Questions & Answers : Part Four.

( final installment w/ the exception of an upcoming post on how I build my pages )

i have a question... will you show us a few more pages? and explane how you built them.. started with... added this and that... etc. i find it hard to BEGIN, and without beginning its hard to get anywhere! thanks for the oppertunity to let us ask something! Posted by: samantha | June 9, 2005 03:44 PM

Cool - I would like to make a separate post about this in the next couple days.

Hi Ali - I'd like to know about how many pages you create per week, on average. Then, how do you carve out the time to do them. Do you actually scrapbook for you and your family, or are your design "assignments" the only LO's you get to? I'm finding it difficult to get my design team assignments done and still have the time to make projects for myself. Can you please address this? Posted by: Jen | June 9, 2005 03:50 PM

The number of pages really varies. Sometimes I am really cooking - like three or four a day - and other times nothing. All of my pages are for my family - with the exception of a small few assignments for CK (like the July 2005 Crop Article). That is really the beauty of what I get to do here - record memories of my family and make a small income at the same time. Even when I have a product that I am assigned to use I am still creating a page for my family.

As for carving out the time, this is my job now. I work from about 9am to 3pm doing a variety of scrap-related things. Some days more and some days less. I work on assignments, articles, creating classes, doing layouts, organizing photos, etc.

mine is the same as Stephanie's. Do you get in a scrapbooking funk? A time when it is a chore instead of a relaxation to do anything? How do you deal with it? Posted by: pamMc | June 9, 2005 05:41 PM

Funks definitely happen around here! No doubt about it. And like I said earlier, when that happens I really do try to just take a break, do something else, let it go for a bit. And there are times when I just have to power through - hate those times - but they do happen. For the most part though, I am able to take breaks that keep me happy and excited about what I am doing.

my question is - WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO AUSTRALIA?????? Posted by: Carolyne | June 9, 2005 06:11 PM

How about...when I get invited :). Man, I would love to come. Somebody organize something and get me on the list!

Are all your layouts put in albums, or are they in stacks and piles avalanche style just waiting for page protectors? ;) Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | June 9, 2005 06:34 PM

LOL. Both. I have albums and I have stacks. Those black three-ring 12x12 binders from Walmart have been helping me keep them more organized lately. I have sure had my fair share of piles of layouts.

I second that notion Carolyne... Ali, when ARE you coming to Australia???? Thank you Ali for being so inspirational. I love your book, I pick it up over and over again and always find something different to draw inspiration from. This book has definitely helped me shape my own style. So, when's the next one out and what we will the topic be? Posted by: Deanna | June 9, 2005 06:44 PM

The next book will be out sometime next year - it will probably end up being mid-year - I am working on it right now. And it will be something related to design. That is all I can say for now :).

Can you give a quick explanation of 2peas? You've mentioned it before and when I visit the site I can't seem to figure out how it works. Posted by: Jenny | June 9, 2005 07:36 PM

Two Peas is a site that has all kinds of things happening. There is a gallery where you can share your layouts and comment on other people's pages. There is a message board (actually on a bunch of subjects) where you can communicate with other scrapbookers about all kinds of things related to scrapbooking (and not so realated). There is a store with lots of cool products. There is a Creating Garden where the design team posts new layouts on the 1st and the 15th of the month. There are other sections for Photography, Stamping, and Digital Scrapping - all with their own message boards and galleries. It is a place I spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME still LOL.

Why couldn't we have met when we were both attending OSU? That would have been cool! I'm looking forward to your class at No Bare Pages. I'm really getting into my Perspectives homework. Posted by: DianneKNelson | June 9, 2005 08:16 PM

That would have been cool Dianne - I loved OSU. So, so fun. Good times. See you next weekend.

Mine is a simple question too! As Carolyne said....... When are you coming to Australia???? Posted by: Lee | June 9, 2005 08:28 PM

Anytime Lee :)

I'm curious as to how you go about adding computer elements to your paper pages. It seems to me that you would have to have your layout totally planned out beforehand. How else would you know precisely where to add a font onto patterned paper? I'm a graphic designer, but I can't give up playing with paper...so I don't want to go to strictly digital scrapping. Any advice you could give on blending these two mediums would be most helpful. Posted by: Mandy | June 9, 2005 09:05 PM

Cool question Mandy. I think a lot of it is trial and error. I screw up all the time with placement - but the more I practice the better I get, the less I have to measure, etc. Most of the time I am printing onto cardstock, and sometimes on to patterned paper. A lot of my computer elements are added to my photos in Photoshop and then printed here at home. I like that look. Sometimes I come up with a concept - like this page below (from Two Peas Creating Garden May 2005) - and create something in a program like Freehand (my layout program of choice) and just print it onto a 12x12 piece of cardstock. Once it comes out of the printer I just work with where-ever it printed on the page...adding photos and embellishments until it feels done.



