly organized.

They are by collection and designer. So yeah, I guess I do okay organizing digitally. It's just the physical stuff that I'm overwhelmed by.

Jennifer Wilson: I understand. I understand for sure. Are there any products that you're like eager to work with next?

Kim Chaffin: I, I don't know that I have an answer for that.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, That's okay. Or a story that you're, they're wanting to tell, [00:22:00] so.

Kim Chaffin: I'm, I'm sorry. I think you, I think you stumped me.

Jennifer Wilson: That's okay.

Kim Chaffin: I have a lot of stories, but nothing, nothing's jumping out at

Jennifer Wilson: no, that's okay. It's okay. I think we're always in progress on lots of things. Particularly with, with you, it's like the creative fulfillment part of it is a priority, and so as long as you're touching it and moving things forward, you're staying connected and you're moving things forward. So that's, that's what really matters.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, and I just, I kind of get excited about all of it. So I don't have anything, like I've got this whole list that I keep going, you know? That's, that's what I work on. And so, yeah, each new project is exciting for me. And the products I use will kind of be dictated by what the project is. So it's, yeah, nothing in particular, but, but I'm always excited for the next story.

Jennifer Wilson: Where do you keep that list?

Kim Chaffin: Um, I have a, a notebook actually that I just, um, keep adding to, and when it gets filled up, I start a new one. So that I have kind of years and years of notebooks and I work through them as I make my pages then.

Jennifer Wilson: That's really cool.

Kim Chaffin: [00:23:00] I'm like that. I'm a paper person. I do most.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Kim Chaffin: Of my organizing of ideas on paper.

Jennifer Wilson: Very fun.

Are there any particular hybrid tips that you would share? Because I think, like, I see your pages and, and I have some Photoshop experience, and so I'm like, oh yeah, that'd be, I would love to create some things like this. And I know how to do it, but I also know how intimidating it is for someone who doesn't have as much experience or any with Photoshop, but wants to have that minimalist kind of clean look and feel that, that you create.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. Um, well, the one thing I would say is that you don't have to use a lot at once. You know you can look, I look at magazine pages for ideas. You can look at things like that and that can give you design ideas. And then with a lot of the digital products, all you gotta do is print them. You don't really have to even know how to use Photoshop or any kind of photo editing software. 'Cause you don't, unless you want to change size and.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Kim Chaffin: [00:24:00] Color and things like that. But um, and the thing I would say too, in terms of hybrid is that you can, even though you're printing these things onto flat card stock and paper, you can have a lot of play with how they look in terms of physical products. Because, there's canvas you can print on canvas and make fabric embellishments. Or you can put like a layer of um, oh, like, like cardboard or something underneath the card stock to give it some dimension or pop dots or anything like that. So things can have dimension. You can even, like, there are like glossy you could paint, um, like Mod Podge or something glossy if you wanted to give it a little bit of shine.

So there's lots of ways that even though you're just printing on paper and, and using it that you can still make it look like, you know, other physical product. It doesn't have to look just flat.

Jennifer Wilson: I remember the first time I did something like that, this was, oh gosh, like [00:25:00] 2010, 2011 and I, my, my brain was just like, oh, wow. I didn't even realize. So I'd, it was a circle embellishment. And so I punched the circle out of the card stock, and then I punched the circle out of the cardboard. I adheared them together, and then I just like simple, clear embossed on top and I'm like, oh my gosh, I have a dimensional embellishment now.

This is amazing.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah. You, you do. Yeah. And it doesn't look that different in the end.

Jennifer Wilson: It looks like what's, you know, what you would buy at the store.

Kim Chaffin: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So, Kim, where would you like your scrapbooking to be 10 years from now?

Kim Chaffin: Well, so I've already been doing this for, for more than a couple of decades and, and I'm still, you know, not finding that my passion for it dwindles any. So I hope that that continues. Um, as far as style goes, it's really hard to say because 10 years ago I probably never could have envisioned the way I do things now.

So I don't know for that. I'm just kind of along for the ride. I just hope that I continue to have fun [00:26:00] with it and that that's what matters most to me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes, yes. I love that. And what has being a scrapbooker taught you?

Kim Chaffin: I, I think the most important thing that being a scrapbooker has taught me is, um, to pay attention to be present in my life. I think that early on I noticed that, that when I was scrapbooking, that I paid more attention and focused on, um, being there with my kids and the stories that I wanted to tell about our life. Because I knew that I had a place where it was going to go, and so it made me pay more attention. And so I think scrapbooking has increased my presence, my being present. And that that's, I think, an important life lesson, whether you scrapbook or not.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that wonderful perspective. Kim. Thank you so much for spending time with me on the podcast. Can you share where our listeners can find you online and anything new or exciting you might have coming up later this year?

Kim Chaffin: Yeah, mostly with scrapbooking wise. I am on [00:27:00] Instagram @kimdocumentslife. I do a little bit, but under the same name on YouTube. I post videos once in a while, but I'm much more present on Instagram. As far as exciting this year, um, I am working on or creating on design teams for Paislee Press, Dunia Designs and Sahin Designs. Which I would say all three are excellent sources of digital supplies if you want to, to get into more hybrid scrapbooking.

And so yeah, I'll be be producing pages or creating pages for those designers monthly. So we can look for those on Instagram.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, wonderful. Yes, those are fabulous designers for sure. Again, thanks for spending time with me.

Kim Chaffin: Thank you. Thank you so much.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way. [00:28:00]

Anna Komenda: [00:00:00] looking at what you have and thinking of what can I do with it? Or how can I incorporate this picture with what I have, is for me very like, you know, kick in your head that you have to think outside the box. And this is what drives me often when I scrapbook. ​

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 330. In this episode, I'm chatting with Anna Komenda, a Polish scrapbooker known for her colorful, layered style, about how she creates and the techniques that keep her pages fresh and original.

Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Anna Komenda: Hello. Welcome everyone.

Jennifer Wilson: I am excited for our conversation today and to learn more about your creative process. Your [00:01:00] work is just truly beautiful. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Anna Komenda: Sure everyone. I am Komenda I live in Poland. I'm Polish. Uh, if you know Europe. Poland and the capital city, which is Warsaw. I live just outside Warsaw in a smaller town. I have two daughters. One is 17, one is 13. The older one is the, the reason I started scrapbooking. So I always date my scrapbooking with the age of my older daughter.

So I always know how many years it's already.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. So, uh, I also have a very supporting husband as most of the scrapbookers, I would say. Especially when it comes to spending, uh, money on, uh, craft supplies.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Anna Komenda: I also have a [00:02:00] dog, so I am a dog person. Uh, and recently because my kids do not want to, uh, be photographed as much as they wanted when they were smaller. My dog became more and more main focus on my scrapbook projects.

Jennifer Wilson: I think you're, you are not the first person to have said that on the podcast. As, as the children get older, the, the pets and, you know, sometimes the spouses and, you know, of course, ourselves, uh, can become stronger subjects. So.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. Yeah. So my dog is my little baby right now, so he's five. So he's like the main focus on pictures and on layouts.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, so fun. Have you found yourself choosing different supplies as you have started to scrapbook your dog more and your daughter's less?

Anna Komenda: Uh, honestly, I am on a spending freeze.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Anna Komenda: Try at least, it's not [00:03:00] always successful. But I try to use up what I have and be creative what with what I have. And Poland, when it comes to scrapbooking, making layouts. Is not like a main goal of Polish scrapbookers. I would say card making and projects that can be useful.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Anna Komenda: Like you know, something that you can give to someone, sell to someone. This is more focused. So products in the Polish shops are more focused on card making, less in layout making. So for me to get like a doggy collection, I would have to shop in United States.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: Which is not always something I would like to do because of the shipping costs and stuff like this. So I would like to be creative with what I have mostly.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you ever find yourself using products that really are made for cards as part of your layouts?

Anna Komenda: [00:04:00] Yes. I would say most of the times.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Be because, uh, first I am on the design teams and you work with what they send you. And I always try to kind of think outside the box. I know that with, uh, die or paper, most girls will make cards.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Anna Komenda: I always try to make something different and think about the supplies, what, and I, what can I do, how can I use them to make layout or mini albums.

So yeah, I would say I use a lot of, I would say, uh, card dedicated supplies for making layouts.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm. Well, yeah, I think it's, it's important to, to be creative with our supplies, especially when shipping costs are going up for everyone as well, and we want to use our stash well, so.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Plus, you know, we have some great collections in Europe too. We have a lot of European companies that make, [00:05:00] uh, scrapbooking, uh, supplies. Like, uh, 12 by 12 papers. But I would say European style is more generic.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Anna Komenda: We have uh, less very specifically teamed collections. Like we have Christmas, we have weddings, we have birthdays. But you know, they are big audience is waiting for them. But pet collection, to be honest, I'm not sure if I have seen European based companymaybe Stamperia, yeah Stamperia. Uh, made some, uh, collections, but they are not my jam. So I I do not buy, uh, collections from Stamperia. But yeah, honestly, the only source for me for good pet collection or very narrow theme collection would be American, uh, based companies. Because you tend to scrapbook much, uh, wider topics than we [00:06:00] in Europe, I would say.

Jennifer Wilson: I think it's really interesting because I think there definitely are some scrapbookers in the US who, who use very specific products. But I would say that's definitely not all of us because I buy almost no extremely thematic things. I will scrapbook my cats with anything that I have. It's very, I don't know that I've ever purchased a cat themed collection.

Um, and somebody asked me yesterday about volleyball. My daughter's a volleyball player and she plays year round. I've never purchased volleyball themed supplies either. I've just scrapbook with what I have, you know, the, the patterns and colors that I like. So, um, I think that's really interesting.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, and you know, as you said, you have to work with what you have.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: And I think that it's very, very liberating when it Oh yeah. creativity. Because looking at what you have and thinking of what can I do with it? Or how can I incorporate this picture with what I have, is for [00:07:00] me very like, you know, kick in your head that you have to think outside the box. And this is what drives me often when I scrapbook. So being creative thinking outside the box, not doing something similar that I did in the past because, you know, I have this collection, I have to use it up because I have 20 papers with, uh, doggy patterns.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: So So not that I, uh, I'm not in love with those collections.

I usually am, I am very influenced.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Like Instagram and everything. I want to have it all. But my craft room is honestly, I don't have any free space in here. I would have to purge a lot to fit more stuff. And I don't wanna purge because everything is so l

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. I think if you, if you picked everything, you know, very specifically. You, you want to keep it and use it. So I think there's a lot of folks that are in that place of having, [00:08:00] uh, packed spaces and, and ready to dig into what they have.

I, um, I have a couple like icebreaker questions that before we get into some more about your process, do you have a favorite recent layout or project and why do you love it?

Anna Komenda: Uh, actually I was thinking about it and I think my, uh, most favorite from the recent projects is the layout I made with sea creatures dies. It's called Aquarium. I don't remember the title, but it's with a lot of fishes, octopus. It's Aquarium Adventure and it has this round shape with round pictures. And I love it because it kind of made from scratch. So I use dies but everything else is like a custom made. The background is custom made. Uh, yeah. So this is something that I like to do. I like turning just regular card stock into something that, [00:09:00] um, that is very unique and original. And I know that this is one of a kind. No one will have anything exactly like that because no one will have exactly the same paper, uh, because I made it by myself.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you have any like specific, you know, art training? Because I think something like that might feel intimidating for some scrapbookers who wouldn't be sure where to start with just a plain piece of card stock to create something, um, that original.

Anna Komenda: Not at all. I actually am a geologist.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I'm a geologist too, so that's really cool.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. Yeah. So I have more the scientific background.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: And scientific mind. I do not work as geologist right now. Uh, but you know, many years of my life were, uh, kind of being a science girl.

Jennifer Wilson: Yep.

Anna Komenda: Art something that I always liked to do. Like I was always [00:10:00] compelled to the crayons, you know? But I have never trained. And I just chose the profession that seemed like many years ago, appropriate for me. Because I was also interested in this topic, but I would never consider back then art as a, you know, career path or something like that. So. No, I have just creativity and dirty fingers.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. Yeah. I've always felt like I've, uh, through my, through my years, that I've always needed both aspects in my life. I've needed some of the science, I've needed the art. And without, you know, a little bit of each, I'm, I'm not content, I guess.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, I, I would say exactly the same happened for me.

Jennifer Wilson: The other question that I love to ask, is there something new that you're excited to do, use or try either in scrapbooking or in your [00:11:00] everyday life?

Anna Komenda: Honestly, Uh, I kind of fall out from the loop of what's new, what's the scrappy business happening right now. But the last thing I wanted to try very much, but uh, I, I haven't purchased it yet, is, uh, Better Press Tool. I am amazed by the cards girls, girls are making with this tool, but it's like, you know, another bottomless bit.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Anna Komenda: Because when you buy the uh, tool, you will have to buy the, um, how do you call them. The press plates. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: I was like, I really wanted to try it, but I already have a Glimmer machine, which is not as well loved at, uh, as it's supposed to be. So I just cannot justify purchasing another one to just play for a while and then forget about it.

But I would say this is something the crafty, [00:12:00] uh, space that maybe it's not new because it's already last year or maybe longer. But I didn't have no opportunity to play with it

And when it comes to like life, life. I always had a lot of hobbies. And uh, I even purchased the set to make, I dunno if it's an English word. Good macramé do you know what is you make, like, uh, you tie strings into knots.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Like

Jennifer Wilson: Macrame. Yeah. Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Macramé Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: This is something I even have a beginner set. But just sitting and waiting for me to have time, which is almost never when you scrapbook. Whenever I have time, I just go to my craft room and macramé is still something that I want to try in the future.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, well maybe, maybe this summer you'll, you'll feel like you, you wanna jump into it. So.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. Hopefully someday.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:13:00] So you've already told us a little bit about what got you started scrapbooking. Can you bring us kind of to the modern day and give us a rundown of kind of the types of things that you create and how you might describe your overall style. So for someone who hasn't clicked and, and looked at your Instagram yet and and seen your beautiful work.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. Uh, so my style evolved through the years. I had a lot of phases, even the grunge phase, which is so, no, I should hide in the closet with my grande because I was not born, not born to this. But recently. and I think as almost always, it's a lot of color, a splash of mixed media, but not the heavy one when you have to cover everything with gesso. So I just like to play with color.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: With watercolors with inks to create my custom backgrounds. And then use like stickers and other classical supplies, uh, to embellish my page. So, [00:14:00] uh, I would say this is my go-to style. A little bit of mess, a little bit of splattering. I don't like even things like, I do not work with ruler usually. But, uh, you know, I like things being crooked.

Um, like making layouts. And this I would say was my main, uh, reason for scrapbooking. But I also love creating albums and mini albums. Especially documenting our travels because I always bring a lot of memorabilia with me, like leaflet, tickets, and I.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Anna Komenda: Feel like I have to combine them with pictures. Um, so albums and cards also. Uh, cards are like a mini form of practicing new techniques for me. So yeah, I would say everything in like a small quantities and a colorful, messy [00:15:00] style. Uh, the shorter sentence, and I can give you about I like to create.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I kind of, I was trying to find my own words for it, and I was going to say the opposite of linear. And like, you know, a little bit messy, I think definitely fits it as well. Um, but still, you know, controlled and finished. Um, I noticed that you tilt your photos, you often use a lot of asymmetry, um, as you mentioned, like building the backgrounds with mixed media. Um, yeah, I like, I love just the way that you fill the page.

Anna Komenda: I have thing, I think many scrapbookers or card makers have thing for triplets. Like, you know, the trinity.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Anna Komenda: Golden rule. So I, I like asymmetry because this is what the triangle basically is. Uh, it's usual, well, it can be symmetrical, but you know. For me, three, five. It's [00:16:00] an asymmetrical number.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: I, you know, working with visual triangles kind of give you this asymmetrical look. And I am not like, okay, I have to be sure that my triangle is perfect, but. You know.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Anna Komenda: I alwyas check, is it okay. I need to add something here because I need to close the corners. Like, you know.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: This is something rooted inside me to give it a little bit of asymmetrical look. I don't, well, I like the order. My house is quite clean, so maybe it's like, you know, my house is clean, my head is messy.

Jennifer Wilson: You know, I always say that it takes me like just as much time to, to place the last embellishment as it does the whole rest of the layout. Uh, just to find that, like that one thing. And sometimes it's even removing one thing to, uh, to feel like it's, it's balanced and finished.

Anna Komenda: Exactly, and [00:17:00] balance in scrapbooking doesn't mean having things even. Like on the weight.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: When you have something on one side and something on the other side, they need to weight the same. No, in scrapbooking, I would say it's much opposite. So balance is off balance.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, it definitely, yeah. Balance is, I don't even know, but I mean, the, the asymmetric balance can still be found for sure. Uh, I don't know the technical way of talking about that, but I agree. . Can you talk us through like how you would design a page? Are you typically starting with products, with a photo?

Um, I, your, your pages are very layered from, you know, the, the foundation up. So talk us through how you would plan something out.

Anna Komenda: I have two ways of working. One way is when I'm on design team and I need to use specific product. And the other way is when I have a specific picture because I love it or I want to document the memory. [00:18:00] And those are, I would say, two very separate ways of, uh, operating. So when I'm scrapbooking my chosen picture that I want to scrapbook.

I don't have any dedicated, uh, supplies that I have to use while making this page. I usually check the colors on the picture. I pick three main colors, like, you know when someone is wearing blue t-shirt or the sky is blue or the sea, uh uh, blue. Something that kind of catches the eye, I usually pick colors that I are not in the neutral group, group like brown or beige or white. And I focus on the colors. And then I think, which collection, which product would fit this, uh, design. And from that, usually somehow my process follows like [00:19:00] naturally.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: I find the collection or maybe a paper and then I work with that. The other way is when I make a design team project.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: When I have to use specific product. And with specific product, I make like a brainstorm inside my head, of course, or I just talk to myself out loud when I have closed door in my scrap room. Then I try to think of creative ways of using it, and then I think of which picture I can use with that. What title, if it's not like, let's say it's a set of, uh, dies what title I can use, what colors. Usually I choose picture and then go with the colors. Sometimes when it's specific collection, I just find the picture that will match the colors, which is sort of cheating.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: When it comes to [00:20:00] documenting memories because apparently I'm not the documenting uh, specific memory dear to my heart.

I just want the picture that suits the colors or the vibe of the project. And I am guilty of scrapbooking the same photo few times, like many photos, many times. Because you know, for me, scrapbooking is not about the documenting memories. Well, it is, and it's a very important part, but it's also just for creativity. And you know, to unleashing the things inside me just to play, just to have fun. And not because I need to scrapbook this trip or this, memory. Just to have fun to play with. So I'm never like afraid that I will ruin it. I just throw it away and start again.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, you mentioned earlier how much you appreciate the opportunity to be [00:21:00] innovative, to be clever, to try to use something in a different way, and that's, that's part of the joy of what you get from it.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, exactly.

Jennifer Wilson: Um, one composition that I did notice that maybe is a little bit, could be slightly more symmetrical is a wreath. And you've done a number of pages that way. Do you have any tips for designing wreaths? Because sometimes it can feel a little awkward with, particularly when you're doing a wreath on a square canvas.

A circular item on a square canvas, and trying to get everything balanced. Um, how do you, how would you put together something like that?

Anna Komenda: When I think of a wreath it usually helps me either scrapbook a small picture or a set of very small pictures or one.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Anna Komenda: Big picture that is framed with a wreath.

So when it's one bigger picture that is the center part and you just create a wreath around it, it seems a little bit more simple, uh, to do. Because you already have a picture. And all you have to do is to create a [00:22:00] frame around it. And depending on the theme of the picture, if it's like a birthday page, you can choose, I don't know, little candles, uh, party hats, gifts. And you just randomly arrange them around your, uh, picture. But if you have smaller pictures and you want to scrapbook more than one. it's a little bit more tricky to balance the composition. But I think if you find elements that are similar in size, like let's say five or six of them. Let's say they, they would be flowers. You place them first and you kind of fill the gaps with smaller and smaller elements. You can either combine the picture with them and tuck it behind something, or you can finish your wreath and then just, boom, the picture on top of everything. It'll still kind of look like a element of, [00:23:00] uh, composition. I don't know. I just kind of do it. Like I never think of what should I do? I just put glue and put stuff, and what I learned through the years, uh, is to glue things down. Do not overthink. Just glue it down.

If you don't like it, you will tear it out and then just fix it with something else. But overthinking with composition is something that ruined the fun for me. Constantly putting things, not committing to gluing things down. I usually like it. I glue it, I like it. I glue it. I do not think twice about the same thing.

If I don't like it, I will just tear it out and, and replace it, which, is the perfect moment to give anyone who is listening. The perfect advice for scrapbooking, which saved me life, which saved my life many, many times, is not gluing things [00:24:00] to the very edge. Add glue in the middle.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, okay. Yep.

Anna Komenda: Leave the edges unsticked. Because this way it's easier to tear it out from the page.

Plus you can tuck things behind. And they looked like they were always there. So you can easily fix the composition if everything is not glued or from edge to edge. You can tuck things out. You can rip things out. So yeah, the best advice I could give to anyone who scrapbook, do not use excessive glue.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, I definitely do that as well. Um, like a related tip that I once heard was, if, particularly if you're using a lot of paper layers, is to kind of arrange them how you want and then staple them in the middle. So that you're not having to put adhesive in between all of them, and maybe you wanna add some more adhesive in the end, but at least you're getting them like stuck together a little bit in the middle.

Anna Komenda: This is something I have done many times in the past [00:25:00] too, and I usually do not add any glue because I like things whimsy, flimsy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Like they look like temporary thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I, I would say in contrast, one thing that might need a lot of adhesive is a handmade album. So I've noticed you, the mini albums that you create, uh, perhaps for your travels are typically constructed from what you have. Can you tell us more about that?

Anna Komenda: Uh, well, yeah, I barely use like pre-made album bases because it's very hard to find the one that will fit exactly, uh, the number of pictures I need to scrapbook. I have made few albums in the album binders. Usually, A5 size A5 is like six by eight paper fits inside. So I have few albums made with those, uh, page pockets. Uh, and uh, this kind of albums [00:26:00] system. But usually I just make album by myself, uh, you know, make the best fit for what I want. And I always have a pieces of cardboard in my, uh, craft room that I can cut into the desired size. Usually it's a lazy form or just cover spine. And the second cover, sometimes it has more fancy shape, but let's be honest, it's not useful.

Fancy shapes are not useful. They look pretty when they are empty. But when you try to fill them with pictures, it's not always working. So rectangular or square album is always something that I like to do. And it may seem harder to make album than buy one. But when you make 1, 2, 3, and there are plenty of tutorials online. It kind of takes half an [00:27:00] hour to make an album base and then proceed with adding your pages, pictures, keepsakes.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you, when you're working on the covers, do you, are you covering these with paper, uh, leaving them as chipboard, painting them using fabric or, or all of the above?

Anna Komenda: Well, it depends if I have a matching like a false leather. I like false leather because it's sturdy. It protects the edges. The album will last longer than with the paper. Especially I like using fabric or the false leather for the spine and the hinges. Can I say hinges?

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: Where the uh, covers open. Because with paper you have to be very careful. With adding glue, you can tear the paper just through. So you can make a hole and you'll have to repeat the process. So, uh, I would say, uh, fabric is [00:28:00] more bulletproof. But it also is more challenging while adding glue. Because it's thinner. It's thinner, so you'll have to spread the glue all over the cardboard.

I never leave cardboard blank. First because I just don't like the look. Uh, second, if you paint it with paint, the cardboard is wavy. You know, it, it doesn't look neat, I would say. So I never leave it like that. I either use fabric, false leather, or paper. And for travel albums, I prefer, at least at the spine, uh, with the fabric.

And then cover can be covered with paper. To make it more durable.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, because I mean, there's, there's a balance between, uh, the exact visual look you want and then having it something that you can actually use and flip through and, and have others look at. So.

Anna Komenda: [00:29:00] Yeah. Yeah, you are totally right. I sometimes make just a pretty album, you know, because like I made in the past album, in the shape of a hot air balloon.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's fun.

Anna Komenda: Which looked wonderfully. Which has flowers on the cover. It was a wedding album. But honestly, I don't feel like filling it with pictures because it would be a nightmare.

But the looked fantastic. It was for design team so I could leave it empty and wasn't bothered with, you know, filling it with memories.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So with your work on the scrapbook.com team, I imagine you have exposure to, you know, a wide range of products. Um, and you mentioned perhaps that you don't say love working with Stamperia for example. So what do you gravitate towards and has that changed over time?

Anna Komenda: When it comes to scrapbook.com, I work with their exclusive products. So everything they design.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Anna Komenda: And they send to [00:30:00] me so I can work with that. So, I'll, I would say they have mostly this simple, graphic, fresh and modern style. So most of the products they are releasing matches my style and my preferences.

