check it out...

thanks for all the great questions everyone posted on the Making Memories blog. You can read some of my answers here.. but I also thought I would answer a few more on my blog..

so here we go...

From Alyissa:

What are the products you use over and over again?

Of course my favorite product in the world in patterned paper. It's what inspires me to scrap. The beautiful colors, patterns and textures made by some pretty talented designers out there.. just give me goosebumps sometimes. Besides paper.. love my stapler, my sewing machine. I also love chipboard.. raw or pre-colored. Chipboard alpha's, shapes, etc. LOVE them. I also am really into acrylic stamps right now.. and probably my favorite of all, ledger paper. There are some great companies that make paper with "ledger looks" to them including Scenic Route, Making Memories, Carolee's Creations, Jenni Bowlin, Karen Russell (CI), Dream Street Productions and many more. I use those types of papers on just about every layout right now.

Sharon Asks:

What is a day like for you? Do u find your creative time during the week or on the weekend? A normal day starts with me and my husband getting about of bed around 7:30, just in time to have prayer with my older kids before the leave for school at 7:40. (My kids are great about getting up, getting dressed on their own, eating breakfast, brushing teeth etc.. our son Parker has an internal alarm clock that goes off every day around 6:48 and so at 7:00 he goes around the house and wakes all the kids up). After they are off, then I take some time to clean my house, get my younger two kids dressed, fed etc. Then it's off to my scrapbook room (usually around 9:00 or so).. and answer e-mails from work (BHG and Making Memories).. etc. I usually don't do projects or scrapbook until afternoon, when my kids are napping. Older kids get home around 2:30 and then from there it's all homework, after-school snacks and dinner. I usually sneak back into my office and work from 3:30-4:30.. and then if I am way behind and have lots of stuff going on, I work again at night after my kids are in bed and my husband and I have had some snuggle and alone time.. just watching TV, talking, swinging in our hammock.. or going to town for a late night errand run (usually for groceries etc). This month is particularly hectic with lots of assignments and projects going on.. so I have been spending just about everyday in my office, but there are some days when i don't work at all and just spend the day hanging with my kids, doing craft projects, etc.

Ann asks

Also, how do you keep from feeling overwhelmed with everything you want to do?  The best thing for me, when I am feeling overwhelmed with work, family and church stuff is to first, take a step back and relax.. take a "me" day, where I put off everything including house cleaning etc and just relax. I am also a list person. I usually have "everything" in my head that I need to do and then realize I have way more than I probably should have taken on.. but once I make a list of things to do and accomplish each day, it really helps to put into perspective my schedule and then I don't feel so overwhelmed. The problem with lists though.. is that once I realize I do have some extra time and I am not scrambling, then I take another "me" day and I get behind again! LOL

Adelina Asks

What's your best advice for a new scrapbooker? How does one decide on the products and tools to use and purchase? There are so many out there and it's very overwhelming! I find that I use the same products and tools over and over again. I have a style that is mine and I don't tend to usually do "new" things. It's nice in a way because then i only buy the things I know I need. So my suggestion is to first try a few pages.. or even alot of pages and then take a look back at what you used most (stickers, rubons, ribbon, papers, etc).. and then try to only purchase those products. Scrapbooking can be expensive and this discourages alot of people from doing it. So when you find what you like and stick to buying those things..the cost can be reasonable for you. But I am not one to talk.. because I am terrible at buying things that are so stinkin cute.. but never use. (maybe I should take my own advice).

Julia asks

Do you think that stitching and shabby chic will stay a while longer?

It better.. cause even if it's not.. I will still be doing it :)

What type of storage do you use for your layouts and how do you keep up with scrapbooking all of your kids.

Well, to be very honest, I don't keep up with scrapbooking everything and everyone. I have over 10,000 photos I have taken in the last year alone and have probably only scrapbooked 100 of them. (if that). Because right now I am working pretty much everyday, I don't scrapbook that often for myself or my family. But when I do, there is no rhyme or reason to it. I just find some favorite pictures, or a favorite memory and scrapbook it. As for storage. Right now I have most of my 9x9 layouts in Making Memories albums, but I recently saw on Ali's blog a post about THIS system and I LOVE it. I have lots of 12x12 layouts from previous  years and from assignments for BHG etc. I also have tons of 9x9 layouts and also artwork from my kids, that I don't always know what to do with. THIS system was MEANT for me and my hectic life.. LOVE it! Haven't done it yet.. but plan to this summer!

Thanks again to everyone who posted questions.. hope you all have a FABULOUS day!

Comments

[cindy b.]

Thanks again Christy for taking the time to answer questions! I really enjoy checking your blog all the time. I may just have to try the 9x9 size. I've done 8x8 but sometimes need more room to journal!! ps. LOVE that Lisa McGarvey system too. It is AWESOME!!!

[laura vegas]

thanks christy! i've become a huge fan of the 9x9 size the past few months ... but i still do quite a few 12x12 too. i just loved that album idea from lisa too! loved the way it looked all mixed up. i'm dying to try it out.
then again ... i spent about a month last year getting all my albums organized and set up. i ordered tons of albums for all my different themes (family, daycare kids, holidays, etc) ... and they are all MM post bound albums. but now i have this urge to switch to the AC binders. lol! maybe i can convice my anal self to start a new system ... and not worry if it doesn't "match up" with the previous 10 years worth of albums!