Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a stay - at-home mom who loves to photograph my family. I love capturing that special moment in my kids' lives (like my daughter Zara standing up for the first time) or just a fun shot of my daughter Sofia acting silly or "just because" the light is beautiful and there are catchlights in their eyes that I have to get on film. My obsession for photography feeds my obsession for scrapbooking. I love playing with the photos. I love playing with beautifully designed papers and elements. And I love putting words to the photos. Just the whole process of scrapbooking is fun for me! Two Peas was my first home for scrapbooking. I joined in 6/9/2003. This is where I discovered other scrappers like me. And it is also here that I discovered digital.

How long have you been scrapping digitally?

I began in April 2006. My first page was scrapped with a free kit by Rhonna Farrer that is still available in the Two Peas Store.

Were you a paper scrapper before digital? Do you still do a combination of both paper & digital/hybrid?

Yes and Yes. I sometimes do purely paper pages, but that is becoming rarer. If I'm not manipulating my photos in Photoshop (either using photo actions or adding a digital frame before printing my photos), I am printing out my journaling or adding a printed digital element on my page. When I do hybrid, I usually will design some portion of the page or project (like a card or mini book) in Photoshop. Then print it out and add traditional embellishments.

How would you describe your style?

Photo-centric. It always starts with a photo that inspires me to do the page in the first place. Without that I'm at a loss. Beyond that, I like to mix it up. Sometimes I like a clean and graphic look that uses a striking photo and then interesting text or fonts with minimal embellishment. Sometimes, I'm all about the vintage look with realistic elements and shadow work. But I always try to use basic design concepts like visual triangles and repetition.

What are your favorite types of kits or embellishments?

I love kits that are unique and that mix it up. For example, a kit that has realistic elements mixed together with graphic elements like word art or a frame. I also love kits that inspire me to do a page with either their subject matter or a particular element in the kit. For example, Chelsea Parson had a kit called On Telly. With it, I made one my favorite pages ever.

What is your favorite part of digital scrapbooking?

For me, I think it is the convenience and ease of digital scrapbooking. Compared to paper scrapbooking, I am just a faster scrapper when I do digital. It might have to do with the fact that when I digital scrapbook I usually stick with one kit. This limits my choices when selecting papers and elements. With paper, it's harder for me to do that. (Have you seen my scrapbook room?) I also like to scrap by trial and error. I am a paper pusher. I move things around. With digital, I can basically experiment with different layouts/arrangements and techniques without worrying about any "permament damage" to my photos or my supplies. I can always hit the undo button. Go back to the drawing board. With paper scrapping, I am not that confident to let loose like that. Maybe that's why paper pages take on average 5 times as long for me to finish! I also love that learning new digital skills on the computer is easy as pressing a button (literally). I don't have to buy a new tool or new supplies. Everything is at the tip of my fingers (from finding a tutorial online or asking someone on a message board). For me and my current lifestyle (with two active kids), it is just the best way for me to scrap.

What is your best advice for new digital scrapbookers?

Find digital kits that inspire you. And then scrap several pages with it. Check out what others have done with the same kit. Experiment! Don't worry about doing it wrong. Like any skill or hobby, it takes practice. Digital scrapbooking may seem technical at first, but after you learn the basics of your computer software, you can really let your artist come out.

Can you share a recent favorite layout from the Two Peas gallery?

Sometimes a page just grabs your attention. This is one of them. It is a clean and simple design but never boring. Her theme is also supported by her design choices. I also like how she repeated the shape of the photo with a piece of patterned paper. It anchors the photo and draws your eye to it. I am also a big fan of this kit by Scrap Originals!

Can you share your latest layout with us?

What challenge would you like to make to the community?

My challenge would be to go back to the last digital kit you purchased (or downloaded for free). Have you scrapped with it yet? If not, what are you waiting for? If you have, scrap another page with it. Then scrap another one. See how many pages you can squeeze out of a single kit. Try different styles: minimalist, graphic, freestyle, photo grid, single-photo, multiple photo. You might be surprised how much you can get out of one kit!

So there's a peek into Cathy's life - I hope you enjoyed it :) Be sure to take her challenge for a chance at this week's gift certificate (don't' forget to check the challenge box when you upload your layout)

Thanks so much, Cathy!