Hi, thanks for taking the time to consider all our questions :-) I posted on 2Ps about scanning old photos and negs, and then about resizing. I would love to hear your thoughts on what has worked well for you, as I know you have used old photos in some of your work. I especially wonder about what file type to save to, what dpi to scan in, and then the whole resizing thing... Any ideas on how to get started?Posted by: Arlie | June 9, 2005 09:18 PM

Sure thing. I scan at 300 dpi and save as a .jpg - this seems to work just fine. I also enlarge my photos when I am scanning them in, rather than after they have been scanned. If you try to enlarge after scanning you will actually be stretching the pixels and making the photo blurrier.

Never mind Australia - how about New Zealand?!? Posted by: Kirstie | June 9, 2005 11:19 PM

Sounds good to me!

Do you always sketch? Do you ever let the page sit before you do the journaling or finishing touches? (I often let mine sit for days.) Do you ever tinker or take pages apart? Posted by: Annie | June 9, 2005 11:48 PM

I definitely don't always sketch Annie - in fact, most of the time I don't. But I always have a few in my notebook if I need something to get me going. Sometimes I do let the page sit...but most of the time I just want it over and done with :). I do tinker at times - it usually depends on how much work I have to do. Do I have time to tinker or do I just need to get it done.

When are you going to move to Utah? LOL! Just kidding! and...how in the heck do you stay so organized- that is my biggest dream in life! Posted by: Angelique | June 10, 2005 12:41 AM

I really do love Utah. But, alas, I don't think I will be moving there anytime soon. LOL. And as for staying organized, I write everything down. Otherwise I would go insane.

I know it's been asked...but working on my kids theory that if you just keep asking, mum will give in and say yes... "When are you coming to Australia????" Posted by: jody | June 10, 2005 01:14 AM

You guys are lovely :).

when you do a layout, do you see its basic design in your head first, and then execute it, then as it's coming together add the "extras" or do you see the whole thing just complete and then create...i guess i'm asking about your process. (i'm having trouble in this area lately) Posted by: karen | June 10, 2005 05:57 AM

I do a bit of both Karen. Sometimes I do see the finished product in my head...and sometimes I just play with it until it feels finished. I find that most of the time even if I have an idea in my head of where I will end up, through the process things change and I try to be really open to that as I work. To me, that is part of the fun.

My question is - how often do you scrapbook? Every day? Every other day? For how long? Do you ever get in ruts where you don't scrapbook AT ALL for a few weeks or months? Posted by: Amy | June 10, 2005 06:48 AM

I used to scrapbook everyday. Lately it has been different. I do something related to scrapbooking everyday, but it is not always creating pages. Sometimes it is work on classes. Writing. Ordering supplies. Scheduling.

Recently I have had quite a bit of time when I did not scrapbook. Mainly because I just didn't feel like it. When I first started the Art Journal Challenge I did not scrap for three weeks or more. My actual page creation time really ebbs and flows these days.

Just thought of another question that I have always wondered. What did you do for work before you started scrapping for a living? Posted by: Denise | June 10, 2005 07:58 AM

I worked as a Design Coordinator at an Athletic & Social Club creating posters, menus, ads, promotional materials, etc.

If you were married withOUT children, would you consider scrapbooking? Do you think it's absurd to scrap or have this hobby if you don't have children as the subject or to pass the albums on to in the future? For those of us without children, what do you scrap when you run out of subjects? (Holidays, family reunions, the usual....) Posted by: Amy | June 10, 2005 08:10 AM

I think this is such an interesting question because I am so not sure. I did not start until Simon was 11 months old - totally spurred on by his existence.

