Make A What I Cannot Change Mini Scrapbook Album Or Journal

This morning, I heard LeAnn Rimes discuss her new book and single and perform the song “What I Cannot Change” on the Today Show. I was deeply moved and thought about how I could use the song lyrics as a backdrop to create a mini scrapbook album or journal about life’s challenges.

Most of the time, we only journal or scrapbook the happy times in our lives, and act as though the difficult ones never happen. Well, they do – look at the financial crisis our country and the world is facing right now and the impact that it’s having on all of our lives.


Or look even deeper, into your own life – you might find some things that it would be freeing to let go of or someone that you need to forgive.

There are many things in our lives that we cannot change, but what we can change is how we respond to those things.

Take a moment and listen to LeAnn Rimes’ song and to the background of how the song came to be. If you’re not feeling up to creating an entire mini scrapbook album using the lyrics or the thoughts that it elicits in you, then cover a journal and entitle it “What I Cannot Change” and write in it during those moments when you most need it.

Remember, capturing your memories and telling your story is not only about the happy times, but also about how you get through the sad and challenging times to emerge into the person that you are today. Life happens…scrapbook it.

Taken From Examiner.com

Scrapbook Heaven

By Scott Cousins

Some people come to the annual scrapbooking convention at Collinsville's Gateway Center because they love it, or are addicted.

But for some, like Rob Rose, of St. Charles, Mo., it's payback.

"I came here with my wife, Paula," he said while standing in line at one of the show's booths Saturday. "I'm tolerating it.

"She has to go with me to Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop; it's payback," he said.

Unlike the fishing, tool or gun shows at the center, the CKC-St. Louis Scrapbook Convention draws mostly women who come to take classes, learn new techniques and shop during the event, which ran from Thursday to Saturday.

Taken From STLToday.com

What I Do: Creative Coach For Scrapbook Enthusiasts

By JILL CARLSON
For the State Journal

jillcarlson1957@gmail.com

Name: Shirley Merker

Occupation: Scrapbooking teacher for Stampin’ Up, Sun Prairie

Web site: www.sjsinks.stampinup.net

Years on the job: five

I’m a creative coach and offer fresh project ideas and encouragement to my customers who want to make scrapbook pages, greeting cards or gift items.

Helping someone create that perfect project for a special occasion is the best feeling in the world. Creating cards, scrapbook pages and gift items is about more than just stamps and ink; it’s about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love.

I started scrapbooking 12 years ago and my first project was a scrapbook calendar for my grandma with pages of family photos and fun memories.

There are three types of stamping events: the club, the in-home workshop and the class. At each event, I teach and share rubber-stamping tips and techniques so that guests can go home and create additional projects.

I keep events under two hours so that guests can stamp, shop, crop and then get back to their lives. I provide a little quality time where husbands, children, pets and cell phones are not allowed.

The club meets four times in six months. The club members create three scrapbook pages per meeting and I provide the samples and precut materials. The in-home workshop is held at the hostess’ home.

I provide two free make-n-takes and the hostess provides light refreshments. The goal of the in-home workshop is to expose new stampers to this hobby, teach a fun technique and educate guests on what Stampin’ Up has to offer.

Classes are usually held at my home and the guests create a set number of cards or scrapbook pages for a fee. I provide samples of the projects and the supplies to create them. New stampers are helped out by the more experienced stampers and we all go home with some nice projects and a smile on our face.

I teach that projects look better with two coordinating colors and neutral colored paper selections along with using non-paper embellishments like ribbon, eyelets, brads or pearls.

What I Do invites people to tell in their own words what they do to earn a living. The column runs every Tuesday. To suggest someone to feature, contact Jill Carlson at jillcarlson1957@gmail.com.

Taken From Madison.com

Huge Gathering of Scrapbookers to Collect Cards for CardsForHeroes.org

Mesa, AZ, April 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Blank, handmade cards are being collected for the CardsForHeroes.org group during the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking Convention April 16-18 at the Mesa Convention Center.

This is CK Media’s 13th convention in Mesa and organizers anticipate thousands of crafters in attendance for a weekend of scrapbooking, card making, classes, and shopping.

