Cathy Zielske's Blog

Quirks and quotes: an authentic way to tell a story

Some of my favorite scrapbook pages or projects are those documenting both the things that my subjects say, verbatim, or the quirky things they do that make them unique.

I featured one of my favorite albums in my 2nd book, called "Things You Say," a collection of random quotes from my then 6-year-old walking quote machine, Coleman.

Here's a sample spread from that album (click on it to see it larger in a new window):

Quoting your scrapbook subjects is such an authentic and simple way to truly capture a bit of who they are, and it takes no more writing skill that the ability to report what you hear, and give it a bit of context.

To that end, I designed a new set of StoryGuide templates (both in 8.5 x 11 and 12 x 12) to help capture quotes, as well as quirks.

The template includes a journaling block for quotes, as well as one for quirks. I made an updated Cole layout over the weekend.

SUPPLIES: StoryGuide 3a (Cathy Zielske) • Olan Solids (Michelle Martin) • Krafty Ledger Paper Pack (Katie Pertiet) • Distressed Edges No. 9 (Anna Aspnes) • Avenir Font

Next, inspired by the question I asked on last Friday's sponsor giveaway (When was the last time you did a page just about you?) I decided to do a quotes and quirks page about yours truly.

On this layout, I created a hybrid version by turning off layers, resizing text blocks and then assembling it all on my dining room table. (Click on the photo to see it larger in a new window.)

I dipped into my ancient stash of patterned papers for a little swatch of Basic Grey, and I believe those little asterisks are from an equally ancient American Crafts alpha set.

There are a lot of you who do pages about yourself on a regular basis. That makes me all kinds of happy.

However, according to the comments left over the weekend, there are a great many more of you who do not or have not in a painfully long time.

If any of you have read my books or this blog over the years, you know I'm a staunch advocate of documenting the scrapbooker. Yes, all those stories you tell about all those people you love are important, but if you neglect to scrap the main story teller, you're doing a disservice to the craft. I mean it. I really do. This is me, on a scrapbooking soap box. Hear me roar.

Here's a look at my two print outs: one on white cardstock; one on photo paper.

I simply trimmed and adhered the photos and title to the background cardstock.

Here's a scan of my page, written in a second person voice, for those who like to read:

You could do this. You could write about yourself in the second person. There's like zero weirdnes with that. Zero. No, really… zilch.

I'd like you to at least consider the possibilities here.

For the love of repositionable adhesive, you have got to take a page or two and tell people something about yourself. And I don't want to hear the old, "But I'm so…boring…" or the classic cop out of, "I hate pictures of myself."

I've created a 4-page PDF downloadable handout to walk you through the steps of creating this layout. You now have zero weirdness and zero excuses.

Download CZ_HybridHowTo (file is 1.3 mb in size.)

Note: in my step by step, it shows how to drag guides out from the Ruler Bar in PSE 8.0. If you have an earlier version of PSE, you'll simply have to eyeball the repositioning of the small titles and journaling blocks.

My message for you this Monday? Keep your ears tuned to the things people say and the quirky things that only they do. Then be a savvy journalist scrapbooker and document away.

It's so much meatier than any "a good time was had by all" page ever will be. I can pretty much guarantee you that.

Oh yeah, and include yourself in the mix once in a blue moon, deal?

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Find the 8.5 x 11 StoryGuide3a here, and the 12 x 12 version here. Questions or comments? Post them and I'll do my best to answer.

 

 

And the giveaway winner is…

The winner of the the Vulnerability kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.

Well Pam, I think I know what you can do with this awesome kit. Make that page all about you!

Email me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your kit. Thanks everyone, for sharing your comments.

Sponsor Giveaway: win a kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out

One blog reader will win the Vulnerability kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.

ABOUT SCRAPBOOKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT: Join us at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out with the VULNERABILITY kit.  Every kit uses color, design and symbolism to help you tell a deeper story. Our industry-exclusive FREE Inspiration Page each month shares meaningful journaling prompts, a music playlist, quotes, photos and evocative challenges to make your tender heart and creative mind and hands flow. Our kits include all the newest and most sought-after items from the hottest manufacturers, and no add-ons are ever needed—our all-in-one kits bring meaningful and stylish creativity right to your doorstep. Buy your kit here and Explore Your Inner World.