I absolutely DO NOT think it is absurd to scrap if you don't have children as the subject (or if you can't/don't plan to have children). I think scrapbooking is actually a very personal thing. I think I get as much satisfaction out of scrapbooking my own life experience as I do scrapbooking Simon's. I scrap a lot about myself, my childhood, how I feel, what my day is like, what I do, where I go, my friends, what I eat, etc. I believe that there is so much more to scrap in addition to events like birthdays, holidays, etc.

For me, I have found that scrapbooking helps me know myself better. Figure myself out. I can communicate about myself through pictures, art and words. How freakin cool is that? There is a quote that I love related to how I feel about this that I have posted before:

I am me. I will always be me and I want to tell my story, the way I see it - maybe someone will read it someday, and maybe not. Maybe it will make a difference for someone. Make them laugh or cry or simply understand that we are all part of a human existence. It will be a historical record of life at this time. Powerful stuff.

My first question is pretty much the same as others posted before. When you are getting ready to work on a layout how do you even begin? For me, sometimes just starting is the hardest part. Do you look at your pics and say, "okay, I need brown cardstock because he's in the dirt OR do you write your journaling first?" I know you touched on this in your book but having a "process" of working on a layout is sometimes the hardest for me.

I usually "think" of the theme - the story the page will tell - first, but I don't journal usually until the end. I try not to ponder any one question too much. I don't agonize over one cardstock color or another. I just pick one and go for it. I have a handful of cardstock colors that I love and rely on the most: white, navy blue, kraft, beige, dark brown, red, pumpkin orange, and a couple greens. I am really tempted to purge my cardstock and just have those ones here - sometimes having less choices - and only having what you love - can make the whole thing easier.

What are some tips for taking everyday photos?

This is going to sound crazy but, have your camera at hand. If it is put away it is easier to just skip an opportunity. Know your house and where the "good light" is - in front of windows, etc. Try not to use your flash as much as possible - some of my photos have a warm tint to them - I actually like that look for our interior photos. It really mimics the feel of our home.

I am by no means a photography expert at all. I know enough to get by. And to get a couple good shots here and there.

Can you offer tips for journaling? When I journal I try to write from the heart but sometimes it's just so hard for me to explain the depth of my emotions. Any suggestions for how to do that?

I really try to write like I think/talk to myself in my mind. Short sentences. One word phrases. Choppy. Not necessarily gramatically correct. My goal is to connect my words to my feelings. Capturing the depth of our emotions is really tough - I think if we can even scratch the surface we are doing a darn fine job.

Maybe try for a day paying attention to the voice in your head (we all have them LOL). How does she talk? Jot down a couple things for a layout...and start out with something simple - like a page about what you cooked for dinner. Starting out with something simple and unemotional may help. And then practice. Maybe in a little spiral notebook. Jot down little things throughout the day - add in some emotions in that voice.

Also, don't beat yourself up. Just be you. Your voice may be like a song or it may be rougher around the edges. I really think it is about embracing that voice inside yourself. Bringing out that authentic voice.

I too would like to know more about Ali the person. More of your history. I love seeing the layouts in your book about your family. I especially love the ones about your parents and the hand-written note your mom wrote and the layout of you and your dad. You really are so lucky!!!

I hope I answered this in some of the other questions about my "story." I am really just an average person who has been lucky to find something that I really feel stong about...that gets me going. I am also REALLY lucky that I have parents who took tons of photos. And I am lucky (can't believe that I say this sometimes) that my Mom is such a saver. She literally has everything. Everything from when we were kids. It is amazing. So much stuff. The kind of stuff that I am not so keen on hanging onto around here - but man am I blessed to have access to it from when I was a kid. Kinda like it was all meant to be...someone watching out for me out there...

Also, what are your "must haves" for scrapbooking? Are there products that you use ALL the time when working on a layout?

Absolutely, I LOVE and must have:

•  Bazzill cardstock. It is my favorite. I use it for every layout.
• Hermafix tabs
• Silver mini-brads
• Alphabet something: stamps, rub ons, accents...whatever
• X-acto knife & cutting mat - this is really what I love - I cut everything with this tool
• Square and circle punches

I think if I was just limited to those things, and my computer, I could survive LOL. But I do love patterned paper. And fun accents. And on and on and on.

ps. Are you a morning or night person? :-) Posted by: cindy | June 10, 2005 08:23 AM

I can go either...but I think I tend more towards morning. Like to get the bulk of my work done early on in the day.

