Autumn is my favorite time of year. the cooler weather, warmer clothes, the crisp leaves and football on tv--- nothing sounds better. Perfect conditions for scrapbooking. The start of school, and all of the family staying indoors together for the weekend inspires me to get down to business and get pages done. just like the Kids sitting down doing their homework, my head is bent over my desk while I work intently on getting my scrapbooks filled. Do you feel a boost around this time of year? Does the change of seasons get you excited to make changes in your schedule... so you can spend some time working on your scrapbooking? Maybe you are already spending a lot of time on your scrapbooks, if you are one of those, I envy you.

Memory Trends is right around the corner. Next week there will be a huge group of scrapbook companies invading the Las Vegas area ready to showcase all kinds of super and new products. There is already excitement in the air. That 'new products' buzz. Jeffrey and I will not be attending Memory Trends this year, but we will be eager to see what is released and shown at the trade show.

We have new products on preorder! The much coveted Prima Flowers, the milk bottles as well as new tins and special kits. New K & Company Products, Heidi Swapp products from both the Spring and Summerreleases. We are expecting in the preorders for Daisy's D's Christmas Line, and the new Scrapworks collection in very shortly.
We know there have been numerous issues with the preorders in the past, sometimes things coming in later than we had anticipated, etc. But I want to thank you for participating in this process with us. It really does work well for us despite the issues. We appreciate having the preorders so we can better plan our budget and warehouse for the product shipments. We know that there are a lot of places to get your products, and we appreciate you supporting us here at Two Peas.

We have a bit of a change this fall, with staff and our Customer Service. Ryan has moved to another city, and I miss him like crazy already. Its so weird to now see him everyday. The scenery around here is definitely different without him. Such an impact he made on our company and our lives. Brian is no longer with Two Peas. But we a new way of focusing on the service we provide our customers. All calls are now answered by an immediate member of the warehouse staff and then directed to the appropriate person to better focus on the call and the issue at hand if it is not a warehouse issue. We have one person who is dedicated soley to technical issues, including fonts and digital downloads. The warehouse staff no longer has a middle man, but has direct communication with the manufacturers and can better manage the preorders and other issues. We have made programming changes to allow us to better communicate with the customers on orders, preorders and other issues. Overall, we feel that this has already improved the service we are providing, and is continuing to improve. We hope that you notice a change as well.

We still have quite a chunk of sale product left from our OFFline super sale. We have really reduced the prices on the remaining inventory to move it out fast. There are a lot of great stickers in this bunch---even great for kids cards and other projects, the reduced price makes them even better. Some ready to make card kits from Bo Bunny; cards and envelope from KI memories; cardstock stickers from Sassafras, Bo Bunny and Lil Davis; C-Thru Rulers' Open Windows kits are a super deal right now and can be used for some great projects---mini books, cards, mats for frames. With the holidays around the corner, some of these products could help out with all of those handmade gifts.

Autumn Leaves Foofala, MOD and Rhonna Farrer collections
7Gypsies Papers, tags and more
American Crafts albums, papers, letter stickers
Basic Grey Fusion, Lucky and Skate Shoppe Collections, Undressed Monograms and Lunch Pail album kit.
Ki Memories Favorite Things Collection (release 1 of 2)
Desiging with Paper Book
Daisy D's Papers, stickers, Rub ons and embellishments

We have quite a bit of these collections on preorder right now, so get your order in now to secure our earliest shipping dates:

Heidi Swapp Collection
Scrapworks Summer Product release
Scrapworks Halloween Limited Edition products
Daisy D's Vintage Christmas Collection
Prima Marketing Flowers
K & Co Collections

When did you start scrapbooking?
I started scrapbooking in 1999 with photos from Jarrod’s and my dating life (which began in high school) and began getting things ready for starting our wedding album. When I got pregnant with Jackson in 2000, I began scrapping more often and with friends. This fueled my passion for the hobby and quickly turned it into a slight obsession.

How were you introduced to it?
I’ve always been into art…paper, pens, stamping and other things and I believe that I came across a magazine and saw all the great things that I could do with photos and all the cool things that I could buy…I’m a sucker for supplies!

What are your sources for inspiration?
As my children get older, I am constantly inspired to create pages based on their personalities…the things that they say and do. For layout design and color, I draw upon my interior design background and the world around me. I find color combinations in everything from flower beds, to desert landscapes to highway billboards and magazines.

