Aren't those stamps fun! :) Thanks for your comments - I'm loving them and all the others I bought! I think I was the top spender at Lucky 15 that week! LOL!
Have you seen this?
Get up close and personal with some of the industry’s hottest scrapbookers! Learn from 15 top designers as they share their favorite products, styles and techniques. Sneak a peek into their lives and see what inspires them as they share their favorite tips and tricks. With mini albums, cards, layouts and more, not only will they give you lots of fun ideas, but you will feel like you have 15 new friends!
I was so honored to be asked to be apart of this upcoming 'Trendsetters' Idea Book by Scrapbook Trends Magazine. I was shocked when I got the email to see that there were only 15 designers in the book - WOW! So neat! I can't wait to see it! I've got a bunch of projects in it so it should be fun! I can't wait to see who the other designers are too! Thanks for letting me share! :)
(((((( ETA: It looks like you can preorder it here. Should be available in a month or so! :)
Ok, so I thought I'd take a quick minute and answer some of the questions from the other day. Sorry I'm just now getting to it!
Jill asked: why don't you scrapbook YOU very much?
Well....thanks girl! :) But, I honestly, just don't think that I am very cute right now! LOL! I need to get over that but I also find that I just don't have a lot of pictures with me in them that I like. We are always behind the camera right! I'm gonna try harder though - I know it's important.
Kirsten wrote: Hi Robyn, you know I love your stuff. I don't know if I can word this correctly, but often I'm sure a layout, or, especially a project is better in person. Does it ever frustrate you? It frustrates me when I wish I could see more angles, or views of something. I've been lucky enough to take some classes from designers and if they bring projects to see, it is always so much more amazing in person. One example is in the Paper Cachet book, your 'HRW' project - I wish I could reach into the photo and check it out!
Thanks! :) Yes....it is hard to get it to look right all the time. I'm often emailing projects off and saying that it's really a creamy yellow - not a neon! :) Scanning is hard with lots of 3D elements and pictures are hard sometimes if the lighting isn't great...but we do what we can do right. Sometimes I've had to adjust the contrast/brightness on a scan to get it to look more real. Oh well...I wish people could see them in real life though...that would be cool.
Deirdre asked: Do you print your photos at home? You seem to use a lot of different sizes--do you order all 5x7 and then crop if you need to?
Yes, I print all my photos from home. I have the Epson Stylus Photo 1280 - which is a wide format printer. I like to usually have one larger photo on my page and then smaller supporting photos. I think it adds visual interest and I personally like the way it looks. I usually work on my photos in photoshop and crop them to the size I want and print directly from there. I have used Costco before and have been happy with them as well.
Deirdre also asked: how do you keep your hand steady for cutting with the exacto knife so well? Does it just come with practice? A better knife? I ruin most of what I try cutting that way.
Practice, practice, practice! I went to school for interior design and after all those drafting classes where you have to have a steady hand...I think I'm just used to it. But, practice helps! You'll get used to it. Having a sharp blade really helps too! If it ruins your paper than it probably is that your blade isn't sharp. Start with a thicker font too until you get better. The small, fine fonts can be hard if your doing it for the first time. And I always cut out the inside of the letters first then the outside of the letter.
Nichol asked: do you have a favorite font?
I am completely obsessed with the Autumn Leaves font: Uncle Charles. You can buy it on their CD's or here at Two Peas. It is just the perfect font...I totally love it! And am using it lots! LOL!
Kristina asked: I LOVE your work Robyn and so my question is - what inspires you? Do you work from a sketch or just go with the flow? I'd love to hear your "process." ;) Oh, and what sewing machine do you have?
First of all...thank you for your sweet comments! :) What inspires me.....magazines, home decor, stationary, color, my kids, photos. Lots of things inspire me to want to create! I find that I don't really use a lot of the ideas that I see...I just sit and play and do my own thing. I'm really weird about using others ideas or copying things. But, I love to look through magazines and stuff. It just makes me happy.
Sewing machine..I have a Singer 2638 that I got from Costco for Mother's Day....maybe 3 years ago. I like it but I've been thinking about getting a new one. It does a good job though so I'll probably wait a bit. Love to sew - I use that thing on everything!