If you've found it all the way down here for more questions, here's mine :) I notice you scrap a lot of 'MOMENTS", not necessarily EVENTS. Do you find this easier? or maybe you have the 'events' LO's but they just aren't shared like the others. (ie: Christmas morning, an assembly at school, etc.) Would love to see some of these LO's too, in addition to the amazing one photo 'Emotion' LO's. Thanks Ali ! You're a brave woman ! Posted by: Jill S. | June 10, 2005 08:45 AM

Always an interesting question and debate within scrapping circles. In my mind, I see everything as moments - even within events. All the layouts I do these days are either in CK or on Two Peas in the Creating Garden. I strive for a balance between single photo layouts and multi-photo layouts - all depending on the story I want to tell.

I scrap a lot of relationship type pages, and pages that compare and contrast events or situations or feelings and thoughts. Mini-stories about the events of our daily lives. This is really where my passion is - all those things add up to tell a very rich story of the lives we are living.

And I have been saving up a lot of my photos from this year for my next book. I should have pages in there covering Thanksgiving, Christmas and Simon's birthday :).

Ok, here is the question, it seems like you don't worry about scrapping in chronological order so how do you decide what order to put your LOs in an album? Do you organize your album by the person highlighted, like Simon, or some other way? Thanks so much. Reading your book really liberated me from a lot of the scrapbooking constraints that I felt were out there. It has helped me enjoy scrapbooking so much more. Thanks. Posted by: Deb | June 10, 2005 09:35 AM

Nope, I don't worry about chronology - just don't feel super interested in that method and I don't like the pressure of feeling constrained or that I am behind. Sometimes I have fantasies about scrapping that way, but scrapping the way I do, I am never behind. This is a good thing! It makes me feel good LOL.

At this time Deb, there is no rhyme or reason or any sort of organization to my albums. The only semblance of order is the one in which I scrapped them LOL. At some point I have the goal of getting things into albums like: Simon by year, Chris and I pre-Simon, Christmas, one for me, one for Chris, etc. All is good time LOL.

I didn't read through all your responses, so someone may have already asked about this but, what is your method for mixing patterned paper? I LOVE pp, but would like a fresher approach to using it. And thanks for making me think outside the box. I have two sons, and I love that you sometimes use non-traditional pp for Simon's pages. Ex., a paper that is floral. It CAN look charming and boyish. Thank you for making me look twice. LoVe your book. Posted by: Jenny L. | June 10, 2005 09:47 AM

My main method for patterns is to play and have fun and look for unconventional pairings from a mixture of manufacturers. I think the easiest way to mix patterns is by using a common color - look for papers that all have green somewhere in them (even just a hint of green will work). I also love my square punch for working with patterned papers. Seems to usually come out to just the right proportions when I combine them together.

Thank you for reading our questions and taking the time to answer some of them. Most of my questions have already been asked but I did have one other question: Do you ever teach classes in your local area? -sarah (in Corvallis!) Posted by: sarah | June 10, 2005 10:02 AM

You know, I have not taught one class near where I live! Partly because I have not been invited (LOL), partly because I have just recently started this idea of touring with a couple classes  and partly because I am so on the go lately with other commitments. I am teaching my first classes in Oregon next weekend (down in Phoenix near Medford) and I will be at The Scrapyard in Albany in November (still working out all the details on that one). Albany would work perfect for you Sarah!

What gets you going to scrap and what do you use for inspiration? Articles, books, cd covers etc? Posted by: Falyn | June 10, 2005 10:36 AM

Tons of different things get me going. Cool photos. Page theme ideas - concentrating on the story most of the time. And really, I am inspired by everything. Eyes are always open and taking stuff in - love to read, love magazines (right now I am into Domino, Organic Style, Body & Soul, and HOW - a graphic design mag). Book stores are instant eye candy - I have to take something with me to write on when I go in cause it is inspiration overload. I keep a basket of design-inspiration-stuff that comes in the mail and a color notebook for storing cool combos. Lots of things to refer to around here.

How did(do)you do all this and keep your husband 'wrapped around it' so that he can support you, in something he may not really understand. Posted by: Sissy | June 10, 2005 02:28 PM

Ah, now, this is a very delicate balance. It has been really tough at times - not just because of scrapbooking, but for lots of reasons. And sometimes, the scrapbooking obsession can aggravate those other things right under the surface. When I first started I went WAY overboard - there was no balance - I was a freakin mess of scrapbooking day and night. I was more into scrapbooking than hanging out with him. It has honestly been a process of figuring out how scrapbooking should fit into my life. These days I try to keep it within the "work" hours and not be in here on the weekends if at all possible. But that is not always an option when I have deadlines...