So it's easy for me to work with those products. Um, honestly. I just like challenges, so whatever they send to me, this usually looks like I have my design team box. It's not for, uh, Scrapbook dot com only for any design team. Wherever new comes, I put it on my desk. I take, I have a notebook where I just write ideas. And I look at stuff and I think, okay, this one would be a card. This one would be layout. And I just make a little notes, very basic ones like with the uh, uh, aquarium type of layout that I mentioned previously. I got [00:31:00] this set of dies with fish, octopus, turtle. And I was like, it'll look great with our aquarium pictures. Just make a note, make layout with this one and those pictures. So this is what I like to do. And when I see new products, regardless of the company, um, they kind of tickle something in my head and I plan, what can I do? So I pre plan. Of course those plans changes with time and when I start to work with products. But, um, I really like dies. Because they are like one time purchase and you have them forever. So you'll never run out of them. You can create, uh, as many elements as you want. So if you like to fill the page with flowers. If you would purchase ephemera pack with flowers, you would probably run outta flowers, uh.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes,

Anna Komenda: For just a single page.

Jennifer Wilson: I always run outta flowers.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. [00:32:00] So with dies you can create as many as you wish, with as many colors as you wish. Of course, know, it takes time. But those are perfect things for the day when you feel like you would like to do something. You have time, but you know, the mojo is not mojoing. So you would like to just work with your hands, but not with your creativity. So I use those times. I put some YouTube or Netflix or you know, uh, I listen a lot of books or, uh, scrapbook or audiobook. And I just, you know, spend an hour or or two with rolling the die cutting machine, gluing. And this is something that relaxes me. I know that many scrapbookers don't like the tedious process. But for me it's, it's relaxing. It's, you know, perfect thing for my hand, not for my head, I would say.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, you know, I [00:33:00] think for sure manual die cutting. It's very satisfying. Um, just, you know, the way that it, it cuts is so different than say, an electronic die cutting machine. And it's not noisy like the electronic one. So yeah. I see. It's, it's very satisfying, similar to, to fussy cutting. Um, with less hand cramps, I guess. So.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, exactly. So this is what I love to do. So when it comes to products, I love dies. uh, I like cardstock, like paper in just one color, and I have whole rainbow of those in my craft room.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: It's something basic. Of course you can create it by yourself, by ink blending, but in blending takes time and you have like, you know, already have the shade you need.

You can arrange them, pick and choose. So, uh, yeah, this is what I, I would say I gravitate the most towards dies and just plain cardstock.

Jennifer Wilson: Well and I think your, your love of [00:34:00] dies and I would say like non consumable tools is, is also why you're on the Bramble Fox design team. This is wasn't a company I was familiar with. Can you tell us more about the types of things that they make?

Anna Komenda: This is the United Kingdom based company. They are the most known for their product, they call, call them Perspectives. And this is the acrylic shapes and titles, in variety of colors, finishes. You can have a translucent, opaque. You can have like a bat or a shiny. And they release each month new set of titles, shapes. Uh, so I would say this is the most basic product. And the titles are always funny. They are, uh, they are matching like the season or, uh, the, let's say it was Valentine's Day, so they had Valentine's Day themed [00:35:00] Pro products. So you'll always find something you like.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: The nicest thing I would say about them is the club.

You can sign up to get monthly, uh, delivered to your doorstep, set of acrylic titles. You can upgrade to having titles and stencils and a little sheet for fussy cutting. But the titles are unique and they kinof sometimes give me the idea for the layout by themselves. I see the title, I'm like, wait a minute, I have a perfect picture that will go with this one.

So I really love those products. And, uh, they also have, uh, recently especially they, uh, started releasing it more consistently. Cut files if you are into digital, uh, die cutting. Cut files. They have something that is like straight to my heart, style because I really love this kind of graphic designs [00:36:00] that they have. So, yeah, and.

Jennifer Wilson: Very fun.

Anna Komenda: They ship to United States too. So if anyone would like to have this kit of titles perfectly curated in their doorstep. They can also order it from around the world.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, that sounds really fun. Particularly because, you know, there's not as many scrapbook kit clubs anymore that have those really unique pieces. Um, so I, I feel like I used to get those when I subscribed to Studio Calico a decade ago. Um, but you just don't see those anymore, so that's fun.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, this is something, not many companies do, so this is something different, unique. I really like working with those titles. The quality is always perfect.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, wonderful.

You've mentioned how you know your process includes a lot of layouts, you know, the albums that you create and also cards. What percentage of time do you feel like you spend on cards versus [00:37:00] layouts?

Anna Komenda: Uh, it totally depends because, uh, when I have a new product or a new technique in mind, I usually make a card first. Because, uh, it's a smaller space uh, to experiments , smaller space to waste. Because I don't have to waste whole 12 by 12 paper if the experiment is a failure. So card is something I like to make first, like a warmup for the products. And I think it changes with seasons also. Because before the Christmas, I make more cards because you know you need more of them. uh, I either make a card because I want to try products or new embellishments or new techniques. Or I need a cart for a specific person in my life. [00:38:00] I don't think I ever sat in my desk and I just start making cards, you know, just out of nowhere. I usually have an agenda. Either it's using design team products or trying something new or making a curated card for a friend. So I wouldn't call myself card maker. I also don't make cards for any season, like I like making Christmas cards. I feel in the mood, like, you know, when it's December or November, you want to feel the Christmas spirit sooner.

So making Christmas projects, uh, kind of helps you connect more with the season.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly

Anna Komenda: And for layouts, yeah, for layouts is usually too early because you have to wait for the actual Christmas to have the pictures to scrapbook. And the album to make. So cards is like something, you know, you can put yourself in the Christmas spirit. [00:39:00] And, uh, but it doesn't translate to any other holidays for me. So I hate making Christmas projects in July, like, you know, this event Christmas in July,

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: That many companies, especially in United States, because I have never seen something like this in European company. But, United States-based companies love doing that. Uh, so have never made a Christmas card, I think in July. But I love making them in November. So November and December is the time where I have more cards than layouts probably. But, uh, in the summer I usually gravitate toward layouts because I have more pictures to scrapbook from our travels. Uh, the same with albums, but with albums, I am so much behind. I have so many pictures. And because I usually scrapbook like one travel at one [00:40:00] album, travel or vacation. Let's say we go for two weeks somewhere.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: So this is one album and I don't even want to count how many. Uh, I need to catch up with years and years. Because it takes me a lot of time to make this massive album. Like three weeks, and then I need a break to kind of, know.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, certainly. Yeah. Uh, even just a, just a, a switch of, of products and a change of scenery, if you will, when it comes to what you're working on creatively. Like you can be, you know, you can get tired of things.

Anna Komenda: Yeah. Exactly.

Jennifer Wilson: I, I love this idea that I want, I wanted to highlight the idea of testing out new supplies, tools, et cetera, on, on cards or smaller canvases before you put them on a layout.

Any, any kind of warmup like that, I always feel like makes it less intimidating. Um, gets you in the, the creative flow.

Anna Komenda: Back in the day in [00:41:00] Poland, we made tags. Like, you know.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Anna Komenda: Like Tim Holtz tags. Just stamp, just add some mixed media product. But I feel like I. I made a tag and I dunno what to do with it. Like, you know, card seem more appropriate because I know I can use the outcome, give it to someone. So making, I don't want to call them pointless because I love, I know people love creating tags just for the fun of experimenting.. But for me personally, I like making projects that are either useful or dear to me. I would say. Like, you know, layout is a project that is dear to me, but card is project that I just have fun and it's useful. I can use it for someone I like. So yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: You know, I love the idea of perhaps, uh, making a tag and then writing on the back of it and then putting [00:42:00] in an envelope and sending it off that way. Um, you know, making it a card, if you will.

Anna Komenda: Yeah, you can also just add it to the card base. Of course. Yes. But you know, just making the tag for the sake of making the tag, not using.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Anna Komenda: It for something else. I never know what to do with them to put them in my craftroom.

Jennifer Wilson: Correct.

Oh, I get that. Yeah. Yeah. No, and I think having, having a purpose helps us a lot. Um, with our hobby and well with, with everything really. So, uh, the more we can understand why we're doing it, the more likely we are to, to continue to keep it up and share it with others.

Anna Komenda: Exactly, but you know, when you paint something, I like doing little watercolors. I have a notebook where I just, you know, take some, take some random things and I, sometimes I sketch patterns, sometimes I just paint. I dunno, of a bird. It's not perfect. It's, you know, nothing that I would like to show to the world. But for me it's not pointless [00:43:00] because I just practice. And when you draw, sketch, paint. It's only for the sake of being art. Like, you know, it cannot be useful. But for scrapbooking, I kind of tend to, I cannot spread the same idea onto the scrapbookikng I would say.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Yeah, that makes sense for sure. Yeah, having different, uh, different meanings behind different creative approaches as well. Um, and I think that's one of the things that makes scrapbooking special is because there are different layers of meanings. Versus, you know, something like, even, even your macrame, like yes, it could create a, a functional item and it might be joyfully creating it, but it's not a personal memory as much as obviously scrapbooking or photos.

Anna Komenda: Exactly. You put it into the right words.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, this has been such a delightful conversation. Thank you for spending time with me.

Anna Komenda: I'm so honored that you invited me and it was a blast. I am a little bit shy at the beginning, but I can be a talker, so.[00:44:00]

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, no, it's wonderful. Can you share where our listeners can find you online? Anything else you, you might have newer coming up later this year.

Anna Komenda: I would like to invite all the listeners to my Instagram because this is the most, uh, updated, uh, social media site. And for, uh, Facebook, I basically have, like when I post to Instagram, it posts to Facebook.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Anna Komenda: Automatically. So it's, I would say the same. And I have a YouTube channel where I post, uh, a lot of process videos.

Mostly process videos for layouts. Some I have also some mini albums. Classes from scratch if anyone would like to try one. I have few classes that you can learn from, you know, from the very beginning. And some cards. But for card making, it's, I would say 10%, maybe less, more for layouts. Yeah. YouTube and Instagram are [00:45:00] the places where anyone can find me, and I'm just too old for TikTok. So have never kind of spread my wings so far.

Jennifer Wilson: I understand that, so.

Thanks. We'll definitely include those links in the show notes for this episode. Again, thank you.

Anna Komenda: Thank you so much.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Alissa Williams: [00:00:00] I'm not buying those kits anymore. So I'm using them up to complete projects. Like I could have said, oh, I'm gonna do this 2026 stories album. I need new product for that. And I'm like, no, you don't. You have all the product you need to make that project work. And so it's fine that I have these things. But I'm consciously trying to use them to tell my stories and turn to those first versus new stuff.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of the New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 329. In this episode, I'm chatting with Alissa Williams about stash management. We explore how she acquires, organizes, and uses her supplies, and what intentional scrapbooking looks like when you've decided to stop buying and start creating.

Hey Alissa, welcome back to Scrapbook Your Way.

Alissa Williams: Hi, Jennifer. Always great to talk to you.

Jennifer Wilson: I [00:01:00] am so looking forward to our conversation today, as always. Uh, we are not in the same location, unfortunately. We are in our respective homes. Um, but both jetting off for the weekend, uh, to different things. Can you remind our listeners a little bit about who you are and where you live, who's in your family, all that.

Alissa Williams: Sure. Um, I am the director of a small public library in central Illinois. I have two teenage daughters now. My youngest just, well, she was 13, I don't know. She's 14 now. Yeah, it's an even year. I can't remember. I have two teenage daughters. And, um, I feel like I need to start this whole introduction over again.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, one just turned 14 and the other one's about to turn 16 in April.

Alissa Williams: So yeah, we're six weeks away from driving. Um, without an adult in the car, so that's crazy. But yes. Um, and then, so my husband and I, we live here in central Illinois, um, with our [00:02:00] family and we're very busy with all the girls activities and whatnot.

Jennifer Wilson: I bet. I bet. So do you have a favorite recent layout or project and why do you love it?

Alissa Williams: Um, this was a tough one for me because I haven't really been doing a whole lot of crafting this year because of volleyball. But my volleyball season has ended. So, um, but I did participate in a virtual crop. And I created a layout. I love scrapbooking with summer collections. And so I created a layout that was inspired by a challenge in this virtual crop.

And so I used a technique I hadn't tried before, so that was fun. Like folding these circles into like quilt squares. And it was, it's, it, I, I really am happy with the way it came out and it was exciting to use like really old stash on it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, that came together really well. I, I really like that page.

Alissa Williams: Thank you.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, is there something new you're excited to do, use or try in scrapbooking or in your life?

Alissa Williams: So, uh, I am really excited [00:03:00] at the beginning of the year, uh, Jana Eubank and Becki Adams launched their Let's Gather and Glue platform. And so they hosted a virtual crop at the end of January. And they'll, they're hosting another one at the end of April, I believe. And I. really enjoy their teaching and it's at a very reasonable price point, and they're encouraging you to use your stash, which ties in perfectly with our topic of conversation today.

Uh, and so I, I have another layout I wanna create from that, virtual crop that we did. Uh, so I've been inspired by that and it's been really fun.

Jennifer Wilson: Wonderful. Yeah, I would love to check that out at some point. I'd love to, to see how people are bringing folks together and getting them to create, and as you said, use more of our stash. I think that's a topic of interest to a lot of us these days.

Alissa Williams: Yes, it was really, you know, I'm always like, oh, what's it gonna be like an online platform, but. Like [00:04:00] it was so well designed. Um, the, the lessons were great. The classes, everything. They fortunately didn't really have a whole lot of tech issues. You know, that's always dicey when you're doing streaming stuff, but it was.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Alissa Williams: It was almost like a Crop and Create without the boxes, supplies being sent to you. It was very high quality.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Well and you know, they've both participated in those events, so I'm sure that influence, you know, their ability to put on a good production for their participants.

Alissa Williams: Yeah, and they're just great teachers. Like they were 90 minute classes that they taught and it was, I got just super inspired and, and it's evergreen content too. So that's really nice too. 'Cause they were, were talking about more about. not like, let's do this. Which sometimes it's nice to like, this is how you stamp or how you make a border or whatever.

Um, but it, there was bigger inspiration, so I really liked that.

Jennifer Wilson: Cool, [00:05:00] cool. So yeah, we are definitely gonna talk a lot about stash today. Right now we are in the organization journey. So here at Simple Scrapper, we divide the year into six creative journeys. The second one of the year for March and April is organization. And it's a theme to, to, to be a lens for further discussion for exploration. And to have special events. So when this goes live, we'll have just wrapped our first Stash Bash retreat of the year. So it's a four day long, uh, uh, virtual retreat. And I really just wanted to focus on how we acquire, manage and use our stash. We're gonna focus mostly on you, but I'm sure I will share a little bit as we go along. Because we are definitely not the same. Even though we do share a lot of similarities in life. Um. we also, um, diverge quite a bit on many things, including our stashes. Let's start with the realm of shopping. Tell me [00:06:00] how products typically come into your life.

Alissa Williams: Well, I will tell you that they are, it has drastically slowed down. Um, so in preparation for this, I sort of looked at what my shopping habits had been in 2024 and 2025. I have, I have done no shopping in 2026. I do not subscribe to any kits currently. Except for, um, the one big kit that I subscribe to is the, uh, Let's Create Together kit that Scrapbook and Cards Today does.

And that arrives four times per year. In fact, my, my spring kit just shipped today. Um, and so that comes with class content and product, but that is the only thing I am subscribed to, right now in 2026. Um, my last scrapbook dot com order was on December 1st. but um, in 2025 [00:07:00] I only did six orders at Scrapbook dot com versus like 12 in 2024. And like the majority of my, I did, let's see, one, two, I did four orders that were, of those six I did four orders that were Best of Both Worlds Kits. I did one order that was the, um, Bow Wow and Meow collection from Doodlebug, which I think I talked about on a previous episode.

That was a, a class that Virginia Neville did at Scrapbook And Cards Today. Um, that was really great. And then I did, I ordered some basics stuff and then I ordered. So it was four Best of Both Worlds. The Bow Wow Meow and the basics, um, like adhesives and twine. And then the only new product I bought really was, I bought the Book Fair Collection last June. Because I like literally will buy everything that's like book related. I have [00:08:00] so many book related things. But I've actually used that collection. Um, so that's good. In 2025, I was subscribing from July to December to Elle's Studio kits for my Project Life. But I am not doing, I'm doing my Project Life in a different format this year. So I stopped subscribing to that. And then I, in 2025, I didn't subscribe to Ali Edwards.

I bought nothing from Ali Edwards in 2025 except for an, uh, stamps, Alphas Are Awesome stamps class. So I am really, yeah, I'm not. Like there is not a lot. I think there is too much friction for impulse purchasing these days. And with the demise of the local scrapbook stores. Like, I was getting new products through, you know, um, the Crop And Creates, you know, 'cause they would include newer product in that.

But, and of course there is less product on the market these days with all the [00:09:00] conglomerations. But, um, yeah, I am not, I am not acquiring as much. I'm really, I wanted to in 2025, focus on using more of my stash, and I really am trying to double down on that in 2026 this year.

Jennifer Wilson: All right, so I have a bunch of follow up questions. So first off, when you said, um, friction to impulse purchases, did you mean like higher free shipping thresholds?

Alissa Williams: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: What is some of that friction for you?

Alissa Williams: I think it's, I have to go like, okay, I'll see it, like I'll see simple stories as releasing new stuff on Instagram. Like I'll see that and I'll be like, oh, that's so cute. But then I have to like go to scrapbook.com or go to A Cherry On Top. And I don't pre-order things from A Cherry On Top. I know you do that. I don't do that. Um.

Jennifer Wilson: Why don't you do that?

Alissa Williams: Because I don't, maybe I don't want it when it comes, maybe it's never gonna, I don't trust the pre-ordering system. Um.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Alissa Williams: But so I, then I have to go to [00:10:00] scrapbook.com and then I have to see if they really have what I want and what am I gonna use this for. And then I'm not gonna get free shipping, so then I have to find other stuff to buy or, well, scrapbook.com, you don't ever get free shipping.

You need to make sure you have a coupon when you shop there. And I have various sources for coupons, or sometimes they're offering coupons. But, like, is it worth the shipping? You know, is it okay, this collection kit is 14.99. It, and then it's gonna be, you know, because it's 12 by 12, it's gonna ship for $8.

So now it's, $22 is that, I just want this one. Like with online shipping, I just don't feel like you just buy one of something these days. Whereas when I went to the scrapbook store, I could see it in person, know I really liked it, get excited to use it, you know, buy it right then take it home and make a page with it. Whereas now I have to wait for it to come and it is just, I just, there's a lot of friction I feel like.

Jennifer Wilson: And you could like literally go in and buy three sheets of paper and [00:11:00] walk out and for something that you need.

Alissa Williams: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Whereas it's, it's certainly a lot different.

Alissa Williams: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Now, you mentioned that you are doing Project Life a little bit differently this year, so that's why you're not subscribed to any, uh, Project Life type kits. So how, what, what does that look like for you?

Alissa Williams: Um, well, honestly, it looks like nothing 'cause I haven't actually started it. But.

Jennifer Wilson: What is your vision for this?

Alissa Williams: Um, my vision is that it is a it's a six, six by eight. Yeah, that's the right size. Six by eight album, pocket album. That is, so I have gone through, like for January, and I've looked at my photos or the stories from that month and I've identified, okay, these are two stories that I wanna make a layout about.

But these themes, like I have, I have pictures, in January of myself, and both of my daughters with groups of friends. And I thought, oh, that would be a fun little six by eight spread [00:12:00] about us hanging out with our friends and what friendship means to us, and something using either my Story kits or just cards from my past Elle's Studios. Or I had subscribed in 2024, I subscribed to Stories by the Month by Ali Edwards. So I'm trying to identify stories that are just smaller things that aren't necessarily page worthy, but, but either connections through relationships or, you know, here's this cute little,

here's what I was eating this month. And I've got some, like I've got a food story kit from Ali Edwards to use of that stuff. So just little currently kind of pieces of our life stuff in this little six by eight album that will hopefully then just be little snapshots of our year. For those smaller stories that used to go in Project Life.

But I just don't feel like I have enough, even though I was doing Project Life monthly in a nine by 12 last year. I just, I didn't feel like I had [00:13:00] enough. Or there's too much repetition, like how many volleyball pictures do I need to put in my Project Life? Well, you know, I put like one in every month, but you know, I don't necessarily need that all the time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, that makes sense. No, I like that evolution. I've talked to, uh, a number of different folks this year about how they have shifted their mindset and their approach for Project Life. And it's been so interesting just to see how much that has evolved over the past, you know, like decade and a half or so. Um, and how we can personalize it for what we really, really need.

Alissa Williams: Well, yeah, and I think also, as I mentioned, my girls are teenagers. They don't really like me to take their pictures. You know, like, so I just have less content. And um, but you know, like also you and I have talked about like where do I put these funny memes or this funny text thread. And I kind of want do a little bit more of that, or maybe even a little bit more of my ephemera.

There's so little paper ephemera these days, but I think it could be fun [00:14:00] to maybe incorporate that in, in my album in a way that I didn't use to in my full Project Life albums. Um, so I'm considering that as well. But like I was thinking this morning, I really just need to do, I think I still have like one or two cards left from the Morning story kit or a AM/PM Story kit, and I just need to, I need to print off that, you know, grumpy cat picture that I sometimes send you in the morning. And just tell a story about like how like the last two nights or last two mornings, I've woken up at 4:30 against my will and it makes me a grumpy cat.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. Now, okay, so in terms of your stash of Project Life cards.

Alissa Williams: Mm,

Jennifer Wilson: What does that look like?

Alissa Williams: It's pretty thin. I have one of those, um, boxes from scrapbook.com that I organized all of, all of them into. Um, so I have like, those are leftover kits. Well, I [00:15:00] guess I say it's pretty thin, but now I'm like, oh, that's kind of a lot. I have a box of cards that.

Jennifer Wilson: Can you estimate a number of inches, like of depth?

Alissa Williams: No. 'Cause I don't know. Uh, no I can't. But I have because it's, well, because it's not like I don't have 'em all together. So then I have, like for my leftover Story Kit stuff or anything that has like a month, I have those little four by six plastic boxes for each month. So I have leftovers in there that I'm trying to use up. From, like my Stories By The Month.

And then what I've been doing with like my Elle's Studios kits is not everything I'm putting in those boxes. 'Cause some of their stuff isn't, is not month specific. Um, so I just, I have another box of cards that I sort them into. Just by color and like journaling cards, filler cards, and then I sort them by colors. Because a lot of their [00:16:00] color schemes through Elle's Studios, you know, they work together.

So then I can just pull stuff when I'm looking for, like for this, this album like this, that idea of this layout about my girls, and our friends. You know, like I don't think I have a friendship Story kit. Maybe I have a, like, maybe the good Story kit would work for that, but like, if I can't find a story kit that I wanna use, I can dig through these cards and be like, okay, here's a journaling card.

Here's the colors. Like a rainbow could be fun, you know, like with happy bright colors or something. So, yeah, so I kind in three places.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and I think that's, that's one of the things that kind of has raised this conversation point for me. 'Cause I've been really thinking about, both, you know, using more of my stash, improving my organization. And It's not as simple as, okay, if I buy stuff, products. I put it in a way where it belongs. And if I have a kit, I use it until a certain point and then I put that away. That's, it's not that [00:17:00] simple. It's, it's not like we just have this perfectly organized stash, and I think that happens for a lot of folks. Because we have things that maybe are color coordinated and some things that are not. We have some things that are themed and some things that are not. And so even though we might know, you know, I look for shapes over colors. I still have a drawer over here of Story kits, and then I have another drawer of, you know, larger kits. And, um, then I have some things that have made their way to what I consider stash. But it seems like it takes a long time to even get there at this point.

Alissa Williams: Oh. So, I mean, I feel like I can find what I'm looking for and I feel like I'm organized in the sense of like, here are, you know, like, okay, I want something that says the month on it. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go to, he, I'm gonna go to this place here with these month boxes. I just want something, I [00:18:00] just need a journaling card.

You know, I, I know I can look here and find it here. So I, I mean, I don't, I think you had a question further down about like, when does it, when does like new product make its way into your stash? And, and I can talk about that process too if, when you want to, whenever you want to.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I think. I guess I have a transition question here.

Alissa Williams: Okay.

Jennifer Wilson: Um, me about the state of all of your Crop and Create leftovers.

Alissa Williams: Well, basically once I am done, once I have done. Used what I wanted to use outta that. Then I put it into my system. So like, I'm leaving today to go, uh, on a scrapbook weekend. So I, in preparation for that, I looked at, um, the kits, I ha, so I keep my kits in envelopes, 12 by 12 envelopes in a tote that I got from Scrapbook And Cards Today.

And that's like my active kit projects that I'm working on. So I went [00:19:00] through and was like, okay, what.

Jennifer Wilson: So those could be kits that were delivered to you as kits. Or like as the Best of Both Worlds Kits that you.

Alissa Williams: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: Well Shimelle designed, but then you picked what you were going to buy?

Alissa Williams: I buy everything. If she tells me to buy it, I buy it. I am a pawn in her scheme. Um, um, if she, if she, if it's on her shopping list, I will buy it. Now, I have not transitioned, although that is a topic because I have not bought any best of, I have a December and a January Best of Both Worlds kits to use. But I am not, I'm trying not to buy.

Any Best of Both Worlds Kits. If I'm going to do a Best of Both Worlds Kits or I wanna do a layout, my goal would be to use my stash for that. What happened, what was great in 2025 was some of the product that came in my Crop and Crate boxes I didn't wanna use and they showed up in her Best of Both Worlds kits so that I didn't have to buy as much stuff.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:20:00] How often would you say, like, if you're making a layout, like, let's not talk about Project Life here. If you're making a layout, um, I know you love to, to scrap lift, to follow instructions. How often are you using the same product as the instructions?

