Community Forums Username: ChristyB

Blog Address: christysthoughts.wordpress.com

I have been scrapping since 1995. I started with my honeymoon pictures, stickers and my mom's old pinking shears. How times have changed! I would describe my style as bold, cheerful and sophisticated. I love to try new things. My favorite technique is probably sanding. I sand so much, my desk has a worn out, smooth spot where I sand. It is such an easy technique that adds dimension. I hope to never be stranded on a deserted island, I am not the "Survivor-Woman" type... but if I were, I would need to have my Cutter Bee scissors, Bazzill cardstock, black micron pens and of course, BLING. I love bling. I try to add some to everything I do! I even blinged the apple on my Mac. My favorite scrap manufacturers are Heidi Swapp, Basic Grey, Hambly and Luxe. I cannot pass up a cool patterned paper. My scrap shopping motto is, "If you buy everything you love, you will always have everything you need!" I get an eye roll from my husband when I say it, but it is true!

I used to be an avid chronological scrapper, but after three kid albums and a family album, I was feeling so overwhelmed that I didn't look forward to scrapping! Who wanted to do "Christmas 2003" in four books??? So, after reading Stacy Jullian's book, "The Big Picture", I began to relax my perfectionist ways and started doing mini books, and pages that I wanted to do instead of "catching up"! My process has changed since then. Sometimes I am inspired by a cool paper and look for a photo that matches. Sometimes I am inspired by a beautiful picture that my husband has taken and look through my stash to see what will enhance it. Sometimes I am inspired by something one of my kids will say and I will scrap around that. I also love to scrap the every day things, like the Legos everywhere, or my favorite summer flip flops.

Lately, I have been trying to do projects that use only my scraps. I just finished all of my birthday cards for the year using only scraps! My husband loves that idea! (No eye roll there!) Scrapping is an escape for me. A way to preserve memories for my family. A reason to get away with my girlfriends. It has made my life more beautiful. I am living the quote, "I love my life, that's why I scrapbook it!"

JUDGES NOTES

"I have a feeling that Christy can do anything! So envious of her ability to create projects that are at once whimsical and heartfelt. As a group, her submissions tell me this girl has versatility and style. The little touches on everything really help to complete each piece. We love the scuffed chipboard, the hand lettering, the angle of the enlarged photo on her ‘smile!’ layout."