I think that now that I have some income from scrapbooking he is more understanding. It is my job. He has also seen the amazing friendships I have developed with people all over the world. And he also knows how passionate I am about what I do. He, right now, is searching for that same professional passion in his own life - there is a lot of give and take going on around here as we figure out the dance.

When are you coming to Australia?????? LOL Posted by: Kass | June 10, 2005 06:00 PM

Love you silly girl...someday!

Ali- A few questions here. How much has your graphics art degree made an effect on your scrapbooking career? Do you think that it has helped you be a better scrapbooker?

I think that there is no way that my degree could not make some sort of difference in everything I do creatively. I think that going to design school opened my eyes to a new way of seeing things. I have always been a visual person - very visually organized, attracted to strong visual elements - but going planted so many seeds in my mind. Put words and concepts to things that I had an inclination towards. It was really such a great experience.

Whether or not it made me a better scrapbooker...I don't know. I am sure it has made an impact on some level - it makes me marketable as someone with design knowledg. And yet, I would hope that my emphasis, without my degree, would still be on the story. And maybe artistically things would be more out of balance, less linear...but it would still be me, me telling the story.

Has it tripped you out to see how much of an impact you have made on the scrapbooking community in such a small amount of time? I see layouts all the time that are Ali-inspired all the way.

You know, I just do my thing. And try to keep it fun...And I really love what I do.

And I just have to comment on your journaling style! I love how you speak outside the box and use single defining words. Have you thought of teaching a journaling class? Posted by: Dena Coe | June 10, 2005 10:57 PM

I really hadn't thought about it...but you never know :) and thanks Dena - hope to see you soon.

1. Is there a possibility of your handwriting being made into a font for us to purchase? Like on a CD put out by CK or something? Fonts that actually look like handwriting are my favorite.

Probably not. I took a cue from my friend Kristina awhile back - when asked about making her handwriting into a font she responded to the effect that her handwriting was something that was "her own." I totally agree with that - at least for my authentic writing style - the way I journal on most of my pages. It is such a personal reflection of me. Gotta keep something for myself in all this :). I have created a couple hand-written fonts that come with the new Lisa Bearnson book & CD. One is called LB_Ali and the other, LB_AliOops. At some point you should be able to buy them individually from scrapNfonts. You can also find some monogram fonts and another hand-written one from me on Two Peas.

2. When you start a LO, do you go around your scrap area and pick up things that you haven't used in a while or just begin the LO and then find that you "need" to put stamped letters here and then go get them? I find myself forgetting what I have and then a lot of my LO's look the same. Posted by: susanne | June 11, 2005 07:55 AM

Sometimes I totally do that - walk around and look for something (I have no idea what it will be) that I have forgotten about. I try to keep really new things on my bulletin board to remind myself of their existence. I usually pick up a couple things and get started and then will walk around picking stuff up as I need it. I think this is a major reason why I like to stand and scrap. I can easily have access to other areas in my room without standing up and sitting down. I also stand because that is the angle I create at - I have tried to sit and I just don't feel like I can "see" the page that way. It actually makes me really uncomfortable.

I'd love to know if your published pages are the first attempt? Or do you do a page over several times until it is "just right?" Do you do prototypes? I see your gorgeous pages and am just amazed! Posted by: Mary | June 11, 2005 03:43 PM

The pages I create are first attempts. I am more of a "good enough" than a "just right" scrapper. You are sweet Mary :).

Not sure if this has been asked or not but I'm curious to know if you have many layouts you do and don't post or use for dt work or books, etc....do you have pages you just scrap and put away? Stuff you aren't thrilled with but don't want to re-do? SO fun that you are doing this :) Posted by: Maureen | June 14, 2005 04:50 PM

Everything I do these days goes somewhere - CK, classes, Two Peas, etc. So, nope, not holding anything back :).

•••

Cool - so I think I got all the questions answered. Thanks again for asking some ones that really made me think and examine my process a bit more. And also, thank you for all the heartfelt comments - totally appreciated around here.