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TO ENTER: Leave me a comment and answer this question: When was the last time you did a page about yourself? I'll choose a winner for this kit on Sunday evening. Have a great weekend!

[comments are now closed. check back to see if you're a winner]

Whoopsie daisy

So a few days ago, I was dispensing food tips to a friend who asked me, "So which one of those Flatout breads is the one with zero points again?"

To which I confidently replied, "Oh, it's THIS one."

And then for fun, I decided to re-calculate it over at Weight Watchers online.

Imagine my surprise (said ala Jim Carrey's character in A Series of Unfortunate Events) to learn my much loved and oft consumed zero point food item was actually a whopping 3.

WHAT?

THREE?

BUT… HOW?… AM I BEING PUNKED?

Sweet Jesus…I have been living a lie for MONTHS!

I have no idea how I miscalculated this item that has been lock, stock and part of my lunch for over a year now. (And before Points Plus, it was a mere 1 point! or so I thought.)

Needless to say I dropped to the kitchen floor, assumed the fetal position and stayed there for hours until Cole said to me, "Um, Mom… this is getting weird."

Long story short, if a tree falls in the woods, does it make any sound if no one is there to witness it?

Likewise, if points are consumed for months on end, but no one is there to record them, do they really count?

Herein ends our philosophy lesson for the day.

Now if you'll excuse me, my fetal ball is calling.

 

 

If I were to develop a line of digital brushes for use on scrapbook pages that were anti snow…

Here are some phrases you might see:

Snow Sucks!

or

Snowpocalypse my ass!

or

'snow what I think? Snow SUCKS!

or

Silly Snow—YOU SUCK!

or

You'll have to pry my snow shovel out of my cold hand…literally, because my hand is actually frozen to the shovel!

or

Snow what! I'm burning activity points with every shovel full.

or

Always remember this…snow SUCKS!

or

Believe…(that snow sucks!)

or

It's truly a miracle (that I don't up and move to Miami!)

or

Snow=suckage!

I don't know about you, but even with all those exclamation marks, I'm thinking this set would sell like hot cakes all across the upper midwest.

Signed,

Ms. I'm Snow Done with It

 

Tweaking it.

After posting last week's weight-related whine fest (which generated a great commiseration of misery and support in the comments, in addition to making me me feel so much better in my quest for better health and lesser girth) I set out last week to make some tweaks.

Many of you suggested shaking some things up, and last week, it was a dietary shake up that ensued.

The first thing was to bring back the infamous yet delicious Green Drink.

I think you actually get healthier just by looking at that photo.

The next tweak? Drop the hot cocoa habit. Pronto.

Remember back in December when I discovered this little hot piping nectar of the Gods? If you do, then I'd like to apologize in advance for being yet another pusher of sugared drinks with a laundry list of ingredients that I can't even pronounce.

Even though I was saving my Weight Watchers points every day for this treat, I realized that to achieve my long term goal of being less reliant on crap (no offense to the Stephen's company, for it truly is the Cocoa of Our Lord) I had to drop it like it was hot.

So I did.

I'd like to point out something I am still drinking every day: Oregon Chai Lattes. Why keep that? Because it has 4 ingredients: sugar, milk, tea and spices. Nothing I can't pronounce, so for now, mama is keeping that one.

The other thing I'm doing? Exploring some different cooking options, and specifically, focusing more of my efforts of vegetarian dishes, especially those found in this book:

I'm not a huge connoisseur of meat. This is not to say I don't love a big assed juicy steak from The Outback Steakhouse. This is not to say I have a problem with anyone enjoying a Baconator from Wendy's. This is not to say I'm going to flip out and become a militant vegan.

This is simply tweaking and exploring different options for me and my body.

I am currently reading "Veganist" by Kathy Freston, and I find it so interesting that she writes about how meat causes every health ill in the word, and yet you can find the same facts to support the notion that soy matches animal protein on every level of badness. Still, it's interesting stuff.

I also watched Food Inc. last week, a movie I'd put off for a long time for fear it would weaken my bubble of not wanting to know how my food gets from Point A to Point Me. I found it far less scary than I expected to, but nevertheless it made me think about where and how I'm getting my food and how can I support smaller, independent farms and growers who are raising their animals and crops in humane and organic ways.

Part of tweaking is exploring what and how I eat and being open to the possibilities around me. Just like tweaking the fitness program, or tweaking the attitude on a daily basis, I am here to learn ways to live my best life possible.