Alissa Williams: Uh, 98% of the time.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Okay.

Alissa Williams: So like the, this, um, Let's Gather and Glue Virtual Crop that I did at the beginning of the month. It was really, it was, it stretched my creative muscles to pick a collection, pick product. And try to copycat quote her design with my own stuff. I, I find that, I mean, I can do it, but it takes me a lot longer as opposed to in a Crop and Create, or in a Best of Both Worlds, where I'm just like, oh, she has this, I have this.

Boom, boom, boom. Um. Now sometimes, you know, Shimelle on [00:21:00] her Best of Both Worlds will go a little, what I call rogue. And she'll use something from either an old kit I didn't have or something that is old product and I am able, I am much better these days at, finding a substitute for that. I used to really struggle with that. But, um, but like for my

for my Crop and Create kits. I mean, I am, I I am working. I'm trying to finish the last one I did. Um, the last box I got, which was, was that spring of 25? Yeah. So, I go through those. And then basically, once I've used up what I can use up, I file it into my system. So like I have, I have, um, scraps are organized by color. And then if it's a full sheet of 12 by 12, I put it in my, I I just have two holders. So, and I actually measured, I think it's like, I actually, this, I did measure, I think it's only like four inches. Because at that virtual crop re or virtual crop, they did, they [00:22:00] had a question as we were waiting for the video to start, um, the live to start of like, how many inches of paper do you own? And like a lot of people said they owned more than 12 inches of paper. And I was like, uh. Wow. And that made me get my ruler and be like, how many inches? Like I don't have tons and tons of paper floating around.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. So yeah, I think this, this point that like 98% of what you do is very much like a following along. And you know, you did try something new and it stretched you and it sounds like you are interested in doing it again. 'Cause you want to use more of your stash.

Alissa Williams: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: Um. What are some of the barriers to doing that?

Like is it design confidence? Um, what Like, like color coordination.

Alissa Williams: Yes. Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: What can we do to get you from A to B?

Alissa Williams: Well it’s just I guess, it's, I think part of it is decision fatigue, [00:23:00] right. Like I don’t want to make those decisions. I just want to have someone tell me what to use. I mean, I will say like, it takes me longer, but I, I can do it. And if I have a sketch, you know, for me, if I have a, a sketch, I need to start with a sketch.

So like, for example, with the, the Let's Create Together kits that we got in the fall. Uh, there were these squares. Paper, you know, like with squares on 'em, and designs. And I had, and I had a design that Shimelle had used that I really liked, and I was like, oh, I could use, I could recreate this design with, with what I have here for leftovers.

So what I did was, but the whole thing was, is I didn't really have the right fall picture story that I wanted. So what I've done is I've made a kit with that, with the [00:24:00] layout, you know, with the sketch and the papers, and then I know that, you know, this fall, I will likely come up with some type of story for that, but I've kept those.

Instead of putting those into my stash, I'm like, I know I can make a layout with this sketch when the right story appears. So I have that tucked away to do at some point.

Jennifer Wilson: Well and yeah. I, I love talking about, uh, different starting points. Because we all have different points of inspiration. Sometimes it's a photo, sometimes it's a story, a piece of memorabilia. Um, and I, I think sometimes we need permission to have those, but then it does create an organization. You know, uh, not, not quite a challenge, but, uh, something that's going to impact how you are storing things. Because now you have this specific kind of like page kit that you want to use in the future.

Alissa Williams: And it just goes in my page kit bucket, and I just keep it [00:25:00] there till, you know, like in the fall when I go to another retreat, I'll be like, oh, I bet I can use this this time. You know.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Alissa Williams: I've kept a couple things, like, there have been a few Shimelle layouts that, um, I haven't had the right story for at that time.

So. So like for a Best of Both Worlds Kit, I've kept that stuff together and I'm just waiting for the right story to appear. And I regularly go through my kit box and kind of think and look at where I am. And by regularly, I mean probably more like quarterly when I'm getting ready to go to a in-person crop.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you ever decide like, Hey, I'm just not gonna use this anymore.

Alissa Williams: Like the kit?

Jennifer Wilson: End up, yeah. Like, are you like, oh, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna keep it here and I'm going to, you're, you're like a, I'm gonna commit and I must follow through, um, if, or, or I shall perish from the earth. Um, so it seems like that might not be what you would do. But I would eventually probably, uh, just say [00:26:00] like, oh, I don't want these anymore, and like, put them back in my stash.

Alissa Williams: I'm gonna commit. That is awesome. Thank you for that description of me. Uh, I.

Jennifer Wilson: I was like, you must have influenced me. Because me, with my, my, I don't even know how to describe this on the podcast, but I've had this crazy, uh, Fitbit conundrum. I

Alissa Williams: Oh my gosh, yes.

Jennifer Wilson: Lost one I had to use one that was 14 years old. That couldn't stand a charge for a whole day. In order to complete my step bet because I didn't wanna lose my $25.

It wasn't even a full $40 step bet It was a $25 one. But I was committed. So.

Alissa Williams: If you had told me it was only $25, I'd been like, give this up. You are going crazy. Um.

Jennifer Wilson: I finished it today and now I'm happy.

Alissa Williams: Well, I'm glad you're happy, but I, I mean, and I guess I also don't wanna give listeners like, we're talking like, I have like four or five of these. It's not like I have 20. Okay. It's not [00:27:00] like, can I just share my biggest pet peeve at all these events that I do?

Jennifer Wilson: Sure.

Alissa Williams: Uh, okay. I, it really irritates me. So like I'll do, like I'll do these, Let's Create Together Kits, or I will do a Crop and Create, or I did this virtual crop. And you know, they will have galleries in their Facebook groups. So you can upload your finished things and I will get inspiration from that, like on how to use up my scraps and leftovers. And I'll copy those designs, right? Um, but it really irritates me when people upload their quote, finished page and there are no pictures on it. I am sorry that is not a finished page. You did not understand the assignment. The assignment was to create a scrapbook page with your pictures on them.

Like, no, no, I'm sorry, that is not finished. Please show me what pictures you're using on this. Because I do not have, and I know there are people who do have, and I'm not trying to judge those people, but I guess I am. [00:28:00] Stacks of layouts that they may have created at crops or like back in the Creative Memories days when they gave you this stuff to do that are.

Or if you go to a class like back in the live teaching days and they have photo placeholders for them, I'm like, no. Like that's not done. You need to finish the page. I don't have layouts like that.

Jennifer Wilson: Well. If we could talk about it from, um, like kind of a psychology perspective. If you go to the extent of taking a photo of it and uploading it, that gives a signal to your brain, I'm done with this.

Alissa Williams: Oh yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So there's less of that like that that nagging like, oh, you know, I'm not quite finished with this page yet.

You've given it a sense of completion. And so I think that is not necessarily a productive approach to, um, to working with those projects,

Alissa Williams: Yeah. Okay. Thanks. I just had to get that, that off my chest. That may be controversial. Controversial, but [00:29:00] I've said it and I, I stand by my belief.

Jennifer Wilson: And you are allowed to have your own beliefs, so I will support you in that.

So tell me what happens when you have new supplies that arrive. So let's just say like you do place an order at scrapbook.com you know, maybe it's a combination of Best of Both Worlds, things for, um, Shimelle's layouts that she's creating. Some other things that you just liked. What happens?

Alissa Williams: Well, it goes, I have a paper, I have an old paper sorter on my desk. Um, and so I will keep my current kits that I'm working with in that, in that paper holder. And so if it's a Best of Both Worlds Kit, it all goes in that, in that slot for that kit until I'm ready to start using it. And also then when I'm in process, 'cause you know, I don't complete all the pages at once. It is, it gives me a place, a [00:30:00] home for those things.

And then, I mean, okay, so the, the only real example I have is like, I bought this Book Fair collection and I didn't really have a set plan for what I was gonna do with it. And I also have a, um, upright, so my, my paper holder on my desk is like, I don't know how you, like, it's a, it's got slots in it, like a mailbox, right?

Like it's flats storage. Um, whereas my, I have a, another container on my desk that ha that can hold 12 by 12 paper that is upright. And so I will put it in that container because then I can, I will, it's on my desk and I see it and don't forget that I have it. Um, and so stuff, so that's where the, that, and that is where when I was buying stuff at like the scrapbook store or when I was more impulsively buying stuff, maybe on Scrapbook dot com that I didn't have a clear plan for, um, that's where stuff would go.

Or like JoAnn's [00:31:00] like before JoAnn's closed, I went and bought like, um, like I had bought Shimelle's last line and Paige Evans and stuff, so I, I liked that paper and I didn't really have a plan for it. Except for I knew Shimelle would use her stuff in her videos, so I sort of bought it, thinking of that, or that. I'd copycat other layouts from the one. Like she had made some layouts with those papers and so I bought more of the papers so I could make more of those types of layouts.

So those all live in that upright holder. Until I use them or get tired of them and put them in my stash.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Okay. what's in there right now?

Alissa Williams: Just some, um, Live The Dream stuff from Shimelle that I got at JoAnn's when they were closing.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Okay. So do you feel like that that, does that inspire you and give you a sense of direction or is it just convenient?

Okay. And you don't, it sounds like you don't necessarily have, don't know, [00:32:00] rules on when a kit gets broken up. It's more of, you know, an intuitive decision or when you get tired of something or.

Alissa Williams: Well, like.

Jennifer Wilson: Gradually bringing stuff into your stash.

Alissa Williams: Yeah, so I mean basically, I mean I do have rules 'cause I like rules. Um, so like with the Best of Both Worlds Kit, when I've made the layouts that I'm gonna make with that kit. I put the leftovers in my stash. Like I'm much better about throwing away smaller sheets of leftover paper. And so that all goes in my stash and you know, the embellishments go in my embellishment stash and the paper goes in my paper stash. And I put I, when I've made the layouts from that, I put all that into the stash. Um, then with a Let's Create Together kit when I've made the layouts and if there's, um, so I'll make all the layouts that are for [00:33:00] that kit. And then sometimes there's a bonus layout, so I'll make that. And then I'll, if there's, if there are full sheets of paper left, I will look on scrapbook.com to see if anyone's made something that I like that I could scrap lift with that paper.

And if there's not, then I will put that in my stash. Same kind of thing for, um. The Crop and Create kits. You know, I will make the layouts. I will look at the leftovers, see if, and sometimes I have been known to do this from scrapbook.com. I'll be like, I really liked this layout, so I'm gonna buy, like, I need two more sheets of this paper, and then I can use the rest of these kits to make two more of this type of layout with this paper that I have left. So I will like buy more of something so that I can maybe make the same layout or similar layout again to finish it, if that makes sense.

Jennifer Wilson: Why do you choose to go buy more rather [00:34:00] than, uh, digging into your stash to find something that might coordinate?

Alissa Williams: Well, 'cause like typically I don't have stuff that coordinates. I, I mean, I kind of sometimes will look, but I maybe don't have stuff to coordinate and it's just easier.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Alissa Williams: I know it already, like I'm not confident in color coordination sometimes. So if it's like, if it's the, you know, super summer collection and I'm like, well, I know all these colors go together.

I'll just buy this super summer. I'll just buy another sheet from the super summer collection, you know? But I have occasionally gone in and been like, oh, I have this, this'll work to create a similar look. It depends on kind of what the paper is. Like, if it's a, like, if it's a backgroundy neutral thing, I can, I can lift, you know, I can pull that from my stash.

Jennifer Wilson: So, kind of stepping back, big picture, how are you feeling about your stash overall right now? Because you mentioned you wanna use more of it, so how are you feeling? Like does that, are you feeling excited? Um, are you feeling, you know, blah. You [00:35:00] know what, what's what? What's your status?

Alissa Williams: Um, I, I guess I'm more interested in using like, my story kits up. I, my paper, paper is paper. Like I'll always have paper. And so I'm not as like really into trying to use up all this paper. Like that doesn't, I'm not really interested in that. I'm interested more in using up some of these kit type things that I feel are more specialized or themed.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Alissa Williams: You know, the paper is paper. And I like, I don't feel like I have gobs of gobs of paper that it's unmanageable and whatever. So I'm not as concerned. I am a little more interested in, like I said, not buying a Best of Both Worlds Kit and maybe if there are a few layouts I like trying to, to replicate that from what I have in my stash. 'Cause that I do have more time.

See, part of it too is, like the last, in [00:36:00] 2025, I was traveling a lot and I wasn't home a lot to do a lot of crafting. And so I want my scrapbooking to be more like quick wins and easy. But now I feel like I have a little more time. I also am more caught up, like I don't have, you know, I don't have as many stories every month that I wanna tell.

I don't have gobs and gobs of quote catching up to do. So I feel like I have more time to spend time on a layout. Even though it it, 'cause I know that the more I do the color matching and deciding and the more that I ponder, well, should I pick this paper for my stash or this paper for my stash? Which one will look better?

Do these all work together? The more I, I feel like I have more time to piddle a little bit and make those decisions. Because I have more time overall in my schedule. Versus I only have, you know, a shorter amount of time and I wanna get a layout [00:37:00] done. So I just want those design decisions made for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any aspects of your stash, that you consider like, totally disorganized or maybe super cluttered? Um, like, 'cause you know, there's lots of stuff you wanna get rid of or, yeah. Like, is there, are there any secret corners?

Alissa Williams: Not really. So I, in 2024, I'm a librarian. I am supposed to be organized, Jennifer. Um, in 2024 I did Ali's Stash class, um, which is awesome. And I had also gone to, um, Stamp Joy and thought I was gonna be a card maker, but that didn't happen. We've talked about that. But, um. At Stamp Joy, I learned about this, um, the Color My Life app, and that was the missing piece for me to finish organizing my stamps and my dies.

And so that has really helped me. I do, the one thing that I would say is moderately quote [00:38:00] disorganized, but I kind of shudder to say that it is disorganized. Because they're all together. Is I just need to finish cataloging my dies and putting them in the system. Like I have the pieces for the system. I just haven't finished putting the system together and putting them into Color My Life.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. That's fair. Yeah. I think that's sometimes a challenge when you do sit down to start putting together a system. And then maybe you have to stop, or maybe you have everything cataloged, but then you get new stuff and they're like, oh, well now I have to, like, take the time of, you know, taking outta the packaging and putting on magnetic sheets or whatever you need to do to, to, to make it part of your system.

And that's, a whole nother, you know, endeavor. That takes time.

Alissa Williams: Yeah, and I, I should, I actually should put that on my list to finish up like in April, May, June. I'm gonna make myself a note about that.

Jennifer Wilson: That sounds good. So what is your plan for using more of your stash this year? You already mentioned that you're gonna, like, if you see some Shimelle layouts that you [00:39:00] like, you're gonna try to, to grab more things. How are you going to your stash to guide your plans for what stories you're gonna tell and what layouts you're gonna make, and maybe even put some in your Project Life.

Alissa Williams: So I, I think the virtual crops that they're doing at Let's Gather and Glue, I think that helps me use my stash. Because even though they're showing you the product they're using, I want to use my stash for that. And so, you know, that is inspiration to do those challenges with my stash. Um, and to see how other people are interpreting the challenges with their stash.

So that is one method. My Story kits, I have this 2026 story I album idea thing that I'm trying to do. And then I also, there are newer. I say newer because, you know, there are kits. I haven't un unbroken kits. I'll say. That I, that I wanna just go through the full, like, I wanna watch the class [00:40:00] content and do a full, like, okay, these are the stories I wanna tell with this kit.

Okay, I'm done. Break it up, put it in the stash. So I, I that I'm planning to do a little more towards the end of the year with the Story kits. I'm trying to get a few more page projects off my list before I focus on those a little bit. But, yeah, I mean, I'm not, like I wanna use it. I'm, like I said, I'm more interested in trying to use these Story kits and some of my Elle's Studio kits up.

I'm more interested in using that stuff up than I am in like my paper necessarily or anything. Um, I'm not buying a lot of paper. I mean, the old paper I'm buying comes in these kits that I buy, so, you know, that's fine. Um. Maybe I'll be, and I, I guess I will say I was inspired with some of my, Let's Create Together.

Like there was one layout I particularly liked, and I did actually, I made it three different times with three different collection kits that I had in my stash. And like used up [00:41:00] pieces of my stash in putting those stories together. So I have used like the Let's create together layouts and stuff as inspiration.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Alissa Williams: And used up some of my stash with that.

Jennifer Wilson: So, okay. Tell me if this is accurate. It sounds like having kits that you've purchased in whatever form, lay on you more than just having a stash of supplies that are, you know, organized.

Alissa Williams: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Do you want that to impact your future's purchasing or, um, does that influence that at all or do you, are you getting where I'm heading here?

Alissa Williams: I mean, maybe I, I guess the point is I'm not.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you wanna become a stash based scrapbooker?

Alissa Williams: Well, yeah, because I'm not buying those kits anymore. So I'm using them up to complete projects. Like I could have said, oh, I'm gonna do this 2026 stories album. I need new product for that. And I'm like, no, you don't. You have all the product you need to make that [00:42:00] project work. And so, It's fine that I have these things. But I'm consciously trying to use them to tell my stories and turn to those first versus new stuff. And then, I mean, like I said, the only kits I'm getting this year, like I'm not doing Crop and Create anymore. The only kits I'm getting is I'll get four kits this year from Let's Create Together.

And typically she uses. So like in Crop and Create, you might get an entire collection kit and you would have half that collection kit left over.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes,

Alissa Williams: Whereas with Let's Create Together, you maybe have one sheet like you do not have the excess leftover supplies that you have with Crop and Create. So like, and I am, I have

stopped in the last two years, I have stopped saving so much scraps. Like I, if I'm like, eh, this [00:43:00] pattern's nice, but I don't love it. I it into the recycle it goes. I recycle way more of my paper scraps than I save.

Jennifer Wilson: I, I feel like you have a sense of clarity. Would you have like the, I don't know, the motivation and momentum to go along with that?

Alissa Williams: Um, well, I'm sort of a little meh about scrapbooking right now because I don't have a whole lot of stories. And I need to kind of, I, there are some stories I definitely wanna tell. Like I know I have some stash for these stories that are waiting for me to tell. So I'm ready to, to kind of figure that out and kind of figure out a plan.

And I, like, I want to, at my crop this weekend get a good start on this 2026 Stories album. 'Cause I haven't done anything for that this year, except for think about a few of the stories. So I'd like to start putting that together so I feel a little more engaged with that. And [00:44:00] then, you know, we'll just kind of see.

But I feel like my purchasing right now in the fact that I have made literally zero purchases this year. Like, okay, my, my spring kit shipped. Well, I'm excited to see what the layouts look like and I'm excited to see what stories I can tell with that. And that feels like the right pace. Whereas like, I'm not trying to do all the Shimelle stuff because that was too much.

It's too much volume. Is that what you were asking?

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I mean, do you, have you been in a place where you were meh about scrapbooking before?

Alissa Williams: 2018.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, what was 2018?

Alissa Williams: 2018 was like, I hadn't scrapbooked in, I hadn't scrapbooked all year. And I, I came to the first, um, Simple Scrapper retreat and I felt like an imposter. And like that, that was when I got really reinvigorated with my hobby in end of 2018, early 2019.

Jennifer Wilson: So there is a real potential that going to this, the scrapbook weekend is going to give you that boost that you need.

Alissa Williams: Yes, but it's also like, I don't [00:45:00] have a lot of, you know, like I, like I said, I just, I, I'm not, I'm the. One, the volume of stories is lower. And so I can be more selective I guess. And two, like I'm not doing crop and like I used to come to this crop weekend with a Crop and Create box to do. Well, I've got like three layouts from Crop and Create to finish.

Because I went rogue on most of it. 'cause I didn't like the stuff they were doing, which is another reason I quit. I don't have my, it kind of annoys me that I don't have my Let's Create Together kit yet to do the timing didn't work for that one. And that's fine. I'll, I'll be able to do that, you know, in April.

'Cause the class isn't actually till the end of March. Um, so like I just don't have a lot of unfinished projects that I'm working on. Like, I just, I don't have this sense of urgency. I feel like I'm able to keep up and, yeah, so I need to kind of get back in the flow. I'm not in a flow right now, and maybe now is a time where I do pull out these Story kits and get reinvigorated by.

Telling these different types of stories and [00:46:00] whatnot. And I have like some childhood stories I wanna tell, and I definitely know I'll use my stash for that. I don't know, I mean, it's just, I'm in a lull right now and that's okay. Um, I just, I don't, like, even when I was making my plan and my goals for 2026, it's like, okay, well I know I'm gonna do birthday layouts for each of my kids.

I have these couple ongoing things, but like, I don't have, typically I have like two to three album projects. Well, I don't, I have like two album projects I wanted, or maybe only one. I have an album project I wanna do an extended story I wanna do. But like, I just, there's just, the volume just isn't there.

The way it's been in the past, I guess is, and that's just is a weird place to be in. And so trying to figure that out.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and yeah, we all go through different seasons and I think that's just a, a natural part of the ebb and flow of both life and then being a documenter of life. And, you know, I think, uh, we always talk about, um the shifts that happen when you do have [00:47:00] teenagers and eventually you'll be an empty nester.

And, you know, how does that reflect on kind of turning more inward into your own stories and the way that you want to live, you know, in the decades to come? So, I think you're, you're in a place of, of unfolding, I guess if we're gonna make it, you know, abstract.

Alissa Williams: Oh, that's unfolding. That's interesting. Well, and I mean, yeah, it's like my cousin has these young boys and she's been sending me some pictures. And I was like, well, you know, I haven't actually, there's like a story I wanna tell about them, that family anyway. So I was like, oh, I'll use these pictures that she sent me for this page.

And it's like, oh my gosh, I have reached the place of where I'm scrapbooking other people's children. Like, okay. Um, and that's okay. And like I said, I wanna, I have a few childhood stories I wanna get documented. I feel like I have space to tell like what Stacy, Julian calls, like those connected stories or,

you [00:48:00] know, um, stories through the, like, we, like this is our first year not selling Girl Scout cookies in a decade. And so now it's time to do like a two page spread or an extended story about our cookie selling through the years and the different things we did and whatnot. So like, I'm also, I've, I've need to make a list of some of those.

Um. I don't wanna call 'em more important, but like bigger stories that have taken time over the years to unfold. So, you know, I've got, I've got those types of stories to tell versus the, you know, here's the dance recital from last week. My kids never did dance. No, I've never been to a dance recital that's like, here's last week's archery tournament.

You know, that's more like us. Um, so it's a different type of scrapbooking I feel like. If that makes sense. And I wanna, like, I made a whole list of people pages, like there's a bunch of people that I wanna make sure are reflected in our scrapbooks.

Jennifer Wilson: I, I'm excited for you.[00:49:00]

Alissa Williams: Thanks and like, well, and like all these other projects are coming to an end too, because like for the last 10 years I have done layouts. So my girls have gone to a private school, K8 eight, private school. And so they've often had the same teachers at this, you know, like when they were in fourth grade.

They both have the same teacher. And so I have waited then with my daughter being two years behind. My youngest being two years behind, I've waited until she hit that grade. And then I do like, here's both of them with the fourth grade teacher. Here's both of them with the fifth grade teacher and.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Alissa Williams: Yeah.

But like this is the last year in May when I take that picture of my youngest with the eighth grade homeroom teacher this, and I do that layout, like I'm done with those stories. You know, like it's a weird feeling to to, to kind of close, close that chapter of these teacher layouts that I've been doing.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, but I mean, also a sense of satisfaction too when you've, you know, followed something through. Um, particularly like we, I know I've created [00:50:00] things where I'm like, okay, I have this vision. I'm gonna work on this over the next 10 years. Like, here's the foundation. I just have to keep adding stuff to it. And sometimes that happens and sometimes it just doesn't. Um, maybe 'cause you don't even like the products anymore. But, so I, I just wanna applaud you for, for that, that sense of, of follow through and commitment to it as well.

Alissa Williams: Oh, well, it's more of the.

Jennifer Wilson: End up being some of the most meaningful stories though when you, when you can, capture those things over time.

Alissa Williams: Yes. And I mean, I have a whole section in my Library of Memories album that is called Teachers. And it's, you know, it's the girls teachers. And actually it's the girls I have, I went back like they were, I went back. I didn't start this like when they were in preschool, but I have done each of the girls preschool teachers.

Then all of their K through eight teachers. I've done pages for each of those. Because they've been important. Um, it's a little different when you go to a private school, a religious, private school, you know, we go to church with them, we see them, we have a little, we have a different type [00:51:00] of relationship with them.

And of course, you know, so many of them have been there through the years and they've watched the girls grow up. And, my daughter, my oldest daughter's kindergarten teacher, ended up being our piano teacher. And like, just these special relationships. And so, um, but I definitely wanna do more people layouts, um, this year.

And I, and that will likely be in part of stash busting. And I wanna do, um, like I said, some of these more connected or longer stories over time.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, yeah, I can't wait to see what you create and to find out, you know, the, in the new inspiration that you have after you come back from this weekend. And, uh, yeah, I'm, I'm excited to see what's next for you.

Alissa Williams: Well, thanks. I am too.

Jennifer Wilson: Alissa, can you share where we can find you online? Um, and if our listeners want to follow you.

