What if a 6-minute video could capture an entire year of memories? In this episode you'll hear Natalie Strand explain her process for compiling video clips into an annual project. We discuss the role of video within the context of her memory keeping along with the challenges and benefits of working with this format. Our conversation also highlights how creating in different ways satisfies differing needs and why that is so important to understand.

Links Mentioned

• Natalie on Instagram: @natalie.strand
• Natalie’s Blog: Vegetablog
• Natalie’s YouTube channel: Natalie Strand
• Instagram Junk Journal
• Project Life
• 1 Second Everyday app
• ‎Apple iMovie
• Backblaze

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw287 to comment on this episode.

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"In the end we just want our children to be happy, healthy, and see a positive future ahead of them." 

Scrapbooking our tweens, teens, and young adult children often comes with challenges as they explore how they want to show up in the world, not to mention our photos of them. So when Beatrice Semo's child (who prefers he/him or they/them pronouns today) came out as gay and transgender, new worries about understanding and acceptance were added to her roles as mom and memory keeper.

In this episode Beatrice shares the story of navigating family photo displays, past scrapbook albums, and personal journaling during their coming out and evolving transition. She discusses some of the specific decisions that felt right for them as well as the grace needed to navigate these changes. This is an open-hearted discussion that highlights the roles of communication and collaboration in a new season of life.

Links Mentioned

• Beatrice on Instagram: @whimsicalcraftycrafts
• From the Human Rights Campaign: Transgender and Non-Binary People FAQ

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw286 to comment on this episode.

When you have a passion, sharing it comes naturally. Rebeca Ruiz is a paper scrapbooker with a traditional style who loves the process of creating and teaching others along the way. You’ll find her leaning on bright white backgrounds, added texture, and lots of layers to celebrate the products she works with. In this episode Rebeca shares her origins in scrapbooking as well as all the things she loves most!

Links Mentioned

• Rebeca’s Blog
• Rebeca on Instagram: @Rebeca_Ruiz01
• Rebeca’s Facebook page
• Rebeca’s YouTube channel
• Creative Memories
• Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine
• Simple Stories (*)
• Prima (*)
• Copic Markers (*)
• Meghann Andrew Classes at SCT
• Vicki Boutin

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw285 to comment on this episode.

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Is your scrapbooking deeply satisfying? Let's figure it out and make a plan for 2025. This episode offers an introduction to the eighth year of the Planning Party and serves as a companion guide to the Planning Workbook. The workbook and associated events are free, but do require registration at the link below.

✨ Register for the Planning Party at simplescrapper.com/plan25

In this episode I’m chatting with my accountability partner (and returning guest) Alissa Williams about the evolution of our planning needs. We share personal experiences with different planning tools and discuss areas for improvement in goal setting, documentation, and weekly planning. Our conversation highlights contrasts our approaches and includes the role of systems in Alissa’s planning process.

Links Mentioned

• Stamp Joy by Taylored Expressions
• Bullet Journal
• Plum Paper
• Ali Edwards Week In The Life 
• Day One App
• Hobonichi Original A6 (*)
• Archer and Olive
• ClickUp
• Shimelle's Best of Both Worlds
• Productive Flourishing
• Asana
• David Allen’s Getting Things Done (*)
• Trello
• AnyList app
• Colibri
• Erin Condren
• May Designs
• Mossery
• Aura Estelle
• Sterling Ink
• Leuchtturm (*)
• Persnickety Prints
• Simplified Planner by Emily Ley
• Alissa’s Instagram: @alissarecommends

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw283 to comment on this episode.

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Helen DeRam returns to wrap up our series on creating in alignment with the seasons, following episodes no. 250 and no. 267. Our conversation continues to highlight our unique approaches to Aligned as a creative project as well as our insights on the ongoing experience. With Fall as the final season, we also reflect on what we will carry forward into 2025 and beyond.