Camala wrote: I've never posted on your blog before, but I wonder, what is your favorite layout that you've done?
This layout was my favorite for a long time...
Now as I look at it there are things that I would change...but that's just how life is! :)
I've really been loving some things that I've been doing for Autumn Leaves but I can't share them yet...you'll see them soon though. Been having a lot of fun with that! :)
Laura Vegas asked: you've had some great design team opportunities come your way ... and yet i've never really seen you published all that much (correct me if i'm wrong, but i would definately notice you in the mags! lol!). which brings me to my question ...
there is just so much talent out there and so much competition. do you think there's a way to get yourself noticed more or seen more ... without devoting your entire life to it? lol! i keep hearing "just keep submitting and it'll happen" ... and yet after a while i think some people (at least i know i do) question if it's worth it. any advice?
and thanks in advance!
Great question Laura. I've had a lot of things published in CK, Scrapbook Trends and others....but to be honest, it's really hard for me to find time to submit to page calls. Making Memories kept me very busy each month with designing projects for packaging, kits, and all the other things that I didn't have a lot of spare time to create for calls. So, that kinda got put on the back burner...although I wish it didn't.
I love being published. In the October CK, I have a layout in the Tips and Tricks section. So fun to see that one in print as it will always be a favorite of mine as well.
I also have two layouts in the October BHG Scrapbooks, etc. with more to come in that magazine! I absolutely love that magazine - so grateful for the assignments I have received from them! They are so wonderful to work with. One layout that is in this months BHG looks like the photos fell off while it was photographed so they are in the wrong place...I'll post it here this week so you can all see it.
I have a lot of things coming up in Autumn Leaves books and more. So, hopefully I can get back into submitting to mags and stuff too! :)
I think that's most of the questions. Thanks for asking...fun fun!
Hope you all have a great Monday! I didn't sleep at all last night - Madi was up all night. I have no idea why! It was rough so I'm hoping to get a nap in today...doubt that will happen though! It's already noon! Ouch! Have a good one!
i can't wait to see who is all in this boOK!
tara!
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 04:25 PM
wow, robyn - congrats on the trendsetters gig! i can't think of a more deserving designer!! :)
Posted by: kate | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 03:01 PM
i am so excited to see your work in the trendsetters book! looks awesome!!
Posted by: Talia | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 11:27 AM
CONGRATS, Robyn!
I will anxiously await getting this book! ;)
those stamps are seriously cool...you lucky girl!!!
Posted by: Nichol | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 10:54 AM
Congratulations Robyn :) Can't wait to get my copy of the TrendSetter. You are very talented...and I enjoy reading your blog.
I hope your little one is doing better and you were able to grab a nap.
Posted by: Rhonda :) | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 09:23 AM
fun stuff robyn - can't wait to see that book!! congrats!
Posted by: maggie Holmes | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 03:07 PM
loved reading all your answers! fun to get inside your head a little as a designer! and huge congrats on the trendsetters book!!! i got an email about this coming out and was wondering who the 15 designers were before i decided to order it or not ... no i'll HAVE to order it! lol! any hints on who else is in there?!?!
Posted by: lauravegas | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 02:04 PM
Hey Robyn! Congratulations on the Trendsetters Idea Book! SO awesome, girl! ;) Thank you for answering my questions! ;) I loved reading your answers and I loved seeing your work in the latest BHG! ;)
Posted by: Kristina | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 01:01 PM
oooh, that was fun! Loved reading your answers to these questions. :) Is the Trendsetters book available yet? I think I want it! (big surprise, huh?!?) Hope you get in a nap today!
Posted by: Wendy Sue | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 12:31 PM
awesome post!
i loved the questions and your answers
hope you get to have a nap :)
Posted by: Vee | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 12:25 PM
hey robyn,
i just wanted to say congratulations
on the upcoming Trendsetters book!
i cannot wait to see it.
also, i loved reading these questions
and answers.
you are so talented and i cannot wait
to see what you are cooking up with Autumn
Leaves.
Posted by: melissa deaking (momteacherwriter) | Monday, September 18, 2006 at 12:25 PM