Alissa Williams: Sure. I am on Instagram as Alissa recommends. I primarily post about my books, um, that I'm reading, book [00:52:00] recommendations. And I sometimes do Thursday three. And sometimes in my stories I'll post about a layout, but I don't post a ton of scrapbooking stuff. But I, you can request a follow me on Instagram if you want to.

At Alissa recommends

Jennifer Wilson: Awesome. Thanks so much for spending time with me. I always love our conversations.

Alissa Williams: I enjoy them as well. Thank you.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Cassie Wiscarson: [00:00:00] It's those little moments that I think add up to our lives actually being rich and enjoyable. And those are what I want to focus on. Versus sometimes the big stuff or the sad stuff. Which still make it into my scrapbook, but I think finding joy in those little moments is what makes my life more full and brings me more joy.​

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 328. In this episode, I'm interviewing Cassie Wiscarson for the My Way Series. My Way is all about celebrating the unique ways memory keepers get things done.

We're excited to have Cassie as the March featured artist at Simple Scrapper.

Hey, Cassie. Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Cassie Wiscarson: Thanks. I'm so excited to be here today.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, I love chatting about scrapbooking and I can't wait to hear more about your [00:01:00] hobby. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, of course. So I live up in Washington State. I've been married, oh my gosh, for like 23 years this year now. And I have one daughter and several dogs. I think currently we are at three dogs.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Yeah. My husband and I were just talking yesterday how we realized we've known each other for 20 years this, this past month, and I'm like, how is that even possible? So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, I've now determined that it's his fault how I've turned out, because I've been with him longer than I have not so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes, yes. So I always like to ask our guests, um, a few icebreaker questions. So do you have a favorite recent layout or project?

Cassie Wiscarson: I have several. I really love the one I just shared for, um, Pear Tree Cut Files. It was just a really fun, I did some mixed media on the background. And I just love their giant cut files. Then I also have one that I did last month for, um, [00:02:00] Scrapbook Generation that used the Heart and Home Collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio, and I had a whole bunch of like fun paper strips and hand stitching. And so those, I just love how they just turned out.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I, yeah. Your, your work is beautiful. Of course. Let's just add another question in here. What is one tip you have for someone who wants to use more cut files, but maybe like gets frustrated with either the part on the computer or the, you know, backing it with papers? What, what's your one tip for cut files?

Cassie Wiscarson: So I don't actually use my computer for backing it. I literally just glue it onto the back of the cut file and then fussy cut around it. Usually while I'm watching something on my computer.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Honestly, like trying to do it in the computer just sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. So I'm like, I'll just go old school with that one.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, like I, I started doing it that way and I'm like, is this how everybody's doing it or are they like, you know, actually tracing and expanding and trying to make shapes that are the exact size. I'm like, that seems really [00:03:00] fussy. So I've learned that people do it all different ways, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm definitely not one to trace it 'cause I'm like that's just an extra step. And undoubtedly I will draw an on my cut file, so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Let's not try that one. And then I've only used it in the computer, like if I'm cut backing the whole cut file. So I had one last month with that was a whole bunch of words and I only used one paper for the background.

So that one I went in and changed up the cut file and removed cut lines that I didn't need so I could just cut it or like cut one big background.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice, nice. Now, the other question that I always ask, is there something new that you're excited to do, use or try either in scrapbooking or in your everyday life?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, this year I am actually trying to join more online scrapbooking events. I've.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Really missed like any of the in-person events. And I can't travel right now, um, due to some family things going on. So I'm like, I need that time where I can like block it off on my calendar and just sit in my scrap room and create and have that social [00:04:00] aspect. And.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm really looking forward to, um, my husband splurged and let me get an X tool, uh, diode laser last fall. So I wanna play some more with that so I can cut different wood embellishments and acrylic. And like, we just spent three weekends cutting and designing shelves for my scrap room with it. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. That's so cool. Yeah. We'll have to link that up in the show notes. That sounds like, you know, uh, quite a fun toy.

Cassie Wiscarson: It is a fun toy and it was a splurge. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I will be home more. And then my husband just discovered how great it was over this last project.

Jennifer Wilson: It's always fun when you can share that excitement, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, yeah. He thought it was cool and then he, it was intimidating him, and now think he's using it more than I am.

Jennifer Wilson: That's funny. That's funny. I love it. So this is a My Way episode 'cause you're our featured artist from March, 2026. Yeah, A selection of your layouts inspired our recent [00:05:00] collection of, uh, sketches and templates for our members. Um, you'll have a chance to see you inside the community as well. Hopefully you can join some of our crops and, and spend time at our events and, uh, get some of that, you know, person time that you really need. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Jennifer Wilson: So what would you say to a non scrapbooker about why you love this hobby? What keeps you coming back?

Cassie Wiscarson: I actually have loved photography since I was in high school. And I love that with this hobby, it's a way to like document and have those pictures printed out. But then I can also tell a story behind it and I've just always kind of been an artsy person. So I love the creative aspect of just playing with paper and trying different things and it just brings me joy. So that's what keeps bringing me back to it. Like I don't see myself ever giving it up.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. So I'm curious, when you were in high school, did you have a chance to like learn how to develop film? I couldn't fit that class in my schedule and I was so sad.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I actually started my high school, um, in [00:06:00] like the photography classes and took all the photography classes. Became their TA was on yearbook and that was all in the dark room.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: I actually convinced, um, my husband's actually my high school sweetheart, so his parents had a windowless room in their basement. And I convinced them to let me turn that into a dark room. So I even had a dark room there for a while. my husband joined the military and we moved away.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, but no, that's so cool. Way, way to go.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, it was, it was really fun. 'Cause actually one of her, my mother-in-law's, clients donated, had like a whole dark room set up to get rid of.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Cassie Wiscarson: Gave it to her. And so I was able just to set it all up there and still like, do it all with film. 'Cause this was all pre, like before digital became big.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's so fun. So what led you to scrapbooking as a creative hobby? You've always had this love of photography, but what led to, you know, what we think of as scrapbooking today?

Cassie Wiscarson: I always loved photography. Um. [00:07:00] Kind of around the same time that, right, right after my husband and I got married, he joined the military. And so he was gone for several months of training. His mom was kind of doing like a family scrapbook, um, as a gift. And I had gotten like a really old style, like all solid paper, like cut apart scrapbook from my sister. I was like, okay, like let me just play around with it and then quickly became obsessed. So like my first album was a whole book of all the letters that my husband was sending me back from basic training

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's so sweet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Back in like 2004. So like there was no email, like they don't have access to that.

This was barely flip phones, right? Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: It was all old school paper pen. So that was my first album. Quickly moved into my wedding album and it has never stopped.

Jennifer Wilson: That's really cool. That makes me think about how, and I thought about this a lot recently, how the two thousands were just such a rapid [00:08:00] evolution of technology and, and how it was part of our lives. Like that's the whole scrapbook page in itself, I think.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, like, um, my husband and I are actually rewatching Veronica Mars right now. Just.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because we needed something mindless. And like seeing the flip phones, my husband's like, I don't even remember them being that expensive. Like, and now it's like so expensive for a new phone and I'm just like, oh my gosh. Like this is when we met and got married. And just crazy to see like how far things have come and it feels like a really short time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. No doubt. I know when I moved here to Illinois, I had a Blackberry. And, uh, yeah, that was, and then things, I think things changed very quickly after that. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. Like I, I remember like, and we lived in Germany for three years.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh,

Cassie Wiscarson: So the phones were really different over there and we.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I bet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Came back and I'm like, oh yeah, now we need, like, we wanted a phone with a keyboard. 'Cause like would be make it so much easier to text on. And, uh, it just, I almost wanna [00:09:00] laugh. I almost wish I had all of the old phones just to like, take a picture of progression of how we had to go super small with phones and now we have like super gigantic phones.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. Well, I'm sure we can find pictures online too, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. I'd have to even remember what we had. It was, it was a crazy time.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. So what sizes or formats are you typically creating in today?

Cassie Wiscarson: For my most part, I scrapbook in 12 by 12. And that's just like my standard everyday like albums. Um, I do create a monthly like recap album, kind of think of it like a Week In The Life or like Project Life.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: But I don't set myself up for like a set week, like I, it's just a month recap. So I can use as many pages as I want, and that's in a six by eight pocket page book.

Jennifer Wilson: And when you're creating your 12 by 12 layouts, are they usually single page or sometimes or often double page.

Cassie Wiscarson: Usually single page. I just like that square format of 12 by 12 pages. And, [00:10:00] usually I don't have like big enough events that like, go across multiple pages.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like if I'm scrapbooking Christmas, each page is gonna be different. It's just how it is.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I've also found over the years that I rarely have enough room on my desk. I, I love two page spreads. But I don't have enough room on my desk because of all the other stuff that's like falling over and all the supplies you've gotten out. And I'm like, I barely have room for just that 12 by 12 canvas sometimes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah. me, the visual aspect of the 12 by 12 is just appealing to my eye.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Cassie Wiscarson: Done the two page spreads. But like things are then like spaced out kind of weird and.

Jennifer Wilson: True.

Cassie Wiscarson: And honestly, like my daughter's now, oh my gosh, she turns 19 this year. I don't have a lot of pictures of like one day.

Jennifer Wilson: True. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I barely get her in pictures as it is.

So, and nobody wants to see a two page spread of like 30 pictures of my cute puppy. I mean, he's cute, but we'll just do one picture on a page.[00:11:00]

Jennifer Wilson: I get it. I get it. I have cats, so they are, uh, much more prominent in my phone than photos of anything else nowadays, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: It doesn't help that the whole family sends me pictures of our three dogs sleeping throughout the day.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Jealous while I'm at work. But really all we have is cute dog sleeping pictures.

Jennifer Wilson: All right, so you're doing the six by eight kind of recaps. You're doing 12 by 12 layouts. Are there any, like other projects or activities that you're focused on or that you'll know you'll, you'll jump into when that time comes around?

Cassie Wiscarson: Those are kind of my main focus. I, I keep thinking maybe doing like a, um, another, almost like December Daily. But I focus more on the stories because I don't do something every day in December. So it's more like.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: My Top 25 things for December. It hasn't like, felt right the last few years. So I plan am on doing it at some point now that my daughter's like grown and things are changing, but maybe this year, maybe not.

We'll [00:12:00] see.

Jennifer Wilson: One of the thing I've been doing it like in terms of top 25 for a long time, and.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I've always done it that way, but I'm.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I can't do that every day.

Jennifer Wilson: I like it because then I can really start in November with, you know, here's my wrapping paper and, you know, here's the things that we're planning. And I feel like I can really get a head start.

Cassie Wiscarson: Mm-hmm.

Jennifer Wilson: Before things get too crazy in December when then all of a sudden I don't have time anymore.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, yeah. And I, I, I've had a fake tree now. Gosh, my whole marriage, um

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Due to moving. Um, and I'm like, I put that thing up sometimes in November, depending on my mood. Um, so like my daughter really loves to help with that. And this year, based upon timing, uh, 'cause she is living with my mom as a caregiver. I'm like, we don't know when we're gonna have time to actually like all get together. That thing was up like the beginning of November.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm like, I need it to be flexible.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, that's, that's for sure. Yeah. And, and really in [00:13:00] general, there's. Uh, there's not always a huge place for rigidity in my opinion anymore. We have the flexibility to make these decisions. We have all the creative options. Um, we can do things the way that we want to do them.

Um, and there's really, like, there's no that, I think like there's so much less of the pressure to scrapbook at a certain way.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. Like there's no right way. There's no wrong way. And I feel like all of the old style like rules have kind of gone out the window. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: You can just do whatever makes you happy with it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, and, and embrace that. And whenever you doubt yourself, just, you know, let someone else remind you, accept that permission to, you know, if you think you're breaking a rule, it's just make your own new rule. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. It's always like, and if something doesn't go right, just pivot and change your plan. And that's what I do kind of with my monthly album. Some months are super busy, like if we have a vacation, I will do whole six, eight by eight, like collage of photos just.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Extra, extra add-ins because that month was busy. If [00:14:00] a month is slow or really depressing, there might not be as much. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Just kind of be flexible.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly. So for someone who hasn't seen your work yet, how would you describe your style in three words? Um, because you already mentioned cut files, you mentioned stitching, so I'm thinking we have a lot of details here.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I would definitely say like graphic, like I use big shapes. So that's either like my cut files or big pieces of pattern paper. But I definitely call it kind of graphic, colorful. I love those bright, colorful collections. And also kind of photo focused. I feel like my photos like jump off the page even if it's an everyday moment. I like them to be the star of my layouts.

Jennifer Wilson: These days, are you taking most of your photos with your phone or are you still using a big camera or another camera?

Cassie Wiscarson: I pretty much exclusively use my phone and I have, and I have a big camera. I all of the bells and whistles. I have determined the best camera is whichever [00:15:00] one you have with you.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly, yes. Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: And I am much more of an everyday moment, scrapbooker lately. So I'm like, I need to focus on those little moments. That means I have my phone with me, not, I don't plan to take my big camera. Even on vacation lately, I haven't even taken it. I just use my phone.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I always, I'm thinking about like the logistics of do I wanna really be carrying this with me? And it's, yeah, it's usually on the, the slowest least interesting type of things where we're driving there. So that I don't have to worry about the, the space or carrying it or anything like that. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah, and I feel like by the time I order a new camera, it's already outdated with how.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Great our cell phone cameras are. 'Cause

Jennifer Wilson: Very true.

Cassie Wiscarson: I tend to have one a, like a latest, a newest phone just for the camera. And I'm like, this, this, you know, DSLR with the extra battery pack and all fancy stuff is like super heavy.

So. I use my big camera more for like, I did it [00:16:00] for my daughter's senior pictures and like more for like events like that. Than just like if we go to the zoo. I'm just gonna use my phone.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. So are there some products, tools, or techniques that you use most often? If we were to flip through your pages, what are some of the things that we're gonna see?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, you would definitely see cut files. Um, a lot of stitching, either hand stitching or machine stitching. And really that just depends on how much time and effort I'm willing to put into it. Because let's be honest, hand stitching takes a while, but it looks amazing. So like, do I have the time to sit here and do this? Over the last year I did a lot more hybrid scrapping. So that would be purchasing like digital collections and printing them out. And so I then have a paper collection to scrap with. Which really stretches your supplies way farther because I can just print on demand and cut on demand. And then also quite a bit of like mixed media, but like simple mixed media. So like some ink blending [00:17:00] or a little bit of texture paste through stencils. So it's not like super messy.

Jennifer Wilson: Just, just a little bit. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: like I still have Control control over it a little bit.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Dipping my to in, have to have control.

Jennifer Wilson: I understand that. You were, when you were talking about hybrid, I'm curious what led you to doing more of that?

Cassie Wiscarson: So, I mean, I've done it. I've done digital scrapbooking over the years as different on parts of different design teams and been asked to do hybrid. And then, um, oh gosh, a year ago, last October, so October, 2024, I joined the Traci Reed design team.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Cassie Wiscarson: She just designed digital kits.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So that kind of, instead of dipping my toe in, I just full out jump.

So I have a 12 by 12 printer and was printing on card stock and like, I just loved having so many options of so many different collections. And then, um, since she also ends up like designing for like Echo Park and I think another [00:18:00] company. I end up now seeing her collections in traditional print anyways. And I'm like, I just still love them.

Like I just loved her designs and that's actually who I'm using for my six by eight album this year. She has a whole story foundations kit of all the cards. And so I can just print my cards and change 'em up however often I want.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you find that you scrapbook differently at all when you're printing hybrid supplies versus, you know, using some a physical supply? Like, are you using more of something because previously you would only have one of them.

Cassie Wiscarson: Not necessarily more. I feel like I'm more intentional when I print my hybrid supplies than when I'm buying my traditional supplies.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, so you don't have as many extras.

Cassie Wiscarson: In theory, I have more extra die cuts because, um, hers are like on sheets. So I literally just print them and cut them like a whole sheet of dye cuts on my Silhouette at one time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I can do 'em individually, but honestly, like she makes it super easy that I can just pull it up in my [00:19:00] software print and cut. And I'm like, I'd rather have extras than spend the time to like, no, I just want this one flower or this one phrase. Like, whatever. I'll just have those extras. But paper, I feel like I'm more intentional on, yes, those are my favorite. Versus when I'm buying a collection, I'm like, Ooh, I like enough of that whole collection. I'm just gonna buy the whole collection.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like, here's the whole paper pack. Ooh, I need some embellishments.

Here's two or three packs of embellishments. And so I feel like I have less on hand of hybrid supplies just because I know I can go back in and print if I decide, I wanna now a full sheet of this paper instead of maybe a smaller piece.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that and I love that you also can scale the patterns down to whatever scale you need too. That makes it extra fun, I think.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah, and I love that you can scale. Um, also with Traci Reed she makes 'em in different sizes in her, like when she releases them. So that, honestly, I love the simplicity of it. Like I'm all for Photoshop and adjusting things, and other times I'm like, [00:20:00] can I just not have to think about it and print them all? And so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Almost all of her papers also come on, like the smaller pieces and cards come on PDFs. So you can just open that up and print it and so it doesn't like require any Photoshop or trying to adjust it and make it bigger or smaller. I'm like, I can just print these and have them and cut them apart.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. I love that how she's made it so accessible for, for every type of scrapbooker. Even those who, who don't have a lot of digital experience. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah. Or tech, like, let's be honest.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Some of us are not great at tech. I mean, I am. But I, I know a lot of people in, in the world that are not. So I'm like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Let's just keep it simple and make it easy for everyone.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any trends that are peaking your interest right now?

Cassie Wiscarson: Definitely I'm diving more into adding mixed media to my pages. I kind of went out of it for a little bit just because I hated the mess on my desk. But I, again, splurged. Um, apparently I'm in my splurging era of I [00:21:00] want stuff that makes me happy. So I have a magnetic glass mat from Glass Board Studio. And so I find the cleanup on that is just so much easier. I had like a smaller, like the Tim Holtz mixed media mat.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: But then it didn't like sit comfortably on my desk, so it didn't cover up enough of my workspace, and so I didn't feel like I could always leave it on my desk. And then the thought of pulling that out and then if I wanted to use stencils, I had to pull out my magnetic, uh, 12 by 12 pad to hold the stencil in place.

I'm like, this is just too much work. It's just easier to skip it. And now with my gin ginormous, like this thing is 35 inches by 24 inches. Like I got one, like almost the biggest size. It can just sit on my desk all the time. And so now I'm finding myself reaching for that mixed media because it's just now so easy to clean up. And

Jennifer Wilson: hold

Cassie Wiscarson: stencils in place and hold different papers down while I'm doing the mixed media.

Jennifer Wilson: So I feel like I'm, I like missed a class somewhere. I don't know that I'd ever, I've ever used a magnet to hold [00:22:00] down a stencil. I've always annoyingly used my hand and prayed that I was gonna keep it in place. Um, I.

Cassie Wiscarson: Uh, uh, so, uh, a few years ago when I was on the Paper Issues team, they got these like 12 by 12 magnetic mats, and I forget who made them. Um, and I was like, oh, yes, definitely. So holding it down with magnets was like a game changer in the sense that, especially if you're trying to blend different colors through a stencil. Like now you're not having to worry about moving it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: But the mat was the same size as the 12 by 12 paper. So if you're trying to like go off the edge, you're literally having to move your paper and the stencil and like, now is it sitting right? Is there gonna be a crease? And honestly like I was like, okay, great, like a glass mat. Perfect. Like I, now I don't have to worry about cleanup. Like how do I hold the stencil down if I'm not wanting to just rely on using my hands?

Like am I taping it down like that's, I can't tape it on top of paper, then it's gonna rip the paper. 'cause that's just my luck.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah, of course.

Cassie Wiscarson: This magnetic glass thing is [00:23:00] literally a game changer if you're in the mixed media.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. Yes. 'cause there's, I feel like I love mixed media, but there's so many barriers between me and a satisfying result, so I just don't do it.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah. And so I was like, okay, I wanna play for a while. And then I was like, okay, this is too much. Like I just need to kind of keep it simple. And then I was like, okay. I really want to play more with it. Because I have it, so I'm like, let's use it more. Like I have all of the Tim Holtz, Distress Oxides, like I want to use them. But I'm like, how can I make it so I'm not pulling stuff out?

Because clearing off the space for to pull out a glass mat is just like, I don't wanna have to clean my desk in the middle of a project just to pull out a glass mat.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, certainly. Yeah. Uh, I love that. We will definitely link that up. It sounds like something I might need to put on my next Christmas list, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And they come in different patterns and, and yeah, it's, dangerous. So look at your own caution. Because [00:24:00] I quickly fell in love and would not stop thinking about it I ordered it.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. So this next question is one that the answer is usually mixed media. So is there something in scrapbooking that you've decided is just not for you? I would say at least 80% of the answers I receive is mixed media. So what is the thing that is not for you?

Cassie Wiscarson: So like the old style, like vintage type stuff. And I wanna say it's like Studio 45, like that sort of like graphic background. Like that style is just not for me. And even like vintage lines, as much as I love sometimes the look of them. I know I don't reach for them in my stash. I am much more bright, colorful, even if they're like more earthy tones of like Simple Stories, have some that are not vintage, but you know, not super bright. And I'm just like, those are what I reach for, not vintage at all. And also.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Don't really do a lot of like smaller, uh, mini albums. [00:25:00] Even if I'm doing a vacation, those are just gonna be 12 by 12 layouts. I don't find myself like creating a whole little mini album.

Jennifer Wilson: What led you to doing six by eight for your monthly recaps?

Cassie Wiscarson: So I tried, um, back when I was on the Paper Issues team, they have like a 52 favorites, so it would be like a way to document each week. And I've tried many different formats, so I've done like a Rolodex. So that one was kind of fun. But I didn't end up loving it just because like displaying, it's kind of hard. Um, I've tried.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Four by four and that just felt too small. And then I was like, well, I have some, like six by eight stuff, let's try it. And the ease of being able to slip in pockets, because I've done like the Elle's Studio, monthly kits before too, where they have all those cards. I love the ease and like I can add my journaling. And so I can either keep it as simple or embellished as I want. And that can change on each month.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: So maybe some months I want to spend longer. If I feel behind, I can literally just slide in pictures and cards. [00:26:00] Well I glue them together 'cause I don't like them, I like them to line up. Um.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: it's not as simple as just sliding it in. I'm like, oh no, everything has to be lined up. Um. it's just easy and it's a great way to be able to look back since I've been doing it now, since like 2019.

It's a great way to look back at like previous years. And it forces me to focus on everyday moments that maybe sometimes you don't think about. And like maybe that wouldn't necessarily always rank taking a picture of. And now I find myself being more intentional with that.

Jennifer Wilson: So if you started that in 2019, that means you started in the, uh, square corner era. Because when we were doing rounded corners for pocket pages, not only were we adhering them back to back, we had to rero all the corners so they would match up. Um, so you didn't see weird corners peeking out?

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, oh no. My original, like I did a year of Project Life, like.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Cassie Wiscarson: Traditional product, product, Project, Life rounded corners, it all, um.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I did that [00:27:00] photo a day, like legit, took a photo a day, one year when my husband was deployed, when my daughter was small. And oh my God, the pressure of that, like if I was sick and my daughter was sick, to find something to take a picture of, like it was intense.

Like.

Jennifer Wilson: I bet. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Have to be find something and it was all the rounded corners and no corner rounder, like completely matched.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: The corners. And that would irritate me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm

Jennifer Wilson: So, so you have been there.

Cassie Wiscarson: Now I'm like, I'm doing square corners. Everything lines up. I glue the card and the picture together front to back, and then trim if there's anything sticking out.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. I do appreciate that. That's where we've, we've landed.

So where and when can we typically find you scrapbooking? And has that changed over time? You know, as your daughter's grown, things have evolved in your own life.

Cassie Wiscarson: I used to scrapbook when she was little, like a lot more like nap time, bedtime. I would then be scrapbooking. Um, now I get I scrapbook Saturdays. And [00:28:00] maybe an evening or two a week. Um, so. That's only changed, that's more of a recent development. I used to do it still a lot more when even she was in high school.

But, um, my mom is having some health issues. So like those are, I have Saturday at home, that's my only full day at home each week. So Saturdays are a hundred percent my scrapbooking time. And then if I'm have energy one or two nights a week, um, I come home for dinner. And then would scrapbook then.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Yeah. I mean, this hobby isn't just about the memories. It's not just about the craftiness. It's about, you know, what we need to do to feed ourselves as we are existing in the world. And taking care of the things that we need to take care of. It's the, you know, put your own oxygen mask on first. And I think for many of us, that's scrapbooking is the oxygen mask.

Cassie Wiscarson: Very much so. Like I have, I took, um, like last September, things were really crazy and so I didn't scrapbook very much found myself really missing it.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: For my own mental health, I need to make [00:29:00] that a priority. The creativity really just brings me peace and joy and I enjoy it. So I'm like I, that is kind of like the, I need to wear the oxygen mask first.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: I've been very intentional in 2026 of making that a priority.