These cards will be given to soldiers stationed throughout the world to allow them to easily keep in touch with loved ones, whether it’s just to say hello or to send a special birthday wish. There are few limits as to the types of cards needed and accepted by CardsForHeroes.org, but many happy returns from those that receive these heartfelt cards. CardsForHeroes.org has sent over 100,000 cards to those deployed and have heard praise for their efforts and requests for additional cards.
Blank, handmade cards will all be accepted in the Mesa Convention Center lobby during the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention, April 16-18. For more detailed information, please visit http://www.scrapandpapercorner.com/events/ckc/mesa/charities.html.

CK Media
CK Media consists of a diverse mix of traditional magazine publishing, online, and digital media, multiple consumer and trade events, merchandising as well as domestic and international product licensing.

CK Media's foundation is built on ten leading consumer magazine titles with a combined circulation of 1.2 million. CK Media's consumer magazines are household names and market leaders providing content and community resources for scrapbooking, paper crafting, quilting, and sewing.

The publications are Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks, Paper Crafts, Quilter's Newsletter, McCall's Quilting, Quiltmaker, McCall's Quick Quilts, Quilter's Home, Sew News and Creative Machine Embroidery. For more information, please visit http://www.ckmedia.com/

CardsForHeroes.org
Small beginnings
This project began by surprise in the spring of 2007; crafters had online discussions on the Two Peas in a Bucket Stamping Message Board about what to do with all the creations we had in our homes for which we couldn't find enough occasions to use ourselves.

It so happened that one member of the community was, at the time, stationed in Iraq, and we began sending her cards. Another member provided contact information in Afghanistan, then another in Korea . . . then searching Any Soldier produced unlimited contacts for sending batches of cards.

The discussion thread as well as our personal blog posts began generating more and more interest, and thousands of cards were being mailed out regularly by our shippers.

Growing
In November of 2007, this project became more official with a website, in an effort to consolidate the information and provide an easy way for people to get involved. More and more card makers were finding out about the project, and appreciated the regular updates and reporting done through the website.

A print shop donated the printing of our brochure, and those began to get mailed out. Blog challenges, promotional help by bloggers and company websites kept the enthusiasm spreading.

Reputation in the military
As more and more thousands of cards made it to the battlefields, CFH was added to a Chaplain training program for those transitioning into war zones. "They told me to contact you for cards," said one Chaplain. "I heard they're great for morale!" Requests for cards continue to come in, and it's an honor to meet those requests with such incredible cards.

Taken From PR.com

12 Quick Scrapbooking Ideas to Add Interest to Your Page Layouts

1. One of the easiest scrapbooking techniques to learn is paper tearing. Paper tearing adds a soft edge to your cardstock and texture to your pages. You can choose to tear just one edge of a paper or tear completely around a mat or frame. Try tearing the bottom edge of a tag or mount a sticker to cardstock and tear around the ends.

2. Matting highlights photos and page elements. Double or triple mat a special photo on the page. Match the mat color to enhance the photo. Photos aren뭪 the only page elements that can be matted. Mat a sticker or dimensional embellishment.

3. Add metal embellishments to your pages. Scrapbooking isn뭪 just about paper. Use brads, paper clips, eyelets and staples as accents on your pages. You can also use them to attach other embellishments, like ribbons and tags, to your page.

4. Ribbons can be used as borders on your layouts. Take both ends of a ribbon piece and tie them together. Now cut the ribbon so the knot will be positioned as an accent on your page.

5. Add something extra to your paper accents. Run your paper edges and frames along an ink pad to add some additional depth to your page.

6. Take out the sandpaper. Distressing your page elements is quick and easy. Just rub the sandpaper along the edges of your chipboard. You also can sand some cardstock paper giving it a different effect.

7. Keep journaling simple. The important thing is to document the photograph. Use bullet lists for journaling or just stick with who, what, where, how and when.

8. Use your own handwriting. Instead of printing out journaling from your computer, try using your own handwriting. It is much more personal, and future generations will appreciate seeing your handwriting.

