Simple Scrapbooks to Cease Publication

It’s not an exaggeration to say that it is a sad day for scrapbookers everywhere. A few days ago CK Media announced that Simple Scrapbooks will cease publication after its May/June 2009 publication. Citing the economic downturn Lin Sorensen, VP and Editorial Manager, said

"Since its founding in 2002, Simple Scrapbooks has been simplifying the process of scrapbooking for tens of thousands of scrapbookers worldwide, providing solutions that keep them engaged in and passionate about sharing their stories and memories. The end of Simple Scrapbooks as a magazine is not the end of this message. It will continue as part of Creating Keepsakes magazine, where, starting with the July 2009 issue, we will integrate Simple concepts and personalities into our editorial mix, and continue providing ideas and inspiration to help beginning and experienced scrapbookers alike fit scrapbooking into their busy lives."

You may read the full statement at The Simple Blog.

Angie Lucas, Managing Editor, also made a statement at The Simple Blog, the official Simple Scrapbooks blog. For more statements and reactions visit the blogs of Stacy Julian, founder of the magazine, and Cathy Zielske, Art Director.

Where is Your Crafting Priority?

This year for me, there is less a priority to take courses in scrapbooking, less a priority of buying scrapbooking supplies, and more to actually get some layouts done. I cannot afford the courses and supplies as much as some of them sound quite appealing. Priorities this year - that’s an interesting thing, is it not? With the current economic climate, I do wonder how the scrapbooking industry is doing out there, when crafts and associated courses aren’t normally on the A-List for priorities and budgets are more stricter.

Walking in a Scrapbook Wonderland

Shakers rattle, are you listenin'?
In the aisle, beads are glistenin,
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a scrapbook wonderland!
Gone away is my money
Here to stay's my croppin' buddy.
We're singing a song, as we shop along
Walking in a scrapbook wonderland!
In the workroom we can build a layout
Using die cuts, punches, fibers too.
We'll have lots of fun making our layout
And they have just the right shade of Bazzill blue.
Later on, we'll conspire
As we crop by the fire
To bring all our pics and our Hermafix
Walking in a scrapbook wonderland!
In the workroom we can build a layout
With our eyelets, stickers, tags and brads.
We'll have lots of fun making a layout.
All those patterned papers make me glad.
When we crop, ain't it thrillin',
Though the shop's makin' a killin'?
We'll frolic and play the scrapbooking way
Walking in a scrapbook wonderland!

Journaling from the Heart

This assignment was issued by me and shared with the Cherished Memories group as part of the Journaling from the Heart (monthly) challenge.

Challenge:
Find an excerpt of any of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches. Take the time to read it, ingest it, ponder over it. Then without thinking of proper grammar and semantics, write what his words mean to you today. Just let the pen flow. This may take only a few minutes but for others it may be a short story.


My journaling:

"If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream." ~~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

For some reason I had always assumed that when God wanted our attention He would do something big that would rouse us from our sleep to bring us back to Him but I was wrong. God is always speaking. We are the ones who are hard of hearing. God is always patient, waiting for us to believe. We are the impatient ones, demanding to be convinced. We want something real, something we can touch and see to help us believe. The mountains, oceans, and skies aren't enough. Our babies who smile and laugh and reach for us aren't enough. We need more. And we have it, all around us, every day. If we would just take the time to listen and see we would walk toward God and believe.

Scrapbooking is a Balancing Act

How much time are you able to spend scrapping? How do you find balance in your life between the kids, work, errands, cleaning and other chores, computer time (and sometimes a husband/significant other)? I find I waste too much time trying to figure this one out.

This is something that I struggle with as well. It is a constant balancing act. I find that if I am soaring creatively -- meaning that I have completed layouts, have left comments for all the layouts I love, have a current blog entry, joined in on a few challenges -- that my house needs cleaning, the laundry is as high as a mountain, my kids are irritable... so I limit myself. I make a to-do list every single morning... after those things are completed I get on the computer and do what I would like to do. I look at my computer time as a "treat". Sometimes I will get on when I get up in the mornings when the house is very quiet and no one is up yet. I just don't want to be that mom that is always on the computer. I never want my children to wonder what my priorities are.

Scrapbooking is something that I work on when I can... I'll start a page and have it laying on my scrap table and when I get a few minutes here and there (the kids are playing, doing homework,) I will add or take away from it until I think its complete.

One thing that works for me and helps me have "quality" computer time is a little notepad that I keep by my keyboard. When my computer is turned off and I think of something that I want to look up or look at when I do get on, I simply write it on the notepad. No more mindless surfing. I feel like I'm getting the most out of my time.

Just always remember what comes first... if you make sure that those people and those things are your priorities, all the other stuff will fit in naturally. Remember you are not alone and its a balancing act and a common struggle for all of us.