Jennifer Wilson: Did you, has it been harder, like, like. You know, I hear a lot from scrapbookers that, uh, putting themselves first is sometimes a challenge. Because they feel like they have all these other obligations and they're just, they're not a priority. So I'm curious, kind of, has that been a challenge for you or have you evolved past that?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, I think this year I've, um, kind of evolved past it, but

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like I put scrapbooking on kind of more of the back burner and I had like stepped down from some design teams. Um, another one had like given me the flexibility while I was kind of adjusting with, um, my mom's stuff, to, to create as I had [00:30:00] time or energy. And so I really appreciated that. Because it did take me a couple months to like really get things kind of squared in over at her house. And feel like we're in a nice routine now where I can take the time for myself. Um, with some help for my therapist who's like, no, you have to take time for yourself. And I was like I did have to put some like limits on how much time I was over there helping my daughter and care for my mom. And like, no, I do have to have time at home. And the crafting part of that is what keeps my sanity for work and the stuff over there and everything else that I needed it for my own mental health. And so it like it has to be a priority.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, yeah. I love that you've, that you've figured that out for yourself. And I think that's something that's so important these days. Um, that we pay attention to what it is that we really need before it gets to a place where, uh, our own, our own, you know, physical and mental health is deteriorating because of it.[00:31:00]

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And I think as, as moms like, it's.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: Easy to put everything else to that front of that list.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm notorious for too. Like work comes first and then it's like my daughter and my husband and the kid and the dogs and my mom. And it's so hard to be like, no, I need to do this for myself. That, I'm still, it's still a work in progress, but that's why I'm like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah,

Cassie Wiscarson: One day, one day a week. I can just be like, it's my day.

Jennifer Wilson: That's wonderful. Um, tell me about organization and you, are you best friends with the organization or not so much?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, very much so. I am, I like to joke that I'm maybe a little bit OCD and very much like a type A personality of everything has its home. Everything needs to be in its home. And I literally have a clean desk after every project. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: If I finish a layout, everything gets put away. Everything's organized.

My collections are together in like these cute little like plastic folders, they are [00:32:00] labeled. Me and my label maker are also best friends. Um, embellishments are organized, like everything has its home. And having a clean and organized scrap space literally brings me joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any particular like strategies or solutions that have worked really well for you over the years?

Cassie Wiscarson: Definitely labeling everything. And like I am one who likes to reach for a collection, but once I'm done with that collection, I break it apart and keep it by color.

So some things in my scrap room are organized, like literally by color, like all my, like labels and little embellishments are organized by color once I'm done with them as like part of a collection. And so, it's really a learning curve of what works for you. And honestly, like I think creating my scrapbooking space and organizing it is a whole nother hobby to scrapbooking. I am constantly changing things up and deciding something needs to work differently or moving things around based upon how I'm currently creating. Having that flexibility, but also like [00:33:00] admitting like, okay, this is not working. Let's just change it up.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you ever need to kind of hold yourself back to say like, Hey, I'm organizing more than I'm scrapbooking?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, no, I kind of feel like it's seasonal for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Or is that not a problem.

Cassie Wiscarson: It's not really a problem. So like I do usually like around spring, kind of like that spring cleaning. I am not spring cleaning in the house. I am spring cleaning my scrap room. Because that brings me more joy. And then usually sometime over the summer, so I work in a school, so like as soon as summer break hits, I'm like, Nope.

It's time to kind of clean, reorganize, give it like a fresh new start. 'Cause that always makes me more excited to create again.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I love that you figured out that about yourself too and how you look for things. So all of my little pieces are organized by shape. So rectangle circles, stars, you know, flags, tags.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, not how my brain works. I'm like, I want something teal. I'm gonna go to my teal area. I'm, you know, if it's not like with a collection or.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I want a stencil. They, [00:34:00] they are in binders and they are alphabetical by brand and have little, um, like dividers on the end. So I am, I, I guess working in a school is perfect for me. I love school supplies and new supplies.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm like, the organized person. And I'm just like, that's, that's what I do. Everything in here is organized.

Jennifer Wilson: Do people come to you for organization help?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, a little bit. Like I do like to share my scrap room and when I come up with something new on, um, definitely my social media. So it's definitely like all on my Instagram. uh, I belong to a lot of like online scrapbooking groups. So if they have a question of like, Hey, how are you organizing this? I have no problem stopping what I'm doing, taking a picture.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because I think it really helps to kind of see some other people's perspectives of like what has worked for them. And it kind of then gets my brain going to like, okay, well what else could I do that could work for me? Because let's be honest, my, my storage is mostly on a budget. 'cause rather buy new [00:35:00] supplies than the latest and greatest storage item.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. And I, I have found over the years that I like more closed storage. I don't wanna see it. So to me it doesn't matter that much what's in the basket because, or how the basket looks on the inside. Because I just wanna see the pretty basket on the outside. 'Cause I don't wanna see my stuff at all.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well yeah and I like to see my stuff, but I like it to be organized. So like I have huge shelves, so those are open. But I'm like all of my, gosh, um, label making stuff is in one big bin and you can't see what's in there. I just know where that bin is. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Kind of more hidden, but then also like I can, I'm literally turning around, like I have all of my, um, ink blending brushes are in one cube, and so if you can see those.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: But those are in rainbow order, so it's fine that they're visible.

Jennifer Wilson: I have to say I do have all of my Distress Ink also in rainbow order. So that is one thing I do organize by color. So, um, otherwise I'd never be able to find anything.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yep. [00:36:00] I have the Oxides in rainbow color, and then I have a few of just the regular inks and like my favorite colors. Those are also in rainbow order.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm a rainbow order girl. I'll be honest.

Jennifer Wilson: I did that with my washi tape a long time ago, and I had it stacked on the shelf behind me, and I thought it looked so cute, especially in videos and photos and all that. But I found that I would never unstack it. I would never use it anymore because it was just, it became decoration, I guess. So I had to put it all in a basket instead.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, and I've went from like certain things, color coded like that. Honestly, I don't even use my washi anymore.

Jennifer Wilson: I know.

Cassie Wiscarson: I keep it so my daughter can raid it for her diamond painting.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: It makes her feel like she's getting away with something and it's, it was kind of fun.

Jennifer Wilson: They'll always, yeah, they'll always have that, uh, little girl sneakiness in them. Right. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, 100%. And honestly, I love that she's crafty like I am and it's taken her a while to like figure out what she really likes, but i

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Love that she just keeps trying until like something hits.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that for sure. I love, [00:37:00] um, I guess as a parent, like giving your kid the freedom to explore and experiment like that with creative things. That's something that I had and I'm so glad I'm able to do that for my, my daughter too. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, she's always in here like, like, she's like, I'm bored. So then she's like grabbing my alcohol markers to color or my colored pencils and like just finding something random that I can just toss her and be like, here, you can do this. I'm busy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Just gonna talk my ear off constantly. But honestly, now that she's not here every day, I kind of miss it.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I bet, I bet I used to have a lot of Posca paint pens. I don't have very many anymore because they went to school one day and they were used for all kinds of things and, and now they, they're, they never returned.

Cassie Wiscarson: Shocker. I, my alcohol markers have done the same thing except for they're over at my mom's 'cause she wanted to use them over there. I'm like, okay.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'll sacrifice.

Jennifer Wilson: You will. Yep, yep. So our last two questions are a little bit more big picture. [00:38:00] Where would you like your scrapbooking to be 10 years from now?

Cassie Wiscarson: I definitely think I'll still be creating. I think it, it always changes. I'm, I can't imagine myself not doing 12 by 12 layouts. 'Cause I've been doing them since the beginning. But I definitely think it's gonna be focused more on maybe travel or still everyday moments. I'm not a huge like holiday scrapbooker. And so like you won't find like, oh, look at this big birthday layout every year.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Nope. I wanna see the everyday moments. Probably a lot more albums. 'Cause let's be honest, I scrapbook a lot. Um, just want to keep it like doing it however it brings me joy. So if I do end up changing and maybe wanting to do more mini albums, then, that will be a surprise, but it could happen.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Well, we never know, like what products are gonna come out that will pique our interest and get us to try something new.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. 'Cause 10 years ago I never thought I would like mixed media. Like it just [00:39:00] felt too unpredictable and too messy and like, I'm like, that's not me. When like my daughter was like a toddler, I'm like, there's enough mess in my life. I don't need it in my scrapbooking.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Now I'm like, bring on the mess. So I think our, our styles change as we get older and like as products change and inspiration changes. Because I've learned so much now than when I started because of of social media. So like Instagram and Reels.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh.

Cassie Wiscarson: And YouTube. Like there's so many more ways to learn than when I started, which was just like Creating Keepsakes conventions.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. No, that's, it's very, very true. Um, at just the speed at which we can pick up new things. And it's not even watching a tutorial anymore. It's like literally saying, I need five seconds of somebody doing this to know, oh, well that's what you do, and then you can, you can try to do it yourself.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And, and the fact that like with the internet and like there are online crops now [00:40:00] and you can like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Watch somebody teach you how to do something without leaving your home in your own space. Honestly I love that. 'Cause I am much more like a, let's stay at home and scrapbook with all of my stuff around me than try to figure out what I want to pack and go to a crop because then I never have what I actually want.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, it can, it can be stressful to figure out what it is you're actually gonna use and

Cassie Wiscarson: And then where you put it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. For sure. Now, my last question for you is, what has being a, a scrapbooker taught you?

Cassie Wiscarson: Really it has forced me to look at everyday moments of my life and focus on the little moments. Like, yes, the vacations are great and those are memorable, but sometimes it's just the little things that bring you joy. So lately it's the, like the napping pictures of my dog.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because he is only two, like, he's not gonna look that way forever. And just, looks so peaceful. I'm like, I need more of that in my life. So those pictures bring me joy. That's what I wanna scrapbook. Like, um, [00:41:00] oh look, my boss bought donuts. Those are cute. My friend brought me a new little crocheted animal for my desk at work. That needs to be photographed. Like it's those little moments that I think add up to our lives actually being rich and enjoyable. And those are what I want to focus on. Versus sometimes the big stuff or the sad stuff. Which still make it into my scrapbook, but I think finding joy in those little moments is what makes my life more full and brings me more joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes, a hundred percent. Uh, I think it's easy to feel torn between, doing that and the value that we get from it and then, oh, but I've forgotten all these other stories and I feel like I need to do that. So I think there, there can be a little bit of a tension for, for memory keepers and how am I gonna choose what I'm gonna spend my time on? 'Cause I can't possibly do everything.

Cassie Wiscarson: No. And it's been interesting as my daughter's gotten older and like she looks back through the scrapbooks and there will be certain things she only remembers from the [00:42:00] scrapbooks.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: There will be things that like had a huge, was a huge moment for her and a huge memory. And I'm like, even remember that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I've took, taken my memory keeping to be what's important to me. Because I will never know what was important to her. Like for her 18th birthday, she wanted a stuffed animal toy thing that she remembered from when she was an infant. That wast Was one of her first memories. And I had to find it and it was considered vintage, which kind of traumatized me. Um, but I'm like, was that like, like, that's just a really clear memory for me. And I never would've thought of that. So I'm like, I just pick what's important to me and if when I pass she doesn't want the scrapbooks or she just wants to pick her favorites. Okay. Like I do it not for like having all of these memories for future generations. I just do it because it brings me joy now.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: If nobody looked at them again and they just go into a dumpster, I literally [00:43:00] won't care because creating them is what brings me joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and it keeps you connected to yourself, to your family, to being able to have those conversations, to find out what was important to the others in your life too. Um, because you're thinking about that we are able to kind of share that, that sense of gratitude and thoughtfulness with, with the people around us too.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah. And because I now brought this stuffed animal of hers that she had as an infant, rebought it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: It made a great scrapbooking page when my 18-year-old daughter, I literally bought an infant toy stuffed, I think it's like a porcupine or something that rattles. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Or maybe it's a hedgehog or something, whatever it is.

It's like literally bright colors for like an infant, and I literally had to document that because I'm like, this is hilarious that you wanted an infant for your 18 for Christmas, for your 18th birthday.

Jennifer Wilson: I love it. I love it. We, uh, we had flat bunny. And we actually have an extra flat bunny in case Flat Bunny was ever lost. So there is a [00:44:00] brand new one in a package somewhere in a closet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, We had, we had Baby Elmos. Um, a certain Baby Elmo also went on deployment with my husband so that they each had one.

Jennifer Wilson: That's a, I love that.

Cassie Wiscarson: Blankets, which we had to get a replacement of. Like, so there are those, but I was just, I knew those were the attachments. That's why those random hedgehog thing was a surprise.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. But I love that story so much. Thank you for sharing. This has been just such a delightful conversation. Cassie, can you share where our listeners can find you online? Anything else you have new coming up this year, 2026.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, of course. So I am of course on my Instagram all the time, and that's just @CassieWiscarson. And I share my, all my layouts there every single month. Um, I currently, you can find me with Peartree Cut files. So they're a UK company, but they have a Facebook group and, um, release new cut files each month. Um, I also create for Scrapbook Generation with, um, Allison Davis for [00:45:00] their, um, printables and also their sketches. So you'll find me there. And then this is brand new hot off the press and will be announced in like an hour. I am part of the Crafty Maven Getaway, um, mixed media kits. And, uh, you can find me on their Facebook group doing all of their challenges and posting there. And that starts literally today.

Jennifer Wilson: Very cool. Congratulations.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, so hot off the press. Brand new news.

Jennifer Wilson: We will, we will incorporate all of the news, um, in, in the show notes for this episode.

Cassie Wiscarson: Perfect.

Jennifer Wilson: Thanks for spending time with me, Cassie.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yep. It's been a pleasure.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Brie Beaupre: [00:00:00] It started off with, just even having a pocket for like my pamphlets and just the stuff from your trips. So it started there. And then it usually started with a mistake. I'd be all done and go, oh my God, I forgot this photo. So then I would just make almost like a little flap on the side to flip it in. And then it just kept growing and getting bigger.

​

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of the New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 327. In this episode, I'm chatting with Brie Beaupre about her innovative approach to getting tons of photos on her pages.

Our conversation focuses on the benefits and strategies of Brie's signature interactive scrapbooking process.

Hey, Brie, welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Brie Beaupre: Hey, how are you?[00:01:00]

Jennifer Wilson: I am doing well today. I'm looking forward to our conversation. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. Um, so I live in Manchester, New Hampshire, um, about an hour north of Boston. Um, I really love it here other than the winter. Um, the winter, the winter's hard for me. But yeah, we just get through. Um, but.

Jennifer Wilson: How much snow did you get in this recent storm?

Brie Beaupre: Oh gosh. Um, I think we got a total of a foot and a half.

Jennifer Wilson: Wow.

Brie Beaupre: On top of the foot and a half we already had so it's getting a little crazy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I bet. I bet. And then who's, Uh, who's in your family?

Brie Beaupre: Uh, so I have my, my husband Jeff, who's absolutely wonderful. And my daughter Bella, she's now 16. And we have our dog, Loki, he's a boykin spaniel.

Jennifer Wilson: Fun. Fun. Yeah.

So I always like to ask our guests a couple kind of icebreaker questions. Do you have a favorite recent layout or project?

Brie Beaupre: I do actually, um, this [00:02:00] week I just released, I call it my Timeless layout. It's a layout that I did from our recent trip to London and we saw the DNA museum. And I used the new Simple Stories Junk Drawer, um, scrapbook, uh, kit.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Brie Beaupre: It's just beautiful. It worked so well with it and I actually made step by step instructions for that kit. Um, so yeah, it came out really great. I'm so happy with it.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, cool. I'll make sure to link that up in the show notes.

Brie Beaupre: Yes, yes.

Jennifer Wilson: So the other question is, is there something new that you're excited to do, use or try? And this can be something inside of scrapbooking or in your everyday life.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, actually, um, I am very excited to add in more popups. Um, I used to love popup books as a kid, and I've been seeing more and more, um, stuff on Instagram with people doing popup cards. And so I'm like, Ooh, I can, I can add more, more stuff to my, uh, to my layout. So yeah, that's, that's the new thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and you [00:03:00] are the queen of interactive scrapbooking, and so adding more stuff and somehow making it all still so flat is such a miracle. Um, I can't wait to really dive into this process here. Um, can you tell us a little bit about your history as a scrapbooker?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah. So, um, I started actually in my early twenties. Um, started off with just, you know, the, the black paper and photos, maps, pamphlets. Um, and then in 2001, I got invited to a Stampin' Up party and started getting into stamping with making cards and scrapbooking with that, and then it just spiraled from there.

So, yeah, it's been a little while.

Jennifer Wilson: I am curious, do you still make cards today?

Brie Beaupre: No, no. I actually, um, gave that up when I had my daughter. I was like.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Okay.

Brie Beaupre: It was hard because, because it was something like I would do like the Christmas cards and it became this whole production process and.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah,

Brie Beaupre: It, it was a lot. And you're like, people are just throwing this away. So, yeah. No, I was, [00:04:00] I was happy to move on to the photo card.

Jennifer Wilson: Sure, sure. Yeah, I have to say I did as well. Like I never really consider myself a card.

maker, but I definitely did more crafty things. Before I had photos that I wanted to include on a Christmas card. So.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Jennifer Wilson: So you create these very unique, quite detailed, interactive pages. Can you kind of paint a picture of what these look like for someone who hasn't seen any of your work yet?

Brie Beaupre: Absolutely. Um, so with my layouts, they just keep going, is the best way to start with. Um, I even get lost sometimes, like, wait, oh, no, flips there. So it, it, um, has layers of paper that open up back and forth like a book. Um, flip up, flip down, flip right, left. Um, and adds additional pages into just the layout, um, so that you can get, you know, 60 photos in a layout. But it still stays very flat.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice, nice. So what, [00:05:00] what prompted or inspired your first interactive page? Like how did you get to this point?

Brie Beaupre: So it, it started off with, just even having a pocket for like my pamphlets and just the stuff from your trips. So it started there. And then it usually started with a mistake. I'd be all done and go, oh my God, I forgot this photo. So then I would just like, make almost like a little flap on the side to flip it in. And then it just kept growing and getting bigger. Um, and then it, it really a breakthrough one day when I was doing this Harry Potter layout, and at the time I had just started using the Creative Memory albums, the strap and hinge. Because with those, you're gluing your page into the book.

You're not held with the restrictions of the, the top loading page protectors. You're gluing it in. So it can just flip up, flip out, and it's not gonna fall out of the book. And I had so [00:06:00] many photos for this Harry Potter layout that I was like, wanna flip this up. And I did. That, that was like the day that it was like I could do even more because of these albums.

Um, I have since created a way, um, to do it in strap and hinge as well that I have videos on. Um, but it, it's the easiest way is to use the Creative Memory albums.

Jennifer Wilson: It sounds like it. Yeah, I'm sure we'll get more into all the different nuances, but, what are the benefits of, of this approach? Is it just about getting more photos on, like why, why does someone wanna start this if they are curious about it?

Brie Beaupre: So it, it's definitely for me, it, it's a bridge to get all the photos in, in my layout. Um, I I, I hate making the decision of, oh, but, but I love that one too. Um, but it's, it's also, for me, it's so much faster for me to stay in theme. If I have 60 photos to do, and I [00:07:00] gotta do 10 separate pages for that. I'm potentially working with some 10 separate page, ideas.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Brie Beaupre: Different paper packs, different accessories. Whereas if I'm staying within like a collection kit or one pack of paper, then I'm staying in theme. And my brain can keep going with, oh, I'll layer it like this. And, and, and my brain just tends to do really well with staying within the same category and actually creativity tends to build even further. Um, versus having to stop and re-brain a page to, uh, to start over.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I can see this taking the place of a lot of things that somebody might create like a mini book for or a smaller album. Of, you know what if you didn't have to make it a big project, you made it a smaller project of this interactive page.

Brie Beaupre: Absolutely. Yeah, and I mean, we just, we take a ridiculous amount of pictures on vacation. And I, I really only scrapbook our vacations. That's all I've kept up with.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Brie Beaupre: [00:08:00] So it, it's, it's nice to, especially now that I have my husband's photos, my daughter's photos.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Done with England and we had like 5,000 pictures. I'm like, oh my. So it, it makes it much easier when you can just get so many more photos in a layout. Definitely easy. It for me. It's definitely easier.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly, but you're certainly, you're also not, I feel like you're not lacking the creative elements either. It's not all photos by any means.

Brie Beaupre: Oh yeah, no, absolutely. Yeah, because you could still, it, it in a way, it makes room for more things.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Brie Beaupre: When, when, when, before when I would try to like, you know, shove 10 pictures on a page. It's like, well, then you can't add the pretty flowers and the, the quotes and the elements that, that you really wanna see on a, on a layout. So yeah, you actually can make more room. Because you're flipping and adding in different stuff.

Jennifer Wilson: How did you figure out how to make the construction work? So it wouldn't be like awkward or too bulky or just, yeah. How did, how did you figure all that [00:09:00] out?

Brie Beaupre: A lot of it's just trial and error. Um, it, it just, you go to do it and you're like, wow, that, that doesn't work. Um, but yeah, it was, it was really just, you know, like creating a card on the page. Like you just, you know, you go through and you make your score and then you glue that on, flip it open. Um, and then it also can just vary too on the paper.

Some paper, like unfortunately 49 and Market, their paper tends to tear a lot if you put any sort of score marks in it, which is so disappointing because they have such good paper.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm. It is, yeah.

Brie Beaupre: It is, it's gorgeous. But unfortunately, I, I was having so many problems when I used it, kept tearing and I had to reinforce it again and again.

Um, but yeah, it was, it was really just trial and error and learning to, to just place the, the score mark. It was usually at the half inch mark, you're folding it over, and then usually wanna do three quarters, to one inch. That way it doesn't fall apart. The other thing was the [00:10:00] glue. Um, a lot of the adhesives won't handle it.

Um, I've completely switched to just using wet glue. I use the, um, what is it called? The Barely Art Precision Glue. It dries really fast. It doesn't make it very crinkly. Um, and so on all my score marks, where it's attaching, I use that and that, that's in my latest instructions as well.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's interesting because I think, I know I'm sometimes nervous about using wet glue when it comes to my scrapbook projects. But I can see how, uh, yeah, particularly adhesive that is designed to be maybe more re repositionable these days and not, not fully dr, not fully set down for 24 hours when it's gonna fall apart before it has a chance.

So.

Brie Beaupre: And I've even had ones where I've gone back like a year later and they, I mean, I was using the, um, the Scotch 3M tape, the giant roller.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Brie Beaupre: Um, and even that started to, to fall apart. It just doesn't hold up as well as like the wet glue does.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:11:00] Yeah, That's so good to know. Are there other, like tools or supplies that you find are particularly helpful or maybe things that you weren't using when you were making, you know, uh, less complicated layouts.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, the scoreboard, that's, that's the key. That, that, uh, that makes it a lot easier. Um, I used to use my old Fiskars one that has the, the score, attachment. But it, it. It didn't work as well on the scoreboard definitely works great. And you can get 'em really cheap. You can get 'em for like 16.99 at Hobby Lobby. You can get 'em on Amazon. Those help a lot.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. I, um, I finally got one after all these years. And I, I use it a lot more than I thought I would, particularly doing, um, like holiday related projects and I'm doing maybe smaller albums.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I got lucky. I actually won mine a crop and I'm like yes!

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: This is great.

Jennifer Wilson: Especially the tools these days, they could get, get kind of pricey too. I think particularly like We Are Memory Keepers. They're doing all these like [00:12:00] multifunction tools and so they just become exponentially more expensive along with that, so.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

Jennifer Wilson: So when you're designing a page these days, are you starting with the interactive concept or are you starting with, you know, I have this trip that I wanna scrapbook?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, I, I always pretty much do an interactive concept. Because I just, I, when I get my pictures printed. Um, I then, you know, divide 'em up by, um, day, location, et cetera. And there's really not a layout that's like, you know, five photos. There's always like 50 to a hundred. Um, so I'm always starting with that stack of photos.

Um, and then I, I have 12 different, um, layouts. That I've created instructions for that I sell. And I have a cheat sheet that tells me how many photos fit.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Brie Beaupre: That's usually my starting point. And then from there I figure out, oh, okay, this paper pack will look really good with the way that this design is set up.

Jennifer Wilson: Here's [00:13:00] a question. How many different sheets of pattern paper would you end up using on like an average page?

Brie Beaupre: So it's probably, I'd say it's 12. Um, and now a lot of that is because a lot of the collection kits, like with Simple Stories, uh, Photo Play, Echo Park, they typically have 12 sheets in there. So.

Jennifer Wilson: So you use all of them.

Brie Beaupre: I try to, yeah. Yeah. And I usually do.

Jennifer Wilson: That's amazing.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah. And, and it feels good too. She's like, I used it all. Um, yeah, I, I do, I definitely, and I love to have those, those little strips at the top where it gives you like the preview of what the other side looks like. That I tend to use as well, and get those all layered too.

Jennifer Wilson: So are there common mistakes that people make when they're trying to, to, to figure this out? You know, even with your instructions, I know that I, you know, I've done a lot of trial and error myself and I'm like, oh, well this really should have folded the other way and, and obviously the right adhesive and things like that.

Brie Beaupre: [00:14:00] Yeah, probably the two biggest ones are, um, you attach something upside down. Done it myself. You forget the, the, when you flip the paper, that pattern either doesn't go or it's upside down.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Probably, that's probably the big one. Um, and then the other thing is, um, I recommend when you finish the page, before you add your pictures and all of your, um, your elements. You trace out each page on top of each other, so that way when you open it up, you've got pencil lines to go by. Because I personally do it to myself every time where I put a picture on the next layer and it's peeking through. So from the top, you're seeing all these things sticking out when you're like, no.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, okay. Okay.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, the pencil's the, the key. Mm-hmm.