9. Tags are one of the most versatile page elements available. Put your page titles on tags. Photos or journaling blocks can be mounted onto tags as well.

10. Scrapbooking page kits keep everything coordinated. Using page kits makes putting together a scrapbooking layout fast and simple. All the paper and page elements work together, and most kits have instructions and ideas for layouts.

11. Use a rubber stamp to create your own patterned page. For example, stamp a leaf image randomly on a piece of cardstock to make your own autumn-themed patterned paper.

12. Make your pages interactive. By adding envelopes and pockets to your pages, you can involve others in your scrapbook album. Hide little journaling notes in envelopes, and try tucking memorabilia into pockets. You can also create mini scrapbook albums on your pages that fold out with more photos.

These scrapbooking ideas are quick and easy, and they can inspire you to get more pages done. Keep your layouts simple, and try one of these ideas to add interest to your next scrapbooking page.

Taken From MSOKorea.com

Scrapbooking Glues Friendships

By KATHIE BASSETT

For The Telegraph

At Scrapbook Castle 316, owner Ashley Lobos loves the creativity involved in scrapbooking, but her priority is the people who come in to share enjoyment of the craft.

"For me, it's all about the people," said Lobos. "It's more than just a store - I get to know people so a lot of my customers have become my friends."

The store, located at 2833 Homer Adams Parkway, is filled with an almost endless array of papers, ribbons, stickers, stamps, and charms. Sample layouts hang on the walls to inspire customers with ways to celebrate life's important occasions as well as its everyday joys.

There's so much out there that not even the biggest store could carry everything," said Lobos. "I try to get good variety and unique items that you won't see everywhere."

Drawing on her degree in art and design, Lobos became interested in scrapbooking when her daughter Madison was born 11 years ago.

"I was doing it before there was a mainstream interest," said Lobos. "I like the idea of making things more personal and meaningful."

Scrapbooking appeals to Lobos' whimsical side, and she feels blessed to be able to do what she loves as a job. She wanted to have a unique name for the store that reflects both her passion for self-expression and her gratitude to God for allowing her to follow her dream.

"I've always liked castles and knights," she said. "316 is for John 3:16 in the Bible. I want everyone to know how much I love Him, and I want to be able to tell others about Him. This is what he wants me to do."

Lobos's assistants share her depth of feeling for the role that the store plays in creating a community.

"This is to us what our mom's beauty shop was. We're all very close with the regulars that come in here," said Patty Marks of Alton, who works at the store.

Marks is involved in the 21st Century Afterschool Program for low-income students to raise their awareness of opportunities within the community.

"Ashley is very supportive of the project as a community partner," said Marks.

Mary Ellen Cope of Wood River became hooked when she brought in three boxes of pictures from her parents' house and has worked at the shop for the last five years. Cope particularly enjoys helping people create family trees with a heritage look.

In a large workroom, Scrapbook Castle 316 offers scrapbooking and altered art classes, hosts birthday parties, crop "knights," special events such as pj parties, and fund-raisers that can accommodate as many as 20 people.

Rocky Cartwright, a regular customer, lost her mother to breast cancer. In her honor, Cartwright has participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk in Chicago, walking 60 miles over three days.

This year, Scrapbook Castle is lending its support by hosting a Scrappin' Pink Crop night from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 18. The $50 fee will be donated to sponsor Cartwright and her team the Breast Friends Crew.

Lobos is also sponsoring an Altered Bra Contest that involves donating $10 to cover the cost of materials to embellish a bra. The winner will receive a $50 gift card to Victoria's Secret and a $50 gift card to Scrapbook Castle. The Breast Friends Crew will take all of the decorated bras to Chicago for display at a refreshment area for walkers to view.

"I think there will be a ton of really neat ones that will stand out," said Cartwright. "I'm hoping to take a minimum of 25 along. This was all Ashley's idea so (walkers) will have a little entertainment, and we can send our best wishes and good cheer to them."

For more information on classes and special events, please call (618) 208-3245 or visit http://www.scrapbookcastle316.com. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

kathie.bassett@gmail.com

Taken From TheTelegraph.com