I've decided to see how a whole-foods based, vegetarian approach will work with my body, so I'm planning what I'm calling "Meatless March."

(Of course I do nothing without a corresponding logo/identity system in place.)

I've decided to use my birthday month as a testing ground for a month of meat-free cooking. I want to see how I feel and how my body responds to this approach.

Now you may be thinking, "What how will your family do with this quest?" My daughter, Aidan, has been a vegetarian for over two years. She's totally thrilled to have a veggie focus in the house, plus she's excited to try new dishes. Dan eats what is put before him and can always pick up a six-pack of sliders from White Castle when he's feeling anemic. Cole doesn't eat much more than peanut butter, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and pepperoni, so for him it'll be business as usual.

I'll definitely keep you updated on the process as it unfolds in March, as well as share any recipes that are particularly delicious along the way.

To use a phrase from Kathy Freston, I'm just leaning into some tweaks. We'll see how it all shakes out.

P.S. And by all means, feel free to share your favorite veggie dishes.

 

 

 

And the giveaway winners are…

The winner of the annual subscription to The Digi Game from The Daily Digi is:

The winner of the digital kit from Scotty Girl Design is:

Ladies, contact me at czdesign@comcast.net to get hooked up.

I am so longing for Spring right now.

As I type this, we are getting slammed in St. Paul/Minneapolis with a wicked winter storm. Thunder, lightning, and roughly 8 to 10 inches so far. Let's just say I am sweet talking my way out of shoveling tonight.

Sponsor Giveaways: The Daily Digi and Scotty Girl Design

The Daily Digi will give one of my blog readers an annual subscription to The Digi Game, an $82.50 value!

When you subscribe to the Digi Game - Annual option, you will receive:

• One month FREE (12 months for the price of 11)
• Access to the new issue of THE DIGI FILES and over $50 worth of digital scrapbooking products by some of the best digital designers in the community each month (see past Digi Files here)
• Access to the new PLAYBOOK each month (the Playbook is an interactive ebook, with at least 25 pages of tutorials, tips, and tricks). See past Playbooks here.
• Every 4 months you are subscribed, you will receive access to exclusive collab kits by previous contributors to The Digi Files . These collabs cannot be purchased anywhere!  The first collab will be received upon starting this subscription and is "Story of Everyday Life," (preview below) be sure to check out the participating designers and their contributions up close!
• Exclusive bonus digital scrapbooking gifts each month

You can also subscribe to the Digi Game with a monthly payment option for only $7.50 per month.  It really is the best deal in digi!

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Ready for Spring? This adorable digital kit from Scotty Girl Design will get you in the mood. One lucky reader will win the Zoey Digital Kit!

ABOUT SCOTTY GIRL DESIGN: Scotty Girl Design is an online digital scrapbooking boutique full of colorful, modern and unique papers and embellishments. Graphic designer and avid pattern designer, Shannon Hegarty, started the shop as an after work hobby which quickly flourished into a business. She is the sole owner and operator of Scotty Girl Design.

Be sure to check out her shop and blog. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest product updates.

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TO ENTER: Spring is slowly beginning to emerge here in Minnesota where I live, as temperatures finally have risen above brutal arctic levels. My favorite thing about Spring is not having to flinch every time I walk outside, to brace against the cold. What is your favorite aspect of Spring?

Leave me a comment and I'll draw winners on Sunday evening.

[comments are now closed. check back to see if you're a winner.]

Four Things I Adore

NUMBER ONE: this girl.

NUMBER TWO: this boy.

NUMBER THREE: this body wash and this lotion.

In 2007, following a Creating Keepsakes University in San Jose, Dan and I stole away to San Francisco for an overnight at a swanky little boutique hotel on the Embarcadero. Their house toiletries were by Fresh, and I've been hooked on the Sugar Lemon scent ever since. I go through phases were I'll decide it's too decadent to buy pricey lotion in small quantities, and then I'll say, what the bleep, here's my credit card number. This scent is To Die For. If I could have everything in my life smell this way, I would be happy. I want people to remember me and say, "You know what? She smelled SO stinkin' good!" If you have a Sephora near you, go in and take a whiff. You won't be sorry. I will tell you, however, the perfume, which I got for Christmas two years ago does not really smell like the lotion. Sad, but true.

NUMBER FOUR: this tea maker.