Jennifer Wilson: I think that's what makes it all the more surprising. When I see you flip through, I'm like, I didn't even know there was a flap there. Um, because there's nothing peeking out.

Brie Beaupre: Yes, yes. And [00:15:00] occasionally I've, I've had to learn to even put a, like a little tab because.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Sometimes you're like, oh, there's a whole other one. I forgot.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. So are you typically kind of you constructing the whole foundation of the whole thing before you're adding additional embellishments, decoration, and then finally your photos?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, if I'm going off of my instructions, which I do more often than not, just 'cause it makes it so much easier. I mean, I can, off of my instructions, I can build the entire foundation within two hours. And then I'll spend three days decorating it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: But yeah. Because I, I already know how many photos are gonna fit ish.

Um, so it's only if I'm doing it from bare bones of okay, I've like, got some really big layouts coming from our trip in London. And uh, I'm like, I'm gonna need something that can fit like 500 photos. So that one will take some, uh, some making. So that'll be starting from the [00:16:00] top and then kind of adding in as you go and deciding how, how deep you wanna get.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. The more photos that, yeah, the more decisions you have to make in advance. And I can imagine like the planning could end up being quite a bit when you're, when you really have that many photos, you're trying to fit.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, there's a lot of logistics for sure.

Jennifer Wilson: So to me, the elephant in the room is the page protectors. Because I, I'm someone who didn't grow up with Creative Memories. Albums, I started with, you know, ring binders and the, the thought of not putting a layout in a page protector makes me a little nervous. So how do you fit that into the equation?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, I actually do use page protectors. Um, what I do is, um, and, and I have multiple videos on YouTube that have the three ring binders, the post bound, and the, the strap and hinge. Um, and so you're creating custom page protectors. I use a soldering gun.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Brie Beaupre: It's a glass mat by, um, We Are Memory Keepers. [00:17:00] And just using a metal ruler and you, you basically take your 12 by 12 page protector and you your soldering gun to cut and weld a seam, and then.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Brie Beaupre: That creates your page protector for that flap. And for the most part, I only do the top layers, so that way when the two pages kiss together, they're not like tearing at each other or getting stuck.

Um.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Brie Beaupre: So, so, yeah, and you, and I mean, some people do the page protectors all the way through and you're welcome to it. Um, I just do the top layers. But yeah, absolutely. I, I like to have the page protectors there as well.

Jennifer Wilson: So, yeah, it's good to know that you do use page protectors and you found a way to like, make it work so that at least the outside of it is, you know, staying protected as you're, you're flipping through things. I'm curious. We tend to think of, you know, maybe 30 layouts fit into an album, 20 if you make them chunky. How many of these interactive pages fit into a typical [00:18:00] album?

Brie Beaupre: Oh, that's a great question. Um, I wanna say it's probably six to 10, um, layouts. And if we say that we're getting just 24 photos in a layout, you're still getting 240 photos.

Jennifer Wilson: That's amazing. Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: It doesn't sound much, but yeah, it adds up.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, how did you get to the point of deciding, okay, I really need to sell instructions for this. Like I wanna, I wanna, I really do something with this. How did that come about?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. So, so that, that, I, I love the story actually. So during COVID, I, I was like, I'm not one that can sit still. So I came up with all kinds of things to do. And, um, during COVID, I started my own Facebook page, my interactive scrapbooking page. And people just love my layouts. And, um, I was just doing it to, to get noticed by scrapbook companies so they'd [00:19:00] send me free things.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Getting, but I didn't, and I kept getting all these customers, they were like, oh gosh, I would really love to, to get your instructions. I'd pay for them. And I'm like, well, okay. So, so I, uh, I was like, let's do this. So I, I went ahead and just created my instructions. Where I took, I take pictures of every single step.

Um, and then I, uh, initially was just selling it basically through Facebook where I would post it and people would email me and I'd take payment via PayPal and Venmo. And I'd email it back to them. And then I found out that you could create a free site on Square. That was great. So I, I had to become a, a marketing person.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Learn a lot, I'm sure you have as well. Um, and then create, learning how to create like even thumbnails on Canva. And just doing all that stuff. Um, it's definitely been a wild ride, but it's been great. It's, it's, it's a great, great business. I've become so [00:20:00] close with some of my customers. I absolutely adore when they comment on my stuff and I get to see the things they make, off of my instructions. It is fantastic.

Jennifer Wilson: Now I'm curious. Um, one of the things that I was also thinking about was, you know, when you're teaching somebody to do a particular page with a particular collection, how much does the actual product have to do with the flaps that you're choosing? Like for example, maybe there's a, pen and paper that has, um, four by six cards on it. Like, does that become part of the instructions that you're gonna turn this four by six card into a particular flap, or is that not really part of how you construct the pages?

Brie Beaupre: So you're saying like there's a, there's like element pages that have four by six cutouts on them.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Or maybe like there's a particular, like, you know, um, maybe there's a diagonal line across a pattern paper and then you end up using that as the, part, basically cutting alongside the [00:21:00] pattern. To become your flap. Versus just arbitrarily cutting across the pattern.

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, when, when there's those elements, um, it definitely becomes part of the instructions for sure. And, and part of, part of the layout. Um, and obviously people are, are using, for the most part their own paper. I, I agonize over all these instructions and make sure that I'm getting everything perfect for them. And they're almost always using somebody else's paper. Which great.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Brie Beaupre: That's, that's, that's the greatest thing ever. So I always recommend for people when they buy my instructions, create a blank template. Follow the instructions, use white paper, black paper, um, whatever they choose. And that way they have a template and they can see how things are gonna lay out for them by, by layering in their pattern paper off of the template.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's great. I think that's a brilliant idea. And then, yeah, you can then kind of [00:22:00] lay things out so you can see which patterns are facing each other and which patterns are overlapping. So make sure it all goes in the end. Um.

Brie Beaupre: Absolutely. Yeah. And I actually created a, a process video, it's called Feathered Friends. And that I even show like how, how to do it from the template. Um, and then even using, um, some apps where you can take a picture to see how it's gonna look. That is my life saving thing. Taking pictures.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, awesome. Yeah, we'll definitely include, uh, that video as well, I'm sure it'll be handy. Um, yeah, your YouTube channel is so amazing and so helpful. You have all these walkthroughs of your pages and um, yeah, I was just so intrigued 'cause I've never made a scrapbook page like this. Like I've done maybe just a flip out in a mini album, you know, like. A gatefold or just one, one fold over a, a pocket. So, but certainly not that many layers. Um, and I'm, yeah, I'm amazed.

Brie Beaupre: Well, thank you. Thank you. I hope you give it a try. It's a lot of fun.

Jennifer Wilson: What [00:23:00] trip are you scrapbooking next?

Brie Beaupre: Um, so I'm, I'm working, uh, I'm finishing up Dominican is, Dominican Republic is, um. The one that is being finished now. As far as it, the videos just have to get posted online. And then I just am now working on our trip, um, to London. So that one has been super fun because we um, we did a day in Paris. So I have an Eiffel Tower page and it's just, I can't wait.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Brie Beaupre: Nice. So yeah, there's, there's a lot of very fun pages coming. And then, um, we're gonna Cancun in April, so then we'll be back to beach paper. Which has been my life for the last like four years. Not that I'm complaining. I am not complaining.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, But no, very, very fun. Very cool. So Brie, thank you so much for sharing your story with us and, and giving us a peek inside of your interactive scrapbooking world. Can you share where our listeners can find you online and, you know, anything else that you, you're planning for [00:24:00] this year?

Brie Beaupre: Yeah, absolutely. Jennifer. Um, yes, you can find me on, on all the, the social medias. I'm on Facebook, Instagram. I actually just created a Pinterest page. I'd love to get more followers there. Please, please, please. TikTok, YouTube. Um, yeah, and, and, uh, just anybody that comments and likes, bless them. They, they are my, my number one fans and I, I love them for it.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh wonderful. yeah. Yeah, I definitely wanna encourage folks to, to check it out and, and definitely watch your videos and, and give it a try. I think I'm gonna try it, I wanna try it in like a smaller scale to start with maybe. But maybe doing it bigger is actually easier. 'Cause the more you start to fold small things, the harder it is. So, we'll see. I definitely have to try it though.

Brie Beaupre: Absolutely, um, Coastal Escape, that's, that's the easiest one. And that one has the least amount of pictures. That's the best starting point for sure.

Jennifer Wilson: Good to know. Good to know. Thank you. Again, thank you so much for spending time with me.

Brie Beaupre: Oh, thank having me. I really appreciate it. I feel I feel famous now. [00:25:00]

Jennifer Wilson: I love chatting with scrapbookers and, and hearing how everyone is so different and what they love and, and learning more about it.

Brie Beaupre: That's awesome. I can't wait to listen to your podcast.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Sarah Jürs: [00:00:00] By journaling daily, I recognize how much it does for my mental health also. And, just, calming practice of sitting down in the evening or in the morning and just writing. It's, makes a huge difference in my life.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 326.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Sarah Jürs about how she balances multiple memory keeping projects while working full-time and raising her son in Germany. Our conversation includes her approach to documenting different projects and how daily journaling keeps her grounded.

Hello Sarah. Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Sarah Jürs: Hi. Thank you for having me.

Jennifer Wilson: I'm excited to chat with you today.

Sarah Jürs: Me too. Thank you.

Jennifer Wilson: So I would [00:01:00] love for you to share a little bit about yourself.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. So my name is Sarah. I'm 39 years old, and, uh, I live in Germany with my 11-year-old son.

Jennifer Wilson: Lovely, lovely. And we were talking just before you said you, you know, this is where you've, you've grown up.

Sarah Jürs: Right. So I live in, I was born in Frankfurt. And now I live, uh, a few kilometers away, but uh, yeah. Still in Germany.

Jennifer Wilson: Very cool, very cool. Um, yeah, and I'm sure we'll get into a little bit of how that impacts, you know, you being a scrapbooker though, you guys seem to have a wonderful community of memory keepers and crafters over there.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. We do, we do. Well, mainly I, um, joined a community in the US so from mainly Ali Edwards.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Sarah Jürs: And um, in Germany there's not that much of a community, I guess. At least not that I know of. But, um, it's fun to connect with people, like-minded people who share the same hobby. And I was lucky enough to meet [00:02:00] some awesome friends and, um, yeah, love the connection.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, for sure. Yeah. That's what makes this, you know, even extra special.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, right.

Jennifer Wilson: So do you have a favorite recent layout or project, something that just really stood out to you as a favorite?

Sarah Jürs: Um, recently I finished my December Daily. Uh, which is always a huge project in December. And, uh, a huge part of my December as I experience it. And, um, yeah, this, this time I was busy in December, so I didn't get to finish it or in this month. But just, uh, I think, one week ago or two weeks ago, I have done it and completed it. And it's always fun to put a completed album on the shelf.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. And so how do you approach your December Daily? What size did you do this year?

Sarah Jürs: Uh, I did 10 by eight this year.

Because I, I love the, yeah, the, the huge space that we have in the 10 by eight. And the different sizes I can incorporate. And it's always fun to work with a bunch of [00:03:00] projects and, uh, full page pictures. And yeah, I do, uh, 30 stories, so I think many people do just 25 and I go to 30.

Jennifer Wilson: And what is the significance of that?

Sarah Jürs: Uh, I don't know. It's, I think to the first time I did it, I went up to 30 because for some weird reason the, um, New Year's doesn't belong in my December Daily.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Sarah Jürs: I decided at some point I, I don't have really a reason for it, but, um, so yeah. Then I go to 30.

Jennifer Wilson: Very cool. Yeah, no, I love that we all can personalize these projects and, and make them really work for us.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: And plus so many of those collections of numbers go all the way to 30 anyway, so you might as well use those.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Right, right.

Jennifer Wilson: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. So.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: I have tons of those in my number collection.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, it's always fun because in the US the, the 25th of, uh, the big Christmas Day and [00:04:00] in Germany the 24th is the, um, yeah, the biggest celebration. So I usually don't have a lot of use for the big 25s in the collection.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, okay.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, so last year it was, uh, 2025, so I got to use a bunch of them. That was fun.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any like specific traditions, um, in Germany that are different than what we do on the 25th that you do on Christmas Eve?

Sarah Jürs: Um, no, not really. So we come together and we, um, gift our presents in the evening. I think in, in the US it's in the morning on the 25th. But other than that, it's just a different day.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Very cool. Thank you for sharing that.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Is there something new that you're excited to do, use or try either in scrapbooking or just somewhere in your everyday life?

Sarah Jürs: Um, I recently decided because I stumbled upon a YouTube video where a woman made a self portrait challenge, so she drew herself for, I think, 150 days in a row, which is insane. But I want to try it [00:05:00] once a month, with different mediums. And, uh, not really, my goal is not perfection. Just to have fun and, uh, get back to drawing again.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. I, feel like I've done a lot of drawing in my life, including self portraits, and now at this stage of my life, I'm like, oh, that feels kind of scary.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, it's, but um, I try to took the pressure off by just playing and don't really worrying about if it turns out great or not, just having a good time and.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, very cool.

Sarah Jürs: Train the creative muscles, I guess.

Jennifer Wilson: Definitely send me the link to the the creator you were inspired by.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Okay. I do that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. We'll include that in the show notes for this episode. We love to make sure that we can connect our listeners with all the wonderful things that are mentioned. So I noticed that your memory keeping takes a number of forms and I'd love to really focus on how your process differs. Like how you work differently when you're creating in your planner in a [00:06:00] travelers notebook or a smaller album like your December Daily. Can you start by sharing a little bit about your history as a scrapbooker just so we can kind of get to today?

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, so, um, I always loved pictures and I always had some kind of a photo album like these, um, old school bound paper albums. And I used to write a small note to the picture, like who's in it and where were, were we? And some kind of, uh, yeah, additional information. And um, then in I think 2011, I discovered Scrapbook.

Scrapbooking for the first time, like the traditional 12 by 12 layout. And, um, I started to dive in, which was not that easy in Germany, at least. I, I have had problems to find stores who, uh, sell the stuff. Yeah, but I, I managed to get some papers and embellishments and started with the traditional 12 for 12 [00:07:00] layouts.

And also I started Project Life in 2012. Um, also in a 12 by 12 album. And I'm still doing that, that in the size since 2012. Which is insane. But.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay, so you've done pocket page Project life in 12 by 12 for 14 years now.

Sarah Jürs: Yes, yes. It's crazy.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Okay. Uh, is it correct that you don't share a lot of your Project life on your Instagram?

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, that's correct, because I don't want to show my son on the internet. And, uh, he, it turns up a lot of course, in my Project Life. And then it's just a lot of work to edit and, um, yeah, censor his, his pictures. And oftentimes my journaling is a bit more personal than in some of my layouts, so I decided to not share.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, it makes total sense.

Sarah Jürs: And um, yeah, then in 2000, I think 13, I was in in design [00:08:00] team in a German shop. And, uh, received some products and, uh, dive even deeper. Created a blog. And it was a lot of fun. And then when my son came in 2014, there wasn't that much time anymore. So, um, I made, yeah, fewer layouts, but also in two, 2018, I decided to get a divorce. And then I stopped doing, uh, memory keeping for yeah, nearly two years. Just to adjust to the new situation and everything that comes with it.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. Yeah.

Sarah Jürs: And in 2021 I found Ali Edwards, to a YouTube video I stumbled across. And since then I am, yeah, deeper in scrapbooking than ever. I just loved, I loved her approach. Like, documenting the mundane every day and not so the, the, the big events. And, um, [00:09:00] in my traditional 12 by 12 project, I used to mainly focus on pictures and products and just, uh, one or two sentences. But, um, was discovering Ali and her, her approach, I used to write a lot of, a lot more journaling and, uh, I think that's fun and so important.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes, yes. . You do a lot of hybrid journaling, right?

So then we can even more words.

Sarah Jürs: Yes, that's right.

Jennifer Wilson: On that page when we type them out.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. So I, usually get the digital files to a lot of the products. I get physical with subscriptions or things that I buy. And I like to, um, yeah, add my journaling digitally and plan the layout at least a bit in, in Photoshop. And then I print some stuff out and, uh, yeah.

But I, I couldn't imagine just going digitally. I like to touch the things and, uh, the paper, embellishments and arrange [00:10:00] everything. And it's fun to have a mix of both.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Um, hybrid. It can be a, a best of both worlds.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: For those who want, you know, really need and, and have the space and ability to do the, the tactile things that add a different experience to it.

Sarah Jürs: It is. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So do you still make any 12 by 12 layouts?

Sarah Jürs: No, no. I, um, completely quit that.

Jennifer Wilson: So tell us what, what kind of activities or projects are on your plate right now or this year, like including things you've already committed to and things you anticipate doing this year.

Sarah Jürs: So Project Life as usual, usually I, um, plan to keep going with that. And then I have, uh, story albums. Um, which the past I, um, which had different themes. Now there is, uh, the Storyteller kit, which comes quarterly. And I, um, yeah, I make the extra layouts in addition to [00:11:00] Project Life with this kit.

Then I have my One Little Word projects. And still some travel projects and documenting to do from the last year. And, uh, yeah, as I said before, I'm, uh, participating in, at, I think every project Ali does a Week In The Life. And I'm excited for all of them.

Jennifer Wilson: So when it comes to your Project Life, are you, you said you're doing 12 by 12, are you using like the standard Design A pocket page, or do you change up the style of pocket page?

Sarah Jürs: Uh, mainly does Design A that works for me. I have a, pretty workflow, I think. Because I've done it for so long and, um, sometimes I include different, uh, page sizes when I have, uh, more pictures or more things to say. But usually the Design A.

Jennifer Wilson: Are you using primarily Ali's designs for three by four and four by six cards?

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Right, right. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: And then what about your travel projects? [00:12:00] How do you approach those?

Sarah Jürs: So, um, usually in a six by eight album. So there's one album for each destination, I would say for each vacation. And, um. I haven't used a specific kit so far. So, uh, I, I usually go day by day and just, um, look at my pictures, what do I want to include, include what happened on each day. And then I try to crush some older Story kits and, uh, just incorporate things I have in my stash. Or, or layouts I saw on Instagram which was, uh, which inspired me, and then I yeah, build up on that.

Jennifer Wilson: When does a Traveler's notebook come into play? Are you doing that mostly with the, like the Ali's Story Play or Pieces Of Life type things or? Do you actually use those for travel projects too?

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. As a travelers notebook is, uh, fairly new to me, so I discover [00:13:00] it, uh, just last year in May when I attended the Miso paper event in London. And um, there were a bunch of people who used Travelers Notebook and I didn't really know much about it at this point. And, uh, yeah, I got influenced and um, brought an insert. And now I'm using it for travel mainly, and for ephemera. So everything I collect on my travels I will glue in and just write around the pieces. So I, I really enjoy the loose, the looser approach. So in my scrapbooking I tend to plan up a little bit more. And in my travelers notebooks, it's just everything goes. And, uh, handwriting, which I don't do that often in my other projects, and it's fun.

Jennifer Wilson: So would you say that for a certain, like let's say you were gonna go on a trip this year, you would probably work, like be kind of gathering your thoughts [00:14:00] and, and some of the memorabilia in a traveler's notebook, and then maybe you would do a, an album later for that project with your photos.

Sarah Jürs: Right. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Now I've seen that you are also kind of a very dedicated journaler in your Hobonichi. Can you tell us about how you, how you approach that and um, what role that plays for you?

Sarah Jürs: It's a huge role in my life at this point. um, I discovered Hobonichi I think also in 2021 by Amy Gretchen. I saw a video of her. And she talked about, um, being behind in Project Life and uh, having a place to jot on notes and to come back to. And she showed her Hobonichi. And at first I thought, yeah, that's a great idea, just for that purpose of uh, having a place to co come back and, uh, yeah, fill gaps in my Project Life.

And by journaling daily, I recognize how much it does for my mental health also. And, [00:15:00] just, calming practice of sitting down in the evening or in the morning and just writing. It's, makes a huge difference in my life. And I try to really go day by day and, uh, usually fill, fill out the whole page each day. And, um, yeah, it's great to have a place to come back to again, again, and again.

Jennifer Wilson: Are you including any creative elements on that page? Stickers, stamps.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, yeah. Stickers. Stamps not so much because the paper is a bit tricky when it comes to stamps. But, um, yeah, stickers mainly from TheCoffeeMonsterzCo Um, or any ephemera, when it's not too bulky, then I like to include it. And yeah, a little bit. Hand lettering and, um, yeah, sometimes I draw in there. But not that often. Usually I have too much to say for, for bigger [00:16:00] embellishments or something.

Jennifer Wilson: So would you say that what you have documented in your planner is, uh, is used to plan your Project Life?

Sarah Jürs: It was in the beginning, but nowadays, not really. I just, uh, yeah, try to capture what the day looked like. So like activities, but also how I'm, how I'm feeling, what goes on in the world and make notes sometimes. And it's always fun to look back and, uh, I. I often go back into an older Hobonichi and look up when was and when was that. And it's fun to have a place to find those informations.

Jennifer Wilson: Can you talk more about how you might approach storytelling differently? So I'm getting the sense that maybe your planner is very much about you, and is your Project life more about your son.

Sarah Jürs: Yes. Yes, I, would say so. So, [00:17:00] um, I, I try to take note during the week of everything, no, not everything. But the main thing he does what he's into, what's new and um, that's a huge part of my Project Life. Because, uh, he loves to look back at our old albums and, uh, yeah, relive the memories. And, um, it's just great. Last December we looked back on an album and then he said, oh, mom, every time when we watch an album, we, we, we go through an album.

I just laugh that you do it. And 'cause sometimes when I want to take pictures, uh, asking some questions to write it down, and he's a bit, uh, how do you say it? Um, bothered. But when he sees, uh, what it came out of it and how I document it, and he's happy that I do it, that's fun.

Jennifer Wilson: I feel like that [00:18:00] experience is very normal.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, I think so. Especially in this age. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So in like a given week or month or even like day, day to day, like how, how often are you touching each of your projects? So, you're journaling daily. Um, when do you work on Project Life? Like how does your, how is your, week structured?

Sarah Jürs: So, as you said, I journal daily and I try to do my Project Life every Sunday. And yeah, capture the, the week. That, uh, doesn't work every time, of course. Sometimes I am back a few weeks, but, uh, because I have my planner, my, my journal, that's not a problem. Um, I try to at least print some pictures then, or jot some extra notes down.

And, um, there isn't really a day when I don't touch anything. At least when I'm home, of course. So, um, I sometimes print pictures for, for layouts or I [00:19:00] try cutting stuff out or, um, gather something I want to do, I want to work with. And um, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: What, what time of day, especially during the week, can we find you scrapbooking?

Sarah Jürs: Um, mainly in the evening when my son is in bed or when he's with friends or so. Because I, I work full time during the day. And sometimes when I am in, uh, uh, working from home, then I can, uh, start a layout in my, uh, um, break. But usually in the evening when it's quiet around here. And I can collect my thoughts and my products and start working on it.

Jennifer Wilson: And when you do your journaling, are you doing that? You said, you mentioned you're working on it kind of throughout the day. Is that correct? Do you bring it with you?

Sarah Jürs: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. It seems like that's like a, a companion for you?

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Yeah. That's the right word. Yeah. Yeah,

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I love that. I love that idea. I probably would, uh, how do, how do I say this? If I always was writing my thoughts and [00:20:00] feelings before I spoke them out loud, I might regret fewer things that I say.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. That's right. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, I love, I love that you have that as a, as a way to process and, um, and, uh, you mentioned the, TheCoffeeMonsterzCo and seeing that like continuously through your pages just gives it like that sense of uniformity.

And yeah, it makes me wanna dip back into a Hobonichi, but I have to stay strong and not do it. I can't start anything else.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, that's, yeah, I thought of that yesterday. I often think that I have too many ho hobbies because there are not much hours in a day. And um, it's hard to do everything I want to because it's just not enough time.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there things that you've decided like, okay, I would like to do this, but I, don't, I'm just not going to.

Sarah Jürs: I, I used, um, I used to go to phases. So there are phases when [00:21:00] I'm more journaling phases, when I'm more scrapbooking. Than I'm reading. Because I can't do anything, uh, everything at one time. And, uh, so January is usually my catch up and setup up phase. Where I try to finish projects from the, uh, last year and set up projects for this year. And, um, yeah, maybe then. So reading phase again. Let's see.

Jennifer Wilson: I would say that's, that's a, I don't know. I think a lot of us go through that.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, I think so.

Jennifer Wilson: I, we always talk about how you can always trust that you're, I dunno, your creative mojo, your creative, like inspiration for scrapbooking. Even if you don't feel like it's high right now, it will always come back.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. that's definitely the case. Usually when I am not feeling it or so, I try to at least, uh, write some stuff down or, um, get inspiration from other creators and, uh, save them for later. And, uh, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yes, for sure. And there's so many different fun ways to do that [00:22:00] these days.

Sarah Jürs: That's right.

Jennifer Wilson: So let's talk about how you would plan a project. So whether it's like Week in the Life or December Daily, are you. Someone who's kind of working one day at a time and getting that done, or do you kind of map out the whole thing and build it from the ground up, I guess?

