Spell Outloud's Scrapbook

I met my husband while I was student teaching out west. He was a 4th grade teacher in the next portable classroom next to mine. We've been married now for over a decade and have 6 curious kiddos to keep us on our toes and keep us young. I am fortunate that I am able to stay at home with my children and teach them. Homeschooling has become a life-style for us.

*You can find my free printables here

One of my biggest addictions is scrapbooking. I still remember the day I created my first layout. About a month earlier I had heard a radio program mention something called Creative Memories. I had never heard of them before. I called the number to see if there was a consultant in my little out-of-the-way town (which I was new to and very lonely). I was shocked when I found out there was a consultant! I called and had a couple friends come over and made my first layout. I was hooked. And I found a great group of scrapping friends in my new town

After a couple of years I discovered the online scrapbooking world. I was intrigued when I heard that you could actually submit your layouts to magazines. I decided to try and was thrilled when Memory Makers magazine published one of my layouts. That began a new stage for me as I started to branch out in my scrapping style.

One day I decided to enter PaperKuts magazine's Power Team contest. The winners would get to work with the magazine for a year. It was hard work putting together an entry, and so many amazing scrappers were entering. On the day of the big announcement, I tried to keep myself busy. Then the phone rang. I was shocked when I heard it was the editor saying that I had won. What a honor! I ended up working with the magazine for an additional year as a contributing editor. During that time I also traveled to several scrapbook conventions teaching classes and doing demonstrations. I loved it! And hated it at the same time. I found it hard to balance my family life and my scrapbooking life. After a few discouraging events, I realized I was burned out. Scrapping was no longer fun for me, so I stopped. I didn't care if I ever scrapped again.

I became interested in improving my photography once I started scrapbooking. Then when I received my first SLR camera, I became serious about learning all I could about photography. I used so much film each week that my local store would see me coming and have my developed film sitting on the counter for me! :)

I now shoot with a digital Canon Rebel XT. I once thought I'd have my own photography business, but I've shelved that idea for the time-being. I have too much to learn and not enough time. I just want to enjoy photography as a hobby without the pressure of a business. I do however, welcome free-lance work, and hope to one day find time to open an online store for my photo art.

So this is the beginning of my Squidoo scrapbook. I hope readers will find my lenses useful. I'm working toward the title of Giant Squid and am also participating in Rocket Moms. Eventually I'd love to be part of the Giant Squid 100 club. Only 76 more lenses to go! :)












*All my layouts were created using digital products from Designer Digitals.