I've been touting my love for Adagio Tea ever since I became a tea afficianado back in 2010. I got hooked on using the ingenuitea tea maker. I decided to order myself a new one a few weeks back because my old one was looking a bit scuzzy, and I accidentally broke the lid. I didn't realize they've upgraded the design slightly, using a new metal mesh filter, and it works like a dream. A veritable tea making dream, I tell you. My teas of choice? Irish Breakfast and Lemon Grass.

This concludes 4 Things I Adore. Thank you.

Awesome, sporty, bacon (or how to interview someone and make a cool hybrid scrapbook page)

Last week I came across on older scrapbook page I did for an article in Simple Scrapbooks magazine (RIP, Simple), and it featured an interview with my then 9-year-old daughter, Aidan.

I am the scrapbooked interview's biggest fan. Why? Because asking questions and getting straight answers from your kids (or whoever you might be interviewing) is a really slick and authentic way to capture real life, specific details about your subject.

Aidan, my self-professed indie music hipster, had a hard time believing that Kelly Clarkson once topped her list of faves, but at the same time, she still doesn't aim for popularity, preferring to simply be who she is and see what happens. I really cherish these little slices of her life, reflecting what she thought in 2005. And this approach takes zero writing skill. Ask the question, report the answer.

Journaling can be a hang up for people. In all the classes I've taught and travels I've been on, I hear this time and again: writing is easy for you, they tell me. But not for me.

To that end, I've started designing a new series at Designer Digitals called "StoryGuides." The goal of these templates is to provide journaling frameworks, essentially giving you the prompts and directions to fill in the blanks and create a meaningful document about your unique subject. The first in the series features an interview format geared specifically towards kids, tweens and teens. Keep in mind though, you can change up the questions in the templates to fit your particular needs.

I've never done an interview with Cole, so this past weekend, I sat him down and got the scoop. Then, I used my digital template to type up the answers, add the photos and colors, and then I simply turned layers on and off in Photoshop to print out the pieces for my finished hybrid scrapbook page.

The page above consists of a piece of cardstock and four small photos. The digital page looks like this:

I turned off all of the photo layers to print out the journaling and the outlines onto white cardstock. Then I turned the photos back on, and the other layers off to print the photos onto a piece of 8.5 x 11 photo paper.

Next, I trimmed out the photos and adhered them onto the cardstock. However, I realized that the blue on the cardstock was a bit off from the blue on the "2011" block. That happens with ink and photo paper. Often, you get a richer, brighter color on photo paper. So, I turned off all the layers except for the blue date box, and sent that to print on a piece of white cardstock.

It's subtle, but the cardstock version matches with the title better.

This 8.5 x 11 template can be completed and mounted onto a 12 x 12 piece of cardstock as well.

I think the framing white space is gorgeous around this, and it allows a bit of breathing room into a text heavy design.

I also think having a little slice of what Cole thinks at age 11 is going to be really cool to read 10 years from now. I have to wonder if on his 21st birthday, will he still use "bacon" to describe himself?

Only time will tell.

Keep an eye out for more StoryGuides to be released, and if you have any ideas you'd like to see for journaling prompts, don't hesitate to let me know!

NOTE: This template and everything else at Designer Digitals is on sale through Midnight tonight P.S.T. Save 30% on everything in the store.

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SUPPLIES: StoryGuide No. 01 (Cathy Zielske) • white cardstock (Bazzill Orange Peel) • Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl Photo Paper. Note: this template is designed using two free fonts. There are links inside the digital package in the HOW TO PDF that will take you to the site to download the fonts. Or, you can always substitute your own.

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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HYBRID SCRAPBOOKING? Check out my collection of tutorials at Vimeo. Questions? Comments? Post them here and I'm happy to answer them.

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WANT MORE ON INTERVIEW-STYLE SCRAPBOOKING? Check out Ella Publishing's ebook, Quick & Creative Quizzes. This ebook ishock full of fun-to-complete, easy-to-use questions. Quick & Creative Quizzes will show you 20 ways to both simplify and spice up your scrapbook journaling. From questions for couples and kids to an all-purpose, fill-in-the-blanks event quiz, you’ll find something to fit every layout.

There is also a companion piece designed by yours truly featuring printable PDF components to help you re-create some of the ideas you see in this book. No Photoshop is needed to work with these printable quiz pieces.