Sarah Jürs: Uh, I think I'll go one day at a time. To planning the whole thing, it's not really my thing. And then it seems too huge. And then I get, uh, stuck and don't know where to start. So when I just dive in and approach one day at a time or one page at a time, that usually gets me going and then it's flows.

Jennifer Wilson: How does photo management play into making sure that you can, it sounds like you're, you're quite a finisher in projects. You, you know, you hold yourself accountable to get things finished in January, that may be, um, outstanding. How do you keep up with your photo management so that you can do all these things? [00:23:00]

Sarah Jürs: Um, so my, uh, I, I usually photograph with my phone. And, uh, the pictures get saved into my personal cloud. And, uh, once a week I, um, sort them by as, um, I have a Project Life folder, which is, um, divided by week. And uh, I try to put everything in there. And, um, when I'm traveling also I write that down and, uh, file, uh, name.

So that makes it easier to find specific things. And, um, then I favorite a bunch of pictures. So it's easier for me to, um, decide what goes on my Project Life or what's different layout and yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you edit your photos?

Sarah Jürs: Not really. It's too time consuming. So, um, sometimes when the lighting, or um, the colors are way too off, then I turn a picture in black and white, or [00:24:00] brighten something up a little bit. But other than that, not really.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. I love how black and white can fix all things.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, it's a great solution.

Jennifer Wilson: I had picked all these supplies for a layout that was all very like monochromatic blue. Um, that's a favorite color in our home. It's a story about my husband and I, and when I grabbed the photo, I didn't realize that I'm wearing a red sweater. We're in a green booth at a restaurant and there's still a Christmas tree in the background, and I'm like, um, I picked totally wrong colors here. So now this photo is black and white.

Sarah Jürs: Right. That's the same for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. So let's talk about your stash of supplies.

Um, when you bring your planner with you all day, are you bringing like other planner goodies with you?

Sarah Jürs: Mm-hmm. No, not really. I try to just bring a pen and my planner. Otherwise it gets too heavy. The Hobonichi thickens up through the year, and when I bring a bunch of stuff, it's it's [00:25:00] too much just.

Jennifer Wilson: And then when you come back home, do you have a space where you specifically work on your planner versus other projects? Or is it all together?

Sarah Jürs: Um, it's all together at my desk, but um, my planner stuff is in a shelf above my desk. And, uh, all the scrapbooking, memory keeping supplies are behind me. And there's a smaller desk where I store a project, projects where I'm just working on. And then my shelf for scrapbooking supplies. My huge stash which is a theme on its own.

Jennifer Wilson: So you are primarily or exclusively getting Ali Edwards products these days.

Sarah Jürs: Yes, yes. I just love her products and her approach, as I said before. And um, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any, was there a particular collection that you're most excited about for this year?

Sarah Jürs: Um, I am excited about the Week In The Life. So don't know right now how it will look like [00:26:00] and it's always fun to see the first sneaks and, um, get the date and, yeah, I think I have to wait a few months, but excited for that.

Jennifer Wilson: It's so, sometimes it's hard to remind myself it's only January.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, right. But, but in general, there's usually this energy of starting and doing and, um, being excited for the year. And, um, yeah, it's hard to wait.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, certainly, yes. And I think that that is one collection that seems to be, it is very different year to year. There may be some, uh, similarities in kind of the, the colors per day, but the design overall, I love the variety in that. So.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, me too.

Jennifer Wilson: Now when you're doing Week In The Life or Day In The life, how do you distinguish that from your Project Life? How are those different for you?

Sarah Jürs: Um, so during Week In The Life and Day In The Life, I'm trying harder to get myself in the picture. So that's usually the only time where I get out my, um, [00:27:00] tripod and, um, make more, I call them documentary shots. From, my son and me. And it's a deeper dive. So I tell more of the story. And, uh, in my Project Life during that week, uh, like by Week in The Life, I usually, um, pick a theme.

So I, last year I think I did tech. So I just talked about apps on my phone, what I use, what I like, and, um, I didn't talk about the week. Because it was hugely documented in my Week In The Life. So that's the only Project Life week where it's by by theme.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that is a really cool idea. What other themes have you chosen in the past?

Sarah Jürs: I had tech and I had food and I can't remember what I did else. I think reading.

Jennifer Wilson: That's okay, but I love that.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, because it's, otherwise, it's too repetitive for me, [00:28:00] so I like to get a theme in.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, and I think there, there's sometimes that, I don't know, internal tension of, okay, I really wanna do both of these things, but how do I make sure there it's not repetition, and how do I make it a very clear delineation in what my objective is.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Now, you mentioned you also do One Little Word.

Is that correct?

Sarah Jürs: Correct.

Jennifer Wilson: What is your intention with the One Little Word in comparison to say your journal?

Sarah Jürs: I think it's more of a deeper reflection than in my journal. And I am through the class, I'm prompted to think about different things and try different things and, um, hear people talking about their approach. And, um, it's fun as a, I think Liz is the one who, uh, usually prompts us to write a poem, which I don't usually do. And it's not that easy for me, but I try to do it. Um, and it's, it's sometimes. [00:29:00] We surprise ourself, I think.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, certainly. Do you think, doing One Little Word and maybe exploring longer journaling, has that helped you go a little bit deeper in your daily journaling? Like is it, I mean, it kind of is all circular for us.

Sarah Jürs: I used to only write, I did what I did in a day and, um, by discovering the One Little Word journey, I, um, yeah, I put more deeper thoughts in it. I would say.

Jennifer Wilson: And do you think you've had a shift in how much you've documented about yourself? Like when you started scrapbooking and and doing 12 by 12 layouts, were you including yourself in it?

Sarah Jürs: No.

Jennifer Wilson: About your son?

Sarah Jürs: There was just other people in my family and friends and, uh, bigger events. Yeah. That's the truth. I just realized that.

Jennifer Wilson: What was the first, kind of the first project that you touched that maybe was more [00:30:00] about yourself and helped give you permission to, to do more of that?

Sarah Jürs: That's a good question. I think when I worked with the first, uh, Story Kit from Ali Edwards, which was I think Currently was the theme. And uh, I think these were the first few projects I did, only about myself.

Jennifer Wilson: Was that initially challenging or no?

Sarah Jürs: No challenge. Challenging is not the right word. It Was different. I would say just uh,

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Sarah Jürs: To, yeah, to include myself that I wasn't used to it.

Jennifer Wilson: Maybe if maybe you were, is at a time where you were ready for it.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, maybe. Yeah,

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I think the projects come to us sometimes when we need them.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, that's right. I.

Jennifer Wilson: You get most of your supplies from Ali between hybrid and things being shipped to you. Hopefully things are getting to you in a relatively timely way. I know

Sarah Jürs: Yeah, that's a bit difficult and it doesn't get easier right [00:31:00] now, but yeah, it's part of the process.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Do you sometimes get started kind of with the digitals while you're waiting for.

Sarah Jürs: Uh, sometimes, but not that often. Usually when I, um, watch the first, uh, introduction videos or first layout from Ali and I get so excited that I have to start and I pick up the digitals. And, uh, at least start my journaling or put some things in a, in a folder and, um, when I get my kit, then I can't start right away and print stuff out and, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So clearly, we've talked about you have so much variety to how you're creating. Why does that work for you and why do you think scrapbookers, why do we always wanna try different things?

Sarah Jürs: Uh, I think we are creative at heart and we just love to document and memory keep and play with products. And, um, I think we inspire each other and want to try different styles and, [00:32:00] um, yeah, keep the creative muscles going and, um, it's always fun to try new things. I would say.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, certainly. Is there anything else that you would love to share about your hobby? I love you have clearly a, a passion for it. it's been really neat to see how it's evolved over time. Um, And it sounds like you found kind of a groove.

Sarah Jürs: Yes I did. And I found amazing people and that's the best part about it, I would say. So my documenting of course, and having all the, our life written down and, um, yeah, preserved. But the people I got to know and meet and it's, it's just amazing being, being part of this awesome community. And, uh, in the summer I will attend to the, um, New York Stationary Fest. This will be my first time in the US and I'm excited to hopefully meet some people from over there. [00:33:00] And, um, yeah, I'm really excited for it.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, Yeah, Now all of our podcast listeners know that you're gonna be there, so maybe be able to meet some more people. That's cool.

Sarah Jürs: I plan to meet Linda from, Linda Loves Creating, um, she was the, the, yeah, the reason or the, um. She had a class over on, Ali Edwards was Plan, Prep, and Play and I took that class and, um, there was some goal setting. And so, and during the, the class I discovered that I really would like to create an Instagram account and, and share my projects and, uh, not only consume, but also, um, yeah, share my stuff. And, uh, I'm really thankful for that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, it sounds like it's been way more than just the, the sharing. It's been a way to connect with others and I think sometimes we forget about that, that, that Instagram is not, and in social media in general, it's not just about the pictures and the words, which that's why we do this, but it [00:34:00] is, it's about being able to connect with others on something that's so important to us.

Sarah Jürs: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. I love that so much. Sarah, thank you so much for spending time with me and, and sharing everything about your hobby.

Sarah Jürs: Thank you too.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I can't wait to see what you create this year, and I hope you have a wonderful trip. Uh, you know, this, the whole, like the whole stationary planner world is so, um, so vibrant as well. And, uh, there's so many more kind of in-person events for this. So it looks, that's something that's definitely on my list as well.

Sarah Jürs: It's always fun to attend them. I just love it.

Jennifer Wilson: Alrighty. Yeah. Again, thanks for spending time with me and to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.

Megan Dosch: [00:00:00] Sometimes I'm not motivated. Motivation does not always show up. I may get a page done and I have called it done. It is good enough. It's gonna be fine, because the end of the day, it is the collection of the whole that makes the album not the individual pages.

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of the New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 325. In this episode, I'm chatting with Megan Dosch about how she manages multiple scrapbook projects throughout the year.

She shares her process for completing digital and physical projects by working in small pockets of time and embracing good enough to keep documenting without burning out.

Hey Megan, welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Megan Dosch: Hi. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, I'm excited to chat with you, learn more about [00:01:00] your hobby and how you get things done. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Megan Dosch: I am a mother of three, happily married for 14 years. And yeah, kiddos are 12, 10, and seven and we live in the middle of Kansas and so we are getting just dumped on with snow today. So this is a perfect scrapbooking day for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, for sure. Yeah. Will the kids have school you think on Monday? Uh.

Megan Dosch: Uh, the rumor is it's supposed to be really dangerous temperatures, so not because of the snow, but because of the cold. I think they will probably don't tell them that yet, but like I think they will probably be out on Monday.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, they're saying that for here too, so we'll see. Um, so yeah. Do you have a favorite recent layout or project? Something that really stands out as a favorite?

Megan Dosch: Well, like I said, 12, 10, and 7.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: [00:02:00] Um, kiddos are just getting older. And, um, I feel like things are really changing, and transitioning in like a great way. And I always say, um, each phase each stage with them is always my favorite. And once again, this is my favorite stages where they're getting older we're just doing more fun things. You know, they can just hang out and it's not so much of like, you know, cleaning up messes and changing diapers and that sort of thing.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: But, um, my daughter, just the other, night, she 10, um, I was, I was tucking her into bed and she said, mom, would you please sing me a lullaby? And I haven't sung a lullaby for a while now. Um, you know, it just used to do do it every single night night, and just transitioned out of that. And so I did, I sang her a lullaby, and immediately when I got into bed that night, I thought, I have to make a scrapbooking page about this. I want [00:03:00] to remember that things have changed so much in just such a brief amount of time. And um, I know I've documented before in like their baby books what their favorite lullabies were and the meaning and the story behind them all.

But this one was just more of a retrospective look at we've been and how far we've come and how much it has changed. And what an honor it was that she would even ask me to do that. Because yes, she's 10 and yes, she's getting too old for that, but at the same time, she still my little baby.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes.

Megan Dosch: So that, that was literally when I threw it together in five minutes or less, and just documented how special that moment was for me as a mom.

Um. I, I've really printed it the next day and put it in the album already. So really important to document those little tiny micro moments that you just look around and realize that these are the [00:04:00] moments that I'm gonna miss someday, you know?

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, certainly mine is my, I have one daughter and she is 14. I do have two older stepsons. They feature less in my scrapbooking because they both don't live here. But my daughter still, she will, I will be in the recliner and she's like, mom, can I come sit on your lap? And she's four or five inches taller than me.

Megan Dosch: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: But it's adorable and so special.

Megan Dosch: So special. They grow so fast and you, it's such a cliche thing that people talk about all the time, but it really does change so quickly.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. No doubt. So is there something inside of your hobby or inside of your everyday life that you're excited to do, use or try?

Megan Dosch: Oh gosh. I guess not super new. Um, I have always been kind of a, an artist on the side too. So the last few years I've started doing more mixed media. And just getting messy a lot more than I used to. [00:05:00] Um, I've always done, not always, I get, we'll get into that later. But, um, I'm more of a digital scrapbooker, so actually getting my hands messy and getting paint everywhere.

Um, I look forward to doing that. My son, my youngest, he um, loves to do art with me, so he has been asking recently if we can do a big, messy art project and I want to do a big, messy art project. So that's something I'm really looking forward to doing with him.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that sounds so fun. Now, have you always been a digital scrapbooker?

Megan Dosch: I have. So my mom was actually who started me with scrapbooking. Um, we started scrapbooking when I was. 12 or 13. And that was back in the day of like the, you know, fancy scissors that did the decorative edges. And.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: We 12 by 12 behemoth and albums that, um, are so heavy to carry around. But, um, so I started off [00:06:00] physical.

Um, I started. Project Life physical. Um, I just happened to stumble across it one day in my local Hobby Lobby store and I thought, oh, this is really cool, and kind of picked everything up. And, um, within a year of finding that, I found that there was an app that you could use and it completely transformed what I was doing. Because up until that point, I guess. I should back up a little bit. I, um, I learned how to use Photoshop when I was in college, an undergrad. Um, actually learned how to use it in a biology lab. So totally not scrapbooking related at all. But I immediately saw like, you could use this for scrapbooking, I could.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: Totally cut things out and put it on a page and journal and, um, started doing digital that way.

I discovered Project Life separately as a physical product. Thought this is super cool, I wonder if I could do it in Photoshop. [00:07:00] And, um, then discovered the app. And once I found the app, um, I just, it really took off for me, I guess. Before that it had been mainly, like Photoshop or Shutterfly books. I didn't start out as a digital scrapbooker, but early on adopted it.

Jennifer Wilson: Sure, sure. And you know, there's something really unique about the Project Life app. I've talked to so many people who maybe used to be a scrapbooker back in those days of, you know, the, the funny edge scissors and things like that. And like, you know, there are ways today that are nothing like that you think of scrapbooking that could just fit in your pocket while you're waiting in the carpool line.

Um, and so yeah, it's, there's, there is something really unique and special about it.

Megan Dosch: Absolutely. And it's something so portable that I can, you know, do it while I'm sitting at a sports practice. I can do it while we're traveling. I can scrapbook in bed. That's actually usually where I'm probably [00:08:00] scrapbooking. Um, I. So, yeah, it, it's so unique to be able to take it with you everywhere that you go because before you had like the scrapbook station, right?

That you had to, you had to get prepared and sit down and get all of your stuff out. And I still love doing that today. I still have my scrapbook station, but it's super, super fun to be able to do it anywhere in the world.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly, certainly. Yeah. And we'll get more into kind of which things you still try to do, you still enjoy doing physically versus your digital projects. But I really wanna focus on that you really seem centered around doing annual and extended duration projects. Does that, is that accurate?

Megan Dosch: Absolutely. Yes,

Jennifer Wilson: And so can you tell us, like what, you've already mentioned Project Life, but what projects have you participated in or completed?

And you know, how many times if you have an idea.

Megan Dosch: Okay. Yeah. So, um, Project Life, when I discovered the app was actually in 2015. It was the year that my, it was when I was pregnant with my daughter, [00:09:00] actually. And so I had made a few albums for my son, my first son at that time, um, through Shutterfly. And um, even like a pregnancy, pregnancy album. Um, so I started the Project Life the year that she was born. Um, I love that album.

I have done it every single year since 2015. And then I went back and I actually did up until 2013. Because that was when my son was born. Um. So, gosh, 13 years.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Of Project Life. Um, and I have printed that differently. I have done, um, photo books. I started off doing photo books, um, printed through Shutterfly. Um, I actually had one fall apart. That's, that's, they replaced it and their customer service is great and I was very [00:10:00] thankful for it. But it did fall apart and it kind of gave me a little bit of a panic attack. So I started printing through Persnickety Prints. And putting them into page protectors. And I loved when I did that because at the time the kids were very young and they did like looking through them with their sticky little fingers.

And having that protective coating over them just, um, made me feel a whole lot better. And I can replace pages if they get ripped or what have you.

Jennifer Wilson: That's a really good point. Yeah. Sometimes we think of those as less shareable than the books, but maybe not for the extra littles.

Megan Dosch: Right. Um, so I've done that since my daughter was born. I started December Daily, the year that my youngest was born. And I once again went back and I decided, okay, I wanna at least have each of their first Christmases. So I went back and started, um, doing 2015, and then I did 2013. And I thought, oh, well it's kind of [00:11:00] silly. I'm just missing like a couple of years in between there. So for a stretch of time I was doing two December Daily albums each year. And trying to fill in the gaps of the years that I was missing.

So I have all of those.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. We had to pause on that. How, how did you juggle that?

Megan Dosch: um, you know, I. I like to keep it simple.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Megan Dosch: The, I think the coolest thing about scrapbooking, and we kind of touched on this already a little bit, is how much things have just changed so quickly. So even though I'm making like the same page, I'm making the same layout. I actually. think it was almost easier to do two albums.

That sounds absolutely absurd. Um, two albums at the same time because I was making very similar pages. And just plugging photos into it and telling the story just a little bit differently.

Jennifer Wilson: There's Something to be said for that. I mean, yeah.

Megan Dosch: Yeah. And so I already had kind of a formula going. I had all of my stuff out already. I just had to, had to plug in the journaling and the photos. [00:12:00] And I, yeah, at one, I was really glad to have that done. I'm really happy to focus on one album now. Um, but I don't really feel like it made it that, that much harder.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, that's really cool.

Megan Dosch: December Daily. I started doing October Daily a few years ago. Um, I think this is my third year. 2025 was my third year of completing that album. And I always do Week in The Life. I started doing Week in the Life shortly after I discovered Ali Edwards, and started following her. I'm not sure. It would've been when my kids were in grade school. So it was later on, um, when I started doing Week in the Life. And I would just add it in with my Project Life. I, I would just make like some extra spreads.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: Um, that were more on the, on the one Week In The Life. And then I finally started doing a dedicated Week in The Life, I think in 2020. or 2021. Um, so I've been doing that for several years now. [00:13:00] And, um, I always do Day in the Life. That's always in my Project Life album also. And yeah, I think, oh, and One Little Word, that's another one of my, my passion projects. Um, love having, having that focus. And in fact, I, I love, love the community that that comes with and, and the journaling aspect and more documenting myself. Um, because scrapbooking is also for me, more of a journaling outlet than just a creative outlet. So. Then I also, gosh, these, I, I do a lot of projects now that I'm thinking about it. Um, I, um, also do 52 weeks of Me. That has been a project that has kind of evolved. It started off as, um, a Hundred Day Project, which I have actually never finished. Um, I, I always start strong and I never actually finish those projects.

Jennifer Wilson: It's [00:14:00] okay. I've never finished that either, so.

Megan Dosch: Yeah, so I started off as a Hundred Day, um, project and I had like prompts. I, I can't remember where I got the prompts from, but prompts for each day that I was going to answer the questions. And I did eventually work through it all the way, but it was not in a hundred days, it was over the course of several years.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: Um, and so then once I ran out of those questions, I thought I gotta find something else. And that's when I found, um. I love it all Shop on Instagram. She had these prompts that were really wonderful. And very open-ended. Which was great because you could, um, you could really take these prompts in lots of different directions.

And so I made those really to focus on me. Because I had noticed that I wasn't getting in the album as much at that point. Um. I had really been focused on documenting what was happening with the kids, and that was a great way to be able to just journal and write some things down about myself. [00:15:00] Um, and about that same time as when I started getting, um, into Ali Edwards Story Kits. So those albums are actually. Just kind of ongoing albums of the first half is Story Kit focused, so just theme based storytelling. And then the second half is 50 Days Of Me. So I kind of have them divided up. And I think I have like three of those at this point. So.

Jennifer Wilson: How do you distinguish the stories that are included in, in 52 Weeks of Me versus your Project Life versus One Little Word?

Megan Dosch: Um, sometimes there's overlap. There's definitely overlap. But, um, I think with the 52 weeks of me, I really focus on the prompts. Um, I like having like a specific, you know, like. I, one of the most recent ones was just like, currently or my to-do list. And so sometimes I'm putting those things into Project Life, especially when it's a quieter week or, or even a super busy week.

I'll actually take a photo of [00:16:00] like what my to-do list is, just so I can remember like how, once again, how different it was from, versus the grocery list that I had that was like, diapers formula. You know, all of these things. Now we're, now we're like, my kids wanted me to buy them a Roblox gift card.

Jennifer Wilson: It does change.

Megan Dosch: So yeah, I, it changes a lot.

Yeah. Um, so yeah, I, I, that's more of a prompt based. And, um, I I don't necessarily focus on that one as much. It's more like when I feel like I want to journal and I'm not sure what I wanna journal about, I will look at what the prompts have been recently and make a scrapbook page based off of that.

Jennifer Wilson: Cool. Cool. I like that. Yeah. It sounds like you've kind of, you've created, you know, a number of different outlets for yourself depending on, you know, maybe what you're interested in, what's really motivating you in the moment. What, what do you think what, uh, creative and storytelling aspects attract you to focusing on projects, and particularly ones that are ongoing [00:17:00] or annual.

Megan Dosch: I like having a start and a finish. Um. I don't really, I don't love the projects that are really open-ended. I like to know what the beginning is and what the end is. Um, I like, I'm, I'm a planner, so I like checklists. I like to be able to check each one of those pages off the list. Um, so yeah, the, the start and the finish, I think is what really draws me to, to the, the annual projects.

Jennifer Wilson: And what would we have to say about your finishing ability? Are you like a to the T, like I'm ending Project Life on December 31st. Is it somewhere in January or somewhere eventually?

Megan Dosch: Somewhere eventually. Yeah, it's definitely, when I get to the end of a project, like I said, I print them through Persnickety Prints. So I don't actually have the physical copy in my hands yet. Um, I have printed maybe like January through March at this point, because that's probably about the time that I finished 2024.

Jennifer Wilson: [00:18:00] Okay.

Megan Dosch: Because I'm so anxious to get those pages, of course I'm ordering them and saving on shipping. Um, but I think that's the driving, the driving force at the end of my projects is I really wanna print them. I really wanna slide 'em into those pages, um, into those page protectors and be able to flip through and, and actually see, see the product of our labor.

Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. And I think also when you are doing mail order, whether it's for a completed digital page or even with photos, that the, the incentive to do it in a batch, uh, to save on shipping is a, is a really big, helpful incentive.

Megan Dosch: Exactly, and I live in the middle of nowhere, so it takes it a while for it to.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Get here.

Jennifer Wilson: So which projects that are on your plate this year you anticipate being on your plate? Will you do digitally versus using any physical products?

Megan Dosch: So December Daily is like my physical product baby. Like I, I, that's where I set up [00:19:00] the scrapbook area. I have all of the stuff out. It's a huge mess. It is a disaster right now. Because we're still working on that as we speak. Um. That will definitely be physical every year. One Little Word ends up usually being physical.

I have tried act, this is interesting. I've tried doing it digital multiple years and I have started off thinking, okay, this year I'm gonna do it digital. I have it all set up. I think that's a big key to success is planning it all out and getting it all set up. And then I just need that connection with pen and paper.

Um, in my One Little Word, I, it's such a private, personal, um, scrapbook or journal. Um, that I, I just crave the creativity and I, I do put a lot of my mixed media in that album as well. So, um, that one I have now decided I'm going to stop [00:20:00] trying to do it, stop forcing it to be digital. It will always be physical. Um, and then everything else is digital. Ev just, just about every, yeah, so Project Life, Week In the Life, Day In The Life, and October Daily will all be digital.

Jennifer Wilson: And what sizes are these? Are they all similar sizes or different sizes?

Megan Dosch: Different sizes. Yeah, great question. Yeah. Um, I do Project Life 12 by 12. I actually found the sweet spot of, I really liked 10 by 10, but that size was obviously not popular with anyone else because it disappeared. So, um, eight by eight is way too small for the amount of journaling that I wanna put on three by four cards.

So 12 by 12, it is. My October Daily, I print in an eight by 10 from Blurb. Actually, that's the only one that's a little bit different. Because I like to do, they're, I actually design them as six by eight layouts in Project Life, and then I print [00:21:00] them in eight by 10 because that's what's available. Let's see, Week In The Life will be, actually Week In The Life. I do in 10 by 10 because I can print that on Shutterfly that way.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Megan Dosch: I am, I'm always kind of cognizant of how tiny my journaling's going to look in those, and I'm trying to spread out the journaling as much as I possibly can.