Links Mentioned

• Pretty Little Studio You Are My Sunshine Collection
• Modern Pressed Flower Classes
• 49 and Market Quad Folio Album
• Canva
• Helen on Instagram: @hderam
• Helen’s YouTube channel: Helen De Ram

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw282 to comment on this episode.

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I love how these conversations, with creator after creator, illustrate the breadth of what brings us joy. CJ Flynn is our October 2024 featured artist, inspiring our latest member challenge with her clean and simple scrapbooking style.

You'll find CJ combining minimalist hybrid pages with her favorite products, typically on a smaller scale. Our conversation highlights her journey to clarity about her 'way' of scrapbooking as well as insights into the resources she uses to document with ease.

Links Mentioned

• CJ on Instagram: @ink.paper.photos
• CJ’s Blog
• Ali Edwards December Daily
• December Daily Paislee Press Kit - sold out
• Blurb
• Lightroom Classic
• Shutterfly
• Kelly Purkey's shop: Paper Person
• Heba’s My Little Journal
• Ali Edwards One Little Word
• Studio Calico
• Becky Higgins Project Life
• Everyday Explorers
• Ali Edwards Stories by the Month
• Epson Paper Size Settings
• Jennifer’s sticker paper: Avery | MACO (*)

*Affiliate links help to support the work we do, at no additional cost to you.

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw281 to comment on this episode.

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When I asked Jo Guihot to join me on the podcast, I wanted to highlight her genuine desire to welcome shy newcomers to Simple Scrapper as well as some of the challenges she faces as an Aussie scrapbooker in a very US-centric industry. 

What unfolded was a sincere conversation about the snowballing value of actively contributing to the health of a community. Jo shares how she has created more than she ever thought possible, in part due to the accountability members like her continue to foster.

Links Mentioned

• Jo on Instagram: @jgandthree
• Ali Edwards December Daily
• Becky Higgins Project Life
• Stacey’s Paper Studio
• Uniquely Creative
• Cocoa Vanilla
• Studio 73
• Vicki Boutin (*)
• Shimelle Laine (*)

*Affiliate links help to support the work we do, at no additional cost to you.

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw280 to comment on this episode.

🧐 Get the Focus Finder tool at simplescrapper.com/focus

Last year I chatted with Holly DeVore for one of our My Way episodes, celebrating her as our featured artist for the month. Today Holly is a Simple Scrapper member applying our strategies to refine and add more intention to her hobby.

In this episode you'll hear how Holly's effort to index her layouts and albums shifted her focus in scrapbooking. Our conversation is full of thoughtful insights and clever techniques that help Holly take a more minimalist approach to memory keeping.

Links Mentioned

• Holly's previous episode: SYW222 - My Way with Holly DeVore
• Holly on Instagram: @hollydevore_
• Ali Edwards December Daily
• Ali Edwards Week in the Life
• Canva
• Blurb
• Mixbook
• Day One
• Passion Planner

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw279 to comment on this episode.

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Inessa Persekian hopes to create an album documenting her childhood in Ukraine with photos she thought were lost forever. Inessa is the September 2024 Simple Scrapper Featured and in this episode she shares how her passion for this hobby developed. We discuss how she carves out time in her busy days and organizational strategies for the bright and colorful products she loves. Our conversation also includes insights and lessons learned from her 20-year scrapbooking journey.

Links Mentioned

• Inessa on Instagram: @paperandbling
• Inessa's Facebook page
• Inessa's YouTube channel
• Shutterfly
• Erica Rose Creates
• Paige Evans (*)
• Vicki Boutin (*)
• Simple Stories (*)
• Bella Blvd (*)
• Pinkfresh Studio (*)
• Spiegel Mom Scraps
• Scrapbook and Cards Today
• Inessa’s classes at Big Picture Classes

*Affiliate links help to support the work we do, at no additional cost to you.

💬 Visit simplescrapper.com/syw278 to comment on this episode.

🧐 Get the Focus Finder tool at simplescrapper.com/focus