How do you get started on projects (layouts, etc)?
I sketch every layout that I do. Typically I will get a batch of photos back from the developer and group them into possible layout sets. I then sketch the layouts and get a general title and journaling idea written down. When I sit down to work on a layout, I pull from my stack of photos, get out the sketch and start pulling colors. I typically am a cardstock only girl, but I’ve started pulling in other elements as well. I will pull together 3-5 colors for a layout, some patterns (that would replace one of the base colors) and any embellishments that I might need. I then sit down to work. Usually a layout will take about 1 hour, start to finish.

What things do you like to communicate through your work?
I try to communicate the love that I have for my family…my friends. I want my loved ones to know that I care for them and to remember the little things. Not everyone has a great memory and hopefully with scrapbooking not only the big “important” days but the everyday moments…we will be able to remember more, and cherish those memories. I try and capture thing that I know will be gone…like the feeling of my son gripping the back of my shirt…I photograph it, and then scrapbook about it. I’m not documenting an actual event…but an emotion.

What have been your biggest achievements or greatest layouts or moments with this hobby?
When I began obsessing more about this hobby and finding out about things like Hall of Fame and Two Peas…I started making goals of things that I wanted and dreamed of accomplishing. In 2004 I was a CK Hall of Famer which was a dream come true after entering for the third time. In August of 2004 I got the email that surprised me to know end and still gives me goosebumps to think about. The email from Kristina asking if I would be interested in becoming a Garden Girl. This had been a dream of mine for so long and was so out of the blue for me, that it is by far my most shining and prized achievement. I am so proud an honored to be included in this group of women. The are so incredibly talented…but most importantly, they have become my friends. And for that I will be forever grateful.

What kind of goals do you have with your scrapbooking?
My goals are quite different now from what they were even a year ago. Now I am more focused on creating pages that my family and friends can really enjoy. Making pages the show the everyday aspects of our lives. I love my position as a Garden Girl, and I hope to be one until the end of time.

Where do you scrap?
I’m an at home scrapper. I am fortunate enough to have a room dedicated to my passion and I squeeze in the time wherever I can find it.

Do you attend crops or conventions?
I have…I do…I want to do this more. It seems as if I do less and less of this with the demands of family life…work life…but YES I do…and hopefully I will make the time to do it more often. Even if I’m not getting work done, it is so good for my well being to get out and socialize with people that really “get” this amazing hobby.

Where does scrapbooking fit into your life?
“love is all around me…” You know the song? (I just watched Love Actually…couldn’t help it). But it’s true. Scrapbooking is all around me. I see design inspiration walking down the mall…driving down the highway…in the grocery store. I try and scrap something every day…even if it’s something as simple as selecting some photos and laying them out on my table…and if it’s not that, then I’m thinking of layouts in my head…sketching them…reading idea books…graphic design books.

Do you scrap in the morning, evening, late night?
Yes. Yes. And Yes. The late night one gets harder and harder, because I need to wake up so early (early for me) with the kiddos. My room is right off of the kitchen, which is right off of the family room…so I try and squeeze it in all day long

When do you do your greatest work?
Unfortunately right before a deadline. I work fairly well under pressure, and I wish that I didn’t know that. I procrastinate far too often. But my greatest work often stems from a set of great photos or a really great tale that I’ve wanted to share.

What does your family think of your scrapbooking?
Toughie…I think that they all think it’s great that I have something that I love so much, that it motivates me…keeps me driven. My mom really “gets” it. She doesn’t scrapbook (although she’s thinking about digital). She looks over the boards…looks out for me, making sure that I’ve seen the work of a really amazing new Pea. She understands the goals that I have accomplished and the ones that I still have yet to achieve. My husband gets it more and more each day. He looks at my layouts...compliments me. He understands that this is something I am passionate about and supports me fully…even after seeing receipts.

Do you have a favorite product line, paper, sticker, or cardstock color?
Oh…let’s see. I think that I like, ummm….what is it? Oh yeah. BAZZILL. I couldn’t live without it. Honest. A little cardstock…a black pen…and an xacto knife and I’m a happy girl. (you wouldn’t know it from looking at my room though…)

What do you want the peas to know about you?
I’m a horribly shy gal…or at least that’s what the teachers said when I was little…and it stuck. Sometimes…most of the time…I wish that I wasn’t. I’m pretty darn cool in my mind, just don’t usually have the guts to put it out there. I’m a mom of three (4.5, 3, 1.5) and I am sadly disorganized…but I’m working on it. I am a work in progress, to say the least. And trying every day to be a better person. I love this hobby and this community which has given me so many friends. These people share a bit of themselves in everything they say and create, and I am grateful to be able to see and read it all and learn from it as well. Thank you to Kristina for such a wonderful vision…and to Jeff for keeping it afloat…for the peas for their constant inspiration…and to my fellow (fellow? What would be the appropriate girlie term) Garden Girls, my friends. I love Two Peas…couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.