Jennifer Wilson: Now that your kids are older, would you print your Project Life as a book? Is that ever.

Megan Dosch: Oh.

Jennifer Wilson: Been a consideration?

Megan Dosch: I don't know. I, I think I've gotten to the point where I just love the bit I, they do, they take up so much real estate, but, um, I, I just love them.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. You gotta do what you love.

Megan Dosch: Love that I can replace pages.

Jennifer Wilson: Now just just for clarity, anything you're doing digital you're doing in the Project Life app

Megan Dosch: Yes.

Jennifer Wilson: And do you use only Project Life product or do you bring in other product too?

Megan Dosch: No, I am, I [00:22:00] love Ali Edwards design. So I am using mostly her, um, journaling cards and embellishments. Um, that is what I will be using in 2026.

Jennifer Wilson: And so do you use any apps with the Project Life app in order to, you know, to, you know, app inception where you can basically do things on smaller canvases and then bring them in? Or is it all in the one app?

Megan Dosch: Absolutely. Yes. No, I, I am, I am an app scrapper for sure. So some of my, obviously Project Life is, it trumps all it is. It is the end all and be all. And you can make an entire page just with that. Uh, you don't have to have anything else. But I, um, I love Word Swag is another app that I use that has really fun fonts.

Um, so I will do bullet journaling with that or titles, um, with Word Swag. I do not love the freeform [00:23:00] font feature in Project Life. It is, it, we just don't get along. And so a lot of my journaling I actually do in GoDaddy Studio. Um, I have used Canva. Canva is actually not my favorite. I feel like I just, um, once again GoDaddy Studio and I just jive.

We get along really well.

Jennifer Wilson: I find Canva hard to use on the phone.

Megan Dosch: Yes. Yeah. And, and I wanna be doing it on my phone.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: That's a question I get asked pretty often too, is, um, I sometimes will do it on my iPad sometimes. But almost always I'm doing it on my phone. Like all of my scrapbooking is done almost exclusively on my phone. Um. So, yeah, I love the GoDaddy Studio that way. It, it's just more intuitive to bring outside journaling cards and journal on them. And save them as a photo and bring them into Project Life as a photo instead of as a journaling card. [00:24:00] Um, and then the last one that I love and, um, I'm so afraid it's getting discontinued, but I've been saying that for like the last two or three years is the Collect App. it is, it's like my backup. Like that is so when I am running behind and I haven't been scrapbooking regularly, it is my, my fail safe. So it is where I just jot down one photo, one word, or not one word, one caption.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: And, um, can easily export those cards and bring them into Project Life and complete a spread really easily with a caption already on there.

And I don't have to worry about putting any other extra journaling on it.

Jennifer Wilson: I've, uh, yeah, I've been looking for a replacement for it. Because I do fear it the same, and I've tried so many different apps to see, like, they say they might do something similar, but then it's never, it's never quite the same. [00:25:00] Um.

Megan Dosch: You're gonna have to keep me updated if you find something.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: I'll do the same. 'Cause I am constantly looking. Um, I have, I also, I use, um, Day One journaling app. I, I have used it to make a kind of a, a scrapbook with it before. But I, I don't use it religiously. I use it more like as a monthly brain dump. Where I just kind of write down some of the highlights and the things that we did over the course of the month. Um, but I have gone through and tried to do like the daily, um, daily photo and caption and yeah, it just doesn't export the same. Um, yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: It'd be really cool if there was, even, even at six by eight in the Project Life app to be able to do like simple photo and caption like.

Megan Dosch: Right.

Jennifer Wilson: Like, you know, the functionality's there. It's just not part of their, you know, not one of their designs. But that would be brilliant. And a total replacement for Collect, other than like the calendar [00:26:00] aspect of it.

Megan Dosch: Know we just have to get the word out there that we need Collect supported. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Who out there is an app developer that can help us out here?

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. Yeah, that's, that's a hard one, especially with the different operating systems too, is, I mean, it's never been available for Android, right?

Megan Dosch: Right. I don't think it has.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. So at least you can, you don't have to maintain two of them. So, all right. Someone out there, we, we need this.

Megan Dosch: Please help us.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and maybe some of the apps that are trying to do similar. Maybe there's a communication need, like, okay, what, who's the closest, who seems like the most engaged with online community, and would they be amenable to like listening to, here you are, you're like 90% there. If you could only do this, it'd be great.

Megan Dosch: It's so simple.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Megan Dosch: One photo, one caption, and the date. That's all we need.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm. Okay. Before we continue lamenting too much. Let's, uh, [00:27:00] um, you mentioned that you are a planner when it comes to your projects. So let's, like take Week In the Life for example. How would you plan that out? Are you working like one day at a time or are you thinking like, I'm putting this particular card in the top left of each week, each day? Um. You know, in a, in a pattern, if you will.

Megan Dosch: No. So there's layers to that plan. So. Week In The Life is such, for me personally, an intense look at our everyday life. And um, I just love it so much it. It definitely Project Life, of course, I love. But Week In The Life I might even love even more. Because it's such a zoomed in view of what, what our lives look like right now. Um, so for my planning, I, the very first thing I do is I open a new note on my notes app in my [00:28:00] phone. I write down as soon as I find out, like when the community documenting week is, and if it works into my schedule. Then I will write out Monday and the date. Tuesday and the date. at this point I have done it so many times that I just copy paste.

Um, and I, I know there's examples of it on my Instagram. Um, but I am doing the date, usually I'm picking a focus for Week in the Life. And then I have a checklist. So I know in Week In The Life I wanna have a picture of my coffee each day, wanna have a picture of the weather each day, and I wanna have a picture of the news each day.

So I have that checklist. And so while I'm documenting, I'm journaling in that notes app. And then I'm also taking photos of course. And at the end of the week I put each all of the photos from Monday into a Monday folder. And I go through and I [00:29:00] start favoriting and editing my photos for each day. I now have my journaling. Um. So I three layers or two layers at this point. The third layer is going in and actually creating those pages in my Project Life app.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: So I'll open up a new folder, um, labeled with the project name. So Week In The Life, 2025, 2026. And, um, start putting in my pages. And, um, I like to have them titled so that they show up.

I, I export everything into Dropbox. That's kind of like my backup storage. And that's how I get everything over to Persnickety Prints to print it. Or for Week In The Life, it would be going to Shutterfly. And so if I, I have found this, this was a, you know, learned process. I have found that if I label them appropriately, title them appropriately, then they will show up in the right order.

And that saves a [00:30:00] ton of time at the end trying to figure out where's, where are all the Monday pages and how can I put those together? If they're all labeled, 01 Monday, then they show up together and they're in generally the correct order. So, once I have the pages in Project Life, that also starts to act as kind of my checklist. Because like I have these blank pages that are just sitting and waiting for journaling and, um, photos. So as I go through, obviously as they're filled out, I'm exporting them out to Dropbox. I can see like, okay, right now for 2025, I think I'm somewhere in the middle of Wednesday.

I have not kept up with that album, and that's going to be one of the next projects on my, on my to-do list. But, um, yeah, so the, the Project Life actually kind of serves as my checklist actually.

Jennifer Wilson: That's, that's cool. And you, you mentioned those specifically having like your photo and story checklist for Week in the Life. Do you do the same for [00:31:00] your regular Project Life?

Megan Dosch: No, no. Project Life. I try, I, I try not to stress out about it too much. I definitely want it done by the end. I, I, I don't plan a whole lot other than making the pages. So I have all 52 plus pages that are already ready to go for 2026. I actually did that last night as it started snowing here. I thought, oh, I'm just gonna sit on the couch and watch some tv, and I got all of my pages ready to go.

Jennifer Wilson: So does that mean you use like Design A or the same like style throughout the year? Okay.

Megan Dosch: Yes. So I, I use basically three styles. I use Design A, I use, um, this, I think it was called Big Squared Away for, um, birthdays. So each of the kids gets a page for their birthday.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Megan Dosch: And the dogs, the dogs also do too. And then for like, special events like sport, you know, like a sports season or like something [00:32:00] that I wanna feature for each one of the kids.

I will do one of the Big Shots. It's like, has the bigger photo. And that's also for first days of school, last days of school. So I have all of those ready to go. And then for Project Life, it is just as simple as I sit down at the end of the week and it doesn't happen every week. But usually Sunday nights I will sit down and I will go through, first I'll go through the Collect app, which is another reason why I absolutely have to have that app continue forever. I go through the Collect app and fill out the week. One photo for each day and the caption, that kind of gets my brain thinking like, oh yeah, what did we do that like over the last week? Like, what happened? You know, how quickly we forget.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. Yes. Yes.

Megan Dosch: So what, what happened

Jennifer Wilson: What happened an hour ago? I don't know anymore.

Megan Dosch: Exactly. um, once I have that filled out, then I will go through my photos and just look at the previous week and [00:33:00] favorite the ones that I like the best.

And I will edit those right away. I do not do anything crazy to edit them. I literally use the auto edit on my, um, iPhone and if I like it, I keep it. And if I don't, then I don't edit it. Um, pretty simple.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: So.

Jennifer Wilson: Good to have rules for yourself.

Megan Dosch: Right. I used to go through all kinds of stuff to edit. I, I don't do that anymore. It's either good or it's good enough. Um, once I have that, then I'll start putting them into my page. And sometimes I'll go ahead and do the journaling right then and there. Sometimes I like to sit on the journaling and let it marinate a little bit. And, I think there's something to be said for journaling in the moment, and also journaling retrospectively. And um, I like both. I like both forms, so sometimes it's like I just wanna write down like this, we did this, this, this, and this, and then other times I wanna go back and kinda write down what my [00:34:00] feelings were about this, this, this, and this.

Jennifer Wilson: Could you talk more about how when you are planning out, you have all 52 weeks plus, you know, your planned additions. And maybe there'll be some additional ones that you're not a hundred percent sure of. But um, how does that help you, like, uh, work through it, like, see your progress. 'Cause that's how I work too.

And some people don't, don't think about that or don't work that way at all. So I'm wondering like, why, why does that feel so satisfying?

Megan Dosch: I don't know. I feel like it's checking. I will. I'm literally the person that will write something down after I have done it so that I can check it off my list.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, of course.

Megan Dosch: There's something just super satisfying.

Jennifer Wilson: I did something I needed to count.

Megan Dosch: Yes. And moving on to the next one. I think that is just the way I was made.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I know it does make it, make it a visual checklist. Um, like I'm always, when I'm doing projects like that, I'm always kind of flipping through and seeing like, okay, where's the smallest hole? Then I can fill in. [00:35:00] And um, yeah, it's very motivating for me like that too.

Megan Dosch: Right. And sometimes, you know, sometimes I'm not motivated. Motivation does not always show up. So, um, I may get a page done and it, I have called it done. It is good enough. It's gonna be fine, because the end of the day, it is the collection of the whole that makes the album not the individual pages. Um. So I may have already said that I'm done with that page, but I look back at it and I'm like, Ooh, that's kind of, it looks kind of sad or kind of plain. I should really like embellish some things. And, um, I feel like some days I'm just way more creative and I will go in and I will actually embellish previous pages that I did.

Um, and that's my creative outlet. And I don't have to think about like, what do I actually wanna say about this photo? It's just like, I wanna add a cute little heart right here and that that brings me joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. And I mean, our brain's like, that's using different parts of your brain if you're trying to do both at the same [00:36:00] time. Um, which sometimes we can easily switch back and forth and sometimes it's just not happening.

Megan Dosch: Precisely.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there other things you do when you're not motivated? Any like tricks you've used or are you just patient and wait it out?

Megan Dosch: Oh, I, I would say if nothing else, I will, you will find more pages in my Project Life app folders that have photos and no journaling. Because as long as I have the photos on the page, um, I think actually it was Becky Higgins at one point said, uh, may have been one of the classes that I took from her. That, um if you don't know what to journal, like, just sit down and imagine that your best friend or your mom or your sister or whoever is sitting right next to you and what would you tell them about these pictures.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: So like, if I have the pictures on the page, I can tell you something about them. Um, it may not be once again like the, in the moment journaling of what was specifically [00:37:00] happening, but it does evoke a feeling.

So, um, I can, I can tell you something. And then I can go back and fill in that journaling when I'm, I'm feeling, feeling the writing inspiration, come on.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, certainly. And the things we write in the moment versus weeks or months later are totally different. Um, and they're both valuable, but in very different ways. I think.

Megan Dosch: I also find, uh, you know, I, I share socially I'm on social media. So. I, I don't always share my pages right when I make them.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: Um, so a lot of times when I, it's so crazy to me. I'll post them. And I'll start writing my caption and I'm like, oh man, I should have told this story. And I end up telling the story in my caption.

It's like so many layers of scrapbooking here.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: I'm scrapbooking about scrapbooking here.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, we do that too sometimes. So.

Megan Dosch: Yes, we do.

Jennifer Wilson: So, with so many different projects that you are into, what is your workflow within a given week? You know, you said you're also trying to finish up [00:38:00] December Daily. So like how, how, how often are you touching each project? Do you have anything that's kind of a, a routine or a rhythm?

Megan Dosch: I am working on Project Life pretty regularly, just about every week. Um, the other projects I try to work on One Little Word at least once a month. I get behind on it. Um, especially when, you know, life gets crazy. I, it's not, it never becomes such a priority that I'm not, you know, doing, doing the things that I have to do and the things that I love doing with my family. Um, it's, it's, when I'm feeling creative, when I have that free moment, you know, every so often I'll get these big. Like today for example, we're snowed in. We're not going anywhere. We're not doing anything. We're watching movies. I'm scrapbooking. Like my, my kids will circulate in and out of my scrapbook room with me. My daughter will do some art [00:39:00] projects. I'm sure my son will do some art projects. My oldest son, his Xbox is literally just right around the corner, so he'll come down and, and hang out with me as well. I have those, you know, every so often you get lucky and you have these big blocks of time, but I really, am, and in life too. I believe in like Atomic Habits. That was a great book that I read that, you know, breaking things up into tiny little bits. So if you have like 10 minutes to work on something, work on it for 10 minutes. And you will have by the end of the week if you do that, you know, four or five times, that's, 40 to 50 minutes, that's a lot of time.

Jennifer Wilson: Is. It adds up.

Megan Dosch: On the project. Um, so those little tiny pockets of time is usually where I am working on my scrapbooking. But every so often you get lucky and you, you get, you get some creative time to yourself.

Jennifer Wilson: Is it, are you often, can we find you working after the kids go to bed or another time of the day in terms of like finding those pockets?

Megan Dosch: Yeah, it's usually after the kids go [00:40:00] to bed. Um, although now, you know, once again, we're transitioning. They're staying up later.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh my gosh. I'm almost always go to bed before my daughter now, so.

Megan Dosch: Yeah, so they are not completely asleep, but I have said goodnight. And I have told them that I am going to bed and I will work on it for about, you know, five or 10 minutes. And, um, then I always also have to shut my brain off. So I am, I'm reading after that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: So it's, it's not a, a, you know, sometimes we'll go down the rabbit hole of staying up way too late, scrapbooking. But I try not to do that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, we, too many things you regret later these days. It's not, it's not just, yeah. So many choices with, you know, I bent over too weird, or I stayed up too late and now everything hurts, so.

Megan Dosch: Yeah, I got up from my computer chair.

Jennifer Wilson: I know.

Megan Dosch: I don't, I don't know why that hurt.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there projects you've done in the past that you wouldn't do again?

Megan Dosch: I definitely won't do One Little Word digitally ever [00:41:00] again.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay. Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Always be physical for sure. I, I think I have, I say this now, check back with me. But I say this now, I'm, I'm gonna write off, um, the, the a Hundred Day Project.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: I'm seeing a lot of that on Instagram right now, and I'm being inspired by it, and I am, I'm staying strong. I'm not gonna do it.

Jennifer Wilson: I like the idea of like a little check, you know, a checklist of just a hundred circles to fill in without any pressure of doing it on consecutive days. Like, I wanna do this thing a hundred times in the next year-ish.

Megan Dosch: A hundred days someday. I, I'm down with that too. I, I like that movement.

Jennifer Wilson: I think that the, the hundred times project I think would work better for some of us.

Megan Dosch: Yeah, I don't know. I, I don't think I've ever. don't think there's too many projects that I've done that I, I hated.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there like, are there projects where you like that you also have to keep restraining yourself from like, you know what, I love that for somebody else, [00:42:00] it's probably not for me.

Megan Dosch: I used to do, um, like a November gratitude. I still, I still kind of do it if I have time. It used to be more of a thing. Now, I literally, I. If I do it, this is a big if. If I didn't do it well, I kind of went back and retrospectively did it for One Little Word. But like I'm doing October Daily and then I'm doing December Daily. Do I really need to do November Daily like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: That is what it always boils down to. But I have done it where I just have a page of journaling cards and I literally just write. I am grateful for, x, y, z on each one of those cards, one for each day of the month. And I do, I do that anyway. A lot of times throughout the year.

I'm big into gratitude journaling. I just usually write it in my planner.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: Um, but taking it the next step further and actually documenting it and putting it into a scrapbook is not, is not a priority for me. So, um, if it [00:43:00] happens, great. If it doesn't, it's fine.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I've been really trying to ask myself, do I have to make this a thing or can it somehow go in my planner. Because there's always plenty of space. Um, and the answer for a lot of things ends up being yes. And I, I really appreciate that, that I'm having those conversations with myself.

Megan Dosch: Yes. Yes, absolutely. And, and just like once again, giving yourself grace, giving yourself permission to be like, enough is enough. Like that, that is enough. That is good enough. I love it the way that it is. It doesn't need to be extra.

Jennifer Wilson: I guess the flip question here then is, are there things that you're like, oh, I am like, I'm really wanting to start this. I wanna try this, I wanna buy this thing and, and do it.

Megan Dosch: Um, I, I think that really goes more into the artistic side for me. Um, um, doing more. Just doing more art. I, it, it's just a [00:44:00] really great outlet for me. Um, it's a great way for me to, you know, we always hear about the, like the flow state. I can definitely get into a flow state doing art and I think it's therapeutic. But it takes a lot of time. Um, and I'm not very patient and so waiting for things to dry is frustrating to me. I really got into, like I said, more of the mixed media in the last couple of years and really playing around with paint and art and paper. And I feel like it's an extension of my scrapbooking because a lot of times I'm journaling on that as well. Um. And so, yeah, I, I want to do more art, but as time allows. I, I feel like I got behind on a lot of my projects last year and once again, what, what does behind mean? It doesn't mean anything. There is no deadline. But I didn't feel like I got to scrapbook as much as I wanted to because I was taking more time for art. And, [00:45:00] um, guess I need to find a, a nice balance between the two. But I've already kind of decided 2026 is definitely going to be more of a scrapbooking year for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Yeah, it's like we go, we ebb and flow. We go through stages of what we feel like we most need, what's most important to us. And I love that we have options to, you know, to flex with it.

Megan Dosch: Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So, do you have any other advice for scrapbookers who are working on long-term projects and maybe it's kind of, it's bothering them that they're not caught up?

Megan Dosch: Oh yeah. No, don't, don't ever, don't ever feel behind. There's like, there's always going to be photos, there's always going to be thoughts about those photos. Um, always my number one tip is to just start where you're at now. Um, I feel like a lot of people will try to start at the beginning of the year, which of course we're, we're talking in January right now, so that wouldn't be a big deal now.

But [00:46:00] don't feel like you have to start at the beginning. Start right now. Like start where you are. So look at the week, the previous week. Look at the photos. Which ones are your best, choose them, journal about them. And then go to the week before that. And in fact, when I get behind that is exactly what I do.

I start with the most fresh memories, and then I work my way backwards. I never try to start at the beginning and work towards where I am. Um, because I want, I wanna have the, the freshest memories come out before, before they become old and stale as well.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, they're, I mean, they're often more exciting. It's easier to find like, what is the meaning? What, what is this? What is this even? What is happening here? Um. I think it's just an easier entry point, and so I definitely always encourage folks to do that, even if they feel like they're decades behind. Do not go back to 1988.

You need to start now, and maybe you took a picture of your beautiful fireplace and then you could incorporate that with a photo of a fireplace, your fireplace from 1988. And how life is so [00:47:00] different now that you know your, your kids are grown and now the grandkids come. And whatever, whatever your life stage is, those kind of comparisons can be super valuable.

Megan Dosch: I love those kind of pages. I love those then and now. And

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Love when Google will surprise me with those sometimes.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Megan Dosch: Me the little photo of like, look at these kids then and now. And I'm like, oh, I immediately, I have to save that and write something down about it so that I can scrapbook it later. I think the other thing I think people get hung up with on specifically Project Life is, um, weekly documenting, like doing a spread for each week. And I only do one page for each week. I don't do an entire spread. So, um, that's something that I think I do a little bit differently. But you don't have to do that. Like, um, sister is also a scrapbooker and she of course has to use Project Life because I insist that she does. And she loves it too. And that's, you know, one of our favorite things to do, although it doesn't happen as [00:48:00] much anymore with rowdy kids, but we used to get together and just kind of hang out and scrapbook on our phones and hang out.

Um, but her big thing was always, especially back before her youngest and or her oldest and my youngest are the same age. So I had kids she did not to begin with and she's like, I don't, we don't do anything, like nothing ever happens. We do the same thing every week. um, so the solution that we came up with for her was actually to scrapbook monthly. And so she would do one or two spreads per month. And then like, you know, if something happened like, she has this really great core group of friends that they do a lot of fun things together. And if they had an event, then she'd add in like event pages to kind of supplement just the, the monthly scrapbooking.

Um, but that was a, that was something that worked really well for her prior to kids, and I kind of foresee that as being something that I would consider doing after kids after we're.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Megan Dosch: Empty nesters and things are [00:49:00] not happening as much. Um, you know, as bam, bam, bam as they are right now.

Jennifer Wilson: I am curious with doing one page per week, does that allow you to fit all of your printed pages in one album?

Megan Dosch: Yes. Yeah, that is actually my goal. Um, my other, the other thing that's in the back of my mind is I do actually print, um, three copies. Three copies of each year for each one of the kids to someday have. Whether they want them or not, I don't know that they'll want them. Um, so I know that there's a limit on Shutterfly.

It's uh, what, 110 pages, I think.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Megan Dosch: 109. And so, um, I am really aware of trying to condense things as much as I can, but still tell the story. Like I don't wanna leave things out. And I do actually sometimes leave things out in their printed copies because it just didn't [00:50:00] fit. Um, my big Project Life albums, I know that I have room to put, you know, like certificates or, um, I can type up a longer story and put it in like a six by eight page protector, eight by 10 or something like that. Um, So yes, I do, I like for, same thing with December Daily. I like it to all be contained with one album. I have, side note, I guess I have, um, always been a planner. I always have a planner.

I always fitted in one year. And last year it ended up being in two planners. And I'm like, I am never doing that again. And I'm already thinking like, it's probably going to happen again. 'Cause I just, I don't know. I had more words this year. I was doing a lot more journaling in my planner and I had to, I had to expand it over too.

So, yeah, I want it to fit in one.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I mean, I understand like we, we have those, those needs. I don't know if they're neurotic or not, but I totally understand that.

Megan Dosch: [00:51:00] Absolutely. Yeah. It's a little bit crazy, but it's okay.

Jennifer Wilson: I, yeah, I, but I, I get it and I, I made the mis, I know it's a mistake, but my most success recently with a planner, I bought it mid-year and I'm like, oh my gosh. Like I have a, I have a half year, or you know, a school year planner and it kind of makes me squirrelly sometimes.

Megan Dosch: Yes. Yep. I want it to fit in one book. Um, it's just, yeah, I don't know. I have that per perfectionist side of me that's like, it has to be in one book. I have no idea where it comes from. And I don't know, I'm, it's so funny 'cause I, I feel like a lot of the other things I talk about is like, worry about it, be free.

Like enough is enough, it's gonna be good enough. Like everything's fine, but it has to fit in one book.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, I mean, it's a, it's a realistic parameter to give yourself so that you can, um, you know, hold, hold in some of the stories and words. There's, there will always be more things that we can scrapbook, but if we want it to fit in a book, which I think is, you know, is a [00:52:00] common desire, then we have to make certain choices.

Even doing digital Project Life versus physical allows you to fit it in one book. It's, I don't, I mean, you'd have to do monthly probably to do, be able to do, um, physical Project Life in one book. I think.

Megan Dosch: Right. Yeah. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson: So, yeah, I think those are, it's where we have to make, you know, helpful choices for our needs and desires.

Megan Dosch: Exactly.

Jennifer Wilson: Megan, this has been so delightful. Thank you for spending time with me. Can you share where our listeners can find you online?

Megan Dosch: Yeah, absolutely. I am mostly on Instagram. So you are going to find most of my reels and um, pages that I'm sharing are gonna be over there at Megan Scrapbooks. And then I do have a YouTube that I occasionally will post on. I am hoping to do a few more videos here coming up. Um, and that is Megan scrapbooks at, or, I'm sorry, hold on. I think it's like 79, [00:53:00] 65. It's not, it's not a nice clean YouTube name.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay, so MeganScrapbooks7965.

We will definitely find it.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend. Again, thank you for spending time with me.

Megan Dosch: Thank you so much for having me, and thank you so much for doing this podcast. I've really enjoyed listening to it.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, thank you. It's so nice to hear that. To all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.